LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC., SELLER and LEHMAN ABS CORPORATION, PURCHASER MORTGAGE LOAN SALE AND ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Dated as of March 1, 2004 Lehman ABS Corporation (Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-1)
______________________________________________________________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.,
SELLER
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ABS CORPORATION,
PURCHASER
MORTGAGE LOAN SALE AND ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
Dated as of March 1, 2004
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ABS Corporation
(Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-1)
______________________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I. CONVEYANCE OF MORTGAGE LOANS
3
Section 1.01.
Sale of Mortgage Loans.
3
Section 1.02.
Delivery of Documents.
4
Section 1.03.
Review of Documentation.
4
Section 1.04.
Representations and Warranties of the Seller.
5
Section 1.05.
Grant Clause.
14
Section 1.06.
Assignment by Depositor.
14
ARTICLE II. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
14
Section 2.01.
Binding Nature of Agreement; Assignment.
14
Section 2.02.
Entire Agreement.
14
Section 2.03.
Amendment.
14
Section 2.04.
Governing Law.
15
Section 2.05.
Severability of Provisions.
16
Section 2.06.
Indulgences; No Waivers.
16
Section 2.07.
Headings Not to Affect Interpretation.
16
Section 2.08.
Benefits of Agreement.
16
Section 2.09.
Counterparts.
16
SCHEDULE A
Transferred Mortgage Loan Schedule (including Prepayment Charge Schedule)
SCHEDULE B
Bank Originated Mortgage Loan Schedule (including Prepayment Charge Schedule)
EXHIBIT A
Certain Defined Terms
This MORTGAGE LOAN SALE AND ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 1, 2004 (the “Agreement”), is executed by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBH” or the “Seller”) and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ABS Corporation (the “Depositor”).
All capitalized terms not defined herein or in Exhibit A attached hereto shall have the same meanings assigned to such terms in that certain trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) dated as of March 1, 2004, among the Depositor, Aurora Loan Services Inc., as master servicer (the “Master Servicer”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Bank, FSB (the “Bank”), pursuant to the following specified mortgage loan purchase and warranties agreements (each a “Transfer Agreement,” and collectively, the “Transfer Agreements”), has purchased or received from certain transferors identified below (each a “Transferor,” and collectively, the “Transferors”) certain mortgage loans, each identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Schedule A (the “Transferred Mortgage Loans”):
1.
Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and Alliance Mortgage Company, dated as of May 23, 2002;
2.
Mortgage Loan Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and Bancmortgage, A Division of National Bank of Commerce, dated as of July 11, 2003;
3.
Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and Colorado Federal Savings Bank, dated as of March 21, 2002;
4.
Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and E-Loan Mortgage, dated as of December 5, 2002;
5.
Flow Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and Fieldstone Mortgage Company, dated as of July 1, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 20, 2001, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of October 31, 2002;
6.
Master Mortgage Loan Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and First National Bank of Nevada, dated as of November 15, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 7, 2001, and Amendment No. 2, dated as January 22, 2003;
7.
Flow Purchase, Warranties and Servicing Agreement by and between the Bank and National City Mortgage, Co., dated as of August 1, 2001, Group No. 2001-1, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 21, 2001, Amendment No. 2, dated as of October 25, 2002, and Amendment No. 3, dated as of January 14, 2003;
8.
Flow Mortgage Loan Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and among the Bank, National Bank of Commerce, Central California Bank & Trust, NBC Bank, FSB, First Market Bank and Commerce Finance Company, dated as of August 1, 2001;
9.
Flow Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and Pinnacle Direct Funding Corp., dated as of May 29, 2001, Group No. 2001-1;
10.
Flow Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and Plaza Home Mortgage Inc., dated as of September 25, 2003;
11.
Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and RBC Mortgage Company, dated as of September 8, 2003;
12.
Flow Mortgage Loan Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and SIB Mortgage Corp., dated as of June 10, 2002, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 1, 2002;
13.
Flow Mortgage Loan Purchase and Warranties Agreement by and between the Bank and SIB Mortgage Corp., dated as of June 10, 2002, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 1, 2002, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 29, 2003; and
14.
Loan Purchase Agreement by and between the Bank and ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Bean & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, dated as of December 5, 2002.
WHEREAS, in addition to the Transferred Mortgage Loans, the Bank has directly underwritten and funded certain mortgage loans originated by Aurora Loan Services Inc. and other correspondents identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Schedule B (the “Bank Originated Mortgage Loans” and together with the Transferred Mortgage Loans, the “Mortgage Loans”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the “Assignment and Assumption Agreement”), dated as of March 1, 2004, between the Bank, as assignor, and the Seller, as assignee, the Bank has assigned all of its right, title and interest in and to the foregoing Transfer Agreements and related Bank Mortgage Loans as listed on Schedule A, in the case of Transferred Mortgage Loans, or Schedule B, in the case of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loans, and the Seller has accepted the rights and benefits of, and assumed the obligations of the Bank under, the Transfer Agreements;
WHEREAS, the Seller is a party to the following servicing agreements (together, the “Servicing Agreements”) pursuant to which the Mortgage Loans are to be initially serviced by certain servicers as indicated below (each, a “Servicer” and, collectively, the “Servicers”):
1.
Servicing Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2004, among the Seller, as seller, and Aurora Loan Services Inc. (“Aurora”) in the dual capacities of Servicer and Master Servicer;
2.
Transfer Notice dated March 30, 2004, from LBH, as owner, and Colonial Savings, F.A. (“Colonial”), as servicer, in connection with the Correspondent Servicing Agreement dated as of June 26, 2002, by and among Colonial, the Bank and the Master Servicer; and
3.
Reconstituted Servicing Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2004, by and between the Seller and National City Mortgage Co. and acknowledged by Aurora and the Trustee.
WHEREAS, the Seller desires to sell, without recourse, all of its rights, title and interest in and to the Mortgage Loans to the Depositor, assign all of its rights and interest under each Transfer Agreement and each Servicing Agreement relating to the Mortgage Loans referred to above, other than any servicing rights retained by the Seller hereunder, and delegate all of its obligations thereunder, to the Depositor; and
WHEREAS, the Seller and the Depositor acknowledge and agree that the Depositor will convey the Mortgage Loans to a Trust Fund created pursuant to the Trust Agreement, assign all of its rights and delegate all of its obligations hereunder to the Trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders, and that each reference herein to the Depositor is intended, unless otherwise specified, to mean the Depositor or the Trustee, as assignee, whichever is the owner of the Mortgage Loans from time to time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Seller and the Depositor agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
CONVEYANCE OF MORTGAGE LOANS
Section 1.01.
Sale of Mortgage Loans.
(a)
Sale of Mortgage Loans. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller does hereby transfer, assign, set over, deposit with and otherwise convey to the Depositor, without recourse, subject to Sections 1.03 and 1.04, all the right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Mortgage Loans identified on Schedules A and B hereto, having an aggregate principal balance of $528,822,944.02. Such conveyance includes, without limitation, the right to all distributions of principal and interest received on or with respect to the Mortgage Loans on and after the Cut-off Date, other than payments of principal and interest due on or before such date, and all such payments due after such date but received prior to such date and intended by the related Mortgagors to be applied after such date, all Prepayment Charges received on or with respect to the Mortgage Loans on or after the Cut-off Date, together with all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in and to each related account and all amounts from time to time credited to and the proceeds of such account, any REO Property and the proceeds thereof, the Seller’s rights under any Insurance Policies relating to the Mortgage Loans, the Seller’s security interest in any collateral pledged to secure the Mortgage Loans, including the Mortgaged Properties, and any proceeds of the foregoing.
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Seller hereby assigns to the Depositor all of its rights and interest under each Transfer Agreement and each Servicing Agreement, other than any servicing rights retained thereunder, and delegates to the Depositor all of its obligations thereunder, to the extent relating to the Mortgage Loans. The Seller and the Depositor further agree that this Agreement incorporates the terms and conditions of any assignment and assumption agreement or other assignment document required to be entered into under any of the Transfer Agreements (any such document an “Assignment Agreement”) and that this Agreement constitutes an Assignment Agreement under such Transfer Agreement, and the Depositor hereby assumes the obligations of the assignee under each such Assignment Agreement. Concurrently with the execution hereof, the Depositor tenders the purchase price of $528,822,944.02. The Depositor hereby accepts such assignment and delegation, and shall be entitled to exercise all the rights of the Seller under each Transfer Agreement and each Servicing Agreement, other than any servicing rights thereunder, as if the Depositor had been a party to each such agreement.
(b)
Schedules of Mortgage Loans. The Depositor and the Seller have agreed upon which of the Mortgage Loans owned by the Seller are to be purchased by the Depositor pursuant to this Agreement and the Seller will prepare on or prior to the Closing Date a final schedule describing such Mortgage Loans (the “Mortgage Loan Schedule”). The Mortgage Loan Schedule shall conform to the requirements of the Depositor as set forth in this Agreement and to the definition of “Mortgage Loan Schedule” under the Trust Agreement. The Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Schedule A specifies those Mortgage Loans that are Transferred Mortgage Loans and the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Schedule B specifies those Mortgage Loans that are Bank Originated Loans each of which categories of Mortgage Loans have been assigned by the Bank to the Seller pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
Section 1.02.
Delivery of Documents.
(a)
In connection with such transfer and assignment of the Mortgage Loans hereunder, the Seller shall, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Depositor (or its designee) the documents or instruments with respect to each Mortgage Loan (each a “Mortgage File”) so transferred and assigned, as specified in the related Transfer Agreements or Servicing Agreements.
(b)
For Mortgage Loans (if any) that have been prepaid in full on or after the Cut-off Date and prior to the Closing Date, the Seller, in lieu of delivering the related Mortgage Files, herewith delivers to the Depositor an Officer’s Certificate which shall include a statement to the effect that all amounts received in connection with such prepayment that are required to be deposited in the Collection Account maintained by the Master Servicer for such purpose have been so deposited.
Section 1.03.
Review of Documentation.
The Depositor, by execution and delivery hereof, acknowledges receipt of the Mortgage Files pertaining to the Mortgage Loans listed on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, subject to review thereof by LaSalle Bank National Association, ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, as applicable (each, a “Custodian” and, collectively, the “Custodians”), for the Depositor. Each Custodian is required to review, within 45 days following the Closing Date, each applicable Mortgage File. If in the course of such review the related Custodian identifies any Material Defect, the Seller shall be obligated to cure such Material Defect or to repurchase the related Mortgage Loan from the Depositor (or, at the direction of and on behalf of the Depositor, from the Trust Fund), or to substitute a Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan therefor, in each case to the same extent and in the same manner as the Depositor is obligated to the Trustee and the Trust Fund under Section 2.02(c) of the Trust Agreement.
Section 1.04.
Representations and Warranties of the Seller.
(a)
The Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Depositor that as of the Closing Date:
(i)
the Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws governing its creation and existence and has full corporate power and authority to own its property, carry on its business as presently conducted and enter into and perform its obligations under the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and this Agreement;
(ii)
the execution and delivery by the Seller of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Seller; neither the execution and delivery of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement or this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions therein or herein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof or hereof, will conflict with or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any of the provisions of any law, governmental rule, regulation, judgment, decree or order binding on the Seller or its properties or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Seller;
(iii)
the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and hereby do not require the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with, or the taking of any other action in respect of, any state, federal or other governmental authority or agency, except such as has been obtained, given, effected or taken prior to the date hereof;
(iv)
each of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Bank, in the case of the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and the Depositor, in the case of this Agreement, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (A) applicable bankruptcy and insolvency laws and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of the rights of creditors generally and (B) general principles of equity regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and
(v)
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller, threatened or likely to be asserted against or affecting the Seller, before or by any court, administrative agency, arbitrator or governmental body (A) with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Assignment and Assumption Agreement or this Agreement or (B) with respect to any other matter which in the judgment of the Seller will be determined adversely to the Seller and will if determined adversely to the Seller materially and adversely affect it or its business, assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, or adversely affect its ability to perform its obligations under the Assignment and Assumption Agreement or this Agreement.
(b)
The representations and warranties of each Transferor with respect to the Mortgage Loans in the applicable Transfer Agreement were made as of the date of such Transfer Agreement. To the extent that any fact, condition or event with respect to a Transferred Mortgage Loan constitutes a breach of both (i) a representation or warranty of a Transferor under the applicable Transfer Agreement and (ii) a representation or warranty of the Seller under this Agreement, the sole right or remedy of the Depositor with respect to a breach by the Seller of such representation and warranty (other than a breach by the Seller of the representations made by it pursuant to Sections 1.04(b)(xii), (xiii), (xiv) and (xv), shall be the right to enforce the obligations of such Transferor under any applicable representation or warranty made by it. The representations made by the Seller pursuant to Sections 1.04(b)(xii), (xiii), (xiv) and (xv) shall be direct obligations of the Seller. The Depositor acknowledges and agrees that the representations and warranties of the Seller in this Section 1.04(b) (other than any representations and warranties made pursuant to Sections 1.04(b)(xii), (xiii), (xiv) and (xv) by it) are applicable only to facts, conditions or events that do not constitute a breach of any representation or warranty made by the related Transferor in the applicable Transfer Agreement. The Seller shall have no obligation or liability with respect to any breach of a representation or warranty made by it with respect to the Transferred Mortgage Loans (other than any representations and warranties made by it pursuant to Sections 1.04(b)(xii), (xiii), (xiv) and (xv)) if the fact, condition or event constituting such breach also constitutes a breach of a representation or warranty made by the related Transferor in such Transfer Agreement, without regard to whether the related Transferor fulfills its contractual obligations in respect of such representation or warranty; provided, however, that if the related Transferor fulfills its obligations under the provisions of such Transfer Agreement by substituting for the affected Mortgage Loan a mortgage loan which is not a Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan, the Seller shall, in exchange for such substitute mortgage loan, provide the Depositor (a) with the applicable Purchase Price for the affected Mortgage Loan or (b) within the two-year period following the Closing Date, with a Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan for such affected Mortgage Loan. Subject to the foregoing, the Seller represents and warrants upon delivery of the Transferred Mortgage Loans to the Depositor hereunder, as to each that, as of the Closing Date:
(i)
The information set forth with respect to the Transferred Mortgage Loans on the Mortgage Loan Schedule provides an accurate listing of the Transferred Mortgage Loans, and the information with respect to each Transferred Mortgage Loan on the Mortgage Loan Schedule is true and correct in all material respects at the date or dates respecting which such information is given;
(ii)
There are no defaults (other than delinquency in payment) in complying with the terms of any Mortgage, and the Seller has no notice as to any taxes, governmental assessments, insurance premiums, water, sewer and municipal charges, leasehold payments or ground rents which previously became due and owing but which have not been paid;
(iii)
Except in the case of Cooperative Loans, if any, each Mortgage requires all buildings or other improvements on the related Mortgaged Property to be insured by a generally acceptable insurer against loss by fire, hazards of extended coverage and such other hazards as are customary in the area where the related Mortgaged Property is located pursuant to insurance policies conforming to the requirements of the guidelines of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Mac. If upon origination of the Transferred Mortgage Loan, the Mortgaged Property was in an area identified in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards (and such flood insurance has been made available), a flood insurance policy meeting the requirements of the current guidelines of the Federal Flood Insurance Administration is in effect, which policy conforms to the requirements of the current guidelines of the Federal Flood Insurance Administration. Each Mortgage obligates the related Mortgagor thereunder to maintain the hazard insurance policy at the Mortgagor’s cost and expense, and on the Mortgagor’s failure to do so, authorizes the holder of the Mortgage to obtain and maintain such insurance at such Mortgagor’s cost and expense, and to seek reimbursement therefor from the Mortgagor. Where required by state law or regulation, each Mortgagor has been given an opportunity to choose the carrier of the required hazard insurance, provided the policy is not a “master” or “blanket” hazard insurance policy covering the common facilities of a planned unit development. The hazard insurance policy is the valid and binding obligation of the insurer, is in full force and effect, and will be in full force and effect and inure to the benefit of the Depositor upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv)
Each Mortgage has not been satisfied, cancelled, subordinated or rescinded, in whole or in part, and the Mortgaged Property has not been released from the lien of the Mortgage, in whole or in part, nor has any instrument been executed that would effect any such release, cancellation, subordination or rescission;
(v)
The related Mortgage evidences a valid, subsisting, enforceable and perfected first lien on the related Mortgaged Property (including all improvements on the Mortgaged Property). The lien of the Mortgage is subject only to: (1) liens of current real property taxes and assessments not yet due and payable and, if the related Mortgaged Property is a condominium unit, any lien for common charges permitted by statute, (2) covenants, conditions and restrictions, rights of way, easements and other matters of public record as of the date of recording of such Mortgage acceptable to mortgage lending institutions in the area in which the related Mortgaged Property is located and specifically referred to in the lender’s Title Insurance Policy or attorney’s opinion of title and abstract of title delivered to the originator of such Transferred Mortgage Loan, and (3) such other matters to which like properties are commonly subject which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the benefits of the security intended to be provided by the Mortgage. Any security agreement, chattel mortgage or equivalent document related to, and delivered to the Trustee in connection with, a Transferred Mortgage Loan establishes a valid, subsisting and enforceable first lien on the property described therein and the Depositor has full right to sell and assign the same to the Trustee;
(vi)
Immediately prior to the transfer and assignment of the Transferred Mortgage Loans to the Depositor, the Seller was the sole owner of record and holder of each Mortgage Loan, and the Seller had good and marketable title thereto, and has full right to transfer and sell each Transferred Mortgage Loan to the Depositor free and clear, except as described in paragraph (v) above, of any encumbrance, equity, participation interest, lien, pledge, charge, claim or security interest, and has full right and authority, subject to no interest or participation of, or agreement with, any other party, to sell and assign each Transferred Mortgage Loan pursuant to this Agreement;
(vii)
Each Transferred Mortgage Loan other than any Cooperative Loan is covered by either (i) an attorney’s opinion of title and abstract of title the form and substance of which is generally acceptable to mortgage lending institutions originating mortgage loans in the locality where the related Mortgaged Property is located or (ii) an ALTA Mortgagee Title Insurance Policy or other generally acceptable form of policy of insurance, issued by a title insurer qualified to do business in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located, insuring the originator of the Transferred Mortgage Loan, and its successors and assigns, as to the first priority lien of the Mortgage in the original principal amount of the Transferred Mortgage Loan (subject only to the exceptions described in paragraph (v) above). If the Mortgaged Property is a condominium unit located in a state in which a title insurer will generally issue an endorsement, then the related Title Insurance Policy contains an endorsement insuring the validity of the creation of the condominium form of ownership with respect to the project in which such unit is located. With respect to any Title Insurance Policy, the originator is the sole insured of such mortgagee Title Insurance Policy, such mortgagee Title Insurance Policy is in full force and effect and will inure to the benefit of the Depositor upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no claims have been made under such mortgagee Title Insurance Policy and no prior holder of the related Mortgage, including the Seller, has done, by act or omission, anything that would impair the coverage of such mortgagee Title Insurance Policy;
(viii)
To the best of the Seller’s knowledge, no foreclosure action is being threatened or commenced with respect to any Transferred Mortgage Loan. There is no proceeding pending for the total or partial condemnation of any Mortgaged Property (or, in the case of any Cooperative Loan, the related cooperative unit) and each such property is undamaged by waste, fire, earthquake or earth movement, windstorm, flood, tornado or other casualty, so as to have a material adverse effect on the value of the related Mortgaged Property as security for the related Transferred Mortgage Loan or the use for which the premises were intended;
(ix)
There are no mechanics’ or similar liens or claims which have been filed for work, labor or material (and no rights are outstanding that under the law could give rise to such liens) affecting the related Mortgaged Property which are or may be liens prior to, or equal or coordinate with, the lien of the related Mortgage;
(x)
Each Transferred Mortgage Loan was originated by a savings and loan association, savings bank, commercial bank, credit union, insurance company or similar institution that is supervised and examined by a Federal or State authority, or by a mortgagee approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to sections 203 and 211 of the National Housing Act;
(xi)
Each Transferred Mortgage Loan is a “qualified mortgage” within the meaning of Section 860G of the Code and Treas. Reg. §1.860G-2;
(xii)
Each Transferred Mortgage Loan at the time it was made complied in all material respects with applicable local, state and federal laws, including, but not limited to, all applicable predatory and abusive lending laws;
(xiii)
No Transferred Mortgage Loan is a “high-cost” loan under any applicable federal, state or local predatory or abusive lending law;
(xiv)
No Transferred Mortgage Loan was at the time of origination subject to the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (15 U.S.C. § 1602(c)), Regulation Z (12 CFR 226.32) or any comparable state law; and
(xv)
The information set forth in the Prepayment Charge Schedules included as part of the Mortgage Loan Schedules at Schedules A and B (including the Prepayment Charge Summary attached thereto) is complete, true and correct in all material respects on the date or dates on which such information is furnished and each Prepayment Charge is permissible, originated in compliance with, and enforceable in accordance with its terms under, applicable federal, state and local law (except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership and other similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally or the collectibility thereof may be limited due to acceleration in connection with foreclosure);
(c)
In addition to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 1.04(b), all of which are also made by the Seller with respect to the Bank Originated Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date, the Seller hereby further represents and warrants to the Depositor upon the delivery to the Depositor on the Closing Date of any Bank Originated Mortgage Loans, but solely as to each Bank Originated Mortgage Loan, that, as of the Closing Date:
(i)
With respect to any hazard insurance policy covering a Bank Originated Mortgage Loan and the related Mortgaged Property, the Seller has not engaged in, and has no knowledge of the Bank’s or the borrower’s having engaged in, any act or omission which would impair the coverage of any such policy, the benefits of the endorsement provided for therein, or the validity and binding effect of either, including without limitation, no unlawful fee, commission, kickback or other unlawful compensation or value of any kind has been or will be received, retained or realized by any attorney, firm or other person or entity, and no such unlawful items have been received, retained or realized by the Seller;
(ii)
Neither the Seller nor the Bank has waived the performance by the borrower of any action, if the Mortgagor’s failure to perform such action would cause a Bank Originated Mortgage Loan to be in default, nor has the Seller or the Bank waived any default resulting from any action or inaction by the borrower;
(iii)
The terms of the Mortgage Note and Mortgage have not been impaired, waived, altered or modified in any respect, except by a written instrument which has been recorded, if necessary to protect the interests of the Depositor and which has been delivered to the Custodian;
(iv)
The Mortgaged Property relating to each Bank Originated Mortgage Loan is a fee simple property located in the state identified in the Mortgage Loan Schedule and consists of a parcel of real property with a detached single family residence erected thereon, or a two- to four-family dwelling, or an individual condominium unit in a low-rise condominium project, or an individual unit in a planned unit development; provided, however, that any condominium project or planned unit development shall conform with the applicable ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Mac requirements regarding such dwellings. No portion of the Mortgaged Property is used for commercial purposes;
(v)
The Mortgage Note and the Mortgage are genuine, and each is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the maker thereof enforceable in accordance with its terms. All parties to the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage and any other related agreement had legal capacity to enter into the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan and to execute and deliver the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage and any other related agreement, and the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage have been duly and properly executed by such parties. The documents, instruments and agreements submitted for loan underwriting were not falsified and contain no untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the information and statements therein not misleading. To the best of Seller’s knowledge, no fraud was committed in connection with the origination of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan;
(vi)
Each Bank Originated Mortgage Loan has been closed and the proceeds of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan have been fully disbursed and there is no requirement for future advances thereunder, and any and all requirements as to completion of any on-site or off-site improvement and as to disbursements of any escrow funds therefor have been complied with. All costs, fees and expenses incurred in making or closing the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan and the recording of the Mortgage were paid, and the borrower is not entitled to any refund of any amounts paid or due under the Mortgage Note or Mortgage;
(vii)
There is no default, breach, violation or event of acceleration existing under the Mortgage or the Mortgage Note and no event which, with the passage of time or with notice and the expiration of any grace or cure period, would constitute a default, breach, violation or event of acceleration, and neither the Seller nor its predecessors has waived any default, breach, violation or event of acceleration;
(viii)
All improvements which were considered in determining the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property lay wholly within the boundaries and building restriction lines of the Mortgaged Property and no improvements on adjoining properties encroach upon the Mortgaged Property. No improvement located on or being part of the Mortgaged Property is in violation of any applicable zoning law or regulation;
(ix)
Each Mortgage contains customary and enforceable provisions which render the rights and remedies of the holder thereof adequate for the realization against the related Mortgaged Property of the benefits of the security, including (A) in the case of a Mortgage designated as a deed of trust, by trustee's sale, and (B) otherwise by judicial or non-judicial foreclosure. There is no homestead or other exemption available to the related Mortgagor which would materially interfere with the right to sell the Mortgaged Property at a trustee's sale or the right to foreclose the Mortgage subject to the applicable federal and state laws and judicial precedent with respect to bankruptcy and rights of redemption. Upon default by a Mortgagor on a Bank Originated Mortgage Loan and foreclosure on, or trustee’s sale of, the Mortgaged Property pursuant to the proper procedures, the holder of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan will be able to deliver good and merchantable title to the property;
(x)
The Mortgage Note is not and has not been secured by any collateral except the lien of the corresponding Mortgage and the security interest of any applicable security agreement or chattel mortgage;
(xi)
In the event the Mortgage constitutes a deed of trust, a trustee, duly qualified under applicable law to serve as such, has been properly designated and currently so serves and is named in the Mortgage, and no fees or expenses are or will become payable by the Depositor to the trustee under the deed of trust, except in connection with a trustee’s sale after default by the Mortgagor;
(xii)
The Mortgage Note, the Mortgage, the Assignment of Mortgage and any other documents required to be delivered for the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan by the Seller under this Agreement as set forth in Section 1.02 hereof have been delivered to the Custodian. The Seller is in possession of a complete, true and accurate Mortgage File in compliance with Section 1.02 hereof, except for such documents the originals of which have been delivered to the Custodian;
(xiii)
The Assignment of Mortgage is in recordable form and is acceptable for recording under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located;
(xiv)
The Mortgage contains an enforceable provision for the acceleration of the payment of the unpaid principal balance of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan in the event that the Mortgaged Property is sold or transferred without the prior written consent of the Mortgagee thereunder;
(xv)
No Bank Originated Mortgage Loan contains provisions pursuant to which Monthly Payments are paid or partially paid with funds deposited in any separate account established by the Mortgagor or anyone on behalf of the Mortgagor, or paid by any source other than the Mortgagor, nor does any Bank Originated Mortgage Loan contain any other similar provisions currently in effect which may constitute a “buydown” provision. No Bank Originated Mortgage Loan is a graduated payment mortgage loan and no Bank Originated Mortgage Loan has a shared appreciation or other contingent interest feature;
(xvi)
Any future advances made prior to the Cut-off Date have been consolidated with the outstanding principal amount secured by the Mortgage, and the secured principal amount, as consolidated, bears a single interest rate and single repayment term. The lien of the Mortgage securing the consolidated principal amount is insured by a title insurance policy, an endorsement to the policy insuring the mortgagee’s consolidated interest or by other title evidence acceptable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Mac. The consolidated principal amount does not exceed the original principal amount of any Bank Originated Mortgage Loan;
(xvii)
The origination and collection practices used with respect to each Bank Originated Mortgage Loan have been in accordance with Accepted Servicing Practices, and have been in all respects in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. With respect to escrow deposits and escrow payments, all such payments are in the possession of the Seller and there exist no deficiencies in connection therewith for which customary arrangements for repayment thereof have not been made. All escrow payments have been collected in full compliance with state and federal law. An escrow of funds is not prohibited by applicable law and has been established in an amount sufficient to pay for every item which remains unpaid and which has been assessed but is not yet due and payable. No escrow deposits or escrow payments or other charges or payments due the Seller have been capitalized under the Mortgage or the Mortgage Note. All Mortgage Interest Rate adjustments have been made in strict compliance with state and federal law and the terms of the related Mortgage Note. Any interest required to be paid pursuant to state and local law has been properly paid and credited;
(xviii)
The Mortgage File contains an appraisal of the related Mortgage Property signed prior to the approval of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan application by a qualified appraiser, who had no interest, direct or indirect in the Mortgaged Property or in any loan made on the security thereof; and whose compensation is not affected by the approval or disapproval of the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan, and the appraisal and appraiser both satisfy the requirements of Title XI of the Federal Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, all as in effect on the date the Bank Originated Mortgage Loan was originated;
(xix)
The Mortgaged Property is free from any and all toxic or hazardous substances and there exists no violation of any local, state or federal environmental law, rule or regulation. There is no pending action or proceeding directly involving any Mortgaged Property of which the Seller is aware in which compliance with any environmental law, rule or regulation is an issue; and to the best of the Seller’s knowledge, nothing further remains to be done to satisfy in full all requirements of each such law, rule or regulation;
(xx)
The Bank Originated Mortgage Loan does not contain a provision permitting or requiring conversion to a fixed interest rate Mortgage Loan;
(xxi)
No Bank Originated Mortgage Loan was made in connection with (i) the construction or rehabilitation of a Mortgaged Property or (ii) facilitating the trade-in or exchange of a Mortgaged Property;
(xxii)
No action, inaction or event has occurred and no state of facts exists or has existed that has resulted or will result in the exclusion from, denial of or defense to coverage under any applicable pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy, primary mortgage loan insurance policy or bankruptcy bond, irrespective of the cause of such failure of coverage. In connection with the placement of any such insurance, no commission, fee or other compensation has been or will be received by the Seller or any designee of the Seller or any corporation in which the Seller or any officer, director or employee had a financial interest at the time of placement of such insurance;
(xxiii)
Each original Mortgage was recorded and, except for those Bank Originated Mortgage Loans subject to the MERS identification system, all subsequent assignments of the original Mortgage (other than the assignment to the Depositor) have been recorded in the appropriate jurisdictions wherein such recordation is necessary to perfect the liens thereof as against creditors of the Seller, or are in the process of being recorded.
(d)
With respect to any of the foregoing representations and warranties made in subparagraphs (xii), (xiii), (xiv) and (xv) of Section 1.04(b), a breach of any such representations or warranties shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect the value of the affected Mortgage Loan and the interests of Certificateholders therein, irrespective of the Seller’s knowledge of such breach.
It is understood and agreed that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 1.04(b) and 1.04(c) herein shall survive the Closing Date. Upon discovery by either the Seller or the Depositor of a breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties (excluding a breach of subparagraph (xv) under Section 1.04(b)) that adversely and materially affects the value of the related Mortgage Loan and that does not also constitute a breach of a representation or warranty of a Transferor in the related Transfer Agreement, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other party; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this paragraph shall be specifically applicable to a breach by the Seller of the representations made pursuant to subparagraphs (xii), (xiii) and (xiv) of Section 1.04(b) irrespective of the Transferor’s breach of a comparable representation or warranty made in the related Transfer Agreement. Within 60 days of the discovery of any such breach, the Seller shall either (a) cure such breach in all material respects, (b) repurchase such Mortgage Loan or any property acquired in respect thereof from the Depositor at the applicable Purchase Price or (c) within the two-year period following the Closing Date substitute a Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan for the affected Mortgage Loan.
Notwithstanding the second paragraph of Section 1.04(d), in connection with the Seller’s representations and warranties made in subparagraph (xv) of Section 1.04(b) and within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Seller or receipt of notice from the applicable Servicer of a breach of such representation and warranty by the Seller, which breach materially and adversely affects the interests of the Class P Certificateholders in any Prepayment Charge, the Seller shall, if (i) such representation and warranty is breached and a Principal Prepayment has occurred or (ii) if a change in law subsequent to the Closing Date, as applicable, limits the enforceability of the Prepayment Charge (other than in the circumstances set forth in subparagraph (xv) of Section 1.04(b)), pay, at the time of such Principal Prepayment or change in law, the amount of the scheduled Prepayment Charge, for the benefit of the holders of the Class P Certificates, by depositing such amount into the Certificate Account no later than the Deposit Date immediately following the Prepayment Period in which such Principal Prepayment on the related Mortgage Loan or such change in law has occurred, net of any Servicer Prepayment Charge Payment Amount made by the applicable Servicer with respect to the related Mortgage Loan in lieu of collection of such Prepayment Charge.
Section 1.05.
Grant Clause.
It is intended that the conveyance of the Seller’s right, title and interest in and to the Mortgage Loans and other property conveyed pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date shall constitute, and shall be construed as, a sale of such property and not a grant of a security interest to secure a loan. However, if any such conveyance is deemed to be in respect of a loan, it is intended that: (a) the rights and obligations of the parties shall be established pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (b) the Seller hereby grants to the Depositor a first priority security interest to secure payment of an obligation in an amount equal to the purchase price set forth in Section 1.01(a) in all of the Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, the Mortgage Loans and other property; and (c) this Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law.
Section 1.06.
Assignment by Depositor.
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Depositor shall assign its interest under this Agreement with respect to the Mortgage Loans to the Trustee, and the Trustee then shall succeed to all rights of the Depositor under this Agreement. All references to the rights of the Depositor in this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of and exercisable by its assignee or designee, specifically including the Trustee.
ARTICLE II.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 2.01.
Binding Nature of Agreement; Assignment.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 2.02.
Entire Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.
Section 2.03.
Amendment.
(a)
This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Seller and the Depositor, with the consent of the Trustee but without notice to or the consent of any of the Certificateholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to cause the provisions herein to conform to or be consistent with or in furtherance of the statements made with respect to the Certificates, the Trust Fund, the Trust Agreement or this Agreement in the Prospectus Supplement; or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement or (iv) to add, delete, or amend any provisions to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with any requirements imposed by the Code and the REMIC Provisions. No such amendment effected pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence shall adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Certificateholder. Any such amendment shall be deemed not to adversely affect in any material respect any Certificateholder if the Trustee receives written confirmation from each Rating Agency that such amendment will not cause such Rating Agency to reduce the then current rating assigned to the Certificates, if any (and any Opinion of Counsel requested by the Trustee in connection with any such amendment may rely expressly on such confirmation as the basis therefor).
(b)
This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the Seller and the Depositor with the consent of the Trustee and the Certificateholders of not less than 66-2/3% of the Class Principal Amount or Class Notional Amount (or Percentage Interest) of each Class of Certificates affected thereby for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Certificateholders; provided, however, 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 any Certificate without the consent of the Certificateholder of such Certificate or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentages of Class Principal Amount or Class Notional Amount (or Percentage Interest) of Certificates of each Class, the Certificateholders of which are required to consent to any such amendment without the consent of the Certificateholders of 100% of the Class Principal Amount or Class Notional Amount (or Percentage Interest) of each Class of Certificates affected thereby. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “Certificateholder” or “Certificateholders” shall be deemed to include, in the case of any Class of Book-Entry Certificates, the related Certificates Owners.
(c)
It shall not be necessary for the consent of Certificateholders under this Section 2.03 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Certificateholders shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Trustee may prescribe.
Section 2.04.
Governing Law.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW), AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
Section 2.05.
Severability of Provisions.
If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement.
Section 2.06.
Indulgences; No Waivers.
Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver, as well as the Trustee.
Section 2.07.
Headings Not to Affect Interpretation.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and they shall not be used in the interpretation hereof.
Section 2.08.
Benefits of Agreement.
The parties to this Agreement agree that it is appropriate, in furtherance of the intent of such parties set forth herein, that the Trustee enjoys the full benefit of the provisions of this Agreement each as an intended third party beneficiary; provided, however, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this Agreement and their successors hereunder, the Trustee and the Certificateholders, any benefit or legal or equitable right, power, remedy or claim under this Agreement.
Section 2.09.
Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller and the Depositor have caused their names to be signed hereto by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.,
as Seller
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Authorized Signatory
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ABS CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Israeli
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Israeli
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
TRANSFERRED MORTGAGE LOANS
MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
(including Prepayment Charge Schedules and Prepayment Charge Summary)
[To be retained in a separate closing binder entitled “LABS 2004-1 Mortgage Loan Schedules” at the Washington, DC, offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP]
SCHEDULE B
BANK ORIGINATED MORTGAGE LOANS
MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
(including Prepayment Charge Schedules and Prepayment Charge Summary)
[To be retained in a separate closing binder entitled “LABS 2004-1 Mortgage Loan Schedules” at the Washington, DC, offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP]
EXHIBIT A
CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
“Prepayment Charge:” With respect to any Mortgage Loan, the charges or premiums, if any, due in connection with a full or partial prepayment of such Mortgage Loan during a Prepayment Period in accordance with the terms thereof (other than any Servicer Prepayment Charge Payment Amount).
“Prepayment Charge Schedule:” As of any date, the list of Prepayment Charges on the Mortgage Loans included in the Trust Fund on such date, included as part of the Mortgage Loan Schedule (including the Prepayment Charge Summary attached thereto). The Prepayment Charge Schedule shall be prepared by the Seller and shall set forth the following information with respect to each Prepayment Charge:
(i)
the Mortgage Loan identifying number;
(ii)
a code indicating the type of Prepayment Charge;
(iii)
the state of origination of the related Mortgage Loan;
(iv)
the date on which the first Scheduled Payment was due on the related Mortgage Loan;
(v)
the term of the related Prepayment Charge; and
(vi)
the Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan as of the Cut-off Date.
Such Prepayment Charge Schedule shall be amended from time to time by the Seller and a copy of such amended Prepayment Charge Schedule shall be furnished by the Seller.
“Servicer Prepayment Charge Payment Amount:” The amount payable by a Servicer in respect of any impermissible waiver by the Servicer of a Prepayment Charge pursuant to the related Servicing Agreement.