Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION COPY
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INDENTURE
between
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A,
as Issuer
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
not in its individual capacity but
solely as Indenture Trustee
Dated as of November 1, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Usage
SECTION 1.01. Definitions and Usage........................................ 2
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust
Indenture Act................................................ 2
ARTICLE II
The Notes
SECTION 2.01. Form......................................................... 3
SECTION 2.02. Execution, Authentication and Delivery....................... 3
SECTION 2.03. Temporary Notes.............................................. 4
SECTION 2.04. Registration; Registration of Transfer and
Exchange..................................................... 4
SECTION 2.05. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes................... 6
SECTION 2.06. Persons Deemed Owner......................................... 7
SECTION 2.07. Payment of Principal and Interest;
Defaulted Interest; Noteholders'
Interest LIBOR Carryover..................................... 7
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation................................................. 9
SECTION 2.09. Release of Collateral......................................... 9
SECTION 2.10. Book-Entry Notes............................................. 10
SECTION 2.11. Notices to Clearing Agency................................... 11
SECTION 2.12. Definitive Notes............................................. 11
ARTICLE III
Covenants
SECTION 3.01. Payment to Noteholders....................................... 12
SECTION 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.............................. 12
SECTION 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust....................... 12
SECTION 3.04. Existence.................................................... 14
SECTION 3.05. Protection of Indenture Trust Estate......................... 15
SECTION 3.06. Opinions as to Indenture Trust Estate........................ 15
SECTION 3.07. Performance of Obligations;
Servicing of Student Loans................................... 16
SECTION 3.08. Negative Covenants........................................... 19
SECTION 3.09. Annual Statement as to Compliance............................ 20
SECTION 3.10. Issuer May Consolidate, etc.,
Only on Certain Terms........................................ 20
SECTION 3.11. Successor or Transferee...................................... 22
SECTION 3.12. No Other Business............................................ 22
SECTION 3.13. No Borrowing................................................. 22
SECTION 3.14. Obligations of Master Servicer and
Administrator................................................ 22
SECTION 3.15. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and
Other Liabilities............................................ 23
SECTION 3.16. Capital Expenditures......................................... 23
SECTION 3.17. Restricted Payments.......................................... 23
SECTION 3.18. Notice of Events of Default.................................. 23
SECTION 3.19. Further Instruments and Acts................................. 24
SECTION 3.20. Removal of Administrator..................................... 24
ARTICLE IV
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture...................... 24
SECTION 4.02. Application of Trust Money................................... 25
SECTION 4.03. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent..................... 26
SECTION 4.04. Auction of Financed Student Loans............................ 26
ARTICLE V
Remedies
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default............................................ 27
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity;
Rescission and Annulment..................................... 28
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and
Suits for Enforcement by Indenture Trustee................... 29
SECTION 5.04. Remedies; Priorities......................................... 32
SECTION 5.05. Optional Preservation of
the Indenture Trust Estate................................... 34
SECTION 5.06. Limitation of Suits.......................................... 34
SECTION 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Noteholders
To Receive Principal and Interes............................. 35
SECTION 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies........................... 35
SECTION 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative............................... 35
SECTION 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver............................... 36
SECTION 5.11. Control by Noteholders....................................... 36
SECTION 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults...................................... 36
SECTION 5.13. Undertaking for Costs........................................ 37
SECTION 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws............................. 37
SECTION 5.15. Action on Notes.............................................. 38
SECTION 5.16. Performance and Enforcement
of Certain Obligations....................................... 38
ARTICLE VI
The Indenture Trustee
SECTION 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee.................................. 39
SECTION 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee.................................. 40
SECTION 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee....................... 41
SECTION 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer............................... 41
SECTION 6.05. Notice of Defaults........................................... 42
SECTION 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Noteholders.................. 42
SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity................................... 42
SECTION 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee............................. 43
SECTION 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger........................ 44
SECTION 6.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee................ 45
SECTION 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification................................ 46
SECTION 6.12. Preferential Collection of
Claims Against Issuer........................................ 47
ARTICLE VII
Noteholders' Lists and Reports
SECTION 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and
Addresses of Noteholders..................................... 47
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information;
Communications to Noteholders................................ 47
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Issuer............................................ 48
ARTICLE VIII
Accounts, Disbursements and Releases
SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money.......................................... 49
SECTION 8.02. Trust Accounts............................................... 49
SECTION 8.03. General Provisions Regarding Accounts........................ 51
SECTION 8.04. Release of Indenture Trust Estate............................ 52
SECTION 8.05. Opinion of Counsel........................................... 52
ARTICLE IX
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without
Consent of Noteholders....................................... 53
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with
Consent of Noteholders....................................... 54
SECTION 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures......................... 56
SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indenture............................. 56
SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.......................... 57
SECTION 9.06. Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures................ 57
ARTICLE X
Redemption of Notes
SECTION 10.01. Redemption.................................................. 57
SECTION 10.02. Form of Redemption Notice................................... 58
SECTION 10.03. Notes Payable on Redemption Date............................ 58
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
SECTION 11.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions........................ 58
SECTION 11.02. Form of Documents Delivered to
Indenture Trustee........................................... 61
SECTION 11.03. Acts of Noteholders......................................... 62
SECTION 11.04. Notices to Indenture Trustee,
Issuer and Rating Agencies.................................. 62
SECTION 11.05. Notices to Noteholders; Waiver.............................. 64
SECTION 11.06. Alternate Payment and Notice Provisions..................... 64
SECTION 11.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................... 65
SECTION 11.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.................... 65
SECTION 11.09. Successors and Assigns...................................... 65
SECTION 11.10. Separability................................................ 65
SECTION 11.11. Benefits of Indenture....................................... 65
SECTION 11.12. [Reserved].................................................. 65
SECTION 11.13. Governing Law............................................... 65
SECTION 11.14. Counterparts................................................ 66
SECTION 11.15. Recording of Indenture...................................... 66
SECTION 11.16. Trust Obligations........................................... 66
SECTION 11.17. No Petition................................................. 67
SECTION 11.18. Inspection.................................................. 67
EXHIBIT A - Form of Class A-1 Note
EXHIBIT B - Form of Class A-2 Note
EXHIBIT C - Class A-1 Note Depository Agreement
EXHIBIT D - Class A-2 Note Depository Agreement
INDENTURE dated as of November 1, 1996, between SIGNET STUDENT LOAN
TRUST 1996-A, a Delaware trust (the "Issuer"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New
York banking corporation, as trustee and not in its individual capacity (the
"Indenture Trustee").
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for
the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Issuer's Floating Rate Class
A-1 Asset Backed Notes (the "Class A-1 Notes") and Floating Rate Class A-2 Asset
Backed Notes (the "Class A-2 Notes" and, together with the Class A-1 Notes, the
"Notes"):
GRANTING CLAUSE
The Issuer (and, with respect to the Financed Student Loans, the
Eligible Lender Trustee) hereby Grants to the Indenture Trustee at the Closing
Date, as trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders, all the Issuer's right,
title and interest in and to the following:
(a) the Financed Student Loans, and all obligations of the
Obligors thereunder including all moneys paid thereunder after the
Cutoff Date (or, in the case of Additional Student Loans, after the
related Subsequent Cutoff Date);
(b) the Loan Sale Agreement, including the right of the Issuer
to cause the Seller to repurchase Financed Student Loans from the
Issuer under circumstances described therein;
(c) the Master Servicing Agreement, including the right of the
Issuer to cause the Master Servicer to purchase Financed Student Loans
from the Issuer under the circumstances described therein;
(d) each Guarantee Agreement, including the right of the
Issuer to cause the related Guarantor to make Guarantee Payments in
respect of the Financed Student Loans;
(e) all funds on deposit from time to time in the Trust
Accounts, including the Reserve Account Initial Deposit and the
Pre-Funded Amount, and in all investments and proceeds thereof
(including all income thereon); and
(f) all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses
in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing and all payments on
or under and all proceeds of every kind and nature whatsoever in
respect of any or all of the foregoing, including all proceeds of the
conversion,
voluntary or involuntary, into cash or other liquid property, all cash
proceeds, accounts, accounts receivable, notes, drafts, acceptances,
chattel paper, checks, deposit accounts, insurance proceeds,
condemnation awards, rights to payment of any and every kind and other
forms of obligations and receivables, instruments and other property
which at any time constitute all or part of or are included in the
proceeds of any of the foregoing (collectively, the "Collateral").
The foregoing Grant is made in trust to secure the payment of principal
of and interest on, and any other amounts owing in respect of, the Notes,
equally and ratably without prejudice, priority or distinction, and to secure
compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, all as provided in this
Indenture.
The Indenture Trustee, as Indenture Trustee on behalf of the
Noteholders, acknowledges such Grant, accepts the trusts under this Indenture in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and agrees to perform its
duties required in this Indenture to the best of its ability to the end that the
interests of the Noteholders may be adequately and effectively protected.
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Usage
SECTION 1.01. Definitions and Usage. Except as otherwise specified
herein or as the context may otherwise require, capitalized terms used but not
defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Administration Agreement, dated
as of November 1, 1996 among the Issuer, Signet Bank, as Administrator, and the
Indenture Trustee, which also contains rules as to usage that shall be
applicable herein.
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"indenture securities" means the Notes.
"indenture security holder" means a Noteholder.
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.
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"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Indenture
Trustee.
"obligor" on the indenture securities means the Issuer and any other
obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule have
the meaning assigned to them by such definitions.
ARTICLE II
The Notes
SECTION 2.01. Form. The Class A-1 Notes and Class A-2 Notes, in each
case together with the Indenture Trustee's certificate of authentication, shall
be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibits A and B, respectively, with
such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as
are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers
or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon
as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such
Notes, as evidenced by their execution of the Notes. Any portion of the text of
any Note may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference
thereto on the face of the Note.
The Definitive Notes shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or
engraved or produced by any combination of these methods (with or without steel
engraved borders), all as determined by the officers executing such Notes, as
evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of
the Notes set forth in Exhibits A and B are part of the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.02. Execution, Authentication and Delivery. The Notes shall
be executed on behalf of the Issuer by any of its Authorized Officers. The
signature of any such Authorized Officer on the Notes may be manual or
facsimile.
Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signature of individuals who were
at any time Authorized Officers of the Issuer shall bind the Issuer,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold
such offices at the date of such Notes.
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The Indenture Trustee shall upon Issuer Order authenticate and deliver
Class A-1 Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount of
$252,000,000 and Class A-2 Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal
amount of $161,439,000. The aggregate principal amount of Class A-1 and Class
A-2 Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such respective amounts except
as provided in Section 2.05.
Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes
shall be issuable as registered Notes in the minimum denomination of $1,000 and
in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Note a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Indenture Trustee by the manual signature of one of its
authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.03. Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Definitive
Notes, the Issuer may execute, and upon receipt of an Issuer Order the Indenture
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Notes which are printed,
lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, of the tenor of
the Definitive Notes in lieu of which they are issued and with such variations
not inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture as the officers executing such
Notes may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
If temporary Notes are issued, the Issuer will cause Definitive Notes
to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive
Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes upon
surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuer to be
maintained as provided in Section 3.02, without charge to the Noteholder. Upon
surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes, the Issuer shall
execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized
denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Notes.
SECTION 2.04. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The
Issuer shall cause to be kept a register (the "Note Register") in which, subject
to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuer shall provide for
the
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registration of Notes and the registration of transfers of Notes. The Indenture
Trustee shall be "Note Registrar" for the purpose of registering Notes and
transfers of Notes as herein provided. Upon any resignation of any Note
Registrar, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor or, if it elects not to
make such an appointment, assume the duties of Note Registrar.
If a Person other than the Indenture Trustee is appointed by the Issuer
as Note Registrar, the Issuer will give the Indenture Trustee prompt written
notice of the appointment of such Note Registrar and of the location, and any
change in the location, of the Note Register, and the Indenture Trustee shall
have the right to inspect the Note Register at all reasonable times and to
obtain copies thereof, and the Indenture Trustee shall have the right to rely
upon a certificate executed on behalf of the Note Registrar by an Executive
Officer thereof as to the names and addresses of the Noteholders and the
principal amounts and number of such Notes.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office
or agency of the Issuer to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02, if the
requirements of Section 8-401(1) of the UCC are met, the Issuer shall execute,
and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and the Noteholder shall obtain
from the Indenture Trustee, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Notes in any authorized denominations, of the same
class and a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Noteholder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes
in any authorized denominations, of the same class and a like aggregate
principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or
agency. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, if the requirements
of Section 8-401(1) of the UCC are met, the Issuer shall execute, and the
Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and, the Noteholder shall obtain from the
Indenture Trustee, the Notes which the Noteholder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Notes surrendered
upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Note Registrar duly executed by the
Noteholder thereof or such Noteholder's attorney duly authorized in writing,
with such
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signature guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in Securities Transfer Agent's Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such
other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Note Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Exchange Act.
No service charge shall be made to a Noteholder for any registration of
transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Indenture Trustee may require payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes,
other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.03 or 9.06 not involving any
transfer.
The preceding provisions of this Section notwithstanding, the Issuer
shall not be required to make and the Note Registrar need not register transfers
or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption or of any Note for a period of 15
days preceding the due date for any payment with respect to the Note.
SECTION 2.05. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. If (i) any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Indenture Trustee, or the Indenture Trustee
receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Note, and (ii) there is delivered to the Indenture Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by it to hold the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee
harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuer, the Note Registrar or
the Indenture Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser,
and provided that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the UCC are met, the
Issuer shall execute and upon its request the Indenture Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a replacement Note of the same class; provided,
however, that if any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, but not a mutilated
Note, shall have become or within 15 days shall be due and payable, or shall
have been called for redemption, instead of issuing a replacement Note, the
Issuer may pay such destroyed, lost or stolen Note when so due or payable or
upon the Redemption Date without surrender thereof. If, after the delivery of
such replacement Note or payment of a destroyed, lost or stolen Note pursuant to
the proviso to the preceding sentence, a bona fide purchaser of the original
Note in lieu of which such replacement Note was issued presents for payment such
original Note, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to recover
such replacement Note (or such payment) from the Person to whom it was delivered
or any Person taking such replacement Note from such Person to whom such
replacement Note was delivered or any assignee of such
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Person, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the
security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost
or expense incurred by the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee in connection
therewith.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Note under this Section, the
Issuer may require the payment by the Noteholder thereof of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other reasonable expenses (including the fees and expenses of
the Indenture Trustee) connected therewith.
Every replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section in replacement
of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and
shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
SECTION 2.06. Persons Deemed Owner. Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any
agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name
any Note is registered (as of the day of determination) as the owner of such
Note for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and interest (and any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover), if any, on such Note and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the
Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 2.07. Payment of Principal and Interest; Defaulted Interest;
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover. (a) The Notes shall accrue interest as
provided in the forms of the Class A-1 Note and Class A-2 Note set forth in
Exhibits A and B, respectively, and such interest shall be payable on each
Interest Payment Date as specified therein, subject to Section 3.01. Any
installment of interest (and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) or
principal, if any, payable on any Note which is punctually paid or duly provided
for by the Issuer on the applicable Interest Payment Date or Distribution Date
shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor
Notes) is registered on the Record Date by check
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mailed first-class, postage prepaid to such Person's address as it appears on
the Note Register on such Record Date, except that, unless Definitive Notes have
been issued pursuant to Section 2.12, with respect to Notes registered on the
Record Date in the name of the nominee of the Clearing Agency (initially, such
nominee to be Cede & Co.), payment will be made by wire transfer in immediately
available funds to the account designated by such nominee and except for the
final installment of principal payable with respect to such Note on a
Distribution Date or on the Class A-1 Final Maturity Date or the Class A-2 Final
Maturity Date, as the case may be, which shall be payable as provided below. The
funds represented by any such checks returned undelivered shall be held in
accordance with Section 3.03.
(b) The principal of each Note shall be payable in installments on each
Distribution Date as provided in the forms of the Class A-1 Note and Class A-2
Note set forth in Exhibits A and B, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes shall be due and payable, if not
previously paid, on the date on which an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, if the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of the Notes
representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes
have declared the Notes to be immediately due and payable in the manner provided
in Section 5.02. All principal payments on each class of Notes shall be made pro
rata to the Noteholders of such class entitled thereto. The Indenture Trustee
shall notify the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on the Record Date preceding the Distribution Date on which the Issuer
expects that the final installment of principal of and interest (and any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on such Note will be paid. Such notice
shall be mailed or transmitted by facsimile prior to such final Distribution
Date and shall specify that such final installment will be payable only upon
presentation and surrender of such Note and shall specify the place where such
Note may be presented and surrendered for payment of such installment. Notices
in connection with redemptions of Notes shall be mailed to Noteholders as
provided in Section 10.02.
(c) If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the
Issuer shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to
the extent lawful) at the applicable Note Interest Rate in any lawful manner.
The Issuer may pay such defaulted interest to the persons who are Noteholders on
a subsequent special record date, which date shall be at least five Business
Days prior to the payment date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any
such special record date and payment date, and, at least 15 days before any such
special record date, the Issuer shall mail to the Indenture Trustee a notice
which the Indenture Trustee will, as soon as practicable, distribute to
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each Noteholder that states the special record date, the payment date and the
amount of defaulted interest to be paid.
(d) The Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover for any class of Notes
for each Distribution Date (including all unpaid Noteholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover for such class for prior Distribution Dates and interest accrued
thereon at the Class A-1 Rate or the Class A-2 Rate, as applicable, calculated
based on LIBOR for each applicable LIBOR Reset Period) shall be payable on each
Distribution Date solely to the extent of funds required and available to be
distributed to Noteholders by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Sections
2(e)(ii)(B) or 2(e)(iii) of the Administration Agreement. Any Noteholders'
Interest LIBOR Carryover for any class of Notes, if any, payable with respect to
such class on the applicable Distribution Date shall be paid to the Person in
whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered on the
applicable Record Date by check mailed first-class postage prepaid to such
Person's address as it appears on the Note Register on such Record Date, except
that, unless Definitive Notes have been issued pursuant to Section 2.12, with
respect to the Notes registered on the Record Date in the name of the nominee of
the Clearing Agency (initially, such nominee to be Cede & Co.), payment will be
made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account designated
by such nominee. The funds represented by any such checks returned undelivered
shall be held in accordance with Section 3.03.
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation. All Notes surrendered for payment,
registration of transfer, exchange or redemption shall, if surrendered to any
Person other than the Indenture Trustee, be delivered to the Indenture Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer may at any
time deliver to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously
authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the
Indenture Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for
any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted
by this Indenture. All cancelled Notes may be held or disposed of by the
Indenture Trustee in accordance with its standard retention or disposal policy
as in effect at the time, unless the Issuer shall direct by an Issuer Order that
they be returned to it and so long as such Issuer Order is timely and the Notes
have not been previously disposed of by the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 2.09. Release of Collateral. Subject to Section 11.01 and the
terms of the Basic Documents, the Indenture Trustee shall release property from
the lien of this Indenture only upon receipt of an Issuer Request accompanied by
an Officers'
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Certificate of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel and Independent Certificates in
accordance with TIA xx.xx. 314(c) and 314(d)(1) or an Opinion of Counsel in lieu
of such Independent Certificates to the effect that the TIA does not require any
such Independent Certificates.
SECTION 2.10. Book-Entry Notes. The Notes, upon original issuance, will
be issued in the form of typewritten Notes representing the Book-Entry Notes, to
be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by,
or on behalf of, the Issuer. Such Notes shall initially be registered on the
Note Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing
Agency, and no Note Owner will receive a Definitive Note (as defined below)
representing such Note Owner's interest in such Note, except as provided in
Section 2.12. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Notes (the
"Definitive Notes") have been issued to Note Owners pursuant to Section 2.12:
(i) the provisions of this Section shall be in full
force and effect;
(ii) the Note Registrar and the Indenture Trustee may
deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes (including the payment
of principal of and interest and other amounts on the Notes) as the
authorized representative of the Note Owners;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section
conflict with any other provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of
this Section shall control;
(iv) the rights of Note Owners shall be exercised only
through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established
by law and agreements between such Note Owners and the Clearing Agency
and/or the Clearing Agency Participants pursuant to the Note Depository
Agreements. Unless and until Definitive Notes are issued pursuant to
Section 2.12, the Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among
the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments of
principal of and interest and other amounts on the Notes to such
Clearing Agency Participants; and
(v) whenever this Indenture requires or permits actions
to be taken based upon instructions or directions of Noteholders of
Notes evidencing a specified percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes, the Clearing Agency shall be deemed to represent such
percentage only to the extent that it has received instructions to such
effect from
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Note Owners and/or Clearing Agency Participants owning or representing,
respectively, such required percentage of the beneficial interest in
the Notes and has delivered such instructions to the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 2.11. Notices to Clearing Agency. Whenever a notice or other
communication to the Noteholders is required under this Indenture, unless and
until Definitive Notes shall have been issued to Note Owners pursuant to Section
2.12, the Indenture Trustee shall give all such notices and communications
specified herein to be given to Noteholders to the Clearing Agency.
SECTION 2.12. Definitive Notes. If (i) the Administrator advises the
Indenture Trustee in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing or
able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Notes, and
the Administrator is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the
Administrator at its option advises the Indenture Trustee in writing that it
elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or (iii)
after the occurrence of an Event of Default, a Servicer Default or an
Administrator Default, Note Owners representing beneficial interests aggregating
at least a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes advise the Clearing
Agency (which shall then notify the Indenture Trustee) in writing that the
continuation of a book-entry system through the Clearing Agency is no longer in
the best interests of the Note Owners, then the Indenture Trustee will cause the
Clearing Agency to notify all Note Owners, through the Clearing Agency, of the
occurrence of any such event and of the availability of Definitive Notes to Note
Owners requesting the same. Upon surrender to the Indenture Trustee of the
typewritten Notes representing the Book-Entry Notes by the Clearing Agency,
accompanied by registration instructions, the Issuer shall execute and the
Indenture Trustee shall authenticate the Definitive Notes in accordance with the
instructions of the Clearing Agency. None of the Issuer, the Note Registrar or
the Indenture Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on,
such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Notes, the Indenture Trustee
shall recognize the holders of the Definitive Notes as Noteholders.
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ARTICLE III
Covenants
SECTION 3.01. Payment to Noteholders. The Issuer will duly and
punctually pay the principal of (subject to the parenthetical in the following
sentence), interest, if any, on and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover
(but only to the extent provided in Sections 2.07(d) and 8.02(c)) with respect
to the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture.
Without limiting the foregoing, subject to Section 8.02(c), the Issuer will
cause to be distributed that portion of the amounts on deposit in the Trust
Accounts on an Interest Payment Date and a Distribution Date (other than any
Eligible Investments deposited therein that will mature on the Business Day
preceding a subsequent Distribution Date) which the Noteholders are entitled to
receive pursuant to the Administration Agreement to Class A-1 Noteholders and
Class A-2 Noteholders in accordance with the Administration Agreement. Amounts
properly withheld under the Code by any Person from a payment to any Noteholder
of interest (including any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) and/or
principal shall be considered as having been paid by the Issuer to such
Noteholder for all purposes of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer will maintain
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where
Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where
notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this
Indenture may be served. The Issuer hereby initially appoints the Indenture
Trustee to serve as its agent for the foregoing purposes. The Issuer will give
prompt written notice to the Indenture Trustee of the location, and of any
change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer
shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the
Indenture Trustee with the address thereof, such surrenders, notices and demands
may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Issuer hereby
appoints the Indenture Trustee as its agent to receive all such surrenders,
notices and demands.
SECTION 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust. As provided in
Section 8.02(a) and (b), all payments of amounts due and payable with respect to
any Notes that are to be made from amounts distributed from the Collection
Account or any other Trust Account pursuant to Section 8.02(c) shall be made on
behalf of the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by another Paying Agent, and no
amounts so distributed from the Collection Account
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for payments of Notes shall be paid over to the Issuer except as provided in
this Section.
On or before the Business Day next preceding each Interest Payment Date
or Distribution Date and Redemption Date, the Issuer shall distribute or cause
to be distributed to the Indenture Trustee (or any other Paying Agent) an
aggregate sum sufficient to pay the amounts then becoming due under the Notes,
such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and
(unless the Paying Agent is the Indenture Trustee) shall promptly notify the
Indenture Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Issuer will cause each Paying Agent other than the Indenture
Trustee to execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee an instrument in which
such Paying Agent shall agree with the Indenture Trustee (and if the Indenture
Trustee acts as Paying Agent, it hereby so agrees), subject to the provisions of
this Section, that such Paying Agent will:
(i) hold all sums held by it for the payment of amounts
due with respect to the Notes in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided and pay such sums to such
Persons as herein provided;
(ii) give the Indenture Trustee notice of any default by
the Issuer of which it has actual knowledge (or any other obligor upon
the Notes) in the making of any payment required to be made with
respect to the Notes;
(iii) at any time during the continuance of any such
default, upon the written request of the Indenture Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying
Agent;
(iv) immediately resign as a Paying Agent and forthwith
pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held by it in trust for the
payment of Notes if at any time it ceases to meet the standards
required to be met by a Paying Agent at the time of its appointment;
and
(v) comply with all requirements of the Code with
respect to the withholding from any payments made by it on any Notes of
any applicable withholding taxes imposed thereon and with respect to
any applicable reporting requirements in connection therewith.
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The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, by Issuer
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held in
trust by such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Indenture Trustee upon
the same trusts as those upon which the sums were held by such Paying Agent; and
upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Indenture Trustee, such Paying
Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Subject to applicable laws with respect to escheat of funds, any money
held by the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of
any amount due with respect to any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such amount has become due and payable shall be discharged from such trust
and be paid to the Issuer on Issuer Request; and the Noteholder thereof shall
thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for
payment thereof (but only to the extent of the amounts so paid to the Issuer),
and all liability of the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to
such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Indenture
Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment,
shall at the expense and direction of the Issuer cause to be published once, in
a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that
such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which
shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed
balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. The Indenture
Trustee shall also adopt and employ, at the expense of the Issuer, any other
reasonable means of notification of such repayment (including mailing notice of
such repayment to Noteholders whose Notes have been called but have not been
surrendered for redemption or whose right to or interest in moneys due and
payable but not claimed is determinable from the records of the Indenture
Trustee or of any Paying Agent, at the last address of record for each such
Noteholder).
SECTION 3.04. Existence. The Issuer will keep in full effect its
existence, rights and franchises as a trust under the laws of the State of
Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or becomes,
organized under the laws of any other State or of the United States of America,
in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and
franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and
preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and
enforceability of this
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Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral and each other instrument or agreement
included in the Indenture Trust Estate.
SECTION 3.05. Protection of Indenture Trust Estate. The Issuer will
from time to time execute and deliver all such supplements and amendments hereto
and all such financing statements, continuation statements, instruments of
further assurance and other instruments, and will take such other action
necessary or advisable to:
(i) maintain or preserve the lien and security interest
(and the priority thereof) of this Indenture or carry out more
effectively the purposes hereof;
(ii) perfect, publish notice of or protect the validity
of any Grant made or to be made by this Indenture;
(iii) enforce any of the Collateral; or
(iv) preserve and defend title to the Indenture Trust
Estate and the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders in
such Indenture Trust Estate against the claims of all persons and
parties. It shall be the responsibility of the Issuer to prepare such
instruments.
The Issuer hereby designates the Indenture Trustee its agent and
attorney-in-fact to execute any financing statement, continuation statement or
other instrument required to be executed pursuant to this Section.
SECTION 3.06. Opinions as to Indenture Trust Estate. (a) On the Closing
Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken
with respect to the recording and filing of this Indenture, any indentures
supplemental hereto, and any other requisite documents, and with respect to the
execution and filing of any financing statements and continuation statements, as
are necessary to perfect and make effective the lien and security interest of
this Indenture and reciting the details of such action, or stating that, in the
opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make such lien and
security interest effective.
(b) On or before June 30 in each calendar year, beginning in 1997, the
Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel either
stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with
respect to the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture,
any indentures supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents and with
respect to the execution and filing of any
15
financing statements and continuation statements as is necessary to maintain the
lien and security interest created by this Indenture and reciting the details of
such action or stating that in the opinion of such counsel no such action is
necessary to maintain such lien and security interest. Such Opinion of Counsel
shall also describe the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this
Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents
and the execution and filing of any financing statements and continuation
statements that will, in the opinion of such counsel, be required to maintain
the lien and security interest of this Indenture until June 30 in the following
calendar year.
SECTION 3.07. Performance of Obligations; Servicing of Student Loans.
(a) The Issuer will not take any action and will use its best efforts not to
permit any action to be taken by others that would release any Person from any
of such Person's material covenants or obligations under any instrument or
agreement included in the Indenture Trust Estate or that would result in the
amendment, hypothecation, subordination, termination or discharge of, or impair
the validity or effectiveness of, any such instrument or agreement, except as
expressly provided in this Indenture, the Loan Sale Agreement, the Master
Servicing Agreement or such other instrument or agreement.
(b) The Issuer may contract with other Persons to assist it in
performing its duties under this Indenture, and any performance of such duties
by a Person identified to the Indenture Trustee in an Officers' Certificate of
the Issuer shall be deemed to be action taken by the Issuer. Initially, the
Issuer has contracted with the Master Servicer and the Administrator to assist
the Issuer in performing its duties under this Indenture.
(c) The Issuer will punctually perform and observe all its obligations
and agreements contained in this Indenture, the other Basic Documents and in the
instruments and agreements included in the Indenture Trust Estate, including
filing or causing to be filed all UCC financing statements and continuation
statements required to be filed by the terms of this Indenture, the Loan Sale
Agreement and the Master Servicing Agreement in accordance with and within the
time periods provided for herein and therein. Except as otherwise expressly
provided therein, the Issuer shall not waive, amend, modify, supplement or
terminate any Basic Document or any provision thereof without the consent of the
Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of at least a majority of the Outstanding
Amount of the Notes.
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(d) If the Issuer shall have knowledge of the occurrence of a Servicer
Default under the Master Servicing Agreement, or an Administrator Default under
the Administration Agreement, the Issuer shall promptly notify the Indenture
Trustee and the Rating Agencies thereof, and shall specify in such notice the
action, if any, the Issuer is taking with respect to such default. If a Servicer
Default shall arise from the failure of the Master Servicer to perform any of
its duties or obligations under the Master Servicing Agreement with respect to
the Financed Student Loans, the Issuer shall take all reasonable steps available
to it to enforce its rights under the Basic Documents in respect of such
failure.
(e) As promptly as possible after the giving of notice of termination
to the Master Servicer of the Master Servicer's rights and powers pursuant to
Section 6.01 of the Master Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall appoint a
successor master servicer (the "Successor Master Servicer"), and such Successor
Master Servicer shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in a form
acceptable to the Indenture Trustee. In the event that a Successor Master
Servicer has not been appointed and accepted its appointment at the time when
the Master Servicer ceases to act as Master Servicer, the Indenture Trustee
without further action shall automatically be appointed the Successor Master
Servicer. The Indenture Trustee may resign as the Master Servicer by giving
written notice of such resignation to the Issuer and in such event will be
released from such duties and obligations, such release not to be effective
until the date a new master servicer enters into an agreement with the Issuer as
provided below; provided, however, that nothing herein shall require or permit
the Indenture Trustee to act as Master Servicer, or otherwise service the
Financed Student Loans, in violation of the Higher Education Act. Upon delivery
of any such notice to the Issuer, the Issuer shall obtain a new master servicer
as the Successor Master Servicer under the Master Servicing Agreement. Any
Successor Master Servicer other than the Indenture Trustee shall (i) be an
established institution (A) that satisfies any requirements of the Higher
Education Act applicable to servicers, (B) the appointment of which satisfies
the Rating Agency Condition and (C) whose regular business includes the
servicing or administration of student loans and (ii) enter into a Master
Servicing Agreement with the Issuer having substantially the same provisions as
the provisions of the Master Servicing Agreement applicable to the Master
Servicer. If within 30 days after the delivery of the notice referred to above,
the Issuer shall not have obtained such a new servicer, the Indenture Trustee
may appoint or may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, a
Successor Master Servicer; provided, however, that such right to appoint or to
petition for the appointment of any such successor shall in no event relieve
17
the Indenture Trustee from any obligations otherwise imposed on it under the
Basic Documents until such successor has in fact assumed such appointment. In
connection with any such appointment, the Indenture Trustee may make such
arrangements for the compensation of such successor as it and such successor
shall agree, subject to the limitations set forth below and in the Master
Servicing Agreement, and in accordance with Section 6.02 of the Master Servicing
Agreement, the Issuer shall enter into an agreement with such successor for the
servicing of the Financed Student Loans (such agreement to be in form and
substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee). If the Indenture Trustee shall
succeed as provided herein to the Master Servicer's duties as servicer with
respect to the Financed Student Loans, it shall do so in its individual capacity
and not in its capacity as Indenture Trustee and, accordingly, the provisions of
Article VI hereof shall be inapplicable to the Indenture Trustee in its duties
as the successor to the Master Servicer and the servicing of the Financed
Student Loans. In case the Indenture Trustee shall become successor to the
Master Servicer under the Master Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee
shall be entitled to appoint as Master Servicer any one of its affiliates,
provided that such appointment shall not affect or alter in any way the
liability of the Indenture Trustee as a successor for the performance of the
duties and obligations of the Master Servicer in accordance with the terms
hereof.
(f) Upon any termination of the Master Servicer's rights and powers
pursuant to the Master Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall promptly notify the
Indenture Trustee. As soon as a Successor Master Servicer is appointed, the
Issuer shall notify the Indenture Trustee of such appointment, specifying in
such notice the name and address of such Successor Master Servicer.
(g) Without derogating from the absolute nature of the assignment
granted to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture or the rights of the
Indenture Trustee hereunder, the Issuer agrees that it will not, without the
prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of at least a
majority in Outstanding Amount of the Notes, amend, modify, waive, supplement,
terminate or surrender, or agree to any amendment, modification, supplement,
termination, waiver or surrender of, the terms of any Collateral or the Basic
Documents, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Master Servicing
Agreement, or waive timely performance or observance by the Master Servicer, the
Seller, the Issuer, the Administrator or the Eligible Lender Trustee under the
Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement or the Administration
Agreement; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (i) increase or
reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the timing of,
distributions that are required to be made for the benefit of the
18
Noteholders, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Notes which are
required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the
Noteholders of all the Outstanding Notes. If any such amendment, modification,
supplement or waiver shall be so consented to by the Indenture Trustee or such
Noteholders, the Issuer agrees, promptly following a request by the Indenture
Trustee to do so, to execute and deliver, in its own name and at its own
expense, such agreements, instruments, consents and other documents as the
Indenture Trustee may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
SECTION 3.08. Negative Covenants. So long as any Notes are
Outstanding, the Issuer shall not:
(i) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture or
any other Basic Document, sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose
of any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, including those
included in the Indenture Trust Estate, unless directed to do so by the
Indenture Trustee (which direction the Indenture Trustee shall not give
without the consent of each of the Rating Agencies);
(ii) claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the
principal or interest (including any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover) payable in respect of, the Notes (other than amounts
properly withheld from such payments under the Code or applicable state
law) or assert any claim against any present or former Noteholder by
reason of the payment of the taxes levied or assessed upon any part of
the Indenture Trust Estate; or
(iii) (A) permit the validity or effectiveness of this
Indenture to be impaired, or permit the lien of this Indenture to be
amended, hypothecated, subordinated, terminated or discharged, or
permit any Person to be released from any covenants or obligations with
respect to the Notes under this Indenture except as may be expressly
permitted hereby, (B) permit any lien, charge, excise, claim, security
interest, mortgage or other encumbrance (other than the lien of this
Indenture) to be created on or extend to or otherwise arise upon or
burden the Indenture Trust Estate or any part thereof or any interest
therein or the proceeds thereof (other than tax liens and other liens
that arise by operation of law, in each case arising solely as a result
of an action or omission of the related Obligor, and other than as
expressly permitted by the Basic Documents) or (C) permit the lien of
this Indenture not to constitute a valid first priority (other than
with respect to any such tax or other lien) security interest in the
Indenture Trust Estate.
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SECTION 3.09. Annual Statement as to Compliance. The Issuer will
deliver to the Indenture Trustee, within 180 days after the end of each fiscal
year of the Issuer (commencing with the fiscal year 1997), an Officers'
Certificate of the Issuer stating that:
(i) a review of the activities of the Issuer during
such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under
such Authorized Officers' supervision; and
(ii) to the best of such Authorized Officers' knowledge,
based on such review, the Issuer has complied with all conditions and
covenants under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has
been a default in the compliance of any such condition or covenant,
specifying each such default known to such Authorized Officers and the
nature and status thereof.
SECTION 3.10. Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms. (a)
The Issuer shall not consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, unless:
(i) the Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by or
surviving such consolidation or merger shall be a Person organized and
existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State
and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto,
executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form satisfactory
to the Indenture Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal
of, interest on and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover, if any,
with respect to all Notes and the performance or observance of every
agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Issuer to
be performed or observed, all as provided herein;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been
satisfied with respect to such transaction;
(iv) the Issuer shall have received an Opinion of Counsel
(and shall have delivered copies thereof to the Indenture Trustee) to
the effect that such transaction will not have any material adverse tax
consequence to the Issuer, any Noteholder or any Certificateholder;
20
(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the lien and
security interest created by this Indenture shall have been taken; and
(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture
Trustee an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer and an Opinion of
Counsel each stating that such consolidation or merger and such
supplemental indenture comply with this Article III and that all
conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange
Act).
(b) The Issuer shall not convey or transfer all or substantially all
its properties or assets, including those included in the Indenture Trust
Estate, to any Person, unless:
(i) the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer
the properties and assets of the Issuer the conveyance or transfer of
which is hereby restricted shall (A) be a United States citizen or a
Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America or any State, (B) expressly assumes, by an indenture
supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee,
in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the due and punctual
payment of the principal of, interest on and Noteholders' Interest
LIBOR Carryover, if any, with respect to all Notes and the performance
or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the
part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein,
(C) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture that all
right, title and interest so conveyed or transferred shall be subject
and subordinate to the rights of Noteholders, (D) unless otherwise
provided in such supplemental indenture, expressly agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Issuer against and from any loss,
liability or expense arising under or related to this Indenture and the
Notes and (E) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture
that such Person (or if a group of Persons, then one specified Person)
shall make all filings with the Commission (and any other appropriate
Person) required by the Exchange Act in connection with the Notes;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been
satisfied with respect to such transaction;
(iv) the Issuer shall have received an Opinion of
Counsel (and shall have delivered copies thereof to the Indenture
Trustee) to the effect that such transaction will not have any material
adverse tax consequence to the Issuer, any Noteholder or any
Certificateholder;
(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the lien and
security interest created by this Indenture shall have been taken; and
(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture
Trustee an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer and an Opinion of
Counsel each stating that such conveyance or transfer and such
supplemental indenture comply with this Article III and that all
conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange
Act).
SECTION 3.11. Successor or Transferee. (a) Upon any consolidation or
merger of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.10(a), the Person formed by or
surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed
to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the
Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Person had been
named as the Issuer herein.
(b) Upon a conveyance or transfer of all the assets and properties of
the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.10(b), Signet Student Loan Trust 1996-A will be
released from every covenant and agreement of this Indenture to be observed or
performed on the part of the Issuer with respect to the Notes immediately upon
the delivery by the Issuer of written notice to the Indenture Trustee stating
that Signet Student Loan Trust 1996-A is to be so released.
SECTION 3.12. No Other Business. The Issuer shall not engage in any
business other than financing, purchasing, owning, selling and managing the
Financed Student Loans in the manner contemplated by this Indenture and the
other Basic Documents and activities incidental thereto.
SECTION 3.13. No Borrowing. The Issuer shall not issue, incur,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable, directly or indirectly, for any
indebtedness except for the Notes.
SECTION 3.14. Obligations of Master Servicer and Administrator. The
Issuer shall cause the Master Servicer to comply with Sections 3.07, 3.08, 3.09
and 3.10 of the Master Servicing Agreement and shall cause the Administrator to
comply with Section 2(h) of the Administration Agreement.
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SECTION 3.15. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities. Except
as contemplated by the Basic Documents or this Indenture, the Issuer shall not
make any loan or advance or credit to, or guarantee (directly or indirectly or
by an instrument having the effect of assuring another's payment or performance
on any obligation or capability of so doing or otherwise), endorse or otherwise
become contingently liable, directly or indirectly, in connection with the
obligations, stocks or dividends of, or own, purchase, repurchase or acquire (or
agree contingently to do so) any stock, obligations, assets or securities of, or
any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person.
SECTION 3.16. Capital Expenditures. The Issuer shall not make any
expenditure (by long-term or operating lease or otherwise) for capital assets
(either realty or personalty).
SECTION 3.17. Restricted Payments. The Issuer shall not, directly or
indirectly, (i) pay any dividend or make any distribution (by reduction of
capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination
thereof, to the Eligible Lender Trustee or any owner of a beneficial interest in
the Issuer or otherwise with respect to any ownership or equity interest or
security in or of the Issuer or to the Master Servicer or the Administrator,
(ii) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any such ownership
or equity interest or security or (iii) set aside or otherwise segregate any
amounts for any such purpose; provided, however, that the Issuer may make, or
cause to be made, distributions to the Master Servicer, the Eligible Lender
Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Certificateholders, the Noteholders, the
Administrator and the Seller as contemplated by, and to the extent funds are
available for such purpose under, the Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing
Agreement or the Administration Agreement. The Issuer will not, directly or
indirectly, make payments to or distributions from the Collection Account except
in accordance with this Indenture and the other Basic Documents.
SECTION 3.18. Notice of Events of Default. The Issuer shall give the
Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies prompt written notice of each Event of
Default hereunder and each default on the part of the Seller, the Master
Servicer or the Administrator of its obligations under the Loan Sale Agreement,
the Master Servicing Agreement or the Administration Agreement. In addition, the
Issuer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, within five days after the
occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of
the Issuer of any event which with the giving of notice and the lapse of time
would become an Event of Default under Section 5.01(iii), its status and what
action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with
23
respect thereto. The Indenture Trustee shall provide notice to the Noteholders
of each default or other event of which it receives notice pursuant to this
Section 3.18, promptly after receipt of such Notice.
SECTION 3.19. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the
Indenture Trustee, the Issuer will execute and deliver such further instruments
and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out
more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.20. Removal of Administrator. So long as any Notes are
Outstanding, the Issuer shall not remove the Administrator without cause unless
the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied in connection with such
removal.
ARTICLE IV
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture
shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes except as to (i)
rights of registration of transfer and exchange, (ii) substitution of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, (iii) rights of Noteholders to receive payments
of principal thereof and interest (including any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover) thereon, (iv) Sections 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.08, 3.10, 3.12 and 3.13,
(v) the rights, obligations and immunities of the Indenture Trustee hereunder
(including the rights of the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 and the
obligations of the Indenture Trustee under Section 4.02) and (vi) the rights of
Noteholders as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited
with the Indenture Trustee payable to all or any of them, and the Indenture
Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with
respect to the Notes, when:
(A) either
(1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (i) Notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen
and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section
2.05 and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore
been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the
Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from
such trust, as provided in Section 3.03) have been delivered
to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation; or
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(2) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the
Indenture Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable,
(ii) will become due and payable at the
Class A-1 Final Maturity Date or the Class A-2 Final
Maturity Date, as the case may be, within one year,
or
(iii) are to be called for redemption
within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Indenture Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption by the Indenture Trustee in the name, and
at the expense, of the Issuer,
and the Issuer, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited
with the Indenture Trustee cash or direct obligations of or
obligations guaranteed by the United States of America (which
will mature prior to the date such amounts are payable), in
trust for such purpose, in an amount sufficient to pay and
discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not
theretofore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for
cancellation as of such day of discharge or when due on the
Class A-1 Final Maturity Date or the Class A-2 Final Maturity
Date, as the case may be;
(B) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all
other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer; and
(C) the Issuer has delivered to the Indenture Trustee
an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel
and (if required by the TIA or the Indenture Trustee) an
Independent Certificate from a firm of certified public
accountants, each meeting the applicable requirements of
Section 11.01(a) and, subject to Section 11.02, each stating
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been
complied with.
SECTION 4.02. Application of Trust Money. All moneys deposited with the
Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof shall be held in trust and
applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent, as the
Indenture Trustee may determine, to the Noteholders of the particular Notes for
the payment or redemption of which such
25
moneys have been deposited with the Indenture Trustee, of all sums due and to
become due thereon for principal and interest (including any Noteholders'
Interest LIBOR Carryover); but such moneys need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required herein, in the Master Servicing Agreement or
the Administration Agreement or required by law.
SECTION 4.03. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent. In connection
with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes,
all moneys then held by any Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee under
the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such Notes shall, upon demand
of the Issuer, be paid to the Indenture Trustee to be held and applied according
to Section 3.03 and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all
further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 4.04. Auction of Financed Student Loans. The Indenture Trustee
shall offer the Financed Student Loans for sale as of the last day of the
Collection Period immediately preceding the January, 2007 Distribution Date and
shall accept bids on behalf of the Issuer for such purpose. If with respect to
the last date of such Collection Period, the Indenture Trustee receives no bid
to purchase the Financed Student Loans, or no bid that it may, as specified
below, accept, the Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be under any obligation
to, offer the Financed Student Loans for sale as of the last day of each, or
any, of the succeeding Collection Periods until a bid is received that may, as
specified below, be accepted by the Indenture Trustee. With respect to any
attempt to arrange for the purchase of the Financed Student Loans, the Indenture
Trustee shall accept the highest bid submitted so long as (i) at least two bids
to purchase the Financed Student Loans as of the last day of the applicable
Collection Period are received and (ii) the highest such bid is at least equal
to the greater of (x) the Minimum Purchase Price as of the applicable
Distribution Date and (y) the Purchase Amount of the Financed Student Loans as
of last day of the applicable Collection Period. Any attempt to arrange for the
purchase of the Financed Student Loans and the consummation of any such sale
shall be conducted by the Indenture Trustee in a commercially reasonable manner.
The Indenture Trustee shall provide notice of any such attempt at least 60 days
prior to the last day of the related Collection Period to the Seller, the Master
Servicer, each Subservicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Rating Agencies,
each Noteholder and each Certificateholder, and any such Person or their
respective Affiliates or any other Person may submit a timely bid for the
purchase of the Financed Student Loans.
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ARTICLE V
Remedies
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default. "Event of Default", wherever used
herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(i) default in the payment of any interest (including,
subject to the limitations of Sections 2.07(d) and 8.02(c), any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on any Note when the same
becomes due and payable, and such default shall continue for a period
of five days; or
(ii) default in the payment of the principal of any Note
when the same becomes due and payable; or
(iii) default in the observance or performance of any
covenant or agreement of the Issuer made in this Indenture (other than
a covenant or agreement, a default in the observance or performance of
which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), or any
representation or warranty of the Issuer made in this Indenture or in
any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in
connection herewith proving to have been incorrect in any material
respect as of the time when the same shall have been made, and such
default shall continue or not be cured, or the circumstance or
condition in respect of which such misrepresentation or warranty was
incorrect shall not have been eliminated or otherwise cured, for a
period of 60 (or, in the circumstances provided below, 120) days after
there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee by the Noteholders of at least 25% of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes, a written notice specifying such default or incorrect
representation or warranty and requiring it to be remedied and stating
that such notice is a notice of Default hereunder; provided, that, if
at the end of such 60-day period, the Indenture Trustee determines that
a good faith effort to cure or eliminate the Default has commenced, the
Indenture Trustee may extend such 60-day period to 120 days; or
(iv) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a
court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the
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Issuer or any substantial part of the Indenture Trust Estate in an
involuntary case under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial
part of the Indenture Trust Estate, or ordering the winding-up or
liquidation of the Issuer's affairs, and such decree or order shall
remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(v) the commencement by the Issuer of a voluntary case
under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Issuer to
the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such
law, or the consent by the Issuer to the appointment or taking
possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial
part of the Indenture Trust Estate, or the making by the Issuer of any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by the
Issuer generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the
taking of action by the Issuer in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an
Event of Default should occur and be continuing, then and in every such case the
Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of Notes representing not less than 66-2/3%
of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes may declare all the Notes to be
immediately due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the
Indenture Trustee if given by Noteholders), and upon any such declaration the
unpaid principal amount of such Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest
thereon through the date of acceleration, shall become immediately due and
payable.
At any time after such declaration of acceleration of maturity has been
made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained by the Indenture Trustee as hereinafter in this Article V provided, the
Noteholders of Notes representing a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the
Notes, by written notice to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, may rescind
and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(i) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Indenture
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(A) all payments of principal of and interest on all
Notes and all other amounts that would then be due
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hereunder or upon such Notes if the Event of Default giving
rise to such acceleration had not occurred; and
(B) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture
Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and its
agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of
the principal of the Notes that has become due solely by such
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.12.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Indenture Trustee. (a) The Issuer covenants that if (i) default is made in the
payment of any interest (including, subject to the limitations of Sections
2.07(d) and 8.02(c), any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on any Note when
the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of
five days, or (ii) default is made in the payment of the principal of or any
installment of the principal of any Note when the same becomes due and payable,
the Issuer will, upon demand of the Indenture Trustee, pay to it, for the
benefit of the Noteholders, the whole amount then due and payable on such Notes
for principal and interest (and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover), with
interest upon the overdue principal, and, to the extent payment at such rate of
interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest
(and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover), at the rate specified in
Section 2.07 and in addition thereto such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and
its agents and counsel.
(b) In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon
such demand, the Indenture Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust, may institute a Proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, and may prosecute such Proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may
enforce the same against the Issuer or other obligor upon such Notes and collect
in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor
upon such Notes, wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be
payable.
(c) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture
Trustee may, as more particularly provided in Section 5.04, in its discretion,
proceed to protect and enforce its
29
rights and the rights of the Noteholders, by such appropriate Proceedings as the
Indenture Trustee shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any such
rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in
this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to
enforce any other proper remedy or legal or equitable right vested in the
Indenture Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
(d) In case there shall be pending, relative to the Issuer or any other
obligor upon the Notes or any Person having or claiming an ownership interest in
the Indenture Trust Estate, Proceedings under Title 11 of the United States Code
or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization,
liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or
taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor or Person,
or in case of any other comparable judicial Proceedings relative to the Issuer
or other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer
or such other obligor, the Indenture Trustee, irrespective of whether the
principal of any Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Indenture Trustee shall
have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole
amount of principal and interest (including any Noteholders' Interest
LIBOR Carryover) owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file
such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in
order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee (including any claim
for reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee and each
predecessor Indenture Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys
and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities
incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each
predecessor Indenture Trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad
faith) and of the Noteholders allowed in such Proceedings;
(ii) unless prohibited by applicable law and
regulations, to vote on behalf of the Noteholders in any election of a
trustee, a standby trustee or Person performing similar functions in
any such Proceedings;
(iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property
payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute all amounts
received with respect to the claims
30
of the Noteholders and of the Indenture Trustee on their behalf; and
(iv) to file such proofs of claim and other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders allowed in any judicial
proceedings relative to the Issuer, its creditors and its property;
and any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official in
any such Proceeding is hereby authorized by each of such Noteholders to make
payments to the Indenture Trustee, and, in the event that the Indenture Trustee
shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Noteholders, to pay to
the Indenture Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation to the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and
their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each
predecessor Indenture Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith.
(e) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Indenture
Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of
any Noteholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Noteholder thereof or to
authorize the Indenture Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Noteholder in any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar Person.
(f) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture,
or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Indenture Trustee without the
possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any trial or other
Proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or Proceedings instituted by
the Indenture Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express
trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses,
disbursements and compensation of the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor
Indenture Trustee and their respective agents and attorneys, shall be for the
ratable benefit of the Noteholders.
(g) In any Proceedings brought by the Indenture Trustee (and also any
Proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to
which the Indenture Trustee shall be a party), the Indenture Trustee shall be
held to represent all the Noteholders, and it shall not be necessary to make any
Noteholder a party to any such Proceedings.
31
SECTION 5.04. Remedies; Priorities. (a) If an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Indenture Trustee may do one or more of the
following (subject to Section 5.05):
(i) institute Proceedings in its own name and as
trustee of an express trust for the collection of all amounts then
payable on the Notes or under this Indenture with respect thereto,
whether by declaration or otherwise, enforce any judgment obtained, and
collect from the Issuer and any other obligor upon such Notes moneys
adjudged due;
(ii) institute Proceedings from time to time for the
complete or partial foreclosure of this Indenture with respect to the
Indenture Trust Estate;
(iii) exercise any remedies of a secured party under the
UCC and take any other appropriate action to protect and enforce the
rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders; and
(iv) sell the Indenture Trust Estate or any portion
thereof or rights or interest therein, at one or more public or private
sales called and conducted in any manner permitted by law;
provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise
liquidate the Indenture Trust Estate following an Event of Default, other than
an Event of Default described in Section 5.01(i) or (ii), unless (A) the
Noteholders of 100% of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes consent thereto, (B)
the proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the Noteholders are
sufficient to discharge in full all amounts then due and unpaid upon such Notes
for principal and interest or (C) the Indenture Trustee determines that the
Indenture Trust Estate will not continue to provide sufficient funds for the
payment of principal of and interest on the Notes as they would have become due
if the Notes had not been declared due and payable, and the Indenture Trustee
obtains the consent of Noteholders of 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Amount of the
Notes. In determining such sufficiency or insufficiency with respect to clauses
(B) and (C), the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and rely upon an
opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national
reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the
sufficiency of the Indenture Trust Estate for such purpose. In addition, the
Indenture Trustee may not in the exercise of its remedies of foreclosure or
otherwise hereunder act as the holder of legal title of the Financed Student
Loans unless it, or a co-trustee appointed by it pursuant to Section 6.10, is
eligible to do so under the definition of
32
"eligible lender" under Section 435(d) of the Higher Education Act.
(b) If the Indenture Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to
this Article V, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Indenture Trustee for amounts due under Section
6.07;
SECOND: to the Master Servicer for due and unpaid Servicing
Fees;
THIRD: to Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for interest;
FOURTH: to the Issuer for distribution of interest due and
unpaid to the Certificateholders;
FIFTH: to Class A-1 Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on
the Class A-1 Notes for principal, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the
Class A-1 Notes for principal;
SIXTH: to Class A-2 Noteholders for amounts due and unpaid on
the Class A-2 Notes for principal, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the
Class A-2 Notes for principal;
SEVENTH: to the Issuer for distribution of principal due and
unpaid to the Certificateholders;
EIGHTH: to Noteholders for any unpaid Noteholders' Interest
LIBOR Carryover, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the amount of such Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover
attributable to each Note;
NINTH: to the Issuer for distribution to the
Certificateholders of any unpaid Certificateholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover; and
TENTH: to the Issuer, for distribution in accordance with the
terms of the Administration Agreement.
The Indenture Trustee may fix a record date and
33
payment date for any payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Section. At least
15 days before such record date, the Issuer shall mail to each Noteholder and
the Indenture Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and
the amount to be paid.
SECTION 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Indenture Trust Estate. If
the Notes have been declared to be due and payable under Section 5.02 following
an Event of Default and such declaration and its consequences have not been
rescinded and annulled, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, elect to
maintain possession of the Indenture Trust Estate. It is the desire of the
parties hereto and the Noteholders that there be at all times sufficient funds
for the payment of principal of and interest (including any Noteholders'
Interest LIBOR Carryover) on the Notes, and the Indenture Trustee shall take
such desire into account when determining whether to maintain possession of the
Indenture Trust Estate. In determining whether to maintain possession of the
Indenture Trust Estate, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and rely
upon an opinion (which shall be obtained at the expense of the Issuer) of an
Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to
the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the
Indenture Trust Estate for such purpose.
SECTION 5.06. Limitation of Suits. No Noteholder shall have any right
to institute any Proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless:
(i) such Noteholder has previously given written notice
to the Indenture Trustee of a continuing Event of Default;
(ii) the Noteholders of not less than 25% of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes have made written request to the
Indenture Trustee to institute such Proceeding in respect of such Event
of Default in its own name as Indenture Trustee hereunder;
(iii) such Noteholder or Noteholders have offered to the
Indenture Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities to be incurred in complying with such request;
(iv) the Indenture Trustee for 60 days after its receipt
of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute
such Proceeding; and
34
(v) no direction inconsistent with such written request
has been given to the Indenture Trustee during such 60-day period by
the Noteholders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Noteholders shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other
Noteholders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any
other Noteholders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the
manner herein provided.
In the event the Indenture Trustee shall receive conflicting or
inconsistent requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Noteholders, each
representing less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, the
Indenture Trustee in its sole discretion may determine what action, if any,
shall be taken, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Noteholders To Receive Principal
and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, any
Noteholder shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive
payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Note on or after the
respective due dates thereof expressed in such Note or in this Indenture (or, in
the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date) and to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Noteholder.
SECTION 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Indenture
Trustee or any Noteholder has instituted any Proceeding to enforce any right or
remedy under this Indenture and such Proceeding has been discontinued or
abandoned for any reason or has been determined adversely to the Indenture
Trustee or to such Noteholder, then and in every such case the Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders shall, subject to any determination in
such Proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former
positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Indenture
Trustee and the Noteholders shall continue as though no such Proceeding had been
instituted.
SECTION 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Indenture Trustee or to the Noteholders is
intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and
remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to
every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law
or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of
35
any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver. No delay or omission of
the Indenture Trustee or any Noteholder to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon any Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of
any such Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by
this Article V or by law to the Indenture Trustee or to the Noteholders may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Indenture Trustee or by the Noteholders, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.11. Control by Noteholders. The Noteholders of a majority of
the Outstanding Amount of the Notes shall have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any Proceeding for any remedy available to the
Indenture Trustee with respect to the Notes or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Indenture Trustee; provided that
(i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any
rule of law or with this Indenture;
(ii) subject to the express terms of Section 5.04, any
direction to the Indenture Trustee to sell or liquidate the Indenture
Trust Estate shall be by the Noteholders of 100% of the Outstanding
Amount of the Notes;
(iii) if the conditions set forth in Section 5.05 have
been satisfied and the Indenture Trustee elects to retain the Indenture
Trust Estate pursuant to such Section, then any direction to the
Indenture Trustee by Noteholders of less than 100% of the Outstanding
Amount of the Notes to sell or liquidate the Indenture Trust Estate
shall be of no force and effect; and
(iv) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action
deemed proper by the Indenture Trustee that is not inconsistent with
such direction;
provided, however, that, subject to Section 6.01, the Indenture Trustee need not
take any action that it determines might involve it in liability or might
materially adversely affect the rights of any Noteholders not consenting to such
action.
SECTION 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults. Prior to the time a judgment
or decree for payment of money due has been obtained as described in Section
5.02, the Noteholders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes may waive any
36
past Default and its consequences except a Default (a) in payment when due of
principal of or interest (including, subject to the limitations of Sections
2.07(d) and 8.02(c), any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on any of the
Notes or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of each Noteholder. In the case of any
such waiver, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders shall be
restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right
consequent thereto.
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist and be deemed
to have been cured and not to have occurred for every purpose of this Indenture;
but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any
right consequent thereto.
SECTION 5.13. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each Noteholder by such Noteholder's acceptance of any Note shall be
deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit
for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit
against the Indenture Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as
Indenture Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its
discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section shall not apply to (a) any suit instituted by the
Indenture Trustee, (b) any suit instituted by any Noteholder, or group of
Noteholders, in each case holding in the aggregate more than 10% of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes or (c) any suit instituted by any Noteholder for
the enforcement of the payment of principal of or interest (including any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on any Note on or after the respective
due dates expressed in such Note and in this Indenture (or, in the case of
redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Issuer covenants
(to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist
upon, or plead or in any manner whatsoever, claim or take the benefit or
advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time
hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this
Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby
expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it
will not hinder, delay or
37
impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Indenture Trustee, but
will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law
had been enacted.
SECTION 5.15. Action on Notes. The Indenture Trustee's right to seek
and recover judgment on the Notes or under this Indenture shall not be affected
by the seeking, obtaining or application of any other relief under or with
respect to this Indenture. Neither the lien of this Indenture nor any rights or
remedies of the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders shall be impaired by the
recovery of any judgment by the Indenture Trustee against the Issuer or by the
levy of any execution under such judgment upon any portion of the Indenture
Trust Estate or upon any of the assets of the Issuer. Any money or property
collected by the Indenture Trustee shall be applied in accordance with Section
5.04(b).
SECTION 5.16. Performance and Enforcement of Certain Obligations. (a)
Promptly following a request from the Indenture Trustee to do so and at the
Administrator's expense, the Issuer shall take all such lawful action as the
Indenture Trustee may request to compel or secure the performance and observance
by the Seller, the Administrator, the Master Servicer and any Subservicer, as
applicable, of each of their obligations to the Issuer under or in connection
with the Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement and the
Administration Agreement and to exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers
and privileges lawfully available to the Issuer under or in connection with the
Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement and the Administration
Agreement to the extent and in the manner directed by the Indenture Trustee,
including the transmission of notices of default on the part of the Seller, the
Master Servicer or the Administrator thereunder and the institution of legal or
administrative actions or proceedings to compel or secure performance by the
Seller, the Master Servicer or the Administrator of each of their obligations
under the Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement or the
Administration Agreement.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Indenture Trustee may, and at the direction (which direction shall be in writing
or by telephone (confirmed in writing promptly thereafter)) of the Noteholders
of 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes shall, exercise all rights,
remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the Issuer against the Seller, the
Master Servicer or the Administrator under or in connection with the Loan Sale
Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement or the Administration Agreement,
including the right or power to take any action to compel or secure performance
or observance by the Seller, the Master Servicer or the
38
Administrator of each of their obligations to the Issuer thereunder and to give
any consent, request, notice, direction, approval, extension or waiver under the
Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement or the Administration
Agreement and any right of the Issuer to take such action shall be suspended.
ARTICLE VI
The Indenture Trustee
SECTION 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee shall exercise the rights
and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and
skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the Indenture Trustee undertakes to perform such
duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into
this Indenture against the Indenture Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the
Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon
certificates or opinions furnished to the Indenture Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however,
that the Indenture Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions
to determine whether they conform to the requirements of this
Indenture.
(c) The Indenture Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its
own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of
paragraph (b) of this Section;
(ii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer unless it
is proved that the Indenture Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good
39
faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to
Sections 5.02, 5.11, 5.12 and 5.16.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the
Indenture Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (g) of this
Section.
(e) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it except as the Indenture Trustee may agree in writing with the
Issuer.
(f) Money held in trust by the Indenture Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law or the terms of this
Indenture or the Master Servicing Agreement.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Indenture Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayments
of such funds or adequate indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss,
liability or expense is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) Except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, the Indenture
Trustee shall have no obligation to administer, service or collect the Financed
Student Loans or to maintain, monitor or otherwise supervise the administration,
servicing or collection of the Financed Student Loans.
(i) In the event that the Indenture Trustee is the Paying Agent or the
Note Registrar, the rights and protections afforded to the Indenture Trustee
pursuant to this Indenture shall also be afforded to the Indenture Trustee in
its capacity as Paying Agent or Note Registrar.
(j) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or
affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Indenture Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the
TIA.
SECTION 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee. (a) The Indenture Trustee
may rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper Person. The Indenture Trustee need not investigate any
fact or matter stated in such document.
(b) Before the Indenture Trustee acts or refrains from acting in
connection with any matter contemplated by this Indenture or other Basic
Documents, it may require an Officers'
40
Certificate of the Issuer or an Opinion of Counsel. The Indenture Trustee shall
not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance
on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Indenture Trustee may exercise any of the trusts and powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents or attorneys or a custodian or nominee, and the Indenture Trustee shall
not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the
supervision of, any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with
due care by it hereunder.
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes
or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its
rights or powers; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee's conduct does
not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
(e) The Indenture Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or
opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and
the other Basic Documents and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization
and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or
suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or
opinion of such counsel.
(f) Subject to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (g) of Section 6.01 hereof,
the Indenture Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any
Noteholder pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Noteholder shall have offered
to the Indenture Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
SECTION 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee
of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same
rights it would have if it were not Indenture Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Note
Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights.
However, the Indenture Trustee must comply with Sections 6.11 and 6.12.
SECTION 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer. The Indenture Trustee
shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or
adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the
Issuer's use of
41
the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement
of the Issuer in the Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the
sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Indenture Trustee's certificate
of authentication.
SECTION 6.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing
and if it is either actually known or written notice of the existence thereof
has been delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, the
Indenture Trustee shall mail notice of the Default to each Noteholder and to the
Rating Agencies promptly after the Indenture Trustee obtains such knowledge or
receives such notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in
the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest (including any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on any Note (including payments pursuant
to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Note), the Indenture Trustee may
withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in
good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of
Noteholders.
SECTION 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Noteholders. The Paying
Agent shall deliver to each Noteholder (and to each Person who was a Noteholder
at any time during the applicable calendar year) such information as may be
required to enable such holder to prepare its Federal and state income tax
returns. Within 60 days after each December 31 beginning with the December 31
following the date of this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to each
Noteholder a brief report as of such December 31 that complies with TIA ss.
313(a) if required by said section. The Indenture Trustee shall also comply with
TIA ss. 313(b). A copy of each such report required pursuant to TIA ss. 313(a)
or (b) shall, at the time of such transmission to Noteholders, be filed by the
Indenture Trustee with the Commission and with each securities exchange, if any,
upon which the Notes are listed, provided that the Issuer has previously
notified the Indenture Trustee of such listing.
SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall cause the
Administrator to pay to the Indenture Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its services and shall cause the Administrator to reimburse the
Indenture Trustee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by
it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its
services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee's agents, counsel,
accountants and experts. The Indenture Trustee's compensation shall not be
limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer
shall cause the Administrator to indemnify the Indenture Trustee,
42
its officers, directors, employees and agents against any and all loss,
liability or expense (including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by it in
connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its
duties hereunder and under the other Basic Documents. The Indenture Trustee
shall notify the Issuer and the Administrator promptly of any claim for which it
may seek indemnity. Failure by the Indenture Trustee to so notify the Issuer and
the Administrator shall not relieve the Issuer or the Administrator of its
obligations hereunder and under the other Basic Documents. The Issuer shall
cause the Administrator to defend the claim and the Administrator shall not be
liable for any additional legal fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee after
it has assumed such defense; provided, however, that, in the event that there
may be a conflict between the positions of the Indenture Trustee and the
Administrator in conducting the defense of such claim, the Indenture Trustee
shall be entitled to separate counsel the fees and expenses of which shall be
paid by the Administrator on behalf of the Issuer. Neither the Issuer nor the
Administrator need reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss,
liability or expense incurred by the Indenture Trustee through the Indenture
Trustee's own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
The Issuer's and Administrator's payment obligations to the Indenture
Trustee pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture.
When the Indenture Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default
specified in Section 5.01(iv) or (v) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses
are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Title 11 of the
United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law.
SECTION 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee. No resignation or
removal of the Indenture Trustee and no appointment of a successor Indenture
Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.08. The Indenture Trustee
may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Noteholders of a majority
in Outstanding Amount of the Notes may remove the Indenture Trustee by so
notifying the Indenture Trustee and may appoint a successor Indenture Trustee.
The Issuer shall remove the Indenture Trustee if:
(i) the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section
6.11;
(ii) an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the
Indenture Trustee;
43
(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of
the Indenture Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Indenture Trustee otherwise becomes incapable
of acting.
If the Indenture Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists
in the office of Indenture Trustee for any reason (the Indenture Trustee in such
event being referred to herein as the retiring Indenture Trustee), the Issuer
shall promptly appoint a successor Indenture Trustee. A former Indenture Trustee
shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of any successor Indenture
Trustee.
A successor Indenture Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Indenture Trustee and to the Issuer and shall notify
the Rating Agencies in writing of such acceptance. Thereupon the resignation or
removal of the retiring Indenture Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Indenture Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the
Indenture Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Indenture Trustee shall
mail a notice of its succession to Noteholders. The retiring Indenture Trustee
shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Indenture Trustee to the
successor Indenture Trustee.
If a successor Indenture Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Indenture Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring
Indenture Trustee, the Issuer or the Noteholders of a majority in Outstanding
Amount of the Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
If the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11, any
Noteholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of
the Indenture Trustee and the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
this Section, the Issuer's and the Administrator's obligations under Section
6.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger. If the Indenture
Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation
or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation
without any further act shall be the successor Indenture Trustee; provided that
such corporation or banking association shall be
44
otherwise qualified and eligible under Section 6.11. The Indenture Trustee
shall provide Rating Agencies prior written notice of any such transaction.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion
or consolidation to the Indenture Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by
this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered,
any such successor to the Indenture Trustee may adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been
authenticated, any successor to the Indenture Trustee may authenticate such
Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor to the Indenture Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates
shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture
provided that the certificate of the Indenture Trustee shall have.
SECTION 6.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, at any time, for the
purpose of meeting any legal requirement of any jurisdiction in which any part
of the Indenture Trust Estate may at the time be located, the Indenture Trustee
shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one
or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or co-trustees, or separate trustee or
separate trustees, of all or any part of the Indenture Trust Estate, and to vest
in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the
Noteholders, such title to the Indenture Trust Estate, or any part hereof, and,
subject to the other provisions of this Section, such powers, duties,
obligations, rights and trusts as the Indenture Trustee may consider necessary
or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to
meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 6.11 and no
notice to Noteholders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee
shall be required under Section 6.08 hereof. The Indenture Trustee shall notify
the Rating Agencies of any appointment of a co-trustee or separate trustee
hereunder.
(b) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and
conditions:
(i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations
conferred or imposed upon the Indenture Trustee shall be conferred or
imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Indenture Trustee and
such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that
such separate trustee or
45
co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Indenture
Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law
of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be
performed the Indenture Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to
perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties
and obligations (including the holding of title to the Indenture Trust
Estate or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be
exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee,
but solely at the direction of the Indenture Trustee;
(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by
reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and
(iii) the Indenture Trustee may at any time accept the
resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.
(c) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Indenture Trustee
shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and
co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument
appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and
the conditions of this Article VI. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon
its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or
property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the
Indenture Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the
provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording
protection to, the Indenture Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with
the Indenture Trustee.
(d) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute the
Indenture Trustee, its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority,
to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of
this Indenture on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or
co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all its
estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised
by the Indenture Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the
appointment of a new or successor trustee.
SECTION 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Indenture Trustee
shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA ss. 310(a). The Indenture
Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set
forth in its most
46
recent published annual report of condition and it shall have a long term debt
rating of Baa3 or better by Moody's. The Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA
ss. 310(b), including the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of
TIA ss. 310(b)(9); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the
operation of TIA ss. 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other
securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion
set forth in TIA ss. 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer. The
Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). An Indenture Trustee who has resigned or
been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VII
Noteholders' Lists and Reports
SECTION 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses
of Noteholders. The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Indenture Trustee (a) not more than five days after the earlier of (i) each
Record Date and (ii) three months after the last Record Date, a list, in such
form as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses
of the Noteholders as of such Record Date, (b) at such other times as the
Indenture Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the
Issuer of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not
more than 10 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however,
that so long as the Indenture Trustee is the Note Registrar, no such list shall
be required to be furnished.
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to
Noteholders. (a) The Indenture Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as
is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of the Noteholders contained
in the most recent list furnished to the Indenture Trustee as provided in
Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Noteholders received by the
Indenture Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar. The Indenture Trustee may
destroy any list furnished to it as provided in such Section 7.01 upon receipt
of a new list so furnished.
(b) Noteholders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other
Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the
Notes.
47
(c) The Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Note Registrar shall have
the protection of TIA ss.312(c).
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall furnish to the Noteholders promptly
upon receipt of a written request therefor, duplicates or copies of all reports,
notices, requests, demands, certificates, financial statements and any other
instruments furnished to the Indenture Trustee under the Basic Documents.
(e) The Indenture Trustee shall provide notice to the Noteholders as
provided in Section 9.02 of the Trust Agreement, and shall provide notice to
Noteholders of any amendment or supplement to the Trust Agreement as provided in
Section 11.01 of the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Issuer. (a) The Issuer shall:
(i) file with the Indenture Trustee, within 15 days
after the Issuer is required to file the same with the Commission,
copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and
other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as
the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations
prescribe) which the Issuer may be required to file with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(ii) file with the Indenture Trustee and the Commission
in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time
by the Commission such additional information, documents and reports
with respect to compliance by the Issuer with the conditions and
covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by
such rules and regulations; and
(iii) supply to the Indenture Trustee (and the Indenture
Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Noteholders described in TIA ss.
313(c)) such summaries of any information, documents and reports
required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of
this Section 7.03(a) as may be required by rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
(b) Unless the Issuer otherwise determines, the fiscal year of the
Issuer shall end on December 31 of each year.
(c) Copies of all reports to be sent to the Indenture Trustee under
this Section 7.03 shall be mailed to the Rating Agencies by the Issuer at the
same time.
48
ARTICLE VIII
Accounts, Disbursements and Releases
SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the Indenture Trustee may demand payment or delivery of, and
shall receive and collect, directly and without intervention or assistance of
any fiscal agent or other intermediary, all money and other property payable to
or receivable by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture. The Indenture
Trustee shall apply all such money received by it on behalf of itself and the
Noteholders pursuant to the Loan Sale Agreement, the Master Servicing Agreement
or the Administration Agreement as provided in this Indenture. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, if any default occurs in the
making of any payment or performance under any agreement or instrument that is
part of the Indenture Trust Estate, the Indenture Trustee may take such action
as may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, including the
institution and prosecution of appropriate Proceedings. Any such action shall be
without prejudice to any right to claim a Default under this Indenture and any
right to proceed thereafter as provided in Article V.
SECTION 8.02. Trust Accounts. (a) On or prior to the Closing Date,
the Issuer shall cause the Administrator to establish and maintain, in the name
of the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Noteholders and the
Certificateholders, the Trust Accounts as provided in Section 2(c) of the
Administration Agreement.
(b) On or before the Business Day preceding each Interest Payment Date
and Distribution Date, all Monthly Available Funds with respect to the preceding
Monthly Collection Period (or in the case of a Distribution Date, Available
Funds with respect to the preceding Collection Period) will be deposited in the
Collection Account as provided in Section 4.01 of the Master Servicing
Agreement. On each Interest Payment Date that is not a Distribution Date, the
Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount with respect to the preceding Monthly
Collection Period, and on each Distribution Date, the Noteholders' Distribution
Amount with respect to the preceding Collection Period will be distributed from
the Collection Account and any other Trust Account to the Indenture Trustee (or
any other Paying Agent) on behalf of the Noteholders as provided in Sections
2(d) and 2(e) of the Administration Agreement.
(c) On each Interest Payment Date that is not a Distribution Date or
Redemption Date, the Indenture Trustee (or any other Paying Agent) shall
distribute all amounts received by
49
it on behalf of Noteholders pursuant to paragraph (b) above to Noteholders in
respect of the Notes to the extent of amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for
interest (but not for any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) in the
following amounts and in the following order of priority: the Noteholders'
Interest Distribution Amount, to the Class A-1 Noteholders and the Class A-2
Noteholders; provided that if there are not sufficient funds received to pay the
entire amount of accrued and unpaid interest then due on the Notes, the amounts
so received shall be applied to the payment of such interest on the Notes on a
pro rata basis.
(d) On each Distribution Date and Redemption Date, the Indenture
Trustee (or any other Paying Agent) shall distribute all amounts received by it
on behalf of Noteholders pursuant to paragraph (b) above to Noteholders in
respect of the Notes to the extent of amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for
principal, interest and any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover in the
following amounts and in the following order of priority:
(i) the Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount, to
the Class A-1 Noteholders and the Class A-2 Noteholders in an amount
equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes; provided that if
there are not sufficient funds received to pay the entire amount of
accrued and unpaid interest then due on the Notes, the amounts so
received shall be applied to the payment of such interest on the Notes
on a pro rata basis;
(ii) the Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount plus
any amount payable out of Reserve Account Excess as principal to the
Noteholders pursuant to Section 2(e)(ii)(A) of the Administration
Agreement, to the Class A-1 Noteholders until the Outstanding Amount of
the Class A-1 Notes is reduced to zero and then to the Class A-2
Noteholders until the Outstanding Amount of the Class A-2 Notes is
reduced to zero;
(iii) the Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover, if any,
to the Class A-1 Noteholders and the Class A-2 Noteholders; provided
that if insufficient funds are received to pay the entire Noteholders'
Interest LIBOR Carryover then outstanding, the amounts so received
shall be applied to the payment of such Noteholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover on a pro rata basis; and
(iv) any amount payable out of Reserve Account Excess as
principal to the Noteholders pursuant to Section 2(e)(ii)(D) of the
Administration Agreement, to the Class A-1 Noteholders until the
Outstanding Amount of the Class
50
A-1 Notes is reduced to zero and then to the Class A-2 Noteholders
until the Outstanding Amount of the Class A-2 Notes is reduced to zero.
SECTION 8.03. General Provisions Regarding Accounts. (a) So long as no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or a portion of the funds in
the Trust Accounts shall be invested in Eligible Investments and reinvested by
the Indenture Trustee upon Issuer Order, subject to the provisions of Section
2(c) of the Administration Agreement. All income or other gain from investments
of moneys deposited in the Trust Accounts shall be deposited by the Indenture
Trustee in the Collection Account, and any loss resulting from such investments
shall be charged to such Trust Account. The Issuer will not direct the Indenture
Trustee to make any investment of any funds or to sell any investment held in
any of the Trust Accounts unless the security interest granted and perfected in
such account will continue to be perfected in such investment or the proceeds of
such sale, in either case without any further action by any Person, and, in
connection with any direction to the Indenture Trustee to make any such
investment or sale, if requested by the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer shall
deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, acceptable to the
Indenture Trustee, to such effect.
(b) Subject to Section 6.01(c), the Indenture Trustee shall not in any
way be held liable by reason of any insufficiency in any of the Trust Accounts
resulting from any loss on any Eligible Investment included therein except for
losses attributable to the Indenture Trustee's failure to make payments on such
Eligible Investments issued by the Indenture Trustee, in its commercial capacity
as principal obligor and not as trustee, in accordance with their terms.
(c) If (i) the Issuer shall have failed to give investment directions
for any funds on deposit in the Trust Accounts to the Indenture Trustee by 10:00
a.m. New York time (or such other time as may be agreed by the Issuer and
Indenture Trustee) on any Business Day; or (ii) a Default shall have occurred
and be continuing with respect to the Notes but the Notes shall not have been
declared due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02, or, if such Notes shall have
been declared due and payable following an Event of Default, amounts collected
or receivable from the Indenture Trust Estate are being applied in accordance
with Section 5.05 as if there had not been such a declaration; then the
Indenture Trustee shall, to the fullest extent practicable, invest and reinvest
funds in the Trust Accounts in one or more Eligible Investments.
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SECTION 8.04. Release of Indenture Trust Estate. (a) Subject to the
payment of its fees and expenses pursuant to Section 6.07, the Indenture Trustee
may, and when required by the provisions of this Indenture shall, execute
instruments to release property from the lien of this Indenture, or convey the
Indenture Trustee's interest in the same, in a manner and under circumstances
that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture. No party
relying upon an instrument executed by the Indenture Trustee as provided in this
Article VIII shall be bound to ascertain the Indenture Trustee's authority,
inquire into the satisfaction of any conditions precedent or see to the
application of any moneys.
(b) The Indenture Trustee shall, at such time as there are no Notes
Outstanding and all sums due the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.07 have
been paid, release any remaining portion of the Indenture Trust Estate that
secured the Notes from the lien of this Indenture and release to the Issuer or
any other Person entitled thereto any funds then on deposit in the Trust
Accounts. The Indenture Trustee shall release property from the lien of this
Indenture pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) only upon receipt of an Issuer
Request accompanied by an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer, an Opinion of
Counsel and (if required by the TIA) Independent Certificates in accordance with
TIA xx.xx. 314(c) and 314(d)(1) meeting the applicable requirements of Section
11.01.
SECTION 8.05. Opinion of Counsel. The Indenture Trustee shall receive
at least seven days' notice when requested by the Issuer to take any action
pursuant to Section 8.04(a), accompanied by copies of any instruments involved,
and the Indenture Trustee shall also require, as a condition to such action, an
Opinion of Counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee,
stating the legal effect of any such action, outlining the steps required to
complete the same, and concluding that all conditions precedent to the taking of
such action have been complied with and such action will not materially and
adversely impair the security for the Notes or the rights of the Noteholders in
contravention of the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that such
Opinion of Counsel shall not be required to express an opinion as to the fair
value of the Indenture Trust Estate. Counsel rendering any such opinion may
rely, without independent investigation, on the accuracy and validity of any
certificate or other instrument delivered to the Indenture Trustee in connection
with any such action.
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ARTICLE IX
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Noteholders.
(a) Without the consent of any Noteholders but with prior notice to the Rating
Agencies, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer
Order, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof), in form
satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(i) to correct or amplify the description of any
property at any time subject to the lien of this Indenture, or, better
to assure, convey and confirm unto the Indenture Trustee any property
subject or required to be subjected to the lien of this Indenture, or
to subject to the lien of this Indenture additional property;
(ii) to evidence the succession, in compliance with the
applicable provisions hereof, of another person to the Issuer, and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer herein
and in the Notes contained;
(iii) to add to the covenants of the Issuer, for the
benefit of the Noteholders, or to surrender any right or power herein
conferred upon the Issuer;
(iv) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any
property to or with the Indenture Trustee;
(v) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be
inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental
indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under this Indenture or in any supplemental
indenture; provided that such action shall not materially adversely
affect the interests of the Noteholders;
(vi) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the
appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Notes
and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as
shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of
Article VI;
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(vii) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of
this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the
qualification of this Indenture under the TIA or under any similar
Federal statute hereafter enacted and to add to this Indenture such
other provisions as may be expressly required by the TIA; or
(viii) in connection with any merger or consolidation of
the Depositor, the Administrator, the Master Servicer or the Seller or
a transfer of properties or assets of the Depositor, the Administrator,
the Master Servicer or the Seller in a transaction permitted by the
Basic Documents.
The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to join in the execution of
any such supplemental indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements
and stipulations that may be therein contained.
(b) The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer
Order, may, also without the consent of any of the Noteholders but with prior
notice to the Rating Agencies, enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders under this Indenture;
provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of
Counsel, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any
Noteholder.
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Noteholders. The
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Order, also may,
with prior notice to the Rating Agencies and with the consent of the Noteholders
of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, by Act of
such Noteholders delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders
under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall, without the consent of the Noteholder of each Outstanding Note affected
thereby:
(i) change the date of payment of any installment of
principal of or interest (including any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR
Carryover) on any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof, the
interest rate thereon or the Redemption Price with respect thereto,
change the provisions of this Indenture relating to the application of
collections on, or the proceeds of the sale of, the Indenture Trust
54
Estate to payment of principal of or interest (including any
Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) on the Notes, or change any
place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Note or
the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit
for the enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture requiring the
application of funds available therefor, as provided in Article V, to
the payment of any such amount due on the Notes on or after the
respective due dates thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the Redemption Date);
(ii) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes, the consent of the Noteholders of which is required for any
such supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Noteholders of which
is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of
this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences
provided for in this Indenture;
(iii) modify or alter the provisions of the proviso to
the definition of the term "Outstanding";
(iv) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes required to direct the Indenture Trustee to direct the Issuer
to sell or liquidate the Indenture Trust Estate pursuant to Section
5.04;
(v) modify any provision of this Section except to
increase any percentage specified herein or to provide that certain
additional provisions of this Indenture or the other Basic Documents
cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Noteholder of
each Outstanding Note affected thereby;
(vi) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture in
such manner as to affect the calculation of the amount of any payment
of interest (including any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover) due
or any Note on any Interest Payment Date or principal due on any Note
on any Distribution Date (including the calculation of any of the
individual components of such calculation) or to affect the rights of
the Noteholders to the benefit of any provisions for the mandatory
redemption of the Notes contained herein; or
(vii) permit the creation of any lien ranking prior to or
on a parity with the lien of this Indenture with respect to any part of
the Indenture Trust Estate or, except as otherwise permitted or
contemplated herein, terminate the lien of this Indenture on any
property at any time subject
55
hereto or deprive any Noteholder of any Note of the security provided
by the lien of this Indenture.
The Indenture Trustee may in its discretion determine whether or not
any Notes would be affected by any supplemental indenture and any such
determination shall be conclusive upon the Noteholders of all Notes, whether
theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder. The Indenture
Trustee shall not be liable for any such determination made in good faith.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Noteholders under this Section
to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it
shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section, the Indenture Trustee shall
mail to the Noteholders of the Notes to which such amendment or supplemental
indenture relates and to the Rating Agencies a notice setting forth in general
terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Indenture
Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any
way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or
permitting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created
by this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall receive, and subject to Sections
6.01 and 6.02, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel
stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or
permitted by this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the
Indenture Trustee's own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this
Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture
shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith with
respect to the Notes affected thereby, and the respective rights, limitations of
rights, obligations, duties, liabilities and immunities under this Indenture of
the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Noteholders shall thereafter be
determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such
modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such
56
supplemental indenture shall be and are deemed to be part of the terms and
conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment of
this Indenture and every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this
Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then
in effect so long as this Indenture shall then be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 9.06. Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures. Notes
authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article IX may, and if required by the Indenture Trustee shall,
bear a notation in form approved by the Indenture Trustee as to any matter
provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion
of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the
Indenture Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE X
Redemption of Notes
SECTION 10.01. Redemption. (a) In the event that on the Distribution
Date on which the Funding Period ends (or on the Distribution Date on or
immediately following the last day of the Funding Period, if the Funding Period
does not end on a Distribution Date) any amount remains on deposit in the
Pre-Funding Account after giving effect to the making of all Additional
Fundings, including any such Additional Fundings on such Redemption Date, the
Class A-1 Notes (and, to the extent all the Class A-1 Notes are paid in full,
the Class A-2 Notes) will be redeemed in part, on a pro rata basis, in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the amount then on deposit in the
Pre-Funding Account.
(b) In the event that the assets of the Trust are sold pursuant to
Section 9.02 of the Trust Agreement or the Financed Student Loans are sold
pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof, that portion of the amounts on deposit in the
Trust Accounts to be distributed to the Noteholders shall be paid to the
Noteholders up to the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and all accrued and unpaid
Interest thereon and any accrued Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover with
respect thereto (but only to the extent provided by Sections 2.07(d) and 8.02(c)
hereof). If amounts are
57
to be paid to Noteholders pursuant to this Section 10.01, the Administrator or
the Issuer shall, to the extent practicable, furnish notice of such Event to the
Indenture Trustee not later than 25 days prior to the Redemption Date whereupon
all such amounts shall be payable on the Redemption Date.
SECTION 10.02. Form of Redemption Notice. Notice of redemption under
Section 10.01 shall be given by the Indenture Trustee by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, or by facsimile, mailed or transmitted on or prior to the
applicable Redemption Date to each Noteholder, as of the close of business on
the Record Date preceding the applicable Redemption Date, at such Noteholder's
address or facsimile number appearing in the Note Register.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price; and
(iii) the place where such Notes are to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price (which shall be the office or
agency of the Issuer to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02).
Notice of redemption of the Notes shall be given by the Indenture
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer. Failure to give notice of
redemption, or any defect therein, to any Noteholder of any Note shall not
impair or affect the validity of the redemption of any other Note.
SECTION 10.03. Notes Payable on Redemption Date. The Notes or portions
thereof to be redeemed shall on the Redemption Date become due and payable at
the Redemption Price and (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of the
Redemption Price) no interest shall accrue on the Redemption Price for any
period after the date to which accrued interest is calculated for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
SECTION 11.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. (a) Upon any
application or request by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee to take any action
under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture
Trustee (i) an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer stating that all
58
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the
proposed action have been complied with, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that
in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been
complied with and (iii) (if required by the TIA) an Independent Certificate from
a firm of certified public accountants meeting the applicable requirements of
this Section, except that, in the case of any such application or request as to
which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this Indenture, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(i) a statement that each signatory of such certificate
or opinion has read or has caused to be read such covenant or condition
and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such
signatory, such signatory has made such examination or investigation as
is necessary to enable such signatory to express an informed opinion as
to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each
such signatory, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
(b)(i) Prior to the deposit of any Collateral or other property or
securities with the Indenture Trustee that is to be made the basis for the
release of any property or securities subject to the lien of this Indenture, the
Issuer shall, in addition to any obligation imposed in Section 11.01(a) or
elsewhere in this Indenture, furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officers'
Certificate of the Issuer certifying or stating the opinion of each person
signing such certificate as to the fair value (within 90 days of such deposit)
to the Issuer of the Collateral or other property or securities to be so
deposited.
(ii) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the
Indenture Trustee an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer certifying or
stating the opinion of any signer thereof as
59
to the matters described in clause (i) above, the Issuer shall also
deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the
same matters, if the fair value to the Issuer of the securities to be
so deposited and of all other such securities made the basis of any
such withdrawal or release since the commencement of the then current
fiscal year of the Issuer, as set forth in the certificates delivered
pursuant to clause (i) above and this clause (ii), is 10% or more of
the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, but such a certificate need not be
furnished with respect to any securities so deposited, if the fair
value thereof to the Issuer as set forth in the related Officers'
Certificate is less than $25,000 or less than one percent of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes.
(iii) Other than any property released as contemplated by
clause (v) below, whenever any property or securities are to be
released from the lien of this Indenture, the Issuer shall also furnish
to the Indenture Trustee an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer
certifying or stating the opinion of each person signing such
certificate as to the fair value (within 90 days of such release) of
the property or securities proposed to be released and stating that in
the opinion of such person the proposed release will not impair the
security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions
hereof.
(iv) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the
Indenture Trustee an Officers' Certificate of the Issuer certifying or
stating the opinion of any signer thereof as to the matters described
in clause (iii) above, the Issuer shall also furnish to the Indenture
Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the same matters if the fair
value of the property or Securities and of all other property, other
than property as contemplated by clause (v) below, or securities
released from the lien of this Indenture since the commencement of the
then-current calendar year, as set forth in the certificates required
by clause (iii) above and this clause (iv), equals 10% or more of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes, but such certificate need not be
furnished in the case of any release of property or securities if the
fair value thereof as set forth in the related Officers' Certificate is
less than $25,000 or less than one percent of the then Outstanding
Amount of the Notes.
(v) Notwithstanding Section 2.09 or any other provision
of this Section, the Issuer may, without compliance with the
requirements of the other provisions of this Section, (A) collect,
liquidate, sell or otherwise dispose of Financed Student Loans as and
to the extent
60
permitted or required by the Basic Documents and (B) make cash payments
out of the Trust Accounts as and to the extent permitted or required by
the Basic Documents, so long as the Issuer shall deliver to the
Indenture Trustee every three months, commencing April 25, 1997, an
Officers' Certificate of the Issuer stating that all the dispositions
of Collateral described in clauses (A) and (B) above that occurred
during the immediately preceding three calendar months (or the period
from the Closing Date in the case of the April 25, 1997 Officer's
Certificate) were in the ordinary course of the Issuer's business and
that the proceeds thereof were applied in accordance with the Basic
Documents.
SECTION 11.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee. In any
case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an
opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be
certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they
be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify
or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such
Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion
as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Authorized Officer of the Issuer may
be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion
of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the
exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or
opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate of an Authorized Officer or
Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon
a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of
the Master Servicer, the Seller, the Issuer or the Administrator, stating that
the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Master Servicer, the Seller, the Issuer or the Administrator, unless such
counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the
certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are
erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Whenever in this Indenture, in connection with any application or
certificate or report to the Indenture Trustee, it is provided that the Issuer
shall deliver any document as a
61
condition of the granting of such application, or as evidence of the Issuer's
compliance with any term hereof, it is intended that the truth and accuracy, at
the time of the granting of such application or at the effective date of such
certificate or report (as the case may be), of the facts and opinions stated in
such document shall in such case be conditions precedent to the right of the
Issuer to have such application granted or to the sufficiency of such
certificate or report. The foregoing shall not, however, be construed to affect
the Indenture Trustee's right to rely upon the truth and accuracy of any
statement or opinion contained in any such document as provided in Article VI.
SECTION 11.03. Acts of Noteholders. (a) Any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by
this Indenture to be given or taken by Noteholders may be embodied in and
evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by
such Noteholders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing; and except as
herein otherwise expressly provided such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered to the Indenture Trustee, and, where it
is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and
the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred
to as the "Act" of the Noteholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof
of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent
shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section
6.01) conclusive in favor of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, if made in
the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved in any manner that the Indenture Trustee
deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action by the Noteholder of any Notes shall bind the Noteholder
of every Note issued upon the registration thereof or in exchange therefor or in
lieu thereof, in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the
Indenture Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
such action is made upon such Note.
SECTION 11.04. Notices to Indenture Trustee, Issuer and Rating
Agencies. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or act of Noteholders or other documents provided or permitted by this
Indenture shall be in writing and
62
if such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
act of Noteholders is to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with:
(a) the Indenture Trustee by any Noteholder or by the Issuer,
it shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given,
furnished or filed (including by facsimile if confirmed by delivery by
first-class mail, postage prepaid), in writing to or with the Indenture
Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or
(b) the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by any Noteholder,
it shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and
mailed, first-class, postage prepaid (or by fascsimile, if confirmed by
such a mailing), to the Issuer addressed to: Signet Student Loan Trust
1996-A, in care of First Chicago Delaware, Inc., Trustee, Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000, with a copy to the Depositor at 0 Xxxxx 0xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Treasurer, and the Eligible Lender
Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Eligible Lender Trustee,
or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the
Indenture Trustee by the Issuer. The Issuer shall promptly transmit any
notice received by it from the Noteholders to the Indenture Trustee.
Notices required to be given to the Rating Agencies by the Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender Trustee shall be in writing, personally
delivered or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested (or by
fascsimile, if confirmed by such a mailing), to the following addresses:
in the case of Fitch, to
Fitch Investors Service, L.P.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Asset Backed Monitoring Unit
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy : (000) 000-0000;
in the case of Moody's to
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: ABS Monitoring Department
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000; and
in the case of Standard & Poor's, to
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
63
00 Xxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000.
or as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by
written notice to the other parties.
SECTION 11.05. Notices to Noteholders; Waiver. Where this Indenture
provides for notice to Noteholders of any event, such notice shall be
sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing
and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid to each Noteholder affected by such
event, at his address as it appears on the Note Register, not later than the
latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving
of such notice. In any case where notice to Noteholders is given by mail,
neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed
to any particular Noteholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with
respect to other Noteholders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall conclusively be presumed to have been duly given.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may
be waived in writing by any Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Noteholders shall be filed with the Indenture
Trustee but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of
any action taken in reliance upon such a waiver.
In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a
result of a strike, work stoppage or similar activity, it shall be impractical
to mail notice of any event to Noteholders when such notice is required to be
given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving
such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to
be a sufficient giving of such notice.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to the Rating Agencies,
failure to give such notice shall not affect any other rights or obligations
created hereunder, and shall not under any circumstance constitute a Default.
SECTION 11.06. Alternate Payment and Notice Provisions. Notwithstanding
any provision of this Indenture or any of the Notes to the contrary, the Issuer
may enter into any agreement with any Noteholder providing for a method of
payment, or notice by the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent to such
Noteholder,
64
that is different from the methods provided for in this Indenture for such
payments or notices, provided that such agreement is reasonably acceptable to
the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer will furnish to the Indenture Trustee a copy
of each such agreement and the Indenture Trustee will cause payments to be made
and notices to be given in accordance with such agreements.
SECTION 11.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision
hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is
required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
The provisions of TIA xx.xx. 310 through 317 that impose duties on any
Person (including the provisions automatically deemed included herein unless
expressly excluded by this Indenture) are a part of and govern this Indenture,
whether or not physically contained herein.
SECTION 11.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article
and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only
and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 11.09. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in
this Indenture and the Notes by the Issuer shall bind its successors and
assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Indenture Trustee in
this Indenture shall bind the successors, co-trustees and agents (excluding any
legal representatives or accountants) of the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 11.10. Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture or
in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality,
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected
or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.11. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in
the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties
hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Noteholders, and any other party
secured hereunder, and any other Person with an ownership interest in any part
of the Indenture Trust Estate, any benefit or any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 11.12. [RESERVED]
SECTION 11.13. Governing Law. This Indenture shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its
conflict of law provisions, and the
65
obligations, rights and remedies of the parties hereunder shall be determined in
accordance with such laws.
SECTION 11.14. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
SECTION 11.15. Recording of Indenture. If this Indenture is subject to
recording in any appropriate public recording offices, such recording is to be
effected by the Issuer and at its expense accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be counsel to the Indenture Trustee or any other counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such recording is
necessary either for the protection of the Noteholders or any other Person
secured hereunder or for the enforcement of any right or remedy granted to the
Indenture Trustee under this Indenture.
SECTION 11.16. Trust Obligations. No recourse may be taken, directly or
indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer, the Seller, the
Company, the Administrator, the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Eligible
Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee on the Notes or under this Indenture or
any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith,
against (i) the Seller, the Company, the Administrator, the Master Servicer, any
Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender Trustee in its
individual capacity or (ii) any partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer,
director or employee of the Seller, the Company, the Administrator, the Master
Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender Trustee
in its individual capacity, any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in the
Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee or of any successor
or assign of the Seller, the Company, the Administrator, the Master Servicer,
any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender Trustee in its
individual capacity, except as any such Person may have expressly agreed (it
being understood that the Indenture Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee have
no such obligations in their individual capacity) and except that any such
partner, owner or beneficiary shall be fully liable, to the extent provided by
applicable law, for any unpaid consideration for stock, unpaid capital
contribution or failure to pay any installment or call owing to such entity. For
all purposes of this Indenture, in the performance of any duties or obligations
of the Issuer hereunder, the Eligible Lender Trustee shall be subject to, and
entitled to the benefits of, the terms and provisions of Articles VI, VII and
VIII of the Trust Agreement.
66
SECTION 11.17. No Petition. The Indenture Trustee, by entering into
this Indenture, and each Noteholder, by accepting a Note, hereby covenant and
agree that they will not at any time institute against the Depositor, the
Company or the Issuer, or join in any institution against the Depositor, the
Company or the Issuer of, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency, receivership or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under
any United States Federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with
any obligations relating to the Notes, this Indenture or any of the other Basic
Documents.
SECTION 11.18. Inspection. The Issuer agrees that, on reasonable prior
notice, it will permit any representative of the Indenture Trustee, during the
Issuer's normal business hours, to examine all the books of account, records,
reports, and other papers of the Issuer, to make copies and extracts therefrom,
to cause such books to be audited by Independent certified public accountants,
and to discuss the Issuer' affairs, finances and accounts with the Issuer's
officers, employees, and Independent certified public accountants, all at such
reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested. The Indenture
Trustee shall and shall cause its representatives to hold in confidence all such
information obtained from such examination or inspection except to the extent
disclosure may be required by law (and all reasonable applications for
confidential treatment are unavailing) and except to the extent that the
Indenture Trustee may reasonably determine that such disclosure is consistent
with its obligations hereunder.
67
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee have caused
this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly
authorized and duly attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST
1996-A,
by
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, not in its
individual capacity but
solely as Eligible Lender
Trustee,
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
---------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, not
in its individual capacity but
solely as Indenture Trustee,
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. LASER
-----------------------
Name: XXXXXX X. LASER
Title: ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
Acknowledged and accepted as to the Granting Clause as of the day and
year first above written:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
not in its Individual capacity but
solely as Eligible Lender Trustee,
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, a Notary Public in and for said
county and state, on this day personally appeared _________________, known to me
to be the person and officer whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
instrument and acknowledged to me that the name was the act of the said SIGNET
STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A, a Delaware trust, and that such person executed the
same as the act of said trust for the purpose and consideration therein
expressed, and in the capacities therein stated.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE, this the th day of [ , 1996].
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
------------------------
Name: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
Notary Public in and for
the State of New York
[Seal]
My commission expires:
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
NO. 01MU5064279
QUALIFIED IN NEW YORK COUNTY
COMMISSION EXPIRES AUG. 12, 0000
XXXXX XX XXX XXXX )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, a Notary Public in and for said
county and state, on this day personally appeared ______________, known to me to
be the person and officer whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument
and acknowledged to me that the same was the act of the said THE BANK OF NEW
YORK, a New York banking corporation, and that such person executed the same as
the act of said corporation for the purpose and consideration therein expressed,
and in the capacities therein stated.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE, this the th day of [ , 1996].
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-----------------------
Name: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
Notary Public in and for
the State of New York
[Seal]
My commission expires:
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
NO. 01MU5064279
QUALIFIED IN NEW YORK COUNTY
COMMISSION EXPIRES AUG. 12, 0000
XXXXX XX XXX XXXX )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, a Notary Public in and for said
county and state, on this day personally appeared , known to me to be
the person and officer whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and
acknowledged to me that the name was the act of the said THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, a national banking association, and that such person executed the
same as the act of said association for the purpose and consideration therein
expressed, and in the capacities therein stated.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE, this the [ ] day of
[ , 1996].
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-----------------------
Name: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
Notary Public in and for
the State of New York
[Seal]
My commission expires:
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
NO. 01MU5064279
QUALIFIED IN NEW YORK COUNTY
COMMISSION EXPIRES AUG. 12, 1998
APPENDIX A
EXHIBIT A
TO THE INDENTURE
[FORM OF CLASS A-1 NOTE]
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Issuer (as
defined below) or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment,
and any Note issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other
name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is
made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS NOTE IS PAYABLE IN INSTALLMENTS AS SET FORTH
HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS NOTE AT ANY TIME
MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THIS NOTE IS NOT
GUARANTEED OR INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
REGISTERED CUSIP NO. 82668P AA 3
-------------
$ (1)
-------------
No. R-
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A
FLOATING RATE CLASS A-1 ASSET BACKED NOTES
Signet Student Loan Trust 1996-A, a trust organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the "Issuer"), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the
principal sum of [ ] DOLLARS payable on each Distribution Date in an amount
equal to the result obtained by multiplying (i) a fraction the numerator of
which is $[INSERT INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS NOTE] and the denominator of
which is $[ ] by (ii) the aggregate amount, if any, payable to Noteholders on
such Distribution Date in respect of principal of the Class A-1 Notes
--------
(1) Denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture dated as of November 1, 1996, between
the Issuer and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as
Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture Trustee") (capitalized terms used but not
defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Administration Agreement, dated
as of November 1, 1996 among the Issuer, Signet Bank, as Administrator, and the
Indenture Trustee, which also contains rules as to usage that shall be
applicable herein); provided, however, that the entire unpaid principal amount
of this Note shall be due and payable on the January 2005 Distribution Date (the
"Class A-1 Final Maturity Date").
The Issuer will pay interest on this Note at the rate per annum equal
to the Class A-1 Rate (as defined on the reverse hereof), on each Interest
Payment Date until the principal of this Note is paid or made available for
payment, on the principal amount of this Note outstanding on the preceding
Distribution Date (after giving effect to all payments of principal made on the
preceding Distribution Date, or in the case of the first three Interest Payment
Dates and the first Distribution Date, on the Closing Date), subject to certain
limitations contained in Section 3.01 of the Indenture. Interest on this Note
will accrue for each Interest Payment Date from the most recent Interest Payment
Date on which interest has been paid to but excluding such Interest Payment Date
or, if no interest has yet been paid, from December 27, 1996 (each, an "Interest
Period"). Interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed in a 360-day year. Such principal of and interest on this Note shall be
paid in the manner specified on the reverse hereof.
The principal of and interest on this Note are payable in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer
with respect to this Note shall be applied first to interest due and payable on
this Note as provided above and then to the unpaid principal of this Note.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on
the reverse hereof, which shall have the same effect as though fully set forth
on the face of this Note.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Indenture Trustee whose name appears below by manual signature, this Note
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture referred to on the
reverse hereof, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly
executed, manually or in facsimile, as of the date set forth below.
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A
by
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, not in its individual
capacity but solely as Eligible
Lender Trustee under the Trust
Agreement,
by
-------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Date: [ ], 1996
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes designated above and referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, not in
its individual capacity but
solely as Indenture Trustee,
by
------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Date: [ ], 1996
3
[REVERSE OF NOTE]
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Issuer,
designated as its Floating Rate Class A-1 Asset Backed Notes (herein called the
"Class A-1 Notes"), all issued under the Indenture, to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture
Trustee and the Noteholders. The Class A-1 Notes are subject to all terms of the
Indenture.
The Class A-1 Notes and the Class A-2 Asset Backed Notes (the "Class
A-2 Notes" and, together with the Class A-1 Notes, the "Notes") are and will be
equally and ratably secured by the collateral pledged as security therefor as
provided in the Indenture.
Principal of the Class A-1 Notes will be payable on each Distribution
Date in an amount described on the face hereof. "Distribution Date" means the
twenty-fifth day of each January, April, July and October, or, if any such date
is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, commencing April 25,
1997.
As described on the face hereof, the entire unpaid principal amount of
this Note shall be due and payable on the Class A-1 Final Maturity Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes
shall be due and payable on the date on which (i) an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders
representing not less than 66 2/3 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes
shall have declared the Notes to be immediately due and payable in the manner
provided in Section 5.02 of the Indenture. All principal payments on the Class
A-1 Notes shall be made pro rata to the Class A-1 Noteholders entitled thereto.
Interest on the Class A-1 Notes will be payable on each Interest
Payment Date, commencing January 27, 1997; on the principal amount outstanding
of such Notes until the principal amount thereof is paid in full, at a rate per
annum equal to the Class A-1 Rate. The "Class A-1 Rate" for each Interest Period
shall be equal to the lesser of (i) LIBOR for the related LIBOR Reset Period
plus 0.09% (the "Class A-1 LIBOR Rate") and (ii) the Student Loan Rate for such
Interest Period. The "Student Loan Rate" for any Interest Period will equal the
product of (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) 360 by (ii) the actual
number of days elapsed in such Interest Period and (b) the percentage equivalent
of a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is equal to Expected Interest
Collections for such Interest Period less the
4
Servicing Fee and the Administration Fee with respect to the Interest Payment
Date immediately following the last day of such Interest Period and (ii) the
denominator of which is the sum of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the
Certificate Balance of the Certificates as of the first day of such Interest
Period (after, if the first day of such Interest Period is a Distribution Date,
giving effect to any principal distributions on the Notes or Certificates on
such Distribution Date).
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator shall
determine LIBOR for purposes of calculating the Class A-1 Rate for each given
Interest Period on the second business day prior to the commencement of each
LIBOR Reset Period within such Interest Period (each, a "LIBOR Determination
Date"). For purposes of calculating LIBOR, a business day is any day on which
banks in London and New York City are open for the transaction of international
business. "LIBOR" means, with respect to any LIBOR Reset Period (or, in the case
of the initial Interest Period, the period from December 27, 1996 to but
excluding the Initial Interest Payment Date), the London interbank offered rate
for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of one month commencing on the
related LIBOR Determination Date (the "Index Maturity") which appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination
Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, the rate for that day
shall be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars,
having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount of not less than U.S.
$1,000,000, are offered at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR
Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market by the
Reference Banks. The Administrator shall request the principal London office of
each of such Reference Banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
such quotations are provided, the rate for that day shall be the arithmetic mean
of the quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, the rate for that
day shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted by major banks in New York
City, selected by the Administrator, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on such LIBOR Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount equal to an
amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000; provided that if the banks selected as
aforesaid are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR in effect for the
applicable LIBOR Reset Period shall be LIBOR in effect for the previous LIBOR
Reset Period. "LIBOR Reset Period" means the one-month period commencing on the
twenty-fifth day (or, if any such date is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day) of each month and ending on the day immediately
preceding the following LIBOR Reset Period; provided, however, that the initial
LIBOR Reset Period will commence on the Closing Date. "Telerate Page 3750" means
the display page so designated
5
on the Dow Xxxxx Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace that page
on that service for the purpose of displaying comparable rates or prices).
"Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London interbank market selected
by the Administrator.
Any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover that may exist on any
Distribution Date attributable to the Class A-1 Notes shall be payable to the
Class A-1 Noteholders on that Distribution Date and any succeeding Distribution
Dates solely out of the funds available and required to be applied thereto
pursuant to the Administration Agreement.
Payments of interest on this Note due and payable on each Interest
Payment Date, and payments of interest together with the installment of
principal, if any, due and payable on each Distribution Date, to the extent not
in full payment of this Note, shall be made by check mailed to the Person whose
name appears as the Registered Holder of this Note (or one or more Predecessor
Notes) on the Note Register on the Record Date, except that with respect to
Notes registered on the Record Date in the name of the nominee of the Clearing
Agency, unless Definitive Notes have been issued (initially, such nominee to be
Cede & Co.), payments will be made by wire transfer in immediately available
funds to the account designated by such nominee. Such checks shall be mailed to
the Person entitled thereto at the address of such Person as it appears on the
Note Register as of the applicable Record Date without requiring that this Note
be submitted for notation of payment, and the mailing of such check shall
constitute payment of the amount thereof regardless of whether such check is
returned undelivered. Any reduction in the principal amount of this Note (or any
one or more Predecessor Notes) effected by any payments made on any Distribution
Date shall be binding upon all future Noteholders of this Note and of any Note
issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu
hereof, whether or not noted hereon. If funds are expected to be available, as
provided in the Indenture, for payment in full of the then remaining unpaid
principal amount of this Note on a Distribution Date, then the Indenture
Trustee, in the name of and on behalf of the Issuer, will notify the Person who
was the Noteholder hereof as of the Record Date preceding such Distribution Date
by notice mailed no later than five days prior to such Distribution Date and the
amount then due and payable shall be payable only upon presentation and
surrender of this Note at the Indenture Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or at
the office of the Indenture Trustee's agent appointed for such purposes located
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.
6
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at
the Class A-1 Rate to the extent lawful.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set
forth therein, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Note Register
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee duly executed by, the Noteholder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, with such signature guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution" meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements
include membership or participation in Securities Transfer Agent's Medallion
Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP
(all in accordance with the Exchange Act), and such other documents as the
Indenture Trustee may require, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized
denominations and in the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the
designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be charged for any
registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the transferor may be
required to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or
exchange.
Each Noteholder or Note Owner, by acceptance of a Note or, in the case
of a Note Owner, a beneficial interest in the Note, covenants and agrees that no
recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations
of the Issuer, the Seller, the Company, the Administrator, the Master Servicer,
any Subservicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee on the
Notes or under the Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in
connection therewith, against (i) the Seller, the Company, the Administrator,
the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible
Lender Trustee in its individual capacity or (ii) any partner, owner,
beneficiary, agent, officer, director or employee of the Seller, the Company,
the Administrator, the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee
or the Eligible Lender Trustee in its individual capacity, any holder or owner
of a beneficial interest in the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee or of any successor or assign of the Seller, the Company, the
Administrator, the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or
the Eligible Lender Trustee in its individual capacity, except as any such
Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that the Indenture Trustee
and the Eligible Lender Trustee have no such obligations in their individual
capacity) and except that any such partner, owner or
7
beneficiary shall be fully liable, to the extent provided by applicable law, for
any unpaid consideration for stock, unpaid capital contribution or failure to
pay any installment or call owing to such entity.
Each Noteholder or Note Owner, by acceptance of a Note or, in the case
of a Note Owner, a beneficial interest in a Note, covenants and agrees that by
accepting the benefits of the Indenture that such Noteholder or Note Owner will
not at any time institute against the Depositor, the Company or the Issuer, or
join in any institution against the Depositor, the Company or the Issuer of, any
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, receivership or liquidation
proceedings or other proceedings under any United States Federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the
Notes, the Indenture or the other Basic Documents.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note,
the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note (as of the day of
determination or as of such other date as may be specified in the Indenture) is
registered as the owner hereof for all purposes whether or not this Note be
overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent shall
be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Issuer and the rights of the Noteholders under the Indenture at any time by the
Issuer with the consent of the Noteholders representing a majority of the
Outstanding Amount of all Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Noteholders representing specified
percentages of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, on behalf of all the
Noteholders, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note (or any one or more
Predecessor Notes) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all
future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof whether or not notation
of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. The Indenture also permits the
Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in
the Indenture without the consent of holders of the Notes issued thereunder.
The term "Issuer" as used in this Note includes any successor to the
Issuer under the Indenture.
8
The Issuer is permitted by the Indenture, under certain circumstances,
to merge or consolidate, subject to the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the
Noteholders under the Indenture.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form in denominations as
provided in the Indenture, subject to certain limitations therein set forth.
This Note shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York, without reference to its conflict of law provisions, and the
obligations, rights and remedies of the parties hereunder and thereunder shall
be determined in accordance with such laws.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at
the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, except as expressly
provided in the Basic Documents, neither The Bank of New York in its individual
capacity, The First National Bank of Chicago in its individual capacity, any
owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer, nor any of their respective
partners, beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors, employees or successors or
assigns shall be personally liable for, nor shall recourse be had to any of them
for, the payment of principal of or interest on, or performance of, or omission
to perform, any of the covenants, obligations or indemnifications contained in
this Note or the Indenture; it being expressly understood that said covenants,
obligations and indemnifications have been made by the Eligible Lender Trustee
for the sole purposes of binding the interests of the Eligible Lender Trustee in
the assets of the Issuer. The Noteholder of this Note by the acceptance hereof
agrees that, except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, in the case of
an Event of Default under the Indenture, the Noteholder shall have no claim
against any of the foregoing for any deficiency, loss or claim therefrom;
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be taken to prevent
recourse to, and enforcement against, the assets of the Issuer for any and all
liabilities, obligations and undertakings contained in the Indenture or in this
Note.
9
ASSIGNMENT
Social Security or taxpayer I.D. or other identifying number of
assignee
__________________________
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(name and address of assignee)
the within Note and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints ______________________, attorney, to transfer
said Note on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power
of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
_____________________*/
Signature Guaranteed:
______________________*/
_______________________
*/ NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name
of the registered owner as it appears on the face of the within Note in
every particular, without alteration, enlargement or any change
whatever. Such signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution" meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which
requirements include membership or participation in STAMP or such other
"signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Note
Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in
accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXHIBIT B
TO THE INDENTURE
[FORM OF CLASS A-2 NOTE]
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Issuer (as
defined below) or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment,
and any Note issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other
name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is
made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS NOTE IS PAYABLE IN INSTALLMENTS AS SET FORTH
HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS NOTE AT ANY TIME
MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THIS NOTE IS NOT
GUARANTEED OR INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
REGISTERED CUSIP NO. 82668P AB 1
-------------
$ (1)
-------------
No. R-
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A
FLOATING RATE CLASS A-2 ASSET BACKED NOTES
Signet Student Loan Trust 1996-A, a trust organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the "Issuer"), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the
principal sum of [ ] DOLLARS payable on each Distribution Date in an amount
equal to the result obtained by multiplying (i) a fraction the numerator of
which is $[INSERT INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS NOTE] and the denominator of
which is $[ ] by (ii) the aggregate amount, if any, payable to Noteholders on
such
--------
(1) Denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess
thereof.
Distribution Date in respect of principal of the Class A-2 Notes pursuant to
Section 3.01 of the Indenture dated as of November 1, 1996, between the Issuer
and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as Indenture Trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee") (capitalized terms used but not defined herein are
defined in Appendix A to the Administration Agreement, dated as of November 1,
1996, among the Issuer, Signet Bank, as Administrator, and the Indenture
Trustee, which also contains rules as to usage that shall be applicable herein);
provided, however, that the entire unpaid principal amount of this Note shall be
due and payable on the April 2016 Distribution Date (the "Class A-2 Final
Maturity Date"). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no payments of
principal of the Class A-2 Notes shall be made until the principal balance of
the Class A-1 Notes has been paid in its entirety.
The Issuer will pay interest on this Note at the rate per annum equal
to the Class A-2 Rate (as defined on the reverse hereof), on each Interest
Payment Date until the principal of this Note is paid or made available for
payment, on the principal amount of this Note outstanding on the preceding
Distribution Date (after giving effect to all payments of principal made on the
preceding Distribution Date, or in the case of the first three Interest Payment
Dates and the first Distribution Date, on the Closing Date), subject to certain
limitations contained in Section 3.01 of the Indenture. Interest on this Note
will accrue for each Interest Payment Date from the most recent Interest Payment
Date on which interest has been paid to but excluding such Interest Payment Date
or, if no interest has yet been paid, from December 27, 1996 (each, an "Interest
Period"). Interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed in a 360-day year. Such principal of and interest on this Note shall be
paid in the manner specified on the reverse hereof.
The principal of and interest on this Note are payable in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer
with respect to this Note shall be applied first to interest due and payable on
this Note as provided above and then to the unpaid principal of this Note.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on
the reverse hereof, which shall have the same effect as though fully set forth
on the face of this Note.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Indenture Trustee whose name appears below by manual signature, this Note
shall not be entitled to any benefit
2
under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose.
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly
executed, manually or in facsimile, as of the date set forth below.
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A
by
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
not in its individual capacity but
solely as Eligible Lender Trustee
under the Trust Agreement,
by ______________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date: [ ], 1996
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes designated above and referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, not in
its individual capacity but
solely as Indenture Trustee,
by _____________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date: [ ], 1996
4
[REVERSE OF NOTE]
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Issuer,
designated as its Floating Rate Class A-2 Asset Backed Notes (herein called the
"Class A-2 Notes"), all issued under the Indenture, to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture
Trustee and the Noteholders. The Class A-2 Notes are subject to all terms of the
Indenture.
The Class A-2 Notes and the Class A-1 Asset Backed Notes (the "Class
A-1 Notes" and, together with the Class A-2 Notes, the "Notes") are and will be
equally and ratably secured by the collateral pledged as security therefor as
provided in the Indenture.
Principal of the Class A-2 Notes will be payable on each Distribution
Date on or after the date on which the principal balance of the Class A-1 Notes
has been paid in its entirety, in an amount described on the face hereof.
"Distribution Date" means the twenty-fifth day of each January, April, July and
October, or, if any such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding
Business Day, commencing April 25, 1997.
As described on the face hereof, the entire unpaid principal amount of
this Note shall be due and payable on the Class A-2 Final Maturity Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes
shall be due and payable on the date on which (i) an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders
representing not less than 66 2/3 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes
shall have declared the Notes to be immediately due and payable in the manner
provided in Section 5.02 of the Indenture. All principal payments on the Class
A-2 Notes shall be made pro rata to the Class A-2 Noteholders entitled thereto.
Interest on the Class A-2 Notes will be payable on each Interest
Payment Date, commencing January 27, 1997, on the principal amount outstanding
of such Notes until the principal amount thereof is paid in full, at a rate per
annum equal to the Class A-2 Rate. The "Class A-2 Rate" for each Interest Period
shall be equal to the lesser of (i) LIBOR for the related LIBOR Reset Period
plus 0.15% (the "Class A-2 LIBOR Rate") and (ii) the Student Loan Rate for such
Interest Period. The "Student Loan Rate" for any Interest Period will equal the
product of (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) 360 by (ii) the actual
number of days elapsed in such Interest Period and (b) the percentage
5
equivalent of a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is equal to Expected
Interest Collections for such Interest Period less the Servicing Fee and the
Administration Fee with respect to the Interest Payment Date immediately
following the last day of such Interest Period and (ii) the denominator of which
is the sum of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the Certificate Balance of
the Certificates as of the first day of such Interest Period (after, if the
first day of such Interest Period is a Distribution Date, giving effect to any
principal distributions on the Notes or Certificates on such Distribution Date).
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator shall
determine LIBOR for purposes of calculating the Class A-2 Rate for each given
Interest Period on the second business day prior to the commencement of each
LIBOR Reset Period within such Interest Period (each, a "LIBOR Determination
Date"). For purposes of calculating LIBOR, a business day is any day on which
banks in London and New York City are open for the transaction of international
business. "LIBOR" means, with respect to any LIBOR Reset Period (or, in the case
of the initial Interest Period, the period from December 27, 1996 to but
excluding the initial Interest Payment Date), the London interbank offered rate
for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of one month commencing on the
related LIBOR Determination Date (the "Index Maturity") which appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination
Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, the rate for that day
shall be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars,
having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount of not less than U.S.
$1,000,000, are offered at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR
Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market by the
Reference Banks. The Administrator shall request the principal London office of
each of such Reference Banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
such quotations are provided, the rate for that day shall be the arithmetic mean
of the quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, the rate for that
day shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted by major banks in New York
City, selected by the Administrator, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on such LIBOR Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount equal to an
amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000; provided that if the banks selected as
aforesaid are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR in effect for the
applicable LIBOR Reset Period shall be LIBOR in effect for the previous LIBOR
Reset Period. "LIBOR Reset Period" means the one-month period commencing on the
twenty-fifth day (or, if any such date is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day) of each month and ending on the day immediately
preceding the following LIBOR Reset Period; provided, however,
6
that the initial LIBOR Reset Period will commence on the Closing Date. "Telerate
Page 3750" means the display page so designated on the Dow Xxxxx Telerate
Service (or such other page as may replace that page on that service for the
purpose of displaying comparable rates or prices). "Reference Banks" means four
major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Administrator.
Any Noteholders' Interest LIBOR Carryover that may exist on any
Distribution Date attributable to the Class A-2 Notes shall by payable to the
Class A-2 Noteholders on that Distribution Date and any succeeding Distribution
Dates solely out of the funds available and required to be applied thereto
pursuant to the Administration Agreement.
Payments of interest on this Note due and payable on each Interest
Payment Date, and payments of interest together with the installment of
principal, if any, due and payable on each Distribution Date, to the extent not
in full payment of this Note, shall be made by check mailed to the Person whose
name appears as the Registered Holder of this Note (or one or more Predecessor
Notes) on the Note Register on the Record Date, except that with respect to
Notes registered on the Record Date in the name of the nominee of the Clearing
Agency, unless Definitive Notes have been issued (initially, such nominee to be
Cede & Co.), payments will be made by wire transfer in immediately available
funds to the account designated by such nominee. Such checks shall be mailed to
the Person entitled thereto at the address of such Person as it appears on the
Note Register as of the applicable Record Date without requiring that this Note
be submitted for notation of payment, and the mailing of such check shall
constitute payment of the amount thereof regardless of whether such check is
returned undelivered. Any reduction in the principal amount of this Note (or any
one or more Predecessor Notes) effected by any payments made on any Distribution
Date shall be binding upon all future Noteholders of this Note and of any Note
issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu
hereof, whether or not noted hereon. If funds are expected to be available, as
provided in the Indenture, for payment in full of the then remaining unpaid
principal amount of this Note on a Distribution Date, then the Indenture
Trustee, in the name of and on behalf of the Issuer, will notify the Person who
was the Noteholder hereof as of the Record Date preceding such Distribution Date
by notice mailed no later than five days prior to such Distribution Date and the
amount then due and payable shall be payable only upon presentation and
surrender of this Note at the Indenture Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or at
the office of the Indenture Trustee's agent appointed for such purposes located
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.
7
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at
the Class A-2 Rate to the extent lawful.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set
forth therein, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Note Register
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee duly executed by, the Noteholder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, with such signature guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution" meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements
include membership or participation in Securities Transfer Agent's Medallion
Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP
(all in accordance with the Exchange Act), and such other documents as the
Indenture Trustee may require, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized
denominations and in the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the
designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be charged for any
registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the transferor may be
required to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or
exchange.
Each Noteholder or Note Owner, by acceptance of a Note or, in the case
of a Note Owner, a beneficial interest in the Note, covenants and agrees that no
recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations
of the Issuer, the Seller, the Company, the Administrator, the Master Servicer,
any Subservicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee on the
Notes or under the Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in
connection therewith, against (i) the Seller, the Company, the Administrator,
the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible
Lender Trustee in its individual capacity or (ii) any partner, owner,
beneficiary, agent, officer, director or employee of the Seller, the Company,
the Administrator, the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee
or the Eligible Lender Trustee in its individual capacity, any holder or owner
of a beneficial interest in the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee or of any successor or assign of the Seller, the Company, the
Administrator, the Master Servicer, any Subservicer, the Indenture Trustee or
the Eligible Lender Trustee in its individual capacity, except as any such
Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that the Indenture Trustee
and the Eligible Lender Trustee have no such obligations in their individual
capacity) and except that any such partner, owner or
8
beneficiary shall be fully liable, to the extent provided by applicable law, for
any unpaid consideration for stock, unpaid capital contribution or failure to
pay any installment or call owing to such entity.
Each Noteholder or Note Owner, by acceptance of a Note or, in the case
of a Note Owner, a beneficial interest in a Note, covenants and agrees that by
accepting the benefits of the Indenture that such Noteholder or Note Owner will
not at any time institute against the Depositor, the Company or the Issuer, or
join in any institution against the Depositor, the Company or the Issuer of, any
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, receivership or liquidation
proceedings or other proceedings under any United States Federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the
Notes, the Indenture or the other Basic Documents.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note,
the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note (as of the day of
determination or as of such other date as may be specified in the Indenture) is
registered as the owner hereof for all purposes whether or not this Note be
overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent shall
be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Issuer and the rights of the Noteholders under the Indenture at any time by the
Issuer with the consent of the Noteholders representing a majority of the
Outstanding Amount of all Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Noteholders representing specified
percentages of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, on behalf of all the
Noteholders, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note (or any one or more
Predecessor Notes) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all
future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof whether or not notation
of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. The Indenture also permits the
Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in
the Indenture without the consent of holders of the Notes issued thereunder.
The term "Issuer" as used in this Note includes any successor to the
Issuer under the Indenture.
9
The Issuer is permitted by the Indenture, under certain circumstances,
to merge or consolidate, subject to the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the
Noteholders under the Indenture.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form in denominations as
provided in the Indenture, subject to certain limitations therein set forth.
This Note shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York, without reference to its conflict of law provisions, and the
obligations, rights and remedies of the parties hereunder and thereunder shall
be determined in accordance with such laws.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at
the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, except as expressly
provided in the Basic Documents, neither The Bank of New York in its individual
capacity, The First National Bank of Chicago in its individual capacity, any
owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer, nor any of their respective
partners, beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors, employees or successors or
assigns shall be personally liable for, nor shall recourse be had to any of them
for, the payment of principal of or interest on, or performance of, or omission
to perform, any of the covenants, obligations or indemnifications contained in
this Note or the Indenture; it being expressly understood that said covenants,
obligations and indemnifications have been made by the Eligible Lender Trustee
for the sole purposes of binding the interests of the Eligible Lender Trustee in
the assets of the Issuer. The Noteholder of this Note by the acceptance hereof
agrees that, except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, in the case of
an Event of Default under the Indenture, the Noteholder shall have no claim
against any of the foregoing for any deficiency, loss or claim therefrom;
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be taken to prevent
recourse to, and enforcement against, the assets of the Issuer for any and all
liabilities, obligations and undertakings contained in the Indenture or in this
Note.
10
ASSIGNMENT
Social Security or taxpayer I.D. or other identifying
number of assignee
________________________________
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(name and address of assignee)
the within Note and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints ________________, attorney, to transfer said
Note on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated: _______________
________________________ */
Signature Guaranteed:
_________________________*/
_____________________________
*/ NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond - with the
name of the registered owner as it appears on the face of the within
Note in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or any
change whatever. Such signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Note
Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in
STAMP or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution
for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
EXHIBIT C
TO THE INDENTURE
Class A-1 Note Depository Agreement
EXHIBIT D
TO THE INDENTURE
Class A-2 Note Depository Agreement
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)
TIA Indenture
Section Section
310 (a)(1) ............................................ 6.11
(a)(2) ............................................ 6.11
(a)(3) ............................................ 6.10
(a)(4) ............................................ N.A.(2)
(a)(4) ............................................ 6.11
(b) ............................................ 6.08;
6.10; 6.11
(c) ............................................ N.A.
311 (a) ............................................ 6.11
(b) ............................................ 6.11
(c) ............................................ N.A.
312 (a) ............................................ 7.01;
7.02(a)
(b) ............................................ 7.02(b)
(c) ............................................ 7.02(c)
313 (a) ............................................ 6.06
(b) ............................................ 6.06
(c) ............................................ 11.05
(d) ............................................ 6.06
314 (a) ............................................ 3.09; 7.03
(b) ............................................ 3.06
(c) ............................................ 2.09; 4.01
11.01
(d) ............................................ 2.09;
11.01
(e) ............................................ 11.01
(f) ............................................ 3.09
315 (a) ............................................ 6.01
(b) ............................................ 6.05
(c) ............................................ 6.01
(d) ............................................ 6.01
(e) ............................................ 5.13
316 (a)(1)(A) ............................................ 5.11
(a)(1)(B) ............................................ 5.12
(a)(2) ............................................ N.A.
(b) ............................................ 5.07
(c) ............................................ 1.01
317 (a) ............................................ 5.03
(b) ............................................ 3.03
318 (a) ............................................ 11.07
--------
(1) Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any
purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
(2) N.A. means Not Applicable.
