With respect to each of the master servicer and special servicer, the Excess Modification Fees collected and earned by such person from the related borrower (taken in the aggregate with any other Excess Modification Fees collected and earned by such person from the related borrower within the prior
12-months of the collection of the current Excess Modification Fees) will be subject to a cap of [1.0]% of the outstanding principal balance of the related Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan on the closing date of the related modification, extension, waiver or amendment (after giving effect to such modification, extension, waiver or amendment) with respect to any Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan.
The Servicing Fee is calculated on the Stated Principal Balance of each Mortgage Loan (including the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and each related Serviced Companion Loan in the same manner as interest is calculated on such Mortgage Loans and Serviced Companion Loans. The Servicing Fee for each Mortgage Loan is included in the Administrative Cost Rate listed for that Mortgage Loan on Annex A-1. Any Servicing Fee Rate calculated on an Actual/360 Basis will be recomputed on the basis of twelve 30-day months, assuming a 360-day year ("30/360 Basis") for purposes of calculating the Net Mortgage Rate.
[Pursuant to the terms of the PSA, [NAME OF MASTER SERVICER] will be entitled to retain a portion of the Servicing Fee with respect to each Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and, to the extent provided for in the related Intercreditor Agreement, each Serviced Companion Loan notwithstanding any termination or resignation of [NAME OF MASTER SERVICER] as master servicer; provided that [NAME OF MASTER SERVICER] may not retain any portion of the Servicing Fee to the extent that portion of the Servicing Fee is required to appoint a successor master servicer. In addition, [NAME OF MASTER SERVICER] will have the right to assign and transfer its rights to receive that retained portion of its Servicing Fee to another party.]
The master servicer will be required to pay its overhead and any general and administrative expenses incurred by it in connection with its servicing activities under the PSA. The master servicer will be entitled to reimbursement for any expenses incurred by it except as expressly provided in the PSA. The master servicer will be responsible for all fees payable to any sub-servicers. See "Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Method, Timing and Amount".
[With respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, the master servicer (or primary servicer) will be entitled to a primary servicing fee accruing at a rate equal to [ [_____] % per annum with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan][LIST PRIMARY SERVICING FEE RATE FOR NON-SERVICED MORTGAGE LOAN].]
The principal compensation to be paid to the special servicer in respect of its special servicing activities will be the Special Servicing Fee, the Workout Fee and the Liquidation Fee.
The Workout Fee with respect to any Corrected Loan will cease to be payable if the Corrected Loan again becomes a Specially Serviced Loan but will become payable again if and when the Mortgage Loan (including a Serviced Companion Loan again becomes a Corrected Loan. The Workout Fee with respect to any Specially Serviced Loan that becomes a Corrected Loan will be reduced by any Excess Modification Fees paid by or on behalf of the related borrower with respect to a related Mortgage Loan or REO Loan and received by the special servicer as compensation within the prior [18] months, but only to the extent those fees have not previously been deducted from a Workout Fee or Liquidation Fee [INSERT MAXIMUM/MINIMUM FEES].
If the special servicer is terminated (other than for cause) or resigns, it will retain the right to receive any and all Workout Fees payable with respect to a Mortgage Loan, Serviced Companion Loan that became a Corrected Loan during the period that it acted as special servicer and remained a Corrected Loan at the time of that termination or resignation, except that such Workout Fees will cease to be payable if the Corrected Loan again becomes a Specially Serviced Loan. The successor special servicer will not be entitled to any portion of those Workout Fees. If the special servicer resigns or is terminated (other than for cause), it will receive any Workout Fees payable on Specially Serviced Loans for which the resigning or terminated special servicer had determined to grant a forbearance or cured the event of default through a modification, restructuring or workout negotiated by the special servicer and evidenced by a signed writing, but which had not as of the time the special servicer resigned or was terminated become a Corrected Loan solely because the borrower had not made three consecutive timely Periodic Payments and which subsequently becomes a Corrected Loan as a result of the borrower making such three consecutive timely Periodic Payments.
The special servicer will also be entitled to late payment charges and default interest paid by the borrowers and accrued while the related Mortgage Loans (including the related Companion Loan, if applicable, and to the extent not prohibited by the related Intercreditor Agreement) and Subordinate Companion Loan were Specially Serviced Loans and that are not needed to pay interest on Advances or certain additional trust fund expenses with respect to the related Mortgage Loan (including the related Companion Loan, if applicable, to the extent not prohibited by the related Intercreditor Agreement) and Subordinate Companion Loan since the Closing Date. The special servicer also is authorized but not required to invest or direct the investment of funds held in the REO Account in Permitted Investments, and the special servicer will be entitled to retain any interest or other income earned on those funds and will bear any losses resulting from the investment of these funds, except as set forth in the PSA.
The Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan is serviced under the Non-Serviced PSA (including those occasions under the Non-Serviced PSA when the servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan has been transferred from the Non-Serviced Master Servicer to the Non-Serviced Special Servicer). Accordingly, in its capacity as the special servicer under the PSA, the special servicer will not be entitled to receive any special servicing compensation for the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan. Only the Non-Serviced Special Servicer will be entitled to special servicing compensation on the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and only the Non-Serviced Special Servicer will be entitled to special servicing compensation on the Non-Serviced Whole Loan.
The PSA will provide that the special servicer and its affiliates will be prohibited from receiving or retaining any Disclosable Special Servicer Fees in connection with the disposition, workout or foreclosure of any Mortgage Loan and Serviced Companion Loan, the management or disposition of any REO Property, or the performance of any other special servicing duties under the PSA. The PSA will also provide that, with respect to each Distribution Date, the special servicer must deliver or cause to be delivered to the master servicer within two (2) business days following the Determination Date, and the master servicer must deliver, to the extent it has received, to the certificate administrator, without charge and on the same day as the master servicer is required to deliver the CREFC® investor reporting package for such Distribution Date, an electronic report which discloses and contains an itemized listing of any Disclosable Special Servicer Fees received by the special servicer or any of its affiliates with respect to such Distribution Date, provided that no such report will be due in any month during which no Disclosable Special Servicer Fees were received.
The special servicer will be required to pay its overhead and any general and administrative expenses incurred by it in connection with its servicing activities under the PSA. The special servicer will
not be entitled to reimbursement for any expenses incurred by it except as expressly provided in the PSA. See "Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Method, Timing and Amount.
As compensation for the performance of its routine duties, the trustee and the certificate administrator will be paid a fee (collectively, the "Certificate Administrator/Trustee Fee"); provided that the Certificate Administrator/Trustee Fee includes the trustee fee, and the certificate administrator will pay the trustee fee to the trustee in an amount equal to $[____] per month. The Certificate Administrator/Trustee Fee will be payable monthly from amounts received in respect of the mortgage loans and will be equal to the product of a rate equal to [______]% per annum (the "Certificate Administrator/Trustee Fee Rate") and the Stated Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans and any REO Loans and will be calculated in the same manner as interest is calculated on such Mortgage Loans. The Certificate Administrator/Trustee Fee includes the trustee fee.
Each of the Operating Advisor Fee and the Operating Advisor Consulting Fee will be payable from funds on deposit in the Collection Account out of amounts otherwise available to make distributions on the Offered Certificates as described in "Description of the Certificates—Distributions", but with respect to the Operating Advisor Consulting Fee, only as and to the extent that such fee is actually received from the related borrower. If the operating advisor has consultation rights with respect to a Major Decision, the PSA will require the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, to use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with the Servicing Standard to collect the applicable Operating Advisor Consulting Fee from the related borrower in connection with such Major Decision, but only to the extent not prohibited by the related Mortgage Loan documents. The master servicer or special servicer, as applicable, will each be permitted to waive or reduce the amount of any such Operating Advisor Consulting Fee payable by the related borrower if it determines that such full or partial waiver is in accordance with the Servicing Standard but in no event will it take any enforcement action with respect to the collection of such Operating Advisor Consulting Fee other than requests for collection; provided that the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, will be required to consult, on a non-binding basis, with the operating advisor prior to any such waiver or reduction.
In addition to the Operating Advisor Fee and the Operating Advisor Consulting Fee, the operating advisor will be entitled to reimbursement of Operating Advisor Expenses in accordance with the terms of the PSA. "Operating Advisor Expenses" for each Distribution Date will equal any unreimbursed indemnification amounts or additional trust fund expenses payable to the operating advisor pursuant to the PSA (other than the Operating Advisor Fee and the Operating Advisor Consulting Fee).
After an Appraisal Reduction Event has occurred with respect to a Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) or a Serviced Whole Loan, an Appraisal Reduction Amount is required to be calculated. An "Appraisal Reduction Event" will occur on the earliest of:
No Appraisal Reduction Event may occur at any time when the Certificate Balances of all classes of Subordinate Certificates have been reduced to zero.
[Each Serviced Whole Loan will be treated as a single Mortgage Loan for purposes of calculating an Appraisal Reduction Amount with respect to the Mortgage Loan and Companion Loan, as applicable, that comprise such Serviced Whole Loan. Any Appraisal Reduction Amount in respect of any Serviced Pari Passu Mortgage Loan will be allocated, pro rata, between the related Serviced Pari Passu Mortgage Loan and the related Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan based upon their respective Stated Principal Balances. Any Appraisal Reduction Amount in respect of an AB Whole Loan will be allocated, first, to the Subordinate Companion Loan (until its principal balance is notionally reduced to zero by such related Appraisal Reduction Amounts) and second, to the related Mortgage Loan. For a summary of the provisions in the Non‑Serviced PSA relating to appraisal reductions, see “—Servicing of the Non‑Serviced Mortgage Loan” below.
The special servicer will be required to order an appraisal or conduct a valuation, promptly upon the occurrence of an Appraisal Reduction Event (other than with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan). On the first Determination Date occurring on or after the tenth business day following the receipt of the MAI appraisal or the completion of the valuation, the special servicer will be required to calculate and report to the master servicer, the trustee, the certificate administrator, the operating advisor and, prior to the occurrence of any Consultation Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder, the Appraisal Reduction Amount, taking into account the results of such appraisal or valuation and receipt of information requested by the special servicer from the master servicer reasonably necessary to calculate the Appraisal Reduction Amount. Such report will also be forwarded by the master servicer (or the special servicer if the related Mortgage Loan is a Specially Serviced Loan), to the extent the related Serviced Companion Loan has been included in a securitization transaction, to the master servicer of such securitization into which the related Serviced Companion Loan has been sold, or to the holder of any related Serviced Companion Loan by the master servicer (or the special servicer if the related Mortgage Loan is a Specially Serviced Loan).
In the event that the special servicer has not received any required MAI appraisal within 60 days after the Appraisal Reduction Event (or, in the case of an appraisal in connection with an Appraisal Reduction Event described in clauses (1) and (6) of the definition of Appraisal Reduction Event above, within 120 days (in the case of clause (1)) or 90 or 120 days (in the case of clause (6)), respectively, after the initial delinquency for the related Appraisal Reduction Event), the Appraisal Reduction Amount will be deemed to be an amount equal to 25% of the current Stated Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan (or Serviced Whole Loan) until an MAI appraisal is received by the special servicer. The Appraisal Reduction Amount is calculated as of the first Determination Date that is at least ten (10) business days after the special servicer's receipt of such MAI appraisal. The master servicer will provide (via electronic delivery) the special servicer with any information in its possession that is reasonably required to determine, redetermine, calculate or recalculate any Appraisal Reduction Amount pursuant to its definition using reasonable efforts to deliver such information within four business days of the special servicer's reasonable request (which request is required to be made promptly, but in no event later than
ten (10) business days, after the special servicer's receipt of the applicable appraisal or preparation of the applicable internal valuation); provided, however, that the special servicer's failure to timely make such a request will not relieve the master servicer of its obligation to use reasonable efforts to provide such information to the special servicer within four (4) business days following the special servicer's reasonable request. The master servicer will not calculate Appraisal Reduction Amounts.
With respect to each Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and each Serviced Whole Loan as to which an Appraisal Reduction Event has occurred (unless the Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan has remained current for three consecutive Periodic Payments, and with respect to which no other Appraisal Reduction Event has occurred with respect to that Mortgage Loan during the preceding three months (for such purposes taking into account any amendment or modification of such Mortgage Loan, any related Serviced Companion Loan or Serviced Whole Loan)), the special servicer is required (i) within 30 days of each anniversary of the related Appraisal Reduction Event and (ii) upon its determination that the value of the related Mortgaged Property has materially changed, to notify the master servicer of the occurrence of such anniversary or determination and to order an appraisal (which may be an update of a prior appraisal), the cost of which will be paid by the master servicer as a Servicing Advance (or to the extent it would be a Nonrecoverable Advance, an expense of the issuing entity paid out of the Collection Account), or to conduct an internal valuation, as applicable. Based upon the appraisal or valuation and receipt of information reasonably requested by the special servicer from the master servicer necessary to calculate the Appraisal Reduction Amount, the special servicer is required to determine or redetermine, as applicable, and report to the master servicer, the trustee, the certificate administrator, the operating advisor and, prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder, the calculated or recalculated amount of the Appraisal Reduction Amount with respect to the Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan, as applicable. Such report will also be forwarded to the holder of any related Companion Loan by the master servicer (or the special servicer if the related Mortgage Loan is a Specially Serviced Loan). Prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the special servicer will consult with the Directing Certificateholder, with respect to any appraisal, valuation or downward adjustment in connection with an Appraisal Reduction Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the special servicer will not be required to obtain an appraisal or valuation with respect to a Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan that is the subject of an Appraisal Reduction Event to the extent the special servicer has obtained an appraisal or valuation with respect to the related Mortgaged Property within the 12-month period prior to the occurrence of the Appraisal Reduction Event. Instead, the special servicer may use the prior appraisal or valuation in calculating any Appraisal Reduction Amount with respect to the Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan, provided that the special servicer is not aware of any material change to the Mortgaged Property that has occurred that would affect the validity of the appraisal or valuation.
The Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan is subject to provisions in the Non-Serviced PSA relating to appraisal reductions that are similar, but not necessarily identical, to the provisions described above. The existence of an appraisal reduction under the Non-Serviced PSA in respect of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan will proportionately reduce the master servicer's or the trustee's, as the case may be, obligation to make P&I Advances on the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and will generally have the effect of reducing the amount otherwise available for distributions to the Certificateholders. Pursuant to the Non-Serviced PSA, the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan will be treated, together with each related Non-Serviced Companion Loan, as a single mortgage loan for purposes of calculating an appraisal reduction amount with respect to the loans that comprise the Non-Serviced Whole Loan. Any appraisal reduction calculated with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan will generally be allocated to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and the Non-Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan, on a pro rata basis based upon their respective Stated Principal Balances.
If any Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) or any Serviced Whole Loan previously subject to an Appraisal Reduction Amount that becomes a Corrected Loan, and with respect to which no other Appraisal Reduction Event has occurred and is continuing, the Appraisal Reduction Amount and the related Appraisal Reduction Event will cease to exist.
As a result of calculating one or more Appraisal Reduction Amounts (and, in the case of any Whole Loan, to the extent allocated in the related Mortgage Loan), the amount of any required P&I Advance will be reduced, which will have the effect of reducing the amount of interest available to the most subordinate class of certificates or Trust Components then-outstanding (i.e., first, to Class [__] certificates, second, to the Class [__] certificates, third, to the Class [__] certificates, fourth, to the Class [A] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [A] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [A] Trust Component), fifth, to the Class [B] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [B] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [B] Trust Component), sixth, to the Class [C] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [C] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [C] Trust Component), and finally, pro rata based on their respective interest entitlements, to the Senior Certificates). See "—Advances".
For purposes of determining the Controlling Class, Appraisal Reduction Amounts allocated to a related Mortgage Loan will be allocated to each class of Principal Balance Certificates and each Trust Component in reverse sequential order to notionally reduce their Certificate Balances until the Certificate Balances of each such class and Trust Component is notionally reduced to zero (i.e., first, to Class [__] certificates, second, to the Class [__] certificates, third, to the Class [__] certificates, fourth, to the Class [A] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [A] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [A] Trust Component), fifth, to the Class [B] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [B] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [B] Trust Component), sixth, to the Class [C] Trust Component (and correspondingly, to the Class [C] certificates and the Class [EC] certificates, pro rata based on their respective percentage interests in the Class [C] Trust Component), and finally, pro rata based on their respective interest entitlements, to the Senior Certificates). With respect to any Appraisal Reduction Amount calculated for purposes of determining the Controlling Class, the appraised value of the related Mortgaged Property will be determined on an “as‑is” basis.
Any class of Control Eligible Certificates, the Certificate Balance of which (taking into account the application of any Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the Certificate Balance of such class) has been reduced to less than 25% of its initial Certificate Balance, is referred to as an "Appraised-Out Class". The holders of the majority (by Certificate Balance) of an Appraised-Out Class will have the right, at their sole expense, to require the special servicer to order a second appraisal of any Mortgage Loan (or Serviced Whole Loan) for which an Appraisal Reduction Event has occurred (such holders, the "Requesting Holders"). The special servicer will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that such appraisal is delivered within 30 days from receipt of the Requesting Holders' written request and will ensure that such appraisal is prepared on an "as-is" basis by an MAI appraiser. Upon receipt of such supplemental appraisal, the special servicer will be required to determine, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, whether, based on its assessment of such supplemental appraisal, any recalculation of the applicable Appraisal Reduction Amount is warranted and, if so warranted will recalculate such Appraisal Reduction Amount based upon such supplemental appraisal and receipt of information requested by the special servicer from the master servicer as described above. If required by any such recalculation, the applicable Appraised-Out Class will be reinstated as the Controlling Class and each other Appraised-Out Class will, if applicable, have its related Certificate Balance notionally restored to the extent required by such recalculation of the Appraisal Reduction Amount.
Any Appraised-Out Class for which the Requesting Holders are challenging the special servicer's Appraisal Reduction Amount determination may not exercise any direction, control, consent and/or similar rights of the Controlling Class until such time, if any, as such class is reinstated as the Controlling Class; the rights of the Controlling Class will be exercised by the most senior Control Eligible Certificates, if any, during such period.
[With respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, the Non-Serviced Directing Certificateholder will be subject to provisions similar to those described above. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The
[With respect to an AB Whole Loan, the holder of the related Subordinate Companion Loan (or, in the case of the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan, the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder) may in certain circumstances post collateral to avoid a change of control as described in "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".]
To the extent permitted by the related Mortgage Loan and required by the Servicing Standard, the master servicer (with respect to the Mortgage Loans and any related Serviced Companion Loan, but excluding the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) will be required to use efforts consistent with the Servicing Standard to cause each borrower to maintain, and the special servicer (with respect to REO Properties other than the Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Whole Loan and subject to the conditions set forth in the following sentence) will maintain, for the related Mortgaged Property all insurance coverage required by the terms of the related Mortgage Loan documents; provided, however, that the master servicer (with respect to Mortgage Loans and Serviced Companion Loans) will not be required to cause the borrower to maintain and the special servicer (with respect to REO Properties) will not be required to maintain terrorism insurance to the extent that the failure of the related borrower to do so is an Acceptable Insurance Default (as defined below) or if the trustee does not have an insurable interest. Insurance coverage is required to be in the amounts (which, in the case of casualty insurance, is generally equal to the lesser of the outstanding principal balance of the related Mortgage Loan and the replacement cost of the related Mortgaged Property), and from an insurer meeting the requirements, set forth in the related Mortgage Loan documents. If the borrower does not maintain such coverage, the master servicer (with respect to such Mortgage Loans and any related Serviced Companion Loan) or the special servicer (with respect to REO Properties other than a Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Whole Loan), as the case may be, will be required to maintain such coverage to the extent such coverage is available at commercially reasonable rates and the trustee has an insurable interest, as determined by the master servicer (with respect to the Mortgage Loans and any related Serviced Companion Loan) or special servicer (with respect to REO Properties other than a Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Whole Loan), as applicable, in accordance with the Servicing Standard; provided that the master servicer will be obligated to use efforts consistent with the Servicing Standard to cause the borrower to maintain (or to itself maintain) insurance against property damage resulting from terrorist or similar acts unless the borrower's failure is an Acceptable Insurance Default as determined by the special servicer with (unless a Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing) the consent of the Directing Certificateholder. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans" and "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans—Terrorism Insurance May Not Be Available for All Mortgaged Properties".
Notwithstanding any contrary provision above, the master servicer will not be required to maintain, and will not be in default for failing to obtain, any earthquake or environmental insurance on any Mortgaged Property unless (other than with respect to a Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) such insurance was required at the time of origination of the related Mortgage Loan, the trustee has an insurable interest and is currently available at commercially reasonable rates. In addition, the master servicer and special servicer will be entitled to rely on insurance consultants (at the applicable servicer's expense) in determining whether any insurance is available at commercially reasonable rates. After the master servicer determines that a Mortgaged Property other than the Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan is located in an area identified as a federally designated special flood hazard area (and flood insurance has been made available), the master servicer will be required to use efforts consistent with the Servicing Standard to (1) cause each borrower to maintain (to the extent required by the related Mortgage Loan documents), and if the borrower does not so maintain, will be required to (2) itself maintain to the extent the trustee, as mortgagee, has an insurable interest in the Mortgaged Property and is available at commercially reasonable rates (as determined by the master servicer in accordance with the Servicing Standard) a flood insurance policy in an amount representing coverage not less than the lesser of (x) the outstanding principal balance of the related Mortgage Loan
(and any related Serviced Companion Loan) and (y) the maximum amount of insurance which is available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, plus such additional excess flood coverage with respect to the Mortgaged Property, if any, in an amount consistent with the Servicing Standard, but only to the extent that the related Mortgage Loan permits the lender to require the coverage and maintaining coverage is consistent with the Servicing Standard.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Mortgage Loans (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and any related Serviced Companion Loan, that either (x) require the borrower to maintain "all-risk" property insurance (and do not expressly permit an exclusion for terrorism) or (y) contain provisions generally requiring the applicable borrower to maintain insurance in types and against such risks as the holder of such Mortgage Loan and any related Serviced Companion Loan reasonably requires from time to time in order to protect its interests, the master servicer will be required to, consistent with the Servicing Standard, (A) monitor in accordance with the Servicing Standard whether the insurance policies for the related Mortgaged Property contain exclusions in addition to those customarily found in insurance policies for mortgaged properties similar to the Mortgaged Properties on or prior to September 11, 2001 ("Additional Exclusions"), (B) request the borrower to either purchase insurance against the risks specified in the Additional Exclusions or provide an explanation as to its reasons for failing to purchase such insurance, and (C) notify the special servicer if it has knowledge that any insurance policy contains Additional Exclusions or if it has knowledge that any borrower fails to purchase the insurance requested to be purchased by the master servicer pursuant to clause (B) above. If the special servicer determines in accordance with the Servicing Standard that such failure is not an Acceptable Insurance Default, the special servicer will be required to notify the master servicer and the master servicer will be required to use efforts consistent with the Servicing Standard to cause such insurance to be maintained. If the special servicer determines that such failure is an Acceptable Insurance Default, it will be required to promptly deliver such conclusions in writing to the 17g-5 Information Provider for posting to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website for those Mortgage Loans that (i) have one of the ten (10) highest outstanding principal balances of the Mortgage Loans then included in the issuing entity or (ii) comprise more than 5% of the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans then included in the issuing entity.
During the period that the special servicer is evaluating the availability of such insurance, or waiting for a response from the Directing Certificateholder, neither the master servicer nor the special servicer will be liable for any loss related to its failure to require the borrower to maintain such insurance and neither will be in default of its obligations as a result of such failure unless the master servicer or the special servicer is required to take any immediate action pursuant to the Servicing Standard and other servicing requirements under the PSA as described under "—The Directing Certificateholder—Control Termination Event and Consultation Termination Event" and "—The Directing Certificateholder—Servicing Override".
The special servicer will be required to maintain (or cause to be maintained), fire and hazard insurance on each REO Property (other than any REO Property with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan), to the extent obtainable at commercially reasonable rates and the trustee has an insurable interest, in an amount that is at least equal to the lesser of (1) the full replacement cost of the improvements on the REO Property, and (2) the outstanding principal balance owing on the related Mortgage Loan and any related Serviced Companion Loan or REO Loan, as applicable, and in any event, the amount necessary to avoid the operation of any co-insurance provisions. In addition, if the REO
Property is located in an area identified as a federally designated special flood hazard area, the special servicer will be required to cause to be maintained, to the extent available at commercially reasonable rates (as determined by the special servicer (prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, with the consent of the Directing Certificateholder) in accordance with the Servicing Standard), a flood insurance policy meeting the requirements of the current guidelines of the Federal Insurance Administration in an amount representing coverage not less than the maximum amount of insurance that is available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended.
The PSA provides that the master servicer may satisfy its obligation to cause each borrower to maintain a hazard insurance policy and the master servicer or special servicer may satisfy their respective obligation to maintain hazard insurance by maintaining a blanket or master single interest or force-placed policy insuring against hazard losses on the Mortgage Loans and related Serviced Companion Loan and REO Properties (other than the Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Whole Loan), as applicable. Any losses incurred with respect to Mortgage Loans (and any related Serviced Companion Loan) or REO Properties due to uninsured risks (including earthquakes, mudflows and floods) or insufficient hazard insurance proceeds may adversely affect payments to Certificateholders. Any cost incurred by the master servicer or special servicer in maintaining a hazard insurance policy, if the borrower defaults on its obligation to do so, will be advanced by the master servicer as a Servicing Advance and will be charged to the related borrower. Generally, no borrower is required by the Mortgage Loan documents to maintain earthquake insurance on any Mortgaged Property and the special servicer will not be required to maintain earthquake insurance on any REO Properties. Any cost of maintaining that kind of required insurance or other earthquake insurance obtained by the special servicer will be paid out of the REO Account or advanced by the master servicer as a Servicing Advance.
The costs of the insurance may be recovered by the master servicer or the trustee, as the case may be, from reimbursements received from the borrower or, if the borrower does not pay those amounts, as a Servicing Advance as set forth in the PSA. All costs and expenses incurred by the special servicer in maintaining the insurance described above on REO Properties will be paid out of the related REO Account or, if the amount in such account is insufficient, such costs and expenses will be advanced by the master servicer to the special servicer as a Servicing Advance to the extent that such Servicing Advance is not determined to be a Nonrecoverable Advance.
No pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, repurchase bond or certificate guarantee insurance will be maintained with respect to the Mortgage Loans, nor will any Mortgage Loan be subject to FHA insurance.
The master servicer may amend any term (other than a Money Term) of a mortgage loan (other than a Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) or Serviced Companion Loan that is not a Specially Serviced Mortgage Loan and may extend the maturity date of any Balloon Loan, other than a Specially Serviced Mortgage Loan or a Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, to a date not more than sixty (60) days beyond the original maturity date, if in the master servicer's sole judgment exercised in good faith, a default in the payment of the Balloon Payment is reasonably foreseeable and such extension is reasonably likely to produce a greater recovery to the Certificateholders and the holder of the related Companion Loan, as applicable (as a collective whole), on a net present value basis than liquidation of such mortgage loan, and the borrower has obtained an executed written commitment (subject only to satisfaction of conditions set forth therein) for refinancing of the mortgage loan or purchase of the related mortgaged property. "Money Term" means, with respect to any mortgage loan or Serviced Companion Loan, the stated maturity date, mortgage rate, principal balance, amortization term or payment frequency or any provision of such mortgage loan or Serviced Companion Loan requiring the payment of a Prepayment Premium or Yield Maintenance Charge (but does not include late fee or default interest provisions).
The master servicer's power to amend a mortgage loan is subject to any restrictions applicable to REMICs, and to limitations imposed by the Pooling Agreement and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement or co-lender agreement (including the consent rights of the Directing Certificateholder prior to
the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, the consultation rights of the Directing Certificateholder during the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event but prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the rights of the Operating Advisor during the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event or following the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event and the rights of the holder of any Companion Loan, as applicable).
Subject to any restrictions applicable to REMICs, the special servicer will be permitted to enter into a modification, waiver or amendment of the terms of any Specially Serviced Mortgage Loan, including any modification, waiver or amendment to:
The consent of the special servicer is required to any modification, waiver or amendment with regard to any mortgage loan that is not a Specially Serviced Mortgage Loan or a Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan (other than certain non-material modifications, waivers or amendments). When the special servicer's consent is required, the master servicer will be required to promptly provide the special servicer with written notice of any request for modification, waiver or amendment accompanied by the master servicer's recommendation and analysis and any and all information in the master servicer's possession that the special servicer may reasonably request to grant or withhold its consent to such action. Such consent will be deemed given fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt (unless earlier objected to) by the special servicer from the master servicer of the master servicer's written analysis and recommendation with respect to such proposed action together with such other information reasonably required by the special servicer.
With respect to any Mortgage Loan (other than with respect to any Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans), the special servicer will be required, prior to consenting to such a proposed action of the master servicer,
and prior to itself taking such an action, either to obtain the written consent of (if no Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing) or to consult with (if during the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event but prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event), the Directing Certificateholder. Any such consent (if consent is required) will be deemed given ten (10) Business Days after receipt (unless earlier objected to) by the Directing Certificateholder of the master servicer's and/or special servicer's written analysis and recommendation with respect to such waiver together with such other information reasonably required by the Directing Certificateholder. See "—The Directing Certificateholder" in this prospectus.
Modifications that forgive principal or interest of a mortgage loan will result in realized losses on such mortgage loan and such realized losses will be allocated among the various classes of Certificates in the manner described under "Description of the Offered Certificates—Subordination; Allocation of Realized Losses" in this prospectus.
The modification of a mortgage loan may tend to reduce prepayments by avoiding liquidations and therefore may extend the weighted average life of the Certificates beyond that which might otherwise be the case. See "Yield and Maturity Considerations" in this prospectus.
The special servicer will determine, in a manner consistent with the Servicing Standard, whether (a) to exercise any right it may have with respect to a Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and any related Serviced Companion Loan containing a "due-on-sale" clause (1) to accelerate the payments on that Mortgage Loan and any related Companion Loan, as applicable, or (2) to withhold its consent to any sale or transfer, consistent with the Servicing Standard or (b) to waive its right to exercise such rights; provided, however, (i) that with respect to such waiver of rights prior to the occurrence and continuance of any Control Termination Event, the special servicer has obtained the prior written consent (or deemed consent) of the Directing Certificateholder (or the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder prior to the occurrence and continuance of an AB Control Appraisal Period, as applicable) (or after the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, but prior to a Consultation Termination Event, upon consultation with the Directing Certificateholder) and (ii) with respect to any Mortgage Loan [that is [DESCRIBE CRITERIA FOR A RATING AGENCY [CONFIRMATION][COMMUNICATION] REQUIREMENT], [a Rating Agency Confirmation is received by the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, from each Rating Agency and a confirmation of any applicable rating agency that such action will not result in the downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of its then-current ratings of any class of securities backed, wholly or partially, by any Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan (if any)][a Rating Agency Communication is provided by the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, to each Rating Agency].
With respect to a Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and any related Serviced Companion Loan with a "due-on-encumbrance" clause, the special servicer will determine, in a manner consistent with the Servicing Standard, whether (a) to exercise any right it may have with respect to a Mortgage Loan containing a "due-on-encumbrance" clause (1) to accelerate the payments thereon, or (2) to withhold its consent to the creation of any additional lien or other encumbrance, consistent with the Servicing Standard or (b) to waive its right to exercise such rights, provided, however, (i) that, with respect to such waiver of rights prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, the special servicer has obtained the consent of the Directing Certificateholder [(or, with respect to the AB Whole Loan prior to the occurrence and continuance of an AB Control Appraisal Period, the prior consent of the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder, to the extent required by the terms of the related Intercreditor Agreement)] (or after the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, but prior to a Consultation Termination Event, has consulted with the Directing Certificateholder) and (ii) the special servicer has received a Rating Agency Confirmation from each Rating Agency and a confirmation of any applicable rating agency that such action will not result in the downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of its then-current ratings of any class of securities backed, wholly or partially, by any Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan (if any) if such Mortgage Loan is [INSERT CRITERIA FOR RATING AGENCY [CONFIRMATION][COMMUNICATION] REQUIREMENT].
Any modification, extension, waiver or amendment of the payment terms of the Non-Serviced Whole Loan will be required to be structured so as to be consistent with the Servicing Standard and the allocation and payment priorities in the related loan documents and the related Intercreditor Agreement, such that neither the issuing entity as holder of such Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan nor any holder of the related Companion Loan gains a priority over the other holder that is not reflected in the related loan documents and the related Intercreditor Agreement.
The master servicer will be required to perform (at its own expense) or cause to be performed (at its own expense), physical inspections of each Mortgaged Property relating to a Mortgage Loan (other than the Mortgaged Property securing the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, which is subject to inspection pursuant to the Non-Serviced PSA, and other than a Specially Serviced Loan) with a Stated Principal Balance of (A) $[2,000,000] or more at least once every 12 months and (B) less than $[2,000,000] at least once every [24] months, in each case commencing in the calendar year 20[__] unless a physical inspection has been performed by the special servicer within the previous [12] months and the master servicer has no knowledge of a material change in the Mortgaged Property since such physical inspection; provided, further, however, that if any scheduled payment becomes more than [60] days delinquent on the related Mortgage Loan, the special servicer is required to inspect or cause to be inspected the related Mortgaged Property as soon as practicable after the Mortgage Loan becomes a Specially Serviced Loan and annually thereafter for so long as the Mortgage Loan remains a Specially Serviced Loan (the cost of which inspection, to the extent not paid by the related borrower, will be reimbursed first from default interest and late charges constituting additional compensation of the special servicer on the related Mortgage Loan (but with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, only amounts available for such purpose under the related Intercreditor Agreement) and then from the Collection Account as an expense of the issuing entity, and in the case of a Serviced Whole Loan, as an expense of the holders of the related Serviced Pari Passu Mortgage Loan and Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan, pro rata and pari passu, to the extent provided in the related Intercreditor Agreement. With respect to an AB Whole Loan, the costs will be allocated, first, as an expense of the holder of the Subordinate Companion Loan, and second, as an expense of the holders of the related Mortgage Loan to the extent provided in the related Intercreditor Agreement. The special servicer or the master servicer, as applicable, will be required to prepare or cause to be prepared a written report of the inspection describing, among other things, the condition of and any damage to the Mortgaged Property to the extent evident from the inspection and specifying the existence of any vacancies in the Mortgaged Property of which it has knowledge and deems material, of any sale, transfer or abandonment of the Mortgaged Property of which it has knowledge or that is evident from the inspection, of any adverse change in the condition of the Mortgaged Property of which the preparer of such report has knowledge or that is evident from the inspection, and that the preparer of such report deems material, or of any material waste committed on the Mortgaged Property to the extent evident from the inspection.
Copies of the inspection reports referred to above that are delivered to the certificate administrator will be posted to the certificate administrator's website for review by Privileged Persons pursuant to the PSA. See "Description of the Certificates—Reports to Certificateholders; Certain Available Information".
With respect to each Mortgage Loan that requires the borrower to deliver operating statements, the special servicer or the master servicer, as applicable, is also required to use reasonable efforts to collect and review the annual operating statements beginning with calendar year end 20[__] of the related Mortgaged Property. Most of the Mortgage Loan documents obligate the related borrower to deliver annual property operating statements. However, we cannot assure you that any operating statements required to be delivered will in fact be delivered, nor is the special servicer or the master servicer likely to have any practical means of compelling the delivery in the case of an otherwise performing Mortgage Loan.
If the related Mortgaged Property is acquired in respect of any Mortgage Loan (and any related Serviced Companion Loan) (upon acquisition, an "REO Property") whether through foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, the special servicer will continue to be responsible for its operation and management. If any Serviced Companion Loan becomes specially serviced, then the related Mortgage Loan will also become a Specially Serviced Loan. If any Mortgage Loan becomes a Specially Serviced Loan, then the related Serviced Companion Loan will also become a Specially Serviced Loan. The master servicer will have no responsibility for the performance by the special servicer of its duties under the PSA. Any Mortgage Loan (excluding the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan), that is or becomes a cross-collateralized Mortgage Loan and is cross-collateralized with a Specially Serviced Loan will become a Specially Serviced Loan.
If any Specially Serviced Loan, in accordance with its original terms or as modified in accordance with the PSA, becomes performing for at least three consecutive Periodic Payments (provided that no additional event of default is foreseeable in the reasonable judgment of the special servicer and no other event or circumstance exists that causes such Mortgage Loan or related Companion Loan to otherwise constitute a Specially Serviced Loan), the special servicer will be required to transfer servicing of such Specially Serviced Loan (a "Corrected Loan") to the master servicer.
An Asset Status Report prepared for each Specially Serviced Loan will be required to include, among other things, the following information:
If no Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the Directing Certificateholder will have the right to disapprove the Asset Status Report prepared by the special servicer with respect to a Specially Serviced Loan within 10 business days after receipt of the Asset Status Report. If the Directing Certificateholder does not disapprove an Asset Status Report within 10 business days or if the special servicer makes a determination, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, that the disapproval by the Directing Certificateholder (communicated to the special servicer within ten business days) is not in the best interest of all the Certificateholders, the special servicer will be required to implement the recommended action as outlined in the Asset Status Report. If the Directing Certificateholder disapproves the Asset Status Report within the 10 business day period and the special servicer has not made the affirmative determination described above, the special servicer will be required to revise the Asset Status Report as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than 30 days after the disapproval. The special servicer will be required to continue to revise the Asset Status Report until the Directing Certificateholder fails to disapprove the revised Asset Status Report or until the special servicer makes a determination, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, that the disapproval is not in the best interests of the Certificateholders; provided that, if the Directing Certificateholder has not approved the Asset Status Report for a period of 60 business days following the first submission of an Asset Status Report, the special servicer may act upon the most recently submitted form of Asset Status Report, if consistent with the Servicing Standard.
[If a Control Termination Event [(or, with respect to the AB Whole Loan, if both a Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing and an AB Control Appraisal Period is in effect)]] [EXCLUDE FOR TRANSACTIONS THAT CLOSE ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 24, 2016 THAT SATISFY RISK RETENTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THIRD PARTY PURCHASER OF HORIZONTAL RESIDUAL INTEREST], the special servicer will be required to promptly deliver each Asset Status Report prepared in connection with a Specially Serviced Loan to the operating advisor (and so long as no Consultation Termination Event has occurred, the Directing Certificateholder). The operating advisor will be required to provide comments to the special servicer in respect of the Asset Status Report, if any, within ten (10) business days following the later of (i) receipt of such Asset Status Report or (ii) such related additional information reasonably requested by the operating advisor, and propose possible alternative courses of action to the extent it determines such alternatives to be in the best interest of the Certificateholders (including any Certificateholders that are holders of the Control Eligible Certificates), as a collective whole. The special servicer will be obligated to consider such alternative courses of action and any other feedback provided by the operating advisor (and so long as no Consultation Termination Event has occurred, the Directing Certificateholder) in connection with the special servicer's preparation of any Asset Status Report. The special servicer will revise the Asset Status Report as it deems necessary to take into account any input and/or comments from the operating advisor (and so long as no Consultation Termination Event has occurred, the Directing Certificateholder), to the extent the special servicer determines that the operating advisor's and/or Directing Certificateholder's input and/or recommendations are consistent with the Servicing Standard and in the best interest of the Certificateholders as a collective whole (or, with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, the best interest of the Certificateholders and the holders of the related Companion Loan, as a collective whole (taking into account the pari passu or subordinate nature of such Companion Loan)).
The special servicer will not be required to take or to refrain from taking any action because of an objection or comment by the operating advisor or a recommendation of the operating advisor.
[After the occurrence and during the continuance of a Control Termination Event but prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, each of the Directing Certificateholder and the operating advisor will be entitled to consult with the special servicer and propose alternative courses of action and
provide other feedback in respect of any Asset Status Report. After the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder will have no right to consult with the special servicer with respect to Asset Status Reports and the special servicer will only be obligated to consult with the operating advisor with respect to any Asset Status Report as described above. The special servicer may choose to revise the Asset Status Report as it deems reasonably necessary in accordance with the Servicing Standard to take into account any input and/or recommendations of the operating advisor or the Directing Certificateholder during the applicable periods described above, but is under no obligation to follow any particular recommendation of the operating advisor or the Directing Certificateholder.] [APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS PRIOR TO DECEMBER 24, 2016]
[After the occurrence and during the continuance of a Control Termination Event but prior to the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder, and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Operating Advisor Consultation Event, the operating advisor, will be entitled to consult with the special servicer and propose alternative courses of action and provide other feedback in respect of any Asset Status Report. After the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder will have no right to consult with the special servicer with respect to Asset Status Reports and the special servicer will only be obligated to consult with the operating advisor with respect to any Asset Status Report as described above. The special servicer may choose to revise the Asset Status Report as it deems reasonably necessary in accordance with the Servicing Standard to take into account any input and/or recommendations of the operating advisor or the Directing Certificateholder during the applicable periods described above, but is under no obligation to follow any particular recommendation of the operating advisor or the Directing Certificateholder.] [APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS CLOSING ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 24, 2016 THAT SATISFY RISK RETENTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THIRD PARTY PURCHASER OF HORIZONTAL RESIDUAL INTEREST]
[Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Subordinate Companion Loan and prior to the occurrence and continuance of an AB Control Appraisal Period, the special servicer will prepare an Asset Status Report for an AB Whole Loan within [60] days after it becomes a Specially Serviced Loan in accordance with the terms of the PSA and any applicable provisions of the related Intercreditor Agreement and the Directing Certificateholder will have no approval rights over any such Asset Status Report. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".]
[With respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, the Non-Serviced Directing Certificateholder will have approval and consultation rights with respect to any asset status report prepared by the Non-Serviced Special Servicer with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan under the Non-Serviced PSA that are substantially similar to the approval and consultation rights of the Directing Certificateholder with respect to the Mortgage Loans and the Serviced Whole Loans. See "—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan".]
Such requirement precludes enforcement of the security for the related Mortgage Loan until a satisfactory environmental site assessment is obtained (or until any required remedial action is taken), but will decrease the likelihood that the issuing entity will become liable for a material adverse environmental condition at the Mortgaged Property. However, we cannot assure you that the requirements of the PSA will effectively insulate the issuing entity from potential liability for a materially adverse environmental condition at any Mortgaged Property.
If title to any Mortgaged Property is acquired by the issuing entity (directly or through a single member limited liability company established for that purpose), the special servicer will be required to sell the Mortgaged Property prior to the close of the third calendar year beginning after the year of acquisition, unless (1) the IRS grants (or does not deny) an extension of time to sell the property or (2) the special servicer, the certificate administrator and the trustee receive an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that the holding of the property by the related Lower-Tier REMIC longer than the above-referenced three year period will not result in the imposition of a tax on any Trust REMIC or cause any Trust REMIC to fail to qualify as a REMIC under the Code at any time that any certificate is outstanding. Subject to the foregoing and any other tax-related limitations, pursuant to the PSA, the special servicer will generally be required to attempt to sell any Mortgaged Property so acquired in accordance with the Servicing Standard. The special servicer will also be required to ensure that any Mortgaged Property acquired by the issuing entity is administered so that it constitutes "foreclosure property" within the meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(8) at all times, and that the sale of the property does not result in the receipt by the issuing entity of any income from nonpermitted assets as described in Code Section 860F(a)(2)(B). If any Lower-Tier REMIC acquires title to any Mortgaged Property, the special servicer, on behalf of such Lower-Tier REMIC, will retain, at the expense of the issuing entity, an independent contractor to manage and operate the property. The independent contractor generally will be permitted to perform construction (including renovation) on a foreclosed property only if the construction was more than 10% completed at the time default on the related Mortgage Loan became imminent. The retention of an independent contractor, however, will not relieve the special servicer of its obligation to manage the Mortgaged Property as required under the PSA.
In general, the special servicer will be obligated to cause any Mortgaged Property acquired as an REO Property to be operated and managed in a manner that would, in its good faith and reasonable judgment and to the extent commercially feasible, maximize the issuing entity's net after-tax proceeds from such property. Generally, no Trust REMIC will be taxable on income received with respect to a Mortgaged Property acquired by the issuing entity to the extent that it constitutes "rents from real property", within the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(3)(A) and Treasury regulations under the Code. Rents from real property include fixed rents and rents based on the gross receipts or sales of a tenant but do not include the portion of any rental based on the net income or profit of any tenant or sub-tenant. No determination has been made whether rent on any of the Mortgaged Properties meets this requirement. Rents from real property include charges for services customarily furnished or rendered in connection
with the rental of real property, whether or not the charges are separately stated. Services furnished to the tenants of a particular building will be considered as customary if, in the geographic market in which the building is located, tenants in buildings which are of similar class are customarily provided with the service. No determination has been made whether the services furnished to the tenants of the Mortgaged Properties are "customary" within the meaning of applicable regulations. It is therefore possible that a portion of the rental income with respect to a Mortgaged Property owned by the issuing entity would not constitute rents from real property, or that none of such income would qualify if a separate charge is not stated for such non-customary services or they are not performed by an independent contractor. Rents from real property also do not include income from the operation of a trade or business on the Mortgaged Property, such as a hotel property, or rental income attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property if the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total net rent for the taxable year. Any of the foregoing types of income may instead constitute "net income from foreclosure property", which would be taxable to the related Lower-Tier REMIC at the highest marginal federal corporate rate (currently 35%) and may also be subject to state or local taxes. The PSA provides that the special servicer will be permitted to cause the related Lower-Tier REMIC to earn "net income from foreclosure property" that is subject to tax if it determines that the net after-tax benefit to Certificateholders is greater than another method of operating or net leasing the Mortgaged Property. Because these sources of income, if they exist, are already in place with respect to the Mortgaged Properties, it is generally viewed as beneficial to Certificateholders to permit the issuing entity to continue to earn them if it acquires a Mortgaged Property, even at the cost of this tax. These taxes would be chargeable against the related income for purposes of determining the proceeds available for distribution to holders of certificates. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxes That May Be Imposed on a REMIC—Prohibited Transactions".
Under the PSA, the special servicer is required to establish and maintain one or more REO Accounts, to be held on behalf of the trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders and with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, the Serviced Companion Loan Holder, for the retention of revenues and insurance proceeds derived from each REO Property. The special servicer is required to use the funds in the REO Account to pay for the proper operation, management, maintenance and disposition of any REO Property, but only to the extent of amounts on deposit in the REO Account relate to such REO Property. To the extent that amounts in the REO Account in respect of any REO Property are insufficient to make such payments, the master servicer is required to make a Servicing Advance, unless it determines such Servicing Advance would be nonrecoverable. Within one business day following the end of each Collection Period, the special servicer is required to deposit all amounts received in respect of each REO Property during such Collection Period, net of any amounts withdrawn to make any permitted disbursements, to the Collection Account; provided, that the special servicer may retain in the REO Account permitted reserves.
If the special servicer determines in accordance with the Servicing Standard that it would be in the best economic interests of the Certificateholders or, in the case of a Serviced Whole Loan, Certificateholders and any holder of the related Serviced Companion Loan (as a collective whole as if such Certificateholders and Serviced Companion Loan Holder constituted a single lender) to attempt to sell a Defaulted Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) and any related Serviced Companion Loan as described below, the special servicer will be required to use reasonable efforts to solicit offers for each Defaulted Loan on behalf of the Certificateholders and the holder of any related Serviced Companion Loan in such manner as will be reasonably likely to realize a fair price. [In the case of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, under certain limited circumstances permitted under the related Intercreditor Agreement, to the extent that such Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan is not sold together with the Non-Serviced Companion Loan by the special servicer for the Non-Serviced Whole Loan, the special servicer will be entitled to sell (with the consent of the Directing Certificateholder if no Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing) such Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan if it determines in accordance with the Servicing Standard that such action would be in the best interests of the Certificateholders.] The special
servicer is required to accept the first cash offer received from any person that constitutes a fair price for the Defaulted Loan. If multiple offers are received during the period designated by the special servicer for receipt of offers, the special servicer is required to select the highest offer. The special servicer is required to give the trustee, the certificate administrator, the master servicer, the operating advisor and the Directing Certificateholder 10 business days' prior written notice of its intention to sell any such Defaulted Loan. Neither the trustee nor any of its affiliates may make an offer for or purchase any Defaulted Loan. ["Defaulted Loan" means a Mortgage Loan (other than the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan) or Serviced Whole Loan (A) (i) that is delinquent at least 60 days in respect of its Periodic Payments or delinquent in respect of its balloon payment, if any, in either case such delinquency to be determined without giving effect to any grace period permitted by the related Mortgage or Mortgage Note and without regard to any acceleration of payments under the related Mortgage and Mortgage Note or (ii) as to which the master servicer or special servicer has, by written notice to the related borrower, accelerated the maturity of the indebtedness evidenced by the related Mortgage Note.]
The special servicer will be required to determine whether any cash offer constitutes a fair price for any Defaulted Loan if the highest offeror is a person other than an Interested Person. In determining whether any offer from a person other than an Interested Person constitutes a fair price for any Defaulted Loan, the special servicer will be required to take into account (in addition to the results of any appraisal, updated appraisal or narrative appraisal that it may have obtained pursuant to the PSA within the prior 9 months), among other factors, the period and amount of the occupancy level and physical condition of the related Mortgaged Property and the state of the local economy.
If the offeror is an Interested Person (provided that the trustee may not be a offeror), then the trustee will be required to determine whether the cash offer constitutes a fair price [unless (i) the offer is equal to or greater than the applicable Purchase Price and (ii) the offer is the highest offer received. Absent an offer at least equal to the Purchase Price, no offer from an Interested Person will constitute a fair price unless (A) it is the highest offer received and (B) at least two other offers are received from independent third parties]. In determining whether any offer received from an Interested Person represents a fair price for any such Defaulted Loan, the trustee will be supplied with and will be required to rely on the most recent appraisal or updated appraisal conducted in accordance with the PSA within the preceding 9‑month period or, in the absence of any such appraisal, on a new appraisal. Except as provided in the following paragraph, the cost of any appraisal will be covered by, and will be reimbursable as, a Servicing Advance.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding paragraph to the contrary, if the trustee is required to determine whether a cash offer by an Interested Person constitutes a fair price, the trustee shall (at the expense of the Interested Person) designate an independent third party expert in real estate or commercial mortgage loan matters with at least 5 years’ experience in valuing or investing in loans similar to the subject Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan, as the case may be, that has been selected with reasonable care by the trustee to determine if such cash offer constitutes a fair price for such Mortgage Loan or Serviced Whole Loan. If the trustee designates such a third party to make such determination, the trustee will be entitled to rely conclusively upon such third party’s determination. The reasonable costs of all appraisals, inspection reports and broker opinions of value incurred by any such third party pursuant to this paragraph will be covered by, and will be reimbursable by the Interested Person; provided that the trustee will not engage a third party expert whose fees exceed a commercially reasonable amount as determined by the trustee.
The special servicer is required to use reasonable efforts to solicit offers for each REO Property on behalf of the Certificateholders and the related Companion Loan Holder(s) (if applicable) and to sell each REO Property in the same manner as with respect to a Defaulted Loan.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing paragraphs, the special servicer will not be required to accept the highest cash offer for a Defaulted Loan or REO Property if the special servicer determines (in consultation with the Directing Certificateholder (unless a Consultation Termination Event exists) and, in the case of a Serviced Whole Loan or an REO Property related to a Serviced Whole Loan, the related Companion Loan Holder(s)), in accordance with the Servicing Standard, that rejection of such offer would be in the best interests of the Certificateholders and, in the case of a sale of a Serviced Whole Loan or an REO Property related to a Serviced Whole Loan, the related Companion Loan Holder(s) (as a collective whole as if such Certificateholders and, if applicable, the related Companion Loan Holder(s) constituted a single lender (and with respect to any AB Whole Loan, taking into account the subordinate nature of the
related Trust Subordinate Companion Loan)), and the special servicer may accept a lower offer (from any person other than itself or an affiliate) if it determines, in its reasonable and good faith judgment, that acceptance of such offer would be in the best interests of the Certificateholders and, in the case of a Serviced Whole Loan or an REO Property related to a Serviced Whole Loan, the related Companion Loan Holder(s) (as a collective whole as if such Certificateholders and, if applicable, the related Companion Loan Holder(s) constituted a single lender and with respect to any AB Whole Loan, taking into account the subordinate nature of the related Trust Subordinate Companion Loan)).
[In connection with any such sale involving an AB Whole Loan, the special servicer will also have the right, but not the obligation, to sell the related Trust Subordinate Companion Loan, provided that such sale will require the consent of the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder. A related Companion Loan Holder (or its representative) or a holder of any mezzanine debt relating to a Defaulted Loan will be permitted to submit an offer at any sale of such Defaulted Loan or related REO Property or may have the option to purchase such Defaulted Loan or related REO Property, as applicable, under the related Intercreditor Agreement (and such purchase price is subject to the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement).] See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Indebtedness—Mezzanine Indebtedness" and "—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".
In addition, with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, if such Mortgage Loan has become a defaulted Mortgage Loan under the related Non-Serviced PSA, the Non-Serviced Special Servicer will generally have the right to sell such Mortgage Loan together with the related Companion Loan as notes evidencing one whole loan. [The issuing entity, as the holder of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, will have the right to consent to such sale if the required notices and information regarding such sale are not provided to the special servicer in accordance with the related Intercreditor Agreement. The Directing Certificateholder will be entitled to exercise such consent right so long as a Control Termination Event has not occurred and is continuing, and if a Control Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the special servicer will exercise such consent rights.] See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Non-Serviced Whole Loan".
To the extent that Liquidation Proceeds collected with respect to any Mortgage Loan are less than the sum of (1) the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loan, (2) interest accrued on the Mortgage Loan and (3) the aggregate amount of outstanding reimbursable expenses (including any (i) unpaid servicing compensation, (ii) unreimbursed Servicing Advances, (iii) accrued and unpaid interest on all Advances and (iv) additional expenses of the issuing entity) incurred with respect to the Mortgage Loan, the issuing entity will realize a loss in the amount of the shortfall. The trustee, the master servicer and/or the special servicer will be entitled to reimbursement out of the Liquidation Proceeds recovered on any
(iii) that is (and is not affiliated with) not the depositor, the trustee, the certificate administrator, the master servicer, the special servicer, a mortgage loan seller, the Directing Certificateholder, a depositor, a trustee, a certificate administrator, a master servicer or special servicer with respect to the securitization of a Companion Loan, or any of their respective affiliates;
(iv) that has not been paid by any special servicer or successor special servicer any fees, compensation or other remuneration (x) in respect of its obligations under the PSA or (y) for the appointment or recommendation for replacement of a successor special servicer to become the special servicer[; and
(v) that does not directly or indirectly, through one or more affiliates or otherwise, own any interest in any certificates, any Mortgage Loans, any Companion Loan or any securities backed by a Companion Loan or otherwise have any financial interest in the securitization transaction to which the PSA relates, other than in fees from its role as operating advisor and except as set forth in the PSA.] [APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS WITH CLOSING DATES ON AND AFTER DECEMBER 24, 2016 THAT SATISFY RISK RETENTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THIRD PARTY PURCHASER OF HORIZONTAL RESIDUAL INTEREST]
Other Obligations of Operating Advisor
At all times, subject to the Privileged Information Exception, the operating advisor will be obligated to keep confidential any Privileged Information received from the special servicer or Directing Certificateholder in connection with the Directing Certificateholder's exercise of any rights under the PSA (including, without limitation, in connection with any Asset Status Report) or otherwise in connection with the transaction, except under the circumstances described below. As used in this prospectus, "Privileged Information" means (i) any correspondence between the Directing Certificateholder and the special servicer related to any Specially Serviced Loan or the exercise of the Directing Certificateholder's consent or consultation rights under the PSA, (ii) any strategically sensitive information that the special servicer has reasonably determined could compromise the issuing entity's position in any ongoing or future negotiations with the related borrower or other interested party and (iii) information subject to attorney-client privilege.
The operating advisor is required to keep all Privileged Information confidential and may not disclose such Privileged Information to any person (including Certificateholders other than the Directing Certificateholder), other than (1) to the extent expressly required by the PSA, to the other parties to the PSA with a notice indicating that such information is Privileged Information or (2) pursuant to a Privileged Information Exception. Each party to the PSA that receives Privileged Information from the operating advisor with a notice stating that such information is Privileged Information may not disclose such Privileged Information to any person without the prior written consent of the special servicer and, unless a Consultation Termination Event has occurred, the Directing Certificateholder (with respect to any Mortgage Loan other than the Non-Serviced Whole Loan) other than pursuant to a Privileged Information Exception.
"Privileged Information Exception" means, with respect to any Privileged Information, at any time (a) such Privileged Information becomes generally available and known to the public other than as a result of a disclosure directly or indirectly by the party restricted from disclosing such Privileged Information (the "Restricted Party"), (b) it is reasonable and necessary for the Restricted Party to disclose such Privileged Information in working with legal counsel, auditors, taxing authorities or other governmental agencies, (c) such Privileged Information was already known to such Restricted Party and not otherwise subject to a confidentiality obligation and/or (d) the Restricted Party is (in the case of the master servicer, the special servicer, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer, the certificate administrator and the trustee, as evidenced by an opinion of counsel (which will be an additional expense of the issuing entity) delivered to each of the master servicer, the special servicer, the Directing Certificateholder, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer, the certificate
administrator and the trustee), required by law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree to disclose such information.
Neither the operating advisor nor any of its affiliates may make any investment in any class of certificates; provided, however, that such prohibition will not apply to (i) riskless principal transactions effected by a broker dealer affiliate of the operating advisor or (ii) investments by an affiliate of the operating advisor if the operating advisor and such affiliate maintain policies and procedures that (A) segregate personnel involved in the activities of the operating advisor under the PSA from personnel involved in such affiliate's investment activities and (B) prevent such affiliate and its personnel from gaining access to information regarding the issuing entity and the operating advisor and its personnel from gaining access to such affiliate's information regarding its investment activities.
Delegation of Operating Advisor's Duties
[The operating advisor may delegate its duties to agents or subcontractors in accordance with the PSA however, the operating advisor will remain obligated and primarily liable for any actions required to be performed by it under the PSA without diminution of such obligation or liability or related obligation or liability by virtue of such delegation or arrangements or by virtue of indemnification from any person acting as its agents or subcontractor to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the operating advisor alone were performing its obligations under the PSA.]
Termination of the Operating Advisor With Cause
[The following constitute operating advisor termination events under the PSA (each, an "Operating Advisor Termination Event"), whether any such event is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:
(a) any failure by the operating advisor to observe or perform in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements or the material breach of any of its representations or warranties under the PSA, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failure is given to the operating advisor by any party to the PSA or to the operating advisor, the certificate administrator and the trustee by the holders of certificates having greater than 25% of the aggregate Voting Rights; provided that with respect to any such failure which is not curable within such 30 day period, the operating advisor will have an additional cure period of 30 days to effect such cure so long as it has commenced to cure such failure within the initial 30 day period and has provided the trustee and the certificate administrator with an officer's certificate certifying that it has diligently pursued, and is continuing to pursue, such cure;
(b) any failure by the operating advisor to perform in accordance with the Operating Advisor Standard which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failure is given to the operating advisor;
(c) any failure by the operating advisor to be an Eligible Operating Advisor, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days;
(d) a decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under any present or future federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law for the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the operating advisor, and such decree or order shall have remained in force undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days;
(e) the operating advisor consents to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator or liquidation committee in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities, voluntary liquidation, or similar proceedings of or relating to the operating advisor or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property; or
(f) the operating advisor admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, files a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or voluntarily suspends payment of its obligations.]
Upon receipt by the certificate administrator of notice of the occurrence of any Operating Advisor Termination Event, the certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide written notice to all Certificateholders electronically by posting such notice on its internet website and by mail, unless the certificate administrator has received notice that such Operating Advisor Termination Event has been remedied.
Rights Upon Operating Advisor Termination Event
After the occurrence of an Operating Advisor Termination Event, either (i) the trustee may, or (ii) upon the written direction of Holders of Certificates evidencing at least 25% of the aggregate Voting Rights of all Certificates, the trustee will be required to promptly terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Operating Advisor under the PSA, other than the right to receive accrued and unpaid fees and expense reimbursements and the right to indemnification under the PSA.
As soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days (or such longer period of time as may be reasonably necessary to find a willing successor Operating Advisor if no willing successor Operating Advisor can be identified in such fifteen (15) Business Day period) after the trustee or the certificate administrator delivers written notice of termination to the Operating Advisor, the trustee will be required to appoint a successor Operating Advisor that is an Eligible Operating Advisor (which successor Operating Advisor may be an affiliate of the trustee). If the trustee is the successor master servicer or the successor special servicer, neither the trustee nor any of its affiliates will be the successor Operating Advisor. The appointment of the successor Operating Advisor will not be subject to the vote, consent or approval of the Holder of any class of Certificates; provided, that if no Control Termination Event or Consultation Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the Directing Certificateholder will have the right to consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, to any replacement Operating Advisor; provided, further, that such consent will be deemed to have been granted if no objection is made within ten (10) Business Days following the Directing Certificateholder's receipt of the request for consent and, if granted or deemed granted, such consent cannot thereafter be revoked or withdrawn. The trustee shall not have liability for any failure to find a suitable Eligible Operating Advisor to serve as a successor Operating Advisor.
Upon any termination of the Operating Advisor and appointment of a successor to the Operating Advisor, the trustee will, as soon as possible, be required to give written notice of the termination and appointment to the special servicer, the master servicer, the certificate administrator, the 17g-5 Information Provider, the depositor, the Directing Certificateholder (but only if no Control Termination Event or Consultation Termination Event has occurred) and the Certificateholders. If no Eligible Operating Advisor has been appointed in accordance with the PSA, no party will act as successor Operating Advisor.
If the Operating Advisor is terminated for any reason, it will remain entitled to any accrued and unpaid fees and expenses, as well as indemnification in respect of the period during which it acted as Operating Advisor, which will be payable in accordance with the priorities and subject to the limitations described in this prospectus and set forth in the PSA.
Waiver of Operating Advisor Termination Event
[The holders of certificates representing at least [__]% of the Voting Rights affected by any Operating Advisor Termination Event may waive such Operating Advisor Termination Event within twenty (20) days of the receipt of notice from the certificate administrator of the occurrence of such Operating Advisor Termination Event. Upon any such waiver of an Operating Advisor Termination Event, such Operating Advisor Termination Event shall cease to exist and shall be deemed to have been remedied. Upon any such waiver of an Operating Advisor Termination Event by Certificateholders, the trustee and the certificate administrator will be entitled to recover all costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with
enforcement action taken with respect to such Operating Advisor Termination Event prior to such waiver from the issuing entity.]
Termination of the Operating Advisor Without Cause
After the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, the operating advisor may be removed upon (i) the written direction of Certificateholders evidencing not less than [25]% of the Voting Rights (taking into account the application of Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the Certificate Balances of classes to which such Appraisal Reduction Amounts are allocable) requesting a vote to replace the operating advisor with a replacement operating advisor that is an Eligible Operating Advisor selected by such Certificateholders, (ii) payment by such requesting holders to the certificate administrator of all reasonable fees and expenses to be incurred by the certificate administrator in connection with administering such vote and (iii) receipt by the trustee of the Rating Agency Confirmation with respect to such removal.
The certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide written notice to all Certificateholders of such request by posting such notice on its internet website, and by mail, and conduct the solicitation of votes of all certificates in such regard.
Upon the vote or written direction of holders of at least 75% of the Voting Rights (taking into account the application of Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the Certificate Balances of classes to which such Appraisal Reduction Amounts are allocable), the trustee will immediately replace the operating advisor with the replacement operating advisor.
[In addition, in the event there are no classes of certificates outstanding other than the Control Eligible Certificates and the Class R certificates, then all of the rights and obligations of the operating advisor under the PSA will terminate without payment of any penalty or termination fee (other than any rights or obligations that accrued prior to the date of such termination (including accrued and unpaid compensation) and other than indemnification rights arising out of events occurring prior to such termination). If the operating advisor is terminated pursuant to the foregoing sentence, then no replacement operating advisor will be appointed.] [APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS OTHER THAN OFFERINGS CLOSING ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 24, 2016 THAT SATISFY RISK RETENTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THIRD PARTY PURCHASER OF HORIZONTAL RESIDUAL INTEREST]
Resignation of the Operating Advisor
The operating advisor may resign upon 30 days' prior written notice to the depositor, master servicer, special servicer, trustee, certificate administrator, the asset representations reviewer and the Directing Certificateholder, if the operating advisor has secured a replacement operating advisor that is an Eligible Operating Advisor and such replacement operating advisor has accepted its appointment as the replacement operating advisor. If no successor operating advisor has been so appointed and accepted the appointment within 30 days after the notice of resignation, the resigning operating advisor may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor operating advisor that is an Eligible Operating Advisor. The resigning operating advisor must pay all costs and expenses associated with the transfer of its duties.
Operating Advisor Compensation
Certain fees will be payable to the operating advisor, and the operating advisor will be entitled to be reimbursed for certain expenses, as described under "Transaction Parties—The Operating Advisor".
In the event the operating advisor resigns or is terminated for any reason it will remain entitled to any accrued and unpaid fees and reimbursement of Operating Advisor Expenses and any rights to indemnification provided under the PSA with respect to the period for which it acted as operating advisor.
The operating advisor will be entitled to reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by the operating advisor in the event that the operating advisor is terminated without cause. See "—Termination of the Operating Advisor Without Cause" above.
The Asset Representations Reviewer
Asset Review
Asset Review Trigger.
On or prior to each Distribution Date, based on the CREFC® Delinquent Loan Status Report delivered by the master servicer for such Distribution Date, the [certificate administrator] will be required to determine if an Asset Review Trigger has occurred. If an Asset Review Trigger is determined to have occurred, the certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide notice to the asset representations reviewer and to all Certificateholders by posting a notice of its determination on its internet website and by mailing to the Certificateholders' addresses appearing in the certificate register. On each Distribution Date after providing such notice to Certificateholders, the certificate administrator, based on information provided to it by the master servicer or the special servicer, will be required to determine whether (1) any additional Mortgage Loan has become a Delinquent Loan, (2) any Mortgage Loan ceases to be a Delinquent Loan and (3) whether an Asset Review Trigger has ceased to exist, and deliver such information within one business day to the master servicer, the special servicer, the operating advisor and the asset representations reviewer.
With respect to any determination of whether to commence an Asset Review, an "Asset Review Trigger" will occur when either (1) Mortgage Loans with an outstanding principal balance of [__]% or more of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all of the Mortgage Loans (including any REO Loans (or a portion of any REO Loan in the case of a Whole Loan)) held by the issuing entity as of the end of the applicable Collection Period are Delinquent Loans or (2) at least [__][insert number that is [__]% by initial number of Mortgage Loans] Mortgage Loans are Delinquent Loans as of the end of the applicable Collection Period and the outstanding principal balance of such Delinquent Loans in the aggregate constitutes at least [__]% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all of the Mortgage Loans (including any REO Loans (or a portion of any REO Loan in the case of a Whole Loan)) held by the issuing entity as of the end of the applicable Collection Period. The PSA will require that the certificate administrator include in the Distribution Report on Form 10-D relating to the distribution period in which the Asset Review Trigger occurred a description of the events that caused the Asset Review Trigger to occur.
We believe this Asset Review Trigger is appropriate considering the unique characteristics of pools of Mortgage Loans underlying CMBS. See "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans—Static Pool Data Would Not Be Indicative of the Performance of this Pool". In particular, this pool of Mortgage Loans is not homogeneous or granular, and there are individual Mortgage Loans that each represent a significant percentage, by outstanding principal balance, of the Mortgage Pool. We believe it would not be appropriate for the delinquency of [__] large loans to cause the Asset Review Trigger to be met, as that would not necessarily be indicative of the overall quality of the Mortgage Pool. As a result, the percentage based on outstanding principal balance in clause (1) of the definition of Asset Review Trigger was set to exceed the portion of the [aggregate outstanding balance of the Mortgage Pool] represented by the [__] largest Mortgage Loans in the pool. On the other hand, a significant number of delinquent Mortgage Loans by loan count, but representing a smaller percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loans than the percentage set forth in clause (1) of the definition of Asset Review Trigger, could indicate an issue with the quality of the Mortgage Pool. As a result, we believe it would be appropriate to have an alternative test as set forth in clause (2) of the definition of Asset Review Trigger, namely to have the Asset Review Trigger be met if Mortgage Loans representing [__]% of the Mortgage Loans (by loan count) are Delinquent Loans. [With respect to prior pools of commercial mortgage loans for which BANA (or its predecessors) was sponsor in a public offering of CMBS, the highest percentage of loans that were delinquent at least 60 days at the end of any [reporting
period] between January 1, 2010 and [INSERT A DATE NO LATER THAN 135 DAYS OF THE DATE OF FIRST USE OF THE PROSPECTUS] was [____]%.]
"Delinquent Loan" means a Mortgage Loan that is delinquent at least sixty days in respect of its Periodic Payments or balloon payment, if any, in either case such delinquency to be determined without giving effect to any grace period.
Asset Review Vote.
If Certificateholders evidencing not less than 5% of the Voting Rights deliver to the certificate administrator, within 90 days after the filing of the Form 10-D reporting the occurrence of an Asset Review Trigger, a written direction requesting a vote to commence an Asset Review (an "Asset Review Vote Election"), the certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide written notice to the asset representations reviewer and notice of such direction to all Certificateholders, and to conduct a solicitation of votes of Certificateholders to authorize an Asset Review. Upon the affirmative vote to authorize an Asset Review of Certificateholders evidencing a majority of an Asset Review Quorum within 150 days of the receipt of the Asset Review Vote Election (an "Affirmative Asset Review Vote"), the certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide written notice of such Affirmative Asset Review Vote to all parties to the PSA, the underwriters, the mortgage loan sellers, the Directing Certificateholder and the Certificateholders. In the event an Affirmative Asset Review Vote has not occurred within such 150-day period following the receipt of the Asset Review Vote Election, no Certificateholder may request a vote or cast a vote for an Asset Review and the asset representations reviewer will not be required to review any Delinquent Loan unless and until (A) an additional Mortgage Loan has become a Delinquent Loan after the expiration of such 150-day period, (B) an Asset Review Trigger has occurred as a result or otherwise is in effect, (C) the certificate administrator has received any Asset Review Vote Election after the occurrence of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) above and (D) an Affirmative Asset Review Vote has occurred within 150 days after the Asset Review Vote Election described in clause (C) above. After the occurrence of any Asset Review Vote Election or an Affirmative Asset Review Vote, no Certificateholder may make any additional Asset Review Vote Election except as described in the immediately preceding sentence. [Any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the certificate administrator in connection with administering such vote will be paid as an expense of the issuing entity from the Collection Account.]
An "Asset Review Quorum" means, in connection with any solicitation of votes to authorize an Asset Review as described above, the Certificateholders evidencing at least 5% of the aggregate Voting Rights.
Review Materials.
Upon receipt of notice from the certificate administrator of an Affirmative Asset Review Vote (the "Asset Review Notice"), the special servicer will be required to promptly post to a secure data room the following information (collectively, the "Review Materials"):
· | a copy of the Diligence File for each Mortgage Loan that is a Delinquent Loan (other than any Delinquent Loan that has previously been the subject of an Asset Review and delivery of an Asset Review Report) as of the end of the most recent Collection Period and provide notice to the asset representations reviewer |
· | servicing comments relating to the applicable Delinquent Loans and/or the information and documentation set forth in the proviso to the definition of "Diligence File"; and |
· | any other related information that is required of the special servicer to be posted to the secure data room as described below. |
With respect to the requirement to post a copy of the servicing comments to the secure data room, the special servicer will be required to promptly post its servicing comments to the secure data room and request that the master servicer or the mortgage loan seller, as applicable, promptly deliver the information requested by the asset representations reviewer to the special servicer, and the special
servicer will be required to promptly post such information received from the master servicer or the mortgage loan seller to the secure data room; provided that the master servicer or the mortgage loan seller will be required to deliver such additional information only to the extent such information is reasonably available to it.
In addition, in the event that the asset representations reviewer determines that the information posted to the secure data room with respect to any Mortgage Loan is missing any documents required to complete any Test described below in connection with an Asset Review of such Mortgage Loan, the asset representations reviewer will be required to promptly notify the special servicer of such missing documents, and the special servicer will be required to promptly contact the mortgage loan seller to obtain such documents from the mortgage loan seller. The mortgage loan seller will be required to deliver any such missing documents to the special servicer to the extent such documents are reasonably available to the mortgage loan seller.
The asset representations reviewer may, but is under no obligation to, consider information furnished to it by a person that is not a party to the PSA or the applicable mortgage loan seller, and will do so only if such information can be independently verified or is determined by the asset representations reviewer in its good faith discretion ("Unsolicited Information") relevant to the Asset Review, as described below.
Upon its receipt of the Asset Review Notice and access to the Review Materials with respect to a Delinquent Loan, the asset representations reviewer, as an independent contractor, is required to commence a review of the compliance of each Delinquent Loan with the representations and warranties related to that Delinquent Loan (such review, the "Asset Review"). An Asset Review of each Delinquent Loan will consist of the application of a set of pre-determined review procedures (the "Tests") for each representation and warranty made by the mortgage loan seller with respect to such Delinquent Loan. Once an Asset Review of a Mortgage Loan is completed, no further Asset Review will be required of that Mortgage Loan notwithstanding that such Mortgage Loan may continue to be a Delinquent Loan or become a Delinquent Loan again at the time when a new Asset Review Trigger occurs and a new Affirmative Asset Review Vote is obtained subsequent to the occurrence of such Asset Review Trigger.
"
Asset Review Standard" means the performance of the asset representations reviewer of its duties under the PSA in good faith subject to the express terms of the PSA. All determinations or assumptions made by the asset representations reviewer in connection with an Asset Review are required to be made in the asset representations reviewer's good faith discretion and judgment based on the facts and circumstances known to it at the time of such determination or assumption.
No Certificateholder will have the right to change the scope of the asset representations reviewer's review, and the asset representations reviewer will not be permitted to review any information other than (i) the Review Materials posted in the secure data room, or (ii) Unsolicited Information.
The asset representations reviewer may, absent manifest error and subject to the Asset Review Standard, (i) assume, without independent investigation or verification, that the Review Materials are accurate and complete in all material respects and (ii) conclusively rely on such Review Materials.
In the event that the asset representations reviewer determines that the Review Materials are insufficient to complete a Test and such information and documentation is not posted by the special servicer within [_____] days upon request as described above, the asset representations reviewer will list such missing documents in its preliminary report setting forth the preliminary results of the application of the Tests and the reasons why such missing documents are necessary to complete a Test and whether the absence of such documents will be deemed to be a failure of such Test. The asset representations reviewer will provide such preliminary report to the special servicer, who will promptly provide such results to the applicable mortgage loan seller. If the preliminary report indicates one of the representations and warranties fails or is deemed to fail any Test, the mortgage loan seller will have [__] days (the "Cure/Contest Period") to remedy or otherwise refute the failure. Any documents provided or explanations given to support a conclusion that the representation and warranty has not failed a Test will be sent to the
special servicer, and the special servicer will be required to promptly post to the secure data room any documents received from the mortgage loan seller or explanations given to support the mortgage loan seller's claim that the representation and warranty has not failed a Test or any missing documents in the Review Materials are not required to complete a Test.
The asset representations reviewer will be required to, within [______] days after the date of receipt of the related Diligence File or within the [___] days after the expiration of the Cure/Contest Period (whichever is later), complete an Asset Review with respect to each Delinquent Loan and deliver a report to each party to the PSA and the applicable mortgage loan seller for each Delinquent Loan setting forth the results of the application of the Tests in connection with such Asset Review (a "Asset Review Report"). The period of time by which the Asset Review Report must be completed and delivered may be extended by up to an additional [___] days, upon written notice to the parties to the PSA and the applicable mortgage loan seller, if the asset representations reviewer determines pursuant to the Asset Review Standard that such additional time is required due to the characteristics of the Mortgage Loan and/or the Mortgaged Property or Mortgaged Properties. Such Asset Review Report will be required to include (i) a summary of the asset representations reviewer's findings and conclusions as to whether or not it has determined there is any evidence of a failure of any Test in the information and documentation reviewed by the asset representations reviewer, and (ii) a statement that the asset representations reviewer's conclusions set forth in the Asset Review Report were not influenced by any third party. In no event will the asset representations reviewer be required to determine whether any Test failure constitutes a Material Defect, or whether the issuing entity should enforce any rights it may have against the applicable mortgage loan seller, which, in each such case, will be the responsibility of the special servicer. See "—Enforcement of Mortgage Loan Seller's Obligations Under the MLPA" below. In addition, in the event that the asset representations reviewer does not receive any information or documentation that it requested from the special servicer prior to the date by which the asset representations reviewer is required to deliver an Asset Review Report, the asset representations reviewer will be required to prepare the Asset Review Report solely based on the information received by the asset representations reviewer with respect to the related Delinquent Loan, and the asset representations reviewer will have no responsibility to independently obtain any such information from any party to the PSA. The PSA will require that the certificate administrator (i) include in the Distribution Report on Form 10–D relating to the distribution period in which the Asset Review Report was received, a summary of the asset representations reviewer's conclusions included in such Asset Review Report, and (ii) post such summary to the certificate administrator's website not later than [two] business days after receipt of such Asset Review Report from the asset representations reviewer.
Eligibility of Asset Representations Reviewer
[The asset representations reviewer will be required to represent and warrant in the PSA that it is an Eligible Asset Reviewer. The asset representations reviewer is required to at all times be an Eligible Asset Reviewer. If the asset representations reviewer ceases to be an Eligible Asset Reviewer, the asset representations reviewer is required to immediately notify the master servicer, the special servicer, the trustee, the operating advisor, the certificate administrator and the Directing Certificateholder of such disqualification and immediately resign under the PSA as described under the "—Resignation of Asset Representations Reviewer" below].
[An "Eligible Asset Reviewer" is an institution that (i) has not been a special servicer, operating advisor or asset representations reviewer on a transaction for which [APPLICABLE RATING AGENCIES] has qualified, downgraded or withdrawn its rating or ratings of, one or more classes of certificates for such transaction citing servicing or other relevant concerns with the special servicer, the operating advisor or the asset representations reviewer, as applicable, as the sole or material factor in such rating action, (ii) can and will make certain representations and warranties with respect to the asset representations reviewer set forth in the PSA, (iii) (and is not affiliated) with any sponsor, any mortgage loan seller, the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, the certificate administrator, the trustee, the Directing Certificateholder or any of their respective affiliates, (iv) has not performed (and is not affiliated with any party hired to perform) any due diligence or similar services with respect to any Mortgage Loan or any related Companion Loan prior to the Closing Date for or on behalf of any sponsor,
any mortgage loan seller, any underwriter or the Directing Certificateholder or any of their respective affiliates, or have been paid any fees, compensation or other remuneration by any of them in connection with any such services and (v) that does not directly or indirectly, through one or more affiliates or otherwise, own any interest in any certificates, any Mortgage Loans, any Companion Loan or any securities backed by a Companion Loan or otherwise have any financial interest in the securitization transaction to which the PSA relates, other than in fees from its role as asset representations reviewer and except as set forth in the PSA.]
Other Obligations of Asset Representations Reviewer
[Subject to the Privileged Information Exception, the asset representations reviewer is required to keep confidential any Privileged Information received from any party to the PSA or any sponsor under the PSA (including, without limitation, in connection with the review of the Mortgage Loans) and not disclose such Privileged Information to any person (including Certificateholders), other than (1) to the extent expressly required by the PSA in an Asset Review Report or otherwise, to the other parties to the PSA with a notice indicating that such information is Privileged Information or (2) pursuant to a Privileged Information Exception. Each party to the PSA that receives Privileged Information from the asset representations reviewer with a notice stating that such information is Privileged Information may not disclose such Privileged Information to any person without the prior written consent of the applicable special servicer other than pursuant to a Privileged Information Exception.]
Neither the asset representations reviewer nor any of its affiliates may make any investment in any class of certificates; provided, however, that such prohibition will not apply to (i) riskless principal transactions effected by a broker dealer affiliate of the asset representations reviewer or (ii) investments by an affiliate of the asset representations reviewer if the asset representations reviewer and such affiliate maintain policies and procedures that (A) segregate personnel involved in the activities of the asset representations reviewer under the PSA from personnel involved in such affiliate's investment activities and (B) prevent such affiliate and its personnel from gaining access to information regarding the issuing entity and the asset representations reviewer and its personnel from gaining access to such affiliate's information regarding its investment activities.
Delegation of Asset Representations Reviewer's Duties
The asset representations reviewer may delegate its duties to agents or subcontractors in accordance with the PSA, however, the asset representations reviewer will remain obligated and primarily liable for any Asset Review required in accordance with the provisions of the PSA without diminution of such obligation or liability or related obligation or liability by virtue of such delegation or arrangements or by virtue of indemnification from any person acting as its agents or subcontractor to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the asset representations reviewer alone were performing its obligations under the PSA.
Asset Reviewer Termination Events
The following constitute asset representations reviewer termination events under the PSA (each, an "Asset Reviewer Termination Event") whether any such event is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:
(i) any failure by the asset representations reviewer to observe or perform in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements or the material breach of any of its representations or warranties under the PSA, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failure is given to the asset representations reviewer by the trustee or to the asset representations reviewer and the trustee by the holders of certificates evidencing at least [25]% of the Voting Rights;
(ii) any failure by the asset representations reviewer to perform its obligations set forth in the PSA in accordance with the Asset Review Standard in any material respect, which failure continues
unremedied for a period of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failures is given to the asset representations reviewer;
(iii) any failure by the asset representations reviewer to be an Eligible Asset Reviewer, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days;
(iv) a decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under any present or future federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law for the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, has been entered against the asset representations reviewer, and such decree or order has remained in force undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days;
(v) the asset representations reviewer consents to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator or liquidation committee in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities, voluntary liquidation, or similar proceedings of or relating to the asset representations reviewer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property; or
(vi) the asset representations reviewer admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, files a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or voluntarily suspends payment of its obligations.
Upon receipt by the certificate administrator of notice of the occurrence of any Asset Reviewer Termination Event, the certificate administrator will be required to promptly provide written notice to all Certificateholders electronically by posting such notice on its internet website and by mail, unless the certificate administrator has received notice that such Asset Reviewer Termination Event has been remedied.
Rights Upon Asset Reviewer Termination Event
If an Asset Reviewer Termination Event occurs, and in each and every such case, so long as such Asset Reviewer Termination Event has not been remedied, then either the trustee (i) may or (ii) upon the written direction of Certificateholders evidencing at least [25]% of the Voting Rights will be required to, terminate all of the rights and obligations of the asset representations reviewer under the PSA, other than rights and obligations accrued prior to such termination and other than indemnification rights (arising out of events occurring prior to such termination), by written notice to the asset representations reviewer. The asset representations reviewer is required to bear all reasonable costs and expenses of each other party to the PSA in connection with its termination for cause.
Termination of the Asset Representations Reviewer Without Cause
Upon (i) the written direction of Certificateholders evidencing not less than [25]% of the Voting Rights requesting a vote to terminate and replace the asset representations reviewer with a proposed successor asset representations reviewer that is an Eligible Asset Reviewer, and (ii) payment by such holders to the certificate administrator of the reasonable fees and expenses to be incurred by the certificate administrator in connection with administering such vote, the certificate administrator will promptly provide notice to all Certificateholders and the asset representations reviewer of such request by posting such notice on its internet website, and by mailing to all Certificateholders and the asset representations reviewer. Upon the written direction of Certificateholders evidencing at least [75]% of a Certificateholder Quorum, the trustee will terminate all of the rights and obligations of the asset representations reviewer under the PSA (other than any rights or obligations that accrued prior to the date of such termination and other than indemnification rights (arising out of events occurring prior to such termination)) by written notice to the asset representations reviewer, and the proposed successor asset representations reviewer will be appointed.
[In the event that holders of the certificates entitled to at least 75% of the Voting Rights elect to remove the asset representations reviewer without cause and appoint a successor, the successor asset representations reviewer will be responsible for all expenses necessary to effect the transfer of responsibilities from its predecessor.]
Resignation of Asset Representations Reviewer
The asset representations reviewer may at any time resign by giving written notice to the other parties to the PSA. In addition, the asset representations reviewer will at all times be, and will be required to resign if it fails to be an Eligible Asset Reviewer by giving written notice to the other parties. Upon such notice of resignation, the depositor is required to promptly appoint a successor asset representations reviewer that is an Eligible Asset Reviewer. No resignation of the asset representations reviewer will be effective until a successor asset representations reviewer that is an Eligible Asset Reviewer has been appointed and accepted the appointment. If no successor asset representations reviewer has been so appointed and accepted the appointment within 30 days after the notice of resignation, the resigning asset representations reviewer may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor asset representations reviewer that is an Eligible Asset Reviewer. The resigning asset representations reviewer must pay all costs and expenses associated with the transfer of its duties.
Asset Representations Reviewer Compensation
Certain fees will be payable to the asset representations reviewer, and the asset representations reviewer will be entitled to be reimbursed for certain expenses, as described under "Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses".
Replacement of Special Servicer Without Cause
Except as limited by certain conditions described below and subject to the rights of the holder of the related Companion Loan (or in the case of an AB Whole Loan, the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder) under the related Intercreditor Agreement, the special servicer may generally be replaced, prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, at any time and without cause, by the Directing Certificateholder so long as, among other things, the Directing Certificateholder provides a replacement special servicer that meets the requirements of the PSA, including that [the trustee and the certificate administrator receive a Rating Agency Confirmation from each Rating Agency and that such replacement special servicer may not be the asset representations reviewer or any of its affiliates][the trustee provides each Rating Agency with a Rating Agency Communication]. The reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of any such termination incurred by the Directing Certificateholder without cause (including the costs of [obtaining a Rating Agency Confirmation][providing a Rating Agency Communication]) will be paid by the holders of the Controlling Class.
After the occurrence and during the continuance of a Control Termination Event, upon (i) the written direction of holders of Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the Voting Rights (taking into account the application of any Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the Certificate Balances) of the Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates requesting a vote to replace the special servicer with a new special servicer, (ii) payment by such holders to the certificate administrator of the reasonable fees and expenses (including any legal fees and any Rating Agency fees and expenses) to be incurred by the certificate administrator in connection with administering such vote (which fees and expenses will not be additional trust fund expenses), and (iii) delivery by such holders to [the certificate administrator and the trustee of Rating Agency Confirmation from each Rating Agency (such Rating Agency Confirmation will be obtained at the expense of those holders of certificates requesting such vote)][each Rating Agency (with a copy to the certificate administrator and trustee) of a Rating Agency Communication (which such Rating Agency Communication shall be provided at the expense of those holders of certificates requesting such vote)], the certificate administrator will be required to post notice of the same on the certificate administrator's website and concurrently by mail and conduct the solicitation of votes of all certificates in such regard, which such vote must occur within 180 days of the posting of such notice. Upon the written direction of
holders of Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates evidencing at least 75% of a Certificateholder Quorum, the trustee will be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the special servicer under the PSA and appoint the successor special servicer (which must be a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer) designated by such Certificateholders; provided such successor special servicer is a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer, subject to indemnification, right to outstanding fees, reimbursement of Advances and other rights set forth in the PSA, which survive such termination. The certificate administrator will include on each Distribution Date statement a statement that each Certificateholder may access such notices via the certificate administrator's website and that each Certificateholder may register to receive electronic mail notifications when such notices are posted thereon.
A "Certificateholder Quorum" means, in connection with any solicitation of votes in connection with the replacement of the special servicer described above, the holders of certificates evidencing at least 75% of the aggregate Voting Rights of all Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates on an aggregate basis.
A "Qualified Replacement Special Servicer" is a replacement special servicer that [(i) satisfies all of the eligibility requirements applicable to special servicers in the PSA, (ii) is not the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer or an affiliate of the operating advisor or the asset representations reviewer, (iii) is not obligated to pay the operating advisor (x) any fees or otherwise compensate the operating advisor in respect of its obligations under the PSA, or (y) for the appointment of the successor special servicer or the recommendation by the operating advisor for the replacement special servicer to become the special servicer, (iv) is not entitled to receive any compensation from the operating advisor other than compensation that is not material and is unrelated to the operating advisor's recommendation that such party be appointed as the replacement special servicer, (v) is not entitled to receive any fee from the operating advisor for its appointment as successor special servicer, in each case, unless expressly approved by 100% of the Certificateholders, [(vi) is not a special servicer that has been cited by [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] as having servicing concerns as the sole or material factor in any qualification, downgrade or withdrawal of the ratings (or placement on "watch status" in contemplation of a ratings downgrade or withdrawal) of securities in a transaction serviced by the applicable servicer prior to the time of determination, (vii) currently has a special servicer rating of at least [SPECIFIC MINIMUM RATING] from [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] and (viii) is not a special servicer that has been cited by [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] as having servicing concerns as the sole or a material factor in any qualification, downgrade or withdrawal of the ratings (or placement on "watch status" in contemplation of a ratings downgrade or withdrawal) of securities in a transaction serviced by the applicable servicer prior to the time of determination].
[THE FOLLOWING TWO PARAGRAPHS ARE APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS PRIOR TO DECEMBER 24, 2016:]
[In addition, after the occurrence of a Consultation Termination Event, if the operating advisor determines that the special servicer is not performing its duties as required under the PSA or is otherwise not acting in accordance with the Servicing Standard, the operating advisor will have the right to recommend the replacement of the special servicer. In such event, the operating advisor will be required to deliver to the trustee and the certificate administrator, with a copy to the special servicer, a written recommendation detailing the reasons supporting its position (along with relevant information justifying its recommendation) and recommending a suggested replacement special servicer (which must be a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer). The certificate administrator will be required to notify each Certificateholder of the recommendation and post it on the certificate administrator's internet website, and to conduct the solicitation of votes with respect to such recommendation.
The operating advisor's recommendation to replace the special servicer must be confirmed by an affirmative vote of holders of Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates evidencing at least a majority of the aggregate Voting Rights (taking into account the application of any Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the respective Certificate Balances) of all Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates on an aggregate basis. In the event the holders of such Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates elect to remove and replace the special servicer, the certificate
administrator will be required to [receive a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies at that time. In the event the certificate administrator receives a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies (and the successor special servicer agrees to be bound by the terms of the PSA), the trustee will then be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the special servicer under the PSA and to appoint the successor special servicer approved by the Certificateholders, provided such successor special servicer is a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer, subject to the terminated special servicer's rights to indemnification, payment of outstanding fees, reimbursement of Advances and other rights set forth in the PSA that survive termination][provide a Rating Agency Communication to each of the Rating Agencies at that time. After the deliverance of a Rating Agency Communication to each of the Rating Agencies (and the successor special servicer agrees to be bound by the terms of the PSA), the trustee will then be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the special servicer under the PSA and to appoint the successor special servicer approved by the Certificateholders, provided such successor special servicer is a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer, subject to the terminated special servicer's rights to indemnification, payment of outstanding fees, reimbursement of Advances and other rights set forth in the PSA that survive termination]. The reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses of outside counsel) associated with [obtaining such Rating Agency Confirmations][providing such Rating Agency Communications] and administering the vote of the applicable holders of the Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates and the operating advisor's identification of a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer will be an additional trust fund expense. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, the operating advisor will not be permitted to recommend the replacement of the special servicer with respect to an AB Whole Loan unless an AB Control Appraisal Period has occurred and is continuing with respect to an AB Whole Loan under the related Intercreditor Agreement.] [See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".]]
[THE FOLLOWING TWO PARAGRAPHS ARE APPLICABLE TO OFFERINGS CLOSING ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 24, 2016 THAT SATISFY RISK RETENTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THIRD PARTY PURCHASER OF HORIZONTAL RESIDUAL INTEREST]
[In addition, if the operating advisor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that (1) the special servicer is not performing its duties as required under the PSA or is otherwise not acting in accordance with the Servicing Standard and (2) the replacement of the special servicer would be in the best interest of the certificateholders as a collective whole, then the operating advisor will have the right to recommend the replacement of the special servicer. In such event, the operating advisor will be required to deliver to the trustee and the certificate administrator, with a copy to the special servicer, a written report detailing the reasons supporting its recommendation (along with relevant information justifying its recommendation) and recommending a suggested replacement special servicer (which must be a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer). The certificate administrator will be required to notify each Certificateholder of the recommendation and post the related report on the certificate administrator's internet website, and to conduct the solicitation of votes with respect to such recommendation.
The operating advisor's recommendation to replace the special servicer must be confirmed by an affirmative vote of holders of Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates evidencing at least a majority of a quorum of certificateholders (which, for this purpose, is the holders of certificates that (i) evidence at least 20% of the Voting Rights (taking into account the application of any Appraisal Reduction Amounts to notionally reduce the respective Certificate Balances) of all Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates on an aggregate basis, and (ii) consist of at least three Certificateholders or Certificate Owners that are not affiliated with each other). In the event the holders of such Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates elect to remove and replace the special servicer, the certificate administrator will be required to [receive a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies at that time. In the event the certificate administrator receives a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies (and the successor special servicer agrees to be bound by the terms of the PSA), the trustee will then be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the special servicer under the PSA and to appoint the successor special servicer approved by the Certificateholders, provided such successor special servicer is a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer, subject to the terminated special servicer's rights to indemnification, payment of outstanding fees,
reimbursement of Advances and other rights set forth in the PSA that survive termination][provide a Rating Agency Communication to each of the Rating Agencies at that time. After the deliverance of a Rating Agency Communication to each of the Rating Agencies (and the successor special servicer agrees to be bound by the terms of the PSA), the trustee will then be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the special servicer under the PSA and to appoint the successor special servicer approved by the Certificateholders, provided such successor special servicer is a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer, subject to the terminated special servicer's rights to indemnification, payment of outstanding fees, reimbursement of Advances and other rights set forth in the PSA that survive termination]. The reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with [obtaining such Rating Agency Confirmations][providing such Rating Agency Communications] and administering the vote of the applicable holders of the Principal Balance Certificates and Class [EC] certificates and the operating advisor's identification of a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer will be an additional trust fund expense. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, the operating advisor will not be permitted to recommend the replacement of the special servicer with respect to an AB Whole Loan unless an AB Control Appraisal Period has occurred and is continuing with respect to an AB Whole Loan under the related Intercreditor Agreement.] [See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".]]
In any case, the trustee will notify the outgoing special servicer promptly of the effective date of its termination. Any replacement special servicer recommended by the operating advisor must be a Qualified Replacement Special Servicer.
No appointment of a special servicer will be effective until the depositor or the depositor for the securitization of a Companion Loan has filed any required Exchange Act filings related to the removal and replacement of the special servicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Certificateholders' direction to replace the special servicer will not apply to an AB Whole Loan unless an AB Control Appraisal Period has occurred and is continuing with respect to an AB Whole Loan under the related Intercreditor Agreement. The Subordinate Companion Loan holder (or Loan Specific Directing Certificateholder in the case of the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan), will have the right, prior to the occurrence and continuance of an AB Control Appraisal Period, to replace the special servicer solely with respect to an AB Whole Loan. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan".
With respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan, the related Non-Serviced Special Servicer may be removed, and a successor special servicer appointed at any time by the Non-Serviced Directing Certificateholder appointed under the Non-Serviced PSA (and not by the Directing Certificateholder for this transaction) to the extent set forth in the Non-Serviced PSA and the related Intercreditor Agreement for such Non-Serviced Whole Loan. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans— The Non-Serviced Whole Loan" and "—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan" below.
Termination of Servicer and Special Servicer for Cause
Servicer Termination Events
A "Servicer Termination Event" under the PSA with respect to the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, will include, without limitation:
(a) (i) any failure by the master servicer to make a required deposit to the Collection Account or remit to the companion paying agent for deposit into the related companion loan distribution account on the day and by the time such deposit or remittance was first required to be made, which failure is not remedied within one business day, or (ii) any failure by the master servicer to deposit into, or remit to the certificate administrator for deposit into, the Distribution Account any amount required to be so deposited or remitted, which failure is not remedied by 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the relevant Distribution Date;
(b) any failure by the special servicer to deposit into the REO Account within one business day after the day such deposit is required to be made, or to remit to the master servicer for deposit in the Collection Account, or any other account required under the PSA, any such deposit or remittance required to be made by the special servicer pursuant to, and at the time specified by, the PSA;
(c) any failure by the master servicer or the special servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect any of its other covenants or obligations under the PSA, which failure continues unremedied for [30] days (or (i) with respect to any year that a report on Form 10-K is required to be filed, five business days in the case of the master servicer's or special servicer's, as applicable, obligations regarding Exchange Act reporting required under the PSA and compliance with Regulation AB, (ii) [15] days in the case of the master servicer's failure to make a Servicing Advance or (iii) [15] days in the case of a failure to pay the premium for any property insurance policy required to be maintained under the PSA) after written notice of the failure has been given to the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, by any other party to the PSA, or to the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, with a copy to each other party to the related PSA, by Certificateholders of any class, evidencing as to that class, Percentage Interests aggregating not less than [25]% or, with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, by the holder of the related Serviced Companion Loan; provided, however, that if that failure is capable of being cured and the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, is diligently pursuing that cure, that [30]-day period will be extended an additional [30] days; provided, further, however, that such extended period will not apply to the obligations regarding Exchange Act reporting;
(d) any breach on the part of the master servicer or the special servicer of any representation or warranty in the PSA that materially and adversely affects the interests of any class of Certificateholders or holders of any Serviced Companion Loan and that continues unremedied for a period of [30] days after the date on which notice of that breach, requiring the same to be remedied, will have been given to the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, by the depositor, the certificate administrator or the trustee, or to the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, the certificate administrator and the trustee by the Certificateholders of any class, evidencing as to that class, Percentage Interests aggregating not less than [25]% or, with respect to a Serviced Whole Loan, by the holder of the related Serviced Companion Loan; provided, however, that if that breach is capable of being cured and the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, is diligently pursuing that cure, that [30]-day period will be extended an additional [30] days;
(e) certain events of insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings in respect of or relating to the master servicer or the special servicer, and certain actions by or on behalf of the master servicer or the special servicer indicating its insolvency or inability to pay its obligations;
(f) either of [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] or [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] (i) has qualified, downgraded or withdrawn its rating or ratings of one or more classes of certificates, or (ii) has placed one or more classes of certificates on "watch status" in contemplation of a ratings downgrade or withdrawal (and in the case of clause (i) and (ii), such action has not been withdrawn by [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] or [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] within 60 days of such actual knowledge by the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be) and, in the case of either of clauses (i) or (ii), cited servicing concerns with the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, as the sole or a material factor in such action; or
(g) the master servicer or the special servicer is no longer rated at least [INSERT MINIMUM RATING] or [INSERT MINIMUM RATING], respectively, by [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] and such master servicer or special servicer is not reinstated to at least that rating within [60] days of the delisting.
Rights Upon Servicer Termination Event
If a Servicer Termination Event occurs with respect to the master servicer or the special servicer under the PSA, then, so long as the Servicer Termination Event remains unremedied, the depositor or the
trustee will be authorized, and at the written direction of Certificateholders entitled to a majority of the Voting Rights or, for so long as a Control Termination Event has not occurred and is not continuing, the Directing Certificateholder (solely with respect to the special servicer), the trustee will be required to terminate all of the rights and obligations of the defaulting party as master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be (other than certain rights in respect of indemnification and certain items of servicing compensation), under the PSA. The trustee will then succeed to all of the responsibilities, duties and liabilities of the defaulting party as master servicer or special servicer, as the case may be, under the PSA and will be entitled to similar compensation arrangements. If the trustee is unwilling or unable to so act, it may (or, at the written request of Certificateholders entitled to a majority of the Voting Rights, or, for so long as a Control Termination Event has not occurred and is not continuing, the Directing Certificateholder, it will be required to) appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, a loan servicing institution or other entity, and, for so long as a Control Termination Event has not occurred and is not continuing, that has been approved by the Directing Certificateholder, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld. In addition, the asset representations reviewer or any of its affiliates may not be appointed as a successor master servicer or special servicer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the section described above, if a Servicer Termination Event on the part of the special servicer remains unremedied and affects the holder of a Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan, and the special servicer has not otherwise been terminated, the holder of such Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan (or, if applicable, the related trustee, acting at the direction of the related directing certificateholder (or similar entity)) will be entitled to direct the trustee to terminate the special servicer solely with respect to the related Serviced Pari Passu Mortgage Loan. A replacement special servicer will be selected by the trustee or, prior to a Consultation Termination Event, by the Directing Certificateholder; provided, however, that any successor special servicer appointed to replace the special servicer with respect to a Serviced Pari Passu Mortgage Loan cannot at any time be the person (or an affiliate of such person) that was terminated at the direction of the holder of the related Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan, without the prior written consent of such holder of the related Serviced Pari Passu Companion Loan.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the section described above, if a servicer termination event on the part of the special servicer under the Non-Serviced PSA entered into in connection with the securitization of the Non-Serviced Companion Loan (the special servicer, the Non-Serviced Special Servicer remains unremedied and affects the holder of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, and the Non-Serviced Special Servicer has not otherwise been terminated, the trustee, acting at the direction of the Directing Certificateholder, will be entitled to direct the Non-Serviced Trustee to terminate the Non-Serviced Special Servicer solely with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan, and a successor will be appointed in accordance with the Non-Serviced PSA.
In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the section described above, if the master servicer receives notice of termination solely due to a Servicer Termination Event described in clauses [(f)] or [(g)] under "—Termination of Servicer and Special Servicer for Cause—Servicer Termination Events" above, and prior to being replaced as described in the second preceding paragraph, the master servicer will have 45 days after receipt of the notice of termination to find, and sell its rights and obligations to, a successor master servicer that meets the requirements of a master servicer under the PSA; provided that the Rating Agencies have each provided a Rating Agency Confirmation. The termination of the master servicer will be effective when such successor master servicer has succeeded the terminated master servicer, as successor master servicer and such successor master servicer has assumed the terminated master servicer's servicing obligations and responsibilities under the PSA. If a successor has not entered into the PSA as successor master servicer within 45 days after notice of the termination of the master servicer, the master servicer will be replaced by the trustee as described above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if any Servicer Termination Event on the part of the master servicer affects a Serviced Companion Loan, the related holder of a Serviced Companion Loan or the rating on any class of certificates backed, wholly or partially, by any Serviced Companion Loan, and if the master servicer is not otherwise terminated, or (2) if a Servicer Termination Event on the part of the master servicer affects only a Serviced Companion Loan, the related holder of a Serviced Companion Loan or
the rating on any class of certificates backed, wholly or partially, by any Serviced Companion Loan, then the master servicer may not be terminated by or at the direction of the related holder of such Serviced Companion Loan or the holders of any certificates backed, wholly or partially, by such Serviced Companion Loan, but upon the written direction of the related holder of such Serviced Companion Loan, the master servicer will be required to appoint a sub-servicer that will be responsible for servicing the related Serviced Whole Loan.
Further, if replaced as a result of a Servicer Termination Event, the master servicer or special servicer, as the case may be, will be responsible for the costs and expenses associated with the transfer of its duties.
Waiver of Servicer Termination Event
The Certificateholders representing at least [___]% of the Voting Rights allocated to certificates affected by any Servicer Termination Event may waive such Servicer Termination Event within twenty (20) days of the receipt of notice from the certificate administrator of the occurrence of such Servicer Termination Event; provided, however, that a Servicer Termination Event under clause (i) of the definition of "Servicer Termination Event" may be waived only by all of the Certificateholders of the affected classes and a Servicer Termination Event under clause (c) of the definition of "Servicer Termination Event" may be waived only with the consent of the Certificateholders. Upon any such waiver of a Servicer Termination Event, such Servicer Termination Event shall cease to exist and shall be deemed to have been remedied. Upon any such waiver of a Servicer Termination Event by Certificateholders, the trustee and the certificate administrator will be entitled to recover all costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with enforcement action taken with respect to such Servicer Termination Event prior to such waiver from the issuing entity.
Resignation of the Master Servicer and Special Servicer
The PSA permits the master servicer and the special servicer to resign from their respective obligations only upon (a) the appointment of, and the acceptance of the appointment by, a successor and the providing of a Rating Agency Communication to each of the Rating Agencies; and, as to the special servicer only, for so long as a Control Termination Event has not occurred and is not continuing, the approval of such successor by the Directing Certificateholder, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or (b) a determination that their respective obligations are no longer permissible with respect to the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, under applicable law. In the event that the master servicer or special servicer resigns as a result of the determination that their respective obligations are no longer permissible under applicable law, the trustee will then succeed to all of the responsibilities, duties and liabilities of the defaulting party as master servicer or special servicer, as the case may be, under the PSA and will be entitled to similar compensation arrangements. If the trustee is unwilling or unable to so act, it may appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, a loan servicing institution or other entity, [subject to the trustee's receipt of a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies.]
No resignation will become effective until the trustee or other successor has assumed the obligations and duties of the resigning master servicer or special servicer, as the case may be, under the PSA. Further, the resigning master servicer or special servicer, as the case may be, must pay all costs and expenses associated with the transfer of its duties. Other than as described under "—Termination of Servicer and Special Servicer for Cause—Servicer Termination Events" above, in no event will the master servicer or the special servicer have the right to appoint any successor master servicer or special servicer if such master servicer or special servicer, as applicable, is terminated or removed pursuant to the PSA. In addition, the PSA will prohibit the appointment of the asset representations reviewer, the operating advisor or one of their respective affiliates as successor to the master servicer or the special servicer.
Limitation on Liability; Indemnification
The PSA will provide that none of the master servicer (including in its capacity as the paying agent for any Companion Loan), the special servicer, the depositor, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer or any partner, shareholder, member, manager, director, officer, employee or
agent of any of them will be under any liability to the issuing entity, Certificateholders or holders of the related Companion Loan, as applicable, for any action taken, or not taken, in good faith pursuant to the PSA or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that none of the master servicer (including in its capacity as the paying agent for any Companion Loan), the special servicer, the depositor, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer or similar person will be protected against any breach of a representation or warranty made by such party, as applicable, in the PSA or any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of obligations or duties under the PSA or by reason of negligent disregard of such obligations and duties. The PSA will also provide that the master servicer (including in its capacity as the paying agent for any Companion Loan), the special servicer, the depositor, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer and their respective affiliates and any partner, shareholder, member, manager, director, officer, employee or agent of any of them will be entitled to indemnification by the issuing entity against any claims, losses, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable legal fees and related costs, judgments, and other costs, liabilities, fees and expenses incurred in connection with any legal action or claim that relates to the PSA, the Mortgage Loans, any related Companion Loan or the certificates; provided, however, that the indemnification will not extend to any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with any breach of a representation or warranty made by such party, as applicable, in the PSA or incurred by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of obligations or duties under the PSA, by reason of negligent disregard of such party's obligations or duties, or in the case of the depositor and any of its partners, shareholders, directors, officers, members, managers, employees and agents, any violation by any of them of any state or federal securities law. In addition, absent actual fraud (as determined by a final non-appealable court order), neither the trustee nor the certificate administrator will be liable for special, punitive, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the trustee or the certificate administrator has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. The PSA will also provide that any related master servicer, depositor, special servicer, operating advisor (or the equivalent), asset representations reviewer or trustee under the Non-Serviced PSA with respect to the Non-Serviced Companion Loan and any partner, director, officer, shareholder, member, manager, employee or agent of any of them will be entitled to indemnification by the issuing entity and held harmless against the issuing entity's pro rata share of any and all claims, losses, penalties, fines, forfeitures, legal fees and related costs, judgments and any other costs, liabilities, fees and expenses incurred in connection with servicing and administration of such Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and the non-serviced Mortgaged Property under the Non-Serviced PSA or the PSA (as and to the same extent the securitization trust formed under the Non-Serviced PSA is required to indemnify such parties in respect of other Mortgage Loans in the securitization trust formed under the Non-Serviced PSA pursuant to the terms of the Non-Serviced PSA).
In addition, the PSA will provide that none of the master servicer (including in its capacity as the paying agent for any Companion Loans), the special servicer, the depositor or operating advisor will be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its respective responsibilities under the PSA or that in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability not reimbursed by the issuing entity. However, each of the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor and the operating advisor will be permitted, in the exercise of its discretion, to undertake any action that it may deem necessary or desirable with respect to the enforcement and/or protection of the rights and duties of the parties to the PSA and the interests of the Certificateholders (and, in the case of a Serviced Whole Loan, the rights of the Certificateholders and the holders of the related Serviced Companion Loan (as a collective whole), taking into account the subordinate or pari passu nature of such Serviced Companion Loan) under the PSA; provided, however, that if a Serviced Whole Loan and/or the holder of the related Companion Loan are involved, such expenses, costs and liabilities will be payable out of funds related to such Serviced Whole Loan in accordance with the related Intercreditor Agreement and will also be payable out of the other funds in the Collection Account if amounts on deposit with respect to such Serviced Whole Loan are insufficient therefor. If any such expenses, costs or liabilities relate to a
Mortgage Loan or Companion Loan, then any subsequent recovery on that Mortgage Loan or Companion Loan, as applicable, will be used to reimburse the issuing entity for any amounts advanced for the payment of such expenses, costs or liabilities. In that event, the legal expenses and costs of the action, and any liability resulting from the action, will be expenses, costs and liabilities of the issuing entity, and the master servicer (including in its capacity as the paying agent for any Companion Loans) the special servicer, the depositor, the asset representations reviewer or the operating advisor, as the case may be, will be entitled to be reimbursed out of the Collection Account for the expenses.
Pursuant to the PSA, the master servicer and the special servicer will each be required to maintain a fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy or their equivalent that provides coverage against losses that may be sustained as a result of an officer's or employee's misappropriation of funds or errors and omissions, subject to certain limitations as to amount of coverage, deductible amounts, conditions, exclusions and exceptions permitted by the PSA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the master servicer and the special servicer will be allowed to self-insure with respect to an errors and omission policy and a fidelity bond so long as certain conditions set forth in the PSA are met.
Any person into which the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, operating advisor, asset representations reviewer may be merged or consolidated, or any person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, operating advisor or asset representations reviewer is a party, or any person succeeding to the business of the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, operating advisor or asset representations reviewer, will be the successor of the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, operating advisor or asset representations reviewer, as the case may be, under the PSA. The master servicer, the special servicer, the operating advisor and the asset representations reviewer may have other normal business relationships with the depositor or the depositor's affiliates.
The trustee and the certificate administrator make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of the PSA (other than as to it being a valid obligation of the trustee and the certificate administrator), the certificates, the Mortgage Loans, this prospectus (other than as to the accuracy of the information provided by the trustee and the certificate administrator as set forth above) or any related documents and will not be accountable for the use or application by or on behalf of the master servicer or the special servicer of any funds paid to the master servicer or any special servicer in respect of the certificates or the Mortgage Loans, or any funds deposited into or withdrawn from the Collection Account or any other account by or on behalf of the master servicer or any special servicer. The PSA provides that no provision of such agreement will be construed to relieve the trustee and the certificate administrator from liability for their own negligent action, their own negligent failure to act or their own willful misconduct or bad faith.
The PSA provides that neither the trustee nor the certificate administrator, as applicable, will be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer of the trustee or the certificate administrator, unless it is proven that the trustee or the certificate administrator, as applicable, was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts. In addition, neither the trustee nor the certificate administrator, as applicable, will be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of holders of certificates entitled to greater than 25% of the percentage interest of each affected class, or of the aggregate Voting Rights of the certificates, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee and the certificate administrator, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee and the certificate administrator, under the PSA (unless a higher percentage of Voting Rights is required for such action).
The trustee and the certificate administrator and any director, officer, employee, representative or agent of the trustee and the certificate administrator, will be entitled to indemnification by the issuing entity, to the extent of amounts held in the Collection Account, the Loan Specific [__] REMIC Distribution Account or the Lower-Tier REMIC Distribution Account from time to time, for any loss, liability, damages, claims or unanticipated expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) arising out of or incurred by the trustee or the certificate administrator in connection with their participation in the transaction and any act or omission of the trustee or the certificate administrator relating to the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties of the trustee and the certificate administrator (including
in any capacities in which they serve, e.g., paying agent, REMIC administrator, authenticating agent, custodian, certificate registrar and 17g-5 Information Provider) under the PSA. However, the indemnification will not extend to any loss, liability or expense that constitutes a specific liability imposed on the trustee or the certificate administrator pursuant to the PSA, or to any loss, liability or expense incurred by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence on the part of the trustee or the certificate administrator in the performance of their obligations and duties under the PSA, or by reason of their negligent disregard of those obligations or duties, or as may arise from a breach of any representation or warranty of the trustee or the certificate administrator made in the PSA.
Enforcement of Mortgage Loan Seller's Obligations Under the MLPA
In the event any party to the PSA receives a request or demand from a Requesting Investor to the effect that a Mortgage Loan should be repurchased or replaced due to a Material Defect, or if such party to the PSA determines that a Mortgage Loan should be repurchased or replaced due to a Material Defect, that party to the PSA will be required to promptly forward such request or demand to the master servicer and the special servicer, and the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, will be required to promptly forward it to the applicable mortgage loan seller. The master servicer (in the case of Mortgage Loans that are not Specially Serviced Loans) or the special servicer (in the case of Specially Serviced Loans) will be required to enforce the obligations of the mortgage loan sellers under the MLPAs pursuant to the terms of the PSA and the MLPAs. These obligations include obligations resulting from a Material Defect. Subject to the provisions of the applicable MLPA relating to the dispute resolutions as described under "Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement—Dispute Resolution Provisions", such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims, if any, will be required to be carried out in such form, to such extent and at such time as the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, would require were it, in its individual capacity, the owner of the affected Mortgage Loan or Trust Subordinate Companion Loan.
Within [__] days after receipt of an Asset Review Report with respect to any Mortgage Loan, the special servicer will be required to determine, based on the Servicing Standard, whether there exists a Material Defect with respect to such Mortgage Loan. If the special servicer determines that a Material Defect exists, the special servicer will be required to enforce the obligations of the applicable mortgage loan seller under the MLPA with respect to such Material Defect as discussed in the preceding paragraph. See "—The Asset Representations Reviewer—Asset Review" above.
Any costs incurred by the master servicer or the special servicer with respect to the enforcement of the obligations of a mortgage loan seller under the applicable MLPA will be deemed to be Servicing Advances, to the extent not recovered from the mortgage loan seller or the Requesting Investor. See "Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements—Dispute Resolution Provisions".
Dispute Resolution Provisions
Certificateholder's Rights When a Repurchase Request is Initially Delivered by a Certificateholder
In the event an Initial Requesting Certificateholder delivers a written request to a party to the PSA that a Mortgage Loan be repurchased by the applicable mortgage loan seller alleging the existence of a Material Defect with respect to such Mortgage Loan and setting forth the basis for such allegation (a “Repurchase Request”), the receiving party will be required to promptly forward that Repurchase Request to the master servicer and the special servicer and the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, will be required to promptly forward it to the applicable mortgage loan seller. An “Initial Requesting Certificateholder” is the first Certificateholder or Certificate Owner to deliver a Repurchase Request as described above with respect to a Mortgage Loan, and there may not be more than one Initial Requesting Certificateholder with respect to any Mortgage Loan. Subject to the provisions described below under this heading “—Dispute Resolution Provisions”, the master servicer (with respect to non-specially serviced loans) and the special servicer (with respect to specially serviced loans) (the “Enforcing Servicer”) will be the Enforcing Party with respect to the Repurchase Request. An “Enforcing Party” is the
person obligated to enforce the rights of the issuing entity against the related mortgage loan seller with respect to the Repurchase Request.
In the event the Repurchase Request is not Resolved within 180 days after the mortgage loan seller receives the Repurchase Request (a “Resolution Failure”), then the provisions described below under “—Resolution of a Repurchase Request” will apply. Receipt of the Repurchase Request will be deemed to occur two business days after the Repurchase Request is sent to the related mortgage loan seller. “Resolved” means, with respect to a Repurchase Request, (i) that the related Material Defect has been cured, (ii) the related Mortgage Loan has been repurchased in accordance with the related MLPA, (iii) a mortgage loan has been substituted for the related Mortgage Loan in accordance with the related MLPA, (iv) the applicable mortgage loan seller has paid the Loss of Value Payment, (v) a contractually binding agreement is entered into between the Enforcing Servicer, on behalf of the issuing entity, and the related mortgage loan seller that settles the related mortgage loan seller’s obligations under the related MLPA or (vi) the related Mortgage Loan is no longer property of the issuing entity as a result of a sale or other disposition in accordance with the PSA.
Certificateholder's Rights When a Repurchase Request is Delivered by Another Party to the PSA
In the event that a party to the PSA identifies a Material Defect with respect to a Mortgage Loan, that party will be required to deliver prompt written notice of such Material Defect to each other party to the PSA and the related mortgage loan seller identifying the applicable Mortgage Loan and setting forth the basis for such allegation, and the Enforcing Servicer will be required to promptly send the Repurchase Request to the related mortgage loan seller. The Enforcing Servicer will be required to act as the Enforcing Party and enforce the rights of the issuing entity against the related mortgage loan seller with respect to the Repurchase Request. However, if a Resolution Failure occurs with respect to the Repurchase Request, the provisions described below under “—Resolution of a Repurchase Request” will apply.
Resolution of a Repurchase Request
After a Resolution Failure occurs with respect to a Repurchase Request regarding a Mortgage Loan (whether the Repurchase Request was initiated by an Initial Requesting Certificateholder or by a party to the PSA), the Enforcing Servicer will be required to send a notice (a “Proposed Course of Action Notice”) to the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, to the address specified in the Initial Requesting Certificateholder’s Repurchase Request, and to all other Certificateholders and Certificate Owners (by posting such notice on the certificate administrator’s website) indicating the Enforcing Servicer’s intended course of action with respect to the Repurchase Request. If (a) the Enforcing Servicer’s intended course of action with respect to the Repurchase Request does not involve pursuing further action to exercise rights against the applicable mortgage loan seller with respect to the Repurchase Request and the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, or any other Certificateholder or Certificate Owner wishes to exercise its right to refer the matter to mediation (including nonbinding arbitration) or arbitration, as discussed below under “—Mediation and Arbitration Provisions”, or (b) the Enforcing Servicer’s intended course of action is to pursue further action to exercise rights against the applicable mortgage loan seller with respect to the Repurchase Request but the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, or any other Certificateholder or Certificate Owner does not agree with the dispute resolution method selected by the Enforcing Servicer, then the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, or such other Certificateholder or Certificate Owner may deliver to the Enforcing Servicer a written notice (a “Preliminary Dispute Resolution Election Notice”) within 30 days from the date the Proposed Course of Action Notice is posted on the certificate administrator’s website (the “Dispute Resolution Cut-off Date”) indicating its intent to exercise its right to refer the matter to either mediation or arbitration.
If neither the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, nor any other Certificateholder or Certificate Owner delivers a Preliminary Dispute Resolution Election Notice prior to the Dispute Resolution Cut-off Date, no Certificateholder or Certificate Owner will have the right to refer the Repurchase Request to mediation or arbitration, and the Enforcing Servicer, as the Enforcing Party, will be the sole party entitled
to enforce the issuing entity’s rights against the related mortgage loan seller, subject to any consent or consultation rights of the Directing Certificateholder.
[Promptly and in any event within [__] business days following receipt of a Preliminary Dispute Resolution Election Notice from (i) the Initial Requesting Certificateholder, if any, or (ii) any other Certificateholder or Certificate Owner (each of clauses (i) or (ii), a “Requesting Certificateholder”), the Enforcing Servicer will be required to consult with each Requesting Certificateholder regarding such Requesting Certificateholder’s intention to elect either mediation (including nonbinding arbitration) or arbitration as the dispute resolution method with respect to the Repurchase Request (the “Dispute Resolution Consultation”) so that such Requesting Certificateholder may consider the views of the Enforcing Servicer as to the claims underlying the Repurchase Request and possible dispute resolution methods, such discussions to occur and be completed no later than [at least 10] business days following receipt of a Preliminary Dispute Resolution Election Notice. The Enforcing Servicer will be entitled to establish procedures the Enforcing Servicer deems in good faith to be appropriate relating to the timing and extent of such consultations.] No later than [at least 5] business days after completion of the Dispute Resolution Consultation, a Requesting Certificateholder may provide a final notice to the Enforcing Servicer indicating its decision to exercise its right to refer the matter to either mediation or arbitration (“Final Dispute Resolution Election Notice”).
If, following the Dispute Resolution Consultation, no Requesting Certificateholder timely delivers a Final Dispute Resolution Election Notice to the Enforcing Servicer, then the Enforcing Servicer will continue to act as the Enforcing Party and remain obligated under the PSA to enforce the rights of the issuing entity with respect to the Repurchase Request and no Certificateholder or Certificate Owner will have any further right to elect to refer the matter to mediation or arbitration.
If a Requesting Certificateholder timely delivers a Final Dispute Resolution Election Notice to the Enforcing Servicer, then such Requesting Certificateholder will become the Enforcing Party and must promptly submit the matter to mediation (including nonbinding arbitration) or arbitration. If there are more than one Requesting Certificateholder that timely deliver a Final Dispute Resolution Election Notice, then such Requesting Certificateholders will collectively become the Enforcing Party, and the holder or holders of a majority of the Voting Rights among such Requesting Certificateholders will be entitled to make all decisions relating to such mediation or arbitration. If, however, no Requesting Certificateholder commences arbitration or mediation pursuant to the terms of the PSA within [at least 30] days after delivery of its Final Dispute Resolution Election Notice to the Enforcing Servicer, then (i) the rights of a Requesting Certificateholder to act as the Enforcing Party will terminate and no Certificateholder or Certificate Owner will have any further right to elect to refer the matter to mediation or arbitration, (ii) if the Proposed Course of Action Notice indicated that the Enforcing Servicer will take no further action with respect to the Repurchase Request, then the related Material Defect will be deemed waived for all purposes under the PSA and related MLPA, and (iii) if the Proposed Course of Action Notice had indicated a course of action other than the course of action under clause (ii), then the Enforcing Servicer will again become the Enforcing Party and, as such, will be the sole party entitled to enforce the issuing entity’s rights against the related mortgage loan seller.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the dispute resolution provisions described under this heading “—Resolution of a Repurchase Request” will not apply, and the Enforcing Servicer will remain the Enforcing Party, if the Enforcing Servicer has commenced litigation with respect to the Repurchase Request or determines in accordance with the Servicing Standard that it is in the best interest of Certificateholders to commence litigation with respect to the Repurchase Request to avoid the running of any applicable statute of limitations.
In the event a Requesting Certificateholder becomes the Enforcing Party, the Enforcing Servicer, on behalf of the issuing entity, will remain a party to any proceedings against the related mortgage loan seller.
Mediation and Arbitration Provisions
If the Enforcing Party elects mediation (including nonbinding arbitration) or arbitration, the mediation or arbitration will be administered by a nationally recognized arbitration or mediation organization selected by the mortgage loan seller. A single mediator or arbitrator will be selected by the mediation or arbitration organization from a list of neutrals maintained by it according to its mediation or arbitration rules then in effect. The mediator or arbitrator must be impartial, an attorney and have at least [15] years of experience in commercial litigation and either commercial real estate finance or commercial mortgage-backed securitization matters or other complex commercial transactions.
The expenses of any mediation will be allocated among the parties to the mediation as mutually agreed by the parties as part of the mediation.
In any arbitration, the arbitrator will be required to resolve the dispute in accordance with the MLPA and PSA, and may not modify or change those agreements in any way or award remedies not consistent with those agreements. The arbitrator will not have the power to award punitive or consequential damages. In its final determination, the arbitrator will determine and award the costs of the arbitration to the parties to the arbitration in its reasonable discretion. In the event a Requesting Certificateholder is the Enforcing Party, the Requesting Certificateholder will be required to pay any expenses allocated to the Enforcing Party in the arbitration proceedings or any expenses that the Enforcing Party agrees to bear in the mediation proceedings.
The final determination of the arbitrator will be final and non-appealable, except for actions to confirm or vacate the determination permitted under federal or state law, and may be entered and enforced in any court with jurisdiction over the parties and the matter. By selecting arbitration, the Enforcing Party would be waiving its right to sue in court, including the right to a trial by jury.
In the event a Requesting Certificateholder is the Enforcing Party, the agreement with the arbitrator or mediator, as the case may be, will be required under the PSA to contain an acknowledgment that the issuing entity, or the Enforcing Servicer on its behalf, will be a party to any arbitration or mediation proceedings solely for the purpose of being the beneficiary of any award in favor of the Enforcing Party. All amounts recovered by the Enforcing Party will be required to be paid to the issuing entity, or the Enforcing Servicer on its behalf, and deposited in the Collection Account. The agreement with the arbitrator or mediator, as the case may be, will provide that in the event a Requesting Certificateholder is allocated any related costs and expenses pursuant to the terms of the arbitrator’s decision or the agreement reached in mediation, neither the issuing entity nor the Enforcing Servicer acting on its behalf will be responsible for any such costs and expenses allocated to the Requesting Certificateholder.
The issuing entity (or the Enforcing Servicer, the trustee or the Enforcing Servicer, acting on its behalf), the depositor or any mortgage loan seller will be permitted to redact any personally identifiable customer information included in any information provided for purposes of any mediation or arbitration. Each party to the proceedings will be required to agree to keep confidential the details related to the Repurchase Request and the dispute resolution identified in connection with such proceedings; provided however, the Certificateholders will be permitted to communicate prior to the commencement of any such proceedings to the extent described under “Description of the Certificates—Certificateholder Communication”.
For avoidance of doubt, in no event will the exercise of any right of a Requesting Certificateholder to refer a Repurchase Request to mediation or arbitration affect in any manner the ability of the Enforcing Servicer to perform its obligations with respect to a Mortgage Loan or the exercise of any rights of a Directing Certificateholder.
Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan
[THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS SUBSECTION WILL BE MODIFIED FOR EACH NON-SERVICED MORTGAGE LOAN INCLUDED IN THE ISSUING ENTITY BASED ON THE TERMS OF THE RELATED NON-SERVICED PSA.]
The Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and any related REO Properties are being serviced and administered under the Non-Serviced PSA. Accordingly, the Non-Serviced Master Servicer (or, if it fails to do so, the Non-Serviced Trustee) will (and, in certain urgent or emergency situations, the Non-Serviced Special Servicer may) generally make servicing advances, unless it is determined in accordance with the Non-Serviced PSA that such servicing advance would not be recoverable from related collections. However, no such party will make a P&I advance with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan. The Non-Serviced Master Servicer will generally also remit collections on the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan to or on behalf of the issuing entity for this securitization. However, the master servicer for this securitization will generally be obligated to compile reports that include information on the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, and, to the extent required by the Servicing Standard, to enforce the rights of the issuing entity as the holder of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan under the terms of the related Intercreditor Agreement and make P&I Advances with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, subject to any non-recoverability determination. The Non-Serviced PSA and the PSA both address similar servicing matters, including, but not limited to: collection of payments; establishment of accounts to hold such payments; investment of funds in those accounts; maintenance of insurance coverage on the mortgaged properties; enforcement of due-on-sale and du-on-encumbrance provisions; property inspections; collection of operating statements; loan assumptions; realization upon and sale of defaulted Mortgage Loans; acquisition, operation, maintenance and disposition of REO Properties; servicing compensation; modifications, waivers, amendments and consents with respect to the serviced Mortgage Loans; servicing reports; servicer liability and indemnification; servicer resignation; servicer termination events; and the ability of certain parties to terminate a particular servicer in connection with a servicer termination event or otherwise. In addition, the securitization transaction governing the servicing of the Non-Serviced Whole Loan is a rated commercial mortgage-backed securitization transaction with the same rating agencies as this securitization transaction. Nonetheless, the servicing arrangements under the Non-Serviced PSA differ in certain respects from the servicing arrangements under the PSA. For example, the provisions of the Non-Serviced PSA and the PSA differ with respect to, among other things, time periods and timing matters, terminology, allocation of duties between multiple servicers and other service providers, the specifics of particular servicer termination events, notices to and communications with applicable rating agencies and rating confirmation requirements. Below are certain matters regarding the servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan for your consideration:
· | The master servicer, the special servicer, the certificate administrator and the trustee under the PSA will have no obligation or authority to (a) supervise the Non-Serviced Master Servicer, the Non-Serviced Special Servicer, or any of the trustee, certificate administrator or operating advisor under the Non-Serviced PSA or (b) make Servicing Advances with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan. The obligation of the master servicer for this securitization to provide information and collections and make P&I Advances to the certificate administrator for the benefit of the Certificateholders with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan is dependent on its receipt of the corresponding information and/or collections from the Non-Serviced Master Servicer or the Non-Serviced Special Servicer. |
· | Any advances made by the Non-Serviced Master Servicer and the Non-Serviced Trustee in respect of a monthly payment on the Non-Serviced Companion Loan may only be reimbursed out of future payments and collections on the Non-Serviced Companion Loan or, as and to the extent permitted under the Non-Serviced PSA, on other loans included in the Non-Serviced Securitization Trust but not out of payments or other collections on the Mortgage Loans. |
· | Pursuant to the Non-Serviced PSA, the liquidation fee, the special servicing fee and the workout fee with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan will be generally similar to the corresponding fee payable under the PSA. |
· | The master servicer for this securitization will be required to make P&I Advances with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, unless it has determined that such Advance would not be recoverable from collections on the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan. |
· | The Non-Serviced Master Servicer is obligated to make servicing advances with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan. If the Non-Serviced Master Servicer determines that a servicing advance it made with respect to the Non-Serviced Whole Loan or the related Mortgaged Property is nonrecoverable, it will be entitled to be reimbursed first from collections on, and proceeds of, the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and the Non-Serviced Companion Loan, on a pro rata basis (based on each such loan's outstanding principal balance), and then from general collections on the mortgage loans in the Non-Serviced Securitization Trust. |
· | With respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, prior to the occurrence and continuance of any control event under the Non-Serviced PSA, the Non-Serviced Directing Certificateholder will have the right to terminate the Non-Serviced Special Servicer, with or without cause, and appoint itself or an affiliate or another person as the successor Non-Serviced Special Servicer. |
· | In addition, with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any control termination event under the Non-Serviced PSA, at the written direction of holders of principal balance certificates under the Non-Serviced PSA evidencing not less than 25% of the voting rights of such certificates (taking into account the application of any appraisal reduction amounts to notionally reduce the certificate balances of those certificates), a request can be made to vote to terminate the Non-Serviced Special Servicer and appoint a successor Non-Serviced Special Servicer. |
· | In addition, with respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, following the occurrence of a consultation termination event under the Non-Serviced PSA, if the operating advisor under the Non-Serviced PSA determines that the Non-Serviced Special Servicer is not performing its duties under the Non-Serviced PSA or is otherwise not acting in accordance with the related servicing standard, the operating advisor under the Non-Serviced PSA will have the right to recommend the replacement of the Non-Serviced Special Servicer. |
· | If the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan becomes a defaulted mortgage loan, then (subject to, in each case if and when applicable, the consent/consultation rights of the Non-Serviced Directing Certificateholder, the consultation rights of the issuing entity) the Non-Serviced Special Servicer will be required to take one of the following actions in response: (i) foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert ownership of the related Mortgaged Properties; (ii) negotiate a workout with the related borrower; or (iii) sell the Non-Serviced Whole Loan in its entirety. The issuing entity, as the holder of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, will have the right to consent to a sale of a defaulted Mortgage loan in the event that the Non-Serviced Special Servicer fails to provide certain notices and information regarding such sale in accordance with the terms of the related Intercreditor Agreement. See "—Sale of Defaulted Loans and REO Properties" above and "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Non-Serviced Whole Loan—Sale of Defaulted Loan". |
· | With respect to the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan, the servicing provisions relating to performing inspections and collecting operating information are substantially similar to those of the PSA. |
· | The Non-Serviced Master Servicer and Non-Serviced Special Servicer (a) have substantially similar rights related to resignation and (b) are subject to servicer termination events substantially similar to those in the PSA. |
Rating Agency Confirmations
The PSA will provide that, notwithstanding the terms of the related Mortgage Loan documents or other provisions of the PSA, if any action under such Mortgage Loan documents or the PSA requires a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies as a condition precedent to such action, if the party (the "Requesting Party") required to obtain such Rating Agency Confirmations has made a request to any Rating Agency for such Rating Agency Confirmation and, within 10 business days of such request being posted to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website, such Rating Agency has not replied to
such request or has responded in a manner that indicates that such Rating Agency is neither reviewing such request nor waiving the requirement for Rating Agency Confirmation, then such Requesting Party will be required to confirm (through direct communication and not by posting any confirmation on the 17g-5 Information Provider's website) that the applicable Rating Agency has received the Rating Agency Confirmation request, and, if it has, promptly request the related Rating Agency Confirmation again. The circumstances described in the preceding sentence are referred to in this prospectus as a "RAC No-Response Scenario".
If there is no response to either such Rating Agency Confirmation request within 5 business days of such second request in a RAC No-Response Scenario or if such Rating Agency has responded in a manner that indicates such Rating Agency is neither reviewing such request nor waiving the requirement for Rating Agency Confirmation, then (x) with respect to any condition in any Mortgage Loan document requiring such Rating Agency Confirmation, or with respect to any other matter under the PSA relating to
the servicing of the Mortgage Loans (other than as set forth in clause (y) below), the requirement to obtain a Rating Agency Confirmation will be deemed not to apply (as if such requirement did not exist) with respect to such Rating Agency, and the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, may then take such action if the master servicer or the special servicer, as applicable, confirms its original determination (made prior to making such request) that taking the action with respect to which it requested the Rating Agency Confirmation would still be consistent with the Servicing Standard, and (y) with respect to a replacement of the master servicer or special servicer, such condition will be deemed not to apply (as if such requirement did not exist) if (i) [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] has not cited servicing concerns of the applicable replacement as the sole or material factor in such rating action or any qualification, downgrade or withdrawal of the ratings (or placement on "watch status" in contemplation of a ratings downgrade or withdrawal) of securities in a transaction serviced by the applicable master servicer or special servicer prior to the time of determination, if [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] is the non-responding Rating Agency, (ii) the applicable replacement master servicer or special servicer is rated at least "[INSERT MINIMUM RATING]" (in the case of the master servicer) or "[INSERT MINIMUM RATING]" (in the case of the special servicer), if [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] is the non-responding Rating Agency or (iii) [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] has not cited servicing concerns of the applicable replacement master servicer or special servicer as the sole or material factor in any qualification, downgrade or withdrawal of the ratings (or placement on "watch status" in contemplation of a ratings downgrade or withdrawal) of securities in any other commercial mortgage-backed securitization transaction serviced by the applicable master servicer or special servicer prior to the time of determination, if [NAME OF RATING AGENCY] is the non-responding Rating Agency. Promptly following the master servicer's or special servicer's determination to take any action discussed above following any requirement to obtain Rating Agency Confirmation being deemed not to apply (as if such requirement did not exist) as described in clause (x) above, the master servicer or special servicer will be required to provide electronic written notice to the 17g-5 Information Provider, who will promptly post such notice to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website pursuant to the PSA, of the action taken.
For all other matters or actions not specifically discussed above as to which a Rating Agency Confirmation is required, the applicable Requesting Party will be required to obtain a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies. In the event an action otherwise requires a Rating Agency Confirmation from each of the Rating Agencies, in absence of such Rating Agency Confirmation, we cannot assure you that any Rating Agency will not downgrade, qualify or withdraw its ratings as a result of any such action taken by the master servicer or the special servicer in accordance with the procedures discussed above.
As used above, "Rating Agency Confirmation" means, with respect to any matter, confirmation in writing (which may be in electronic form) by each applicable Rating Agency that a proposed action, failure to act or other event specified in this prospectus will not in and of itself result in the downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of the then-current rating assigned to any class of certificates (if then rated by the Rating Agency); provided that a written waiver or acknowledgment from the Rating Agency indicating its decision not to review the matter for which the Rating Agency Confirmation is sought will be deemed to satisfy the requirement for the Rating Agency Confirmation from the Rating Agency with respect to such matter. The "Rating Agencies" mean [_________].
Any Rating Agency Confirmation requests made by the master servicer, special servicer, certificate administrator, or trustee, as applicable, pursuant to the PSA, will be required to be made in writing, which writing must contain a cover page indicating the nature of the Rating Agency Confirmation request, and must contain all back-up material necessary for the Rating Agency to process such request. Such written Rating Agency Confirmation requests must be provided in electronic format to the 17g-5 Information Provider (who will be required to post such request on the 17g-5 Information Provider's website in accordance with the PSA).
The master servicer, the special servicer, the certificate administrator and the trustee will be permitted (but not obligated) to orally communicate with the Rating Agencies regarding any of the Mortgage Loan documents or any matter related to the Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgaged Properties, the related borrowers or any other matters relating to the PSA or any related Intercreditor Agreement; provided that such party summarizes the information provided to the Rating Agencies in such communication in writing and provides the 17g-5 Information Provider with such written summary the same day such communication takes place; provided, further, that the summary of such oral communications will not identify with which Rating Agency the communication was. The 17g-5 Information Provider will be required to post such written summary on the 17g-5 Information Provider's website in accordance with the provisions of the PSA. All other information required to be delivered to the Rating Agencies pursuant to the PSA or requested by the Rating Agencies, will first be provided in electronic format to the 17g-5 Information Provider, who will be required to post such information to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website in accordance with the PSA, and thereafter be delivered by the applicable party to the Rating Agencies in accordance with the delivery instructions set forth in the PSA. The operating advisor will have no obligation or authority to communicate directly with the Rating Agencies, but may deliver required information to the Rating Agencies to the extent set forth in this prospectus.
The PSA will provide that the PSA may be amended to change the procedures regarding compliance with Rule 17g-5 without any Certificateholder consent; provided that notice of any such amendment must be provided to the 17g-5 Information Provider (who will post such notice to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website) and to the certificate administrator (which will post such report to the certificate administrator's website).
To the extent required under the PSA, in the event a rating agency confirmation is required by the applicable rating agencies that any action under any Mortgage Loan documents or the PSA will not result in the downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of any such rating agency's then-current ratings of any securities related to a Companion Loan, then such rating agency confirmation may be considered satisfied in the same manner as described above with respect to any Rating Agency Confirmation from a Rating Agency.
Certain actions under the PSA that do not require a Rating Agency Confirmation may nevertheless require the delivery of a Rating Agency Communication.
"Rating Agency Communication" means, with respect to any action, any written communication intended for a Rating Agency relating to such action, which shall be delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to completing such action, in electronic document format suitable for website posting to the 17g-5 Information Provider (which will be required to post such request on the 17g-5 Information Provider's Website in accordance with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement).
"17g-5 Information Provider's Website" means the internet website of the 17g-5 Information Provider, initially located at www.ctslink.com under the "NRSRO" tab of the respective transaction, access to which is limited to the Rating Agencies and other NRSROs who have provided the certificate administrator a certificate either stating that it is either a Rating Agency or providing the required certifications pursuant to Rule 17g-5(e) under the Exchange Act.
Any information required to be delivered to the Rating Agencies pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or requested by the Rating Agencies in connection with the Certificates or the mortgage loans, will first be provided to the 17g-5 Information Provider in electronic format (which will be required to post such information to the 17g-5 Information Provider's Website in accordance with the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement), and thereafter be delivered by the applicable party to the Rating Agencies in accordance with the delivery instructions set forth in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. No party will have authority to communicate directly with the Rating Agencies regarding any of the mortgage loan documents or any matter related to the mortgage loans, the related mortgaged properties, the related borrowers or any other matters in connection with the Certificates or pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, without the consent of the depositor.
Evidence as to Compliance
Each of the master servicer, the special servicer (regardless of whether the special servicer has commenced special servicing of a Mortgage Loan), [the custodian, the trustee] and the certificate administrator will be required to furnish (and each such party will be required, with respect to each servicing function participant with which it has entered into a servicing relationship with respect to the Mortgage Loans, to cause (or, in the case of a sub-servicer that a mortgage loan seller requires the master servicer to retain, to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause) such servicing function participant to furnish) to the depositor, the certificate administrator, the trustee and the 17g-5 Information Provider, an officer's certificate of the officer responsible for the servicing activities of such party stating, among other things, that (i) a review of that party's activities during the preceding calendar year or portion of that year and of performance under the PSA or any sub-servicing agreement in the case of an additional master servicer or special servicer, as applicable, has been made under such officer's supervision and (ii) to the best of such officer's knowledge, based on the review, such party has fulfilled all of its obligations under the PSA or the sub-servicing agreement in the case of an additional master servicer or special servicer, as applicable, in all material respects throughout the preceding calendar year or portion of such 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 of the failure.
In addition, each of the master servicer, the special servicer (regardless of whether the special servicer has commenced special servicing of any Mortgage Loan), the trustee, the custodian, the certificate administrator and the operating advisor, each at its own expense, will be required to furnish (and each such party will be required, with respect to each servicing function participant with which it has entered into a servicing relationship with respect to the Mortgage Loans, to cause (or, in the case of a sub-servicer that a mortgage loan seller requires the master servicer to retain, to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause) such servicing function participant to furnish) to the trustee, the certificate administrator, the 17g-5 Information Provider and the depositor (and, with respect to the special servicer, also to the operating advisor) a report (an "Assessment of Compliance") assessing compliance by that party with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB (as described below) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") that contains the following:
· a statement of the party's responsibility for assessing compliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122 of Regulation AB applicable to it;
· a statement that the party used the criteria in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB to assess compliance with the applicable servicing criteria;
· the party's assessment of compliance with the applicable servicing criteria during and as of the end of the fiscal year, covered by the Form 10-K required to be filed pursuant to the PSA setting forth any material instance of noncompliance identified by the party, a discussion of each such failure and the nature and status of such failure; and
· a statement that a registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report (an "Attestation Report") on the party's assessment of compliance with the applicable servicing criteria during and as of the end of the prior fiscal year.
Each party that is required to deliver an Assessment of Compliance will also be required to simultaneously deliver an Attestation Report of a registered public accounting firm, prepared in accordance with the standards for attestation engagements issued or adopted by the public company
accounting oversight board, that expresses an opinion, or states that an opinion cannot be expressed (and the reasons for this), concerning the party's assessment of compliance with the applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB.
With respect to any Non-Serviced Whole Loan, each of the Non-Serviced Master Servicer, the Non-Serviced Special Servicer, the [Non-Serviced Trustee] and the Non-Serviced Certificate Administrator will have obligations under the related Non-Serviced PSA similar to those described above.
"Regulation AB" means subpart 229.1100 – Asset Backed Securities (Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. §§229.1100–229.1125, as such may be amended from time to time, and subject to such clarification and interpretation as have been provided by the SEC or by the staff of the SEC, or as may be provided by the SEC or its staff from time to time.
Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders to Institute a Proceeding
No Certificateholder will have any right under the PSA to institute any proceeding with respect to the PSA or with respect to the certificates, unless the holder previously has given to the trustee and the certificate administrator written notice of default and the continuance of the default and unless the holders of certificates of any class evidencing not less than 25% of the aggregate Percentage Interests constituting the class have made written request upon the trustee to institute a proceeding in its own name (as trustee) and have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it, and the trustee for 60 days after receipt of the request and indemnity has neglected or refused to institute the proceeding. However, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by the PSA or the certificates or to institute, conduct or defend any related litigation at the request, order or direction of any of the Certificateholders, unless the Certificateholders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred as a result.
Termination; Retirement of Certificates
The obligations created by the PSA will terminate upon payment (or provision for payment) to all Certificateholders of all amounts held by the certificate administrator on behalf of the trustee and required to be paid on the Distribution Date following the earlier of (1) the final payment (or related Advance) or other liquidation of the last Mortgage Loan, Trust Subordinate Companion Loan and REO Property (as applicable) subject to the PSA, (2) the voluntary exchange of all the then-outstanding certificates (other than the Class [ARD], [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] and Class R certificates) for the Mortgage Loans remaining in the issuing entity (provided, however, that (a) the [APPLICABLE CLASSES] certificates are no longer outstanding, (b) there is only one holder (or multiple holders acting unanimously) of the then-outstanding certificates (other than the Class [ARD], [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] and Class R certificates) and (c) the master servicer consents to the exchange) or (3) the purchase or other liquidation of all of the assets of the issuing entity (other than the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan) as described below by the holders of the Controlling Class, the special servicer, the master servicer or the holders of the Class R certificates, in that order of priority. Written notice of termination of the PSA will be given by the certificate administrator to each Certificateholder, the Loan Specific Directing Certificateholders and the 17g-5 Information Provider (who will promptly post such notice to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website). The final distribution will be made only upon surrender and cancellation of the certificates at the office of the certificate registrar or other location specified in the notice of termination.
The holders of the Controlling Class, the special servicer, the master servicer and the holders of the Class R certificates (in that order) will have the right to purchase all of the assets of the issuing entity (other than the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan). This purchase of all the Mortgage Loans and other assets in the issuing entity (other than the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan) is required to be made at a price equal to (a) the sum of (1) the aggregate Purchase Price of all the Mortgage Loans (exclusive of REO Loans) then included in the issuing entity, (2) the appraised value of the issuing entity's portion of all REO Properties then included in the issuing entity (which fair market value for any REO Property may be less than the Purchase Price for the corresponding REO Loan), as determined by an appraiser selected
by the master servicer and approved by certain classes of certificates, (3) the reasonable out of pocket expenses of the master servicer related to such purchase, unless the master servicer is the purchaser
and (4) if the Mortgaged Property secures the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan and is an REO Property under the terms of the Non-Serviced PSA, the
pro rata portion of the fair market value of the related property, as determined by the related master servicer in accordance with clauses (2) and (3) above
, less (b) solely in the case where the master servicer is exercising such purchase right, the aggregate amount of unreimbursed Advances and unpaid Servicing Fees remaining outstanding and payable solely to the master servicer (which items will be deemed to have been paid or reimbursed to the master servicer in connection with such purchase)
. This purchase will effect early retirement of the then-outstanding certificates, but the rights of the holders of the Controlling Class, the special servicer, the master servicer or the holders of the Class R certificates to effect the termination is subject to the requirements that the then aggregate Stated Principal Balance of the pool of Mortgage Loans be less than [1.0%] of the of the Initial Pool Balance. The voluntary exchange of certificates (other than the Class [ARD], [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] and Class R certificates), for the remaining Mortgage Loans is not subject to the above described percentage limits but is limited to each such class of outstanding certificates being held by one Certificateholder (or group of Certificateholders acting unanimously) who must voluntarily participate.
In the event that the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan and the [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates are still outstanding at the time that any optional termination described above is effectuated, the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan will be returned to the holder of the [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates in exchange for the [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates and the master servicer will have no further obligation to service the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan under the PSA.
On the applicable Distribution Date, the aggregate amount paid by the holders of the Controlling Class, the special servicer, the master servicer or the holders of the Class R certificates, as the case may be, for the Mortgage Loans and other applicable assets in the issuing entity (other than the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan), together with all other amounts on deposit in the Collection Account and not otherwise payable to a person other than the Certificateholders, will be applied generally as described above under "Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Priority of Distributions".
The PSA may be amended by the parties to the PSA, without the consent of any of the holders of certificates or holders of any Companion Loan or Trust Subordinate Companion Loan:
(a) to cure any ambiguity or to correct any error;
(b) to cause the provisions in the PSA to conform to or be consistent with or in furtherance of the statements made with respect to the Certificates, the issuing entity or the PSA in the final prospectus for the Offered Certificates or in the final private placement memorandum for the privately offered Certificates, or to correct or supplement any provision which may be inconsistent with any other provisions;
(c) to amend any provision of the PSA to the extent necessary or desirable to maintain the status of each REMIC (or any grantor trust portion of the issuing entity) for the purposes of federal income tax law (or comparable provisions of state income tax law);
(d) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under or with respect to the PSA not inconsistent with the provisions therein;
(e) to modify, add to or eliminate the provisions in the PSA relating to transfers of Class R Certificates;
(f) to amend any provision of the PSA to the extent necessary or desirable to list the Certificates on a stock exchange, including, without limitation, the appointment of one or more sub-certificate
administrators and the requirement that certain information be delivered to such sub-certificate administrators;
(g) to modify the provisions relating to the timing of Advance reimbursements in order to conform them to the commercial mortgage-backed securities industry standard for such provisions if (w) the depositor, the trustee and the master servicer determine that industry standard has changed, (x) such modification will not result in an adverse REMIC event or adverse grantor trust event, as evidenced by an opinion of counsel, (y) each Rating Agency shall have been provided with a Rating Agency Communication with respect to such modification, and (z) if no Control Termination Event or Consultation Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the Directing Certificateholder consents to such modification;
(h) to modify the procedures in the PSA relating to Rule 17g-5 under the Exchange Act; provided that if such modification materially increases the obligations of the trustee, the certificate
administrator, the custodian, the 17g-5 Information Provider, the Operating Advisor, the depositor, the master servicer or the special servicer, then the consent of such party will be required;
(i) to modify, alter, amend, add or to rescind any of the provisions contained in the PSA if and to the extent necessary to comply with any rules or regulations promulgated, or any guidance provided with respect to Rule 15Ga-1 under the Exchange Act, by the SEC from time to time; or
(j) any other amendment which does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Certificateholder (unless such Certificateholder consents).
The PSA may also be amended by the parties to the PSA with the consent of the holders of certificates of each class affected by such amendment evidencing, in each case, a majority of the aggregate Percentage Interests constituting the class for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the PSA or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the certificates, except that the amendment may not directly (1) reduce in any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, payments received on the Mortgage Loans or Trust Subordinate Companion Loan that are required to be distributed on a certificate of any class without the consent of the holder of such certificate or which are required to be distributed to a holder of a Companion Loan without the consent of such holder, (2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of certificates of any class the holders of which are required to consent to the amendment or remove the requirement to obtain consent of any holder of a Companion Loan or holder of the [LOAN SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates, without the consent of the holders of all certificates of that class then-outstanding or such holder of the related Companion Loan, (3) adversely affect the Voting Rights of any class of certificates, without the consent of the holders of all certificates of that class then outstanding, (4) change in any manner any defined term used in any MLPA or the obligations or rights of any mortgage loan seller under any MLPA without the consent of the applicable mortgage loan seller, or (5) amend the Servicing Standard without, in each case, the consent of 100% of the holders of certificates or a Rating Agency Confirmation by each Rating Agency and confirmation of the applicable rating agencies that such action will not result in the downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of its then-current ratings of any securities related to a Companion Loan, if any (provided that such rating agency confirmation may be considered satisfied in the same manner as any Rating Agency Confirmation may be considered satisfied with respect to the certificates as described in this prospectus).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to the PSA may be made that changes in any manner the obligations of any mortgage loan seller under any MLPA or the rights of any mortgage loan seller, including as a third party beneficiary, under the PSA, without the consent of such mortgage loan seller. In addition, no amendment to the PSA may be made that changes in any material respect the rights of the [LOAN SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates without the consent of the holders of such class. In addition, no amendment to the PSA may be made that changes any provisions specifically required to be included in the PSA by the Non-Serviced Intercreditor Agreement or the Non-Serviced Intercreditor Agreement without the consent of the holder of the Non-Serviced Companion Loan(s).
Also, notwithstanding the foregoing, no party will be required to consent to any amendment to the PSA without the trustee, the certificate administrator, the master servicer, the special servicer, the asset representations reviewer and the operating advisor having first received an opinion of counsel (at the issuing entity's expense) to the effect that the amendment does not conflict with the terms of the PSA, and that the amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the master servicer, the special servicer, the depositor, the certificate administrator, the trustee, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer or any other specified person in accordance with the amendment will not result in the imposition of a tax on any portion of the issuing entity or cause any Trust REMIC to fail to qualify as a REMIC or cause the Grantor Trust to fail to qualify as a grantor trust under the relevant provisions of the Code. Furthermore, no amendment to the PSA may be made that changes in any material respect to the rights of any class of loan-specific certificates without the consent of such class.
Resignation and Removal of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator
Each of the trustee and the certificate administrator will at all times be, and will be required to resign if it fails to be, (i) a corporation, national bank, national banking association or a trust company, organized and doing business under the laws of any state or the United States of America, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and to accept the trust conferred under the PSA, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $[100,000,000] and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and, in the case of the trustee, will not be an affiliate of the master servicer or the special servicer (except during any period when the trustee is acting as, or has become successor to, the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be), (ii) an institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, (iii) an institution whose long-term senior unsecured debt is rated at least [INSERT APPLICABLE RATINGS REQUIREMENTS], or such other rating with respect to which the Rating Agencies have provided a Rating Agency Confirmation, and (iv) an entity that is not on the depositor's "prohibited party" list.
The trustee and the certificate administrator will be also permitted at any time to resign from their obligations and duties under the PSA by giving written notice (which notice will be posted to the certificate administrator's website pursuant to the PSA) to the depositor, the master servicer, the special servicer, the trustee or the certificate administrator, as applicable, all Certificateholders, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer and the 17g-5 Information Provider (who will promptly post such notice to the 17g-5 Information Provider's website). Upon receiving this notice of resignation, the depositor will be required to use its reasonable best efforts to promptly appoint a successor trustee or certificate administrator acceptable to the master servicer and, prior to the occurrence and continuance of a Control Termination Event, the Directing Certificateholder. If no successor trustee or certificate administrator has accepted an appointment within 30 days after the giving of notice of resignation, the resigning trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable.
If at any time the trustee or certificate administrator ceases to be eligible to continue as trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable, under the PSA, and fails to resign after written request therefor by the depositor or the master servicer, or if at any time the trustee or certificate administrator becomes incapable of acting, or if certain events of, or proceedings in respect of, bankruptcy or insolvency occur with respect to the trustee or certificate administrator, or if the trustee or certificate administrator fails to timely publish any report to be delivered, published, or otherwise made available by the certificate administrator pursuant to the PSA, and such failure continues unremedied for a period of five (5) days, or if the certificate administrator fails to make distributions required pursuant to the PSA, the depositor will be authorized to remove the trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable, and appoint a successor trustee or certificate administrator acceptable to the master servicer.
In addition, holders of the certificates entitled to at least 75% of the Voting Rights may at any time, with or without cause, remove the trustee or certificate administrator under the PSA and appoint a successor trustee or certificate administrator. In the event that holders of the certificates entitled to at least 75% of the Voting Rights elect to remove the trustee or certificate administrator without cause and
appoint a successor, the successor trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable, will be responsible for all expenses necessary to effect the transfer of responsibilities from its predecessor.
Any resignation or removal of the trustee or certificate administrator and appointment of a successor trustee or certificate administrator will not become effective until (i) acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable, and (ii) the certificate administrator files any required Form 8-K. Further, the resigning trustee or certificate administrator, as the case may be, must pay all costs and expenses associated with the transfer of its duties.
The PSA will prohibit the appointment of the asset representations reviewer or one of its affiliates as successor to the trustee or certificate administrator.
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; and Consent to Jurisdiction
The PSA will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. Each party to the PSA will waive its respective right to a jury trial for any claim or cause of action based upon or arising out of or related to the PSA or certificates. Additionally each party to the PSA will consent to the jurisdiction of any New York State and Federal courts sitting in New York City with respect to matters arising out of or related to the PSA.
[DESCRIPTION OF THE DERIVATIVES INSTRUMENT]
[THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DISCLOSURE THAT MAY BE PROVIDED IN A PROSPECTUS FOR A DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR FLOATING RATE INTEREST PAYMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR FIXED RATE INTEREST PAYMENTS FOR A PARTICULAR CLASS OF CERTIFICATES.]
On the Closing Date, the depositor will assign to the trustee, on behalf of the issuing entity, the Class [__] Regular Interest together with a swap contract (the "Swap Contract") with [_____], a [__________] (the "Swap Counterparty"). The [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates will represent all of the beneficial interest in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest, the Swap Contract and all amounts on deposit in the Floating Rate Account (as defined below). The Swap Contract will have an expiration date of the Distribution Date in [__________]. Promptly upon the determination of LIBOR by the Swap Counterparty, the Swap Counterparty will provide a report to the [certificate administrator] setting forth LIBOR for the Interest Accrual Period for the Class [__] certificates. The [certificate administrator] will be entitled to conclusively rely on such report (in the absence of manifest error).
[The [certificate administrator] will establish and maintain an account in the name of the [certificate administrator], in trust for holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates (the "Floating Rate Account"). Promptly upon receipt of any payment of interest on the Class [__] Regular Interest or a payment or other receipt in respect of the Swap Contract, the [certificate administrator] will deposit the same into the Floating Rate Account. [INSERT DISCLOSURE REGARDING AN ADDITIONAL FLOATING RATE ACCOUNT FOR FIXED RATE CLASS CERTIFICATE FOR WHICH A FLOATING RATE CLASS MAY BE EXCHANGED.]
The [certificate administrator] may make withdrawals from the Floating Rate Account only for the following purposes: (i) to distribute the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Available Funds for any Distribution Date to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates; (ii) to withdraw any amount deposited into the Floating Rate Account that was not required to be deposited in it; (iii) to apply any funds required to be paid to the Swap Counterparty under the Swap Contract; (iv) to clear and terminate such account pursuant to the terms of the PSA; (v) in the event of the termination of the Swap Contract, to replace such Swap Contract, to apply any termination payments paid by the Swap Counterparty to offset the expense of entering into a substantially identical interest rate swap contract with another counterparty, if possible, and to distribute any remaining amounts to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates (net
of any costs and expenses related to the Swap Contract), and if not possible, to distribute the entire termination payment (net of any costs and expenses related to the Swap Contract), to the holders of the related [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates and (vi) to pay to the [certificate administrator] any costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of the rights of the holder of the Swap Contract with respect to the Swap Contract; provided that the [certificate administrator] will only be permitted to incur and reimburse itself out of the Floating Rate Account with respect to any such costs and expenses which are in excess of any termination payment received from the Swap Counterparty and not otherwise applied to offset the expense of entering into a replacement Swap Contract if it has received the written consent of 100% of the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates or each Rating Agency then rating the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates has confirmed in writing that such action or event will not result in the reduction, qualification or withdrawal of its then current rating for such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. If after receipt or payment of the net swap payment due from or to the Swap Counterparty there are insufficient funds in the Floating Rate Account to make the full distribution of interest to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, the resulting interest shortfall will be borne by the holders of such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. Neither the [certificate administrator] nor any other party will be required to advance any amount due to be paid by the Swap Counterparty for distribution to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates in the event that the Swap Counterparty fails to make a required payment.
The Swap Contract will provide that, subject to any adjustments for Excess Prepayment Interest Shortfalls or for other losses on the mortgage loans that reduce interest available for payments to the Swap Counterparty or, if the WAC Rate limits the interest available for payments to the Swap Counterparty, in each case as described below, on the business day prior to each Distribution Date, commencing in [_____], the [certificate administrator] will pay an amount (the "Fixed Interest Distribution") to the Swap Counterparty equal to [__]% per annum multiplied by a notional amount equal to the outstanding principal balance of the Class [__] Regular Interest (the "Swap Notional Amount") calculated on a 30/360 basis, and the Swap Counterparty will pay an amount equal to the Swap Notional Amount multiplied by the Pass-Through Rate of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates to the [certificate administrator] for the benefit of the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. The Pass-Through Rate for the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates is [one-month LIBOR] (or, in the case of the initial Interest Accrual Period, an interpolated rate based on [__]-week and one-month LIBOR]) plus [__]% based on the actual number of days elapsed in the related Interest Accrual Period and a 360-day year. Required payments under the Swap Contract with respect to each Distribution Date will be made by the Swap Counterparty or the [certificate administrator] on a net basis. The Swap Counterparty will also make payments to the issuing entity with respect to the Swap Contract on the Closing Date.
If the debt ratings of the Swap Counterparty's credit support provider fall below the levels specified for each Rating Agency as set forth in the Swap Contract (a "Rating Agency Trigger Event"), the Swap Counterparty will be required to post collateral, find a replacement swap counterparty or credit support provider that would not cause a Rating Agency Trigger Event to occur or enter into another arrangement satisfactory to each Rating Agency. If the Swap Counterparty fails to take such action, the [certificate administrator], unless otherwise directed in writing by the holders of 100% of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates (and only to the extent that, and only for so long as, doing so does not lead the [certificate administrator] to incur expenses in excess of the amounts available to it for reimbursement) will be required to enforce the rights of the issuing entity under the related Swap Contract and use any termination payments received from the Swap Counterparty to enter into a replacement interest rate swap contract on substantially identical terms. The costs and expenses incurred by the [certificate administrator] in connection with enforcing the rights of the issuing entity under the Swap Contract will be reimbursable to the [certificate administrator] solely out of amounts in the Floating Rate Account that are otherwise payable to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates to the extent not reimbursed by the Swap Counterparty; provided that either without the consent of 100% of the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates or the written confirmation of each Rating Agency then rating such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates that such action or event will not result in the reduction, qualification or withdrawal of its then current rating of such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, the [certificate administrator] will not
be permitted to incur such costs and expenses in excess of any termination payment received from the Swap Counterparty and not otherwise applied to offset the expense of entering into a replacement interest rate swap contract. If the costs attributable to entering into a replacement interest rate swap contract would exceed the net proceeds of the liquidation of a Swap Contract, the [certificate administrator] will not be required to enter into a replacement interest rate swap contract and any such proceeds will instead be distributed to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. Following the termination of the Swap Contract (and during the period when the [certificate administrator] is pursuing remedies under such Swap Contract) or if a Swap Default or other default or event of termination under the Swap Contract occurs and is continuing, until such default is cured or such Swap Contract is replaced, the Interest Distribution Amount with respect to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates will be equal to the Interest Distribution Amount for the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest, and the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates will accrue interest at the same rate, on the same basis and in the same manner as the [FLOATING RATE CLASS]] Regular Interest. Any conversion of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates to a fixed interest rate subject to the WAC Rate will become permanent following the determination by the [certificate administrator] not to enter into a replacement interest rate swap contract and the distribution of any termination payments to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. A Swap Default or termination of a Swap Contract and the consequent conversion to a fixed interest rate will not constitute a default under the PSA. A conversion to a fixed interest rate subject to the WAC Rate might result in a temporary delay to the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates in receiving payment of the related Interest Distribution Amount on the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates if DTC is not given sufficient notice of the resulting change in the payment terms of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates.
"Swap Default" means any failure on the part of the Swap Counterparty to (i) make a required payment under the Swap Contract or (ii) post acceptable collateral, find an acceptable replacement swap counterparty or credit support provider or enter into another arrangement satisfactory to each Rating Agency after a Rating Agency Trigger Event as required by such Swap Contract.
The [certificate administrator] will have no obligation on behalf of the issuing entity to pay or cause to be paid to the Swap Counterparty any portion of the Fixed Interest Distribution in respect of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest unless and until the related interest payment on such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest is actually received by the [certificate administrator]; provided, however, that the [certificate administrator] may receive funds from the Swap Counterparty representing the net amount payable to the [certificate administrator] pursuant to the Swap Contract and the [certificate administrator] may pay the net swap payment from amounts received on the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates.
In addition, if the funds allocated to the payment of the Fixed Interest Distribution of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest are insufficient to make any required payments to the Swap Counterparty and to make full distributions of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Interest Distribution Amount to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, the [certificate administrator] will be required to use such funds to make required payments to the Swap Counterparty prior to making distributions on [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, and holders of such certificates will experience a shortfall. Any Excess Prepayment Interest Shortfall allocated to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest, reduction in the interest available to be distributed to the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest for any other reason or the reduction of the WAC Rate below [__]% will result in a corresponding dollar-for-dollar reduction in the interest payment made by the Swap Counterparty to the related grantor trust and, therefore, a corresponding decrease in the amount of interest distributed on the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates.
In addition to certain customary events of default and termination events contained in the Swap Contract, the Swap Counterparty will have the right to terminate such Swap Contract if the issuing entity does not make a required payment to the Swap Counterparty or if the PSA is amended or the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates or [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest waive compliance with any provisions of the PSA without the consent of the Swap Counterparty if such amendment or waiver would have an adverse effect on the Swap Counterparty.
The "significance percentage" with respect to the Swap Contract is [less than 10%] [at least 10% but less than 20%] [20% or more]. "Significance Percentage" means the percentage that the amount of the "significance estimate" (as described below) represents of the [initial aggregate Certificate Balance of the Class [__] certificates] [the Initial Pool Balance]. The "significance estimate" has been determined based on a reasonable good faith estimate of maximum probable exposure, made in substantially the same manner as that used in the internal risk management process of each sponsor in respect of similar interest rate swap agreements.
The Swap Counterparty will be required to pay termination amounts, if any are payable pursuant to the Swap Contract, to the issuing entity if an event of default or an early termination date under the Swap Contract occurs under the Swap Contract and the Swap Counterparty is the sole defaulting party or the sole affected party as contemplated under the Swap Contract. No other termination amounts will be payable by either party under the Swap Contract.
[The Swap Counterparty is an affiliate of [_____], one of the underwriters,] and a wholly-owned, unregulated single purpose subsidiary of [_____]. The principal executive offices of the Swap Counterparty are located at [_____], telephone number [_____].
The Swap Counterparty conducts business in the over-the-counter derivatives market, writing a variety of derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate options with institutional clients. The obligations of the Swap Counterparty under its derivative instruments are guaranteed by [_____]. As of [_____] 20[__], [_____] has a long-term debt rating of "[__]" by [specify rating agency], "[__]" by [specify rating agency] and "[__]" by [specify rating agency] and a short-term debt rating of "[__]" by [specify rating agency], "[__]" by [specify rating agency] and "[__]" by [specify rating agency]. [Include the following if financial statements of [_____] are required by Item 1115 of Regulation AB.] [The consolidated financial statements of [_____] included in, or as exhibits to, the following documents filed by [_____] with the SEC, are hereby incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
· | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended [_____]; |
· | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended [_____]; |
In addition, all financial statements of [_____] included in, or as exhibits to, documents filed by [_____] pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the offering of the Offered Certificates and prior to the termination of the offering are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.]]
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF MORTGAGE LOANS
The following discussion contains general summaries of certain legal aspects of mortgage loans secured by commercial and multifamily residential properties. Because such legal aspects are governed by applicable local law (which laws may differ substantially), the summaries do not purport to be complete, to reflect the laws of any particular jurisdiction, or to encompass the laws of all jurisdictions in which the security for the mortgage loans is situated. [IF 10% OF MORTGAGE LOANS, BY OUTSTANDING BALANCE, ARE SECURED BY PROPERTIES IN A PARTICULAR JURISDICTION, RELEVANT LOCAL LAWS, TO THE EXTENT THEY VARY MATERIALLY FROM THIS DISCUSSION, WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.]
Each mortgage loan will be evidenced by a promissory note and secured by an instrument granting a security interest in real property, which may be a mortgage, deed of trust or a deed to secure debt, depending upon the prevailing practice and law in the state in which the related mortgaged property is located. Mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt are in this prospectus collectively referred to as "mortgages". A mortgage creates a lien upon, or grants a title interest in, the real property covered thereby, and represents the security for the repayment of the indebtedness customarily evidenced by a promissory note. The priority of the lien created or interest granted will depend on the terms of the mortgage and, in some cases, on the terms of separate subordination agreements or intercreditor agreements with others that hold interests in the real property, the knowledge of the parties to the mortgage and, generally, the order of recordation of the mortgage in the appropriate public recording office. However, the lien of a recorded mortgage will generally be subordinate to later-arising liens for real estate taxes and assessments and other charges imposed under governmental police powers.
Types of Mortgage Instruments
There are two parties to a mortgage: a mortgagor (the borrower and usually the owner of the applicable property) and a mortgagee (the lender). In contrast, a deed of trust is a three-party instrument, among a trustor (the equivalent of a borrower), a trustee to whom the real property is conveyed, and a beneficiary (the lender) for whose benefit the conveyance is made. Under a deed of trust, the trustor grants the property, irrevocably until the debt is paid, in trust and generally with a power of sale, to the trustee to secure repayment of the indebtedness evidenced by the related note. A deed to secure debt typically has two parties, pursuant to which the borrower, or grantor, conveys title to the real property to the grantee, or lender generally with a power of sale, until such time as the debt is repaid. In a case where the borrower is a land trust, there would be an additional party because legal title to the property is held by a land trustee under a land trust agreement for the benefit of the borrower. At origination of a mortgage loan involving a land trust, the borrower may execute a separate undertaking to make payments on the promissory note. The land trustee would not be personally liable for the promissory note obligation. The mortgagee's authority under a mortgage, the trustee's authority under a deed of trust and the grantee's authority under a deed to secure debt are governed by the express provisions of the related instrument, the law of the state in which the real property is located, certain federal laws and, in some deed of trust transactions, the directions of the beneficiary.
Mortgages that encumber income-producing property often contain an assignment of rents and leases, and/or may be accompanied by a separate assignment of rents and leases, pursuant to which the borrower assigns to the lender the borrower's right, title and interest as landlord under each lease and the income derived from the lease, while (unless rents are to be paid directly to the lender) retaining a revocable license to collect the rents for so long as there is no default. If the borrower defaults, the license terminates and the lender is entitled to collect the rents. Local law may require that the lender take possession of the property and/or obtain a court-appointed receiver before becoming entitled to collect the rents.
In most states, hotel property and motel room rates are considered accounts receivable under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC"). In cases where hotel properties or motels constitute loan security, the revenues are generally pledged by the borrower as additional security for the loan. In general, the lender must file financing statements in order to perfect its security interest in the room revenues and must file continuation statements, generally every five years, to maintain perfection of such security interest. In certain cases, mortgage loans secured by hotel properties or motels may be included in the issuing entity even if the security interest in the room revenues was not perfected. Even if the lender's security interest in room revenues is perfected under applicable nonbankruptcy law, it will generally be required to commence a foreclosure action or otherwise take possession of the property in order to enforce its rights to collect the room revenues following a default. In the bankruptcy setting, however, the lender will be stayed from enforcing its rights to collect room revenues, but those room revenues constitute "cash
collateral" and therefore generally cannot be used by the bankruptcy debtor without a hearing or lender's consent or unless the lender's interest in the room revenues is given adequate protection (e.g., cash payment for otherwise encumbered funds or a replacement lien on unencumbered property, in either case in value equivalent to the amount of room revenues that the debtor proposes to use, or other similar relief). See "—Bankruptcy Laws" below.
In the case of certain types of mortgaged properties, such as hotel properties, motels, nursing homes and manufactured housing, personal property (to the extent owned by the borrower and not previously pledged) may constitute a significant portion of the property's value as security. The creation and enforcement of liens on personal property are governed by the UCC. Accordingly, if a borrower pledges personal property as security for a mortgage loan, the lender generally must file UCC financing statements in order to perfect its security interest in that personal property, and must file continuation statements, generally every five years, to maintain that perfection. Certain mortgage loans secured in part by personal property may be included in the issuing entity even if the security interest in such personal property was not perfected.
Foreclosure is a legal procedure that allows the lender to recover its mortgage debt by enforcing its rights and available legal remedies under the mortgage. If the borrower defaults in payment or performance of its obligations under the promissory note or mortgage, the lender has the right to institute foreclosure proceedings to sell the real property at public auction to satisfy the indebtedness.
Foreclosure Procedures Vary from State to State
Two primary methods of foreclosing a mortgage are judicial foreclosure, involving court proceedings, and nonjudicial foreclosure pursuant to a power of sale granted in the mortgage instrument. Other foreclosure procedures are available in some states, but they are either infrequently used or available only in limited circumstances.
A foreclosure action is subject to most of the delays and expenses of other lawsuits if defenses are raised or counterclaims are interposed, and sometimes requires several years to complete.
A judicial foreclosure proceeding is conducted in a court having jurisdiction over the mortgaged property. Generally, the action is initiated by the service of legal pleadings upon all parties having a subordinate interest of record in the real property and all parties in possession of the property, under leases or otherwise, whose interests are subordinate to the mortgage. Delays in completion of the foreclosure may occasionally result from difficulties in locating defendants. When the lender's right to foreclose is contested, the legal proceedings can be time-consuming. Upon successful completion of a judicial foreclosure proceeding, the court generally issues a judgment of foreclosure and appoints a referee or other officer to conduct a public sale of the mortgaged property, the proceeds of which are used to satisfy the judgment. Such sales are made in accordance with procedures that vary from state to state.
Equitable and Other Limitations on Enforceability of Certain Provisions
United States courts have traditionally imposed general equitable principles to limit the remedies available to lenders in foreclosure actions. These principles are generally designed to relieve borrowers from the effects of mortgage defaults perceived as harsh or unfair. Relying on such principles, a court may alter the specific terms of a loan to the extent it considers necessary to prevent or remedy an
injustice, undue oppression or overreaching, or may require the lender to undertake affirmative actions to determine the cause of the borrower's default and the likelihood that the borrower will be able to reinstate the loan. In some cases, courts have substituted their judgment for the lender's and have required that lenders reinstate loans or recast payment schedules in order to accommodate borrowers who are suffering from a temporary financial disability. In other cases, courts have limited the right of the lender to foreclose in the case of a nonmonetary default, such as a failure to adequately maintain the mortgaged property or an impermissible further encumbrance of the mortgaged property. Finally, some courts have addressed the issue of whether federal or state constitutional provisions reflecting due process concerns for adequate notice require that a borrower receive notice in addition to statutorily-prescribed minimum notice. For the most part, these cases have upheld the reasonableness of the notice provisions or have found that a public sale under a mortgage providing for a power of sale does not involve sufficient state action to trigger constitutional protections.
In addition, some states may have statutory protection such as the right of the borrower to reinstate a mortgage loan after commencement of foreclosure proceedings but prior to a foreclosure sale.
Nonjudicial Foreclosure/Power of Sale
In states permitting nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings, foreclosure of a deed of trust is generally accomplished by a nonjudicial trustee's sale pursuant to a power of sale typically granted in the deed of trust. A power of sale may also be contained in any other type of mortgage instrument if applicable law so permits. A power of sale under a deed of trust allows a nonjudicial public sale to be conducted generally following a request from the beneficiary/lender to the trustee to sell the property upon default by the borrower and after notice of sale is given in accordance with the terms of the mortgage and applicable state law. In some states, prior to such sale, the trustee under the deed of trust must record a notice of default and notice of sale and send a copy to the borrower and to any other party who has recorded a request for a copy of a notice of default and notice of sale. In addition, in some states the trustee must provide notice to any other party having an interest of record in the real property, including junior lienholders. A notice of sale must be posted in a public place and, in most states, published for a specified period of time in one or more newspapers. The borrower or junior lienholder may then have the right, during a reinstatement period required in some states, to cure the default by paying the entire actual amount in arrears (without regard to the acceleration of the indebtedness), plus the lender's expenses incurred in enforcing the obligation. In other states, the borrower or the junior lienholder is not provided a period to reinstate the loan, but has only the right to pay off the entire debt to prevent the foreclosure sale. Generally, state law governs the procedure for public sale, the parties entitled to notice, the method of giving notice and the applicable time periods.
A third party may be unwilling to purchase a mortgaged property at a public sale because of the difficulty in determining the exact status of title to the property (due to, among other things, redemption rights that may exist) and because of the possibility that physical deterioration of the mortgaged property may have occurred during the foreclosure proceedings. Potential buyers may also be reluctant to purchase mortgaged property at a foreclosure sale as a result of the 1980 decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Durrett v. Washington National Insurance Co., 621 F.2d 2001 (5th Cir. 1980) and other decisions that have followed its reasoning. The court in Durrett held that even a non-collusive, regularly conducted foreclosure sale was a fraudulent transfer under the Bankruptcy Code and, thus, could be rescinded in favor of the bankrupt's estate, if (1) the foreclosure sale was held while the debtor was insolvent and not more than one year prior to the filing of the bankruptcy petition and (2) the price paid for the foreclosed property did not represent "fair consideration", which is "reasonably equivalent value" under the Bankruptcy Code. Although the reasoning and result of Durrett in respect of the Bankruptcy Code was rejected by the United States Supreme Court in BFP v. Resolution Trust Corp., 511 U.S. 531 (1994), the case could nonetheless be persuasive to a court applying a state fraudulent conveyance law which has provisions similar to those construed in Durrett. Therefore, it is common for the lender to purchase the mortgaged property for an amount equal to the secured indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest plus the expenses of foreclosure, in which event the borrower's debt will be
extinguished, or for a lesser amount in order to preserve its right to seek a deficiency judgment if such is available under state law and under the terms of the mortgage loan documents. Thereafter, subject to the borrower's right in some states to remain in possession during a redemption period, the lender will become the owner of the property and have both the benefits and burdens of ownership, including the obligation to pay debt service on any senior mortgages, to pay taxes, to obtain casualty insurance and to make such repairs as are necessary to render the property suitable for sale. Frequently, the lender employs a third-party management company to manage and operate the property. The costs of operating and maintaining a property may be significant and may be greater than the income derived from that property. The costs of management and operation of those mortgaged properties which are hotels, motels, restaurants, nursing or convalescent homes, hospitals or casinos may be particularly significant because of the expertise, knowledge and, with respect to certain property types, regulatory compliance, required to run those operations and the effect which foreclosure and a change in ownership may have on the public's and the industry's, including franchisors', perception of the quality of those operations. The lender also will commonly obtain the services of a real estate broker and pay the broker's commission in connection with the sale or lease of the property. Depending upon market conditions, the ultimate proceeds of the sale of a property may not equal the lender's investment in the property. Moreover, a lender commonly incurs substantial legal fees and court costs in acquiring a mortgaged property through contested foreclosure and/or bankruptcy proceedings. Because of the expenses associated with acquiring, owning and selling a mortgaged property, a lender could realize an overall loss on a mortgage loan even if the mortgaged property is sold at foreclosure, or resold after it is acquired through foreclosure, for an amount equal to the full outstanding principal amount of the loan plus accrued interest.
Furthermore, an increasing number of states require that any environmental contamination at certain types of properties be cleaned up before a property may be resold. In addition, a lender may be responsible under federal or state law for the cost of cleaning up a mortgaged property that is environmentally contaminated. See "—Environmental Considerations" below.
The holder of a junior mortgage that forecloses on a mortgaged property does so subject to senior mortgages and any other prior liens, and may be obliged to keep senior mortgage loans current in order to avoid foreclosure of its interest in the property. In addition, if the foreclosure of a junior mortgage triggers the enforcement of a "due-on-sale" clause contained in a senior mortgage, the junior mortgagee could be required to pay the full amount of the senior mortgage indebtedness or face foreclosure.
The purposes of a foreclosure action are to enable the lender to realize upon its security and to bar the borrower, and all persons who have interests in the property that are subordinate to that of the foreclosing lender, from exercise of their "equity of redemption". The doctrine of equity of redemption provides that, until the property encumbered by a mortgage has been sold in accordance with a properly conducted foreclosure and foreclosure sale, those having interests that are subordinate to that of the foreclosing lender have an equity of redemption and may redeem the property by paying the entire debt with interest. Those having an equity of redemption must generally be made parties and joined in the foreclosure proceeding in order for their equity of redemption to be terminated.
The equity of redemption is a common-law (nonstatutory) right which should be distinguished from post-sale statutory rights of redemption. In some states, after sale pursuant to a deed of trust or foreclosure of a mortgage, the borrower and foreclosed junior lienors are given a statutory period in which to redeem the property. In some states, statutory redemption may occur only upon payment of the foreclosure sale price. In other states, redemption may be permitted if the former borrower pays only a portion of the sums due. The effect of a statutory right of redemption is to diminish the ability of the lender to sell the foreclosed property because the exercise of a right of redemption would defeat the title of any purchaser through a foreclosure. Consequently, the practical effect of the redemption right is to force the lender to maintain the property and pay the expenses of ownership until the redemption period has expired. In some states, a post-sale statutory right of redemption may exist following a judicial foreclosure, but not following a trustee's sale under a deed of trust.
Anti-Deficiency Legislation
Some or all of the mortgage loans are nonrecourse loans, as to which recourse in the case of default will be limited to the mortgaged property and such other assets, if any, that were pledged to secure the mortgage loan. However, even if a mortgage loan by its terms provides for recourse to the borrower's other assets, a lender's ability to realize upon those assets may be limited by state law. For example, in some states a lender cannot obtain a deficiency judgment against the borrower following foreclosure or sale under a deed of trust.
A deficiency judgment is a personal judgment against the former borrower equal to the difference between the net amount realized upon the public sale of the real property and the amount due to the lender. Other statutes may require the lender to exhaust the security afforded under a mortgage before bringing a personal action against the borrower. In certain other states, the lender has the option of bringing a personal action against the borrower on the debt without first exhausting that security; however, in some of those states, the lender, following judgment on that personal action, may be deemed to have elected a remedy and thus may be precluded from foreclosing upon the security. Consequently, lenders in those states where such an election of remedy provision exists will usually proceed first against the security. Finally, other statutory provisions, designed to protect borrowers from exposure to large deficiency judgments that might result from bidding at below-market values at the foreclosure sale, limit any deficiency judgment to the excess of the outstanding debt over the fair market value of the property at the time of the sale.
Mortgage loans may be secured by a mortgage on the borrower's leasehold interest in a ground lease. Leasehold mortgage loans are subject to certain risks not associated with mortgage loans secured by a lien on the fee estate of the borrower. The most significant of these risks is that if the borrower's leasehold were to be terminated upon a lease default, the leasehold mortgagee would lose its security. This risk may be lessened if the ground lease requires the lessor to give the leasehold mortgagee notices of lessee defaults and an opportunity to cure them, permits the leasehold estate to be assigned to and by the leasehold mortgagee or the purchaser at a foreclosure sale, and contains certain other protective provisions typically included in a "mortgageable" ground lease. Certain mortgage loans, however, may be secured by ground leases which do not contain these provisions.
In addition, where a lender has as its security both the fee and leasehold interest in the same property, the grant of a mortgage lien on its fee interest by the land owner/ground lessor to secure the debt of a borrower/ground lessee may be subject to challenge as a fraudulent conveyance. Among other things, a legal challenge to the granting of the liens may focus on the benefits realized by the land owner/ground lessor from the loan. If a court concluded that the granting of the mortgage lien was an avoidable fraudulent conveyance, it might take actions detrimental to the holders of the offered certificates, including, under certain circumstances, invalidating the mortgage lien on the fee interest of the land owner/ground lessor.
Mortgage loans may be secured by a security interest on the borrower's ownership interest in shares, and the related proprietary leases, allocable to cooperative dwelling units that may be vacant or occupied by non-owner tenants. Such loans are subject to certain risks not associated with mortgage loans secured by a lien on the fee estate of a borrower in real property. Such a loan typically is subordinate to the mortgage, if any, on the cooperative's building which, if foreclosed, could extinguish the equity in the building and the proprietary leases of the dwelling units derived from ownership of the shares of the cooperative. Further, transfer of shares in a cooperative are subject to various regulations as well as to restrictions under the governing documents of the cooperative, and the shares may be cancelled in the event that associated maintenance charges due under the related proprietary leases are not paid. Typically, a recognition agreement between the lender and the cooperative provides, among other things, the lender with an opportunity to cure a default under a proprietary lease.
Under the laws applicable in many states, "foreclosure" on cooperative shares is accomplished by a sale in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the UCC and the security agreement relating to the shares. Article 9 of the UCC requires that a sale be conducted in a "commercially reasonable" manner, which may be dependent upon, among other things, the notice given the debtor and the method, manner, time, place and terms of the sale. Article 9 of the UCC provides that the proceeds of the sale will be applied first to pay the costs and expenses of the sale and then to satisfy the indebtedness secured by the lender's security interest. A recognition agreement, however, generally provides that the lender's right to reimbursement is subject to the right of the cooperative to receive sums due under the proprietary leases.
Operation of the Bankruptcy Code and related state laws may interfere with or affect the ability of a lender to obtain payment of a loan, realize upon collateral and/or to enforce a deficiency judgment. For example, under the Bankruptcy Code, virtually all actions (including foreclosure actions and deficiency judgment proceedings) are automatically stayed upon the filing of the bankruptcy petition, and, usually, no interest or principal payments are made during the course of the bankruptcy case. The delay and the consequences of a delay caused by an automatic stay can be significant. For example, the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by or on behalf of a junior mortgage lien holder may stay the senior lender from taking action to foreclose out such junior lien. At a minimum, the senior lender would suffer delay due to its need to seek bankruptcy court approval before taking any foreclosure or other action that could be deemed in violation of the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code.
Under the Bankruptcy Code, a bankruptcy trustee, or a borrower as debtor-in-possession, may under certain circumstances sell the related mortgaged property or other collateral free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and interests, which liens would then attach to the proceeds of such sale, despite the provisions of the related mortgage or other security agreement to the contrary. Such a sale may be approved by a bankruptcy court even if the proceeds are insufficient to pay the secured debt in full.
Under the Bankruptcy Code, provided certain substantive and procedural safeguards for a lender are met, the amount and terms of a mortgage or other security agreement secured by property of a debtor may be modified under certain circumstances. Pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization, lien avoidance or claim objection proceeding, the secured claim arising from a loan secured by real property or other collateral may be reduced to the then-current value of the property (with a corresponding partial reduction of the amount of lender's security interest), thus leaving the lender a secured creditor to the extent of the then current value of the property and a general unsecured creditor for the difference between such value and the outstanding balance of the loan. Such general unsecured claims may be paid less than 100% of the amount of the debt or not at all, depending upon the circumstances. Other modifications may include the reduction in the amount of each scheduled payment, which reduction may result from a reduction in the rate of interest and/or the alteration of the repayment schedule (with or without affecting the unpaid principal balance of the loan), and/or an extension (or reduction) of the final maturity date. Some courts have approved bankruptcy plans, based on the particular facts of the reorganization case, that effected the curing of a mortgage loan default by paying arrearages over a number of years. Also, under the Bankruptcy Code, a bankruptcy court may permit a debtor through its plan of reorganization to reinstate the loan even though the lender accelerated the mortgage loan and final judgment of foreclosure had been entered in state court (provided no sale of the property had yet occurred) prior to the filing of the debtor's petition. This may be done even if the plan of reorganization does not provide for payment of the full amount due under the original loan. Thus, the full amount due under the original loan may never be repaid. Other types of significant modifications to the terms of mortgage loan may be acceptable to the bankruptcy court, such as making distributions to the mortgage holder of property other than cash, or the substitution of collateral which is the "indubitable equivalent" of the real property subject to the mortgage, or the subordination of the mortgage to liens securing new debt (provided that the lender's secured claim is "adequately protected" as such term is defined and interpreted under the Bankruptcy Code), often depending on the particular facts and circumstances of the specific case.
Federal bankruptcy law may also interfere with or otherwise adversely affect the ability of a secured mortgage lender to enforce an assignment by a borrower of rents and leases (which "rents" may include revenues from hotels and other lodging facilities specified in the Bankruptcy Code) related to a mortgaged property if the related borrower is in a bankruptcy proceeding. Under the Bankruptcy Code, a lender may be stayed from enforcing the assignment, and the legal proceedings necessary to resolve the issue can be time consuming and may result in significant delays in the receipt of the rents. Rents (including applicable hotel and other lodging revenues) and leases may also escape such an assignment, among other things, (i) if the assignment is not fully perfected under state law prior to commencement of the bankruptcy proceeding, (ii) to the extent such rents and leases are used by the borrower to maintain the mortgaged property, or for other court authorized expenses, (iii) to the extent other collateral may be substituted for the rents and leases, (iv) to the extent the bankruptcy court determines that the lender is adequately protected, or (v) to the extent the court determines based on the equities of the case that the post-petition rents are not subject to the lender's pre-petition securities interest.
Under the Bankruptcy Code, a security interest in real property acquired before the commencement of the bankruptcy case does not extend to income received after the commencement of the bankruptcy case unless such income is a proceed, product or rent of such property. Therefore, to the extent a business conducted on the mortgaged property creates accounts receivable rather than rents or results from payments under a license rather than payments under a lease, a valid and perfected pre-bankruptcy lien on such accounts receivable or license income generally would not continue as to post-bankruptcy accounts receivable or license income.
The Bankruptcy Code provides that a lender's perfected pre-petition security interest in leases, rents and hotel revenues continues in the post-petition leases, rents and hotel revenues, unless a bankruptcy court orders to the contrary "based on the equities of the case". The equities of a particular case may permit the discontinuance of security interests in pre-petition leases and rents. Thus, unless a court orders otherwise, revenues from a mortgaged property generated after the date the bankruptcy petition is filed will constitute "cash collateral" under the Bankruptcy Code. Debtors may only use cash collateral upon obtaining the lender's consent or a prior court order finding that the lender's interest in the mortgaged hotel, motel or other lodging property and the cash collateral is "adequately protected" as the term is defined and interpreted under the Bankruptcy Code. In addition to post-petition rents, any cash held by a lender in a lockbox or reserve account generally would also constitute "cash collateral" under the Bankruptcy Code. So long as the lender is adequately protected, a debtor's use of cash collateral may be for its own benefit or for the benefit of any affiliated entity group that is also subject to bankruptcy proceedings, including use as collateral for new debt. It should be noted, however, that the court may find that the lender has no security interest in either pre-petition or post-petition revenues if the court finds that the loan documents do not contain language covering accounts, room rents, or other forms of personality necessary for a security interest to attach to such revenues.
The Bankruptcy Code provides generally that rights and obligations under an unexpired lease of the debtor/lessee may not be terminated or modified at any time after the commencement of a case under the Bankruptcy Code solely because of a provision in the lease to that effect or because of certain other similar events. This prohibition on so-called "ipso facto" clauses could limit the ability of a lender to exercise certain contractual remedies with respect to the leases on any mortgaged property. In addition, section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code operates as an automatic stay of, among other things, any act to obtain possession of property from a debtor's estate, which may delay a lender's exercise of those remedies, including foreclosure, in the event that a lessee becomes the subject of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code. Thus, the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by or on behalf of a lessee of a mortgaged property would result in a stay against the commencement or continuation of any state court proceeding for past due rent, for accelerated rent, for damages or for a summary eviction order with respect to a default under the related lease that occurred prior to the filing of the lessee's petition. While relief from the automatic stay to enforce remedies may be requested, it can be denied for a number of reasons, including where the collateral is "necessary to an effective reorganization" for the debtor, and if a debtor's case has been administratively consolidated with those of its affiliates, the court may also consider whether the property is "necessary to an effective reorganization" of the debtor and its affiliates, taken as a whole.
The Bankruptcy Code generally provides that a trustee in bankruptcy or debtor-in-possession may, with respect to an unexpired lease of non-residential real property, before the earlier of (i) 120 days after the filing of a bankruptcy case or (ii) the entry of an order confirming a plan, subject to approval of the court, (a) assume the lease and retain it or assign it to a third party or (b) reject the lease. If the trustee or debtor-in-possession fails to assume or reject the lease within the time specified in the preceding sentence, subject to any extensions by the bankruptcy court, the lease will be deemed rejected and the property will be surrendered to the lessor. The bankruptcy court may for cause shown extend the 120-day period up to 90 days for a total of 210 days. If the lease is assumed, the trustee in bankruptcy on behalf of the lessee, or the lessee as debtor-in-possession, or the assignee, if applicable, must cure any defaults
under the lease, compensate the lessor for its losses and provide the lessor with "adequate assurance" of future performance. These remedies may be insufficient, however, as the lessor may be forced to continue under the lease with a lessee that is a poor credit risk or an unfamiliar tenant (if the lease was assigned), and any assurances provided to the lessor may, in fact, be inadequate. If the lease is rejected, the rejection generally constitutes a breach of the executory contract or unexpired lease as of the date immediately preceding the filing date of the bankruptcy petition. As a consequence, the other party or parties to the lease, such as the borrower, as lessor under a lease, generally would have only an unsecured claim against the debtor, as lessee, for damages resulting from the breach, which could adversely affect the security for the related mortgage loan. In addition, under the Bankruptcy Code, a lease rejection damages claim is limited to the "(a) rent reserved by the lease, without acceleration, for the greater of one year, or 15 percent, not to exceed three years, of the remaining term of such lease, following the earlier of the date of the bankruptcy petition and the date on which the lessor regained possession of the real property, (b) plus any unpaid rent due under such lease, without acceleration, on the earlier of such dates."
If a trustee in bankruptcy on behalf of a lessor, or a lessor as debtor-in-possession, rejects an unexpired lease of real property, the lessee may treat the lease as terminated by the rejection or, in the alternative, the lessee may remain in possession of the leasehold for the balance of the term and for any renewal or extension of the term that is enforceable by the lessee under applicable non-bankruptcy law. The Bankruptcy Code provides that if a lessee elects to remain in possession after a rejection of a lease, the lessee may offset against rents reserved under the lease for the balance of the term after the date of rejection of the lease, and the related renewal or extension of the lease, any damages occurring after that date caused by the nonperformance of any obligation of the lessor under the lease after that date.
Similarly, bankruptcy risk is associated with an insolvency proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code of either a borrower ground lessee or a ground lessor. In general, upon the bankruptcy of a lessor or a lessee under a lease of nonresidential real property, including a ground lease, that has not been terminated prior to the bankruptcy filing date, the debtor entity has the statutory right to assume or reject the lease. Given that the Bankruptcy Code generally invalidates clauses that terminate contracts automatically upon the filing by one of the parties of a bankruptcy petition or that are conditioned on a party's insolvency, following the filing of a bankruptcy petition, a debtor would ordinarily be required to perform its obligations under such lease until the debtor decides whether to assume or reject the lease. The Bankruptcy Code provides certain additional protections with respect to non-residential real property leases, such as establishing a specific timeframe in which a debtor must determine whether to assume or reject the lease. The bankruptcy court may extend the time to perform for up to 60 days for cause shown. Even if the agreements were terminated prior to bankruptcy, a bankruptcy court may determine that the agreement was improperly terminated and therefore remains part of the debtor's bankruptcy estate. The debtor also can seek bankruptcy court approval to assume and assign the lease to a third party, and to modify the lease in connection with such assignment. In order to assume the lease, the debtor or assignee generally will have to cure outstanding defaults and provide "adequate assurance of future performance" in addition to satisfying other requirements imposed under the Bankruptcy Code. Under the Bankruptcy Code, subject to certain exceptions, once a lease is rejected by a debtor lessee, it is deemed breached, and the non-debtor lessor will have a claim for lease rejection damages, as described above.
If the ground lessor files for bankruptcy, it may determine until the confirmation of its plan of reorganization whether to reject the ground lease. On request of any party to the lease, the bankruptcy court may order the debtor to determine within a specific period of time whether to assume or reject the
lease or to comply with the terms of the lease pending its decision to assume or reject. In the event of rejection, the non-debtor lessee will have the right to treat the lease as terminated by virtue of its terms, applicable nonbankruptcy law, or any agreement made by the lessee. The non-debtor lessee may also, if the lease term has begun, retain its rights under the lease, including its rights to remain in possession of the leased premises under the rent reserved in the lease for the balance of the term of the lease (including renewals). The term "lessee" includes any "successor, assign or mortgagee permitted under the terms of such lease". If, pre-petition, the ground lessor had specifically granted the leasehold mortgagee such right, the leasehold mortgagee may have the right to succeed to the lessee/borrower's position under the lease.
In the event of concurrent bankruptcy proceedings involving the ground lessor and the lessee/borrower, actions by creditors against the borrower/lessee debtor would be subject to the automatic stay, and a lender may be unable to enforce both the bankrupt lessee's/borrower's pre-petition agreement to refuse to treat a ground lease rejected by a bankrupt lessor as terminated and any agreement by the ground lessor to grant the lender a new lease upon such termination. In such circumstances, a lease could be terminated notwithstanding lender protection provisions contained in that lease or in the mortgage. A lender could lose its security unless the lender holds a fee mortgage or the bankruptcy court, as a court of equity, allows the mortgagee to assume the ground lessee's obligations under the ground lease and succeed to the ground lessee's position. Although consistent with the Bankruptcy Code, such position may not be adopted by the bankruptcy court.
Further, in an appellate decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Precision Indus. v. Qualitech Steel SBQ, LLC, 327 F.3d 537 (7th Cir, 2003)), the court ruled with respect to an unrecorded lease of real property that where a statutory sale of leased property occurs under the Bankruptcy Code upon the bankruptcy of a landlord, that sale terminates a lessee's possessory interest in the property, and the purchaser assumes title free and clear of any interest, including any leasehold estates. Pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, a lessee may request the bankruptcy court to prohibit or condition the statutory sale of the property so as to provide adequate protection of the leasehold interest; however, the court ruled that, at least where a memorandum of lease had not been recorded, this provision does not ensure continued possession of the property, but rather entitles the lessee to compensation for the value of its leasehold interest, typically from the sale proceeds. As a result, we cannot assure you that, in the event of a statutory sale of leased property pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, the lessee would be able to maintain possession of the property under the ground lease. In addition, we cannot assure you that a leasehold mortgagor and/or a leasehold mortgagee (to the extent it has standing to intervene) would be able to recover the full value of the leasehold interest in bankruptcy court.
Because of the possible termination of the related ground lease, whether arising from a bankruptcy, the expiration of a lease term or an uncured defect under the related ground lease, lending on a leasehold interest in a real property is riskier than lending on the fee interest in the property.
In a bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving a borrower, action may be taken seeking the recovery as a preferential transfer of any payments made by such borrower, or made directly by the related lessee, under the related mortgage loan to the issuing entity. Payments on long term debt may be protected from recovery as preferences if they qualify for the "ordinary course" exception under the Bankruptcy Code or if certain other defenses in the Bankruptcy Code are applicable. Whether any particular payment would be protected depends upon the facts specific to a particular transaction.
In addition, in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving any borrower or an affiliate, an action may be taken to avoid the transaction (or any component of the transaction, such as joint and several liability on the related mortgage loan) as an actual or constructive fraudulent conveyance under state or federal law. Any payment by a borrower in excess of its allocated share of the loan could be challenged as a fraudulent conveyance by creditors of that borrower in an action outside a bankruptcy case or by the representative of the borrower's bankruptcy estate in a bankruptcy case. Generally, under federal and most state fraudulent conveyance statutes, the incurrence of an obligation or the transfer of property by a person will be subject to avoidance under certain circumstances if the person transferred such property with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or the person did not receive fair consideration or
reasonably equivalent value in exchange for such obligation or transfer and (i) was insolvent or was rendered insolvent by such obligation or transfer, (ii) was engaged in business or a transaction, or was about to engage in business or a transaction, for which any property remaining with the person constituted unreasonably small capital, or (iii) intended to, or believed that it would, incur debts that would be beyond the person's ability to pay as such debts matured. The measure of insolvency will vary depending on the law of the applicable jurisdiction. However, an entity will generally be considered insolvent if the present fair salable value of its assets is less than (x) the sum of its debts or (y) the amount that would be required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured. Accordingly, a lien granted by a borrower to secure repayment of the loan in excess of its allocated share could be avoided if a court were to determine that (i) such borrower was insolvent at the time of granting the lien, was rendered insolvent by the granting of the lien, was left with inadequate capital, or was not able to pay its debts as they matured and (ii) the borrower did not, when it allowed its property to be encumbered by a lien securing the entire indebtedness represented by the loan, receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for pledging such property for the equal benefit of each other borrower.
A bankruptcy court may, under certain circumstances, authorize a debtor to obtain credit after the commencement of a bankruptcy case, secured among other things, by senior, equal or junior liens on property that is already subject to a lien. In the bankruptcy case of General Growth Properties filed on April 16, 2009, the debtors initially sought approval of a debtor-in-possession loan to the corporate parent entities guaranteed by the property-level single purpose entities and secured by second liens on their properties. Although the debtor-in-possession loan subsequently was modified to eliminate the subsidiary guarantees and second liens, we cannot assure you that, in the event of a bankruptcy of the borrower sponsor, the borrower sponsor would not seek approval of a similar debtor-in-possession loan, or that a bankruptcy court would not approve a debtor-in-possession loan that included such subsidiary guarantees and second liens on such subsidiaries' properties.
Certain of the borrowers may be partnerships. The laws governing limited partnerships in certain states provide that the commencement of a case under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to a general partner will cause a person to cease to be a general partner of the limited partnership, unless otherwise provided in writing in the limited partnership agreement. This provision may be construed as an "ipso facto" clause and, in the event of the general partner's bankruptcy, may not be enforceable. Certain limited partnership agreements of the borrowers may provide that the commencement of a case under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the related general partner constitutes an event of withdrawal (assuming the enforceability of the clause is not challenged in bankruptcy proceedings or, if challenged, is upheld) that might trigger the dissolution of the limited partnership, the winding up of its affairs and the distribution of its assets, unless (i) at the time there was at least one other general partner and the written provisions of the limited partnership permit the business of the limited partnership to be carried on by the remaining general partner and that general partner does so or (ii) the written provisions of the limited partnership agreement permit the limited partners to agree within a specified time frame (often 60 days) after the withdrawal to continue the business of the limited partnership and to the appointment of one or more general partners and the limited partners do so. In addition, the laws governing general partnerships in certain states provide that the commencement of a case under the Bankruptcy Code or state bankruptcy laws with respect to a general partner of the partnerships triggers the dissolution of the partnership, the winding up of its affairs and the distribution of its assets. Those state laws, however, may not be enforceable or effective in a bankruptcy case. Limited liability companies may be subjected to similar treatment as that described in this prospectus with respect to limited partnerships. The dissolution of a borrower, the winding up of its affairs and the distribution of its assets could result in an acceleration of its payment obligation under the borrower's mortgage loan, which may reduce the yield on the Offered Certificates in the same manner as a principal prepayment.
In addition, the bankruptcy of the general or limited partner of a borrower that is a partnership, or the bankruptcy of a member of a borrower that is a limited liability company or the bankruptcy of a shareholder of a borrower that is a corporation may provide the opportunity in the bankruptcy case of the partner, member or shareholder to obtain an order from a court consolidating the assets and liabilities of the partner, member or shareholder with those of the mortgagor pursuant to the doctrines of substantive
consolidation or piercing the corporate veil. In such a case, the respective mortgaged property, for example, would become property of the estate of the bankrupt partner, member or shareholder. Not only would the mortgaged property be available to satisfy the claims of creditors of the partner, member or shareholder, but an automatic stay would apply to any attempt by the trustee to exercise remedies with respect to the mortgaged property. However, such an occurrence should not affect a lender's status as a secured creditor with respect to the mortgagor or its security interest in the mortgaged property.
A borrower that is a limited partnership, in many cases, may be required by the loan documents to have a single purpose entity as its sole general partner, and a borrower that is a general partnership, in many cases, may be required by the loan documents to have as its general partners only entities that are single purpose entities. A borrower that is a limited liability company may be required by the loan documents to have a single purpose member or a springing member. All borrowers that are tenants-in-common may be required by the loan documents to be single purpose entities. These provisions are designed to mitigate the risk of the dissolution or bankruptcy of the borrower partnership or its general partner, a borrower limited liability company or its member (if applicable), or a borrower that is a tenant-in-common. However, we cannot assure you that any borrower partnership or its general partner, or any borrower limited liability company or its member (if applicable), or a borrower that is a tenant-in-common, will not dissolve or become a debtor under the Bankruptcy Code.
Environmental Considerations
A lender may be subject to environmental risks when taking a security interest in real property. Of particular concern may be properties that are or have been used for industrial, manufacturing, military or disposal activity. Such environmental risks include the possible diminution of the value of a contaminated property or, as discussed below, potential liability for clean-up costs or other remedial actions that could exceed the value of the property or the amount of the lender's loan. In certain circumstances, a lender may decide to abandon a contaminated mortgaged property as collateral for its loan rather than foreclose and risk liability for clean-up costs.
Under the laws of many states, contamination on a property may give rise to a lien on the property for clean-up costs. In several states, such a lien has priority over all existing liens, including those of existing mortgages. In these states, the lien of a mortgage may lose its priority to such a "superlien."
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), imposes strict liability on present and past "owners" and "operators" of contaminated real property for the costs of clean-up. A secured lender may be liable as an "owner" or "operator" of a contaminated mortgaged property if agents or employees of the lender have participated in the management or operation of such mortgaged property. Such liability may exist even if the lender did not cause or contribute to the contamination and regardless of whether the lender has actually taken possession of a mortgaged property through foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise. Moreover, such liability is not limited to the original or unamortized principal balance of a loan or to the value of the property securing a loan. Excluded from CERCLA's definition of "owner" or "operator, " however, is a person "who, without participating in the management of the facility, holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect his security interest". This is the so called "secured creditor exemption."
The Asset Conservation, Lender Liability and Deposit Insurance Protection Act of 1996 (the "1996 Act") amended, among other things, the provisions of CERCLA with respect to lender liability and the secured creditor exemption. The 1996 Act offers protection to lenders by defining the activities in which a lender can engage and still have the benefit of the secured creditor exemption. In order for a lender to be deemed to have participated in the management of a mortgaged property, the lender must actually
participate in the operational affairs of the property of the borrower. The 1996 Act provides that "merely having the capacity to influence, or unexercised right to control" operations does not constitute participation in management. A lender will lose the protection of the secured creditor exemption if it exercises decision-making control over the borrower's environmental compliance and hazardous substance handling or disposal practices, or assumes day-to-day management of environmental or substantially all other operational functions of the mortgaged property. The 1996 Act also provides that a lender will continue to have the benefit of the secured creditor exemption even if it forecloses on a mortgaged property, purchases it at a foreclosure sale or accepts a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure provided that the lender seeks to sell the mortgaged property at the earliest practicable commercially reasonable time on commercially reasonable terms.
Certain Other Federal and State Laws
Many states have statutes similar to CERCLA, and not all of those statutes provide for a secured creditor exemption. In addition, under federal law, there is potential liability relating to hazardous wastes and underground storage tanks under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Some federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances govern the management, removal, encapsulation or disturbance of asbestos-containing materials. These laws, as well as common law standards, may impose liability for releases of or exposure to asbestos-containing materials, and provide for third parties to seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injuries associated with those releases.
Federal legislation requires owners of residential housing constructed prior to 1978 to disclose to potential residents or purchasers any known lead-based paint hazards and will impose treble damages for any failure to disclose. In addition, the ingestion of lead-based paint chips or dust particles by children can result in lead poisoning. If lead-based paint hazards exist at a property, then the owner of that property may be held liable for injuries and for the costs of removal or encapsulation of the lead-based paint.
In a few states, transfers of some types of properties are conditioned upon clean-up of contamination prior to transfer. In these cases, a lender that becomes the owner of a property through foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, may be required to clean-up the contamination before selling or otherwise transferring the property.
Beyond statute-based environmental liability, there exist common law causes of action (for example, actions based on nuisance or on toxic tort resulting in death, personal injury or damage to property) related to hazardous environmental conditions on a property. While it may be more difficult to hold a lender liable under common law causes of action, unanticipated or uninsured liabilities of the borrower may jeopardize the borrower's ability to meet its loan obligations or may decrease the re-sale value of the collateral.
Additional Considerations
The cost of remediating hazardous substance contamination at a property can be substantial. If a lender becomes liable, it can bring an action for contribution against the owner or operator who created the environmental hazard, but that individual or entity may be without substantial assets. Accordingly, it is possible that such costs could become a liability of the issuing entity and occasion a loss to the certificateholders.
If a lender forecloses on a mortgage secured by a property, the operations on which are subject to environmental laws and regulations, the lender will be required to operate the property in accordance with those laws and regulations. Such compliance may entail substantial expense, especially in the case of industrial or manufacturing properties.
In addition, a lender may be obligated to disclose environmental conditions on a property to government entities and/or to prospective buyers (including prospective buyers at a foreclosure sale or
following foreclosure). Such disclosure may decrease the amount that prospective buyers are willing to pay for the affected property, sometimes substantially, and thereby decrease the ability of the lender to recover its investment in a loan upon foreclosure.
Due-on-Sale and Due-on-Encumbrance Provisions
Certain of the mortgage loans may contain "due-on-sale" and "due-on-encumbrance" clauses that purport to permit the lender to accelerate the maturity of the loan if the borrower transfers or encumbers the related mortgaged property. The Garn-St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (the "Garn Act") generally preempts state laws that prohibit the enforcement of due-on-sale clauses and permits lenders to enforce these clauses in accordance with their terms, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Garn Act and related regulations. Accordingly, a lender may nevertheless have the right to accelerate the maturity of a mortgage loan that contains a "due-on-sale" provision upon transfer of an interest in the property, without regard to the lender's ability to demonstrate that a sale threatens its legitimate security interest.
The terms of certain of the mortgage loans may not restrict the ability of the borrower to use the mortgaged property as security for one or more additional loans, or such restrictions may be unenforceable. Where a borrower encumbers a mortgaged property with one or more junior liens, the senior lender is subjected to additional risk. First, the borrower may have difficulty servicing and repaying multiple loans. Moreover, if the subordinate financing permits recourse to the borrower (as-is frequently the case) and the senior loan does not, a borrower may have more incentive to repay sums due on the subordinate loan. Second, acts of the senior lender that prejudice the junior lender or impair the junior lender's security may create a superior equity in favor of the junior lender. For example, if the borrower and the senior lender agree to an increase in the principal amount of or the interest rate payable on the senior loan, the senior lender may lose its priority to the extent any existing junior lender is harmed or the borrower is additionally burdened. Third, if the borrower defaults on the senior loan and/or any junior loan or loans, the existence of junior loans and actions taken by junior lenders can impair the security available to the senior lender and can interfere with or delay the taking of action by the senior lender. Moreover, the bankruptcy of a junior lender may operate to stay foreclosure or similar proceedings by the senior lender.
Default Interest and Limitations on Prepayments
Promissory notes and mortgages may contain provisions that obligate the borrower to pay a late charge or additional interest if payments are not timely made, and in some circumstances, may prohibit prepayments for a specified period and/or condition prepayments upon the borrower's payment of prepayment fees or yield maintenance penalties. In certain states, there are or may be specific limitations upon the late charges which a lender may collect from a borrower for delinquent payments. Certain states also limit the amounts that a lender may collect from a borrower as an additional charge if the loan is prepaid. In addition, the enforceability of provisions that provide for prepayment fees or penalties upon an involuntary prepayment is unclear under the laws of many states.
Applicability of Usury Laws
Title V of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 ("Title V") provides that state usury limitations will not apply to certain types of residential (including multifamily) first mortgage loans originated by certain lenders after March 31, 1980. Title V authorized any state to reimpose interest rate limits by adopting, before April 1, 1983, a law or constitutional provision that expressly rejects application of the federal law. In addition, even where Title V is not so rejected, any state is authorized by the law to adopt a provision limiting discount points or other charges on mortgage loans covered by Title V. Certain states have taken action to reimpose interest rate limits and/or to limit discount points or other charges.
Statutes differ in their provisions as to the consequences of a usurious loan. One group of statutes requires the lender to forfeit the interest due above the applicable limit or impose a specified penalty. Under this statutory scheme, the borrower may cancel the recorded mortgage or deed of trust upon paying its debt with lawful interest, and the lender may foreclose, but only for the debt plus lawful interest. A second group of statutes is more severe. A violation of this type of usury law results in the invalidation of the transaction, thereby permitting the borrower to cancel the recorded mortgage or deed of trust without any payment or prohibiting the lender from foreclosing.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and related regulations (collectively, the "ADA), in order to protect individuals with disabilities, public accommodations (such as hotel properties, restaurants, shopping centers, hospitals, schools and social service center establishments) must remove architectural and communication barriers which are structural in nature from existing places of public accommodation to the extent "readily achievable". In addition, under the ADA, alterations to a place of public accommodation or a commercial facility are to be made so that, to the maximum extent feasible, such altered portions are readily accessible to and usable by disabled individuals. The "readily achievable" standard takes into account, among other factors, the financial resources of the affected site, owner, landlord or other applicable person. In addition to imposing a possible financial burden on the borrower in its capacity as owner or landlord, the ADA may also impose such requirements on a foreclosing lender who succeeds to the interest of the borrower as owner or landlord. Furthermore, since the "readily achievable" standard may vary depending on the financial condition of the owner or landlord, a foreclosing lender who is financially more capable than the borrower of complying with the requirements of the ADA may be subject to more stringent requirements than those to which the borrower is subject.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Under the terms of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act as amended (the "Relief Act"), a borrower who enters military service after the origination of such borrower's mortgage loan (including a borrower who was in reserve status and is called to active duty after origination of the mortgage loan), upon notification by such borrower, will not be charged interest, including fees and charges, in excess of 6% per annum during the period of such borrower's active duty status. In addition to adjusting the interest, the lender must forgive any such interest in excess of 6% unless a court or administrative agency orders otherwise upon application of the lender. The Relief Act applies to individuals who are members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves, Coast Guard and officers of the U.S. Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assigned to duty with the military. Because the Relief Act applies to individuals who enter military service (including reservists who are called to active duty) after origination of the related mortgage loan, no information can be provided as to the number of loans with individuals as borrowers that may be affected by the Relief Act. Application of the Relief Act would adversely affect, for an indeterminate period of time, the ability of a master servicer or special servicer to collect full amounts of interest on certain of the mortgage loans. Any shortfalls in interest collections resulting from the application of the Relief Act would result in a reduction of the amounts distributable to the holders of certificates, and would not be covered by advances or, any form of credit support provided in connection with the certificates. In addition, the Relief Act imposes limitations that would impair the ability of a lender to foreclose on an affected mortgage loan during the borrower's period of active duty status, and, under certain circumstances, during an additional three-month period thereafter.
Anti-Money Laundering, Economic Sanctions and Bribery
Many jurisdictions have adopted wide-ranging anti-money laundering, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and regulations (collectively, the "Requirements"). Any of the depositor, the issuing entity, the underwriters or other party to the PSA could be requested or required to obtain certain assurances from prospective investors intending to purchase certificates and to retain such information or to disclose information pertaining to them to governmental, regulatory or other authorities or to financial intermediaries or engage in due diligence or take other related actions in the future. Failure
to honor any request by the depositor, the issuing entity, the underwriters or other party to the PSA to provide requested information or take such other actions as may be necessary or advisable for the depositor, the issuing entity, the underwriters or other party to the PSA to comply with any Requirements, related legal process or appropriate requests (whether formal or informal) may result in, among other things, a forced sale to another investor of such investor's certificates. In addition, it is expected that each of the depositor, the issuing entity, the underwriters and the other parties to the PSA will comply with the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (also known as the "Patriot Act") and any other anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws, and regulations of the United States and other countries, and will disclose any information required or requested by authorities in connection with such compliance.
Potential Forfeiture of Assets
Federal law provides that assets (including property purchased or improved with assets) derived from criminal activity or otherwise tainted, or used in the commission of certain offenses, is subject to the blocking requirements of economic sanctions laws and regulations, and can be blocked and/or seized and ordered forfeited to the United States of America. The offenses that can trigger such a blocking and/or seizure and forfeiture include, among others, violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, the anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism, economic sanctions, and anti-bribery laws and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the regulations issued pursuant to that act, as well as the narcotic drug laws. In many instances, the United States may seize the property even before a conviction occurs.
In the event of a forfeiture proceeding, a lender may be able to establish its interest in the property by proving that (a) its mortgage was executed and recorded before the commission of the illegal conduct from which the assets used to purchase or improve the property were derived or before the commission of any other crime upon which the forfeiture is based, or (b) the lender, at the time of the execution of the mortgage, "did not know or was reasonably without cause to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture". However, there is no assurance that such a defense will be successful.
CERTAIN AFFILIATIONS, RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING TRANSACTION PARTIES
BANA and its affiliates are playing several roles in this transaction. Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage Inc. is the depositor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BANA. BANA and the other mortgage loan sellers originated, co-originated or acquired the mortgage loans and will be selling them to the depositor. BANA is also an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, an underwriter for the offering of the certificates.
[In addition, BANA currently holds the [_______] Pari Passu Companion Loan. However, BANA intends to sell the [________] Pari Passu Companion Loan in connection with a future securitization. In addition, with respect to [__] mortgage loan identified as "[______]" on Annex A, representing approximately [__]% of the Initial Pool Balance, BANA is the holder of a related mezzanine loan secured by direct or indirect equity interests in the borrower under such mortgage loan.]
[BANA and certain other third party lenders provide warehouse financing to certain affiliates of [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] (the "Financing Affiliates") through various repurchase facilities and other lending arrangements. Some or all of the [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans are (or as of the securitization closing date may be) subject to such repurchase facilities and other lending arrangements. If such is the case at the time the certificates are issued, then [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] will use the proceeds from its sale of the [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans to the depositor to, among other things, acquire the financed [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans from the Financing Affiliates, and the Financing Affiliates will, in turn, use the funds that they receive from [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] to, among other things, reacquire or otherwise obtain the release of the warehoused [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans from the repurchase agreement counterparties or other
types of lenders free and clear of any liens. As of [_____], BANA was the repurchase agreement counterparty with respect to [__] of the [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans, with an aggregate Cut-off Date Balance of $[_______]. The certificate administrator is the interim custodian of the loan documents with respect to [__] of the [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans, which have an aggregate Cut-off Date Balance of $[_________]. In addition, the certificate administrator acts as interim servicer with respect to [__] of the [MORTGAGE LOAN SELLER] Mortgage Loans, which have an aggregate Cut-off Date Balance of $[_______].]
[ADD SIMILAR DISCLOSURE, IF APPLICABLE, FOR OTHER SPONSORS OR MORTGAGE LOAN SELLERS]
[The certificate administrator is also the certificate administrator, the custodian, the certificate registrar and the 17g-5 information provider under the [______] pooling and servicing agreement with respect to the [______] Whole Loan.]
[The master servicer is also the master servicer under the [______] pooling and servicing agreement with respect to the [______] Whole Loan.]
[The asset representations reviewer is also the asset representations reviewer under the [______] pooling and servicing agreement with respect to the [______] Whole Loan.]
[The special servicer is an affiliate of the entity that is expected to purchase the [____] certificates (and may purchase certain other classes of certificates) and to be appointed as the initial Directing Certificateholder.]
See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest—Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Master Servicer and the Special Servicer", "—Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Asset Representations Reviewer", "—Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Directing Certificateholder and the Companion Loan Holders" and "—Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans—Mortgaged Properties Leased to Borrowers or Borrower Affiliated Entities Also Have Risks". For a description of certain other affiliations, relationships and related transactions, to the extent known and material, among the transaction parties, see the individual descriptions of the transaction parties under "Transaction Parties".
PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING TRANSACTION PARTIES
While the sponsors have been involved in, and are currently involved in, certain litigation or potential litigation, including actions relating to repurchase claims, there are no legal proceedings pending, or any proceedings known to be contemplated by any governmental authorities, against the sponsors that are material to Certificateholders.
[For a description of certain other material legal proceedings pending against the transaction parties, see the individual descriptions of the transaction parties under "Transaction Parties".]
Certain of the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Certificates, together with the net proceeds from the sale of the other certificates not being offered by this prospectus, will be used by the depositor to purchase the mortgage loans from the mortgage loan sellers and to pay certain expenses in connection with the issuance of the certificates. [If applicable, disclosure of the amount of expenses payable from offering proceeds, separately identifying the type and amount of expenses paid to each of the sponsor, servicer, depositor, issuing entity, originator, underwriter, or any affiliate of the foregoing will be included as required by Item 1107(j) of Regulation AB.]
YIELD AND MATURITY CONSIDERATIONS
The yield to maturity on the Offered Certificates will depend upon the price paid by the investors, the rate and timing of the distributions in reduction of the Certificate Balance or Notional Amount of the applicable class of Offered Certificates, the extent to which yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums allocated to the class of Offered Certificates are collected, and the rate, timing and severity of
losses on the Mortgage Loans and the extent to which such losses are allocable in reduction of the Certificate Balance or Notional Amount of the class of Offered Certificates, as well as prevailing interest rates at the time of payment or loss realization.
Rate and Timing of Principal Payments
The rate and amount of distributions in reduction of the Certificate Balance of any class of Offered Certificates that are also Principal Balance Certificates (other than Exchangeable Certificates) or Trust Components (and, therefore, the related Exchangeable Certificates)) or the Trust Components (and, therefore, the related Exchangeable Certificates and the yield to maturity of any class of Offered Certificates will be directly related to the rate of payments of principal (both scheduled and unscheduled) on the Mortgage Loans, as well as borrower defaults and the severity of losses occurring upon a default and the resulting rate and timing of collections made in connection with liquidations of Mortgage Loans due to these defaults. Principal payments on the Mortgage Loans will be affected by their amortization schedules, lockout periods, defeasance provisions, provisions relating to the release and/or application of earnout reserves, provisions requiring prepayments in connection with the release of real property collateral, requirements to pay yield maintenance charges or prepayment premiums in connection with principal payments, the dates on which balloon payments are due, incentives for a borrower to repay an ARD Loan by the related Anticipated Repayment Date, property release provisions, provisions relating to the application or release of earnout reserves, and any extensions of maturity dates by the master servicer or the special servicer. While voluntary prepayments of some Mortgage Loans are generally prohibited during applicable prepayment lockout periods, effective prepayments may occur if a sufficiently significant portion of a mortgaged property is lost due to casualty or condemnation. In addition, such distributions in reduction of Certificate Balances of the respective classes of Offered Certificates that are also Principal Balance Certificates (other than Exchangeable Certificates) or Trust Components (and, therefore, the related Exchangeable Certificates) may result from repurchases of, or substitutions for, Mortgage Loans made by the sponsors due to missing or defective documentation or breaches of representations and warranties with respect to the Mortgage Loans as described under "Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements", purchases of the Mortgage Loans in the manner described under "Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Termination; Retirement of Certificates", and the exercise of purchase options by the holder of companion loan, a mezzanine loan, if any, or the holder of the [LOAN SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Serviced AB Whole Loan[—Purchase Option]". To the extent a Mortgage Loan requires payment of a yield maintenance charge or prepayment premium in connection with a voluntary prepayment, any such yield maintenance charge or prepayment premium generally is not due in connection with a prepayment due to casualty or condemnation, is not included in the purchase price of a Mortgage Loan purchased or repurchased due to a breach of a representation or warranty or otherwise, and may not be enforceable or collectible upon a default.
Because the certificates with Notional Amounts are not entitled to distributions of principal, the yield on such certificates will be extremely sensitive to prepayments received in respect of the Mortgage Loans to the extent distributed to reduce the related Notional Amount of the applicable class of certificates. In addition, although the borrower under an ARD Loan may have certain incentives to prepay such ARD Loan on its Anticipated Repayment Date, we cannot assure you that the borrower will be able to prepay such ARD Loan on its related Anticipated Repayment Date. The failure of the borrower to prepay an ARD Loan on its Anticipated Repayment Date will not be an event of default under the terms of such ARD
Loan, and pursuant to the terms of the PSA, neither the master servicer nor the special servicer will be permitted to take any enforcement action with respect to the borrower's failure to pay Excess Interest until the scheduled maturity of such ARD Loan; provided that the master servicer or the special servicer, as the case may be, may take action to enforce the issuing entity's right to apply excess cash flow to principal in accordance with the terms of the respective ARD Loan documents. [With respect to the Class A-SB certificates, the extent to which the planned balances are achieved and the sensitivity of the Class A-SB certificates to principal prepayments of the Mortgage Loans will depend in part on the period of time during which the Class [__], Class [__], Class [__], Class [__], Class [__] and Class [__] certificates remain outstanding. As such, the Class A-SB certificates will become more sensitive to the rate of prepayments on the mortgage loans than they were when the Class [__], Class [__], Class [__], Class [__], Class [__] and Class [__] certificates were outstanding.]
The extent to which the yield to maturity of any class of Offered Certificates may vary from the anticipated yield will depend upon the degree to which the certificates are purchased at a discount or premium and when, and to what degree, payments of principal on the Mortgage Loans are in turn distributed on the certificates or, in the case of the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASSES] certificates with a Notional Amount, applied to reduce their Notional Amounts. An investor should consider, in the case of any certificate (other than a certificate with a Notional Amount) purchased at a discount, the risk that a slower than anticipated rate of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans could result in an actual yield to such investor that is lower than the anticipated yield and, in the case of any certificate purchased at a premium (including certificates with Notional Amounts), the risk that a faster than anticipated rate of principal payments could result in an actual yield to such investor that is lower than the anticipated yield. In general, the earlier a payment of principal on the Mortgage Loans is distributed or otherwise results in reduction of the Certificate Balance of a certificate purchased at a discount or premium, the greater will be the effect on an investor's yield to maturity. As a result, the effect on an investor's yield of principal payments distributed on an investor's certificates occurring at a rate higher (or lower) than the rate anticipated by the investor during any particular period would not be fully offset by a subsequent like reduction (or increase) in the rate of principal payments.
The yield on each of the classes of certificates that have a Pass-Through Rate equal to, limited by, or based on, the WAC Rate could (or in the case of any class of certificates with a Pass-Through Rate equal to, or based on, the WAC Rate, would) be adversely affected if Mortgage Loans with higher Mortgage Rates prepay faster than Mortgage Loans with lower Mortgage Rates. The Pass-Through Rates on these classes of certificates may be adversely affected by a decrease in the WAC Rate even if principal prepayments do not occur.
The Certificate Balance or Notional Amount of any class of Offered Certificates may be reduced without distributions of principal as a result of the occurrence and allocation of Realized Losses, reducing the maximum amount distributable in respect of principal on the Offered Certificates that are Principal Balance Certificates as well as the amount of interest that would have otherwise been payable on the Offered Certificates in the absence of such reduction. In general, a Realized Loss occurs when the principal balance of a Mortgage Loan is reduced without an equal distribution to applicable Certificateholders in reduction of the Certificate Balances of the certificates and the Trust Components (and, therefore, the Exchangeable Certificates). Realized Losses may occur in connection with a default on a Mortgage Loan, acceptance of a discounted pay-off, the liquidation of the related Mortgaged Properties, a reduction in the principal balance of a Mortgage Loan by a bankruptcy court or pursuant to a modification, a recovery by the master servicer or trustee of a Nonrecoverable Advance on a Distribution Date or the incurrence of certain unanticipated or default-related costs and expenses (such as interest on Advances, Workout Fees, Liquidation Fees and Special Servicing Fees). Any reduction of the Certificate Balances of the classes of certificates and the Trust Components indicated in the table below as a result of the application of Realized Losses will also reduce the Notional Amount of the related certificates.
Interest-Only Class of Certificates | | | | Underlying Class or Trust Components |
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Certificateholders are not entitled to receive distributions of Periodic Payments when due except to the extent they are either covered by a P&I Advance or actually received. Consequently, any defaulted Periodic Payment for which no such P&I Advance is made will tend to extend the weighted average lives of the Offered Certificates, whether or not a permitted extension of the due date of the related Mortgage Loan has been completed.
Losses and shortfalls on any AB Whole Loan and Prepayment Interest Shortfalls for each Distribution Date with respect to an AB Whole Loan will generally be allocated first to the related Subordinate Companion Loan (and, in the case of the Trust Subordinate Companion Loan, correspondingly, the [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates to the extent not covered by the master servicer's Compensating Interest Payment for such Distribution Date in the case of any Prepayment Interest Shortfall) and then to the related Mortgage Loan (and correspondingly to the Pooled Certificates to the extent not covered by the master servicer's Compensating Interest Payment for such Distribution Date in the case of any Prepayment Interest Shortfall).
Certain Relevant Factors Affecting Loan Payments and Defaults
The rate and timing of principal payments and defaults and the severity of losses on the Mortgage Loans may be affected by a number of factors, including, without limitation, the availability of credit for commercial or multifamily real estate, prevailing interest rates, the terms of the Mortgage Loans (for example, due-on-sale clauses, lockout periods or yield maintenance charges, release of property provisions, amortization terms that require balloon payments and incentives for a borrower to repay its mortgage loan by an anticipated repayment date), the demographics and relative economic vitality of the areas in which the Mortgaged Properties are located and the general supply and demand for rental properties in those areas, the quality of management of the Mortgaged Properties, the servicing of the Mortgage Loans, possible changes in tax laws and other opportunities for investment. See "Risk Factors" and "Description of the Mortgage Pool".
The rate of prepayment on the pool of Mortgage Loans is likely to be affected by prevailing market interest rates for Mortgage Loans of a comparable type, term and risk level as the Mortgage Loans. When the prevailing market interest rate is below a mortgage interest rate, a borrower may have an increased incentive to refinance its Mortgage Loan. [Even in the case of floating rate Mortgage Loans, as prevailing market interest rates decline, and without regard to whether the mortgage interest rates on the floating rate Mortgage Loans decline in a manner consistent with market interest rates, the related borrowers may have an increased incentive to refinance for purposes of either (1) converting to a fixed rate loan and thereby "locking in" that rate or (2) taking advantage of a different index, margin or rate cap or floor on another floating rate Mortgage Loan.] Although the Mortgage Loans contain provisions designed to mitigate the likelihood of an early loan repayment, we cannot assure you that the related borrowers will refrain from prepaying their Mortgage Loans due to the existence of these provisions, or that involuntary prepayments will not occur. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans".
With respect to certain Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Loan documents allow for the sale of individual properties and the severance of the related debt and the assumption by the transferee of such portion of the Mortgage Loan as-is allocable to the individual property acquired by that transferee, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. In addition, with respect to certain Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Loan documents allow for partial releases of individual Mortgaged Properties during a lockout period or during such time as a yield maintenance charge would otherwise be payable, which could result in a prepayment of a portion of the initial principal balance of the related Mortgage Loan without payment
of a yield maintenance charge or prepayment premium. Additionally, in the case of a partial release of an individual Mortgaged Property, the related release amount in many cases is greater than the allocated loan amount for the Mortgaged Property being released, which would result in a greater than proportionate paydown of the Mortgage Loan. See "Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans—Partial Releases".
Depending on prevailing market interest rates, the outlook for market interest rates and economic conditions generally, some borrowers may sell Mortgaged Properties in order to realize their equity in the Mortgaged Property, to meet cash flow needs or to make other investments. In addition, some borrowers may be motivated by federal and state tax laws (which are subject to change) to sell Mortgaged Properties prior to the exhaustion of tax depreciation benefits.
We make no representation as to the particular factors that will affect the rate and timing of prepayments and defaults on the Mortgage Loans, as to the relative importance of those factors, as to the percentage of the principal balance of the Mortgage Loans that will be prepaid or as to which a default will have occurred as of any date or as to the overall rate of prepayment or default on the Mortgage Loans.
Delay in Payment of Distributions
Because each monthly distribution is made on each Distribution Date, which is at least [__] days after the end of the related Interest Accrual Period for the certificates, the effective yield to the holders of such certificates will be lower than the yield that would otherwise be produced by the applicable Pass-Through Rates and purchase prices (assuming the prices did not account for the delay).
Yield on the Certificates with Notional Amounts
The yield to maturity of the certificates with Notional Amounts will be highly sensitive to the rate and timing of reductions made to the Certificate Balances of the classes of certificates indicated in the table below and the related Trust Component, including by reason of prepayments and principal losses on the Mortgage Loans and other factors described above. The yield to maturity of the certificates with Notional Amounts will be highly sensitive to the rate and timing of reductions made to the Certificate Balances of the related certificates indicated in the table below and the related Trust Component, including by reason of prepayments and principal losses on the Mortgage Loans and other factors described above.
Interest-Only Class of Certificates | | | | Underlying Class or Trust Components |
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Any optional termination by the holders of the Controlling Class, the special servicer, the master servicer or the holders of the Class R certificates would result in prepayment in full of the Offered Certificates and would have an adverse effect on the yield of a class of the certificates with Notional Amounts because a termination would have an effect similar to a principal prepayment in full of the Mortgage Loans and, as a result, investors in these certificates and any other Offered Certificates purchased at premium might not fully recoup their initial investment. See "Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Termination; Retirement of Certificates".
Investors in the certificates with Notional Amounts should fully consider the associated risks, including the risk that an extremely rapid rate of prepayment or other liquidation of the Mortgage Loans could result in the failure of such investors to recoup fully their initial investments.
The weighted average life of a Regular Certificate and the Class [EC] certificates refers to the average amount of time that will elapse from the date of its issuance until each dollar allocable to principal
of the certificate is distributed to the related investor. The weighted average life of a Regular Certificate and the Class [EC] certificates will be influenced by, among other things, the rate at which principal on the mortgage loans is paid or otherwise received, which may be in the form of scheduled amortization, voluntary prepayments, Insurance and Condemnation Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds. Distributions among the various classes of certificates will be made as set forth under "Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Priority of Distributions".
Prepayments on Mortgage Loans may be measured by a prepayment standard or model. The "Constant Prepayment Rate" or "CPR" model represents an assumed constant annual rate of prepayment each month, expressed as a per annum percentage of the then-scheduled principal balance of the pool of Mortgage Loans (or, with respect to an AB Whole Loan, the related Mortgage Loan). The "CPY" model represents an assumed CPR prepayment rate after any applicable lockout period, any applicable period
in which defeasance is permitted and any applicable yield maintenance period. The model used in this prospectus is the CPY model. As used in each of the following tables, the column headed "0% CPY" assumes that none of the Mortgage Loans is prepaid before its maturity date or Anticipated Repayment Date, as the case may be. The columns headed ["25% CPY", "50% CPY", "75% CPY"] and "100% CPY" assume that prepayments on the Mortgage Loans are made (or, with respect to an AB Whole Loan, principal is allocated to the related Mortgage Loan) at those levels of CPR following the expiration of any applicable lockout period, any applicable period in which defeasance is permitted and any applicable yield maintenance period (except as described below). We cannot assure you, however, that prepayments of the Mortgage Loans (or, with respect to an AB Whole Loan, the related Mortgage Loan) will conform to any level of CPY, and we make no representation that the Mortgage Loans will prepay at the levels of CPY shown or at any other prepayment rate.
The following tables indicate the percentage of the initial Certificate Balance of each class of the Offered Certificates that would be outstanding after each of the dates shown at various CPYs and the corresponding weighted average life of each class of Offered Certificates. The tables have been prepared on the basis of the following assumptions (the "Modeling Assumptions"), among others:
· | scheduled Periodic Payments including payments due at maturity or anticipated repayment date of principal and/or interest on the Mortgage Loans will be received on a timely basis and will be distributed on the [__] day of the related month, beginning in [_________]; |
· | the Mortgage Rate in effect for each Mortgage Loan as of the Cut-off Date will remain in effect to the related maturity date or Anticipated Repayment Date, as the case may be, and will be adjusted as required pursuant to the definition of Mortgage Rate; |
· | the Mortgage Loan sellers will not be required to repurchase any Mortgage Loan, and none of the holders of the Controlling Class (or any other Certificateholder), the special servicer, the master servicer or the holders of the Class R certificates will exercise its option to purchase all the Mortgage Loans and thereby cause an early termination of the issuing entity and no holder of any [LOAN-SPECIFIC CLASS] certificates, subordinate companion loan, mezzanine debt or other indebtedness will exercise its option to purchase the related Mortgage Loan; |
· | any principal prepayments on the Mortgage Loans will be received on their respective Due Dates after the expiration of any applicable lockout period, any applicable period in which defeasance is permitted, and any applicable yield maintenance period, in each case, at the respective levels of CPY set forth in the tables (without regard to any limitations in such Mortgage Loans on partial voluntary principal prepayment); |
· | no Prepayment Interest Shortfalls are incurred and no prepayment premiums or yield maintenance charges are collected; |
· | the Closing Date occurs on [______]; |
· | each ARD Loan prepays in full on the related Anticipated Repayment Date; |
· | the Pass-Through Rates, initial Certificate Balances and initial Notional Amount of the respective classes of Offered Certificates are as described in this prospectus; |
· | the Administrative Cost Rate is calculated on the Stated Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans and in the same manner as interest is calculated on the Mortgage Loans; |
· | no reserves, earnouts, holdbacks, insurance proceeds or condemnation proceeds are applied to prepay any related Mortgage Loan in whole or in part; |
· | no additional trust fund expenses are incurred; |
· | no property releases (or related re-amortizations) occur; |
· | the optional termination is not exercised; |
· | the Certificate Balance of the Class [EC] certificates at all times equals the aggregate of the Certificate Balances of the Exchangeable Certificates; and |
· | there are no modifications or maturity date extensions in respect of the Mortgage Loans. |
To the extent that the Mortgage Loans have characteristics that differ from those assumed in preparing the tables set forth below, a class of Offered Certificates may mature earlier or later than indicated by the tables. The tables set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and it is highly unlikely that the Mortgage Loans will actually prepay at any constant rate until maturity or that all the Mortgage Loans will prepay at the same rate. In addition, variations in the actual prepayment experience and the balance of the Mortgage Loans that prepay may increase or decrease the percentages of initial Certificate Balances (and weighted average lives) shown in the following tables. These variations may occur even if the average prepayment experience of the Mortgage Loans were to equal any of the specified CPY percentages. Investors should not rely on the prepayment assumptions set forth in this prospectus and are urged to conduct their own analyses of the rates at which the Mortgage Loans may be expected to prepay, based on their own assumptions. Based on the foregoing assumptions, the following tables indicate the resulting weighted average lives of each class of Offered Certificates and set forth the percentage of the initial Certificate Balance of the class of the certificate that would be outstanding after each of the dates shown at the indicated CPYs.
Percent of the Initial Certificate Balance
of the Class [___] Certificates at the Respective CPYs
Set Forth Below:
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Initial Percentage | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% |
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Weighted Average Life (years)(1) | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | The weighted average life of the Class [__] certificates is determined by (a) multiplying the amount of each principal distribution on it by the number of years from the date of issuance of the Class [__] certificates to the related Distribution Date, (b) summing the results and (c) dividing the sum by the aggregate amount of the reductions in the principal balance of the Class [__] certificates. |
Percent of the Initial Certificate Balance
of the Class [__] Certificates at the Respective CPYs
Set Forth Below:
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Initial Percentage | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% |
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Weighted Average Life (years)(1) | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | The weighted average life of the Class [___] certificates is determined by (a) multiplying the amount of each principal distribution on it by the number of years from the date of issuance of the Class [___] certificates to the related Distribution Date, (b) summing the results and (c) dividing the sum by the aggregate amount of the reductions in the principal balance of the Class [___] certificates. |
Percent of the Initial Certificate Balance
of the Class [EC] Certificates at the Respective CPYs
Set Forth Below:
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Initial Percentage | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% | | 100% |
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Weighted Average Life (years)(1) | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | The weighted average life of the Class [__] certificates is determined by (a) multiplying the amount of each principal distribution on it by the number of years from the date of issuance of the Class [__] certificates to the related Distribution Date, (b) summing the results and (c) dividing the sum by the aggregate amount of the reductions in the principal balance of the Class [__] certificates. |
Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity Tables
The following tables indicate the approximate pre-tax yield to maturity on a corporate bond equivalent basis on the Offered Certificates for the specified CPYs based on the assumptions set forth under "—Weighted Average Life" above. It was further assumed that the purchase price of the Offered Certificates is as specified in the tables below, expressed as a percentage of the initial Certificate Balance or Notional Amount, as applicable, plus accrued interest from [_______] to the Closing Date.
The yields set forth in the following tables were calculated by determining the monthly discount rates that, when applied to the assumed streams of cash flows to be paid on the applicable class of Offered Certificates, would cause the discounted present value of such assumed stream of cash flows to equal the assumed purchase price of such class, and by converting such monthly rates to semi-annual corporate bond equivalent rates. Such calculations do not take into account shortfalls in collection of interest due to prepayments (or other liquidations) of the Mortgage Loans or the interest rates at which investors may be able to reinvest funds received by them as distributions on the applicable class of certificates (and, accordingly, do not purport to reflect the return on any investment in the applicable class of Offered Certificates when such reinvestment rates are considered).
The characteristics of the Mortgage Loans may differ from those assumed in preparing the tables below. In addition, we cannot assure you that the Mortgage Loans will prepay in accordance with the above assumptions (or, with respect to an AB Whole Loan, amounts will be allocated to the related Mortgage Loan in accordance with the above assumptions) at any of the rates shown in the tables or at any other particular rate, that the cash flows on the applicable class of Offered Certificates will correspond to the cash flows shown in this prospectus or that the aggregate purchase price of such class of Offered Certificates will be as assumed. In addition, it is unlikely that the Mortgage Loans will prepay in accordance with the above assumptions at any of the specified CPYs until maturity or that all the Mortgage Loans will so prepay at the same rate. Timing of changes in the rate of prepayments may significantly affect the actual yield to maturity to investors, even if the average rate of principal prepayments is consistent with the expectations of investors. Investors must make their own decisions as to the appropriate prepayment assumption to be used in deciding whether to purchase any class of Offered Certificates.
For purposes of this prospectus, prepayment assumptions with respect to the Mortgage Loans are presented in terms of the CPY model described under "—Weighted Average Life" above.
Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity for the Class [__] Certificates
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Assumed Purchase Price (% of Initial Certificate Balance of Class [__] certificates) | | Prepayment Assumption (CPY) |
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Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity for the Class [__] Certificates
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Assumed Purchase Price (% of Initial Certificate Balance of Class [__] certificates) | | Prepayment Assumption (CPY) |
| 0% CPY | | 25% CPY | | 50% CPY | | 75% CPY | | 100% CPY |
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Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity for the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificates
Assumed Purchase Price (% of Initial Notional Amount of [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] certificates) | | Prepayment Assumption (CPY) |
| 0% CPY | | 25% CPY | | 50% CPY | | 75% CPY | | 100% CPY |
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Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity for the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificates
Assumed Purchase Price (% of Initial Notional Amount of [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] certificates) | | Prepayment Assumption (CPY) |
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Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity for the Class [EC] Certificates
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MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general discussion of the anticipated material federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the certificates. The discussion below does not purport to address all federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to particular categories of investors (such as banks, insurance companies, securities dealers, foreign persons, investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, and investors that hold the certificates as part of a "straddle" or
"conversion transaction"), some of which may be subject to special rules. The authorities on which this discussion is based are subject to change or differing interpretations, and any such change or interpretation could apply retroactively. This discussion reflects the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), as well as regulations (the "REMIC Regulations") promulgated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS. Investors are encouraged to consult their tax advisors in determining the federal, state, local or any other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the certificates.
One or more separate real estate mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC") elections will be made with respect to designated portions of the issuing entity (the "Subordinate Companion Loan REMIC", the "Lower-Tier REMIC" (and, together with the Subordinate Companion Loan REMIC, the "Lower-Tier REMICs") and the "Upper-Tier REMIC", and, together, the "Trust REMICs"). The Lower-Tier REMICs will hold the Mortgage Loans [[FOR ARD LOANS] (excluding Excess Interest)] and certain other assets and will issue (i) one or more classes of regular interests (the "Lower-Tier Regular Interests") to another Lower-Tier REMIC or to the Upper-Tier REMIC and (ii) an uncertificated interest represented by the Class R certificates as the sole class of "residual interests" in each Lower-Tier REMIC.
The Upper-Tier REMIC will hold the Lower-Tier Regular Interests and will issue (i) the [SPECIFY CLASSES certificates] [[FOR EXCHANGEABLE CERTIFICATES] and each Trust Component], each representing a regular interest in the Upper-Tier REMIC (the "Regular Interests") and (ii) an uncertificated interest represented by the Class R certificates as the sole class of "residual interest" in the Upper-Tier REMIC. [INSERT DISCLOSURES REGARDING UPPER-TIER REGULAR INTEREST FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP, IF APPLICABLE.]
Qualification as a REMIC requires ongoing compliance with certain conditions. Assuming (i) the making of appropriate elections, (ii) compliance with the PSA [and any other governing documents], and (iii) compliance with any changes in the law, including any amendments to the Code or applicable Treasury regulations thereunder, in the opinion of [__], special tax counsel to the depositor, (a) each Trust REMIC will qualify as a REMIC on the Closing Date and thereafter, (b) each of the Lower-Tier Regular Interests will constitute a "regular interest" in the related Lower-Tier REMIC, (c) each of the Regular Interests will constitute a "regular interest" in the Upper-Tier REMIC and (d) the Class R certificates will evidence the sole class of "residual interests" in each Trust REMIC.
[In addition, in the opinion of [__], special tax counsel to the depositor, (i) [[FOR ARD LOANS] Excess Interest and the related distribution account] [[FOR EXCHANGEABLE CERTIFICATES] the Trust Components and the related distribution account] will be treated as a grantor trust (the "Grantor Trust") for federal income tax purposes under subpart E, part I of subchapter J of the Code, and (ii)[FOR ARD LOANS] the [ARD CLASS] certificates will represent undivided beneficial interests in the Excess Interest and the related distribution account] [[FOR EXCHANGEABLE CERTIFICATES] each class of Exchangeable Certificates will represent undivided beneficial interests in their respective Percentage Interests of the related Trust Component or Trust Components and related amounts in the related distribution account.].] [INSERT DISCLOSURES REGARDING UPPER-TIER REGULAR INTEREST FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP TO BE INSERTED, IF APPLICABLE.]
In order for each Trust REMIC to qualify as a REMIC, there must be ongoing compliance on the part of such Trust REMIC with the requirements set forth in the Code. Each Trust REMIC must fulfill an asset test, which requires that no more than a de minimis portion of the assets of such Trust REMIC, as of the close of the third calendar month beginning after the Closing Date (which for purposes of this discussion is the date of the issuance of the Regular Interests, the "Startup Day") and at all times thereafter, may consist of assets other than "qualified mortgages" and "permitted investments." The REMIC Regulations provide a safe harbor pursuant to which the de minimis requirements will be met if at all times the aggregate adjusted basis of the nonqualified assets is less than 1% of the aggregate adjusted basis of all such Trust REMIC's assets. Each Trust REMIC also must provide "reasonable arrangements" to prevent its residual interest from being held by "disqualified organizations" or their agents and must furnish
applicable tax information to transferors or agents that violate this restriction. The PSA will provide that no legal or beneficial interest in the Class R certificates may be transferred or registered unless certain conditions, designed to prevent violation of this restriction, are met. Consequently, it is expected that each Trust REMIC will qualify as a REMIC at all times that any of the Regular Interests are outstanding.
A qualified mortgage is any obligation that is principally secured by an interest in real property and that is either transferred to a REMIC on the Startup Day or is purchased by a REMIC within a three month period thereafter pursuant to a fixed price contract in effect on the Startup Day. Qualified mortgages include (i) whole mortgage loans such as the Mortgage Loans; provided that, in general, (a) the fair market value of the real property security (including buildings and structural components of the real property security) is at least 80% of the aggregate principal balance of such Mortgage Loan either at origination or as of the Startup Day (a loan-to-value ratio of not more than 125% with respect to the real property security) or (b) substantially all the proceeds of the Mortgage Loan or the underlying mortgages were used to acquire, improve or protect an interest in real property that, at the date of origination, was the only security for the Mortgage Loan, and (ii) regular interests in another REMIC, such as the Lower-Tier Regular Interests that will be held by another Lower-Tier REMIC or the Upper-Tier REMIC, as applicable. If a Mortgage Loan was not in fact principally secured by real property or is otherwise not a qualified mortgage, it must be disposed of within 90 days of discovery of such defect, or otherwise ceases to be a qualified mortgage after such 90-day period.
Permitted investments include "cash flow investments", "qualified reserve assets" and "foreclosure property". A cash flow investment is an investment, earning a return in the nature of interest, of amounts received on or with respect to qualified mortgages for a temporary period, not exceeding 13 months, until the next scheduled distribution to holders of interests in the Trust REMICs. A qualified reserve asset is any intangible property held for investment that is part of any reasonably required reserve maintained by the REMIC to provide for payments of expenses of the REMIC or amounts due on the regular or residual interests in the event of defaults (including delinquencies) on the qualified mortgages, lower than expected reinvestment returns, Prepayment Interest Shortfalls and certain other contingencies. [The Trust REMICs will not hold any qualified reserve assets.] Foreclosure property is real property acquired by a REMIC in connection with the default or imminent default of a qualified mortgage and maintained by the REMIC in compliance with applicable rules and personal property that is incidental to such real property; provided that the mortgage loan sellers had no knowledge or reason to know, as of the Startup Day, that such a default had occurred or would occur. Foreclosure property may generally not be held after the close of the third calendar year beginning after the date the issuing entity acquires such property, with one extension that may be granted by the IRS.
A mortgage loan held by a REMIC will fail to be a qualified mortgage if it is "significantly modified" unless default is "reasonably foreseeable" or where the servicer believes there is a "significant risk of default" upon maturity of the mortgage loan or at an earlier date, and that by making such modification the risk of default is substantially reduced. A mortgage loan held by a REMIC will not be considered to have been "significantly modified" following the release of the lien on a portion of the real property collateral if (a) the release is pursuant to a defeasance permitted under the mortgage loan documents that occurs more than two years after the startup day of the REMIC or (b) following the release the loan-to-value ratio for the mortgage loan is not more than 125% with respect to the real property security. Furthermore, if the release is not pursuant to a defeasance and following the release the loan-to-value ratio for the mortgage loan is greater than 125%, the mortgage loan will continue to be a qualified mortgage if the release is part of a "qualified paydown transaction" in accordance with Revenue Procedure 2010-30.
In addition to the foregoing requirements, the various interests in a REMIC also must meet certain requirements. All of the interests in a REMIC must be either of the following: (i) one or more classes of regular interests or (ii) a single class of residual interests on which distributions, if any, are made pro rata. A regular interest is an interest in a REMIC that is issued on the Startup Day with fixed terms, is designated as a regular interest, and unconditionally entitles the holder to receive a specified principal amount (or other similar amount), and provides that interest payments (or other similar amounts), if any, at or before maturity either are payable based on a fixed rate or a qualified variable rate, or consist of a specified, nonvarying portion of the interest payments on the qualified mortgages. The rate on the
specified portion may be a fixed rate, a variable rate, or the difference between one fixed or qualified variable rate and another fixed or qualified variable rate. The specified principal amount of a regular interest that provides for interest payments consisting of a specified, nonvarying portion of interest payments on qualified mortgages may be zero. An interest in a REMIC may be treated as a regular interest even if payments of principal with respect to such interest are subordinated to payments on other regular interests or the residual interest in the REMIC, and are dependent on the absence of defaults or delinquencies on qualified mortgages or permitted investments, lower than reasonably expected returns on permitted investments, expenses incurred by REMIC or Prepayment Interest Shortfalls. A residual interest is an interest in a REMIC other than a regular interest that is issued on the Startup Day that is designated as a residual interest. Accordingly, each of the Lower-Tier Regular Interests will constitute a class of regular interests in the related Lower-Tier REMIC, each class of the Regular Interests will constitute a class of regular interests in the Upper-Tier REMIC, and the Class R certificates will represent the sole class of residual interest in each Trust REMIC.
If an entity fails to comply with one or more of the ongoing requirements of the Code for status as a REMIC during any taxable year, the Code provides that the entity or applicable portion of it will not be treated as a REMIC for such year and thereafter. In this event, any entity with debt obligations with two or more maturities, such as the Trust REMICs, may be treated as a separate association taxable as a corporation under Treasury regulations, and the certificates may be treated as equity interests in that association. The Code, however, authorizes the Treasury Department to issue regulations that address situations where failure to meet one or more of the requirements for REMIC status occurs inadvertently and in good faith. Investors should be aware, however, that the Conference Committee Report to the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (the "1986 Act") indicates that the relief may be accompanied by sanctions, such as the imposition of a corporate tax on all or a portion of a REMIC's income for the period of time in which the requirements for REMIC status are not satisfied.
Certificates held by a real estate investment trust will constitute "real estate assets" within the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(5)(B), and interest (including original issue discount) on the Regular Interests and income on the Class R certificates will be considered "interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property" within the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(3)(B) in the same proportion that, for both purposes, the assets of the issuing entity would be so treated. If at all times 95% or more of the assets of the issuing entity qualify for each of the foregoing treatments, the Regular Interests will qualify for the corresponding status in their entirety. For purposes of Code Section 856(c)(5)(B), payments of principal and interest on the Mortgage Loans that are reinvested pending distribution to holders of Regular Interests qualify for such treatment. For the purposes of the foregoing determinations, the Trust REMICs will be treated as a single REMIC. Certificates held by a domestic building and loan association will be treated as "loans . . . secured by an interest in real property which is . . . residential real property" within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v) or as other assets described in Code Section 7701(a)(19)(C) only to the extent the Mortgage Loans are secured by residential real property. As of the Cut-off Date, [__] of the Mortgaged Properties securing [__] Mortgage Loans representing [__]% of the Initial Pool Balance, are multifamily properties. Holders of Regular Interests should consult their tax advisors whether the foregoing percentage or some other percentage applies to their Regular Interests. In addition, Mortgage Loans that have been defeased with government securities will not qualify for such treatment. Regular Interests will be "qualified mortgages" within the meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(3) for another REMIC. Moreover, Regular Interests held by certain financial institutions will constitute an "evidence of indebtedness" within the meaning of Code Section 582(c)(1).
Taxation of Regular Interests
Each class of Regular Interests (whether held directly or indirectly) represents one or more regular interests in the Upper-Tier REMIC. In general, interest, original issue discount and market discount on a
Regular Interest will be treated as ordinary income to the holder of a Regular Interest (a "Regular Interestholder"), and principal payments on a Regular Interest will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the Regular Interestholder's basis in the Regular Interest. The Regular Interests will represent newly originated debt instruments for federal income tax purposes. Regular Interestholders must use the accrual method of accounting with regard to the Regular Interests, regardless of the method of accounting otherwise used by such Regular Interestholders.
Holders of Regular Interests issued with original issue discount generally must include original issue discount in ordinary income for federal income tax purposes as it accrues in accordance with the constant yield method, which takes into account the compounding of interest, in advance of receipt of the cash attributable to such income. The following discussion is based in part on temporary and final Treasury regulations (the "OID Regulations") under Code Sections 1271 through 1273 and 1275 and in part on the provisions of the 1986 Act. Regular Interestholders should be aware, however, that the OID Regulations do not adequately address certain issues relevant to prepayable securities, such as the Regular Interests. To the extent such issues are not addressed in the OID Regulations, the certificate administrator will apply the methodology described in the Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act. No assurance can be provided that the IRS will not take a different position as to those matters not currently addressed by the OID Regulations. Moreover, the OID Regulations include an anti-abuse rule allowing the IRS to apply or depart from the OID Regulations if necessary or appropriate to ensure a reasonable tax result in light of the applicable statutory provisions. A tax result will not be considered unreasonable under the anti-abuse rule, however, in the absence of a substantial effect on the present value of a taxpayer's tax liability. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the discussion in this prospectus and the appropriate method for reporting interest and original issue discount with respect to the Regular Interests.
Each Regular Interest [, except to the extent described below with respect to a Regular Interest on which principal is distributed by random lot ("Random Lot Certificates"),] will be treated as an installment obligation for purposes of determining the original issue discount includible in a Regular Interestholder's income. The total amount of original issue discount on a Regular Interest is the excess of the "stated redemption price at maturity" of the Regular Interest over its "issue price". The issue price of a class of Regular Interests is the first price at which a substantial amount of Regular Interests of such class is sold to investors (excluding bond houses, brokers and underwriters) [[FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS], as adjusted, in the case of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, for any Swap Premium paid or received as described under "―Taxation of the Swap Contract" below]. Although unclear under the OID Regulations, the certificate administrator will treat the issue price of Regular Interests for which there is no substantial sale as of the issue date as the fair market value of such Regular Interests as of the issue date. The issue price of the Regular Interests also includes the amount paid by an initial Regular Interestholder for accrued interest that relates to a period prior to the issue date of such class of Regular Interests. The stated redemption price at maturity of a Regular Interest is the sum of all payments provided by the debt instrument other than any qualified stated interest payments. Under the OID Regulations, qualified stated interest generally means interest payable at a single fixed rate or a qualified variable rate; provided that such interest payments are unconditionally payable at intervals of one year or less during the entire term of the obligation. Because there is no penalty or default remedy in the case of nonpayment of interest with respect to a Regular Interest, it is possible that no interest on any class of Regular Interests will be treated as qualified stated interest. However, because the Mortgage Loans provide for remedies in the event of default, the certificate administrator will treat all payments of stated interest on the Regular Interests (other than the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificates) as qualified stated interest (other than accrued interest distributed on the first Distribution Date for the number of days that exceed the interval between the Closing Date and the first Distribution Date). [Based upon the anticipated issue price of each such class and a stated redemption price equal to the par amount of each such class (plus such excess interest accrued thereon), it is anticipated that the Class [__] certificates will be issued with original issue discount for federal income tax purposes.]
It is anticipated that the certificate administrator will treat each class of [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] certificates as having no qualified stated interest. Accordingly, such classes will be considered to be issued with original issue discount in an amount equal to the excess of all distributions of interest expected to be received on such classes over their respective issue prices (including interest accrued prior to the Closing Date). Any "negative" amounts of original issue discount on such classes attributable to rapid prepayments with respect to the Mortgage Loans will not be deductible currently. The holder of a [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] certificate may be entitled to a deduction for a loss, which may be a capital loss, to the extent it becomes certain that such holder will not recover a portion of its basis in such class, assuming no further prepayments. In the alternative, it is possible that rules similar to the "noncontingent bond method" of the contingent interest rules of the OID Regulations may be promulgated with respect to such classes. Unless and until required otherwise by applicable authority, it is not anticipated that the contingent interest rules will apply.
Under a de minimis rule, original issue discount on a Regular Interest will be considered to be zero if such original issue discount is less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity of the Regular Interest multiplied by the weighted average maturity of the Regular Interest. For this purpose, the weighted average maturity of the Regular Interest is computed as the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the number of full years (i.e., rounding down partial years) from the issue date until each distribution in reduction of stated redemption price at maturity is scheduled to be made by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of each distribution included in the stated redemption price at maturity of the Regular Interest and the denominator of which is the stated redemption price at maturity or anticipated repayment date of the Regular Interest. The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act provides that the schedule of such distributions should be determined in accordance with the assumed rate of prepayment on the Mortgage Loans used in pricing the transaction, i.e., Scenario [_] [[FOR ARD LOANS]; provided that it is assumed that the ARD Loan prepays on its anticipated repayment date] (the "Prepayment Assumption"). See "Yield and Maturity Considerations—Weighted Average Life". Holders generally must report de minimis original issue discount pro rata as principal payments are received, and such income will be capital gain if the Regular Interest is held as a capital asset. Under the OID Regulations, however, Regular Interestholders may elect to accrue all de minimis original issue discount, as well as market discount and premium, under the constant yield method. See "—Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method" below. [It is anticipated that the Class [__] certificates will be issued with de minimis original issue discount for federal income tax purposes.]
A holder of a Regular Interest issued with original issue discount generally must include in gross income for any taxable year the sum of the "daily portions", as defined below, of the original issue discount on the Regular Interest accrued during an accrual period for each day on which it holds the Regular Interest, including the date of purchase but excluding the date of disposition. With respect to each such Regular Interest, a calculation will be made of the original issue discount that accrues during each successive full accrual period that ends on the day prior to each Distribution Date with respect to the Regular Interests, assuming that prepayments and extensions with respect to the Mortgage Loans will be made in accordance with the Prepayment Assumption. The original issue discount accruing in a full accrual period will be the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of (a) the present value of all of the remaining distributions to be made on the Regular Interest as of the end of that accrual period and (b) the distributions made on the Regular Interest during the accrual period that are included in the Regular Interest's stated redemption price at maturity, over (ii) the adjusted issue price of the Regular Interest at the beginning of the accrual period. The present value of the remaining distributions referred to in the preceding sentence is calculated based on (i) the yield to maturity of the Regular Interest as of the Startup Day, (ii) events (including actual prepayments) that have occurred prior to the end of the accrual period, [(iii) the assumption that the value of LIBOR used to compute the initial Pass-Through Rate for a Regular Interest that pays a rate based on a LIBOR margin does not change after the Startup Day] and (iv) the assumption that the remaining payments will be made in accordance with the original Prepayment Assumption. For these purposes, the adjusted issue price of a Regular Interest at the beginning of any accrual period equals the issue price of the Regular Interest, increased by the aggregate amount of original issue discount with respect to the Regular Interest that accrued in all prior accrual periods and reduced by the amount of distributions included in the Regular Interest's stated redemption price at maturity that were made on the Regular Interest that were attributable to such prior periods. The original
issue discount accruing during any accrual period (as determined in this paragraph) will then be divided by the number of days in the period to determine the daily portion of original issue discount for each day in the period.
Under the method described above, the daily portions of original issue discount required to be included as ordinary income by a Regular Interestholder (other than a holder of a [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificate) generally will increase to take into account prepayments on the Regular Interests as a result of prepayments on the Mortgage Loans that exceed the Prepayment Assumption, and generally will decrease (but not below zero for any period) if the prepayments are slower than the Prepayment Assumption. Due to the unique nature of interest only certificates, the preceding sentence may not apply in the case of the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificates.
[In the case of a Random Lot Certificate, we intend to determine the yield to maturity of that certificate based upon the anticipated payment characteristics of the class as a whole under the Prepayment Assumption. In general, the original issue discount accruing on each Random Lot Certificate in a full accrual period would be its allocable share of the original issue discount with respect to the entire class, as determined in accordance with the preceding paragraph. However, in the case of a distribution in retirement of the entire unpaid principal balance of any Random Lot Certificate, or portion of that unpaid principal balance, (a) the remaining unaccrued original issue discount allocable to that certificate (or to that portion) will accrue at the time of that distribution, and (b) the accrual of original issue discount allocable to each remaining certificate of the class (or the remaining unpaid principal balance of a partially redeemed Random Lot Certificate after a distribution of principal has been received) will be adjusted by reducing the present value of the remaining payments on that class and the adjusted issue price of that class to the extent attributable to the portion of the unpaid principal balance of the class that was distributed. We believe that the foregoing treatment is consistent with the “pro rata prepayment” rules of the OID Regulations, but with the rate of accrual of original issue discount determined based on the Prepayment Assumption for the class as a whole. You are advised to consult your tax advisors as to this treatment.]
[Variable Rate Regular Certificates
A Regular Interest may provide for interest based on a variable rate. Under the OID Regulations, interest is treated as payable at a variable rate if, generally:
(i) the issue price does not exceed the original principal balance by more than a specified amount, and
(ii) the interest compounds or is payable at least annually at current values of
(1) one or more “qualified floating rates,”
(2) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates,
(3) a single “objective rate”, or
(4) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a “qualified inverse floating rate.”
A floating rate is a qualified floating rate if variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds, where the rate is subject to a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65, but not more than 1.35. The rate may also be increased or decreased by a fixed spread or subject to a fixed cap or floor, or a cap or floor that is not reasonably expected as of the issue date to affect the yield of the instrument significantly. An objective rate (other than a qualified floating rate) is a rate that is determined using a single fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information, provided that the information is not (1) within the control of the depositor or a related party or (2) unique to the circumstances of the depositor or a related party. A qualified inverse floating rate is a rate equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate that inversely reflects contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds; an inverse floating rate that is
not a qualified floating rate may nevertheless be an objective rate. A class of Regular Interests may be issued under this prospectus that does not have a variable rate under the OID Regulations, for example, a class that bears different rates at different times during the period it is outstanding so that it is considered significantly “front-loaded” or “back-loaded” within the meaning of the OID Regulations. It is possible that a class of this type may be considered to bear “contingent interest” within the meaning of the OID Regulations. The OID Regulations, as they relate to the treatment of contingent interest, are by their terms not applicable to Regular Interests. However, if final regulations dealing with contingent interest with respect to Regular Interests apply the same principles as the current regulations, those regulations may lead to different timing of income inclusion than would be the case under the variable interest regulations. Furthermore, application of those principles could lead to the characterization of gain on the sale of contingent interest Regular Interests as ordinary income. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the appropriate treatment of any Regular Interest that does not pay interest at a fixed rate or variable rate as described in this paragraph.
Under the REMIC Regulations, a Regular Interest (1) bearing a rate that qualifies as a qualified floating rate under the OID Regulations that is tied to current values of a variable rate (or the highest, lowest or average of two or more variable rates), including a rate based on the average cost of funds of one or more financial institutions, or a positive or negative multiple of a rate (plus or minus a specified number of basis points), or that represents a weighted average of rates on some or all of the mortgage loans, including a rate that is subject to one or more caps or floors (each, a “variable rate”), or (2) bearing one or more of these variable rates for one or more periods or one or more fixed rates for one or more periods, and a different variable rate or fixed rate for other periods qualifies as a regular interest in a REMIC. Accordingly, we intend to treat Regular Interests that qualify as regular interests under this rule in the same manner as obligations bearing a variable rate for original issue discount reporting purposes.
The amount of original issue discount with respect to a Regular Interest bearing a variable rate of interest will accrue in the manner described above under “—Original Issue Discount” with the yield to maturity and future payments on that Regular Interest generally to be determined by assuming that interest will be payable for the life of the Regular Interest based on the initial rate (or, if different, the value of the applicable variable rate as of the pricing date) for the relevant class. Generally, the certificate administrator will treat variable interest as qualified stated interest, other than variable interest on a [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] certificate or super-premium class, which will be treated as non-qualified stated interest includible in the stated redemption price at maturity. Ordinary income reportable for any period will be adjusted based on subsequent changes in the applicable interest rate index.
Although unclear under the OID Regulations, unless required otherwise by applicable final regulations, we intend to treat Regular Interests bearing an interest rate that is a weighted average of the net mortgage rates on mortgage loans or mortgage certificates having fixed or adjustable rates, as having qualified stated interest, except to the extent that initial “teaser” rates cause sufficiently “back-loaded” interest to create more than de minimis original issue discount. The yield on those Regular Interests for purposes of accruing original issue discount will be a hypothetical fixed rate based on the fixed rates, in the case of fixed rate mortgage loans, and initial “teaser rates” followed by fully indexed rates, in the case of adjustable rate mortgage loans. In the case of adjustable rate mortgage loans, the applicable index used to compute interest on the mortgage loans will be the index in effect on the pricing date (or possibly the issue date), and in the case of initial teaser rates, will be deemed to be in effect beginning with the period in which the first weighted average adjustment date occurring after the issue date occurs. Adjustments will be made in each accrual period either increasing or decreasing the amount of ordinary income reportable to reflect the actual pass-through interest rate on the Regular Interests.]
[Deferred Interest
Under the OID Regulations, all interest on a Regular Interest as to which there may be deferred interest is includible in the stated redemption price at maturity. Accordingly, any deferred interest that accrues with respect to a class of Regular Interests may constitute income to the holders of such Regular Interest prior to the time distributions of cash with respect to such deferred interest are made.]
Acquisition Premium
A purchaser of a Regular Interest at a price greater than its adjusted issue price and less than its remaining stated redemption price at maturity will be required to include in gross income the daily portions of the original issue discount on the Regular Interest reduced pro rata by a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of its purchase price over such adjusted issue price and the denominator of which is the excess of the remaining stated redemption price at maturity over the adjusted issue price. Alternatively, such a purchaser may elect to treat all such acquisition premium under the constant yield method, as described under the heading “—Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method” below.
Market Discount
A purchaser of a Regular Interest also may be subject to the market discount rules of Code Sections 1276 through 1278. Under these Code sections and the principles applied by the OID Regulations in the context of original issue discount, “market discount” is the amount by which the purchaser’s original basis in the Regular Interest [[FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS], as adjusted, in the case of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, for any Swap Premium paid or received as described under “—Taxation of the Swap Contract” below] (i) is exceeded by the remaining outstanding principal payments and non-qualified stated interest payments due on a Regular Interest, or (ii) in the case of a Regular Interest having original issue discount, is exceeded by the adjusted issue price of such Regular Interest at the time of purchase. Such purchaser generally will be required to recognize ordinary income to the extent of accrued market discount on such Regular Interest as distributions includible in its stated redemption price at maturity are received, in an amount not exceeding any such distribution. Such market discount would accrue in a manner to be provided in Treasury regulations and should take into account the Prepayment Assumption. The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act provides that until such regulations are issued, such market discount would accrue, at the election of the holder, either (i) on the basis of a constant interest rate or (ii) in the ratio of interest accrued for the relevant period to the sum of the interest accrued for such period plus the remaining interest after the end of such period, or, in the case of classes issued with original issue discount, in the ratio of original issue discount accrued for the relevant period to the sum of the original issue discount accrued for such period plus the remaining original issue discount after the end of such period. Such purchaser also generally will be required to treat a portion of any gain on a sale or exchange of the Regular Interest as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount accrued to the date of disposition under one of the foregoing methods, less any accrued market discount previously reported as ordinary income as partial distributions in reduction of the stated redemption price at maturity were received. Such purchaser will be required to defer deduction of a portion of the excess of the interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry the Regular Interest over the interest (including original issue discount) distributable on the Regular Interest. The deferred portion of such interest expense in any taxable year generally will not exceed the accrued market discount on the Regular Interest for such year. Any such deferred interest expense is, in general, allowed as a deduction not later than the year in which the related market discount income is recognized or the Regular Interest is disposed of. As an alternative to the inclusion of market discount in income on the foregoing basis, the Regular Interestholder may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues on all market discount instruments acquired by such Regular Interestholder in that taxable year or thereafter, in which case the interest deferral rule will not apply. See “—Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method” below regarding making the election under Code Section 171 and an alternative manner in which such election may be deemed to be made.
Market discount with respect to a Regular Interest will be considered to be zero if such market discount is less than 0.25% of the remaining stated redemption price at maturity of such Regular Interest multiplied by the weighted average maturity of the Regular Interest remaining after the date of purchase. For this purpose, the weighted average maturity is determined by multiplying the number of full years (i.e., rounding down partial years) from the issue date until each distribution in reduction of stated redemption price at maturity is scheduled to be made by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of each such distribution included in the stated redemption price at maturity of the Regular Interest and the
denominator of which is the total stated redemption price at maturity of the Regular Interest. It appears that de minimis market discount would be reported pro rata as principal payments are received. Treasury regulations implementing the market discount rules have not yet been proposed, and investors should therefore consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules as well as the advisability of making any of the elections with respect to such rules. Investors should also consult Revenue Procedure 92-67 concerning the elections to include market discount in income currently and to accrue market discount on the basis of the constant yield method.
Premium
A Regular Interest purchased upon initial issuance or in the secondary market at a cost [[FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS], as adjusted, in the case of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, for any Swap Premium paid or received as described under “—Taxation of the Swap Contract” below] greater than its remaining stated redemption price at maturity generally is considered to be purchased at a premium. If the Regular Interestholder holds such Regular Interest as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Code Section 1221, the Regular Interestholder may elect under Code Section 171 to amortize such premium under the constant yield method. See “—Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method” below regarding making the election under Code Section 171 and an alternative manner in which the Code Section 171 election may be deemed to be made. Final Treasury regulations under Code Section 171 do not, by their terms, apply to prepayable obligations such as the Regular Interests. The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act indicates a Congressional intent that the same rules that will apply to the accrual of market discount on installment obligations will also apply to amortizing bond premium under Code Section 171 on installment obligations such as the Regular Interests, although it is unclear whether the alternatives to the constant interest method described above under “—Market Discount” are available. Amortizable bond premium will be treated as an offset to interest income on a Regular Interest rather than as a separate deduction item.
Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method
A holder of a debt instrument such as a Regular Interest may elect to treat all interest that accrues on the instrument using the constant yield method, with none of the interest being treated as qualified stated interest. For purposes of applying the constant yield method to a debt instrument subject to such an election, (i) “interest” includes stated interest, original issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount and de minimis market discount, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium and (ii) the debt instrument is treated as if the instrument were issued on the holder’s acquisition date in the amount of the holder’s adjusted basis immediately after acquisition. It is unclear whether, for this purpose, the initial Prepayment Assumption would continue to apply or if a new prepayment assumption as of the date of the holder’s acquisition would apply. A holder generally may make such an election on an instrument by instrument basis or for a class or group of debt instruments. However, if the holder makes such an election with respect to a debt instrument with amortizable bond premium or with market discount, the holder is deemed to have made elections to amortize bond premium or to report market discount income currently as it accrues under the constant yield method, respectively, for all premium bonds held or acquired or market discount bonds acquired by the holder on the first day of the year of the election or thereafter. The election is made on the holder’s federal income tax return for the year in which the debt instrument is acquired and is irrevocable except with the approval of the IRS. Investors are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the advisability of making such an election.
Treatment of Losses
Holders of the Regular Interests will be required to report income with respect to the Regular Interests on the accrual method of accounting, without giving effect to delays or reductions in distributions attributable to defaults or delinquencies on the Mortgage Loans, except to the extent it can be established that such losses are uncollectible. Accordingly, a Regular Interestholder may have income, or may incur a diminution in cash flow as a result of a default or delinquency, but may not be able to take a deduction (subject to the discussion below) for the corresponding loss until a subsequent taxable year. In this
regard, investors are cautioned that while they generally may cease to accrue interest income if it reasonably appears that the interest will be uncollectible, the IRS may take the position that original issue discount must continue to be accrued in spite of its uncollectibility until the debt instrument is disposed of in a taxable transaction or becomes worthless in accordance with the rules of Code Section 166. The following discussion may not apply to holders of interest-only Regular Interests. Under Code Section 166, it appears that the holders of Regular Interests that are corporations or that otherwise hold the Regular Interests in connection with a trade or business should in general be allowed to deduct as an ordinary loss any such loss sustained (and not previously deducted) during the taxable year on account of any such Regular Interests becoming wholly or partially worthless, and that, in general, the Regular Interestholders that are not corporations and do not hold the Regular Interests in connection with a trade or business will be allowed to deduct as a short term capital loss any loss with respect to principal sustained during the taxable year on account of a portion of any class of such Regular Interests becoming wholly worthless. Although the matter is not free from doubt, such non-corporate holders of Regular Interests should be allowed a bad debt deduction at such time as the principal balance of any class of such Regular Interests is reduced to reflect losses on the Mortgage Loans below such holder’s basis in the Regular Interests. The IRS, however, could take the position that non-corporate holders will be allowed a bad debt deduction to reflect such losses only after the classes of Regular Interests have been otherwise retired. The IRS could also assert that losses on a class of Regular Interests are deductible based on some other method that may defer such deductions for all holders, such as reducing future cash flow for purposes of computing original issue discount. This may have the effect of creating “negative” original issue discount that, with the possible exception of the method discussed in the following sentence, would be deductible only against future positive original issue discount or otherwise upon termination of the applicable class. Although not free from doubt, a holder of Regular Interests with negative original issue discount may be entitled to deduct a loss to the extent that its remaining basis would exceed the maximum amount of future payments to which such holder was entitled, assuming no further prepayments. No bad debt losses will be allowed with respect to the classes of interest-only Regular Interests, such as the [INTEREST-ONLY CLASS] Certificates. Regular Interestholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the appropriate timing, amount and character of any loss sustained with respect to such Regular Interests. Special loss rules are applicable to banks and thrift institutions, including rules regarding reserves for bad debts. Such taxpayers are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the treatment of losses on the Regular Interests.
Spread Maintenance Payments
Yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums actually collected on the Mortgage Loans will be distributed to the Class [__] certificates as described in “Description of the Certificates—Allocation of Yield Maintenance Charges and Prepayment Premiums”. It is not entirely clear under the Code when the amount of yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums so allocated should be taxed to the holders of the Class [__] certificates, but it is not expected, for federal income tax reporting purposes, that yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums will be treated as giving rise to any income to the holder of such class of certificates prior to the certificate administrator’s actual receipt of yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums. Yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums, if any, may be treated as paid upon the retirement or partial retirement of the Class [__] certificates. The IRS may disagree with these positions. Certificateholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the treatment of yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums.
Sale or Exchange of Regular Interests
If a Regular Interestholder sells or exchanges a Regular Interest, such Regular Interestholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount received and its adjusted basis in the Regular Interest. The adjusted basis of a Regular Interest generally will equal the cost of the Regular Interest to the seller, increased by any original issue discount or market discount previously included in the seller’s gross income with respect to the Regular Interest and reduced by amounts included in the stated redemption price at maturity of the Regular Interest that were previously received by the seller, by any amortized premium, and by any deductible losses on the Regular Interest. [[FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS] In connection with a sale or exchange of a [FLOATING RATE
CLASS] certificate, the related Certificateholder must separately account for the sale or exchange of its Percentage Interest in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest and the interest in the related Swap Contract.]
Except as described above with respect to market discount, and except as provided in this paragraph, any gain or loss on the sale or exchange of a Regular Interest realized by an investor that holds the Regular Interest as a capital asset will be capital gain or loss and will be long term or short term depending on whether the Regular Interest has been held for the long term capital gain holding period (more than one year). Such gain will be treated as ordinary income: (i) if the Regular Interest is held as part of a “conversion transaction” as defined in Code Section 1258(c), up to the amount of interest that would have accrued on the Regular Interestholder’s net investment in the conversion transaction at 120% of the appropriate applicable federal rate under Code Section 1274(d) in effect at the time the taxpayer entered into the transaction minus any amount previously treated as ordinary income with respect to any prior disposition of property that was held as part of such transaction; (ii) in the case of a non-corporate taxpayer, to the extent such taxpayer has made an election under Code Section 163(d)(4) to have net capital gains taxed as investment income at ordinary income rates; or (iii) to the extent that such gain does not exceed the excess, if any, of (a) the amount that would have been includible in the gross income of the Regular Interestholder if his yield on such Regular Interest were 110% of the applicable federal rate as of the date of purchase, over (b) the amount of income actually includible in the gross income of such Regular Interestholder with respect to the Regular Interest. In addition, gain or loss recognized from the sale of a Regular Interest by certain banks or thrift institutions will be treated as ordinary income or loss pursuant to Code Section 582(c). Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate taxpayers generally are subject to a lower maximum tax rate than ordinary income of such taxpayers for property held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate for corporations is the same with respect to both ordinary income and capital gains.
Taxation of the [ARD Class] Certificates
[The [ARD Class] certificates will represent undivided beneficial interests in the Excess Interest. It is not entirely clear for federal income tax reporting purposes when Excess Interest will be treated as giving rise to income to the holders of the [ARD Class] certificates. It is likely that such amounts will be treated as one or more stripped coupons issued on the related anticipated repayment date of the ARD Loan, and that income will accrue thereon as original issue discount based upon the portion, if any, of the holder’s basis in the [ARD Class] certificate and the anticipated payments of Excess Interest receivable. It is not clear whether a prepayment assumption would be used in projecting such payments, or whether the contingent payment debt rules might apply to them. Moreover, it is possible that the IRS could require that income be accrued with respect to the Excess Interest commencing at an earlier date. In such event, if the related amounts are never received, the holder could have a loss, which may be a capital loss. Holders of [ARD Class] certificates are advised to consult their tax advisors as to the federal income tax treatment of Excess Interest.]
[FOR FLOATING RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS; INCLUDE TAX TREATMENT OF NOTIONAL PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS AS APPLICABLE]
Taxation of the Swap Contract
[Each holder of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having entered into its proportionate share of the rights of such class under the Swap Contract. Holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates must allocate the price they pay for their certificates between their interests in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest and the Swap Contract based on their relative market values. The portion, if any, allocated to the Swap Contract will be treated as a swap premium (the “Swap Premium”) paid or received by the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. If the Swap Premium is paid by a holder, it will reduce the purchase price allocable to its interest in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest. If the Swap Premium is received by the holder, it will be deemed to have increased the purchase price for its interest in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest. If any Swap Contract is “on market”, no amount of the
purchase price will be allocable to it. If the holder of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate is deemed to receive Swap Premium, such amount may be periodically offset by the original issue discount accrued or premium amortized, as applicable, on the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest allocable to such holder, resulting in overall tax accounting similar to an integrated debt instrument. Nevertheless, prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding any possible mismatches in timing or character. The Swap Premium will be deemed to be received by the holders of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates. A holder of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates will be required to amortize any Swap Premium under a level payment method as if the Swap Premium represented the present value of a series of equal payments made or received over the life of the Swap Contract (adjusted to take into account decreases in notional principal amount), discounted at a rate equal to the rate used to determine the amount of the Swap Premium (or some other reasonable rate). Prospective purchasers of the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates should consult their own tax advisors regarding the appropriate method of amortizing any Swap Premium. Regulations promulgated by the Treasury treat a non-periodic payment made under a Swap Contract as a loan for federal income tax purposes if the payment is “significant”. It is not known whether any Swap Premium would be treated in part as a loan under Treasury regulations.
Under Treasury regulations (i) all taxpayers must recognize periodic payments with respect to a notional principal contract under the accrual method of accounting, and (ii) any periodic payments received under the Swap Contract must be netted against payments made under the Swap Contract and deemed made or received as a result of the Swap Premium over the recipient’s taxable year, rather than accounted for on a gross basis. Net income or deduction with respect to net payments under a notional principal contract for a taxable year should constitute ordinary income or ordinary deduction. The IRS could contend the amount is capital gain or loss, but such treatment is unlikely, at least in the absence of further regulations. Any regulations requiring capital gain or loss treatment presumably would apply only prospectively. Individuals may be limited in their ability to deduct any such net deduction and should consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates.
Any amount of proceeds from the sale, redemption or retirement of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate that is considered to be allocated to the holder’s rights under the Swap Contract (including a conversion of such certificate to a [FIXED RATE CLASS] certificate, as applicable) or that the holder is deemed to have paid to the purchaser would be considered a “termination payment” allocable to such certificate under Treasury regulations. A holder of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate will have gain or loss from such a termination equal to (A)(i) any termination payment it received or is deemed to have received minus (ii) the unamortized portion of the Swap Premium paid (or deemed paid) by the holder upon entering into or acquiring its interest in the Swap Contract or (B)(i) any termination payment it paid or is deemed to have paid minus (ii) the unamortized portion of the Swap Premium received upon entering into or acquiring its interest in the Swap Contract. Gain or loss realized upon the termination of the Swap Contract will generally be treated as capital gain or loss. Moreover, in the case of a bank or thrift institution, Code Section 582(c) would likely not apply to treat such gain or loss as ordinary. Following a conversion of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate to a [FIXED RATE CLASS] certificate, such holder will continue to own its respective interest in the [FLOATING RATE CLASS] Regular Interest previously deemed owned.
The [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates, representing a beneficial ownership in a portion of the Class FX Regular Interest and in the Swap Contract, may constitute positions in a straddle, in which case the straddle rules of Code Section 1092 would apply. A selling holder’s capital gain or loss with respect to such regular interest would be short term because the holding period would be tolled under the straddle rules. Similarly, capital gain or loss realized in connection with the termination of the applicable Swap Contract would be short term. If the holder of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate incurred or continued to incur indebtedness to acquire or hold such [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate, the holder would generally be required to capitalize a portion of the interest paid on such indebtedness until termination of the Swap Contract.
Pursuant to the PSA (i) the certificate administrator shall deliver or cause to be delivered the federal taxpayer identification number of the Grantor Trust that holds the Swap Contract on an IRS Form W-9 to
the Swap Counterparty as soon as possible after the Swap Contract is entered into (but no later than the first Distribution Date under the Swap Contract; provided that the certificate administrator has received the applicable taxpayer identification number from the IRS by such date (and the certificate administrator is obligated to use its best efforts to obtain such taxpayer identification number from the IRS by such date)) and, if requested by the Swap Counterparty (unless not permitted under federal income tax law) an IRS Form W-8IMY, (ii) each non-exempt holder of a [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificate will be obligated pursuant to the PSA to provide applicable certification to the certificate administrator (with copies sent or forwarded directly from such Certificateholder to the Swap Counterparty) to enable the certificate administrator to make payments to holders of [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates without federal withholding or backup withholding, and (iii) as authorized by the holders of [FLOATING RATE CLASS] certificates under the PSA, the certificate administrator may forward any such certification received to the Swap Counterparty if requested. If the above obligations are satisfied, under current law, no U.S. federal withholding or backup withholding taxes will be required to be deducted or withheld from payments by the Swap Counterparty to the issuing entity.]
Taxation of Class [EC] and Exchangeable Certificates
The portion of the issuing entity consisting of the Trust Components will be classified as a grantor trust under subpart E, part I of subchapter J of the Code, and the Class [EC] certificates and the Exchangeable Certificates will evidence undivided beneficial ownership of all or a portion of the related Trust Component or Trust Components. The holder of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate representing beneficial ownership of more than one Trust Component should account separately for its interest in each Trust Component as a separate Regular Interest. See “—Taxation of Regular Interests” above. A purchaser of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate must allocate its basis in such certificate among the Trust Components represented by such certificate in accordance with their relative fair market values as of the time of acquisition. Similarly, on the sale of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate, the holder must allocate the amount received on the sale among the Trust Components in accordance with their relative fair market values as of the time of sale. Prospective beneficial owners of Class [EC] certificates and Exchangeable Certificates should consult their tax advisors as to the appropriate method of accounting for their interest in the Class [EC] certificates and Exchangeable Certificates.
[Exchangeable Certificates Representing Disproportionate Interests in Related Exchangeable Certificates.
If a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate represents beneficial ownership of a disproportionate interest in the related Trust Components, then the tax consequences to the beneficial owner of the Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate will be determined under Code Section 1286, as discussed under “—Alternative Characterization”, below.]
Alternative Characterization.
Under the OID Regulations, if two or more debt instruments are issued in connection with the same transaction or related transaction (determined based on all the facts and circumstances), those debt instruments are treated as a single debt instrument for purposes of the provisions of the Code applicable to original issue discount, unless an exception applies. Under this rule, if a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate represents beneficial ownership of two or more Trust Components, those Trust Components could be treated as a single debt instrument for original issue discount purposes. In addition, if the two or more Trust Components underlying a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate were aggregated for original issue discount purposes and a beneficial owner of a Class [EC] certificate were to (i) exchange that Class [EC] certificate for separate Exchangeable Certificates, (ii) sell one of those separate Exchangeable Certificates and (iii) retain one or more of the remaining separate Exchangeable Certificates, the beneficial owner might be treated as having engaged in a “coupon stripping” or “bond stripping” transaction within the meaning of Code Section 1286. Under Code Section 1286, a beneficial owner of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate that engages in a coupon stripping or bond stripping transaction must allocate its basis in the Class [EC]
certificate between the separate Exchangeable Certificates sold and the separate Exchangeable Certificates retained in proportion to the relative fair market values of the related Trust Component or Trust Components as of the date of the stripping transaction. The beneficial owner then must recognize gain or loss on the separate Exchangeable Certificates sold using its basis allocable to the related Trust Component or Trust Components. Also, the beneficial owner then must treat the Trust Component or Trust Components relating to the separate Exchangeable Certificates retained as a newly issued debt instrument that was purchased for an amount equal to the beneficial owner’s basis allocable to that Trust Component or Trust Components. Accordingly, the beneficial owner must accrue interest and original issue discount with respect to the separate Exchangeable Certificates retained based on the beneficial owner’s basis in the related Trust Component or Trust Components.
As a result, when compared to treating each Trust Component underlying a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate as a separate debt instrument, aggregating the Trust Components underlying a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate could affect the timing and character of income recognized by a beneficial owner of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate. Moreover, if Code Section 1286 were to apply to a beneficial owner of a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate, much of the information necessary to perform the related calculations for information reporting purposes generally would not be available to the trustee. Because it may not be clear whether the aggregation rule in the OID Regulations applies to the Class [EC] certificates and Exchangeable Certificates and due to the trustee’s lack of information necessary to report computations that might be required by Code Section 1286, the trustee will treat each Trust Component underlying a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate as a separate debt instrument for information reporting purposes. Prospective investors should note that, if the two or more Trust Components underlying a Class [EC] certificate or Exchangeable Certificate were aggregated, the timing of accruals of original issue discount applicable to a Class [EC] certificate Exchangeable Certificate could be different than that reported to holders and the IRS. Prospective investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding any possible tax consequences to them if the IRS were to assert that the Trust Components underlying the Class [EC] certificates or Exchangeable Certificates should be aggregated for original issue discount purposes.
Taxation of Exchange.
If a beneficial owner exchanges one or more separate classes of Exchangeable Certificates for a Class [EC] certificate, the exchange will not be taxable. Likewise, if a beneficial owner exchanges a Class [EC] certificate for one or more classes of separate Exchangeable Certificates, the exchange will not be taxable.]
[ADD DISCLOSURE FOR CURRENCY SWAP]
Taxation of the Class R Certificates
Prospective investors in the Class R certificates should carefully read the following discussion. Prospective investors are cautioned that the REMIC taxable income on the Class R certificates and the tax liabilities on the Class R certificates will exceed cash distributions to the holder of the Class R certificates during some or all periods, in which event such holder must have sufficient sources of funds to pay such tax liabilities. Due to the special tax treatment of REMIC residual interests, the after-tax return on the Class R certificates may be zero or negative. In the following discussion, the term “Residual Holder” refers to a holder of the Class R certificates. Unless otherwise noted below, the following discussion applies separately to the Class R certificates’ residual interest in each of the Lower-Tier REMIC and the Upper-Tier REMIC. A Residual Holder must account separately for its interest in each Trust REMIC and cannot offset gains from one Trust REMIC with losses from another Trust REMIC.
Taxation of REMIC Income
Generally, the “daily portions” of REMIC taxable income or net loss will be includible as ordinary income or loss in determining the federal taxable income of the Residual Holder, and will not be taxed
separately to the issuing entity. The daily portions of REMIC taxable income or net loss are determined by allocating the REMIC’s taxable income or net loss of the Residual Holder for each calendar quarter ratably to each day in such quarter and by allocating such daily portion to the Residual Holder that owned the Class R certificates on such day. REMIC taxable income is generally determined in the same manner as the taxable income of an individual using the accrual method of accounting, except that (i) the limitation on deductibility of investment interest expense and expenses for the production of income do not apply and (ii) all bad loans will be deductible as business bad debts. REMIC taxable income generally means the REMIC’s gross income less deductions. The REMIC’s gross income includes interest, original issue discount income and market discount income, if any, on the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, reduced by amortization of any premium on the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, plus income on reinvestment of cash flows plus income on the amortization or any premium on the Lower-Tier Regular Interests or the Regular Interests, as applicable, plus any cancellation of indebtedness income upon allocation of a Realized Loss to a Lower-Tier Regular Interest or a Regular Interest, as applicable. The Trust REMIC’s deductions include interest and original issue discount expense on the Regular Interest, and other administrative expenses or recognition of aloss with respect to the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable. See “—Taxation of Regular Interests—General” above.
The taxable income recognized by the Residual Holder in any taxable year will be affected by, among other factors, the relationship between the timing of recognition of interest and original issue discount or market discount income or amortization of premium with respect to the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, on the one hand, and the timing of deductions for interest (including original issue discount) and income from the amortization of any premium on the Lower-Tier Regular Interests or the Regular Interests, as applicable, on the other hand. Because the Lower-Tier Regular Interests held by the Upper-Tier REMIC will likely be treated as a single, aggregate debt instrument, these timing differences are likely to occur in the Upper-Tier REMIC rather than the Lower-Tier REMIC. As a result, the Residual Holder may recognize taxable income without being entitled to receive a corresponding amount of cash. Consequently, the Residual Holder must have sufficient other sources of cash to pay any federal, state or local income taxes due as a result of such mismatching or unrelated deductions against which to offset such income, subject to the discussion of “excess inclusions” under “—Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC Income” below.
Basis and Losses
The amount of any net loss of any Trust REMIC that may be taken into account by the Residual Holder is limited to the Residual Holder’s adjusted basis in the Class R certificates allocated to the related Trust REMIC as of the close of the quarter (or time of disposition of the Class R certificates, if earlier), determined without taking into account the net loss for the quarter. The initial adjusted basis of a purchaser in the Class R certificates is the amount, if any, paid for such certificates. Such adjusted basis will be increased by the amount of taxable income of such Trust REMIC reportable by the Residual Holder and will be decreased (but not below zero), first, by any cash distribution from such Trust REMIC and, second, by the amount of loss of such Trust REMIC reportable by the Residual Holder. Any loss that is disallowed on account of this limitation may be carried over indefinitely by the Residual Holder and may be used by the Residual Holder only to offset any income generated by the same Trust REMIC.
The Class R certificates may have a negative value if the net present value of anticipated tax liabilities exceeds the present value of anticipated cash flows in the Trust REMICs. The REMIC Regulations appear to treat the issue price of such a residual interest as zero rather than such negative amount for purposes of determining a REMIC’s basis in its assets. Regulations have been issued addressing the federal income tax treatment of “inducement fees” received by transferees of noneconomic residual interests. These regulations require inducement fees to be included in income over a period reasonably related to the period in which the Class R certificates are expected to generate taxable income or net loss to the Residual Holder. Under two safe harbor methods, inducement fees are permitted to be included in income: (i) in the same amounts and over the same period that the Residual Holder uses for financial reporting purposes; provided that such period is not shorter than the period the Trust REMICs are expected to generate taxable income or (ii) ratably over the remaining anticipated
weighted average life of all the regular and residual interests issued by the Trust REMICs, determined based on actual distributions projected as remaining to be made on such interests under the applicable prepayment assumption. If the Residual Holder sells or otherwise disposes of the Class R certificates, any unrecognized portion of the inducement fee generally is required to be taken into account at the time of the sale or disposition. A prospective purchaser of the Class R certificates should consult with its tax counsel regarding the effect of these regulations.
Treatment of Certain Items of REMIC Income and Expense
Although it is anticipated that the certificate administrator will compute income and expense for each Trust REMIC in accordance with the Code and applicable Treasury regulations, the authorities regarding the determination of specific items of income and expense are subject to differing interpretations. The depositor makes no representation as to the specific method that the certificate administrator will use for reporting income and expenses, and different methods could result in different timing of reporting of taxable income or net loss to the Residual Holders or differences in capital gain versus ordinary income.
Original Issue Discount
Generally, each Trust REMIC’s deductions for original issue discount will be determined in the same manner as original issue discount income on Regular Interests as described under “—Taxation of Regular Interests—Original Issue Discount” above (treating the Lower-Tier Regular Interests as a single aggregate debt instrument), without regard to the de minimis rule described under that heading.
[Deferred Interest
Any deferred interest that accrues with respect to any adjustable rate mortgage loans held by a Lower-Tier REMIC will constitute income to such Lower-Tier REMIC and will be treated in a manner similar to the deferred interest that accrues with respect to the Regular Interests as described under “—Taxation of Regular Interests—Deferred Interest” above.]
Market Discount
The Lower-Tier REMIC will have market discount income in respect of the Mortgage Loans if, in general, the basis of the Lower-Tier REMIC in the Mortgage Loans is exceeded by the Mortgage Loans’ unpaid principal balance. The Lower-Tier REMIC’s basis in a Mortgage Loan is generally such Mortgage Loan’s fair market value immediately after its transfer to the issuing entity. The REMIC Regulations provide that such basis is equal in the aggregate to the issue prices of all regular and residual interests in the related REMIC. The accrued portion of such market discount would be recognized currently as an item of ordinary income. Market discount income generally will accrue on a constant yield method.
Premium
If the basis of the related Trust REMIC in the Mortgage Loans or the Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, exceeds their respective unpaid principal balances, the related Trust REMIC will be considered to have acquired the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, at a premium equal to the amount of such excess. The Lower-Tier REMIC’s basis in the Mortgage Loans and the Upper-Tier REMIC’s basis in the Lower-Tier Regular Interests is their respective fair market values, based on the aggregate of the issue prices of the regular and residual interests in the related Trust REMIC immediately after their transfer to the related Trust REMIC. In a manner analogous to the discussion under “—Taxation of Regular Interests—Premium” above, the Trust REMICs may elect under Code Section 171 to amortize premium under a constant interest method. Amortizable bond premium, if any, will be treated as an offset to interest income on the Mortgage Loans or Lower-Tier Regular Interests, as applicable, rather than as a separate deduction item.
Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC Income
The Code provides that a portion (and in some cases, all) of the REMIC taxable income includible in determining the federal income tax liability of the Residual Holder will be subject to special treatment. That portion, referred to as the “excess inclusion”, is equal to the excess of the related Trust REMIC’s taxable income for the calendar quarter over the daily accruals for such quarterly period of (i) 120% of the long term applicable federal rate that would have applied to the Class R certificates (if they were a debt instrument) on the Startup Day under Code Section 1274(d), multiplied by (ii) the adjusted issue price of such certificate in the related residual interest at the beginning of such quarterly period. For this purpose, the adjusted issue price of the Class R certificates in the related residual interests at the beginning of a quarter is the related portion of the issue price, if any, of the Class R certificates, plus the amount of such daily accruals of REMIC income described in this paragraph for all prior quarters, decreased (but not below zero) by any distributions made to such Class R certificates from the related Trust REMIC prior to the beginning of such quarterly period. Accordingly, if the issue price of the Class R certificates is zero, initially all of the taxable income of the Trust REMICs is excess inclusion income.
The Residual Holder’s REMIC taxable income consisting of the excess inclusion income generally may not be offset by other deductions, including net operating loss carryforwards, on the Residual Holder’s return. Further, if the Residual Holder is an organization subject to the tax on unrelated business income imposed by Code Section 511, the Residual Holder’s excess inclusions will be treated as unrelated business taxable income of the Residual Holder for purposes of Code Section 511. In addition, REMIC taxable income is subject to 30% withholding tax with respect to certain persons that are not U.S. Persons (as defined below), and the portion of REMIC taxable income attributable to excess inclusion income is not eligible for any reductions in the rate of withholding tax (by treaty or otherwise). See “—Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors—Class R Certificates” below. Finally, if a real estate investment trust or a regulated investment company owns Class R certificates, a portion (allocated under Treasury regulations yet to be issued) of dividends paid by the real estate investment trust or regulated investment company could not be offset by net operating losses of its shareholders. This would constitute unrelated business taxable income for tax exempt shareholders and would be ineligible for reduction of withholding to certain persons that are not U.S. Persons. The term “U.S. Person” means a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership (except to the extent provided in the applicable Treasury regulations) or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any State or the District of Columbia, including any entity treated as a corporation or partnership for federal income tax purposes, an estate that is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of the source of income, or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust, and one or more such U.S. Persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust (or, to the extent provided in the applicable Treasury regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996 that have elected to be treated as U.S. Persons).
There are three rules for determining the effect of excess inclusions on the alternative minimum taxable income of the Residual Holder. First, alternative minimum taxable income of the Residual Holder is determined without regard to the special rule discussed above, that taxable income cannot be less than excess inclusions. Second, the Residual Holder’s alternative minimum taxable income for a taxable year cannot be less than the excess inclusions for the year. Third, the amount of any alternative minimum tax net operating loss deduction must be computed without regard to any excess inclusions.
[[ADD WHEN THERE ARE NON-U.S. MORTGAGED PROPERTIES] In addition, because the REMIC provisions of the Code do not allow a REMIC or the holder of a residual interest in such REMIC to deduct (or take a credit) for foreign taxes paid (or deemed paid), if any such taxes are paid (or deemed paid) for any taxable year, the residual holders will have “phantom income” in that taxable year equal to the amount of such taxes (and additional amounts paid by the related borrower, if any). Upon a sale of the Class R certificates or termination of the trust, the residual holders will have a loss equal to such amounts, but such loss will likely be a capital loss.]
Tax Related Restrictions on Transfer of the Class R Certificates
Disqualified Organizations. If any legal or beneficial interest in the Class R certificates is transferred to a Disqualified Organization (as defined below), a tax would be imposed in an amount equal to the product of (i) the present value of the total anticipated excess inclusion income with respect to the Class R certificates for periods after the transfer and (ii) the highest marginal federal income tax rate applicable to corporations. The REMIC Regulations provide that the anticipated excess inclusion income is based on actual prepayment experience to the date of the transfer and projected payments based on the Prepayment Assumption. The present value rate equals the applicable federal rate under Code Section 1274(d) as of the date of the transfer for a term ending with the last calendar quarter in which excess inclusions are expected to accrue. Such rate is applied to the anticipated excess inclusions from the end of the remaining calendar quarters in which they apply to the date of the transfer. Such a tax generally would be imposed on the transferor of the Class R certificates, except that where such transfer is through an agent (including a broker, nominee or other middleman) for a Disqualified Organization, the tax would instead be imposed on such agent. However, a transferor of the Class R certificates would in no event be liable for such tax with respect to a transfer if the transferee furnishes to the transferor an affidavit stating that the transferee is not a Disqualified Organization and, as of the time of the transfer, the transferor does not have actual knowledge that such affidavit is false. The tax also may be waived by the IRS if the Disqualified Organization promptly disposes of the residual interest and the transferor pays
income tax at the highest corporate rate on the excess inclusion for the period the Class R certificates are actually held by the Disqualified Organization.
In addition, if a Pass-Through Entity (as defined below) has excess inclusion income with respect to the Class R certificates during a taxable year and a Disqualified Organization is the record holder of an equity interest in such entity, then a tax is imposed on such entity equal to the product of (i) the amount of excess inclusion income that is allocable to the interest in the Pass-Through Entity during the period such interest is held by such Disqualified Organization and (ii) the highest marginal federal corporate income tax rate. Such Pass-Through Entity would not be liable for such tax if it has received an affidavit from such record holder that it is not a Disqualified Organization or stating such holder’s taxpayer identification number and, during the period such person is the record holder of the Class R certificates, the Pass-Through Entity does not have actual knowledge that such affidavit is false.
If an “electing large partnership” (as defined below) holds the Class R certificates, all interests in the electing large partnership are treated as held by Disqualified Organizations for purposes of the tax imposed upon a Pass-Through Entity by Code Section 860E(c). An exception to this tax, otherwise available to a Pass-Through Entity that is furnished certain affidavits by record holders of interest in the entity and that does not know such affidavits are false, is not available to an electing large partnership.
For these purposes: (i) “Disqualified Organization” means the United States, any state or political subdivision of the United States, any foreign government, any international organization, any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing (provided that such term does not include an instrumentality if all of its activities are subject to tax and, except for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a majority of its board of directors is not selected by any such governmental entity), any cooperative organization furnishing electric energy or providing telephone service to persons in rural areas as described in Code Section 1381(a)(2)(C), and any organization (other than a farmers’ cooperative described in Code Section 521) that is exempt from taxation under the Code unless such organization is subject to the tax on unrelated business income imposed by Code Section 511; (ii) "Pass-Through Entity" means any regulated investment company, real estate investment trust, common trust fund, partnership, trust or estate and certain corporations operating on a cooperative basis; and (iii) an “electing large partnership” means any partnership having more than 100 members during the preceding tax year (other than certain service partnerships and commodity pools), which elect to apply simplified reporting provisions under the Code. Except as may be provided in Treasury regulations, any person holding an interest in a Pass-Through Entity as a nominee for another will, with respect to such interest, be treated as a Pass-Through Entity.
The PSA will provide that no legal or beneficial interest in the Class R certificates may be transferred or registered unless, among other conditions (i) the proposed transferee furnishes to the certificate
administrator an affidavit providing its taxpayer identification number and stating that such transferee is the beneficial owner of the Class R certificates and is not a Disqualified Organization or Disqualified Non-U.S. Person (as defined below) and is not purchasing the Class R certificates on behalf of a Disqualified Organization or Disqualified Non-U.S. Person (i.e., as a broker, nominee, or middleman of such person) and (ii) the transferor provides a statement in writing to the certificate administrator that it has no knowledge that the affirmations made by the transferee pursuant to such affidavit are false. Moreover, the PSA will provide that any attempted or purported transfer in violation of these transfer restrictions will be null and void and will vest no rights in any purported transferee. The Class R certificates will bear a legend referring to such restrictions on transfer, and the Residual Holder will be deemed to have agreed, as a condition of ownership of the Class R certificates, to any amendments to the PSA required under the Code or applicable Treasury regulations to effectuate the foregoing restrictions. For purposes of this discussion, “Disqualified Non-U.S. Person” means with respect to the Class R certificates, any Non-U.S. Person or its agent other than (a) a Non-U.S. Person that holds the Class R certificates in connection with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and has furnished the transferor and the certificate registrar with an effective IRS Form W-8ECI or (b) a Non-U.S. Person that has delivered to both the transferor and the certificate registrar an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel to the effect that the transfer of the Class R certificates to it is in accordance with the requirements of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and that such transfer of the Class R certificates will not be disregarded for federal income tax purposes. Information necessary to compute an applicable excise tax must be furnished to the IRS and to the requesting party within 60 days of the request, and the certificate administrator may charge a fee for computing and providing such information.
A “Non-U.S. Person” is a person other than a U.S. Person.
Noneconomic Residual Interests. The REMIC Regulations require certain transfers of a residual interest to be disregarded, in which case the transferor would continue to be treated as the owner of the residual interest and thus would continue to be subject to tax on its allocable portion of the net income of the REMIC. Under the REMIC Regulations, a transfer of a noneconomic residual interest (as defined below) to a Residual Holder (other than a Residual Holder that is not a U.S. Person) is disregarded for all federal income tax purposes if a significant purpose of the transferor is to impede the assessment or collection of tax. A residual interest in a REMIC (including a residual interest with a positive value at issuance) is a “noneconomic residual interest” unless, at the time of the transfer, (i) the present value of the expected future distributions on the residual interest at least equals the product of the present value of the anticipated excess inclusions and the highest corporate income tax rate in effect for the year in which the transfer occurs, and (ii) the transferor reasonably expects that the transferee will receive distributions from the REMIC at or after the time at which taxes accrue on the anticipated excess inclusions in an amount sufficient to satisfy the accrued taxes on each excess inclusion. The anticipated excess inclusions and the present value rate are determined in the same manner as set forth above under “—Disqualified Organizations”. Under these rules, it is anticipated that the Class R certificates will be a noneconomic residual interest. The REMIC Regulations explain that a significant purpose to impede the assessment or collection of tax exists if the transferor, at the time of the transfer, either knew or should have known that the transferee would be unwilling or unable to pay taxes due on its share of the taxable income of the REMIC. A safe harbor is provided if (i) the transferor conducted, at the time of the transfer, a reasonable investigation of the financial condition of the transferee and found that the transferee historically had paid its debts as they came due and found no significant evidence to indicate that the transferee would not continue to pay its debts as they came due in the future, (ii) the transferee represents to the transferor that it understands that, as the holder of the noneconomic residual interest, the transferee may incur tax liabilities in excess of cash flows generated by the interest and that the transferee intends to pay taxes associated with holding the residual interest as they become due, (iii) the transferee represents to the transferor that it will not cause income from the residual certificate to be attributable to a foreign permanent establishment or fixed base (within the meaning of an applicable income tax treaty) of the transferee or of any other person and (iv) one of the following tests is satisfied, either:
(a) the present value of the anticipated tax liabilities associated with holding the noneconomic residual interest will not exceed the sum of:
(1) the present value of any consideration given to the transferee to acquire the residual interest;
(2) the present value of the expected future distributions on the residual interest; and
(3) the present value of the anticipated tax savings associated with holding the residual interest as the REMIC generates losses; or
(b) (1) the transferee must be a domestic “C” corporation (other than a corporation exempt from taxation or a regulated investment company or real estate investment trust) that meets certain gross and net asset tests (generally, $100 million of gross assets and $10 million of net assets for the current year and the two preceding fiscal years);
(2) the transferee must agree in writing that any subsequent transfer of the residual interest would be to an eligible “C” corporation and would meet the requirement for a safe harbor transfer; and
(3) the facts and circumstances known to the transferor on or before the date of the transfer must not reasonably indicate that the taxes associated with ownership of the residual interest will not be paid by the transferee.
For purposes of computation of clause (a), the transferee is assumed to pay tax at the highest corporate rate of tax specified in the Code or, in certain circumstances, the alternative minimum tax rate. Further, present values generally are computed using a discount rate equal to the short term federal rate set forth in Code Section 1274(d) for the month of the transfer and the compounding period used by the transferee.
The PSA will require the transferee of the Class R certificates to certify to, among other things, the matters in requirements clauses (i) through (iii) above as part of the affidavit described above under the heading “—Disqualified Organizations” and agree to provide the written certification prescribed in the following sentence if it subsequently transfers the Class R certificates. The transferor must certify in writing to the certificate administrator that, as of the date of the transfer, it had no knowledge or reason to know that such affirmations of the transferee were false. The PSA will not require that transfers of the Class R certificates meet the requirement of clause (iv) above. Consequently, those transfers may not meet the safe harbor. Persons considering the purchase of the Class R certificates should consult their advisors regarding the advisability of meeting the safe harbor in any transfer of a Class R certificate.
Foreign Investors. The REMIC Regulations provide that the transfer of a residual interest that has “tax avoidance potential” to a “foreign person” will be disregarded for all federal tax purposes. This rule appears intended to apply to a transferee that is not a U.S. Person, unless such transferee’s income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States. A residual interest is deemed to have tax avoidance potential unless, at the time of the transfer, (i) the future value of expected distributions equals at least 30% of the anticipated excess inclusions after the transfer and (ii) the transferor reasonably expects that the transferee will receive sufficient distributions from the REMIC at or after the time at which the excess inclusions accrue and prior to the end of the next succeeding taxable year for the accumulated withholding tax liability to be paid. If the Non-U.S. Person transfers the residual interest back to a U.S. Person, the transfer will be disregarded and the foreign transferor will continue to be treated as the owner unless arrangements are made so that the transfer does not have the effect of allowing the transferor to avoid tax on accrued excess inclusions. Under these rules, it is anticipated that the Class R certificates will have tax avoidance potential. The Class R certificates generally may not be transferred to a person that is not a U.S. Person except under the circumstances described in this section.
Sale or Exchange of the Class R Certificates
Upon the sale or exchange of the Class R certificates, a Residual Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the excess, if any, of the amount realized with respect to related residual interests over their adjusted bases (as described above under “—Taxation of the Class R Certificates—Basis and Losses”) of the Residual Holder in the Class R certificates at the time of the sale or exchange. In addition to reporting the taxable income of each REMIC, the Residual Holder will have taxable income to the extent that any cash distribution to it from the related REMIC exceeds the allocated portion of its adjusted basis on that Distribution Date. Such income will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the Class R certificates. It is unclear whether the termination of the Trust REMICs will be treated as a sale or exchange of the Residual Holder’s Class R certificates, although it is likely that it will not be so treated. If a termination were treated as a sale or exchange, and if the Residual Holder had an adjusted basis in the Class R certificates remaining when its interests in the Trust REMICs are terminated and held the Class R certificates as a capital asset under Code Section 1221, then it would recognize a capital loss at that time in the amount of such remaining adjusted basis.
In addition, under Treasury regulations, a U.S. partnership having a partner that is not a U.S. Person will be required to pay withholding tax in respect of excess inclusion income allocable to such non-U.S. partner, even if no cash distributions are made to such partner. Similar rules apply to excess inclusion income allocable to Non-U.S. Persons through certain other Pass-Through Entities.
Any gain on the sale of the Class R certificates will be treated as ordinary income (i) if the Class R certificates are held as part of a “conversion transaction” as defined in Code Section 1258(c), up to the amount of interest that would have accrued on the Residual Holder’s net investment in the conversion transaction at 120% of the appropriate applicable federal rate in effect at the time the taxpayer entered into the transaction minus any amount previously treated as ordinary income with respect to any prior disposition of property that was held as a past of such transaction or (ii) in the case of a non-corporate taxpayer, to the extent such taxpayer has made an election under Code Section 163(d)(4) to have net capital gains taxed as investment income at ordinary income rates. In addition, gain or loss recognized from the sale of the Class R certificates by certain banks or thrift institutions will be treated as ordinary income or loss pursuant to Code Section 582(c).
The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act provides that, except as provided in Treasury regulations yet to be issued, the wash sale rules of Code Section 1091 will apply to dispositions of residual interests where the seller of the residual interest during the period beginning six months before the sale or disposition of the residual interest and ending six months after such sale or disposition, acquires (or enters into any other transaction that results in the application of Code Section 1091) any residual interest in any REMIC or any interest in a “taxable mortgage pool” (such as a non-REMIC owner trust) that is economically comparable to a residual interest.
Taxes That May Be Imposed on a REMIC
Prohibited Transactions
Income from certain transactions by any Trust REMIC, called prohibited transactions, will not be part of the calculation of income or loss includible in the federal income tax returns of holders of the Class R certificates, but rather will be taxed directly to the Trust REMIC at a 100% rate. Prohibited transactions generally include (i) the disposition of a qualified mortgage other than for (a) substitution within two years of the Startup Day for a defective (including a defaulted) obligation (or repurchase in lieu of substitution of a defective (including a defaulted) obligation at any time) or for any qualified mortgage within three months of the Startup Day, (b) foreclosure, default or imminent default of a qualified mortgage, (c) bankruptcy or insolvency of the REMIC, or (d) a qualified (complete) liquidation, (ii) the receipt of income from assets that are not the type of mortgages or investments that the REMIC is permitted to hold, (iii) the receipt of compensation for services or (iv) the receipt of gain from disposition of cash flow investments other than pursuant to a qualified liquidation. Notwithstanding (i) and (iv), it is not a prohibited transaction to sell REMIC property to prevent a default on regular interests as a result of a default on
qualified mortgages or to facilitate a qualified liquidation or a clean-up call. The REMIC Regulations indicate that the modification of a mortgage loan generally will not be treated as a disposition if it is occasioned by a default or reasonably foreseeable default, an assumption of a mortgage loan or the waiver of a “due-on-sale” or “due-on-encumbrance” clause. It is not anticipated that the Trust REMICs will engage in any prohibited transactions.
Contributions to a REMIC After the Startup Day
In general, a REMIC will be subject to a tax at a 100% rate on the value of any property contributed to the REMIC after the Startup Day. Exceptions are provided for cash contributions to the REMIC (i) during the three months following the Startup Day, (ii) made to a qualified reserve fund by a holder of a Class R certificate, (iii) in the nature of a guarantee, (iv) made to facilitate a qualified liquidation or clean-up call, and (v) as otherwise permitted in Treasury regulations yet to be issued. It is not anticipated that there will be any taxable contributions to the Trust REMICs.
Net Income from Foreclosure Property
The Lower-Tier REMIC will be subject to federal income tax at the highest corporate rate on “net income from foreclosure property”, determined by reference to the rules applicable to real estate investment trusts. Generally, property acquired by foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure would be treated as “foreclosure property” until the close of the third calendar year beginning after the Lower-Tier REMIC’s acquisition of a REO Property, with a possible extension. Net income from foreclosure property generally means gain from the sale of a foreclosure property that is inventory property and gross income from foreclosure property other than qualifying rents and other qualifying income for a real estate investment trust.
In order for a foreclosed property to qualify as foreclosure property, any operation of the foreclosed property by the Lower-Tier REMIC generally must be conducted through an independent contractor. Further, such operation, even if conducted through an independent contractor, may give rise to “net income from foreclosure property”, taxable at the highest corporate rate. Payment of such tax by the Lower-Tier REMIC would reduce amounts available for distribution to Certificateholders.
The special servicer will be required to determine generally whether the operation of foreclosed property in a manner that would subject the Lower-Tier REMIC to such tax would be expected to result in higher after-tax proceeds than an alternative method of operating such property that would not subject the Lower-Tier REMIC to such tax.
Administrative Matters
Solely for the purpose of the administrative provisions of the Code, a REMIC generally will be treated as a partnership and the Residual Holders will be treated as the partners. In general, the holder of the largest percentage interest of the Class R certificates will be the “tax matters person” of the related Trust REMIC for purposes of representing Residual Holders in connection with any IRS proceeding. However, the duties of the tax matters person will be delegated to the certificate administrator under the PSA. Certain tax information will be furnished quarterly to each Residual Holder who held a Class R certificate on any day in the previous calendar quarter.
Each Residual Holder is required to treat items on its return consistently with its treatment on each Trust REMIC’s returns, unless the Residual Holder either files a statement identifying the inconsistency or establishes that the inconsistency resulted from incorrect information received from the applicable Trust REMIC. The IRS may assert a deficiency resulting from a failure to comply with the consistency requirement without instituting an administrative proceeding at the REMIC level. Any person that holds a Class R certificate as nominee for another person may be required to furnish the certificate administrator, in a manner to be provided in Treasury regulations, with the name and address of such person and other information.
Limitations on Deduction of Certain Expenses
An investor in the Class R certificates that is an individual, estate or trust will be subject to limitation with respect to certain itemized deductions described in Code Section 67, to the extent that such itemized deductions, in the aggregate, do not exceed 2% of the investor’s adjusted gross income. In addition, Code Section 68 provides that itemized deductions otherwise allowable for a taxable year of an individual taxpayer with income above certain thresholds will be reduced by the lesser of (i) 3% of the excess, if any, of adjusted gross income over a specified statutory amount or (ii) 80% of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise allowable for such year. Such deductions may include deductions under Code Section 212 for all administrative and other non-interest expenses relating to the Trust REMICs. Such an investor that holds a Class R certificate either directly or indirectly through certain pass through entities may have its pro rata share of such expenses allocated to it as additional gross income, but may be subject to such limitation on deductions. In addition, such expenses are not deductible at all for purpose of computing the alternative minimum tax, and may cause such an investor to be subject to significant additional tax liability. As a result, the holders of the Class R certificates that are individuals, estates or trusts (holding the Class R certificates either directly or indirectly through a grantor trust, partnership, S corporation or certain other pass-through entities) may have taxable income in excess of cash distributions for the related period.
Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors
Regular Interests
Interest, including original issue discount, distributable to the Regular Interestholders that are nonresident aliens, foreign corporations or other Non-U.S. Persons will be considered “portfolio interest” and, therefore, generally will not be subject to a 30% United States withholding tax; provided that such Non-U.S. Person (i) is not a “10 percent shareholder” within the meaning of Code Section 871(h)(3)(B) or a controlled foreign corporation described in Code Section 881(c)(3)(C) with respect to the REMIC and (ii) provides the certificate administrator, or the person that would otherwise be required to withhold tax from such distributions under Code Section 1441 or 1442, with an appropriate statement, signed under penalties of perjury, identifying the beneficial owner and stating, among other things, that the beneficial owner of the Regular Interest is a Non-U.S. Person. The appropriate documentation includes IRS Form W-8BEN-E or W-8BEN, if the Non-U.S. Person is an entity (such as a corporation) or individual, respectively, eligible for the benefits of the portfolio interest exemption or an exemption based on a treaty; IRS Form W-8ECI if the Non-U.S. Person is eligible for an exemption on the basis of its income from the Regular Interest being effectively connected to a United States trade or business; IRS Form W-8BEN-E or W-8IMY if the Non-U.S. Person is a trust, depending on whether such trust is classified as the beneficial owner of the Regular Interest; and Form W-8IMY, with supporting documentation as specified in the Treasury regulations, required to substantiate exemptions from withholding on behalf of its partners, if the Non-U.S. Person is a partnership. With respect to IRS Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8IMY and W-8ECI, each (other than IRS Form W-8IMY) expires after three full calendar years or as otherwise provided by applicable law. An intermediary (other than a partnership) must provide IRS Form W-8IMY, revealing all required information, including its name, address, taxpayer identification number, the country under the laws of which it is created, and certification that it is not acting for its own account. A “qualified intermediary” must certify that it has provided, or will provide, a withholding statement as required under Treasury regulations Section 1.1441-1(e)(5)(v), but need not disclose the identity of its account holders on its IRS Form W-8IMY, and may certify its account holders’ status without including each beneficial owner’s certification. A “non-qualified intermediary” must additionally certify that it has provided, or will provide, a withholding statement that is associated with the appropriate IRS Forms W-8 and W-9 required to substantiate exemptions from withholding on behalf of its beneficial owners. The term “intermediary” means a person acting as a custodian, a broker, nominee or otherwise as an agent for the beneficial owner of a Regular Interest. A “qualified intermediary” is generally a foreign financial institution or clearing organization or a non-U.S. branch or office of a U.S. financial institution or clearing organization that is a party to a withholding agreement with the IRS.
If such statement, or any other required statement, is not provided, 30% withholding will apply unless reduced or eliminated pursuant to an applicable tax treaty or unless the interest on the Regular Interest is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by such Non-U.S. Person. In the latter case, such Non-U.S. Person will be subject to United States federal income tax at regular rates. Investors that are Non-U.S. Persons should consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences to them of owning a Regular Interest.
Class R Certificates
The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act indicates that amounts paid to Residual Holders that are Non-U.S. Persons are treated as interest for purposes of the 30% (or lower treaty rate) United States withholding tax. Treasury regulations provide that amounts distributed to Residual Holders may generally qualify as “portfolio interest”, subject to the conditions described in “—Taxation of Regular Interests” above, but only to the extent that the assets of the REMIC to which the residual interest relates consist of obligations issued in registered form within the meaning of Code Section 163(f)(1). Generally, the Mortgage Loans will not be considered obligations issued in registered form. Moreover, a Residual Holder will not be entitled to any exemption from the 30% withholding tax (or lower treaty rate) to the extent of that portion of REMIC taxable income that constitutes an excess inclusion. See “—Taxation of the Class R Certificates—Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC Income” above. If the amounts paid to Residual Holders that are Non-U.S. Persons are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding will not apply. Instead, the amounts paid to such Non-U.S. Persons will be subject to federal income tax at regular rates. See “―Taxation of the Class R Certificates—Tax Related Restrictions on Transfer of the Class R Certificates—Foreign Investors” above concerning the disregard of certain transfers having “tax avoidance potential”. Transfers of the Class R certificates to Non-U.S. Persons are generally prohibited unless the income on the Class R certificates is effectively connected as described above. See “—Taxation of the Class R Certificates—Tax Related Restrictions on Transfer of the Class R Certificates” above.
FATCA
Under the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” (“FATCA”) provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, a 30% withholding tax is generally imposed on certain payments, including U.S.‑source interest and, beginning on January 1, 2019, gross proceeds from the disposition of debt obligations that give rise to U.S.‑source interest to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other foreign financial entities if those foreign entities fail to comply with the requirements of FATCA. The certificate administrator will be required to withhold amounts under FATCA on payments made to holders who are subject to the FATCA requirements and who fail to provide the certificate administrator with proof that they have complied with such requirements. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of FATCA to their certificates.
Backup Withholding
Distributions made on the certificates, and proceeds from the sale of the certificates to or through certain brokers, may be subject to a “backup” withholding tax under Code Section 3406 at the rate of 28% on “reportable payments” (including interest distributions, original issue discount and, under certain circumstances, principal distributions) unless the Certificateholder is a U.S. Person and provides IRS Form W-9 with the correct taxpayer identification number; in the case of the Regular Interests, is a Non-U.S. Person and provides IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, identifying the Non-U.S. Person and stating that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. Person; or can be treated as an exempt recipient within the meaning of Treasury regulations Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii). Any amounts to be withheld from distribution on the certificates would be refunded by the IRS or allowed as a credit against the Certificateholder’s federal income tax liability. Information reporting requirements may also apply regardless of whether withholding is required. Holders are urged to contact their own tax advisors regarding the application to them of backup withholding and information reporting.
Information Reporting
Holders who are individuals (and certain domestic entities that are formed or availed of for purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, “specified foreign financial assets”) may be subject to certain foreign financial asset reporting obligations with respect to their certificates held through a financial account maintained by a foreign financial institution if the aggregate value of their certificates and their other “specified foreign financial assets” exceeds $50,000. Significant penalties can apply if a holder fails to disclose its specified foreign financial assets. We urge you to consult your tax advisor with respect to this and other reporting obligations with respect to your certificates.
3.8% Medicare Tax on “Net Investment Income”
Certain non-corporate U.S. holders will be subject to an additional 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income”, which may include the interest payments and any gain realized with respect to the certificates, to the extent of their net investment income that, when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), or $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return. The 3.8% Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the regular income tax. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors with respect to their consequences with respect to the 3.8% Medicare tax.
Reporting Requirements
Each Trust REMIC will be required to maintain its books on a calendar year basis and to file federal income tax returns in a manner similar to a partnership. The form for such returns is IRS Form 1066, U.S. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) Income Tax Return. The trustee will be required to sign each Trust REMIC’s returns.
Reports of accrued interest, original issue discount, if any, and information necessary to compute the accrual of any market discount on the Regular Interests will be made annually to the IRS and to individuals, estates, non-exempt and non-charitable trusts, and partnerships that are either Regular Interestholders or beneficial owners that own Regular Interests through a broker or middleman as nominee. All brokers, nominees and all other nonexempt Regular Interestholders (including corporations, non-calendar year taxpayers, securities or commodities dealers, placement agents, real estate investment trusts, investment companies, common trusts, thrift institutions and charitable trusts) may request such information for any calendar quarter by telephone or in writing by contacting the person designated in IRS Publication 938 with respect to the REMIC. Holders through nominees must request such information from the nominee.
The IRS’s Form 1066 has an accompanying Schedule Q, “Quarterly Notice to Residual Interest Holders of REMIC Taxable Income or Net Loss Allocation”. Treasury regulations require that Schedule Q be furnished by each Trust REMIC to each Residual Holder by the end of the month following the close of each calendar quarter (41 days after the end of a quarter under proposed Treasury regulations) in which such Trust REMIC is in existence.
Treasury regulations require that, in addition to the foregoing requirements, information must be furnished quarterly to each holder of a Class R certificate, furnished annually, if applicable, to holders of Regular Interests, and filed annually with the IRS concerning Code Section 67 expenses, see “—Limitations on Deduction of Certain Expenses” above, allocable to those Regular Interestholders. Furthermore, under those regulations, information must be furnished quarterly to each holder of a Class R certificate, furnished annually to the Regular Interestholders and filed annually with the IRS concerning the percentage of each Trust REMIC’s assets meeting the qualified asset tests described under “—Qualification as a REMIC” above.
[[FOR GRANTOR TRUSTS] Under these regulations, the certificate administrator will be required to file IRS Form 1099 (or any successor form) with the IRS with respect to holders of [Class [EC] certificates and Exchangeable Certificates] [FLOATING RATE CLASS] [ARD Class] who are not “exempt recipients”
(a term that includes corporations, trusts, securities dealers, middlemen and certain other non-individuals) and do not hold such certificates through a middleman, to report the issuing entity’s gross income and, in certain circumstances, unless the certificate administrator reports under the safe harbor as described in the last sentence of this paragraph, if any assets of the issuing entity were disposed of or certificates are sold in secondary market sales, the portion of the gross proceeds relating to the assets of the issuing entity that are attributable to such holder. The same requirements would be imposed on middlemen holding such certificates on behalf of the related holders. Under certain circumstances, the certificate administrator may report under the safe harbor for widely-held mortgage trusts, as such term is defined under Treasury regulations Section 1.671-5.
These regulations also require that the certificate administrator make available information regarding interest income and information necessary to compute any original issue discount to (i) exempt recipients (including middlemen) and non-calendar year taxpayers, upon request, in accordance with the requirements of the regulations and (ii) Certificateholders who do not hold their certificates through a middleman. The information must be provided to parties specified in clause (i) on or before the later of the [44th] [30th] day after the close of the calendar year to which the request relates and [28] [14] days after the receipt of the request. The information must be provided to parties specified in clause (ii) on or before March 15 of the calendar year for which the statement is being furnished.]]
DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THESE RULES AND THE CURRENT UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE MANNER OF THEIR APPLICATION TO THE ISSUING ENTITY AND CERTIFICATEHOLDERS, IT IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT POTENTIAL INVESTORS CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE TAX TREATMENT OF THEIR ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE CERTIFICATES.
CERTAIN STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In addition to the federal income tax consequences described in “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” above, purchasers of Offered Certificates should consider the state and local income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Offered Certificates. State and local income tax law may differ substantially from the corresponding federal law, and this discussion does not purport to describe any aspect of the income tax laws of any state or locality.
It is possible that one or more jurisdictions may attempt to tax nonresident holders of offered certificates solely by reason of the location in that jurisdiction of the depositor, the trustee, the certificate administrator, the sponsors, a related borrower or a mortgaged property or on some other basis, may require nonresident holders of certificates to file returns in such jurisdiction or may attempt to impose penalties for failure to file such returns; and it is possible that any such jurisdiction will ultimately succeed in collecting such taxes or penalties from nonresident holders of offered certificates. We cannot assure you that holders of offered certificates will not be subject to tax in any particular state, local or other taxing jurisdiction.
You should consult with your tax advisor with respect to the various state and local, and any other, tax consequences of an investment in the Offered Certificates.
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION (UNDERWRITER)
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the depositor and the underwriters, the depositor has agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally, but not jointly, agreed to purchase from the depositor the respective Certificate Balance or the Notional Amount, as applicable, of each class of Offered Certificates set forth below subject in each case to a variance of 5%.
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The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all Offered Certificates if any are purchased. In the event of a default by any underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriter(s) may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
The parties to the PSA have severally agreed to indemnify the underwriters, and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify the depositor and controlling persons of the depositor, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and will contribute to payments required to be made in respect of these liabilities.
[IF NOT A FIRM COMMITMENT UNDERWRITING, DESCRIBE TERMS OF BEST EFFORTS UNDERWRITING, OR PLACEMENT AGENCY ARRANGEMENT OR DIRECT OFFERING BY DEPOSITOR, PROVIDED THAT ANY CONTINUOUS OFFERING MUST BE AN “ALL OR NOTHING” OFFERING. IF APPLICABLE, DESCRIBE SALES OF SECURITIES TO ANY LOAN SELLERS BY THE UNDERWRITERS]
The depositor has been advised by the underwriters that they propose to offer the Offered Certificates to the public from time to time in one or more negotiated transactions, or otherwise, at varying prices to be determined at the time of sale. [MODIFY THIS DISCLOSURE IF A FIXED PRICE OFFERING] Proceeds to the depositor from the sale of Offered Certificates will be approximately [___]% of the initial aggregate Certificate Balance of the Offered Certificates, plus accrued interest on the Offered Certificates from [______], before deducting expenses payable by the depositor. The underwriters may effect the transactions by selling the Offered Certificates to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters. In connection with the purchase and sale of the Offered Certificates, the underwriters and dealers may be deemed to have received compensation from the depositor in the form of underwriting discounts and commissions.
Expenses payable by the depositor are estimated at $[__], excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
We anticipate that the Offered Certificates will be sold primarily to institutional investors. Purchasers of Offered Certificates, including dealers, may, depending on the facts and circumstances of those purchases, be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with reoffers and resales by them of Offered Certificates. If you purchase Offered Certificates, you should consult with your legal advisors in this regard prior to any reoffer or resale. The underwriters expect to make, but are not obligated to make, a secondary market in the Offered Certificates. See “Risk Factors—Other Risks Relating to the Certificates—The Certificates May Have Limited Liquidity and the Market Value of the Certificates May Decline”.
The primary source of ongoing information available to investors concerning the Offered Certificates will be the monthly statements discussed under “Description of the Certificates—Reports to
Certificateholders; Certain Available Information”. We cannot assure you that any additional information regarding the Offered Certificates will be available through any other source. In addition, we are not aware of any source through which price information about the Offered Certificates will be generally available on an ongoing basis. The limited nature of that information regarding the Offered Certificates may adversely affect the liquidity of the Offered Certificates, even if a secondary market for the Offered Certificates becomes available.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, one of the underwriters, is an affiliate of the depositor and an affiliate of one of the sponsors. [________], one of the underwriters, is an affiliate of one of the sponsors. [___________], one of the underwriters, is an affiliate of one of the sponsors.
A substantial portion of the net proceeds of this offering (after the payment of underwriting compensation and transaction expenses) is expected to be directed to affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, [_______] and [_________], which are underwriters for this offering. That flow of funds will occur by means of the collective effect of the payment by the underwriters to the depositor, an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, of the purchase price for the Offered Certificates, the payment described in the next paragraph and the following payments: (i) the payment by the depositor to BANA, an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacity as a sponsor, of the purchase price for the mortgage loans to be sold to the depositor by BANA, (ii) the payment by the depositor to [________], an affiliate of [___________], in its capacity as a sponsor, of the purchase price for the mortgage loans sold to the depositor by Barclays and (iii) the payment by the depositor to [__________], an affiliate of [___________], in its capacity as a sponsor, of the purchase price for the mortgage loan sold to the depositor by [________]. See “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers”.
As a result of the circumstances described above in this paragraph and the prior paragraph, [__________], [__________] and [___________] have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the consolidated rules of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. In addition, other circumstances exist that result in the underwriters or their affiliates having conflicts of interest, notwithstanding that such circumstances may not constitute a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of such Rule 5121. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest—Interests and Incentives of the Underwriter Entities May Not Be Aligned With Your Interests”.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
[The following documents filed by the date of the filing of this prospectus filed in accordance with Rule 424(h) or Rule 424(b), as applicable, under the Securities Act are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
(1) The disclosures filed as exhibits to Form ABS–EE in accordance with Items 601(b)(102) and Item 601(b)(103) of Regulation S–K under the Securities Act;
(2) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.
All reports filed or caused to be filed by the depositor with respect to the issuing entity before the termination of this offering pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that relate to the Offered Certificates (other than Annual Reports on Form 10-K) will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus[, except that if a Non-Serviced PSA is entered into after termination of this offering, any Current Report on Form 8-K filed after termination of this offering that includes as an exhibit such Non-Serviced PSA will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The depositor will provide or cause to be provided without charge to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered in connection with this offering (including beneficial owners of the Offered Certificates), upon written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all documents or reports incorporated in this prospectus by reference, in each case to the extent the documents or reports relate to
the Offered Certificates, other than the exhibits to those documents (unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents). Requests to the depositor should be directed in writing to its principal executive offices at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attention: President, or by telephone at [(646) 855-3953].
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The depositor has filed a Registration Statement on Form SF-3 (SEC File No. [______]) (the “Registration Statement”) relating to multiple series of CMBS, including the Offered Certificates, with the SEC. This prospectus will form a part of the Registration Statement, but the Registration Statement includes additional information. Copies of the Registration Statement and other materials filed with or furnished to the SEC, including Distribution Reports on Form 10-D, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Forms ABS-15G, and any amendments to these reports may be read and copied at the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an internet site at “http://www.sec.gov” at which you can view and download copies of reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed or furnished electronically through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system. The SEC maintains computer terminals providing access to the EDGAR system at each of the offices referred to above.
The depositor has met the registrant requirements of Section I.A.1. of the General Instructions to the Registration Statement.
Copies of all reports of the issuing entity on Forms 10-D, 10-K and 8-K will also be made available on the website of the [trustee][certificate administrator] as soon as reasonably practicable after these materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to the SEC through the EDGAR system.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The issuing entity will be newly formed and will not have engage in any business activities or have any assets or obligations prior to the issuance of the Offered Certificates. Accordingly, no financial statements with respect to the issuing entity are included in this prospectus.
The depositor has determined that its financial statements will not be material to the offering of the Offered Certificates.
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
General
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, and Code Section 4975 impose certain requirements on retirement plans, and on certain other employee benefit plans and arrangements, including individual retirement accounts and annuities, Keogh plans, collective investment funds, insurance company separate accounts and some insurance company general accounts in which those plans, accounts or arrangements are invested that are subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or Code Section 4975 (all of which are referred to as “Plans”), and on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to Plans, in connection with the investment of Plan assets. Certain employee benefit plans, such as governmental plans (as defined in ERISA Section 3(32)), and, if no election has been made under Code Section 410(d), church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) are not subject to ERISA requirements. However, those plans may be subject to the provisions of other applicable federal, state or local law (“Similar Law”) materially similar to the foregoing provisions of ERISA or the Code. Moreover, those plans, if qualified and exempt from taxation under Code Sections 401(a) and 501(a), are subject to the prohibited transaction rules set forth in Code Section 503.
ERISA generally imposes on Plan fiduciaries certain general fiduciary requirements, including those of investment prudence and diversification and the requirement that a Plan’s investments be made in accordance with the documents governing the Plan. In addition, ERISA and the Code prohibit a broad range of transactions involving assets of a Plan and persons (“Parties in Interest”) who have certain specified relationships to the Plan, unless a statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption is available. Certain Parties in Interest that participate in a prohibited transaction may be subject to an excise tax imposed pursuant to Code Section 4975, unless a statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption is available. These prohibited transactions generally are set forth in Section 406 of ERISA and Code Section 4975. Special caution should be exercised before the assets of a Plan are used to purchase an offered certificate if, with respect to those assets, the depositor, any servicer or the trustee or any of their affiliates, either: (a) has investment discretion with respect to the investment of those assets of that Plan; or (b) has authority or responsibility to give, or regularly gives, investment advice with respect to those assets for a fee and pursuant to an agreement or understanding that the advice will serve as a primary basis for investment decisions with respect to those assets and that the advice will be based on the particular investment needs of the Plan; or (c) is an employer maintaining or contributing to the Plan.
Before purchasing any offered certificates with Plan assets, a Plan fiduciary should consult with its counsel and determine whether there exists any prohibition to that purchase under the requirements of ERISA or Code Section 4975, whether any prohibited transaction class exemption or any individual administrative prohibited transaction exemption (as described below) applies, including whether the appropriate conditions set forth in those exemptions would be met, or whether any statutory prohibited transaction exemption is applicable. Fiduciaries of plans subject to a Similar Law should consider the need for, and the availability of, an exemption under such applicable Similar Law.
Plan Asset Regulations
A Plan’s investment in offered certificates may cause the assets of the issuing entity to be deemed Plan assets. Section 2510.3-101 of the regulations of the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”), as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, provides that when a Plan acquires an equity interest in an entity, the Plan’s assets include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the underlying assets of the entity, unless certain exceptions not applicable to this discussion apply, or unless the equity participation in the entity by “benefit plan investors” (that is, Plans and entities whose underlying assets include plan assets) is not “significant”. For this purpose, in general, equity participation in an entity will be “significant” on any date if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of any certificate, 25% or more of any class of certificates is held by benefit plan investors.
In general, any person who has discretionary authority or control respecting the management or disposition of Plan assets, and any person who provides investment advice with respect to those assets for a fee, is a fiduciary of the investing Plan. If the assets of the issuing entity constitute Plan assets, then any party exercising management or discretionary control regarding those assets, such as a master servicer, a special servicer or any sub-servicer, may be deemed to be a Plan “fiduciary” with respect to the investing Plan, and thus subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Code Section 4975. In addition, if the assets of the issuing entity constitute Plan assets, the purchase of offered certificates by a Plan, as well as the operation of the issuing entity, may constitute or involve a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code.
Administrative Exemptions
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued to the predecessor of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Prohibited Transaction Exemption 93-31, 58 Fed. Reg. 28,620 (May 14, 1993), each as amended by Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2013-08, 78 Fed. Reg. 41,090 (July 9, 2013) (the “Exemption”). The Exemption generally exempts from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406 and 407 of ERISA, and the excise taxes imposed on prohibited transactions pursuant to Code Sections 4975(a) and (b), certain transactions, among others, relating to the servicing and operation of pools of mortgage loans, such as the pool of mortgage loans held by the issuing entity, and the purchase, sale and holding of mortgage pass-through certificates, such as the Offered
Certificates, underwritten by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, provided that certain conditions set forth in the Exemption are satisfied. The depositor expects that the Exemption generally will apply to the Offered Certificates.
The Exemption sets forth five general conditions that must be satisfied for a transaction involving the purchase, sale and holding of the Offered Certificates to be eligible for exemptive relief. First, the acquisition of the Offered Certificates by a Plan must be on terms (including the price paid for the Offered Certificates) that are at least as favorable to the Plan as they would be in an arm’s-length transaction with an unrelated party. Second, the Offered Certificates at the time of acquisition by the Plan must be rated in one of the four highest generic rating categories by at least one NRSRO that meets the requirements of the Exemption (an “Exemption Rating Agency”). Third, the trustee cannot be an affiliate of any other member of the Restricted Group other than an underwriter. The “Restricted Group” consists of any underwriter, the depositor, the trustee, the master servicer, the special servicer, any sub-servicer, any entity that provides insurance or other credit support to the issuing entity and any borrower with respect to mortgage loans constituting more than 5% of the aggregate unamortized principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the date of initial issuance of the Offered Certificates, and any affiliate of any of the foregoing entities. Fourth, the sum of all payments made to and retained by the underwriters must represent not more than reasonable compensation for underwriting the Offered Certificates, the sum of all payments made to and retained by the depositor pursuant to the assignment of the mortgage loans to the issuing entity must represent not more than the fair market value of the mortgage loans and the sum of all payments made to and retained by the master servicer, the special servicer and any sub-servicer must represent not more than reasonable compensation for that person’s services under the PSA and reimbursement of the person’s reasonable expenses in connection therewith. Fifth, the investing Plan must be an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a)(1) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
It is a condition of the issuance of the Offered Certificates that they have the ratings described above required by the Exemption and the depositor believes that each of the Rating Agencies qualifies as an Exemption Rating Agency. Consequently, the second general condition set forth above will be satisfied with respect to the Offered Certificates as of the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, the third general condition set forth above will be satisfied with respect to the Offered Certificates. In addition, the depositor believes that the fourth general condition set forth above will be satisfied with respect to the Offered Certificates. A fiduciary of a Plan contemplating purchasing an Offered Certificate in the secondary market must make its own determination that, at the time of purchase, the Offered Certificates continue to satisfy the second general condition set forth above. A fiduciary of a Plan contemplating purchasing an Offered Certificate, whether in the initial issuance of the Offered Certificates or in the secondary market, must make its own determination that the first and fifth general conditions set forth above will be satisfied with respect to the related Offered Certificate.
The Exemption also requires that the issuing entity meet the following requirements: (1) the issuing entity must consist solely of assets of the type that have been included in other investment pools; (2) certificates in those other investment pools must have been rated in one of the four highest categories by at least one of the Exemption Rating Agencies for at least one year prior to the Plan’s acquisition of Offered Certificates; and (3) certificates in those other investment pools must have been purchased by investors other than Plans for at least one year prior to any Plan’s acquisition of Offered Certificates.
The depositor believes that the conditions to the applicability of the Exemption will generally be met with respect to the Offered Certificates, other than those conditions which are dependent on facts unknown to the depositor or which it cannot control, such as those relating to the circumstances of the Plan purchaser or the Plan fiduciary making the decision to purchase any such Offered Certificates.
If the general conditions of the Exemption are satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by Sections 406(a) and 407(a) of ERISA (as well as the excise taxes imposed by Code Sections 4975(a) and (b) by reason of Code Sections 4975(c)(1)(A) through (D)) in connection with (1) the direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Offered Certificates in the initial issuance of certificates between the depositor or the underwriters and a Plan when the depositor, any of the underwriters, the trustee, the master servicer, the special servicer, a sub-servicer or a borrower is a party in interest with respect to the investing Plan, (2) the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition in the
secondary market of the Offered Certificates by an Plan and (3) the holding of Offered Certificates by a Plan. However, no exemption is provided from the restrictions of Sections 406(a)(1)(E), 406(a)(2) and 407 of ERISA for the acquisition or holding of an Offered Certificate on behalf of an “Excluded Plan” by any person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the assets of the Excluded Plan. For purposes of this prospectus, an “Excluded Plan” is a Plan sponsored by any member of the Restricted Group.
If certain specific conditions of the Exemption are also satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by Sections 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) of ERISA and the taxes imposed by Code Section 4975(c)(1)(E) in connection with (1) the direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Offered Certificates in the initial issuance of certificates between the depositor or the underwriters and a Plan when the person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the investment of Plan assets in those certificates is (a) a borrower with respect to 5% or less of the fair market value of the mortgage loans or (b) an affiliate of that person, (2) the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition in the secondary market of Offered Certificates by a Plan and (3) the holding of Offered Certificates by a Plan.
Further, if certain specific conditions of the Exemption are satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by Sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407(a) of ERISA, and the taxes imposed by Code Sections 4975(a) and (b) by reason of Code Section 4975(c) for transactions in connection with the servicing, management and operation of the pool of mortgage loans.
A fiduciary of a Plan should consult with its counsel with respect to the applicability of the Exemption. The fiduciary of a plan not subject to ERISA or Code Section 4975, such as a governmental plan, should determine the need for and availability of exemptive relief under applicable Similar Law. A purchaser of an Offered Certificate should be aware, however, that even if the conditions specified in one or more exemptions are satisfied, the scope of relief provided by an exemption may not cover all acts which might be construed as prohibited transactions.
Insurance Company General Accounts
Sections I and III of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (“PTCE”) 95-60 exempt from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407(a) of ERISA and Code Section 4975 transactions in connection with the acquisition of a security (such as a certificate issued by the issuing entity) as well as the servicing, management and operation of a trust (such as the issuing entity) in which an insurance company general account has an interest as a result of its acquisition of certificates issued by the issuing entity, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. If these conditions are met, insurance company general accounts investing assets that are treated as assets of Plans would be allowed to purchase certain classes of certificates which do not meet the ratings requirements of the Exemption. All other conditions of the Exemption would have to be satisfied in order for PTCE 95-60 to be available. Before purchasing any class of offered certificates, an insurance company general account seeking to rely on Sections I and III of PTCE 95-60 should itself confirm that all applicable conditions and other requirements have been satisfied.
Section 401(c) of ERISA provides certain exemptive relief from the provisions of Part 4 of Title I of ERISA and Code Section 4975, including the prohibited transaction restrictions imposed by ERISA and the related excise taxes imposed by the Code, for transactions involving an insurance company general account. Pursuant to Section 401(c) of ERISA, the DOL issued regulations (“401(c) Regulations”), generally effective July 5, 2001, to provide guidance for the purpose of determining, in cases where insurance policies supported by an insured’s general account are issued to or for the benefit of a Plan on or before December 31, 1998, which general account assets constitute Plan assets. Any assets of an insurance company general account which support insurance policies issued to a Plan after December 31, 1998 or issued to Plans on or before December 31, 1998 for which the insurance company does not comply with the 401(c) Regulations may be treated as Plan assets. In addition, because Section 401(c) of ERISA does not relate to insurance company separate accounts, separate account assets are still generally treated as Plan assets of any Plan invested in that separate account. Insurance
companies contemplating the investment of general account assets in the offered certificates should consult with their counsel with respect to the applicability of Section 401(c) of ERISA.
Unrelated Business Taxable Income; Residual Certificates
The purchase of a Residual Certificate by any employee benefit plan qualified under Code Section 401(a) and exempt from taxation under Code Section 501(a), including most varieties of Plans, may give rise to “unrelated business taxable income” as described in Code Sections 511-515 and 860E. Further, prior to the purchase of Residual Certificates, a prospective transferee may be required to provide an affidavit to a transferor that it is not, nor is it purchasing a Residual Certificate on behalf of, a [“Disqualified Organization”],which term as defined above includes certain tax-exempt entities not subject to Code Section 511 including certain governmental plans, as discussed above under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxes That May Be Imposed on a REMIC—Prohibited Transactions.”
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties imposed upon persons involved in prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that potential investors who are Plan fiduciaries or who are investing Plan assets consult with their counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of their acquisition and ownership of certificates.
THE SALE OF OFFERED CERTIFICATES TO A PLAN IS IN NO RESPECT A REPRESENTATION BY THE DEPOSITOR OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS THAT THIS INVESTMENT MEETS ANY RELEVANT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO INVESTMENTS BY PLANS GENERALLY OR ANY PARTICULAR PLAN, OR THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS APPROPRIATE FOR PLANS GENERALLY OR ANY PARTICULAR PLAN.
LEGAL INVESTMENT
[SPECIFY CLASSES] [None of the] classes of Offered Certificates will constitute “mortgage related securities” for purposes of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984, as amended (“SMMEA”). Generally, the only classes of Offered Certificates which will qualify as “mortgage related securities” will be those that (1) are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (“NRSRO”); and (2) are part of a series evidencing interests in a trust consisting of loans originated by certain types of originators specified in SMMEA and secured by first liens on real estate.
Although Section 939(e) of the Dodd-Frank Act amended SMMEA, effective July 21, 2012, so as to require the SEC to establish creditworthiness standards by that date in substitution for the foregoing ratings test, the SEC has neither proposed nor adopted a rule establishing new creditworthiness standards for purposes of SMMEA as of the date of this prospectus. However, the SEC has issued a transitional interpretation (Release No. 34-67448 (effective July 20, 2012)), which provides that, until such time as final rules establishing new standards of creditworthiness become effective, the standard of creditworthiness for purposes of the definition of the term “mortgage related security” is a security that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least one NRSRO. Depending on the standards of creditworthiness that are ultimately established by the SEC, it is possible that certain classes of Offered Certificates specified to be “mortgage related securities” for purposes of SMMEA may no longer qualify as such as of the time such new standards are effective.
The appropriate characterization of the Offered Certificates under various legal investment restrictions, and thus the ability of investors subject to those restrictions to purchase the Offered Certificates, are subject to significant interpretive uncertainties. We make no representation as to the proper characterization of the Offered Certificates for legal investment, financial institution regulatory, or other purposes, or as to the ability of particular investors to purchase any Offered Certificates under applicable legal investment restrictions. Further, any ratings downgrade of a class of Offered Certificates by an NRSRO to less than an “investment grade” rating (i.e., lower than the top four rating categories) may adversely affect the ability of an investor to purchase or retain, or otherwise impact the regulatory
characteristics of, that class. The uncertainties described above (and any unfavorable future determinations concerning the legal investment or financial institution regulatory characteristics of the Offered Certificates) may adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the Offered Certificates.
Accordingly, if your investment activities are subject to legal investment laws and regulations, regulatory capital requirements, or review by regulatory authorities, you should consult with your own legal advisors in determining whether and to what extent the Offered Certificates constitute legal investments or are subject to investment, capital, or other regulatory restrictions.
The issuing entity will not be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The issuing entity will be relying on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended contained in Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the issuing entity. The issuing entity is being structured so as not to constitute a “covered fund” for purposes of the Volcker Rule under the Dodd-Frank Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the certificates and material federal income tax matters will be passed upon for the depositor by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by [________].
RATINGS
It is a condition to their issuance that the Offered Certificates receive investment grade credit ratings from each of the [__] Rating Agencies.
We are not obligated to maintain any particular rating with respect to any class of Offered Certificates. Changes affecting the Mortgaged Properties, the parties to the PSA or another person may have an adverse effect on the ratings of the Offered Certificates, and thus on the liquidity, market value and regulatory characteristics of the Offered Certificates, although such adverse changes would not necessarily be an event of default under the applicable Mortgage Loan.
The ratings address the likelihood of full and timely receipt by the Certificateholders of all distributions of interest at the applicable Pass-Through Rate on the Offered Certificates to which they are entitled on each distribution date and the ultimate payment in full of the Certificate Balance of each class of Offered Certificates on a date that it not later than the Rated Final Distribution Date with respect to such class of certificates. The Rated Final Distribution Date will be the distribution date in [RATED FINAL DISTRIBUTION DATE]. See “Yield and Maturity Considerations” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Advances”. Any ratings of each Offered Certificates should be evaluated independently from similar ratings on other types of securities.
The ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, a measure of asset value or an indication of the suitability of an investment, and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by any Rating Agency. In addition, these ratings do not address: (a) the likelihood, timing, or frequency of prepayments (both voluntary and involuntary) and their impact on interest payments or the degree to which such prepayments might differ from those originally anticipated, (b) the possibility that a Certificateholder might suffer a lower than anticipated yield, (c) the likelihood of receipt of yield maintenance charges, prepayment charges, prepayment premiums, prepayment fees or penalties, default interest or post-anticipated repayment date additional interest, (d) the likelihood of experiencing any Prepayment Interest Shortfalls, an assessment of whether or to what extent the interest payable on any class of Offered Certificates may be reduced in connection with any Prepayment Interest Shortfalls, or of receiving Compensating Interest Payments, (e) the tax treatment of the Offered Certificates or effect of taxes on the payments received, (f) the likelihood or willingness of the parties to the respective documents to meet their contractual obligations or the likelihood or willingness of any party or court to
enforce, or hold enforceable, the documents in whole or in part, (g) an assessment of the yield to maturity that investors may experience, (h) the likelihood, timing or receipt of any payments of interest to the holders of the Offered Certificates resulting from an increase in the interest rate on any Mortgage Loan in connection with a Mortgage Loan modification, waiver or amendment, (i) Excess Interest, or (j) other non-credit risks, including, without limitation, market risks or liquidity.
The ratings take into consideration the credit quality of the underlying Mortgaged Properties and the Mortgage Loans, structural and legal aspects associated with the Offered Certificates, and the extent to which the payment stream of the Mortgage Loans is adequate to make payments required under the Offered Certificates. However, as noted above, the ratings do not represent an assessment of the likelihood, timing or frequency of principal prepayments (both voluntary and involuntary) by the borrowers, or the degree to which such prepayments might differ from those originally anticipated. In general, the ratings address credit risk and not prepayment risk. Ratings are forward-looking opinions about credit risk and express an agency’s opinion about the ability and willingness of an issuer of securities to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. Ratings are not indications of investment merit. In addition, the ratings do not represent an assessment of the yield to maturity that investors may experience or the possibility that investors might not fully recover their initial investment in the event of delinquencies or defaults or rapid prepayments on the Mortgage Loans (including both voluntary and involuntary prepayments) or the application of any realized losses. In the event that holders of such certificates do not fully recover their investment as a result of rapid principal prepayments on the Mortgage Loans, all amounts “due” to such holders will nevertheless have been paid, and such result is consistent with the ratings assigned to such certificates. As indicated in this prospectus, holders of the certificates with Notional Amounts are entitled only to payments of interest on the related Mortgage Loans. If the Mortgage Loans were to prepay in the initial month, with the result that the holders of the certificates with Notional Amounts receive only a single month’s interest and therefore, suffer a nearly complete loss of their investment, all amounts “due” to such holders will nevertheless have been paid, and such result is consistent with the rating received on those certificates. The Notional Amounts of the certificates with Notional Amounts on which interest is calculated may be reduced by the allocation of realized losses and prepayments, whether voluntary or involuntary. The ratings do not address the timing or magnitude of reductions of such Notional Amount, but only the obligation to pay interest timely on the Notional Amount, as so reduced from time to time. Therefore, the ratings of the certificates with Notional Amounts should be evaluated independently from similar ratings on other types of securities. See “Risk Factors—Other Risks Relating to the Certificates—Your Yield May Be Affected by Defaults, Prepayments and Other Factors” and “Yield and Maturity Considerations”.
Although the depositor will prepay fees for ongoing rating surveillance by certain of the Rating Agencies, the depositor has no obligation or ability to ensure that any Rating Agency performs ratings surveillance. In addition, a Rating Agency may cease ratings surveillance if the information furnished to that Rating Agency is insufficient to allow it to perform surveillance.