AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 23, 1996
REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-99604
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 3 to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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FIRST ALLIANCE MORTGAGE COMPANY
(AS SPONSOR OF THE TRUSTS DESCRIBED HEREIN)
California 17305 VON KARMAN AVENUE 95-2944875
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(Jurisdiction) IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92714-6203 (I.R.S. Employer
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE) Identification No.)
H. JOHN STEELE, ESQ.
ARTER & HADDEN
1801 K STREET, N.W., SUITE 400 K
WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1301
(202) 775-7169
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPIES TO:
MARK K. MASON
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
FIRST ALLIANCE MORTGAGE COMPANY
17305 VON KARMAN AVENUE
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92714-6203
(714) 224-8403
(714) 224-6696 - Fax
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC. From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined by
market conditions and pursuant to Rule 415.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
Box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box. |X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
Pursuant to Rule 429 of the Securities Act of 1933, the Prospectus filed as
part of this Registration Statement may be used in connection with the
securities covered by Registration Statement No. 33-79948.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
PROPOSED PROPOSED
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
AMOUNT AGGREGATE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TO BE PRICE OFFERING REGISTRATION
TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED REGISTERED PER UNIT(1) PRICE(1) FEE(2)
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Class A Certificates $580,000,000.00 100% $580,000,000.00 $200,000.00
=================================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Previously paid by wire transfer on November 17, 1995.
</FN>
-------------------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
TO FORM S-3
CAPTION OR LOCATION
ITEM AND CAPTION IN FORM S-3 IN PROSPECTUS
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1. Forepart of the Registration Statement
and Outside Front Cover Page of
Prospectus....................................................... Forepart of Registration
Statement; Outside Front Cover
Page**
2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Page of
Prospectus....................................................... Inside Front Cover Page**;
Outside Back Cover Page**
3. Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of Earnings
to Fixed Charges................................................. Summary of Prospectus**; Special
Considerations**;*
4. Use of Proceeds.................................................... Use of Proceeds
5. Determination of Offering Price................................... *
6. Dilution........................................................... *
7. Selling Security Holders........................................... *
8. Plan of Distribution............................................... Methods of Distribution**
9. Description of Registrant's Securities............................ Outside Front Cover Page**;
Summary of Prospectus**;
Description of the Securities**;
Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences**
10. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel............................. *
11. Material Changes.................................................. *
12. Incorporation by Reference......................................... Inside Front Cover Page**;
Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference**
13. Disclosure of Commission Position on
Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities................... See Page II-3 to Form S-3
<FN>
* Not applicable or answer is negative.
** To be completed or supplemented from time to time
by Prospectus Supplement.
</FN>
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED _______________, 1996
PROSPECTUS
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Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Securities, Issuable in Series
First Alliance Mortgage Company
Sponsor
This Prospectus describes certain Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Securities
(the "Securities") that may be issued from time to time in series and certain
classes of which may be offered hereby from time to time as described in the
related Prospectus Supplement. Each series of Securities will be issued by a
separate trust (each, a "Trust"). The primary assets of each Trust will consist
of a segregated pool (a "Mortgage Pool") of conventional one- to four-family
residential mortgage loans or certificates of interest or participation therein
(the "Mortgage Loans"), to be acquired by such Trust from First Alliance
Mortgage Company (the "Sponsor" or "Company"). The Company will originate and/or
acquire the Mortgage Loans from one or more affiliated or unaffiliated
institutions (together with the Company, the "Originators"). See "The Mortgage
Pools."
The Mortgage Loans in each Mortgage Pool and certain other assets
described herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement (collectively with
respect to each Trust, the "Trust Estate") will be held by the related Trust for
the benefit of the holders of the related series of Securities (the
"Securityholders") pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement to the extent
and as more fully described herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Each Mortgage Pool will consist of one or more of the various types of Mortgage
Loans described under "The Mortgage Pools."
Each series of Securities will include one or more classes. The
Securities of any particular class may represent beneficial ownership interests
in the related Mortgage Loans held by the related Trust, or may represent debt
secured by such Mortgage Loans, as described herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement. A series may include one or more classes of Securities
entitled to principal distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or no
interest distributions, or to interest distributions, with disproportionate,
nominal or no principal distributions. The rights of one or more classes of
Securities of any series may be senior or subordinate to the rights of one or
more of the other classes of Securities. A series may include two or more
classes of Securities which differ as to the timing, sequential order, priority
of payment, interest rate or amount of distributions of principal or interest or
both. Information regarding each class of Securities of a series, and certain
characteristics of the Mortgage Loans to be evidenced by such Securities, will
be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
The Company's and the related Originators' only obligations with
respect to a series of Securities will be pursuant to the servicing requirements
relating thereto, and pursuant to certain representations and warranties made by
the Company or by such Originators, except as described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities
will name the Company as Servicer (the "Servicer") which will act, directly or
through one or more sub-servicers (the "Sub-Servicer(s)"). The principal
obligations of the Servicer will be pursuant to its contractual servicing
obligations (which include its limited obligation to make certain advances in
the event of delinquencies in payments on the Mortgage Loans and interest
shortfalls due to prepayment of Mortgage Loans). See "Description of the
Securities."
If so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Trust Estate
for a series of Securities may include any combination of a mortgage pool
insurance policy, letter of credit, financial guaranty insurance policy,
bankruptcy bond, special hazard insurance policy, reserve fund or other form of
credit enhancement. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, credit
enhancement with respect to certain classes of Securities of any series may be
provided by means of subordination, cross-support among Mortgage Assets as
defined herein or over-collateralization. See "Description of Credit
Enhancement."
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 11 herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement for a discussion of significant matters affecting
investments in the Securities.
The rate of payment of principal of each class of Securities entitled
to principal payments will depend on the priority of payment of such class and
the rate of payment (including prepayments, defaults, liquidations and
repurchases of Mortgage Loans) of the related Mortgage Loans. A rate of
principal payment lower or higher than that anticipated may affect the yield on
each class of Securities in the manner described herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The various types of Securities, the different classes of
such Securities and certain types of Mortgage Loans in a given Mortgage Pool may
have different prepayment risks and credit risks. The Prospectus Supplement for
a series of Securities will contain information as to (i) types, maturities and
certain statistical information relating to credit risks of the Mortgage Loans
in the related Mortgage Pool, (ii) projected prepayment and yields based upon
certain specified assumptions for a series of Securities and (iii) priority of
payment and maturity dates of the Securities. See "Yield Considerations." A
Trust may be subject to early termination under the circumstances described
herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
An investor should carefully review the information in the related
Prospectus Supplement concerning the different consequences of the risks
associated with the different types and classes of Securities.
THE ASSETS OF THE RELATED TRUST ARE THE SOLE SOURCE OF PAYMENTS ON THE
RELATED SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES DO NOT REPRESENT AN INTEREST IN OR OBLIGATION
OF THE COMPANY, THE SERVICER, ANY ORIGINATOR OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES, EXCEPT
AS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN THE RELATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. NEITHER THE
SECURITIES NOR THE UNDERLYING MORTGAGE LOANS WILL BE GUARANTEED OR INSURED BY
ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY OR BY THE COMPANY, THE SERVICER, THE
MASTER SERVICER, ANY ORIGINATOR OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH
IN THE RELATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. SEE ALSO "RISK FACTORS."
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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Offers of the Securities may be made through one or more different
methods, including offerings through underwriters, as more fully described under
"Methods of Distribution" and in the related Prospectus Supplement. There will
be no secondary market for any series of Securities prior to the offering
thereof. There can be no assurance that a secondary market for any of the
Securities will develop or, if it does develop, that it will offer sufficient
liquidity of investment or will continue.
Retain this Prospectus for future reference. This Prospectus may not be
used to consummate sales of securities offered hereby unless accompanied by a
Prospectus Supplement.
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The date of this Prospectus is ____________, 1996.
One or more separate elections may be made to treat a Trust, or one or
more segregated pools of assets held by such Trust, as a real estate mortgage
investment conduit ("REMIC") for federal income tax purposes. If applicable, the
Prospectus Supplement for a series of Securities will specify which class or
classes of the related series of Securities will be considered to be regular
interests in a REMIC and which classes of Securities or other interests will be
designated as the residual interest in a REMIC. Alternatively, a Trust may be
treated as a grantor trust or as a partnership for federal income tax purposes,
or may be treated for federal income tax purposes as a mere security device
which constitutes a collateral arrangement for the issuance of secured debt. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" herein.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Caption Page
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................ 2
Summary of Prospectus.................................................. 3
Risk Factors........................................................... 12
The Trusts............................................................. 17
The Mortgage Pools..................................................... 20
General.............................................................. 20
The Mortgage Pools................................................... 21
Mortgage Loan Program.................................................. 23
Underwriting Guidelines.............................................. 23
Qualifications of Originators........................................ 26
Sub-Servicers........................................................ 27
Representations by Originators....................................... 27
Sub-Servicing by Originators......................................... 29
Description of the Securities.......................................... 30
General.............................................................. 30
General Payment Terms of Securities.................................. 31
Form of Securities................................................... 32
Assignment of Mortgage Loans......................................... 34
Forward Commitments; Pre-Funding..................................... 35
Payments on Mortgage Loans; Deposits to
Distribution Account............................................... 35
Withdrawals from the Principal and Interest Account.................. 38
Distributions........................................................ 38
Principal and Interest on the Securities............................. 38
Advances............................................................. 39
Reports to Securityholders........................................... 40
Collection and Other Servicing Procedures............................ 41
Realization upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans............................ 43
Subordination.......................................................... 44
Description of Credit Enhancement...................................... 45
Hazard Insurance; Claims Thereunder.................................... 49
Hazard Insurance Policies............................................ 49
The Company............................................................ 50
The Servicer........................................................... 50
The Master Servicer.................................................... 50
The Pooling and Servicing Agreement.................................... 50
Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment
of Expenses; Originator's Retained Yield........................... 50
Evidence as to Compliance............................................ 51
Removal and Resignation of the Servicer.............................. 52
Resignation of the Master Servicer................................... 52
Rights Upon Event of Default......................................... 52
Amendment............................................................ 53
Termination; Retirement of Securities................................ 54
The Trustee.......................................................... 54
Yield Considerations................................................... 54
Maturity and Prepayment Considerations................................. 56
Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans and
Related Matters........................................................ 58
General.............................................................. 58
Foreclosure........................................................ 58
Rights of Redemption............................................... 59
Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other Limitations
on Lenders......................................................... 59
Environmental Legislation............................................ 60
Enforceability of Certain Provisions................................. 61
Certain Provisions of California Deeds of Trust...................... 61
Applicability of Usury Laws.......................................... 62
Alternative Mortgage Instruments..................................... 62
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940...................... 62
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences................................ 63
General.............................................................. 63
Grantor Trust Estates................................................ 63
REMICS............................................................... 65
Sales of REMIC Securities............................................ 68
Debt Securities...................................................... 70
Discount and Premium................................................. 71
Backup Withholding................................................... 74
Foreign Investors.................................................... 74
ERISA Considerations................................................... 74
Plan Asset Regulations............................................... 75
Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption............................... 75
Tax Exempt Investors................................................. 77
Consultation with Counsel............................................ 77
Legal Investment Matters............................................... 77
Use of Proceeds........................................................ 78
Methods of Distribution................................................ 78
Legal Matters.......................................................... 79
Financial Information.................................................. 79
Additional Information................................................. 79
Index of Principal Definitions......................................... 80
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
All documents filed by each respective trust pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities of
such trust offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus when delivered with respect to such trust. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
Any person receiving a copy of this Prospectus may obtain, without
charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any of the documents
incorporated by reference herein, except for the exhibits to such documents
(other than the documents expressly incorporated therein by reference). Requests
should be directed to First Alliance Mortgage Company, 17305 Von Karman, Irvine,
California 92714 (telephone number 714-224-8500).
2
SUMMARY OF PROSPECTUS
The following summary of certain pertinent information is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the detailed information appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus and by reference to the information with respect to each series
of Securities contained in the Prospectus Supplement to be prepared and
delivered in connection with the offering of such series. Capitalized terms used
in this summary that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in this Prospectus. An index indicating where certain terms used herein
are defined appears at the end of this Prospectus.
Securities Offered........... Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Securities.
Company...................... First Alliance Mortgage Company. See "The
Company."
Originators.................. The Company will originate and/or acquire the
Mortgage Loans from one or more institutions
affiliated with the Company ("Affiliated
Originators") or institutions unaffiliated with
the Company ("Unaffiliated Originators") (the
Affiliated Originators, the Unaffiliated
Originators and the Company are collectively
referred to as the "Originators"). Unaffiliated
Originators that enter into agreements to sell
Mortgage Loans to the Company and that meet
certain qualifications described herein are
referred to as "Participating Originators" or
"Designated Originators"; such designation is
dependent upon types of duties retained by an
Originator (i.e., sub-servicing) and
satisfaction of the Company's requirements for
such qualification.
Servicer..................... First Alliance Mortgage Company. See "The
Servicer" and "The Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Certain Matters Regarding the
Servicer and the Company."
Master Servicer.............. A Master Servicer may be specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement for the related
series of Securities. See "Mortgage Loan
Program--Master Servicer" and "The Pooling and
Servicing Agreement--Certain Matters Regarding
the Servicer and the Company."
Sub-Servicers................ Affiliated Originators may act as Sub-Servicers
for Mortgage Loans acquired by the Company from
such Affiliated Originators unless servicing is
released to the Servicer or has been transferred
to a servicer approved by the Servicer.
Unaffiliated Originators (including Designated
Originators, Participating Originators or
Originators of Bulk Acquisitions) may or may not
act as Sub-Servicers for Mortgage Loans acquired
by the Company from such Unaffiliated
Originators. In addition, third-party
unaffiliated contract servicers may act as
Sub-Servicers. See "Mortgage Loan
Program--Sub-Servicers."
Trustee...................... The trustee (the "Trustee") for each series of
Securities will be specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
The Securities............... Issuance of Securities. Each series of
Securities will be issued at the direction of
the Company by a separate Trust (each, a
"Trust"). The primary assets of each Trust will
consist of a segregated pool (each a "Mortgage
Pool") of conventional, one-to-four family
residential mortgage loans (the "Mortgage
Loans") or certificates of interest or
participation therein, acquired by such Trust
from the Company. The
3
Company will originate and/or acquire the
Mortgage Loans from one or more of the
Originators. The Securities issued by any Trust
may represent beneficial ownership interests in
the related Mortgage Loans held by the related
Trust, or may represent debt secured by such
Mortgage Loans, as described herein and in the
related Prospectus Supplement. Securities which
represent beneficial ownership interests in the
related Trust will be referred to as
"Certificates" in the related Prospectus
Supplement; Securities which represent debt
issued by the related Trust will be referred to
as "Notes" in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Each Trust will be established pursuant to an
agreement (each, a "Trust Agreement") by and
between the Company and the Trustee named
therein. Each Trust Agreement will describe the
related pool of assets to be held in trust (each
such asset pool, the "Trust Estate"), which will
include the related Mortgage Loans and, if so
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement,
may include any combination of a mortgage pool
insurance policy, letter of credit, financial
guaranty insurance policy, special hazard
policy, reserve fund or other form of credit
enhancement.
The Mortgage Loans held by each Trust will be
serviced by the Servicer pursuant to a servicing
agreement (each, a "Servicing Agreement") by and
between the Servicer and the related Trustee.
With respect to Securities that represent debt
issued by the related Trust, the related Trust
will enter into an indenture (each, an
"Indenture") by and between such Trust and the
trustee named on such Indenture (the "Indenture
Trustee"), as set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Securities that represent
beneficial ownership interests in the related
Trust will be issued pursuant to the related
Trust Agreement.
In the case of any individual Trust, the
contractual arrangements relating to the
establishment of the Trust, the servicing of the
related Mortgage Loans and the issuance of the
related Securities may be contained in a single
agreement, or in several agreements which
combine certain aspects of the Trust Agreement,
the Servicing Agreement and the Indenture
described above (for example, a pooling and
servicing agreement, or a servicing and
collateral management agreement). For purposes
of this Prospectus, the term "Pooling and
Servicing Agreement" as used with respect to a
Trust means, collectively, and except as
otherwise specified, any and all agreements
relating to the establishment of the related
Trust, the servicing of the related Mortgage
Loans and the issuance of the related
Securities.
Securities Will Be Recourse to the Assets of the
Related Trust Only. The sole source of payment
for any series of Securities will be the assets
of the related Trust (i.e., the related Trust
Estate). The Securities will not be obligations,
either recourse or non-recourse (except for
certain non-recourse debt described under
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences"), of
the Company, the Master Servicer, the Servicer,
any Originator or any Person other than the
related Trust. In the case of Securities that
represent beneficial ownership interest in the
related Trust Estate, such Securities will
4
represent the ownership of such Trust Estate;
with respect to Securities that represent debt
issued by the related Trust, such Securities
will be secured by the related Trust Estate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and as to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement,
certain types of credit enhancement, such as a
financial guaranty insurance policy or a letter
of credit, may constitute a full recourse
obligation of the issuer of such credit
enhancement.
General Nature of the Securities as Investments.
The Securities will consist of two basic types:
(i) Securities of the fixed-income type
("Fixed-Income Securities") and (ii) Securities
of the equity participation type ("Equity
Securities"). No Class of Equity Securities will
be offered pursuant to this Prospectus or any
Prospectus Supplement related hereto.
Fixed-Income Securities will generally be styled
as debt instruments, having a principal balance
and a specified interest rate ("Interest Rate").
Fixed-Income Securities may be either beneficial
ownership interests in the related Mortgage
Loans held by the related Trust, or may
represent debt secured by such Mortgage Loans.
Each series or class of Fixed-Income Securities
may have a different Interest Rate, which may be
a fixed or adjustable Interest Rate. The related
Prospectus Supplement will specify the Interest
Rate for each series or class of Fixed-Income
Securities, or the initial Interest Rate and the
method for determining subsequent changes to the
Interest Rate.
A series may include one or more classes of
Fixed-Income Securities ("Strip Securities")
entitled (i) to principal distributions, with
disproportionate, nominal or no interest
distributions, or (ii) to interest
distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or
no principal distributions. In addition, a
series may include two or more classes of
Fixed-Income Securities that differ as to
timing, sequential order, priority of payment,
Interest Rate or amount of distributions of
principal or interest or both, or as to which
distributions of principal or interest or both
on any class may be made upon the occurrence of
specified events, in accordance with a schedule
or formula, or on the basis of collections from
designated portions of the related Mortgage
Pool, which series may include one or more
classes of Fixed-Income Securities ("Accrual
Securities"), as to which certain accrued
interest will not be distributed but rather will
be added to the principal balance (or nominal
principal balance, in the case of Accrual
Securities which are also strip Securities)
thereof on each Payment Date, as hereinafter
defined and in the manner described in the
related Prospectus Supplement.
If so provided in the related Prospectus
Supplement, a series of Securities may include
one or more other classes of Fixed-Income
Securities (collectively, the "Senior
Securities") that are senior to one or more
other classes of Fixed-Income Securities
(collectively, the "Subordinate Securities") in
respect of certain distributions of principal
and interest and allocations of losses on
Mortgage Loans. In addition, certain classes of
Senior (or Subordinate) Securities may be senior
to other classes of Senior (or Subordinate)
Securities in respect of such distributions or
losses.
5
Equity Securities will represent the right to
receive the proceeds of the related Trust Estate
after all required payments have been made to
the Securityholders of the related Fixed-Income
Securities (both Senior Securities and
Subordinate Securities), and following any
required deposits to any reserve account which
may be established for the benefit of the
Fixed-Income Securities. Equity Securities may
constitute what are commonly referred to as the
"residual interest," "seller's interest" or the
"general partnership interest," depending upon
the treatment of the related Trust for federal
income tax purposes. As distinguished from the
Fixed-Income Securities, the Equity Securities
will not be styled as having principal and
interest components. Any losses suffered by the
related Trust will first be absorbed by the
related class of Equity Securities, as described
herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
No Class of Equity Securities will be offered
pursuant to this Prospectus or any Prospectus
Supplement related hereto. Equity Securities may
be offered on a private placement basis or
pursuant to a separate Registration Statement to
be filed by the Company. In addition, the
Company and its affiliates may initially or
permanently hold any Equity Securities issued by
any Trust.
General Payment Terms of Securities. As provided
in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement
and as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, Securityholders will be entitled to
receive payments on their Securities on
specified dates ("Payment Dates"). Payment Dates
with respect to Fixed-Income Securities will
occur monthly, quarterly or semiannually, as
described in the related Prospectus Supplement;
Payment Dates with respect to Equity Securities
will occur as described in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
The related Prospectus Supplement will describe
a date (the "Record Date") preceding each
Payment Date, as of which the Trustee or its
paying agent will fix the identity of the
Securityholders for the purpose of receiving
payments on the next succeeding Payment Date.
Unless otherwise described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the Payment Date will be
the twenty-fifth day of each month (or, in the
case of quarterly-pay Securities, the
twenty-fifth day of every third month; and in
the case of semi-annually-pay Securities, the
twenty-fifth day of every sixth month) and the
Record Date will be the close of business as of
the last day of the calendar month that precedes
the calendar month in which such Payment Date
occurs.
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement will
describe different periods (a "Remittance
Period" or "Due Period") antecedent to each
Payment Date (for example, in the case of
monthly-pay Securities, the calendar month
preceding the month in which a Payment Date
occurs or such other specified period). Unless
otherwise provided in the related Prospectus
Supplement, collections received on or with
respect to the related Mortgage Loans during a
Remittance Period will be required to be
remitted by the Servicer to the related Trustee
prior to the related Payment Date, and will be
used to fund payments to Securityholders on such
Payment Date. As may be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement may provide that all or a
portion of the principal collected
6
on or with respect to the related Mortgage Loans
may be applied by the related Trustee to the
acquisition of additional Mortgage Loans during
a specified period (rather than be used to fund
payments of principal to Securityholders during
such period) with the result that the related
securities will possess an interest-only period,
also commonly referred to as a revolving period,
which will be followed by an amortization
period. Any such interest-only or revolving
period may, upon the occurrence of certain
events to be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, terminate prior to the end of the
specified period and result in the earlier than
expected amortization of the related Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that
all or a portion of such collected principal may
be retained by the Trustee (and held in certain
temporary investments, including Mortgage Loans)
for a specified period prior to being used to
fund payments of principal to Securityholders.
The result of such retention and temporary
investment by the Trustee of such principal
would be to slow the amortization rate of the
related Securities relative to the amortization
rate of the related Mortgage Loans, or to
attempt to match the amortization rate of the
related Securities to an amortization schedule
established at the time such Securities are
issued. Any such feature applicable to any
Securities may terminate upon the occurrence of
events to be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, resulting in the current
distribution of principal payments to the
specified Securityholders and an acceleration of
the amortization of such Securities.
Neither the Securities nor the underlying
Mortgage Loans will be guaranteed or insured by
any governmental agency or instrumentality or
the Company, the Servicer, the Master Servicer,
any Sub-Servicer, any Originator or any of their
affiliates; however, certain distributions to
the Securityholders may be insured by a
Financial Guaranty Insurer pursuant to a
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy.
No Investment
Companies.................. Neither the Company nor any Trust will register
as an "investment company" under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment
Company Act").
Cross-Collateralization...... Unless otherwise provided in the related Pooling
and Servicing Agreement and described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the source of
payment for Securities of each series will be
the assets of the related Trust Estate only.
However, as may be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, a Trust Estate may
include the right to receive moneys from a
common pool of credit enhancement which may be
available for more than one series of
Securities, such as a master reserve account or
a master insurance policy. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no collections on any Mortgage Loans
held by any Trust may be applied to the payment
of Securities issued by any other Trust (except
to the limited extent that certain collections
in excess of amounts needed to pay the related
Securities may be deposited in a common, master
reserve account that provides credit enhancement
for more than one series of Securities).
7
The Mortgage Pools......... Each Trust Estate will consist primarily of
Mortgage Loans secured by liens on one- to
four-family residential properties
("Mortgages"), located in any one of the fifty
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or
any other Territories of the United States (the
"Mortgaged Properties"). All Mortgage Loans will
have been acquired by the related Trust from the
Company. All Mortgage Loans will have been
originated either by (i) the Company; (ii) one
or more Affiliated Originators generally
pursuant to standard underwriting guidelines
described herein, as modified from time to time
("Company's Guidelines "); (iii) one or more
Unaffiliated Originators, generally pursuant to
the Company's Guidelines; (iv) certain
Unaffiliated Originators, including
Participating Originators or Designated
Originators, generally pursuant to such
Unaffiliated Originators' underwriting
guidelines approved by the Company ("Approved
Guidelines"); and (v) the Originators of a
portfolio of Mortgage Loans, subsequently
purchased in whole or in part by the Company as
bulk acquisitions ("Bulk Acquisitions"),
generally pursuant to such Originators'
underwriting guidelines. See "Mortgage Loan
Program." For a description of the types of
Mortgage Loans that may be included in the
Mortgage Pools, see "The Mortgage Pools--The
Mortgage Loans."
If specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, Mortgage Loans that are converted
from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate or
certain Mortgage Loans for which the Mortgage
Rate has been reset will be repurchased by the
Company or purchased by the applicable
Sub-Servicer, Servicer or another party, or a
designated remarketing agent will use its best
efforts to arrange the sale thereof as further
described herein.
A Current Report on Form 8-K will be available
to purchasers or underwriters of the related
series of Securities and will generally be
filed, together with the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission within fifteen days after
the initial issuance of such series.
Forward Commitments;
Pre-Funding............... A Trust may enter into an agreement (each, a
"Forward Purchase Agreement") with the Company
whereby the Company will agree to transfer
Subsequent Mortgage Loans (each, a "Subsequent
Mortgage Loan") to such Trust following the date
on which such Trust is established and the
related Securities are issued. All Subsequent
Mortgage Loans transferred to the Trust pursuant
to a Forward Purchase Agreement will be
originated by the Company or an Originator. Any
Forward Purchase Agreement will require that any
Mortgage Loans so transferred to a Trust conform
to the requirements specified in such Forward
Purchase Agreement. If a Forward Purchase
Agreement is to be utilized the related Trustee
will be required to deposit in a segregated
account (each, a "Pre-Funding Account") all or a
portion of the proceeds received by the Trustee
in connection with the sale of one or more
classes of Securities of the related series;
subsequently, the Subsequent Mortgage Loans will
be transferred to the related Trust in exchange
for money released to the Company from the
related Pre-Funding Account in one or more
transfers. The maximum amount of money deposited
in the Pre-Funding Account to acquire Subsequent
8
Mortgage Loans for transfer to the Trust will
not exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount
of the Securities offered pursuant to the
related Prospectus Supplement. Each Forward
Purchase Agreement will set a specified period
(the "Funding Period") during which any such
transfers must occur, which such period shall
not exceed 90 days from the date such Trust is
established. The Forward Purchase Agreement or
the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement will
require that, if all moneys originally deposited
to such Pre-Funding Account are not so used by
the end of such specified period, then any
remaining moneys will be applied as a mandatory
prepayment of the related class or classes of
Securities as specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement. See "Risk Factors" herein
and in the related Prospectus Supplement. All
moneys on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account
will be invested in Permitted Investments with
all earnings thereon available to make interest
payments on the Securities.
Credit Enhancement........... If so specified in the Prospectus Supplement,
the Trust Estate with respect to any series of
Securities may include any one or any
combination of a letter of credit, mortgage pool
insurance policy, special hazard insurance
policy, bankruptcy bond, financial guaranty
insurance policy, reserve fund or other type of
credit enhancement to provide full or partial
coverage for certain defaults and losses
relating to the Mortgage Loans. Credit support
also may be provided in the form of the related
class of Equity Securities, and/or by
subordination of one or more classes of
Fixed-Income Securities in a series under which
losses in excess of those absorbed by any
related class of Equity Securities are first
allocated to any Subordinate Securities up to a
specified limit, cross-support among groups of
Mortgage Assets or overcollateralization. A
mortgage pool insurance policy may have
certain exclusions from coverage thereunder,
which will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, which may be accompanied
by one or more separate credit enhancements that
may be obtained to cover certain of such
exclusions. To the extent not set forth herein,
the amount and types of coverage, the
identification of any entity providing the
coverage, the terms of any subordination and
related information will be set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of
Securities. See "Description of Credit
Enhancement" and "Subordination."
Advances.................... The Servicer, directly or through
Sub-Servicers, may be obligated to make
certain cash advances with respect to delinquent
scheduled payments on the Mortgage Loans, but
only to the extent that the Servicer believes
that such amounts will be recoverable by it. Any
such advance made by the Servicer with respect
to a Mortgage Loan is recoverable by it as
provided herein under "Description of the
Securities--Advances" either from recoveries on
the specific Mortgage Loan or, with respect to
any advance subsequently determined to be
nonrecoverable, out of funds otherwise
distributable to the holders of the related
series of Securities, which may include the
holders of any Senior Securities of such series.
The Servicer may be required to advance
Compensating Interest as defined hereafter under
"Description of the Securities--Advances."
In addition, the Servicer will be required to
pay all "out of pocket" costs and expenses
incurred in the performance of its servicing
9
obligations, but only to the extent that the
Servicer reasonably believes that such amounts
will increase Net Liquidation Proceeds on the
related Mortgage Loan. See "Description of the
Securities--Advances."
Optional Termination.......... The Servicer, the Company, or, if specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement, the holders
of the related class of Equity Securities or the
credit enhancer may at their respective option
effect early retirement of a series of
Securities through the purchase of the Mortgage
Loans and other assets in the related Trust
Estate under the circumstances and in the manner
set forth herein under "The Pooling and
Servicing Agreement--Termination; Retirement of
Securities" and in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Mandatory Termination......... The Trustee, the Servicer or certain other
entities specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement may be required to effect early
retirement of a series of Securities by
soliciting competitive bids for the purchase of
the related Trust Estate or otherwise, under
other circumstances and in the manner specified
in "The Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Termination; Retirement of
Securities" and in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Legal Investment............ Not all of the Mortgage Loans in a particular
Mortgage Pool may represent first liens.
Accordingly, as disclosed in the related
Prospectus Supplement, certain classes of
Securities offered hereby and by the related
Prospectus Supplement may not constitute
"mortgage related securities" for purposes of
the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of
1984 ("SMMEA") and, if so, will not be legal
investments for certain types of institutional
investors under SMMEA.
Institutions whose investment activities are
subject to legal investment laws and regulations
or to review by certain regulatory authorities
may be subject to additional restrictions on
investment in certain classes of Securities. Any
such institution should consult its own legal
advisors in determining whether and to what
extent a class of Securities constitutes legal
investments for such investors. See "Legal
Investment" herein.
ERISA Considerations......... A fiduciary of an employee benefit plan and
certain other retirement plans and arrangements,
including individual retirement accounts and
annuities, Keogh plans, and collective
investment funds and separate accounts in which
such plans, accounts, annuities or arrangements
are invested, that is subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA "), or Section 4975 of the Code
(each such entity, a "Plan") should carefully
review with its legal advisors whether the
purchase or holding of Securities could give
rise to a transaction that is prohibited or is
not otherwise permissible either under ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code. Investors are advised
to consult their counsel and to review "ERISA
Considerations" herein.
10
Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences.............. Securities of each series offered hereby will,
for federal income tax purposes, constitute
either (i) interests ("Grantor Trust
Securities") in a Trust treated as a grantor
trust under applicable provisions of the Code,
(ii) "regular interests" ("REMIC Regular
Securities") or "residual interests" ("REMIC
Residual Securities") in a Trust treated as a
REMIC (or, in certain instances, containing one
or more REMIC's) under Sections 860A through
860G of the Code, (iii) debt issued by a Trust
("Debt Securities") or (iv) interests in a Trust
which is treated as a partnership ("Partnership
Interests").
Investors are advised to consult their tax
advisors and to review "Certain Federal Income
Tax Consequences" herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
Registration of Securities... Securities may be represented by global
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co.
("Cede"), as nominee of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), or another nominee. In such
case, Securityholders will not be entitled to
receive definitive securities representing such
holders' interests, except in certain
circumstances described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. See "Description of the
Securities--Form of Securities" herein.
Ratings.................... Each class of Fixed-Income Securities offered
pursuant to the related Prospectus Supplement
will be rated in one of the four highest rating
categories by one or more "national statistical
rating organizations," as defined in the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and commonly referred to as
"Rating Agencies ." Such ratings will address,
in the opinion of such Rating Agencies, the
likelihood that the related Trust will be able
to make timely payment of all amounts due on the
related Fixed-Income Securities in accordance
with the terms thereof. Such ratings will
neither address any prepayment or yield
considerations applicable to any Securities nor
constitute a recommendation to buy, sell or hold
any Securities.
Equity Securities will not be rated.
The ratings expected to be received with respect
to any Securities will be set forth in the
related Prospectus Supplement.
11
RISK FACTORS
Investors should consider, among other things, the following factors in
connection with the purchase of the Securities.
Limited Liquidity. There can be no assurance that a secondary market
for the Securities of any series or class will develop or, if it does develop,
that it will provide Securityholders with liquidity of investment or that it
will continue for the life of the Securities of any series. The Prospectus
Supplement for any series of Securities may indicate that an underwriter
specified therein intends to establish a secondary market in such Securities;
however, no underwriter will be obligated to do so. The Securities will not be
listed on any securities exchange.
Limited Obligations. The Securities will not represent an interest in
or obligation, either recourse or non-recourse (except for certain non-recourse
debt described under "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences"), of the Company,
the Master Servicer, the Servicer, any Originator (as defined herein) or any
person other than the related Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and as to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, certain types of credit
enhancement, such as a financial guaranty insurance policy or a letter of
credit, may constitute a full recourse obligation of the issuer of such credit
enhancement. The only obligations of the foregoing entities with respect to the
Securities or the Mortgage Loans will be the obligations (if any) of the
Company, the related Originators and the Servicer pursuant to certain limited
representations and warranties made with respect to the Mortgage Loans, the
Servicer's servicing obligations and the Master Servicer's secondary servicing
obligations under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement (including their
respective limited obligation to make certain advances in the event of
delinquencies on the Mortgage Loans, but only to the extent deemed recoverable)
and, if and to the extent expressly described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, certain limited obligations of the Company, Servicer, applicable
Sub-Servicer, or another party in connection with a purchase obligation
("Purchase Obligation") or an agreement to purchase or act as remarketing agent
with respect to a Convertible Mortgage Loan upon conversion to a fixed rate.
Except as described in the related Prospectus Supplement, neither the Securities
nor the underlying Mortgage Loans will be guaranteed or insured by any
governmental agency or instrumentality, or by the Company, the Master Servicer,
the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer or any of their affiliates. Proceeds of the
assets included in the related Trust Estate for each series of Securities
(including the Mortgage Loans and any form of credit enhancement) will be the
sole source of payments on the Securities, and there will be no recourse to the
Company or any other entity in the event that such proceeds are insufficient or
otherwise unavailable to make all payments provided for under the Securities.
Limitations, Reduction and Substitution of Credit Enhancement. With
respect to each series of Securities, credit enhancement will be provided in
limited amounts to cover certain types of losses on the underlying Mortgage
Loans. Credit enhancement will be provided in one or more of the forms referred
to herein, including, but not limited to: a letter of credit; a mortgage pool
insurance policy; a special hazard insurance policy; a bankruptcy bond; a
reserve fund; a financial guaranty insurance policy or other type of credit
enhancement to provide partial coverage for certain defaults and losses relating
to the Mortgage Loans. Credit enhancement also may be provided in the form of
the related class of Equity Securities, subordination of one or more classes of
Fixed-Income Securities in a series under which losses in excess of those
absorbed by any related class of Equity Securities are first allocated to any
Subordinate Securities up to a specified limit, cross-support among Mortgage
Assets and/or overcollateralization. See "Subordination" and "Description of
Credit Enhancement" herein. Regardless of the form of credit enhancement
provided, the coverage will be limited in amount and in most cases will be
subject to periodic reduction in accordance with a schedule or formula.
Furthermore, such credit enhancements may provide only very limited coverage as
to certain types of losses, and may provide no coverage as to certain other
types of losses. Generally, credit enhancements do not directly or indirectly
guarantee to the investors any specified rate of prepayments. The Servicer will
generally be permitted to reduce, terminate or substitute all or a portion of
the credit enhancement for any series of Securities, if the applicable Rating
Agency indicates that the then-current rating thereof will not be adversely
affected. To the extent not set forth herein, the amount and types of coverage,
the identification of any entity providing the coverage, the terms of any
subordination and related information will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to a series of Securities. See "Description of Credit
Enhancement" and "Subordination."
Risks of the Mortgage Loans
Risk of the Losses Associated with Junior Liens. Certain of the
Mortgage Loans will be secured by junior liens subordinate to the rights of the
mortgagee or beneficiary under each related senior mortgage or deed of trust. As
a result, the proceeds from any liquidation, insurance or condemnation
proceedings will be available to satisfy
12
the principal balance of a mortgage loan only to the extent that the claims, if
any, of each such senior mortgagee or beneficiary are satisfied in full,
including any related foreclosure costs. In addition, a mortgagee secured by a
junior lien may not foreclose on the related mortgaged property unless it
forecloses subject to the related senior mortgage or mortgages, in which case it
must either pay the entire amount of each senior mortgage to the applicable
mortgagee at or prior to the foreclosure sale or undertake the obligation to
make payments on each senior mortgage in the event of default thereunder. In
servicing junior lien loans in its portfolio, it has been the practice of the
Servicer to satisfy each such senior mortgage at or prior to the foreclosure
sale only to the extent that it determines any amounts so paid will be
recoverable from future payments and collections on such junior lien loans or
otherwise. The Trusts will not have any source of funds to satisfy any such
senior mortgage or make payments due to any senior mortgagee. See "Certain Legal
Aspects of Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Foreclosure."
Risk of Losses Associated with Declining Real Estate Values. An
investment in securities such as the Securities that generally represent
beneficial ownership interests in the Mortgage Loans or debt secured by such
Mortgage Loans may be affected by, among other things, a decline in real estate
values and changes in the borrowers' financial condition. No assurance can be
given that values of the Mortgaged Properties have remained or will remain at
their levels on the dates of origination of the related Mortgage Loans. If the
residential real estate market should experience an overall decline in property
values such that the outstanding balances of any senior liens, the Mortgage
Loans and any secondary financing on the Mortgaged Properties in a particular
Mortgage Pool become equal to or greater than the value of the Mortgaged
Properties, the actual rates of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses could be
higher than those now generally experienced in the nonconforming credit mortgage
lending industry. Such a decline could extinguish the interest of the related
Trust in the Mortgaged Properties before having any effect on the interest of
the related senior mortgagee. In addition, in the case of Mortgage Loans that
are subject to negative amortization, due to the addition to principal balance
of deferred interest ("Deferred Interest"), the principal balances of such
Mortgage Loans could be increased to an amount equal to or in excess of the
value of the underlying Mortgaged Properties, thereby increasing the likelihood
of default. To the extent that such losses are not covered by the applicable
credit enhancement, holders of Securities of the series evidencing interests in
the related Mortgage Pool will bear all risk of loss resulting from default by
Mortgagors and will have to look primarily to the value of the Mortgaged
Properties for recovery of the outstanding principal and unpaid interest on the
defaulted Mortgage Loans.
Risk of Losses Associated with Certain Non-Conforming and
Non-Traditional Loans. The Company's underwriting standards consider, among
other things, a mortgagor's credit history, repayment ability and debt
service-to-income ratio, as well as the value of the property; however, the
Company's Mortgage Loan program generally provides for the origination of
Mortgage Loans relating to non-conforming credits. Certain of the types of loans
that may be included in the Mortgage Pools may involve additional uncertainties
not present in traditional types of loans. For example, certain of the Mortgage
Loans may provide for escalating or variable payments by the borrower under the
Mortgage Loan (the "Mortgagor"), as to which the Mortgagor is generally
qualified on the basis of the initial payment amount. In some instances the
Mortgagors' income may not be sufficient to enable them to continue to make
their loan payments as such payments increase and thus the likelihood of default
will increase. For a more detailed discussion, see "Mortgage Loan Program."
Risk of Losses Associated with Balloon Loans. Certain of the Mortgage
Loans may constitute "Balloon Loans." Balloon Loans are originated with a stated
maturity of less than the period of time of the corresponding amortization
schedule. Consequently, upon the maturity of a Balloon Loan, the Mortgagor will
be required to make a "balloon" payment that will be significantly larger than
such Mortgagor's previous monthly payments. The ability of such a Mortgagor to
repay a Balloon Loan at maturity frequently will depend on such borrower's
ability to refinance the Mortgage Loan. The ability of a Mortgagor to refinance
such a Mortgage Loan will be affected by a number of factors, including the
level of available mortgage rates at the time, the value of the related
Mortgaged Property, the Mortgagor's equity in the related Mortgaged Property,
the financial condition of the Mortgagor, the tax laws and general economic
conditions at the time.
Although a low interest rate environment may facilitate the refinancing
of a balloon payment, the receipt and reinvestment by Securityholders of the
proceeds in such an environment may produce a lower return than that previously
received in respect of the related Mortgage Loan. Conversely, a high interest
rate environment may make it more difficult for the Mortgagor to accomplish a
refinancing and may result in delinquencies or defaults. None of the Company,
the Originators, the Master Servicer, the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer or the
Trustee will be obligated to provide funds to refinance any Mortgage Loan,
including Balloon Loans.
13
Risk of Losses Associated with Bankruptcy of Mortgagors. General
economic conditions have an impact on the ability of borrowers to repay Mortgage
Loans. Loss of earnings, illness and other similar factors also may lead to an
increase in delinquencies and bankruptcy filings by borrowers. In the event of
personal bankruptcy of a Mortgagor, it is possible that a Trust could experience
a loss with respect to such Mortgagor's Mortgage Loan. In conjunction with a
Mortgagor's bankruptcy, a bankruptcy court may suspend or reduce the payments of
principal and interest to be paid with respect to such Mortgage Loan or
permanently reduce the principal balance of such Mortgage Loan thereby either
delaying or permanently limiting the amount received by the Trust with respect
to such Mortgage Loan. Moreover, in the event a bankruptcy court prevents the
transfer of the related Mortgaged Property to a Trust, any remaining balance on
such Mortgage Loan may not be recoverable.
Risk of Losses Associated with Foreclosure of Mortgaged Properties.
Even assuming that the Mortgaged Properties provide adequate security for the
Mortgage Loans, substantial delays could be encountered in connection with the
liquidation of defaulted Mortgage Loans and corresponding delays in the receipt
of related proceeds by the Securityholders could occur. An action to foreclose
on a Mortgaged Property securing a Mortgage Loan is regulated by state statutes,
rules and judicial decisions and is subject to many of the delays and expenses
of other lawsuits if defenses or counterclaims are interposed, sometimes
requiring several years to complete. Furthermore, in some states an action to
obtain a deficiency judgment is not permitted following a nonjudicial sale of a
Mortgaged Property. In the event of a default by a Mortgagor, these
restrictions, among other things, may impede the ability of the Servicer to
foreclose on or sell the Mortgaged Property or to obtain liquidation proceeds
(net of expenses) ("Liquidation Proceeds") sufficient to repay all amounts due
on the related Mortgage Loan. The Servicer will be entitled to deduct from
Liquidation Proceeds all expenses reasonably incurred in attempting to recover
amounts due on the related liquidated Mortgage Loan ("Liquidated Mortgage Loan")
and not yet repaid, including payments to prior lienholders, accrued servicing
fees, legal fees and costs of legal action, real estate taxes, and maintenance
and preservation expenses. In the event that any Mortgaged Properties fail to
provide adequate security for the related Mortgage Loans and insufficient funds
are available from any applicable credit enhancement, Securityholders could
experience a loss on their investment.
Liquidation expenses with respect to defaulted mortgage loans do not
vary directly with the outstanding principal balance of the loan at the time of
default. Therefore, assuming that a servicer takes the same steps in realizing
upon a defaulted mortgage loan having a small remaining principal balance as it
would in the case of a defaulted mortgage loan having a larger principal
balance, the amount realized after expenses of liquidation would be less as a
percentage of the outstanding principal balance of the smaller principal balance
mortgage loan than would be the case with a larger principal balance loan.
Under environmental legislation and judicial decisions applicable in
various states, a secured party who takes a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or
acquires at a foreclosure sale a mortgaged property and who, prior to
foreclosure, has been involved in decisions or actions which may lead to
contamination of a property, may be liable for the costs of cleaning up the
contaminated site. Although such costs could be substantial, it is unclear
whether they would be imposed on a holder of a mortgage note (such as a Trust)
which, under the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, is not required
to take an active role in operating the Mortgaged Properties. See "Certain Legal
Aspects of Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Environmental Legislation."
Certain of the Mortgaged Properties relating to Mortgage Loans may not
be owner occupied. It is possible that the rate of delinquencies, foreclosures
and losses on Mortgage Loans secured by non-owner occupied properties could be
higher than for loans secured by the primary residence of the borrower.
Litigation. Any material litigation relating to the Company will be
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Geographic Concentration of Mortgaged Properties. Certain geographic
regions from time to time will experience weaker regional economic conditions
and housing markets than will other regions, and, consequently, will experience
higher rates of loss and delinquency on mortgage loans generally. The Mortgage
Loans underlying certain series of Securities may be concentrated in such
regions, and such concentrations may present risk considerations in addition to
those generally present for similar mortgage loan asset backed securities
without such concentrations. Information with respect to geographic
concentration of Mortgaged Properties will be specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
The Subsequent Mortgage Loans and the Pre-Funding Account. If the
principal amount of eligible Mortgage Loans available during the Funding Period
and sold by the Company to the Trust is less than 100% of
14
the aggregate principal amount, the Company will have insufficient Mortgage
Loans to sell to the Trust, thereby resulting in a prepayment of principal to
Owners of the Securities as described herein. See "Social, Economic and Other
Factors" below. In addition, any conveyance of Subsequent Mortgage Loans is
subject to the following conditions, among others (i) each such Subsequent
Mortgage Loan must satisfy the representations and warranties specified in the
agreement pursuant to which such Subsequent Mortgage Loans are transferred to
the Trust (each a "Subsequent Transfer Agreement") and in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement; (ii) the Company will not select such Subsequent Mortgage
Loans in a manner that it believes is adverse to the interest of the Owners of
the Securities; (iii) the Depositor will deliver certain opinions of counsel
with respect to the validity of the conveyance of such Subsequent Mortgage
Loans; and (iv) as of each cut-off date (each, a "Subsequent Cut-Off Date")
applicable thereto, the Subsequent Mortgage Loans to be conveyed by the Company
as of such Subsequent Cut-Off Date, will satisfy the criteria set forth in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
To the extent that amounts on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account have
not been fully applied to the purchase of Subsequent Mortgage Loans by the Trust
by the end of the Funding Period, the Owners of the Securities then entitled to
receive payments of principal will receive a prepayment of principal in an
amount equal to the amount remaining in the Pre-Funding Account on the first
Payment Date following the end of the Funding Period. Although no assurances can
be given, the Company intends that the principal amount of Subsequent Mortgage
Loans sold to the Trust will require the application of substantially all amount
on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account and that there will be no material
principal prepayment to the Owners of the Securities.
Each Subsequent Mortgage Loan must satisfy the eligibility criteria
referred to above at the time of its addition. However, Subsequent Mortgage
Loans may be originated or purchased by the Company using credit criteria
different from those which were applied to the initial Mortgage Loans and may be
of a different credit quality. Therefore, following the transfer of Subsequent
Mortgage Loans, the aggregate characteristics of the pool of Mortgage Loans may
vary from those of the initial Mortgage Loans.
Social, Economic and Other Factors. The ability of the Trust to invest
in Subsequent Mortgage Loans is largely dependent upon the ability of the
Company to originate or purchase additional mortgage loans. The ability of the
Company to originate or purchase additional mortgage loans may be affected as a
result of a variety of social and economic factors. Economic factors include
interest rates, unemployment levels, the rate of inflation and consumer
perception of economic conditions generally. However, the Company is unable to
determine and has no basis to predict whether or to what extent economic or
social factors will affect the Company's origination ability and the
availability of Subsequent Mortgage Loans.
Legal Considerations. Applicable state laws generally regulate interest
rates and other charges, require certain disclosures, and require licensing of
the Originators, the Servicer and Sub-Servicers. In addition, most states have
other laws, public policy and general principles of equity relating to the
protection of consumers, unfair and deceptive practices and practices that may
apply to the origination, servicing and collection of the Mortgage Loans. In
California, for example, a mortgage lender is subject to the California Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act which regulates practices used to effect
collection on consumer loans. See "Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans and
Related Matters."
The Mortgage Loans may also be subject to federal laws, including: (i)
the Federal Truth-in-Lending Act and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder and the
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Regulation X promulgated thereunder,
which require certain disclosures to the borrowers regarding the terms of the
Mortgage Loans; (ii) the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B
promulgated thereunder, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, race,
color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, receipt of public
assistance or the exercise of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection
Act, in the extension of credit; and (iii) the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which
regulates the use and reporting of information related to the borrower's credit
experience. Depending on the provisions of the applicable law and the specific
facts and circumstances involved, violations of these laws, policies and general
principles of equity may limit the ability of the Servicer to collect all or
part of the principal of or interest on the Mortgage Loans, may entitle the
borrower to rescind the loan or to a refund of amounts previously paid and, in
addition, could subject the Servicer to damages and administrative sanctions. If
the Servicer is unable to collect all or part of the principal or interest on
the Mortgage Loans because of a violation of the aforementioned laws, public
policies or general principles of equity then the Trust may be delayed or unable
to repay all amounts owed to Securityholders. Furthermore, depending upon
whether damages and sanctions are assessed against the Servicer or an
Originator, such violations may materially impact the financial ability of the
Company to continue to act as Servicer or the ability of an Originator to
repurchase or replace
15
Mortgage Loans if such violations breach a representation or warranty contained
in a Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Yield and Prepayment Considerations. The yield to maturity of the
Securities of each series will depend on the rate of payment of principal
(including prepayments, liquidations due to defaults, and repurchases due to
conversion of adjustable-rate mortgage loans ("ARM Loans") to fixed-rate loans
or breaches of representations and warranties) on the Mortgage Loans and the
price paid by Securityholders. Such yield may be adversely affected by a higher
or lower than anticipated rate of prepayments on the related Mortgage Loans. The
yield to maturity on Strip Securities or Securities purchased at premiums to or
discounts from par will be extremely sensitive to the rate of prepayments on the
related Mortgage Loans. In addition, the yield to maturity on certain other
types of classes of Securities, including Accrual Securities or certain other
classes in a series including more than one class of Securities, may be
relatively more sensitive to the rate of prepayment on the related Mortgage
Loans than other classes of Securities.
The Mortgage Loans may be prepaid in full or in part at any time;
however, a prepayment penalty or premium may be imposed in connection therewith.
Such penalties ^ may not ^ become the property of the related Trust. The rate of
prepayments of the Mortgage Loans cannot be predicted and is influenced by a
wide variety of economic, social, and other factors, including prevailing
mortgage market interest rates, the availability of alternative financing, local
and regional economic conditions and homeowner mobility. Therefore, no assurance
can be given as to the level of prepayments that a Trust will experience.
Prepayments may result from mandatory prepayments relating to unused
moneys held in Pre-Funding Accounts, if any, voluntary early payments by
borrowers (including payments in connection with refinancings of the related
senior Mortgage Loan or Loans), sales of Mortgaged Properties subject to
"due-on-sale" provisions and liquidations due to default, as well as the receipt
of proceeds from physical damage, credit life and disability insurance policies.
In addition, repurchases or purchases from a Trust of Mortgage Loans or
substitution adjustments required to be made under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement will have the same effect on the Securityholders as a prepayment of
such Mortgage Loans. The Mortgage Loans may contain "due-on-sale" provisions,
and the Servicer will be required to enforce such provisions unless (i) such
enforcement would materially increase the risk of default or delinquency on, or
materially decrease the security for, such Mortgage Loan or (ii) such
enforcement is not permitted by applicable law, in which case the Servicer is
authorized to permit the purchaser of the related Mortgaged Property to assume
the Mortgage Loan. See "The Pooling and Servicing Agreement" in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
Collections on the Mortgage Loans may vary due to the level of
incidence of delinquent payments and of prepayments. Collections on the Mortgage
Loans may also vary due to seasonal purchasing and payment habits of borrowers.
Book-entry Registration. Issuance of the Securities in book-entry form
may reduce the liquidity of such Securities in the secondary trading market
since investors may be unwilling to purchase Securities for which they cannot
obtain definitive physical securities representing such Securityholders'
interests, except in certain circumstances described in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Since transactions in Securities will, in most cases, be able to be
effected only through DTC, direct or indirect participants in DTC's book-entry
system ("Direct or Indirect Participants") and certain banks, the ability of a
Securityholder to pledge a Security to persons or entities that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such
Securities, may be limited due to lack of a physical security representing the
Securities.
Securityholders may experience some delay in their receipt of
distributions of interest on and principal of the Securities since distributions
may be required to be forwarded by the Trustee to DTC and, in such a case, DTC
will be required to credit such distributions to the accounts of its
Participants which thereafter will be required to credit them to the accounts of
the applicable class of Securityholders either directly or indirectly through
Indirect Participants. See "Description of the Securities--Form of Securities."
The Status of the Mortgage Loans in the Event of Bankruptcy of the
Company or an Originator. In the event of the bankruptcy of the Company or an
Originator at a time when it or any affiliate thereof holds an Equity Security,
a trustee in bankruptcy of the Company, an Originator or its creditors could
attempt to recharacterize the sale of the Mortgage Loans to the related Trust as
a borrowing by the Company, the Originator
16
or such affiliate with the result, if such recharacterization is upheld, that
the Securityholders would be deemed creditors of the Company, the Originator or
such affiliate, secured by a pledge of the Mortgage Loans. If such an attempt
were successful, it could prevent timely payments of amounts due to the Trust.
Limitations on Interest Payments and Foreclosures. Generally, under the
terms of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Relief Act"), or similar state legislation, a Mortgagor who enters military
service after the origination of the related Mortgage Loan (including a
Mortgagor who is a member of the National Guard or is in reserve status at the
time of the origination of the Mortgage Loan and is later called to active duty)
may not be charged interest (including fees and charges) above an annual rate of
6% during the period of such Mortgagor's active duty status, unless a court
orders otherwise upon application of the lender. It is possible that such action
could have an effect, for an indeterminate period of time, on the ability of the
Servicer to collect full amounts of interest on certain of the Mortgage Loans.
In addition, the Relief Act imposes limitations that would impair the ability of
the Servicer to foreclose on an affected Mortgage Loan during the Mortgagor's
period of active duty status. Thus, in the event that such a Mortgage Loan goes
into default, there may be delays and losses occasioned by the inability to
realize upon the Mortgaged Property in a timely fashion.
Security Rating. The rating of Securities credit enhanced through
external credit enhancement such as a letter of credit, financial guaranty
insurance policy or mortgage pool insurance will depend primarily on the
creditworthiness of the issuer of such external credit enhancement device (a
"Credit Enhancer"). Any reduction in the rating assigned to the claims-paying
ability of the related Credit Enhancer below the rating initially given to the
related Securities would likely result in a reduction in the rating of the
Securities. See "Rating" in the Prospectus Supplement.
THE TRUSTS
A Trust for any series of Securities will include the primary mortgage
assets ("Mortgage Assets") consisting of (A) a Mortgage Pool comprised of (i)
Single Family Loans or (ii) other loans (each hereinafter defined) or (B)
certificates of interest or participation in the items described in clause (A)
or in pools of such items, in each case, as specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, together with payments in respect of such primary Mortgage Assets
and certain other accounts, obligations or agreements, in each case as specified
in the related Prospectus Supplement.
The Securities will be entitled to payment only from the assets of the
related Trust (i.e., the related Trust Estate) and will not be entitled to
payments in respect of the assets of any other related Trust Estate established
by the Company, the Originators or any of their affiliates. If specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, certain Securities will evidence the entire
fractional undivided ownership interest in the related Mortgage Loans held by
the related Trust or may represent debt secured by the related Mortgage Loans.
The following is a brief description of the Mortgage Assets expected to
be included in the related Trusts. If specific information respecting the
primary Mortgage Assets is not known at the time the related series of
Securities initially is offered, information of the nature described below will
be provided in the Prospectus Supplement, and specific information will be set
forth in a report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission within fifteen
days after the initial issuance of such Securities (the "Detailed Description").
A copy of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement with respect to each Series of
Securities will be attached to the Form 8-K and will be available for inspection
at the corporate trust office of the Trustee specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. A schedule of the Mortgage Assets relating to such Series (the
"Mortgage Asset Schedule") will be attached to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement delivered to the Trustee upon delivery of the Securities.
The Mortgage Loans--General
The real properties which secure repayment of the Mortgage Loans (the
"Mortgaged Properties") may be located in any one of the fifty states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, any other Territories of the United States^
or in the United Kingdom. The Mortgage Loans will generally be "Conventional
Loans" (i.e., loans that are not insured or guaranteed by any governmental
agency). If specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, Mortgage Loans with
certain loan-to-value ratios and/or certain principal balances may be covered
wholly or partially by primary mortgage insurance policies. The Mortgage Loans
will be generally covered by standard hazard insurance policies (which may be in
the form of a blanket or forced placed hazard insurance policy). The existence,
extent and duration of any such coverage will be described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The Mortgage Loans will not be guaranteed or insured by
any government agency or other insurer; however, certain distributions to
Securityholders may be guaranteed by a Financial Guaranty Insurer.
17
All of the Mortgage Loans in a Mortgage Pool will provide for payments
to be made monthly ("monthly pay") or bi-weekly. The payment terms of the
Mortgage Loans to be included in a Trust will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement and may include any of the following features or
combination thereof or other features described in the related Prospectus
Supplement:
(a) Interest may be payable at a Fixed Rate, or an Adjustable
Rate (i.e., a rate that is adjustable from time to time in relation to
an index, a rate that is fixed for period of time and under certain
circumstances is followed by an adjustable rate, a rate that otherwise
varies from time to time, or a rate that is convertible from an
adjustable rate to a fixed rate). The specified rate of interest on a
Mortgage Loan is its "Mortgage Rate." Changes to an Adjustable Rate may
be subject to periodic limitations, maximum rates, minimum rates or a
combination of such limitations. Accrued interest may be deferred and
added to the principal of a Mortgage Loan for such periods and under
such circumstances as may be specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. If provided for in the Prospectus Supplement, certain
Mortgage Loans may be subject to temporary buydown plans ("Buydown
Mortgage Loans") pursuant to which the monthly payments made by the
Mortgagor during the early years of the Mortgage Loan (the "Buydown
Period") will be less than the scheduled monthly payments on the
Mortgage Loan, and the amount of any difference may be contributed from
(i) an amount (such amount, exclusive of investment earnings thereon,
being hereinafter referred to as "Buydown Funds") funded by the
originator of the Mortgage Loan or another source (including the
Servicer or the related Originator and the builder of the Mortgaged
Property) and placed in a custodial account (the "Buydown Account") and
(ii) if the Buydown Funds are contributed on a present value basis,
investment earnings on such Buydown Funds.
(b) Principal may be payable on a level debt service basis to
fully amortize the Mortgage Loan over its term, may be calculated on
the basis of an assumed amortization schedule that is significantly
longer than the original term to maturity or on an interest rate that
is different from the Mortgage Rate, or may not be amortized during all
or a portion of the original term. Payment of all or a substantial
portion of the principal may be due on maturity ("balloon" payments).
Principal may include interest that has been deferred and added to the
principal balance of the Mortgage Loan.
(c) Monthly payments of principal and interest may be fixed
for the life of the Mortgage Loan, may increase over a specified period
of time ("graduated payments") or may change from period to period.
Mortgage Loans may include limits on periodic increases or decreases in
the amount of monthly payments and may include maximum or minimum
amounts of monthly payments. Mortgage Loans having graduated payment
provisions may provide for deferred payment of a portion of the
interest due monthly during a specified period, and recoup the deferred
interest through negative amortization during such period whereby the
difference between the interest paid during such period and the
interest accrued during such period is added monthly to the outstanding
principal balance. Other Mortgage Loans sometimes referred to as
"growing equity" mortgage loans may provide for periodic scheduled
payment increases for a specified period with the full amount of such
increases being applied to principal.
(d) Prepayments of principal may be subject to a prepayment
fee, which may be fixed for the life of the Mortgage Loan or may
decline over time, and may be prohibited for the life of the Mortgage
Loan or for certain periods ("lockout periods"). Certain Mortgage Loans
may permit prepayments after expiration of the applicable lockout
period and may require the payment of a prepayment fee in connection
therewith. Other Mortgage Loans may permit prepayments without payment
of a fee unless the prepayment occurs during specified time periods.
The Mortgage Loans may include due-on-sale clauses which permit the
mortgagee to demand payment of the entire Mortgage Loan in connection
with the sale or certain transfers of the related Mortgaged Property.
Other Mortgage Loans may be assumable by persons meeting the
then applicable Underwriting Guidelines of the Company.
The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities or the Current
Report on Form 8-K will contain certain information with respect to the Mortgage
Loans (or a sample thereof) contained in the related Mortgage Pool; such
information, insofar as it may relate to statistical information relating to
such Mortgage Loans will be presented as of a date certain (the "Statistic
Calculation Date") which may also be the related cut-off date (the "Cut-Off
Date"). Such information will include to the extent applicable to the particular
Mortgage Pool (in all cases as of the Statistic Calculation Date) (i) the
aggregate outstanding principal balance and the average outstanding principal
balance of the Mortgage Loans, (ii) the largest principal balance and the
smallest principal balance of any
18
of the Mortgage Loans, (iii) the types of Mortgaged Property securing the
Mortgage Loans (e.g., one-to-four-family houses, vacation and second homes or
other real property), (iv) the original terms to stated maturity of the Mortgage
Loans, (v) the weighted average remaining term to maturity of the Mortgage Loans
and the range of the remaining terms to maturity; (vi) the earliest origination
date and latest maturity date of any of the Mortgage Loans, (vii) the weighted
average Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio and the range of Combined Loan-to-Value
Ratios of the Mortgage Loans at origination, (viii) the weighted average
Mortgage Rate or annual percentage rate (as determined under Regulation Z) (the
"APR") and ranges of Mortgage Rates or APRs borne by the Mortgage Loans, (ix) in
the case of Mortgage Loans having adjustable rates, the weighted average of the
adjustable rates and indexes, if any; (x) the aggregate outstanding principal
balance, if any, of Buy-Down Loans and Mortgage Loans having graduated payment
provisions; (xi) the amount of any mortgage pool insurance policy, special
hazard insurance policy or bankruptcy bond to be maintained with respect to such
Mortgage Pool; (xii) the amount of any standard hazard insurance required to be
maintained with respect to each Mortgage Loan; (xiii) the amount, if any, and
terms of any credit enhancement to be provided with respect to all or any
Mortgage Loans or the Mortgage Pool; and (xiv) the geographical distribution of
the Mortgage Loans on a state-by-state basis. In addition, preliminary or more
general information of the nature described above may be provided in the
Prospectus Supplement, and specific or final information may be set forth in a
Current Report on Form 8-K, together with the related Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
will be made available to holders of the related series of Securities within
fifteen days after the initial issuance of such Securities.
The "Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio" of a Mortgage Loan at any given time
is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing (x) the sum of
the original principal balance of such Mortgage Loan plus the then current
principal balance of all mortgage loans secured by liens on the related
Mortgaged Property having priorities senior to that of the lien which secures
such Mortgage Loan, if any, by (y) the value of the related Mortgaged Property,
based upon the appraisal or valuation made at the time of origination of the
Mortgage Loan or, in the case where there is no senior lien to the Mortgage Loan
and such Mortgage represents a purchase money instrument, the lesser of (a) the
appraisal or valuation, or (b) the purchase price. If the Mortgagor will use the
proceeds of the Mortgage Loan to refinance an existing Mortgage Loan which is
being serviced directly or indirectly by the Servicer, the requirement of an
appraisal or other valuation at the time the new Mortgage Loan is made may be
waived.
No assurance can be given that values of the Mortgaged Properties have
remained or will remain at their levels on the dates of origination of the
related Mortgage Loans. If the residential real estate market should experience
an overall decline in property values such that the outstanding principal
balances of the Mortgage Loans (plus any additional financing by other lenders
on the same Mortgaged Properties) in a particular Mortgage Pool become equal to
or greater than the value of such Mortgaged Properties, the actual rates of
delinquencies, foreclosures and losses could be higher than those now generally
experienced in the nonconforming credit mortgage lending industry. An overall
decline in the market value of residential real estate, the general condition of
a Mortgaged Property, or other factors, could adversely affect the values of the
Mortgaged Properties such that the outstanding balances of the Mortgage Loans,
together with any additional liens on the Mortgaged Properties, equal or exceed
the value of the Mortgaged Properties. Under such circumstances, the actual
rates of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses could be higher than those now
generally experienced in the nonconforming credit mortgage lending industry.
Certain Mortgage Loans may be secured by junior liens ("Junior Lien
Loans") subordinate to the rights of the mortgagee under each related senior
mortgage(s). The proceeds from any liquidation, insurance or condemnation of
Mortgaged Properties relating to Junior Lien Loans in a Mortgage Pool will be
available to satisfy the principal balance of such Junior Lien Loans only to the
extent that the claims, if any, of all related senior mortgagees, including any
related foreclosure costs, are satisfied in full. In addition, the Servicer may
not foreclose on a Mortgaged Property relating to a Junior Lien Loan unless it
forecloses subject to the related senior mortgage or mortgages, in which case it
must either pay the entire amount of each senior mortgage to the applicable
mortgagee at or prior to the foreclosure sale or undertake the obligation to
make payments on each senior mortgage in the event of default thereunder.
Generally, in servicing Junior Lien Loans in its loan portfolios, it has been
the Servicer's practice to satisfy each senior mortgage at or prior to a
foreclosure sale only to the extent that it determines any amounts so paid will
be recoverable from future payments and collections on the Mortgage Loans or
otherwise. The Trusts will not have any source of funds to satisfy any such
senior mortgage or make payments due to any senior mortgagee. See "Certain Legal
Aspects of Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Foreclosure."
19
Other factors affecting mortgagors' ability to repay Mortgage Loans
include excessive building resulting in an oversupply of housing stock or a
decrease in employment reducing the demand for units in an area; federal, state
or local regulations and controls affecting rents; prices of goods and energy;
environmental restrictions; increasing labor and material costs; and the
relative attractiveness of the Mortgaged Properties. To the extent that losses
on the Mortgage Loans are not covered by credit enhancements, such losses will
be borne, at least in part, by the Securityholders of the related series.
The Company will cause the Mortgage Loans comprising each Mortgage Pool
to be assigned to the Trustee named in the related Prospectus Supplement for the
benefit of the holders of the Securities of the related series. The Servicer
will service the Mortgage Loans, either directly or through Sub-Servicers,
pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and will receive a fee for such
services. A Master Servicers, if required by a Prospectus Supplement, will have
the primary function of reviewing the Servicer's monthly servicing reports for
any material inconsistencies, and secondarily, the Master Servicer will assume
the Servicer's obligations in the event of a default by the Servicer. The
Servicer or the Trust will be liable for fees and expenses of the Master
Servicer. See "Mortgage Loan Program" and "The Pooling and Servicing Agreement."
With respect to Mortgage Loans serviced through a Sub-Servicer, the Servicer
will remain liable for its servicing obligations under the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement as if the Servicer alone were servicing such Mortgage Loans.
The only obligations of the Company and the Originators with respect to
a series of Securities will be related to servicing and/or providing (or, where
the Company or an Originator acquired a Mortgage Loan from another originator,
obtaining from such originator) certain representations and warranties
concerning the Mortgage Loans and to assign to the Trustee for such series of
Securities the Company's or Originator's rights with respect to such
representations and warranties. See "The Pooling and Servicing Agreement." The
obligations of the Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans will consist
principally of its contractual servicing obligations under the related Pooling
and Servicing Agreement (including its obligation to enforce the obligations of
the Sub-Servicers or Originators as more fully described herein under "Mortgage
Loan Program--Qualifications of Originators" and "The Pooling and Servicing
Agreement") and its obligation to make certain cash advances in the event of
delinquencies in payments on or with respect to the Mortgage Loans in the
amounts described herein under "Description of the Securities--Advances." The
obligations of a Servicer to make advances may be subject to limitations, to the
extent provided herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Master
Servicer's contractual obligations for servicing the Mortgage Loans and making
advances will consist primarily of acting as a back-up Servicer in the event of
the removal of the Servicer in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement.
Single Family Loans
Single family loans will consist of mortgage loans, deeds of trust or
participation or other beneficial interests therein, secured by first or junior
liens on one- to four-family residential properties ("Single Family Loans"). The
Mortgaged Properties relating to Single Family Loans will consist of detached or
semi-detached one-family dwelling units, two-to four-family dwelling units,
townhouses, rowhouses, individual condominium units in condominium developments,
individual units in planned unit developments, and certain mixed use and other
dwelling units. Such Mortgage Properties may include owner-occupied (which
includes vacation and second homes) and non-owner occupied investment
properties.
If so specified, the Single Family Loans may include loans or
participations therein secured by mortgages or deeds of trust on condominium
units in low-or high-rise condominium developments together with such
condominium units' appurtenant interests in the common elements of such
condominium developments.
THE MORTGAGE POOLS
General
Each Mortgage Pool will consist primarily of (i) conventional Mortgage
Loans, minus any stripped portion of the interest payments due under the related
Mortgage Note that may have been retained by any Originator ("Originator's
Retained Yield"), or any other interest retained by the Company or any affiliate
of the Company, evidenced by promissory notes (the "Mortgage Notes") secured by
mortgages or deeds of trust or other similar security instruments creating a
lien on single-family (i.e., one- to four-family) residential properties, or
(ii) certificates of interest or participations in such Mortgage Notes. The
Mortgaged Properties will consist primarily of owner-occupied attached or
detached one-family dwelling units, two- to four-family dwelling units,
20
condominiums, townhouses, row houses, individual units in planned-unit
developments and certain other dwelling units, and the fee, leasehold or other
interests in the underlying real property. The Mortgaged Properties may include
vacation, second and non-owner occupied homes.
Each Mortgage Loan will be selected by the Company for inclusion in a
Mortgage Pool from among mortgage loans originated by the Company, one or more
institutions affiliated with the Company, (such affiliated institutions, the
"Affiliated Originators") or from banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage
bankers, mortgage brokers, investment banking firms, the RTC and the FDIC (as
defined herein) and other mortgage loan originators or sellers not affiliated
with the Company (such unaffiliated institutions, the "Unaffiliated Originators"
and, collectively with the Affiliated Originators and the Company, the
"Originators"), all as described below under "Mortgage Loan Program." The
characteristics of the Mortgage Loans will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Other mortgage loans available for acquisition by a Trust
may have characteristics that would make them eligible for inclusion in a
Mortgage Pool but may not be selected by the Company for inclusion in such
Mortgage Pool.
Each series of Securities will evidence interests in one or more
Mortgage Pool(s) containing Mortgage Loans having an aggregate principal balance
of not less than approximately $5,000,000 as of, unless otherwise specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the related Cut-Off Date. Each Security
will evidence an interest in only the related Mortgage Pool and corresponding
Trust Estate, and not in any other Mortgage Pool or any other Trust Estate
(except in those limited situations whereby certain collections on any Mortgage
Loans in a related Mortgage Pool in excess of amounts needed to pay the related
Securities may be deposited in a master reserve account or otherwise applied in
a manner that provides credit enhancement for more than one series of
Securities).
The Mortgage Pools
Unless otherwise specified below, all of the Mortgage Loans in a
Mortgage Pool will (i) have payments that are due monthly or bi-weekly, (ii) be
secured by Mortgaged Properties located in any of the fifty states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, any other Territories of the United States or in the
United Kingdom and (iii) consist of one or more of the following types of
mortgage loans:
(1) Fixed-rate, fully-amortizing mortgage loans (which may
include mortgage loans converted from adjustable-rate mortgage loans or
otherwise modified) providing for level monthly payments of principal
and interest and terms at origination or modification of generally not
more than 30 years;
(2) ARM Loans having original or modified terms to maturity of
generally not more than 30 years with a related Mortgage Rate that
adjusts periodically, at the intervals described in the related
Prospectus Supplement (which may have adjustments in the amount of
monthly payments at periodic intervals) over the term of the mortgage
loan to equal the sum of a fixed percentage set forth in the related
Mortgage Note (the "Note Margin") and an index (the "Index") to be
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, such as, by way of
example: (i) U.S. Treasury securities of a specified constant maturity,
(ii) weekly auction average investment yield of U.S. Treasury bills of
specified maturities, (iii) the daily Bank Prime Loan rate made
available by the Federal Reserve Board or as quoted by one or more
specified lending institutions, (iv) the cost of funds of member
institutions for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, or (v)
the interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits in the London
Markets, each calculated as of a date prior to each scheduled interest
rate adjustment date that will be specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. The related Prospectus Supplement will set forth the
relevant Index and the related Prospectus Supplement or the related
Current Report on Form 8-K will indicate the highest, lowest and
weighted-average Note Margin with respect to the ARM Loans in the
related Mortgage Pool. If specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, an ARM Loan may include a provision that allows the
Mortgagor to convert the adjustable Mortgage Rate to a fixed rate at
some point during the term of such ARM Loan subsequent to the initial
payment date;
(3) Fixed-rate, graduated payment mortgage loans having
original or modified terms to maturity of generally not more than 30
years with monthly payments during the first year calculated on the
basis of an assumed interest rate that will be lower than the Mortgage
Rate applicable to such mortgage loan in subsequent years. Deferred
Interest, if any, will be added to the principal balance of such
mortgage loans;
21
(4) Balloon mortgage loans ("Balloon Loans"), which are
fixed-rate mortgage loans having original or modified terms to maturity
of generally 5 to 15 years as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement and that may have level monthly payments of principal and
interest based generally on a 10 to 30-year amortization schedule. The
amount of the monthly payment may remain constant until the maturity
date, upon which date the full outstanding principal balance on such
Balloon Loan will be due and payable (such amount, the "Balloon
Amount");
(5) Modified mortgage loans ("Modified Loans"), which are
fixed or adjustable-rate mortgage loans providing for terms at the time
of modification of generally not more than 30 years. Modified Loans may
be mortgage loans which have been consolidated and/or have had various
terms changed, mortgage loans which have been converted from adjustable
rate mortgage loans to fixed rate mortgage loans, or construction loans
which have been converted to permanent mortgage loans; or
(6) Another type of mortgage loan described in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
If provided for in the related Prospectus Supplement, a Mortgage Pool
may contain ARM Loans which allow the Mortgagors to convert the adjustable rates
on such Mortgage Loans to a fixed rate at some point during the life of such
Mortgage Loans (each such Mortgage Loan, a "Convertible Mortgage Loan"). If
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, upon any conversion, the Company
will repurchase or the Servicer, the applicable Sub-Servicer, Originator, or a
third party will purchase the converted Mortgage Loan as and to the extent set
forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. Alternatively, if specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the Company or the Servicer (or another party
specified therein) may agree to act as remarketing agent with respect to such
converted Mortgage Loans and, in such capacity, to use its best efforts to
arrange for the sale of converted Mortgage Loans under specific conditions. Upon
the failure of any party so obligated to purchase any such converted Mortgage
Loan, the inability of any remarketing agent to so arrange for the sale of the
converted Mortgage Loan and the unwillingness of the remarketing agent to
exercise any election to purchase the converted Mortgage Loan for its own
account, the related Mortgage Pool will thereafter include both fixed rate and
adjustable rate Mortgage Loans.
If provided for in the related Prospectus Supplement, certain of the
Mortgage Loans may be Buydown Mortgage Loans pursuant to which the monthly
payments made by the Mortgagor during the Buydown Period will be less than the
scheduled monthly payments on the Mortgage Loan, the resulting difference to be
made up from (i) Buydown Funds funded by the Originator of the Mortgaged
Property or another source (including the Servicer or the related Originator)
and placed in the Buydown Account and (ii) if the Buydown Funds are contributed
on a present value basis, investment earnings on such Buydown Funds. See
"Description of the Securities--Payments on Mortgage Loans; Deposits to
Distribution Account." The terms of the Buydown Mortgage Loans, if such loans
are included in a Trust, will be as set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
The Company and/or certain Originators may make certain representations
and warranties regarding the Mortgage Loans, but the Company's assignment of the
Mortgage Loans to the Trustee will be without recourse. See "Description of the
Securities--Assignment of Mortgage Loans." The Servicer's obligations with
respect to the Mortgage Loans will consist principally of its contractual
servicing obligations under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement
(including its obligation to enforce certain purchase and other obligations of
Sub-Servicers and of Originators, as more fully described herein under "Mortgage
Loan Program--Representations by Originators," "--Sub-Servicing by Originators"
and "Description of the Securities--Assignment of Mortgage Loans," and its
obligation to make certain cash advances in the event of delinquencies in
payments on or with respect to the Mortgage Loans and interest shortfalls due to
prepayment of Mortgage Loans, in amounts described herein under "Description of
the Securities--Advances"). The obligation of the Servicer to make delinquency
advances will be limited to amounts which the Servicer believes ultimately will
be reimbursable out of the proceeds of liquidation of the Mortgage Loans. The
Master Servicer's obligations consist primarily of acting as a back-up Servicer
in the event of the removal of the Servicer in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. See "Mortgage Loan
Program--Master Servicer." In the event that the Master Servicer assumes the
role of Servicer, the Master Servicer will assume all of the obligations of the
Servicer except for obligations to repurchase or substitute for Mortgage Loans
which breach representations and warranties under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement. See "Description of the Securities--Advances."
22
MORTGAGE LOAN PROGRAM
As a general matter, the Company's Mortgage Loan program will consist
of the origination and packaging of Mortgage Loans relating to non-conforming
credits. For purposes hereof, "non-conforming credit" means a mortgage loan
which, based upon standard underwriting guidelines, is ineligible for purchase
by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") due to credit
characteristics that do not meet FNMA guidelines. However, certain of the
Mortgage Loans will relate to FNMA conforming credits.
The Mortgagors generally will have taken out the related Mortgage Loans
for one of four reasons: (i) to purchase the related Mortgaged Property, (ii) to
refinance an existing mortgage loan on more favorable terms, (iii) to
consolidate debt, or (iv) to obtain cash proceeds by borrowing against the
Mortgagor's equity in the related Mortgaged Property. The Mortgage Loans
described in (i) are commonly referred to as purchase money loans and the
Mortgage Loans described in (iii) and (iv) on the whole are commonly referred to
as home equity loans.
Underwriting Guidelines
As more fully described below under "Qualifications of Originators" and
as may also be described in greater detail in the related Prospectus Supplement,
there are various types of Originators that may participate in the Company's
Mortgage Loan Program. Under the Company's Mortgage Loan Program, the Company
purchases and originates Mortgage Loans pursuant to four types of underwriting
guidelines: (1) standard underwriting guidelines according to the Company's
Originator Guide, as modified from time to time, used by Affiliated Originators
and Unaffiliated Originators ("Company's Guidelines"), (2) underwriting
guidelines utilized by Participating Originators or Designated Originators and
approved by the Company ("Approved Guidelines"), and (3) underwriting guidelines
("Bulk Guidelines") used by Unaffiliated Originators of a portfolio of Mortgage
Loans subsequently purchased in whole or part by the Company as a bulk
acquisition ("Bulk Acquisition"). The respective underwriting guidelines are
described below.
Company's Guidelines. The Company's Guidelines are set forth in the
Company's Guides. The Company's Guides are revised continuously based on
opportunities and prevailing conditions in the nonconforming credit residential
mortgage market, as well as the expected market for the resulting Securities.
Substantially all loans originated or purchased by the Company are
subjected to the Company's Guidelines. The underwriting process is intended to
assess both the prospective borrower's ability to repay and equally, if not more
important, the adequacy of the real property security. The fixed-rate and
adjustable-rate loans are generally fully amortized over a ten, fifteen or
thirty year schedule. To a limited extent, the Company will originate balloon
loans which generally are based on a 30-year amortization schedule with a single
payment of the remaining balance of the balloon loan generally 15 years after
origination. Loan amounts range from a minimum of $12,000 to a maximum of
$350,000, unless a higher amount is approved by the Company's loan committee.
The properties securing the loans are primarily single family detached, owner
occupied residences. Occasionally, loans are originated or acquired on one- to
four-family residential properties, condominiums or townhouses. No mobile home,
co-operative or land loans are currently originated or acquired.
The decision of the loan committee to approve a loan is based upon a
number of factors, including the appraised value of the property, the
applicant's creditworthiness and the Company's perception of the applicant's
ability to repay the loan. With respect to the value of the collateral,
generally, loans secured by first mortgages are limited to a maximum of 75%
loan-to-value ratio; however, the Company will originate loans with a
loan-to-value ratio of up to 85% for loans expected to be sold. Loans secured by
second mortgages are limited to a maximum of 70% loan-to-value ratio. With
respect to creditworthiness, the Company has established classifications with
respect to the credit profiles of loans and subject properties based on certain
of the applicant's characteristics. Each loan application is placed into one of
the Company's four ratings ("A" through "D," with subratings within those
categories), depending upon the following three primary factors: (i) an
applicant's credit score under the Company's proprietary credit scoring system,
which uses information obtained from national credit bureau reports, (ii)
loan-to-value ratios and (iii) debt-to-income ratios. Terms of loans made by the
Company vary depending upon the classification of the application. Applications
with lower classifications generally are subject to higher interest rates. A
loan application must obtain the following thresholds with respect to each of
the three primary factors to be included in the particular ratings shown below:
23
"A" "B" "C" "D"
Borrower Credit Score 100-87 86-64 63-36 35-0
Maximum of Loan-to-Value 75% 73% 72% 65%
Maximum of Debt-to-Income Ratio 40% 49% 59% 65%
While the Company primarily analyzes the three factors noted above, the
Company also reviews other factors to determine whether an application will be
subject to a higher interest rate than the interest rate applicable to the
rating under which such application has initially been placed. These include
factors such as an unsubstantiated employment history, a recent foreclosure
proceeding, a number of recent delinquent payments on an existing mortgage, a
recent bankruptcy filing, the presence of a senior mortgage or zoning
restrictions on the subject property or a loan-to-value ratio in excess of 71%.
Each loan applicant is required to provide personal financial
information on a loan application and a statement of obligations. A TRW credit
report is obtained for each borrower at the time of application which confirms
and reconciles amounts disclosed in the statement of obligations and which
discloses the applicant's payment and credit history. Generally, the borrower is
required to have an acceptable credit history given the amount of equity
available, the strength of the employment history and income stability. Income,
employment, and deed of trust status is verified for each applicant by telephone
and/or written inquiry, examination of tax returns, pay check stubs, court
supported documents or bank statements. Self-employed applicants provide
personal and business financial statements. The Company's applicant scoring
system rates a borrower's TRW credit score and debt ratio and determines the
interest rate to be charged. Borrower debt ratios (calculated as the percentage
of total monthly fixed costs and debt payments to gross monthly income) will
generally range from 25% to 45%.
In general, with respect to Company originated Mortgage Loans, the
value of each property proposed as security for a mortgage loan is required to
be determined by a full appraisal conducted by a Company employee. After
evaluation of three neighborhood comparables, a Company appraiser will complete
his appraisal with an inspection of the subject property and a meeting with the
prospective borrower. The Company hires certified appriaser in those states
which require such designation. Appraisers at the Company's headquarters, not
third party fee appraisers, perform a review of the property appraisal on the
following loan applications: (i) all properties with a market value above
$150,000, (ii) all loans with a loan-to-value ratio of equal to or greater than
62%, (iii) all loan applications prepared by a new branch office for the first
90 days of its existence, (iv) all income properties, and (v) all non-California
loans with a loan-to-value ratio equal to or greater than 55% or with value less
than $100,000 not otherwise reviewed.
In connection with the securitization of the Company's loans,
independent appraisers have conducted appraisals of a sample of the subject
properties that are the collateral for the securitized loans. The appraisals
performed by the Company's appraisers have been within 1.5% of the aggregate
appraisal values on Securitization pools to date as calculated by the
independent appraisers.
Certain laws protect loan applicants by offering them a timeframe after
loan documents are signed, termed the rescission period, during which the
applicant has the right to cancel the loan. The rescission period must have
expired prior to funding a loan and may not be waived by the applicant except as
permitted by law. The Company discourages waiving the rescission period but does
permit such waivers with proper documentation.
The Company's Guidelines generally require title insurance coverage
issued by an approved American Land Title Association or California Land Title
Association title insurance company (as defined below) on each loan the Company
originates or purchases. The Company, the related Originator and their assignees
are generally named as the insured. Title insurance policies indicate the lien
position of the mortgage loan and protect the insured against loss if the title
or lien position is not as indicated.
The applicant is required to secure property insurance in an amount
sufficient to cover the new loan and any prior mortgage. If the sum of the
outstanding first mortgage, if any, and the related loan exceeds replacement
value, insurance equal to replacement value may be accepted. The Company or its
designee is required to ensure
24
that its name and address is properly added to the "Mortgagee Clause" of the
insurance policy. In the event the Company or the related Originator's name is
added to a "Loss Payee Clause" and the policy does not provide for written
notice of policy changes of cancellation, an endorsement adding such provision
is required.
Approved Guidelines. The Company may cause a Trust to acquire Mortgage
Loans underwritten pursuant to underwriting guidelines that may differ from the
Company's Guidelines. Certain of the Mortgage Loans will be acquired in
negotiated transactions, and such negotiated transactions may be governed by
agreements ("Master Commitments") relating to ongoing acquisitions of Mortgage
Loans by the Company from Originators who will represent that the Mortgage Loans
have been originated in accordance with underwriting guidelines agreed to by the
Company; the Company will generally review or cause to be reviewed only a
limited portion of the Mortgage Loans in any delivery of Mortgage Loans from the
related Originator for conformity with the Approved Guidelines. Certain other
Mortgage Loans will be acquired from Originators who will represent that the
Mortgage Loans were originated pursuant to underwriting guidelines determined by
a mortgage insurance company acceptable to the Company. The Company will accept
a certification from such insurance company as to a Mortgage Loan's insurability
in a mortgage pool as of the date of certification as evidence of a Mortgage
Loan conforming to applicable underwriting standards. Such certifications likely
will have been issued before the purchase of the Mortgage Loan by the Company.
The Company will only perform random quality assurance reviews on Mortgage Loans
delivered with such certifications.
The underwriting standards utilized in negotiated transactions and
Master Commitments and the underwriting standards of insurance companies may
vary substantially from the Company's Guidelines. The Approved Guidelines are
designed to provide an underwriter with information to evaluate either the
security for the related Mortgage Loan, which security consists primarily of the
borrower's repayment ability, or the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property as
collateral, or a combination of both. Due to the variety of Approved Guidelines
and review procedures that may be applicable to the Mortgage Loans included in
any Mortgage Pool, the related Prospectus Supplement will not distinguish among
the various Approved Guidelines applicable to the Mortgage Loans nor describe
any review for compliance with applicable Approved Guidelines performed by the
Company. Moreover, there can be no assurance that every Mortgage Loan was
originated in conformity with the applicable Approved Guidelines in all material
respects, or that the quality or performance of Mortgage Loans underwritten
pursuant to varying guidelines as described above will be equivalent under all
circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Designated
Originator transaction or a Participating Originator transaction, the applicable
underwriting guidelines may not be those pre-approved by the Company, as in the
case of Approved Guidelines, but may be those of the related Designated
Originator or Participating Originator, and will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
Bulk Guidelines. Bulk portfolios of Mortgage Loans may be originated by
a variety of Originators under several different underwriting guidelines.
Because bulk portfolios are generally seasoned for a period of time, the
Company's underwriting review of bulk portfolios of Mortgage Loans focuses
primarily on payment histories and estimated current values based on estimated
property appreciation or depreciation and loan amortization. As a result,
Mortgage Loans that conform to the related Bulk Guidelines may not conform to
the requirements of the Company's Guidelines or any Approved Guidelines. For
example, the Company may purchase Mortgage Loans in bulk acquisitions with
Loan-to-Value Ratios in excess of 80%, without title insurance, or with
nonconforming appraisal methods such as tax assessments. Bulk Acquisition
portfolios may be purchased servicing released or retained. If servicing is
retained, the Originator must meet certain minimum requirements, as modified
from time to time, by the Company. The Company generally will cause the Mortgage
Loans acquired in a Bulk Acquisition to be reviewed for the purpose of
determining whether such Mortgage Loans were originated in accordance with the
applicable Bulk Guidelines. Such underwriting may consist of a review of all
such Mortgage Loans or may be performed on a sample basis. In addition, such
reunderwriting may be performed by the Company or by a third party acting at the
direction of the Company.
Quality Control. The Company maintains a quality control program. All
files are reviewed for accuracy of certain data fields, and random files are
selected for underwriting review. Training programs, additional audits and
performance evaluations for underwriting personnel, appraisers and management
are influenced by the results of the quality control review.
The Company generally will cause Mortgage Loans acquired from
Unaffiliated Originators to be reunderwritten for the purpose of determining
whether such Mortgage Loans were originated in accordance with the loan
submission underwriting guidelines. Such reunderwriting may consist of a review
of all such Mortgage Loans
25
or may be performed on a sample basis. Such reunderwriting may be performed by
the Company or a third party acting at the direction of the Company.
Qualifications of Originators
Each Originator from which a Mortgage Loan is acquired will have been
accepted by the Company for participation in the Company's mortgage loan
program. Unaffiliated Originators that enter into agreements to sell mortgage
loans to the Company ("Master Commitments") and which meet the following
qualifications are hereinafter referred to as "Participating Originators." As of
the date of approval, each Participating Originator is generally required to
have a specified minimum level of experience in originating conventional
mortgage loans and will be required to meet certain requirements relating to
origination volume of conventional mortgage loans within the twelve months
preceding its application to participate in the Company's mortgage loan program,
will meet minimum GAAP tangible net worth and liquidity requirements, and with
respect to depositories will be required to meet any applicable risk-based
capital requirements. Furthermore, an Originator that will retain the servicing
of the related Mortgage Loans will be required to have a conventional Mortgage
Loan servicing portfolio of a required amount and to have a specified minimal
level of experience servicing comparable mortgage loans. An Unaffiliated
Originator that would qualify as a "Participating Originator" is a "Designated
Originator" if it meets certain additional requirements. Notwithstanding these
requirements, however, there can be no assurance that any Originator presently
meets such qualifications or will continue to meet such qualifications at the
time of inclusion of mortgage loans sold by it in the Trust Estate for a series
of Securities, or thereafter.
The Company may waive or modify in an appropriate case any of the
foregoing requirements for Participating Originators and Designated Originators.
Among Unaffiliated Originators, only Participating Originators and Designated
Originators may enter into Master Commitments with the Company and may serve as
Sub-Servicers for any loans acquired by a Trust and originated by such
Unaffiliated Originators; loans acquired from other Unaffiliated Originators
will only be acquired on a "spot" basis, and will be acquired servicing-released
to the Servicer. Unless otherwise described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Company will make directly, or will guarantee compliance with,
any representations and warranties made by any Unaffiliated Originator, other
than a Designated Originator, with respect to the Mortgage Loans originated by
it and acquired by a Trust; provided, however, that the Company will not
directly make or guarantee compliance with such representations and warranties
made by a Designated Originator. In the event of a breach of any such
representation or warranty made by a Designated Originator the only remedies
will lie against such Designated Originator.
All Unaffiliated Originators must have received a satisfactory review
by the Company of its operating procedures and have delinquency and foreclosure
rates with respect to its conventional loan portfolio acceptable to the Company.
All Unaffiliated Originators are required to originate mortgage loans in
accordance with the applicable underwriting standards. However, with respect to
any Originator, some of the generally applicable underwriting standards
described herein and in the Company's Guidelines may be modified or waived with
respect to certain Mortgage Loans originated by such Originators.
The Resolution Trust Corporation (the "RTC") or the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") (either in their respective corporate
capacities or as receiver or conservator for a depository institution) may also
be an Originator of the Mortgage Loans. The RTC and the FDIC are together
referred to as the "Federal Corporations." The RTC was established pursuant to
the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989
("FIRREA"), which was enacted in response to the financial crisis of the thrift
industry and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. The purpose of
FIRREA is to restore the public's confidence in the savings and loan industry in
order to ensure a viable system of affordable housing finance as well as to
improve the supervision of savings associations and promote the independence of
the FDIC. The FDIC is an independent executive agency originally established by
the Banking Act of 1933 to insure the deposits of all banks entitled to federal
deposit insurance under the Federal Reserve Act and Federal Deposit Insurance
Act. The FDIC administers the system of nationwide deposit insurance (mutual
guaranty of deposits) for United States Banks and together with the United
States Comptroller of the Currency regulates in areas related to the maintenance
of reserves for certain types of deposits, the maintenance of certain financial
ratios, transactions with affiliates and a broad range of other banking
practices.
The Company monitors the Originators and the Sub-Servicers under the
control of a Federal Corporation, as well as those Originators and Sub-Servicers
that are insolvent or in receivership or conservatorship or otherwise
financially distressed. Such Originators may not be able or permitted to
repurchase Mortgage Loans for which there has been a breach of representation
and warranty. Moreover, any such Originator may make no representations
26
and warranties with respect to Mortgage Loans sold by it. The Federal
Corporations (either in their respective corporate capacities or as receiver for
a depository institution) may also originate Mortgage Loans, in which event
neither the related Federal Corporation nor the depository institution for which
such Federal Corporation is acting as receiver may make representations and
warranties with respect to the Mortgage Loans that such Federal Corporation
sells, or such Federal Corporation may make only limited representations and
warranties (for example, that the related legal documents are enforceable). A
Federal Corporation may have no obligation to repurchase any Mortgage Loan for a
breach of a representation and warranty. If, as a result of a breach of
representation and warranty, an Originator is required to repurchase a Mortgage
Loan but is not permitted or otherwise fails to do so or if representations and
warranties are not made by an Originator, to the extent that neither the Company
nor any other entity has assumed the representations and warranties or made
representations and warranties, neither the Company nor that entity will be
required to repurchase such Mortgage Loan and, consequently such Mortgage Loan
will remain in the related Mortgage Pool and any related losses will be borne by
the Securityholders or by the related credit enhancement, if any. In addition,
loans which are purchased either directly or indirectly from a Federal
Corporation may be subject to a contract right of such Federal Corporation to
repurchase such loans under certain limited circumstances.
To the extent the Originator in a Designated Originator transaction
fails to or is unable to repurchase any Mortgage Loan due to a breach of
representation and warranty, neither the Company nor any other entity has
assumed the representations and warranties and any related losses will be borne
by the Securityholders or by the credit enhancement, if any.
Sub-Servicers
Each Originator of a Mortgage Loan will act as Sub-Servicer for such
Mortgage Loan pursuant to an agreement between the Servicer and the Sub-Servicer
(a "Sub-Servicing Agreement") unless the servicing obligations are released to
the Servicer or transferred to a servicer approved by the Servicer. An
Affiliated Originator of a Mortgage Loan may act as the Sub-Servicer for such
Mortgage Loan unless the other related servicing obligations are released or
transferred. The Company may employ Sub-Servicers that neither originate
mortgage loans nor originated the Mortgage Loans, such Sub-Servicers shall be
referred to as "Contract Sub-Servicers."
Unaffiliated Originators (except for Designated Originators and
Participating Originators) will be required to release such servicing
obligations to the Servicer. Designated Originators and Participating
Originators may act as Sub-Servicers for such Mortgage Loans pursuant to a
Sub-Servicing Agreement or may release such servicing obligations to the
Servicer. An Unaffiliated Originator acting as a Sub-Servicer for the Mortgage
Loans will be required to meet certain standards specified in the Prospectus
Supplement with respect to its conventional Mortgage Loan servicing portfolio,
GAAP tangible net worth, cash/warehouse line availability, mortgage servicing
licensing status and other specified qualifications. Contract Sub-Servicers
shall be required to satisfy standards similar to those for Unaffiliated
Originators; however, the Servicer will be directly responsible to the Trusts
for Servicing Mortgage Loans in compliance with the standards set forth in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Servicer will be responsible for the
compensation of any Contract Sub-Servicer and such compensation shall be
inclusive in the Servicer's fees.
Representations by Originators
Each Originator will generally make representations and warranties in
respect of the Mortgage Loans sold by such Originator and evidenced by a series
of Securities. Such representations and warranties generally include, among
other things, that at the time of the sale by the Originator to the Company of
each Mortgage Loan: (i) the information with respect to each Mortgage Loan set
forth in the Schedules of Mortgage Loans is true and correct as of the related
Cut-Off Date; (ii) each Mortgage Loan being transferred to the Trust which is a
REMIC is a qualified mortgage under the REMIC provisions of the Code and is a
Mortgage; (iii) each Mortgaged Property is improved by a single (one-to-four)
family residential dwelling, which may include condominiums and townhouses; (iv)
each Mortgage Loan had, at the time of origination, either an attorney's
certification of title or a title search or title policy; (v) as of the related
Cut-Off Date each Mortgage Loan is secured by a valid and subsisting lien of
record on the Mortgaged Property having the priority indicated on the related
Schedule of Mortgage Loans subject in all cases to exceptions to title set forth
in the title insurance policy, if any, with respect to the related Mortgage
Loan; (vi) each Originator held good and indefeasible title to, and was the sole
owner of, each Mortgage Loan
27
conveyed by such Originator; and (vii) each Mortgage Loan was originated in
accordance with law and is the valid, legal and binding obligation of the
related Mortgagor.
Unless otherwise described in the related Prospectus Supplement all of
the representations and warranties of an Originator in respect of a Mortgage
Loan will be made as of the date on which such Originator sells the Mortgage
Loan to the Company; the date as of which such representations and warranties
are made thus may be a date prior to the date of the issuance of the related
series of Securities. A substantial period of time may elapse between the date
as of which the representations and warranties are made and the later date of
issuance of the related series of Securities. Accordingly, the Originator's
purchase obligation (or, if specified in the related Prospectus Supplement,
limited replacement option) will not arise if, during the period commencing on
the date of sale of a Mortgage Loan by the Originator to the Company, an event
occurs that would give rise to such an obligation if the event had occurred
prior to sale of the affected Mortgage Loan.
The Company will assign to the Trustee for the benefit of the holders
of the related series of Securities all of its right, title and interest in each
agreement by which it acquires a Mortgage Loan from an Originator insofar as
such agreement relates to the representations and warranties made by an
Originator in respect of such Mortgage Loan and any remedies provided for breach
of such representations and warranties. If an Originator cannot cure a breach of
any representation or warranty made by it in respect of a Mortgage Loan that
materially and adversely affects the interests of the Securityholders in such
Mortgage Loan within a time period specified in the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, such Originator and/or the Company will be obligated to
purchase from the related Trust such Mortgage Loan at a price (the "Loan
Purchase Price") set forth in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement which
Loan Purchase Price will be equal to the principal balance thereof as of the
date of purchase plus one month's interest at the Mortgage Rate less the amount,
expressed as a percentage per annum, payable in respect of master servicing
compensation or sub-servicing compensation, as applicable, and the Originator's
Retained Yield, if any, and certain miscellaneous administrative amounts,
together with, without duplication, the aggregate amount of all delinquent
interest, if any.
As to any such Mortgage Loan required to be purchased by an Originator
and/or the Company, as provided above, rather than repurchase the Mortgage Loan,
the Servicer may, at its sole option, remove such Mortgage Loan (a "Deleted
Mortgage Loan") from the related Trust and cause the Company to substitute in
its place another Mortgage Loan of like kind (a "Qualified Replacement Mortgage"
as such term is defined in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement);
however, such substitution must be effected within 90 days of the date of the
initial issuance of the Securities with respect to a Trust for which no REMIC
election is to be made. With respect to a Trust for which a REMIC election is to
be made, except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a
series of Securities, such substitution of a defective Mortgage Loan must be
effected within two years of the date of the initial issuance of the Securities,
and may not be made if such substitution would cause the Trust to not qualify as
a REMIC or result in a prohibited transaction tax under the Code. Except as
otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, any Qualified
Replacement Mortgage generally will, on the date of substitution, (i) have an
outstanding principal balance, after deduction of all scheduled payments due in
the month of substitution, not in excess of the outstanding principal balance of
the Deleted Mortgage Loan (the amount of any shortfall to be paid to the related
Trust in the month of substitution for distribution to the Securityholders),
(ii) have a Mortgage Rate neither one percentage point less than nor one
percentage point more than the Mortgage Rate of the Deleted Mortgage Loan as of
the date of substitution, (iii) have a remaining term to maturity neither one
year less than nor one year more than that of the Deleted Mortgage Loan, and
(iv) comply with all of the representations and warranties set forth in the
related Pooling and Servicing Agreement as of the date of substitution. The
related Pooling and Servicing Agreement may include additional requirements
relating to ARM Loans or other specific types of Mortgage Loans or additional
provisions relating to meeting the foregoing requirements on an aggregate basis
where a number of substitutions occur contemporaneously. Unless otherwise
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement or Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, an Originator will also have the option to substitute a replacement
Mortgage Loan for a Mortgage Loan that it is obligated to repurchase in
connection with a breach of a representation and warranty.
The Servicer will be required under the applicable Pooling and
Servicing Agreement to enforce such purchase or substitution obligations for the
benefit of the Trustee and the Securityholders, following the practices it would
employ in its good faith business judgment if it were the owner of such Mortgage
Loan; provided, however, that this purchase or substitution obligation will in
28
no event become an obligation of the Servicer in the event the Originator fails
to honor such obligation. If the Originator fails to repurchase or substitute a
loan and no breach of the Company's representations has occurred, the
Originator's purchase or substitution obligation will in no event become an
obligation of the Company. In the case of a Designated Originator transaction
where the Originator fails to repurchase or substitute a Mortgage Loan and
neither the Company, nor any other entity has assumed the representations and
warranties, such repurchase or substitute obligation of the Originator will in
no event become an obligation of the Company. ^ The foregoing will constitute
the sole remedy available to Securityholders or the Trustee for a breach of
representation by an Originator in its capacity as a seller of Mortgage Loans to
the Company.
Unless otherwise described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Company will make directly, or will guarantee compliance with, any
representations and warranties made by any Unaffiliated Originator with respect
to the Mortgage Loans originated or purchased by it and acquired by a Trust;
provided, however, that the Company will not directly make or guarantee
compliance with such representations and warranties made by a Designated
Originator. In the event of a breach of any such representation or warranty made
by a Designated Originator the only remedies will lie against such Designated
Originator.
Notwithstanding the foregoing with respect to any Originator that
requests the Servicer's consent to the transfer of sub-servicing rights relating
to any Mortgage Loans to a successor servicer, the Servicer may release such
Originator from liability, under its representations and warranties described
above, upon the assumption by such successor servicer of the Originator's
liability for such representations and warranties as of the date they were made.
In that event, the Servicer's rights under the instrument by which such
successor servicer assumes the Originator's liability will be assigned to the
Trustee, and such successor servicer shall be deemed to be the "Originator" for
purposes of the foregoing provisions.
Sub-Servicing by Originators
Each Originator of a Mortgage Loan will act as the Sub-Servicer for
such Mortgage Loan pursuant to a Sub-Servicing Agreement unless servicing is
released to the Servicer or has been transferred to a servicer approved by the
Servicer. The Servicer may, in turn, assign such subservicing to designated
Sub-Servicers that will be qualified Originators and may include affiliates of
the Company. While such a Sub-Servicing Agreement will be a contract solely
between the Servicer and the Sub-Servicer, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
pursuant to which a series of Securities is issued will provide that, the
Trustee, the Servicer or any Master Servicer must recognize the Sub-Servicer's
rights and obligations under such Sub-Servicing Agreement.
With the approval of the Servicer, a Sub-Servicer generally may
delegate its servicing obligations to third-party servicers, but such
Sub-Servicer will remain obligated under the related Sub-Servicing Agreement.
Each Sub-Servicer will be required to perform the customary functions of a
servicer, including collection of payments from Mortgagors and remittance of
such collections to the Servicer; maintenance of hazard insurance and filing and
settlement of claims thereunder, subject in certain cases to the right of the
Servicer to approve in advance any such settlement; maintenance of escrow or
impound accounts of Mortgagors for payment of taxes, insurance and other items
required to be paid by the Mortgagor pursuant to the Mortgage Loan; processing
of assumptions or substitutions; attempting to cure delinquencies; supervising
foreclosures; inspecting and managing of Mortgaged Properties under certain
circumstances; and maintaining accounting records relating to the Mortgage
Loans. A Sub-Servicer also may be obligated to make advances to the Servicer in
respect of delinquent installments of principal and/or interest (net of any
sub-servicing or other compensation) on Mortgage Loans, as described more fully
under "Description of the Securities--Advances," and in respect of certain taxes
and insurance premiums not paid on a timely basis by Mortgagors. A Sub-Servicer
may also be obligated to pay to the Servicer any Compensating Interest with
respect to the related Mortgage Loans. No assurance can be given that the
Sub-Servicers will carry out their advance or payment obligations, if any, with
respect to the Mortgage Loans. A Sub-Servicer may transfer its servicing
obligations to another entity that has been approved for participation in the
Company's loan purchase programs, but only with the approval of the Servicer.
As compensation for its servicing duties, the Sub-Servicer may be
entitled to a monthly servicing fee in a minimum amount set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The Sub-Servicer may also be entitled to collect and
retain, as part of its servicing compensation, any late charges or prepayment
penalties provided in the Mortgage Note or related instruments. The Sub-Servicer
will be reimbursed by the Servicer for certain expenditures that it makes,
generally to the same extent that the Servicer would be reimbursed under the
applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement from the loan proceeds. Unless
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement and Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, compensation for the services of the Sub-Servicer shall be paid by
the Servicer as a
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general corporate obligation of the Servicer. See "The Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses;
Originator's Retained Yield."
Each Sub-Servicer will be required to agree to indemnify the Servicer
for any liability or obligation sustained by the Servicer in connection with any
act or failure to act by the Sub-Servicer in its servicing capacity. Each
Sub-Servicer will be required to maintain a fidelity bond and an errors and
omission policy with respect to its officers, employees and other persons acting
on its behalf or on behalf of the Servicer.
Each Sub-Servicer will be required to service each Mortgage Loan
pursuant to the terms of the Sub-Servicing Agreement for the entire term of such
Mortgage Loan, unless the Sub-Servicing Agreement is terminated earlier by the
Servicer or the Sub-Servicer or unless servicing is released to the Servicer.
The Servicer generally may terminate a Sub-Servicing Agreement immediately upon
the giving of notice upon certain stated events, including the violation of such
Sub-Servicing Agreement by the Sub-Servicer, or upon thirty days' notice to the
Sub-Servicer without cause upon payment of an amount equal to a specified
termination fee calculated as a specified percentage of the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of all mortgage loans, including the Mortgage
Loans serviced by such Sub-Servicer pursuant to a Sub-Servicing Agreement and
certain transfer fees.
The Servicer may agree with a Sub-Servicer to amend a Sub-Servicing
Agreement. Upon termination of a Sub-Servicing Agreement, the Servicer may act
as servicer of the related Mortgage Loans or enter into one or more new
Sub-Servicing Agreements. If the Servicer acts as servicer, it will not assume
liability for the representations and warranties of the Sub-Servicer that it
replaces. If the Servicer enters into a new Sub-Servicing Agreement, each new
Sub-Servicer either must be an Originator, meet the standards for becoming an
Originator or have such servicing experience that is otherwise satisfactory to
the Servicer. The Servicer may make reasonable efforts to have the new
Sub-Servicer assume liability for the representations and warranties of the
terminated Sub-Servicer, but no assurance can be given that such an assumption
will occur and, in any event, if the new Sub-Servicer is an affiliate of the
Servicer, the liability for such representations and warranties will not be
assumed by such new Sub-Servicer. In the event of such an assumption, the
Servicer may in the exercise of its business judgment release the terminated
Sub-Servicer from liability in respect of such representations and warranties.
Any amendments to a Sub-Servicing Agreement or to a new Sub-Servicing Agreement
may contain provisions different from those described above that are in effect
in the original Sub-Servicing Agreements. However, the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement for each Trust Estate will provide that any such amendment or new
agreement may not be inconsistent with such Pooling and Servicing Agreement to
the extent that it would materially and adversely affect the interests of the
Securityholders.
Master Servicer
A Master Servicer may be specified in the related Prospectus Supplement
for the related series of Securities. Customary servicing functions with respect
to Mortgage Loans constituting the Mortgage Pool in the Trust Estate will be
provided by the Servicer directly or through one or more Sub-Servicers subject
to supervision by the Master Servicer. If the Master Servicer is not directly
servicing the Mortgage Loans, then the Master Servicer will (i) administer and
supervise the performance by the Servicer of its servicing responsibilities
under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement with the Master Servicer, (ii)
maintain a current data base with the payment histories of each Mortgagor, (iii)
review monthly servicing reports and data relating to the Mortgage Pool for
discrepancies and errors, and (iv) act as back-up Servicer during the term of
the transaction unless the Servicer is terminated or resigns in such case the
Master Servicer shall assume the obligations of the Servicer.
The Master Servicer will be a party to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement for any Series for which Mortgage Loans comprise the Trust Estate. The
Master Servicer generally will be required to be a FNMA- or FHLMC-approved
seller/servicer and, in the case of FHA Loans, approved by HUD as an FHA
mortgagee. The Master Servicer will be compensated for the performance of its
services and duties under each Pooling and Servicing Agreement as specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
General
The Securities will be issued in series. Each series of Securities (or,
in certain instances, two or more series of Securities) will be issued pursuant
to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The following summaries (together with
additional summaries under "The Pooling and Servicing Agreement" below) describe
all material
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terms and provisions relating to the Securities common to each Pooling and
Servicing Agreement. The summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject
to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions
of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for the related Trust and to the related
Prospectus Supplement.
The Securities will consist of two basic types: (i) Securities of the
fixed-income type ("Fixed-Income Securities") and (ii) Securities of the equity
participation type ("Equity Securities"). No Class of Equity Securities will be
offered pursuant to this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement related hereto.
Fixed-Income Securities generally will be styled as Debt Instruments, having a
principal balance and a specified interest rate ("Interest Rate"). Fixed-Income
Securities may be either beneficial ownership interests in the related Mortgage
Loans held by the related Trust, or may represent debt secured by such Mortgage
Loans. Each series or class of Fixed-Income Securities may have a different
Interest Rate, which may be a fixed, variable or adjustable Interest Rate. The
related Prospectus Supplement will specify the Interest Rate for each series or
class of Fixed-Income Securities, or the initial Interest Rate and the method
for determining subsequent changes to the Interest Rate.
A series may include one or more classes of Fixed-Income Securities
("Strip Securities") entitled to (i) principal distributions, with
disproportionate, nominal or no interest distributions, or (ii) interest
distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or no principal distributions. In
addition, a series may include two or more classes of Fixed-Income Securities
that differ as to timing, sequential order, priority of payment, Interest Rate
or amount of distributions of principal or interest or both, or as to which
distributions of principal or interest or both on any class may be made upon the
occurrence of specified events, in accordance with a schedule or formula, or on
the basis of collections from designated portions of the related Mortgage Pool,
which series may include one or more classes of Fixed-Income Securities
("Accrual Securities"), as to which certain accrued interest will not be
distributed but rather will be added to the principal balance (or nominal
principal balance in the case of Accrual Securities which are also Strip
Securities) thereof on each Payment Date, as hereinafter defined and in the
manner described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, a series of
Securities may include one or more classes of Fixed-Income Securities
(collectively, the "Senior Securities") that are senior to one or more classes
of Fixed-Income Securities (collectively, the "Subordinate Securities") in
respect of certain distributions of principal and interest and allocations of
losses on Mortgage Loans. In addition, certain classes of Senior (or
Subordinate) Securities may be senior to other classes of Senior (or
Subordinate) Securities in respect of such distributions or losses.
Equity Securities will represent the right to receive the proceeds of
the related Trust Estate after all required payments have been made to the
Securityholders of the related Fixed-Income Securities (both Senior Securities
and Subordinate Securities), and following any required deposits to any reserve
account that may be established for the benefit of the Fixed-Income Securities.
Equity Securities may constitute what are commonly referred to as the "residual
interest," "seller's interest" or the "general partnership interest," depending
upon the treatment of the related Trust for federal income tax purposes. As
distinguished from the Fixed-Income Securities, the Equity Securities will not
be styled as having principal and interest components. Any losses suffered by
the related Trust first will be absorbed by the related class of Equity
Securities, as described herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
No Class of Equity Securities will be offered pursuant to this
Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement related hereto. Equity Securities may be
offered on a private placement basis or pursuant to a separate Registration
Statement to be filed by the Company. In addition, the Company and its
affiliates may initially or permanently hold any Equity Securities issued by any
Trust.
General Payment Terms of Securities
As provided in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement and as
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, Securityholders will be entitled
to receive payments on their Securities on specified dates ("Payment Dates").
Payment Dates with respect to Fixed-Income Securities will occur monthly,
quarterly or semi-annually, as described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
The related Prospectus Supplement will describe a date (the "Record
Date") preceding such Payment Date, as of which the Trustee or its paying agent
will fix the identity of the Securityholders for the purpose of receiving
payments on the next succeeding Payment Date. Unless otherwise described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the Payment Date will be the twenty-fifth day of
each month (or, in the case of quarterly-pay Securities, the
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twenty-fifth day of every third month; and in the case of semi-annually-pay
Securities, the twenty-fifth day of every sixth month) and the Record Date will
be the close of business as of the last day of the calendar month which precedes
such Payment Date.
The related Prospectus Supplement and Pooling and Servicing Agreement
will describe the periods (each, a "Remittance Period" or "Due Period")
antecedent to each Payment Date (for example, in the case of monthly-pay
Securities, the calendar month preceding the month in which a Payment Date
occurs or such other specified period). Unless otherwise provided in the related
Prospectus Supplement, collections received on or with respect to the related
Mortgage Loans during a Remittance Period will be required to be remitted by the
Servicer to the related Trustee prior to the related Payment Date, and will be
used to distribute payments to Securityholders on such Payment Date. As may be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement may provide that all or a portion of the principal collected
on or with respect to the related Mortgage Loans may be applied by the related
Trustee to the acquisition of additional Mortgage Loans during a specified
period (rather than used to distribute payments of principal to Securityholders
during such period) with the result that the related securities possess an
interest-only period, also commonly referred to as a revolving period, which
will be followed by an amortization period. Any such interest-only or revolving
period may, upon the occurrence of certain events to be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, terminate prior to the end of the specified period and
result in the earlier than expected amortization of the related Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that all or
a portion of such collected principal may be retained by the Trustee (and held
in certain temporary investments, including Mortgage Loans) for a specified
period prior to being used to distribute payments of principal to
Securityholders.
The result of such retention and temporary investment by the Trustee of
such principal would be to slow the amortization rate of the related Securities
relative to the amortization rate of the related Mortgage Loans, or to attempt
to match the amortization rate of the related Securities to an amortization
schedule established at the time such Securities are issued. Any such feature
applicable to any Securities may terminate upon the occurrence of events to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, resulting in the current funding
of principal payments to the related Securityholders and an acceleration of the
amortization of such Securities.
Neither the Securities nor the underlying Mortgage Loans will be
guaranteed or insured by any governmental agency or instrumentality or the
Company, the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer, any Master Servicer, any Originator or
any of their affiliates; provided, however, that certain distributions to
Securityholders may be guaranteed by a Financial Guaranty Insurer.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement with respect to
a series, Securities of each series covered by a particular Pooling and
Servicing Agreement will evidence specified beneficial ownership interest in a
separate Trust Estate created pursuant to such Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
A Trust Estate will consist of, to the extent provided in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement: (i) a pool of Mortgage Loans (and the related mortgage
documents) or certificates of interest or participations therein underlying a
particular series of Securities as from time to time are subject to the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement, exclusive of, if specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, any Originator's Retained Yield or other interest retained by the
related Originator, the Company or any of its affiliates with respect to each
such Mortgage Loan; (ii) certain other assets including, without limitation, all
payments due on the Mortgage Loans after the related Cut-Off Date, as from time
to time are identified as deposited in respect thereof in the Principal and
Interest Account and in the related Distribution Account; (iii) property
acquired by foreclosure of the Mortgage Loans or deed in lieu of foreclosure;
(iv) hazard insurance policies and primary insurance policies, if any, and
certain proceeds thereof; and (v) any combination, as specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, of a letter of credit, financial guaranty insurance
policy, purchase obligation, mortgage pool insurance policy, special hazard
insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, reserve fund or other type of credit
enhancement as described under "Description of Credit Enhancement." To the
extent that any Trust Estate includes certificates of interest or participations
in Mortgage Loans, the related Prospectus Supplement will describe the material
terms and conditions of such certificates or participations.
Form of Securities
If so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Securities of
each series will be issued as physical certificates ("Physical Certificates") in
fully registered form only in the denominations specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, and will be transferable and exchangeable at the
corporate trust office of the registrar
32
of the Securities (the "Security Registrar") named in the related Prospectus
Supplement. No service charge will be made for any registration of exchange or
transfer of Securities, but the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge.
If so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, specified classes
of a series of Securities will be issued in uncertificated book-entry form
("Book-Entry Securities"), and will be registered in the name of Cede, the
nominee of DTC. DTC 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 Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") and a
"clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC was created to hold securities
for its participating organizations ("Participants") and facilitate the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Participants through
electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need
for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include
certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available
to others such as brokers, dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through
or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or
indirectly ("Indirect Participant").
Under a book-entry format, Securityholders that are not Participants or
Indirect Participants but desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer
ownership of Securities registered in the name of Cede, as nominee of DTC, may
do so only through Participants and Indirect Participants. In addition, such
Securityholders will receive all distributions of principal of and interest on
the Securities from the Trustee through DTC and its Participants. Under a
book-entry format, Securityholders will receive payments after the related
Payment Date because, while payments are required to be forwarded to Cede, as
nominee for DTC, on each such date, DTC will forward such payments to its
Participants which thereafter will be required to forward such payments to
Indirect Participants or Securityholders. Unless and until Physical Securities
are issued, it is anticipated that the only Securityholder will be Cede, as
nominee of DTC, and that the beneficial holders of Securities will not be
recognized by the Trustee as Securityholders under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement. The beneficial holders of such Securities will only be permitted to
exercise the rights of Securityholders under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
indirectly through DTC and its Participants who in turn will exercise their
rights through DTC.
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC
and its operations, DTC is required to make book-entry transfers among
Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the Securities and is
required to receive and transmit payments of principal of and interest on the
Securities. Participants and Indirect Participants with which Securityholders
have accounts with respect to their Securities similarly are required to make
book-entry transfers and receive and transmit such payments on behalf of their
respective Securityholders. Accordingly, although Securityholders will not
possess Securities, the rules provide a mechanism by which Securityholders will
receive distributions and will be able to transfer their interests.
Unless and until Physical Certificates are issued, Securityholders who
are not Participants may transfer ownership of Securities only through
Participants by instructing such Participants to transfer Securities, by
book-entry transfer, through DTC for the account of the purchasers of such
Securities, which account is maintained with their respective Participants.
Under the Rules and in accordance with DTC's normal procedures, transfers of
ownership of Securities will be executed through DTC and the accounts of the
respective Participants at DTC will be debited and credited. Similarly, the
respective Participants will make debits or credits, as the case may be, on
their records on behalf of the selling and purchasing Securityholders.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of Participants, who in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a
Securityholder to pledge Securities to persons or entities that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such
Securities may be limited due to the lack of a Physical Certificate for such
Securities.
DTC in general advises that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a Securityholder under a Pooling and Servicing Agreement only at the
direction of one or more Participants to whose account with DTC the related
Securities are credited. Additionally, DTC in general advises that it will take
such actions with respect to specified percentages of the Securityholders only
at the direction of and on behalf of Participants whose holdings include current
principal amounts of outstanding Securities that satisfy such specified
percentages. DTC may take conflicting actions with respect to other current
principal amounts of outstanding Securities to the extent that such actions are
taken on behalf of Participants whose holdings include such current principal
amounts of outstanding Securities.
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Any Securities initially registered in the name of Cede, as nominee of
DTC, will be issued in fully registered, certificated form to Securityholders or
their nominees ("Physical Securities "), rather than to DTC or its nominee only
under the events specified in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement and
described in the related Prospectus Supplement. Upon the occurrence of any of
the events specified in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the
Prospectus Supplement, DTC will be required to notify all Participants of the
availability through DTC of Physical Certificates. Upon surrender by DTC of the
securities representing the Securities and instruction for reregistration, the
Trustee will issue the Securities in the form of Physical Certificates, and
thereafter the Trustee will recognize the holders of such Physical Certificates
as Securityholders. Thereafter, payments of principal of and interest on the
Securities will be made by the Trustee directly to Securityholders in accordance
with the procedures set forth herein and in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
The final distribution of any Security (whether Physical Certificates or
Securities registered in the name of Cede), however, will be made only upon
presentation and surrender of such Securities on the final Payment Date at such
office or agency as is specified in the notice of final payment to
Securityholders.
Assignment of Mortgage Loans
At the time of issuance of a series of Securities, the Company will
cause the Mortgage Loans being included in the related Trust Estate to be
assigned to the Trustee together with^ all principal and interest due on or
after the Cut-Off Date with respect to such Mortgage Loan, other than principal
and interest due before the Cut-Off Date. If specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Company or any of its affiliates may retain the Originator's
Retained Yield, if any, for itself or transfer the same to others. The Trustee
will, concurrently with such assignment, deliver a series of Securities to the
Company in exchange for the Mortgage Loans. Each Mortgage Loan will be
identified in a schedule appearing as an exhibit to the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement. Such schedule will include, among other things, information
as to the principal balance of each Mortgage Loan as of the Cut-Off Date, as
well as information regarding the Mortgage Rate, the currently scheduled monthly
payment of principal and interest and the maturity of the Mortgage Note.
In connection with the transfer of the Mortgage Loans to the Trustee,
the Originators will be required to deliver to the Company, who in turn will
deliver to the Trustee, a file consisting of (i) the original Notes or certified
copies thereof, endorsed by the Originator thereof in blank or to the order of
the holder, (ii) originals of all intervening assignments, showing a complete
chain of title from origination to the applicable Originators, if any, including
warehousing assignments, with evidence of recording thereon, (iii) originals of
all assumption and modification agreements, if any, and, unless such Mortgage
Loan is covered by a counsel's opinion as described in the next paragraph, (iv)
either: (a) the original Mortgage, with evidence of recording thereon, (b) a
true and accurate copy of the Mortgage where the original has been transmitted
for recording, until such time as the original is returned by the public
recording office or (c) a copy of the Mortgage certified by the public recording
office in those instances where the original recorded Mortgage has been lost.
The Trustee will agree, for the benefit of the Securityholders, to review each
such file within 90 days after the execution and delivery of the applicable
Pooling and Servicing Agreement to ascertain that all required documents (or
certified copies of documents) have been executed and received.
The Originators are additionally required to cause to be prepared and
recorded, within 75 business days of the execution and delivery of the
applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement (or, if original recording
information is unavailable, within such later period as is permitted by the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement) assignments of the Mortgages from the
Originators to the Trustee, in the appropriate jurisdictions in which such
recordation is necessary to perfect the lien thereof as against creditors of or
purchasers from the Originators, to the Trustee; provided, however, that if the
Originators furnish to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that no
such recording is necessary to perfect the Trustee's interests in the Mortgages
with respect to one or more jurisdictions, then such recording will not be
required with respect to such jurisdictions.
If the Sub-Servicer or Originator does not cure an omission or defect
in a required document within 60 days after notice is given to the Servicer, the
Sub-Servicer or Originator, as the case may be, will be obligated to purchase on
the next succeeding Remittance Date the related Mortgage Loan from the Trustee
at its Loan Purchase Price (or, if specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, will be permitted to substitute for such Mortgage Loan under the
conditions specified in the related Prospectus Supplement). The Servicer will be
obligated to enforce this obligation of the Sub-Servicer or Originator, as the
case may be, to the extent described above under "Mortgage Loan
Program--Representations by Originators." Neither the Servicer, the Master
Servicer nor the Company will, however, be obligated to purchase or substitute
for such Mortgage Loan if the Sub-Servicer or Originator, as the case may be,
defaults on its obligation to do so, and there can be no assurance that a
Sub-Servicer or Originator, as the
34
case may be, will carry out any such obligation. Such purchase obligation
constitutes the sole remedy available to the Securityholders or the Trustee for
omission of, or a material defect in, a constituent document.
The Trustee will be authorized at any time to appoint a custodian
pursuant to a custodial agreement to maintain possession of and, if applicable,
to review the documents relating to the Mortgage Loans as the agent of the
Trustee. The identity of any such custodian to be appointed on the date of
initial issuance of the Securities will be set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Pursuant to each Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer, either
directly or through Sub-Servicers, will service and administer the Mortgage
Loans assigned to the Trustee as more fully set forth below.
Forward Commitments; Pre-Funding
A Trust may enter into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Company
whereby the Company will agree to transfer Subsequent Mortgage Loans to such
Trust following the date on which such Trust is established and the related
Securities are issued. All Subsequent Mortgage Loans transferred to the Trust
pursuant to a Forward Purchase Agreement will be originated by the Company or an
Originator. The Trust may enter into Forward Purchase Agreements to permit the
acquisition of Subsequent Mortgage Loans that could not be delivered by the
Company or have not formally completed the origination process, in each case
prior to the date on which the Securities are delivered to the Securityholders
(the "Closing Date"). Any Forward Purchase Agreement will require that any
Subsequent Mortgage Loans so transferred to a Trust conform to the requirements
specified in such Forward Purchase Agreement. If a Forward Purchase Agreement is
to be utilized^ the related Trustee will be required to deposit in the
Pre-Funding Account all or a portion of the proceeds received by the Trustee in
connection with the sale of one or more classes of Securities of the related
series; the Subsequent Mortgage Loans will be transferred to the related Trust
in exchange for money released to the Company from the related Pre-Funding
Account in one or more transfers. The maximum amount of money deposited in the
Pre-Funding Account to acquire Subsequent Mortgage Loans for transfer to the
Trust will not exceed 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities
offered pursuant to the related Prospectus Supplement. Each Forward Purchase
Agreement will set a specified period during which any such transfers must
occur, which such period shall not exceed 90 days from the date such Trust was
established. The Forward Purchase Agreement or the related Pooling and Servicing
Agreement will require that, if all moneys originally deposited to such
Pre-Funding Account are not so used by the end of such specified period, then
any remaining moneys will be applied as a mandatory prepayment of the related
class or classes of Securities as specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. See "Risk Factors" herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
All moneys on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account will be invested in one or more
Permitted Investments with all earnings thereon available to make interest
payments on the Securities.
Payments on Mortgage Loans; Deposits to Distribution Account
Each Sub-Servicer servicing a Mortgage Loan pursuant to a Sub-Servicing
Agreement will establish and maintain an account (the "Sub-Servicing Account")
which generally meets the requirements set forth in the Company's Guidelines
from time to time, and is otherwise acceptable to the Servicer. A Sub-Servicing
Account will generally be a lock box account established with a Federal Home
Loan Bank or with a depository institution (including the Sub-Servicer itself)
whose accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund or
the FDIC, provided that any such depository institution must meet certain
minimum rating criteria set forth in the Company's Guidelines. Except as
otherwise permitted by the applicable Rating Agencies, a Sub-Servicing Account
must be segregated and may not be established as a general ledger account.
A Sub-Servicer is required to deposit into its Sub-Servicing Account
within one day of receipt all amounts described above under "Mortgage Loan
Program--Sub-Servicing by Originators" that are received by it in respect of the
Mortgage Loans, less its servicing fee or other compensation. On a daily basis
or on or before the date specified in the Sub-Servicing Agreement (which date
may be no later than the business day prior to the Determination Date referred
to below or, if such day is not a business day, the preceding business day), the
Sub-Servicer must remit or cause to be remitted to the Servicer or the Trustee
all funds held in the Sub-Servicing Account with respect to Mortgage Loans that
are required to be so remitted. A Sub-Servicer may also be required to make
Servicing Advances, and Delinquency Advances and to pay Compensating Interest as
set forth in the related Sub-Servicing Agreement.
35
The Servicer will deposit or will cause to be deposited into the
Principal and Interest Account on a daily basis certain payments and collections
received by it subsequent to the Cut-Off Date (other than payments due on or
before the Cut-Off Date), as specifically set forth in the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, which generally will include the following except as
otherwise provided therein:
(i) all payments on account of principal, including principal
payments received in advance of the date on which the related monthly
payment is due (the "Due Date") ("Principal Prepayments"), on the
Mortgage Loans comprising a Trust Estate;
(ii) all payments on account of interest on the Mortgage Loans
comprising such Trust Estate, net of the portion of each payment
thereof retained by the Servicer and the Sub-Servicer, if any, as their
servicing fee or other compensation;
(iii) all amounts (net of unreimbursed liquidation expenses
and insured expenses incurred, and unreimbursed advances made, by the
Servicer or the related Sub-Servicer) received and retained, if any, in
connection with the liquidation of any defaulted Mortgage Loan, by
foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise ("Liquidation
Proceeds"), including all proceeds of any special hazard insurance
policy, bankruptcy bond, mortgage pool insurance policy, financial
guaranty insurance policy and any title, hazard or other insurance
policy covering any Mortgage Loan in such Mortgage Pool (together with
any payments under any letter of credit, "Insurance Proceeds") or
proceeds from any alternative arrangements established in lieu of any
such insurance and described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
other than proceeds to be applied to the restoration of the related
property or released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the Servicer's
normal servicing procedures (such amounts, net of related unreimbursed
expenses and advances of the Servicer, "Net Liquidation Proceeds");
(iv) any Buydown Funds (and, if applicable, investment
earnings thereon) required to be paid to Securityholders, as described
below;
(v) all proceeds of any Mortgage Loan in such Trust Estate
purchased (or, in the case of a substitution, certain amounts
representing a principal adjustment) by the Servicer, the Company, the
Master Servicer, any Sub-Servicer or Originator or any other person
pursuant to the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. See
"Mortgage Loan Program--Representations by Originators," "--Assignment
of Mortgage Loans" above; and
(vi) any amounts required to be transferred from the
Distribution Account to the Principal and Interest Account.
In addition to the Principal and Interest Account, the Servicer shall
cause to be established and the Trustee will maintain, at the corporate trust
office of the Trustee, in the name of the Trust for the benefit of the holders
of each series of Securities, an account for the disbursement of payments on the
Mortgage Loans evidenced by each series of Securities (the "Distribution
Account"). Both the Principal and Interest Account and the Distribution Account
must be (x) maintained with a depository institution whose debt obligations at
the time of any deposit therein meet certain rating criteria, and (y) (i) an
account or accounts the deposits in which are fully insured to the limits
established by the FDIC, (ii) an account maintained at a federal savings and
loan or state banking institution, (iii) an account maintained at a principal
subsidiary of a bank holding company, (iv) an account maintained at a national
banking association, or (v) such other account or accounts acceptable to the
Rating Agency or Agencies that rated one or more classes of Securities of such
series (an "Eligible Account"). The collateral that is eligible to secure
amounts in an Eligible Account is limited to certain permitted investments
("Permitted Investments"). Permitted Investments include direct general
obligations of the United States or the obligations of any agency or
instrumentality of the United States that are fully guaranteed, Federal Funds,
certificates of deposit, time and demand deposits of any bank meeting certain
short term rating requirements described in a Pooling and Servicing Agreement,
certain investment agreements approved by the Financial Guaranty Insurer, and
commercial paper and no load mutual funds meeting certain rating requirements
described in a Pooling and Servicing Agreement. A Distribution Account may be
maintained as an interest-bearing or a non-interest-bearing account, or funds
therein may be invested in Permitted Investments as described below. The
Principal and Interest Account may contain funds relating to more than one
series of Securities as well as payments received on other mortgage loans
serviced or master serviced by the Servicer that have been deposited into the
Principal and Interest Account. The Servicer will be entitled to any interest or
other income or gain realized with respect to the funds on deposit in the
Principal and Interest Accounts.
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Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement and
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, not later than the seventh day preceding each
Payment Date (the "Remittance Date "), the Servicer will withdraw from the
Principal and Interest Account and remit to the Trustee for deposit into the
applicable Distribution Account, in immediately available funds, the amount to
be distributed therefrom to Securityholders on such Payment Date. The Servicer
will remit to the Trustee for deposit into the Distribution Account the amount
of any advances made by the Servicer as described herein under "Advances," any
amounts required to be paid by the Servicer out of its own funds due to the
operation of a deductible clause in any blanket policy maintained by the
Servicer to cover hazard losses on the Mortgage Loans as described under "Hazard
Insurance; Claims Thereunder" below and any other amounts as specifically set
forth in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Trustee will cause all
payments under any credit enhancement such as a financial guaranty insurance
policy or a letter of credit to be deposited in the Distribution Account prior
to the close of business on the business day next preceding each Payment Date.
The portion of any payment received by the Servicer in respect of a
Mortgage Loan that is allocable to the Originator's Retained Yield generally
will be deposited into the Principal and Interest Account but will not be
deposited in the Distribution Account for the related series of Securities.
Funds on deposit in the Principal and Interest Account attributable to
Mortgage Loans underlying a series of Securities may be invested in Permitted
Investments maturing in general not later than the business day preceding the
next Payment Date. All income and gain realized from any such investment will
generally be for the account of the Servicer. Funds on deposit in the related
Distribution Account may be invested in Permitted Investments maturing, in
general, no later than the Payment Date.
With respect to each Buydown Mortgage Loan, the Sub-Servicer will
deposit the related Buydown Funds provided to it in a Buydown Account that will
comply with the requirements set forth herein with respect to a Sub-Servicing
Account. The terms of all Buydown Mortgage Loans provide for the contribution of
Buydown Funds in an amount equal to or exceeding either (i) the total payments
to be made from such funds pursuant to the related buydown plan or (ii) if such
Buydown Funds are to be deposited on a discounted basis, that amount of Buydown
Funds which, together with investment earnings thereon at a rate as set forth in
the Company's Guidelines from time to time, will support the scheduled level of
payments due under the Buydown Mortgage Loan. Neither the Servicer nor the
Company will be obligated to add to any such discounted Buydown Funds any of its
own funds should investment earnings prove insufficient to maintain the
scheduled level of payments. To the extent that any such insufficiency is not
recoverable from the Mortgagor or, in an appropriate case, from the related
Originator or the related Sub-Servicer, distributions to Securityholders may be
affected. With respect to each Buydown Mortgage Loan, the Sub-Servicer will
withdraw from the Buydown Account and remit to the Servicer on or before the
date specified in the Sub-Servicing Agreement described above the amount, if
any, of the Buydown Funds (and, if applicable, investment earnings thereon) for
each Buydown Mortgage Loan that, when added to the amount due from the Mortgagor
on such Buydown Mortgage Loan, equals the full monthly payment which would be
due on the Buydown Mortgage Loan if it were not subject to the buydown plan.
If the Mortgagor on a Buydown Mortgage Loan prepays such Mortgage Loan
in its entirety during the Buydown Period, the Sub-Servicer will withdraw from
the Buydown Account and remit to the Mortgagor or such other designated party in
accordance with the related buydown plan any Buydown Funds remaining in the
Buydown Account. If a prepayment by a Mortgagor during the Buydown Period
together with Buydown Funds will result in full prepayment of a Buydown Mortgage
Loan, the Sub-Servicer will generally be required to withdraw from the Buydown
Account and remit to the Servicer the Buydown Funds and investment earnings
thereon, if any, which together with such prepayment will result in a prepayment
in full; provided that Buydown Funds may not be available to cover a prepayment
under certain Mortgage Loan programs. Any Buydown Funds so remitted to the
Servicer in connection with a prepayment described in the preceding sentence
will be deemed to reduce the amount that would be required to be paid by the
Mortgagor to repay fully the related Mortgage Loan if the Mortgage Loan were not
subject to the buydown plan. Any investment earnings remaining in the Buydown
Account after prepayment or after termination of the Buydown Period will be
remitted to the related Mortgagor or such other designated party pursuant to the
agreement relating to each Buydown Mortgage Loan (the "Buydown Agreement"). If
the Mortgagor defaults during the Buydown Period with respect to a Buydown
Mortgage Loan and the property securing such Buydown Mortgage Loan is sold in
liquidation (either by the Servicer, the Primary Insurer, the insurer under the
mortgage pool insurance policy (the "Pool Insurer") or any other insurer), the
Sub-Servicer will be required to withdraw from the Buydown Account the Buydown
Funds and all investment earnings thereon, if any, and remit the same to the
Servicer or, if instructed by the Servicer, pay the same to the Primary Insurer
or
37
the Pool Insurer, as the case may be, if the Mortgaged Property is transferred
to such insurer and such insurer pays all of the loss incurred in respect of
such default.
Withdrawals from the Principal and Interest Account
The Servicer may, from time to time, make withdrawals from the
Principal and Interest Account for certain purposes, as specifically set forth
in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, which generally will include the
following except as otherwise provided therein:
(i) to effect the timely remittance to the Trustee for deposit
to the Distribution Account in the amounts and in the manner provided
in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and described in "--Payments on
Mortgage Loans; Deposits to Distribution Account" above;
(ii) to reimburse itself or any Sub-Servicer for Delinquency
Advances or Servicing Advances as to any Mortgaged Property, out of
late payments or collections on the related Mortgage Loan with respect
to which such Delinquency Advances or Servicing Advances were made;
(iii) to withdraw investment earnings on amounts on deposit in
the Principal and Interest Account;
(iv) to pay the Company or its assignee all amounts allocable
to the Originator's Retained Yield out of collections or payments which
represent interest on each Mortgage Loan (including any Mortgage Loan
as to which title to the underlying Mortgaged Property was acquired);
(v) to withdraw amounts that have been deposited in the
Principal and Interest Account in error; and
(vi) to clear and terminate the Principal and Interest Account
in connection with the termination of the Trust Estate pursuant to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as described in "The Pooling and
Servicing Agreement--Termination, Retirement of Securities."
Distributions
Beginning on the Payment Date in the month following the month (or, in
the case of quarterly-pay Securities, the third month following such month and
each third month thereafter or, in the case of semi-annually-pay Securities, the
sixth month following such month and each sixth month thereafter) in which the
Cut-Off Date occurs (or such other date as may be set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement) for a series of Securities, distributions of principal
and interest (or, where applicable, of principal only or interest only) on each
class of Securities entitled thereto will be made either by the Trustee or a
paying agent appointed by the Trustee (the "Paying Agent"), to the persons who
are registered as the Securityholders of such Securities at the close of
business as of the last day of the preceding month (the "Record Date") in
proportion to their respective Percentage Interests. Interest that accrues and
is not payable on a class of Securities will generally be added to the principal
balance of each Security of such class in proportion to its Percentage Interest.
The undivided percentage interest (the "Percentage Interest") represented by a
Security of a particular class will be equal to the percentage obtained by
dividing the initial principal balance or notional amount of such Security by
the aggregate initial amount or notional balance of all the Securities of such
class. Distributions will be made in immediately available funds (by wire
transfer or otherwise) to the account of a Securityholder at a bank or other
entity having appropriate facilities therefor, if such Securityholder has so
notified the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, and the applicable
Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides for such form of payment, or by check
mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears on the
Security Register; provided, however, that the final distribution in retirement
of the Securities (other than any Book-Entry Securities) will be made only upon
presentation and surrender of the Securities at the office or agency of the
Trustee specified in the notice to Securityholders of such final distribution.
Principal and Interest on the Securities
The method of determining, and the amount of, distributions of
principal and interest (or, where applicable, of principal only or interest
only) on a particular series of Securities will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Each class of Securities (other than certain classes of
Strip Securities) may bear interest at a different interest rate (the
"Pass-Through Rate"), which may be a fixed or adjustable Pass-Through Rate. The
related
38
Prospectus Supplement will specify the Pass-Through Rate for each class, or in
the case of an adjustable Pass-Through Rate, the initial Pass-Through Rate and
the method for determining the Pass-Through Rate.
On each Payment Date for a series of Securities, the Trustee will
distribute or cause the Paying Agent to distribute, as the case may be, to each
holder of record on the Record Date of a class of Securities, an amount equal to
the Percentage Interest represented by the Security held by such holder
multiplied by such class' Distribution Amount. The Distribution Amount for a
class of Securities for any Payment Date will be the portion, if any, of the
Principal Distribution Amount (as defined in the related Prospectus Supplement)
allocable to such class for such Payment Date, as described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, plus, if such class is entitled to payments of interest
on such Payment Date, the interest accrued at the applicable Pass-Through Rate
on the principal balance or notional amount of such class, as specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, less the amount of any Deferred Interest added
to the principal balance of the Mortgage Loans and/or the outstanding balance of
one or more classes of Securities on the related Due Date, allocable to
Securityholders which are not covered by advances or the applicable credit
enhancement, in each case in such amount that is allocated to such class on the
basis set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that all or a portion of the
principal collected on or with respect to the related Mortgage Loans may be
applied by the related Trustee to the acquisition of additional Mortgage Loans
during a specified period (rather than used to fund payments of principal to
Securityholders during such period) with the result that the related securities
will possess an interest-only period, also commonly referred to as a revolving
period, which will be followed by an amortization period. Any such interest-only
or revolving period may, upon the occurrence of certain events to be described
in the related Prospectus Supplement, terminate prior to the end of the
specified period and result in the earlier than expected amortization of the
related Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that all or
a portion of such collected principal may be retained by the Trustee (and held
in certain temporary investments, including Mortgage Loans) for a specified
period prior to being used to fund payments of principal to Securityholders.
In the case of a series of Securities that includes two or more classes
of Securities, the timing, sequential order, priority of payment or amount of
distributions in respect of principal, and any schedule or formula or other
provisions applicable to the determination thereof (including distributions
among multiple classes of Senior Securities or Subordinate Securities) of each
such class shall be as provided in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Distributions in respect of principal of any class of Securities will be made on
a pro rata basis among all of the Securities of such class.
Except as otherwise provided in the related Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, on or prior to the 15th day (or if such day is not a business day,
the next succeeding business day or such other date specified in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement) of the month of distribution (the "Determination Date"),
the Servicer will provide the Trustee, (and the Master Servicer and Credit
Enhancer, if any) with a monthly servicing report. Except as otherwise provided
in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, on or prior to one business day
after the related Remittance Date (or such earlier or later day as shall be
agreed by a Financial Guaranty Insurer, if applicable, and Trustee) of the month
of distribution, the Trustee will use the monthly servicing report to determine
the amounts of principal and interest which will be passed through to
Securityholders on the immediately succeeding Payment Date. If the amount in the
Principal and Interest Account is insufficient to cover the amount to be passed
through to Securityholders, no later than 12:00 noon New York City time on the
second business day preceding a Payment Date, the Trustee will notify a
Financial Guaranty Insurer or any other person required to be notified pursuant
to the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Advances
The Servicer is required, not later than each Remittance Date, to
deposit into the Principal and Interest Account an amount equal to the sum of
the scheduled interest and principal payments (net of the Servicing Fees and
certain administrative amounts) due, but not collected, with respect to
delinquent Mortgage Loans during the prior Remittance Period, but only if, in
its good faith business judgment, the Servicer believes that such amount will
ultimately be recovered from the related Mortgage Loan. Such amounts are
"Delinquency Advances." The Servicer will be permitted to fund its payment of
Delinquency Advances on any Remittance Date from collections on any Mortgage
Loan deposited to the Principal and Interest Account subsequent to the related
Remittance Period and will
39
be required to deposit into the Principal and Interest Account with respect
thereto (i) collections from the Mortgagor whose delinquency gave rise to the
shortfall which resulted in such Delinquency Advance and (ii) Net Liquidation
Proceeds recovered on account of the related Mortgage Loan to the extent of the
amount of aggregate Delinquency Advances related thereto.
A Mortgage Loan is "delinquent" if any payment due thereon is not made
by the close of business on the day such payment is scheduled to be due.
Generally, on or prior to each Remittance Date, the Servicer will be
required to deposit in the Principal and Interest Account with respect to any
full prepayment received on a Mortgage Loan during the related Remittance Period
out of its own funds without any right of reimbursement therefor, an amount
equal to the difference between (x) 30 days' interest at the Mortgage Loan's
Mortgage Rate (less the Servicing Fee and certain miscellaneous administrative
amounts) on the loan balance of such Mortgage Loan as of the first day of the
related Remittance Period and (y) to the extent not previously advanced, the
interest (less the Servicing Fee and certain miscellaneous administrative
amounts) paid by the Mortgagor with respect to the Mortgage Loan during such
Remittance Period (any such amount paid by the Servicer, "Compensating
Interest"). The Servicer shall in no event be required to pay Compensating
Interest with respect to any Remittance Period in an amount in excess of the
aggregate Servicing Fee received by the Servicer with respect to all Mortgage
Loans for such Remittance Period.
The Servicer will be required to pay all "out of pocket" costs and
expenses incurred in the performance of its servicing obligations, but only to
the extent that the Servicer reasonably believes that such amounts will increase
Net Liquidation Proceeds on the related Mortgage Loan. Each such amount so paid
will constitute a "Servicing Advance." The Servicer may recover Servicing
Advances to the extent permitted by the Mortgage Loans or, if not theretofore
recovered from the Mortgagor on whose behalf such Servicing Advance was made,
from liquidation proceeds realized upon the liquidation of the related Mortgage
Loan. In no case may the Servicer recover Servicing Advances from the principal
and interest payments on any Mortgage Loan or from any amounts relating to any
other Mortgage Loan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Servicer exercises its option, if
any, to purchase the assets of a Trust Estate as described under "The Pooling
and Servicing Agreement--Termination; Retirement of Securities" below, the
Servicer will be deemed to have been reimbursed for all related advances
previously made by it and not theretofore reimbursed to it. The Servicer's
obligation to make advances may be supported by credit enhancement as described
in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement. In the event that the provider
of such support is downgraded by a Rating Agency rating the related Securities
or if the collateral supporting such obligation is not performing or is removed
pursuant to the terms of any agreement described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Securities may also be downgraded.
Reports to Securityholders
With each distribution to Securityholders of a particular class the
Trustee will forward or cause to be forwarded to each holder of record of such
class of Securities a statement or statements with respect to the related Trust
setting forth the information specifically described in the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, which generally will include the following as applicable
except as otherwise provided therein:
(i) the amount of the distribution with respect to each class
of Securities;
(ii) the amount of such distribution allocable to principal,
separately identifying the aggregate amount of any prepayments or other
recoveries of principal included therein;
(iii) the amount of such distribution allocable to interest;
(iv) the aggregate unpaid Principal Balance of the Mortgage
Loans after giving effect to the distribution of principal on such
Payment Date;
(v) with respect to a series consisting of two or more
classes, the outstanding principal balance or notional amount of each
class after giving effect to the distribution of principal on such
Payment Date;
(vi) the amount of coverage under any letter of credit,
mortgage pool insurance policy or other form of credit enhancement
covering default risk as of the close of business on the applicable
Determination Date and a description of any credit enhancement
substituted therefor;
40
(vii) information furnished by the Company pursuant to section
6049(d)(7)(C) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder to
assist Securityholders in computing their market discount;
(viii) the total of any Substitution Amounts and any Loan
Purchase Price amounts included in such distribution; and (ix) a number
with respect to each class (the "Pool Factor") computed by dividing the
principal balance of all certificates in such class (after giving
effect to any distribution of principal to be made on such Payment
Date) by the original principal balance of certificates of such class
on the Closing Date.
Items (i) through (iii) above shall, with respect to each class of
Securities, be presented on the basis of a certificate having a $1,000
denomination. In addition, by January 31 of each calendar year following any
year during which Securities are outstanding, the Trustee shall furnish a report
to each Securityholder of record at any time during each calendar year as to the
aggregate amounts reported pursuant to (i), (ii) and (iii) with respect to the
Securities for such calendar year. If a class of Securities are in book-entry
form, DTC will supply such reports to the Securityholders in accordance with its
procedures.
In addition, on each Payment Date the Trustee will forward or cause to
be forwarded additional information, as of the close of business on the last day
of the prior calendar month, as more specifically described in the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, which generally will include the following as
applicable except as otherwise provided therein:
(i) the total number of Mortgage Loans and the aggregate
principal balances thereof, together with the number, percentage and
aggregate principal balances of Mortgage Loans (a) 30-59 days
delinquent, (b) 60-89 days delinquent and (c) 90 or more days
delinquent;
(ii) the number, percentage, aggregate Mortgage Loan balances
and status of all Mortgage Loans in foreclosure proceedings (and
whether any such Mortgage Loans are also included in any of the
statistics described in the foregoing clause (i));
(iii) the number, percentage and aggregate Mortgage Loan
balances of all Mortgage Loans relating to Mortgagors in bankruptcy
proceedings (and whether any such Mortgage Loans are also included in
any of the statistics described in the foregoing clause (i));
(iv) the number, percentage and aggregate Mortgage Loan
balances of all Mortgage Loans relating to the status of any Mortgaged
Properties as to which title has been taken in the name of, or on
behalf of the Trustee (and whether any such Mortgage Loans are also
included in any of the statistics described in the foregoing clause
(i)); and
(v) the book value of any real estate acquired through
foreclosure or grant of a deed in lieu of foreclosure.
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement shall provide that the
Securityholders will have the right to request a Securityholder list. Any
Securityholder in a Trust may apply in writing to the related Trustee, and such
application shall state that the Securityholder desires to communicate with
other Securityholders with respect to their rights under the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement. Such written request shall be accompanied by a copy of the
communication which such Securityholder proposes to transmit to other
Securityholders. The Trustee shall furnish such Securityholder list to such
requesting Securityholder within ten business days after receipt of the
application.
Collection and Other Servicing Procedures
Acting directly or through one or more Sub-Servicers as provided in the
related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer, is required to service
and administer the Mortgage Loans in accordance with the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement and with reasonable care, and using that degree of skill and attention
that the Servicer exercises with respect to comparable mortgage loans that it
services for itself or others.
The duties of the Servicer include collecting and posting of all
payments, responding to inquiries of Mortgagors or by federal, state or local
government authorities with respect to the Mortgage Loans, investigating
delinquencies, reporting tax information to Mortgagors in accordance with its
customary practices and accounting for collections and furnishing monthly and
annual statements to the Trustee with respect to distributions and making
41
Delinquency Advances and Servicing Advances. The Servicer is required to follow
its customary standards, policies and procedures in performing its duties as
Servicer.
The Servicer (i) is authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on
behalf of itself, the Securityholders and the Trustee or any of them, any and
all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release
or discharge and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the Mortgage
Loans and with respect to the related Mortgaged Properties; (ii) may consent to
any modification of the terms of any Note not expressly prohibited by the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement if the effect of any such modification (x) will
not materially and adversely affect the security afforded by the related
Mortgaged Property (other than as permitted by the related Pooling and Servicing
Agreement) or the timing of receipt of any payments required thereunder; and (y)
will not cause a Trust which is a REMIC to fail to qualify as a REMIC.
The related Pooling and Servicing Agreement will require the Servicer
to follow such collection procedures as it follows from time to time with
respect to mortgage loans in its servicing portfolio that are comparable to the
Mortgage Loans; provided that the Servicer is required always at least to follow
collection procedures that are consistent with or better than standard industry
practices. The Servicer may in its discretion (i) waive any assumption fees,
late payment charges, charges for checks returned for insufficient funds,
prepayment fees, if any, or the fees which may be collected in the ordinary
course of servicing the Mortgage Loans, (ii) if a Mortgagor is in default or
about to be in default because of a Mortgagor's financial condition, arrange
with the Mortgagor a schedule for the payment of delinquent payments due on the
related Mortgage Loan; provided, however, the Servicer shall not reschedule the
payment of delinquent payments more than one time in any twelve consecutive
months with respect to any Mortgagor or (iii) modify payments of monthly
principal and interest on any Mortgage Loan becoming subject to the terms of the
Relief Act in accordance with the Servicer's general policies for comparable
mortgage loans subject to the Relief Act.
The Servicer will be required to foreclose upon or otherwise comparably
effect the ownership on behalf of the Trust of Mortgaged Properties relating to
defaulted Mortgage Loans as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made
for collection of delinquent payments. The related Pooling and Servicing
Agreement will require the Servicer to take into account the existence of any
hazardous substances, hazardous wastes or solid wastes, as such terms are
defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act, the Response Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, or other federal, state
or local environmental legislation, in determining whether to foreclose upon a
Mortgaged Property, or otherwise comparably effect the ownership of such
Mortgaged Property on behalf of the Trust.
When a Mortgaged Property (other than Mortgaged Property subject to an
ARM Loan) has been or is about to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the Servicer
will be required, to the extent it has knowledge of such conveyance or
prospective conveyance, to exercise its rights to accelerate the maturity of the
related Mortgage Loan under any "due-on-sale" clause contained in the related
Mortgage or Note; provided, however, that the Servicer will not be required to
exercise any such right if (i) the "due-on-sale" clause, in the reasonable
belief of the Servicer, is not enforceable under applicable law or (ii) the
Servicer reasonably believes that to permit an assumption of the Mortgage Loan
would not materially and adversely affect the interests of Securityholders or
the Financial Guaranty Insurer, if any, or jeopardize coverage under any primary
insurance policy or applicable credit enhancement arrangements. In such event,
the Servicer will be required to enter into an assumption and modification
agreement with the person to whom such Mortgaged Property has been or is about
to be conveyed, pursuant to which such person becomes liable under the Mortgage
Note and, unless prohibited by applicable law or the related documents, the
Mortgagor remains liable thereon. If the foregoing is not permitted under
applicable law, the Servicer will be authorized to enter into a substitution of
liability agreement with such person, pursuant to which the original Mortgagor
is released from liability and such person is substituted as Mortgagor and
becomes liable under the Mortgage Note. The assumed loan must conform in all
respects to the requirements, representations and warranties of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement.
An ARM Loan may be assumed if such ARM Loan is by its terms assumable
and if, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, the
proposed transferee of the related Mortgaged Property establishes its ability to
repay the loan and the security for such ARM Loan would not be impaired by the
assumption. If a Mortgagor transfers the Mortgaged Property subject to an ARM
Loan without consent, such ARM Loan may be declared due and payable. Any fee
collected by the Servicer or Sub-Servicer for entering into an assumption or
substitution of liability agreement will be retained by the Servicer or
Sub-Servicer as additional servicing
42
compensation unless otherwise set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
See "Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Enforceability
of Certain Provisions" herein.
The Servicer will have the right under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement to approve applications of Mortgagors seeking consent for (i) partial
releases of Mortgages, (ii) alterations and (iii) removal, demolition or
division of Mortgaged Properties. No application for consent may be approved by
the Servicer unless: (i) the provisions of the related Mortgage Note and
Mortgage have been complied with; (ii) the loan-to-value ratio and
debt-to-income ratio after any release are consistent with the Company's
Guidelines then applicable to such Mortgage Loan; and (iii) the lien priority of
the related Mortgage is not affected.
Realization upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans
The Servicer shall foreclose upon or otherwise comparably effect the
ownership on behalf of the Trust of Mortgaged Properties relating to defaulted
Mortgage Loans as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for
collection of delinquent payments and which the Servicer has not purchased
pursuant to the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement (such Mortgage Loans,
"REO Property"). In connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the
Servicer shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it under the
related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, and use the same degree of care and
skill in their exercise or use, as prudent mortgage lenders would exercise or
use under the circumstances in the conduct of their own affairs, including, but
not limited to, advancing funds for the payment of taxes, amounts due with
respect to Senior Liens and insurance premiums. Any amounts so advanced shall
constitute "Servicing Advances." Unless otherwise provided in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the Servicer shall sell any REO Property within 23 months
of its acquisition by the Trust, unless the Servicer obtains for the Trustee an
opinion of counsel experienced in federal income tax matters, addressed to the
Trustee, a Financial Guaranty Insurer, if applicable, and the Servicer, to the
effect that the holding by the Trust of such REO Property for any greater period
will not result in the imposition of taxes on "Prohibited Transactions" of the
Trust as defined in Section 860F of the Code or, if a REMIC election has been
made, cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a REMIC under the REMIC Provisions
at any time that any Securities are outstanding, in which case the Servicer
shall sell any REO Property by the end of any extended period specified in any
such opinion.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing provisions, the
Servicer shall manage, conserve, protect and operate each REO Property for the
Securityholders solely for the purpose of its prompt disposition and sale in a
manner which does not cause such REO Property to fail to qualify as "foreclosure
property" within the meaning of Section 860G(a)(8) of the Code or result in the
receipt by the Trust of any "income from non-permitted assets" within the
meaning of Section 860F(a)(2)(B) of the Code or any "net income from foreclosure
property" which is subject to taxation under the REMIC Provisions. Pursuant to
its efforts to sell such REO Property, the Servicer shall either itself or
through an agent selected by the Servicer protect and conserve such REO Property
in the same manner and to such extent as is customary in the locality where such
REO Property is located and may, incident to its conservation and protection of
the interests of the Securityholders, rent the same, or any part thereof, as the
Servicer deems to be in the best interest of the Securityholders for the period
prior to the sale of such REO Property. The Servicer shall take into account the
existence of any hazardous substances, hazardous wastes or solid wastes, as such
terms are defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, or other
federal, state or local environmental legislation, on a Mortgaged Property in
determining whether to foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the
ownership of such Mortgaged Property. The Servicer shall determine, with respect
to each defaulted Mortgage Loan, when it has recovered, whether through
trustee's sale, foreclosure sale or otherwise, all amounts it expects to recover
from or on account of such defaulted Mortgage Loan, whereupon such Mortgage Loan
shall become a Liquidated Mortgage Loan.
If a defaulted Mortgage Loan or REO Property is not so removed from the
Trust Estate, then, upon the final liquidation thereof, if a loss is realized
that is not covered by any applicable form of credit enhancement or other
insurance, the Securityholders will bear such loss. However, if a gain results
from the final liquidation of an REO Property that is not required by law to be
remitted to the related Mortgagor, the Servicer will be entitled to retain such
gain as additional servicing compensation unless the related Prospectus
Supplement provides otherwise. For a description of the Servicer's obligations
to maintain and make claims under applicable forms of credit enhancement and
insurance relating to the Mortgage Loans, see "Description of Credit
Enhancement" and "Hazard Insurance; Claims Thereunder--Hazard Insurance
Policies."
SUBORDINATION
A Senior/Subordinate Series of Securities will consist of one or more
classes of Senior Securities and one or more classes of Subordinate Securities,
as specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.^ Subordination of the
Subordinate Securities of any Senior/Subordinate Series of Securities will be
effected by the following method, unless an alternative method is specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement. In addition, certain classes of Senior (or
Subordinate) Securities may be senior to other classes of Senior (or
Subordinate) Securities, as specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, in
which case the following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the related Prospectus Supplement with respect to the various priorities and
other rights as among the various classes of Senior Securities or Subordinate
Securities, as the case may be.
With respect to any Senior/Subordinate Series of Securities, the total
amount available for distribution on each Payment Date, as well as the method
for allocating such amount among the various classes of Securities included in
such series, will be as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Generally, the amount available for distribution will be allocated first to
interest on the Senior Securities of such series, and then to principal of the
Senior Securities up to the amounts determined as specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, prior to allocation to the Subordinate Securities of such
series.
In the event of any Realized Losses (as defined below) on Mortgage
Loans not in excess of the limitations described below, other than Extraordinary
Losses, the rights of the Subordinate Securityholders to receive distributions
with respect to the Mortgage Loans will be subordinate to the rights of the
Senior Securityholders. With respect to any defaulted Mortgage Loan that becomes
a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, the amount of loss realized, if any (as more fully
described in the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, a "Realized Loss"),
will equal the portion of the stated principal balance remaining, after
application of all amounts recovered (net of amounts reimbursable to the
Servicer for related advances and expenses) towards interest and principal owing
on the Mortgage Loan. With respect to a Mortgage Loan the principal balance of
which has been reduced in connection with bankruptcy proceedings, the amount of
such reduction will be treated as a Realized Loss.
Except as noted below, all Realized Losses will be allocated to the
Subordinate Securities of the related series, until the Principal Balance (as
defined in the related Prospectus Supplement) of such Subordinate Securities
thereof has been reduced to zero. Any additional Realized Losses will be
allocated to the Senior Securities (or, if such series includes more than one
class of Senior Securities, either on a pro-rata basis among all of the Senior
Securities in proportion to their respective outstanding Principal Balances or
as otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement).
With respect to certain Realized Losses resulting from physical damage
to Mortgaged Properties that are generally of the same type as are covered under
a special hazard insurance policy, the amount thereof that may be allocated to
the Subordinate Securities of the related series may be limited to an amount
(the "Special Hazard Amount") specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
See "Description of Credit Enhancement--Special Hazard Insurance Policies." If
so, any Special Hazard Losses in excess of the Special Hazard Amount will be
allocated among all outstanding classes of Securities of the related series,
either on a pro-rata basis in proportion to their outstanding Security Principal
Balances, regardless of whether any Subordinate Securities remain outstanding,
or as otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement. The respective
amounts of other specified types of losses (including Fraud Losses and
Bankruptcy Losses) that may be borne solely by the Subordinate Securities may be
similarly limited to an amount (with respect to Fraud Losses, the "Fraud Loss
Amount" and with respect to Bankruptcy Losses, the "Bankruptcy Loss Amount"),
and the Subordinate Securities may provide no coverage with respect to certain
other specified types of losses, as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, in which case such losses would be allocated on a pro-rata basis
among all outstanding classes of Securities.
Any allocation of a Realized Loss (including a Special Hazard Loss) to
a Security in a Senior/Subordinate Series will be made by reducing the Principal
Balance thereof as of the Payment Date following the calendar month in which
such Realized Loss was incurred.
In lieu of the foregoing provisions, subordination may be effected in
the following manner, or in any other manner described in the related Prospectus
Supplement. The rights of the holders of Subordinate Securities to receive any
or a specified portion of distributions with respect to the Mortgage Loans may
be subordinated to the extent of the amount set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement (the "Subordinate Amount"). As specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Subordinate Amount may be subject to reduction based upon the
amount of losses borne by the holders of the Subordinate Securities as a result
of such subordination, a specified schedule or
44
such other method of reduction as such Prospectus Supplement may specify. If so
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, additional credit support for
this form of subordination may be provided by the establishment of a reserve
fund for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Securities (which may, if such
Prospectus Supplement so provides, initially be funded by a cash deposit by the
Company or the related Originator) into which certain distributions otherwise
allocable to the holders of the Subordinate Securities may be placed; such funds
would thereafter be available to cure shortfalls in distributions to holders of
the Senior Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF CREDIT ENHANCEMENT
Unless otherwise expressly provided and described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, each Series of Securities shall have credit support
comprised of one or more of the following components. Each component will have a
monetary limit and will provide coverage with respect to Realized Losses that
are (i) attributable to the Mortgagor's failure to make any payment of principal
or interest as required under the Mortgage Note, but not including Special
Hazard Losses, Extraordinary Losses or other losses resulting from damage to a
Mortgaged Property, Bankruptcy Losses or Fraud Losses (any such loss, a
"Defaulted Mortgage Loss"); (ii) of a type generally covered by a special hazard
insurance policy (as defined below) (any such loss, a "Special Hazard Loss");
(iii) attributable to certain actions which may be taken by a bankruptcy court
in connection with a Mortgage Loan, including a reduction by a bankruptcy court
of the principal balance of or the Mortgage Rate on a Mortgage Loan or an
extension of its maturity (any such loss, a "Bankruptcy Loss "); and (iv)
incurred on defaulted Mortgage Loans as to which there was fraud in the
origination of such Mortgage Loans (any such loss, a "Fraud Loss"). Losses
occasioned by war, civil insurrection, certain governmental actions, nuclear
reaction and certain other risks ("Extraordinary Losses") will not be covered
unless specified herein. To the extent that the credit enhancement for any
series of Securities is exhausted, the Securityholders will bear all further
risks of loss not otherwise insured against.
As set forth below and in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, credit
enhancement may be provided with respect to one or more classes of a series of
Securities or with respect to the Mortgage Assets in the related Trust. Credit
enhancement may be in the form of (i) the subordination of one or more classes
of Subordinate Securities to provide credit support to one or more classes of
Senior Securities as described under "Subordination," (ii) the use of a mortgage
pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, reserve
fund, letter of credit, financial guaranty insurance policy, other third party
guarantees, another method of credit enhancement described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, or the use of a cross-support feature or
overcollateralization, or (iii) any combination of the foregoing. Any credit
enhancement will not provide protection against all risks of loss and will not
guarantee repayment of the entire principal balance of the Securities and
interest thereon. If losses occur that exceed the amount covered by credit
enhancement or are not covered by the credit enhancement, holders of one or more
classes of Securities will bear their allocable share of deficiencies. If a form
of credit enhancement applies to several classes of Securities, and if principal
payments equal to the aggregate principal balances of certain classes will be
distributed prior to such distributions to other classes, the classes that
receive such distributions at a later time are more likely to bear any losses
that exceed the amount covered by credit enhancement.
The amounts and type of credit enhancement arrangement as well as the
provider thereof, if applicable, with respect to each series of Securities will
be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. To the extent provided in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the
credit enhancement arrangements may be periodically modified, reduced and
substituted for based on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the
Mortgage Loans covered thereby. See "Reduction or Substitution of Credit
Enhancement." If specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, credit
enhancement for a series of Securities may cover one or more other series of
Securities.
The descriptions of any insurance policies or bonds described in this
Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement and the coverage thereunder do not
purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the
actual forms of such policies, copies of which are available upon request.
Letter of Credit
If any component of credit enhancement as to any series of Securities
is to be provided by a letter of credit (the "Letter of Credit"), a bank (the
"Letter of Credit Bank") will deliver to the Trustee an irrevocable Letter of
Credit. The Letter of Credit may provide direct coverage with respect to the
related Securities or, if specified in the related Prospectus Supplement,
support the Company's or any other person's obligation pursuant to a Purchase
Obligation to make certain payments to the Trustee with respect to one or more
components of credit enhancement.
45
The Letter of Credit Bank, as well as the amount available under the Letter of
Credit with respect to each component of credit enhancement, will be specified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the related Form 8-K. The Letter
of Credit will expire on the expiration date set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement, unless earlier terminated or extended in accordance with its terms.
On or before each Payment Date, either the Letter of Credit Bank or the Company
(or other obligor under a Purchase Obligation) will be required to make the
payments specified in the related Prospectus Supplement after notification from
the Trustee, to be deposited in the related Distribution Account, if and to the
extent covered, under the applicable Letter of Credit.
Mortgage Pool Insurance Policies
Any mortgage pool insurance policy ("Mortgage Pool Insurance Policy")
obtained by the Company for each related Trust Estate will be issued by the Pool
Insurer named in the related Prospectus Supplement. Each Mortgage Pool Insurance
Policy will, subject to limitations specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement described below, cover Defaulted Mortgage Losses in an amount equal
to a percentage specified in the related Prospectus Supplement (or in a Current
Report on Form 8-K) of the aggregate principal balance of the Mortgage Loans on
the Cut-Off Date. As set forth under "Maintenance of Credit Enhancement," the
Servicer will use reasonable efforts to maintain the Mortgage Pool Insurance
Policy and to present claims thereunder to the Pool Insurer on behalf of itself,
the Trustee and the Securityholders. The Mortgage Pool Insurance Policies,
however, are not blanket policies against loss (typically, such policies do not
cover Special Hazard Losses, Fraud Losses and Bankruptcy Losses), since claims
thereunder may only be made respecting particular defaulted Mortgage Loans and
only upon satisfaction of certain conditions precedent described below due to a
failure to pay irrespective of the reason therefor.
Special Hazard Insurance Policies
Any insurance policy covering Special Hazard Losses (a "Special Hazard
Insurance Policy") obtained by the Company for a Trust will be issued by the
insurer named in the related Prospectus Supplement. Each Special Hazard
Insurance Policy will, subject to limitations described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, protect holders of the related series of Securities from
(i) losses due to direct physical damage to a Mortgaged Property other than any
loss of a type covered by a hazard insurance policy or a flood insurance policy,
if applicable, and (ii) losses from partial damage caused by reason of the
application of the co-insurance clauses contained in hazard insurance policies.
See "Hazard Insurance; Claims Thereunder." A Special Hazard Insurance Policy
will not cover Extraordinary Losses. Aggregate claims under a Special Hazard
Insurance Policy will be limited to a maximum amount of coverage, as set forth
in the related Prospectus Supplement or in a Current Report on Form 8-K. A
Special Hazard Insurance Policy will provide that no claim may be paid unless
hazard and, if applicable, flood insurance on the Mortgaged Property securing
the Mortgage Loan has been kept in force and other protection and preservation
expenses have been paid by the Servicer.
Subject to the foregoing limitations, in general a Special Hazard
Insurance Policy will provide that, where there has been damage to property
securing a foreclosed Mortgage Loan (title to which has been acquired by the
insured) and to the extent such damage is not covered by the hazard insurance
policy or flood insurance policy, if any, maintained by the Mortgagor or the
Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, the insurer will pay the lesser of (i) the cost of
repair or replacement of such property or (ii) upon transfer of the property to
the insurer, the unpaid principal balance of such Mortgage Loan at the time of
acquisition of such property by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, plus
accrued interest at the Mortgage Rate to the date of claim settlement and
certain expenses incurred by the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer with respect to
such property. If the property is transferred to a third party in a sale
approved by the issuer of the Special Hazard Insurance Policy (the "Special
Hazard Insurer"), the amount that the Special Hazard Insurer will pay will be
the amount under (ii) above reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of the
property.
Bankruptcy Bonds
In the event of a personal bankruptcy of a Mortgagor, it is possible
that the bankruptcy court may establish the value of the Mortgaged Property of
such Mortgagor at an amount less than the then outstanding, principal balance of
the Mortgage Loan secured by such Mortgaged Property (a "Deficient Valuation").
The amount of the secured debt then could be reduced to such value, and, thus,
the holder of such Mortgage Loan would become an unsecured creditor to the
extent the outstanding principal balance of such Mortgage Loan exceeds the value
assigned to the Mortgaged Property by the bankruptcy court. In addition, certain
other modifications of the terms of a Mortgage Loan can result from a bankruptcy
proceeding, including a reduction in the amount of the monthly payment on the
related Mortgage Loan or a reduction in the mortgage interest rate. See "Certain
Legal Aspects
46
of Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other
Limitations on Lenders." Any bankruptcy bond ("Bankruptcy Bond") to provide
coverage for Bankruptcy Losses for proceedings under the federal Bankruptcy Code
obtained by the Company for a Trust Estate will be issued by an insurer named in
the related Prospectus Supplement. The level of coverage under each Bankruptcy
Bond will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement or in a Current
Report on Form 8-K.
Reserve Funds
If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
deposit or cause to be deposited in an account (a "Reserve Fund") any
combination of cash, one or more irrevocable letters of credit or one or more
Permitted Investments in specified amounts, amounts otherwise distributable to
Subordinate Securityholders or the owners of any Originator's Retained Yield, or
any other instrument satisfactory to the Rating Agency or Agencies, which will
be applied and maintained in the manner and under the conditions specified in
such Prospectus Supplement. In the alternate or in addition to such deposit to
the extent described in the related Prospectus Supplement, a Reserve Fund may be
funded through application of all or a portion of amounts otherwise payable on
any related Subordinate Securities from the Originator's Retained Yield or
otherwise. In addition, with respect to any series of Securities as to which
credit enhancement includes a Letter of Credit, if so specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, under certain circumstances the remaining amount of the
Letter of Credit may be drawn by the Trustee and deposited in a Reserve Fund.
Amounts in a Reserve Fund may be distributed to Securityholders, or applied to
reimburse the Servicer for outstanding advances or may be used for other
purposes, in the manner and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, any
such Reserve Fund will not be deemed to be part of the related Trust Estate.
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policies
If so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a financial
guaranty insurance policy or surety bond ("Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy")
may be obtained and maintained for each class or series of Securities. The
issuer of any Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy (a "Financial Guaranty
Insurer") will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
A Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy will unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantee to Securityholders that an amount equal to each full and
complete insured payment will ultimately be received by an agent of the Trustee
(an "Insurance Paying Agent") on behalf of Securityholders, for distribution by
the Trustee to each Securityholder. The "insured payment" will be defined in the
related Prospectus Supplement, and will generally equal the full amount of the
distributions of principal and interest to which Securityholders of one or more
classes are entitled under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement plus any
other amounts specified therein or in the related Prospectus Supplement (the
"Insured Payment").
The specific terms of any Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy will be
as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. Financial Guaranty Insurance
Policies may have limitations including (but not limited to) limitations on the
insurer's obligation to guarantee the obligations of the Originators to
repurchase or substitute for any Mortgage Loans. Financial Guaranty Insurance
Policies generally will not guarantee any specified rate of prepayments or
provide funds to redeem Securities on any specified date.
Subject to the terms of the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement,
the Financial Guaranty Insurer may be subrogated to the rights of each
Securityholder to receive payments under the Securities to the extent of any
payment by such Financial Guaranty Insurer under the related Financial Guaranty
Insurance
Policy.
Other Insurance, Guarantees and Similar Instruments or Agreements
If specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a Trust may include
in lieu of some or all of the foregoing or in addition thereto third party
guarantees, and other arrangements for maintaining timely payments or providing
additional protection against losses on the assets included in such Trust,
paying administrative expenses, or accomplishing such other purpose as may be
described in the Prospectus Supplement. The Trust may include a guaranteed
investment contract or reinvestment agreement pursuant to which funds held in
one or more accounts will be invested at a specified rate. If any class of
Securities has a floating interest rate, or if any of the Mortgage Assets has a
floating interest rate, the Trust may include an interest rate swap contract, an
interest rate cap agreement or similar contract providing limited protection
against interest rate risks.
47
Cross-Support
If specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the beneficial ownership of
separate groups of assets included in a Trust may be evidenced by separate
classes of the related series of Securities. In such case, credit support may be
provided by a cross-support feature which requires that distributions with
respect to one class of security be made with excess amounts available from
asset groups within the same Trust which support other classes of Securities.
The Prospectus Supplement for a series that includes a cross-support feature
will describe the manner and conditions for applying such cross-support feature.
If specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the coverage provided by one
or more forms of credit support may apply concurrently to two or more separate
Trusts. If applicable, the Prospectus Supplement will identify the Trusts to
which such credit support relates and the manner of determining the amount of
the coverage provided thereby and of the application of such coverage to the
identified Trusts.
Overcollateralization
If specified in the Prospectus Supplement, subordination provisions of
a Trust 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 Mortgage
Loans. 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 Mortgage
Loans or groups thereof, overcollateralization which results from the excess of
the aggregate principal balance of the related Mortgage Loans, or a group
thereof, over the principal balance of the related class of Securities. Such
acceleration may continue for the life of the related security or may be
limited. 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, such limited acceleration feature may cease,
unless necessary to maintain the required level of overcollateralization.
Maintenance of Credit Enhancement
To the extent that the applicable Prospectus Supplement does not
expressly provide for credit enhancement arrangements in lieu of some or all of
the arrangements mentioned below, the following paragraphs shall apply.
If a form of credit enhancement has been obtained for a series of
Securities, the Company or the Servicer will be obligated to exercise its best
reasonable efforts to keep or cause to be kept such form of credit support in
full force and effect throughout the term of the applicable Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, unless coverage thereunder has been exhausted through
payment of claims or otherwise, or substitution therefor is made as described
below under "Reduction or Substitution of Credit Enhancement."
In lieu of the Company's or the Servicer's obligation to maintain a
particular form of credit enhancement, the Company or the Servicer may obtain a
substitute or alternate form of credit enhancement. If the Servicer obtains such
a substitute form of credit enhancement, it will maintain and keep such form of
credit enhancement in full force and effect as provided herein. Prior to its
obtaining any substitute or alternate form of credit enhancement, the Company or
the Servicer, as the case may be, will obtain written confirmation from the
Rating Agency or Agencies that rated the related series of Securities that the
substitution or alternate form of credit enhancement for the existing credit
enhancement will not adversely affect the then current ratings assigned to such
Securities by such Rating Agency or Agencies.
The Servicer, on behalf of itself, the Trustee and Securityholders,
will provide the Trustee information required for the Trustee to draw under a
Letter of Credit or Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy, will present claims to
each Pool Insurer, to the issuer of each Special Hazard Insurance Policy or
other special hazard instrument, to the issuer of each Bankruptcy Bond and will
take such reasonable steps as are necessary to permit recovery under such Letter
of Credit, Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy, Purchase Obligation, insurance
policies or comparable coverage respecting defaulted Mortgage Loans or Mortgage
Loans which are the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding. Additionally, the
Servicer will present such claims and take such steps as are reasonably
necessary to provide for the performance by another party of its Purchase
Obligation. As set forth above, all collections by the Servicer under any
Purchase Obligation, any Mortgage Pool Insurance Policy, or any Bankruptcy Bond
and, where the related property has not been restored, any Special Hazard
Insurance Policy, are to be deposited initially in the Principal and Interest
Account and ultimately in the Distribution Account, subject to withdrawal as
described above. All draws under any Letter of Credit or Financial Guaranty
Insurance Policy will be deposited directly in the Distribution Account.
48
If any property securing a defaulted Mortgage Loan is damaged and
proceeds, if any, from the related hazard insurance policy or any applicable
Special Hazard Instrument are insufficient to restore the damaged property to a
condition sufficient to permit recovery under any applicable form of Credit
Enhancement, the Servicer is not required to expend its own funds to restore the
damaged property unless it determines (i) that such restoration will increase
the proceeds to one or more classes of Securityholders on liquidation of the
Mortgage Loan after reimbursement of the Servicer for its expenses and (ii) that
such expenses will be recoverable by it through Liquidation Proceeds or
Insurance Proceeds. If recovery under any applicable form of credit enhancement
is not available because the Servicer has been unable to make the above
determinations, has made such determinations incorrectly or recovery is not
available for any other reason, the Servicer is nevertheless obligated to follow
such normal practices and procedures (subject to the preceding sentence) as it
deems necessary or advisable to realize upon the defaulted Mortgage Loan and in
the event such determination has been incorrectly made, is entitled to
reimbursement of its expenses in connection with such restoration.
Reduction or Substitution of Credit Enhancement
The amount of credit support provided pursuant to any of the credit
enhancements (including, without limitation, a Mortgage Pool Insurance Policy,
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy, Special Hazard Insurance Policy, Bankruptcy
Bond, Letter of Credit or any alterative form of credit enhancement) may be
reduced under certain specified circumstances. In addition, if provided in the
related Prospectus Supplement, any formula used in calculating the amount or
degree of credit enhancement may be changed without the consent of the
Securityholders upon written confirmation from each Rating Agency then rating
the Securities that such change will not adversely affect the then-current
rating or ratings assigned to the Securities. In most cases, the amount
available pursuant to any credit enhancement will be subject to periodic
reduction in accordance with a schedule or formula on a nondiscretionary basis
pursuant to the terms of the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement as the
aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans declines.
Additionally, in certain cases, such credit support (and any replacements
therefor) may be replaced, reduced or terminated upon the written assurance from
each applicable Rating Agency that the then current rating of the related series
of Securities will not be adversely affected. Furthermore, in the event that the
credit rating of any obligor under any applicable credit enhancement is
downgraded, the credit rating of the related Securities may be downgraded to a
corresponding level, and, ^ neither the Company nor the Servicer thereafter will
be obligated to obtain replacement credit support in order to restore the rating
of the Securities, and also will be permitted to replace such credit support
with other credit enhancement instruments issued by obligors whose credit
ratings are equivalent to such downgraded level and in lower amounts which would
satisfy such downgraded level, provided that the then-current rating of the
related series of Securities is maintained. Where the credit support is in the
form of a Reserve Fund, a permitted reduction in the amount of credit
enhancement will result in a release of all or a portion of the assets in the
Reserve Fund to the Company, one or more Originators, the Servicer or such other
person that is entitled thereto. Any assets so released will not be available to
fund distribution obligations in future periods.
HAZARD INSURANCE; CLAIMS THEREUNDER
Each Mortgage Loan will be required to be covered by a hazard insurance
policy (as described below). The following is only a brief description of
certain insurance policies and does not purport to summarize or describe all of
the provisions of these policies. Such insurance is subject to underwriting and
approval of individual Mortgage Loans by the respective insurers. The
descriptions of any insurance policies described in this Prospectus or any
Prospectus Supplement and the coverage thereunder do not purport to be complete
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such forms of policies,
sample copies of which are available from the Servicer upon request.
Hazard Insurance Policies
The terms of the Mortgage Loans require each Mortgagor to maintain a
hazard insurance policy for the Mortgage Loan. Additionally, the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement will require the Servicer to cause to be maintained with
respect to each Mortgage Loan a hazard insurance policy with a generally
acceptable carrier that provides for fire and extended coverage relating to such
Mortgage Loan in an amount not less than the least of (i) the outstanding
principal balance of the Mortgage Loan, (ii) the minimum amount required to
compensate for damage or loss on a replacement cost basis or (iii) the full
insurable value of the premises.
If a Mortgage Loan at the time of origination relates to a Mortgaged
Property in an area identified in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as having special flood hazards, the Servicer will be required
to maintain with respect thereto a flood insurance policy in a form meeting the
requirements of the
49
then-current guidelines of the Federal Insurance Administration with a generally
acceptable carrier in an amount representing coverage, and which provides for
recovery by the Servicer on behalf of the Trust of insurance proceeds relating
to such Mortgage Loan of not less than the least of (i) the outstanding
principal balance of the Mortgage Loan, (ii) the minimum amount required to
compensate for damage or loss on a replacement cost basis, (iii) the maximum
amount of insurance that is available under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of
1973. Pursuant to the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer will
be required to indemnify the Trust out of the Servicer's own funds for any loss
to the Trust resulting from the Servicer's failure to maintain such flood
insurance.
In the event that the Servicer obtains and maintains a blanket policy
insuring against fire with extended coverage and against flood hazards on all of
the Mortgage Loans, then, to the extent such policy names the Servicer as loss
payee and provides coverage in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal
balance on the Mortgage Loans without co-insurance, and otherwise complies with
the requirements of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer shall be
deemed conclusively to have satisfied its obligations with respect to fire and
hazard insurance coverage under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Such
blanket policy may contain a deductible clause, in which case the Servicer will
be required, in the event that there shall not have been maintained on the
related Mortgaged Property a policy complying with the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, and there shall have been a loss that would have been covered by such
policy, to deposit in the Principal and Interest Account from the Servicer's own
funds the difference, if any, between the amount that would have been payable
under a policy complying with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the amount
paid under such blanket policy.
While the Servicer does not actively monitor the maintenance of hazard
or flood insurance by borrowers, it responds to the notices of cancellation or
expiration as joint-loss payee by requiring verification of replacement
coverage.
THE COMPANY
The Company, First Alliance Mortgage Company, was incorporated in the
State of California on May 13, 1975. The Company or its affiliates have been
actively involved in the mortgage lending business since its founding. The
Company is currently a privately held company 100% owned by Brian Chisick and
his wife, Sarah Chisick, however, on May 13, 1996, the Company filed a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the
offering of Class A Common Stock to the public, such public offering is expected
to close in July 1996. The current corporation and all of its predecessors have
been located in Orange County, California. Approximately half of the Company's
employees are located at the corporate headquarters. The balance of the
employees work in branch offices distributed throughout the United States.
The Company maintains its principal office at 17305 Von Karman, Irvine,
California 92714. Its telephone number is (714) 224-8500.
THE SERVICER
First Alliance Mortgage Company will act as the Servicer for a series
of Securities. See "The Company."
THE MASTER SERVICER
A Master Servicer may be appointed pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing
Agreement and named in the related Prospectus Supplement or Current Report on
Form 8-K.
THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
As described above under "Description of the Securities--General," each
series of Securities will be issued pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing
Agreement as described in that section. The following summaries describe certain
additional provisions common to each Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses;
Originator's Retained Yield
The principal servicing compensation to be paid to the Servicer in
respect of its servicing activities for each series of Securities will be equal
to the percentage per annum specified in the related Prospectus Supplement or
Current Report on Form 8-K of the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage
Loans, and such compensation will be retained by it from collections of interest
on the Mortgage Loans in the related Trust Estate (after provision has been made
for the payment of interest at the applicable Pass-Through Rate or Net Mortgage
Rate, as the case
50
may be, to Securityholders and for the payment of any Originator's Retained
Yield) at the time such collections are deposited into the applicable Principal
and Interest Account. As compensation for its servicing duties, the Servicer
and/or a Sub-Servicer and any Master Servicer will be entitled to a monthly
servicing fee as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. Certain
Sub-Servicers may also receive additional compensation in the amount of all or a
portion of the interest due and payable on the applicable Mortgage Loan which is
over and above the interest rate specified at the time the Company committed to
purchase the Mortgage Loan. See "Mortgage Loan Program--Sub-Servicing by
Originators." In addition, the Servicer or a Sub-Servicer will retain all
prepayment charges, assumption fees and late payment charges, to the extent
collected from Mortgagors, and any benefit which may accrue as a result of the
investment of funds in the Principal and Interest Account or the applicable
Distribution Account or in a Sub-Servicing Account, as the case may be.
The Servicer generally will pay or cause to be paid certain ongoing
expenses associated with each Trust Estate and incurred by it in connection with
its responsibilities under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, including,
without limitation, payment of any fee or other amount payable in respect of any
alternative credit enhancement arrangements, payment of the fees and
disbursements of the Master Servicer, the Trustee, any custodian appointed by
the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent, and payment of
expenses incurred in enforcing the obligations of Sub-Servicers and Originators.
The Servicer may be entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in enforcing
the obligations of Sub-Servicers and Originators under certain limited
circumstances. In addition, as indicated in the preceding section, the Servicer
will be entitled to reimbursements for certain expenses incurred by it in
connection with Liquidated Mortgage Loans and in connection with the restoration
of Mortgaged Properties, such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights
of Securityholders to receive any related Liquidation Proceeds (including
Insurance Proceeds).
The Prospectus Supplement for a series of Securities will specify if
there will be any Originator's Retained Yield retained. Any such Originator's
Retained Yield will be a specified portion of the interest payable on each
Mortgage Loan in a Mortgage Pool. Any such Originator's Retained Yield will be
established on a loan-by-loan basis and the amount thereof with respect to each
Mortgage Loan in a Mortgage Pool will be specified on an exhibit to the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Any Originator's Retained Yield in respect of a
Mortgage Loan will represent a specified portion of the interest payable thereon
and will not be part of the related Trust Estate. Any partial recovery of
interest in respect of a Mortgage Loan will be allocated between the owners of
any Originator's Retained Yield and the holders of classes of Securities
entitled to payments of interest as provided in the Prospectus Supplement and
the applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Evidence as to Compliance
The Servicer will be required to deliver to the Trustee, the Master
Servicer (if applicable), the Rating Agencies and any Credit Enhancer on or
before a specified date of each year, beginning the first such date that is at
least a specified number of months after the Cut-Off Date, an officers'
certificate stating, as to each signer thereof, that (i) a review of the
activities of the Servicer during such preceding calendar year and of
performance under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement has been made
under such officers' supervision, and (ii) to the best of such officers'
knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations
under the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement for such year, or, if there
has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligations, specifying each
such default known to such officers and the nature and status thereof including
the steps being taken by the Servicer to remedy such defaults.
On or before the last day of a specified month of each year, beginning
the first such date that is at least a specified number of months after the
Cut-Off Date, the Servicer will be required to cause to be delivered to the
Trustee, the Master Servicer (if applicable), the Rating Agencies and any Credit
Enhancer, if applicable, a letter or letters of a firm of independent,
nationally recognized certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to the
Credit Enhancer, if applicable, stating that such firm has, with respect to the
Servicer's overall servicing operations (i) performed applicable tests in
accordance with the compliance testing procedures as set forth in Appendix 3 of
the Audit Guide for Audits of HUD Approved Nonsupervised Mortgagees or (ii)
examined such operations in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform
Single Audit Program for Mortgage Bankers, and in either case stating such
firm's conclusions relating thereto.
51
Removal and Resignation of the Servicer
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Servicer may not
resign from its obligations and duties thereunder, except in connection with a
permitted transfer of servicing, unless such duties and obligations are no
longer permissible under applicable law or are in material conflict by reason of
applicable law with any other activities of a type and nature presently carried
on by it or subject to the consent of the Master Servicer or Financial Guaranty
Insurer and the Trustee. No such resignation will become effective until the
Trustee, the Master Servicer or a successor Servicer has assumed the Servicer's
obligations and duties under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Trustee,
the Master Servicer, the Financial Guaranty Insurer or the Securityholders will
have the right, pursuant to the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, to
remove the Servicer upon the occurrence of any of (a) certain events of
insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or
similar proceedings regarding the Servicer and certain actions by the Servicer
indicating its insolvency or inability to pay its obligations; (b) the failure
of the Servicer to perform any one or more of its material obligations under the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement as to which the Servicer shall continue in
default with respect thereto for a period of sixty (60) days after notice by the
Trustee, the Master Servicer or any Financial Guaranty Insurer of said failure;
(c) the failure of Servicer to cure any breach of any of its representations and
warranties set forth in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement which materially and
adversely affects the interests of the Securityholders or any Financial Guaranty
Insurer, if applicable, for a period of sixty (60) days after the Servicer's
discovery or receipt of notice thereof; or (d) the failure to deliver to Trustee
any proceeds or required payments.
The Pooling and Servicing Agreement may also provide that a Financial
Guaranty Insurer may remove the Servicer, or the Master Servicer pursuant to
clause (iii) below, upon the occurrence of any of certain events including:
(i) with respect to any Payment Date, if the total available
funds with respect to the Mortgage Loans Group will be less than the
related distribution amount on the class of insured securities in
respect of such Payment Date; provided, however, that the Financial
Guaranty Insurer will have no right to remove the Servicer pursuant to
the provision described in this clause (i) if the Servicer can
demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Financial Guaranty
Insurer that such event was due to circumstances beyond the control of
the Servicer;
(ii) the failure by the Servicer to make any required
Servicing Advance;
(iii) the failure of the Servicer (or the Master Servicer, if
applicable) to perform one or more of its material obligations under
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and such failure shall continue for
a period of 30 days;
(iv) the failure by the Servicer to make any required
Delinquency Advance or to pay any Compensating Interest; or
(v) the aggregate number of Mortgage Loans 91 or more days
delinquent exceeds a specified percentage.
Resignation of the Master Servicer
Each applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the
Master Servicer may not resign from its obligations and duties thereunder,
unless such duties and obligations are no longer permissible under applicable
law or the Trustee resigns. No such resignation is acceptable until a successor
Master Servicer assumes such duties and obligations.
Rights Upon Event of Default
So long as an Event of Default remains unremedied, the Trustee, the
Master Servicer or the Financial Guaranty Insurer (as provided in the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement) may, by written notification to the Servicer,
terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer under the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement (other than any rights of the Servicer as
Securityholder) covering such Trust Estate and in and to the Mortgage Loans and
the proceeds thereof, whereupon the Master Servicer, if designated in the
related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Trustee or, with the Financial
Guaranty Insurer's consent, its designee will succeed to all responsibilities,
duties and liabilities of the Servicer under such Pooling and Servicing
Agreement (other than the obligation to purchase Mortgage Loans under certain
circumstances) and will be entitled to similar compensation
52
arrangements. In the event that the Master Servicer and Trustee would be
obligated to succeed the Servicer but is unwilling or unable so to act, it may
appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of, a
FNMA-or FHLMC-approved mortgage servicing institution with a net worth of at
least $5,000,000 to act as successor to the Servicer under the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement (unless otherwise set forth in the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement). Pending such appointment, the Master Servicer is obligated to act in
such capacity.
Amendment
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement may be amended by the Company, the
Servicer, the Master Servicer and the Trustee, with the prior approval of a
Financial Guaranty Insurer, if required, but without giving notice or the
consent of any of the holders of Securities covered by such Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, (i) to cure an ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any
provision therein which may be inconsistent with any other provision therein,
(iii) to change the timing and/or nature of deposits in the Principal and
Interest Account or the Distribution Account or to change the name in which the
Principal and Interest Account is maintained to that of the Servicer alone;
provided that (a) the Remittance Date would in no event be later than the
related Payment Date, (b) such change would not adversely affect in any material
respect the interests of any Securityholder, as evidenced by an opinion of
counsel, and (c) such change would not adversely affect the then-current rating
of any rated classes of Securities, as evidenced by a letter from each
applicable Rating Agency, (iv) if a REMIC election has been made with respect to
the related Trust Estate, to modify, eliminate or add to any of its provisions
(A) to such extent as shall be necessary to maintain the qualification of the
Trust Estate as a REMIC or to avoid or minimize the risk of imposition of any
tax on the related Trust Estate, provided that the Trustee has received an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such action is necessary or desirable
to maintain such qualifications or to avoid or minimize such risk, and (b) such
action will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any
holder of Securities covered by the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, or (B) to
restrict the transfer of the REMIC Residual Securities, provided that the
Company has determined that the then-current ratings of the classes of the
Securities that have been rated will not be adversely affected, as evidenced by
a letter from each applicable Rating Agency, and that any such amendment will
not give rise to any tax with respect to the transfer of the REMIC Residual
Securities to a non-permitted transferee, (v) to make any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under such Pooling and Servicing
Agreement which are not materially inconsistent with the provisions thereof,
provided that such action will not adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of any Securityholder or (vi) to make any changes required by law.
The Pooling and Servicing Agreement may also be amended by the Company,
the Servicer, the Master Servicer and the Trustee with the consent of the
holders of Securities of each class affected thereby evidencing, in each case,
not less than 51% of the aggregate Percentage Interests constituting such class
for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of such Pooling and Servicing Agreement or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of Securities covered by such
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, except that no such amendment may (i) reduce in
any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, payments received on Mortgage
Loans which are required to be distributed on a Security of any class without
the consent of the holder of such Security or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Securities of any class the holders of which are required to
consent to any such amendment without the consent of the holders of all
Securities of such class covered by such Pooling and Servicing Agreement then
outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a REMIC election has been made with
respect to the related Trust Estate, the Trustee will not be entitled to consent
to any amendment to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement without having first
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise
of any power granted to the Servicer, the Company or the Trustee in accordance
with such amendment will not result in the imposition of a tax on the related
Trust Estate or cause such Trust Estate to fail to qualify as a REMIC.
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement may also be amended by the
Trustee, the Servicer, the Company or the Master Servicer at any time and from
time to time, with the prior written approval of a Financial Guaranty Insurer,
if required, and not less than a majority of the Percentage Interest represented
by each related class of Securities then outstanding, for the purpose of adding
any provisions or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
such Pooling and Servicing Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the Securityholders thereunder; provided, however, that no such amendment shall
(a) change in any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, payments which
are required to be distributed to any Securityholders without the consent of the
holder of such Security or (b) change the aforesaid percentages of Percentage
Interest which are required to consent to any such amendments, without the
consent of the holders of all Securities of the class or classes affected then
outstanding.
53
Termination; Retirement of Securities
Each Pooling and Servicing Agreement will provide that a Trust will
terminate upon the earlier of (i) the payment to the Securityholders of all
Securities issued by the Trust from amounts other than those available under, if
applicable, a Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy of all amounts required to be
paid to such Securityholders upon the later to occur of (a) the final payment or
other liquidation (or any advance made with respect thereto) of the last
Mortgage Loan in the Trust Estate or (b) the disposition of all property
acquired in respect of any Mortgage Loan remaining in the Trust Estate, (ii) any
time when a Qualified Liquidation (as defined in the Code) of the Trust Estate
is effected. In no event, however, will the trust created by the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement continue beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of
the survivor of certain persons named in such Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Written notice of termination of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement will be
given to each Securityholder, and the final distribution will be made only upon
surrender and cancellation of the Securities at an office or agency appointed by
the Trustee that will be specified in the notice of termination. If the
Securityholders are permitted to terminate the trust under the applicable
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, a penalty may be imposed upon the
Securityholders based upon the fee that would be foregone by the Servicer
because of such termination. Written notice of termination of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement will be given to each Securityholder, and the final
distribution will be made only upon surrender and cancellation of the Securities
at an office or agency appointed by the Trustee that will be specified in the
notice of termination. If the Securityholders are permitted to terminate the
trust under the applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement, a penalty may be
imposed upon the Securityholders based upon the fee that would be foregone by
the Servicer because of such termination.
Any purchase of Mortgage Loans and property acquired in respect of
Mortgage Loans evidenced by a series of Securities shall be made at the option
of the Servicer, the Company or, if applicable, the holder of the REMIC Residual
Securities at the price specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. The
exercise of such right will effect earlier than expected retirement of the
Securities of that series, but the right of the Servicer, the Company or, if
applicable, such holder to so purchase is, unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, subject to the aggregate principal balance of
the Mortgage Loans for that series as of any Remittance Date being less than the
percentage specified in the related Prospectus Supplement of the aggregate
principal balance of the Mortgage Loans at the Cut-Off Date for that series. The
Prospectus Supplement or Form 8-K for each series of Securities will set forth
the amounts that the holders of such Securities will be entitled to receive upon
such earlier than expected retirement. If a REMIC election has been made, the
termination of the related Trust Estate will be effected in a manner consistent
with applicable federal income tax regulations and its status as a REMIC.
The Trustee
The Trustee under each Pooling and Servicing Agreement will be named in
the related Prospectus Supplement. The commercial bank or trust company serving
as Trustee may have normal banking relationships with the Company and/or its
affiliates.
The Trustee may resign at any time, in which event the Company will be
obligated to appoint a successor Trustee. The Company may also remove the
Trustee if the Trustee ceases to be eligible to continue as such under the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement or if the Trustee becomes insolvent. Upon
becoming aware of such circumstances, the Company will be obligated to appoint a
successor Trustee. The Trustee may also be removed at any time by the holders of
Securities evidencing not less than 51% of the aggregate undivided interests
(or, if so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, voting rights) in the
related Trust Estate or by the related Financial Guaranty Insurer or Credit
Enhancer, if any. Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee will not become effective until acceptance of the appointment
by the successor Trustee.
YIELD CONSIDERATIONS
The yield to maturity of a Security will depend on the price paid by
the holder for such Security, the Pass-Through Rate on any such Security
entitled to payments of interest (which Pass-Through Rate may vary if so
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement) and the rate of payment of
principal on such Security (or the rate at which the notional amount thereof is
reduced if such Security is not entitled to payments of principal) and other
factors.
Each month the interest payable on an actuarial type of Mortgage Loan
will be calculated as one-twelfth of the applicable Mortgage Rate multiplied by
the principal balance of such Mortgage Loan outstanding as of a
54
specified day, usually the first day of the month prior to the month in which
the Payment Date for the related series of Securities occurs, after giving
effect to the payment of principal due on such day, subject to any Deferred
Interest. With respect to date of payment Mortgage Loans, interest is charged to
the Mortgagor at the Mortgage Rate on the outstanding principal balance of such
Note and calculated based on the number of days elapsed between receipt of the
Mortgagor's last payment through receipt of the Mortgagor's most current
payments. The amount of such payments with respect to each Mortgage Loan
distributed (or accrued in the case of Deferred Interest or Accrual Securities)
either monthly, quarterly or semi-annually to holders of a class of Securities
entitled to payments of interest will be similarly calculated on the basis of
such class specified percentage of each such payment of interest (or accrual in
the case of Accrual Securities) and will be expressed as a fixed, adjustable or
variable Pass-Through Rate payable on the outstanding principal balance or
notional amount of such Security, calculated as described herein and in the
related Prospectus Supplement. Holders of Strip Securities or a class of
Securities having a fixed Pass-Through Rate that varies based on the weighted
average Mortgage Rate of the underlying Mortgage Loans will be affected by
disproportionate prepayments and repurchases of Mortgage Loans having higher Net
Mortgage Rates or rates applicable to the Strip Securities, as applicable.
The effective yield to maturity to each holder of fixed-rate Securities
entitled to payments of interest will be below that otherwise produced by the
applicable Pass-Through Rate and purchase price of such Security because, while
interest will accrue on each Mortgage Loan from the first day of each month, the
distribution of such interest will be made on the 25th day (or, if such day is
not a business day, the next succeeding business day) of the month (or, in the
case of quarterly-pay Securities, the twenty-fifth day of every third month, or,
in the case of semi-annually-pay Securities, the twenty-fifth day of every sixth
month) following the month of accrual.
A class of Securities may be entitled to payments of interest at a
fixed Pass-Through Rate specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a
variable Pass-Through Rate or adjustable Pass-Through Rate calculated based on
the weighted average of the Mortgage Rates (net of Servicing Fees and any
Originator's Retained Yield (each, a "Net Mortgage Rate")) of the related
Mortgage Loans for the designated periods preceding the Payment Date if so
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, or at such other variable rate
as may be specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
As will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
aggregate payments of interest on a class of Securities, and the yield to
maturity thereon, will be effected by the rate of payment of principal on the
Securities (or the rate of reduction in the notional balance of Securities
entitled only to payments of interest) and, in the case of Securities evidencing
interests in ARM Loans, by changes in the Net Mortgage Rates on the ARM Loans.
See "Maturity and Prepayment Considerations" below. The yield on the Securities
also will be effected by liquidations of Mortgage Loans following Mortgagor
defaults and by purchases of Mortgage Loans required by the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement in the event of breaches of representations made in respect
of such Mortgage Loans by the Company, the Originators, the Servicer and others,
or repurchases due to conversions of ARM Loans to a fixed interest rate. See
"Mortgage Loan Program--Representations by Originators" and "Descriptions of the
Securities--Assignment of Mortgage Loans" above. In general, if a class of
Securities is purchased at initial issuance at a premium and payments of
principal on the related Mortgage Loans occur at a rate faster than anticipated
at the time of purchase, the purchaser's actual yield to maturity will be lower
than that assumed at the time of purchase. Conversely, if a class of Securities
is purchased at initial issuance at a discount and payments of principal on the
related Mortgage Loans occur at a rate slower than that assumed at the time of
purchase, the purchaser's actual yield to maturity will be lower than that
originally anticipated. The effect of principal prepayments, liquidations and
purchases on yield will be particularly significant in the case of a series of
Securities having a class entitled to payments of interest only or to payments
of interest that are disproportionately high relative to the principal payments
to which such class is entitled. Such a class will likely be sold at a
substantial premium to its principal balance, if any, and any faster than
anticipated rate of prepayments will adversely affect the yield to holders
thereof. In certain circumstances, rapid prepayments may result in the failure
of such holders to recoup their original investment. In addition, the yield to
maturity on certain other types of classes of Securities, including Accrual
Securities or certain other classes in a series including more than one class of
Securities, may be relatively more sensitive to the rate of prepayment on the
related Mortgage Loans than other classes of Securities.
The timing of changes in the rate of principal payments on or
repurchases of the Mortgage Loans may significantly affect an investor's actual
yield to maturity, even if the average rate of principal payments experienced
over time is consistent with an investor's expectation. In general, the earlier
a prepayment of principal on the underlying Mortgage Loans or a repurchase
thereof, the greater will be the effect on an investor's yield to maturity. As a
result, the effect on an investor's yield of principal payments and repurchases
occurring at a rate higher (or
55
lower) than the rate anticipated by the investor during the period immediately
following the issuance of a series of Securities would not be fully offset by a
subsequent like reduction (or increase) in the rate of principal payments.
When a full prepayment is made on a Mortgage Loan, the Mortgagor is
charged interest on the principal amount of the Mortgage Loan so prepaid for the
number of days in the month actually elapsed up to the date of the prepayment,
at a daily rate determined by dividing the Mortgage Rate by 365. The effect of
prepayments in full will be to reduce the amount of interest paid in the next
succeeding month to holders of Securities entitled to payments of interest
because interest on the principal amount of any Mortgage Loan so prepaid will be
paid only to the date of prepayment rather than for a full month. A partial
prepayment of principal is applied so as to reduce the outstanding principal
balance of the related Mortgage Loan as of the first day of the month in which
such partial prepayment is received. As a result, unless otherwise specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement, the effect of a partial prepayment on a
Mortgage Loan will be to reduce the amount of interest passed through to holders
of Securities on the Payment Date following the receipt of such partial
prepayment by an amount equal to one month's interest at the applicable
Pass-Through Rate or Net Mortgage Rate, as the case may be, on the prepaid
amount. With respect to amounts due the Servicer from Sub-Servicers in respect
of partial principal prepayments, see "Description of the Securities--Payment on
Mortgage Loans; Deposits to Distribution Account." Neither full nor partial
principal prepayments are passed through until the month following receipt. See
"Maturity and Prepayment Considerations."
The Mortgage Rates on certain ARM Loans subject to negative
amortization adjust monthly and their amortization schedules adjust less
frequently. During a period of rising interest rates as well as immediately
after origination (initial Mortgage Rates are generally lower than the sum of
the indices applicable at origination and the related Note Margins) the amount
of interest accruing on the principal balance of such Mortgage Loans may exceed
the amount of the minimum scheduled monthly payment thereon. As a result, a
portion of the accrued interest on negatively amortizing Mortgage Loans may
become Deferred Interest that will be added to the principal balance thereof and
will bear interest at the applicable Mortgage Rate. The addition of any such
Deferred Interest to the principal balance will lengthen the weighted average
life of the Securities evidencing interests in such Mortgage Loans and may
adversely affect yield to holders thereof depending upon the price at which such
Securities were purchased. In addition, with respect to certain ARM Loans
subject to negative amortization, during a period of declining interest rates,
it might be expected that each minimum scheduled monthly payment on such a
Mortgage Loan would exceed the amount of scheduled principal and accrued
interest on the principal balance thereof, and since such excess will be applied
to reduce such principal balance, the weighted average life of such Securities
will be reduced and may adversely affect yield to holders thereof depending upon
the price at which such Securities were purchased.
For each Mortgage Pool, if all necessary advances are made, if there is
no unrecoverable loss on any Mortgage Loan and if the related Credit Enhancer is
not in default under its obligations or other credit enhancement has not been
exhausted, the net effect of each distribution respecting interest will be to
pass-through to each holder of a class of Securities entitled to payments of
interest an amount which is equal to one month's interest (or, in the case of
quarterly-pay Securities, three month's interest or, in the case of
semi-annually-pay Securities, six month's interest) at the applicable
Pass-Through Rate on such class' principal balance or notional balance, as
adjusted downward to reflect any decrease in interest caused by any principal
prepayments and the addition of any Deferred Interest to the principal balance
of any Mortgage Loan "Description of the Securities--Principal and Interest on
the Securities."
With respect to certain of the ARM Loans, the Mortgage Rate at
origination may be below the rate that would result if the index and margin
relating thereto were applied at origination. Under the Company's underwriting
standards, the Mortgagor under each Mortgage Loan will be qualified on the basis
of the Mortgage Rate in effect at origination. The repayment of any such
Mortgage Loan may thus be dependent on the ability of the Mortgagor to make
larger level monthly payments following the adjustment of the Mortgage Rate.
MATURITY AND PREPAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
As indicated above under "The Mortgage Pools," the original terms to
maturity of the Mortgage Loans in a given Mortgage Pool will vary depending upon
the type of Mortgage Loans included in such Mortgage Pool. The Prospectus
Supplement for a series of Securities will contain information with respect to
the types and maturities of the Mortgage Loans in the related Mortgage Pool.
Generally, all of the Mortgage Loans may be prepaid without penalty in full or
in part at any time. The prepayment experience with respect to the Mortgage
Loans in a Mortgage Pool will affect the maturity, average life and yield of the
related series of Securities.
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With respect to Balloon Loans, payment of the Balloon Amount (which,
based on the amortization schedule of such Mortgage Loans, may be a substantial
amount) will generally depend on the Mortgagor's ability to obtain refinancing
of such Mortgage Loan or to sell the Mortgaged Property prior to the maturity of
the Balloon Loan. The ability to obtain refinancing will depend on a number of
factors prevailing at the time refinancing or sale is required, including,
without limitation, real estate values, the Mortgagor's financial situation,
prevailing mortgage loan interest rates, the Mortgagor's equity in the related
Mortgaged Property, tax laws and prevailing general economic conditions. Neither
the Company, the Servicer, nor any of their affiliates will be obligated to
refinance or repurchase any Mortgage Loan or to sell the Mortgaged Property.
A number of factors, including homeowner mobility, economic conditions,
enforceability of due-on-sale clauses, mortgage market interest rates and the
availability of mortgage funds, affect prepayment experience. Generally all
Mortgage Loans will contain due-on-sale provisions permitting the mortgagee to
accelerate the maturity of the Mortgage Loan upon sale or certain transfers by
the Mortgagor of the underlying Mortgaged Property. Unless the related
Prospectus Supplement indicates otherwise, the Servicer will generally enforce
any due-on-sale clause to the extent it has knowledge of the conveyance or
proposed conveyance of the underlying Mortgaged Property and it is entitled to
do so under applicable law; provided, however, that the Servicer will not take
any action in relation to the enforcement of any due-on-sale provision which
would adversely affect or jeopardize coverage under any applicable insurance
policy. Certain ARM Loans may be assumable under certain conditions if the
proposed transferee of the related Mortgaged Property establishes its ability to
repay the Mortgage Loan and, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer or the
related Sub-Servicer, the security for the ARM Loan would not be impaired or
might be improved by the assumption. The extent to which ARM Loans are assumed
by purchasers of the Mortgaged Properties rather than prepaid by the related
Mortgagors in connection with the sales of the Mortgaged Properties will affect
the weighted average life of the related series of Securities. See "Description
of the Securities--Collection and Other Servicing Procedures" and "Certain Legal
Aspects of the Mortgage Loans and Related Matters--Enforceability of Certain
Provisions" for a description of certain provisions of the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement and certain legal developments that may affect the prepayment
experience on the Mortgage Loans.
There can be no assurance as to the rate of prepayment of the Mortgage
Loans. The Company is not aware of any reliable, publicly available statistics
relating to the principal prepayment experience of diverse portfolios of
mortgage loans such as the Mortgage Loans over an extended period of time. All
statistics known to the Company that have been compiled with respect to
prepayment experience on mortgage loans indicates that while some mortgage loans
may remain outstanding until their stated maturities, a substantial number will
be paid prior to their respective stated maturities.
Although the Mortgage Rates on ARM Loans will be subject to periodic
adjustments, such adjustments generally will, (i) not increase or decrease such
Mortgage Rates by more than a fixed percentage amount on each adjustment date,
(ii) not increase such Mortgage Rates over a fixed percentage amount during the
life of any ARM Loan and (iii) be based on an index (which may not rise and fall
consistently with mortgage interest rates) plus the related Note Margin (which
may be different from margins being used at the time for newly originated
adjustable rate mortgage loans). As a result, the Mortgage Rates on the ARM
Loans in a Mortgage Pool at any time may not equal the prevailing rates for
similar, newly originated adjustable rate mortgage loans. In certain rate
environments, the prevailing rates on fixed-rate mortgage loans may be
sufficiently low in relation to the then-current Mortgage Rates on ARM Loans
that the rate of prepayment may increase as a result of refinancings. There can
be no certainty as to the rate of prepayments on the Mortgage Loans during any
period or over the life of any series of Securities.
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related
Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that all or a portion of the
principal collected on or with respect to the related Mortgage Loans may be
applied by the related Trustee to the acquisition of additional Mortgage Loans
during a specified period (rather than used to fund payments of principal to
Securityholders during such period) with the result that the related securities
possess an interest-only period, also commonly referred to as a revolving
period, which will be followed by an amortization period. Any such interest-only
or revolving period may, upon the occurrence of certain events to be described
in the related Prospectus Supplement, terminate prior to the end of the
specified period and result in the earlier than expected amortization of the
related Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement may provide that all or
a portion of such collected principal may be retained by the Trustee
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(and held in certain temporary investments, including Mortgage Loans) for a
specified period prior to being used to fund payments of principal to
Securityholders.
The result of such retention and temporary investment by the Trustee of
such principal would be to slow the amortization rate of the related Securities
relative to the amortization rate of the related Mortgage Loans, or to attempt
to match the amortization rate of the related Securities to an amortization
schedule established at the time such Securities are issued. Any such feature
applicable to any Securities may terminate upon the occurrence of events to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, resulting in the current funding
of principal payments to the related Securityholders and an acceleration of the
amortization of such Securities.
Under certain circumstances, the Servicer, the Company or, if specified
in the related Prospectus Supplement, the holders of the REMIC Residual
Securities or the Credit Enhancer may have the option to purchase the Mortgage
Loans in a Trust Estate. See "The Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Termination;
Retirement of Securities."
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF MORTGAGE LOANS AND RELATED MATTERS
The following discussion contains summaries of certain legal aspects of
mortgage loans that are general in nature. Because such legal aspects are
governed in part by applicable state laws (which laws may differ substantially),
the summaries do not purport to be complete nor to reflect the laws of any
particular state nor to encompass the laws of all states in which the Mortgaged
Properties may be situated. The summaries are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the applicable federal and state laws governing the Mortgage Loans.
General
The Mortgage Loans will be secured by either deeds of trust or
mortgages, depending upon the prevailing practice in the state in which the
Mortgaged Property subject to a Mortgage Loan is located. In California,
Mortgage Loans are secured by deeds of trust. In some states, a mortgage creates
a lien upon the real property encumbered by the mortgage. In other states, the
mortgage conveys legal title to the property to the mortgagee subject to a
condition subsequent (i.e., the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby).
The mortgage is not prior to the lien for real estate taxes and assessments and
other charges imposed under governmental police powers. Priority between
mortgages depends on their terms in some cases or on the terms of separate
subordination or intercreditor agreements, and generally on the order of
recordation of the mortgage in the appropriate recording office. There are two
parties to a mortgage, the mortgagor, who is the borrower and homeowner, and the
mortgagee, who is the lender. Under the mortgage instrument, the mortgagor
delivers to the mortgagee a note or bond and the mortgage. In the case of a land
trust, there are three parties because title to the property is held by a land
trustee under a land trust agreement of which the borrower is the beneficiary;
at origination of a mortgage loan, the borrower executes a separate undertaking
to make payments on the mortgage note. Although a deed of trust is similar to a
mortgage, a deed of trust has three parties; the borrower-homeowner called the
trustor (similar to a mortgagor), a lender (similar to a mortgagee) called the
beneficiary, and a third-party grantee called the trustee. Under a deed of
trust, the borrower grants the property, irrevocably until the debt is paid, in
trust, generally with a power of sale, to the trustee to secure payment of the
obligation. The trustee's authority under a deed of trust and the mortgagee's
authority under a mortgage are governed by law, the express provisions of the
deed of trust or mortgage, and, in some cases, the directions of the
beneficiary.
Foreclosure
Foreclosure of a deed of trust is generally accomplished by a
non-judicial trustee's sale (private sale) under a specific provision in the
deed of trust and state laws which authorize the trustee to sell the property
upon any default by the borrower under the terms of the note or deed of trust.
Beside the non-judicial remedy, a deed of trust may be judicially foreclosed. In
addition to any notice requirements contained in a deed of trust, in some
states, the trustee must record a notice of default and within a certain period
of time send a copy to the borrower trustor and to any person who has recorded a
request for a copy of notice of default and notice of sale. In addition, the
trustee must provide notice in some states to any other individual having an
interest of record in the real property, including any junior lienholders. If
the deed of trust is not reinstated within a specified period, a notice of sale
must be posted in a public place and, in most states, published for a specific
period of time in one or more local
58
newspapers. In addition, some state laws require that a copy of the notice of
sale be posted on the property and sent to all parties having an interest of
record in the real property.
Foreclosure of a mortgage is generally accomplished by judicial action.
Generally, the action is initiated by the service of legal pleadings upon all
parties having an interest of record in the real property. Delays in completion
of the foreclosure may occasionally result from difficulties in locating
necessary parties. Judicial foreclosure proceedings are often not contested by
any of the applicable parties. If the mortgagee's right to foreclose is
contested, the legal proceedings necessary to resolve the issue can be
time-consuming.
In some states, the borrower-trustor has the right to reinstate the
loan at any time following default until shortly before the trustee's sale. In
general, in such states, the borrower, or any other person having a junior
encumbrance on the real estate, may, during a reinstatement period, cure the
default by paying the entire amount in arrears plus the costs and expenses
incurred in enforcing the obligation.
In the case of foreclosure under either a mortgage or a deed of trust,
the sale by the referee or other designated officer or by the trustee is a
public sale. However, because of the difficulty a potential buyer at the sale
would have in determining the exact status of title and because the physical
condition of the property may have deteriorated during the foreclosure
proceedings, it is uncommon for a third party to purchase the property at a
foreclosure sale unless there is a great deal of economic incentive for new
purchaser to purchase the subject property at the sale. Rather, it is common for
the lender to purchase the property from the trustee or referee for a credit bid
less than or equal to the unpaid principal amount of the mortgage or deed of
trust, accrued and unpaid interest and the expense of foreclosure. Generally,
state law controls the amount of foreclosure costs and expenses, including
attorneys' fees, which may be recovered by a lender. Thereafter, subject to the
right of the borrower in some states to remain in possession during the
redemption period, the lender will assume the burdens of ownership, including
obtaining hazard insurance and making such repairs at its own expense as are
necessary to render the property suitable for sale. The lender will commonly
obtain the services of a real estate broker and pay the broker's commission in
connection with the sale of the property. Depending upon market conditions, the
ultimate proceeds of the sale of the property may not equal the lender's
investment in the property and, in some states, the lender may be entitled to a
deficiency judgment. Any loss may be reduced by the receipt of any mortgage
insurance proceeds.
Rights of Redemption
In some states, after sale pursuant to a deed of trust or foreclosure
of a mortgage, the borrower and foreclosed junior lienors or other parties are
given a statutory period in which to redeem the property from the foreclosure
sale. In some states, redemption may occur only upon payment of the entire
principal balance of the loan, accrued interest and expenses of foreclosure. In
other states, redemption may be authorized if the former borrower pays only a
portion of the sums due. The effect of a statutory right of redemption is to
diminish the ability of the lender to sell the foreclosed property. The rights
of redemption would defeat the title of any purchaser subsequent to foreclosure
or sale under a deed of trust. Consequently, the practical effect of the
redemption right is to force the lender to maintain the property and pay the
expenses of ownership until the redemption period has expired. In some states,
there is no right to redeem property after a Trustee's sale under a deed of
trust.
Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other Limitations on Lenders
Certain states have imposed statutory prohibitions that limit the
remedies of a beneficiary under a deed of trust or a mortgagee under a mortgage.
In some states including California, statutes limit the right of the beneficiary
or mortgagee to obtain a deficiency judgment against the borrower following
foreclosure. A deficiency judgment is a personal judgment against the former
borrower equal in most cases to the difference between the amount due to the
lender and the net amount realized upon the public sale of the real property. In
the case of a Mortgage Loan secured by a property owned by a trust where the
Mortgage Note is executed on behalf of the trust, a deficiency judgment against
the trust following foreclosure or sale under a deed of trust, even if
obtainable under applicable law, may be of little value to the mortgagee or
beneficiary if there are no trust assets against which such deficiency judgment
may be executed. Other statutes require the beneficiary or mortgagee to exhaust
the security afforded under a deed of trust or mortgage by foreclosure in an
attempt to satisfy the full debt before bringing a personal action against the
borrower. In certain other states, the lender has the option of bringing a
personal action against the borrower on the debt without first exhausting such
security; however, in some of these states the lender, following judgment on
such personal action, may be deemed to have elected a remedy and may be
precluded from
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exercising remedies with respect to the security. Consequently, the practical
effect of the election requirement, in those states permitting such election, is
that lenders will usually proceed against the security first rather than
bringing a personal action against the borrower. Finally, in certain other
states, statutory provisions limit any deficiency judgment against the former
borrower following a foreclosure to the excess of the outstanding debt over the
fair value of the property at the time of the public sale. The purpose of these
statutes is generally to prevent a beneficiary or mortgagee from obtaining a
large deficiency judgment against the former borrower as a result of low or no
bids at the judicial sale.
In addition to laws limiting or prohibiting deficiency judgments,
numerous other federal and state statutory provisions, including the federal
bankruptcy laws and state laws affording relief to debtors, may interfere with
or affect the ability of the secured mortgage lender to realize upon collateral
or enforce a deficiency judgment. For example, with respect to federal
bankruptcy law, a court with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction may permit a debtor
through his or her Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 rehabilitative plan to cure a
monetary default in respect of a mortgage loan on a debtor's residence by paying
arrearages within a reasonable time period and reinstating the original mortgage
loan payment schedule even though the lender accelerated the mortgage loan and
final judgment of foreclosure had been entered in state court (provided no sale
of the residence had yet occurred) prior to the filing of the debtor's petition.
Some courts with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction have approved plans, based on
the particular facts of the reorganization case, that effected the curing of a
mortgage loan default by paying arrearages over a number of years.
Courts with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction also have indicated that
the terms of a mortgage loan secured by property of the debtor may be modified.
These courts have allowed modifications that include reducing the amount of each
monthly payment, changing the rate of interest, altering the repayment schedule,
forgiving all or a portion of the debt and reducing the lender's security
interest to the value of the residence, thus leaving the lender a general
unsecured creditor for the difference between the value of the residence and the
outstanding balance of the loan.
California courts have imposed general equitable principles upon
judicial foreclosure. These equitable principles are generally designed to
relieve the borrower from the legal effect of the borrower's default under the
related loan documents. Examples of judicial remedies that have been fashioned
include judicial requirements that the lender undertake affirmative and
expensive actions to determine the causes for the borrower's default and the
likelihood that the borrower will be able to reinstate the loan. In some cases,
California courts have required that lenders reinstate loans or recast payment
schedules in order to accommodate borrowers who are suffering from temporary
financial disabilities. In other cases, such courts have limited the right of
the lender to foreclose if the default under the loan is not monetary, such as
the borrower failing to adequately maintain the property or the borrower
executing a second deed of trust affecting the property.
Certain tax liens arising under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, may in certain circumstances provide priority over the lien of a
mortgage or deed of trust. In addition, substantive requirements are imposed
upon mortgage lenders in connection with the origination and the servicing of
mortgage loans by numerous federal and some state consumer protection laws.
These laws include, by example, the federal Truth-in-Lending Act, Real Estate
Settlement Procedures Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Billing
Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and related statutes and the California Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act. These laws and regulations impose specific statutory
liabilities upon lenders who originate mortgage loans and who fail to comply
with the provisions of the law. In some cases, this liability may affect
assignees of the mortgage loans.
Environmental Legislation
Certain states, including California, impose a statutory lien for
associated costs on property that is the subject of a cleanup action by the
state on account of hazardous wastes or hazardous substances released or
disposed of on the property. Such a lien generally will have priority over all
subsequent liens on the property and, in certain of these states, will have
priority over prior recorded liens including the lien of a mortgage. In
California, however, such a lien will not have priority over prior recorded
liens of a deed of trust. In addition, under federal environmental legislation
and under state law in a number of states including California, a secured party
which takes a deed in lieu of foreclosure or acquires a mortgaged property at a
foreclosure sale or assumes active control over the operation or management of a
property so as to be deemed an "owner" or "operator" of the property may be
liable for the costs of cleaning up a contaminated site. Although such costs
could be substantial, it is unclear whether they would be imposed on a lender
(such as a Trust Estate) secured by residential real property. In the event that
title to a Mortgaged Property securing a Mortgage Loan in a Trust Estate was
acquired by the Trust and cleanup
60
costs were incurred in respect of the Mortgaged Property, the holders of the
related series of Securities might realize a loss if such costs were required to
be paid by the Trust. The Servicer shall take into account the existence of any
hazardous substances, hazardous wastes or solid wastes, as such terms are
defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, or other federal, state
or local environmental legislation, on a Mortgaged Property in determining
whether to foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of such
Mortgaged Property.
Enforceability of Certain Provisions
Unless the Prospectus Supplement indicates otherwise, generally all of
the Mortgage Loans contain due-on-sale clauses. These clauses permit the lender
to accelerate the maturity of the loan if the borrower sells, transfers or
conveys the property. The enforceability of these clauses has been the subject
of legislation or litigation in many states including California, and in some
cases the enforceability of these clauses was limited or denied. However, the
Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (the "Garn-St. Germain
Act") preempts state constitutional, statutory and case law that prohibits the
enforcement of due-on-sale clauses and permits lenders to enforce these clauses
in accordance with their terms, subject to certain limited exceptions. The
Garn-St. Germain Act does "encourage" lenders to permit assumption of loans at
the original rate of interest or at some other rate less than the average of the
original rate and the market rate.
The Garn-St. Germain Act also sets forth nine specific instances in
which a mortgage lender covered by the Garn-St. Germain Act may not exercise a
due-on-sale clause, notwithstanding the fact that a transfer of the property may
have occurred. These include intra-family transfers, certain transfers by
operation of law, leases of fewer than three years and the creation of a junior
encumbrance. Regulations promulgated under the Garn-St. Germain Act also
prohibit the imposition of a prepayment penalty upon the acceleration of a loan
pursuant to a due-on-sale clause.
The inability to enforce a due-on-sale clause may result in a mortgage
loan bearing an interest rate below the current market rate being assumed by a
new home buyer rather than being paid off, that may have an impact upon the
average life of the Mortgage Loans and the number of Mortgage Loans that may be
outstanding until maturity.
Upon foreclosure, courts have imposed general equitable principles.
These equitable principles generally are designed to relieve the borrower from
the legal effect of his defaults under the loan documents. Examples of judicial
remedies that have been fashioned include judicial requirements that the lender
undertake affirmative and expensive actions to determine the causes for the
borrower's default and the likelihood that the borrower will be able to
reinstate the loan. In some cases, courts have substituted their judgment for
the lender's judgment and have required that lenders reinstate loans or recast
payment schedules in order to accommodate borrowers who are suffering from
temporary financial disability. In other cases, courts have limited the right of
the lender to foreclose if the default under the mortgage instrument is not
monetary, such as the borrower failing to adequately maintain the property or
the borrower executing a second mortgage or deed of trust affecting the
property. Finally, some courts have been faced with the issue of whether or not
federal or state constitutional provisions reflecting due process concerns for
adequate notice require that borrowers under deeds of trust or mortgages receive
notices in addition to the statutorily prescribed minimum. For the most part,
these cases have upheld the notice provisions as being reasonable or have found
that the sale by a trustee under a deed of trust, or under a mortgage having a
power of sale, does not involve sufficient state action to afford constitutional
protections to the borrower.
Certain Provisions of California Deeds of Trust
Most institutional lenders in California, including the Company, use a
form of deed of trust that confers on the beneficiary the right both to receive
all proceeds collected under any hazard insurance policy and all awards made in
connection with any condemnation proceedings, and to apply such proceeds and
awards to any indebtedness secured by the deed of trust, in such order as the
beneficiary may determine; provided, however, that California law prohibits the
beneficiary from applying insurance and condemnation proceeds to the
indebtedness secured by the deed of trust unless the beneficiary's security has
been impaired by the casualty or condemnation, and, if such security has been
impaired, permits such proceeds to be so applied only to the extent of such
impairment. Thus, in the event improvements on the property are damaged or
destroyed by fire or other casualty, or in the event the property is taken by
condemnation, and, as a result thereof, the beneficiary's security is impaired,
the beneficiary under the underlying first deed of trust will have the prior
right to collect any insurance proceeds payable under a
61
hazard insurance policy and any award of damages in connection with the
condemnation and to apply the same to the indebtedness secured by the first deed
of trust. Proceeds in excess of the amount of indebtedness secured by a first
deed of trust will, in most cases, be applied to the indebtedness of a junior
deed of trust.
Another provision typically found in the forms of deed of trust used by
most institutional lenders in California obligates the trustor to pay before
delinquency all taxes and assessments on the property and, when due, all
encumbrances, charges and liens on the property which appear prior to the deed
of trust, to provide and maintain fire insurance on the property, to maintain
and repair the property and not to commit or permit any waste thereof, and to
appear in and defend any action or proceeding purporting to affect the property
or the rights of the beneficiary under the deed of trust. Upon a failure of the
trustor to perform any of these obligations, the beneficiary is given the right
under the deed of trust to perform the obligation itself, at its election, with
the trustor agreeing to reimburse the beneficiary for any sums expended by the
beneficiary on behalf of the trustor. All sums so expended by the beneficiary
become part of the indebtedness secured by the deed of trust.
Applicability of Usury Laws
Title V of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary
Control Act of 1980, enacted in March 1980 ("Title V"), provides that state
usury limitations shall not apply to certain types of residential first mortgage
loans originated by certain lenders after March 31, 1980. A similar federal
statute was in effect with respect to mortgage loans made during the first three
months of 1980. The Office of Thrift Supervision is authorized to issue rules
and regulations and to publish interpretations governing implementation of Title
V. The statute authorized any state to reimpose interest rate limits by
adopting, before April 1, 1983, a law or constitutional provision which
expressly rejects application of the federal law. In addition, even where Title
V is not so rejected, any state is authorized by the law to adopt a provision
limiting discount points or other charges on mortgage loans covered by Title V.
Certain states have taken action to reimpose interest rate limits or to limit
discount points or other charges.
As indicated above under "Mortgage Loan Program--Representations by
Originators," each Originator of a Mortgage Loan will have represented that such
Mortgage Loan was originated in compliance with then applicable state laws,
including usury laws, in all material respects. However, the Mortgage Rates on
the Mortgage Loans will be subject to applicable usury laws as in effect from
time to time.
Alternative Mortgage Instruments
Alternative mortgage instruments, including ARM Loans and early
ownership mortgage loans, originated by non-federally chartered lenders have
historically been subjected to a variety of restrictions. Such restrictions
differed from state to state, resulting in difficulties in determining whether a
particular alternative mortgage instrument originated by a state-chartered
lender was in compliance with applicable law. These difficulties were alleviated
substantially as a result of the enactment of Title VIII of the Garn-St. Germain
Act ("Title VIII"). Title VIII provides that: notwithstanding any state law to
the contrary, state-chartered banks may originate alternative mortgage
instruments in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Comptroller of the
Currency with respect to origination of alternative mortgage instruments by
national banks; state-chartered credit unions may originate alternative mortgage
instruments in accordance with regulations promulgated by the National Credit
Union Administration with respect to origination of alternative mortgage
instruments by federal credit unions; and all other non-federally chartered
housing creditors, including state-chartered savings and loan associations,
state-chartered savings banks and mutual savings banks and mortgage banking
companies, may originate alterative mortgage instruments in accordance with the
regulations promulgated by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, predecessor to the
Office of Thrift Supervision, with respect to origination of alternative
mortgage instruments by federal savings and loan associations. Title VIII
provides that any state may reject applicability of the provisions of Title VIII
by adopting, prior to October 15, 1985, a law or constitutional provision
expressly rejecting the applicability of such provisions. Certain states have
taken such action.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940
Under the terms of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Relief Act"), a Mortgagor who enters military service after the
origination of such Mortgagor's Mortgage Loan (including a Mortgagor who was in
reserve status and is called to active duty after origination of the Mortgage
Loan), may not be charged interest (including fees and charges) above an annual
rate of 6% during the period of such Mortgagor's active duty status, unless a
court orders otherwise upon application of the lender. The Relief Act applies to
62
Mortgagors who are members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National
Guard, Reserves, Coast Guard, and officers of the U.S. Public Health Service
assigned to duty with the military. Because the Relief Act applies to Mortgagors
who enter military service (including reservists who are called to active duty)
after origination of the related Mortgage Loan, no information can be provided
as to the number of loans that may be effected by the Relief Act. 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
Mortgage Loans. 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 Mortgage Loans, would result in a reduction
of the amounts distributable to the holders of the related Securities, and would
not be covered by advances, any Letter of Credit or any other form of credit
enhancement (other than a Certificate Insurance Policy) provided in connection
with the related series of Securities. In addition, the Relief Act imposes
limitations that would impair the ability of the Servicer to foreclose on an
affected Mortgage Loan during the Mortgagor's period of active duty status, and,
under certain circumstances, during an additional three month period thereafter.
Thus, in the event that the Relief Act or similar legislation or regulations
applies to any Mortgage Loan which goes into default, there may be delays in
payment and losses on the related Securities in connection therewith. Any other
interest shortfalls, deferrals or forgiveness of payments on the Mortgage Loans
resulting from similar legislation or regulations may result in delays in
payments or losses to Securityholders of the related series.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
General
The following is a general discussion of the material anticipated
federal income tax consequences to investors of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the Securities offered hereby. The discussion is based upon laws,
regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to
change. The discussion below does not purport to deal with all federal tax
consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be
subject to special rules. Investors should consult their own tax advisors in
determining the federal, state, local and any other tax consequences to them of
the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Securities.
The following discussion addresses securities of three general types:
(i) securities ("Grantor Trust Securities") representing interests in a Trust
Estate (a "Grantor Trust Estate ") which the Sponsor will covenant not to elect
to have treated as a real estate mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC"), and (ii)
securities ("REMIC Securities") representing interests in a Trust Estate, or a
portion thereof, which the Sponsor will covenant to elect to have treated as a
REMIC under sections 860A through 860G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"); and (iii) securities ("Debt Securities") that are intended
to be treated for federal income tax purposes as indebtedness secured by the
underlying Mortgage Loans. This Prospectus does not address the tax treatment of
partnership interests. Such a discussion will be set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement for any Trust issuing Securities characterized as
partnership interests. The Prospectus Supplement for each Series of Securities
will indicate whether a REMIC election (or elections) will be made for the
related Trust Estate and, if a REMIC election is to be made, will identify all
"regular interests" and "residual interests" in the REMIC. For purposes of this
discussion, references to a "Securityholder" or a "Holder" are to the beneficial
owner of a Security.
Grantor Trust Securities
With respect to each Series of Grantor Trust Securities, Arter &
Hadden, special tax counsel to the Sponsor, will deliver its opinion to the
Sponsor that (unless otherwise limited in the applicable Prospectus Supplement)
the related Grantor Trust Estate will be classified as a grantor trust and not
as a partnership or an association taxable as a corporation. Accordingly, each
Holder of a Grantor Trust Security will generally be treated as the owner of an
interest in the Mortgage Loans included in the Grantor Trust Estate.
For purposes of the following discussion, a Grantor Trust Security
representing an undivided equitable ownership interest in the principal of the
Mortgage Loans constituting the related Grantor Trust Estate, together with
interest thereon at a pass-through rate, will be referred to as a "Grantor Trust
Fractional Interest Security." A Grantor Trust Security representing ownership
of all or a portion of the difference between interest paid on the Mortgage
Loans constituting the related Grantor Trust Estate and interest paid to the
Holders of Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities issued with respect to
such Grantor Trust Estate will be referred to as a "Grantor Trust Strip
Security."
Special Tax Attributes
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Unless otherwise disclosed in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Arter & Hadden, special tax counsel to the Sponsor, will deliver its opinion to
the Sponsor that (a) Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities will represent
interests in (i) "qualifying real property loans" within the meaning of section
593(d) of the Code; (ii) "loans . . . secured by an interest in real property"
within the meaning of section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v) of the Code; and (iii)
"obligation[s] (including any participation or certificate of beneficial
ownership therein) which . . . [are] principally secured by an interest in real
"property" within the meaning of section 860G(a)(3)(A) of the Code; and (b)
interest on Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities will be considered
"interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests
in real property" within the meaning of section 856(c)(3)(B) of the Code. In
addition, the Grantor Trust Strip Securities will be "obligation[s] (including
any participation or certificate of beneficial ownership therein) . . .
principally secured by an interest in real "property" within the meaning of
section 860G(a)(3)(A) of the Code.
Taxation of Holders of Grantor Trust Securities
Holders of Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities generally will
be required to report on their federal income tax returns their respective
shares of the income from the Mortgage Loans (including amounts used to pay
reasonable servicing fees and other expenses but excluding amounts payable to
Holders of any corresponding Grantor Trust Strip Securities) and, subject to the
limitations described below, will be entitled to deduct their shares of any such
reasonable servicing fees and other expenses. If a Holder acquires a Grantor
Trust Fractional Interest Security for an amount that differs from its
outstanding principal amount, the amount includible in income on a Grantor Trust
Fractional Interest Security may differ from the amount of interest
distributable thereon. See "Discount and Premium," below. Individuals holding a
Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Security directly or through certain
pass-through entities will be allowed a deduction for such reasonable servicing
fees and expenses only to the extent that the aggregate of such Holder's
miscellaneous itemized deductions exceeds two percent of such Holder's adjusted
gross income. Further, Holders (other than corporations) subject to the
alternative minimum tax may not deduct miscellaneous itemized deductions in
determining alternative minimum taxable income.
Holders of Grantor Trust Strip Securities generally will be required to
treat such Securities as "stripped coupons" under section 1286 of the Code.
Accordingly, such a Holder will be required to treat the excess of the total
amount of payments on such a Security over the amount paid for such Security as
original issue discount and to include such discount in income as it accrues
over the life of such Security. See "Discount and Premium," below.
Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities may also be subject to the
coupon stripping rules if a class of Grantor Trust Strip Securities is issued as
part of the same series of Securities. The consequences of the application of
the coupon stripping rules would appear to be that any discount arising upon the
purchase of such a Security (and perhaps all stated interest thereon) would be
classified as original issue discount and includible in the in the Holder's
income as it accrues (regardless of the Holder's method of accounting), as
described below under "Discount and Premium." The coupon stripping rules will
not apply, however, if (i) the pass-through rate is no more than 100 basis
points lower than the gross rate of interest payable on the underlying Mortgage
Loans and (ii) the difference between the outstanding principal balance on the
Security and the amount paid for such Security is less than 0.25% of such
principal balance times the weighted average remaining maturity of the Security.
Sales of Grantor Trust Securities
Any gain or loss recognized on the sale of a Grantor Trust Security
(equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the
adjusted basis of such Grantor Trust Security) will be capital gain or loss,
except to the extent of accrued and unrecognized market discount, which will be
treated as ordinary income, and in the case of banks and other financial
institutions except as provided under section 582(c) of the Code. The adjusted
basis of a Grantor Trust Security will generally equal its cost, increased by
any income reported by the seller (including original issue discount and market
discount income) and reduced (but not below zero) by any previously reported
losses, any amortized premium and by any distributions of principal.
Grantor Trust Reporting
The Trustee will furnish to each Holder of a Grantor Trust Fractional
Interest Security with each distribution a statement setting forth the amount of
such distribution allocable to principal on the underlying Mortgage Loans and to
interest thereon at the related Pass-Through Rate. In addition, within a
reasonable time after the end of each calendar year, based on information
provided by the Servicer, the Trustee will furnish to each
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Holder during such year such customary factual information as the Servicer deems
necessary or desirable to enable Holders of Grantor Trust Securities to prepare
their tax returns and will furnish comparable information to the Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") as and when required to do so by law.
REMIC Securities
If provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, an election will be
made to treat a Trust Estate as a REMIC under the Code. Qualification as a REMIC
requires ongoing compliance with certain conditions. With respect to each Series
of Securities for which such an election is made, Arter & Hadden, special tax
counsel to the Sponsor, will deliver its opinion to the Sponsor that (unless
otherwise limited in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), assuming compliance
with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Trust Estate will be treated as a
REMIC for federal income tax purposes. A Trust Estate for which a REMIC election
is made will be referred to herein as a "REMIC Trust." The Securities of each
Class will be designated as "regular interests" in the REMIC Trust except that a
separate Class will be designated as the "residual interest" in the REMIC Trust.
The Prospectus Supplement for each Series of Securities will state whether
Securities of each Class will constitute a regular interest (a "Regular
Security") or a residual interest (a "Residual Security").
A REMIC Trust will not be subject to federal income tax except with
respect to income from prohibited transactions and in certain other instances
described below. See "Taxes on a REMIC Trust". Generally, the total income from
the Mortgage Loans in a REMIC Trust will be taxable to the Holders of the
Securities of that Series, as described below.
Regulations issued by the Treasury Department on December 23, 1992 (the
"REMIC Regulations") provide some guidance regarding the federal income tax
consequences associated with the purchase, ownership and disposition of REMIC
Securities. While certain material provisions of the REMIC Regulations are
discussed below, investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the
possible application of the REMIC Regulations in their specific circumstances.
Special Tax Attributes
Regular and Residual Securities will be "regular or residual interests
in a REMIC" within the meaning of section 7701(a)(19)(C)(xi) of the Code,
"qualifying real property loans" within the meaning of section 593(d) of the
Code and "real estate assets" within the meaning of section 856(c)(5)(A) of the
Code. If at any time during a calendar year less than 95 percent of the assets
of a REMIC Trust consist of "qualified mortgages" (within the meaning of section
860G(a)(3) of the Code) then the portion of the Regular and Residual Securities
that are qualifying assets under those sections during such calendar year may be
limited to the portion of the assets of such REMIC Trust that are qualified
mortgages. Similarly, income on the Regular and Residual Securities will be
treated as "interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property"
within the meaning of section 856(c)(3)(B) of the Code, subject to the same
limitation as set forth in the preceding sentence. For purposes of applying this
limitation, a REMIC Trust should be treated as owning the assets represented by
the qualified mortgages. The assets of the Trust Estate will include, in
addition to the Mortgage Loans, payments on the Mortgage Loans held pending
distribution on the Regular and Residual Securities and any reinvestment income
thereon. Regular and Residual Securities held by a financial institution to
which section 585, 586 or 593 of the Code applies will be treated as evidences
of indebtedness for purposes of section 582(c)(1) of the Code. Regular
Securities will also be qualified mortgages with respect to other REMICs.
Taxation of Holders of Regular Securities
Except as indicated below in this federal income tax discussion, the
Regular Securities will be treated for federal income tax purposes as debt
instruments issued by the REMIC Trust on the date such Securities are first sold
to the public (the "Settlement Date") and not as ownership interests in the
REMIC Trust or its assets. Holders of Regular Securities that otherwise report
income under a cash method of accounting will be required to report income with
respect to such Securities under an accrual method. For additional tax
consequences relating to Regular Securities purchased at a discount or with
premium, see "Discount and Premium," below.
Taxation of Holders of Residual Securities
Daily Portions. Except as indicated below, a Holder of a Residual
Security for a REMIC Trust generally will be required to report its daily
portion of the taxable income or net loss of the REMIC Trust for each day during
a calendar quarter that the Holder owned such Residual Security. For this
purpose, the daily portion shall be
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determined by allocating to each day in the calendar quarter its ratable portion
of the taxable income or net loss of the REMIC Trust for such quarter and by
allocating the amount so allocated among the Residual Holders (on such day) in
accordance with their percentage interests on such day. Any amount included in
the gross income or allowed as a loss of any Residual Holder by virtue of this
paragraph will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
The requirement that each Holder of a Residual Security report its
daily portion of the taxable income or net loss of the REMIC Trust will continue
until there are no Securities of any Class outstanding, even though the Holder
of the Residual Security may have received full payment of the stated interest
and principal on its Residual Security.
The Trustee will provide to Holders of Residual Securities of each
Series of Securities (i) such information as is necessary to enable them to
prepare their federal income tax returns and (ii) any reports regarding the
Securities of such Series that may be required under the Code.
Taxable Income or Net Loss of a REMIC Trust. The taxable income or net
loss of a REMIC Trust will be the income from the qualified mortgages it holds
and any reinvestment earnings less deductions allowed to the REMIC Trust. Such
taxable income or net loss for a given calendar quarter will be determined in
the same manner as for an individual having the calendar year as the taxable
year and using the accrual method of accounting, with certain modifications. The
first modification is that a deduction will be allowed for accruals of interest
(including any original issue discount, but without regard to the investment
interest limitation in section 163(d) of the Code) on the Regular Securities
(but not the Residual Securities), even though Regular Securities are for
non-tax purposes evidences of beneficial ownership rather than indebtedness of a
REMIC Trust. Second, market discount or premium equal to the difference between
the total stated principal balances of the qualified mortgages and the basis to
the REMIC Trust therein generally will be included in income (in the case of
discount) or deductible (in the case of premium) by the REMIC Trust as it
accrues under a constant yield method, taking into account the Prepayment
Assumption. The basis to a REMIC Trust in the qualified mortgages is the
aggregate of the issue prices of all the Regular and Residual Securities in the
REMIC Trust on the Settlement Date. If, however, a substantial amount of a Class
of Regular or Residual Securities has not been sold to the public, then the fair
market value of all the Regular or Residual Securities in that Class as of the
date of the Prospectus Supplement should be substituted for the issue price.
Third, no item of income, gain, loss or deduction allocable to a
prohibited transaction (see "Taxes on a REMIC Trust--Prohibited Transactions"
below) will be taken into account. Fourth, a REMIC Trust generally may not
deduct any item that would not be allowed in calculating the taxable income of a
partnership by virtue of section 703(a)(2) of the Code. Finally, the limitation
on miscellaneous itemized deductions imposed on individuals by section 67 of the
Code will not be applied at the REMIC Trust level to any servicing and guaranty
fees. (See, however, "Pass-Through of Servicing and Guaranty Fees to
Individuals" below.) In addition, under the REMIC Regulations, any expenses that
are incurred in connection with the formation of a REMIC Trust and the issuance
of the Regular and Residual Securities are not treated as expenses of the REMIC
Trust for which a deduction is allowed. If the deductions allowed to a REMIC
Trust exceed its gross income for a calendar quarter, such excess will be a net
loss for the REMIC Trust for that calendar quarter. The REMIC Regulations also
provide that any gain or loss to a REMIC Trust from the disposition of any
asset, including a qualified mortgage or "permitted investment" (as defined in
section 86OG(a)(5) of the Code) will be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
A Holder of a Residual Security may be required to recognize taxable
income without being entitled to receive a corresponding amount of cash. This
could occur, for example, if the qualified mortgages are considered to be
purchased by the REMIC Trust at a discount, some or all of the Regular
Securities are issued at a discount, and the discount included as a result of a
prepayment on a Mortgage Loan that is used to pay principal on the Regular
Securities exceeds the REMIC Trust's deduction for unaccrued original issue
discount relating to such Regular Securities. Taxable income may also be greater
in earlier years because interest expense deductions, expressed as a percentage
of the outstanding principal amount of the Regular Securities, may increase over
time as the earlier Classes of Regular Securities are paid, whereas interest
income with respect to any given Mortgage Loan expressed as a percentage of the
outstanding principal amount of that Mortgage Loan, will remain constant over
time.
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Basis Rules and Distributions
A Holder of a Residual Security has an initial basis in its Security
equal to the amount paid for such Residual Security. Such basis is increased by
amounts included in the income of the Holder and decreased by distributions and
by any net loss taken into account with respect to such Residual Security. A
distribution on a Residual Security to a Holder is not included in gross income
to the extent it does not exceed such Holder's basis in the Residual Security
(adjusted as described above) and, to the extent it exceeds the adjusted basis
of the Residual Security, shall be treated as gain from the sale of the Residual
Security.
A Holder of a Residual Security is not allowed to take into account any
net loss for any calendar quarter to the extent such net loss exceeds such
Holder's adjusted basis in its Residual Security as of the close of such
calendar quarter (determined without regard to such net loss). Any loss
disallowed by reason of this limitation may be carried forward indefinitely to
future calendar quarters and, subject to the same limitation, may be used only
to offset income from the Residual Security.
Excess Inclusions. Any excess inclusions with respect to a Residual
Security are subject to certain special tax rules. With respect to a Holder of a
Residual Security, the excess inclusion for any calendar quarter is defined as
the excess (if any) of the daily portions of taxable income over the sum of the
"daily accruals" for each day during such quarter that such Residual Security
was held by such Holder. The daily accruals are determined by allocating to each
day during a calendar quarter its ratable portion of the product of the
"adjusted issue price" of the Residual Security at the beginning of the calendar
quarter and 120 percent of the "federal long-term rate" in effect on the
Settlement Date, based on quarterly compounding, and properly adjusted for the
length of such quarter. For this purpose, the adjusted issue price of a Residual
Security as of the beginning of any calendar quarter is equal to the issue price
of the Residual Security, increased by the amount of daily accruals for all
prior quarters and decreased by any distributions made with respect to such
Residual Security before the beginning of such quarter. The issue price of a
Residual Security is the initial offering price to the public (excluding bond
houses and brokers) at which a substantial amount of the Residual Securities was
sold. The federal long-term rate is a blend of current yields on Treasury
securities having a maturity of more than nine years, computed and published
monthly by the IRS.
For Holders of Residual Securities that are thrift institutions
described in section 593 of the Code, income from a Residual Security generally
may be offset by losses from other activities. Under the REMIC Regulations, such
an organization is treated as having applied its allowable deductions for the
year first to offset income that is not an excess inclusion and then to offset
that portion of its income that is an excess inclusion. For other Holders of
Residual Securities, any excess inclusions cannot be offset by losses from other
activities. For Holders that are subject to tax only on unrelated business
taxable income (as defined in section 511 of the Code), an excess inclusion of
such Holder is treated as unrelated business taxable income. With respect to
variable contracts (within the meaning of section 817 of the Code), a life
insurance company cannot adjust its reserve to the extent of any excess
inclusion, except as provided in regulations. The REMIC Regulations indicate
that if a Holder of a Residual Security is a member of an affiliated group
filing a consolidated income tax return, the taxable income of the affiliated
group cannot be less than the sum of the excess inclusions attributable to all
residual interests in REMICs held by members of the affiliated group. For a
discussion of the effect of excess inclusions on certain foreign investors that
own Residual Securities, see "Foreign Investors" below.
The REMIC Regulations provide that an organization to which section 593
of the Code applies and which is the Holder of a Residual Security may not use
its allowable deductions to offset any excess inclusions with respect to such
Security if such Security does not have "significant value." For this purpose, a
Residual Security has significant value under the REMIC Regulations if (i) its
issue price is at least 2% of the aggregate of the issue prices of all the
Regular and Residual Securities in that REMIC Trust and (ii) its "anticipated
weighted average life" is at least 20% of the "anticipated weighted average
life" of such REMIC Trust.
In determining whether a Residual Security has significant value, the
anticipated weighted average life of such Security is based in part on the
Prepayment Assumption, except that all anticipated payments on such Security are
taken into account, regardless of their designation as principal or interest.
The anticipated weighted average life of a REMIC Trust is the weighted average
of the anticipated weighted average lives of the Securities.
The Treasury Department also has the authority to issue regulations
that would treat all taxable income of a REMIC Trust as excess inclusions if the
Residual Security does not have "significant value." Although the Treasury
Department did not exercise this authority in the REMIC Regulations, future
regulations may contain such a rule. If such
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a rule were adopted, it is unclear whether the test for significant value that
is contained in the REMIC Regulations and discussed in the two preceding
paragraphs would be applicable. If no such rule is applicable, excess inclusions
should be calculated as discussed above.
In the case of any Residual Securities that are held by a real estate
investment trust, the aggregate excess inclusions with respect to such Residual
Securities reduced (but not below zero) by the real estate investment trust
taxable income (within the meaning of section 857(b)(2) of the Code, excluding
any net capital gain) will be allocated among the shareholders of such trust in
proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders from such trust, and
any amount so allocated will be treated as an excess inclusion with respect to a
Residual Security as if held directly by such shareholder. Similar rules will
apply in the case of regulated investment companies, common trust funds and
certain cooperatives that hold a Residual Security.
Pass-Through of Servicing and Guaranty Fees to Individuals. A Holder of
a Residual Security who is an individual will be required to include in income a
share of any servicing and guaranty fees. A deduction for such fees will be
allowed to such Holder only to the extent that such fees, along with certain of
such Holder's other miscellaneous itemized deductions exceed 2 percent of such
Holder's adjusted gross income. In addition, a Holder of a Residual Security may
not be able to deduct any portion of such fees in computing such Holder's
alternative minimum tax liability. A Holder's share of such fees will generally
be determined by (i) allocating the amount of such expenses for each calendar
quarter on a pro rata basis to each day in the calendar quarter, and (ii)
allocating the daily amount among the Holders in proportion to their respective
holdings on such day.
Taxes on a REMIC Trust
Prohibited Transactions. The Code imposes a tax on a REMIC equal to 100
percent of the net income derived from "prohibited transactions." In general, a
prohibited transaction means the disposition of a qualified mortgage other than
pursuant to certain specified exceptions, the receipt of investment income from
a source other than a Mortgage Loan or certain other permitted investments, the
receipt of compensation for services, or the disposition of an asset purchased
with the payments on the qualified mortgages for temporary investment pending
distribution on the regular and residual interests.
Contributions to a REMIC after the Startup Day. The Code imposes a tax
on a REMIC equal to 100 percent of the value of any property contributed to the
REMIC after the "startup day" (generally the same as the Settlement Date).
Exceptions are provided for cash contributions to a REMIC (i) during the three
month period beginning on the startup day, (ii) made to a qualified reserve fund
by a Holder of a residual interest, (iii) in the nature of a guarantee, (iv)
made to facilitate a qualified liquidation or clean-up call, and (v) as
otherwise permitted by Treasury regulations.
Net Income from Foreclosure Property. The Code imposes a tax on a REMIC
equal to the highest corporate rate on "net income from foreclosure property."
The terms "foreclosure property" (which includes property acquired by deed in
lieu of foreclosure) and "net income from foreclosure property" are defined by
reference to the rules applicable to real estate investment trusts. Generally,
foreclosure property would be treated as such for a period of two years, with
possible extensions. Net income from foreclosure property generally means gain
from the sale of foreclosure property that is inventory property and gross
income from foreclosure property other than qualifying rents and other
qualifying income for a real estate investment trust.
Sales of REMIC Securities
General. Except as provided below, if a Regular or Residual Security is
sold, the seller will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount realized in the sale and its adjusted basis in the Security. The adjusted
basis of a Regular Security generally will equal the cost of such Security to
the seller, increased by any original issue discount or market discount included
in the seller's gross income with respect to such Security and reduced by
distributions on such Security previously received by the seller of amounts
included in the stated redemption price at maturity and by any premium that has
reduced the seller's interest income with respect to such Security. See
"Discount and Premium." The adjusted basis of a Residual Security is determined
as described above under "Taxation of Holders of Residual Securities-Basis Rules
and Distributions." Except as provided in the following paragraph or under
section 582(c) of the Code, any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss,
provided such Security is held as a "capital asset" (generally, property held
for investment) within the meaning of section 1221 of the Code.
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Gain from the sale of a Regular Security that might otherwise be
capital gain will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that such gain
does not exceed the excess, if any, of (i) the amount that would have been
includible in the income of the Holder of a Regular Security had income accrued
at a rate equal to 110 percent of the "applicable federal rate" (generally, an
average of current yields on Treasury securities) as of the date of purchase
over (ii) the amount actually includible in such Holder's income. In addition,
gain recognized on such a sale by a Holder of a Regular Security who purchased a
such Security at a market discount would also be taxable as ordinary income in
an amount not exceeding the portion of such discount that accrued during the
period such Security was held by such Holder, reduced by any market discount
includible in income under the rules described below under "Discount and
Premium."
If a Holder of a Residual Security sells its Residual Security at a
loss, the loss will not be recognized if, within six months before or after the
sale of the Residual Security, such Holder purchases another residual interest
in any REMIC or any interest in a taxable mortgage pool (as defined in section
7701(i) of the Code) comparable to a residual interest in a REMIC. Such
disallowed loss would be allowed upon the sale of the other residual interest
(or comparable interest) if the rule referred to in the preceding sentence does
not apply to that sale. While this rule may be modified by Treasury regulations,
no such regulations have yet been published.
Transfers of Residual Securities. Section 860E(e) of the Code imposes a
substantial tax, payable by the transferor (or, if a transfer is through a
broker, nominee, or other middleman as the transferee's agent, payable by that
agent) upon any transfer of a Residual Security to a disqualified organization
and upon a pass-through entity (including regulated investment companies, real
estate investment trusts, common trust funds, partnerships, trusts, estates,
certain cooperatives, and nominees) that owns a Residual Security if such
pass-through entity has a disqualified organization as a record-holder. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, a transfer includes any transfer of record
or beneficial ownership, whether pursuant to a purchase, a default under a
secured lending agreement or otherwise.
The term "disqualified organization" includes the United States, any
state or political subdivision thereof, any foreign government, any
international organization, or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing
(other than certain taxable instrumentalities), any cooperative organization
furnishing electric energy or providing telephone service to persons in rural
areas, or any organization (other than a farmers' cooperative) that is exempt
from federal income tax, unless such organization is subject to the tax on
unrelated business income. Moreover, an entity will not qualify as a REMIC
unless there are reasonable arrangements designed to ensure that (i) residual
interests in such entity are not held by disqualified organizations and (ii)
information necessary for the application of the tax described herein will be
made available. Restrictions on the transfer of a Residual Security and certain
other provisions that are intended to meet this requirement are described in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, and will be discussed more fully in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering of any Residual
Security. In addition, a pass-through entity (including a nominee) that holds a
Residual Security may be subject to additional taxes if a disqualified
organization is a record-holder therein. A transferor of a Residual Security (or
an agent of a transferee of a Residual Security, as the case may be) will be
relieved of such tax liability if (i) the transferee furnishes to the transferor
(or the transferee's agent) an affidavit that the transferee is not a
disqualified organization, and (ii) the transferor (or the transferee's agent)
does not have actual knowledge that the affidavit is false at the time of the
transfer. Similarly, no such tax will be imposed on a pass-through entity for a
period with respect to an interest therein owned by a disqualified organization
if (i) the record-holder of such interest furnishes to the pass-through entity
an affidavit that it is not a disqualified organization, and (ii) during such
period, the pass-through entity has no actual knowledge that the affidavit is
false.
Under the REMIC Regulations, a transfer of a "noneconomic residual
interest" to a U.S. Person (as defined below in "Foreign Investors -- Grantor
Trust Securities and Regular Securities") will be disregarded for all federal
tax purposes unless no significant purpose of the transfer is to impede the
assessment or collection of tax. A Residual Security would be treated as
constituting a noneconomic residual interest unless, at the time of the
transfer, (i) the present value of the expected future distributions on the
Residual Security is no less than the product of the present value of the
"anticipated excess inclusions" with respect to such Security and the highest
corporate rate of tax for the year in which the transfer occurs, and (ii) the
transferor reasonably expects that the transferee will receive distributions
from the applicable REMIC Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy the liability
for income tax on any "excess inclusions" at or after the time when such
liability accrues. Anticipated excess inclusions are the excess inclusions that
are anticipated to be allocated to each calendar quarter (or portion thereof)
following the transfer of a Residual Security, determined as of the date such
Security is transferred and based on events that have
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occurred as of that date and on the Prepayment Assumption. See "Discount and
Premium" and "Taxation of Holders of Residual Securities--Excess Inclusions."
The REMIC Regulations provide that a significant purpose to impede the
assessment or collection of tax exists if, at the time of the transfer, a
transferor of a Residual Security has "improper knowledge" (i.e., either knew,
or should have known, that the transferee would be unwilling or unable to pay
taxes due on its share of the taxable income of the REMIC Trust). A transferor
is presumed not to have improper knowledge if (i) the transferor conducts, at
the time of a transfer, a reasonable investigation of the financial condition of
the transferee and, as a result of the investigation, the transferor finds that
the transferee has historically paid its debts as they come due and finds no
significant evidence to indicate that the transferee will not continue to pay
its debts as they come due in the future; and (ii) the transferee makes certain
representations to the transferor in the affidavit relating to disqualified
organizations discussed above. Transferors of a Residual Security should consult
with their own tax advisors for further information regarding such transfers.
Reporting and Other Administrative Matters
For purposes of the administrative provisions of the Code, each REMIC
Trust will be treated as a partnership and the Holders of Residual Securities
will be treated as partners. The Trustee will prepare, sign and file federal
income tax returns for each REMIC Trust, which returns are subject to audit by
the IRS. Moreover, within a reasonable time after the end of each calendar year,
the Trustee will furnish to each Holder that received a distribution during such
year a statement setting forth the portions of any such distributions that
constitute interest distributions, original issue discount, and such other
information as is required by Treasury regulations and, with respect to Holders
of Residual Securities in a REMIC Trust, information necessary to compute the
daily portions of the taxable income (or net loss) of such REMIC Trust for each
day during such year. The Trustee will also act as the tax matters partner for
each REMIC Trust, either in its capacity as a Holder of a Residual Security or
in a fiduciary capacity. Each Holder of a Residual Security, by the acceptance
of its Residual Security, agrees that the Trustee will act as its fiduciary in
the performance of any duties required of it in the event that it is the tax
matters partner.
Each Holder of a Residual Security is required to treat items on its
return consistently with the treatment on the return of the REMIC Trust, unless
the Holder either files a statement identifying the inconsistency or establishes
that the inconsistency resulted from incorrect information received from the
REMIC Trust. The IRS may assert a deficiency resulting from a failure to comply
with the consistency requirement without instituting an administrative
proceeding at the REMIC Trust level. The Trustee does not intend to register any
REMIC Trust as a tax shelter pursuant to section 6111 of the Code.
Termination
In general, no special tax consequences will apply to a Holder of a
Regular Security upon the termination of a REMIC Trust by virtue of the final
payment or liquidation of the last Mortgage Loan remaining in the Trust Estate.
If a Holder of a Residual Security's adjusted basis in its Residual Security at
the time such termination occurs exceeds the amount of cash distributed to such
Holder in liquidation of its interest, although the matter is not entirely free
from doubt, it would appear that the Holder of the Residual Security is entitled
to a loss equal to the amount of such excess.
Debt Securities
General
With respect to each Series of Debt Securities, Arter & Hadden, special
tax counsel to the Sponsor, will deliver its opinion to the Sponsor that (unless
otherwise limited in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) the Securities will
be classified as debt of the Sponsor secured by the related Mortgage Loans.
Consequently, the Debt Securities will not be treated as ownership interests in
the Mortgage Loans or the Trust. Holders will be required to report income
received with respect to the Debt Securities in accordance with their normal
method of accounting. For additional tax consequences relating to Debt
Securities purchased at a discount or with premium, see "Discount and Premium,"
below.
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Special Tax Attributes
As described above, Grantor Trust Securities will possess certain
special tax attributes by virtue of their being ownership interests in the
underlying Mortgage Loans. Similarly, REMIC Securities will possess similar
attributes by virtue of the REMIC provisions of the Code. In general, Debt
Securities will not possess such special tax attributes. Investors to whom such
attributes are important should consult their own tax advisors regarding
investment in Debt Securities.
Sale or Exchange
If a Holder of a Debt Security sells or exchanges such Security, the
Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, in any, between the
amount received and the Holder's adjusted basis in the Security. The adjusted
basis in the Security generally will equal its initial cost, increased by any
original issue discount or market discount previously included in the seller's
gross income with respect to the Security and reduced by the payments previously
received on the Security, other than payments of qualified stated interest, and
by any amortized premium.
In general (except as described in "Discount and Premium -- Market
Discount," below), except for certain financial institutions subject to section
582(c) of the Code, any gain or loss on the sale or exchange of a Debt Security
recognized by an investor who holds the Security as a capital asset (within the
meaning of section 1221 of the Code), will be capital gain or loss and will be
long-term or short-term depending on whether the Security has been held for more
than one year.
Discount and Premium
A Security purchased for an amount other than its outstanding principal
amount will be subject to the rules governing original issue discount, market
discount or premium. In addition, all Grantor Trust Strip Securities and certain
Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Securities will be treated as having original
issue discount by virtue of the coupon stripping rules in section 1286 of the
Code. In very general terms, (i) original issue discount is treated as a form of
interest and must be included in a Holder's income as it accrues (regardless of
the Holder's regular method of accounting) using a constant yield method; (ii)
market discount is treated as ordinary income and must be included in a Holder's
income as principal payments are made on the Security (or upon a sale of a
Security) and (iii) if a Holder so elects, premium may be amortized over the
life of the Security and offset against inclusions of interest income. These tax
consequences are discussed in greater detail below.
Original Issue Discount
In general, a Security will be considered to be issued with original
issue discount equal to the excess, if any, of its "stated redemption price at
maturity" over its "issue price." The issue price of a Security is the initial
offering price to the public (excluding bond houses and brokers) at which a
substantial amount of the Securities was sold. The issue price also includes any
accrued interest attributable to the period between the beginning of the first
Interest Accrual Period and the Settlement Date. The stated redemption price at
maturity of a Security that has a notional principal amount or receives
principal only or that is or may be an accrual Security is equal to the sum of
all distributions to be made under such Security. The stated redemption price at
maturity of any other Security is its stated principal amount, plus an amount
equal to the excess (if any) of the interest payable on the first Distribution
Date over the interest that accrues for the period from the Settlement Date to
the first Distribution Date.
Notwithstanding the general definition, original issue discount will be
treated as zero if such discount is less than 0.25 percent of the stated
redemption price at maturity multiplied by its weighted average life. The
weighted average life of a Security is apparently computed for this purpose as
the sum, for all distributions included in the stated redemption price at
maturity of the amounts determined by multiplying (i) the number of complete
years (rounding down for partial years) from the Settlement Date until the date
on which each such distribution is expected to be made under the assumption that
the Mortgage Loans prepay at the rate specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement (the Prepayment Assumption) by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the amount of such distribution and the denominator of which is the
Security's stated redemption price at maturity. If original issue discount is
treated as zero under this rule, the actual amount of original issue discount
must be allocated to the principal distributions on the Security and, when each
such distribution is received, gain equal to the discount allocated to such
distribution will be recognized.
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Section 1272(a)(6) of the Code contains special original issue discount
rules directly applicable to REMIC Securities and Debt Securities and applicable
by analogy to Grantor Trust Securities. Investors in Grantor Trust Strip
Securities should be aware that there can be no assurance that the rules
described below will be applied to such Securities. Under these rules (described
in greater detail below), (i) the amount and rate of accrual of original issue
discount on each Series of Securities will be based on (x) the Prepayment
Assumption, and (y) in the case of a Security calling for a variable rate of
interest, an assumption that the value of the index upon which such variable
rate is based remains equal to the value of that rate on the Settlement Date,
and (ii) adjustments will be made in the amount of discount accruing in each
taxable year in which the actual prepayment rate differs from the Prepayment
Assumption.
Section 1272(a)(6)(B)(iii) of the Code requires that the prepayment
assumption used to calculate original issue discount be determined in the manner
prescribed in Treasury regulations. To date, no such regulations have been
promulgated. The legislative history of this Code provision indicates that the
assumed prepayment rate must be the rate used by the parties in pricing the
particular transaction. The Sponsor anticipates that the Prepayment Assumption
for each Series of Securities will be consistent with this standard. The Sponsor
makes no representation, however, that the Mortgage Loans for a given Series
will prepay at the rate reflected in the Prepayment Assumption for that Series
or at any other rate. Each investor must make its own decision as to the
appropriate prepayment assumption to be used in deciding whether or not to
purchase any of the Securities.
Each Securityholder must include in gross income the sum of the "daily
portions" of original issue discount on its Security for each day during its
taxable year on which it held such Security. For this purpose, in the case of an
original Holder, the daily portions of original issue discount will be
determined as follows. A calculation will first be made of the portion of the
original issue discount that accrued during each "accrual period." The Trustee
will supply, at the time and in the manner required by the IRS, to
Securityholders, brokers and middlemen information with respect to the original
issue discount accruing on the Securities. Unless otherwise disclosed in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Trustee will report original issue
discount based on accrual periods of one month, each beginning on a payment date
(or, in the case of the first such period, the Settlement Date) and ending on
the day before the next payment date.
Under section 1272(a)(6) of the Code, the portion of original issue
discount treated as accruing for any accrual period will equal the excess, if
any, of (i) the sum of (A) the present values of all the distributions remaining
to be made on the Security, if any, as of the end of the accrual period and (B)
the distribution made on such Security during the accrual period of amounts
included in the stated redemption price at maturity, over (ii) the adjusted
issue price of such Security at the beginning of the accrual period. The present
value of the remaining distributions referred to in the preceding sentence will
be calculated based on (i) the yield to maturity of the Security, calculated as
of the Settlement Date, giving effect to the Prepayment Assumption, (ii) events
(including actual prepayments) that have occurred prior to the end of the
accrual period, (iii) the Prepayment Assumption, and (iv) in the case of a
Security calling for a variable rate of interest, an assumption that the value
of the index upon which such variable rate is based remains the same as its
value on the Settlement Date over the entire life of such Security. The adjusted
issue price of a Security at any time will equal the issue price of such
Security, increased by the aggregate amount of previously accrued original issue
discount with respect to such Security, and reduced by the amount of any
distributions made on such Security as of that time of amounts included in the
stated redemption price at maturity. The original issue discount accruing during
any accrual period will then be allocated ratably to each day during the period
to determine the daily portion of original issue discount.
In the case of Grantor Trust Strip Securities and certain REMIC
Securities, the calculation described in the preceding paragraph may produce a
negative amount of original issue discount for one or more accrual periods. No
definitive guidance has been issued regarding the treatment of such negative
amounts. The legislative history to section 1272(a)(6) indicates that such
negative amounts may be used to offset subsequent positive accruals but may not
offset prior accruals and may not be allowed as a deduction item in a taxable
year in which negative accruals exceed positive accruals. Holders of such
Securities should consult their own tax advisors concerning the treatment of
such negative accruals.
A subsequent purchaser of a Security that purchases such Security at a
cost less than its remaining stated redemption price at maturity also will be
required to include in gross income for each day on which it holds such
Security, the daily portion of original issue discount with respect to such
Security (but reduced, if the cost of such Security to such purchaser exceeds
its adjusted issue price, by an amount equal to the product of (i) such daily
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portion and (ii) a constant fraction, the numerator of which is such excess and
the denominator of which is the sum of the daily portions of original issue
discount on such Security for all days on or after the day of purchase).
Market Discount
A Holder that purchases a Security at a market discount, that is, at a
purchase price less than the remaining stated redemption price at maturity of
such Security (or, in the case of a Security with original issue discount, its
adjusted issue price), will be required to allocate each principal distribution
first to accrued market discount on the Security, and recognize ordinary income
to the extent such distribution does not exceed the aggregate amount of accrued
market discount on such Security not previously included in income. With respect
to Securities that have unaccrued original issue discount, such market discount
must be included in income in addition to any original issue discount. A Holder
that incurs or continues indebtedness to acquire a Security at a market discount
may also be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest
on such indebtedness until the corresponding amount of market discount is
included in income. In general terms, market discount on a Security may be
treated as accruing either (i) under a constant yield method or (ii) in
proportion to remaining accruals of original issue discount, if any, or if none,
in proportion to remaining distributions of interest on the Security, in any
case taking into account the Prepayment Assumption. The Trustee will make
available, as required by the IRS, to Holders of Securities information
necessary to compute the accrual of market discount.
Notwithstanding the above rules, market discount on a Security will be
considered to be zero if such discount is less than 0.25 percent of the
remaining stated redemption price at maturity of such Security multiplied by its
weighted average remaining life. Weighted average remaining life presumably
would be calculated in a manner similar to weighted average life, taking into
account payments (including prepayments) prior to the date of acquisition of the
Security by the subsequent purchaser. If market discount on a Security is
treated as zero under this rule, the actual amount of market discount must be
allocated to the remaining principal distributions on the Security and, when
each such distribution is received, gain equal to the discount allocated to such
distribution will be recognized.
Securities Purchased at a Premium
A purchaser of a Security that purchases such Security at a cost
greater than its remaining stated redemption price at maturity will be
considered to have purchased such Security (a "Premium Security") at a premium.
Such a purchaser need not include in income any remaining original issue
discount and may elect, under section 171(c)(2) of the Code, to treat such
premium as "amortizable bond premium." If a Holder makes such an election, the
amount of any interest payment that must be included in such Holder's income for
each period ending on a Distribution Date will be reduced by the portion of the
premium allocable to such period based on the Premium Security's yield to
maturity. The legislative history of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 states that such
premium amortization should be made under principles analogous to those
governing the accrual of market discount (as discussed above under "Market
Discount"). If such election is made by the Holder, the election will also apply
to all bonds the interest on which is not excludible from gross income ("fully
taxable bonds") held by the Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to
which the election applies and to all such fully taxable bonds thereafter
acquired by it, and is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. If such an
election is not made, (i) such a Holder must include the full amount of each
interest payment in income as it accrues, and (ii) the premium must be allocated
to the principal distributions on the Premium Security and, when each such
distribution is received, a loss equal to the premium allocated to such
distribution will be recognized. Any tax benefit from the premium not previously
recognized will be taken into account in computing gain or loss upon the sale or
disposition of the Premium Security.
Some Securities may provide for only nominal distributions of principal
in comparison to the distributions of interest thereon. It is possible that the
IRS or the Treasury Department may issue guidance excluding such Securities from
the rules generally applicable to debt instruments issued at a premium. In
particular, it is possible that such a Security will be treated as having
original issue discount equal to the excess of the total payments to be received
thereon over its issue price. In such event, section 1272(a)(6) of the Code
would govern the accrual of such original issue discount, but a Holder would
recognize substantially the same income in any given period as would be
recognized if an election were made under section 171(c)(2) of the Code. Unless
and until the Treasury Department or the IRS publishes specific guidance
relating to the tax treatment of such Securities, the Trustee intends to furnish
tax information to Holders of such Securities in accordance with the rules
described in the preceding paragraph.
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Special Election
For any Security acquired on or after April 4, 1994, a Holder may elect
to include in gross income all "interest" that accrues on the Security by using
a constant yield method. For purposes of the election, the term "interest"
includes stated interest, acquisition discount, original issue discount, de
minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount and
unstated interest as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition
premium. A Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the time and
manner of making and the scope of the election and the implementation of the
constant yield method.
Backup Withholding
Distributions of interest and principal, as well as distributions of
proceeds from the sale of Securities, may be subject to the "backup withholding
tax" under section 3406 of the Code at a rate of 31 percent if recipients of
such distributions fail to furnish to the payor certain information, including
their taxpayer identification numbers, or otherwise fail to establish an
exemption from such tax. Any amounts deducted and withheld from a distribution
to a recipient would be allowed as a credit against such recipient's federal
income tax. Furthermore, certain penalties may be imposed by the IRS on a
recipient of distributions that is required to supply information but that does
not do so in the proper manner.
Foreign Investors
Grantor Trust Securities and Regular Securities
Distributions made on a Grantor Trust Security or a Regular Security
to, or on behalf of, a Holder that is not a U.S. Person generally will be exempt
from U.S. federal income and withholding taxes. The term "U.S. Person" means a
citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other
entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust that is subject to U.S.
federal income tax regardless of the source of its income. This exemption is
applicable provided (a) the Holder is not subject to U.S. tax as a result of a
connection to the United States other than ownership of the Security, (b) the
Holder signs a statement under penalties of perjury that certifies that such
Holder is not a U.S. Person, and provides the name and address of such Holder,
and (c) the last U.S. Person in the chain of payment to the Holder receives such
statement from such Holder or a financial institution holding on its behalf and
does not have actual knowledge that such statement is false. Holders should be
aware that the IRS might take the position that this exemption does not apply to
a Holder that also owns 10 percent or more of the Residual Securities, or to a
Holder that is a "controlled foreign corporation" described in section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
REMIC Residual Securities
Amounts distributed to a Holder of a Residual Security that is a not a
U.S. Person generally will be treated as interest for purposes of applying the
30 percent (or lower treaty rate) withholding tax on income that is not
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Temporary Treasury
Regulations clarify that amounts not constituting excess inclusions that are
distributed on a Residual Security to a Holder that is not a U.S. Person
generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax, subject
to the same conditions applicable to distributions on Grantor Trust Securities
and Regular Securities, as described above, but only to the extent that the
obligations directly underlying the REMIC Trust that issued the Residual
Security (e.g., Mortgage Loans or regular interests in another REMIC) were
issued after July 18, 1984. In no case will any portion of REMIC income that
constitutes an excess inclusion be entitled to any exemption from the
withholding tax or a reduced treaty rate for withholding. See "Taxation of
Holders of Residual Securities--Excess Inclusions.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), imposes certain fiduciary and prohibited transaction restrictions on
employee pension and welfare benefit plans subject to ERISA ("ERISA Plans").
Section 4975 of the Code imposes essentially the same prohibited transaction
restrictions on tax-qualified retirement plans described in Section 401(a) of
the Code ("Qualified Retirement Plans") and on Individual Retirement Accounts
("IRAs") described in Section 408 of the Code (collectively, "Tax-Favored
Plans").
Certain employee benefit plans, such as governmental plans (as defined
in Section 3(32) of ERISA), are not subject to the ERISA requirements discussed
herein. Accordingly, assets of such plans may be invested in
74
Securities without regard to the ERISA considerations described below, subject
to the provisions of applicable federal and state law. Any such plan that is a
Qualified Retirement Plan and exempt from taxation under Sections 401(a) and
501(a) of the Code, however, is subject to the prohibited transaction rules set
forth in Section 503 of the Code.
Section 404 of ERISA imposes general fiduciary requirements, including
those of investment prudence and diversification and the requirement that a
Plan's investment be made in accordance with the documents governing the Plan.
In addition, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit a broad
range of transactions involving assets of ERISA Plans and Tax-Favored Plans
(collectively, "Plans") and persons ("Parties in Interest" under ERISA or
"Disqualified Persons" under the Code) who have certain specified relationships
to the Plans, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is available.
Certain Parties in Interest (or Disqualified Persons) that participate in a
prohibited transaction may be subject to a penalty (or an excise tax) imposed
pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless a
statutory or administrative exemption is available.
Plan Asset Regulations
A Plan's investment in Securities may cause the Mortgage Loans included
in a Mortgage Pool to be deemed Plan assets. The U.S. Department of Labor (the
"DOL") has promulgated regulations (the "DOL Regulations") concerning whether or
not a Plan's assets would be deemed to include an interest in the underlying
assets of an entity (such as a Trust Estate), for purposes of applying the
general fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA and the prohibited
transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code, when a Plan acquires an "equity
interest" (such as a Security) in such entity. Because of the factual nature of
certain of the rules set forth in the DOL Regulations, an investing Plan's
assets either may be deemed to include an interest in the assets of a Trust
Estate or may be deemed merely to include its interest in the Securities.
Therefore, Plans should not acquire or hold Securities in reliance upon the
availability of any exception under the DOL Regulations.
The prohibited transaction provisions of Section 406 of ERISA and
Section 4975 of the Code may apply to a Trust Estate and cause the Company, the
Servicer, any Sub-Servicer, the Trustee, the obligor under any credit
enhancement mechanism or certain affiliates thereof, to be considered or become
Parties in Interest or Disqualified Persons with respect to an investing Plan.
If so, the acquisition or holding of Securities by or on behalf of the investing
Plan could also give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code,
unless some statutory or administrative exemption is available. Securities
acquired by a Plan would be assets of that Plan. Under the DOL Regulations, the
Trust Estate, including the Mortgage Loans and the other assets held in the
Trust Estate, may also be deemed to be assets of each Plan that acquires
Securities. Special caution should be exercised before the assets of a Plan are
used to acquire a Security in such circumstances, especially if, with respect to
such assets, the Company, the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer, the Trustee, the
obligor under any credit enhancement mechanism or an affiliate thereof either
(i) has investment discretion with respect to the investment of Plan assets; or
(ii) has authority or responsibility to give (or regularly gives) investment
advice with respect to Plan assets for a fee pursuant to an agreement or
understanding that such advice will serve as a primary basis for investment
decisions with respect to such assets.
Any person who has discretionary authority or control respecting the
management or disposition of Plan assets, and any person who provides investment
advice with respect to such assets for a fee (in the manner described above), is
a fiduciary of the investing Plan. If the Mortgage Loans were to constitute Plan
assets, then any party exercising management or discretionary control regarding
those assets may be deemed to be a Plan "fiduciary," and thus subject to the
fiduciary requirements of ERISA and the prohibited transaction provisions of
ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code with respect to the investing Plan. In
addition, if the Mortgage Loans were to constitute Plan assets, then the
acquisition or holding of Securities by a Plan, as well as the operation of the
Trust Estate, may constitute or involve a prohibited transaction under ERISA and
the Code.
Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption
The DOL has issued an administrative exemption, Prohibited Transaction
Class Exemption 83-1 ("PTCE 83-1"), which generally exempts from the prohibited
transaction provisions of Section 406(a) of ERISA, and from the excise taxes
imposed by Sections 4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of Section
4975(c)(1)(A) through (D) of the Code, certain transactions involving
residential mortgage pool investment trusts relating to the purchase, sale and
holding of securities in the initial issuance of Securities and the servicing
and operation of "mortgage pools" (as defined below). PTCE 83-1 permits, subject
to certain general and specific conditions, transactions which might otherwise
be prohibited between Plans and Parties in Interest (or Disqualified Persons)
with respect to those Plans,
75
related to the origination, maintenance and termination of mortgage pools and
the acquisition and holding of certain mortgage pool pass-through Securities
representing interests in such mortgage pools by Plans, whether or not the
Plan's assets would be deemed to include an ownership interest in the mortgage
loans in the mortgage pool. PTCE 83-1 does not provide an exemption for
Subordinate Securities.
PTCE 83-1 defines the term "mortgage pool" as "an investment pool the
corpus of which (1) is held in trust; and (2) consists solely of (a) interest
bearing obligations secured by either first or second mortgages or deeds of
trust on one-to four-family, residential property; (b) property which had
secured obligations and which has been acquired by foreclosure; and (c)
undistributed cash." The Company expects that each pool of Mortgage Loans ^ will
be a "mortgage pool" within the meaning of PTCE 83-1.
PTCE 83-1 defines the term "mortgage pool pass-through certificate" as
a "certificate representing a beneficial undivided fractional interest in a
mortgage pool and entitling the holder of such certificate to pass-through
payment of principal and interest from the pooled mortgage loans, less any fees
retained by the pool sponsor." The Company has been advised by Arter & Hadden
that, for purposes of applying PTCE 83-1, the term "mortgage pool pass-through
certificate" would include (i) Securities representing interests in a Trust
Estate consisting of Mortgage Loans issued in a series consisting of only a
single class of Securities; and (ii) Senior Securities representing interests in
a Trust Estate consisting of Mortgage Loans issued in a series in which there is
only one class of Senior Securities; provided that the Securities described in
clauses (i) and (ii) evidence the beneficial ownership of a specified portion of
both future interest payments and future principal payments with respect to the
Mortgage Loans.
It is not clear whether all types of Securities that may be offered
hereunder would be "mortgage pass-through certificates" for purposes of applying
PTCE 83-1, including, but not limited to, (a) a class of Securities that
evidences the beneficial ownership of interest payments only or principal
payments only, disproportionate interest and principal payments, or nominal
principal or interest payments, such as the Strip Securities; or (b) Securities
in a series including classes of Securities which differ as to timing,
sequential order, rate or amount of distributions of principal or interest or
both, or as to which distributions of principal or interest or both on any class
may be made upon the occurrence of specified events, in accordance with a
schedule or formula, or on the basis of collections from designated portions of
the Mortgage Pool; or (c) Securities evidencing an interest in a Trust Estate as
to which two or more REMIC elections have been made; or (d) a series including
other types of multiple classes. Accordingly, until further clarification by the
DOL, Plans should not acquire or hold Securities representing interests
described in this paragraph in reliance upon the availability of PTCE 83-1
without first consulting with their counsel regarding the application of PTCE
83-1 to the proposed acquisition and holding of such Securities.
PTCE 83-1 sets forth three general conditions that must be satisfied
for any transaction involving the purchase, sale and holding of "mortgage pool
pass-through certificates" and the servicing and operation of the "mortgage
pool" to be eligible for exemption: (1) the pool trustee must not be an
affiliate of the pool sponsor; (2) a system of insurance or other protection for
the pooled mortgage loans and property securing such loans, and for indemnifying
securityholders against reductions in pass-through payments due to property
damage or defaults in loan payments in an amount not less than the greater of
one percent of the aggregate principal balance of all covered pooled mortgages,
or the principal balance of the largest covered mortgage, must be maintained;
and (3) the amount of the payment retained by the pool sponsor together with
other funds inuring to its benefit must be limited to not more than adequate
consideration for forming the mortgage pools plus reasonable compensation for
services provided by the pool sponsor to the mortgage pool. PTCE 83-1 also
imposes additional specific conditions for certain types of transactions
involving an investing Plan and for situations in which the Parties in Interest
or Disqualified Persons are fiduciaries.
The Prospectus Supplement for a series will set forth whether the
Trustee in respect of that series is affiliated with the Company. If the credit
enhancement mechanism for a series of Securities constitutes a system of
insurance or other protection within the meaning of PTCE 83-1 and is maintained
in an amount not less than the greater of one percent of the aggregate principal
balance of the Mortgage Loans or the principal balance of the largest Mortgage
Loan, then the Company has been advised that the second general condition
referred to above will be satisfied. The Company will not receive total
compensation for forming and providing services to the Mortgage Pools which will
be more than adequate consideration. Each Plan fiduciary responsible for making
the investment decision whether to acquire or hold Securities must make its own
determination as to whether (i) the Securities constitute "mortgage pool
pass-through certificates" for purposes of applying PTCE 83-1, (ii) the second
and third general conditions will be satisfied, and (iii) the specific
conditions, not discussed herein, of PTCE 83-1 have been satisfied.
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It should be noted that in promulgating PTCE 83-1 and its predecessor,
the DOL did not have under its consideration interests in pools of the exact
nature described herein. There are other class and individual prohibited
transaction exemptions issued by the DOL that could apply to a Plan's
acquisition or holding of Securities. There can be no assurance that any of
those exemptions will apply with respect to any particular Plan that acquires or
holds Securities or, even if all of the conditions specified therein were
satisfied, that the exemption would apply to all transactions involving the
Trust Estate. The applicable Prospectus Supplement under "ERISA Considerations"
may contain additional information regarding the application of PTCE 83-1, or
other prohibited transaction exemptions that may be available, with respect to
the series offered thereby.
Tax Exempt Investors
A Plan that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to Section
501 of the Code (a "Tax Exempt Investor") nonetheless will be subject to federal
income taxation to the extent that its income is UBTI within the meaning of
Section 512 of the Code. All "excess inclusions" of a REMIC allocated to a REMIC
Residual Security held by a Tax Exempt Investor will be considered UBTI and thus
will be subject to federal income tax. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Residual Securities--Excess
Inclusions."
Consultation With Counsel
Any Plan fiduciary that proposes to cause a Plan to acquire or hold
Securities should consult with its counsel with respect to the potential
applicability of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA and the
prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code to the proposed
investment and the availability of PTCE 83-1 or any other prohibited transaction
exemption.
LEGAL INVESTMENT MATTERS
Certain classes of Securities offered hereby and by the related
Prospectus Supplement will constitute "mortgage related securities" for purposes
of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984 ("SMMEA") so long as
they are rated in at least the second highest rating category by any Rating
Agency, and as such may be legal investments for persons, trusts, corporations,
partnerships, associations, business trusts and business entities (including
depository institutions, life insurance companies and pension funds) created
pursuant to or existing under the laws of the United States or of any State
whose authorized investments are subject to state regulation to the same extent
that, under applicable law, obligations issued by or guaranteed as to principal
and interest by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof
constitute legal investments for such entities. Under SMMEA, if a State enacted
legislation on or prior to October 3, 1991 specifically limiting the legal
investment authority of any such entities with respect to "mortgage related
securities," such securities will constitute legal investments for entities
subject to such legislation only to the extent provided therein. Certain States
have enacted legislation which overrides the preemption provisions of SMMEA.
SMMEA provides, however, that in no event will the enactment of any such
legislation affect the validity of any contractual commitment to purchase, hold
or invest in "mortgage related securities," or require the sale or other
disposition of such securities, so long as such contractual commitment was made
or such securities acquired prior to the enactment of such legislation.
SMMEA also amended the legal investment authority of
federally-chartered depository institutions as follows: federal savings and loan
associations and federal savings banks may invest in, sell or otherwise deal
with "mortgage related securities" without limitation as to the percentage of
their assets represented thereby, federal credit unions may invest in such
securities, and national banks may purchase such securities for their own
account without regard to the limitations generally applicable to investment
securities set forth in 12 U.S.C. 24 (Seventh), subject in each case to such
regulations as the applicable federal regulatory authority may prescribe.
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council has adopted a
supervisory policy statement (the "Policy Statement"), applicable to all
depository institutions, setting forth guidelines for and significant
restrictions on investments in "high-risk mortgage securities." The Policy
Statement has been adopted by the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC and the Office of Thrift Supervision with
an effective date of February 10, 1992. The Policy Statement generally indicates
that a mortgage derivative product will be deemed to be high risk if it exhibits
greater price volatility than a standard fixed rate thirty-year mortgage
security. According to the Policy Statement, prior to purchase, a depository
institution will be required to determine whether a mortgage derivative product
that it is considering acquiring is high-risk, and if so that the proposed
acquisition would reduce the institution's overall interest rate risk. Reliance
on analysis and documentation obtained from a securities dealer or other outside
party without internal analysis by the institution would be unacceptable.
77
There can be no assurance as to which classes of Securities will be treated as
high-risk under the Policy Statement. In addition, the National Credit Union
Administration has issued regulations governing federal credit union investments
which prohibit investment in certain specified types of securities, which may
include certain classes of Securities. Similar policy statements have been
issued by regulators having jurisdiction over other types of depository
institutions.
There may be other restrictions on the ability of certain investors
either to purchase certain classes of Securities or to purchase any class of
Securities representing more than a specified percentage of the investors
assets. The Company will make no representations as to the proper
characterization of any class of Securities for legal investment or other
purposes, or as to the ability of particular investors to purchase any class of
Securities under applicable legal investment restrictions. These uncertainties
may adversely affect the liquidity of any class of Securities. Accordingly, all
investors whose investment activities are subject to legal investment laws and
regulations, regulatory capital requirements or review by regulatory authorities
should consult with their own legal advisors in determining whether and to what
extent the Securities of any class constitute legal investments under SMMEA or
are subject to investment, capital or other restrictions, and whether SMMEA has
been overridden in any jurisdiction applicable to such investor.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Substantially all of the net proceeds to be received from the sale of
Securities will be applied by the Company to finance the purchase of, or to
repay short-term loans incurred to finance the purchase of, the Mortgage Loans
underlying the Securities or will be used by the Company for general corporate
purposes. The Company expects that it will make additional sales of securities
similar to the Securities from time to time, but the timing and amount of any
such additional offerings will be dependent upon a number of factors, including
the volume of mortgage loans purchased by the Company, prevailing interest
rates, availability of funds and general market conditions.
METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION
The Securities offered hereby and by the related Prospectus Supplement
will be offered in series through one or more of the methods described below.
The Prospectus Supplement prepared for each series will describe the method of
offering being utilized for that series and will state the public offering or
purchase price of such series and the net proceeds to the Company from such
sale.
The Company intends that Securities will be offered through the
following methods from time to time and that offerings may be made concurrently
through more than one of these methods or that an offering of a particular
series of Securities may be made through a combination of two or more of these
methods. Such methods are as follows:
1. By negotiated firm commitment or best efforts underwriting
and public re-offering by underwriters (which may include affiliates of
the Company);
2. By placements by the Company with institutional investors
through dealers; and
3. By direct placements by the Company with institutional
investors.
In addition, if specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a
series of Securities may be offered in whole or in part in exchange for the
Mortgage Loans (and other assets, if applicable) that would comprise the
Mortgage Pool in respect of such Securities.
If underwriters are used in a sale of any Securities (other than in
connection with an underwriting on a best efforts basis), such Securities will
be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at
fixed public offering prices or at varying prices to be determined at the time
of sale or at the time of commitment therefor. Such underwriters may be
broker-dealers affiliated with the Company whose identities and relationships to
the Company will be as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. The
managing underwriter or underwriters with respect to the offer and sale of a
particular series of Securities will be set forth on the cover of the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series and the members of the underwriting
syndicate, if any, will be named in such Prospectus Supplement.
78
In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may receive
compensation from the Company or from purchasers of the Securities in the form
of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters and dealers participating
in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriters in
connection with such Securities, and any discounts or commissions received by
them from the Company and any profit on the resale of Securities by them may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. The Prospectus Supplement will describe any such compensation
paid by the Company.
It is anticipated that the underwriting agreement pertaining to the
sale of any series of Securities will provide that the obligations of the
underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent, that the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such Securities if any are
purchased (other than in connection with an underwriting on a best efforts
basis) and that, in limited circumstances, the Company will indemnify the
several underwriters and the underwriters will indemnify the Company against
certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or will contribute to payments required to be made in respect
thereof.
The Prospectus Supplement with respect to any series offered by
placements through dealers will contain information regarding the nature of such
offering and any agreements to be entered into between the Company and
purchasers of Securities of such series.
The Company anticipates that the Securities offered hereby will be sold
primarily to institutional investors or be placed with individuals by the
Company or an affiliate of the Company. Purchasers of Securities, including
dealers, may, depending on the facts and circumstances of such purchases, be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in connection with reoffers and sales by them of Securities. Holders of
Securities should consult with their legal advisors in this regard prior to any
such reoffer or sale.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Company by Arter &
Hadden, Washington, D.C..
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Company has determined that its financial statements are not
material to the offering made hereby.
A Prospectus Supplement and the related Form 8-K (which shall be
incorporated by reference to this Registration Statement) may contain the
financial statements of the related Credit Enhancer, if any.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Prospectus, together with the Prospectus Supplement for each
series of Securities, contains a summary of the material terms of the applicable
exhibits to the Registration Statement and the documents referred to herein and
therein. Copies of such exhibits are on file at the offices of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., and may be obtained at rates
prescribed by the Commission upon request to the Commission and may be
inspected, without charge, at the Commission's offices.
79
INDEX OF PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS
Page
----
Accrual Securities....................................................... 5
Advance.................................................................. 9
Affiliated Originators................................................... 3
Approved Guidelines...................................................... 8
APR...................................................................... 19
AQMOD.................................................................... ?
ARM Loans................................................................ 16
Balloon Amount........................................................... 22
Balloon Loans............................................................ 13
Bankruptcy Bond.......................................................... 47
Bankruptcy Loss.......................................................... 45
Bankruptcy Loss Amount................................................... 44
Book-Entry Securities.................................................... 33
Bulk Acquisitions........................................................ 8
Bulk Guidelines.......................................................... 23
Buydown Account.......................................................... 18
Buydown Agreement........................................................ 37
Buydown Funds............................................................ 18
Buydown Mortgage Loans................................................... 18
Buydown Period........................................................... 18
Cede..................................................................... 11
Certificates............................................................. 4
Closing Date............................................................. 35
CLTV..................................................................... ?
Code..................................................................... 63
Combined Loan-to-Value-Ratio............................................. 19
Company.................................................................. 1
Company's Guidelines..................................................... 8
Compensating Interest.................................................... 40
Contract Sub-Servicers................................................... 27
Conventional Loans....................................................... 17
Convertible Mortgage Loan................................................ 22
Cooperative Loans........................................................ ?
Cooperative Notes........................................................ ?
Credit Enhancer.......................................................... 17
Cut-Off Date............................................................. 18
Debt Securities.......................................................... 11
Defaulted Mortgage Loss.................................................. 45
Deferred Interest........................................................ 13
Deficient Valuation...................................................... 46
Deleted Mortgage Loan.................................................... 28
Delinquency Advances..................................................... 39
Designated Originator.................................................... 26
Detailed Description..................................................... 17
Determination Date....................................................... 39
Direct or Indirect Participants.......................................... 16
Disqualified Persons..................................................... 75
Distribution Account..................................................... 36
DOL...................................................................... 75
DOL Regulations.......................................................... 75
DTC...................................................................... 11
Due Date................................................................. 36
Due Period............................................................... 6
Eligible Account......................................................... 36
Equity Securities........................................................ 5
ERISA.................................................................... 10
ERISA Plans.............................................................. 74
Exchange Act............................................................. 11
Extraordinary Losses..................................................... 45
FDIC..................................................................... 26
Federal Corporations..................................................... 26
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy...................................... 47
80
Page
----
Financial Guaranty Insurer............................................... 47
FIRREA................................................................... 26
Fixed-Income Securities.................................................. 5
FNMA..................................................................... 23
Forward Purchase Agreement............................................... 8
Fraud Loss............................................................... 45
Fraud Loss Amount........................................................ 44
Garn-St. Germain Act..................................................... 61
Grantor Trust Estate..................................................... 63
Grantor Trust Fractional Interest Security............................... 63
Grantor Trust Securities................................................. 11
Grantor Trust Strip Security............................................. 63
Indenture................................................................ 4
Indenture Trustee........................................................ 4
Index.................................................................... 21
Indirect Participant..................................................... 33
Insurance Paying Agent................................................... 47
Insurance Proceeds....................................................... 36
Insured Payment.......................................................... 47
Interest Rate............................................................ 5
Investment Company Act................................................... 7
IRAs..................................................................... 74
IRS...................................................................... 64
Junior Lien Loans........................................................ 19
Letter of Credit......................................................... 45
Letter of Credit Bank.................................................... 45
Liquidated Mortgage Loan................................................. 14
Liquidation Proceeds..................................................... 14
Loan Purchase Price...................................................... 28
Loan-to-Value Ratio...................................................... 17
Master Commitments....................................................... 25
Master Servicer.......................................................... 3
Modified Loans........................................................... 22
Mortgage Assets.......................................................... 17
Mortgage Asset Schedule.................................................. 17
Mortgage Loan Program.................................................... 21
Mortgage Loans........................................................... 1
Mortgage Notes........................................................... 20
Mortgage Pool............................................................ 1
Mortgage Pool Insurance Policy........................................... 46
Mortgage Rate............................................................ 18
Mortgaged Properties..................................................... 8
Mortgages................................................................ 8
Mortgagor................................................................ 13
Net Liquidation Proceeds................................................. 36
Net Mortgage Rate........................................................ 55
Note Margin.............................................................. 21
Notes.................................................................... 4
Originators.............................................................. 1
Originator's Retained Yield.............................................. 20
Participants............................................................. 33
Participating Originator................................................. 26
Parties in Interest...................................................... 74
Partnership Interests.................................................... 11
Pass-Through Rate........................................................ 38
Paying Agent............................................................. 38
Payment Dates............................................................ 6
Percentage Interest...................................................... 38
Permitted Investments.................................................... ?
Physical Certificates.................................................... 32
Physical Securities...................................................... 34
81
Page
----
Plan...................................................................... 10
Plans..................................................................... 74
Policy Statement.......................................................... 77
Pool Factor............................................................... 41
Pool Insurer.............................................................. 37
Pooling and Servicing Agreement........................................... 4
Pre-Funding Account....................................................... 8
Principal Prepayments..................................................... 36
PTCE 83-1................................................................. 75
Purchase Obligation....................................................... 12
Qualified Replacement Mortgage............................................ 28
Qualified Retirement Plans................................................ 74
Rating Agencies........................................................... 11
Realized Loss............................................................. 44
Record Date............................................................... 6
Regular Security.......................................................... 65
Relief Act................................................................ 17
REMIC..................................................................... 2
REMIC Regular Securities.................................................. 11
REMIC Regulations......................................................... 65
REMIC Residual Securities................................................. 11
REMIC Securities.......................................................... 63
REMIC Trust............................................................... 65
Remittance Date........................................................... 37
Remittance Period......................................................... 6
REO....................................................................... 43
REO Property.............................................................. 43
Residual Security......................................................... 65
Reserve Fund.............................................................. 47
RTC....................................................................... 26
Securities................................................................ 1
Securityholders........................................................... 1
Security Registrar........................................................ 33
Senior Mortgage Loan...................................................... ?
Senior Securities......................................................... 31
Servicer.................................................................. 1
Servicing Advances........................................................ 43
Servicing Agreement....................................................... 4
Settlement Date........................................................... 65
Single Family Loans....................................................... 20
SMMEA..................................................................... 10
Special Hazard Amount..................................................... 44
Special Hazard Insurance Policy........................................... 46
Special Hazard Insurer.................................................... 46
Special Hazard Loss....................................................... 45
Sponsor................................................................... 1
Statistic Calculation Date................................................ 18
Strip Securities.......................................................... 31
Sub-Servicers............................................................. 1
Sub-Servicing Account..................................................... 35
Sub-Servicing Agreement................................................... 27
Subordinate Amount........................................................ 44
Subordinate Securities.................................................... 5
Tax Exempt Investor....................................................... 77
Tax-Favored Plans......................................................... 74
Title V................................................................... 62
Title VIII................................................................ 62
Trust..................................................................... 1
Trust Agreement........................................................... 4
Trust Estate.............................................................. 1
Trustee................................................................... 3
82
UCC....................................................................... 33
Unaffiliated Originators.................................................. 3
U.S. Person............................................................... 74
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
================================================================================
No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus
Supplement and the Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or by the Underwriter. This Prospectus Supplement and the 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 its unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of
this 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.
----------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Summary................................................. S-
Risk Factors............................................ S-
The Portfolio of Mortgage Loans......................... S-
The Mortgage Loan Pool.................................. S-
Prepayment and Yield Considerations..................... S-
Additional Information.................................. S-
The Originators......................................... S-
The Company............................................. S-
Description of the Offered Certificates................. S-
The Certificate Insurance Policies and the Certificate
Insurer............................................... S-
The Pooling and Servicing Agreement..................... S-
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences................. S-
ERISA Considerations.................................... S-
Ratings................................................. S-
Legal Investment Considerations......................... S-
Underwriting............................................ S-
Report of Experts....................................... S-
Certain Legal Matters................................... S-
Prospectus
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference......... 2
Summary of Prospectus................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................ 12
The Trusts.............................................. 17
The Mortgage Pools...................................... 20
Mortgage Loan Program................................... 23
Description of the Securities........................... 30
Subordination........................................... 44
Description of Credit Enhancement....................... 45
Hazard Insurance; Claims Thereunder..................... 49
The Company............................................. 50
The Servicer............................................ 50
The Master Servicer..................................... 50
The Pooling and Servicing Agreement..................... 50
Yield Considerations.................................... 54
Maturity and Prepayment Considerations.................. 56
Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans and Related
Matters............................................... 58
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences................. 63
ERISA Considerations.................................... 74
Legal Investment Matters................................ 77
Use of Proceeds......................................... 78
Methods of Distribution................................. 78
Legal Matters........................................... 79
Financial Information................................... 79
Additional Information.................................. 79
Index of Principal Definitions.......................... 80
----------------------------
Until 90 days after the date of this Prospectus Supplement, all dealers
effecting transactions in the related Securities, whether or not participating
in the distribution thereof, may be required to deliver this Prospectus and the
related Prospectus Supplement. 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.
================================================================================
First Alliance
MORTGAGE
COMPANY
Mortgage Loan
Asset Backed Certificates
Series 199__-__
------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
------------------------------------
___________, 199__
================================================================================
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement (senior and subordinated certificate
classes) (1).
1.2 Form of Underwriting Agreement (fixed and variable certificate
classes) (1).
1.3 Form of Master Loan Transfer Agreement (1).
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Sponsor (1).
3.2 By-Laws of the Sponsor (1).
4.1 Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement (senior and
subordinated certificate classes) among the Master Servicer and
the Trustee (1).
4.2 Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement (fixed and variable
certificate classes) (credit support) among the Sponsor, the
Master Servicer and the Trustee (1).
5.1 Opinion of Arter & Hadden with respect to validity (2).
8.1 Opinion of Arter & Hadden with respect to tax matters (2).
10.1 Form of Special Hazards Insurance Policy (1).
10.2 Form of Letter of Credit (1).
10.3 Form of Bankruptcy Surety Bond (1).
10.4 Form of Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy (1).
23.1 Consent of Arter & Hadden is included in its opinion filed as
Exhibit 5.1 hereto (2).
23.2 Consent of Arter & Hadden is included in its opinion filed as
Exhibit 8.1 hereto (2).
- ---------------------
(1) This exhibit is contained in First Alliance Mortgage Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, declared effective on October 29,
1993 (Commission File No. 33-64374), and incorporated herein by
reference. Each such exhibit was also incorporated by reference in
First Alliance Mortgage Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3,
declared effective on July 5, 1994 (Commission File No. 33-79948).
(2) This exhibit is contained in First Alliance Mortgage Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on November 17, 1995
(Commission File No. 33-99604) and incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Registrant hereby certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Irvine, State of
California on the 22nd day of May, 1996.
FIRST ALLIANCE MORTGAGE COMPANY
By: /s/ Brian Chisick
---------------------------------
Name: Brian Chisick
Title: President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Brian Chisick
- --------------------------- President (Principal Executive Officer), May 22, 1996
Brian Chisick Secretary and Director
/s/ Mark Mason
- --------------------------- Executive Vice President and Chief May 22, 1996
Mark Mason Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Sarah Chisick
- --------------------------- Director May 22, 1996
Sarah Chisick