EXHIBIT 4.6
COMPOSITE COPY
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Seller and Servicer
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
on behalf of the Certificateholders
of the MBNA Master Credit Card Trust II
POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 4, 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||
Section 1.01. Definitions |
1 | |||
Section 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions |
18 | |||
ARTICLE II | CONVEYANCE OF RECEIVABLES; ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES | 20 | ||
Section 2.01. Conveyance of Receivables |
20 | |||
Section 2.02. Acceptance by Trustee |
21 | |||
Section 2.03. Representations and Warranties of the Seller |
22 | |||
Section 2.04. Representations and Warranties of the Seller Relating to the Agreement and the Receivables |
23 | |||
Section 2.05. Covenants of the Seller |
28 | |||
Section 2.06. Addition of Accounts |
29 | |||
Section 2.07. Removal of Accounts |
32 | |||
Section 2.08. Transfer of Receivables Representing Annual Membership Fees |
34 | |||
Section 2.09. Discount Option |
34 | |||
ARTICLE III | ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF RECEIVABLES | 36 | ||
Section 3.01. Acceptance of Appointment and Other Matters Relating to the Servicer |
36 | |||
Section 3.02. Servicing Compensation |
38 | |||
Section 3.03. Representations and Warranties of the Servicer |
38 | |||
Section 3.04. Reports and Records for the Trustee |
39 | |||
Section 3.05. Annual Servicers Certificate |
40 | |||
Section 3.06. Annual Independent Accountants Servicing Report |
40 | |||
Section 3.07. Tax Treatment |
41 | |||
Section 3.08. Notices to the Seller |
41 | |||
Section 3.09. Reports to the Commission |
41 | |||
ARTICLE IV | RIGHTS OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS AND ALLOCATION AND APPLICATION OF COLLECTIONS | 42 | ||
Section 4.01. Rights of Certificateholders |
42 | |||
Section 4.02. Establishment of Accounts |
42 | |||
Section 4.03. Collections and Allocations |
44 | |||
ARTICLE V | [ARTICLE V IS RESERVED AND SHALL BE SPECIFIED IN ANY SUPPLEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY SERIES] | 47 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(contd)
Page | ||||
ARTICLE VI | THE CERTIFICATES | 48 | ||
Section 6.01. The Certificates |
48 | |||
Section 6.02. Authentication of Certificates |
48 | |||
Section 6.03. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certificates |
49 | |||
Section 6.04. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates |
52 | |||
Section 6.05. Persons Deemed Owners |
52 | |||
Section 6.06. Appointment of Paying Agent |
53 | |||
Section 6.07. Access to List of Certificateholders Names and Addresses |
53 | |||
Section 6.08. Authenticating Agent |
54 | |||
Section 6.09. New Issuances |
55 | |||
Section 6.10. Book-Entry Certificates |
57 | |||
Section 6.11. Notices to Clearing Agency |
57 | |||
Section 6.12. Definitive Certificates |
57 | |||
Section 6.13. Global Certificate; Euro-Certificate Exchange Date |
58 | |||
Section 6.14. Meetings of Certificateholders |
58 | |||
ARTICLE VII | OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO THE SELLER | 59 | ||
Section 7.01. Liability of the Seller |
59 | |||
Section 7.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Seller |
59 | |||
Section 7.03. Limitation on Liability |
60 | |||
Section 7.04. Liabilities |
60 | |||
ARTICLE VIII | OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO THE SERVICER | 61 | ||
Section 8.01. Liability of the Servicer |
61 | |||
Section 8.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer |
61 | |||
Section 8.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer and Others |
61 | |||
Section 8.04. Servicer Indemnification of the Trust and the Trustee |
62 | |||
Section 8.05. The Servicer Not to Resign |
62 | |||
Section 8.06. Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding the Receivables |
63 | |||
Section 8.07. Delegation of Duties |
63 | |||
Section 8.08. Examination of Records |
63 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(contd)
Page | ||||
ARTICLE IX | PAY OUT EVENTS | 64 | ||
Section 9.01. Pay Out Events |
64 | |||
Section 9.02. Additional Rights Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events |
64 | |||
ARTICLE X |
SERVICER DEFAULTS | 66 | ||
Section 10.01. Servicer Defaults |
66 | |||
Section 10.02. Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor |
67 | |||
Section 10.03. Notification to Certificateholders |
69 | |||
Section 10.04. Waiver of Past Defaults |
69 | |||
ARTICLE XI | THE TRUSTEE | 70 | ||
Section 11.01. Duties of Trustee |
70 | |||
Section 11.02. Certain Matters Affecting the Trustee |
71 | |||
Section 11.03. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Certificates |
72 | |||
Section 11.04. Trustee May Own Certificates |
72 | |||
Section 11.05. The Servicer to Pay Trustees Fees and Expenses |
73 | |||
Section 11.06. Eligibility Requirements for Trustee |
73 | |||
Section 11.07. Resignation or Removal of Trustee |
73 | |||
Section 11.08. Successor Trustee |
74 | |||
Section 11.09. Merger or Consolidation of Trustee |
74 | |||
Section 11.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee |
74 | |||
Section 11.11. Tax Returns |
75 | |||
Section 11.12. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Certificates |
76 | |||
Section 11.13. Suits for Enforcement |
76 | |||
Section 11.14. Rights of Certificateholders to Direct Trustee |
76 | |||
Section 11.15. Representations and Warranties of Trustee |
76 | |||
Section 11.16. Maintenance of Office or Agency |
77 | |||
ARTICLE XII | TERMINATION | 78 | ||
Section 12.01. Termination of Trust |
78 | |||
Section 12.02. Optional Purchase |
79 | |||
Section 12.03. Final Payment with Respect to any Series |
79 | |||
Section 12.04. Termination Rights of Holder of Seller Certificate |
80 | |||
ARTICLE XIII | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 81 |
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(contd)
Page | ||||
Section 13.01. Amendment |
81 | |||
Section 13.02. Protection of Right, Title and Interest to Trust |
82 | |||
Section 13.03. Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders |
83 | |||
Section 13.04. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Agent for Service of Process |
84 | |||
Section 13.05. Notices |
84 | |||
Section 13.06. Severability of Provisions |
84 | |||
Section 13.07. Assignment |
85 | |||
Section 13.08. Certificates Non-Assessable and Fully Paid |
85 | |||
Section 13.09. Further Assurances |
85 | |||
Section 13.10. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
85 | |||
Section 13.11. Counterparts |
85 | |||
Section 13.12. Third-Party Beneficiaries |
85 | |||
Section 13.13. Actions by Certificateholders |
85 | |||
Section 13.14. Rule 144A Information |
86 | |||
Section 13.15. Merger and Integration |
86 | |||
Section 13.16. Headings |
86 | |||
Section 13.17. Intention of Parties |
86 | |||
ARTICLE XIV | COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION AB | 87 | ||
Section 14.01. Intent of the Parties; Reasonableness |
87 | |||
Section 14.02. Additional Representations and Warranties of the Trustee |
87 | |||
Section 14.03. Information to Be Provided by the Trustee |
87 | |||
Section 14.04. Report on Assessment of Compliance and Attestation |
88 | |||
Section 14.05. Indemnification; Remedies |
88 |
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(contd)
EXHIBITS
Page | ||||
Exhibit A | Form of Seller Certificate | A-1 | ||
Exhibit B | Form of Assignment of Receivables in Additional Accounts | B-1 | ||
Exhibit C | Form of Monthly Servicers Certificate |
C-1 | ||
Exhibit D | Form of Annual Servicers Certificate |
D-1 | ||
Exhibit E | Form of Opinion of Counsel Regarding Additional Accounts |
E-1 | ||
Exhibit F | Form of Annual Opinion of Counsel |
F-1 | ||
Exhibit G | Form of Reassignment of Receivables |
G-1 | ||
Exhibit H | Form of Reconveyance of Receivables |
H-1 | ||
Exhibit I | Form of Annual Certification |
|||
Exhibit J | Servicing Criteria to be Addressed in Assessment of Compliance |
J-1 |
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 | List of Accounts [Deemed Incorporated] |
v
POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT, dated as of August 4, 1994 by and between MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Seller and Servicer, and The Bank of New York, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, as Trustee.
In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and the Certificateholders:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
Account shall mean each VISA®, MasterCard® and American Express®* credit card account serviced at the Newark, Delaware servicing center of the Seller, or at such other servicing center of the Seller as shall be designated by the Seller or the Servicer pursuant to Section 13.02(c), and established pursuant to a Credit Card Agreement between the Seller and any Person identified by account number and by the Receivable balance as of the Cut Off Date and as of each Addition Date in each computer file or microfiche list delivered to the Trustee by the Seller pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.06.
Account Information shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.02(b).
Accumulation Period shall mean, with respect to any Series, or any Class within a Series, a period following the Revolving Period, which shall be the accumulation or other period in which Collections of Principal Receivables are accumulated in an account for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders of such Series, or a Class within such Series, in each case as defined with respect to such Series in the related Supplement.
Addition Date shall mean each date as of which Additional Accounts will be included as Accounts pursuant to Section 2.06.
Additional Accounts shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.06(a).
Affiliate of any Person shall mean any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.
Aggregate Investor Default Amount shall have, with respect to any Series of Certificates, the meaning stated in the related Supplement.
* | VISA®, MasterCard® and American Express® are federally registered servicemarks of Visa U.S.A., Inc., MasterCard International Incorporated and American Express Company, respectively. |
Aggregate Investor Interest shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum of the Investor Interests of all Series of Certificates issued and outstanding on such date of determination.
Aggregate Investor Percentage with respect to Principal Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in Defaulted Accounts, as the case may be, shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum of such Investor Percentages of all Series of Certificates issued and outstanding on such date of determination; provided, however, that the Aggregate Investor Percentage shall not exceed 100%.
Agreement shall mean this Pooling and Servicing Agreement and all amendments hereof and supplements hereto, including any Supplement.
Amortization Period shall mean, with respect to any Series, or any Class within a Series, a period following the Revolving Period during which principal is distributed to Investor Certificateholders, which shall be the controlled amortization period, the principal amortization period, the rapid amortization period, or other amortization period, in each case as defined with respect to such Series in the related Supplement.
Annual Membership Fee shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for annual membership fees or similar terms.
Applicants shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.07.
Appointment Day shall have the meaning specified in subsection 9.02(a).
Assignment shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.06(c)(ii).
Authorized Newspaper shall mean a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York printed in the English language and customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Average Principal Receivables shall mean, for any period, an amount equal to (a) the sum of the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables at the end of each day during such period divided by (b) the number of days in such period.
Bank Portfolio shall mean the MasterCard, VISA and American Express accounts owned by the Seller.
Bearer Certificates shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Bearer Rules shall mean the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, in effect from time to time, governing the treatment of bearer obligations, including sections 163(f), 871, 881, 1441, 1442 and 4701, and any regulations thereunder including, to the extent applicable to any Series, Proposed or Temporary Regulations.
BIF shall mean the Bank Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC.
Book-Entry Certificates shall mean certificates evidencing a beneficial interest in the Investor Certificates, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries
2
by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 6.10; provided, that after the occurrence of a condition whereupon book-entry registration and transfer are no longer authorized and Definitive Certificates are to be issued to the Certificate Owners, such certificates shall no longer be Book-Entry Certificates.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, or Newark, Delaware (or, with respect to any Series, any additional city specified in the related Supplement) are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed.
Cash Advance Fees shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for cash advance fees or similar terms.
CEDEL shall mean Centrale de Livraison de Valeurs Mobilieres S.A.
Certificate shall mean any one of the Investor Certificates of any Series or the Seller Certificate.
Certificateholder or Holder shall mean the Person in whose name a Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register; if applicable, the holder of any Bearer Certificate or Coupon, as the case may be or such other person deemed to be a Certificateholder or Holder in any Series Supplement; and, if used with respect to the Seller Interest, a Person in whose name the Seller Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register or a Person in whose name ownership of the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest is recorded in the books and records of the Trustee.
Certificate Interest shall mean interest payable in respect of the Investor Certificates of any Series pursuant to Article IV of the Supplement for such Series.
Certificate Owner shall mean, with respect to a Book-Entry Certificate, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Certificate, as may be reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or as an indirect participant, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
Certificate Principal shall mean principal payable in respect of the Investor Certificates of any Series pursuant to Article IV of this Agreement.
Certificate Rate shall mean, with respect to any Series of Certificates (or, for any Series with more than one Class, for each Class of such Series), the percentage (or formula on the basis of which such rate shall be determined) stated in the related Supplement.
Certificate Register shall mean the register maintained pursuant to Section 6.03, providing for the registration of the Certificates and transfers and exchanges thereof.
Class shall mean, with respect to any Series, any one of the classes of Certificates of that Series as specified in the related Supplement.
3
Clearing Agency shall mean an organization registered as a clearing agency pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Clearing Agency Participant shall mean a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency.
Closing Date shall mean, with respect to any Series, the date of issuance of such Series of Certificates, as specified in the related Supplement.
Code shall have the meaning specified in subsection 6.03(b).
Collateral Interest shall have the meaning, with respect to any Series, specified in the related Supplement.
Collection Account shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4.02(a).
Collections shall mean all payments (including Insurance Proceeds) received by the Servicer in respect of the Receivables, in the form of cash, checks, wire transfers, ATM transfers or other form of payment in accordance with the Credit Card Agreement in effect from time to time on any Receivables. A Collection processed on an Account in excess of the aggregate amount of Receivables in such Account as of the Date of Processing of such Collection shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of Principal Receivables to the extent of such excess. Collections with respect to any Monthly Period shall include the amount of Interchange (if any) allocable to any Series of Certificates pursuant to any Supplement with respect to such Monthly Period (to the extent received by the Trust and deposited into the Finance Charge Account or any Series Account as the case may be, on the Transfer Date following such Monthly Period), to be applied as if such amount were Collections of Finance Charge Receivables for all purposes. Collections with respect to any Monthly Period shall also include the amount deposited by the Seller into the Finance Charge Account (or Series Account if provided in any Supplement) pursuant to Section 2.08. Collections with respect to any Monthly Period shall also include any Recoveries allocated to the Trust during such Monthly Period and deposited into the Finance Charge Account on or prior to each Transfer Date.
Commission shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01.
Companion Series shall mean (i) each Series which has been paired with another Series (which Series may be prefunded or partially prefunded), such that the reduction of the Investor Interest of such Series results in the increase of the Investor Interest of such other Series, as described in the related Supplements, and (ii) such other Series.
Corporate Trust Office shall mean the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of the execution of this Agreement is located at 101 Barclay Street, 21 West, New York, New York 10286.
Coupon shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
4
Credit Adjustment shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4.03(c).
Credit Card Agreement shall mean the agreement and Federal Truth in Lending Statement for MasterCard, VISA and American Express credit card accounts between any Obligor and MBNA America Bank, National Association, as such agreements may be amended, modified or otherwise changed from time to time.
Credit Card Guidelines shall mean the Sellers policies and procedures relating to the operation of its credit card business, including, without limitation, the policies and procedures for determining the creditworthiness of credit card customers, the extension of credit to credit card customers, and relating to the maintenance of credit card accounts and collection of credit card receivables, as such policies and procedures may be amended from time to time.
Credit Enhancement shall mean, with respect to any Series, the subordination, the cash collateral guaranty or account, collateral interest, letter of credit, surety bond, insurance policy, spread account, reserve account, cross-support feature or any other contract or agreement for the benefit of the Certificateholders of such Series (or Certificateholders of a Class within such Series) as designated in the applicable Supplement.
Credit Enhancement Provider shall mean, with respect to any Series, the Person, if any, designated as such in the related Supplement.
Cut Off Date shall mean June 22, 1994.
Date of Processing shall mean, with respect to any transaction, the date on which such transaction is first recorded on the Servicers computer master file of MasterCard, VISA and American Express accounts (without regard to the effective date of such recordation).
Default Amount shall mean, with respect to any Defaulted Account, the amount of Principal Receivables (other than Ineligible Receivables) in such Defaulted Account on the day such Account became a Defaulted Account.
Defaulted Account shall mean each Account with respect to which, in accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines or the Servicers customary and usual servicing procedures for servicing credit card receivables comparable to the Receivables, the Servicer has charged-off the Receivables in such Account as uncollectible; an Account shall become a Defaulted Account on the day on which such Receivables are recorded as charged off as uncollectible on the Servicers computer master file of MasterCard, VISA and American Express accounts. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, any Receivables in a Defaulted Account that are Ineligible Receivables shall be treated as Ineligible Receivables rather than Receivables in Defaulted Accounts.
Definitive Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.10.
Depository shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.10.
Depository Agreement shall mean, with respect to each Series, the agreement among the Seller, the Trustee and the Clearing Agency, or as otherwise provided in the related Supplement.
5
Determination Date shall mean, unless otherwise specified in the related Series Supplement, the fourth Business Day prior to each Transfer Date.
Discounted Percentage shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.09.
Discount Option Receivables shall mean, with respect to any Series, Principal Receivables designated by the Seller that are transferred to the Trust at a specified discount, which discount is applied such that the discounted portion of Collections of such Principal Receivables are treated as Collections of Finance Charge Receivables, as specified with respect to such Series in the related Supplement.
Discount Option Receivable Collections shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.09.
Distribution Account shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4.02(c).
Distribution Date shall mean, with respect to each Series, the dates specified in the related Supplement.
Dollars, $ or U.S. $ shall mean United States dollars.
Draft Fees shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for any draft fees or similar terms.
Eligible Account shall mean, as of the Cut Off Date (or, with respect to Additional Accounts as of the relevant Addition Date), each Account owned by the Seller:
(a) which is in existence and maintained with the Seller;
(b) which is payable in Dollars;
(c) the Obligor on which has provided, as its most recent billing address, an address which is located in the United States or its territories or possessions;
(d) which the Seller has not classified on its electronic records as counterfeit, cancelled, fraudulent, stolen or lost; and
(e) which the Seller has not charged off in its customary and usual manner for charging off such Accounts as of the Cut Off Date (or, with respect to Additional Accounts, as of the relevant Addition Date).
Eligible Receivable shall mean each Receivable:
(a) which has arisen under an Eligible Account (in the case of Accounts conveyed to the Trust on the Initial Closing Date and in the case of Additional Accounts);
(b) which was created in compliance, in all material respects, with all Requirements of Law applicable to the Seller and pursuant to a Credit Card Agreement which complies, in all material respects, with all Requirements of Law applicable to the Seller;
6
(c) with respect to which all consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations of, or registrations or declarations with, any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given by the Seller in connection with the creation of such Receivable or the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of the Credit Card Agreement pursuant to which such Receivable was created, have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect as of such date of creation;
(d) as to which, at the time of and at all times after the creation of such Receivable, the Seller or the Trust had good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of all Liens arising under or through the Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than Liens permitted pursuant to subsection 2.05(b));
(e) which is the legal, valid and binding payment obligation of the Obligor thereon, enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in equity); and
(f) which constitutes an account under and as defined in Article 9 of the UCC as then in effect in the State of Delaware.
Eligible Servicer shall mean the Trustee, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trustee, or an entity which, at the time of its appointment as Servicer, (a) is servicing a portfolio of consumer revolving credit card accounts or other consumer revolving credit accounts, (b) is legally qualified and has the capacity to service the Accounts, (c) is qualified (or licensed) to use the software that the Servicer is then currently using to service the Accounts or obtains the right to use, or has its own, software which is adequate to perform its duties under this Agreement, (d) has, in the reasonable judgment of the Trustee, demonstrated the ability to professionally and competently service a portfolio of similar accounts in accordance with customary standards of skill and care and (e) has a net worth of at least $50,000,000 as of the end of its most recent fiscal quarter.
Enhancement Invested Amount shall have the meaning, with respect to any Series, specified in the related Supplement.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
Euroclear Operator shall mean Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels, Belgium office, as operator of the Euroclear System.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Extended Trust Termination Date shall have the meaning specified in subsection 12.01(a).
FDIC shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
7
Finance Charge Account shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4.02(b).
Finance Charge Receivables shall mean Receivables created in respect of the Periodic Finance Charges, Cash Advance Fees and Late Fees and similar fees and charges, including charges for credit insurance and Special Fees to the extent such Special Fees are categorized as Finance Charge Receivables. Finance Charge Receivables with respect to any Monthly Period shall include the amount of Interchange (if any) and Discount Option Receivables (if any) and other amounts allocable to any Series of Certificates pursuant to any Supplement with respect to such Monthly Period (to the extent received by the Trust and deposited into the Finance Charge Account or any Series Account, as the case may be, on the Transfer Date following such Monthly Period).
Floating Principal Allocation shall have the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
Foreign Clearing Agency shall mean CEDEL and the Euroclear Operator.
Global Certificate shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.13.
Governmental Authority shall mean the United States of America, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
Group shall mean, with respect to any Series, the group of Series in which the related Supplement specifies that such Series shall be included.
Holder of the Seller Certificate or holder of the Seller Certificate shall mean the Holder of the Seller Certificate or the Holder of any uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest.
Ineligible Receivable shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.04(d)(iii).
Initial Closing Date shall mean August 4, 1994.
Initial Investor Interest shall mean, with respect to any Series of Certificates, the amount stated in the related Supplement.
Insolvency Event shall have the meaning specified in subsection 9.01(a).
Insurance Proceeds shall mean any amounts recovered by the Servicer pursuant to any credit insurance policies covering any Obligor with respect to Receivables under such Obligors Account.
Interchange shall mean interchange fees or issuer rate fees payable to the Seller, in its capacity as credit card issuer, through VISA U.S.A., Inc., MasterCard International Incorporated and American Express Company.
8
Internal Revenue Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Investment Company Act shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
Investor Account shall mean each of the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account and the Distribution Account.
Investor Certificate shall mean any one of the certificates (including, without limitation, the Bearer Certificates, the Registered Certificates or the Global Certificates) issued by the Trust, executed by the Seller and authenticated by the Trustee substantially in the form (or forms in the case of a Series with multiple classes) of the investor certificate attached to the related Supplement or such other interest in the Trust deemed to be an Investor Certificate in any related Supplement.
Investor Certificateholder shall mean the holder of record of an Investor Certificate.
Investor Charge-Off shall have, with respect to each Series, the meaning specified in the applicable Supplement.
Investor Default Amount shall have, with respect to any Series of Certificates, the meaning stated in the related Supplement.
Investor Interest shall have, with respect to any Series of Certificates, the meaning stated in the related Supplement.
Investor Percentage shall have, with respect to Principal Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in Defaulted Accounts, and any Series of Certificates, the meaning stated in the related Supplement.
Investor Servicing Fee shall have, with respect to each Series, the meaning specified in Section 3.02.
Late Fees shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for late fees or similar terms.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, participation or equity interest, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing and the filing of any financing statement under the UCC (other than any such financing statement filed for informational purposes only) or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence any of the foregoing; provided, however, that any assignment pursuant to Section 7.02 shall not be deemed to constitute a Lien.
9
Maximum Addition Amount shall mean, unless otherwise provided in a Supplement, with respect to any Addition Date,
the number of accounts originated by the Seller after the Cut Off Date designated as Additional Accounts pursuant to Section 2.06 without prior Rating Agency confirmation of its then existing rating of any Series of Investor Certificates then issued and outstanding described under subsection 2.06(c) (vii) which would either (a) with respect to any of the three consecutive Monthly Periods commencing in November 30, 1994 be equal to the product of (i) 15% and (ii) the number of Accounts as of the first day of the calendar year during which such Monthly Periods commence (or the Cut Off Date, in the case of 1994) or (b) with respect to any twelve-month period equal to the product of (i) 20% and (ii) the number of Accounts as of the first day of such twelve-month period; provided, however, that if the aggregate principal balance in the Additional Accounts specified in clause (a) or clause (b) above, as the case may be, shall exceed either (y) the product of (i) 15% and (ii) the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables determined as of the first day of the third preceding Monthly Period (or in the case of any Addition Date occurring on or before November 30, 1994, the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables on the Initial Closing Date) minus the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables as of the date each such Additional Account was added to the Trust in all of the Accounts owned by the Seller that have been designated as Additional Accounts since the first day of the third preceding Monthly Period or the Initial Closing Date, as the case may be, or (z) the product of (i) 20% and (ii) the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables determined as of the first day of the calendar year in which such Addition Date occurs (or in the case of an Addition Date occurring on or before December 31, 1994, the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables on the Initial Closing Date) minus the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables as of the date each such Additional Account was added to the Trust in all of the Accounts owned by the Seller after the Cut Off Date that have been designated as Additional Accounts since the first day of such calendar year or the Initial Closing Date, as the case may be, the Maximum Addition Amount shall be an amount equal to the lesser of the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables specified in either clause (y) or clause (z) of this proviso.
Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables shall mean, unless otherwise provided in a Supplement relating to any Series, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the numerators used in the calculation of the Investor Percentages with respect to Principal Receivables for all outstanding Series on such date; provided, that with respect to any Series in its Rapid Accumulation Period or such other period as designated in the related Supplement with an Investor Interest as of such date of determination equal to the Principal Funding Account Balance relating to such Series taking into account any deposit to be made to the Principal Funding Account on the Transfer Date following such date of determination, the numerator used in the calculation of the Investor Percentage with respect to Principal Receivables relating to such Series shall, solely for the purpose of the definition of Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables, be deemed to equal zero.
Minimum Seller Interest shall mean 4% (or such other percentage as specified in the related Supplement) of the Average Principal Receivables; provided, however, that the Seller may reduce the Minimum Seller Interest upon (w) delivery to the Trustee of a Tax Opinion with respect to such reduction, (x) 30 days prior notice to the Trustee, each Rating Agency and any Credit Enhancement Provider entitled to receive such notice pursuant to the
10
relevant Supplement, (y) written confirmation from the Rating Agency that such reduction will not result in the reduction or withdrawal of the respective ratings of each Rating Agency for any Series outstanding and (z) delivery to the Trustee and each such Credit Enhancement Provider of an Officers Certificate stating that the Seller reasonably believes that such reduction will not, based on the facts known to such officer at the time of such certification, then or thereafter cause a Pay Out Event to occur with respect to any Series; provided further that the Minimum Seller Interest shall not at any time be less than 2%.
Monthly Period shall mean, unless otherwise defined in any Supplement, the period from and including the first day of a calendar month to and including the last day of a calendar month.
Monthly Servicer Report shall mean, a report substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement, with such changes as the Servicer may determine to be necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such change shall serve to exclude information required by the Agreement or any Supplement.
Moodys shall mean Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
New Issuance shall have the meaning specified in subsection 6.09(b).
New Issuance Date shall have the meaning specified in subsection 6.09(b).
New Issuance Notice shall have the meaning specified in subsection 6.09(b).
Notice Date shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.06(c)(i).
Obligor shall mean, with respect to any Account, the Person or Persons obligated to make payments with respect to such Account, including any guarantor thereof.
Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate signed by any Vice President or more senior officer of the Seller or Servicer and delivered to the Trustee.
Opinion of Counsel shall mean a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Person providing the opinion, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee; provided, however, that any Tax Opinion or other opinion relating to federal income tax matters shall be an opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel.
Participations shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.06(a)(ii).
Pay Out Commencement Date shall mean, (a) with respect to each Series, the date on which a Trust Pay Out Event is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 9.01 or (b) with respect to any Series, a Series Pay Out Event is deemed to occur pursuant to the Supplement for such Series.
Pay Out Event shall mean, with respect to each Series, a Trust Pay Out Event or a Series Pay Out Event.
Paying Agent shall mean any paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 6.06 and shall initially be the Trustee.
11
Periodic Finance Charges shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for finance charges (due to periodic rate) or any similar term.
Permitted Activities means the primary activities of the Trust, which are: (a) holding Receivables transferred from the Seller and the other assets of the Trust, which assets can not be contrary to the status of the Trust as a qualified special purpose entity under existing accounting literature, including passive derivative financial instruments that pertain to beneficial interests issued or sold to parties other than the Seller, its Affiliates or its agents; (b) issuing Certificates and other interests in the Trust assets; (c) receiving Collections and making payments on such Certificates and interests in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any Series Supplement; and (d) engaging in other activities that are necessary or incidental to accomplish these limited purposes, which activities can not be contrary to the status of the Trust as a qualified special purpose entity under existing accounting literature.
Permitted Investments shall mean, unless otherwise provided in the Supplement with respect to any Series (a) instruments, investment property or other property consisting of (i) obligations of or fully guaranteed by the United States of America; (ii) time deposits or certificates of deposit of any depositary institution or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof (or domestic branches of foreign depository institutions or trust companies) and subject to supervision and examination by federal or state banking or depositary institution authorities; provided, however, that at the time of the Trusts investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, the certificates of deposit or short-term deposits of such depositary institution or trust company shall have a credit rating from Moodys and Standard & Poors of P-1 and A-1+, respectively; (iii) commercial paper having, at the time of the Trusts investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, a rating from Moodys and Standard & Poors of P-1 and A-1+, respectively; (iv) bankers acceptances issued by any depository institution or trust company described in clause (a)(ii) above; and (v) investments in money market funds rated AAA-m or AAA-mg by Standard & Poors and Aaa by Moodys or otherwise approved in writing by each Rating Agency; (b) demand deposits in the name of the Trust or the Trustee in any depositary institution or trust company referred to in clause (a)(ii) above; (c) uncertificated securities that are registered in the name of the Trustee by the issuer thereof and identified by the Trustee as held for the benefit of the Certificateholders, and consisting of shares of an open end diversified investment company which is registered under the Investment Company Act and which (i) invests its assets exclusively in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of America or any instrumentality or agency thereof having in each instance a final maturity date of less than one year from their date of purchase or other Permitted Investments, (ii) seeks to maintain a constant net asset value per share, (iii) has aggregate net assets of not less than $100,000,000 on the date of purchase of such shares and (iv) which each Rating Agency designates in writing will not result in a withdrawal or downgrading of its then current rating of any Series rated by it; and (d) any other investment if each Rating Agency confirms in writing that such investment will not adversely affect its then current rating of the Investor Certificates.
Person shall mean any legal person, including any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or other entity of similar nature.
12
Pool Index File shall mean the file on the Sellers computer system that identifies MasterCard, VISA and American Express accounts of the Seller, which file is designated by the Seller as its Pool Index File.
Principal Account shall have the meaning specified in subsection 4.02(b).
Principal Funding Account shall have the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
Principal Funding Account Balance shall have the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
Principal Receivable shall mean each Receivable other than (i) Finance Charge Receivables, and (ii) Receivables in Defaulted Accounts. A Receivable shall be deemed to have been created at the end of the day on the Date of Processing of such Receivable. In calculating the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables on any day, the amount of Principal Receivables shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of credit balances in the Accounts on such day. Any Receivables which the Seller is unable to transfer as provided in subsection 2.05(d) shall not be included in calculating the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables.
Principal Shortfalls shall mean, with respect to a Transfer Date, the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series that the related Supplements specify are Principal Shortfalls for such Transfer Date.
Principal Terms shall have the meaning, with respect to any Series issued pursuant to a New Issuance, specified in subsection 6.09(c).
Private Holder shall mean each holder of a right to receive interest or principal in respect of any direct or indirect interest in the Trust including any financial instrument or contract the value of which is determined in whole or in part by reference to the Trust (including the Trusts assets, income or the Trust or distributions made by the Trust), excluding any interest in the Trust represented by any Series or Class of Investor Certificates or any other interest as to which the Seller has provided to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such Series, Class or other interest will be treated as debt or otherwise not as an equity interest in either the Trust or the Receivables for federal income tax purposes, in each case, provided such interest is not convertible or exchangeable into an interest in the Trust or the Trusts income or equivalent value. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, (i) Private Holder shall also include any other Person that the Seller determines is (or may be) a partner within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) (including by reason of section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) and (ii) unless the Seller otherwise determines, Private Holder shall not include any holder that would otherwise be considered a Private Holder solely by reason of having acquired a direct or indirect interest in the Trust issued prior to December 4, 1995. Initially, the Private Holders include the holders of the Seller Certificate or any interest therein, of any Collateral Interest, of any Enhancement Invested Amount, and of any similar interests in the Trust represented by any other Class of any Series of Certificates issued on or after December 4, 1995, and the Servicer. Any Person holding more than one interest in the Trust each of which separately would cause such Person to be a Private Holder shall be treated as a single Private Holder. Each holder of an interest in a Private Holder which is a partnership, S corporation or grantor trust under the Code shall be treated as a Private Holder unless excepted with the consent of the Seller (which consent
13
shall be based on an Opinion of Counsel generally to the effect that the action taken pursuant to the consent will not cause the Trust to become a publicly traded partnership treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes).
Qualified Institution shall mean (i) a depositary institution, which may include the Trustee, organized under the laws of the United States or any one of the States thereof including the District of Columbia, the deposits in which are insured by the FDIC and which at all times has a short-term unsecured debt rating of at least A-1+ by Standard & Poors and P-1 by Moodys or (ii) a depositary institution acceptable to the Rating Agency; provided, however, that an institution which shall have corporate trust powers and which maintains the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account, any Series Account or any other account maintained for the benefit of Certificateholders as a fully segregated trust account with the trust department of such institution shall not be required to meet the foregoing rating requirements, and need only at all times have a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least Baa3 by Moodys so long as Moodys is a Rating Agency.
Rating Agency shall mean, with respect to each Series, the rating agency or agencies, if any, selected by the Seller to rate the Certificates, as specified in the related Supplement.
Reassignment shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.07(b)(ii).
Reassignment Date shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.04(e).
Receivable shall mean any amount owing by the Obligors including, without limitation, amounts owing for the payment of goods and services, cash advances, access checks, Annual Membership Fees, Cash Advance Fees, Periodic Finance Charges, Late Fees and credit insurance premiums and Special Fees, if any.
Record Date shall mean, with respect to any Distribution Date, the last Business Day of the preceding Monthly Period.
Recoveries shall mean all amounts recovered in respect of Receivables in Defaulted Accounts; provided, however, that if any amount so recovered relates to both Receivables in Defaulted Accounts and other receivables, and if it cannot be determined with objective certainty whether such amount relates to Receivables in Defaulted Accounts or other receivables, the term Recoveries shall mean the amount reasonably estimated by the Servicer as having been recovered in respect of Receivables in Defaulted Accounts. Recoveries shall be treated as Collections of Finance Charge Receivables.
Registered Certificates shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Regulation AB shall mean Subpart 229.1100 Asset Backed Securities (Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. §§229.1100-229.1123, as such may be amended from time to time, and subject to such clarification and interpretation as have been provided by the Commission in the adopting release (Asset-Backed Securities, Securities Act Release No. 33-8518, 70 Fed. Reg. 1,506, 1,531 (January 7, 2005)) or by the staff of the Commission, or as may be provided by the Commission or its staff from time to time.
14
Removal Date shall mean the date on which Receivables in certain designated Removed Accounts will be reassigned by the Trustee to the Seller.
Removal Notice Date shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.07(a).
Removed Accounts shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.07(a).
Requirements of Law for any Person shall mean the certificate of incorporation or articles of association and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or to which such Person is subject, whether federal, state or local (including, without limitation, usury laws, the federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z and Regulation B of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).
Responsible Officer shall mean any officer within the Corporate Trust Office (or any successor group of the Trustee), including any Vice President, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any person who at the time shall be an above-designated officer and also, with respect to a particular officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officers knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
Revolving Period shall have, with respect to each Series, the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
SAIF shall mean the Savings Association Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC.
Sarbanes Certification shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(iii).
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Securitization Act shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.17.
Securitization Transaction shall mean any new issuance of Investor Certificates, pursuant to Section 6.03, or new notes issued by the MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust, publicly offered or privately placed, rated or unrated.
Seller shall mean MBNA America Bank, National Association, a national banking association and its successors in interest and permitted assigns.
Seller Certificate shall mean, if the Seller elects to evidence its interest in the Seller Interest in certificated form pursuant to Section 6.01, a certificate executed and delivered by the Seller and authenticated by the Trustee substantially in the form of Exhibit A; provided, that at any time there shall be only one Seller Certificate; provided further, that in any Supplement, Seller Certificate shall mean either a certificate executed and delivered by the Seller and authenticated by the Trustee substantially in the form of Exhibit A or the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest.
15
Seller Interest shall mean, on any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables and the principal amount on deposit in any Principal Funding Account (as defined in any Supplement) at the end of the day immediately prior to such date of determination, minus the Aggregate Investor Interest at the end of such day, minus the aggregate Enhancement Invested Amounts, if any, for each Series outstanding at the end of such day, minus the aggregate Collateral Interests not included in the Aggregate Investor Interests, if any, for each Series outstanding at the end of such day.
Seller Percentage shall mean, on any date of determination, when used with respect to Principal Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in Defaulted Accounts, a percentage equal to 100% minus the Aggregate Investor Percentage with respect to such categories of Receivables.
Seller Servicing Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.02.
Series shall mean any series of Investor Certificates, which may include within any such Series a Class or Classes of Investor Certificates subordinate to another such Class or Classes of Investor Certificates.
Series Account shall mean any account or accounts established pursuant to a Supplement for the benefit of such Series.
Series Pay Out Event shall have, with respect to any Series, the meaning specified pursuant to the Supplement for the related Series.
Series Servicing Fee Percentage shall mean, with respect to any Series, the amount specified in the related Supplement.
Series Termination Date shall mean, with respect to any Series of Certificates, the date stated in the related Supplement.
Service Transaction Fees shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for any service transaction fees or similar terms.
Servicer shall mean initially MBNA America Bank, National Association, and its permitted successors and assigns and thereafter any Person appointed as successor as herein provided to service the Receivables.
Servicer Default shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01.
Servicing Criteria shall mean the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB, as such may be amended from time to time.
Servicing Fee shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.02.
Servicing Officer shall mean any officer of the Servicer involved in, or responsible for, the administration and servicing of the Receivables whose name appears on a list of servicing officers furnished to the Trustee by the Servicer, as such list may from time to time be amended.
16
Shared Excess Finance Charge Collections shall mean, with respect to any Transfer Date, the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series that the related Supplements specify are to be treated as Shared Excess Finance Charge Collections for such Transfer Date.
Shared Principal Collections shall mean, with respect to any Transfer Date, the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series that the related Supplements specify are to be treated as Shared Principal Collections for such Transfer Date.
Special Fees shall mean Receivables which are Draft Fees, Service Transaction Fees and any other fees which are not now but from time to time may be assessed on the Accounts. On or after the date on which any of such Special Fees begin to be assessed on the Accounts, the Seller may designate in an Officers Certificate whether such Special Fees shall be treated as Principal Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables or in a manner identical to Annual Membership Fees as provided in Section 2.08.
Standard & Poors shall mean Standard & Poors Ratings Group.
Successor Servicer shall have the meaning specified in subsection 10.02(a).
Supplement or Series Supplement shall mean, with respect to any Series, a supplement to this Agreement complying with the terms of Section 6.09 of this Agreement, executed in conjunction with any issuance of any Series of Certificates (or, in the case of the issuance of Certificates on the Initial Closing Date, the supplement executed in connection with the issuance of such Certificates).
Tax Opinion shall mean with respect to any action, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes, (a) such action will not adversely affect the tax characterization as debt of Investor Certificates of any outstanding Series or Class that were characterized as debt at the time of their issuance, (b) following such action the Trust will not be deemed to be an association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation and (c) such action will not cause or constitute an event in which gain or loss would be recognized by any Investor Certificateholder or the Trust.
Termination Notice shall have, with respect to any Series, the meaning specified in subsection 10.01(d).
Transfer Agent and Registrar shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.03 and shall initially be the Trustees Corporate Trust Office.
Transfer Date shall mean, unless otherwise specified in the related Supplement, with respect to any Series, the Business Day immediately prior to each Distribution Date.
Transferred Account shall mean (a) an Account with respect to which a new credit card account number has been issued by the Servicer or the Seller under circumstances resulting from a lost or stolen credit card or from the transfer from one program to another program and not requiring standard application and credit evaluation procedures under the Credit
17
Card Guidelines or (b) an Eligible Account resulting from the conversion of an Account that was a standard account to a premium account or from a premium account to a standard account, and which in either case can be traced or identified in the Pool Index File with the designation 1994-MT as a Transferred Account into which an Account has been transferred by reference to or by way of the computer files or microfiche lists delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.01 or 2.06.
Trust shall mean the trust created by this Agreement, the corpus of which shall consist of the Receivables now existing or hereafter created and arising in connection with the Accounts, the Participations, if any, all monies due or to become due with respect to the Receivables and the Participations, all proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of the Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to the Receivables, the right to receive certain amounts paid or payable as Interchange (if provided for in any Supplement), such funds as from time to time are deposited in the Collection Account, the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account, the Distribution Account and any Series Account and the rights to any Credit Enhancement with respect to any Series.
Trust Extension shall have the meaning specified in subsection 12.01(a).
Trust Pay Out Event shall have, with respect to each Series, the meaning specified in Section 9.01.
Trust Termination Date shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) unless a Trust Extension shall have occurred, the first Business Day after the Distribution Date on which the Investor Interest, the Collateral Interest, the Enhancement Invested Amount and any other interest issued by the Trust, as applicable, for each Series is zero, (ii) if a Trust Extension shall have occurred, the Extended Trust Termination Date, (iii) December 31, 2024 and (iv) the date of any termination pursuant to Section 9.02(b).
Trustee shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, and its successors and any corporation resulting from or surviving any consolidation or merger to which it or its successors may be a party and any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from time to time, as in effect in any specified jurisdiction.
Undivided Interest shall mean the undivided interest in the Trust evidenced by an Investor Certificate.
Zero Balance Account shall mean an Account with a Receivable balance of zero which the Servicer will remove from its computer master file of VISA, MasterCard and American Express accounts.
Section 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) All terms defined in any Supplement or this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
18
(b) As used herein and in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in Section 1.01, and accounting terms partially defined in Section 1.01 to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles, as applicable. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms herein are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles, the definitions contained herein shall control.
(c) The agreements, representations and warranties of MBNA America Bank, National Association in this Agreement and in any Supplement in each of its capacities as Seller and Servicer shall be deemed to be the agreements, representations and warranties of MBNA America Bank, National Association solely in each such capacity for so long as MBNA America Bank, National Association acts in each such capacity under this Agreement.
(d) The words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to any Supplement or this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or any Supplement; and Section, subsection, Schedule and Exhibit references contained in this Agreement or any Supplement are references to Sections, subsections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement or any Supplement unless otherwise specified. The Servicer shall, upon making such determination, deliver to the Trustee and each Rating Agency an Officers Certificate to which shall be annexed the form of the related Exhibit, as so changed. Upon the delivery of such Officers Certificate to the Trustee, the related Exhibit, as so changed, shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute such Exhibit. The Trustee may conclusively rely upon such Officers Certificate in determining whether the related Exhibit, as changed, conforms to the requirements of this Agreement.
[End of Article I]
19
ARTICLE II
CONVEYANCE OF RECEIVABLES;
ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES
Section 2.01. Conveyance of Receivables. The Seller does hereby transfer, assign, set-over, and otherwise convey to the Trustee, without recourse, all of its right, title and interest in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created and arising in connection with the Accounts (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), all monies due or to become due with respect to such Receivables (including all Finance Charge Receivables), all proceeds of such Receivables, Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
In connection with such transfer, assignment, set-over and conveyance, the Seller agrees to record and file, at its own expense, a financing statement (including any continuation statements with respect to such financing statement when applicable) with respect to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created for the transfer of accounts (as defined in Section 9-106 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) meeting the requirements of applicable state law in such manner and in such jurisdictions as are necessary to perfect the assignment of the Receivables to the Trust, and to deliver a file-stamped copy of such financing statement or continuation statement or other evidence of such filing (which may, for purposes of this Section 2.01, consist of telephone confirmation of such filing) to the Trustee on or prior to the date of issuance of the Certificates, and in the case of any continuation statements filed pursuant to this Section 2.01, as soon as practicable after receipt thereof by the Seller. The foregoing transfer, assignment, set-over and conveyance to the Trust shall be made to the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, and each reference in this Agreement to such transfer, assignment, set-over and conveyance shall be construed accordingly.
In connection with such transfer, the Seller agrees, at its own expense, on or prior to the Initial Closing Date (i) to indicate in the Pool Index File maintained in its computer files that Receivables created in connection with the Accounts (other than any Additional Accounts) have been transferred to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement for the benefit of the Certificateholders by identifying such Accounts in the Pool Index File with the designation 1994-MT, and (ii) to deliver to the Trustee a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of all such Accounts, identified by account number and setting forth the Receivable balance as of the Cut Off Date. Such file or list shall be marked as Schedule 1 to this Agreement, delivered to the Trustee as confidential and proprietary, and is hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement. The Seller further agrees not to alter the file designation referenced in clause (i) of this paragraph with respect to any Account during the term of this Agreement unless and until such Account becomes a Removed Account, a Defaulted Account or a Zero Balance Account. The Seller further agrees to deliver to the Trustee on a bi-monthly basis, and as promptly as possible after the Trustee may at any time request, a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of all Accounts, each identified by account number, and to deliver to the Trustee as promptly as possible after the Trustee may at any time request tracing information with respect to Transferred Accounts. The Seller shall hold such information with respect to the Accounts and Transferred Accounts, prior to delivery thereof to the Trustee, in trust for the benefit of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust.
20
The parties hereto intend that each transfer of Receivables and other property pursuant to the Agreement or any Assignment constitute a sale, and not a secured borrowing, for accounting purposes. If, and to the extent that, notwithstanding such intent the transfer pursuant to this Section 2.01 is not deemed to be a sale, the Seller shall be deemed hereunder to have granted and does hereby grant to the Trustee a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Sellers right, title and interest in, to and under the Receivables now existing and hereafter created and arising in connection with the Accounts (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), all moneys due or to become due with respect to such Receivables, all proceeds of such Receivables and all Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and all proceeds thereof, and this Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law.
Pursuant to the request of the Seller, the Trustee shall cause Certificates in authorized denominations evidencing interests in the Trust to be duly authenticated and delivered to or upon the order of the Seller pursuant to Section 6.02.
The Trust created by this Agreement is named MBNA Master Credit Card Trust II and is separate and distinct from the Seller, the Servicer, and each Certificateholder. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust constitute a common law trust (as opposed to a trust created under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code) under the laws of the State of Delaware and that this Agreement constitute the governing instrument of such Trust. The Trust, and the Trustee on its behalf, shall engage only in Permitted Activities.
Section 2.02. Acceptance by Trustee.
(a) The Trustee hereby acknowledges its acceptance, on behalf of the Trust, of all right, title and interest to the property now existing and hereafter created, conveyed to the Trust pursuant to Section 2.01, and declares that it shall maintain such right, title and interest, upon the Trust herein set forth, for the benefit of all Certificateholders. The Trustee further acknowledges that, prior to or simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller delivered to the Trustee the computer file or microfiche list described in the third paragraph of Section 2.01.
(b) The Trustee hereby agrees not to disclose to any Person any of the account numbers or other information contained in the computer files or microfiche lists delivered to the Trustee by the Seller pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.06 and 2.07 (Account Information) except as is required in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or in enforcing the rights of the Certificateholders or to a Successor Servicer appointed pursuant to Section 10.02, as mandated pursuant to any Requirement of Law applicable to the Trustee or as requested by any Person in connection with financing statements filed with the Trust. The Trustee agrees to take such measures as shall be reasonably requested by the Seller to protect and maintain the security and confidentiality of such information, and, in connection therewith, shall allow the Seller to inspect the Trustees security and confidentiality arrangements from time to time during normal business hours. In the event that the Trustee is required by law to disclose any Account Information, the Trustee shall provide the Seller with prompt written notice, unless such notice is prohibited by law, of any such request or requirement so that the Seller may request a protective order or other appropriate remedy. The Trustee shall make best efforts to provide the Seller with written notice no later than five days prior to any disclosure pursuant to this subsection 2.02(b).
21
(c) The Trustee shall have no power to create, assume or incur indebtedness or other liabilities in the name of the Trust other than as contemplated in this Agreement.
Section 2.03. Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Trust as of the Initial Closing Date:
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Seller is a national banking association duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the United States and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to own its properties and conduct its business as such properties are presently owned and such business is presently conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to execute and deliver to the Trustee the Certificates pursuant hereto.
(b) Due Qualification. The Seller is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing (or is exempt from such requirement) in any state required in order to conduct its business, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals with respect to the Seller required under federal and Delaware law; provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made with respect to any qualifications, licenses or approvals which the Trustee would have to obtain to do business in any state in which the Trustee seeks to enforce any Receivable.
(c) Due Authorization. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the execution and delivery to the Trustee of the Certificates by the Seller and the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Seller by all necessary corporate action on its part and this Agreement will remain, from the time of its execution, an official record of the Seller.
(d) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Certificates, the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the material terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a material default under, any indenture, contract, agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which it or any of its properties are bound.
(e) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Certificates, the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or violate any Requirements of Law applicable to the Seller.
(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the Seller, threatened against the Seller before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or the Certificates, (ii) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Certificates or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Certificates, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that, in the reasonable judgment of the Seller, would materially and adversely affect the performance by the Seller of its obligations under this Agreement, (iv) seeking any determination or ruling that would materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Certificates or (v) seeking to affect adversely the income tax attributes of the Trust.
22
(g) Eligibility of Accounts. As of the Cut Off Date, each Account was an Eligible Account and no selection procedures adverse to the Investor Certificateholders have been employed by the Seller in selecting the Accounts from among the Eligible Accounts in the Bank Portfolio.
(h) Sellers Deposit Accounts. As of the Initial Closing Date, deposits in the Sellers deposit accounts were insured to the limits provided by law by BIF.
(i) All Consents Required. All approvals, authorizations, consents, orders or other actions of any Person or of any governmental body or official required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Certificates, the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof, have been obtained.
For the purposes of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 2.03 and made by the Seller on the Initial Closing Date, Certificates shall mean the Certificates issued on the Initial Closing Date. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.03 shall survive the transfer and assignment of the respective Receivables to the Trust, and termination of the rights and obligations of the Servicer pursuant to Section 10.01. The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, with respect to any Series of Certificates, as of its Closing Date, unless otherwise stated in such Supplement, that the representations and warranties of the Seller set forth in Section 2.03 are true and correct as of such date (for the purposes of such representations and warranties, Certificates shall mean the Certificates issued on the related Closing Date). Upon discovery by the Seller, the Servicer or the Trustee of a breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the others.
Section 2.04. Representations and Warranties of the Seller Relating to the Agreement and the Receivables.
(a) Binding Obligation; Valid Transfer and Assignment. The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Trust that, as of the Initial Closing Date:
(i) This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms, except (A) as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and the rights of creditors of national banking associations, and (B) as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in equity).
(ii) This Agreement constitutes either (A) a valid transfer, assignment, set-over and conveyance to the Trust of all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created and arising in connection with the Accounts (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), all proceeds of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto and such Receivables and all proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto will be held by the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming through or under the Seller or any of its Affiliates except for (x) Liens permitted under
23
subsection 2.05(b), (y) the interest of the Seller as Holder of the Seller Certificate and (z) the Sellers right, if any, to interest accruing on, and investment earnings, if any, in respect of the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account or any Series Account, as provided in this Agreement or the related Supplement, or (B) a grant of a security interest (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) in such property to the Trust, which is enforceable with respect to the existing Receivables (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), the proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto upon execution and delivery of this Agreement, and which will be enforceable with respect to such Receivables hereafter created, the proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto, upon such creation. If this Agreement constitutes the grant of a security interest to the Trust in such property, upon the filing of the financing statement described in Section 2.01 and in the case of the Receivables hereafter created and proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto, upon such creation, the Trust shall have a first priority perfected security interest in such property (subject to Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), except for Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b). Neither the Seller nor any Person claiming through or under the Seller shall have any claim to or interest in the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account, the Distribution Account or any Series Account, except for the Sellers rights to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in respect of, the Finance Charge Account and Principal Account as provided in this Agreement (or, if applicable, any Series Account as provided in any Supplement) and, if this Agreement constitutes the grant of a security interest in such property, except for the interest of the Seller in such property as a debtor for purposes of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware.
(b) Eligibility of Receivables. The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Trust as of the Initial Closing Date and as of each Addition Date, as the case may be, that:
(i) Each Receivable is an Eligible Receivable as of the Cut Off Date or the Addition Date, as applicable.
(ii) Each Receivable then existing has been conveyed to the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming through or under the Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b)) and in compliance, in all material respects, with all Requirements of Law applicable to the Seller.
(iii) With respect to each Receivable then existing, all consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations of or registrations or declarations with any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given by the Seller in connection with the conveyance of such Receivable to the Trust have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect.
(iv) On each day on which any new Receivable is created, the Seller shall be deemed to represent and warrant to the Trust that (A) each Receivable created on such day is an Eligible Receivable, (B) each Receivable created on such day has been conveyed to the Trust in compliance, in all material respects, with all Requirements of Law applicable to the Seller, (C) with respect to each such Receivable, all consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations of or registrations or declarations with, any Governmental Authority required to be obtained, effected or given by the Seller in
24
connection with the conveyance of such Receivable to the Trust have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect and (D) the representations and warranties set forth in subsection 2.04(a) are true and correct with respect to each Receivable created on such day as if made on such day.
(v) As of the Initial Closing Date, Schedule 1 to this Agreement, and as of the applicable Addition Date with respect to Additional Accounts, the related computer file or microfiche list referred to in Section 2.06, is an accurate and complete listing in all material respects of all the Accounts as of the Cut Off Date, or with respect to Additional Accounts, as of the applicable Addition Date, and the information contained therein with respect to the identity of such Accounts and the Receivables existing thereunder is true and correct in all material respects as of the Cut Off Date or such applicable Addition Date. As of the Cut Off Date, the aggregate amount of Receivables in all the Accounts was $1,699,985,109, of which $1,681,078,559 were Principal Receivables.
(c) Notice of Breach. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.04 shall survive the transfer and assignment of the respective Receivables to the Trust. Upon discovery by the Seller, the Servicer or the Trustee of a breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.04, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other parties mentioned above. The Seller agrees to cooperate with the Servicer and the Trustee in attempting to cure any such breach.
(d) Transfer of Ineligible Receivables.
(i) Automatic Removal. In the event of a breach with respect to a Receivable of any representations and warranties set forth in subsection 2.04(b)(ii), or in the event that a Receivable is not an Eligible Receivable as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in clause (d) of the definition of Eligible Receivable, and any of the following three conditions is met: (A) as a result of such breach or event such Receivable is charged off as uncollectible or the Trusts rights in, to or under such Receivable or its proceeds are impaired or the proceeds of such Receivable are not available for any reason to the Trust free and clear of any Lien; (B) the Lien upon the subject Receivable (1) arises in favor of the United States of America or any State or any agency or instrumentality thereof and involves taxes or liens arising under Title IV of ERISA or (2) has been consented to by the Seller; or (C) the unsecured short-term debt rating of the Seller is not at least P-1 by Moodys and the Lien upon the subject Receivable ranks prior to the Lien created pursuant to this Agreement; then, upon the earlier to occur of the discovery of such breach or event by the Seller or the Servicer or receipt by the Seller of written notice of such breach or event given by the Trustee, each such Receivable shall be automatically removed from the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in subsection 2.04(d)(iii).
(ii) Removal After Cure Period. In the event of a breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in subsection 2.04(b) other than a breach or event as set forth in clause (d)(i) above, and as a result of such breach the related Account becomes a Defaulted Account or the Trusts rights in, to or under the Receivable or its proceeds are impaired or the proceeds of such Receivable are not available for any reason to the Trust free and clear of any Lien, then, upon the expiration of 60 days (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Trustee in its sole discretion, but in no event
25
later than 120 days) from the earlier to occur of the discovery of any such event by either the Seller or the Servicer, or receipt by the Seller of written notice of any such event given by the Trustee, each such Receivable shall be removed from the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in subsection 2.04(d)(iii); provided, however, that no such removal shall be required to be made if, on any day within such applicable period, such representations and warranties with respect to such Receivable shall then be true and correct in all material respects as if such Receivable had been created on such day.
(iii) Procedures for Removal. When the provisions of subsection 2.04(d)(i) or (ii) above require removal of a Receivable, the Seller shall accept reassignment of such Receivable (an Ineligible Receivable) by directing the Servicer to deduct the principal balance of each such Ineligible Receivable from the Principal Receivables in the Trust and to decrease the Seller Interest by such amount. On and after the date of such removal, each Ineligible Receivable shall be deducted from the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables used in the calculation of any Investor Percentage, the Seller Percentage or the Seller Interest. In the event that the exclusion of an Ineligible Receivable from the calculation of the Seller Interest would cause the Seller Interest to be reduced below zero or would otherwise not be permitted by law, the Seller shall concurrently make a deposit in the Collection Account (for allocation as a Principal Receivable) in immediately available funds prior to the Transfer Date related to such Monthly Period in which such event occurred in an amount equal to the amount by which the Seller Interest would be reduced below zero. The portion of such deposit allocated to the Investor Certificates of each Series shall be distributed to the Investor Certificateholders of each Series in the manner specified in Article IV, if applicable, on the Distribution Date immediately following such Transfer Date. Upon the reassignment to the Seller of an Ineligible Receivable, the Trust shall automatically and without further action be deemed to transfer, assign, set-over and otherwise convey to the Seller, without recourse, representation or warranty, all the right, title and interest of the Trust in and to such Ineligible Receivable, all monies due or to become due with respect to such Ineligible Receivable and all proceeds of such Ineligible Receivable and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Ineligible Receivable and Interchange (if any) allocated to such Ineligible Receivable pursuant to any Supplement. Such reassigned Ineligible Receivable shall be treated by the Trust as collected in full as of the date on which it was transferred. The Trustee shall execute such documents and instruments of transfer or assignment and take other actions as shall reasonably be requested by the Seller to evidence the conveyance of such Ineligible Receivable pursuant to this subsection 2.04(d)(iii). The obligation of the Seller set forth in this subsection 2.04(d)(iii), or the automatic removal of such Receivable from the Trust, as the case may be, shall constitute the sole remedy respecting any breach of the representations and warranties set forth in the above-referenced subsections with respect to such Receivable available to Certificateholders or the Trustee on behalf of Certificateholders.
(iv) Proceeds Held by Servicer. For the purposes of subsections 2.04(d)(i) and (ii) above, proceeds of a Receivable shall not be deemed to be impaired hereunder solely because such proceeds are held by the Servicer (if the Servicer is the Seller) for more than the applicable period under Section 9-306(3) of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware.
26
(e) Reassignment of Trust Portfolio. In the event of a breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in subsection 2.04(a), either the Trustee or the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Aggregate Investor Interest, by notice then given in writing to the Seller (and to the Trustee and the Servicer, if given by the Investor Certificateholders), may direct the Seller to accept reassignment of an amount of Principal Receivables (as specified below) within 60 days of such notice (or within such longer period as may be specified in such notice), and the Seller shall be obligated to accept reassignment of such Principal Receivables on a Distribution Date specified by the Seller (such Distribution Date, the Reassignment Date) occurring within such applicable period on the terms and conditions set forth below; provided, however, that no such reassignment shall be required to be made if, at any time during such applicable period, the representations and warranties contained in subsection 2.04(a) shall then be true and correct in all material respects. The Seller shall deposit on the Transfer Date (in New York Clearing House, next day funds) preceding the Reassignment Date an amount equal to the reassignment deposit amount for such Receivables in the Distribution Account or Series Account, as provided in the related Supplement, for distribution to the Investor Certificateholders pursuant to Article XII. The reassignment deposit amount with respect to each Series for such reassignment, unless otherwise stated in the related Supplement, shall be equal to (i) the Investor Interest of such Series at the end of the day on the last day of the Monthly Period preceding the Reassignment Date, less the amount, if any, previously allocated for payment of principal to such Certificateholders on the related Distribution Date in the Monthly Period in which the Reassignment Date occurs, plus (ii) an amount equal to all interest accrued but unpaid on the Investor Certificates of such Series at the applicable Certificate Rate through such last day, less the amount, if any, previously allocated for payment of interest to the Certificateholders of such Series on the related Distribution Date in the Monthly Period in which the Reassignment Date occurs. Payment of the reassignment deposit amount with respect to each Series, and all other amounts in the Distribution Account or the applicable Series Account in respect of the preceding Monthly Period, shall be considered a prepayment in full of the Receivables represented by the Investor Certificates. On the Distribution Date following the Transfer Date on which such amount has been deposited in full into the Distribution Account or the applicable Series Account, the Receivables and all monies due or to become due with respect to such Receivables and all proceeds of the Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and Interchange (if any) allocated to the Receivables pursuant to any Supplement shall be released to the Seller after payment of all amounts otherwise due hereunder on or prior to such dates and the Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty, as shall be prepared by and as are reasonably requested by the Seller to vest in the Seller, or its designee or assignee, all right, title and interest of the Trust in and to the Receivables, all monies due or to become due with respect to such Receivables and all proceeds of the Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and Interchange (if any) allocated to the Receivables pursuant to any Supplement. If the Trustee or the Investor Certificateholders give notice directing the Seller to accept reassignment as provided above, the obligation of the Seller to accept reassignment of the Receivables and pay the reassignment deposit amount pursuant to this subsection 2.04(e) shall constitute the sole remedy respecting a breach of the representations and warranties contained in subsection 2.04(a) available to the Investor Certificateholders or the Trustee on behalf of the Investor Certificateholders.
27
Section 2.05. Covenants of the Seller. The Seller hereby covenants that:
(a) Receivables to be Accounts. The Seller will take no action to cause any Receivable to be evidenced by any instrument (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware). Each Receivable shall be payable pursuant to a contract which does not create a Lien on any goods purchased thereunder. The Seller will take no action to cause any Receivable to be anything other than an account (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware).
(b) Security Interests. Except for the conveyances hereunder, the Seller will not sell, pledge, assign or transfer to any other Person, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Receivable, whether now existing or hereafter created, or any interest therein; the Seller will immediately notify the Trustee of the existence of any Lien on any Receivable; and the Seller shall defend the right, title and interest of the Trust in, to and under the Receivables, whether now existing or hereafter created, against all claims of third parties claiming through or under the Seller; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection 2.05(b) shall prevent or be deemed to prohibit the Seller from suffering to exist upon any of the Receivables any Liens for municipal or other local taxes if such taxes shall not at the time be due and payable or if the Seller shall currently be contesting the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto.
(c) Credit Card Agreements and Account Guidelines. The Seller shall comply with and perform its obligations under the Credit Card Agreements relating to the Accounts and the Credit Card Guidelines and all applicable rules and regulations of VISA U.S.A., Inc., MasterCard International Incorporated and American Express Company except insofar as any failure to comply or perform would not materially and adversely affect the rights of the Trust or the Certificateholders hereunder or under the Certificates. The Seller may change the terms and provisions of the Credit Card Agreements or the Credit Card Guidelines in any respect (including, without limitation, the reduction of the required minimum monthly payment, the calculation of the amount, or the timing, of charge offs and the Periodic Finance Charges and other fees to be assessed thereon) only if such change (i) would not, in the reasonable belief of the Seller, cause a Pay Out Event to occur, and (ii) is made applicable to the comparable segment of the revolving credit card accounts owned and serviced by the Seller which have characteristics the same as, or substantially similar to, the Accounts that are the subject of such change, except as otherwise restricted by an endorsement, sponsorship, or other agreement between the Seller and an unrelated third party or by the terms of the Credit Card Agreements.
(d) Account Allocations.
(i) In the event that the Seller is unable for any reason to transfer Receivables to the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, by reason of the application of the provisions of Section 9.02 or an order by any federal governmental agency having regulatory authority over the Seller or any court of competent jurisdiction that the Seller not transfer any additional Principal Receivables to the Trust) then, in any such event, (A) the Seller agrees to allocate and pay to the Trust, after the date of such inability, all Collections with respect to Principal Receivables, and all amounts which would have constituted Collections with respect to Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer such Receivables (up to an aggregate amount equal to the amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust on such date); (B) the Seller agrees to have such amounts applied as Collections in accordance
28
with Article IV; and (C) for only so long as all Collections and all amounts which would have constituted Collections are allocated and applied in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) above, Principal Receivables (and all amounts which would have constituted Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer Receivables to the Trust) that are written off as uncollectible in accordance with this Agreement shall continue to be allocated in accordance with Article IV, and all amounts that would have constituted Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer Receivables to the Trust shall be deemed to be Principal Receivables for the purpose of calculating (i) the applicable Investor Percentage with respect to any Series and (ii) the Aggregate Investor Percentage thereunder. If the Seller is unable pursuant to any Requirement of Law to allocate Collections as described above, the Seller agrees that it shall in any such event allocate, after the occurrence of such event, payments on each Account with respect to the principal balance of such Account first to the oldest principal balance of such Account and to have such payments applied as Collections in accordance with Article IV. The parties hereto agree that Finance Charge Receivables, whenever created, accrued in respect of Principal Receivables that have been conveyed to the Trust, or that would have been conveyed to the Trust but for the above described inability to transfer such Receivables, shall continue to be a part of the Trust notwithstanding any cessation of the transfer of additional Principal Receivables to the Trust and Collections with respect thereto shall continue to be allocated and paid in accordance with Article IV.
(ii) In the event that, pursuant to subsection 2.04(d), the Seller accepts reassignment of an Ineligible Receivable as a result of a breach of the representations and warranties in subsection 2.04(b) relating to such Receivable, then, in any such event, the Seller agrees to account for payments received with respect to such Ineligible Receivable separately from its accounting for Collections on Principal Receivables retained by the Trust. If payments received from or on behalf of an Obligor are not specifically applicable either to an Ineligible Receivable of such Obligor reassigned to the Seller or to the Receivables of such Obligor retained in the Trust, then the Seller agrees to allocate payments proportionately based on the total amount of Principal Receivables of such Obligor retained in the Trust and the total amount owing by such Obligor on any Ineligible Receivables reassigned to the Seller, and the portion allocable to any Principal Receivables retained in the Trust shall be treated as Collections and deposited in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
(e) Delivery of Collections. The Seller agrees to pay to the Servicer all payments received by the Seller in respect of the Receivables as soon as practicable after receipt thereof by the Seller.
(f) Conveyance of Accounts. The Seller covenants and agrees that it will not convey, assign, exchange or otherwise transfer the Accounts to any Person prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article XII; provided, however, that the Seller shall not be prohibited hereby from conveying, assigning, exchanging or otherwise transferring the Accounts in connection with a transaction complying with the provisions of Section 7.02.
Section 2.06. Addition of Accounts.
(a) (i) If, (A) during any period of thirty consecutive days, the Seller Interest averaged over that period is less than the Minimum Seller Interest for that period the Seller shall
29
designate additional eligible MasterCard, VISA or American Express accounts from the Bank Portfolio (Additional Accounts) to be included as Accounts in a sufficient amount such that the average of the Seller Interest as a percentage of the Average Principal Receivables for such 30 day period, computed by assuming that the amount of the Principal Receivables of such Additional Accounts shall be deemed to be outstanding in the Trust during each day of such 30-day period, is at least equal to the Minimum Seller Interest, or (B) on any Record Date the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables is less than the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables (as adjusted for any Series having a Companion Series as described in the Supplement for such Series), the Seller shall designate Additional Accounts to be included as Accounts in a sufficient amount such that the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables will be equal to or greater than the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables. Receivables from such Additional Accounts shall be transferred to the Trust on or before the tenth Business Day following such thirty-day period or Record Date, as the case may be.
(ii) In lieu of, or in addition to, designating Additional Accounts pursuant to clause (i) above, the Seller may, subject to any applicable conditions specified in paragraph (c) below, convey to the Trust participations representing undivided interests in a pool of assets primarily consisting of receivables arising under revolving credit card accounts owned by the Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller and collections thereon (Participations). The addition of Participations in the Trust pursuant to this paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) below shall be effected by an amendment hereto, dated as of the applicable Addition Date, pursuant to Section 13.01(a).
(b) In addition to its obligation under subsection 2.06(a), the Seller may, but shall not be obligated to, designate from time to time Additional Accounts of the Seller to be included as Accounts or Participations to be included as property of the Trust, in either case as of the applicable Addition Date.
(c) The Seller agrees that any such transfer of Receivables from Additional Accounts, under subsection 2.06(a) or (b) shall satisfy the following conditions (to the extent provided below):
(i) on or before the fifth Business Day prior to the Addition Date with respect to additions pursuant to subsection 2.06(a) and on or before the tenth Business Day prior to the Addition Date with respect to additions pursuant to subsection 2.06(b) (the Notice Date), the Seller shall give the Trustee, each Rating Agency and the Servicer written notice that such Additional Accounts or Participations will be included, which notice shall specify the approximate aggregate amount of the Receivables to be transferred;
(ii) on or before the Addition Date, the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee a written assignment (including an acceptance by the Trustee on behalf of the Trust for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders) in substantially the form of Exhibit B (the Assignment) and the Seller shall have indicated in its computer files that the Receivables created in connection with the Additional Accounts have been transferred to the Trust and, within five Business Days thereafter, or as otherwise agreed upon between the Seller and the Trustee, the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of all Additional Accounts and identifying each Account by account number and the aggregate amount of the Receivables in such Additional Accounts, as of the Addition Date, which computer file or microfiche list shall be as of the date of such Assignment incorporated into and made a part of such Assignment and this Agreement;
30
(iii) the Seller shall represent and warrant that (x) with respect to Additional Accounts, each Additional Account is, as of the Addition Date, an Eligible Account, and each Receivable in such Additional Account is, as of the Addition Date, an Eligible Receivable, (y) no selection procedures believed by the Seller to be materially adverse to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders were utilized in selecting the Additional Accounts from the available Eligible Accounts from the Bank Portfolio, and (z) as of the Addition Date, the Seller is not insolvent;
(iv) the Seller shall represent and warrant that, as of the Addition Date, the Assignment constitutes either (x) a valid transfer and assignment to the Trust of all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Receivables then existing and thereafter created in the Additional Accounts, and all proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto and such Receivables and all proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto will be held by the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming through or under the Seller or any of its Affiliates, except for (i) Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b), (ii) the interest of the Seller as Holder of the Seller Certificate and (iii) the Sellers right to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in respect of, the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account, or any Series Account as provided in this Agreement and any related Supplement or (y) a grant of a security interest (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), in such property to the Trust, which is enforceable with respect to then existing Receivables of the Additional Accounts, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto upon the conveyance of such Receivables to the Trust, and which will be enforceable with respect to the Receivables thereafter created in respect of Additional Accounts conveyed on such Addition Date, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), thereof and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto upon such creation; and (z) if the Assignment constitutes the grant of a security interest to the Trust in such property, upon the filing of a financing statement as described in Section 2.01 with respect to such Additional Accounts and in the case of the Receivables thereafter created in such Additional Accounts and the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), thereof, and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating thereto, upon such creation, the Trust shall have a first priority perfected security interest in such property (subject to Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), except for Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b);
(v) the Seller shall deliver an Officers Certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 2 to Exhibit B to the Trustee confirming the items set forth in paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv) above;
(vi) the Seller shall deliver an Opinion of Counsel with respect to the Receivables in the Additional Accounts to the Trustee (with a copy to Moodys and Standard & Poors) substantially in the form of Exhibit E;
31
(vii) (A) with respect to accounts in excess of the Maximum Addition Amount and with respect to Participations, the Seller shall have received notice from Standard & Poors and Moodys that the inclusion of such accounts as Additional Accounts pursuant to subsections 2.06(a) and 2.06(b) or the inclusion of such Participations to be included as property of the Trust pursuant to subsections 2.06(a) and 2.06(b), as the case may be, will not result in the reduction or withdrawal of its then existing rating of any Series of Investor Certificates then issued and outstanding; and (B) with respect to accounts not in excess of the Maximum Addition Amount added during the last quarterly period (such quarterly period beginning on and including the fifteenth day of January, April, July, and October and ending on and excluding the fifteenth day of April, July, October, and January, respectively), if applicable, the Seller shall have received, to the extent not previously received, not later than twenty days after the relevant quarterly period, notice from Standard & Poors and Moodys that the inclusion of such accounts as Additional Accounts pursuant to subsections 2.06(a) and 2.06(b) will not result in the reduction or withdrawal of its then existing rating of any Series of Investor Certificates then issued and outstanding; and
(viii) the Seller shall provide each Rating Agency 30 days prior notice of the inclusion of any business cards as Additional Accounts pursuant to subsection 2.06(b).
Section 2.07. Removal of Accounts.
(a) Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Seller may, but shall not be obligated to, designate Receivables from Accounts for deletion and removal (Removed Accounts) from the Trust; provided, however, that the Seller shall not make more than one such designation in any Monthly Period. On or before the fifth Business Day (the Removal Notice Date) prior to the date on which the designated Removed Accounts will be reassigned by the Trustee to the Seller (the Removal Date), the Seller shall give the Trustee and the Servicer written notice that the Receivables from such Removed Accounts are to be reassigned to the Seller.
(b) The Seller shall be permitted to designate and require reassignment to it of the Receivables from Removed Accounts only upon satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the removal of any Receivables of any Removed Accounts on any Removal Date shall not, in the reasonable belief of the Seller, (a) cause a Pay Out Event to occur; provided, however, that for the purposes of this subsection 2.07(b)(i), the Receivables of each Removed Account shall be considered to have been removed as of the Removal Date, (b) cause the Seller Interest as a percentage of the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables to be less than the Minimum Seller Interest on such Removal Date, (c) cause the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables to be less than the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables, or (d) result in the failure to make any payment specified in the related Supplement with respect to any Series;
(ii) on or prior to the Removal Date, the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee for execution a written assignment in substantially the form of Exhibit G (the Reassignment) and, within five Business Days (or as otherwise agreed upon between the Seller and the Trustee) thereafter, the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of all Removed
32
Accounts identified by account number and the aggregate amount of the Receivables in such Removed Accounts as of the Removal Date, which computer file or microfiche list shall as of the Removal Date modify and amend and be made a part of this Agreement;
(iii) the Seller shall represent and warrant that no selection procedures believed by the Seller to be materially adverse to the interests of the Certificateholders were utilized in selecting the Removed Accounts to be removed from the Trust;
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) on or before the tenth Business Day prior to the Removal Date, each Rating Agency shall have received notice of such proposed removal of the Receivables of such Accounts and the Seller shall have received notice prior to the Removal Date from such Rating Agency that such proposed removal will not result in a downgrade or withdrawal of its then current rating of any outstanding Series of the Investor Certificates;
(vi) on any Removal Notice Date, the amount of the Principal Receivables of the Removed Accounts to be reassigned to the Seller on the related Removal Date shall not equal or exceed 5% of the aggregate amount of the Principal Receivables on such Removal Date; provided, that if any Series has been paid in full, the Principal Receivables in such Removed Accounts shall not equal or exceed the sum of (A) 5% of the aggregate amount of the Principal Receivables, after giving effect to the removal of accounts pursuant to clause (B) below, on such Removal Date plus (B) the Initial Investor Interest of such Series that has been paid in full; and
(vii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate confirming the items set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) above. The Trustee may conclusively rely on such Officers Certificate, shall have no duty to make inquiries with regard to the matters set forth therein and shall incur no liability in so relying.
Upon satisfaction of the above conditions, the Trustee shall execute and deliver the Reassignment to the Seller, and the Receivables from the Removed Accounts shall no longer constitute a part of the Trust.
(c) The Seller may, but shall not be obligated to, designate at any time Zero Balance Accounts, any future receivables of which will no longer be part of the Trust, and to remove the designation 1994-MT from the Pool Index File for such Accounts; provided, that prior to such designation and removal, the Seller shall have delivered to Moodys an Officers Certificate to the effect that to the best knowledge of the Seller, such designation and removal shall not cause a Pay Out Event to occur.
(d) In addition to the terms and conditions contained in subsections 2.07(a) and 2.07(b), the Sellers right to require the reassignment to it or its designee of all the Trusts right, title and interest in, to and under the Receivables in Removed Accounts, shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(i) Except for Removed Accounts described in subsections 2.07(c) and 2.07(d)(ii), the Accounts to be designated as Removed Accounts shall be selected at random by the Seller.
33
(ii) The Seller may designate Removed Accounts as provided in and subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Section 2.07 without being subject to the restrictions set forth in subsection 2.07(d)(i) if the Removed Accounts are designated in response to a third-party action or decision not to act and not the unilateral action of the Seller.
Section 2.08. Transfer of Receivables Representing Annual Membership Fees.
(a) On or before each Transfer Date the Seller shall accept reassignment of the Receivables representing Annual Membership Fees, from the Trust by (i) depositing into the Finance Charge Account in immediately available funds, an amount equal to the product of (a) the Aggregate Investor Percentage with respect to Finance Charge Receivables and (b) the amount of such Annual Membership Fee processed with respect to the prior Monthly Period, and (ii) pay to the Holder of the Seller Certificate, an amount equal to the product of (a) the Seller Percentage with respect to Finance Charge Receivables and (b) the amount of such Annual Membership Fee. The deposit made by the Seller into the Finance Charge Account under the preceding sentence shall be considered a payment of such Annual Membership Fee, shall be allocated to each Series in accordance with such Series Investor Percentage with respect to Finance Charge Receivables and shall be applied in accordance with Article IV. Upon such reassignment to the Seller of any Annual Membership Fee, the Trust shall automatically and without further action be deemed to transfer, assign, set-over and otherwise convey to the Seller, without recourse, representation or warranty, all of the right, title and interest of the Trust in and to such Annual Membership Fee, all monies due or become due with respect thereto, all proceeds thereof, and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries related thereto. The Trustee shall execute such documents and instruments of transfer or assignment as shall be prepared by the Seller and acceptable to the Trustee and take such other actions as shall reasonably be requested by the Seller to effect the conveyance of such Annual Membership Fee pursuant to this subsection 2.08(a).
(b) Upon any reassignment described in subsection 2.08(a), the Seller shall reconvey the Receivable in respect of such Annual Membership Fee to the Trust. Upon such transfer, and as of the date of such transfer, the Seller shall be deemed to make the representations and warranties provided in subsection 2.04(b). Further, the Seller shall direct the Servicer to add the amount of such Annual Membership Fee to the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables used to calculate the Seller Interest. On and after the date of such transfer, the Receivable in respect of each Annual Membership Fee so transferred shall be included in the calculation of the Aggregate Investor Percentage, the Seller Percentage and the Seller Interest. Collections with respect to Receivables in respect of such Annual Membership Fees shall be treated for all purposes hereunder as Collections of Principal Receivables.
Section 2.09. Discount Option. The Seller may at any time, upon at least 30 days prior written notice to the Servicer, the Trustee, each Credit Enhancement Provider and each Rating Agency, designate a percentage, which may be a fixed percentage or a variable percentage based on a formula (the Discounted Percentage), of the amount of Principal Receivables arising in all of the Accounts to be treated on and after such designation, or for the period specified, as Discount Option Receivables; provided, however, that no such designation shall become effective on the date specified in the written notice unless the following conditions have been satisfied:
(i) the designation of Discount Option Receivables shall not, in the reasonable belief of the Seller, cause a Pay Out Event to occur or cause an event which with notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute a Pay Out Event;
34
(ii) on or before the date specified in the written notice, the Seller shall have received written confirmation from each Rating Agency that such designation will not result in a downgrade or withdrawal of its then current rating of any outstanding Series of Investor Certificates;
(iii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate confirming the items set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above. The Trustee may conclusively rely on such Officers Certificate, shall have no duty to make inquiries with regard to the matters set forth therein and shall incur no liability in so relying.
On and after the date of satisfaction of the above conditions, in processing Collections of Principal Receivables of the Accounts the Servicer shall deem the product of the Discounted Percentage and Collections of such Principal Receivables as Discount Option Receivable Collections and shall treat such Discount Option Receivable Collections for all purposes hereunder as Collections of Finance Charge Receivables.
[End of Article II]
35
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING
OF RECEIVABLES
Section 3.01. Acceptance of Appointment and Other Matters Relating to the Servicer.
(a) The Seller agrees to act as the Servicer under this Agreement. The Investor Certificateholders of each Series by their acceptance of the related Certificates consent to the Seller acting as Servicer.
(b) The Servicer shall service and administer the Receivables and shall collect payments due under the Receivables in accordance with its customary and usual servicing procedures for servicing credit card receivables comparable to the Receivables and in accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines and shall have full power and authority, acting alone or through any party properly designated by it hereunder, to do any and all things in connection with such servicing and administration which it may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to Section 10.01, the Servicer is hereby authorized and empowered (i) to make withdrawals from the Collection Account as set forth in this Agreement, (ii) unless such power and authority is revoked by the Trustee on account of the occurrence of a Servicer Default pursuant to Section 10.01, to instruct the Trustee to make withdrawals and payments, from the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account and any Series Account, in accordance with such instructions as set forth in this Agreement, (iii) unless such power and authority is revoked by the Trustee on account of the occurrence of a Servicer Default pursuant to Section 10.01, to instruct the Trustee in writing, as set forth in this Agreement, (iv) to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders, any and all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge, and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the Receivables and, after the delinquency of any Receivable and to the extent permitted under and in compliance with applicable law and regulations, to commence enforcement proceedings with respect to such Receivables and (v) to make any filings, reports, notices, applications, registrations with, and to seek any consents or authorizations from the Securities and Exchange Commission and any state securities authority on behalf of the Trust as may be necessary or advisable to comply with any federal or state securities or reporting requirements. The Trustee agrees that it shall promptly follow the instructions of the Servicer to withdraw funds from the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or any Series Account and to take any action required under any Credit Enhancement at such time as required under this Agreement. The Trustee shall execute at the Servicers written request such documents prepared by the Seller and acceptable to the Trustee as may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its servicing and administrative duties hereunder.
(c) In the event that the Seller is unable for any reason to transfer Receivables to the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, by reason of the application of the provisions of Section 9.02 or the order of any federal governmental agency having regulatory authority over the Seller or any court of competent jurisdiction that the Seller not transfer any additional Principal Receivables to the Trust) then, in any such event, (A) the Servicer agrees to allocate, after such date, all Collections with respect to
36
Principal Receivables, and all amounts which would have constituted Collections with respect to Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer such Receivables (up to an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust as of such date) in accordance with subsection 2.05(d); (B) the Servicer agrees to apply such amounts as Collections in accordance with Article IV, and (C) for only so long as all Collections and all amounts which would have constituted Collections are allocated and applied in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) above, Principal Receivables and all amounts which would have constituted Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer Receivables to the Trust that are written off as uncollectible in accordance with this Agreement shall continue to be allocated in accordance with Article IV and all amounts which would have constituted Principal Receivables but for the Sellers inability to transfer Receivables to the Trust shall be deemed to be Principal Receivables for the purpose of calculating the applicable Investor Percentage thereunder. If the Servicer is unable pursuant to any Requirement of Law to allocate payments on the Accounts as described above, the Servicer agrees that it shall in any such event allocate, after the occurrence of such event, payments on each Account with respect to the principal balance of such Account first to the oldest principal balance of such Account and to have such payments applied as Collections in accordance with Article IV. The parties hereto agree that Finance Charge Receivables, whenever created, accrued in respect of Principal Receivables which have been conveyed to the Trust, or which would have been conveyed to the Trust but for the above described inability to transfer such Receivables, shall continue to be a part of the Trust notwithstanding any cessation of the transfer of additional Principal Receivables to the Trust and Collections with respect thereto shall continue to be allocated and paid in accordance with Article IV.
(d) In the event that pursuant to subsection 2.04(d), the Seller accepts reassignment of an Ineligible Receivable as a result of a breach of the representations and warranties in subsection 2.04(b) relating to such Receivable, then, in any such event, the Servicer agrees to account for payments received with respect to such Ineligible Receivable separately from its accounting for Collections on Principal Receivables retained by the Trust. If payments received from or on behalf of an Obligor are not specifically applicable either to an Ineligible Receivable of such Obligor reassigned to the Seller or to Receivables of such Obligor retained in the Trust, then the Servicer agrees to allocate payments proportionately based on the total amount of Principal Receivables of such Obligor retained in the Trust and the total amount owing by such Obligor on any Ineligible Receivables purchased by the Seller, and the portion allocable to any Principal Receivables retained in the Trust shall be treated as Collections and deposited in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
(e) The Servicer shall not be obligated to use separate servicing procedures, offices, employees or accounts for servicing the Receivables from the procedures, offices, employees and accounts used by the Servicer in connection with servicing other credit card receivables.
(f) The Servicer shall maintain fidelity bond coverage insuring against losses through wrongdoing of its officers and employees who are involved in the servicing of credit card receivables covering such actions and in such amounts as the Servicer believes to be reasonable from time to time.
37
Section 3.02. Servicing Compensation. As full compensation for its servicing activities hereunder and as reimbursement for its expenses as set forth in the immediately following paragraph, the Servicer shall be entitled to receive a servicing fee (the Servicing Fee) with respect to each Monthly Period prior to the Termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.01, payable monthly on the related Transfer Date, in an amount equal to one-twelfth of the product of (a) the weighted average of the Series Servicing Fee Percentages with respect to each outstanding Series (based upon the Series Servicing Fee Percentage for each Series and the Adjusted Investor Interest (or such other amount as specified in the related Supplement) of such Series, in each case as of the last day of the prior Monthly Period) and (b) the average amount of Principal Receivables during the prior Monthly Period. The share of the Servicing Fee allocable to Investor Certificates (the Investor Servicing Fee) of a particular Series with respect to any Monthly Period will each be determined in accordance with the relevant Supplement. The portion of the Servicing Fee with respect to any Monthly Period not so allocated to the Investor Certificates of a particular Series shall be paid by the Holder of the Seller Certificate on the related Transfer Date and in no event shall the Trust, the Trustee or the Investor Certificateholders of any Series be liable for the share of the Servicing Fee with respect to any Monthly Period to be paid by the Holders of the Seller Certificates (the Seller Servicing Fee).
The Servicers expenses include the amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.05 and the reasonable fees and disbursements of independent public accountants and all other expenses incurred by the Servicer in connection with its activities hereunder; provided, that the Servicer shall not be liable for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners arising under any tax law, including without limitation any federal, state or local income or franchise taxes or any other tax imposed on or measured by income (or any interest or penalties with respect thereto or arising from a failure to comply therewith). The Servicer shall be required to pay such expenses for its own account and shall not be entitled to any payment therefor other than the Servicing Fee.
Section 3.03. Representations and Warranties of the Servicer. MBNA America Bank, National Association, as initial Servicer, hereby makes, and any Successor Servicer by its appointment hereunder shall make (with appropriate modifications to Section 3.03(a) to reflect the Successor Servicers organization) the following representations and warranties on which the Trustee has relied in accepting the Receivables in trust and in authenticating the Certificates issued on the Initial Closing Date:
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Servicer is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to own its properties and conduct its credit card business as such properties are presently owned and as such business is presently conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Due Qualification. The Servicer is not required to qualify nor register as a foreign corporation in any state in order to service the Receivables as required by this Agreement and has obtained all licenses and approvals necessary in order to so service the Receivables as required under federal and Delaware law. If the Servicer shall be required by any Requirement of Law to so qualify or register or obtain such license or approval, then it shall do so.
(c) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Servicer by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Servicer and this Agreement will remain, from the time of its execution, an official record of the Servicer.
38
(d) Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Servicer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect, affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and the rights of creditors of national banking associations.
(e) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Servicer, and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof applicable to the Servicer, will not conflict with, violate, result in any breach of any of the material terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, any Requirement of Law applicable to the Servicer or any indenture, contract, agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to which the Servicer is a party or by which it is bound.
(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, threatened against the Servicer before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality seeking to prevent the issuance of the Certificates or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, seeking any determination or ruling that, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer, would materially and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer of its obligations under this Agreement, or seeking any determination or ruling that would materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
(g) Compliance with Requirements of Law. The Servicer shall duly satisfy all obligations on its part to be fulfilled under or in connection with each Receivable and the related Account, will maintain in effect all qualifications required under Requirements of Law in order to service properly each Receivable and the related Account and will comply in all material respects with all other Requirements of Law in connection with servicing each Receivable and the related Account the failure to comply with which would have a material adverse effect on the Certificateholders or any Credit Enhancement Provider.
Section 3.04. Reports and Records for the Trustee.
(a) Daily Reports. On each Business Day, the Servicer, with prior notice, shall prepare and make available at the office of the Servicer for inspection by the Trustee a record setting forth (i) the aggregate amount of Collections processed by the Servicer on the preceding Business Day and (ii) the aggregate amount of Receivables as of the close of business on the preceding Business Day.
(b) Monthly Servicers Certificate. Unless otherwise stated in the related Supplement with respect to any Series, on each Determination Date the Servicer shall forward, as provided in Section 13.05, to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, any Credit Enhancement Provider and each Rating Agency, a certificate of a Servicing Officer in the form of Exhibit C (which includes the Schedule thereto specified as such in each Supplement) setting forth (i) the aggregate amount of Collections processed during the preceding Monthly Period, (ii) the aggregate amount of the applicable Investor Percentage of Collections of Principal Receivables
39
processed by the Servicer pursuant to Article IV during the preceding Monthly Period with respect to each Series then outstanding, (iii) the aggregate amount of the applicable Investor Percentage of Collections of Finance Charge Receivables processed by the Servicer pursuant to Article IV during the preceding Monthly Period with respect to each Series then outstanding, (iv) the aggregate amount of Receivables processed as of the end of the last day of the preceding Monthly Period, (v) the balance on deposit in the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account or any Series Account applicable to any Series then outstanding on such Determination Date with respect to Collections processed by the Servicer during the preceding Monthly Period, (vi) the aggregate amount, if any, of withdrawals, drawings or payments under any Credit Enhancement, if any, for each Series then outstanding required to be made with respect to the previous Monthly Period in the manner provided in the related Supplement, (vii) the sum of all amounts payable to the Investor Certificateholders of each Series (or for a Series of more than one Class, each such Class) on the succeeding Distribution Date in respect of Certificate Principal and Certificate Interest with respect to such preceding Monthly Period and (viii) such other matters as are set forth in Exhibit C.
Section 3.05. Annual Servicers Certificate. On or before the 60th day following the end of each fiscal year, the Servicer will deliver, as provided in Section 13.05, to the Trustee, any Credit Enhancement Provider and the Rating Agency, the statement of compliance required under Item 1123 of Regulation AB with respect to such fiscal year, which statement will be in the form of an Officers Certificate to the effect that (a) a review of the activities of the Servicer during such fiscal year and of its performance under this Agreement was made under the supervision of the officer signing such certificate and (b) to the best of such officers knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under this Agreement throughout such fiscal year or, if there has been a failure to fulfill any such obligation in any material respect, specifying each such failure known to such officer and the nature and status thereof. A copy of such certificate may be obtained by any Investor Certificateholder by a request in writing to the Trustee addressed to the Corporate Trust Office.
Section 3.06. Annual Independent Accountants Servicing Report. On or before the 60th day following the end of each fiscal year, the Servicer shall cause a firm of nationally recognized independent public accountants (who may also render other services to the Servicer or the Seller) to furnish, as provided in Section 13.05, to the Trustee, any Credit Enhancement Provider and the Rating Agency each attestation report on assessments of compliance with the Servicing Criteria with respect to the Servicer or any affiliate thereof during the immediately preceding fiscal year delivered by such accountants pursuant to Rule 13(a)-18 or Rule 15(d)-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB; provided, however, that solely with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the Servicer, in its sole and absolute discretion, rather than cause the report described above to be furnished, may cause a firm of nationally recognized independent public accountants (who may also render other services to the Servicer or the Seller) to furnish, as provided in Section 13.05, to the Trustee, any Credit Enhancement Provider and the Rating Agency:
(i) each attestation report on assessments of compliance with the Servicing Criteria with respect to the Servicer during the six-month period ending June 30, 2006 delivered by such accountants pursuant to Rule 13(a)-18 or Rule 15(d)-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB; and
40
(ii) (A) a report, based upon established criteria that meets the standards applicable to accountants reports intended for general distribution, attesting to the fairness of the assertion of the Servicers management that its internal controls over the functions performed as Servicer of the Trust are effective, in all material respects, in providing reasonable assurance that Trust assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, on the date of such report, and a report attesting to the fairness of the assertion of the Servicers management that such servicing was conducted in conformity with the sections of this Agreement during the period from July 1, 2005 to and including December 31, 2005, except for such exceptions or errors as such firm shall believe to be immaterial and such other exceptions as shall be set forth in such report, and (B) a report, prepared in accordance with the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, to the effect that they have compared the mathematical calculations of certain amounts set forth in the monthly certificates forwarded by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.04(b) during the period from July 1, 2005 to and including December 31, 2005 with the Servicers computer reports which were the source of such amounts and that, on the basis of such comparison, such firm is of the opinion that such amounts are in agreement, except for such exceptions as shall be set forth in such report.
Unless otherwise provided with respect to any Series in the related Supplement, a copy of such report (or reports, as applicable) may be obtained by any Investor Certificateholder by a request in writing to the Trustee addressed to the Corporate Trust Office.
Section 3.07. Tax Treatment. The Seller has structured this Agreement, the Investor Certificates and any Collateral Interest with the intention that the Investor Certificates and any Collateral Interest will qualify under applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax law as indebtedness of the Seller secured by the Receivables. The Seller, the Servicer, the Holder of the Seller Certificate, each Investor Certificateholder, each Certificate Owner, and each owner of any Collateral Interest or interest therein agree to treat and to take no action inconsistent with the treatment of the Investor Certificates and any Collateral Interest (or beneficial interest therein) as such indebtedness for purposes of federal, state, local and foreign income or franchise taxes and any other tax imposed on or measured by income. Each Investor Certificateholder and the Holder of the Seller Certificate, by acquisition of its interest in the Seller Interest; each Certificate Owner, by acquisition of a beneficial interest in a Certificate; and any owner of any Collateral Interest or interest therein, by acquisition of such interest therein, agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3.07. Each Certificateholder agrees that it will cause any Certificate Owner acquiring an interest in a Certificate through it, and each owner of any Collateral Interest or any interest therein agrees that it will cause any Person acquiring any such interest, to comply with this Agreement as to treatment as indebtedness under applicable tax law, as described in this Section 3.07. Notwithstanding this Section 3.07, if the treatment of any Collateral Interest or interest therein as indebtedness is challenged by any governmental authority, the Holder of the Seller Certificate and any owner of such interest do not intend to be foreclosed from adopting as a secondary tax position that such interest constitutes equity in a partnership.
Section 3.08. Notices to the Seller. In the event that the Seller is no longer acting as Servicer, any Successor Servicer appointed pursuant to Section 10.02 shall deliver or make available to the Seller each certificate and report required to be prepared, forwarded or delivered thereafter pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06.
Section 3.09. Reports to the Commission. The Servicer shall, on behalf of the Trust, cause to be filed with the Commission any periodic reports required to be filed under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Seller, if the Seller is not the Servicer, shall, at the expense of the Servicer, cooperate in any reasonable request of the Servicer in connection with such findings.
[End of Article III]
41
ARTICLE IV
RIGHTS OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS AND ALLOCATION
AND APPLICATION OF COLLECTIONS
Section 4.01. Rights of Certificateholders. Each Series of Investor Certificates shall represent Undivided Interests in the Trust, including the benefits of any Credit Enhancement issued with respect to such Series and the right to receive the Collections and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in this Article IV to be deposited in the Investor Accounts and any other Series Account (if so specified in the related Supplement) or to be paid to the Investor Certificateholders of such Series; provided, however, that the aggregate interest represented by such Certificates at any time in the Principal Receivables shall not exceed an amount equal to the Investor Interest at such time. The interest represented by any Certificate shall constitute personal property, and no Certificateholder shall have an interest in specific property of the Trust. No creditor of any Certificateholder shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, the property of the Trust, provided, however, that this sentence shall not limit any rights expressly provided to the Certificateholders pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement thereto or to the holders of Notes (as defined in the Series 2001-D Supplement hereto) pursuant to the Indenture (as defined in the Series 2001-D Supplement hereto). None of the Seller, the Servicer, or any Certificateholder shall have any liability for the expenses or liabilities of the Trust except as specifically set forth in this Agreement. The Seller Certificate or, as the case may be, the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest shall represent the remaining undivided interest in the Trust not allocated to the Investor Certificates and the other interests issued by the Trust, including the right to receive the Collections and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in this Article IV to be paid to the Holder of the Seller Certificate; provided, however, that if the Seller elects to have its interest in the Seller Interest be uncertificated as provided in Section 6.01 hereof, then such uncertificated interest shall represent the Seller Interest; provided further, that the aggregate interest represented by such Seller Certificate in the Principal Receivables or, as the case may be, the aggregate uncertificated interest of the Seller in the Principal Receivables, shall not exceed the Seller Interest at any time and such Seller Certificate or, as the case may be, such uncertificated interest shall not represent any interest in the Investor Accounts, except as provided in this Agreement, or the benefits of any Credit Enhancement issued with respect to any Series.
Section 4.02. Establishment of Accounts.
(a) The Collection Account. The Servicer, for the benefit of the Certificateholders, shall establish and maintain in the name of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, a non-interest bearing segregated account (the Collection Account) bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held in trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders, or shall cause such Collection Account to be established and maintained, with an office or branch located in the states of Delaware or New York of (i) the Servicer, or (ii) a Qualified Institution; provided, however, that upon the insolvency of the Servicer, the Collection Account shall not be permitted to be maintained with the Servicer. Pursuant to authority granted to it pursuant to subsection 3.01(b), the Servicer shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Collection Account for the purposes of carrying out its duties hereunder.
42
(b) The Finance Charge and Principal Accounts. The Trustee, for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders, shall establish and maintain in the State of New York with the Trustee, or cause to be established and maintained in the State of New York with a Qualified Institution, in the name of the Trust two segregated trust accounts (the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account, respectively), bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds therein are held for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders. The Trustee shall possess all right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to time in the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account and in all proceeds thereof. The Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account shall be under the sole dominion and control of the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders. If, at any time, the institution holding the Principal Account or the Finance Charge Account ceases to be a Qualified Institution, the Trustee shall notify the Rating Agency and within 10 Business Days establish a new Principal Account or Finance Charge Account, as the case may be, meeting the conditions specified above with a Qualified Institution, and shall transfer any cash or any investments to such new Principal Account or Finance Charge Account, as the case may be. From the date such new Principal Account or Finance Charge Account, as the case may be, is established, it shall be the Principal Account or Finance Charge Account. Pursuant to authority granted to it hereunder, the Servicer shall have the revocable power to instruct the Trustee to withdraw funds from the Finance Charge Account and Principal Account for the purpose of carrying out the Servicers duties hereunder. The Trustee at all times shall maintain accurate records reflecting each transaction in the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account and that funds held therein shall at all times be held in trust for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders.
(c) The Distribution Account. The Trustee, for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders, shall cause to be established and maintained in the name of the Trust, with an office or branch of a Qualified Institution (other than the Seller), a non-interest bearing segregated demand deposit account (the Distribution Account) bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held in trust for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders. The Trustee shall possess all right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to time in the Distribution Account and in all proceeds thereof. The Distribution Account shall be under the sole dominion and control of the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders.
(d) Series Accounts. If so provided in the related Supplement, the Trustee, for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders, shall cause to be established and maintained in the name of the Trust, one or more Series Accounts. Each such Series Account shall bear a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders of such Series. Each such Series Account will be a trust account, if so provided in the related Supplement and will have the other features and be applied as set forth in the related Supplement.
(e) Administration of the Finance Charge and Principal Accounts. Funds on deposit in the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account shall at all times be invested in Permitted Investments. Any such investment shall mature and such funds shall be available for withdrawal on or prior to the Transfer Date related to the Monthly Period in which such funds were processed for collection, or if so specified in the related Supplement, immediately preceding a Distribution Date. The Trustee shall:
43
(i) hold each Permitted Investment (other than such as are described in clause (c) of the definition thereof) that constitutes investment property through a securities intermediary, which securities intermediary shall agree with the Trustee that (I) such investment property shall at all times be credited to a securities account of the Trustee, (II) such securities intermediary shall comply with entitlement orders originated by the Trustee without the further consent of any other person or entity, (III) all property credited to such securities account shall be treated as a financial asset, (IV) such securities intermediary shall waive any lien on, security interest in, or right of set-off with respect to any property credited to such securities account, and (V) such agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York;
(ii) maintain possession of each other Permitted Investment not described in clause (i) above (other than such as are described in clause (c) of the definition thereof); and
(iii) cause each Permitted Investment described in clause (c) of the definition thereof to be registered in the name of the Trustee by the issuer thereof;
provided, that no Permitted Investment shall be disposed of prior to its maturity date. Terms used in clause (i) above that are defined in the New York UCC and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the New York UCC.
At the end of each month, all interest and earnings (net of losses and investment expenses) on funds on deposit in the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account shall be deposited by the Trustee in a separate deposit account with a Qualified Institution in the name of the Servicer, or a Person designated in writing by the Servicer, which shall not constitute a part of the Trust, or shall otherwise be turned over by the Trustee to the Servicer not less frequently than monthly. Subject to the restrictions set forth above, the Servicer, or a Person designated in writing by the Servicer, of which the Trustee shall have received written notification thereof, shall have the authority to instruct the Trustee with respect to the investment of funds on deposit in the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account. For purposes of determining the availability of funds or the balances in the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account for any reason under this Agreement, all investment earnings on such funds shall be deemed not to be available or on deposit.
Section 4.03. Collections and Allocations.
(a) Collections. Except as provided below, the Servicer shall deposit all Collections in the Collection Account as promptly as possible after the Date of Processing of such Collections, but in no event later than the second Business Day following such Date of Processing. In the event of the insolvency of the Servicer, then, immediately upon the occurrence of such event and thereafter, the Servicer shall deposit all Collections into the Collection Account which shall be established and maintained with a Qualified Institution other than the Servicer in accordance with subsection 4.02(a), and in no such event shall the Servicer deposit any Collections thereafter into any account established, held or maintained with the Servicer.
44
The Servicer shall allocate such amounts to each Series of Investor Certificates and to the Holder of the Seller Certificate in accordance with this Article IV and shall withdraw the required amounts from the Collection Account or pay such amounts to the Holder of the Seller Certificate in accordance with this Article IV, in both cases as modified by any Supplement. The Servicer shall make such deposits or payments on the date indicated therein by wire transfer or as otherwise provided in the Supplement for any Series of Certificates with respect to such Series.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for so long as, and only so long as, the Seller shall remain the Servicer hereunder, and (a)(i) the Servicer provides to the Trustee a letter of credit covering risk collection of the Servicer, and (ii) the Seller shall not have received a notice from any Rating Agency that such a letter of credit would result in the lowering of such Rating Agencys then-existing rating of the Investor Certificates, or (b) the Servicer shall have and maintain a certificate of deposit or short-term deposit rating of P-1 by Moodys and of A-1 by Standard & Poors and deposit insurance provided by BIF or SAIF, the Servicer need not deposit Collections from the Collection Account into the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or any Series Account, as provided in any Supplement, or make payments to the Holder of the Seller Certificate, prior to the close of business on the day any Collections are deposited in the Collection Account as provided in Article IV, but may make such deposits, payments and withdrawals on each Transfer Date in an amount equal to the net amount of such deposits, payments and withdrawals which would have been made but for the provisions of this paragraph. If at any time the Servicer shall qualify to make deposits on the Transfer Date as provided in this paragraph (or shall cease to be so qualified) the Servicer shall deliver an Officers Certificate to the Trustee stating that the criteria set forth in (a)(i) and (ii) and (b) of this paragraph have been satisfied (or have ceased to be satisfied). The Trustee may rely on such Officers Certificate without investigation or inquiry.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Monthly Period, whether the Servicer is required to make monthly or daily deposits from the Collection Account into the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account or any Series Account, as provided in any Supplement, (i) the Servicer will only be required to deposit Collections from the Collection Account into the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account or any Series Account up to the required amount to be deposited into any such deposit account or, without duplication, distributed on or prior to the related Distribution Date to Investor Certificateholders or to any Credit Enhancement Provider pursuant to the terms of any Supplement or agreement relating to such Credit Enhancement and (ii) if at any time prior to such Distribution Date the amount of Collections deposited in the Collection Account exceeds the amount required to be deposited pursuant to clause (i) above, the Servicer will be permitted to withdraw the excess from the Collection Account.
(b) Allocations to the Holder of the Seller Interest. Throughout the existence of the Trust, unless otherwise stated in any Supplement, the Servicer shall allocate to the Holder of the Seller Interest an amount equal to the product of (A) the Seller Percentage and (B) the aggregate amount of such Collections allocated to Principal Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables, respectively, in respect of each Monthly Period; provided, however, that amounts payable to the Holder of the Seller Interest with respect to Collections allocated to Principal Receivables pursuant to this subsection 4.03(b) shall be deposited in the Principal Account to the extent that the Seller Interest is less than the Minimum Seller Interest. Notwithstanding anything
45
in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in any Supplement, the Servicer need not deposit this amount or any other amounts so allocated to the Holder of the Seller Interest pursuant to any Supplement into the Collection Account and shall pay, or be deemed to pay, such amounts as collected to the Holder of the Seller Interest.
Notwithstanding any provisions of Article IV to the contrary, including the continuation of Article IV in any Series Supplement, any Collections in respect of Principal Receivables allocated to the Holder of the Seller Interest shall be (i) paid to the Holder of the Seller Interest if, and only to the extent that, the Seller Interest is equal to or greater than the Minimum Seller Interest and the payment of such amount to the Holder of the Seller Interest would not cause the Seller Interest to be less than the Minimum Seller Interest, or (ii) held in the Principal Account and treated and applied as Unallocated Principal Collections (as such term is defined in the related Series Supplement). On any Business Day following a Business Day on which amounts were held in the Principal Account pursuant to clause (ii) above, any amounts held in the Principal Account pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be paid to the Holder of the Seller Interest when, and only to the extent that, the Seller Interest is greater than the Minimum Seller Interest.
(c) Adjustments for Miscellaneous Credits and Fraudulent Charges. The Servicer shall be obligated to reduce on a net basis each Monthly Period the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables used to calculate the Seller Interest as provided in this subsection 4.03(c) (a Credit Adjustment) with respect to any Principal Receivable (i) which was created in respect of merchandise refused or returned by the Obligor thereunder or as to which the Obligor thereunder has asserted a counterclaim or defense, (ii) which is reduced by the Servicer by any rebate, refund, charge-back or adjustment (including Servicer errors) or (iii) which was created as a result of a fraudulent or counterfeit charge.
In the event that the inclusion of the amount of a Credit Adjustment in the calculation of the Seller Interest would cause the Seller Interest to be an amount less than zero, the Seller shall make a deposit, no later than the Business Day following the Date of Processing of such Credit Adjustment, in the Principal Account (for allocation as Collections of Principal Receivables pursuant to Article IV) in immediately available funds in an amount equal to the amount by which such Credit Adjustment exceeds the Seller Interest on such Date of Processing.
(d) Transfer of Defaulted Accounts. Unless otherwise provided in any Supplement, on the date on which an Account becomes a Defaulted Account, the Trust shall automatically and without further action or consideration be deemed to transfer, set over, and otherwise convey to the Seller, without recourse, representation or warranty, all the right, title and interest of the Trust in and to Receivables in such Defaulted Account, all monies due or to become due with respect to such Receivables, all proceeds of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds relating to such Receivables and Interchange (if any) allocable to the Trust with respect to such Receivables.
[THE REMAINDER OF ARTICLE IV IS RESERVED AND SHALL BE SPECIFIED IN ANY SUPPLEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY SERIES]
[End of Article IV]
46
ARTICLE V
[ARTICLE V IS RESERVED AND SHALL
BE SPECIFIED IN ANY SUPPLEMENT
WITH RESPECT TO ANY SERIES]
[End of Article V]
47
ARTICLE VI
THE CERTIFICATES
Section 6.01. The Certificates. Subject to Sections 6.10 and 6.13, the Investor Certificates of each Series and any Class thereof may be issued in bearer form (the Bearer Certificates) with attached interest coupons and a special coupon (collectively, the Coupons) or in fully registered form (the Registered Certificates), and shall be substantially in the form of the exhibits with respect thereto attached to the related Supplement. The Seller may elect at any time, by written notice to the Trustee, to have its interest in the Seller Interest be (i) an uncertificated interest or (ii) evidenced by a Seller Certificate. If the Seller elects to have its interest in the Seller Interest be uncertificated, it shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Seller Certificate previously issued. If the Seller elects to have its interest in the Seller Interest be evidenced by a Seller Certificate, the Seller Certificate shall be issued pursuant hereto or to Section 6.09 or Section 6.10, substantially in the form of Exhibit A and shall upon issue be executed and delivered by the Seller to the Trustee for authentication and redelivery as provided in Sections 2.01 and 6.02. The Investor Certificates shall, upon issue pursuant hereto or to Section 6.09 or Section 6.10, be executed and delivered by the Seller to the Trustee for authentication and redelivery as provided in Sections 2.01 and 6.02. Any Investor Certificate shall be issuable in a minimum denomination of $1,000 Undivided Interest and integral multiples thereof, unless otherwise specified in any Supplement. The Seller Certificate shall also be issued as a single certificate. Each Certificate shall be executed by manual or facsimile signature on behalf of the Seller by its President or any Vice President. Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signature of the individual who was, at the time when such signature was affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Seller or the Trustee shall not be rendered invalid, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Certificates or does not hold such office at the date of such Certificates. Unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement, no Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement, or be valid for any purpose, unless there appears on such Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein, executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Certificate shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Certificate has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication except Bearer Certificates which shall be dated the applicable Issuance Date as provided in the related Supplement.
Section 6.02. Authentication of Certificates. Contemporaneously with the initial assignment and transfer of the Receivables, whether now existing or hereafter created (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts) and the other components to the Trust, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the initial Series of Investor Certificates, upon the written order of the Seller, to the underwriters for the sale of the Book-Entry Certificates evidenced by such Investor Certificates, and against payment to the Seller of the Initial Investor Interest (net of any purchase or underwriting discount). Upon the receipt of such payment and the issuance of the Investor Certificates, such Investor Certificates shall be fully paid and non-assessable. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Seller Certificate to the Seller simultaneously with its delivery to the Seller of the initial Series of Investor Certificates. Upon a New Issuance as provided in Section 6.09 and the satisfaction of certain other conditions specified therein, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Investor Certificates of additional Series (with the designation
48
provided in the related Supplement), upon the order of the Seller, to the Persons designated in such Supplement. Upon the order of the Seller, the Certificates of any Series shall be duly authenticated by or on behalf of the Trustee, in authorized denominations. If specified in the related Supplement for any Series, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver outside the United States the Global Certificate that is issued upon original issuance thereof, upon the written order of the Seller, to the Depository against payment of the purchase price therefor. If specified in the related Supplement for any Series, the Trustee shall authenticate Book-Entry Certificates that are issued upon original issuance thereof, upon the written order of the Seller, to a Clearing Agency or its nominee as provided in Section 6.10 against payment of the purchase price thereof.
Section 6.03. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certificates.
(a) The Trustee shall cause to be kept at the office or agency to be maintained by a transfer agent and registrar (the Transfer Agent and Registrar), in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.16, a register (the Certificate Register) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall provide for the registration of the Investor Certificates of each Series (unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement) and of transfers and exchanges of the Investor Certificates as herein provided. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed Transfer Agent and Registrar for the purposes of registering the Investor Certificates and transfers and exchanges of the Investor Certificates as herein provided. If any form of Investor Certificate is issued as a Global Certificate, the Trustee may, or if and so long as any Series of Investor Certificates are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such exchange shall so require, the Trustee shall appoint a co-transfer agent and co-registrar in Luxembourg or another European city. Any reference in this Agreement to the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall include any co-transfer agent and co-registrar unless the context otherwise requires. The Trustee shall be permitted to resign as Transfer Agent and Registrar upon 30 days written notice to the Servicer. In the event that the Trustee shall no longer be the Transfer Agent and Registrar, the Trustee shall appoint a successor Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate at any office or agency of the Transfer Agent and Registrar, the Seller shall execute, subject to the provisions of subsection 6.03(c), and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Certificates in authorized denominations of like aggregate Undivided Interests; provided, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to Bearer Certificates.
At the option of an Investor Certificateholder, Investor Certificates may be exchanged for other Investor Certificates of the same Series in authorized denominations of like aggregate Undivided Interests, upon surrender of the Investor Certificates to be exchanged at any such office or agency. At the option of any Holder of Registered Certificates, Registered Certificates may be exchanged for other Registered Certificates of the same Series in authorized denominations of like aggregate Undivided Interests in the Trust, upon surrender of the Registered Certificates to be exchanged at any office or agency of the Transfer Agent and Registrar maintained for such purpose. At the option of a Bearer Certificateholder, subject to applicable laws and regulations (including without limitation, the Bearer Rules), Bearer Certificates may be exchanged for other Bearer Certificates or Registered Certificates of the same Series in authorized denominations of like aggregate Undivided Interests in the Trust, in
49
the manner specified in the Supplement for such Series, upon surrender of the Bearer Certificates to be exchanged at an office or agency of the Transfer Agent and Registrar located outside the United States. Each Bearer Certificate surrendered pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall have attached thereto (or be accompanied by) all unmatured Coupons, provided that any Bearer Certificate so surrendered after the close of business on the Record Date preceding the relevant Distribution Date after the related Series Termination Date need not have attached the Coupons relating to such Distribution Date.
Whenever any Investor Certificates of any Series are so surrendered for exchange, the Seller shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and (unless the Transfer Agent and Registrar is different than the Trustee, in which case the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall) deliver, the Investor Certificates of such Series which the Certificateholder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Every Investor Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in a form satisfactory to the Trustee and the Transfer Agent and Registrar duly executed by the Certificateholder thereof or his attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.
The preceding provisions of this Section 6.03 notwithstanding, the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, as the case may be, shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Investor Certificate of any Series for a period of 15 days preceding the due date for any payment with respect to the Investor Certificates of such Series.
Unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement, no service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificates, but the Transfer Agent and Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Certificates.
All Investor Certificates (together with any Coupons attached to Bearer Certificates) surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange shall be canceled by the Transfer Agent and Registrar and disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee. The Trustee shall cancel and destroy the Global Certificates upon its exchange in full for Definitive Certificates and shall deliver a certificate of destruction to the Seller. Such certificate shall also state that a certificate or certificates of each Foreign Clearing Agency to the effect referred to in Section 6.13 was received with respect to each portion of the Global Certificate exchanged for Definitive Certificates.
The Seller shall execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, as applicable, Bearer Certificates and Registered Certificates in such amounts and at such times as are necessary to enable the Trustee to fulfill its responsibilities under this Agreement and the Certificates.
(b) Except as provided in Section 6.09 or 7.02 or in any Supplement, in no event shall the Seller Certificate or any interest therein, or, as the case may be, the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest or any interest therein, be transferred hereunder, in whole or in part, unless the Seller shall have consented in writing to such transfer and unless the Trustee shall have received (1) confirmation in writing from each Rating Agency that such transfer will not result in a lowering or withdrawal of its then-existing rating of any Series of Investor Certificates, and (2) an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer does not adversely affect the conclusions reached in any of the federal income tax opinions dated the applicable Closing Date
50
issued in connection with the original issuance of any Series of Investor Certificates; provided, however, that unless the consent of Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing more than 50% of the Aggregate Investor Interest is obtained for such transfer, the Holder of the Seller Certificate shall be permitted to transfer the Seller Certificate or the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest, as the case may be, only if such Holder shall have provided the Trustee with an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the contemplated transfer would be treated as a financing and not as a sale for federal income tax purposes; provided further, that no interest in the Seller Certificate or, as the case may be, the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest may be transferred unless its initial offering price would be at least $20,000 and it cannot be subdivided for resale into units smaller than a unit the initial offering price of which would have been at least $20,000, absent an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer would not cause the Trust to be treated as a publicly traded partnership under the Code. In connection with any transfer of an interest in the Seller Certificate or, as the case may be, the uncertificated interest in the Seller Interest, the holder (including the Seller or any subsequent transferee) thereof shall not sell, trade or transfer any interest therein or cause any interest therein to be marketed on or through either (i) an established securities market within the meaning of Section 7704(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code), including without limitation an interdealer quotation system that regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified brokers or dealers by electronic means or otherwise or (ii) a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof) within the meaning of Code section 7704(b)(2), including a market wherein interests in the Seller Certificate are regularly quoted by any person making a market in such interests and a market wherein any person regularly makes available bid or offer quotes with respect to interests in the Seller Certificate and stands ready to effect buy or sell transactions at the quoted prices for itself or on behalf of others.
(c) Unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement, registration of transfer of Registered Certificates containing a legend relating to the restrictions on transfer of such Registered Certificates (which legend shall be set forth in the Supplement relating to such Investor Certificates) shall be effected only if the conditions set forth in such related Supplement are satisfied.
Whenever a Registered Certificate containing the legend set forth in the related Supplement is presented to the Transfer Agent and Registrar for registration of transfer, the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall promptly seek instructions from the Servicer regarding such transfer. The Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive written instructions signed by a Servicing Officer prior to registering any such transfer or authenticating new Registered Certificates, as the case may be. The Servicer hereby agrees to indemnify the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Trustee and to hold each of them harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by them in reliance on any such written instructions furnished pursuant to this subsection 6.03(c).
(d) The Transfer Agent and Registrar will maintain at its expense in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (and subject to this Section 6.03, if specified in the related Supplement for any Series, any other city designated in such Supplement) an office or offices or an agency or agencies where Investor Certificates of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange.
51
Section 6.04. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Certificate (together, in the case of Bearer Certificates, with all unmatured Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto) is surrendered to the Transfer Agent and Registrar, or the Transfer Agent and Registrar receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate and (b) there is delivered to the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Trustee that such Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Seller shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and (unless the Transfer Agent and Registrar is different from the Trustee, in which case the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall) deliver (in compliance with applicable law), in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like tenor and aggregate Undivided Interest. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.04, the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the Transfer Agent and Registrar) connected therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 6.04 shall constitute complete and indefeasible evidence of ownership in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
Section 6.05. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentation of a Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and any agent of any of them may treat a Certificateholder as the owner of the related Certificate for the purpose of receiving distributions pursuant to Article V (as described in any Supplement) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of Investor Certificates evidencing the requisite Undivided Interests have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Investor Certificates owned by the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Investor Certificates which a Responsible Officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Investor Certificates so owned that have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded as outstanding, if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Investor Certificates and that the pledgee is not the Seller, the Servicer or an Affiliate thereof.
In the case of a Bearer Certificate, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and any agent of any of them may treat the holder of a Bearer Certificate or Coupon as the owner of such Bearer Certificate or Coupon for the purpose of receiving distributions pursuant to Article IV and Article XII and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Certificates so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded and may be regarded as outstanding, if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Investor Certificates and that the pledgee is not the Seller, the Servicer or an Affiliate thereof.
52
Section 6.06. Appointment of Paying Agent.
(a) The Paying Agent shall make distributions to Investor Certificateholders from the appropriate account or accounts maintained for the benefit of Certificateholders as specified in this Agreement or the related Supplement for any Series pursuant to Articles IV and V hereof. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from such appropriate account or accounts for the purpose of making distributions referred to above. The Trustee (or the Servicer if the Trustee is the Paying Agent) may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent, if the Trustee (or the Servicer if the Trustee is the Paying Agent) determines in its sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect or for other good cause. The Trustee (or the Servicer if the Trustee is the Paying Agent) shall notify Moodys and Standard & Poors of the removal of any Paying Agent. The Paying Agent, unless the Supplement with respect to any Series states otherwise, shall initially be the Trustee. If any form of Investor Certificate is issued as a Global Certificate, or if and so long as any Series of Investor Certificates are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such exchange shall so require, the Trustee shall appoint a co-paying agent in Luxembourg or another European city. The Trustee shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days written notice to the Servicer. In the event that the Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent, the Trustee shall appoint a successor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The provisions of Sections 11.01, 11.02 and 11.03 shall apply to the Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Trustee shall act as Paying Agent. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.
If specified in the related Supplement for any Series, so long as the Investor Certificates of such Series are outstanding, the Seller shall maintain a co-paying agent in New York City (for Registered Certificates only) or any other city designated in such Supplement which, if and so long as any Series of Investor Certificates is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or other stock exchange and such exchange so requires, shall be in Luxembourg or the location required by such other stock exchange.
(b) The Trustee shall cause the Paying Agent (other than itself) to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee that such Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Certificateholders in trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Certificateholders and shall agree, and if the Trustee is the Paying Agent it hereby agrees, that it shall comply with all requirements of the Internal Revenue Code regarding the withholding by the Trustee of payments in respect of federal income taxes due from Certificate Owners.
Section 6.07. Access to List of Certificateholders Names and Addresses. The Trustee will furnish or cause to be furnished by the Transfer Agent and Registrar to the Servicer or the Paying Agent, within five Business Days after receipt by the Trustee of a request therefor from the Servicer or the Paying Agent, respectively, in writing, a list in such form as the Servicer or the Paying Agent may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Investor Certificateholders as of the most recent Record Date for payment of distributions to Investor Certificateholders. Unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement, holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 10% of the Investor Interest of the Investor Certificates of any Series (the Applicants) may apply in writing to the Trustee, and if such application states that the Applicants desire to communicate with other Investor Certificateholders of any Series with respect to their rights under this Agreement or under the
53
Investor Certificates and is accompanied by a copy of the communication which such Applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee, after having been adequately indemnified by such Applicants for its costs and expenses, shall afford or shall cause the Transfer Agent and Registrar to afford such Applicants access during normal business hours to the most recent list of Certificateholders held by the Trustee and shall give the Servicer notice that such request has been made, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application. Such list shall be as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of receipt of such Applicants request. Every Certificateholder, by receiving and holding a Certificate, agrees with the Trustee that neither the Trustee, the Transfer Agent and Registrar, nor any of their respective agents shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Certificateholders hereunder, regardless of the source from which such information was obtained.
Section 6.08. Authenticating Agent.
(a) The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents with respect to the Certificates which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee in authenticating the Certificates in connection with the issuance, delivery, registration of transfer, exchange or repayment of the Certificates. Whenever reference is made in this Agreement to the authentication of Certificates by the Trustee or the Trustees certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent. Each authenticating agent must be acceptable to the Seller.
(b) Any institution succeeding to the corporate agency business of an authenticating agent shall continue to be an authenticating agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such authenticating agent.
(c) An authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Seller. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an authenticating agent by giving notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Seller. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time an authenticating agent shall cease to be acceptable to the Trustee or the Seller, the Trustee promptly may appoint a successor authenticating agent. Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an authenticating agent. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed unless acceptable to the Trustee and the Seller.
(d) The Trustee agrees to pay each authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.08, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed and the Servicer shall reimburse the Trustee for such reasonable payments actually made, subject to the provisions of Section 11.05.
(e) The provisions of Sections 11.01, 11.02 and 11.03 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.
54
(f) Pursuant to an appointment made under this Section 6.08, the Certificates may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustees certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:
This is one of the certificates described in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
| ||
as Authenticating Agent for the Trustee, | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Officer |
Section 6.09. New Issuances.
(a) Upon the issuance of Investor Certificates of a new Series, the Trustee shall issue to the Holder of the Seller Certificate under Section 6.01, for execution and redelivery to the Trustee for authentication under Section 6.02, Investor Certificates of such Series. Each Investor Certificate of any such Series shall be substantially in the form specified in the related Supplement and shall bear upon its face the designation for such Series to which it belongs, as selected by the Seller. Except as specified in any Supplement for a related Series, all Investor Certificates of any Series shall rank pari passu and be equally and ratably entitled as provided herein to the benefits hereof (except that the Credit Enhancement provided for any Series shall not be available for any other Series) without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time or times of authentication and delivery, all in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the related Supplement.
(b) The Holder of the Seller Certificate may permit Investor Certificates of one or more new Series to be issued (each, a New Issuance) by notifying the Trustee in writing at least three days in advance (a New Issuance Notice) of the date upon which the New Issuance is to occur (a New Issuance Date). Any New Issuance Notice shall state the designation of any Series (and Class thereof, if applicable) to be issued on the New Issuance Date and, with respect to each such Series: (a) its Initial Investor Interest (or the method for calculating such Initial Investor Interest), (b) its Certificate Rate (or the method for allocating interest payments or other cash flows to such Series), if any, and (c) the Credit Enhancement Provider, if any, with respect to such Series. On the New Issuance Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Investor Certificates of any such Series only upon delivery to it of the following: (a) a Supplement satisfying the criteria set forth in subsection 6.09(c) executed by the Seller and specifying the Principal Terms of such Series, (b) the applicable Credit Enhancement, if any, (c) the agreement, if any, pursuant to which the Credit Enhancement Provider agrees to provide any Credit Enhancement, (d)(i) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, except to the extent otherwise stated in the related Supplement, the Investor Certificates of the newly issued Series will be treated as debt for federal income tax purposes and (ii) a Tax Opinion with respect to the issuance of such Series, (e) written confirmation from each Rating Agency that the New Issuance will not result in such Rating Agencys reducing or withdrawing its rating on any then outstanding Series as to which it is a Rating Agency, and (f) an Officers Certificate signed by a Vice President (or any more senior officer) of the Seller, that on the New Issuance Date (i) the Seller, after giving effect to such New Issuance, would not be required to
55
add Additional Accounts pursuant to subsection 2.06(a) and (ii) after giving effect to such New Issuance, the Seller Interest would be at least equal to the Minimum Seller Interest. In addition, the Seller agrees to provide notice of new issuances of Series of Investor Certificates as may be required by and in accordance with Item 1121(a)(14) of Regulation AB. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, the Trustee shall issue the Investor Certificates of such Series and a new Seller Certificate, if applicable, dated the New Issuance Date, as provided above. There is no limit to the number of New Issuances that may be performed under this Agreement.
(c) In conjunction with a New Issuance, the parties hereto shall execute a Supplement, which shall specify the relevant terms with respect to the Investor Certificates of any newly issued Series, which may include without limitation: (i) its name or designation, (ii) the Initial Investor Interest or the method of calculating the Initial Investor Interest, (iii) the method of determining any adjusted Investor Interest, if applicable, (iv) the Certificate Rate (or formula for the determination thereof), (v) the Closing Date, (vi) each Rating Agency rating such Series, (vii) the name of the Clearing Agency, if any, (viii) the rights of the Holder of the Seller Certificate that have been transferred to the Holders of such Series pursuant to such New Issuance (including any rights to allocations of Collections of Finance Charge Receivables and Principal Receivables), (ix) the interest payment date or dates and the date or dates from which interest shall accrue, (x) the periods during which or dates on which principal will be paid or accrued, (xi) the method of allocating Collections with respect to Principal Receivables for such Series and, if applicable, with respect to other Series, the method by which the principal amount of Investor Certificates of such Series shall amortize or accrete and the method for allocating Collections with respect to Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in Defaulted Accounts, (xii) any other Collections with respect to Receivables or other amounts available to be paid with respect to such Series, (xiii) the names of any accounts to be used by such Series and the terms governing the operation of any such account and use of moneys therein, (xiv) the Series Servicing Fee and the Series Servicing Fee Percentage, (xv) the Minimum Seller Interest and the Series Termination Date, (xvi) the terms of any Credit Enhancement with respect to such Series and the Credit Enhancement Provider, if applicable, (xvii) the base rate applicable to such Series, (xviii) the terms on which the Certificates of such Series may be repurchased or remarketed to other investors, (xix) any deposit into any account provided for such Series, (xx) the number of Classes of such Series and, if more than one Class, the rights and priorities of each such Class, (xxi) whether Interchange or other fees will be included in the funds available to be paid for such Series, (xxii) the priority of any Series with respect to any other Series, (xxiii) the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables, (xxiv) whether such Series will be part of a Group, (xxv) whether such Series will or may be a Companion Series and the Series with which it will be paired, if applicable, and (xxvi) any other relevant terms of such Series (including whether or not such Series will be pledged as collateral for an issuance of any other securities, including commercial paper) (all such terms, the Principal Terms of such Series). The terms of such Supplement may modify or amend the terms of this Agreement solely as applied to such new Series. If on the date of the issuance of such Series there is issued and outstanding one or more Series of Investor Certificates and no Series of Investor Certificates is currently rated by a Rating Agency, then as a condition to such New Issuance a nationally recognized investment banking firm or commercial bank shall also deliver to the Trustee an officers certificate stating, in substance, that the New Issuance will not have an adverse effect on the timing or distribution of payments to the Investor Certificates of such other Series then issued and outstanding.
56
Section 6.10. Book-Entry Certificates. Unless otherwise provided in any related Supplement, the Investor Certificates, upon original issuance, shall be issued in the form of typewritten Certificates representing the Book-Entry Certificates, to be delivered to the depository specified in such Supplement (the Depository) which shall be the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency, by or on behalf of such Series. The Investor Certificates of each Series shall, unless otherwise provided in the related Supplement, initially be registered on the Certificate Register in the name of the nominee of the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency. No Certificate Owner will receive a definitive certificate representing such Certificate Owners interest in the related Series of Investor Certificates, except as provided in Section 6.12. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Investor Certificates of any Series (Definitive Certificates) have been issued to Certificate Owners pursuant to Section 6.12:
(i) the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall be in full force and effect with respect to each such Series;
(ii) the Seller, the Servicer, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Trustee may deal with the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency Participants for all purposes (including the making of distributions on the Investor Certificates of each such Series) as the authorized representatives of the Certificate Owners;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 6.10 conflict with any other provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall control with respect to each such Series; and
(iv) the rights of Certificate Owners of each such Series shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency and the applicable Clearing Agency Participants and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Certificate Owners and the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Depository Agreement applicable to a Series, unless and until Definitive Certificates of such Series are issued pursuant to Section 6.12, the initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Investor Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants.
Section 6.11. Notices to Clearing Agency. Whenever notice or other communication to the Certificateholders is required under this Agreement, unless and until Definitive Certificates shall have been issued to Certificate Owners pursuant to Section 6.12, the Trustee shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Holders of the Investor Certificates to the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency for distribution to Holders of Investor Certificates.
Section 6.12. Definitive Certificates. If (i) (A) the Seller advises the Trustee in writing that the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities under the applicable Depository Agreement, and (B) the Trustee or the Seller is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Seller, at its option, advises the Trustee in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency with respect to any Series of Certificates or (iii) after the occurrence of a Servicer Default, Certificate Owners of a Series representing beneficial interests
57
aggregating not less than 50% of the Investor Interest of such Series advise the Trustee and the applicable Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency through the applicable Clearing Agency Participants in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the applicable Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interests of the Certificate Owners, the Trustee shall notify all Certificate Owners of such Series, through the applicable Clearing Agency Participants, of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability of Definitive Certificates to Certificate Owners of such Series requesting the same. Upon surrender to the Trustee of the Investor Certificates of such Series by the applicable Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions from the applicable Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency for registration, the Trustee shall issue the Definitive Certificates of such Series. Neither the Seller nor the 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 Certificates of such Series all references herein to obligations imposed upon or to be performed by the applicable Clearing Agency or Foreign Clearing Agency shall be deemed to be imposed upon and performed by the Trustee, to the extent applicable with respect to such Definitive Certificates, and the Trustee shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Certificates of such Series as Certificateholders of such Series hereunder.
Section 6.13. Global Certificate; Euro-Certificate Exchange Date. If specified in the related Supplement for any Series, the Investor Certificates may be initially issued in the form of a single temporary Global Certificate (the Global Certificate) in bearer form, without interest coupons, in the denomination of the Initial Investor Interest and substantially in the form attached to the related Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the related Supplement, the provisions of this Section 6.13 shall apply to such Global Certificate. The Global Certificate will be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions, in substantially the same manner and with the same effect as the Definitive Certificates. The Global Certificate may be exchanged in the manner described in the related Supplement for Registered or Bearer Certificates in definitive form.
Section 6.14. Meetings of Certificateholders.
To the extent provided by the Supplement for any Series issued in whole or in part in Bearer Certificates, the Servicer of the Trustee may at any time call a meeting of the Certificateholders of such Series, to be held at such time and at such place as the Servicer or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall determine, for the purpose of approving a modification of or amendment to, or obtaining a waiver of, any covenant or condition set forth in this Agreement with respect to such Series or in the Certificates of such Series, subject to Section 13.01 of the Agreement.
[End of Article VI]
58
ARTICLE VII
OTHER MATTERS RELATING
TO THE SELLER
Section 7.01. Liability of the Seller. The Seller shall be liable in accordance herewith to the extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Seller.
Section 7.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Seller.
(a) The Seller shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(i) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Seller is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Seller substantially as an entirety shall be, if the Seller is not the surviving entity, organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and shall be a national banking association, state banking corporation or other entity which is not subject to the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America and shall expressly assume, by an agreement supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the performance of every covenant and obligation of the Seller, as applicable hereunder and shall benefit from all the rights granted to the Seller, as applicable hereunder. To the extent that any right, covenant or obligation of the Seller, as applicable hereunder, is inapplicable to the successor entity, such successor entity shall be subject to such covenant or obligation, or benefit from such right, as would apply, to the extent practicable, to such successor entity. In furtherance hereof, in applying this Section 7.02 to a successor entity, Section 9.02 hereof shall be applied by reference to events of involuntary liquidation, receivership or conservatorship applicable to such successor entity as shall be set forth in the officers certificate described in subsection 7.02(a) (ii);
(ii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate signed by a Vice President (or any more senior officer) of the Seller stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental agreement comply with this Section 7.02 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental agreement is legal, valid and binding;
(iii) the Seller shall have delivered notice to the Rating Agency of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer; and
(iv) the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee a Tax Opinion, dated the date of such merger, conveyance or transfer, with respect thereto.
(b) The obligations of the Seller hereunder shall not be assignable nor shall any Person succeed to the obligations of the Seller hereunder except for mergers, consolidations, assumptions or transfers in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing paragraph.
59
Section 7.03. Limitation on Liability. The directors, officers, employees or agents of the Seller shall not be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, the Certificateholders, any Credit Enhancement Provider or any other Person hereunder or pursuant to any document delivered hereunder, it being expressly understood that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as consideration for, the execution of this Agreement and any Supplement and the issuance of the Certificates; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the officers, directors, employees, or agents of the Seller against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties hereunder. Except as provided in Section 7.04, the Seller shall not be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, the Certificateholders, any Credit Enhancement Provider or any other Person for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in its capacity as Seller pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement whether arising from express or implied duties under this Agreement or any Supplement; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Seller against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties hereunder. The Seller and any director, officer, employee or agent may rely in good faith on any document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person respecting any matters arising hereunder.
Section 7.04. Liabilities. Notwithstanding Section 7.03 (and notwithstanding Sections 3.02, 8.03, 8.04 and 11.11), by entering into this Agreement, the Seller agrees to be liable, directly to the injured party, for the entire amount of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (other than those incurred by an Investor Certificateholder in the capacity of an investor in the Investor Certificates or those which arise from any action by any Investor Certificateholder) arising out of or based on the arrangement created by this Agreement (to the extent any property of the Trust is remaining after the Investor Certificateholders have been paid in full are insufficient to pay such losses, claims, damages or liabilities) and the actions of the Servicer taken pursuant hereto as though this Agreement created a partnership under the Delaware Uniform Partnership Law in which the Seller was a general partner. The rights to the injured party provided by this section 7.04 shall run directly to and be enforceable by such party subject to the limitations hereof. In the event of the appointment of a Successor Servicer, the Successor Servicer will (from its own assets and not from the assets of the Trust) indemnify and hold harmless the Seller against and from any losses, claims, damages and liabilities of the Seller as described in this Section arising from the actions or omissions of such Successor Servicer.
[End Of Article VII]
60
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER MATTERS RELATING
TO THE SERVICER
Section 8.01. Liability of the Servicer. The Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Servicer in such capacity herein.
Section 8.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer. The Servicer shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(i) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Servicer is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and shall be a state or national banking association or other entity which is not subject to the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America and, if the Servicer is not the surviving entity, shall expressly assume, by an agreement supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the performance of every covenant and obligation of the Servicer hereunder (to the extent that any right, covenant or obligation of the Servicer, as applicable hereunder, is inapplicable to the successor entity, such successor entity shall be subject to such covenant or obligation, or benefit from such right, as would apply, to the extent practicable, to such successor entity);
(ii) the Servicer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental agreement comply with this Section 8.02 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental agreement is legal, valid and binding with respect to the Servicer; and
(iii) the Servicer shall have delivered notice to the Rating Agency of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer.
Section 8.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer and Others. The directors, officers, employees or agents of the Servicer shall not be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, the Certificateholders, any Credit Enhancement Provider or any other Person hereunder or pursuant to any document delivered hereunder, it being expressly understood that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as consideration for, the execution of this Agreement and any Supplement and the issuance of the Certificates; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Servicer against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties hereunder. Except as provided in Section 8.04 with respect to the Trust and the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents, the Servicer shall not be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents, the Certificateholders or any other Person for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in its capacity as Servicer pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement; provided,
61
however, that this provision shall not protect the Servicer against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder or under any Supplement. The Servicer may rely in good faith on any document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person respecting any matters arising hereunder. The Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action which is not incidental to its duties to service the Receivables in accordance with this Agreement which in its reasonable opinion may involve it in any expense or liability.
Section 8.04. Servicer Indemnification of the Trust and the Trustee. The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any reasonable loss, liability, expense, damage or injury suffered or sustained by reason of any acts or omissions or alleged acts or omissions of the Servicer with respect to activities of the Trust or the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement, including, but not limited to any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable attorneys fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trustee if such acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions constitute or are caused by fraud, negligence, or willful misconduct by the Trustee; provided further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust with respect to any action taken by the Trustee at the request of the Investor Certificateholders; provided further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners as to any losses, claims or damages incurred by any of them in their capacities as investors, including without limitation losses incurred as a result of Defaulted Accounts or Receivables which are written off as uncollectible; and provided further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners arising under any tax law, including without limitation, any federal, state, local or foreign income or franchise taxes or any other tax imposed on or measured by income (or any interest or penalties with respect thereto or arising from a failure to comply therewith) required to be paid by the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners in connection herewith to any taxing authority. Any such indemnification shall not be payable from the assets of the Trust. The provisions of this indemnity shall run directly to and be enforceable by an injured party subject to the limitations hereof.
Section 8.05. The Servicer Not to Resign. The Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except upon determination that (i) the performance of its duties hereunder is no longer permissible under applicable law and (ii) there is no reasonable action which the Servicer could take to make the performance of its duties hereunder permissible under applicable law. Any such determination permitting the resignation of the Servicer shall be evidenced as to clause (i) above by an Opinion of Counsel and as to clause (ii) by an Officers Certificate, each to such effect delivered to the Trustee. No such resignation shall become effective until the Trustee or a Successor Servicer shall have assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the Servicer in accordance with Section 10.02 hereof. If the Trustee is unable within 120 days of the date of such determination to appoint a Successor Servicer, the Trustee shall serve as Successor Servicer hereunder.
62
Section 8.06. Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding the Receivables. The Servicer shall provide to the Trustee access to the documentation regarding the Accounts and the Receivables in such cases where the Trustee is required in connection with the enforcement of the rights of the Investor Certificateholders, or by applicable statutes or regulations to review such documentation, such access being afforded without charge but only (i) upon reasonable request, (ii) during normal business hours, (iii) subject to the Servicers normal security and confidentiality procedures and (iv) at offices designated by the Servicer. Nothing in this Section 8.06 shall derogate from the obligation of the Seller, the Trustee or the Servicer to observe any applicable law prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Obligors and the failure of the Servicer to provide access as provided in this Section 8.06 as a result of such obligations shall not constitute a breach of this Section 8.06.
Section 8.07. Delegation of Duties. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Servicer may delegate certain of its duties hereunder to MBNA Information Services, a Delaware corporation. In the ordinary course of business, the Servicer may at any time delegate any duties hereunder to any Person who agrees to conduct such duties in accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines. Any such delegations shall not relieve the Servicer of its liability and responsibility with respect to such duties, and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section 8.05 hereof. If any such delegation is to a party other than MBNA Information Services notification thereof shall be given to each Rating Agency.
Section 8.08. Examination of Records. The Servicer shall clearly and unambiguously identify each Account (including any Additional Account designated pursuant to Section 2.06) in its computer or other records to reflect that the Receivables arising in such Account have been conveyed to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement. The Servicer shall, prior to the sale or transfer to a third party of any receivable held in its custody, examine its computer and other records to determine that such receivable is not a Receivable.
[End of Article VIII]
63
ARTICLE IX
PAY OUT EVENTS
Section 9.01. Pay Out Events. If any one of the following events (each, a Trust Pay Out Event) shall occur:
(a) the Seller shall consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Seller or all or substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the Seller; or the Seller shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend payment of its obligations (any such event, an Insolvency Event);
(b) the Seller shall become unable for any reason to transfer Receivables to the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; or
(c) the Trust shall become subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act;
then a Pay Out Event with respect to all Series of Certificates shall occur without any notice or other action on the part of the Trustee or the Investor Certificateholders immediately upon the occurrence of such event.
Section 9.02. Additional Rights Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events.
(a) If an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Seller or the Seller violates Section 6.03(b) for any reason, the Seller shall on the day of such Insolvency Event or violation (the Appointment Day) immediately cease to transfer Principal Receivables to the Trust and shall promptly give notice to the Trustee thereof. Notwithstanding any cessation of the transfer to the Trust of additional Principal Receivables, Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust prior to the occurrence of such Insolvency Event or violation and Collections in respect of such Principal Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables, whenever created, accrued in respect of such Principal Receivables shall continue to be a part of the Trust, and shall continue to be allocated and paid in accordance with Article IV. Within 15 days of the Appointment Day, the Trustee shall (i) publish a notice in an Authorized Newspaper that an Insolvency Event or violation has occurred and that the Trustee intends to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate the Receivables and (ii) send written notice to the Investor Certificateholders describing the provisions of this Section 9.02 and requesting instructions from such Holders. Unless within 90 days from the day notice pursuant to clause (i) above is first published the Trustee shall have received written instructions from Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing more than 50% of the Investor Interest of each Series issued and outstanding (or, if any such Series has two or more Classes, each Class) to the effect that such Certificateholders disapprove of the liquidation of the
64
Receivables and wish to continue having Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust as before such Insolvency Event or violation, the Trustee shall use its best efforts to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate the Receivables by the solicitation of competitive bids and on terms equivalent to the best purchase offer as determined by the Trustee. Neither the Seller nor any Affiliate of the Seller nor any agent of the Seller shall be permitted to purchase such Receivables in such case. The Trustee may obtain a prior determination from any such conservator, receiver or liquidator that the terms and manner of any proposed sale, disposition or liquidation are commercially reasonable. The provisions of Sections 9.01 and 9.02 shall not be deemed to be mutually exclusive.
(b) The proceeds from the sale, disposition or liquidation of the Receivables pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be treated as Collections on the Receivables and shall be allocated and deposited in accordance with the provisions of Article IV; provided, that the Trustee shall determine conclusively in its sole discretion the amount of such proceeds which are allocable to Finance Charge Receivables and the amount of such proceeds which are allocable to Principal Receivables. Unless the Trustee receives written instructions from Investor Certificateholders as provided in subsection 9.02(b) above, on the day following the last Distribution Date in the Monthly Period during which such proceeds are distributed to the Investor Certificateholders of each Series, the Trust shall terminate.
(c) The Trustee may appoint an agent or agents to assist with its responsibilities pursuant to this Article IX with respect to competitive bids.
[End of Article IX]
65
ARTICLE X
SERVICER DEFAULTS
Section 10.01. Servicer Defaults. If any one of the following events (a Servicer Default) shall occur and be continuing:
(a) any failure by the Servicer to make any payment, transfer or deposit or to give instructions or notice to the Trustee pursuant to Article IV or to instruct the Trustee to make any required drawing, withdrawal, or payment under any Credit Enhancement on or before the date occurring five Business Days after the date such payment, transfer, deposit withdrawal or drawing or such instruction or notice is required to be made or given, as the case may be, under the terms of this Agreement;
(b) failure on the part of the Servicer duly to observe or perform in any respect any other covenants or agreements of the Servicer set forth in this Agreement, which has a material adverse effect on the Investor Certificateholders of any Series and which continues unremedied for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Trustee, or to the Servicer and the Trustee by the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 50% of the Investor Interest of any Series adversely affected thereby and continues to materially adversely affect such Investor Certificateholders for such period; or the Servicer shall delegate its duties under this Agreement, except as permitted by Section 8.07;
(c) any representation, warranty or certification made by the Servicer in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect when made, which has a material adverse effect on the Investor Certificateholders of any Series and which continues to be incorrect in any material respect for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Trustee, or to the Servicer and the Trustee by the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 50% of the Investor Interest of any Series adversely affected thereby and continues to materially adversely affect such Investor Certificateholders for such period; or
(d) the Servicer shall consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Servicer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the Servicer, and such decree or order shall have remained in force undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the Servicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend payment of its obligations; then, so long as such Servicer Default shall not have been remedied, either the Trustee, or the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Aggregate Investor Interest, by notice then given in writing to the Servicer (and to the Trustee if given by the Investor Certificateholders) (a Termination Notice), may terminate all of the
66
rights and obligations of the Servicer as Servicer under this Agreement. After receipt by the Servicer of such Termination Notice, and on the date that a Successor Servicer shall have been appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.02, all authority and power of the Servicer under this Agreement shall pass to and be vested in a Successor Servicer; and, without limitation, the Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered (upon the failure of the Servicer to cooperate) to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, all documents and other instruments upon the failure of the Servicer to execute or deliver such documents or instruments, and to do and accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such transfer of servicing rights and obligations. The Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Trustee and such Successor Servicer in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Servicer to conduct servicing hereunder including, without limitation, the transfer to such Successor Servicer of all authority of the Servicer to service the Receivables provided for under this Agreement, including, without limitation, all authority over all Collections which shall on the date of transfer be held by the Servicer for deposit, or which have been deposited by the Servicer, in the Collection Account, the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account, and any Series Account, or which shall thereafter be received with respect to the Receivables, and in assisting the Successor Servicer and in enforcing all rights to Insurance Proceeds, Recoveries and Interchange (if any) applicable to the Trust. The Servicer shall promptly transfer its electronic records or electronic copies thereof relating to the Receivables to the Successor Servicer in such electronic form as the Successor Servicer may reasonably request and shall promptly transfer to the Successor Servicer all other records, correspondence and documents necessary for the continued servicing of the Receivables in the manner and at such times as the Successor Servicer shall reasonably request. To the extent that compliance with this Section 10.01 shall require the Servicer to disclose to the Successor Servicer information of any kind which the Servicer reasonably deems to be confidential, the Successor Servicer shall be required to enter into such customary licensing and confidentiality agreements as the Servicer shall deem necessary to protect its interests. The Servicer shall, on the date of any servicing transfer, transfer all of its rights and obligations under the Credit Enhancement with respect to any Series to the Successor Servicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a delay in or failure of performance referred to in subsection 10.01(a) for a period of 10 Business Days or under subsection 10.01(b) or (c) for a period of 60 Business Days, shall not constitute a Servicer Default if such delay or failure could not be prevented by the exercise of reasonable diligence by the Servicer and such delay or failure was caused by an act of God or the public enemy, acts of declared or undeclared war, public disorder, rebellion, riot or sabotage, epidemics, landslides, lightning, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, nuclear disasters or meltdowns, floods, power outages or similar causes. The preceding sentence shall not relieve the Servicer from using its best efforts to perform its obligations in a timely manner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Servicer shall provide the Trustee, any Credit Enhancement Provider, the Seller and the Holders of Investor Certificates with an Officers Certificate giving prompt notice of such failure or delay by it, together with a description of the cause of such failure or delay and its efforts so to perform its obligations.
Section 10.02. Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor.
(a) On and after the receipt by the Servicer of a Termination Notice pursuant to Section 10.01, the Servicer shall continue to perform all servicing functions under this
67
Agreement until the date specified in the Termination Notice or otherwise specified by the Trustee in writing or, if no such date is specified in such Termination Notice, or otherwise specified by the Trustee, until a date mutually agreed upon by the Servicer and Trustee. The Trustee shall notify each Rating Agency of such removal of the Servicer. The Trustee shall, as promptly as possible after the giving of a Termination Notice appoint a successor servicer (the Successor Servicer), and such Successor Servicer shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in a form acceptable to the Trustee. The Trustee may obtain bids from any potential successor servicer. If the Trustee is unable to obtain any bids from any potential successor servicer and the Servicer delivers an Officers Certificate to the effect that they cannot in good faith cure the Servicer Default which gave rise to a Termination Notice, and if the Trustee is legally unable to act as Successor Servicer, then the Trustee shall notify each Credit Enhancement Provider of the proposed sale of the Receivables and shall provide each such Credit Enhancement Provider an opportunity to bid on the Receivables and, except in the case of a Servicer Default set forth in subsection 10.01(d), shall offer the Seller the right of first refusal to purchase the Receivables on terms equivalent to the best purchase offer as determined by the Trustee, but in no event less than an amount equal to the Aggregate Investor Interest on the date of such purchase plus all interest accrued but unpaid on all of the outstanding Investor Certificates at the applicable Certificate Rate through the date of such purchase; provided, however, that if the short-term deposits or long-term unsecured debt obligations of the Seller (or if neither such deposits nor such obligations of the Seller are rated by Moodys, if Moodys is a Rating Agency with respect to any Series of Certificates outstanding, then of the holding company of the Seller so long as such holding company shall be MBNA Corporation) are not rated at the time of such purchase at least P-3 or Baa3, respectively, by Moodys, if Moodys is a Rating Agency with respect to any Series of Certificates outstanding, no such purchase by the Seller shall occur unless the Seller shall deliver an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that such purchase would not constitute a fraudulent conveyance of the Seller. The proceeds of such sale shall be deposited in the Distribution Account or any Series Account, as provided in the related Supplement, for distribution to the Investor Certificateholders of each outstanding Series pursuant to Section 12.03 of the Agreement. In the event that a Successor Servicer has not been appointed and has not accepted its appointment at the time when the Servicer ceases to act as Servicer, the Trustee without further action shall automatically be appointed the Successor Servicer. Notwithstanding the above, the Trustee shall, if it is legally unable so to act, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint any established financial institution having, in the case of an entity that is subject to risk-based capital adequacy requirements, risk-based capital of at least $50,000,000 or, in the case of an entity that is not subject to risk-based capital requirements, having a net worth of not less than $50,000,000 and whose regular business includes the servicing of VISA, MasterCard or American Express credit card receivables as the Successor Servicer hereunder.
(b) Upon its appointment, the Successor Servicer shall be the successor in all respects to the Servicer with respect to servicing functions under this Agreement and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities relating thereto placed on the Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof, and all references in this Agreement to the Servicer shall be deemed to refer to the Successor Servicer. Any Successor Servicer, by its acceptance of its appointment, will automatically agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of each Credit Enhancement.
68
(c) In connection with such appointment and assumption, the Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation, or may make such arrangements for the compensation of the Successor Servicer out of Collections, as it and such Successor Servicer shall agree; provided, however, that no such compensation shall be in excess of the Servicing Fee permitted to the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.02. The Seller agrees that if the Servicer is terminated hereunder, it will agree to deposit with the Trustee a portion of the Collections in respect of Finance Charge Receivables that it is entitled to receive pursuant to Article IV to pay its share of the compensation of the Successor Servicer.
(d) All authority and power granted to the Successor Servicer under this Agreement shall automatically cease and terminate upon termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.01 and shall pass to and be vested in the Seller and, without limitation, the Seller is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Successor Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, all documents and other instruments, and to do and accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such transfer of servicing rights. The Successor Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Seller in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Successor Servicer to conduct servicing on the Receivables. The Successor Servicer shall transfer its electronic records relating to the Receivables to the Seller in such electronic form as the Seller may reasonably request and shall transfer all other records, correspondence and documents to the Seller in the manner and at such times as the Seller shall reasonably request. To the extent that compliance with this Section 10.02 shall require the Successor Servicer to disclose to the Seller information of any kind which the Successor Servicer deems to be confidential, the Seller shall be required to enter into such customary licensing and confidentiality agreements as the Successor Servicer shall deem necessary to protect its interests.
Section 10.03. Notification to Certificateholders. Within two Business Days after the Servicer becomes aware of any Servicer Default, the Servicer shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Trustee, Standard & Poors, Moodys and any Credit Enhancement Provider and the Trustee shall give notice to the Investor Certificateholders at their respective addresses appearing in the Certificate Register. Upon any termination or appointment of a Successor Servicer pursuant to this Article X, the Trustee shall give prompt written notice thereof to Investor Certificateholders at their respective addresses appearing in the Certificate Register.
Section 10.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 66 2/3% of the Investor Interest of each Series adversely affected by any default by the Servicer or Seller may, on behalf of all Certificateholders of such Series, waive any default by the Servicer or Seller in the performance of its obligations hereunder and its consequences, except a default in the failure to make any required deposits or payments of interest or principal relating to such Series pursuant to Article IV which default does not result from the failure of the Paying Agent to perform its obligations to make any required deposits or payments of interest and principal in accordance with Article IV. Upon any such waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist, and any default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon except to the extent expressly so waived.
[End of Article X]
69
ARTICLE XI
THE TRUSTEE
Section 11.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any Servicer Default and after the curing of all Servicer Defaults which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement. If a Responsible Officer has received written notice that a Servicer Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
(b) The Trustee, upon receipt of all resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, reports, documents, orders or other instruments furnished to the Trustee which are specifically required to be furnished pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, shall examine them to determine whether they substantially conform to the requirements of this Agreement.
(c) Subject to subsection 11.01(a), no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own misconduct; provided, however, that:
(i) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be personally liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Investor Interest of any Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee in relation to such Series, under this Agreement; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any failure by the Servicer referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 10.01 unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such failure or the Trustee receives written notice of such failure from the Servicer or any Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 10% of the Investor Interest of any Series adversely affected thereby.
(d) The Trustee shall not be required 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 there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it, and none of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall in any event require the Trustee to perform, or be responsible for the manner of performance of, any of the obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement except during such time, if any, as the Trustee shall be the successor to, and be vested with the rights, duties, powers and privileges of, the Servicer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
70
(e) Except for actions expressly authorized by this Agreement, the Trustee shall take no action reasonably likely to impair the interests of the Trust in any Receivable now existing or hereafter created or to impair the value of any Receivable now existing or hereafter created.
(f) Except as provided in this subsection 11.01(f), the Trustee shall have no power to vary the corpus of the Trust including, without limitation, the power to (i) accept any substitute obligation for a Receivable initially assigned to the Trust under Section 2.01 or 2.06 hereof, (ii) add any other investment, obligation or security to the Trust, except for an addition permitted under Section 2.06 or (iii) withdraw from the Trust any Receivables, except for a withdrawal permitted under Sections 2.07, 9.02, 10.02, 12.01 or 12.02 or subsections 2.04(d), 2.04(e) or Article IV.
(g) Subject to subsection 11.01(d) above, in the event that the Paying Agent or the Transfer Agent and Registrar (if other than the Trustee) shall fail to perform any obligation, duty or agreement in the manner or on the day required to be performed by the Paying Agent or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, as the case may be, under this Agreement, the Trustee shall be obligated promptly to perform such obligation, duty or agreement in the manner so required.
(h) If the Seller has agreed to transfer any of its credit card receivables (other than the Receivables) to another Person, upon the written request of the Seller, the Trustee will enter into such intercreditor agreements with the transferee of such receivables as are customary and necessary to identify separately the rights, if any, of the Trust and such other Person in the Sellers credit card receivables; provided, that the Trust shall not be required to enter into any intercreditor agreement which could adversely affect the interests of the Certificateholders and, upon the request of the Trustee, the Seller will deliver an Opinion of Counsel on any matters relating to such intercreditor agreement, reasonably requested by the Trustee.
Section 11.02. Certain Matters Affecting the Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting on, or in refraining from acting in accord with, any assignment of Receivables in Additional Accounts, the initial report, the monthly Servicers certificate, the annual Servicers certificate, the monthly payment instructions and notification to the Trustee, the monthly Certificateholders statement, any resolution, Officers Certificate, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented to it pursuant to this Agreement by the proper party or parties;
(b) the Trustee may consult with counsel, and any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such Opinion of Counsel;
(c) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement or any Credit Enhancement, or to institute, conduct or
71
defend any litigation hereunder or in relation hereto, at the request, order or direction of any of the Certificateholders or any Credit Enhancement Provider, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such Certificateholders or Credit Enhancement Provider shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligations, upon the occurrence of any Servicer Default (which has not been cured), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement and any Credit Enhancement, and to use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;
(d) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Agreement;
(e) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts of matters stated in any assignment of Receivables in Additional Accounts, the initial report, the monthly Servicers certificate, the annual Servicers certificate, the monthly payment instructions and notification to the Trustee, the monthly Certificateholders statement, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other paper or document, unless requested in writing so to do by Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Investor Interest of any Series;
(f) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys or a custodian, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent, attorney or custodian appointed with due care by it hereunder; and
(g) except as may be required by subsection 11.01(a), the Trustee shall not be required to make any initial or periodic examination of any documents or records related to the Receivables or the Accounts for the purpose of establishing the presence or absence of defects, the compliance by the Seller with its representations and warranties or for any other purpose.
Section 11.03. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Certificates. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained in this Agreement and in the Certificates (other than the certificate of authentication on the Certificates). Except as set forth in Section 11.15, the Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or of the Certificates (other than the certificate of authentication on the Certificates) or of any Receivable or related document. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Seller of any of the Certificates or of the proceeds of such Certificates, or for the use or application of any funds paid to the Seller or to the holder of the Seller Certificate in respect of the Receivables or deposited in or withdrawn from the Collection Account, the Principal Account or the Finance Charge Account, or any Series Account by the Servicer.
Section 11.04. Trustee May Own Certificates. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Investor Certificates with the same rights as it would have if it were not the Trustee.
72
Section 11.05. The Servicer to Pay Trustees Fees and Expenses. The Servicer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by it in the execution of the Trust hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, subject to Section 8.04, the Servicer will pay or reimburse the Trustee (without reimbursement from any Investor Account, any Series Account or otherwise) upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Agreement except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its own negligence or bad faith and except as provided in the following sentence. If the Trustee is appointed Successor Servicer pursuant to Section 10.02, the provisions of this Section 11.05 shall not apply to expenses, disbursements and advances made or incurred by the Trustee in its capacity as Successor Servicer.
The obligations of the Servicer under this Section 11.05 shall survive the termination of the Trust and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 11.06. Eligibility Requirements for Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least Baa3 by Moodys and BBB- by Standard & Poors having, in the case of an entity that is subject to risk-based capital adequacy requirements, risk-based capital of at least $50,000,000 or, in the case of an entity that is not subject to risk-based capital adequacy requirements, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section 11.06, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.06, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 11.07.
Section 11.07. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged from the Trust hereby created by giving written notice thereof to the Servicer. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Servicer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.
(b) If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.06 hereof and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Seller, or if at any time the Trustee shall be legally unable to act, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then the Seller may, but shall not be required to, remove the Trustee and promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee.
73
(c) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 11.07 shall not become effective until acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 11.08 hereof and any liability of the Trustee arising hereunder shall survive such appointment of a successor trustee.
Section 11.08. Successor Trustee.
(a) Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 11.07 hereof shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Seller and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with the like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein. The predecessor Trustee shall deliver to the successor trustee all documents and statements held by it hereunder, and the Seller and the predecessor Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for fully and certainly vesting and confirming in the successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations.
(b) No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 11.08 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 11.06 hereof and shall be an Eligible Servicer, and, if Standard & Poors is then a Rating Agency, unless Standard & Poors shall have consented to such appointment.
(c) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 11.08, such successor trustee shall mail notice of such succession hereunder to all Certificateholders at their addresses as shown in the Certificate Register.
Section 11.09. Merger or Consolidation of Trustee. Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 11.06 hereof, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
Section 11.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, at any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal requirements of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust may at the time be located, the Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments, subject to the prior written consent of the Seller, 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 Trust, and to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the Certificateholders, such title to the trust, or any part thereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this Section 11.10, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to
74
meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 11.06 and no notice to Certificateholders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required under Section 11.08 hereof.
(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 Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any laws of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed (whether as Trustee hereunder or as successor to the Servicer hereunder), the 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 Trust 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 Trustee;
(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and
(iii) the 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 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 Agreement and the conditions of this Article XI. 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 Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Agreement, specifically including every provision of this Agreement relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee and a copy thereof given to the Servicer.
(d) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute the Trustee as 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 to this Agreement 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 of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.
Section 11.11. Tax Returns. In the event the Trust shall be required to file tax returns, the Trustee, as soon as practicable after it is made aware of such requirement, shall prepare or cause to be prepared any tax returns required to be filed by the Trust and, to the extent possible, shall file such returns at least five days before such returns are due to be filed. The Trustee is hereby authorized to sign any such return on behalf of the Trust. The Servicer shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared all tax information required by law to be distributed to
75
Certificateholders and shall deliver such information to the Trustee at least five days prior to the date it is required by law to be distributed to Certificateholders. The Servicer, upon request, will furnish the Trustee with all such information known to the Servicer as may be reasonably required in connection with the preparation of all tax returns of the Trust. In no event shall the Trustee or the Servicer be liable for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners arising under any tax law, including without limitation federal, state, local or foreign income or excise taxes or any other tax imposed on or measured by income (or any interest or penalty with respect thereto or arising from a failure to comply therewith).
Section 11.12. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Certificates. All rights of action and claims under this Agreement or any Series of Certificates may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Certificates or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee. Any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of any Series of Certificateholders in respect of which such judgment has been obtained.
Section 11.13. Suits for Enforcement. If a Servicer Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, in its discretion may, subject to the provisions of Section 10.01 and 11.14, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of any Series of Certificateholders under this Agreement by a suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law or otherwise, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in aid of the execution of any power granted in this Agreement or for the enforcement of any other legal, equitable or other remedy as the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of the rights of the Trustee or any Series of Certificateholders.
Section 11.14. Rights of Certificateholders to Direct Trustee. Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Aggregate Investor Interest (or, with respect to any remedy, trust or power that does not relate to all Series, 50% of the Aggregate Investor Interest of the Investor Certificates of all Series to which such remedy, trust or power relates) shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided, however, that, subject to Section 11.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Certificateholders not parties to such direction; and provided further that nothing in this Agreement shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction of such Holders of Investor Certificates.
Section 11.15. Representations and Warranties of Trustee. The Trustee represents and warrants that:
(i) the Trustee is a banking corporation organized, existing and authorized to engage in the business of banking under the laws of the State of New York;
76
(ii) the Trustee has full power, authority and right to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement; and
(iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Trustee.
Section 11.16. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Trustee will maintain at its expense in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York an office or offices, or agency or agencies, where notices and demands to or upon the Trustee in respect of the Certificates and this Agreement may be served. The Trustee initially appoints its Corporate Trust Office as its office for such purposes in New York. The Trustee will give prompt written notice to the Servicer and to Certificateholders (or in the case of Holders of Bearer Certificates, in the manner provided for in the related Supplement) of any change in the location of the Certificate Register or any such office or agency.
[End of Article XI]
77
ARTICLE XII
TERMINATION
Section 12.01. Termination of Trust.
(a) The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Seller, the Servicer and the Trustee created hereby (other than the obligation of the Trustee to make payments to Certificateholders as hereafter set forth) shall terminate, except with respect to the duties described in Section 11.05 and subsections 2.04(c) and 12.03(b), on the Trust Termination Date; provided, however, that the Trust shall not terminate on the date specified in clause (i) of the definition of Trust Termination Date if each of the Servicer and the Holder of the Seller Certificate notify the Trustee in writing, not later than five Business Days preceding such date, that they desire that the Trust not terminate on such date, which notice (such notice, a Trust Extension) shall specify the date on which the Trust shall terminate (such date, the Extended Trust Termination Date); provided, however, that the Extended Trust Termination Date shall be not later than August 31, 2034. The Servicer and the Holder of the Seller Certificate may, on any date following the Trust Extension, so long as no Series of Certificates is outstanding, deliver a notice in writing to the Trustee changing the Extended Trust Termination Date.
(b) All principal or interest with respect to any Series of Investor Certificates shall be due and payable no later than the Series Termination Date with respect to such Series. Unless otherwise provided in a Supplement, in the event that the Investor Interest of any Series of Certificates is greater than zero on its Series Termination Date (after giving effect to all transfers, withdrawals, deposits and drawings to occur on such date and the payment of principal to be made on such Series on such date), the Trustee will sell or cause to be sold, and pay the proceeds first, to all Certificateholders of such Series pro rata and in accordance with the priority for each Class within such Series as provided in the related Supplement, in final payment of all principal of and accrued interest on such Series of Certificates, and second, as provided in the related Supplement, an amount of Principal Receivables and the related Finance Charge Receivables (or interests therein) up to 110% of the sum of the Investor Interest of such Series plus the Enhancement Invested Amount or the Collateral Interest (if not included in the Investor Interest) of such Series, if any, at the close of business on such date (but not more than the applicable Investor Percentage of Principal Receivables and the related Finance Charge Receivables on such date for such Series). The Trustee shall notify each Credit Enhancement Provider of the proposed sale of such Receivables and shall provide each Credit Enhancement Provider an opportunity to bid on such Receivables. Neither the Seller nor any Affiliate of the Seller nor any agent of the Seller shall be permitted to purchase such Receivables in such case. Any proceeds of such sale in excess of such principal and interest paid and such other amounts paid pursuant to the related Supplement shall be paid to the Holder of the Seller Certificate. Upon such Series Termination Date with respect to the applicable Series of Certificates, final payment of all amounts allocable to any Investor Certificates of such Series shall be made in the manner provided in Section 12.03.
(c) The Trust shall not be terminated or revoked except in accordance with this Section 12.01. The dissolution, termination, bankruptcy, conservatorship, or receivership of the Seller, the Servicer, or any Certificateholder shall not result in the termination or dissolution of the Trust.
78
Section 12.02. Optional Purchase. (a) If so provided in any Supplement, the Seller (so long as the Seller is the Servicer or an Affiliate of the Servicer) may, but shall not be obligated to, cause a final distribution to be made in respect of the related Series of Certificates on a Distribution Date specified in such Supplement by depositing into the Distribution Account or the applicable Series Account, not later than the Transfer Date preceding such Distribution Date, for application in accordance with Section 12.03, the amount specified in such Supplement; provided, however that if the short-term deposits or long-term unsecured debt obligations of the Seller (or, if neither such deposits nor such obligations of the Seller are rated by Moodys, then the short-term deposits or long-term unsecured debt obligations of the holding company of the Seller so long as such holding company is MBNA Corporation) are not rated at the time of such purchase of Receivables at least P-3 or Baa3, respectively, by Moodys, no such event shall occur unless the Seller shall deliver an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that such deposit into the Distribution Account or any Series Account as provided in the related Supplement would not constitute a fraudulent conveyance of the Seller.
(b) The amount deposited pursuant to subsection 12.02(a) shall be paid to the Investor Certificateholders of the related Series pursuant to Section 12.03 on the related Distribution Date following the date of such deposit. All Certificates of a Series which are purchased by the Seller pursuant to subsection 12.02(a) shall be delivered by the Seller upon such purchase to, and be canceled by, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and be disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee and the Seller. The Investor Interest of each Series which is purchased by the Seller pursuant to subsection 12.02(a) shall, for the purposes of the definition of Seller Interest, be deemed to be equal to zero on the Distribution Date following the making of the deposit, and the Seller Interest shall thereupon be deemed to have been increased by the Investor Interest of such Series.
Section 12.03. Final Payment with Respect to any Series.
(a) Written notice of any termination, specifying the Distribution Date upon which the Investor Certificateholders of any Series may surrender their Certificates for payment of the final distribution with respect to such Series and cancellation, shall be given (subject to at least two Business Days prior notice from the Servicer to the Trustee) by the Trustee to Investor Certificateholders of such Series mailed not later than the fifth day of the month of such final distribution (or in the manner provided by the Supplement relating to such Series) specifying (i) the Distribution Date (which shall be the Distribution Date in the month (x) in which the deposit is made pursuant to subsection 2.04(e), 9.02(b), 10.02(a), or subsection 12.02(a) of the Agreement or such other section as may be specified in the related Supplement, or (y) in which the related Series Termination Date occurs) upon which final payment of such Investor Certificates will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Investor Certificates at the office or offices therein designated (which, in the case of Bearer Certificates, shall be outside the United States), (ii) the amount of any such final payment and (iii) that the Record Date otherwise applicable to such Distribution Date is not applicable, payments being made only upon presentation and surrender of the Investor Certificates at the office or offices therein specified. The Servicer shall also deliver to the Trustee, as soon as is practicable but in no event not later than three Business Days after the Determination Date relating to the final payment described in the preceding sentence, an Officers Certificate setting forth the information, to the extent available, specified in Article V of this Agreement covering the period during the then current calendar year through the date of such notice and setting forth the date of such final distribution. The Trustee shall give such notice to the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Paying Agent at the time such notice is given to such Investor Certificateholders.
79
(b) Notwithstanding the termination of the Trust pursuant to subsection 12.01(a) or the occurrence of the Series Termination Date with respect to any Series, all funds then on deposit in the Finance Charge Account, the Principal Account, the Distribution Account or any Series Account applicable to the related Series shall continue to be held in trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders of the related Series and the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall pay such funds to the Certificateholders of the related Series upon surrender of their Certificates (which surrenders and payments, in the case of Bearer Certificates, shall be made only outside the United States). In the event that all of the Investor Certificateholders of any Series shall not surrender their Certificates for cancellation within six months after the date specified in the above-mentioned written notice, the Trustee shall give a second written notice (or, in the case of Bearer Certificates, publication notice) to the remaining Investor Certificateholders of such Series upon receipt of the appropriate records from the Transfer Agent and Registrar to surrender their Certificates for cancellation and receive the final distribution with respect thereto. If within one and one-half years after the second notice with respect to a Series, all the Investor Certificates of such Series shall not have been surrendered for cancellation, the Trustee may take appropriate steps or may appoint an agent to take appropriate steps, to contact the remaining Investor Certificateholders of such Series concerning surrender of their Certificates, and the cost thereof shall be paid out of the funds in the Distribution Account or any Series Account held for the benefit of such Investor Certificateholders. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Seller upon request any monies held by them for the payment of principal or interest which remains unclaimed for two years. After payment to the Seller, Investor Certificateholders entitled to the money must look to the Seller for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
(c) All Certificates surrendered for payment of the final distribution with respect to such Certificates and cancellation shall be canceled by the Transfer Agent and Registrar and be disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee and the Seller.
Section 12.04. Termination Rights of Holder of Seller Certificate. Upon the termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.01, and after payment of all amounts due hereunder on or prior to such termination and the surrender of the Seller Certificate, if applicable, the Trustee shall execute a written reconveyance substantially in the form of Exhibit H pursuant to which it shall reconvey to the Holder of the Seller Certificate (without recourse, representation or warranty) all right, title and interest of the Trust in the Receivables, whether then existing or thereafter created, all moneys due or to become due with respect to such Receivables (including all accrued interest theretofore posted as Finance Charge Receivables) and all proceeds of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and Interchange (if any) allocable to the Trust pursuant to any Supplement, except for amounts held by the Trustee pursuant to subsection 12.03(b). The Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer and assignment, in each case without recourse, as shall be reasonably requested by the Holder of the Seller Certificate to vest in such Holder all right, title and interest which the Trust had in the Receivables.
[End Of Article XII]
80
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01. Amendment.
(a) This Agreement or any Supplement may be amended in writing from time to time by the Servicer, the Seller and the Trustee, without the consent of any of Certificateholders; provided, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel for the Seller addressed and delivered to the Trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Investor Certificateholder; provided further, that each Rating Agency shall have notified the Seller, the Servicer and the Trustee in writing that such action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the rating of any outstanding Series or Class to which it is a Rating Agency; provided further, that such action shall not effect a significant change in the Permitted Activities of the Trust. This Agreement or any Supplement may be amended in writing by the Servicer, the Seller and the Trustee, without the consent of any of the Certificateholders to provide for additional Credit Enhancement or substitute Credit Enhancement with respect to a Series (so long as the amount of such substitute Credit Enhancement, unless otherwise provided in any related Supplement, is equal to the original Credit Enhancement for such Series), to change the definition of Eligible Account or to provide for the addition to the Trust of a Participation; provided, that such action shall not, in the reasonable belief of the Seller, as evidenced by an Officers Certificate, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Investor Certificateholders; provided further, that each Rating Agency shall have notified the Seller, the Servicer and the Trustee in writing that such action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the rating of any outstanding Series or Class to which it is a Rating Agency.
(b) This Agreement or any Supplement may also be amended in writing from time to time by the Servicer, the Seller and the Trustee (A) in the case of a significant change in the Permitted Activities of the Trust which is not materially adverse to Holders of Investor Certificates, with the consent of Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 50% of the Investor Interest of each outstanding Series affected by such change, and (B) in all other cases with the consent of the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 66 2/3% of the Investor Interest of each outstanding Series adversely affected by such amendment for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or any Supplement or modifying in any manner the rights of Investor Certificateholders of any Series then issued and outstanding; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (i) reduce in any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, distributions which are required to be made on any Investor Certificates of such Series without the consent of each Investor Certificateholders of such Series, (ii) change the definition of or the manner of calculating the Investor Interest, the Investor Percentage or the Investor Default Amount of such Series without the consent of each Investor Certificateholder of such Series or (iii) reduce the aforesaid percentage required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of each Investor Certificateholder of all Series adversely affected. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects the Trustees rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.
81
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13.01 to the contrary, the Series Supplement with respect to any Series may be amended on the items and in accordance with the procedures provided in such Series Supplement.
(d) Promptly after the execution of any such amendment (other than an amendment pursuant to paragraph (a)), the Trustee shall furnish notification of the substance of such amendment to each Investor Certificateholder of each Series adversely affected and to each Rating Agency providing a rating for such Series.
(e) It shall not be necessary for the consent of Investor Certificateholders under this Section 13.01 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Investor Certificateholders shall be subject to such reasonable requirements as the Trustee may prescribe.
(f) Any Series Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.09 and any amendments regarding the addition to or removal of Receivables from the Trust as provided in Sections 2.06 and 2.07, executed in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall not be considered amendments to this Agreement for the purpose of subsections 13.01(a) and (b).
(g) In connection with any amendment, the Trustee may request an Opinion of Counsel from the Seller or Servicer to the effect that the amendment complies with all requirements of this Agreement.
Section 13.02. Protection of Right, Title and Interest to Trust.
(a) The Servicer shall cause this Agreement, all amendments hereto and/or all financing statements and continuation statements and any other necessary documents covering the Certificateholders and the Trustees right, title and interest to the Trust to be promptly recorded, registered and filed, and at all times to be kept recorded, registered and filed, all in such manner and in such places as may be required by law fully to preserve and protect the right, title and interest of the Certificateholders or the Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder to all property comprising the Trust. The Servicer shall deliver to the Trustee file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document recorded, registered or filed as provided above, as soon as available following such recording, registration or filing. The Seller shall cooperate fully with the Servicer in connection with the obligations set forth above and will execute any and all documents reasonably required to fulfill the intent of this subsection 13.02(a).
(b) Within 30 days after the Seller makes any change in its name, identity or corporate structure which would make any financing statement or continuation statement filed in accordance with paragraph (a) above seriously misleading within the meaning of Section 9-402(7) of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware, the Seller shall give the Trustee notice of any such change and shall file such financing statements or amendments as may be necessary to continue the perfection of the Trusts security interest in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
(c) Each of the Seller and the Servicer will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any relocation of any office from which it services Receivables or keeps records concerning the Receivables or of its chief executive office and whether, as a result of such
82
relocation, the applicable provisions of the UCC would require the filing of any amendment of any previously filed financing or continuation statement or of any new financing statement and shall file such financing statements or amendments as may be necessary to continue the perfection of the Trusts security interest in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof. Each of the Seller and the Servicer will at all times maintain each office from which it services Receivables and its principal executive office within the United States of America.
(d) The Servicer will deliver to the Trustee and with respect to clause (i) to Standard & Poors: (i) upon each date that any Additional Accounts are to be included in the Accounts pursuant to Section 2.06, an Opinion of Counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit E; and (ii) on or before March 31 of each year, beginning with March 31, 1995, an Opinion of Counsel, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
Section 13.03. Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders.
(a) The death or incapacity of any Certificateholder shall not operate to terminate this Agreement or the Trust, nor shall such death or incapacity entitle such Certificateholders legal representatives or heirs to claim an accounting or to take any action or commence any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the Trust, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.
(b) No Certificateholder shall have any right to vote (except with respect to the Investor Certificateholders as provided in Section 13.01 hereof) or in any manner otherwise control the operation and management of the Trust, or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Certificateholders from time to time as partners or members of an association; nor shall any Certificateholder be under any liability to any third person by reason of any action taken by the parties to this Agreement pursuant to any provision hereof.
(c) No Certificateholder shall have any right by virtue of any provisions of this Agreement to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Agreement, unless such Certificateholder previously shall have given written notice to the Trustee, and unless the Holders of Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the Investor Interest of any Series which may be adversely affected but for the institution of such suit, action or proceeding, shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by each Certificateholder with every other Certificateholder and the Trustee, that no one or more Certificateholders shall have the right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing itself or themselves of any provisions of this Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the Certificateholders of any other of the Certificates, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Certificateholder, or to enforce any right under this Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Certificateholders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 13.03, each and every Certificateholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
83
Section 13.04. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Agent for Service of Process. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. The parties hereto declare that it is their intention that this Agreement shall be regarded as made under the laws of the State of Delaware and that the laws of said State shall be applied in interpreting its provisions in all cases where legal interpretation shall be required. Each of the parties hereto agrees (a) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (b) that this Agreement has been entered into by the parties hereto in express reliance upon 6 DEL. C. § 2708. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (a) to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (b)(1) to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such partys agent for acceptance of legal process, and (2) that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that service made pursuant to (b)(1) or (2) above shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware.
Section 13.05. Notices. All demands, notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered at, sent by facsimile or electronic transmission to, sent by courier at or mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, to (a) in the case of the Seller and the Servicer, to MBNA America Bank, National Association, 400 Christiana Road, Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention: Chief Corporate Finance Officer, (b) in the case of the Trustee, to the Corporate Trust Office (c) in the case of the Credit Enhancement Provider for a particular Series, the address, if any, specified in the Supplement relating to such Series and (d) in the case of the Rating Agency for a particular Series, the address, if any, specified in the Supplement relating to such Series; or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. Unless otherwise provided with respect to any Series in the related Supplement any notice required or permitted to be mailed to a Certificateholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, sent by facsimile, sent by electronic transmission or personally delivered to each Certificateholder, at the address of such Certificateholder as shown in the Certificate Register, or with respect to any notice required or permitted to be made to the Holders of Bearer Certificates, by publication in the manner provided in the related Supplement. If and so long as any Series or Class is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such Exchange shall so require, any Notice to Investor Certificateholders shall be published in an authorized newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg within the time period prescribed in this Agreement. Any notice so mailed, sent by facsimile, electronic transmission or delivered in the manner herein provided and within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Certificateholder receives such notice.
Section 13.06. Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall for any reason whatsoever be held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement or of the Certificates or rights of the Certificateholders thereof.
84
Section 13.07. Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as provided in Section 8.02, this Agreement may not be assigned by the Servicer without the prior consent of Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 66 2/3% of the Investor Interest of each Series on a Series by Series basis.
Section 13.08. Certificates Non-Assessable and Fully Paid. It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that the Certificateholders shall not be personally liable for obligations of the Trust, that the Undivided Interests represented by the Certificates shall be non-assessable for any losses or expenses of the Trust or for any reason whatsoever, and that Certificates upon authentication thereof by the Trustee pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 6.02 are and shall be deemed fully paid.
Section 13.09. Further Assurances. The Seller and the Servicer agree to do and perform, from time to time, any and all acts and to execute any and all further instruments required or reasonably requested by the Trustee more fully to effect the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the execution of any financing statements or continuation statements relating to the Receivables for filing under the provisions of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction.
Section 13.10. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee, any Credit Enhancement Provider or the Investor Certificateholders, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exhaustive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Section 13.11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (and by different parties on separate counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 13.12. Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Certificateholders and, to the extent provided in the related Supplement, to the Credit Enhancement Provider named therein, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Article XIII and Section 7.04 hereof, no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
Section 13.13. Actions by Certificateholders.
(a) Wherever in this Agreement a provision is made that an action may be taken or a notice, demand or instruction given by Investor Certificateholders, such action, notice or instruction may be taken or given by any Investor Certificateholder, unless such provision requires a specific percentage of Investor Certificateholders.
(b) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act by a Certificateholder shall bind such Certificateholder and every subsequent holder of such Certificate issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by the Trustee or the Servicer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Certificate.
85
Section 13.14. Rule 144A Information. For so long as any of the Investor Certificates of any Series or any Class are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, each of the Seller, the Servicer, the Trustee and the Enhancement Provider for such Series agree to cooperate with each other to provide to any Investor Certificateholders of such Series or Class and to any prospective purchaser of Certificates designated by such an Investor Certificateholder upon the request of such Investor Certificateholder or prospective purchaser, any information required to be provided to such holder or prospective purchaser to satisfy the condition set forth in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Section 13.15. Merger and Integration. Except as specifically stated otherwise herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all prior understandings, written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, waived or supplemented except as provided herein.
Section 13.16. Headings. The headings herein are for purposes of reference only and shall not otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision hereof.
Section 13.17. Intention of Parties. For purposes of complying with the requirements of the Asset-Backed Securities Facilitation Act of the State of Delaware, 6 Del. C. § 2701A, et seq. (the Securitization Act), each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that:
(a) Any property, assets or rights purported to be transferred, in whole or in part, by the Seller pursuant to this Agreement (including each Assignment) shall be deemed to no longer be the property, assets or rights of the Seller;(b) None of the Seller, its creditors or, in any insolvency proceeding with respect to the Seller or the Sellers property, a bankruptcy trustee, receiver, debtor, debtor in possession or similar person, to the extent the issue is governed by Delaware law, shall have any rights, legal or equitable, whatsoever to reacquire (except pursuant to a provision of this Agreement), reclaim, recover, repudiate, disaffirm, redeem or recharacterize as property of the Seller any property, assets or rights purported to be transferred, in whole or in part, by the Seller pursuant to this Agreement (including each Assignment); (c) In the event of a bankruptcy, receivership or other insolvency proceeding with respect to the Seller or the Sellers property, to the extent the issue is governed by Delaware law, such property, assets and rights shall not be deemed to be part of the Sellers property, assets, rights or estate; and
(b) The transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall constitute a securitization transaction as such term is used in the Securitization Act. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust will end on the last day of June of each year.
[End of Article XIII]
86
ARTICLE XIV
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION AB
Section 14.01. Intent of the Parties; Reasonableness. The Seller, the Trustee and the Servicer acknowledge and agree that the purpose of this Article XIV is to facilitate compliance by the Seller with the provisions of Regulation AB and related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Seller shall not exercise its right to request delivery of information or other performance under these provisions other than in good faith, or for purposes other than the Sellers compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (or the provision in a private offering of disclosure comparable to that required under the Securities Act). The Trustee agrees to cooperate in good faith with any reasonable request by the Seller for information regarding the Trustee which is required in order to enable the Seller to comply with the provisions of Items 1103(a)(1), 1109(a), 1109(b), 1117, 1118, 1119 and 1122 of Regulation AB as it relates to the Trustee or to the Trustees obligations under this Agreement or any Supplement. The Servicer shall cooperate fully with the Seller to deliver to the Seller (including any of its assignees or designees), any and all statements, reports, certifications, records and any other information necessary in the good faith determination of the Seller to permit the Seller to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, together with such disclosures relating to the Servicer and the Accounts, or the servicing of the Receivables, reasonably believed by the Seller to be necessary in order to effect such compliance.
Section 14.02. Additional Representations and Warranties of the Trustee. The Trustee shall be deemed to represent to the Seller, as of the date on which information is provided to the Seller under Section 14.03 that, except as disclosed in writing to the Seller prior to such date: (i) neither the execution or the delivery by the Trustee of this Agreement or any Supplement, the performance by the Trustee of its obligations under this Agreement or any Supplement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Trustee contemplated thereby, is in violation of any indenture, mortgage, bank credit agreement, note or bond purchase agreement, long-term lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, which violation would have a material adverse effect on the Trustees ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Supplement, or of any judgment or order applicable to the Trustee; and (ii) there are no proceedings pending or threatened against the Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the right, power and authority of the Trustee to enter into this Agreement or any Supplement or to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Supplement.
Section 14.03. Information to Be Provided by the Trustee. The Trustee shall (i) on or before the final Business Day of each month, provide to the Seller, in writing, such information regarding the Trustee as is requested for the purpose of compliance with Item 1117 of Regulation AB, and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by the Trustee of any changes to such information, provide to the Seller, in writing, such updated information.
The Trustee shall (i) on or before the final Business Day of each January, April, July and October, provide to the Seller such information regarding the Trustee as is requested for the purpose of compliance with Items 1103(a)(1), 1109(a), 1109(b), 1118 and 1119 of
87
Regulation AB, and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by the Trustee of any changes to such information, provide to the Seller, in writing, such updated information. Such information shall include, at a minimum:
(A) the Trustees name and form of organization;
(B) a description of the extent to which the Trustee has had prior experience serving as a trustee for asset-backed securities transactions involving credit card receivables;
(C) a description of any affiliation or relationship between the Trustee and any of the following parties to a Securitization Transaction, as such parties are identified to the Trustee by the Seller in writing in advance of such Securitization Transaction:
(1) | the sponsor; |
(2) | any depositor; |
(3) | the issuing entity; |
(4) | any servicer; |
(5) | any trustee; |
(6) | any originator; |
(7) | any significant obligor; |
(8) | any enhancement or support provider; and |
(9) | any other material transaction party. |
(D) In connection with the above-listed parties, a description of whether there is, and if so the general character of, any business relationship, agreement, arrangement, transaction or understanding that is entered into outside the ordinary course of business or is on terms other than would be obtained in an arms length transaction with an unrelated third party, apart from the asset-backed securities transaction, that currently exists or that existed during the past two years and that is material to an investors understanding of the asset-backed securities.
Section 14.04. Report on Assessment of Compliance and Attestation. On or before August 1 of each calendar year, commencing in 2006, the Trustee shall:
(i) deliver to the Seller a report regarding the Trustees assessment of compliance with the Servicing Criteria during the immediately preceding fiscal year, as required under Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Such report shall be addressed to the Seller and signed by an authorized officer of the Trustee, and shall address each of the Servicing Criteria specified in Exhibit J hereto or such criteria as mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Trustee;
(ii) deliver to the Seller a report of a registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Seller that attests to, and reports on, the assessment of compliance made by the Trustee and delivered pursuant to the preceding paragraph. Such attestation shall be in accordance with Rules 1-02(a)(3) and 2-02(g) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
(iii) deliver to the Seller and any other Person that will be responsible for signing the certification (a Sarbanes Certification) required by Rules 13a-14(d) and 15d-14(d) under the Exchange Act (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) on behalf of the Trust, MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust or the Seller with respect to a Securitization Transaction a certification substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I or such form as mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Trustee.
The Trustee acknowledges that the parties identified in clause (iii) above may rely on the certification provided by the Trustee pursuant to such clause in signing a Sarbanes Certification and filing such with the Commission.
88
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller, the Servicer and the Trustee have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers as of the day and year first above written.
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Seller and Servicer | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
89
EXHIBIT A
SELLER CERTIFICATE
No. 1 | One Unit |
MBNA MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST II
ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE ACT), AND MAY BE SOLD ONLY PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN. A COPY OF THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE BY THE TRUSTEE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.
This Certificate represents an
Undivided Interest in the
MBNA Master Credit Card Trust II
Evidencing an Undivided Interest in a trust, the corpus of which consists of a portfolio of MasterCard and VISA*/ credit card receivables generated or acquired by MBNA America Bank, National Association and other assets and interests constituting the Trust under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement described below.
(Not an interest in or an obligation of
MBNA America Bank, National Association
or any Affiliate thereof.)
This certifies that MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the Holder) is the registered owner of an undivided interest in a trust (the Trust), the corpus of which consists of a portfolio of receivables (the Receivables) now existing or hereafter created under selected MasterCard and VISA credit card accounts (the Accounts) of MBNA America Bank, National Association (the Seller) a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, all monies due or to become due in payment of the Receivables (including all Finance Charge Receivables), all proceeds of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds relating to the Receivables, the other assets and interests constituting the Trust and the proceeds thereof pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of August 4, 1994, as
*/ | MasterCard and VISA are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated and of VISA USA, Inc., respectively. |
supplemented by any Supplement relating to a Series of Investor Certificates (the Pooling and Servicing Agreement), by and between MBNA America Bank, National Association, as Seller and Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the Trustee), a summary of certain of the pertinent provisions of which is set forth hereinbelow.
To the extent not defined herein, the capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. This Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, to which Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as amended from time to time, the Holder by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents and by which the Holder is bound.
This Certificate has not been registered or qualified under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities law. No sale, transfer or other disposition of this Certificate shall be permitted other than in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.03, 6.09 or 7.02 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
The Receivables consist of Principal Receivables which arise generally from the purchase of goods and services and of amounts advanced to cardholders as cash advances, and of Finance Charge Receivables which arise generally from Periodic Finance Charges and other fees and charges, as more fully specified in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
This Certificate is the Seller Certificate (the Certificate), which represents an Undivided Interest in the Trust, including the right to receive the Collections and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement to be paid to the Holder of the Seller Certificate. The aggregate interest represented by this Certificate in the Principal Receivables in the Trust shall not at any time exceed the Seller Interest at such time. In addition to this Certificate, Series of Investor Certificates will be issued to investors pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, each of which will represent an Undivided Interest in the Trust. This Certificate shall not represent any interest in the Investor Accounts, any Series Accounts or any Credit Enhancement, except to the extent provided in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Seller Interest on any date of determination will be an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables at the end of the day immediately prior to such date of determination minus the Aggregate Investor Interest at the end of such day.
The Servicer shall deposit all Collections in the Collection Account as promptly as possible after the Date of Processing of such Collections, but in no event later than the second Business Day following such Date of Processing (except as provided below and except as provided in any Supplement to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement). Unless otherwise stated in any Supplement, throughout the existence of the Trust, the Servicer shall allocate to the Holder of the Certificate an amount equal to the product of (A) the Seller Percentage and (B) the aggregate amount of such Collections allocated to Principal Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables, respectively, in respect of each Monthly Period. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, the Servicer need not deposit this amount or any other amounts so allocated to the Certificate pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement into the Collection Account and shall pay, or be deemed to pay, such amounts as collected to the Holder of the Certificate.
MBNA America Bank, National Association, as Servicer, is entitled to receive as servicing compensation a monthly servicing fee. The portion of the servicing fee which will be
A-2
allocable to the Holder of the Certificate pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement will be payable by the Holder of the Certificate and neither the Trust nor the Trustee or the Investor Certificateholders will have any obligations to pay such portion of the servicing fee.
This Certificate does not represent an obligation of, or any interest in, the Seller or the Servicer, and neither the Certificates nor the Accounts or Receivables are insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. This Certificate is limited in right of payment to certain Collections respecting the Receivables, all as more specifically set forth hereinabove and in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Upon the termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Trustee shall assign and convey to the Holder of the Certificate (without recourse, representation or warranty) all right, title and interest of the Trust in the Receivables, whether then existing or thereafter created, all monies due or to become due with respect thereto (including all accrued interest theretofore posted as Finance Charge Receivables) and all proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto and Interchange allocable to the Trust pursuant to any Supplement, except for amounts held by the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.03(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer and assignment, in each case without recourse, as shall be reasonably requested by the Holder of the Certificate to vest in such Holder all right, title and interest which the Trustee had in the Receivables.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee, by manual signature, this Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, or be valid for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF MBNA America Bank, National Association has caused this Certificate to be duly executed under its official seal.
By: |
| |
Authorized Officer |
[SEAL]
Attested to:
By: |
| |
Cashier |
Date:
A-3
Trustees Certificate of Authentication
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is the Seller Certificate referred to in the within-mentioned Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Officer |
A-4
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS
ASSIGNMENT No. OF RECEIVABLES IN ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS, dated as of , by and between MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States (MBNA), to THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (the Trustee) pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, MBNA and the Trustee are parties to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of August 4, 1994 (hereinafter as such agreement may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, MBNA wishes to designate Additional Accounts of MBNA to be included as Accounts and to convey the Receivables of such Additional Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created, to the Trust as part of the corpus of the Trust (as each such term is defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Trustee is willing to accept such designation and conveyance subject to the terms and conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, MBNA and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All terms defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and used herein shall have such defined meanings when used herein, unless otherwise defined herein.
Addition Date shall mean, with respect to the Additional Accounts designated hereby, , .
Notice Date shall mean, with respect to the Additional Accounts designated hereby, , (which shall be a date on or prior to the fifth Business Day prior to the Addition Date with respect to additions pursuant to subsection 2.06(a) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the tenth Business Day prior to the Addition Date with respect to additions pursuant to subsection 2.06(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement).
2. Designation of Additional Accounts. MBNA shall deliver to the Trustee not later than five Business Days after the Addition Date, a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of each MasterCard and VISA account which as of the Addition Date shall be deemed to be an Additional Account, such accounts being identified by account number and by the amount of Receivables in such accounts as of the close of business on the Addition Date. Such list shall be delivered five Business Days after the date of this Agreement and shall be marked as Schedule 1 to this Assignment and, as of the Addition Date, shall be incorporated into and made a part of this Assignment.
3. Conveyance of Receivables.
(a) MBNA does hereby transfer, assign, set-over and otherwise convey to the Trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders, without recourse on and after the Addition Date, all right, title and interest of MBNA in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated hereby, all monies due or to become due with respect thereto (including all Finance Charge Receivables) and all proceeds of such Receivables, Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
(b) In connection with such transfer, MBNA agrees to record and file, at its own expense, a financing statement with respect to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated hereby (which may be a single financing statement with respect to all such Receivables) for the transfer of accounts as defined in Section 9-106 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware meeting the requirements of applicable state law in such manner and such jurisdictions as are necessary to perfect the assignment of such Receivables to the Trust, and to deliver a file-stamped copy of such financing statement or other evidence of such filing (which may, for purposes of this Section 3, consist of telephone confirmation of such filing) to the Trustee on or prior to the date of this Agreement.
(c) In connection with such transfer, MBNA further agrees, at its own expense, on or prior to the date of this Assignment to indicate in its computer files that Receivables created in connection with the Additional Accounts designated hereby have been transferred to the Trust pursuant to this Assignment for the benefit of the Certificateholders.
(d) The parties hereto intend that each transfer of Receivables and other property pursuant to this Assignment constitute a sale, and not a secured borrowing, for accounting purposes. If, and to the extent that, notwithstanding such intent the transfer pursuant to this Assignment is not deemed to be a sale, the Seller shall be deemed hereunder to have granted and does hereby grant to the Trustee a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Sellers right, title and interest in, to and under the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated hereby, all moneys due or to become due with respect thereto (including all Finance Charge Receivables) and all proceeds of such Receivables, all Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries relating to such Receivables and the proceeds thereof, and this Assignment shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law.
4. Acceptance by Trustee. The Trustee hereby acknowledges its acceptance on behalf of the Trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders of all right, title and interest previously held by MBNA in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created, and declares that it shall maintain such right, title and interest, upon the Trust herein set forth, for the benefit of all Certificateholders.
B-2
5. Representations and Warranties of MBNA. MBNA hereby represents and warrants to the Trust as of the Addition Date:
(a) Legal Valid and Binding Obligation. This Assignment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of MBNA enforceable against MBNA in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and the rights of creditors of national banking associations and except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in equity).
(b) Eligibility of Accounts and Receivables. Each Additional Account designated hereby is an Eligible Account and each Receivable in such Additional Account is an Eligible Receivable.
(c) Selection Procedures. No selection procedures believed by MBNA to be materially adverse to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders were utilized in selecting the Additional Accounts designated hereby from the available Eligible Accounts in the Bank Portfolio.
(d) Insolvency. MBNA is not insolvent and, after giving effect to the conveyance set forth in Section 3 of this Assignment, will not be insolvent.
(e) Security Interest. This Assignment constitutes either: (i) a valid transfer and assignment to the Trust of all right, title and interest of MBNA in and to Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated hereby, and all proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto, and such Receivables and any proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto will be held by the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming through or under MBNA or any of its Affiliates except for (x) Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (y) the interest of the holder of the Seller Certificate and (z) MBNAs right to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in respect of, the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account as provided in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; or (ii) a grant of a security interest (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) in such property to the Trust, which is enforceable with respect to existing Receivables of the Additional Accounts, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto, upon the conveyance of such Receivables to the Trust, and which will be enforceable with respect to the Receivables thereafter created in respect of Additional Accounts designated hereby, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto, upon such creation; and (iii) if this Assignment constitutes the grant of a security interest to the Trust in such property, upon the filing of a financing statement described in Section 3 of this Assignment with respect to the Additional Accounts designated hereby and in the case of the Receivables of such Additional Accounts thereafter created and the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof, and Insurance Proceeds relating to such Receivables, upon such creation, the Trust shall have a first priority
B-3
perfected security interest in such property (subject to Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), except for Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
6. Conditions Precedent. The acceptance by the Trustee set forth in Section 4 and the amendment of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement set forth in Section 7 are subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Addition Date, of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Officers Certificate. MBNA shall have delivered to the Trustee a certificate of a Vice President or more senior officer substantially in the form of Schedule 2 hereto, certifying that (i) all requirements set forth in Section 2.06 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for designating Additional Accounts and conveying the Principal Receivables of such Account, whether now existing or hereafter created, have been satisfied and (ii) each of the representations and warranties made by MBNA in Section 5 is true and correct as of the Addition Date. The Trustee may conclusively rely on such Officers Certificate, shall have no duty to make inquiries with regard to the matters set forth therein, and shall incur no liability in so relying.
(b) Opinion of Counsel. MBNA shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel with respect to the Additional Accounts designated hereby substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
(c) Additional Information. MBNA shall have delivered to the Trustee such information as was reasonably requested by the Trustee to satisfy itself as to the accuracy of the representation and warranty set forth in subsection 5(d) to this Agreement.
7. Amendment of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement is hereby amended to provide that all references therein to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, to this Agreement and herein shall be deemed from and after the Addition Date to be a dual reference to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement as supplemented by this Assignment. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement shall remain unamended and shall continue to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and except as expressly provided herein shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute a waiver of compliance with or a consent to noncompliance with any term or provisions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
8. Counterparts. This Assignment may be executed in two or more counterparts (and by different parties on separate counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law provisions; provided, however, that the immunities and standard of care of the Trustee in the administration of the Trust hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
B-4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Assignment of Receivables in Additional Accounts to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the day and year first above written.
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
B-5
Schedule 1
to Assignment of
Receivables in
Additional Accounts
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS
Schedule 2
to Assignment of
Receivables in
Additional Accounts
MBNA America Bank, National Association
MBNA Master Credit Card Trust II
Officers Certificate
, a duly authorized officer of MBNA America Bank, National Association, a national banking association (MBNA), hereby certifies and acknowledges on behalf of MBNA that to the best of his knowledge the following statements are true on , , (the Addition Date), and acknowledges on behalf of MBNA that this Officers Certificate will be relied upon by The Bank of New York as Trustee (the Trustee) of the MBNA Master Credit Card Trust II in connection with the Trustee entering into Assignment No. of Receivables in Additional Accounts, dated as of the Addition Date (the Assignment), by and between MBNA and the Trustee, in connection with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of August 4, 1994, as heretofore supplemented and amended (the Pooling and Servicing Agreement) pursuant to which MBNA, as Seller and Servicer, and the Trustee are parties. The undersigned hereby certifies and acknowledges on behalf of MBNA that:
(a) On or prior to the Addition Date, MBNA has delivered to the Trustee the Assignment (including an acceptance by the Trustee on behalf of the Trust for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders) and MBNA has indicated in its computer files that the Receivables created in connection with the Additional Accounts have been transferred to the Trust and within five Business Days after the Addition Date MBNA shall deliver to the Trustee a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of all Additional Accounts identified by account number and the aggregate amount of the Receivables in such Additional Accounts as of the Addition Date, which computer file or microfiche list shall be as of the date of such Assignment, incorporated into and made a part of such Assignment and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
(b) Legal, Valid and Binding Obligation. The Assignment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of MBNA, enforceable against MBNA in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and the rights of creditors of national banking associations and except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in equity).
(c) Eligibility of Accounts. Each Additional Account designated pursuant to the Assignment is an Eligible Account and each Receivable in such Additional Account is an Eligible Receivable.
(d) Selection Procedures. No selection procedures believed by MBNA to be materially adverse to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders were utilized in selecting the Additional Accounts designated hereby from the available Eligible Accounts in the Bank Portfolio.
(e) Insolvency. MBNA is not insolvent and, after giving effect to the conveyance set forth in Section 3 of the Assignment, will not be insolvent.
(f) Security Interest. The Assignment constitutes either: (i) a valid transfer and assignment to the Trust of all right, title and interest of MBNA in and to Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated pursuant to the Assignment, and all proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto, and such Receivables and any proceeds thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto will be held by the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming through or under the Seller or any of its Affiliates except for (x) Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (y) the interest of MBNA as holder of the Seller Certificate and (z) MBNAs right to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in respect of, the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account as provided in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement; or (ii) a grant of a security interest (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) in such property to the Trust, which is enforceable with respect to the existing Receivables of the Additional Accounts designated pursuant to the Assignment, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto upon the conveyance of such Receivables to the Trust, and which will be enforceable with respect to the Receivables thereafter created in respect of Additional Accounts designated pursuant to the Assignment, the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof and Insurance Proceeds relating thereto, upon such creation; and (iii) if the Assignment constitutes the grant of a security interest to the Trust in such property, upon the filing of a financing statement described in Section 3 of the Assignment with respect to the Additional Accounts designated pursuant to the Assignment and in the case of the Receivables of such Additional Accounts thereafter created and the proceeds (as defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) thereof, and Insurance Proceeds relating to such Receivables, upon such creation, the Trust shall have a first priority perfected security interest in such property (subject to Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware), except for Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
(g) Requirements of Pooling and Servicing Agreement. All requirements set forth in Section 2.06 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for designating Additional Accounts and conveying the Principal Receivables of such Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created, have been satisfied.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
S-2-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this day of , .
MBNA America Bank, National Association | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
S-2-3
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF MONTHLY SERVICERS CERTIFICATE
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
MBNA MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST II
1. |
Capitalized terms used in this Certificate have their respective meanings set forth in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; provided, that the preceding Monthly Period shall mean the Monthly Period immediately preceding the calendar month in which this Certificate is delivered. This Certificate is delivered pursuant to subsection 3.04(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. References herein to certain sections and subsections are references to the respective sections and subsections of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. | ||||
2. |
MBNA is Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. | ||||
3. |
The undersigned is a Servicing Officer. | ||||
4. |
The date of this Certificate is a Determination Date under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. | ||||
5. |
The aggregate amount of Collections processed during the preceding Monthly Period was equal to (excluding Annual Membership Fees and Interchange) | $ | |||
6. |
The Aggregate Investor Percentage of Receivables processed by the Servicer during the preceding Monthly Period was equal to | $ | |||
7. |
The Aggregate Investor Percentage of Collections of Finance Charge Receivables processed by the Servicer during the preceding Monthly Period was equal to (excluding Annual Membership Fees and Interchange) | $ | |||
8. |
The aggregate amount of Receivables processed by the Servicer as of the end of the last day of the preceding Monthly Period | $ | |||
9. |
Of the balance on deposit in the Finance Charge Account, the amount attributable to the Aggregate Investor Percentage of Collections processed by the Servicer during the preceding Monthly Period | $ | |||
10. |
Of the balance on deposit in the Principal Account, the amount attributable to the Aggregate Investor Percentage of Collections processed by the Servicer during the preceding Monthly Period | $ |
11. |
The aggregate amount, if any, of withdrawals, drawings or payments under any Credit Enhancement, if any, required to be made with respect to any Series outstanding for the preceding Monthly Period | $ | |||
12. |
The Aggregate Investor Percentage of Collections of Principal Receivables processed by the Servicer during the current month is equal to | $ | |||
13. |
The amount equal to the Aggregate Investor Percentage of Annual Membership Fees deposited to the Finance Charge Account or any Series Account on or before the Transfer Date during the current month is equal to | $ | |||
14. |
The aggregate amount of Interchange to be deposited in the Finance Charge Account on the Transfer Date of the current month is equal to | $ | |||
15. |
The aggregate amount of all sums payable to the Investor Certificateholder of each Series on the succeeding Distribution Date with respect to Certificate Principal | $ | |||
16. |
The aggregate amount of all sums payable to the Investor Certificateholder of each Series on the succeeding Distribution Date with respect to Certificate Interest | $ | |||
17. |
To the knowledge of the undersigned, there are no Liens on any Receivables in the Trust except as described below: |
[If applicable, insert None.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this certificate this day of , .
MBNA AMERICA BANK, | ||
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
Servicer | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
C-2
Schedule to Monthly
Servicers Certificate*
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
MBNA MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST
* | A separate schedule is to be attached for each Series, with appropriate changes and additions to reflect the specifics of the related Series Supplement. |
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF ANNUAL SERVICERS CERTIFICATE
MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
MBNA MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST II
The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of MBNA America Bank, National Association (MBNA), as Servicer pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of August 4, 1994 (the Pooling and Servicing Agreement) by and between MBNA and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the Trustee) does hereby certify that:
1. MBNA is Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
2. The undersigned is duly authorized pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Trustee.
3. This Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
4. A review of the activities of the Servicer during [the period from the Closing date until] [the twelve-month period ended] June 30, was conducted under the supervision of the undersigned.
5. Based on such review, the Servicer has, to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned, fully performed all its obligations under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement throughout such period and no default in the performance of such obligations has occurred or is continuing except as set forth in paragraph 6 below.
6. The following is a description of each default in the performance of the Servicers obligations under the provisions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, including any Supplement, known to the undersigned to have been made during such period which sets forth in detail (i) the nature of each such default, (ii) the action taken by the Servicer, if any, to remedy each such default and (iii) the current status of each such default:
[If applicable, insert None.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this certificate this day of , .
| ||
Name: | ||
Title: | Vice President |
D-2
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL REGARDING ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS
PROVISIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN OPINION OF COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(c)(vi)
OF THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
The opinions set forth below may be subject to certain qualifications, assumptions, limitations and exceptions taken or made in the opinion of Sellers counsel with respect to similar matters delivered on the Closing Date.
1. The Assignment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Seller and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms subject to (A) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and the rights and remedies of creditors of national banking associations, and (B) the application of principles of equity (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law).
2. The financing statement(s) referred to in such opinion (the Financing Statement) is in an appropriate form for filing in the State of Delaware (the State) and has been duly filed in the appropriate filing office in the State and the fees and document taxes, if any, payable in connection with the said filing of the Financing Statement have been paid in full.
3. If the Assignment does not constitute a sale of the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, (A) the Pooling and Servicing Agreement creates a valid security interest (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State (the UCC)) in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders in such Receivables, (B) the security interest created under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement by the conveyance of the Receivables in Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and in the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC), is a first priority perfected security interest in and against such Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and all monies due or to become due with respect thereto, including proceeds thereof, and (C) such perfection and priority of the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders in such Receivables, and the proceeds thereof, would not be affected by an increase or decrease in the relative interests in the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment of the holder of the Seller Certificate and of the Investor Certificateholders.
In connection with the opinion set forth in this paragraph 3 relating to the priority of security interests, such counsel may express no opinion as to the priority of any security interest over (i) any lien, claim or other interest that arises by operation of law and does not require any filing with the Secretary of State of the State in order to take priority over any security interest which is perfected by filing with the Secretary of State of the State, and (ii) any claim or lien in favor of any government or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
4. If the Assignment constitutes a sale of the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, based upon a certificate of an officer of the Seller that (i) the Seller originated the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, (ii) the Seller has not transferred any interest in or caused any Lien to be imposed upon the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, and (iii) the seller will originate all Receivables to be subsequently created in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, then (A) the Trustee has acquired, or will acquire in the case of the Receivables hereafter created in Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, and all proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC), and (B) such property will be held by the Trust free and clear of any Lien or interest of any Person claiming through or under the Seller, and the Trust owns such Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and the proceeds thereof free of any lien or interest, in each case, except for (x) Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (y) the interest of the holder of the Seller Certificate, and (z) the Sellers right to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in respect of, the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account [or any Series Account] as provided in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the opinions set forth in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, no opinion is expressed herein with respect to Receivables or the proceeds thereof other than the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and the proceeds thereof, or with respect to the perfection or priority of security interests in the proceeds of, or Insurance Proceeds relating to, the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment, except to the extent such proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) consist of amounts held by the seller in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for less than 10 days following receipt of such proceeds by the Seller, and except to the extent that such proceeds consist of either (i) amounts held in an Investor Account [or a Series Account] maintained by the Trustee in the name of the Trust in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, or (ii) Permitted Investments held by or on behalf of the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement. Further, in connection with the opinions set forth in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, no opinion is expressed with respect to the perfection or priority of security interests in the proceeds of, or Insurance Proceeds relating to , the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment until such proceeds are deposited in the Collection Account in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. In addition, we express no opinion as to the effect of Section 9-306(4) of the UCC with respect to proceeds of the Receivables in Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment held by the Seller upon its insolvency. Amounts held in the Collection Account and in an Investor Account and Permitted Investments maintained or held in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement are proceeds of Receivables within the meaning of Section 9-306 of the UCC.
With respect to the opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, we note that the effectiveness of the Financing Statement will terminate (i) unless appropriate continuation statements are filed within the period of six months prior to the expiration of five year anniversary dates from the date of the original filing of the Financing Statement, (ii) if the Seller changes its name, identity or corporate structure, unless new appropriate financing
E-2
statements or amendments indicating the new name, identity or corporate structure of the Seller are properly filed before the expiration of four months after the Seller changes its name, identity or corporate structure, and (iii) four months after the Seller changes its place of business or chief executive office to a jurisdiction outside the State, unless such security interest is perfected in such new jurisdiction within such time. Other than as discussed in this paragraph, no action is required to maintain the perfection, as described in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, of the interests of the Trustee on behalf of the Investor Certificateholders in the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC).
The opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4 are limited to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the related Supplement. In connection with paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, we express no opinion as to the interests of the Seller under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or any Supplement. The opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4 are subject to the interests of the Seller or the holder of the Seller Certificate arising under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, which interests of the Seller will not detract from the interest and priority of the interest held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders.
5. In the course of such counsels representation of the Seller in connection with the matter to which this opinion relates, and without independent investigation, under the laws of the State, such counsel has not become aware of any right, lien or interest which has been asserted against the Receivables in the Additional Accounts designated by the Assignment and the proceeds thereof, other than under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
E-3
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF ANNUAL OPINION OF COUNSEL
The opinions set forth below, which are to be delivered pursuant to subsection 13.02(d)(ii) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, may be subject to certain qualifications, assumptions, limitations and exceptions taken or made in the opinion of counsel to the Seller with respect to similar matters delivered on the Closing Date.
1. Based solely upon a certificate of an officer of the Seller dated as of the date of this opinion, and without independent investigation, (A) the Seller originated or acquired the Receivables, (B) the Seller has not transferred any interest in or caused any Lien to be imposed upon the Receivables, and (C) the Seller will originate all Receivables to be subsequently created in the Accounts.
2. The financing statement is in an appropriate form for filing in the State of Delaware (the State) and has been duly filed in the appropriate filing office in the State and the fees and document taxes, if any, payable in connection with the said filing of the financing statement have been paid in full.
3. If the Pooling and Servicing Agreement does not constitute a sale of the Receivables, (A) the Pooling and Servicing Agreement creates a security interest (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State (the UCC)) in favor of the Trustee, (B) the security interest created under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement by the conveyance of the Receivables (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts) and in the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC), is a first priority perfected security interest in and against such Receivables and proceeds, and (C) changes under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement in the percentage of the Receivables and the proceeds thereof securing the Investor Certificates will not affect the said perfection and priority.
In connection with the opinion set forth in paragraph 3 relating to the priority of security interests, no opinion need be expressed as the priority of any security interest over (i) any lien, claim or other interest that arises by operation of law and does not require any filing with the Secretary of State of the State in order to take priority over any security interest which is perfected by filing with the Secretary of State of the State, and (ii) any claim or lien in favor of any government or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
4. If the Pooling and Servicing Agreement constitutes a sale of the Receivables, (A) the Trustee has acquired, or will acquire in the case of the Receivables hereafter created (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts), and all proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC), and (B) such property will be held by the Trust free and clear of any lien or interest of any Person claiming through or under the Seller, and the Trust owns such Receivables and the proceeds thereof free of any lien or interest, in each case, except for (x) Liens permitted under subsection 2.05(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (y) the interest of the holder of the Seller Certificate, and (z) the Sellers right to receive interest accruing on, and investment earnings in
respect of, the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account [or any Series Account] as provided in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The opinion with respect to Receivables and proceeds thereof hereafter created which do not arise from the sale of goods or the rendering of services may be qualified in its entirety by the qualifications set forth in the opinion of counsel rendered on the Closing Date.
In addition, in connection with the opinions set forth in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, no opinion is expressed herein with respect to Receivables in Additional Accounts or the proceeds thereof, or with respect to the perfection or priority of security interests in the proceeds of, or Insurance Proceeds relating to, the Receivables, except to the extent such proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) consist of amounts held by the Seller in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for less than ten days following receipt of such proceeds by the Seller, and except to the extent that such proceeds consist of either (i) amounts held in an Investor Account [or a Series Account] maintained by the Trustee in the name of the Trust in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement or (ii) Permitted Investments held by or on behalf of the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement. Further, in connection with the opinions set forth in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, no opinion is expressed with respect to the perfection or priority of security interests in the proceeds of, or Insurance Proceeds relating to, the Receivables until such proceeds are deposited in the Collection Account in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Amounts held in the Collection Account and in an Investor Account or a Series Account and Permitted Investments maintained or held in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement are proceeds of Receivables within the meaning of Section 9-306 of the UCC (such counsel may note, however, that, subject to the discussion elsewhere in this paragraph 4, the UCC does not apply to the sale of general intangibles or proceeds thereof).
Further, in connection with the opinions set forth in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, no opinion is expressed concerning (i) Interchange and the proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) relating to Interchange, (ii) Receivables and the proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) thereof in Defaulted Accounts or Zero Balance Accounts, (iii) Receivables that have been charged-off as uncollectible and the proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) of such Receivables, including recoveries, or (iv) Receivables and the proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) thereof that are removed from the Trust and reassigned to the Seller pursuant to the Pooling and Service Agreement.
With respect to the opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, we note that the effectiveness of the financing statement will terminate (i) unless appropriate continuation statements are filed within the period of six months prior to the expiration of five year anniversary dates from the date of the original filing of the financing statement, (ii) if the Seller changes its name, identity or corporate structure, unless new appropriate financing statements or amendments indicating the new name, identity or corporate structure of the Seller are properly filed before the expiration of four months after the Seller changes its name, identity or corporate structure, and (iii) four months after the Seller changes its place of business or chief executive office to a jurisdiction outside the State, unless such security interest is perfected in such new jurisdiction within such time. Other than as discussed in this paragraph and compliance with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, no action is required to maintain the
F-2
perfection, as described in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, of the interests of the Trustee on behalf of the Investor Certificateholders in the Receivables (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts) and the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC). We note that the provisions of Section 13.02 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement require the Seller to give certain notices and to take certain actions upon the occurrence of certain events discussed in this paragraph so as to preserve and protect the right, title and interest of the Trustee under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement to all property comprising the Trust.
The opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4 are limited to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. In connection with paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4, we express no opinion as to the interests of the Seller or the holder of the Seller Certificate under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The opinions expressed in paragraph 3 and this paragraph 4 are subject to the interests of the Seller arising under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, which interests of the Seller will not detract from the interest and priority of the interest held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Investor Certificateholders.
5. Except for the financing statement referenced above, no other financing statement covering the Accounts (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts) or the Trustees interest in the Accounts (other than Receivables in Additional Accounts) is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State (Uniform Commercial Code Division).
6. In the course of such counsel acting as special counsel to the Seller in connection with the matter to which this opinion relates, and without independent investigation, under the laws of the State, such counsel has not become aware of any right, lien or interest which has been asserted against the Receivables and the proceeds thereof, other than under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
7. Assuming (i) that the Seller has been duly organized and is validly existing under the laws of the United States, (ii) that the Pooling and Servicing Agreement does not constitute a sale of the Receivables and that the Pooling and Servicing Agreement creates a security interest (as defined in the UCC) in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Trust, (iii) based upon a certificate of an officer of the Seller, that the Trustees security interest in the Receivables and proceeds thereof was not taken in contemplation of the Sellers insolvency or with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud the Seller or the creditors of the Seller, [and (iv) that (x) the adoption of resolutions by the board of directors of the Seller authorizing the Sellers entering into the Pooling and Servicing Agreement is reflected in the minutes of the board of directors of the Seller, and (y) the Pooling and Servicing Agreement has been, continuously, from the time of its execution, an official record of the Seller,] to the extent the Trustee has a valid perfected security interest in the Receivables and proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC) thereof, such interest of the Trustee would be enforceable notwithstanding an insolvency of, or the appointment of a receiver or conservator for, the Seller.
Such counsel may note that they are aware of no cases directly on point and it is, therefore, their and your understanding that the opinions expressed in the preceding paragraph are not a prediction as to what a court would actually hold, but opinions as to the decision a court would reach if the issue were properly presented to it and the court followed existing precedent as to legal principles applicable in national bank insolvencies. No opinion need be expressed as to whether a court may temporarily restrain the exercise of the Trusts rights to and ownership or security interests in the Receivables and their proceeds, regardless of who has possession of the property in question. Further, such counsel may point out that delays in the exercise of the rights and interests of the Trust may occur with respect to the Receivables and their proceeds in the possession of a Receiver or his appointee, regardless of whether the transaction constitutes a true sale or a secured transaction, by actions unilaterally taken by the Receiver or such appointee.
F-3
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF REASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES
REASSIGNMENT NO. OF RECEIVABLES, dated as of , , by and between MBNA AMERICA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States (the Bank), and The Bank of New York, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York (the Trustee) pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Bank and the Trustee are parties to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of August 4, 1994 (hereinafter as such agreement may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Bank wishes remove all Receivables from certain designated Accounts of the Bank (the Removed Accounts) and to cause the Trustee to reconvey the Receivables of such Removed Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created, from the Trust to the Bank (as each such term is defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Trustee is willing to accept such designation and to reconvey the Receivables in the Removed Accounts subject to the terms and conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Bank and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All terms defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and used herein shall have such defined meanings when used herein, unless otherwise defined herein.
Removal Date shall mean, with respect to the Removed Accounts designated hereby, , .
Removal Notice Date shall mean, with respect to the Removed Accounts designated hereby, , (which shall be a date on or prior to the fifth Business Day prior to the Removal Date).
2. Designation of Removed Accounts. The Bank shall deliver to the Trustee, not later than five Business Days after the Removal Date, a computer file or microfiche list containing a true and complete list of each MasterCard and VISA account which as of the Removal Date shall be deemed to be a Removed Account, such accounts being identified by account number and by the aggregate amount of Receivables in such accounts as of the close of business on the Removal Date. Such list shall be marked as Schedule 1 to this Reassignment and shall be incorporated into and made a part of this Reassignment as of the Removal Date.
3. Conveyance of Receivables.
(a) The Bank does hereby reconvey to the Bank, without recourse on and after the Removal Date, all right, title and interest of the Trust in and to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Removed Accounts designated hereby, all monies due or to become due with respect thereto (including all Finance Charge Receivables), all proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of such Receivables, Insurance Proceeds relating to such Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
(b) In connection with such transfer, the Trustee agrees to execute and deliver to the Bank on or prior to the date of this Reassignment, a termination statement with respect to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in the Removed Accounts designated hereby (which may be a single termination statement with respect to all such Receivables) evidencing the release by the Trust of its Lien on the Receivables in the Removed Accounts, and meeting the requirements of applicable state law, in such manner and such jurisdictions as are necessary to remove such Lien.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Bank. The Bank hereby represents and warrants to the Trust as of the Removal Date:
(a) Legal Valid and Binding Obligation. This Reassignment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Bank enforceable against the Bank in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors rights in general and the rights of creditors of national banking associations and except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in equity).
(b) Selection Procedures. No selection procedures believed by the Bank to be materially adverse to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders were utilized in selecting the Removed Accounts designated hereby.
5. Conditions Precedent. The amendment of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement set forth in Section 6 hereof is subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Removal Date, of the following condition precedent:
The Bank shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate certifying that (i) as of the Removal Date, all requirements set forth in Section 2.07 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for designating Removed Accounts and reconveying the Receivables of such Removed Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created, have been satisfied, and (ii) each of the representations and warranties made by the Bank in Section 4 hereof is true and correct as of the Removal Date. The Trustee may conclusively rely on such Officers Certificate, shall have no duty to make inquiries with regard to the matters set forth therein, and shall incur no liability in so relying.
G-2
6. Amendment of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement is hereby amended to provide that all references therein to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, to this Agreement and herein shall be deemed from and after the Removal Date to be a dual reference to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement as supplemented by this Reassignment. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement shall remain unamended and shall continue to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and except as expressly provided herein shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute a waiver of compliance with or a consent to non-compliance with any term or provision of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
7. Counterparts. This Reassignment may be executed in two or more counterparts (and by different parties on separate counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8. Governing Law. This Reassignment shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to its conflict of law provisions; provided, however, that the immunities and standard of care of the Trustee in the administration of the Trust hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
G-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Reassignment of Receivables to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the day and year first above written.
MBNA AMERICA BANK, | ||
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
G-4
Schedule 1
to Reassignment
of Receivables
REMOVED ACCOUNTS
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF RECONVEYANCE OF RECEIVABLES
RECONVEYANCE OF RECEIVABLES, dated as of , , by and between MBNA America Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States (the Transferor), and The Bank of New York, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of New York (the Trustee) pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Transferor and the Trustee are parties to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of August 4, 1994 (hereinafter as such agreement may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Transferor wishes to cause the Trustee to reconvey all of the Receivables and proceeds thereof, whether now existing or hereafter created, from the Trust to the Transferor pursuant to the terms of Section 12.04 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement upon termination of the Trust pursuant to subsection 12.01(a) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement (as each such term is defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Trustee is willing to reconvey Receivables subject to the terms and conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Transferor and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All terms defined in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and used herein shall have such defined meanings when used herein, unless otherwise defined herein.
Reconveyance Date shall mean , .
2. Return of Lists of Accounts. The Trustee shall deliver to the Transferor, not later than three Business Days after the Reconveyance Date, each and every computer file or microfiche list of Accounts delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
3. Conveyance of Receivables. (a) The Trustee does hereby reconvey to the Transferor, without recourse, on and after the Reconveyance Date, all right, title and interest of the Trust in and to each and every Receivable now existing and hereafter created in the Accounts, all monies due or to become due with respect thereto (including all Finance Charge Receivables), all proceeds (as defined in Section 9-306 of the UCC as in effect in the State of Delaware) of such Receivables and Insurance Proceeds relating to such Receivables and any Interchange, except for amounts, if any, held by the Trustee pursuant to subsection 12.03(b) of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
(b) In connection with such transfer, the Trustee agrees to execute and deliver to the Transferor on or prior to the date of this Reconveyance, such UCC termination statements as the Transferor may reasonably request, evidencing the release by the Trust of its lien on the Receivables.
4. Counterparts. This Reconveyance may be executed in two or more counterparts (and by different parties on separate counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5. Governing Law. This Reconveyance shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to its conflict of law provisions; provided, however, that the immunities and standard of care of the Trustee in the administration of the Trust hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
H-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Reconveyance of Receivables to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the day and year first above written.
MBNA AMERICA BANK, | ||
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
H-3
SCHEDULE 1
LIST OF ACCOUNTS
Delivered to Trustee only
[Deemed Incorporated]
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF ANNUAL CERTIFICATION
Re: | The pooling and servicing agreement dated as of August 4, 1994 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Agreement), between MBNA America Bank, National Association, as seller (the Seller) and servicer, and The Bank of New York, as trustee. |
I, , the of [NAME OF COMPANY] (the Company), certify to the Seller and its officers, with the knowledge and intent that they will rely upon this certification, that:
(1) I have reviewed the report on assessment of the Companys compliance provided in accordance with Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and Item 1122 of Regulation AB (the Servicing Assessment), and the registered public accounting firms attestation report provided in accordance with Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 under the Exchange Act and Section 1122(b) of Regulation AB (the Attestation Report) that were delivered by the Company to the Seller pursuant to the Agreement (collectively, the Company Information);
(2) To the best of my knowledge, the Company Information, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period of time covered by the Company Information;
(3) To the best of my knowledge, all of the Company Information required to be provided by the Company under the Agreement has been provided to the Seller; and
(4) To the best of my knowledge, except as disclosed in the Compliance Statement, the Servicing Assessment or the Attestation Report, the Company has fulfilled its obligations under the Agreement.
Date: |
| |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT J
SERVICING CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED IN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The assessment of compliance to be delivered by the Trustee shall address, at a minimum, the criteria identified as below as Applicable Servicing Criteria:
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing Criteria | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
General Servicing Considerations | ||||
1122(d)(1)(i) | Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(1)(ii) | If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third partys performance and compliance with such servicing activities. | |||
1122(d)(1)(iii) | Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for the credit card accounts or accounts are maintained. | |||
1122(d)(1)(iv) | A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements. | |||
Cash Collection and Administration | ||||
1122(d)(2)(i) | Payments on credit card accounts are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts no more than two business days following receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | ü | ||
1122(d)(2)(ii) | Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel. | ü | ||
1122(d)(2)(iii) | Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(2)(iv) | The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of overcollateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(2)(v) | Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, federally insured depository institution with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act. | |||
1122(d)(2)(vi) | Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access. | |||
1122(d)(2)(vii) | Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations are (A) mathematically accurate; (B) prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. |
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing Criteria | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
Investor Remittances and Reporting | ||||
1122(d)(3)(i) |
Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the Commission, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable Commission requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the Commission as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors or the trustees records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of credit card accounts serviced by the Servicer. | |||
1122(d)(3)(ii) |
Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements. | ü | ||
1122(d)(3)(iii) |
Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the Servicers investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | ü | ||
1122(d)(3)(iv) |
Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements. | ü | ||
Pool Asset Administration | ||||
1122(d)(4)(i) |
Collateral or security on credit card accounts is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related asset pool documents. | ü | ||
1122(d)(4)(ii) |
Account and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements | ü | ||
1122(d)(4)(iii) |
Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(iv) |
Payments on credit card accounts, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related credit card accounts documents are posted to the Servicers obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related asset pool documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(v) |
The Servicers records regarding the accounts and the accounts agree with the Servicers records with respect to an obligors unpaid principal balance. | |||
1122(d)(4)(vi) |
Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligors account (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(vii) |
Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(viii) |
Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period a Account is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entitys activities in monitoring delinquent Accounts including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment). | |||
1122(d)(4)(ix) |
Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for Accounts with variable rates are computed based on the related Account documents. |
J-2
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing Criteria | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
1122(d)(4)(x) |
Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligors Account documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable Account documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related Accounts, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xi) |
Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xii) |
Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the servicers funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligors error or omission. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xiii) |
Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligors records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xiv) |
Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectible accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xv) |
Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements. |
[NAME OF TRUSTEE] | ||
Date: |
| |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
J-3