factors that will determine these results and values are beyond the ability of Bank of America, the issuing entity or the depositor to control or predict. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus supplement speak only as of the date stated on the cover of this prospectus supplement. The issuing entity and the depositor undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The legality of, and certain federal income tax matters related to the certificates, will be passed upon for the depositor and underwriters by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
Glossary
‘‘Aggregate Net Losses’’ means, for any distribution date, the amount equal to (1) the aggregate Principal Balance of all Receivables that became Liquidated Receivables during the related Collection Period minus (2) the Liquidation Proceeds allocable to principal collected during the related Collection Period with respect to any Liquidated Receivables.
‘‘Average Delinquency Percentage’’ means, for any distribution date, the average of the Delinquency Percentages for the distribution date and the preceding two distribution dates.
‘‘Average Net Loss Ratio’’ means, for any distribution date, the average of the Net Loss Ratios for the distribution date and the preceding two distribution dates.
‘‘Business Day’’ means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the states of Delaware, [•] or [•], or in the state in which the corporate trust office of the indenture trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or government decree to be closed.
‘‘Class A Interest Carryover Shortfall’’ means, for any distribution date, the excess of Class A Monthly Interest for the preceding distribution date and any outstanding Class A Interest Carryover Shortfall on the preceding distribution date, over the amount in respect of interest that is actually deposited in the Class A Distribution Account on the preceding distribution date, plus 30 days of interest on that excess, to the extent permitted by law, at the Class A Certificate Rate.
‘‘Class A Interest Distribution’’ means, for any distribution date, the sum of Class A Monthly Interest for the distribution date and the Class A Interest Carryover Shortfall for the distribution date.
‘‘Class A Monthly Interest’’ means, for any distribution date, the product of (x) one-twelfth of the Class A Certificate Rate and (y) the Class A Principal Balance as of the immediately preceding distribution date, after giving effect to any payments made on that distribution date, or, in the case of the first distribution date, the Initial Class A Principal Balance.
‘‘Class A Monthly Principal’’ means, for any distribution date, the Class A Percentage of Principal Collections for the distribution date plus the sum of (1) the Class A Percentage of Realized Losses for Receivables which became Liquidated Receivables during the related Collection Period and (2) the Class A Percentage of the aggregate amount of Cram Down Losses during the related Collection Period.
‘‘Class A Certificate Rate’’ means, for the Class A certificates, [•]% per annum.
‘‘Class A Principal Balance’’ equals the Initial Class A Principal Balance, as reduced by all amounts allocable to principal on the Class A certificates previously distributed to Class A certificateholders.
‘‘Class A Principal Carryover Shortfall’’ means, for any distribution date, the excess of Class A Monthly Principal for the preceding distribution date and any outstanding Class A Principal Carryover Shortfall on the preceding distribution date over the amount in respect of principal that is actually deposited in the Class A Distribution Account on the preceding distribution date.
‘‘Class A Principal Distribution’’ means, for any distribution date, the sum of Class A Monthly Principal for that distribution date and the Class A Principal Carryover Shortfall for that distribution date; provided, however, that the Class A Principal Distribution shall not exceed the Class A Principal Balance immediately prior to that distribution date.
‘‘Class B Certificate Rate’’ means, for the Class B certificates, [•]% per annum.
‘‘Class B Interest Carryover Shortfall’’ means, for any distribution date, the excess of Class B Monthly Interest for the preceding distribution date and any outstanding Class B Interest Carryover Shortfall on the preceding distribution date, over the amount in respect of interest that is actually deposited in the Class B Distribution Account on the preceding distribution date, plus 30 days of interest on this excess, to the extent permitted by law, at the Class B Certificate Rate.
‘‘Class B Interest Distribution’’ means, for any distribution date, the sum of Class B Monthly Interest for that distribution date and the Class B Interest Carryover Shortfall for that distribution date.
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‘‘Class B Monthly Interest’’ means, for any distribution date, the product of (x) one-twelfth of the Class B Certificate Rate and (y) the Class B Principal Balance as of the immediately preceding distribution date, after giving effect to any payments made on that distribution date, or, in the case of the first distribution date, the Initial Class B Principal Balance.
‘‘Class B Monthly Principal’’ means, for any distribution date, the Class B Percentage of Principal Collections for that distribution date plus the sum of (1) the Class B Percentage of Realized Losses for Receivables which became Liquidated Receivables during the related Collection Period and (2) the Class B Percentage of the aggregate amount of Cram Down Losses during the related Collection Period.
‘‘Class B Principal Balance’’ equals the Initial Class B Principal Balance, as reduced by all amounts allocable to principal on the Class B certificates previously distributed to Class B certificateholders.
‘‘Class B Principal Carryover Shortfall’’ means, for any distribution date, the excess of Class B Monthly Principal for the preceding distribution date and any outstanding Class B Principal Carryover Shortfall on the preceding distribution date over the amount in respect of principal that is actually deposited in the Class B Distribution Account on the preceding distribution date.
‘‘Class B Principal Distribution’’ means, for any distribution date, the sum of Class B Monthly Principal for that distribution date and the Class B Principal Carryover Shortfall for that distribution date; provided, however, that the Class B Principal Distribution shall not exceed the Class B Principal Balance immediately prior to that distribution date.
‘‘Collection Period’’ means the period commencing on the first day of each calendar month and ending on the last day of that calendar month (or, in the case of the initial Collection Period, the period commencing on the cutoff date and ending on [•][•],[•]). As used in this prospectus supplement, the ‘‘related’’ Collection Period with respect to any date of determination or distribution date shall be deemed to be the Collection Period which precedes that date of determination or distribution date.
‘‘Collections’’ for any distribution date will equal the sum of Interest Collections and Principal Collections for the related distribution date.
"Controlling Class" means, with respect to any certificates outstanding, the Class A certificates as long as any Class A certificates are outstanding, and thereafter the Class B certificates as long as any Class B certificates are outstanding (excluding, in each case, certificates held by the servicer or its affiliates).
‘‘Cram Down Loss’’ means, for a receivable if a court of appropriate jurisdiction in a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding shall have issued an order reducing the amount owed on the receivable or otherwise modifying or restructuring the scheduled payments to be made on the receivable, an amount equal to:
 |  |  |
| (1) | the excess of the principal balance of the receivable immediately prior to the court order over the principal balance of the receivable as so reduced; and |
 |  |  |
| (2) | if the issuing court shall have issued an order reducing the effective rate of interest on the Receivable, the net present value, using as the discount rate the higher of the contract rate on the receivable or the rate of interest, if any, specified by the court in the order, of the scheduled payments as so modified or restructured. |
A ‘‘Cram Down Loss’’ shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of issuance of the court order.
‘‘Delinquency Percentage’’ means, for any distribution date, the sum of the outstanding Principal Balances of all Receivables which are 60 days or more delinquent, including Receivables relating to Financed Vehicles that have been repossessed, as of the close of business on the last day of the Collection Period immediately preceding the distribution date, determined in accordance with the servicer’s normal practices, this sum expressed as a percentage of the Pool Balance as of the close of business on the last day of the related Collection Period.
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‘‘Eligible Investments’’ means any one or more of the following types of investments:
 |  |  |
| • | direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed as to timely payment by, the United States of America; |
 |  |  |
| • | demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit of any depository institution (including any affiliate of the depositor, the servicer, the indenture trustee or the owner trustee) or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank) and subject to supervision and examination by Federal or state banking or depository institution authorities (including depository receipts issued by any such institution or trust company as custodian with respect to any obligation referred to in the first bullet point above or a portion of such obligation for the benefit of the holders of such depository receipts); provided that at the time of the investment or contractual commitment to invest therein (which shall be deemed to be made again each time funds are reinvested following each distribution date), the commercial paper or other short-term senior unsecured debt obligations (other than such obligations the rating of which is based on the credit of a person other than such depository institution or trust company) of such depository institution or trust company shall have a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of A-1+ and from Moody’s of Prime-1; |
 |  |  |
| • | commercial paper (including commercial paper of any affiliate of the depositor, the servicer, the indenture trustee or the owner trustee) having, at the time of the investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, a rating from Standard & Poor’s of A-1 and from Moody’s of Prime-1; |
 |  |  |
| • | investments in money market funds (including funds for which the depositor, the servicer, the indenture trustee or the owner trustee or any of their respective affiliates is investment manager or advisor) having a rating from Standard & Poor’s of AAA-m or AAAm-G and from Moody’s of Aaa; |
 |  |  |
| • | banker’s acceptances issued by any depository institution or trust company referred to in the second bullet point above; |
 |  |  |
| • | repurchase obligations with respect to any security that is a direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in either case entered into with a depository institution or trust company (acting as principal) referred to in the second bullet point above; and |
 |  |  |
| • | any other investment of similar credit quality as the ‘‘Eligible Investments’’ referred to above with respect to which each rating agency has provided written notice that such investment would not cause such rating agency to downgrade, qualify or withdraw its then current rating of any class of certificates. |
‘‘Liquidated Receivables’’ means, Receivables (x) which have been liquidated by the servicer through the sale of the related Financed Vehicle, (y) as to which all or a portion representing 10% or more of a scheduled payment due is 120 or more days delinquent or (z) with respect to which proceeds have been received which, in the servicer’s judgment, constitute the final amounts recoverable in respect of such receivable. A receivable first becomes a Liquidated Receivable upon the earliest to occur of (x), (y) or (z) above.
‘‘Liquidation Proceeds’’ means, for any receivable,
 |  |  |
| (2) | the monies collected during a Collection Period from whatever source on a Liquidated Receivable; and |
 |  |  |
| (3) | proceeds of a Financed Vehicle sold after repossession, in each case, net of any liquidation expenses and payments required by law to be remitted to the obligor. |
‘‘Net Loss Ratio’’ means, for any distribution date, an amount expressed as a percentage, equal to the product of (A) twelve and (B) (1) the Aggregate Net Losses for the distribution date, divided by
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(2) the average of the Pool Balances on each of the first day of the related Collection Period and the last day of the related Collection Period.
‘‘Pool Balance’’ at any time will represent the aggregate principal balance of the Receivables at the end of the preceding Collection Period, after giving effect to all payments, other than Payaheads, received from obligors and Purchase Amounts to be remitted by the servicer and [•], as the case may be, all for the related Collection Period, all losses realized on Receivables that became Liquidated Receivables during the related Collection Period and all Cram Down Losses for the related Collection Period.
‘‘Specified Reserve Account Balance’’ with respect to any distribution date will equal [ ]% of the Pool Balance as of the last day of the related Collection Period, but in any event will not be less than the lesser of:
 |  |  |
| (1) | $[•] ([•]% of the initial Pool Balance), and |
provided, that if the Average Net Loss Ratio exceeds [•]% or the Average Delinquency Percentage exceeds [•]% on a distribution date, beginning with the [•] [•] distribution date, the Specified Reserve Account Balance for the distribution date shall be calculated using a percentage of [•]%.
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Index of Defined Terms

 |  |  |
|
ABS |  | A-7 |
ABS Table |  | A-7 |
Advance |  | S-26 |
Aggregate Net Losses |  | S-37 |
Average Delinquency Percentage |  | S-37 |
Average Net Loss Ratio |  | S-37 |
Bank of America |  | S-16 |
Business Day |  | S-37 |
Certificate Rate |  | S-20 |
Class A Certificate Rate |  | S-37 |
Class A Distribution Account |  | S-21 |
Class A Interest Carryover Shortfall |  | S-37 |
Class A Interest Distribution |  | S-37 |
Class A Monthly Interest |  | S-37 |
Class A Monthly Principal |  | S-37 |
Class A Percentage |  | S-20 |
Class A Principal Balance |  | S-37 |
Class A Principal Carryover Shortfall |  | S-37 |
Class A Principal Distribution |  | S-37 |
Class B Certificate Rate |  | S-38 |
Class B Distribution Account |  | S-21 |
Class B Interest Carryover Shortfall |  | S-37 |
Class B Interest Distribution |  | S-38 |
Class B Monthly Interest |  | S-38 |
Class B Monthly Principal |  | S-38 |
Class B Percentage |  | S-20 |
Class B Principal Balance |  | S-38 |
Class B Principal Carryover Shortfall |  | S-38 |
Class B Principal Distribution |  | S-38 |
Code |  | S-31 |
Collection Account |  | S-21 |
Collection Period |  | S-37 |
Collections |  | S-38 |
Controlling Class |  | S-38 |
Cram Down Loss |  | S-38 |
Dealer Agreements |  | S-18 |
Delinquency Percentage |  | S-38 |
Determination Date |  | S-23 |
Eligible Investments |  | S-39 |
FSMA |  | S-ii |
Initial Class A Principal Balance |  | S-20 |
Initial Class B Principal Balance |  | S-20 |
Interest Collections |  | S-23 |
Interest Period |  | S-20 |
Issuing Entity Property |  | S-18 |
Liquidated Receivables |  | S-39 |
Liquidation Proceeds |  | S-39 |
LLC |  | S-17 |
Net Loss Ratio |  | S-40 |
OID |  | S-31 |
Payahead Account |  | S-21 |
Pool Balance |  | S-40 |
Pooling and Servicing Agreement |  | S-17 |
Principal Collections |  | S-24 |
Rating Agency |  | S-35 |
Record Date |  | S-20 |
Recoveries |  | S-24 |
Reserve Account |  | S-21 |
Reserve Account Initial Deposit |  | S-27 |
Reserve Account Transfer Amount |  | S-23 |
Servicer Default |  | S-22 |
Servicing Fee |  | S-21 |
Servicing Fee Rate |  | S-21 |
Shortfall Amount |  | S-32 |
Specified Reserve Account Balance |  | S-40 |
Spread |  | S-31 |
Tax Counsel |  | S-31 |
Total Servicing Fee |  | S-22 |
Trust Accounts |  | S-21 |
Underwriter |  | S-34 |
Underwriting Agreement |  | S-34 |
 |
S-41
Appendix A — Receivables Data
The composition, distribution by original term, distribution by remaining term, distribution by contract rate, geographic distribution, distribution by model year, distribution by original principal balance and distribution by remaining principal of the Receivables, in each case, as of the cutoff date are set forth in the tables below. The percentages in the following tables may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Composition of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | New Financed Vehicles |  | Used Financed Vehicles |  | Total |
Aggregate Principal Balance |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |
Number of Receivables |  | [•] |  | [•] |  | [•] |
Weighted Average Initial Balance |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |
Average Principal Balance |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |
Average Original Balance |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |  | $[•] |
Weighted Average Contract Rate |  | [•]% |  | [•]% |  | [•]% |
Contract Rate (Range) |  | [•]%-[•]% |  | [•]%-[•]% |  | [•]%-[•]% |
Weighted Average Original Term |  | [•] months |  | [•] months |  | [•] months |
Original Term (Range) |  | [•] to [•] months |  | [•] to [•] months |  | [•] to [•] months |
Weighted Average Remaining Term |  | [•] months |  | [•] months |  | [•] months |
Remaining Term (Range) |  | [•] to [•] months |  | [•] to [•] months |  | [•] to [•] months |
 |
Distribution by Original Term of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Range) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Initial Remaining Term Pool Balance |
Less than 30 months |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
30 to 35 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
36 to 41 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
42 to 47 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
48 to 53 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
54 to 59 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
60 to 65 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
66 to 71 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
72 to 77 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
78 to 89 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
A-1
Distribution by Remaining Term of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Range) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Initial Remaining Term Pool Balance |
Less than 30 months |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
30 to 35 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
36 to 41 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
42 to 47 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
48 to 53 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
54 to 59 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
60 to 65 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
66 to 71 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
72 to 77 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
78 to 89 months |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
Distribution by Contract Rate of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract Rate (Range) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Original Pool Balance |
[ ]% to below |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% to [ ]% |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ]% and above |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
A-2
Geographic Distribution of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
State(1) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Initial Pool Balance |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
[ ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Others(2) |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
 |  |
(1) | Based on billing addresses of the obligors as of the cutoff date, which may differ from the state of origination of the Receivable. |
 |  |
(2) | Includes [ ] other states, none of which have a concentration of Receivables in excess of [ ]% of the aggregate principal balance. |
Distribution of the Pool of Receivables by Model Year as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Model Year |  | Number of Receivables |  | Percent of Total Number ofReceivables |  | Aggregate OutstandingPrincipal Balance |  | Percent of Total AggregateOutstandingPrincipal Balance |
2002 and earlier |  | |  | | | % |  | $ | | |  | | | % |
2003 |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
2004 |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
2005 |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
2006 |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Total |  | |  | | 100.00 | % |  | $ | | |  | $ | 100.00% | |
 |
Distribution by Original Principal Balance of the
Receivables as of the Cutoff Date

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Original Principal Balance (Range) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Initial Balance |
Below $1,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$1,000 to below $5,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$5,000 to below $10,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$10,000 to below $15,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$15,000 to below $20,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$20,000 to below $25,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$25,000 to below $30,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$30,000 to below $35,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$35,000 to below $40,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$40,000 to below $45,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$45,000 to below $50,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Greater than $50,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
A-3
Distribution By Remaining Principal Balance of the
Receivables as of the Cutoff Date
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining Principal Balance (Range) |  | Number of Receivables |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Percentage of Initial Balance |
Below $1,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$1,000 to below $5,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$5,000 to below $10,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$10,000 to below $15,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$15,000 to below $20,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$20,000 to below $25,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$25,000 to below $30,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$30,000 to below $35,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$35,000 to below $40,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$40,000 to below $45,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
$45,000 to below $50,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Greater than $50,000 |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | [•]% |
Total |  | | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | 100.00% |
 |
[As of the cutoff date, approximately [•]% or [•] of the Receivables arise in Simple Interest Receivables and approximately [•]% or [•] of the Receivables arise in Actuarial Receivables.]
The servicer may accede to an obligor’s request to pay scheduled payments in advance, in which event the obligor will not be required to make another regularly scheduled payment until the time a scheduled payment not paid in advance is due. The amount of any payment made, which are not amounts representing Payaheads, in advance will be treated as a principal prepayment and will be distributed as part of the Principal Distribution Amount in the month following the Collection Period in which the prepayment was made. The ‘‘Collection Period’’ with respect to the initial distribution date will be the period from the initial cutoff date through the last day of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which the initial distribution date occurs and with respect to each following distribution date will be the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which that distribution date occurs. See ‘‘Maturity and Prepayment Conditions’’ in the accompanying prospectus.
Other Calculations
In the event of the prepayment in full, voluntarily or by acceleration, of a Rule of 78s Receivable, under the terms of the contract a ‘‘refund’’ or ‘‘rebate’’ will be made to the obligor of the portion of the total amount of payments then due and payable allocable to ‘‘unearned’’ add-on interest, calculated in accordance with a method equivalent to the Rule of 78s. If an Actuarial Receivable is prepaid in full, with minor variations based upon state law, the Actuarial Receivable requires that the rebate be calculated on the basis of a constant interest rate. If a Simple Interest Receivable is prepaid, rather than receive a rebate, the obligor is required to pay interest only to the date of prepayment. The amount of a rebate under a Rule of 78s Receivable generally will be less than the amount of a rebate on an Actuarial Receivable and generally will be less than the remaining scheduled payments of interest that would have been due under a Simple Interest Receivable for which all payments were made on schedule.
[Each issuing entity will account for the Rule of 78s Receivables as if the Receivables were Actuarial Receivables. Amounts received upon prepayment in full of a Rule of 78s Receivable in excess of the then outstanding principal balance of the Receivable and accrued interest on the Receivable, calculated pursuant to the actuarial method, will not be passed through to certificateholders, but will be paid to the servicer as additional servicing compensation.]
Delinquencies and Losses
Set forth below is certain information concerning the [originator’s] [servicer’s] experience in the United States pertaining to delinquencies on motor vehicle installment loans secured by new and used
A-4
automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trucks, buses and/or trailers, light-duty trucks and other similar vehicles, related to delinquencies, repossessions and net loss information relating to the entire vehicle portfolio of the [originator] [servicer]. The information has been provided by the [originator] [servicer]. There can be no assurance that the loss experience on the Receivables will correspond to the loss experience of the portfolio set forth in the following table, as the statistics shown below represent the loss experience for each of the years presented, whereas the aggregate loss experience on the Receivables will depend on the results obtained over the life of the receivables pool. In addition, adverse economic conditions may affect the timely payment by obligors of payments of principal and interest on the Receivables and, accordingly, the actual rates of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses with respect to the receivables pool.
A-5
Delinquency Experience for Serviced Portfolio
(Dollars In Thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | For Year Ended December 31, |
|  | [•] |  | [•] |
|  | Number of Loans |  | Percent of Total Number of Loans in Serviced Portfolio |  | Dollars |  | Percent of Total Amount Outstanding |  | Number of Loans |  | Percent of Total Number of Loans in Serviced Portfolio |  | Dollars |  | Percent of Total Amount Outstanding |
Principal Amount Outstanding (1) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Delinquencies (2) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
30-59 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
60-89 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
90-119 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
120-149 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
150-179 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
180 or More Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Total Delinquencies |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | For Year Ended December 31, |
|  | [•] |  | [•] |
|  | Number of Loans |  | Percent of Total Number of Loans in Serviced Portfolio |  | Dollars |  | Percent of Total Amount Outstanding |
Principal Amount Outstanding (1) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Delinquencies (2) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
30-59 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
60-89 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
90-119 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
120-149 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
150-179 Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
180 or More Days |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Total Delinquencies |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 |
 |  |
(1) | Principal Amount Outstanding is the aggregate remaining principal balance of all Receivables serviced, net of unearned interest. |
 |  |
(2) | The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due. Includes repossessions on hand which have not been charged-off. A receivable is 30 days contractually past due if a scheduled payment has not been received by the subsequent calendar month’s scheduled payment date. |
A-6
Net Loss Experience for Serviced Portfolio
(Dollars in Thousands)
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | For Year Ended December 31, |
|  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |
Period End Principal Amount Outstanding (1) |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |
Average Principal Amount Outstanding (2) |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |
Number of Loans Outstanding (as of period end) |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |
Average Number of Loans Outstanding (2) |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |
Gross Losses (3) |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |
Recoveries (4) |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |
Net Losses (Gains) (5) |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |  | $ | [• | ] |
Number of Loans Experiencing a Loss |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |
Number of Loans Experiencing a Recovery |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |  | | [• | ] |
Gross Losses as a Percentage of Principal Amount Outstanding |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |
Gross Losses as a Percentage of Average Principal Amount Outstanding |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |
Net Losses (Gains) as a Percentage of Principal Amount |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |
Net Losses (Gains) as a Percentage of Average Principal Amount Outstanding |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |  | | [• | ]% |
 |
 |  |
1. | Principal Amount Outstanding is the aggregate remaining principal balance of all Receivables serviced, net of unearned interest. |
 |  |
2. | Average of the month-end balances for each of the twelve months in the applicable calendar year. |
 |  |
3. | Gross Losses is the aggregate remaining principal balance charged-off after the sale of the related vehicle, other than sales reflected in footnote (4), adjusted for all costs of repossession and sale. |
 |  |
4. | Recoveries generally include amounts received on contracts following the time at which the contract is charged off. |
 |  |
5. | Net Losses (Gains) is equal to Gross Losses less Recoveries. Net Losses (Gains) may not equal the difference of the components thereof due to rounding. |
Weighted Average Life of the Securities
Prepayments on motor vehicle receivables can be measured relative to a prepayment standard or model. The model used in this prospectus supplement, the Absolute Prepayment Model (‘‘ABS’’), represents an assumed rate of prepayment each month relative to the original number of receivables in a pool of receivables. ABS further assumes that all the receivables are the same size and amortize at the same rate and that each receivable in each month of its life will either be paid as scheduled or be prepaid in full. For example, in a pool of receivables originally containing 10,000 receivables, a 1% ABS rate means that 100 receivables prepay each month. ABS does not purport to be an historical description of prepayment experience or a prediction of the anticipated rate of prepayment of any pool of receivables, including the Receivables.
As the rate of payment of principal in respect of the Certificate Balance will depend on the rate of payment (including prepayments) of the principal balance of the Receivables, final payment of the certificates could occur significantly earlier than the legal final payment date for the certificates. [The final distribution in respect of the certificates also could occur prior to the legal final payment date for the certificates.] Reinvestment risk associated with early payment of the certificates will be borne exclusively by the certificateholders.
The table captioned ‘‘Percent of Initial Certificate Balance at Various ABS Percentages’’ (the ‘‘ABS Table’’) has been prepared on the basis of the characteristics of the Receivables. This table has been prepared based on the assumptions described in the accompanying prospectus under ’’Maturity and Prepayment Considerations’’ and should be read in conjunction with that section. The ABS Table assumes that:
A-7
 |  |  |
| • | the Receivables prepay in full at the specified constant percentage of ABS monthly, with no defaults, losses or repurchases; |
 |  |  |
| • | each scheduled monthly payment on the Receivables is due and made on the last day of each month and each month has 30 days; |
 |  |  |
| • | distributions on the certificates are made on each distribution date and each such date is assumed to be the fifteenth day of each applicable month; |
 |  |  |
| • | the balance in the Reserve Account on each payment date is equal to the Specified Reserve Account Balance; and |
 |  |  |
| • | [the servicer] does not exercise its option to purchase the Receivables. |
The ABS Table sets forth the percent of the initial Certificate Balance that would be outstanding after each of the dates shown and the corresponding weighted average lives at various constant ABS percentages.
The ABS Table also assumes that the Receivables have been aggregated into four hypothetical pools with all of the receivables within each pool having the following characteristics and that the level scheduled monthly payment for each of the four pools (which is based on its aggregate principal balance, contract rate, original term to maturity as of the cutoff date) will be such that each pool will fully amortize by the end of its remaining term to maturity.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pool |  | Assumed Cutoff Date |  | Aggregate Principal Balance |  | Weighted Average Contract Rate |  | Weighted Average Original Term To Maturity (In Months) |  | Weighted Average Remaining Term To Maturity (In Months) |
1 |  | |  | $ | | |  | % |  | | | |  | | | |
2 |  | |  | $ | | |  | % |  | | | |  | | | |
3 |  | |  | $ | | |  | % |  | | | |  | | | |
4 |  | |  | $ | | |  | % |  | | | |  | | | |
 |
The actual characteristics and performance of the Receivables will differ from the assumptions used in constructing the ABS Table. The assumptions used are hypothetical and have been provided only to give a general sense of how the principal cash flows might behave under varying prepayment scenarios. For example, it is very unlikely that the Receivables will prepay at a constant level of ABS until maturity or that all of the Receivables will prepay at the same level of ABS. Moreover, the diverse terms of receivables within each of the four hypothetical pools could produce slower or faster principal distributions than indicated in the ABS Table at the various constant percentages of ABS specified, even if the original and remaining terms to maturity of the receivables are as assumed. Any difference between such assumptions and the actual characteristics and performance of the Receivables, or actual prepayment experience, will affect the percentages of initial balances outstanding over time and the weighted average lives of the certificates.
[Percent of Initial Certificate Balance at Various ABS Percentages]
Certificates
Assumed ABS Percentage(2)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distribution Dates |  | [ ]% |  | [ ]% |  | [ ]% |  | [ ]% |
Closing Date |  | | 100 | |  | | 100 | |  | | 100 | |  | | 100 | |
[ ] |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
[ ] |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
[ ] |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Weighted Average Life (years) to Call(1) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
Weighted Average Life (years) to Maturity(1) |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 |
 |  |
(1) | The weighted average life of a certificate is determined by (i) multiplying the amount of each principal payment of such certificate by the number of years from the date of the issuance of such certificate to the distribution date on which such principal payment is made, (ii) adding the results and (iii) dividing the sum by the initial principal balance of such certificate. |
 |  |
(2) | An asterisk ‘‘*’’ means a percent of initial certificate principal balance of more than zero and less than 0.5%. |
A-8
[Static Pool Information]
[insert static pool information here, if such static pool information is to be presented in the prospectus supplement]
A-9
No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations not contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the depositor, the servicer or the underwriters. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the securities offered hereby to anyone in any jurisdiction in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement and the prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that information herein or therein is correct as of any time since the date of this prospectus supplement or the prospectus, respectively.
$[•] Class A Certificates
$[•] Class B Certificates
[•] Auto Receivables Grantor Trust [•]-[•]
Issuing Entity
BAS Securitization LLC
Depositor
Bank of America, National Association
Sponsor
[•]
Servicer
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Sole Book-Running Manager
Banc of America Securities LLC
Until [•][•],[•], all dealers effecting transactions in the certificates, whether or not participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a prospectus supplement and the prospectus to which it relates. This delivery requirement is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. Such delivery obligation may be satisfied by filing the prospectus supplement and prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. The prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not seeking an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer and sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED DECEMBER 22, 2005
PROSPECTUS
BAS Securitization LLC
Depositor
Bank of America, National Association
Sponsor
Asset Backed Notes/Asset Backed Certificates
(Issuable in series)
You should carefully consider the discussion under ‘‘Risk Factors’’ beginning on page 4 of the prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement before you purchase any notes or certificates.
The notes and the certificates will be the obligation solely of the issuing entity and will not be obligations of, or interests in, and will not be guaranteed by, the depositor, the sponsor, their affiliates or any other person. None of the notes, the certificates or the underlying Receivables are insured or guaranteed by any governmental agency or instrumentality or any other entity.
 | Each issuing entity— |
 |  |  |
| • | will issue asset backed notes and/or certificates in one or more series with one or more classes; and |
 |  |  |
| • | motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and/or installment loans secured by new and used motor vehicles; |
 |  |  |
| • | securities evidencing ownership interests in, or secured by, loans similar to the types of loans described above; |
 |  |  |
| • | collections on the above assets; |
 |  |  |
| • | liens on the Financed Vehicles and the rights to receive proceeds from claims on insurance policies; |
 |  |  |
| • | funds in the accounts of the issuing entity; and/or |
 |  |  |
| • | any credit or cash flow enhancement obtained in favor of the issuing entity. |
 | The securities— |
 |  |  |
| • | will consist of asset-backed notes and/or certificates in one or more series with one or more classes which— |
 |  |  |
| • | will represent indebtedness of the issuing entity that issued those securities, in the case of the notes, or beneficial interests in the issuing entity that issued those securities, in the case of the certificates; |
 |  |  |
| • | will be paid only from the assets of the issuing entity that issued those securities; |
 |  |  |
| • | will represent the right to payments in the amounts and at the times described in the related prospectus supplement; |
 |  |  |
| • | may benefit from one or more forms of credit or cash flow enhancement or derivative instrument described in this prospectus and in more detail in the accompanying prospectus supplement; and |
 |  |  |
| • | will be issued as part of a designated series, which may include one or more classes of notes and/or one or more classes of certificates. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the offered securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Making any contrary representation is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is [•] [•], [•].
Table of Contents

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
OVERVIEW OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE RELATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT |  | iii |
SUMMARY OF TERMS |  | 1 |
The Issuing Entities |  | 1 |
The Depositor |  | 1 |
Sponsor |  | 1 |
The Servicer |  | 1 |
The Trustees |  | 1 |
The Primary Assets and Other Issuing Entity Property |  | 1 |
The Securities |  | 2 |
Credit or Cash Flow Enhancement |  | 2 |
RISK FACTORS |  | 4 |
CAPITALIZED TERMS |  | 12 |
THE SPONSOR |  | 12 |
THE DEPOSITOR |  | 12 |
THE SERVICER |  | 13 |
THE ISSUING ENTITIES |  | 13 |
THE TRUSTEE |  | 15 |
USE OF PROCEEDS |  | 15 |
PRINCIPAL DOCUMENTS |  | 16 |
THE RECEIVABLES POOL |  | 17 |
CALCULATION METHODS |  | 17 |
DELINQUENCIES, REPOSSESSIONS AND NET LOSSES |  | 18 |
THE COLLATERAL CERTIFICATES |  | 18 |
ENHANCEMENT RELATING TO COLLATERAL CERTIFICATES |  | 19 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |  | 19 |
THE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES |  | 20 |
MATURITY AND PREPAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS |  | 20 |
POOL FACTORS AND TRADING INFORMATION |  | 21 |
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES |  | 22 |
Distribution of Principal and Interest |  | 22 |
PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE |  | 24 |
Certain Covenants |  | 25 |
Modification of Indenture |  | 26 |
Annual Compliance Statement |  | 27 |
Indenture Trustee’s Annual Report |  | 27 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |  | 28 |
The Indenture Trustee |  | 28 |
DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTIFICATES |  | 28 |
Distributions of Principal and Interest |  | 29 |
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE SECURITIES |  | 29 |
General |  | 29 |
Fixed Rate Securities |  | 30 |
Floating Rate Securities |  | 30 |
Ratings of the Securities |  | 31 |
Revolving Period and Amortization Period |  | 31 |
Book-Entry Registration |  | 32 |
Definitive Securities |  | 37 |
Statements to Securityholders |  | 38 |
List of Securityholders |  | 39 |
THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS |  | 39 |
Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets |  | 39 |
Accounts |  | 41 |
Pre-Funding |  | 41 |
Servicing Procedures |  | 42 |
Collections |  | 43 |
Advances |  | 43 |
Net Deposits |  | 44 |
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses |  | 44 |
Distributions |  | 44 |
Subordination |  | 45 |
Other Credit Enhancement |  | 45 |
Cash Flow Agreements |  | 47 |
Evidence as to Compliance |  | 49 |
Statements to Trustees and the Issuing Entity |  | 49 |
Description of the Administration Agreement |  | 49 |
CERTAIN MATTERS REGARDING THE SERVICER |  | 50 |
Servicer Defaults |  | 50 |
Amendment |  | 51 |
Payment in Full of the Notes |  | 51 |
Termination |  | 51 |
MATERIAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE RECEIVABLES |  | 52 |
Rights in the Receivables |  | 52 |
Security Interests in Financed Vehicles |  | 53 |
Repossession |  | 54 |
Notice of Sale; Redemption Rights |  | 55 |
Deficiency Judgments and Excess Proceeds |  | 55 |
Consumer Protection Laws |  | 55 |
Repurchase Obligation |  | 56 |
 |
i

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT |  | 57 |
Other Limitations |  | 57 |
MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES |  | 57 |
Summary of Tax Opinions |  | 58 |
Tax Treatment of Issuing Entities Other Than Grantor Trusts |  | 59 |
Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes |  | 59 |
Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts |  | 61 |
CERTAIN STATE TAX CONSEQUENCES |  | 66 |
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS |  | 66 |
Exemptions Available to Debt Instruments |  | 66 |
Underwriter Exemption |  | 67 |
Consultation With Counsel |  | 73 |
UNDERWRITING |  | 73 |
REPORTS TO SECURITYHOLDERS |  | 74 |
AVAILABLE INFORMATION |  | 74 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |  | 74 |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE |  | 75 |
LEGAL MATTERS |  | 75 |
GLOSSARY |  | 76 |
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS |  | 78 |
 |
ii
Overview of the Information in this Prospectus
and the Related Prospectus Supplement
We provide information about your securities in two separate documents: (a) this prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to a particular series of notes or certificates, including your series; and (b) the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of your series, including information about:
 |  |  |
| • | the type of securities offered; |
 |  |  |
| • | certain risks relating to an investment in the securities; |
 |  |  |
| • | the timing and amount of interest and principal payments; |
 |  |  |
| • | the assets underlying your securities; |
 |  |  |
| • | the credit or cash flow enhancement for each class; |
 |  |  |
| • | the credit ratings; and |
 |  |  |
| • | the method of selling the securities. |
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference. No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the issuing entity, BAS Securitization LLC, the underwriters or any dealer, salesperson or other person. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make any similar offer or solicitation.
We include cross-references in this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The table of contents in this prospectus and the table of contents included in the prospectus supplement provide the pages on which these captions are located.
You can find a listing of the pages where capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined under the caption ‘‘Index of Defined Terms’’ beginning on page 78 in this prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus, unless otherwise defined elsewhere in this prospectus, have the meanings set forth in the glossary beginning on page 76 in this prospectus.
To understand the structure of these securities, you must read carefully this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in their entirety.
iii
Summary of Terms
The following summary is a short description of the main structural features that an issuing entity’s securities may have. For that reason, this summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you or that describes all of the terms of a security. To fully understand the terms of an issuing entity’s securities, you will need to read both this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in their entirety.
The Issuing Entities
A separate issuing entity will be formed to issue each series of securities. If the issuing entity issues notes and certificates, it will be formed by a Trust Agreement between the depositor and the trustee of the issuing entity or by a Limited Liability Company Agreement. If the issuing entity issues only certificates, it will be formed by a Pooling and Servicing Agreement among the depositor, the servicer and the trustee of the issuing entity.
The Depositor
BAS Securitization LLC will serve as the depositor for each series of securities. The depositor will acquire the retail motor vehicle installment sales contracts and/or installment loans from the sponsor, and will transfer them to the issuing entity. The depositor is a Delaware limited liability company, and is a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of NB Holdings Corporation. NB Holdings Corporation is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. The depositor was organized solely for the limited purpose of acquiring the contracts and loans, offering securities and engaging in related transactions. It is not expected that the depositor will have any business operations other than offering the securities. The depositor does not have, is not required to have, and is not expected in the future to have, any significant assets. See ‘‘The Depositor’’ in this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement for more information regarding the depositor.
Sponsor
Bank of America, National Association, a national banking association and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, is the sponsor. The Receivables may be originated by the sponsor or its affiliates and/or may be purchased by the sponsor from various entities. The sponsor will sell the Receivables to the depositor. Additionally, the sponsor is primarily responsible for structuring each series of securities issued by the issuing entity. See ‘‘The Sponsor’’ in this prospectus for more information regarding the sponsor.
The Servicer
The sponsor or one or more entities affiliated or unaffiliated with the depositor will service the Receivables. The servicer will be named and described in the related prospectus supplement. Each servicer will perform certain servicing functions in accordance with the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, Indenture or Sale and Servicing Agreement.
The Trustees
A trustee for each issuing entity will be named and described in the related prospectus supplement. The trustee generally will be responsible under each Pooling and Servicing Agreement, Indenture or similar agreement for providing general administrative services on behalf of the issuing entity for a series. To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, a securities administrator may perform certain of the duties of the trustee.
The Primary Assets and Other Issuing Entity Property
Primary Assets. The Primary Assets of each issuing entity will include a pool of Receivables and Collateral Certificates. This pool of assets may be further subdivided into subpools, as specified in the related prospectus supplement. The Primary Assets of an issuing entity may also include Government Securities, see ‘‘The Government Securities’’ in this prospectus.
The Receivables. The Receivables of each issuing entity will consist of a pool of retail motor vehicle installment sales contracts and/or
1
installment loans originated either (1) via direct channels or (2) indirectly by motor vehicle dealers or lenders, and purchased and transferred, directly or indirectly, to the issuing entity. The Receivables may include pools of retail motor vehicle installment loans and/or installment sales contracts purchased by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation from third party originators or sellers and/or originated by the sponsor or its affiliates, and transferred first to the depositor and then to the issuing entity. The Receivables will be secured by new or used automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trucks, buses and/or trailers, light-duty trucks and other similar vehicles.
You will find a description of the characteristics of each issuing entity’s Receivables in the related prospectus supplement.
For a more detailed description of the Receivables, including the criteria they must meet in order to be included in an issuing entity, and the other property supporting the securities, see ‘‘The Receivables Pool’’ in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement.
The Collateral Certificates. The Collateral Certificates will consist of certificates evidencing an undivided interest in, or notes or loans secured by, receivables that conform to the descriptions of the Receivables in this prospectus. For a more detailed description of the Collateral Certificates, see ‘‘Collateral Certificates’’ in this prospectus and, if applicable, in the related prospectus supplement.
Other Property of the Issuing Entity. In addition to the Receivables, Collateral Certificates and/or Government Securities, each issuing entity will own amounts on deposit in various accounts, which may include:
 |  |  |
| • | an account into which Collections are deposited; |
 |  |  |
| • | an account to fund post-closing purchases of additional Primary Assets; or |
 |  |  |
| • | reserve fund or other account providing credit or cash flow enhancement. |
The Securities
An issuing entity’s securities may include one or more classes of notes and/or certificates. You will find the following information about each class of securities in the prospectus supplement:
 |  |  |
| • | its interest rate, which may be fixed or variable or a combination; |
 |  |  |
| • | the timing, amount and priority or subordination of payments of principal and interest; |
 |  |  |
| • | the method for calculating the amount of principal and interest payments; |
 |  |  |
| • | its legal final payment date; |
 |  |  |
| • | whether and when it may be redeemed prior to its legal final payment date; and |
 |  |  |
| • | how losses on the Primary Assets are allocated among the classes of securities. |
 |  |
Some | classes of securities may be entitled to: |
 |  |  |
| • | principal payments with disproportionate, nominal or no interest payments; or |
 |  |  |
| • | interest payments with disproportionate, nominal or no principal payments. |
The related prospectus supplement will identify any class of securities of a series that is not being offered to the public.
Variable pay term securities or variable pay revolving securities may be issued. An issuing entity may issue additional securities on dates specified in the prospectus supplement and use the proceeds to repay certain classes of securities prior to their final scheduled distribution date.
Generally, you may purchase the securities only in book-entry form and will not receive your securities in definitive form. You may purchase securities in the denominations set forth in the prospectus supplement. The record date for a payment date or a distribution date will be the business day immediately preceding the payment date or, if Definitive Securities are issued, the last day of the preceding calendar month.
Credit or Cash Flow Enhancement
The related prospectus supplement will specify the credit or cash flow enhancement, if any, for each issuing entity. Credit or cash flow enhancement may consist of one or more of the following:
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 |  |  |
| • | subordination of one or more classes of securities; |
 |  |  |
| • | overcollateralization (i.e., the amount by which the principal amount of the Primary Assets exceeds the principal amount of all of the issuing entity’s securities); |
 |  |  |
| • | excess interest collections (i.e., the excess of anticipated interest collections on the Primary Assets over fees and expenses, interest on the issuing entity’s securities and any amounts required to be deposited in any reserve fund); |
 |  |  |
| • | letter of credit or other credit facility; |
 |  |  |
| • | surety bond or insurance policy; |
 |  |  |
| • | liquidity arrangements or revolving liquidity notes; |
 |  |  |
| • | swaps (including currency swaps) and other derivative instruments and interest rate protection agreements; |
 |  |  |
| • | repurchase or put obligations; |
 |  |  |
| • | yield supplement agreements, accounts or amounts; |
 |  |  |
| • | financial guaranty insurance policies; |
 |  |  |
| • | guaranteed investment contracts; |
 |  |  |
| • | guaranteed rate agreements; or |
Limitations or exclusions from coverage could apply to any form of credit or cash flow enhancement. This prospectus and the prospectus supplement will describe the credit or cash flow enhancement and related limitations and exclusions applicable for securities issued by an issuing entity. Enhancements cannot guarantee that losses will not be incurred on the securities.
For more information about credit enhancement, see ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Subordination," "—Other Credit Enhancement" and "—Cash Flow Agreements" in this prospectus.
3
Risk Factors
The risk factors discussed below and in the related prospectus supplement describe the material risks of an investment in the securities and should be carefully considered by all potential investors. The securities are not suitable investments for all investors and may especially not be suitable for individual investors. The securities are complex financial instruments, so you should not purchase any notes unless you or your financial advisor possess the necessary expertise to analyze the potential risks associated with an investment in asset-backed securities. You should not purchase any securities unless you understand, and are able to bear, the prepayment, credit, liquidity and market risks associated with such securities.
 |  |  |
You must rely for repayment only upon the issuing entity’s assets which may not be sufficient to make full payments on your securities |  | The depositor does not have, nor is it expected to have, any significant assets. There will be no recourse to the depositor or any of its affiliates or any other person for any default on the notes or any failure to receive distributions on the notes and certificates with respect to any series except as may be specified in the related prospectus supplement. Consequently, holders of securities of each series must rely solely upon the assets of the issuing entity for a series of securities, including, if applicable, any amounts available pursuant to any credit or cash flow enhancement for that series, for the payment of principal of and interest on the securities of that series. |
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 |  |  |
Limits on credit or cash flow enhancement may result in losses to you |  | Although we intend the credit or cash flow enhancement for the securities to reduce the risk of delinquent payments or losses to holders of a series of securities entitled to the benefit of the credit or cash flow enhancement, the amount of the credit or cash flow enhancement will be limited, as set forth in the related prospectus supplement. In addition, the amount available may decline and could be depleted prior to the payment in full of the related series of securities, and therefore losses on the Primary Assets could result in losses to holders of those securities. |
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 |  |  |
Timing and rate of prepayments may result in lower yield |  | The securities of a series will be payable solely from the assets of the issuing entity for that series. The yield to maturity experienced by a holder of securities of a given series may be affected by, among other things, the rate and timing of payments of principal of the Receivables or of the underlying Receivables relating to the Collateral Certificates. The rate and timing of principal payments of the securities of a series will be affected by a number of factors, including the following: |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | the extent of prepayments or defaults; |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | the manner of allocating principal payments among the classes of securities of a series as specified in the related prospectus supplement; and |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | the exercise of any right of optional termination. |
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 |  |  |
|  | Prepayments may also result from repurchase or purchase of Receivables or underlying Receivables due to material breaches of the depositor’s or the servicer’s representations or warranties. |
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4
 |  |  |
Delays in distribution dates may result in lower yield |  | Interest payable on the securities of a series on a distribution date will include all interest accrued during the period specified in the related prospectus supplement. In the event interest accrues during the calendar month prior to a distribution date, the effective yield to holders will be reduced from the yield that would otherwise be obtainable if interest payable on the security were to accrue through the day immediately preceding each distribution date, and the effective yield at par to holders will be less than the indicated coupon rate. |
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 |  |  |
Risks of subordinated securities |  | To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, distributions of interest on and principal of one or more classes of securities of a series may be subordinated in priority of payment to interest and principal due on one or more other classes of securities of the related series. Any subordinated securities will be affected to a greater degree by any losses on the Receivables or on the underlying Receivables relating to the Collateral Certificates. |
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 |  |  |
The absence of a secondary market could limit your ability to resell your securities |  | There will be no market for the securities of any series prior to their issuance, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop after such issuance. If a secondary market does develop, there can be no assurance that it will provide holders with liquidity of investment or that the market will continue for the life of the securities of the related series. The underwriter presently expects to make a secondary market in the securities, but has no obligation to do so. Absent a secondary market for the securities, you may experience a delay if you choose to sell your securities or the price you receive may be less than you would receive for a comparable liquid security. |
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 |  |  |
Securities may not be appropriate for individual investors |  | If you are an individual investor who does not have sufficient resources or expertise to evaluate the particular characteristics of a class of securities, the securities of a series may not be an appropriate investment for you. This may be the case because, among other things: |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | if you purchase your securities at a price other than par, your yield to maturity will be sensitive to the uncertain rate and timing of principal prepayments on the Receivables; |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | the rate of principal distributions on, and the weighted average lives of, the securities will be sensitive to the uncertain rate and timing of principal prepayments on the applicable loans and the priority of principal distributions among the classes of securities. Because of this, the securities may be inappropriate investments for you if you require a distribution of a particular amount of principal on a specific date or an otherwise predictable stream of distributions; |
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5
 |  |  |  |
|  | • | you may not be able to reinvest amounts distributed relating to principal on your securities (which distributions, in general, are expected to be greater during periods of relatively low interest rates) at a rate at least as high as the applicable pass-through rate or your expected yield; |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | a secondary market for the securities may not develop or provide you with liquidity of investment; and |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | you must pay tax on any interest or original issue discount in the year it accrues, even if the cash is paid to you in a different year. |
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 |  |  |
|  | If you are an individual investor considering the purchase of a note or certificate, you should also carefully consider the other risk factors discussed in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
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 |  |  |
Book-entry system for certain classes of securities may decrease liquidity and delay payment |  | Because transactions in the classes of Book-Entry Securities of any series generally can be effected only through DTC, DTC Participants and indirect DTC Participants: |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | your ability to pledge Book-Entry Securities to someone who does not participate in the DTC system, or to otherwise take action relating to your Book-Entry Securities, may be limited due to the lack of a physical security; |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | you may experience delays in your receipt of payments on Book-Entry Securities because distributions will be made by the trustee, or a paying agent on behalf of the trustee, to Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, rather than directly to you; and |
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 |  |  |  |
|  | • | you may experience delays in your receipt of payments on Book-Entry Securities in the event of misapplication of payments by DTC, DTC Participants or indirect DTC Participants or bankruptcy or insolvency of those entities and your recourse will be limited to your remedies against those entities. |
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 |  |  |
|  | See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Book-Entry Registration — Book-Entry Form.’’ |
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 |  |  |
The issuing entity’s security interest in the financed vehicles will not be noted on the certificate of title, which may cause losses |  | The depositor will assign security interests in the Financed Vehicles securing the Receivables to the related issuing entity. Due to administrative burden and expense, however, we will not cause the certificates of title to the Financed Vehicles to be amended to reflect the assignment by the originator or other persons to the depositor or by the depositor to the issuing entity. In the absence of amendment of the certificate of title, an issuing entity may |
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6
 |  |  |
|  | not have a perfected security interest in the Financed Vehicles securing the Receivables in some states. If an issuing entity does not have a perfected security interest in a Financed Vehicle in the event of a default, it may not be able to realize on that Financed Vehicle. If the issuing entity has failed to obtain or maintain a perfected security interest in a Financed Vehicle, its security interest would be subordinate to, among others, a bankruptcy trustee of the obligor, a subsequent purchaser of the Financed Vehicle or a holder of a perfected security interest in the Financed Vehicle or a bankruptcy trustee of such holder. If the issuing entity attempts to repossess the related Financed Vehicle as holder of an unperfected security interest in the Financed Vehicle in certain states, it might not be able to realize any liquidation proceeds on the Financed Vehicle and, as a result, you may suffer a loss or delays on your investment in the securities. |
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 |  |  |
If the issuing entity does not use all of the money in the Pre-Funding Account, a mandatory redemption of a portion of the notes and certificates could result |  | To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, if the issuing entity has not used all of the money deposited in the Pre-Funding Account to purchase additional Primary Assets by the date set forth in the prospectus supplement, then the holders of each of the notes and certificates will receive a pro rata payment of principal in an amount equal to the unused amount or of the amount remaining in the Pre-Funding Account. The inability of the depositor to obtain Primary Assets meeting the requirements for sale to the issuing entity will increase the likelihood of a prepayment of principal. Any reinvestment risk from the mandatory prepayment of a portion of the notes and certificates from the unused amount will be borne by the holders of the notes and certificates, as the case may be. |
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 |  |  |
Removal of a servicer after a Servicer Default may adversely affect the notes or the certificates and may result in payment delays or losses |  | The related prospectus supplement may provide that with respect to a series of securities, upon the occurrence of a Servicer Default, the related indenture trustee or specified portion of noteholders or certificateholders may remove the servicer without the consent of the related trustee or the noteholders or certificateholders of any subordinated class. The trustee or any such subordinated class with respect to a series may not have the ability to remove the servicer if a Servicer Default occurs. In addition, the noteholders or certificateholders of a senior class with respect to a series may have the ability, with specified exceptions, to waive defaults by the servicer, including defaults that could materially adversely affect the noteholders or certificateholders of any subordinated class of the series. If the servicer were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case or the FDIC was appointed conservator or receiver for the servicer or other similar official has been appointed for the servicer, and no Servicer Default other than the such bankruptcy or insolvency related events has occurred, the bankruptcy trustee (including the servicer |
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7
 |  |  |
|  | itself as a debtor-in-possession) or similar official may have the power to prevent the indenture trustee or the securityholders from effecting a transfer of servicing. |
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 |  |  |
|  | In addition, during the pendency of any servicing transfer or for some time thereafter, obligors may delay making their monthly payments or may inadvertently continue making payments to the predecessor servicer, potentially resulting in delays in distributions on the related notes or certificates. Delays in payments on the notes or certificates and possible reductions in the amount of such payments could occur with respect to any cash collections held by the servicer at the time that the servicer becomes the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding. |
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 |  |  |
[Commingling of assets by the servicer could reduce or delay payments on the securities |  | The servicer will be required to deposit all payments on the Primary Assets collected during each Collection Period into the related Collection Account within [two] business days of receipt of the payments. However, if a servicer satisfies particular requirements for less frequent remittances the servicer will not be required to deposit the amounts into the Collection Account until the business day preceding each distribution date. |
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 |  |  |
|  | Pending deposit into the Collection Account, collections may be invested by the servicer at its own risk and for its own benefit and will not be segregated from funds of the servicer. If the servicer were unable or failed to remit the funds, the applicable securityholders might incur a loss. To the extent set forth in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer may, in order to satisfy the requirements described above, obtain a letter of credit or other security for the benefit of the related issuing entity to secure timely remittances of collections on the Primary Assets.] |
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 |  |  |
Noteholders may take action without the consent of certificateholders |  | In certain circumstances, the noteholders with respect to a series have the ability to take action which could materially adversely affect certificateholders of the series without obtaining the consent of the certificateholders. For instance, the noteholders with respect to a series have the ability, with specified exceptions, to waive defaults by the servicer, including defaults that could materially adversely affect the certificateholders of the series. |
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 |  |  |
The issuing entity’s interest in the Receivables could be defeated because the contracts will not be delivered to the issuing entity |  | To the extent provided for in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer or custodian will maintain possession of the original contracts for each of the Receivables and the original contracts will not be segregated or marked as belonging to the issuing entity. If the servicer or custodian sells or pledges and delivers the original contracts for the Receivables to another party, in violation of its obligations under the agreements for the securities, this party could acquire an interest in the Receivable having a priority over the issuing entity’s interest. |
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8
 |  |  |
|  | In addition, another person could acquire an interest in a Receivable that is superior to the issuing entity’s interest in the Receivable if the Receivable is evidenced by an electronic contract and the servicer or custodian loses control over the authoritative copy of the contract and another party purchases the Receivable evidenced by the contract without knowledge of the issuing entity’s interest. If the servicer or custodian loses control over the contract through fraud, forgery, negligence or error, or as a result of a computer virus or a hacker’s actions or otherwise, a person other than the issuing entity may be able to modify or duplicate the authoritative copy of the contract. |
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 |  |  |
|  | As a result of any of the above events, the issuing entity may not have a perfected security interest in certain Receivables. The possibility that the issuing entity may not have a perfected security interest in the Receivables may affect the issuing entity’s ability to repossess and sell the underlying Financed Vehicles. Therefore, holders of the securities may be subject to delays in payment and may incur losses on your investment in the securities. |
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 |  |  |
|  | Furthermore, if the servicer or custodian becomes the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding, competing claims to ownership or security interests in the Receivables could arise. These claims, even if unsuccessful, could result in delays in payments on the securities. If successful, the attempt could result in losses or delays in payment to you or an acceleration of the repayment of the securities. |
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 |  |  |
Receivables that fail to comply with consumer protection laws may result in losses on your investment |  | To the extent that the Receivables are the obligations of consumers, federal and state consumer protection laws will regulate the creation, collection and enforcement of these Receivables. These laws impose specific statutory liabilities upon creditors who fail to comply with their provisions. These laws may also make an assignee of a loan, such as the issuing entity, liable to the obligor for any violation by the lender. In some cases, this liability could affect an assignee’s ability to enforce its rights related to secured loans such as the Receivables. To the extent specified in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement, the depositor or the servicer will be obligated to repurchase from the issuing entity any Receivable that fails to comply with these legal requirements. If the depositor or the servicer fails to repurchase that Receivable, you might experience delays and/or reductions in payments on your securities. See ‘‘Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables — Consumer Protection Laws’’ in this prospectus. |
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 |  |  |
The sponsor, the depositor and the servicer have limited obligations to the issuing entity and will not make payments on the securities |  | The sponsor, the depositor and their affiliates are generally not obligated to make any payments to you on your securities. However, the depositor or the servicer will make representations and warranties about the characteristics of the Receivables. |
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9
 |  |  |
|  | If the depositor or the servicer breaches a representation or warranty for a Receivable, the depositor may be required to repurchase or the servicer may be required to purchase that Receivable. If the depositor fails to repurchase and the servicer fails to purchase that Receivable, you might experience delays and/or reductions in payments on the securities. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ in this prospectus and ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ and ‘‘Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements — Sale and Assignment of the Receivables’’ in the related prospectus supplement. |
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 |  |  |
Interests of other persons in the Receivables and Financed Vehicles could be superior to the issuing entity’s interest, which may result in reduced payments on your securities |  | Due to, among other things, liens for repairs of a financed vehicle or for unpaid taxes of an obligor, the issuing entity could lose the priority of its security interest in a Financed Vehicle. Neither the depositor nor the servicer will have any obligation to repurchase or purchase, respectively, a Receivable if these liens result in the loss of the priority of the security interest in the Financed Vehicle after the issuance of securities by the issuing entity. Generally, no action will be taken to perfect the rights of the issuing entity in proceeds of any insurance policies covering individual Financed Vehicles or obligors. Therefore, the rights of a third party with an interest in the proceeds could prevail against the rights of the issuing entity prior to the time the proceeds are received or deposited by the servicer into an account controlled by the trustee for the securities. See ‘‘Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables — Security Interests in Financed Vehicles’’ in this prospectus. |
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 |  |  |
Extensions and deferrals of payments on Receivables could increase the average life of the securities |  | In some circumstances, the servicer may permit an extension on or deferral of payments due on Receivables on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the servicer may from time to time solicit or offer obligors an opportunity to defer payments. Any of these deferrals or extensions may extend the maturity of the Receivables and increase the weighted average life of the securities. The weighted average life and yield on your securities may be adversely affected by extensions and deferrals on the Receivables. However, the servicer must purchase the Receivable from the issuing entity if any payment deferral of a Receivable extends the term of the Receivable beyond the latest final scheduled payment date for any class of related securities. |
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 |  |  |
The application of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act may lead to delays in payment or losses on your securities |  | In some circumstances, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, as amended, and similar state legislation may limit the interest payable on a Receivable during an obligor’s period of active military duty. This legislation could adversely affect the ability of the servicer to collect full amounts of interest on a Receivable as well as to foreclose on an affected Receivable during, and in certain circumstances, |
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10
 |  |  |
|  | after the obligor’s period of active military duty. This legislation may thus cause delays and losses in payments to holders of the securities. See ‘‘Servicemembers Civil Relief Act’’ in this prospectus. |
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 |  |  |
The securities may not be a suitable investment for you |  | The securities are not a suitable investment if you require a regular or predictable schedule of payments or payment on any specific date. The securities are complex investments that should be considered only by investors who, either alone or with their financial, tax and legal advisors, have the expertise to analyze the prepayment, reinvestment, default and market risk, the tax consequences of an investment, and the interaction of these factors. |
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 |  |  |
You may not be able to exercise your rights as a securityholder directly |  | Each class of securities of a given series will be initially represented by one or more certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co., or any other nominee for The Depository Trust Company set forth in the related prospectus supplement and will not be registered in the names of the holders of the securities of such series or their nominees. Persons acquiring beneficial ownership interests in any series of securities may hold their interests through The Depository Trust Company in the United States or Clearstream Bank, société anonyme or the Euroclear System in Europe. Because of this, unless and until Definitive Securities for such series are issued, holders of such securities will not be recognized by the issuing entity or any trustee or indenture trustee as certificateholders or noteholders, as the case may be. Hence, until Definitive Securities are issued, holders of such securities will only be able to exercise the rights of noteholders and certificateholders indirectly through The Depository Trust Company and its participating organizations. See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Book-Entry Registration’’ in this prospectus. |
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11
Capitalized Terms
The capitalized terms used in this prospectus, unless defined elsewhere in this prospectus, have the meanings set forth in the glossary at the end of this prospectus.
The Sponsor
Bank of America, National Association (‘‘Bank of America’’) is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America is engaged in a general consumer banking, commercial banking, and trust business, offering a wide range of commercial, corporate, international, financial market, retail and fiduciary banking services. Bank of America is a national banking association chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and is subject to the regulation, supervision and examination of the OCC.
Bank of America and its affiliates have been active in the securitization market since its inception. Bank of America has sponsored publicly offered securitization transactions since 1977. Bank of America and its affiliates have been involved with the origination of auto loans, student loans, home equity loans, credit card Receivables, manufactured housing contracts, residential mortgage loans, and commercial mortgage loans, as well as less traditional asset classes. Bank of America and its affiliates have also participated in a variety of collateralized loan obligation transactions, synthetic securitizations, and asset-backed commercial paper programs. Bank of America and its affiliates have served as sponsors, issuers, dealers, and servicers in a wide array of securitization transactions.
The depositor’s securitization program has been structured by Bank of America, and principally is used by Bank of America to finance various types of consumer finance assets acquired from third parties. Bank of America currently does not rely on securitization as a material funding source.
Bank of America serves as the sponsor in the depositor’s securitization program, in addition to being an affiliate of the depositor. [The sponsor will have no ongoing servicing obligations or responsibilities with respect to any Financed Vehicle and no administrative obligations with respect to any issuing entity. The sponsor will have limited obligations and rights under the agreements related to this transaction, including, but not limited to, repurchasing Receivables due to breaches of representations and warranties, and repurchasing at its option, certain Defaulted Receivables.]
Bank of America’s headquarters and its executive offices are located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255, and the telephone number is (704) 386-5478.
The Depositor
BAS Securitization LLC will serve as the depositor for each series of securities. The depositor will acquire the retail motor vehicle installment sales contracts and/or installment loans from the sponsor, and will transfer them to the issuing entity. The depositor is a Delaware limited liability company, and is a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of NB Holdings Corporation. NB Holdings Corporation is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. The depositor was organized under a limited liability company agreement (a ‘‘Limited Liability Company Agreement’’) solely for the limited purpose of acquiring the contracts and loans, offering securities and engaging in related transactions. It is not expected that the depositor will have any business operations other than offering the securities. The depositor does not have, is not required to have, and is not expected in the future to have, any significant assets. See ‘‘The Depositor’’ in this prospectus supplement for more information regarding the depositor.
The depositor anticipates that, as depositor, it will acquire Receivables and Collateral Certificates to be included in each issuing entity from third parties in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The depositor may also acquire Primary Assets from affiliates. The depositor will have no ongoing servicing obligations or responsibilities with respect to any Financed Vehicles and no administrative obligations with respect to the issuing entity. The depositor will have limited obligations and rights under the agreements related to this transaction, including, but not limited to, repurchasing Receivables due to breaches of representations and warranties, and repurchasing at its option, certain defaulted Receivables.
12
The principal office of the depositor is located at Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255. Its telephone number is (704) 388-2308.
See ‘‘The Depositor’’ in the applicable prospectus supplement for more information about the depositor.
The Servicer
The servicing of the Receivables will be performed by one or more servicers[, which may include the sponsor or its affiliates]. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify (i) any servicer, (ii) each servicer affiliated with the sponsor, (iii) each servicer that services 10% or more of the Receivables and (iv) any other material servicer that is responsible for performing an aspect of the servicing on which the related notes or certificates are materially dependant.
The obligations of a servicer may be performed through subservicers or vendors, provided that the servicer remains primarily liable for the servicing of the Receivables. In the event a servicer appoints a subservicer that meets the thresholds provided in Item 1108(a)(3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108), the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the disclosure required by Item 1108(b) and (c) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108). In the event that such appointment occurs after the issuance of the related series of securities, the depositor will report such appointment on Form 8-K.
The Issuing Entities
With respect to each series of securities, for the transactions described in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement, the depositor will establish a separate issuing entity that will issue the securities of that series. Each issuing entity will be either a limited liability company (each, an ‘‘LLC’’) formed pursuant to a Limited Liability Company Agreement, a trust (a ‘‘Trust’’) or issuing entity formed pursuant to a trust agreement (each, a ‘‘Trust Agreement’’) between the depositor and the related owner trustee or a grantor trust formed pursuant to a pooling and servicing agreement (each, a ‘‘Pooling and Servicing Agreement’’) among the depositor, the servicer and the trustee for the related Trust, as applicable. In the event an owner trust or grantor trust is formed, the related trustee may own the Primary Assets and act on behalf of the issuing entity in all instances described in this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement. The property of each issuing entity will include Primary Assets and all payments due under the Primary Assets on and after the applicable cutoff date in the case of Precomputed Receivables and all payments received under the Primary Assets on and after the applicable cutoff date or closing date, as specified in the related prospectus supplement, in the case of Simple Interest Receivables. The primary assets (‘‘Primary Assets’’) for a series will include Receivables, Collateral Certificates and/or Government Securities. On the applicable closing date, after the issuance of the notes and/or certificates of a given series, the sponsor will transfer or sell Primary Assets to the depositor and the depositor will transfer or sell Primary Assets to the issuing entity in the outstanding principal amount specified in the related prospectus supplement.
To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, the property of each issuing entity may also include:
 |  |  |
| • | the right to all documents and information contained in the Receivable files; |
 |  |  |
| • | collections and all other amounts due under the Receivables after the cut-off dates specified in the related prospectus supplement; |
 |  |  |
| • | security interests in the vehicles financed by the Receivables (the ‘‘Financed Vehicles’’); |
 |  |  |
| • | the right to receive proceeds from claims on credit life, disability, theft and physical damage insurance policies covering the Financed Vehicles or the obligors under the Receivables; |
 |  |  |
| • | the rights relating to the Receivables purchased from dealers under any agreements between the originator of the Receivables and the dealers that sold the Financed Vehicles; |
13
 |  |  |
| • | all property on deposit in or credited to the applicable accounts, including the related Collection Account and any other account identified in the related prospectus supplement, including all Eligible Investments credited thereto (but excluding any investment income from Eligible Investments which is to be paid to the servicer or as otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement); |
 |  |  |
| • | the rights of the issuing entity under each applicable transaction document; |
 |  |  |
| • | the rights under any credit or cash flow enhancement to the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement; |
 |  |  |
| • | any other property specified in the related prospectus supplement; and |
 |  |  |
| • | all proceeds of the Primary Assets or the foregoing property (collectively, with the Primary Assets, the ‘‘Issuing Entity Property’’). |
To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, a reserve account (each, a ‘‘Reserve Account’’) or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement may be a part of the property of a given issuing entity or may be held by the trustee for the benefit of holders of the related securities. To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, an interest rate or currency swap or other hedge agreement may also be a part of the property of any given issuing entity or may be held by the trustee or the indenture trustee for the benefit of holders of the related securities.
If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, the Issuing Entity Property may also include a Pre-Funding Account, into which the depositor will deposit cash and which will be used by the issuing entity to purchase Receivables from the related originators during a specified period following the closing date for the related issuing entity. Any Receivables so conveyed to an issuing entity will also be Issuing Entity Property of the issuing entity.
Prior to formation, each issuing entity will have no assets or obligations. After formation, each issuing entity will not engage in any activity other than acquiring and holding the related Receivables and the Issuing Entity Property, issuing the related securities, distributing payments in respect thereof and any other activities described in this prospectus, in the related prospectus supplement and in the Trust Agreement or Limited Liability Company Agreement of the issuing entity, as applicable. Each issuing entity will not acquire any Receivables or assets other than the Issuing Entity Property.
The servicer specified in the related prospectus supplement, as servicer under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, related Sale and Servicing Agreement or related servicing agreement (each, a ‘‘Sale and Servicing Agreement’’), as applicable, will service the Receivables held by each issuing entity and will receive fees for these services. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses’’ in this prospectus and the discussion of servicing compensation in the related prospectus supplement. To the extent set forth in the related prospectus supplement, the depositor and each trustee will authorize the servicer to retain physical possession of the Receivables held by each issuing entity and other documents relating to possession of the Receivables as custodian for each issuing entity. Due to the administrative burden and expense, the certificates of title to the Financed Vehicles will not be amended to reflect the sale and assignment of the security interest in the Financed Vehicles to an issuing entity. In the absence of an amendment, an issuing entity may not have a perfected security interest in some of the Financed Vehicles in some states. See ‘‘Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables’’ and ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets.’’ In the case of Primary Assets consisting of Collateral Certificates and/or Government Securities, the trustee specified in the related prospectus supplement will manage the Collateral Certificates and/or Government Securities.
If the protection provided to (1) holders of notes issued by an owner trust or an LLC by the subordination of the related securities and by the Reserve Account, if any, or any other available form of credit or cash flow enhancement for the series or (2) certificateholders by the subordination of any subordinated certificates and by the Reserve Account or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement is insufficient, the noteholders or certificateholders, as the case may be, will have to look to payments by or on behalf of obligors on Receivables or on the Collateral Certificates and
14
Government Securities, as applicable, and the proceeds from the repossession and sale of Financed Vehicles that secure Defaulted Receivables for distributions of principal and interest on the securities. In this event, some factors, such as the applicable issuing entity not having perfected security interests in all of the Financed Vehicles, may limit the ability of an issuing entity to realize on the collateral securing the related Receivables, or may limit the amount realized to less than the amount due under the Receivables. Securityholders may be subject to delays in payment on, or may incur losses on their investment in, the securities as a result of defaults or delinquencies by obligors and depreciation in the value of the related Financed Vehicles. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Subordination" and ‘‘Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables.’’
The principal offices of each issuing entity and the related trustee, in the case of a Trust, will be specified in the related prospectus supplement.
The Trustee
The trustee for any issuing entity that is a Trust will be specified in the related prospectus supplement. The trustee’s liability in connection with the issuance and sale of the related securities is limited solely to the express obligations of the trustee set forth in the related Trust Agreement and Sale and Servicing Agreement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement or the related Indenture, as applicable. A trustee may resign at any time, in which event the servicer or administrator will be obligated to appoint a successor trustee. The servicer or administrator may also remove the related trustee if (i) the trustee ceases to be eligible to continue as trustee under the related Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, or (ii) the trustee becomes insolvent. In either of these circumstances, the servicer or administrator will be obligated to appoint a successor trustee. Any resignation or removal of a trustee and appointment of a successor trustee will not become effective until the acceptance of the appointment by the successor trustee. The servicer will agree to pay to each trustee, and each trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered to by such trustee in the execution of the issuing entity and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties of the trustee under the Trust Agreement and Sale and Servicing Agreement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement or related Indenture, as applicable. The servicer will agree to pay or reimburse the trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the trustee in accordance with the Trust Agreement and Sale and Servicing Agreement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement or related Indenture, as applicable (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents, any co-trustee and counsel) or in defense of any action brought against it in connection with those agreements except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith.
The principal offices of each issuing entity and the related trustee will be specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Use of Proceeds
If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities of a series will be applied by the related issuing entity to the purchase of the Primary Assets from the seller or the depositor, as applicable. The depositor will use the portion of the net proceeds paid to it to purchase the Primary Assets from the depositor.
15
Principal Documents
In general, the operations of an issuing entity will be governed by the following documents:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Document |  | Parties |  | Primary Purposes |
Trust Agreement (if an owner trust) or Limited Liability Company Agreement |  | owner trustee and the depositor |  | • creates the issuing entity or limited liability company • provides for issuance of certificates and payments to certificateholders |
|  | |  | • establishes rights and duties of owner trustee (if an owner trust) |
|  | |  | • establishes rights of certificateholders |
Indenture (if an owner trust or an LLC) |  | issuing entity or LLC, as issuing entity of the notes, and indenture trustee |  | • provides for issuance of the notes, the terms of the notes and payments to noteholders |
|  | |  | • establishes rights and duties of indenture trustee |
|  | |  | • establishes rights of noteholders |
Sale and Servicing Agreement (if an owner trust or an LLC) (the terms of the Sale and Servicing Agreement may also be divided between a separate sale agreement and servicing agreement) |  | the depositor, the servicer and an issuing entity as purchaser |  | • effects sale of Primary Assets to the issuing entity • contains representations and warranties concerning the Primary Assets • contains servicing obligations of servicer • provides for compensation to servicer • directs how cash flow will be applied to expenses of the issuing entity and payments on its securities |
Pooling and Servicing Agreement (if a grantor trust) |  | the trustee, the depositor and the servicer |  | • creates the Trust • effects sale of Primary Assets to the Trust |
|  | |  | • contains representations and warranties concerning the Primary Assets |
|  | |  | • contains servicing obligations of servicer |
|  | |  | • provides for compensation to servicer |
|  | |  | • provides for issuance of certificates and payments to certificateholders |
|  | |  | • directs how cash flow will be applied to expenses of the issuing entity and payments to certificateholders |
|  | |  | • establishes rights and duties of trustee |
|  | |  | • establishes rights of certificateholders |
 |
16
The material terms of these documents are described throughout this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement. The related prospectus supplement for a series will describe any material provisions of these documents as used in that series that differ in a material way from the provisions described in this prospectus.
A form of each of these principal documents has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The summaries of the principal documents in this prospectus do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of those principal documents.
The Receivables Pool
The motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and/or loans secured by new and used automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trucks, buses and/or trailers, light-duty trucks and other similar vehicles (the ‘‘Receivables’’) in a receivables pool have been or will be originated or acquired by a seller in the ordinary course of business, as described in the related prospectus supplement.
The Receivables to be sold to each issuing entity will be selected from a seller’s portfolio for inclusion in a receivables pool based on several criteria, which criteria include that, subject to particular limitations which, if applicable, will be specified in the related prospectus supplement, each Receivable:
 |  |  |
| • | is secured by a new or used automobile, motorcycle, van, truck, bus and/or trailer, light-duty truck or other similar vehicle; |
 |  |  |
| • | was originated or acquired, either from a motor vehicle dealer or a financial institution, by the depositor or an affiliate of the depositor; and |
 |  |  |
| • | satisfies any additional criteria specified in the related prospectus supplement. |
The depositor will not use any selection procedures in selecting the Receivables for each receivables pool that are materially adverse to the securityholders of that series.
The depositor will sell or transfer Receivables having an aggregate principal balance specified in the related prospectus supplement as of the cutoff date to the applicable issuing entity. The purchase price paid by each issuing entity for each Receivable included in the property of the issuing entity will either reflect the principal balance of the Receivable as of the cutoff date calculated under the Actuarial Method or Simple Interest Method or another method as specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Additional information with respect to the receivables pool securing each series of securities will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement including, to the extent appropriate, the composition of the Receivables, the distribution of annual percentage rate, the distribution by the states where the Receivables were originated and/or by the billing address of the obligors as of the related cutoff date and the portion of the receivables pool secured by new vehicles, used vehicles or other motor vehicles, including motorcycles, as applicable.
Calculation Methods
The Receivables to be held by each issuing entity may be Balloon Payment Receivables that provide for the amount financed to amortize over a series of monthly installments with a substantially larger final scheduled payment of principal together with one month’s interest. The final Balloon Payment is generally set by the depositor for each particular model of vehicle at the time the Receivable is originated and is due at the end of the term of the Receivable. The net amount actually due from an obligor at the end of term of a Balloon Payment Receivable may be greater or less than the Balloon Payment as a result of:
 |  |  |
| • | in the case of a Simple Interest Receivable, early or late payments by the obligor during the term of the Receivable and the applications of day counting conventions; and |
 |  |  |
| • | in the case of a Simple Interest Receivable or an Actuarial Receivable, additional fees and charges that may be owed by the obligor with respect to the contract on the Financed Vehicle. |
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Upon maturity of a Balloon Payment Receivable, the related obligor may satisfy the amount it owes by:
 |  |  |
| • | paying the remaining principal amount of the Receivable, all accrued and unpaid interest, plus any fees, charges, and other amounts then owing, during the term of the Receivable and the application of day counting conventions; |
 |  |  |
| • | refinancing the net amount then due, which may be greater or less than the Balloon Payment, subject to several conditions; or |
 |  |  |
| • | selling the related Financed Vehicle to the servicer or its assignee for an amount equal to the Balloon Payment, as reduced by charges for excess wear and tear and excess mileage and by a disposition fee payable to the servicer, and paying any excess of the total amount owed under the Receivable over the Balloon Payment to the servicer. |
If the obligor sells the Financed Vehicle to the servicer, acting on behalf of the issuing entity, the issuing entity may or may not receive the full amount of the Balloon Payment upon the subsequent sale of the Financed Vehicle. If the full amount owed by an obligor under a Balloon Payment Receivable is not collected, the shortfall will reduce the funds available to make payments on the securities.
If the Receivables in a pool of Receivables included in the property of an issuing entity include Balloon Payment Receivables, we will provide more specific information about the origination and servicing of the Receivables and the consequences of including the Receivables in a receivables pool in the related prospectus supplement.
Specific information with respect to each pool of Receivables included in an issuing entity will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement, including, to the extent appropriate:
 |  |  |
| • | the portion of the receivables pool consisting of Precomputed Receivables and of Simple Interest Receivables; |
 |  |  |
| • | the portion of the receivables pool secured by new Financed Vehicles and by used Financed Vehicles; |
 |  |  |
| • | the aggregate principal balance of all of the related Receivables; |
 |  |  |
| • | the average principal balance of the related Receivables and the range of principal balances; |
 |  |  |
| • | the number of Receivables in the receivables pool; |
 |  |  |
| • | the geographic distribution of Receivables in the receivables pool; |
 |  |  |
| • | the average original amount financed and the range of original amounts financed; |
 |  |  |
| • | the weighted average contract rate of interest and the range of such rates; |
 |  |  |
| • | the weighted average original term and the range of original terms; |
 |  |  |
| • | the weighted average remaining term and the range of remaining terms; |
 |  |  |
| • | the scheduled weighted average life; |
 |  |  |
| • | the distribution by stated contract rate of interest; and |
 |  |  |
| • | the originator of the Receivables. |
Delinquencies, Repossessions and Net Losses
Information concerning the experience of the servicer pertaining to delinquencies, repossessions and net losses with respect to Receivables will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. There can be no assurance that the delinquency, repossession and net loss experience on any receivables pool will be comparable to prior experience of the servicer.
The Collateral Certificates
The Primary Assets for a series will include Receivables and/or Collateral Certificates (‘‘Collateral Certificates’’), which include certificates evidencing an undivided interest in, or notes or loans secured
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by, Receivables. The Collateral Certificates will have previously been offered and distributed to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement. The Collateral Certificates will be acquired by the depositor in a bona fide secondary market transaction and will not include securities acquired as part of the original distribution of such securities. Collateral Certificates will have been issued pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement, a Sale and Servicing Agreement, a Trust Agreement, an Indenture or similar agreement (an ‘‘Underlying Trust Agreement’’). The servicer (the ‘‘Underlying Servicer’’) of the underlying motor vehicle installment loans or sale contracts will have entered into the Underlying Trust Agreement with a trustee (the ‘‘Underlying Trustee’’).
The issuing entity of the Collateral Certificates (the ‘‘Underlying Issuing Entity’’) will be:
 |  |  |
| • | a financial institution, corporation or other entity engaged generally in the business of purchasing or originating motor vehicle installment loan agreements and/or motor vehicle retail installment sale contracts; |
 |  |  |
| • | a limited purpose entity organized for the purpose of, among other things, establishing trusts or other special-purpose entities, acquiring and selling Receivables to such special-purpose entities and selling beneficial interests in these special-purpose entities; |
 |  |  |
| • | one of the Trusts or other special-purpose entities; or |
 |  |  |
| • | if so specified in the related prospectus supplement, the Underlying Issuing Entity may be the depositor and/or one or more affiliates of the depositor. |
The obligations of the Underlying Issuing Entity will generally be limited to specific representations and warranties with respect to the assets conveyed by it to the related special-purpose entity. The related prospectus supplement will, subject to exceptions which, if applicable, will be described in the related prospectus supplement, provide that the Underlying Issuing Entity will not have guaranteed any of the assets conveyed to the related special-purpose entity or any of the Collateral Certificates issued under the Underlying Trust Agreement.
Distributions of principal and interest will be made on the Collateral Certificates on the dates specified in the related prospectus supplement. The Collateral Certificates may be entitled to receive nominal or no principal distribution or nominal or no interest distributions. Principal and interest distributions will be made on the Collateral Certificates by the Underlying Trustee or the Underlying Servicer. The Underlying Issuing Entity or the Underlying Servicer may have the right to repurchase assets underlying the Collateral Certificates after a specific date or under other circumstances specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Enhancement Relating to Collateral Certificates
Enhancement in the form of reserve funds, subordination of other securities issued in connection with the Collateral Certificates, guarantees, letters of credit, cash collateral accounts, insurance policies or other types of enhancement may be provided with respect to the Receivables underlying the Collateral Certificates or with respect to the Collateral Certificates themselves. The type, characteristics and amount of enhancement will be a function of particular characteristics of the Receivables and other factors and will have been established for the Collateral Certificates on the basis of requirements of rating agencies.
Additional Information
The related prospectus supplement for a series for which the Primary Assets include Collateral Certificates will specify, to the extent relevant and to the extent the information is reasonably available to the depositor and the depositor reasonably believes the information to be reliable:
 |  |  |
| • | the aggregate approximate principal amount and type of the Collateral Certificates to be included in the Primary Assets; |
 |  |  |
| • | the characteristics of the Receivables which comprise the underlying assets for the Collateral Certificates; |
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 |  |  |
| • | the expected and final maturity of the Collateral Certificates; |
 |  |  |
| • | the interest rate of the Collateral Certificates; |
 |  |  |
| • | the Underlying Issuing Entity, the Underlying Servicer, if other than the Underlying Issuing Entity, and the Underlying Trustee for the Collateral Certificates; |
 |  |  |
| • | characteristics of the enhancement, if any, such as reserve funds, insurance funds, insurance policies, letters of credit or guarantees relating to the Receivables underlying the Collateral Certificates or to the Collateral Certificates themselves; |
 |  |  |
| • | the terms on which the underlying Receivables for the Collateral Certificates may, or are required to, be purchased prior to their stated maturity or the stated maturity of the Collateral Certificates; and |
 |  |  |
| • | the terms on which Receivables may be substituted for those originally underlying the Collateral Certificates. |
The Government Securities
Primary Assets for a series may include, but will not consist entirely of, any combination of
 |  |  |
| • | receipts or other instruments created under the Department of the Treasury’s Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of securities, or STRIPS, program (‘‘Treasury Strips’’), which interest and/or principal strips evidence ownership of specific interest and/or principal payments to be made on particular United States Treasury Bonds (‘‘Treasury Bonds’’); |
 |  |  |
| • | other debt securities, of United States government sponsored enterprises (‘‘GSEs’’; and together with Treasury Strips and Treasury Bonds, collectively, ‘‘Government Securities’’). |
The Government Securities, if any, held by an issuing entity are intended to assure investors that funds are available to make specified payments of principal and/or interest due on the related securities. Accordingly, the Government Securities, if any, held by an issuing entity are intended both to (1) support the ratings assigned to these securities, and (2) perform a function similar to that described in this prospectus under ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Subordination’’ and ‘‘— Other Credit Enhancement.’’
As specified in the related prospectus supplement, the obligations of one or more of the following GSEs may be held by an issuing entity: Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association, The Resolution Funding Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Home Loan Banks and Federal Farm Credit Banks. An issuing entity may also acquire receipts or other instruments evidencing ownership of specific interests and/or principal payments to be made on particular Treasury Bonds or The Resolution Funding Corporation bonds.
Maturity and Prepayment Considerations
The weighted average life of the notes, if any, and the certificates of any series generally will be influenced by the rate at which principal of the related Primary Assets are paid, which payment may be in the form of scheduled amortization or prepayments. With respect to securities backed by Receivables and to receivables underlying Collateral Certificates, the term ‘‘Prepayments’’ includes prepayments in full, partial prepayments, including those related to rebates of extended warranty contract costs and insurance premiums, liquidations due to defaults, as well as receipts of proceeds from physical damage, credit life and disability insurance policies, or the Repurchase Amount of Receivables and/or Collateral Certificates or Government Securities repurchased by the depositor or purchased by the servicer. Full and partial prepayments on motor vehicle Receivables included in the Issuing Entity Property of an issuing entity will be paid or distributed to the related securityholders on the next payment date following the Collection Period in which they are received. To the extent that
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any Receivable included in the Issuing Entity Property of an issuing entity is prepaid in full, whether by the obligor, or as the result of a purchase by the servicer or a repurchase by an originator or otherwise, the actual weighted average life of the Receivables included in the Issuing Entity Property of the issuing entity will be shorter than a weighted average life calculation based on the assumptions that payments will be made on schedule and that no prepayments will be made. Weighted average life means the average amount of time until the entire principal amount of a Receivable is repaid. Substantially all of the Receivables and receivables underlying Collateral Certificates are prepayable at any time without penalty to the obligor. The rate of prepayment of automobile Receivables is influenced by a variety of economic, social and other factors, including the fact that an obligor generally may not sell or transfer the Financed Vehicle securing a Receivable without the consent of the depositor. The rate of prepayment on Receivables may also be influenced by the structure of the Receivable. In addition, under some circumstances, Receivables will be required to be repurchased from a given issuing entity pursuant to the related Receivables Purchase Agreement as a result of breaches of representations and warranties, and the servicer will be obligated to purchase Receivables from the issuing entity pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement as a result of breaches of specific covenants. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ and ‘‘— Servicing Procedures.’’ See also ‘‘Certain Matters Regarding the Servicer — Termination’’ regarding the servicer’s obligation to purchase Primary Assets from a given issuing entity.
In light of the above considerations, there can be no assurance as to the amount of principal payments to be made on the notes and/or certificates of a series on each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, since the amount will depend, in part, on the amount of principal collected on the related Primary Assets during the applicable Collection Period. Any reinvestment risks resulting from a faster or slower incidence of payment of Primary Assets will be borne entirely by the noteholders and certificateholders. The related prospectus supplement may set forth some additional information with respect to the maturity and prepayment considerations applicable to particular Primary Assets and the related series of securities.
Pool Factors and Trading Information
The ‘‘Note Pool Factor’’ for each class of notes will be a seven-digit decimal which the servicer or indenture trustee will compute prior to each payment with respect to the class of notes indicating the remaining outstanding principal balance of that class of notes, as of the applicable payment date, after giving effect to payments to be made on the applicable payment date, as a fraction of the initial outstanding principal balance of the class of notes. The ‘‘Certificate Pool Factor’’ for each class of certificates will be a seven-digit decimal which the servicer or trustee will compute prior to each distribution with respect to the class of certificates indicating the remaining certificate balance of the class of certificates, as of the applicable distribution date, after giving effect to distributions to be made on the applicable distribution date, as a fraction of the initial certificate balance of the class of certificates. Each Note Pool Factor and each Certificate Pool Factor will be 1.0000000 as of the related closing date, and after will decline to reflect reductions in the outstanding principal balance of the applicable class of notes or the reduction of the certificate balance of the applicable class of certificates. A noteholder’s portion of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the related class of notes will be the product of (1) the original denomination of the noteholder’s note and (2) the applicable Note Pool Factor at the time of determination. A certificateholder’s portion of the aggregate outstanding certificate balance for the related class of certificates will be the product of (1) the original denomination of the certificateholder’s certificate and (2) the applicable Certificate Pool Factor at the time of determination.
As provided in the related prospectus supplement, the noteholders, if any, and the certificateholders will receive reports on or about each Payment Date or distribution date, as the case may be, concerning payments received on the Primary Assets, the ‘‘Pool Balance’’ (as defined in the related prospectus supplement) and each Note Pool Factor or Certificate Pool Factor, as applicable. The Depository Trust Company will supply these reports to securityholders in accordance with its procedures. Since owners of beneficial interests in a global security of a given series will not be
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recognized as noteholders and certificateholders of that series, DTC will not forward monthly reports to those owners. Copies of monthly reports may be obtained by owners of beneficial interests in a global security by a request in writing addressed to the trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable. Noteholders and certificateholders of record during any calendar year will be furnished information for tax reporting purposes not later than the latest date permitted by federal and/or state law. See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Statements to Securityholders’’ in this prospectus.
In addition, securityholders of record during any calendar year will be furnished information for tax reporting purposes not later than the latest date permitted by law. See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Statements to Securityholders’’ in this prospectus.
Description of the Notes
Each issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC will issue one or more classes of notes pursuant to an indenture (each, an ‘‘Indenture’’) between the related owner trust or LLC and the indenture trustee. The following summary describes the material provisions of each Indenture which are anticipated to be common to any notes included in a series of securities. The following summary does not purport to be a complete description of all terms of the related notes or Indenture and therefore is subject to, and is qualified in its entirely by reference to, the provisions of the related notes and Indenture. The related prospectus supplement will specify which class or classes of notes, if any, of a series are being offered pursuant to that prospectus supplement.
If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, each class of notes will initially be represented by one or more physical certificates registered in the name of the nominee of DTC (together with any successor company selected by the issuing entity). The notes will be available for purchase in minimum denominations of $[1,000] or any other minimum denomination as shall be specified in the related prospectus supplement and integral multiples of $[1,000] or any other minimum denomination so specified in the related prospectus supplement in book-entry form or any other form as shall be specified in the related prospectus supplement. If the notes are available in book-entry form only, the depositor has been informed by DTC that DTC’s nominee will be Cede unless another nominee is specified in the related prospectus supplement. Accordingly, the nominee is expected to be the holder of record of the notes of each class. If the notes are available in book-entry form only, unless and until Definitive Notes are issued under the limited circumstances described in this prospectus or in the related prospectus supplement, no noteholder will be entitled to receive a physical certificate representing a note. If the notes are available in book-entry form only, all references in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement to actions by noteholders refer to action taken by DTC upon instructions from its participating organizations, and all references in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement to payments, notices, reports and statements to noteholders refer to payments, notices, reports and statements to DTC or its nominee, as registered holder of the notes, for payment to noteholders in accordance with DTC’s procedures with respect to distributions. See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Book-Entry Registration’’ and ‘‘— Definitive Securities’’ in this prospectus.
Distribution of Principal and Interest
The timing and priority of payment, seniority, allocations of losses, interest rate and amount of or method of determining payments of principal and interest on each class of notes of a series will be described in the related prospectus supplement. The right of holders of any class of notes to receive payments of principal and interest may be senior or subordinate to the rights of holders of one or more other class or classes of notes of the series, as described in the related prospectus supplement. The related prospectus supplement may provide that payments of interest on the notes will be made prior to payments of principal on the notes. If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, a series of notes may include one or more classes of strip notes entitled to:
 |  |  |
| • | principal payments with disproportionate, nominal or no interest payments; or |
 |  |  |
| • | interest payments with disproportionate, nominal or no principal payments. |
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Each class of notes may have a different interest rate, which may be a fixed, variable or adjustable interest rate, and which may be zero for some classes of strip notes, or any combination of the foregoing. The related prospectus supplement will specify the interest rate for each class of notes of a series or the method for determining the interest rate. One or more classes of notes of a series may be redeemable in whole or in part under the circumstances specified in the related prospectus supplement, including as a result of the exercise by the servicer of its option to purchase the related receivables pool. See ‘‘Certain Matters Regarding the Servicer — Termination’’ in this prospectus.
To the extent specified in any related prospectus supplement, one or more classes of notes of a given series may have fixed principal payment schedules, as set forth in the related prospectus supplement. Holders of any notes will be entitled to receive payments of principal on any given payment date in the applicable amount set forth on the schedule with respect to the notes, in the manner and to the extent set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
The related prospectus supplement may also provide that payment of interest to noteholders of all classes within a series will have the same priority. Under some circumstances, the amount available for payments could be less than the amount of interest payable on the notes on a payment date, in which case except to the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement each class of notes will receive its ratable share, based upon the aggregate amount of interest due to the class of notes, of the aggregate amount available to be distributed on the date as interest on the notes of the series. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Distributions’’ and ‘‘— Subordination’’ in this prospectus.
With respect to a series that includes two or more classes of notes, each class may differ as to the timing and priority of payments, seniority, allocations of losses, final maturity date, interest rate or amount of payments of principal or interest, or payments of principal or interest in respect of any such class or classes may or may not be made upon the occurrence of specified events relating to the performance of the Receivables, including loss, delinquency and prepayment experience, the related subordination and/or the lapse of time or on the basis of collections from designated portions of the related pool of Receivables. If an issuing entity issues two or more classes of notes, the sequential order and priority of payment in respect of principal and interest, and any schedule or formula or other provisions applicable to the determination of the sequential order and priority of payment in respect of principal and interest, of each class will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. Generally, the related rating agencies, the credit enhancement provider, if any, and the prevailing market conditions at the time of issuance of the notes of a series dictate the applicable specified events with respect to such series. Payments in respect of principal of and interest on any class of notes will be made on a pro rata basis among all the noteholders of the class or by any other method as is specified in the related prospectus supplement.
If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the issuing entity may issue securities from time to time and use the proceeds of this issuance to make principal payments with respect to a series of outstanding securities. To the extent specified in any prospectus supplement, one or more classes of notes of a given issuing entity may have targeted scheduled distribution dates on which such notes will be paid in full to the extent the issuing entity is able to issue a variable pay term note or to receive Advances under variable pay revolving notes in sufficient principal amounts. The proceeds of issuance of such variable pay term note, which may be issued publicly or privately, or the Advances obtained from any variable pay revolving notes, will be applied to pay the specified class of notes in the manner set forth in the related prospectus supplement, and such variable pay term note or variable pay revolving notes will receive principal payments in the amounts and with the priority specified in the related prospectus supplement.
If the depositor, the servicer or another entity exercises its option to purchase the Receivables of an issuing entity in the manner and on the respective terms and conditions described under ‘‘Certain Matters Regarding the Servicer — Termination,’’ the outstanding securities will be redeemed as set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, the issuing entity may segregate the Primary Assets relating to a series of securities into two or more sub-pools, and may issue classes of securities that are paid primarily or exclusively from one of those sub-pools.
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Provisions of the Indenture
Events of Default, Rights Upon Event of Default. As specified in the related prospectus supplement ‘‘Events of Default’’ in respect of a series of notes under the related Indenture will include (subject to grace periods and voting percentages as set out in the related prospectus supplement):
 |  |  |
| • | a default in the payment of any interest on any note; |
 |  |  |
| • | a default in the payment of the principal of, or any installment of the principal of, any note; |
 |  |  |
| • | a default in the observance or performance of any material covenant or agreement of the related issuing entity made in the related Indenture and the continuation of any default for the number of days specified in the related prospectus supplement after notice thereof is given to the issuing entity by the applicable indenture trustee and, if applicable, the related credit enhancement provider, or to the issuing entity and the indenture trustee by the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the principal amount of the Controlling Class of notes; |
 |  |  |
| • | any representation or warranty made by the issuing entity in the related Indenture or in any certificate delivered pursuant to the related Indenture or in connection with the related Indenture having been incorrect in a material respect as of the time made, and that breach has not been cured within the number of days specified in the related prospectus supplement after notice thereof is given to the issuing entity by the applicable indenture trustee or, if applicable, the related credit enhancement provider, or to the issuing entity, the related credit enhancement provider, if any, and the indenture trustee by the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the principal amount of the Controlling Class; |
 |  |  |
| • | particular events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation with respect to the issuing entity or a substantial part of the property of the issuing entity; and |
 |  |  |
| • | any other events as may be specified in the related prospectus supplement. |
The amount of principal required to be paid to noteholders of each series under the related Indenture on any payment date generally will be limited to amounts available to be deposited in the applicable Note Distribution Account. Therefore, the failure to pay principal on a class of notes generally will not result in the occurrence of an Event of Default until the applicable legal final payment date for the class of notes.
If an Event of Default should occur and be continuing with respect to the notes of any series, the related indenture trustee or holders of at least a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes may declare the principal of the notes to be immediately due and payable. This declaration may, under some circumstances, be rescinded by the holders of a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes.
If the notes of any series are declared due and payable following an Event of Default, the related indenture trustee may institute proceedings to collect amounts due on the notes, foreclose on the property of the issuing entity, exercise remedies as a secured party, sell the related Primary Assets or elect to have the applicable issuing entity maintain possession of the Primary Assets and continue to apply collections on these Primary Assets as if there had been no declaration of acceleration. Subject to any additional limitations that may be specified in the related prospectus supplement, the indenture trustee will be prohibited from selling the Primary Assets following an Event of Default, unless:
 |  |  |
| • | the holders of all outstanding notes consent to the sale; |
 |  |  |
| • | the proceeds of the sale are sufficient to pay in full the principal of and the accrued interest on the outstanding notes at the date of sale; or |
 |  |  |
| • | the indenture trustee determines that the proceeds of the Primary Assets would not be sufficient on an ongoing basis to make all payments on the notes as these payments would have become due if these obligations had not been declared due and payable, and the indenture trustee obtains the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes. |
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Subject to the provisions of the applicable Indenture relating to the duties of the related indenture trustee, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to a series of notes, the indenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the notes if it reasonably believes it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with the request. Subject to the provisions for indemnification and particular limitations contained in the related Indenture, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of a series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or exercising any remedy available to the related indenture trustee. In addition, the holders of notes representing at least a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes may, in some cases, waive any default with respect to the notes, except a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any note or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the waiver or consent of the holders of all the outstanding notes of the series.
Except to the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, no holder of a note will have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the related Indenture, unless:
 |  |  |
| • | the holder previously has given to the applicable indenture trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default; |
 |  |  |
| • | the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes have made a written request to the indenture trustee to institute a proceeding in its own name as indenture trustee; |
 |  |  |
| • | the holder or holders have offered the indenture trustee reasonable indemnity; |
 |  |  |
| • | the indenture trustee has failed to institute a proceeding for the period of time set forth in the related prospectus supplement; and |
 |  |  |
| • | no direction inconsistent with a written request has been given to the indenture trustee during that period by the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of the series. |
With respect to any issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC, none of the related indenture trustee in its individual capacity, the related trustee in its individual capacity, any holder of a certificate representing an ownership interest in the issuing entity, or any of their respective beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors, employees, affiliates, successors or assigns will, in the absence of an express agreement to the contrary, be personally liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on the related notes or for the agreements of the issuing entity contained in the applicable Indenture.
No issuing entity will incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness other than indebtedness incurred pursuant to the related notes and the related Indenture, pursuant to any Advances made to it by the servicer or otherwise in accordance with the Related Documents.
Certain Covenants
Each Indenture will provide that the related issuing entity may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity, unless:
 |  |  |
| • | the entity formed by or surviving the consolidation or merger is organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; |
 |  |  |
| • | the entity expressly assumes the issuing entity’s obligation to make due and punctual payments upon the notes of the related series and to perform or observe every agreement and covenant of the issuing entity under the Indenture; |
 |  |  |
| • | no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after the merger or consolidation; |
 |  |  |
| • | the issuing entity has been advised by each Rating Agency that the merger or consolidation will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of its then-current rating of any class of the notes or certificates of the series; |
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 |  |  |
| • | the issuing entity has received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the consolidation or merger would have no material adverse tax consequence to the issuing entity or to any related noteholder or certificateholder; |
 |  |  |
| • | any action as is necessary to maintain the lien and security interest created by the Indenture has been taken; and |
 |  |  |
| • | any other conditions specified in the related prospectus supplement have been satisfied. |
No issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC will:
 |  |  |
| • | except as expressly permitted by the applicable Indenture, the applicable Transfer and Servicing Agreements or other documents with respect to the issuing entity (the ‘‘Related Documents’’), sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of the issuing entity; |
 |  |  |
| • | claim any credit on or make any deduction from the principal and interest payment in respect to the related notes, other than amounts withheld under the Code or applicable state tax laws, or assert any claim against any present or former holder of the notes because of the payment of taxes levied or assessed upon the issuing entity; |
 |  |  |
| • | dissolve or liquidate in whole or in part; |
 |  |  |
| • | permit the validity or effectiveness of the related Indenture to be impaired or permit any person to be released from any covenants or obligations with respect to the related notes under the Indenture except as may be expressly permitted by the related Indenture; |
 |  |  |
| • | permit any lien, charge, excise, claim, security interest, mortgage or other encumbrance to be created on or extend to or otherwise arise upon or burden the assets of the issuing entity or any part of its property, or any interest in the issuing entity or the proceeds of the issuing entity; or |
 |  |  |
| • | incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness other than indebtedness incurred pursuant to the related notes and the related Indenture, or otherwise in accordance with the Related Documents with respect to the issuing entity. |
Each indenture trustee and the related noteholders, by accepting the related notes, will covenant that they will not at any time institute against the applicable issuing entity any bankruptcy, reorganization or other proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law.
Modification of Indenture
The issuing entity and the related indenture trustee may, with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of the related series, execute a supplemental indenture to add provisions to, change in any manner or eliminate any provisions of, the related Indenture, or modify (except as provided below) in any manner the rights of the related noteholders. Except as otherwise provided in the related Indenture, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected by the related supplemental indenture, no supplemental indenture will:
 |  |  |
| • | change the due date of any installment of principal of or interest on any note or reduce the principal amount of any note, the interest rate specified on any note or the redemption price with respect to any note, change the provisions of the related Indenture relating to the application of collections on, or the proceeds of the sale of, the property of the related issuing entity to payment of principal or interest on the notes of the series, or change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any note or any interest on any note is payable; |
 |  |  |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of specific provisions of the related Indenture; |
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 |  |  |
| • | reduce the percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of the series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any supplemental indenture or for any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of the related Indenture or of particular defaults under the related Indenture and their consequences as provided for in the related Indenture; |
 |  |  |
| • | modify or alter the provisions of the related Indenture regarding the voting of notes held by the applicable owner trust, any other obligor on the notes, the depositor or an affiliate of any of them; |
 |  |  |
| • | reduce the percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes, the consent of the holders of which is required to direct the related indenture trustee to sell or liquidate the Primary Assets if the proceeds of the sale would be insufficient to pay the principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest on the outstanding notes of the series; |
 |  |  |
| • | decrease the percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes required to amend the sections of the related Indenture that specify the percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of the series necessary to amend the related Indenture or other related agreements; or |
 |  |  |
| • | permit the creation of any lien ranking prior to or on a parity with the lien of the related Indenture with respect to any of the collateral for the notes or, except as otherwise permitted or contemplated in the Indenture, terminate the lien of the related Indenture on any of the collateral or deprive the holder of any note of the security afforded by the lien of the related Indenture. |
An issuing entity and the related indenture trustee may also enter into supplemental indentures, without obtaining the consent of the noteholders of the related series:
 |  |  |
| • | to correct or supplement any provisions in the Indenture; or |
 |  |  |
| • | for the purpose of, among other things, adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the related Indenture; |
provided that the action referred to in the third bullet above will not materially and adversely affect the interest of any noteholder.
Annual Compliance Statement
Each issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC will be required to file annually with the related indenture trustee a written statement as to the fulfillment of its obligations under the Indenture.
Indenture Trustee’s Annual Report
The indenture trustee for each issuing entity will be required to mail each year to all related noteholders a brief report setting forth the following:
 |  |  |
| • | its eligibility and qualification to continue as indenture trustee under the related Indenture; |
 |  |  |
| • | if the related Indenture requires the indenture trustee to make Advances, any amount advanced by it under the Indenture; |
 |  |  |
| • | the amount, interest rate and maturity date of any indebtedness owing by the issuing entity to the applicable indenture trustee in its individual capacity; |
 |  |  |
| • | the property and funds physically held by the indenture trustee in its capacity as indenture trustee; and |
 |  |  |
| • | any action taken by it that materially affects the related notes and that has not been previously reported. |
27
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Each Indenture will be discharged with respect to the collateral securing the related notes upon the delivery to the related indenture trustee for cancellation of all of the notes or, with limitations, upon deposit with the indenture trustee of funds sufficient for the payment in full of all the notes.
The Indenture Trustee
The indenture trustee for a series of notes will be specified in the related prospectus supplement. The principal office of the indenture trustee will be specified in the related prospectus supplement. The indenture trustee for any series may resign at any time, in which event the related owner trust or LLC will be obligated to appoint a successor indenture trustee for the series. Additionally, the holders of the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes of a series may remove the related indenture trustee and appoint a successor indenture trustee. An issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC may also remove the related indenture trustee if the indenture trustee ceases to be eligible to continue in that capacity under the related Indenture, if particular insolvency events occur with respect to the indenture trustee or if the indenture trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting as indenture trustee. In these circumstances, the issuing entity will be obligated to appoint a successor indenture trustee for the applicable series of notes. No resignation or removal of the indenture trustee and appointment of a successor indenture trustee for a series of notes will become effective until the acceptance of the appointment by the successor indenture trustee for the series.
Description of the Certificates
Each issuing entity, if a Trust, will issue one or more classes of certificates pursuant to a Trust Agreement or a Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable. The following summary describes the material provisions of the Trust Agreement and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, in each case, which are anticipated to be common to any certificates included in a series of securities. The following summary does not purport to be a complete description of all terms of the related certificates, Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement and therefore is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the related certificates and Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable. The related prospectus supplement will specify which class or classes of certificates, if any, of a series are being offered pursuant to the related prospectus supplement.
If so specified in the related prospectus supplement and except for the certificates, if any, of a series purchased by a seller or any of its affiliates, each class of certificates will initially be represented by one or more physical certificates registered in the name of DTC. The certificates will be available for purchase in minimum denominations of $[10,000] or any other minimum denomination as shall be specified in the related prospectus supplement and integral multiples of $[1,000] in excess of $[10,000] or any other minimum denomination so specified in the related prospectus supplement in book-entry form only, or any other form as shall be specified in the related prospectus supplement. If the certificates are available in book-entry form only, the depositor has been informed by DTC that DTC’s nominee will be Cede. Accordingly, the nominee is expected to be the holder of record of the certificates of any series. If the certificates are available in book-entry form only, unless and until Definitive Securities are issued under the limited circumstances described in this prospectus or in the related prospectus supplement, no certificateholder, other than a seller or any of its affiliates, will be entitled to receive a physical certificate representing a certificate. If the certificates are available in book-entry form only, all references in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement to actions by certificateholders refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from the Participants, and all references in this prospectus and in the related prospectus supplement to distributions, notices, reports and statements to certificateholders refer to distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the certificates, for distribution to certificateholders in accordance with DTC’s procedures with respect to distributions. See ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Book-Entry Registration’’ and ‘‘— Definitive Securities’’ in this
28
prospectus. Any certificate of a series owned by a seller or any of its affiliates will be entitled to equal and proportionate benefits under the applicable Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, except that, to the extent set forth in the related Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the certificates will be deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of determining whether the requisite percentage of certificateholders has given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, or consent or taken any other action under the Related Documents.
Distributions of Principal and Interest
The timing and priority of distributions, seniority, allocations of losses, certificate rate and amount of or method of determining distributions with respect to principal and interest on each class of certificates of a series will be described in the related prospectus supplement. Distributions of interest on these certificates will be made on the dates specified in the related prospectus supplement and will be made prior to distributions with respect to principal of the certificates. To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, a series of certificates may include one or more classes of strip certificates entitled to:
 |  |  |
| • | principal distributions with disproportionate, nominal or no interest distributions; or |
 |  |  |
| • | interest distributions with disproportionate, nominal or no principal distributions. |
Each class of certificates may have a different certificate rate, which may be a fixed, variable or adjustable certificate rate, and which may be zero for some classes of strip certificates, or any combination of the foregoing. The related prospectus supplement will specify the certificate rate for each class of certificates of a series or the method for determining the certificate rate.
In the case of a series of securities that includes two or more classes of certificates, the timing, sequential order, priority of payment or amount of distributions in respect of interest and principal, and any schedule or formula or other provisions applicable to the determination of the timing, sequential order, priority of payment or amount of distributions in respect of interest and principal, of each class will be as set forth in the related prospectus supplement. In the case of certificates issued by an issuing entity that is an owner trust, distributions in respect of these certificates will be subordinated to payments in respect of the notes of the related series to the extent described in the related prospectus supplement. Distributions in respect of interest on and principal of any class of certificates will be made on a pro rata basis among all holders of certificates of the class. In general, the rights of the certificateholders to take certain actions, such as waiving Servicer Defaults, will be subordinated to the rights of the noteholders to take such action.
Certain Information Regarding the Securities
General
The related prospectus supplement will describe:
 |  |  |
| • | the timing, amount and priority of payments of principal and interest on each class of securities; |
 |  |  |
| • | their interest rates or the method for determining their interest rates; |
 |  |  |
| • | the method of determining the amount of their principal payments; |
 |  |  |
| • | the priority of the application of the issuing entity’s available funds to its expenses and payments on its securities; and |
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| • | the allocation of losses on the Primary Assets among the classes of securities. |
The rights of any class of securities to receive payments may be senior or subordinate to other classes of securities. A security may be entitled to:
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| • | principal payments with disproportionate, nominal or no interest payments; |
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| • | interest payments with disproportionate, nominal or no principal payments; or |
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| • | residual cash flow remaining after all other classes have been paid. |
Interest rates may be fixed or floating. If a class of securities is redeemable, the related prospectus supplement will describe when they may be redeemed and at what price. The aggregate initial principal amount of the securities issued by an issuing entity may be greater than, equal to or less than the aggregate initial principal amount of the Primary Assets held by that issuing entity.
Payments of principal and interest on any class of securities will be made on a pro rata basis among all the securityholders of each class. If the amount of funds available to make a payment on a class is less than the required payment, the holders of the securities of that class will receive their pro rata share of the amount available for the class. A series may provide for a liquidity facility or similar arrangement that permits one or more classes of securities to be paid in planned amounts on scheduled payment dates or distribution dates, as the case may be.
Fixed Rate Securities
Each class of fixed rate securities will bear interest at the applicable per annum interest rate or certificate rate, as the case may be, specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Interest on each class of fixed rate securities may be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months or on such other day count basis as is specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Floating Rate Securities
Each class of floating rate securities will bear interest for each applicable interest accrual period described in the related prospectus supplement at a rate determined (i) by reference to a base rate of interest, plus or minus the number of basis points specified in the related prospectus supplement, if any, or multiplied by the percentage specified in the related prospectus supplement, if any, or (ii) as otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement. Interest on each class of floating rate securities may be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days in the related interest accrual period or on such other day count basis as is specified in the related prospectus supplement.
The base rate of interest for any floating rate securities will be based on a London interbank offered rate, commercial paper rates, Federal funds rates, United States government treasury securities rates, negotiable certificates of deposit rates or another rate set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
A class of floating rate securities may also have either or both of the following (in each case expressed as a rate per annum):
(1) a maximum limitation, or ceiling, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest accrual period; in addition to any maximum interest rate that may be applicable to any class of floating rate securities, the interest rate applicable to any class of floating rate securities will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by applicable law; and
(2) a minimum limitation, or floor, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest accrual period.
Each issuing entity issuing floating rate securities may appoint a calculation agent to calculate interest rates of each class of its floating rate securities. The related prospectus supplement will identify the calculation agent, if any, for each class of floating rate securities, which may be either the trustee or indenture trustee with respect to the issuing entity. All determination of interest by a calculation agent shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the holders of the floating rate securities.
In connection with the issuance of any class of floating rate securities, the issuing entity may enter into or arrange for one or more interest rate hedge transactions. The applicable prospectus
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supplement will describe the name, organizational form and general character of the business of the counterparty under any interest rate hedge transaction. In addition, the prospectus supplement for the related securities will disclose the significance percentage, calculated in accordance with Item 1115 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115). To the extent this percentage is (a) 10% or more but less than 20%, the related prospectus supplement will provide financial data required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.301) or (b) greater than 20%, the related prospectus supplement will provide financial statements required by Item 1115(b)(2) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115) and, in either case, the related prospectus supplement will contain a description of the operation and material terms of the interest rate hedge agreement, including, without limitation, conditions to payment or limits on the timing or amount of payments and material provisions relating to the termination or substitution of the agreement. Copies of the applicable agreement, if any, relating to a series of securities will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K.
Ratings of the Securities
It will be a condition to the issuance of each class of securities specified as being offered by the related prospectus supplement that each class of securities be rated in one of the four highest generic rating categories established for the securities by at least one nationally recognized statistical Rating Agency and receive the rating specified in the related prospectus supplement by at least one Rating Agency.
Revolving Period and Amortization Period
If the related prospectus supplement so provides, there may be a period commencing on the date of issuance of a class or classes of notes or certificates of a series and ending on the date set forth in the related prospectus supplement during which no principal payments will be made to one or more classes of notes or certificates of the related series as are identified in such prospectus supplement (the ‘‘Revolving Period’’). The Revolving Period may not be longer than three years from the date of issuance of a class or classes of notes or certificates of a series. During the Revolving Period, all collections of principal otherwise allocated to such classes of notes or certificates may be:
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| • | utilized by the issuing entity during the Revolving Period to acquire additional Collateral Certificates or Government Securities and Receivables which satisfy the criteria described under ‘‘The Receivables Pool’’ in this prospectus and the criteria set forth in the related prospectus supplement; |
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| • | held in an account and invested in Eligible Investments for later distribution to securityholders; |
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| • | applied to those notes or certificates of the related series as then are in amortization, if any; or |
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| • | otherwise applied as specified in the related prospectus supplement. |
An ‘‘Amortization Period’’ is the period during which an amount of principal is payable to holders of a series of securities which, during the Revolving Period, were not entitled to such payments. If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, during an Amortization Period all or a portion of principal collections on the Primary Assets may be applied as specified above for a Revolving Period and, to the extent not so applied, will be distributed to the classes of notes or certificates. In addition, the related prospectus supplement will set forth the circumstances which will result in the commencement of an Amortization Period.
Each issuing entity which has a Revolving Period may also issue to the related seller a certificate evidencing a retained interest in the issuing entity not represented by the other securities issued by such issuing entity. As further described in the related prospectus supplement, the value of such retained interest will fluctuate as the amount of assets of such issuing entity fluctuates and the amount of notes and certificates of the related series of securities outstanding is reduced. Each issuing entity will issue only one series of notes and/or certificates, however, each series may contain one or more classes of notes and certificates. The terms of each class of securities will be fully disclosed in the related prospectus supplement for each series.
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If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the issuing entity may issue securities from time to time and use the proceeds of this issuance to make principal payments with respect to other classes of securities of that series.
Book-Entry Registration
Book-Entry Form
Persons acquiring beneficial ownership interests (‘‘Beneficial Owners’’) in the securities issued in book-entry form (the ‘‘Book-Entry Securities’’) will hold their securities through DTC in the United States, or Clearstream or Euroclear (in Europe) if they are participants of those systems (the ‘‘Participants’’), or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems (the ‘‘Indirect Participants’’). Each Class of the Book-Entry Securities of a series initially will be represented by one or more physical certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, which will be the ‘‘holder’’ or ‘‘Securityholder’’ of those Securities, as those terms are used in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement for a series. No Beneficial Owner of Book-Entry Securities will be entitled to receive a Definitive Certificate representing that person’s interest in the Book-Entry Securities, except as set forth below. Unless and until Definitive Certificates are issued under the limited circumstances described below, all references to actions taken by Securityholders or holders shall, in the case of the Book-Entry Securities, refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its DTC Participants, and all references in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement for a series to distributions, notices, reports and statements to Securityholders or holders shall, in the case of the Book-Entry Securities, refer to distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC or Cede, as the registered holder of the Book-Entry Securities, as the case may be, for distribution to Beneficial Owners in accordance with DTC procedures. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of their Participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries which in turn will hold those positions in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank will act as depositary for Clearstream and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association will act as depositary for Euroclear (in those capacities, individually the ‘‘Relevant Depositary’’ and collectively the ‘‘European Depositaries’’). Investors may hold beneficial interests in the Book-Entry Securities in minimum denominations of $[1,000].
The Beneficial Owner’s ownership of a Book-Entry Securities will be recorded on the records of the brokerage firm, bank, thrift institution or other financial intermediary (each, a ‘‘Financial Intermediary’’) that maintains the beneficial owner’s account for that purpose. In turn, the Financial Intermediary’s ownership of a Book-Entry Securities will be recorded on the records of DTC (or of a participating firm that acts as agent for the Financial Intermediary, whose interest will in turn be recorded on the records of DTC, if the beneficial owner’s Financial Intermediary is not a DTC Participant, and on the records of Clearstream or Euroclear, as appropriate).
Beneficial Owners will receive all distributions of principal of, and interest on, the Book-Entry Securities from the trustee through DTC and Participants. While the Book-Entry Securities are outstanding (except under the circumstances described below), under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations (the ‘‘Rules’’), DTC is required to make book-entry transfers among Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the Book-Entry Securities and is required to receive and transmit distributions of principal of, and interest on, the Book-Entry Securities. Participants and Indirect Participants with whom Beneficial Owners have accounts for their Book-Entry Securities are similarly required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit these distributions on behalf of their respective Beneficial Owners. Accordingly, although Beneficial Owners will not possess certificates representing their respective interests in the Book-Entry Securities, the Rules provide a mechanism by which Beneficial Owners will receive distributions and will be able to transfer their interest.
Securityholders will not receive or be entitled to receive certificates representing their respective interests in the Book-Entry Securities, except under the limited circumstances described below. Unless
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and until Definitive Certificates are issued, Securityholders who are not Participants may transfer ownership of Book-Entry Securities only through Participants and Indirect Participants by instructing Participants and Indirect Participants to transfer Book-Entry Securities, by book-entry transfer, through DTC, for the account of the purchasers of the Book-Entry Securities, which account is maintained with their respective Participants. Under the Rules and in accordance with DTC’s normal procedures, transfers of ownership of Book-Entry Securities will be executed through DTC and the accounts of the respective Participants at DTC will be debited and credited. Similarly, the Participants and Indirect Participants will make debits or credits, as the case may be, on their records on behalf of the selling and purchasing securityholders.
Because of time zone differences, credits of securities received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. These credits or any transactions in securities settled during this processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on that following business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC. For information with respect to tax documentation procedures relating to the Securities see ‘‘— Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Documentation Requirements’’ below and ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences.’’
Transfers between Participants will occur in accordance with the Rules. Transfers between Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants will occur in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in accordance with the Rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by the Relevant Depositary; however, these cross-market transfers will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in the system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the Relevant Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to the European Depositaries.
The Depository Trust Company is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a ‘‘clearing corporation’’ within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a ‘‘clearing agency’’ registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC performs services for its Participants, some of which (and/or their representatives) own DTC. In accordance with its normal procedures, DTC is expected to record the positions held by each DTC Participant in the Book-Entry Securities, whether held for its own account or as a nominee for another person. In general, beneficial ownership of Book-Entry Securities will be subject to the Rules, as in effect from time to time.
Clearstream International, a Luxembourg limited liability company, was formed in January 2000 through the merger of Cedel International and Deutsche Boerse Clearing.
Clearstream is registered as a bank in Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Authority, which supervises Luxembourg banks.
Clearstream holds securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions by electronic book-entry transfers between their accounts. Clearstream provides various services, including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream also deals with domestic securities
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markets in several countries through established depository and custodial relationships. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (which operates Euroclear) as the Euroclear operator in Brussels to facilitate settlement of trades between systems. Clearstream currently accepts over 200,000 securities issues on its books.
Clearstream’s customers are world-wide financial institutions including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. Clearstream’s United States customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Currently, Clearstream has approximately 2,500 customers located in over 80 countries, including all major European countries, Canada and the United States. Indirect access to Clearstream is available to other institutions which clear through or maintain custodial relationship with an account holder of Clearstream.
The Euroclear System was created in 1968 to hold securities for its Participants and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may be settled in a variety of currencies, including United States dollars. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC described above. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the ‘‘Euroclear Operator’’). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and applicable Belgian law. The terms and conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions of Euroclear only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions on the Book-Entry Securities will be made on each Distribution Date by the Trustee to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will be responsible for crediting the amount of these distributions to the accounts of the applicable DTC Participants in accordance with DTC’s normal procedures. Each DTC Participant will be responsible for disbursing these distributions to the Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities that it represents and to each Financial Intermediary for which it acts as agent. Each Financial Intermediary will be responsible for disbursing funds to the Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities that it represents.
Under a book-entry format, Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities may experience some delay in their receipt of payments, since payments will be forwarded by the Trustee to Cede & Co. Distributions with respect to Securities held through Clearstream or Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants in accordance with the relevant system’s rules and procedures, to the extent received by the Relevant Depositary. These distributions will be subject to tax reporting in accordance with relevant United States tax laws and regulations. See ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences.’’ Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC Participants, the ability of a Beneficial Owner to pledge Book-Entry Securities to persons or entities that do not participate in the depository system, or otherwise take actions regarding their Book-Entry Securities, may be limited due to the lack of physical certificates for their Book-Entry Securities. In addition, issuance of the Book-Entry Securities in book-entry form may reduce the liquidity of the Book-Entry Securities in the secondary market since certain potential investors may be unwilling to purchase Securities for which they cannot obtain physical certificates.
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DTC has advised the Depositor that, unless and until Definitive Certificates are issued, DTC will take any action the holders of the Book-Entry Securities are permitted to take under the Pooling Agreement only at the direction of one or more DTC Participants to whose DTC accounts the Book-Entry Securities are credited, to the extent that these actions are taken on behalf of Financial Intermediaries whose holdings include the Book-Entry Securities. Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a Certificateholder under the Pooling Agreement on behalf of a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures and subject to the ability of the Relevant Depositary to effect these actions on its behalf through DTC. DTC may take actions, at the direction of the related Participants, with respect to some Book-Entry Securities which conflict with actions taken with respect to other Book-Entry Securities.
Definitive Certificates will be issued to Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities, or their nominees, rather than to DTC, only if (a) DTC advises the Trustee in writing that DTC is no longer willing, qualified or able to discharge properly its responsibilities as nominee and depository with respect to the Book-Entry Securities and the Depositor or the Trustee is unable to locate a qualified successor or (b) in the case of Securities of a series that receive distributions pursuant to request or random lot, if pro rata distributions cannot be made through the facilities of DTC.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Trustee will be required to notify the applicable Beneficial Owners of the occurrence of the event and the availability through DTC of Definitive Certificates. Upon surrender by DTC of the global certificate or certificates representing the Book-Entry Securities and instructions for re-registration, the Trustee will issue Definitive Certificates, and thereafter the Trustee will recognize the holders of those Definitive Certificates as Securityholders under the Pooling Agreement.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of Book-Entry Securities among Participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be discontinued at any time.
None of the depositor, the servicer or the trustee will have any responsibility for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Book-Entry Securities held by Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests. In the event of the insolvency of DTC, a DTC Participant or an Indirect DTC Participant in whose name Book-Entry Securities are registered, the ability of the Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities to obtain timely payment and, if the limits of applicable insurance coverage by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation are exceeded or if the coverage is otherwise unavailable, ultimate payment, of amounts distributable with respect to the Book-Entry Securities may be impaired.
Secondary Market Trading
Since the purchaser determines the place of delivery, it is important to establish at the time of the trade where both the purchaser’s and seller’s accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired value date.
Trading between DTC Participants. Secondary market trading between DTC Participants will be settled using the procedures applicable to asset-backed securities issues in same-day funds.
Trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear Participants. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in same-day funds.
Trading between DTC seller and Clearstream or Euroclear purchaser. When Book-Entry Securities are to be transferred from the account of a DTC Participant to the account of a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant, the purchaser will send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant at least one business day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the respective Depositary, as the case may
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be, to receive the Book-Entry Securities against payment. Payment will include interest accrued on the Book-Entry Securities from and including the last coupon payment date to and excluding the settlement date, on the basis of either a 360-day year comprised of 30-day months or the actual number of days in the accrual period and a year assumed to consist of 360 days, as applicable. For transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment will include interest accrued to and excluding the first day of the following month. Payment will then be made by the respective Depositary of the DTC Participant’s account against delivery of the Book-Entry Securities. After settlement has been completed, the Book-Entry Securities will be credited to the respective clearing system and by the clearing system, in accordance with its usual procedures, to the Clearstream Participant’s or Euroclear Participant’s account. The securities credit will appear the next day (European time) and the cash debt will be back-valued to, and the interest on the Book-Entry Securities will accrue from, the value date (which would be the preceding day when settlement occurred in New York). If settlement is not completed on the intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), the Clearstream or Euroclear cash debt will be valued instead as of the actual settlement date.
Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants will need to make available to the respective clearing systems the funds necessary to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing so is to preposition funds for settlement, either from cash on hand or existing lines of credit, as they would for any settlement occurring within Clearstream or Euroclear. Under this approach, they may take on credit exposure to Clearstream or Euroclear until the Book-Entry Securities are credited to their accounts one day later.
As an alternative, if Clearstream or Euroclear has extended a line of credit to them, Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants can elect not to preposition funds and allow that credit line to be drawn upon the finance settlement. Under this procedure, Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants purchasing Book-Entry Securities would incur overdraft charges for one day, assuming they cleared the overdraft when the Book-Entry Securities were credited to their accounts. However, interest on the Book-Entry Securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases the investment income on the Book-Entry Securities earned during that one-day period may substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges, although this result will depend on each Clearstream Participant’s or Euroclear Participant’s particular cost of funds.
Since the settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC Participants can employ their usual procedures for sending Book-Entry Securities to the respective European Depositary for the benefit of Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. Thus, to the DTC Participants a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC Participants.
Trading between Clearstream or Euroclear Seller and DTC Purchaser. Due to time zone differences in their favor, Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may employ their customary procedures for transactions in which Book-Entry Securities are to be transferred by the respective clearing system, through the respective Depositary, to a DTC Participant. The seller will send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the respective Depositary, as appropriate, to deliver the Book-Entry Securities to the DTC Participant’s account against payment. Payment will include interest accrued on the Book-Entry Securities from and including the last coupon payment to and excluding the settlement date on the basis of either a 360-day year comprised of 30-day months or the actual number of days in the accrual period and a year assumed to consist of 360 days, as applicable. For transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment will include interest accrued to and excluding the first day of the following month. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant the following day, and receipt of the cash proceeds in the Clearstream Participant’s or Euroclear Participant’s account would be back-valued to the value date (which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurred in New York). Should the Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant have a line of credit with its respective clearing system and elect to be in debt in anticipation of receipt of the sale proceeds in its account, the back-valuation will extinguish any overdraft incurred over that one-day period. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date
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(i.e., the trade fails), receipt of the cash proceeds in the Clearstream Participant’s or Euroclear Participant’s account would instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.
Finally, day traders that use Clearstream or Euroclear and that purchase Book-Entry Securities from DTC Participants for delivery to Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants should note that these trades would automatically fail on the sale side unless affirmative action were taken. At least three techniques should be readily available to eliminate this potential problem:
(a) borrowing through Clearstream or Euroclear for one day (until the purchase side of the day trade is reflected in their Clearstream or Euroclear accounts) in accordance with the clearing system’s customary procedures;
(b) borrowing the Book-Entry Securities in the U.S. from a DTC Participant no later than one day prior to settlement, which would give the Book-Entry Securities sufficient time to be reflected in their Clearstream or Euroclear account in order to settle the sale side of the trade; or
(c) staggering the value dates for the buy and sell sides of the trade so that the value date for the purchase from the DTC Participant is at least one day prior to the value date for the sale to the Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Documentation Requirements. A Beneficial Owner of Book-Entry Securities that is not a U.S. Person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code holding a Book-Entry Certificate through Clearstream, Euroclear or DTC may be subject to U.S. withholding tax unless it provides certain appropriate documentation to the Trustee, a Paying Agent or any other entity required to withhold tax establishing an exemption from withholding. In addition, all holders, including holders that are U.S. Persons, holding Book-Entry Securities through Clearstream, Euroclear or DTC may be subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides appropriate documentation or otherwise qualifies for an exemption. See ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences’’ herein, and in particular ‘‘— Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes — Foreign Owners,’’ ‘‘— Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes — Backup Withholding," ‘‘— Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts — Foreign Investors in Grantor Trust Certificates’’ and ‘‘— Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts — Backup Withholding,’’ as applicable.
Prospective investors should be aware, however, that this discussion and the discussions referenced herein do not deal with all of the aspects of U.S. federal income tax withholding or backup withholding that may be relevant to investors. Prospective investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors for specific tax advice concerning their holding and disposing of Book-Entry Securities. Each securityholder is encouraged to consult its tax advisors regarding the tax documentation and certifications that must be provided to secure the exemption from United States withholding taxes.
Definitive Securities
If so stated in the related prospectus supplement, the notes and/or certificates of a given series will be issued in fully registered, certificated form (‘‘Definitive Notes’’ and ‘‘Definitive Certificates’’, respectively, and, collectively, ‘‘Definitive Securities’’) to noteholders or certificateholders or their respective nominees, rather than to DTC or its nominee, only if:
 |  |  |
| • | the related trustee of a grantor trust or the depositor, related indenture trustee or administrator, as applicable, in the case of an owner trust or LLC, as applicable, determines that DTC is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities as depository with respect to the related securities and the depositor, administrator or trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, is unable to locate a qualified successor; |
 |  |  |
| • | the indenture trustee or trustee, as applicable, elects, at its option, to terminate the book-entry system through DTC; |
 |  |  |
| • | after the occurrence of an Event of Default or Servicer Default Beneficial Owners of securities (‘‘Security Owners’’) representing the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the outstanding principal amount of the notes or certificates, as applicable, of the series, advise the related indenture trustee or trustee through DTC that the continuation of a book-entry system through DTC, or a successor to DTC, is no longer in the best interests of the related Security Owners; or |
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 |  |  |
| • | under any other circumstances specified in the related prospectus supplement. |
Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, will be required to notify the related Security Owners, through Participants, of the availability of Definitive Securities. Upon surrender by DTC of the certificates representing all securities of any affected class and the receipt of instructions for re-registration, the issuing entity will issue Definitive Securities to the related Security Owners. Distributions on the related Definitive Securities will subsequently be made by the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, directly to the holders in whose name the related Definitive Securities are registered at the close of business on the applicable record date, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this prospectus and in the related Indenture or the related Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable. Payments or distributions, as the case may be, will be made by check mailed to the address of the holders as they appear on the register specified in the related Indenture, Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The final payment on any securities, whether Definitive Securities or securities registered in the name of a Depository or its nominee, will be made only upon presentation and surrender of the securities at the office or agency as specified in the notice of final payment or distribution, as the case may be, to securityholders.
Definitive Securities will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices of the related trustee or indenture trustee, or any security registrar or transfer agent appointed by the related trustee or the indenture trustee, as applicable. No service charge will be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the trustee or indenture trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection with a registration of transfer or exchange.
Statements to Securityholders
For each series of securities, on or prior to each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, the related servicer or administrator, as applicable, will prepare and forward to the related trustee or indenture trustee to be included with the payment or distribution, as the case may be, to each securityholder of record a statement setting forth for the related Collection Period the following information, and any other information specified in the related prospectus supplement:
 |  |  |
| • | the amount of the payment or distribution, as the case may be, allocable to principal of each class of securities of the series; |
 |  |  |
| • | the amount of the payment or distribution, as the case may be, allocable to interest on each class of securities of the series; |
 |  |  |
| • | if applicable, the amount of the Servicing Fee paid to the related servicer with respect to the related Collection Period; |
 |  |  |
| • | the aggregate outstanding principal balance for each class of notes, if any, and the certificate balance for each class of certificates of the series as of the related record date; |
 |  |  |
| • | the Note Pool Factor for each class of notes, if any and the Certificate Pool Factor for each class of certificates of the series as of the related record date; |
 |  |  |
| • | the balance of any Reserve Account or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement, after giving effect to any additions to the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account or available under any credit or cash flow enhancement withdrawals from or reductions to the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account or available under any credit or cash flow enhancement to occur on the following payment date or distribution date, as the case may be; and |
 |  |  |
| • | the aggregate amount of realized losses, if any, in respect of Receivables and any other loss, delinquency or other ratios set forth in the related prospectus supplement for the related Collection Period. |
DTC will supply these reports to securityholders in accordance with its procedures. Since owners of beneficial interest in a global security of a given series will not be recognized as securityholders of that series, DTC will not forward monthly reports to those owners. Copies of monthly reports may be
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obtained by owners of beneficial interests in a global security by a request in writing addressed to the trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable.
In addition, within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the end of each calendar year during the term of each issuance, the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, will mail to each person who at any time during the related calendar year shall have been a registered securityholder a statement containing information for the purposes of the securityholder’s preparation of federal income tax returns. See ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences’’ in this prospectus.
List of Securityholders
The related prospectus supplement will specify the number or requisite percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the notes of the series who may, by written request to the related indenture trustee, obtain access to the list of all noteholders maintained by the indenture trustee for the purpose of communicating with other noteholders with respect to their rights under the related Indenture or under the notes. The indenture trustee may elect not to afford the requesting noteholders access to the list of noteholders if it agrees to mail the desired communication or proxy, on behalf of and at the expense of the requesting noteholders, to all noteholders of the series.
The related prospectus supplement will specify the number or requisite percentage of the certificate balance of the certificates who may, by written request to the related trustee, obtain access to the list of all certificateholders maintained by the trustee for the purpose of communicating with other certificateholders with respect to their rights under the related Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, or under the certificates.
The Transaction Documents
The following summary describes the material provisions, in each case, to the extent anticipated to be common to any series of securities, of:
 |  |  |
| • | each Receivables purchase agreement (a ‘‘Receivables Purchase Agreement’’) pursuant to which a seller, the originator, the sponsor or an affiliate of the originator will transfer Receivables to the depositor; |
 |  |  |
| • | each Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement pursuant to which an issuing entity will be created, certificates will be issued, and the servicer will service Receivables in the case of a grantor trust; |
 |  |  |
| • | each Sale and Servicing Agreement (which may be comprised of a separate sale agreement and a servicing agreement) pursuant to which the depositor will transfer Receivables to an issuing entity and the servicer will service Receivables, in the case of an owner trust or an LLC; |
 |  |  |
| • | in the case of securities backed by Collateral Certificates or Government Securities, each agreement pursuant to which the Collateral Certificates or Government Securities will be sold or transferred to the issuing entity and a trustee will manage the Collateral Certificates or Government Securities; or |
 |  |  |
| • | each administration agreement pursuant to which the depositor or another party specified in the prospectus supplement will undertake specified administrative duties with respect to an issuing entity (collectively, the ‘‘Transfer and Servicing Agreements’’). |
The following summary does not purport to be a complete description of all of the terms of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements, the Sale and Servicing Agreement or the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and therefore is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the related Transfer and Servicing Agreement, the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the related prospectus supplement.
Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets
Transfer and Assignment by the Sellers. In the case of Primary Assets consisting of Receivables, on or prior to the related closing date, a seller (which term, for purposes of this section, may be or
39
include the sponsor) will transfer and assign to the depositor, pursuant to a Receivables Purchase Agreement, without recourse, all of its right, title and interest in and to Receivables in the outstanding principal amount specified in the related prospectus supplement, including its security interests in the related Financed Vehicles. Each Receivable will be identified in a schedule appearing as an exhibit to the related Receivables Purchase Agreement (the ‘‘Schedule of Receivables’’).
Contribution and Assignment by the Depositor. On the related closing date, the depositor will contribute and assign to the issuing entity, pursuant to a Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, without recourse, all of its right, title and interest in and to Primary Assets in the outstanding principal amount specified in the related prospectus supplement. The trustee or indenture trustee will not independently verify the existence and qualification of any Receivables. Concurrently with the transfer and assignment of Primary Assets to the related issuing entity, the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, will execute, authenticate and deliver the related securities.
Representations and Warranties of the Sellers. On each closing date as more fully described in each prospectus supplement, either the seller in the Receivables Purchase Agreement, or the servicer in the Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will represent and warrant, among other things, that:
 |  |  |
| • | the information set forth in the Schedule of Receivables is correct in all material respects as of the applicable cutoff date; |
 |  |  |
| • | the obligor on each Receivable is contractually required to maintain physical damage insurance covering the related Financed Vehicle in accordance with the servicer’s normal requirements; |
 |  |  |
| • | on the closing date, the Receivables are free and clear of all security interests, liens, charges and encumbrances, and no offsets, defenses or counterclaims have been asserted or threatened; |
 |  |  |
| • | at the closing date, each of the Receivables is secured by a perfected, first-priority security interest in the related Financed Vehicle in favor of the seller; |
 |  |  |
| • | each Receivable, at the time it was originated, complied and, on the closing date complies, in all material respects with applicable federal and state laws, including, without limitation, consumer credit, truth-in-lending, equal credit opportunity and disclosure laws; and |
 |  |  |
| • | any other representations and warranties that may be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. |
Pursuant to the terms of the Sale and Servicing Agreement or the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, the depositor will assign to the related issuing entity all of the representations and warranties made by the seller under the related Receivables Purchase Agreement for the benefit of the related securityholders and will make limited representations and warranties with respect to other Primary Assets of the issuing entity. To the extent that the seller or the servicer does not repurchase a Primary Asset in the event of a breach of its representations and warranties with respect to the Primary Asset, the depositor will not be required to repurchase that Primary Asset. The seller will not have any other obligation with respect to the Primary Assets or the securities.
To the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement, following the discovery by or notice to the seller or the servicer of any breach of a representation and warranty of the seller or the servicer that materially and adversely affects the interests of the related issuing entity in any Primary Asset, the seller will be obligated to repurchase or the servicer will be obligated to purchase the Primary Asset, unless the seller or the servicer, as applicable, cures the breach in a timely fashion. The purchase price for any of these Primary Assets will generally be equal to the unpaid principal balance owed by the obligor on the Primary Asset, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the unpaid principal balance at the applicable contract rate to the last day of the month of repurchase (the ‘‘Repurchase Amount’’). This repurchase obligation will constitute the sole remedy available to the securityholders, the related trustee and any related indenture trustee for any uncured breach.
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Accounts
With respect to each issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC, the servicer will establish and maintain with the related indenture trustee, or the trustee will establish and maintain, (1) one or more accounts, on behalf of the related securityholders, into which all payments made on or in respect of the related Primary Assets will be deposited (the ‘‘Collection Account’’) and (2) an account, in the name of the indenture trustee on behalf of the noteholders, into which amounts released from the Collection Account and any Reserve Account or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement for payment to the noteholders will be deposited and from which all distributions to the noteholders will be made (the ‘‘Note Distribution Account’’). With respect to each issuing entity, the servicer or the related trustee will establish and maintain an account, in the name of the trustee on behalf of the certificateholders, into which amounts released from the Collection Account and any Reserve Account or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement for distribution to the certificateholders will be deposited and from which all distributions to the certificateholders will be made (the ‘‘Certificate Distribution Account’’). With respect to any grantor trust, the servicer or the related trustee will also establish and maintain the Collection Account and any other account in the name of the related trustee on behalf of the related certificateholders.
If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer will establish for each series of securities an additional account (the ‘‘Payahead Account’’), in the name of the related indenture trustee, in the case of an owner trust or an LLC, or trustee, in the case of a grantor trust, into which, to the extent required in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, early payments made by or on behalf of obligors on Precomputed Receivables will be deposited until the time these payments become due. Any other accounts to be established with respect to an issuing entity will be described in the related prospectus supplement.
For each series of securities, funds in the Collection Account, Note Distribution Account, Certificate Distribution Account and any Reserve Account or other accounts identified in the related prospectus supplement (collectively, the ‘‘Accounts’’) will be invested as provided in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, in Eligible Investments. Eligible Investments will generally be limited to obligations or securities that mature no later than the business day immediately preceding the next scheduled payment or distribution to securityholders of the series. To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, Investment Earnings on funds deposited in the Accounts, net of losses and investment expenses (collectively, ‘‘Investment Earnings’’), will be deposited in the applicable Collection Account on each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be.
Pre-Funding
If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, a portion of the issuance proceeds of the securities of a particular series (this amount, the ‘‘Pre-Funded Amount’’) may be deposited in an account (the ‘‘Pre-Funding Account’’) to be established with the indenture trustee in the case of an issuing entity that is an owner trust or an LLC, and the trustee, in the case of an issuing entity that is a grantor trust, which will be used to acquire additional Primary Assets from time to time during the time period specified in the related prospectus supplement (the ‘‘Pre-Funding Period’’). Prior to the investment of the Pre-Funded Amount in additional Primary Assets, the Pre-Funded Amount may be invested in one or more Eligible Investments.
During any Pre-Funding Period, the depositor or any other party specified in the related prospectus supplement will be obligated, subject only to the availability of additional Primary Assets, to transfer to the related issuing entity additional Primary Assets from time to time during the related Pre-Funding Period. Additional Primary Assets will be required to satisfy specific eligibility criteria more fully set forth in the related prospectus supplement, which eligibility criteria will be consistent with the eligibility criteria of the Receivables and other Primary Assets, as applicable, included in the property of the issuing entity as of the closing date subject to exceptions as are expressly stated in the related prospectus supplement.
Although the specific parameters of the Pre-Funding Account with respect to any issuance of securities will be specified in the related prospectus supplement, it is anticipated that generally:
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| • | the Pre-Funding Period will not exceed one year from the related closing date; |
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| • | that the additional Receivables to be acquired during the Pre-Funding Period will be subject to the same representations and warranties as the Primary Assets included in the related Issuing Entity Property on the closing date, although additional criteria may also be required to be satisfied, as described in the related prospectus supplement; and |
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| • | the Pre-Funded Amount will not exceed 50% of the principal amount of the securities issued pursuant to a particular offering. |
The utilization of a pre-funding arrangement for a series of securities is intended to improve the efficiency of the issuance of the securities and the sale of the Primary Assets to the related issuing entity through the incremental delivery of the applicable Primary Assets on the Closing Date and during a specified period following the Closing Date for that series of securities. Pre-funding arrangements allow for a more even accumulation of the Primary Assets by the depositor and the issuance of a larger principal amount of securities than would be the case without a pre-funding arrangement.
You should be aware that the initial Primary Assets and the subsequent Primary Assets may be originated using credit criteria different from the criteria applied to the Primary Assets disclosed in the related prospectus supplement and may be of a different credit quality and seasoning. The credit quality of the subsequent Primary Assets may vary as a result of increases or decreases in the credit quality of the related obligors within the predefined acceptable range, which variations could impact the performance of the overall pool of Receivables. The portfolio of initial Receivables may also be subject to greater seasoning than the subsequent Receivables due to the length of time elapsed from the dates of origination of those Receivables and the sale of those Receivables to the related issuing entity. Accordingly, less historical performance information may be available with respect to the subsequent Receivables. Moreover, following the transfer of subsequent Receivables to the applicable issuing entity, the characteristics of the entire pool of Receivables included in the Issuing Entity Property may vary from those of the Receivables initially transferred to the issuing entity.
Servicing Procedures
To assure uniform quality in servicing the Receivables and to reduce administrative costs, each issuing entity will designate the related servicer as custodian (except as may be set forth in the related prospectus supplement) to maintain possession, as the issuing entity’s agent, of the related Receivables and any other documents relating to the Receivable or to maintain control over the Receivables that constitute electronic chattel paper. The Receivables will not be segregated or marked to show that Receivables are owned by the issuing entity. However, the depositor’s and the servicer’s accounting records and computer systems will be marked to reflect the sale and assignment of the related Receivables to each issuing entity, and UCC financing statements reflecting the sale and assignment will be filed. Because the Receivables that are evidenced by tangible chattel paper will remain in the servicer’s possession and will not be stamped or otherwise marked to reflect the assignment to the issuing entity, if a subsequent purchaser were able to take physical possession of the Receivables without knowledge of the assignment, the issuing entity’s interest in the Receivables could be defeated. Similarly, the issuing entity’s interest in Receivables that constitute electronic chattel paper could be defeated if a subsequent purchaser were able to obtain control of the Receivables without knowledge of the assignment. In addition, in some cases, the issuing entity’s interest in collections that have been received by the servicer but not yet remitted to the related Collection Account could be defeated.
The servicer will make reasonable efforts to collect all payments due with respect to the Receivables and will, consistent with the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, follow the collection procedures as it follows with respect to comparable Receivables it services for itself and others. The prospectus supplement may specify that the servicer may, in its discretion, arrange with the obligor on a Receivable to extend or modify the payment schedule, but no arrangement will, if inconsistent with its normal procedures, for purposes of any Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, reduce the contract rate of,
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the amount of the scheduled payments under, or extend the final payment date of, any Receivable beyond the date specified with respect to any receivables pool in the related prospectus supplement. Some arrangements may result in the servicer purchasing the Receivables for the Repurchase Amount, while others may result in the servicer making Advances. The servicer may sell the related Financed Vehicle securing any Receivable at a public or private sale, or take any other action permitted by applicable law. See ‘‘Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables’’ in this prospectus.
Collections
With respect to each issuing entity, the servicer or the trustee will deposit all payments on the related Primary Assets, from whatever source, and all proceeds of the related Primary Assets, collected during the Collection Period into the related Collection Account within the period specified in the related prospectus supplement. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, these amounts may be remitted to the Collection Account by the servicer on a monthly basis on or prior to the applicable payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, if no Servicer Default exists and each other condition to making deposits less frequently than daily as may be specified by the Rating Agencies or set forth in the related prospectus supplement is satisfied. Pending deposit into the Collection Account, the collections may be invested by the servicer at its own risk and for its own benefit and will not be segregated from its own funds. If the servicer were unable or failed to remit the funds to the Collection Account on any payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, securityholders might incur a loss. To the extent set forth in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer may, in order to satisfy the requirements described above, obtain a letter of credit or other security for the benefit of the related issuing entity to secure timely remittances of collections on the related Primary Assets and payment of the aggregate Repurchase Amount with respect to Primary Assets repurchased by the servicer.
Collections on a Precomputed Receivable during any Collection Period will be applied first to the repayment of any outstanding Precomputed Advances made by the servicer with respect to the Receivable, as described below, and then to the scheduled monthly payment due on the Receivable. If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, any portion of the collections remaining after the scheduled monthly payment has been made (these excess amounts, the ‘‘Payaheads’’) will, unless the remaining amount is sufficient to prepay the Precomputed Receivable in full, and subject to limitations which, if applicable, will be specified in the related prospectus supplement, be transferred to and kept in the Payahead Account until a later payment date or distribution date on which the Payaheads may be applied either to the scheduled payment due during the related Collection Period or to prepay the Receivable in full.
Advances
If specified in the related prospectus supplement, to the extent the collections of interest and principal on a Precomputed Receivable for a Collection Period fall short of the related scheduled payment, the servicer generally will advance the shortfall (a ‘‘Precomputed Advance’’). Generally the servicer will be obligated to make a Precomputed Advance on a Precomputed Receivable only to the extent that the servicer, in its sole discretion, expects to recoup the Precomputed Advance from subsequent collections or recoveries on the Receivable or other Precomputed Receivables in the related receivables pool. The servicer will deposit the Precomputed Advance in the applicable Collection Account on or before the business day preceding the applicable payment date or distribution date, as the case may be. Generally the servicer will recoup its Precomputed Advance from subsequent payments by or on behalf of the related obligor or from insurance or liquidation proceeds with respect to the related Receivable and will release its right to reimbursement in conjunction with its purchase of the Receivable as servicer or, upon determining that reimbursement from the preceding sources is unlikely, will recoup its Precomputed Advance from subsequent collections.
If specified in the related prospectus supplement, on or before the business day prior to each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, the servicer will deposit into the related
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Collection Account an amount equal to the amount of interest that would have been due on the related Simple Interest Receivables at their respective contract rates for the related Collection Period, assuming that the Simple Interest Receivables are paid on their respective due dates, minus the amount of interest actually received on the Simple Interest Receivables during the applicable Collection Period (a ‘‘Simple Interest Advance’’, and together with Precomputed Advances, ‘‘Advances’’). If the calculation results in a negative number, an amount equal to the amount shall be paid to the servicer in reimbursement of outstanding Simple Interest Advances. In addition, if so specified in the related prospectus supplement, if a Simple Interest Receivable becomes a Liquidated Receivable (as the term is defined in the related prospectus supplement), the amount of accrued and unpaid interest on the Simple Interest Receivable that became a Liquidated Receivable, but not including interest for the then current Collection Period, will be withdrawn from the Collection Account and paid to the servicer in reimbursement of outstanding Simple Interest Advances. No advances of principal will be made with respect to Simple Interest Receivables.
Net Deposits
For administrative convenience, to the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement the servicer or the trustee may be permitted to make deposits of collections, aggregate Advances and Repurchase Amounts for any issuing entity for or in respect of each Collection Period net of distributions to be made to the servicer with respect to the Collection Period.
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses
To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, with respect to each issuing entity the related servicer will be entitled to receive, out of interest collected on or in respect of the related Primary Assets serviced by the servicer, a fee for each Collection Period (the ‘‘Servicing Fee’’) in an amount equal to the percentage per annum specified in the related prospectus supplement (the ‘‘Servicing Fee Rate’’) of the Pool Balance related to the Primary Assets as of the first day of the related Collection Period. To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer will also collect and retain any late fees, prepayment charges and other administrative fees or similar charges allowed by applicable law with respect to Receivables and will be entitled to reimbursement from each issuing entity for some liabilities. Payments by or on behalf of obligors will be allocated to scheduled payments under the related Receivable and late fees and other charges in accordance with the servicer’s normal practices and procedures.
If applicable, the Servicing Fee will compensate the servicer for performing the functions of a third party servicer of retail motor vehicle Receivables as an agent for the related issuing entity, including collecting and posting all payments, responding to inquiries of obligors on the Receivables, investigating delinquencies, sending payment statements and reporting the collateral. The Servicing Fee may also reimburse the servicer for particular taxes, the fees of the related indenture trustee and/or trustee, accounting fees, outside auditor fees, date processing cost and other costs incurred in connection with administering the Receivables.
Distributions
With respect to each series of securities, beginning on the payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, specified in the related prospectus supplement, distributions of principal and interest, or, where applicable, principal only or interest only, on each class of securities entitled to these distributions will be made by the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, to the certificateholders and noteholders of the series. The timing, calculation, allocation, order, source and priorities of, and requirements for, all payments to the holders of each class of notes and/or distributions to holders of each class of certificates will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
With respect to each issuing entity, on each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, collections on or in respect of the related Primary Assets will be transferred from the Collection Account to the Note Distribution Account or Certificate Distribution Account, as applicable, for
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payment or distribution to the noteholders and certificateholders to the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement. Credit or cash flow enhancement, such as a Reserve Account, will be available to cover shortfalls in the amount available for payment or distribution on the date to the extent specified in the related prospectus supplement. As and to the extent described in the related prospectus supplement, payments or distributions in respect of principal of a class of securities of a series may be subordinate to payments or distributions in respect of interest on the class, and distributions in respect of one or more classes of certificates of the series may be subordinate to payments in respect of the notes, if any, of the series or other classes of certificates. Payments or distributions of principal on the securities of a series may be based on the amount of principal collected or due, or the amount of realized losses incurred, in a Collection Period.
Subordination
If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, one or more classes of Subordinated Certificates (as described in ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts’’) for which credit enhancement is provided through subordination to receive distributions with respect to the Receivables will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Certificates of the same series. This subordination is intended to enhance the likelihood of regular receipt by holders of Senior Certificates of the full amount of scheduled monthly payments of principal and interest due them and to provide limited protection to the holders of the Senior Certificates against losses due to mortgagor defaults.
The protection afforded to the holders of Senior Certificates of a series of certificates for which credit enhancement is provided by the subordination feature described above will be effected by (i) the preferential right of these holders to receive, prior to any distribution being made to the related Subordinate Certificates (as described in ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts’’) on each distribution date, current distributions on the related motor vehicle loans of principal and interest due them on each distribution date out of the funds available for distribution on that date, (ii) by the right of these holders to receive future distributions on the Receivables that would otherwise have been payable to the holders of Subordinate Certificates and/or (iii) by the prior allocation to the Subordinate Certificates of all or a portion of losses realized on the related Receivables.
Although the subordination feature described above is intended to enhance the likelihood of timely payment of principal and interest to the holders of Senior Certificates, shortfalls could result in certain circumstances. For example, a shortfall in the payment of principal otherwise due the holders of Senior Certificates could occur if losses realized on the Receivables were exceptionally high and were concentrated in a particular month.
The holders of Subordinate Certificates will not be required to refund any amounts previously properly distributed to them, regardless of whether there are sufficient funds on a subsequent distribution date to make a full distribution to holders of each class of Senior Certificates of the same series.
Other Credit Enhancement
In addition to, or in substitution for, the subordination discussed above, credit enhancement may be provided with respect to any series of securities in one or more of the methods described below. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the material terms of such credit enhancement, including any limits on the timing or amount of such credit enhancement or any conditions that must be met before such credit enhancement may be accessed. If the provider of the credit enhancement is liable or contingently liable to provide payments representing 10% or more of the cash flow supporting any offered class of securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the name of the provider, the organizational form of the provider, the general character of the business of the provider and the financial information required by Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1114). Copies of the limited guarantee, financial guaranty insurance policy, surety bond or letter of credit, if any, relating to a series of securities will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K.
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Limited Guarantee. If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of securities, credit enhancement may be provided in the form of a limited guarantee issued by a guarantor named in that prospectus supplement. The limited guarantee may cover deficiencies in amounts otherwise payable on some or all of the securities of a series. The limited guarantee may cover timely distributions of interest or full distributions of principal or both on the basis of a schedule of principal distributions set forth in or determined in the manner specified in the related prospectus supplement. The limited guarantee may provide additional protection against losses on the Receivables, provide payment of administrative expenses, or establish a minimum reinvestment rate on the payments made on the Receivables or principal payment rate on the Receivables. A limited guarantee will be limited in amount to the dollar amount or percentage of the principal balance of the Receivables or securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy or Surety Bond. If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of securities, credit enhancement may be provided in the form of a financial guaranty insurance policy or a surety bond issued by one or more insurers named in that prospectus supplement. The financial guaranty insurance policy will guarantee, with respect to one or more classes of securities of the related series, timely distributions of interest and ultimate distributions of principal at the dates set forth in or determined in the manner specified in the prospectus supplement. If specified in the prospectus supplement, the financial guaranty insurance policy will also guarantee against any payment made to a securityholder that is subsequently recovered as a preferential transfer under the Bankruptcy Code.
Letter of Credit. If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of securities, credit enhancement may be provided by a letter of credit issued by a bank or other financial institution specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Under the letter of credit, the provider will be obligated to pay up to an aggregate fixed dollar amount, net of previous drawings on the letter, equal to the percentage specified in the prospectus supplement of the unpaid principal balance of the Receivables or of one or more classes of securities. If specified in the prospectus supplement, the letter of credit may permit drawings in the event of losses not covered by insurance policies or other credit support, such as losses arising from damage not covered by standard hazard insurance policies, losses resulting from the bankruptcy of a borrower and the application of certain provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, or losses resulting from denial of insurance coverage due to misrepresentations in connection with the origination of a motor vehicle loan. The amount available under the letter of credit will, in all cases, be reduced to the extent of the unreimbursed payments previously paid. The obligations of the provider under the letter of credit for each series of securities will expire at the earlier of the date specified in the prospectus supplement or the termination of the issuing entity.
Reserve Fund. If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, credit enhancement with respect to a series of securities may be provided by the establishment of one or more reserve funds or accounts for the series. Any reserve fund for a series may be funded (i) by a deposit of cash, U.S. Treasury securities or instruments evidencing entitlements to principal or interest payments, letters of credit, demand notes, certificates of deposit or a combination of these in the aggregate amount specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or (ii) by the deposit from time to time of certain amounts received on or in respect of the related Receivables, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If specified in the prospectus supplement, reserve funds may be established to provide limited protection, in an amount satisfactory to each Rating Agency, against certain interest shortfalls arising from the timing of principal prepayments, certain types of losses not covered by insurance policies or other credit support, such as losses arising from damage not covered by standard hazard insurance policies, losses resulting from the bankruptcy of a borrower and the application of certain provisions of the Bankruptcy Code or losses resulting from denial of insurance coverage due to fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the origination of a motor vehicle loan. Following each distribution date amounts in a reserve fund in excess of any required reserve fund amount may be released from the reserve fund under the conditions and to the extent specified in the prospectus supplement and will not be available for further application to the related securities.
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If specified in the prospectus supplement, any reinvestment income or other gain from investments in Eligible Investments will be credited to the related reserve fund for the series, and any loss resulting from the investments will be charged to the reserve fund. The reserve fund for a series will not be a part of the assets of the issuing entity.
Additional information concerning any reserve fund will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, including the initial balance of the reserve fund, the required reserve fund balance to be maintained, the purposes for which funds in the reserve fund may be applied to make distributions to securityholders and use of Investment Earnings from the reserve fund, if any.
Overcollateralization. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, subordination provisions of a series may be used to accelerate to a limited extent the amortization of one or more classes of securities relative to the amortization of the related Receivables. The accelerated amortization is achieved by the application of certain excess interest to the payment of principal of one or more classes of securities. This acceleration feature creates, with respect to the Receivables, overcollateralization which results from the excess of the aggregate principal balance of the related Receivables over the Class Balance of the related class or classes of securities. This acceleration may continue for the life of the related securities, or may have a shorter duration. In the case of limited acceleration, once the required level of overcollateralization is reached, and subject to certain provisions specified in the related prospectus supplement, this limited acceleration feature may cease, unless necessary to maintain the required level of overcollateralization.
Excess Interest. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the Receivables may generate more interest than is necessary to pay the interest earned on the classes of securities each month. The excess interest may be used to maintain overcollateralization, to pay interest that was previously earned but not paid to certain classes of securities and to reimburse certain classes of securities for losses and certain shortfalls that they experienced previously.
Liquidity Arrangements. If specified in the prospectus supplement, a series of securities may have the benefit of a liquidity facility with a liquidity provider. Such a liquidity facility or revolving liquidity facility will obligate the liquidity provider to extend liquidity to the issuing entity pursuant to the terms of the liquidity agreement. The specific terms of any liquidity agreement applicable to a series of securities and a description of the related provider will be included in the related prospectus supplement for a series of securities. The depositor, the sponsor or any of their affiliates may be providers of any liquidity agreement.
Repurchase or Put Obligations. If specified in the prospectus supplement, a series of securities may have the benefit of a repurchase or put obligation from another party. Such repurchase or put will obligate the other party to repurchase Receivables or sell Receivables pursuant to the terms of the underlying agreement. The specific terms of any repurchase or put obligation applicable to a series of securities and a description of the related party that is obligated will be included in the related prospectus supplement for a series of securities. The depositor, the sponsor or any of their affiliates may be such obligated party.
Yield Supplement Agreements, Accounts or Amounts. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the assets of the issuing entity may include an agreement, account or amount designated to supplement the yield generated by the Receivables. Any such agreement, account or amount may benefit one or more classes of securities.
Cash Flow Agreements
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the assets of the issuing entity may include cash flow agreements consisting only of one or more guaranteed investment contracts, swap agreements or interest rate cap or floor agreements (also called yield maintenance agreements), each of which agreements is intended to reduce the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the assets or on one or more classes of securities (each, a ‘‘Cash Flow Agreement’’). The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the name, organizational form and general character of the business of the counterparty under any Cash Flow Agreement. In addition, the prospectus supplement for the related securities will
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disclose the significance percentage, calculated in accordance with Item 1115 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115). To the extent this percentage is (a) 10% or more but less than 20%, the related prospectus supplement will provide financial data required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.301) or (b) greater than 20%, the related prospectus supplement will provide financial statements required by Item 1115(b)(2) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115) and, in either case, the related prospectus supplement will contain a description of the operation and material terms of the Cash Flow Agreement, including, without limitation, conditions to payment or limits on the timing or amount of payments and material provisions relating to the termination or substitution of the Cash Flow Agreement. Copies of the Cash Flow Agreement, if any, relating to a series of securities will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K.
Guaranteed Investment Contracts. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the trustee on behalf of the issuing entity may enter into one or more guaranteed investment contracts. Guaranteed investment contracts are generally used to maximize the investment income on funds held between payment dates pending distribution to securityholders. Under a guaranteed investment contract, the issuer of the contract, which is typically a highly rated financial institution, guarantees a fixed or floating rate of interest over the life of the contract, as well as the ultimate return of the principal. Any payments received from the issuer of the contract by the issuing entity will be distributed to the related class or classes of securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Yield Maintenance Agreements. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the trustee on behalf of the issuing entity will enter into one or more yield maintenance agreements in order to support the yield of one or more classes of securities. Generally, the counterparty to a yield maintenance agreement will receive an upfront payment and the Trust will have no ongoing payment obligations. Generally, if the index specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, which index will be one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year LIBOR, CMT, COFI, MTA or the Prime Rate, exceeds a percentage for a particular date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the counterparty to the yield maintenance agreement will be required to pay to the trustee an amount equal to that excess multiplied by a notional amount or the outstanding principal balance of one or more classes of securities multiplied by one-twelfth. This amount may be adjusted to reflect the actual number of days in the interest accrual period for the related class or classes of securities and will be paid to the class or classes of securities as specified in the related prospectus supplement.
Swap Agreements. If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the trustee on behalf of the issuing entity will enter into a swap agreement to support the yield on one or more classes of securities. Under the swap agreement, the issuing entity will be obligated to pay an amount equal to a certain percentage of a notional amount set forth in the related prospectus supplement to the counterparty and the issuing entity will be entitled to receive an amount equal to one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year LIBOR, CMT, COFI, MTA or the Prime Rate on the notional amount from the counterparty, until the swap agreement is terminated. Only the net amount of the two obligations will be paid by the appropriate party. In the event that the issuing entity is required to make a payment to the counterparty, that payment will be paid on the related distribution date prior to distributions to securityholders. Generally, any payments received from the counterparty by the issuing entity will be distributed to cover certain shortfalls as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If specified in the related prospectus supplement, the trustee on behalf of the issuing entity will enter into one or more swap agreements to cover any shortfalls on one or more classes of securities in the event those securities are auctioned to third-party investors on a date specified in the related prospectus supplement and the proceeds from the auction are less than the outstanding principal balance of the applicable class or classes of securities plus any accrued and unpaid interest. In the event the proceeds from the auction are greater than the outstanding principal balance of the applicable class or classes of securities plus any accrued and unpaid interest, this excess will be paid to the counterparty or counterparties under the swap agreement(s).
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Evidence as to Compliance
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will provide that the servicer will deliver annually to the related issuing entity and indenture trustee and/or trustee, as applicable, on or before the date specified in the Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, an officer’s certificate stating that (i) a review of the servicer’s activities during the preceding calendar year and of performance under the applicable Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement has been made under the supervision of the officer, and (ii) to the best of the officer’s knowledge, based on the review, the Servicer or Master Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under the applicable Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement throughout the year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any obligation, specifying the default known to the officer and the nature and status of the default.
In addition, each party that participates in the servicing and administration of more than 5% of the Receivables and other assets comprising the related issuing entity will deliver annually to the related issuing entity and indenture trustee and/or trustee, as applicable, a report (an ‘‘Assessment of Compliance’’) that assesses compliance by that party with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1122) and that contains the following:
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| • | a statement of the party’s responsibility for assessing compliance with the servicing criteria applicable to it; |
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| • | a statement that the party used the criteria in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB to assess compliance with the applicable servicing criteria; |
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| • | the party’s Assessment of Compliance with the applicable servicing criteria during and as of the end of the prior calendar year, setting forth any material instance of noncompliance identified by the party; and |
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| • | a statement that a registered public accounting firm has issued an Attestation Report on the party’s Assessment of Compliance with the applicable servicing criteria during and as of the end of the prior calendar year. |
Each party which is required to deliver an Assessment of Compliance will also be required to simultaneously deliver a report (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, concerning the party’s assessment of compliance with the applicable servicing criteria.
Statements to Trustees and the Issuing Entity
Prior to each payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, with respect to each series of securities, the servicer will provide to the applicable indenture trustee, if any, and the applicable trustee as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Collection Period a statement setting forth substantially the same information as is required to be provided in the periodic reports provided to securityholders of the series as described under ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Statements to Securityholders’’ in this prospectus.
Description of the Administration Agreement
The servicer or another party specified in the related prospectus supplement, in its capacity as administrator, may enter into an administration agreement, which may be amended and supplemented from time to time, with the issuing entity and the related indenture trustee pursuant to which the administrator will agree, to the extent provided in the administration agreement, to provide the notices and to perform other administrative obligations on behalf of the issuing entity required by the related Indenture and the Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable. With respect to any issuing entity, as compensation for the performance of the administrator’s obligations under the applicable administration agreement and as reimbursement for
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its expenses related thereto, the administrator will be entitled to a monthly administration fee if so provided in the related prospectus supplement.
Certain Matters Regarding the Servicer
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will provide that the servicer may not resign from its obligations and duties as servicer under the applicable Sale and Servicing or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, except upon determination that the servicer’s performance of his duties is no longer permissible under applicable law or if resignation is required by regulatory authorities. No resignation will become effective until the related indenture trustee or trustee, as applicable, or a successor servicer has assumed the servicing obligations and duties under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable.
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will further provide that neither the servicer nor any of its directors, officers, employees and agents will be under any liability to the related issuing entity or securityholders for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, or for errors in judgment; provided, that neither the servicer nor any person will be protected against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the servicer’s duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the applicable agreement.
Under the circumstances specified in each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, any entity into which the servicer may be merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the servicer is a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the business of the servicer, or any corporation which assumes the obligations of the servicer, will be the successor to the servicer under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable.
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will provide that the servicer is permitted to delegate any and all of its servicing duties to any of its affiliates or other third parties, provided that the servicer will remain obligated and liable for servicing the Receivables as if the servicer alone were servicing the Receivables.
Servicer Defaults
As specified in the related prospectus supplement, a ‘‘Servicer Default’’ under each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, will generally (subject to any qualifications discussed below or set forth in the related prospectus supplement) consist of:
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| • | any failure by the servicer to deliver to the related trustee or indenture trustee, as applicable, for deposit in any of the Accounts any required payment or to direct the related indenture trustee or trustee, as applicable, to make any required payments or distributions from the Accounts; |
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| • | any failure by the servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect any covenant or agreement in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, which failure materially and adversely affects the rights of the related securityholders; |
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| • | specific events of bankruptcy, insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings and particular actions by the servicer indicating its insolvency, reorganization pursuant to bankruptcy proceedings or inability to pay its obligations; and |
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| • | any other events as may be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. |
However, if a bankruptcy trustee or similar official has been appointed for the servicer, and no Servicer Default other than such bankruptcy or insolvency related events has occurred, that bankruptcy trustee or official may have the power to prevent the indenture trustee or the securityholders from effecting a transfer of servicing.
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Amendment
Each of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements may be amended by the parties to the Transfer and Servicing Agreements without the consent of the related noteholders or certificateholders as set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
The Transfer and Servicing Agreements may also be amended from time to time by the parties to the Transfer and Servicing Agreements with the consent of the holders of notes evidencing the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes, if any, and with the consent of the holders of certificates evidencing the requisite percentage as specified in the related prospectus supplement of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding certificates, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the related Transfer and Servicing Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the noteholders or certificateholders, as applicable; provided that no amendment may (1) increase or reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the timing of, collections of payments on or in respect of the related Primary Assets or distributions that are required to be made for the benefit of the noteholders or certificateholders or (2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the notes or certificates of the series the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, without the consent of the holders of all of the outstanding notes or certificates, as the case may be, of the series.
Payment in Full of the Notes
Upon the payment in full of all outstanding notes of a given series and the satisfaction and discharge of the related Indenture, the related trustee will succeed to all the rights of the indenture trustee, and the certificateholders of the series generally will succeed to the rights of the noteholders of the series under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable.
Termination
The obligations of the related servicer, the related trustee and the related indenture trustee, if any, with respect to an issuing entity pursuant to the related Transfer and Servicing Agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of:
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| • | the maturity or other liquidation of the last Primary Asset and the disposition of any amounts received upon liquidation of any remaining Primary Asset; and |
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| • | (a) the payment to noteholders, if any, and certificateholders of all amounts required to be paid to them pursuant to the Transfer and Servicing Agreements, (b) if applicable, the termination of the related insurance policy in accordance with its terms and the surrender of the insurance policy to the related insurer for cancellation, (c) the payment of all amounts owed to the trustee or indenture trustee under the Sale and Servicing Agreements, the administration agreement and the Indenture and (d) if applicable, the payment of all amounts owed to any credit enhancement provider. |
If so provided in the related prospectus supplement, in order to avoid excessive administrative expenses, the related servicer will be permitted, at its option, to purchase from an issuing entity all remaining Primary Assets as of the end of any Collection Period, if the then outstanding Pool Balance is below a specified percentage of the Pool Balance as of the related cutoff date, at a purchase price equal to the price specified in the related prospectus supplement.
As more fully described in the related prospectus supplement, any outstanding notes of the related issuing entity will be redeemed concurrently with either of the events specified in the two preceding paragraphs, and the subsequent distribution to the related certificateholders, if any, of all amounts required to be distributed to them pursuant to the applicable Trust Agreement will effect early retirement of the certificates of that series. The trustee or indenture trustee will give written notice of termination to each securityholder of record. The final payment or distribution to any
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securityholder will be made only upon surrender and cancellation of the securityholder’s security at an office or agency of the trustee or indenture trustee specified in the notice of termination. The trustee or indenture trustee will return, or cause to be returned, any unclaimed funds to the issuing entity.
If and to the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, the indenture trustee or trustee, as applicable, will, within ten days following a payment date or distribution date, as the case may be, upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the related prospectus supplement, solicit bids for the purchase of the Primary Assets remaining in the issuing entity, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the related prospectus supplement. If the indenture trustee or trustee receives satisfactory bids as described in the related prospectus supplement, then the Primary Assets remaining in the issuing entity will be sold to the highest bidder.
Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables
Rights in the Receivables
The transfer of the Receivables by the seller under the Receivables Purchase Agreement to the depositor, and by the depositor to the applicable issuing entity, and the grant thereof to an indenture trustee, if any, the perfection of the security interests in the Receivables and the enforcement of rights to realize on the related Financed Vehicles as collateral for the Receivables are subject to a number of federal and State laws, including the Uniform Commercial Code and certificate of title act as in effect in various states. The servicer and the depositor will take the actions described below to perfect the rights of the applicable trustee and the indenture trustee in the Receivables.
Under each Sale and Servicing Agreement, Pooling and Servicing Agreement or Indenture, as applicable, the servicer or a subservicer may be appointed by the applicable trustee or indenture trustee to act as the custodian of the Receivables if the indenture trustee is not acting as custodian. The custodian will have physical possession of the Receivables. While the Receivables will not be physically segregated from the other motor vehicle installment sale contracts or installment loans of the custodian, or those for which the custodian services for others, or marked to indicate the ownership interest thereof by the issuing entity, appropriate Form UCC-1 financing statements reflecting the transfer and assignment of the Receivables by the seller to the depositor, the contribution and assignment by the depositor to the issuing entity and the grant of a security interest by the issuing entity to the indenture trustee will be filed to perfect that interest and give notice of the issuing entity’s ownership interest in, and the indenture trustee’s security interest in the Receivables. If, through inadvertence or otherwise, any of the Receivables were sold or pledged to another party who purchased (including a pledgee) the Receivables in the ordinary course of its business and took possession of the original contracts in tangible form or ‘‘control’’ of the authoritative copy of the contracts in electronic form (collectively, ‘‘Chattel Paper’’) giving rise to the Receivables, the purchaser would acquire an interest in the Receivables superior to the interests of the issuing entity and the indenture trustee if the purchaser acquired the Receivables for value and without knowledge that the purchase violates the rights of the issuing entity or the indenture trustee, which could cause investors to suffer delays or losses on their securities.
Generally, the rights held by assignees of the Receivables, including without limitation the issuing entity and the indenture trustee, will be subject to:
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| • | all the terms of the contracts related to or evidencing the Receivable or any defense or claim in recoupment arising from the transaction; and |
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| • | any other defense or claim of the obligor against the assignor of such Receivable which accrues before the obligor receives notification of the assignment from either the assignee or assignor. |
Because it is not anticipated that any of the obligors would receive notice of the assignment of any of the Receivables, the issuing entity and the trustee or indenture trustee will be subject to defenses or claims of the obligor against the assignor even if such claims are unrelated to the Receivable.
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Security Interests in Financed Vehicles
In states in which retail motor vehicle installment loan agreements or retail motor vehicle installment sale contracts such as the Receivables evidence the credit sale of motor vehicles by dealers to obligors, the contracts also constitute personal property security agreements and include grants of security interests in the vehicles under the UCC as in effect in these states. Perfection of security interests in the motor vehicles financed, directly or indirectly, by a seller is generally governed by the motor vehicle registration laws of the state in which the vehicle is located. In general, a security interest in a motor vehicle is perfected by obtaining physical possession of the certificate of title to the Financed Vehicle and/or notation of the secured party’s lien on the vehicle’s certificate of title. However, in California and in certain other states, certificates of title and the notation of the related lien, may be maintained solely in the electronic records of the applicable department of motor vehicles or the analogous state office. As a result, any reference to a certificate of title in this prospectus or in the related prospectus supplement includes certificates of title maintained in physical form and electronic form which may also be held by third-party servicers. In some states, certificates of title maintained in physical form are held by the obligor and not the lienholder or a third-party servicer.
The seller or originator will take all actions necessary under the laws of the state which issued the certificate of title for the Financed Vehicle to perfect the seller’s or originator’s security interest in the Financed Vehicle, including, where applicable, obtaining possession of the certificate of title, having a notation of its lien recorded on the vehicle’s certificate of title, having its lien recorded in the applicable state’s records or filing a Form UCC-1 financing statement. If the seller or originator, because of clerical error or otherwise, has failed to take any such required action with respect to a Financed Vehicle, it will not have a perfected security interest and its security interest may be subordinate to the interest of, among others, subsequent purchasers of the Financed Vehicle that give value without notice of the seller’s or originator’s security interest and to whom a certificate of ownership is issued in the purchaser’s name, holders of perfected security interests in the Financed Vehicle and the trustee in bankruptcy of the obligor. The seller’s or originator’s security interest may also be subordinate to third parties in the event of fraud or forgery by the obligor or administrative error by state recording officials or in the circumstances noted below.
Each originator will sell, either directly or indirectly, the Receivables and assign its security interest in each Financed Vehicle to the seller. The seller will sell the Receivables and assign the security interest in each Financed Vehicle to the related issuing entity. However, because of administrative burden and expense, neither the originator, the seller nor the related trustee will amend any certificate of title to identify the issuing entity as the new secured party on the certificates of title relating to the Financed Vehicles. To the extent provided in the related prospectus supplement, the servicer may hold certificates of title relating to the Financed Vehicles in its possession as custodian for the Issuer pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ in this prospectus.
In most states, assignments such as those under the related Trust Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, are effective conveyances of a security interest in the related Financed Vehicle without amendment of any lien noted on the vehicle’s certificate of title, and the assignee succeeds by assignment to the assignor’s rights as secured party. Although re-registration of the motor vehicle is not necessary in these states to convey a perfected security interest in the Financed Vehicles to an issuing entity, because the related issuing entity will not be listed as legal owner on the certificates of title to the Financed Vehicles, an issuing entity’s security interest could be defeated through fraud or negligence. However, in most states in the absence of fraud or forgery by the vehicle owner or the servicer or administrative error by state of local agencies, the notation of the seller’s lien on a certificate of title will be sufficient to protect an issuing entity against the rights of subsequent purchasers of a Financed Vehicle from the obligor or subsequent creditors of the obligor who take a security interest in a Financed Vehicle. If there are any Financed Vehicles as to which the seller fails to obtain a first-priority perfected security interest, the issuing entity’s security interest would be subordinate to, among others, subsequent purchasers of Financed Vehicles and holders of
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perfected security interests in Financed Vehicles. A failure, however, would constitute a breach of the seller’s or the servicer’s representations and warranties under the related Transfer and Servicing Agreement and the seller will be required to repurchase or the servicer will be required to purchase the Receivable from the issuing entity unless the breach is cured in a timely manner. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ and ‘‘Risk Factors — Interests of other persons in the Receivables and Financed Vehicles could be superior to the issuing entity's interest, which may result in reduced payments on your securities’’ in this prospectus.
Under the laws of most states in which a perfected security interest is governed by a certificate of title statute, a perfected security interest in a motor vehicle continues for four months after the vehicle is re-titled in a new state from the one in which it was initially titled (unless perfection would have otherwise cleared before then under the laws of the first state). A majority of these states require surrender of a certificate of title to re-title a vehicle. Accordingly, a secured party must surrender possession if it holds the certificate of title of the vehicle or, in the case of motor vehicles registered in states providing for the notation of a lien on the certificate of title but not possession by the secured party, the secured party would receive notice of surrender from the state of re-registration if the security interest is noted on the certificate of title. Thus, the secured party would have the opportunity to reperfect its security interest in the motor vehicle in the state of relocation. However, these procedural safeguards will not protect the secured party if, through fraud, forgery or administrative error, an obligor somehow procures a new certificate of title that does not list the secured party’s lien. In the ordinary course of servicing the Receivables, the servicer will take steps to effect re-perfection upon receipt of notice of re-registration or information from the obligor as to relocation. Similarly, when an obligor sells a Financed Vehicle and the purchaser of that Financed Vehicle attempts to re-register the motor vehicle, the seller or other person holding the certificate of title must surrender possession of the certificate of title or will receive notice as a result of having its lien noted on the certificate of title and accordingly will have an opportunity to require satisfaction of the related Receivable before its lien is released. Under each Sale and Servicing Agreement or Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, the servicer will be obligated to take appropriate steps, at its own expense, to maintain perfection of security interests in the related Financed Vehicles and is obligated to purchase the related Receivable if it fails to do so.
Under the laws of most states, liens for repairs performed on a motor vehicle and liens for unpaid taxes take priority over even a perfected, first-priority security interest in the vehicle. The Code also grants priority to particular federal tax liens over the lien of a secured party. The laws of some states and federal law permit the confiscation of motor vehicles by governmental authorities under some circumstances if used in unlawful activities, which may result in the loss of a secured party’s perfected security interest in a confiscated motor vehicle. On each closing date, the seller or the servicer, as applicable, will represent and warrant that, as of the date any Receivable is sold to the issuing entity, the security interest in the related Financed Vehicle is or will be prior to all other present liens, other than tax liens and other liens that arise by operation of law, upon and security interests in the Financed Vehicle. However, liens for repairs or taxes could arise, or the confiscation of a Financed Vehicle could occur, at any time during the term of a Receivable. No notice will be given to the related trustee, the related indenture trustee, if any, or related securityholders in the event a lien arises or confiscation occurs. Any lien or confiscation arising or occurring after the closing date will not give rise to a repurchase obligation of the seller or a purchase obligation of the servicer.
Repossession
In the event of default by an obligor, the holder of the related retail installment sale contract has all the remedies of a secured party under the UCC, except where specifically limited by other state laws. The UCC remedies of a secured party include the right to repossession by self-help means, unless these means would constitute a breach of the peace. Self-help repossession is the method employed by the servicer in most cases and is accomplished simply by taking possession of the related motor vehicle. In cases where the obligor objects or raises a defense to repossession, or if otherwise required by applicable state law, a court order must be obtained from the appropriate state court, and the vehicle must then be recovered in accordance with that order. In some jurisdictions, the secured
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party is required to notify an obligor debtor of the default and the intent to repossess the collateral and to give the obligor a period of time within which to cure the default prior to repossession. Generally, the right to cure may only be exercised on a limited number of occasions during the term of the related contract.
Notice of Sale; Redemption Rights
The UCC and other state laws require the secured party to provide the obligor with reasonable notice of the date, time and place of any public sale and/or the date after which any private sale of the collateral may be held. The obligor has the right to redeem the collateral prior to actual sale by paying the secured party the unpaid principal balance of the obligation, accrued interest on the unpaid principal balance of the obligation, plus reasonable expenses for repossessing, holding and preparing the collateral for disposition and arranging for its sale, plus, in some jurisdictions, reasonable attorneys’ fees or, in some states, by payment of delinquent installments or the unpaid principal balance of the related obligation.
Deficiency Judgments and Excess Proceeds
The proceeds of the resale of any Financed Vehicle generally will be applied first to the expenses of resale and repossession and then to the satisfaction of the related indebtedness. While some states impose prohibitions or limitations on deficiency judgments if the net proceeds from any resale do not cover the full amount of the indebtedness, a deficiency judgment can be sought in other states that do not prohibit or limit deficiency judgments. However, the deficiency judgment would be a personal judgment against the obligor for the shortfall, and a defaulting obligor can be expected to have very little capital or sources of income available following repossession; in many cases, therefore, it may not be useful to seek a deficiency judgment or, if one is obtained, it may be settled at a significant discount or be uncollectible. In addition to the notice requirement, the UCC requires that every aspect of the sale or other disposition, including the method, manner, time, place and terms, be ‘‘commercially reasonable’’. Generally, courts have held that when a sale is not ‘‘commercially reasonable’’, the secured party loses its right to a deficiency judgment against a consumer debtor. In addition, the UCC permits the debtor or other interested party to recover for any loss caused by noncompliance with the provisions of the UCC. Also, prior to a sale, the UCC permits the debtor or other interested person to restrain the secured party from disposing of the collateral if it is established that the secured party is not proceeding in accordance with the ‘‘default’’ provisions under the UCC.
Occasionally, after the resale of a motor vehicle and payment of all related expenses and indebtedness, there is a surplus of funds. In that case, the UCC requires the creditor to remit the surplus to any holder of a subordinate lien who makes a demand for turnover of proceeds with respect to the related vehicle or, if no such subordinate lienholder exists, to the former owner of the vehicle.
Consumer Protection Laws
Numerous federal and state consumer protection laws and related regulations impose substantial requirements upon creditors and servicers involved in consumer finance. These laws include the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulations B and Z, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, state adaptations of the National Consumer Act and of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, and state motor vehicle retail installment sales acts, retail installment sales acts, consumer lending laws, unfair or deceptive practices acts including requirements regarding the adequate disclosure of contract terms and limitations on contract terms, collection practices and creditor remedies and other similar laws. Many states have adopted ‘‘lemon laws’’ which provide redress to consumers who purchase a vehicle that remains out of compliance with its manufacturer’s warranty after a specified number of attempts to correct a problem or a specified time period. Also, the laws of some states impose finance charge ceilings and other restrictions on consumer transactions
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and require contract disclosures in addition to those required under other restrictions on consumer transactions and require contract disclosures in addition to those required under federal law. These requirements impose specific statutory liabilities upon creditors who fail to comply with their provisions. In some cases, this liability could affect the ability of an assignee, such as an issuing entity, to enforce consumer finance contracts such as the Receivables that represent the obligations of retail obligors.
The so-called ‘‘Holder-in-Due-Course’’ rule of the Federal Trade Commission (the ‘‘FTC Rule’’), the provisions of which are generally duplicated by the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, other statutes or the common law, has the effect of subjecting a seller in a consumer credit transaction, and some related creditors and their assignees, to all claims and defenses that the obligor in the transaction could assert against the seller of the goods. Liability under the FTC Rule is limited to the amounts paid by the obligor under the contract, and the holder of the contract may also be unable to collect any balance remaining due under the contract from the obligor. Most of the Receivables will be subject to the requirements of the FTC Rule. Accordingly, each issuing entity, as holder of the related Receivables, will be subject to any claims or defenses that the purchasers of the related Financed Vehicles may assert against the sellers of those Financed Vehicles. If an obligor were successful in asserting any claims or defenses, the claim or defense would constitute a breach of the seller’s or the servicer’s warranties under the related Transfer and Servicing Agreements and would create an obligation of the seller to repurchase or the servicer to purchase the Receivable unless the breach is cured in a timely manner. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ in this prospectus.
Courts have applied general equitable principles to secured parties pursuing repossession and litigation involving deficiency balances. These equitable principles may have the effect of relieving an obligor from some or all of the legal consequences of a default.
In several cases, consumers have asserted that the self-help remedies of secured parties under the UCC and related laws violate the due process protections of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Courts have generally either upheld the notice provisions of the UCC and related laws as reasonable or have found that the creditors’ repossession and resale do not involve sufficient state action to afford constitutional protection to borrowers.
Under the related Transfer and Servicing Agreements, the seller or the servicer will represent and warrant that each Receivable complies in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws. Accordingly, if an obligor has a claim against an issuing entity for a violation of any law and that claim materially and adversely affects the interests of the issuing entity in a Receivable, the violation would constitute a breach of the seller’s or the servicer’s, as applicable, representation and warranty and would create an obligation of the seller to repurchase or the servicer to purchase the Receivable unless the breach is cured. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ in this prospectus.
Repurchase Obligation
Under the related Transfer and Servicing Agreements, the seller or the servicer will make representations and warranties relating to the validity, subsistence, perfection and priority of the security interest in each Financed Vehicle as of the related closing date. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Sale and Assignment of the Primary Assets’’ in this prospectus. Accordingly, if any defect exists in the perfection of the security interest in the name of the seller in any Financed Vehicle as of the closing date and that defect adversely affects the related issuing entity’s interest in the related Receivable, the defect would constitute a breach of a warranty under the related Transfer and Servicing Agreements and would create an obligation of the seller to repurchase or the servicer to purchase the Receivable unless the breach is cured. Additionally, under the Sale and Servicing Agreement or the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as applicable, the servicer will make affirmative covenants regarding, among other things, the maintenance of the security interest in the name of the seller or originator in each Financed Vehicle, the breach of which would create an obligation of the servicer to purchase any affected Receivable from the related issuing entity unless the breach is cured.
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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 obligor’s Receivable (including a borrower who was in reserve status and is called to active duty after origination of the Receivable), may not be charged interest (including fees and charges) above an annual rate of 6% during the period of such obligor’s active duty status, unless a court orders otherwise upon application of the lender. Interest at a rate in excess of 6% that would otherwise have been incurred but for the Relief Act is forgiven. The Relief Act applies to obligors who are servicemembers and includes members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves (when such enlisted person is called to active duty), Coast Guard, officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officers of the U.S. Public Health Service assigned to duty with the Army or Navy and certain other persons as specified in the Relief Act. Because the Relief Act applies to obligors who enter military service (including reservists who are called to active duty) after origination of the related Receivable, no information can be provided as to the number of Receivables that may be affected by the Relief Act. In addition, the response of the United States to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the United States-led invasion and occupation of Iraq have included military operations that may increase the number of citizens who are in active military service, including persons in reserve status who have been called or will be called to active duty. Application of the Relief Act would adversely affect, for an indeterminate period of time, the ability of the servicer to collect full amounts of interest on certain of the Receivables. Any shortfall in interest collections resulting from the application of the Relief Act or similar legislation or regulations which would not be recoverable from the related Receivables, would result in a reduction of the amounts distributable to the securityholders. In addition, the Relief Act imposes limitations that would impair the ability of the servicer to foreclose on an affected Receivable during the obligor’s period of active duty status, and, under certain circumstances, during an additional three month period thereafter. Also, the laws of some states impose similar limitations during the obligor’s period of active duty status and, under certain circumstances, during an additional period thereafter as specified under the laws of those states. Thus, in the event that the Relief Act or similar state legislation or regulations applies to any Receivable which goes into default, there may be delays in payment and losses on your securities. Any other interest shortfalls, deferrals or forgiveness of payments on the Receivables resulting from the application of the Relief Act or similar state legislation or regulations may result in delays in payments or losses on your securities.
Any shortfalls or losses arising in connection with the matters described above, to the extent not covered by amounts payable to the securityholders from amounts available under a credit enhancement mechanism, could result in losses to securityholders.
Other Limitations
In addition to the laws limiting or prohibiting deficiency judgments, numerous other statutory provisions, including the Bankruptcy Code and similar state laws, may interfere with or affect the ability of a secured party to realize upon collateral or to enforce a deficiency judgment. For example, if an Obligor commences bankruptcy proceedings, a bankruptcy court may prevent a creditor from repossessing a vehicle, and, as part of the rehabilitation plan, reduce the amount of the secured indebtedness to the market value of the vehicle at the time of filing of the bankruptcy petition, as determined by the bankruptcy court, leaving the creditor as a general unsecured creditor for the remainder of the indebtedness. A bankruptcy court may also reduce the monthly payments due under a Receivable or change the rate of interest and time of repayment of the Receivable.
Any shortfalls or losses arising in connection with the matters described above, to the extent not covered by amounts payable to the securityholders from amounts available under a credit enhancement mechanism, could result in losses to securityholders.
Material Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a general discussion of the anticipated material federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of securities. Additional federal income tax considerations
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relevant to particular securities may be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. This summary has been reviewed by special federal income tax counsel to the depositor named in the related prospectus supplement (‘‘Tax Counsel’’). The summary is addressed only to original purchasers of an interest in the securities offered hereunder, deals only with interests in securities held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code (the ‘‘Code’’) and, except as specifically set forth below, does not address tax consequences of holding interests in securities that may be relevant to investors in light of their own investment circumstances or their special tax situations, such as certain financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities, Non-U.S. Persons, or investors holding interests in the securities as part of a conversion transaction, as part of a hedge or hedging transaction, or as a position in a straddle for tax purposes. Further, this discussion does not address alternative minimum tax consequences or any tax consequences to holders of equity interests in a holder of an interest in a security. Investors should be aware that this summary and the opinions described herein may not be able to be relied upon to avoid any income tax penalties that may be imposed with respect to the securities. Moreover, there are no cases or Internal Revenue Service rulings on similar transactions involving both debt and equity interests issued by a Trust with terms similar to those of the securities. As a result, the IRS may disagree with all or a part of the discussion below. It is suggested that prospective investors consult their own tax advisors in determining the federal, state, local, foreign and any other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the securities.
The following summary is based upon current provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code and judicial or ruling authority, all of which are subject to change, which change may be retroactive. Each issuing entity will be provided with an opinion of counsel regarding the federal income tax matters discussed below. An opinion of counsel, however, is not binding on the IRS or the courts. No ruling on any of the issues discussed below will be sought from the IRS. For purposes of the following summary, references to the issuing entity, the notes, the certificates and related terms, parties and documents shall be deemed to refer to each issuing entity and the notes, certificates and related terms, parties and documents applicable to that issuing entity. The prospectus supplement for each series of certificates will specify whether the issuing entity will be treated as a partnership (or a disregarded entity) or as a grantor trust.
Summary of Tax Opinions
As more fully described in this prospectus, Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion generally to the effect that an issuing entity either (i) will not be an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or (ii) will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for such purposes, and will be classified as a grantor trust under subpart E, Part I of subchapter J of the Code, and additionally that any notes will be classified as debt for federal income tax purposes. Additionally, Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion generally to the effect that the statements set forth in this section, entitled ‘‘Material Federal Income Tax Consequences,’’ to the extent that they constitute matters of law or legal conclusions, are correct in all material respects.
Tax Counsel has not been asked to opine with respect to any other federal income tax matter, and the balance of this summary does not purport to set forth any opinion of Tax Counsel with respect to any other particular federal income tax matter. For example, the discussion of original issue discount below is a general summary of federal income tax matters relating to notes or Primary Assets that may be treated as having original issue discount, which summary Tax Counsel opines is correct in all material respects as described above; however, that summary does not set forth any opinion as to whether any particular note or Primary Asset will be treated as having original issue discount. Additionally, those matters as to which Tax Counsel renders opinions should be understood to be subject to the additional considerations in the discussions relating to those opinions set forth below.
Tax Counsel has not been asked to, and will not, deliver any opinion regarding the state or local income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of a beneficial interest in the notes. See ‘‘Certain State Tax Consequences.’’
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This summary of the substance of the opinions rendered by Tax Counsel is not intended as a substitute for an investor’s review of the remainder of this summary of income tax consequences, or for consultation with its own advisors or tax return preparer.
Tax Treatment of Issuing Entities Other Than Grantor Trusts
In the case of an issuing entity which is a Trust which is not intended to be treated as a grantor trust (an ‘‘Owner Trust’’), and in the case of an issuing entity which is an LLC, Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion that the issuing entity will not be an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. The opinion of Tax Counsel will be based on the assumption that the terms of the Trust Agreement or LLC Agreement (the ‘‘Issuing Entity Agreement’’), as applicable, and related documents will be complied with, and on Tax Counsel’s conclusions that the nature of the income of the issuing entity, or restrictions, if any, on transfers of the certificates, will exempt the issuing entity from the rule that some publicly traded partnerships are taxable as corporations.
If an Owner Trust or an LLC were taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, that entity would be subject to corporate income tax on its taxable income. Its taxable income would include all its income from the related Primary Assets, possibly reduced by interest expense on any notes. Any corporate income tax could materially reduce cash available to make payments on the notes and distributions on the certificates, and beneficial owners of certificates (‘‘Certificate Owners’’) could be liable for any resulting corporate income tax that is unpaid by the Trust.
Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes
Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness. The issuing entity will agree, and the beneficial owners of the notes (the ‘‘Note Owners’’) will agree by their purchase of notes, to treat the notes as debt for federal income tax purposes. Tax Counsel will, except as otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, deliver its opinion that the notes will be classified as debt for federal income tax purposes. The discussion below assumes this characterization of the notes is correct.
OID. The discussion assumes that the interest formula for the notes meets the requirements for ‘‘qualified stated interest’’ under Treasury regulations (the ‘‘OID Regulations’’) relating to original issue discount (‘‘OID’’), and that any OID on the notes (i.e., any excess of the principal amount of the notes over their issue price) does not exceed a de minimis amount (i.e., 0.25 percent of their principal amount multiplied by the number of full years included in determining their weighted average maturity), all within the meaning of the OID Regulations. In determining whether any OID on the notes is de minimis, the depositor expects to use a reasonable assumption regarding prepayments (a ‘‘Prepayment Assumption’’) to determine the weighted average maturity of the notes. If these conditions are not satisfied with respect to any given series of notes, additional tax considerations with respect to those notes will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Interest Income on the Notes. Based on the above assumptions, except as discussed in the following paragraph, the notes will not be considered issued with OID. The stated interest on the notes will be taxable to a Note Owner as ordinary interest income when received or accrued in accordance with that Note Owner’s method of tax accounting. Under the OID Regulations, a Note Owner of a note issued with a de minimis amount of OID must include that OID in income, on a pro rata basis, as principal payments are made on the note. A purchaser who buys a Note for more or less than its principal amount will generally be subject, respectively, to the premium amortization or market discount rules of the Code.
A Note Owner of a note that has a fixed maturity date of not more than one year from the issue date of that note (a ‘‘Short-Term Note’’) may be subject to special rules. An accrual basis Note Owner of a Short-Term Note (and some cash method Note Owners, including, but not limited to, regulated investment companies, as set forth in Section 1281 of the Code) generally would be required to report interest income as interest accrues on a straight-line basis or under a constant yield method over the term of each interest period. Other cash basis Note Owners of a Short-Term Note would, in general,
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be required to report interest income as interest is paid (or, if earlier, upon the taxable disposition of the Short-Term Note). However, a cash basis Note Owner of a Short-Term Note reporting interest income as it is paid may be required to defer a portion of any interest expense otherwise deductible on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry the Short-Term Note until the taxable disposition of the Short-Term Note. A cash basis Note Owner that is not required to report interest income as it accrues under Section 1281 may elect to accrue interest income on all non-government debt obligations with a term of one year or less, in which case the Note Owner would not be subject to the interest expense deferral rule referred to in the preceding sentence. Special rules apply if a Short-Term Note is purchased for more or less than its principal amount.
Sale or Other Disposition. If a Note Owner sells a note, the Note Owner will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the Note Owner’s adjusted tax basis in the note. The adjusted tax basis of a note to a particular Note Owner will equal the Note Owner’s cost for the note, increased by any market discount, acquisition discount, OID and gain previously included in income by that Note Owner with respect to the note and decreased by the amount of bond premium, if any, previously amortized and by the amount of payments of principal and OID previously received by that Note Owner with respect to the note. Any gain or loss, including any gain or loss recognized on a prepayment of the notes, will be capital gain or loss if the note was held as a capital asset (except for gain representing accrued interest and income), and will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the note has been owned for the long-term capital gain holding period (currently, more than one year). Capital losses generally may be used only to offset capital gains.
Foreign Owners. Interest paid (or accrued) to a Note Owner who is a Foreign Owner generally will be considered ‘‘portfolio interest,’’ and generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax and withholding tax if the interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the Foreign Owner and
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| • | the Foreign Owner is not actually or constructively a ‘‘10 percent shareholder’’ within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, which could be interpreted to include a person that directly or indirectly owns 10 percent or more of the certificates in an issuing entity, or a ‘‘controlled foreign corporation’’ (as defined in the Code) related to the issuing entity or related to a 10 percent holder of certificates in the issuing entity; |
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| • | the Foreign Owner is not a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; |
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| • | the interest is not contingent interest described in Section 871(h)(4) of the Code; and |
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| • | the Foreign Owner does not bear specified relationships to any Certificate Owner. |
To qualify for the exemption from taxation, the Foreign Owner must provide the applicable trustee or other person who is otherwise required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to the notes with an appropriate statement (on Form W-8BEN or a similar form), signed under penalties of perjury, certifying that the Note Owner is a Foreign Owner and providing the Foreign Owner’s name and address. If a note is held through a securities clearing organization or other financial institution, the organization or institution may provide the relevant signed statement to the withholding agent; in that case, however, the signed statement must be accompanied by a Form W-8BEN or substitute form provided by the Foreign Owner and the Foreign Owner must notify the financial institution acting on its behalf of any changes to the information on the Form W-8BEN (or substitute form) within 30 days of that change. If interest paid to a Foreign Owner is not considered portfolio interest, then it will be subject to United States federal income and withholding tax at a rate of 30 percent, unless reduced or eliminated pursuant to an applicable tax treaty. In order to claim the benefit of any applicable tax treaty, the Foreign Owner must provide the applicable trustee or other person who is required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to the notes with an appropriate statement (on Form W-8BEN or a similar form), signed under penalties of perjury, certifying that the Foreign Owner is entitled to benefits under the treaty. Special rules apply to partnerships, estates and trusts, and in certain circumstances certifications as to foreign status and other matters may be required to be provided by partners and beneficiaries thereof.
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Any capital gain realized on the sale, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note by a Foreign Owner will be exempt from United States federal income and withholding tax, provided that (1) the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the Foreign Owner and (2) in the case of an individual Foreign Owner, the Foreign Owner is not present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of disposition.
Backup Withholding. Each Note Owner (other than an exempt Note Owner such as a corporation, tax-exempt organization, qualified pension and profit-sharing trust, individual retirement account or nonresident alien who provides certification as to status as a nonresident) will be required to provide, under penalties of perjury, a certificate (on Form W-9) providing the Note Owner’s name, address, correct federal taxpayer identification number and a statement that the Note Owner is not subject to backup withholding. Should a nonexempt Note Owner fail to provide the required certification, the issuing entity will be required to withhold tax from the amount otherwise payable to the Note Owner, and remit the withheld tax to the IRS as a credit against the Note Owner’s federal income tax liability.
Possible Alternative Treatments of the Notes. If, contrary to the opinion of Tax Counsel, the IRS successfully asserted that one or more of the notes did not represent debt for federal income tax purposes, the notes might be treated as equity interests in the issuing entity. If so treated, the issuing entity might be taxable as a corporation with the adverse consequences described above (and the taxable corporation would not be able to reduce its taxable income by deductions for interest expense on Notes recharacterized as equity). Alternatively, the issuing entity might be treated as a publicly traded partnership that would not be taxable as a corporation because it would meet specified qualifying income tests. Nonetheless, treatment of the notes as equity interests in a publicly traded partnership so treated could have adverse tax consequences to some Note Owners. For example, income to some tax-exempt entities (including pension funds) may be ‘‘unrelated business taxable income,’’ income to Non-U.S. Persons may be subject to U.S. tax and cause those persons to be subject to U.S. tax return filing and withholding requirements, and individual Note Owners might be subject to some limitations on their ability to deduct their share of issuing entity expenses.
Tax Treatment of Grantor Trusts
Characterization. In the case of a grantor trust, Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion that the Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation, and will be classified as a grantor trust under subpart E, Part I of subchapter J of the Code. In this case, beneficial owners of certificates (referred to in this Prospectus as ‘‘Grantor Trust Certificateholders’’) will be treated for federal income tax purposes as owners of a portion of the Trust’s assets as described below. The certificates issued by a Trust that is treated as a grantor trust are referred to in this prospectus as ‘‘Grantor Trust Certificates.’’
Taxation of Grantor Trust Certificateholders. Subject to the discussion below under ‘‘Stripped Certificates’’ and ‘‘Subordinated Certificates,’’ each grantor trust certificateholder will be treated as the owner of a pro-rata, undivided interest in the Primary Assets and other assets of the Trust. Accordingly, and subject to the discussion below of the recharacterization of the Servicing Fee, each grantor trust certificateholder must include in income its pro rata share of the interest and other income from the Primary Assets, including any interest, OID, market discount, prepayment fees, assumption fees, and late payment charges with respect to the assets. Subject to limitations discussed below, each grantor trust certificateholder may deduct its pro rata share of the fees and other deductible expenses paid by the Trust, at the same time and to the same extent as these items would be included or deducted by the grantor trust certificateholder if the grantor trust certificateholder held directly a pro rata interest in the assets of the Trust, and received and paid directly the amounts received and paid by the Trust. Any amounts received by a grantor trust certificateholder in lieu of amounts due with respect to any Primary Asset because of a default or delinquency in payment generally will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having the same character as the payments they replace.
Each grantor trust certificateholder will be entitled to deduct its pro rata share of servicing fees, prepayment fees, assumption fees, any loss recognized upon an assumption and late payment charges
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retained by the servicer, provided that these amounts are reasonable compensation for services rendered to the Trust. Grantor Trust Certificateholders that are individuals, estates or trusts will be entitled to deduct their share of expenses only to the extent these expenses plus all other miscellaneous itemized deductions exceed two percent of the grantor trust certificateholder’s adjusted gross income, and will be allowed no deduction for these expenses in determining their liabilities for alternative minimum tax. In addition, Section 68 of the Code provides that the amount of itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the taxable year for an individual whose adjusted gross income exceeds a prescribed threshold amount will be reduced by the lesser of (1) 3 percent of the excess of adjusted gross income over the specified threshold amount or (2) 80 percent of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the applicable taxable year. In the case of a partnership that has 100 or more partners and elects to be treated as an ‘‘electing large partnership,’’ 70 percent of the partnership’s miscellaneous itemized deductions will be disallowed, although the remaining deductions will generally be allowed at the partnership level and will not be subject to the 2 percent floor that would otherwise be applicable to individual partners.
The servicing compensation to be received by the servicer may be questioned by the IRS as exceeding a reasonable fee for the services being performed in exchange for the servicing compensation, and a portion of the servicing compensation could be recharacterized as an ownership interest retained by the servicer or other party in a portion of the interest payments to be made with respect to the Trust’s assets. In this event, a certificate might be treated as a Stripped Certificate subject to the stripped bond rules of Section 1286 of the Code and the OID provisions rather than the market discount and premium rules. See the discussion below under ‘‘— Stripped Certificates." Except as discussed below under ‘‘— Stripped Certificates’’ or ‘‘— Subordinated Certificates,’’ this discussion assumes that the servicing fees paid to the servicer do not exceed reasonable servicing compensation.
A purchaser of a grantor trust certificate will be treated as purchasing an interest in each Primary Asset in the Trust at a price determined by allocating the purchase price paid for the certificate among all Primary Assets in proportion to their fair market values at the time of the purchase of the certificate. To the extent that the portion of the purchase price of a grantor trust certificate allocated to a Primary Asset is less than or greater than the portion of the stated redemption price at maturity of the Primary Asset, the interest in the Primary Asset will have been acquired at a discount or premium. See ‘‘— Market Discount’’ and ‘‘— Premium’’ below.
The treatment of any discount on a Primary Asset will depend on whether the discount represents OID or market discount. Except as indicated otherwise in the related prospectus supplement, it is not expected that any Primary Asset (other than a Primary Asset that is a Treasury Strip or other instrument evidencing ownership of specific interest and/or principal of a particular bond) will have OID (except as discussed below under ‘‘— Stripped Certificates’’ or ‘‘— Subordinated Certificates’’). For the rules governing OID, see ‘‘— Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes — OID’’ above. However, in the case of Primary Assets that constitute short-term Government Securities the rules set out above dealing with short-term obligations (see ‘‘— Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes — Interest Income on the Notes’’ above) are applied with reference to acquisition discount rather than OID, if the obligations constitute ‘‘short-term Government obligations’’ within the meaning of Section 1271 (a) (3) (B) of the Code. Further, if 20 percent or more of the Grantor Trust Certificateholders comprise taxpayers who report federal taxable income on an accrual method, banks, certain dealers in securities as well as certain other categories of taxpayer, all holders of Grantor Trust Certificates may be required to accrue acquisition discount or OID, as the case may be, with respect to short-term obligations held by the Trust in the same manner as is described above with respect to Short-Term Notes. See ‘‘— Tax Consequences to Owners of the Notes — Interest Income on the Notes’’ above.]
The information provided to Grantor Trust Certificateholders will not include information necessary to compute the amount of discount or premium, if any, at which an interest in each Primary Asset is acquired.
Market Discount. A grantor trust certificateholder that acquires an undivided interest in Primary Assets may be subject to the market discount rules of Sections 1276 through 1278 to the extent an
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undivided interest in a Primary Asset is considered to have been purchased at a ‘‘market discount’’. To the extent a Primary Asset is a Treasury Strip or other instrument evidencing ownership of specific interest and/or principal of a particular bond, it will be subject to the rules relating to OID (in lieu of the rules relating to market discount).
Premium. To the extent a grantor trust certificateholder is considered to have purchased an undivided interest in a Primary Asset for an amount that is greater than the stated redemption price at maturity of the interest, the grantor trust certificateholder will be considered to have purchased the interest in the Primary Asset with ‘‘amortizable bond premium’’ equal in amount to the excess.
Stripped Certificates. Some classes of certificates may be subject to the stripped bond rules of Section 1286 of the Code and for purposes of this discussion will be referred to as ‘‘Stripped Certificates’’. In general, a Stripped Certificate will be subject to the stripped bond rules where there has been a separation of ownership of the right to receive some or all of the principal payments on a Primary Asset from ownership of the right to receive some or all of the related interest payments. In general, where a separation has occurred, under the stripped bond rules of Section 1286 of the Code, the holder of a right to receive a principal or interest payment on the bond is required to accrue into income, on a constant yield basis under rules governing OID, the difference between the holder’s initial purchase price for the right to receive and the principal or interest payment to be received with respect to that right.
Certificates will constitute Stripped Certificates and will be subject to these rules under various circumstances, including the following:
(1) if any servicing compensation is deemed to exceed a reasonable amount (see
‘‘— Taxation of Grantor Trust Certificateholders’’ above);
(2) if the depositor or any other party retains a retained yield with respect to the Primary Assets held by the Trust;
(3) if two or more classes of certificates are issued representing the right to non-pro rata percentages of the interest or principal payments on the Trust’s assets; or
(4) if certificates are issued which represent the right to interest-only payments or principal-only payments.
The tax treatment of the Stripped Certificates with respect to the application of the OID provisions of the Code is currently unclear. However, the trustee intends to treat each Stripped Certificate as a single debt instrument issued on the day it is purchased for purposes of calculating any OID. OID with respect to a Stripped Certificate must be included in ordinary gross income for federal income tax purposes as it accrues in accordance with the constant yield method that takes into account the compounding of interest and this accrual of income may be in advance of the receipt of any cash attributable to that income. For purposes of applying the OID provisions of the Code, the issue price of a Stripped Certificate will be the purchase price paid by each holder of the Stripped Certificate and the stated redemption price at maturity may include the aggregate amount of all payments to be made with respect to the Stripped Certificate whether or not denominated as interest. The amount of OID with respect to a Stripped Certificate may be treated as zero under the OID de minimis rules described above.
Subordinated Certificates. In the event the Trust issues two classes of Grantor Trust Certificates that are identical except that one class is a subordinate class, with a relatively high certificate rate, and the other is a senior class, with a relatively low certificate rate (referred to in this prospectus as the ‘‘Subordinate Certificates’’ and ‘‘Senior Certificates’’, respectively), the Grantor Trust Certificateholders in the aggregate will be deemed to have acquired the following assets: (1) the principal portion of each Primary Asset plus a portion of the interest due on each Primary Asset (the ‘‘Trust Stripped Bond’’), and (2) a portion of the interest due on each Primary Asset equal to the difference between the certificate rate on the Subordinate Certificates and the certificate rate on the Senior Certificates, if any, which difference is then multiplied by the Subordinate Class Percentage (the ‘‘Trust Stripped Coupon’’). The ‘‘Subordinate Class Percentage’’ equals the initial principal
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balance of the Subordinate Certificates divided by the sum of the initial principal balance of the Subordinate Certificates and the Senior Certificates. The ‘‘Senior Class Percentage’’ equals the initial aggregate principal amount of the Senior Certificates divided by the sum of the initial aggregate principal amount of the Subordinate Certificates and the Senior Certificates.
The senior certificateholders in the aggregate will own the Senior Class Percentage of the Trust Stripped Bond and accordingly each Senior Certificateholder will be treated as owning its pro rata share of such asset. The Senior Certificateholders will not own any portion of the Trust Stripped Coupon. The subordinate certificateholders in the aggregate own both the Subordinate Class Percentage of the Trust Stripped Bond plus 100% of the Trust Stripped Coupon, if any, and accordingly each Subordinate Certificateholder will be treated as owning its pro rata share in both assets. The Trust Stripped Bond will be treated as a ‘‘stripped bond’’ and the Trust Stripped Coupon will be treated as ‘‘stripped coupons’’ within the meaning of Section 1286 of the Code.
If the Subordinate Certificateholders receive a distribution of less than their share of the Trust’s receipts of principal or interest (the ‘‘Shortfall Amount’’) because of the subordination of the Subordinate Certificates, holders of Subordinate Certificates would probably be treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had:
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| • | received as distributions their full share of receipts; |
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| • | paid over to the senior certificateholders an amount equal to the Shortfall Amount; and |
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| • | retained the right to reimbursement of the relevant amounts to the extent these amounts are otherwise available as a result of collections on the Primary Assets or amounts available from a Reserve Account or other form of credit or cash flow enhancement, if any. |
Under this analysis:
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| • | subordinate certificateholders would be required to accrue as current income any interest income, OID, or (to the extent paid on assets of the Trust) accrued market discount of the Trust that was a component of the Shortfall Amount, even though that amount was in fact paid to the Senior Certificateholders; |
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| • | a loss would only be allowed to the subordinate certificateholders when their right to receive reimbursement of the Shortfall Amount became worthless (i.e., when it becomes clear that amount will not be available from any source to reimburse the loss); and |
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| • | reimbursement of the Shortfall Amount prior to a claim of worthlessness would not be taxable income to subordinate certificateholders because the amount was previously included in income. |
Those results should not significantly affect the inclusion of income for Subordinate Certificateholders on the accrual method of accounting, but could accelerate inclusion of income to Subordinate Certificateholders on the cash method of accounting by, in effect, placing them on the accrual method. Moreover, the character and timing of loss deductions are unclear. Subordinate Certificateholders are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the appropriate timing, amount and character of any losses sustained with respect to the Subordinate Certificates including any loss resulting from the failure to recover previously accrued interest or discount income.
Election to Treat All Interest as OID. The Treasury regulations relating to OID permit a grantor trust certificateholder to elect to accrue all interest, discount, including de minimis market or OID, reduced by any premium, in income as interest, based on a constant yield method. If an election were to be made with respect to an interest in a Primary Asset with market discount, the Certificate Owner would be deemed to have made an election to include in income currently market discount with respect to all other debt instruments having market discount that the grantor trust certificateholder acquires during the year of the election or afterward. See ‘‘— Market Discount’’ above. Similarly, a grantor trust certificateholder that makes this election for an interest in a Primary Asset that is acquired at a premium will be deemed to have made an election to amortize bond premium with respect to all debt instruments having amortizable bond premium that the grantor trust
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certificateholder owns at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or acquires afterward. See ‘‘— Premium’’ above. The election to accrue interest, discount and premium on a constant yield method with respect to a grantor trust certificate is irrevocable.
Prepayments. The Code contains a provision requiring OID on any pool of debt instruments the yield on which may be affected by reason of prepayments be calculated taking into account the Prepayment Assumption and requiring the discount to be taken into income on the basis of a constant yield to assumed maturity taking account of actual prepayments. Legislative history to relevant Code provisions indicates that similar rules are to apply with respect to market discount and amortizable bond premium on debt instruments.
Sale or Exchange of a Grantor Trust Certificate. Sale or exchange of a grantor trust certificate prior to its maturity will result in gain or loss equal to the difference between the aggregate allocable amounts realized with respect to each Primary Asset (allocated on the basis of their relative fair market value at the time of sale or exchange, and exclusive of amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as ordinary income) comprising the grantor trust certificate, and the owner’s aggregate allocable adjusted basis with respect to each Primary Asset. The seller’s adjusted basis with respect to its interest in each Primary Asset generally will equal its allocable cost for such asset (allocated on the basis of relative fair market value at the time of acquisition), increased by the OID and any market discount included in the seller’s gross income with respect to its interest in such Primary Asset, and reduced, but not below zero, by any premium amortized and by principal payments received with respect to such interest. The gain or loss will, except as discussed below, be capital gain or loss to an owner to the extent each Primary Asset represented by a grantor trust certificate is a ‘‘capital asset’’ within the meaning of Section 1221. Capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on whether or not the grantor trust certificate has been owned for the long-term capital gain holding period, currently more than one year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any gain realized on the sale or exchange of a grantor trust certificate will be ordinary income to the extent of the seller’s interest in accrued market discount on Primary Assets not previously taken into income. See ‘‘— Market Discount’’ above. Further, Grantor Trust Certificates will be ‘‘evidences of indebtedness’’ within the meaning of Section 582(c)(1), so that gain or loss recognized from the sale of a grantor trust certificate by a bank or thrift institution to which such section applied will be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
Foreign Investors in Grantor Trust Certificates. A holder of grantor trust certificate who is a Foreign Owner and is not subject to federal income tax as a result of any direct or indirect connection to the United States other than its ownership of a grantor trust certificate generally will not be subject to United States income or withholding tax in respect of payments of interest or OID on its grantor trust certificate to the extent attributable to debt obligations held by the Trust that were originated after July 18, 1984, provided that the grantor trust certificateholder complies to the extent necessary with certain certification requirements which generally relate to the identity of the beneficial owner and the status of the beneficial owner as a person that is not a U.S. Person. Interest or OID on a grantor trust certificate attributable to debt obligations held by the Trust that were originated prior to July 19, 1984 will be subject to a 30 percent withholding tax (unless such tax is reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty). All holders of Grantor Trust Certificates are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax documentation and certifications that must be provided to secure any applicable exemptions from United States withholding taxes.
Any capital gain realized on the sale or other taxable disposition of a grantor trust certificate by a Foreign Owner generally will be exempt from United States federal income and withholding tax, provided that (i) such gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the Foreign Owner and (ii) in the case of an individual Foreign Owner, the Foreign Owner is not present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year.
If the interest, gain or income with respect to a grantor trust certificate held by a Non-U.S. Person is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the Non-U.S. Person, although exempt from the withholding tax previously discussed to the extent the holder provides an appropriate statement establishing that such income is so effectively connected, the
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holder generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on the interest, gain or income at regular federal income tax rates. In addition, if the Non-U.S. Person is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of its ‘‘effectively connected earnings and profits,’’ within the meaning of the Code, for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items, unless it qualifies for a lower rate under an applicable tax treaty (as modified by the branch profits tax rules).
Backup Withholding. Distributions made on the Grantor Trust Certificates and proceeds from the sale of the Grantor Trust Certificates will be subject to a ‘‘backup’’ withholding tax at the currently applicable rate if, in general, the grantor trust certificateholder fails to comply with particular identification procedures, unless the holder is an exempt recipient under applicable provisions of the Code and, if necessary, demonstrates such status. Any amounts so withheld would be refunded by the IRS or allowable as a credit against the grantor trust certificateholder’s federal income tax.
Certain State Tax Consequences
The above discussion does not address the tax treatment of any issuing entity, note, certificate, Note Owner, Certificate Owner, Grantor Trust Certificate, or Grantor Trust Certificateholder under any state or local tax law. The activities to be undertaken by the servicer in servicing and collecting the Receivables will take place throughout the United States and, therefore, many different state and local tax regimes potentially apply to different portions of these transactions. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax treatment of any transaction described herein, as well as any state and local tax consequences for them of purchasing, holding and disposing of interests in notes, certificates or Grantor Trust Certificates.
Certain ERISA Considerations
Section 406 of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (‘‘ERISA’’), and Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the ‘‘Code’’), prohibit pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plans subject to Title I of ERISA, as well as individual retirement accounts, Keogh plans and other plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code, and any entity holding ‘‘plan assets’’ of any of the foregoing (each, a ‘‘Benefit Plan’’), from engaging in certain transactions with persons that are ‘‘parties in interest’’ under ERISA or ‘‘disqualified persons’’ under the Code (collectively, ‘‘Parties in Interest’’) with respect to such Benefit Plan. A violation of these ‘‘prohibited transaction’’ rules may result in an excise tax or other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code for such persons or the fiduciaries of a Benefit Plan. In addition, Title I of ERISA requires fiduciaries of a Benefit Plan subject to ERISA to make investments that are prudent, diversified and in accordance with the governing plan documents.
Exemptions Available to Debt Instruments
Certain transactions involving a Trust might be deemed to constitute or result in prohibited transactions under Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code with respect to a Benefit Plan that purchased securities if assets of such trust were deemed to be assets of the Benefit Plan. Under a regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (the ‘‘Plan Asset Regulation’’), the assets of a Trust would be treated as plan assets of a Benefit Plan for the purposes of ERISA and the Code only if the Benefit Plan acquired an ‘‘equity interest’’ in such trust and none of the exceptions contained in the Plan Asset Regulation were applicable. An equity interest is defined under the Plan Asset Regulation as an interest other than an instrument which is treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features. It is likely that the certificates will be treated as an equity interest for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation. For additional information regarding the equity or debt treatment of the notes, see ‘‘Certain ERISA Considerations’’ in the related prospectus supplement.
However, without regard to whether the notes are treated as an equity interest for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation, the acquisition or holding of notes by, or on behalf of, a Benefit Plan could be considered to give rise to a prohibited transaction if the issuing entity, the depositor, an originator, the servicer, the administrator, the underwriters, the owner trustee, the indenture trustee, or any of
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their affiliates, is or becomes a Party in Interest with respect to such Benefit Plan. Certain exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules could be applicable to the purchase and holding of notes by a Benefit Plan depending on the type and circumstances of the Benefit Plan fiduciary making the decision to acquire such notes. Included among these exemptions are: U.S. Department of Labor Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (‘‘PTCE’’) 96-23, regarding transactions effected by ‘‘in-house asset managers’’; PTCE 95-60 (as amended by PTCE 2002-13), regarding investments by insurance company general accounts; PTCE 91-38 (as amended by PTCE 2002-13), regarding investments by bank collective investment funds; PTCE 90-1, regarding investments by insurance company pooled separate accounts; and PTCE 84-14 (as amended by PTCE 2002-13), regarding transactions effected by ‘‘qualified professional asset managers.’’ By acquiring a note, each purchaser or transferee will be deemed to represent and warrant that either (i) it is not acquiring and will not hold the notes with the assets of a Benefit Plan; or (ii) the acquisition and holding of the notes will not give rise to a nonexempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA) and certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) are not subject to ERISA requirements. However, governmental plans may be subject to comparable state law restrictions.
A Benefit Plan fiduciary considering the purchase of securities on behalf of or with the plan assets of a Benefit Plan is encouraged to consult its legal advisors regarding whether the assets of a Trust would be considered plan assets, the possibility of exemptive relief from the prohibited transaction rules and other issues and their potential consequences.
Underwriter Exemption
The U.S. Department of Labor issued an individual exemption to Banc of America Securities LLC (Prohibited Transaction Exemption (‘‘PTE’’) 96-92 (December 17, 1996), as amended by PTE 97-34 (1997), PTE 2000-58 (2000) and PTE 2002-41 (2002)), which is applicable to notes or certificates which meet its requirements whenever Banc of America Securities LLC or its affiliate is the sole underwriter, manager or co-manager of an underwriting syndicate or is the selling or placement agent (the ‘‘Exemption’’).
The Exemption provides relief from the application of certain of the prohibited transaction and conflict of interest rules of ERISA with respect to the initial purchase, the holding and the subsequent resale by Benefit Plans of a ‘‘Security,’’ which is defined as (1) a pass-through certificate or trust certificate that represents a beneficial ownership interest in the assets of an ‘‘Issuing Entity’’ (as defined in the Exemption) which is a ‘‘Trust’’ (as defined in the Exemption) and which entitles the holder to payments of principal, interest and/or other payments with respect to the assets of such Issuing Entity; or (2) a security which is denominated as a debt instrument that is issued by, and is an obligation of, an Issuing Entity; with respect to which the ‘‘Underwriter’’ (as defined in the Exemption) is either (a) the sole underwriter or the co-manager of the underwriting syndicate, or (b) a selling or placement agent. Such Securities consist of certain secured consumer receivables, secured credit instruments and other obligations that meet the conditions and requirements of the Exemption.
Information about whether the Exemption may be available will be provided in the related prospectus supplement.
The Exemption will apply only if the general conditions (certain of which are described below) are met. However, it is not clear whether the Exemption applies to those Benefit Plans which are participant directed (as described in Section 404(c) of ERISA). Among the conditions which must be satisfied for the Exemption to apply to the acquisition, holding and resale of Securities by Benefit Plans are the following:
(1) The acquisition of Securities by a Benefit Plan is on terms (including the Security price) that are at least as favorable to a Benefit Plan as they would be in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated party;
(2) The rights and interests evidenced by the Securities acquired by a Benefit Plan are not subordinated to the rights and interests evidenced by other Securities of the same issuing entity,
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unless the Securities are issued in a ‘‘Designated Transaction,’’ which means a securitization transaction in which the assets of the Issuing Entity consist of secured consumer receivables, secured credit instruments or secured obligations that bear interest or are purchased at a discount and are home equity and/or manufactured housing consumer receivables; and/or single-family residential, multi-family residential, home equity, manufactured housing and/or commercial mortgage obligations that are secured by single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial real property or leasehold interests therein.
(3) The Securities acquired by a Benefit Plan have received a rating at the time of such acquisition that is in one of the three (or, with an exception discussed below in Clause (4), in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories from any of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch, Inc., or any successors thereto (each, a ‘‘Rating Agency’’);
(4) The Receivables are fully secured;
(5) The ‘‘Trustee’’ (as defined in the Exemption) is not an ‘‘Affiliate’’ (as defined in the Exemption) of any other member of the ‘‘Restricted Group’’ (as defined in the Exemption) other than an Underwriter;
(6) The sum of all payments made to and retained by the Underwriters in connection with the distribution or placement of Securities represents not more than ‘‘Reasonable Compensation’’ (as defined in the Exemption) for underwriting or placing the Securities; the sum of all payments made to and retained by the ‘‘Sponsor’’ (as defined in the Exemption) pursuant to the assignment of obligations (or interests therein) to the Issuing Entity represents not more than the fair market value of such obligations (or interests); and the sum of all payments made to and retained by the ‘‘Servicer’’ (as defined in the Exemption) represents not more than Reasonable Compensation for the Servicer’s services under the ‘‘Pooling and Servicing Agreement’’ (as defined in the Exemption) and reimbursement of the Servicer’s reasonable expenses in connection therewith;
(7) A Benefit Plan investing in such Securities is an ‘‘Accredited Investor’’ as defined in Rule 501(a)(1) of Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
(8) The legal documents establishing the Issuing Entity contain restrictions (as described in the Exemption) necessary to ensure that the Issuing Entity’s assets may not be reached by the Sponsor’s creditors in the event of the Sponsor’s bankruptcy or insolvency; the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and/or other agreements establishing the contractual relationships between the parties to the securitization transaction prohibit all parties from filing an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Issuing Entity or initiating any other form of insolvency proceeding until after the Securities have been paid; and, prior to issuance by the Issuing Entity of any Securities, a legal opinion is received which states that either (a) a ‘‘true sale’’ of the assets being transferred to the Issuing Entity by the Sponsor has occurred and that such transfer is not being made pursuant to a financing of assets by the Sponsor, or (b) in the event of the Sponsor’s insolvency or receivership, the assets transferred to the Issuing Entity will not be part of the Sponsor’s estate; and
(9) The Issuing Entity satisfies the following requirements:
(a) The corpus of the Issuing Entity consists solely of assets of the type which have been included in other investment pools;
(b) Securities evidencing interests in such other investment pools have been rated in one of the three (or in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories by a Rating Agency for at least one year prior to a Benefit Plan’s acquisition of the Securities pursuant to the Exemption; and
(c) Securities evidencing interests in such other investment pools have been purchased by investors other than Benefit Plans for at least one year prior to a Benefit Plan’s acquisition of Securities pursuant to the Exemption.
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(10) If a particular class of Securities held by any Benefit Plan involves a ‘‘Ratings Dependent Swap’’ (as defined herein) or a ‘‘Non-Ratings Dependent Swap’’ (as defined herein) entered into by the Issuing Entity, then each particular swap transaction relating to such Securities must satisfy the following conditions:
(a) The swap transaction is an ‘‘Eligible Swap,’’ which means a Ratings Dependent Swap or Non-Ratings Dependent Swap:
(i) Which is dominated in U.S. dollars;
(ii) Pursuant to which the Issuing Entity pays or receives, on or immediately prior to the respective payment or distribution date for the class of Securities to which the swap relates, a fixed rate of interest, or a floating rate of interest based on a publicly available index (e.g., LIBOR or the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Cost of Funds Index (COFI)), with the Issuing Entity receiving such payments on at least a quarterly basis and obligated to make separate payments no more frequently than the counterparty, with all simultaneous payments being netted;
(iii) Which has a notional amount that does not exceed either:
(A) The principal balance of the class of Securities to which the swap relates; or
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| (B) | The portion of the principal balance of such class represented solely by those types of corpus or assets of the Issuing Entity referred to above in Clause (9). |
(iv) Which is not leveraged (i.e., payments are based on the applicable notional amount, the day count fractions, the fixed or floating rates designated above in Clause (10)(a)(ii), and the difference between the products thereof, calculated on a one to one ratio and not on a multiplier of such difference);
(v) Which has a final termination date that is either the earlier of the date on which the Issuing Entity terminates or the related class of Securities are fully repaid; and
(vi) Which does not incorporate any provision which could cause a unilateral alteration in any provision described above in Clauses (10)(a)(i)-(iv) without the consent of the Trustee.
(b) The swap transaction is with an ‘‘Eligible Swap Counterparty,’’ which means a bank or other financial institution which has a rating, at the date of issuance of the Securities, which is in one of the three highest long-term credit rating categories, or one of the two highest short-term credit rating categories, utilized by at least one of the Rating Agencies rating the Securities; provided that, if a swap counterparty is relying on its short-term rating to establish eligibility under the Exemption, such swap counterparty must either have a long-term rating in one of the three highest long-term rating categories or not have a long-term rating from the applicable Rating Agency, and provided further that, if the class of Securities with which the swap is associated has a final maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance of the Securities and such swap is a Ratings Dependent Swap, the swap counterparty is required by the terms of the swap agreement to establish any collateralization or other arrangement satisfactory to the Rating Agencies in the event of a ratings downgrade of the swap counterparty;
(c) Any class of Securities, to which one or more swap agreements entered into by the Issuing Entity applies, may be acquired only by a ‘‘Qualified Plan Investor,’’ which means a Benefit Plan investor or group of Benefit Plan investors on whose behalf the decision to purchase Securities is made by an appropriate independent fiduciary that is qualified to analyze and understand the terms and conditions of any swap transaction used by the Issuing Entity and the effect such swap would have upon the credit ratings of the Securities. For purposes of the Exemption, such a fiduciary is either:
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(i) A ‘‘qualified professional asset manager’’, as defined in PTCE 84-14 (which generally would include for these purposes insurance companies, savings and loan associations, banks and investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, each meeting certain minimum capitalization requirements);
(ii) An ‘‘in-house asset manager’’ as defined under PTCE 96-23; or
(iii) A Benefit Plan fiduciary with total assets (both employee benefit plan and non-employee benefit plan) under management of at least $100 million at the time of the acquisition of such Securities.
(d) In the case of a ‘‘Ratings Dependent Swap’’ (meaning an interest rate swap, or (if purchased by or on behalf of the Issuing Entity) an interest rate cap contract, that is part of the structure of a class of Securities where the rating assigned by the Rating Agency to any class of Securities held by any Benefit Plan is dependent on the terms and conditions of the swap and the rating of the counterparty), the swap agreement must provide that if the credit rating of the counterparty is withdrawn or reduced by any Rating Agency below a level specified by the Rating Agency, the Servicer (as agent for the Trustee) must, within the period specified under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement:
(i) Obtain a replacement swap agreement with an Eligible Swap Counterparty which is acceptable to the Rating Agency and the terms of which are substantially the same as the current swap agreement (at which time the earlier swap agreement must terminate); or
(ii) Cause the swap counterparty to establish any collateralization or other arrangement satisfactory to the Rating Agency such that the then current rating by the Rating Agency of the particular class of Securities will not be withdrawn or reduced.
(e) In the case of a ‘‘Non-Ratings Dependent Swap’’ (meaning an interest rate swap, or (if purchased by or on behalf of the Issuing Entity) an interest rate cap contract, that is part of the structure of a class of Securities where the rating assigned by the Rating Agency to any class of Securities held by a Benefit Plan is not dependent on the existence of the swap and rating of the counterparty), the swap agreement must provide that, if the credit rating of the counterparty is withdrawn or reduced below the lowest level specified above in Clause (10)(b), the Servicer (as agent for the Trustee) must, within a specified period after such rating withdrawal or reduction:
(i) Obtain a replacement swap agreement with an Eligible Swap Counterparty, the terms of which are substantially the same as the current swap agreement (at which time the earlier swap agreement must terminate);
(ii) Cause the swap counterparty to post collateral with the Trustee in an amount equal to all payments owed by the counterparty if the swap transaction were terminated; or
(iii) Terminate the swap agreement in accordance with its terms.
With respect to a Non-Ratings Dependent Swap, each Rating Agency rating the Securities must confirm, as of the date of issuance of the Securities by the Issuing Entity, that entering into an Eligible Swap with such counterparty will not affect the rating of the Securities.
(f) The swap transaction does not require the Issuing Entity to make any termination payments to the counterparty (other than a currently scheduled payment under the swap agreement) except from ‘‘Excess Spread’’ (as defined in the Exemption) or other amounts that would otherwise be payable to the Servicer or the Sponsor.
(11) If a particular class of securities held by any Benefit Plan involves a yield supplement agreement entered into by the Issuing Entity, then each particular yield supplement transaction relating to such Securities must satisfy the following conditions:
(a) The yield supplement transaction is an ‘‘Eligible Yield Supplement Agreement,’’ which means any yield supplement agreement, similar yield maintenance arrangement or, if
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purchased by or on behalf of the Issuing Entity, an interest rate cap contract to supplement the interest rates otherwise payable on obligations described above in Clause (9), provided that:
(i) It is denominated in U.S. dollars;
(ii) The Issuing Entity receives on, or immediately prior to the respective payment date for the Securities covered by such agreement or arrangement, a fixed rate of interest or a floating rate of interest based on a publicly available index (e.g., LIBOR or COFI), with the Issuing Entity receiving payments on at least a quarterly basis;
(iii) It is not ‘‘leveraged,’’ as described above in Clause (10)(a)(iv);
(iv) It does not incorporate any provision which would cause a unilateral alteration in any provision described above in Clauses (11)(a)(i)-(iii) without the consent of the Trustee;
(v) It is entered into by the Issuing Entity with an Eligible Swap Counterparty; and
(vi) It has a notional amount that does not exceed either:
(A) The principal balance of the class of Securities to which such agreement or arrangement relates; or
(B) The portion of the principal balance of such class represented solely by those types of corpus or assets of the Issuing Entity referred to above in Clause (9).
Furthermore, if the related prospectus supplement provides that the property of the Issuing Entity will include a ‘‘Pre-Funding Account’’ (as defined in the Exemption), certain additional conditions must be met in order for the Exemption to apply to the acquisition, holding and resale of the Securities by a Benefit Plan.
If the general conditions of the Exemption are satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406(a) and 407(a) of ERISA and Sections 4975(c)(1)(A) through (D) of the Code in connection with (1) the direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer, (2) the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition and (3) the continued holding of Securities acquired by a Benefit Plan. However, no exemption is provided from the restrictions of Sections 406(a)(1)(E) and 406(a)(2) of ERISA for the acquisition or holding of a Security on behalf of an ‘‘Excluded Plan’’ (as defined in the Exemption) by any person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to that Excluded Plan.
If general conditions of the Exemption are also satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code in connection with the following:
(1) The direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Securities in the initial issuance of Securities between the Sponsor or Underwriter and a Benefit Plan when the person who has discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the investment of plan assets in the Securities is:
(a) An ‘‘Obligor’’ (as defined in the Exemption) with respect to 5% or less of the fair market value of the obligations or Receivables contained in the Issuing Entity; or
(b) An Affiliate of an Obligor; if:
(i) The Benefit Plan is not an Excluded Plan;
(ii) Solely in the case of an acquisition of Securities in connection with the initial issuance of the Securities, at least 50% of each class of Securities in which Benefit Plans have invested is acquired by persons independent of the members of the Restricted Group and at least 50% of the aggregate interest in the Issuing Entity is acquired by persons independent of the Restricted Group;
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(iii) A Benefit Plan’s investment in each class of Securities does not exceed 25% of all of the Securities of that class outstanding at the time of the acquisition; and
(iv) Immediately after the acquisition of the Securities, no more than 25% of the assets of a Benefit Plan with respect to which the person has discretionary authority or renders investment advice are invested in Securities representing an interest in an Issuing Entity containing assets sold or serviced by the same entity.
(2) The direct or indirect acquisition or disposition of Securities by a Benefit Plan in the secondary market for such Securities; and
(3) The continued holding of Securities by a Benefit Plan.
Additionally, if general conditions of the Exemption are satisfied, the Exemption may provide an exemption from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407(a) of ERISA and Section 4975(c) of the Code for transactions in connection with the servicing, management and operation of an Issuing Entity, including the use of any Eligible Swap transaction, provided that:
(1) Such transactions are carried out in accordance with the terms of a binding Pooling and Servicing Agreement; and
(2) The Pooling and Servicing Agreement is provided to, or described in all material respects in the prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement provided to, investing Benefit Plans before they purchase Securities offered by the Issuing Entity.
The Exemption also may provide an exemption from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of Sections 406(a) and 407(a) of ERISA and Sections 4975(c)(1)(A) through (D) of the Code if those restrictions are deemed to otherwise apply merely because a person is deemed to be a party in interest or disqualified person (including a fiduciary) with respect to a Benefit Plan by virtue of providing services to the Benefit Plan or by virtue of having a specified relationship to such service provider, solely because of a Benefit Plan’s ownership of Securities.
Before purchasing a note or certificate on behalf of or with plan assets of a Benefit Plan, a Benefit Plan fiduciary should itself confirm that such note or certificate constitutes a ‘‘Security’’ for purposes of the Exemption and that the general conditions and the other requirements described above and in the Exemption would be satisfied with respect to such note or certificate. In addition to making its own determination as to the availability of the exemptive relief provided in the Exemption, the Benefit Plan fiduciary should consider its general fiduciary obligations under ERISA in determining whether to purchase any notes or certificates on behalf of or with plan assets of a Benefit Plan.
Each purchaser that is a Benefit Plan or that is investing on behalf of or with plan assets of a Benefit Plan in reliance on the Exemption will be deemed to represent, warrant and covenant that it qualifies as an Accredited Investor. In addition, each prospective purchaser of notes or certificates in reliance on the Exemption should consider the possibility that the rating of the notes or certificates may change during the period the notes or certificates are held. If the rating were to decline below one of the three (or in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories of a Rating Agency, the notes or certificates could no longer be transferred to a Benefit Plan in reliance on the Exemption. If the ratings decline below one of the three (or in the case of Designated Transactions, four) highest generic rating categories by a Rating Agency, each transferee will be deemed to represent, warrant and covenant that either (1) it is not purchasing the notes or certificates on behalf of or with plan assets of a Benefit Plan, or (2) it is an insurance company purchasing the notes or certificates with the assets from its general account (within the meaning of PTCE 95-60) and it is eligible for and satisfies all of the conditions set forth in Sections I and III of PTCE 95-60.
For more information, including whether the Exemption may be available to provide relief for a particular class of notes or certificates, see ‘‘Certain ERISA Considerations’’ in the related prospectus supplement.
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Consultation With Counsel
Any Benefit Plan fiduciary considering the purchase of notes or certificates on behalf of or with plan assets of a Benefit Plan is encouraged to consult with its counsel with respect to whether a Trust will be deemed to hold plan assets, the applicability of the Exemption or another exemption from the prohibited transaction rules and determine on its own whether all the conditions have been satisfied, and whether the notes or certificates are an appropriate investment for a Benefit Plan under ERISA or the Code.
Underwriting
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in one or more underwriting agreements with respect to the securities of a series, the depositor will agree to sell or cause the related issuing entity to sell to Banc of America Securities LLC and the other underwriters, if any, named in the related prospectus supplement, and the underwriter will agree to purchase, the principal amount of each class of securities, as the case may be, of the related series set forth in the related underwriting agreement and in the related prospectus supplement. One or more classes of a series may not be subject to an underwriting agreement. Any of these classes will be retained by the seller or sold in private placement.
In the underwriting agreement with respect to any given series of securities, the underwriter will agree, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, to purchase all the securities offered by the related prospectus supplement if any of those securities are purchased.
Each related prospectus supplement will either:
 |  |  |
| • | set forth the price at which each class of securities being offered thereby initially will be offered to the public and any concessions that may be offered to dealers participating in the offering of the securities; or |
 |  |  |
| • | specify that the related securities are to be resold by the underwriter in negotiated transactions at varying prices to be determined at the time of sale. After the initial public offering of any securities, the public offering prices and concessions may be changed. |
Each underwriting agreement will provide that the seller will indemnify the underwriter against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect thereof. Each issuing entity may invest funds in its accounts in Eligible Investments acquired from the underwriter or from the depositor, the seller or any of their affiliates.
The underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids with respect to the securities in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment transactions involve syndicate sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position. The underwriter does not have an ‘‘overallotment’’ option to purchase additional securities in the offering, so syndicate sales in excess of the offering size will result in a naked short position. The underwriter must close out any naked short position through syndicate covering transactions in which the underwriter purchases securities in the open market to cover the syndicate short position. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that would adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Penalty bids permit the underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction. These over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the prices of the securities to be higher than they would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither the seller nor the underwriter will represent that they will engage in any of these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
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Pursuant to each underwriting agreement with respect to a given series of securities, the closing of the sale of any class of securities subject to the underwriting agreement will be conditioned on the closing of the sale of all other classes of securities of that series.
The place and time of delivery for any series of securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
Reports to Securityholders
For each series of securities, the servicer of the related Receivables will prepare for distribution to the related securityholders monthly and annual reports concerning the securities and the related issuing entity. See ‘‘The Transaction Documents — Evidence as to Compliance,’’ ‘‘Certain Information Regarding the Securities — Statements to Securityholders’’ and ‘‘Available Information.’’
Available Information
The depositor, as originator of the issuing entities, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, some parts of which have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, the depositor is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’), and in accordance with the Exchange Act files reports and other information with the SEC. The registration statement, reports and other information are available for inspection without charge at the public reference facilities of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Section by calling 1-800-732-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov at which users can view and download copies of reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically through the EDGAR system. Our SEC filings may be located by using the SEC Central Index Key (CIK) for the depositor, 0001164876. For purposes of any electronic version of this prospectus, the preceding uniform resource locator, or URL, is an inactive textual reference only. We have taken steps to ensure that this URL was inactive at the time we created any electronic version of this prospectus.
Reports relating to the issuing entity for your securities that are filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, distribution reports on Form 10-D, and current reports on Form 8-K, may be accessed by any investor, free of charge, through an Internet Web site at http://[Web site address to be inserted]. In the event this Internet Web site is temporarily unavailable, the depositor will provide to investors electronic or paper copies of such reports free of charge upon request. For purposes of any electronic version of this prospectus, the URL in this paragraph is an inactive textual reference only. We have taken steps to ensure that the URL in this paragraph was inactive at the time we created any electronic version of this prospectus.
At such time as may be required under relevant SEC rules and regulations, we may provide static pool information otherwise required to be set forth in this prospectus through an Internet Web site. If we determine to do so, the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus will disclose the specific Internet address where the information is posted.
Upon receipt of a request by an investor who has received an electronic prospectus supplement and prospectus from the underwriter or a request by the investor’s representative within the period during which there is an obligation to deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus, the underwriter will promptly deliver, or cause to be delivered, without charge, to the investor a paper copy of the prospectus supplement and prospectus.
Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus and the related prospectus supplement includes words such as ‘‘expects’’, ‘‘intends’’, ‘‘anticipates’’, ‘‘estimates’’ and similar words and expressions. Such words and expressions
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are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made subject to risks and uncertainties include, among other things, declines in general economic and business conditions, increased competitions, changes in demographics, changes in political and social conditions, regulatory initiatives and changes in customer preferences, many of which are beyond the control of the depositor or the seller. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement are accurate as of the date stated on the cover of the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement. The depositor has no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statement.
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
All documents filed by the depositor on behalf of the issuing entity referred to in the related prospectus supplement with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by the issuing entity shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the dates of filing of the documents. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in the related prospectus supplement, or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
The depositor on behalf of any issuing entity will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of the person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference, except the exhibits to these documents. Requests for copies should be directed to: BAS Securitization LLC, Bank of America Corporate Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255, telephone (704) 388-2308.
Legal Matters
The legality of the securities of any series will be passed upon by the law firms specified in the related prospectus supplement. Certain federal income tax and other matters will be passed upon for the issuing entity, the depositor and the seller, by the law firms specified in the related prospectus supplement.
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Glossary
‘‘Actuarial Method’’ means the method of calculating interest due on a Receivable without regard to the period of time which has elapsed since the preceding payment was made, using the Actuarial Method or the method known as the Rule of 78s or sum-of-the-digits method.
‘‘Balloon Payment’’ means, with respect to a Balloon Payment Receivable, the final payment which is due at the end of the term of the Receivable.
‘‘Balloon Payment Receivable’’ means a Receivable that provides for the amortization of the entire amount financed under the Receivable over a series of equal monthly installments with a substantially larger final payment which is due at the end of the term of the Receivable.
‘‘Collection Period’’ has the meaning set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
‘‘Controlling Class’’ means, with respect to any issuing entity, if so specified in the related prospectus supplement, the class or classes of notes and/or certificates designated as the initial ‘‘Controlling Class’’ in the related prospectus supplement so long as they are outstanding, and thereafter each other class or classes of notes and/or certificates in the order of priority designated in the related prospectus supplement.
‘‘Defaulted Receivable’’ has the meaning set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
‘‘Eligible Investments’’ has the meaning set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
‘‘Foreign Owner’’ means a Security Owner who is a Non-U.S. Person that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation.
‘‘Non-U.S. Person’’ means any person that is not a U.S. person.
‘‘Precomputed Receivables’’ consist of either (1) monthly actuarial Receivables (‘‘Actuarial Receivables’’) or (2) Receivables that provide for allocation of payments according to the ‘‘sum of periodic balances’’ or ‘‘sum of monthly payments’’ method, similar to the ‘‘Rule of 78s’’ (‘‘Rule of 78s Receivables’’). An Actuarial Receivable provides for amortization of the loan over a series of fixed level monthly installment payments. Each monthly installment, including the monthly installment representing the final payment on the Receivable, consists of (x) an amount of interest equal to 1/12 of the stated contract interest rate under the related Receivable multiplied by the unpaid principal balance of the loan, plus (y) an amount allocable to principal equal to the remainder of the monthly payment. A Rule of 78s Receivable provides for the payment by the obligor of a specified total amount of payments, payable in equal monthly installments on each due date, which total represents the principal amount financed plus add-on interest in an amount calculated at the stated contract interest rate under the related Receivable for the term of the Receivable. The rate at which the amount of add-on interest is earned and, correspondingly, the amount of each fixed monthly payment allocated to reduction of the outstanding principal amount are calculated in accordance with the Rule of 78s.
‘‘Simple Interest Method’’ means the method of calculating interest due on a Receivable on a daily basis based on the actual principal balance of the Receivable on that date.
‘‘Simple Interest Receivables’’ are Receivables that provide for the amortization of the amount financed under them over a series of fixed level monthly payments. However, unlike the monthly payment under an Actuarial Receivable, each monthly payment consists of an installment of interest that is calculated on the basis of the outstanding principal balance of the Receivable multiplied by the stated contract interest rate under the related Receivable and further multiplied by the period elapsed, as a fraction of a calendar year, since the preceding payment of interest was made. As payments are received under a Simple Interest Receivable, the amount received generally is applied first to interest accrued to the date of payment and the balance is applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance. Accordingly, if an obligor pays a fixed monthly installment before its scheduled due date, the portion of the payment allocable to interest for the period since the preceding payment was made will be less than it would have been had the payment been made as scheduled, and the portion of the payment applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance will be correspondingly greater. Conversely, if an
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obligor pays a fixed monthly installment after its scheduled due date, the portion of the payment allocable to interest for the period since the preceding payment was made will be greater than it would have been had the payment been made as scheduled, and the portion of the payment applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance will be correspondingly less. In either case, the obligor is obligated to pay a fixed monthly installment until the final payment date, at which time the amount of the final installment may be increased or decreased as necessary to repay the then outstanding principal balance.
‘‘U.S. Person’’ means a ‘‘United States person’’ as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, generally including:
 |  |  |
| • | a citizen or resident of the United States; |
 |  |  |
| • | a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision of the United States; |
 |  |  |
| • | an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for United States tax purposes, regardless of its source; or |
 |  |  |
| • | a Trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the Trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the Trust or a Trust that has elected to be treated as a U.S. Person. |
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Index of Defined Terms

 |  |  |
Accounts |  | 41 |
Accredited Investor |  | 68 |
Actuarial Method |  | 76 |
Advances |  | 44 |
Affiliate |  | 68 |
Amortization Period |  | 31 |
Assessment of Compliance |  | 49 |
Attestation Report |  | 49 |
Balloon Payment |  | 76 |
Balloon Payment Receivable |  | 76 |
Bank of America |  | 12 |
Beneficial Owners |  | 32 |
Benefit Plan |  | 66 |
Book-Entry Securities |  | 32 |
Cash Flow Agreement |  | 47 |
Certificate Distribution Account |  | 41 |
Certificate Owners |  | 59 |
Certificate Pool Factor |  | 21 |
Chattel Paper |  | 52 |
Code |  | 66 |
Collateral Certificates |  | 18 |
Collection Account |  | 41 |
Collection Period |  | 76 |
Controlling Class |  | 76 |
Defaulted Receivable |  | 76 |
Definitive Certificates |  | 37 |
Definitive Notes |  | 37 |
Definitive Securities |  | 37 |
Designated Transaction |  | 68 |
Eligible Investments |  | 76 |
Eligible Swap |  | 69 |
Eligible Swap Counterparty |  | 69 |
Eligible Yield Supplement Agreement |  | 70 |
ERISA |  | 66 |
Euroclear Operator |  | 34 |
European Depositaries |  | 32 |
Events of Default |  | 24 |
Exchange Act |  | 74 |
Excluded Plan |  | 71 |
Exemption |  | 67 |
Financed Vehicles |  | 13 |
Financial Intermediary |  | 32 |
Foreign Owner |  | 76 |
FTC Rule |  | 56 |
Government Securities |  | 20 |
Grantor Trust Certificateholders |  | 61 |
Grantor Trust Certificates |  | 61 |
GSEs |  | 20 |
Holder-in-Due-Course |  | 56 |
Indenture |  | 22 |
Indirect Participants |  | 32 |
Investment Earnings |  | 41 |
Issuing Entity |  | 67 |
Issuing Entity Agreement |  | 59 |
Issuing Entity Property |  | 14 |
Limited Liability Company Agreement |  | 12 |
LLC |  | 13 |
Non-Ratings Dependent Swap |  | 69, 70 |
Non-U.S. Person |  | 76 |
Note Distribution Account |  | 41 |
Note Owners |  | 59 |
Note Pool Factor |  | 21 |
Obligor |  | 71 |
OID |  | 59 |
OID Regulations |  | 59 |
Owner Trust |  | 59 |
Participants |  | 32 |
Parties in Interest |  | 66 |
Payahead Account |  | 41 |
Payaheads |  | 43 |
Plan Asset Regulation |  | 66 |
Pool Balance |  | 21 |
Pooling and Servicing Agreement |  | 68 |
Precomputed Advance |  | 43 |
Precomputed Receivables |  | 76 |
Pre-Funded Amount |  | 41 |
Pre-Funding Account |  | 41 |
Pre-Funding Period |  | 41 |
Prepayment Assumption |  | 59 |
Prepayments |  | 20 |
Primary Assets |  | 13 |
PTCE |  | 67 |
PTE |  | 67 |
Qualified Plan Investor |  | 69 |
Rating Agency |  | 68 |
Ratings Dependent Swap |  | 69, 70 |
Reasonable Compensation |  | 68 |
Receivables |  | 17 |
Receivables Purchase Agreement |  | 39 |
Related Documents |  | 26 |
Relevant Depositary |  | 32 |
Relief Act |  | 57 |
Repurchase Amount |  | 40 |
Reserve Account |  | 14 |
Restricted Group |  | 68 |
Revolving Period |  | 31 |
Rules |  | 32 |
Sale and Servicing Agreement |  | 14 |
Schedule of Receivables |  | 40 |
Securities Act |  | 68 |
 |
78

 |  |  |
Security |  | 67 |
Security Owners |  | 37 |
Senior Certificates |  | 63 |
Senior Class Percentage |  | 64 |
Servicer |  | 68 |
Servicer Default |  | 50 |
Servicing Fee |  | 44 |
Servicing Fee Rate |  | 44 |
Shortfall Amount |  | 64 |
Short-Term Note |  | 59 |
Simple Interest Advance |  | 44 |
Simple Interest Method |  | 76 |
Simple Interest Receivables |  | 76 |
Sponsor |  | 68 |
Stripped Certificates |  | 61, 63 |
Subordinate Certificates |  | 63 |
Subordinate Class Percentage |  | 63 |
Subordinated Certificates |  | 61 |
Tax Counsel |  | 58 |
Transfer and Servicing Agreements |  | 39 |
Treasury Bonds |  | 20 |
Treasury Strips |  | 20 |
Trust |  | 13 |
Trust Agreement |  | 13 |
Trust Stripped Bond |  | 63 |
Trust Stripped Coupon |  | 63 |
Trustee |  | 68 |
Underlying Issuing Entity |  | 19 |
Underlying Servicer |  | 19 |
Underlying Trust Agreement |  | 19 |
Underlying Trustee |  | 19 |
Underwriter |  | 67 |
U.S. Person |  | 77 |
 |
79
PART II
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an itemized list of the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering of the securities being offered hereunder other than underwriting discounts and commissions.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Registration Fee |  | $1,380,300** |
Printing and Engraving |  | * |
Trustees’ Fees |  | * |
Legal Fees and Expenses |  | * |
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses |  | * |
Accountants’ Fees and Expenses |  | * |
Rating Agency Fees |  | * |
Miscellaneous Fees |  | * |
Total |  | $* |
 |
 |  |
* | To be provided by amendment. |
 |  |
** | Actual. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that, subject to the standards and restrictions, if any, as are described in its limited liability company agreement, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.
The Registrant was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware. The limited liability company agreement of the Registrant provides, in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, it will indemnify its members, officers, directors, employees and agents of the Registrant, and employees, representatives, agents or affiliates of its members (collectively, the ‘‘Covered Persons’’), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Registrant and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Covered Person by the limited liability company agreement, except that no Covered Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of such Covered Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions; provided, however, that any indemnity under the limited liability company agreement by the Registrant shall be provided out of and to the extent of Registrant assets only, and the members shall not have personal liability on account thereof and provided further, that so long as any securities issued by the Registrant and secured primarily by or evidencing beneficial ownership interest in the Receivables, or any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Registrant under or in connection with the limited liability company agreement or the Transfer and Servicing Agreements, is outstanding, no indemnity payment from funds of the Registrant (as distinct from funds from other sources, such as insurance) of any indemnity under the limited liability company agreement shall be payable from amounts allocable to any other person pursuant to the Transfer and Servicing Agreements.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including legal fees) incurred by a Covered Person defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Registrant prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Registrant of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in the limited liability company agreement.
A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Registrant and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Registrant by
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any person as to matters the Covered Person reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Registrant, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to the member might properly be paid.
To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Registrant or to any other Covered Person, a Covered Person acting under the limited liability company agreement shall not be liable to the Registrant or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of the limited liability company agreement or any approval or authorization granted by the Registrant or other Covered Person. The provisions of the limited liability company agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the members to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.
Insofar as indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Each underwriting agreement will generally provide that the underwriter will indemnify the Registrant and its directors, officers and controlling parties against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to certain information provided or actions taken by the underwriter. The Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exhibit Number. |  | Description of Exhibit |
| 1.1 | |  | Form of Underwriting Agreement.* |
| 3.1 | |  | Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Registrant.* |
| 3.2 | |  | Form of Limited Liability Agreement of the Issuing Entity.* |
| 4.1 | |  | Form of Indenture.* |
| 4.2 | |  | Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement.* |
| 5.1 | |  | Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to legality.* |
| 8.1 | |  | Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to federal tax matters.* |
| 10.1 | |  | Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement among the Registrant, the Servicer and the Issuing Entity.* |
| 10.2 | |  | Form of Receivables Purchase Agreement between the Seller and the Registrant.* |
| 10.3 | |  | Form of Administration Agreement.* |
| 10.4 | |  | Form of Trust Agreement of the Issuing Entity.* |
| 23.1 | |  | Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (included in its opinions filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).* |
| 24.1 | |  | Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages). |
| 25.1 | |  | Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Indenture Trustee (Form T-1).* |
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 |  |
* | To be provided by amendment. |
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) Rule 415 Offering.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
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(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the ‘‘Calculation of Registration Fee’’ table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
Provided , however, that:
(A) Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this Registration Statement; and
(B) Provided further, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if this Registration Statement is for an offering of asset-backed securities on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment is provided pursuant to Item 1100(c) of Regulation AB.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the Registration Statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such
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date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the securities in the Registration Statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the Registration Statement or prospectus that was part of the Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b) Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Qualifications of Trust Indentures Under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 For Delayed Offerings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
(d) Filings Regarding Asset-Backed Securities Incorporating by Reference Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Third Parties.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of a third party that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in accordance with Item 1100(c)(1) of Regulation AB shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(e) Filings Regarding Asset-Backed Securities That Provide Certain Information Through an Internet Web Site.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, except as otherwise provided by Item 1105 of Regulation AB, information provided in response to that Item pursuant to Rule 312 of Regulation S-T through the specified Internet address in the prospectus is deemed to be a part of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In addition, the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the information provided in response to Item 1105 of Regulation AB pursuant to Rule 312 of Regulation S-T through the specified Internet address as of the date of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement if a subsequent update or change is made to the information.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 reasonably believes that the security rating requirement contained in Transaction Requirement I.B.5. of Form S-3 will be met by the time of the sale of the securities registered hereunder and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Charlotte, North Carolina on the 19th day of December 2005.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | BAS SECURITIZATION LLC |
|  | By: |  | /s/ WILLIAM A. GLENN |
|  | |  | Name: William A. Glenn Title: President |
 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEAN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William A. Glenn, George C. Carp and James G. Mackey, individually, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 |  |  |  |  |
Signature | | Title | | Date |
 |
/s/ WILLIAM A. GLENN | | President and Director | | December 19, 2005 |
 |
William A. Glenn |
 |
/s/ GEORGE C. CARP | | Treasurer | | December 19, 2005 |
 |
George C. Carp |
 |
/s/ JAMES G. MACKEY | | Director and Chief Financial Officer | | December 19, 2005 |
 |
James G. Mackey |
 |
/s/ JULIANA C. JOHNSON | | Director | | December 19, 2005 |
 |
Juliana C. Johnson |
 |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
EXHIBIT NUMBER. |  | DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT |
1.1 |  | Form of Underwriting Agreement.* |
3.1 |  | Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Registrant.* |
3.2 |  | Form of Limited Liability Agreement of the Issuing Entity.* |
4.1 |  | Form of Indenture.* |
4.2 |  | Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement.* |
5.1 |  | Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to legality.* |
8.1 |  | Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to federal tax matters.* |
10.1 |  | Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement among the Registrant, the Servicer and the Issuing Entity.* |
10.2 |  | Form of Receivables Purchase Agreement between the Seller and the Registrant.* |
10.3 |  | Form of Administration Agreement.* |
10.4 |  | Form of Trust Agreement of the Issuing Entity.* |
23.1 |  | Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (included in its opinions filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).* |
24.1 |  | Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages). |
25.1 |  | Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Indenture Trustee (Form T-1).* |
 |
 |  |
* | To be filed by Amendment. |