-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WS4FQFEMQlr6bHN/wY7pyobZpyVx1zoCnKsuoSFwROFwr8lERdrNgPOe3uLhhZlo Hyad0c6U3q12vBrUqfJlWw== 0000882377-98-000072.txt : 19980217 0000882377-98-000072.hdr.sgml : 19980217 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000882377-98-000072 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980129 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19980212 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: IMH ASSETS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001017447 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MORTGAGE BANKERS & LOAN CORRESPONDENTS [6162] IRS NUMBER: 330705301 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-06637 FILM NUMBER: 98535214 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 20371 IRVINE AVE CITY: SANTA ANA HEIGHTS STATE: CA ZIP: 92707 BUSINESS PHONE: 7145560122 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 20371 IRVINE AVENUE CITY: SANTA ANA HEIGHTS STATE: CA ZIP: 92707 8-K 1 IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 29, 1998 IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 (as issuer under a Series 1998-1 Indenture dated as of January 29, 1998, providing for, among other things, the issuance of Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds Series 1998-1) IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 (Exact name of Issuer as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 333-38879 33-0705301 -------- --------- ---------- (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) c/o Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890 -------------------- ----- (Address of Principal (Zip Code) Executive Offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code, is (714) 556-0122 Item 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. For a description of the Bonds and the Mortgage Pool, refer to the Indenture. Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS. (a) Not applicable (b) Not applicable (c) Exhibits: EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION 3.1 Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1998, between IMH Assets Corp., as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee, Series 1998- 1. 4.1 Indenture dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as indenture trustee, Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1. 99.1 Servicing Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Impac Funding Corporation (formerly known as ICI Funding Corporation), as master servicer and Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as issuer, Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1. -2- SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 Wilmington Trust Company, not in its capacity but solely as Owner Trustee By: /s/ W. CHRIS SPONENBERG -------------------------- Name: W. Chris Sponenberg Title: Senior Financial Services Officer Dated: February 12, 1998 -3- EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION 3.1 Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1998, between IMH Assets Corp., as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee, Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1. 4.1 Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as indenture trustee, Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1. 99.1 Servicing Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Impac Funding Corporation, as master servicer and Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as issuer, Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1. -4- EX-3.1 2 AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT ================================================================================ IMH ASSETS CORP. as Depositor and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Owner Trustee ----------------------------------------- AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT Dated as of January 29, 1998 ------------------------------------------ Trust Certificates, Series 1998-1 ================================================================================ Table of Contents Section Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS...........................................................1 1.01. DEFINITIONS.............................................1 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS...........................1 ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION..........................................................3 2.01. NAME....................................................3 2.02. OFFICE..................................................3 2.03. PURPOSES AND POWERS.....................................3 2.04. APPOINTMENT OF OWNER TRUSTEE............................4 2.05. INITIAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OF OWNER TRUST ESTATE......4 2.06. DECLARATION OF TRUST....................................4 2.07. LIABILITY OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CERTIFICATES............4 2.08. TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY.................................4 2.09. SITUS OF TRUST..........................................5 2.10. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE DEPOSITOR.........5 2.11. PAYMENT OF TRUST FEES...................................6 2.12. INVESTMENT COMPANY......................................6 ARTICLE III CONVEYANCE OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS; CERTIFICATES........................7 3.01. CONVEYANCE OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS........................7 3.02. INITIAL OWNERSHIP.......................................7 3.03. THE CERTIFICATES........................................7 3.04. AUTHENTICATION OF CERTIFICATES..........................8 3.05. REGISTRATION OF AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES................................8 3.06. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES......10 3.07. PERSONS DEEMED CERTIFICATEHOLDERS......................11 3.08. ACCESS TO LIST OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS' NAMES AND ADDRESSES..............................................11 3.09. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY........................11 3.10. CERTIFICATE PAYING AGENT...............................11 ARTICLE IV AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE................................14 4.01. GENERAL AUTHORITY......................................14 SECTION PAGE 4.02. GENERAL DUTIES.........................................14 4.03. ACTION UPON INSTRUCTION................................14 4.04. NO DUTIES EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED UNDER SPECIFIED DOCUMENTS OR IN INSTRUCTIONS...........................15 4.05. RESTRICTIONS...........................................15 4.06. PRIOR NOTICE TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MATTERS........................................15 4.07. ACTION BY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MATTERS........................................16 4.08. ACTION BY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO BANKRUPTCY.............................................16 4.09. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTIFICATEHOLDERS' POWER..............16 4.10. MAJORITY CONTROL.......................................17 4.11. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION....................................17 ARTICLE V APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS...........................................18 5.01. DISTRIBUTIONS..........................................18 5.02. METHOD OF PAYMENT......................................19 5.03. TAX RETURNS............................................19 5.04. STATEMENTS TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS.......................20 ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE.........................................21 6.01. ACCEPTANCE OF TRUSTS AND DUTIES........................21 6.02. FURNISHING OF DOCUMENTS................................22 6.03. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.........................22 6.04. RELIANCE; ADVICE OF COUNSEL............................23 6.05. NOT ACTING IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY......................23 6.06. OWNER TRUSTEE NOT LIABLE FOR CERTIFICATES OR RELATED DOCUMENTS......................................24 6.07. OWNER TRUSTEE MAY OWN CERTIFICATES AND BONDS...........24 6.08. PAYMENTS FROM OWNER TRUST ESTATE.......................24 6.09. DOING BUSINESS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS..................24 6.10. LIABILITY OF CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR AND CERTIFICATE PAYING AGENT...............................25 ARTICLE VII COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE........................................26 7.01. OWNER TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES......................26 7.02. INDEMNIFICATION........................................26 ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT.......................................28 SECTION PAGE 8.01. TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT.........................28 ARTICLE IX SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES...............30 9.01. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER TRUSTEE.............30 9.02. REPLACEMENT OF OWNER TRUSTEE...........................30 9.03. SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEE................................30 9.04. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE...............31 9.05. APPOINTMENT OF CO-TRUSTEE OR SEPARATE TRUSTEE..........31 ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS........................................................33 10.01. AMENDMENTS.............................................33 10.02. NO LEGAL TITLE TO OWNER TRUST ESTATE...................34 10.03. LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF OTHERS........................34 10.04. NOTICES................................................35 10.05. SEVERABILITY...........................................35 10.06. SEPARATE COUNTERPARTS..................................35 10.07. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.................................35 10.08. NO PETITION............................................35 10.09. NO RECOURSE............................................36 10.10. HEADINGS...............................................36 10.11. GOVERNING LAW..........................................36 10.12. INTEGRATION............................................36 Signatures ...................................................................40 EXHIBIT Exhibit A - Form of Certificate..............................................A-1 Exhibit B - Certificate of Trust of Imperial CMB Trust ......................B-1 Exhibit C - Form of Rule 144A Investment Representation......................C-1 Exhibit D - Form of Certificate of Non-Foreign Status........................D-1 Exhibit E - Form of Investment Letter........................................E-1 Exhibit F - Form of Transfer Certificate.....................................F-1 This Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1998 (as amended from time to time, this "Trust Agreement"), between IMH Assets Corp., a California corporation, as depositor (the "Depositor") and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as owner trustee (the "Owner Trustee"), WITNESSETH THAT: In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the Depositor and the Owner Trustee agree as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 , as Issuer, and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, which is incorporated by referenced herein. All other capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified herein. Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS. (a) All terms defined in this Trust Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. (b) As used in this Trust Agreement and in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in this Trust Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Trust Agreement or in any such certificate or other document to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this Trust Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles, the definitions contained in this Trust Agreement or in any such certificate or other document shall control. (c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Trust Agreement shall refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Trust Agreement; Article, Section and Exhibit references contained in this Trust Agreement are references to Articles, Sections and Exhibits in or to this Trust Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term "including" shall mean "including without limitation". -2- (d) The definitions contained in this Trust Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such terms. (e) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments) references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. -3- ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION Section 2.01. NAME. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 ", in which name the Owner Trustee may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued. Section 2.02. OFFICE. The office of the Trust shall be in care of the Owner Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office or at such other address in Delaware as the Owner Trustee may designate by written notice to the Certificateholders and the Depositor. Section 2.03. PURPOSES AND POWERS. The purpose of the Trust is to engage in the following activities: (i) to issue the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and the Certificates pursuant to this Trust Agreement and to sell the Bonds and the Certificates; (ii) to pay the organizational, start-up and transactional expenses of the Trust; (iii) to assign, grant, transfer, pledge and convey the Mortgage Loans pursuant to the Indenture and to hold, manage and distribute to the Certificateholder pursuant to Section 5.01 any portion of the Mortgage Loans released from the Lien of, and remitted to the Trust pursuant to the Indenture; (iv) to enter into and perform its obligations under the Basic Documents to which it is to be a party; (v) if directed by holders of Certificates representing more than 50% of the beneficial interests in the Trust, sell the Trust Estate subsequent to the discharge of the Indenture, all for the benefit of the holders of the Certificates; (vi) to engage in those activities, including entering into agreements, that are necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish the foregoing or are incidental thereto or connected therewith; and (vii) subject to compliance with the Basic Documents, to engage in such other activities as may be required in connection with conservation of the Owner Trust Estate and the making of distributions to the Certificateholder and the Bondholders. The Trust is hereby authorized to engage in the foregoing activities. The Trust shall not engage in any activity other than in connection with the foregoing or other than as required or authorized by the terms of this Trust Agreement or the Basic Documents. -4- Section 2.04. APPOINTMENT OF OWNER TRUSTEE. The Depositor hereby appoints the Owner Trustee as trustee of the Trust effective as of the date hereof, to have all the rights, powers and duties set forth herein. Section 2.05. INITIAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OF OWNER TRUST ESTATE. The Depositor hereby sells, assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trust, as of the date hereof, the sum of $1. The Owner Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor, as of the date hereof, of the foregoing contribution, which shall constitute the initial corpus of the Trust and shall be deposited in the Certificate Distribution Account. The Owner Trustee also acknowledges on behalf of the Trust the receipt in trust of the Mortgage Loans and the rights with respect to the representations and warranties made by the Seller under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement which shall constitute the Owner Trust Estate. Section 2.06. DECLARATION OF TRUST. The Owner Trustee hereby declares that it shall hold the Owner Trust Estate in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the use and benefit of the Certificateholders, subject to the obligations of the Trust under the Basic Documents. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust constitute a "business trust" under the Business Trust Statute and that this Trust Agreement constitute the governing instrument of such business trust. It is the intention of the parties hereto that, for federal and state income and state and local franchise tax purposes, the Trust shall not be treated as (i) an association subject separately to taxation as a corporation (other than as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) a "publicly traded partnership" as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1 or (iii) a "taxable mortgage pool" as defined in Section 7701(i) of the Code, and that the Bonds shall be debt, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted to further this intention. Except as otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement, the rights of the Certificateholder will be those of equity owners of the Trust. Effective as of the date hereof, the Owner Trustee shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in the Business Trust Statute with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. Section 2.07. LIABILITY OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CERTIFICATES. The Holders of the Certificates shall be jointly and severally liable directly to and shall indemnify any injured party for all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of the Trust and the Owner Trustee (including Expenses, to the extent not paid out of the Owner Trust Estate); provided, however, that the Holders of the Certificates shall not be liable for payments required to be made on the Bonds or the Certificates, or for any losses incurred by a Certificateholder in the capacity of an investor in the Certificates or a Bondholder in the capacity of an investor in the Bonds. The Holders of the Certificates shall be liable for and shall promptly pay any entity level taxes imposed on the Trust. In addition, any third party creditors of the Trust shall be deemed third party beneficiaries of this paragraph. The obligations of the Holders of the Certificates under this paragraph shall be evidenced by the Certificates. Section 2.08. TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY. Except with respect to the Mortgage Loans, which will be assigned of record to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture, legal title to the Owner Trust Estate shall be vested at all times in the Trust as a separate legal entity except where -5- applicable law in any jurisdiction requires title to any part of the Owner Trust Estate to be vested in a trustee or trustees, in which case title shall be deemed to be vested in the Owner Trustee, a co-trustee and/or a separate trustee, as the case may be. Section 2.09. SITUS OF TRUST. The Trust will be located and administered in the State of Delaware. All bank accounts maintained by the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall be located in the State of Delaware. The Trust shall not have any employees in any state other than Delaware; provided, however, that nothing herein shall restrict or prohibit the Owner Trustee from having employees within or without the State of Delaware or taking actions outside the State of Delaware in order to comply with Section 2.03. Payments will be received by the Trust only in Delaware, New York or California, and payments will be made by the Trust only from Delaware, New York or California. The only office of the Trust will be at the Corporate Trust Office in Delaware. Section 2.10. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE DEPOSITOR. The Depositor hereby represents and warrants to the Owner Trustee that: (i) The Depositor is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California, with power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are currently owned and such business is presently conducted. (ii) The Depositor is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of its property or the conduct of its business shall require such qualifications and in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets or condition (financial or other) of the Depositor. (iii) The Depositor has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Trust Agreement and to carry out its terms; the Depositor has full power and authority to convey and assign the property to be conveyed and assigned to and deposited with the Trust as part of the Owner Trust Estate and the Depositor has duly authorized such conveyance and assignment and deposit to the Trust by all necessary corporate action; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by the Depositor by all necessary corporate action. (iv) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Depositor, or any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Depositor is a party or by which it is bound; nor result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than pursuant to the Basic Documents); nor violate any law or, to the best of the Depositor's knowledge, any -6- order, rule or regulation applicable to the Depositor of any court or of any federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Depositor or its properties. (v) The Trust is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and is not under the control of a Person required to so register. (vi) The Depositor has been a "qualified REIT subsidiary" as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code throughout its existence. Section 2.11. PAYMENT OF TRUST FEES. The Master Servicer shall remit the Owner Trustee Fee to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Servicing Agreement and the Indenture Trustee shall pay the Owner Trustee Fee pursuant to Section 8.02(b) of the Indenture. The Master Servicer shall pay the Trust's expenses (including expenses of the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee) incurred with respect to the performance of the Trust's duties under the Indenture pursuant to a separate side agreement, or, if such amounts are insufficient, the Owner Trustee shall be paid pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof. Section 2.12. INVESTMENT COMPANY. Neither the Depositor nor any holder of a Certificate shall take any action which would cause the Trust to become an "investment company" which would be required to register under the Investment Company Act. -7- ARTICLE III CONVEYANCE OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS; CERTIFICATES Section 3.01. CONVEYANCE OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS. The Depositor, concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, does hereby contribute, transfer, convey and assign to the Trust, on behalf of the Holders of the Bonds and the Certificates, without recourse, all its right, title and interest in and to the Mortgage Loans, including all interest and principal received on or with respect to the Mortgage Loans after the Cut-off Date (other than payments of principal and interest due on the Mortgage Loans on or before the Cut-off Date). In addition, the Depositor hereby assigns to the Trust all of its right, title, and interest in, to, and under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement to the extent of the Mortgage Loans. The conveyance of the Mortgage Loans by the Depositor to the Trust hereunder is intended to facilitate the simultaneous issuance of the Bonds under the Indenture and issuance of the Certificates hereunder to the Depositor as Holder, and the Depositor has no present intention of selling any of the Certificates. Accordingly, at the time of the transaction set forth herein, the Depositor will retain without interruption, through the ownership of the Certificates, the economic benefits associated with ownership of the Mortgage Loans as well as the economic burdens associated with such ownership, subject to the lien of the Indenture and subject to this Agreement. If the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement are determined to constitute a financing, the Depositor hereby grants to the Trust a security interest in the Owner Trust Estate and all distributions thereon and proceeds thereof, and this Trust Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law. Section 3.02. INITIAL OWNERSHIP. Upon the formation of the Trust by the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.05 and until the conveyance of the Mortgage Loans pursuant to Section 3.01 and the issuance of the Certificates, and thereafter except as otherwise permitted hereunder, the Depositor shall be the sole Certificateholder. Section 3.03. THE CERTIFICATES. Each Class of Certificates shall be issued in the form of one or more Certificates each representing not less than a 10% Certificate Percentage Interest of such Class. Each Class of Certificates shall initially be registered in the name of IMH Assets Corp. Each Class of Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of an authorized officer of the Owner Trustee and authenticated in the manner provided in Section 3.04. Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefit of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Certificates. A Person shall become a Certificateholder and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Certificateholder hereunder upon such Person's acceptance of a Certificate duly registered in such Person's name, pursuant to Section 3.05. -8- A transferee of a Certificate shall become a Certificateholder and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Certificateholder hereunder upon such transferee's acceptance of a Certificate duly registered in such transferee's name pursuant to and upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.05. Section 3.04. AUTHENTICATION OF CERTIFICATES. The Owner Trustee shall cause all Certificates issued hereunder to be executed and authenticated on behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its chairman of the board, its president or any vice president, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations. No Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit under this Trust Agreement or be valid for any purpose unless there shall appear on such Certificate a certificate of authen tication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, executed by the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar by manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication. Section 3.05. REGISTRATION OF AND LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES. The Certificate Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, a Certificate Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Certificate Registrar shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers and exchanges of Certificates as herein provided. Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. shall be the initial Certificate Registrar. If the Certificate Registrar resigns or is removed, the Owner Trustee shall appoint a successor Certificate Registrar. Subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth below with respect to the Certificate, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 3.09, the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar shall execute, authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate amount dated the date of authentication by the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar. At the option of a Holder, Certificates may be exchanged for other Certificates of authorized denominations of a like aggregate amount upon surrender of the Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 3.09. Every Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Certificate Registrar in accordance with its customary practice. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificates, but the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Certificates. -9- No Person shall become a Certificateholder until it shall establish its non-foreign status by submitting to the Certificate Paying Agent an IRS Form W-9 and the Certificate of Non-Foreign Status set forth in Exhibit D hereto. No transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition of a Certificate shall be made unless such transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or is made in accordance with said Act and laws. In the event of any such transfer, the Certificate Registrar or the Depositor shall prior to such transfer require the transferee to execute (A) either (i) (a) an investment letter in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (or in such form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor) which investment letters shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and which investment letter states that, among other things, such transferee (a) is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A, acting for its own account or the accounts of other "qualified institutional buyers" as defined under Rule 144A, and (b) is aware that the proposed transferor intends to rely on the exemption from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Rule 144A or (ii) (a) a written Opinion of Counsel acceptable to and in form and substance satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor that such transfer may be made pursuant to an exemption, describing the applicable exemption and the basis therefor, from said Act and laws or is being made pursuant to said Act and laws, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and (b) the transferee executes a representation letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, and the transferor executes a representation letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, each acceptable to and in form and substance satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor certifying the facts surrounding such transfer, which representation letters shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and (B) the Certifi cate of Non-Foreign Status (in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D) acceptable to and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor, which certificate shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Depositor. The Holder of a Certificate desiring to effect such transfer shall, and does hereby agree to, indemnify the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer and the Depositor against any liability that may result if the transfer is not so exempt or is not made in accordance with such federal and state laws. No transfer of Certificates or any interest therein shall be made to any employee benefit plan or certain other retirement plans and arrangements, including individual retirement accounts and annuities, Keogh plans and bank collective investment funds and insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans, accounts or arrangements are invested, that are subject to ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code (collectively, "Plan"), any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of any such Plan or any Person acquiring such Certificates with "plan assets" of a Plan within the meaning of the Department of Labor regulation promulgated at 29 C.F.R. ss.2510.3-101 ("Plan Assets") unless the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer are provided with an Opinion of Counsel which establishes to the -10- satisfaction of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer that the purchase of Certificates is permissible under applicable law, will not constitute or result in any prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and will not subject the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Master Servicer to any obligation or liability (including obligations or liabilities under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) in addition to those undertaken in this Agreement, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Master Servicer. In lieu of such Opinion of Counsel, a Plan, any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of any such Plan or any Person acquiring such Certificates with Plan Assets of a Plan may provide a certification in the form of Exhibit G to this Agreement, which the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer may rely upon without further inquiry or investigation. Neither an Opinion of Counsel nor a certification will be required in connection with the initial transfer of any such Certificate by the Depositor to an affiliate of the Depositor (in which case, the Depositor or any affiliate thereof shall have deemed to have represented that such affiliate is not a Plan or a Person investing Plan Assets of any Plan) and the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a representation (which, upon the request of the Owner Trustee, shall be a written representation) from the Depositor of the status of such transferee as an affiliate of the Depositor. No offer, sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition (including any pledge, sale or transfer under a repurchase transaction or securities loan) of any Certificate shall be made to any transferee unless, prior to such disposition, the proposed transferor delivers to the Owner Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, rendered by a law firm generally recognized to be qualified to opine concerning the tax aspects of asset securitization, to the effect that such transfer (including any disposition permitted following any default under any pledge or repurchase transaction) will not cause the Trust to be (i) treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (other than as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) taxable as a taxable mortgage pool as defined in Section 7701(i) of the Code or (iii) taxable as a "publicly traded partnership" as defined in Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to the initial transfer of the Certificates to the Depositor. No offer, sale, transfer or other disposition (including pledge) of any Certificate shall be made to any affiliate of the Depositor or the Issuer, other than the initial transfer of the Certificates to the Depositor. Section 3.06. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES. If (a) any mutilated Certificate shall be surrendered to the Certificate Registrar, or if the Certificate Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Certificate Registrar and the Owner Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice to the Certificate Registrar or the Owner Trustee that such Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Owner Trustee shall execute on behalf of the Trust and the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar, shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such -11- mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like tenor and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 3.06, the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any expenses of the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar (including fees and expenses of counsel) and any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 shall constitute conclusive evidence of ownership in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 3.07. PERSONS DEEMED CERTIFICATEHOLDERS. Prior to due presentation of a Certificate for registration of transfer, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or any Certificate Paying Agent may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register as the owner of such Certificate for the purpose of receiving distributions pursuant to Section 5.02 and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or any Paying Agent shall be bound by any notice to the contrary. Section 3.08. ACCESS TO LIST OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS' NAMES AND ADDRESSES. The Certificate Registrar shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Depositor or the Owner Trustee, within 15 days after receipt by the Certificate Registrar of a written request therefor from the Depositor or the Owner Trustee, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Certificateholders as of the most recent Record Date. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Certificate, shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold any of the Trust, the Depositor, the Certificate Registrar or the Owner Trustee accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived. Section 3.09. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY. The Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust, shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Owner Trustee in respect of the Certificates and the Basic Documents may be served. The Owner Trustee initially designates the Corporate Trust Office as its office for such purposes. The Owner Trustee shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and the Certif icateholders of any change in the location of the Certificate Register or any such office or agency. Section 3.10. CERTIFICATE PAYING AGENT. (a) The Certificate Paying Agent shall make distributions to Certificateholders from the Certificate Distribution Account on behalf of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the Certificates and Section 5.01 hereof from payments remitted to the Certificate Paying Agent by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Indenture. The Trust hereby appoints Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. as Certificate Paying Agent and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. hereby accepts such appointment and further agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of this Trust Agreement relating to the Certificate Paying Agent and shall: -12- (i) hold all sums held by it for the payment of amounts due with respect to the Certificates in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (ii) give the Owner Trustee notice of any default by the Trust of which it has actual knowledge in the making of any payment required to be made with respect to the Certificates; (iii) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Owner Trustee forthwith pay to the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust all sums so held in Trust by such Certificate Paying Agent; (iv) not resign from its position as Certificate Paying Agent except that it shall immediately resign as Certificate Paying Agent and forthwith pay to the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust all sums held by it in trust for the payment of Certificates if at any time it ceases to meet the standards under this Section 3.10 required to be met by the Certificate Paying Agent at the time of its appointment; (v) comply with all requirements of the Code with respect to the withholding from any payments made by it on any Certificates of any applicable withholding taxes imposed thereon and with respect to any applicable reporting requirements in connection therewith; and (vi) not institute Bankruptcy proceedings against the Issuer in connection with this Trust Agreement. (b) The Trust may revoke such power and remove the Certificate Paying Agent if it determines in its sole discretion that the Certificate Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement in any material respect. In the event that Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. shall no longer be the Certificate Paying Agent under this Trust Agreement and Paying Agent under the Indenture, the Owner Trustee shall appoint a successor to act as Certificate Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company) and which shall also be the successor Paying Agent under the Indenture. The Owner Trustee shall cause such successor Certificate Paying Agent or any additional Certificate Paying Agent appointed by the Owner Trustee to execute and deliver to the Owner Trustee an instrument to the effect set forth in this Section 3.10 as it relates to the Certificate Paying Agent. The Certificate Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Trust and upon removal of a Certificate Paying Agent such Certificate Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Trust. The provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.03, 6.04 and 7.01 shall apply to the Certificate Paying Agent to the extent applicable. Any reference in this Agreement to the Certificate Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise. (c) The Certificate Paying Agent shall establish and maintain with itself a trust account (the "Certificate Distribution Account") in which the Certificate Paying Agent shall deposit, on -13- the same day as it is received from the Indenture Trustee, each remittance received by the Certificate Paying Agent with respect to payments made pursuant to the Indenture. The Certificate Paying Agent shall make all distributions to Certificates, from moneys on deposit in the Certificate Distribution Account, in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof. -14- ARTICLE IV AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE Section 4.01. GENERAL AUTHORITY. The Owner Trustee is authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Basic Documents to which the Trust is to be a party and each certificate or other document attached as an exhibit to or contemplated by the Basic Documents to which the Trust is to be a party and any amendment or other agreement or instrument described herein, as evidenced conclusively by the Owner Trustee's execution thereof. In addition to the foregoing, the Owner Trustee is authorized, but shall not be obligated, except as otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement, to take all actions required of the Trust pursuant to the Basic Documents. Section 4.02. GENERAL DUTIES. It shall be the duty of the Owner Trustee to discharge (or cause to be discharged) all of its responsibilities pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement and the Basic Documents to which the Trust is a party and to administer the Trust in the interest of the Certificateholders, subject to the Basic Documents and in accordance with the provisions of this Trust Agreement. Section 4.03. ACTION UPON INSTRUCTION. (a) Subject to Article IV and in accordance with the terms of the Basic Documents, the Certificateholders may by written instruction direct the Owner Trustee in the management of the Trust. Such direction may be exercised at any time by written instruction of the Certificateholders pursuant to Article IV. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Owner Trustee shall not be required to take any action hereunder or under any Basic Document if the Owner Trustee shall have reasonably determined, or shall have been advised by counsel, that such action is likely to result in liability on the part of the Owner Trustee or is contrary to the terms hereof or of any Basic Document or is otherwise contrary to law. (c) Whenever the Owner Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action permitted or required by the terms of this Trust Agreement or under any Basic Document, or in the event that the Owner Trustee is unsure as to the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document or any such provision is ambiguous as to its application, or is, or appears to be, in conflict with any other applicable provision, or in the event that this Trust Agreement permits any determination by the Owner Trustee or is silent or is incomplete as to the course of action that the Owner Trustee is required to take with respect to a particular set of facts, the Owner Trustee shall promptly give notice (in such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the Certificateholders requesting instruction as to the course of action to be adopted, and to the extent the Owner Trustee acts in good faith in accordance with any written instruction of the Certificateholders, the Owner Trustee shall not be liable on account of such action to any Person. If the Owner Trustee shall not have received appropriate instruction within 10 days of such notice (or within such shorter period of time as reasonably may be specified in such notice or may be necessary under the circumstances) it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement or the Basic -15- Documents, as it shall deem to be in the best interests of the Certificateholders, and the Owner Trustee shall have no liability to any Person for such action or inaction. Section 4.04. NO DUTIES EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED UNDER SPECIFIED DOCUMENTS OR IN INSTRUCTIONS. The Owner Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to manage, make any payment with respect to, register, record, sell, dispose of, or otherwise deal with the Owner Trust Estate, or to otherwise take or refrain from taking any action under, or in connection with, any document contemplated hereby to which the Owner Trustee is a party, except as expressly provided (i) in accordance with the powers granted to and the authority conferred upon the Owner Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement, (ii) in accordance with the Basic Documents and (iii) in accordance with any document or instruction delivered to the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 4.03; and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document against the Owner Trustee. The Owner Trustee shall have no responsibility for filing any financing or continuation statement in any public office at any time or to otherwise perfect or maintain the perfection of any security interest or lien granted to it hereunder or to prepare or file any Securities and Exchange Commission filing for the Trust or to record this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document. The Owner Trustee nevertheless agrees that it will, at its own cost and expense, promptly take all action as may be necessary to discharge any liens on any part of the Owner Trust Estate that result from actions by, or claims against, the Owner Trustee that are not related to the ownership or the administration of the Owner Trust Estate. Section 4.05. RESTRICTIONS. (a) The Owner Trustee or the Depositor (or an Affiliate thereof) shall not take any action (x) that is inconsistent with the purposes of the Trust set forth in Section 2.03 or (y) that, to the actual knowledge of the Owner Trustee based on an Opinion of Counsel rendered by a law firm generally recognized to be qualified to opine concerning the tax aspects of asset securitization, would result in the Trust becoming taxable as a corporation (other than as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code) for federal income tax purposes. The Certificateholders shall not direct the Owner Trustee to take action that would violate the provisions of this Section 4.05. (b) The Owner Trustee shall not convey or transfer any of the Trust's properties or assets, including those included in the Trust Estate, to any person unless (a) it shall have received an Opinion of Counsel rendered by a law firm generally recognized to be qualified to opine concerning the tax aspects of asset securitization to the effect that such transaction will not have any material adverse tax consequence to the Trust or any Certificateholder and (b) such conveyance or transfer shall not violate the provisions of Section 3.16(b) of the Indenture. Section 4.06. PRIOR NOTICE TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MATTERS. With respect to the following matters, the Owner Trustee shall not take action unless at least 30 days before the taking of such action, the Owner Trustee shall have notified the Certificateholders in writing of the proposed action and the Certificateholders shall not have notified the Owner Trustee -16- in writing prior to the 30th day after such notice is given that such Certificateholders have withheld consent or provided alternative direction: (a) the initiation of any claim or lawsuit by the Trust (except claims or lawsuits brought in connection with the collection of cash distributions due and owing under the Mortgage Loans) and the compromise of any action, claim or lawsuit brought by or against the Trust (except with respect to the aforementioned claims or lawsuits for collection of cash distributions due and owing under the Mortgage Loans); (b) the election by the Trust to file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust (unless such amendment is required to be filed under the Business Trust Statute); (c) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the consent of any Bondholder is required; (d) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the consent of any Bondholder is not required and such amendment materially adversely affects the interest of the Certificateholders; and (e) the appointment pursuant to the Indenture of a successor Bond Registrar, Paying Agent or Indenture Trustee or pursuant to this Trust Agreement of a successor Certificate Registrar or Certificate Paying Agent or the consent to the assignment by the Bond Registrar, Paying Agent, Indenture Trustee, Certificate Registrar or Certificate Paying Agent of its obligations under the Indenture or this Trust Agreement, as applicable. Section 4.07. ACTION BY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MATTERS. The Owner Trustee shall not have the power, except upon the direction of the Certificateholders, to (a) remove the Master Servicer under the Servicing Agreement pursuant to Sections 7.01 and 8.05 thereof or (b) except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, sell the Mortgage Loans after the termination of the Indenture. The Owner Trustee shall take the actions referred to in the preceding sentence only upon written instructions signed by the Certificateholders. Section 4.08. ACTION BY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO BANKRUPTCY. The Owner Trustee shall not have the power to commence a voluntary proceeding in bankruptcy relating to the Trust without the unanimous prior approval of all Certificateholders and the consent of the Bondholders and the Owner Trustee and the delivery to the Owner Trustee by each such Certificateholder of a certificate certifying that such Certificateholder reasonably believes that the Trust is insolvent. This paragraph shall survive for one year following termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 4.09. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTIFICATEHOLDERS' POWER. The Certificateholders shall not direct the Owner Trustee to take or to refrain from taking any action if such action or inaction would be contrary to any obligation of the Trust or the Owner Trustee under this Trust Agreement -17- or any of the Basic Documents or would be contrary to Section 2.03, nor shall the Owner Trustee be obligated to follow any such direction, if given. Section 4.10. MAJORITY CONTROL. Except as expressly provided herein, any action that may be taken by the Certificateholders under this Trust Agreement may be taken by the Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the Voting Rights of the Certificates. Except as expressly provided herein, any written notice of the Certificateholders delivered pursuant to this Trust Agreement shall be effective if signed by Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the Voting Rights of the Certificates at the time of the delivery of such notice. Section 4.11. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. Upon receipt of written instructions provided to the Owner Trustee by the Holder or Holders of 100% of each Class of Certificates, the Owner Trustee shall cause the Issuer to redeem the Bonds in accordance with Section 8.07 of the Indenture and shall provide all necessary notices on behalf of the Issuer to effect the foregoing, provided that such Holder or Holders shall deposit with the Indenture Trustee an amount equal to the aggregate redemption price specified under Section 8.07 of the Indenture, which shall be applied by the Indenture Trustee solely to make such redemption payments. The Owner Trustee shall not have the power to exercise the right of the Issuer to redeem the Bonds pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture, except as provided above. -18- ARTICLE V APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS Section 5.01. DISTRIBUTIONS. (a) On each Payment Date, the Certificate Paying Agent shall distribute to the Certificateholders, all funds on deposit in the Certificate Distribution Account and available for distribution on such Payment Date. (i) On each Payment Date, amounts on deposit in the Certificate Distribution Account in respect of the Interest Remittance Amount following distributions pursuant to Section 3.05(b)(ii) of the Indenture shall be distributed in the following order of priority, in each case to the extent of the then remaining Interest Remittance Amount: (A) first, to the Owner Trustee, in respect of any amount owing to the Owner Trustee hereunder and in respect of any Expenses of the Trust remaining unpaid pursuant to Section 2.11 of this Agreement; and (B) second, to the Certificateholders, on a pro rata basis, based on the Accrued Certificate Interest thereon, the Accrued Certificate Interest on each Class of Certificates for such Payment Date, plus any such Accrued Certificate Interest remaining unpaid from any previous Payment Date provided, that if the Interest Remittance Amount is insufficient to pay the Certificateholders in full any Accrued Certificate Interest thereon, the amount of such shortfall shall be allocated first, to the Class X Certificates, second, to the Class C-3 Certificates, third, to the Class C-2 Certificates and fourth, to the Class C-1 Certificates. (ii) On each Payment Date, amounts on deposit in the Certificate Distribution Account in respect of the Principal Remittance Amount following distributions pursuant to Section 3.05(c)(i) of the Indenture shall be distributed in the following order of priority, in each case to the extent of the then remaining Principal Remittance Amount: (A) first, to the Owner Trustee, in respect of any amount owing to the Owner Trustee hereunder and in respect of any Expenses of the Trust remaining unpaid pursuant to Section 2.11 and Section 5.01(a)(1)(A) of this Agreement; and (B) second, to the Class C Certificateholders, to the Class C Certificates, on a pro rata basis, based on the then-current Certificate Principal Balances, the remainder of the Principal Remittance Amount, in reduction of the Certificate Principal Balances thereof, until reduced to zero. (iii) In the events that the Certificate Paying Agent receives amounts in connection with Section 5.04 of the Indenture, such amounts shall be distributed to the Certificates as follows: -19- (A) first, to the Owner Trustee, in respect of any amount owing to the Owner Trustee hereunder and in respect of any Expenses of the Trust remaining unpaid pursuant to Section 2.11 of this Agreement; and (B) second, to the Certificateholders on a pro rata basis, first, in respect of any Accrued Certificate Interest thereon and second, in reduction of the Certificate Principal Balances thereof, until such balances have been reduced to zero. (b) In the event that any withholding tax is imposed on the distributions (or allocations of income) to a Certificateholder, such tax shall reduce the amount otherwise distributable to the Certificateholder in accordance with this Section 5.01. The Certificate Paying Agent is hereby authorized and directed to retain or cause to be retained from amounts otherwise distributable to the Certificateholders sufficient funds for the payment of any tax that is legally owed by the Trust (but such authorization shall not prevent the Owner Trustee from contesting any such tax in appropriate proceedings, and withholding payment of such tax, if permitted by law, pending the outcome of such proceedings). The amount of any withholding tax imposed with respect to a Certificateholder shall be treated as cash distributed to such Certificateholder at the time it is withheld by the Certificate Paying Agent and remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. If there is a possibility that withholding tax is payable with respect to a distribution (such as a distribution to a non-U.S. Certificateholder), the Certificate Paying Agent may in its sole discretion withhold such amounts in accordance with this paragraph (b). (c) Distributions to Certificateholders shall be subordinated to the creditors of the Trust, including the Bondholders. Section 5.02. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Subject to Section 8.01(c), distributions required to be made to Certificateholders on any Payment Date as provided in Section 5.01 shall be made to each Certificateholder of record on the preceding Record Date either by, in the case of any Certificateholder owning a Class of Certificates having a Certificate Percentage Interest of 100%, wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to the account of such Holder at a bank or other entity having appropriate facilities therefor, if such Certificateholder shall have provided to the Certificate Registrar appropriate written instructions at least five Business Days prior to such Payment Date or, if not, by check mailed to such Certificateholder at the address of such Holder appearing in the Certificate Register. Section 5.03. TAX RETURNS. The Master Servicer shall (a) maintain (or cause to be maintained) the books of the Trust on a calendar year basis using the accrual method of accounting, (b) deliver (or cause to be delivered) to each Certificateholder as may be required by the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations, such information as may be required to enable each Certificateholder to prepare its federal and state income tax returns, (c) prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed such tax returns relating to the Trust as may be required by the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations (making such elections as may from time to time be required or appropriate under any applicable state or federal statutes, rules or regulations) and (d) collect or cause to be collected any withholding tax as described in and in accordance with Section 5.01 of -20- this Trust Agreement with respect to income or distributions to Certificateholders and prepare or cause to be prepared the appropriate forms relating thereto. The Owner Trustee shall sign all tax and information returns prepared or caused to be prepared by the Master Servicer pursuant to this Section 5.03 at the request of the Master Servicer, and in doing so shall rely entirely upon, and shall have no liability for information or calculations provided by, the Master Servicer. Section 5.04. STATEMENTS TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS. On each Payment Date, the Certificate Paying Agent shall send to each Certificateholder the statement or statements provided to the Owner Trustee and the Certificate Paying Agent by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 7.05 of the Indenture with respect to such Payment Date. -21- ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE Section 6.01. ACCEPTANCE OF TRUSTS AND DUTIES. The Owner Trustee accepts the trusts hereby created and agrees to perform its duties hereunder with respect to such trusts but only upon the terms of this Trust Agreement. The Owner Trustee and the Certificate Paying Agent also agree to disburse all moneys actually received by it constituting part of the Owner Trust Estate upon the terms of the Basic Documents and this Trust Agreement. The Owner Trustee shall not be answerable or accountable hereunder or under any Basic Document under any circumstances, except (i) for its own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or grossly negligent failure to act or (ii) in the case of the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in Section 6.03 expressly made by the Owner Trustee. In particular, but not by way of limitation (and subject to the exceptions set forth in the preceding sentence): (a) The Owner Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the instructions of the Certificateholders permitted under this Trust Agreement; (b) No provision of this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document shall require the Owner Trustee to expend or risk funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its rights, duties or powers hereunder or under any Basic Document if the Owner Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it; (c) Under no circumstances shall the Owner Trustee be liable for indebtedness evidenced by or arising under any of the Basic Documents, including the principal of and interest on the Bonds; (d) The Owner Trustee shall not be responsible for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement or for the due execution hereof by the Depositor or for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or validity of any of the Owner Trust Estate, or for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of the Basic Documents, the Bonds, the Certificates, other than the certificate of authentication on the Certificates, if executed by the Owner Trustee and the Owner Trustee shall in no event assume or incur any liability, duty, or obligation to any Bondholder or to any Certificateholder, other than as expressly provided for herein or expressly agreed to in the Basic Documents; (e) The execution, delivery, authentication and performance by it of this Trust Agreement will not require the authorization, consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the filing or registration with, or the taking of any other action with respect to, any governmental authority or agency; -22- (f) The Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of the Depositor, Indenture Trustee, Certificate Registrar or the Master Servicer under any of the Basic Documents or otherwise and the Owner Trustee shall have no obligation or liability to perform the obligations of the Trust under this Trust Agreement or the Basic Documents that are required to be performed by the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture or the Seller under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement; and (g) The Owner Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it or duties imposed by this Trust Agreement, or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation under this Trust Agreement or otherwise or in relation to this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document, at the request, order or direction of any of the Certificateholders, unless such Certificateholders have offered to the Owner Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by the Owner Trustee therein or thereby. The right of the Owner Trustee to perform any discretionary act enumerated in this Trust Agreement or in any Basic Document shall not be construed as a duty, and the Owner Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of any such act. Section 6.02. FURNISHING OF DOCUMENTS. The Owner Trustee shall furnish to the Securityholders promptly upon receipt of a written reasonable request therefor, duplicates or copies of all reports, notices, requests, demands, certificates, financial statements and any other instruments furnished to the Trust under the Basic Documents. Section 6.03. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Owner Trustee hereby represents and warrants to the Depositor, for the benefit of the Certificateholders, that: (a) It is a banking corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. It has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement; (b) It has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of this Trust Agreement, and this Trust Agreement will be executed and delivered by one of its officers who is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Trust Agreement on its behalf; (c) Neither the execution nor the delivery by it of this Trust Agreement, nor the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by it with any of the terms or provisions hereof will contravene any federal or Delaware law, governmental rule or regulation governing the banking or trust powers of the Owner Trustee or any judgment or order binding on it, or constitute any default under its charter documents or bylaws or any indenture, mortgage, contract, agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound; (d) This Trust Agreement, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Owner Trustee and the Depositor, constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Owner -23- Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; (e) The Owner Trustee is not in default with respect to any order or decree of any court or any order, regulation or demand of any Federal, state, municipal or governmental agency, which default might have consequences that would materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or other) or operations of the Owner Trustee or its properties or might have consequences that would materially adversely affect its performance hereunder; and (f) No litigation is pending or, to the best of the Owner Trustee's knowledge, threatened against the Owner Trustee which would prohibit its entering into this Trust Agreement or performing its obligations under this Trust Agreement. Section 6.04. RELIANCE; ADVICE OF COUNSEL. (a) The Owner Trustee shall incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any signature, instrument, notice, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, note, or other document or paper believed by it to be genuine and believed by it to be signed by the proper party or parties. The Owner Trustee may accept a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of any corporate party as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted by such body and that the same is in full force and effect. As to any fact or matter the method of determination of which is not specifically prescribed herein, the Owner Trustee may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate, signed by the president or any vice president or by the treasurer or other authorized officers of the relevant party, as to such fact or matter and such certificate shall constitute full protection to the Owner Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance thereon. (b) In the exercise or administration of the Trust hereunder and in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement or the Basic Documents, the Owner Trustee (i) may act directly or through its agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees (including persons acting under a power of attorney) pursuant to agreements entered into with any of them, and the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the conduct or misconduct of such agents, attorneys , custodians or nominees (including persons acting under a power of attorney) if such persons have been selected by the Owner Trustee with reasonable care, and (ii) may consult with counsel, accountants and other skilled persons to be selected with reasonable care and employed by it. The Owner Trustee shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith by it in accordance with the written opinion or advice of any such counsel, accountants or other such Persons and not contrary to this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document. Section 6.05. NOT ACTING IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. Except as provided in this Article VI, in accepting the trusts hereby created Wilmington Trust Company acts solely as Owner Trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all Persons having any claim against the Owner -24- Trustee by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement or any Basic Document shall look only to the Owner Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof. Section 6.06. OWNER TRUSTEE NOT LIABLE FOR CERTIFICATES OR RELATED DOCUMENTS. The recitals contained herein and in the Certificates (other than the signatures of the Owner Trustee on the Certificates) shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor, and the Owner Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Owner Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement, of any Basic Document or of the Certificates (other than the signatures of the Owner Trustee on the Certificates) or the Bonds, or of any Related Documents. The Owner Trustee shall at no time have any responsibility or liability with respect to the sufficiency of the Owner Trust Estate or its ability to generate the payments to be distributed to Certificateholders under this Trust Agreement or the Bondholders under the Indenture, including compliance by the Depositor or the Seller with any warranty or representation made under any Basic Document or in any related document or the accuracy of any such warranty or representation, or any action of the Certificate Paying Agent, the Certificate Registrar or the Indenture Trustee taken in the name of the Owner Trustee. Section 6.07. OWNER TRUSTEE MAY OWN CERTIFICATES AND BONDS. The Owner Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may, subject to Section 3.05, become the owner or pledgee of Certificates or Bonds and may deal with the Depositor, the Seller, the Certificate Paying Agent, the Certificate Registrar and the Indenture Trustee in transactions with the same rights as it would have if it were not Owner Trustee. Section 6.08. PAYMENTS FROM OWNER TRUST ESTATE. All payments to be made by the Owner Trustee under this Trust Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to which the Owner Trustee is a party shall be made only from the income and proceeds of the Owner Trust Estate or from other amounts required to be provided by the Certificateholders and only to the extent that the Owner Trust shall have received income or proceeds from the Owner Trust Estate or the Certificateholders to make such payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Wilmington Trust Company, in its individual capacity, shall not be liable for any amounts payable under this Trust Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to which the Owner Trustee is a party. Section 6.09. DOING BUSINESS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither Wilmington Trust Company nor the Owner Trustee shall be required to take any action in any jurisdiction other than in the State of Delaware if the taking of such action will, even after the appointment of a co-trustee or separate trustee in accordance with Section 9.05 hereof, (i) require the consent or approval or authorization or order of or the giving of notice to, or the registration with or the taking of any other action in respect of, any state or other governmental authority or agency of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; (ii) result in any fee, tax or other governmental charge under the laws of the State of Delaware becoming payable by Wilmington Trust Company; or (iii) subject Wilmington Trust Company to personal jurisdiction in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware for causes of action arising from acts unrelated to the consummation of the transactions by Wilmington Trust Company or the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, contemplated hereby. -25- Section 6.10. LIABILITY OF CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR AND CERTIFICATE PAYING AGENT. All provisions affording protection to or limiting the liability of the Owner Trustee shall inure as well to the Certificate Registrar and Certificate Paying Agent. -26- ARTICLE VII COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE Section 7.01. OWNER TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES. The Owner Trustee shall receive as compensation for its services hereunder such fees as have been separately agreed upon before the date hereof, and the Owner Trustee shall be reimbursed by the Depositor or the Master Servicer for its reasonable expenses hereunder and under the Basic Documents, including the reasonable compensation, expenses and disbursements of such agents, representatives, experts and counsel as the Owner Trustee may reasonably employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its rights and its duties hereunder and under the Basic Documents. The amount of the Owner Trustee Fee shall be paid by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) of the Servicing Agreement and Section 2.11 hereof, and all amounts owing to the Owner Trustee hereunder in excess of such amount shall be paid pursuant to a separate side agreement or as provided in Section 5.01 hereof. Section 7.02. INDEMNIFICATION. The Depositor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Owner Trustee and the Certificate Paying Agent, solely in its capacity as Certificate Paying Agent, and their respective successors, assigns, agents and servants (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, taxes, claims, actions and suits, and any and all reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements (including reason able legal fees and expenses) of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, "Expenses") which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Indemnified Party in any way relating to or arising out of this Trust Agreement, the Basic Documents, the Owner Trust Estate, the administration of the Owner Trust Estate or the action or inaction of the Owner Trustee and the Certificate Paying Agent, solely in its capacity as Certificate Paying Agent, hereunder, provided, that: (i) the Depositor shall not be liable for or required to indemnify an Indemnified Party from and against Expenses arising or resulting from the Owner Trustee's or the Certificate Paying Agent's willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or as a result of any inaccuracy of a representation or warranty of the Owner Trustee contained in Section 6.03 expressly made by the Owner Trustee; (ii) with respect to any such claim, the Indemnified Party shall have given the Depositor written notice thereof promptly after the Indemnified Party shall have actual knowledge thereof; (iii) while maintaining control over its own defense, the Depositor shall consult with the Indemnified Party in preparing such defense; and (iv) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Depositor shall not be liable for settlement of any claim by an Indemnified Party entered into without the prior consent of the Depositor which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. -27- The indemnities contained in this Section shall survive the resignation or termination of the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Paying Agent or the termination of this Trust Agreement. In the event of any claim, action or proceeding for which indemnity will be sought pursuant to this Section 7.02, the Owner Trustee's or the Certificate Paying Agent's choice of legal counsel, if other than the legal counsel retained by the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Paying Agent in connection with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, shall be subject to the approval of the Depositor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In addition, upon written notice to the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Paying Agent and with the consent of the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Paying Agent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Depositor has the right to assume the defense of any claim, action or proceeding against the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Paying Agent. -28- ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT Section 8.01. TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT. (a) This Trust Agreement (other than Article VII) and the Trust shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (i) the final distribution of all moneys or other property or proceeds of the Owner Trust Estate in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and this Trust Agreement, (ii) the distribution of all of the assets of the Owner Trust Estate, in accordance with written instructions provided to the Owner Trustee by Holders of a 100% Certificate Percentage Interest of each Class of Certificates, following the optional redemption of the Bonds by the Issuer pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture; provided in each case that all amounts owing to the Bondholders to the extent payable from the Owner Trust Estate or proceeds thereof have been paid in full and that all obligations under the Indenture have been discharged. The bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, death or incapacity of any Certificateholder shall not (x) operate to terminate this Trust Agreement or the Trust or (y) entitle such Certificateholder's legal representatives or heirs to claim an accounting or to take any action or proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of all or any part of the Trust or the Owner Trust Estate or (z) otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto. (b) Except as provided in Section 8.01(a), neither the Depositor nor any Certificateholder shall be entitled to revoke or terminate the Trust. (c) Notice of any termination of the Trust, specifying the Payment Date upon which Certificateholders shall surrender their Certificates to the Certificate Paying Agent for payment of the final distribution and cancellation, shall be given by the Certificate Paying Agent by letter to Certificateholders mailed within five Business Days of receipt of notice of the final payment on the Bonds from the Indenture Trustee, stating (i) the Payment Date upon or with respect to which final payment of the Certificates shall be made upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates at the office of the Certificate Paying Agent therein designated, (ii) the amount of any such final payment and (iii) that the Record Date otherwise applicable to such Payment Date is not applicable, payments being made only upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates at the office of the Certificate Payment Agent therein specified. The Certificate Paying Agent shall give such notice to the Owner Trustee and the Certificate Registrar at the time such notice is given to Certificateholders. Upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates, the Certificate Paying Agent shall cause to be distributed to Certificateholders amounts distributable on such Payment Date pursuant to Section 5.01. In the event that all of the Certificateholders shall not surrender their Certificates for cancellation within six months after the date specified in the above mentioned written notice, the Certificate Paying Agent shall give a second written notice to the remaining Certificateholders to surrender their Certificates for cancellation and receive the final distribution with respect thereto. Subject to applicable laws with respect to escheat of funds, if within one year following the Payment Date on which final payment of the Certificates was to have been made pursuant to -29- Section 3.03 of the Indenture, all the Certificates shall not have been surrendered for cancellation, the Certificate Paying Agent may take appropriate steps, or may appoint an agent to take appropriate steps, to contact the remaining Certificateholders concerning surrender of their Certif icates, and the cost thereof shall be paid out of the funds and other assets that shall remain subject to this Trust Agreement. Any funds remaining in the Certificate Distribution Account after exhaustion of such remedies shall be distributed by the Certificate Paying Agent to the Holder of the Certificate. (d) Upon the winding up of the Trust and its termination, the Owner Trustee shall cause the Certificate of Trust to be cancelled by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of Section 3810(c) of the Business Trust Statute. -30- ARTICLE IX SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES Section 9.01. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER TRUSTEE. The Owner Trustee shall at all times be a corporation satisfying the provisions of Section 3807(a) of the Business Trust Statute; authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities; and having (or having a parent that has) a rating of at least Baa3 or is otherwise acceptable to Moody's. If such corporation shall publish reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.01, the Owner Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.02. Section 9.02. REPLACEMENT OF OWNER TRUSTEE. The Owner Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged from the trusts hereby created by giving 30 days prior written notice thereof to the Depositor. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor Owner Trustee, by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Owner Trustee and to the successor Owner Trustee. If no successor Owner Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Owner Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Owner Trustee. If at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.01 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Depositor, or if at any time the Owner Trustee shall be legally unable to act, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Owner Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Owner Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then the Depositor may remove the Owner Trustee. Any resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee and appointment of a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall not become effective until accep tance of appointment by the successor Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 9.03 and payment of all fees and expenses owed to the outgoing Owner Trustee. The Master Servicer shall provide notice of such resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee to each of the Rating Agencies. Section 9.03. SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEE. Any successor Owner Trustee appointed pursuant to Section 9.02 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Indenture Trustee and to its predecessor Owner Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment under this Trust Agreement, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Owner Trustee shall become -31- effective, and such successor Owner Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor under this Trust Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as Owner Trustee. The predecessor Owner Trustee shall upon payment of its fees and expenses deliver to the successor Owner Trustee all documents and statements and monies held by it under this Trust Agreement; and the predecessor Owner Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for fully and certainly vesting and confirming in the successor Owner Trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. No successor Owner Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 9.03 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Owner Trustee shall be eligible pursuant to Section 9.01. Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to this Section 9.03, the Owner Trustee shall mail notice thereof to all Certificateholders, the Indenture Trustee, the Bondholders and the Rating Agencies. Section 9.04. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE. Any Person into which the Owner Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Owner Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Owner Trustee, shall be the successor of the Owner Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, that such Person shall be eligible pursuant to Section 9.01 and, provided, further, that the Owner Trustee shall mail notice of such merger or consolidation to the Rating Agencies. Section 9.05. APPOINTMENT OF CO-TRUSTEE OR SEPARATE TRUSTEE. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, at any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal requirements of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Owner Trust Estate may at the time be located, the Owner Trustee shall have the power and shall execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one or more Persons to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Owner Trustee, or as separate trustee or trustees, of all or any part of the Owner Trust Estate, and to vest in such Person, in such capacity, such title to the Trust or any part thereof and, subject to the other provisions of this Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Owner Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee under this Trust Agreement shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01 and no notice of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required pursuant to Section 9.03. Each separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions: (a) All rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Owner Trustee shall be conferred upon and exercised or performed by the Owner Trustee and such -32- separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Owner Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed, the Owner Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the Owner Trust Estate or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Owner Trustee; (b) No trustee under this Trust Agreement shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee under this Trust Agreement; and (c) The Owner Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee. Any notice, request or other writing given to the Owner Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Trust Agreement and the conditions of this Article. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Owner Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Trust Agreement, specifically including every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Owner Trustee. Each such instrument shall be filed with the Owner Trustee. Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Owner Trustee as its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Trust Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Owner Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor co-trustee or separate trustee. -33- ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS Section 10.01. AMENDMENTS. (a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the parties hereto as specified in this Section, provided that any amendment, except as provided in subparagraph (e) below, be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Owner Trustee and obtained by the Master Servicer to the effect that such amendment (i) complies with the provisions of this Section and (ii) would not cause the Trust (if IMH Assets Corp. was not the Holder of 100% of the Certificates) to be subject to an entity level tax for federal income tax purposes. (b) If the purpose of the amendment (as detailed therein) is to correct any mistake, eliminate any inconsistency, cure any ambiguity or deal with any matter not covered (i.e. to give effect to the intent of the parties and, if applicable, to the expectations of the Holders), it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of any Holders, but the Owner Trustee shall be furnished with (A) a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to any Bond or the rating then assigned to any Bond or (B) an Opinion of Counsel obtained by the Master Servicer to the effect that such action will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders. (c) If the purpose of the amendment is to prevent the imposition of any federal or state taxes at any time that any Security is outstanding, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of any Holder, but the Owner Trustee shall be furnished with an Opinion of Counsel obtained by the Master Servicer that such amendment is necessary or helpful to prevent the imposition of such taxes and is not materially adverse to any Holder. (d) If the purpose of the amendment is to add or eliminate or change any provision of the Trust Agreement other than as contemplated in (b) and (c) above, the amendment shall require (A) an Opinion of Counsel obtained by the Master Servicer to the effect that such action will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders and (B) either (a) a letter from the Rating Agency that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to any Bond or the rating then assigned to any Bond or (b) the consent of Holders of Certificates evidencing a majority of the Voting Rights of the Certificates and the Indenture Trustee; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (i) reduce in any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, payments received that are required to be distributed on any Certificate without the consent of the related Certificateholder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Certificates the Holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the Holders of all such Certificates then outstanding. (e) If the purpose of the amendment is to provide for the holding of any of the Certificates in book-entry form, it shall require the consent of Holders of all such Certificates then outstanding; provided, that the Opinion of Counsel specified in subparagraph (a) above shall not be required. -34- (f) If the purpose of the amendment is to provide for the issuance of additional certificates representing an interest in the Trust, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of any Holder, but the Owner Trustee shall be furnished with (A) an Opinion of Counsel obtained by the Master Servicer to the effect that such action will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders and (B) a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to any Bonds or the rating then assigned to the Bonds. (g) Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, the Master Servicer shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to each Certificateholder, the Indenture Trustee and each of the Rating Agencies. It shall not be necessary for the consent of Certificateholders or the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 10.01 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents (and any other consents of Certificateholders provided for in this Trust Agreement or in any other Basic Document) and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Certificateholders shall be subject to such reasonable requirements as the Owner Trustee may prescribe. (h) In connection with the execution of any amendment to any agreement to which the Trust is a party, other than this Trust Agreement, the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment is authorized or permitted by the documents subject to such amendment and that all conditions precedent in the Basic Documents for the execution and delivery thereof by the Trust or the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, have been satisfied. Promptly after the execution of any amendment to the Certificate of Trust, the Owner Trustee shall cause the filing of such amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Section 10.02. NO LEGAL TITLE TO OWNER TRUST ESTATE. The Certificateholders shall not have legal title to any part of the Owner Trust Estate solely by virtue of their status as a Certificateholder. The Certificateholders shall be entitled to receive distributions with respect to their undivided beneficial interest therein only in accordance with Articles V and VIII. No transfer, by operation of law or otherwise, of any right, title or interest of the Certificateholders to and in their ownership interest in the Owner Trust Estate shall operate to terminate this Trust Agreement or the trusts hereunder or entitle any transferee to an accounting or to the transfer to it of legal title to any part of the Owner Trust Estate Section 10.03. LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF OTHERS. Except for Section 2.07, the provisions of this Trust Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Depositor, the Certificateholders, and, to the extent expressly provided herein, the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders, and nothing in this Trust Agreement (other than Section 2.07), whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or -35- claim in the Owner Trust Estate or under or in respect of this Trust Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained herein. Section 10.04. NOTICES. (a) Unless otherwise expressly specified or permitted by the terms hereof, all notices shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt, to the Owner Trustee at: Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890; Attention: Corporate Trust Administration; to the Depositor at: IMH Assets Corp., 20371 Irvine Avenue, Santa Ana Heights, California 92707; Attention: Richard Johnson; to the Indenture Trustee and the Certificate Paying Agent at: Bankers Trust Company, 3 Park Plaza, 16th Floor, Irvine, California 92614; Attention: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 ; to Moody's at: 99 Church Street, New York, New York 10007; Attention: Residential Mortgage Monitoring Unit; to DCR at 55 East Monroe Street, 38th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603; Attention: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. (b) Any notice required or permitted to be given to a Certificateholder shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Holder as shown in the Certificate Register. Any notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Trust Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Certificateholder receives such notice. (c) A copy of any notice delivered to the Owner Trustee or the Trust shall also be delivered to the Depositor. Section 10.05. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Trust Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Section 10.06. SEPARATE COUNTERPARTS. This Trust Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 10.07. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee and its successors and each Certificateholder and its successors and permitted assigns, all as herein provided. Any request, notice, direction, consent, waiver or other instrument or action by a Certificateholder shall bind the successors and assigns of such Certificateholder. Section 10.08. NO PETITION. The Owner Trustee, by entering into this Trust Agreement and each Certificateholder, by accepting a Certificate, hereby covenant and agree that they will not at any time institute against the Depositor or the Trust, or join in any institution -36- against the Depositor or the Trust of, any bankruptcy proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations to the Certificates, the Bonds, this Trust Agreement or any of the Basic Documents. This Section shall survive for one year following the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.09. NO RECOURSE. Each Certificateholder by accepting a Certificate acknowledges that such Certificateholder's Certificates represent beneficial interests in the Trust only and do not represent interests in or obligations of the Depositor, the Seller, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or any Affiliate thereof and no recourse may be had against such parties or their assets, except as may be expressly set forth or contemplated in this Trust Agreement, the Certificates or the Basic Documents. Section 10.10. HEADINGS. The headings of the various Articles and Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof. Section 10.11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS. Section 10.12. INTEGRATION. This Trust Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understanding pertaining thereto. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Depositor and the Owner Trustee have caused their names to be signed hereto by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written. IMH ASSETS CORP. By: /s/ RICHARD J. JOHNSON ---------------------- Name: Richard J. Johnson Title: Chief Financial Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Owner Trustee, By: /s/ PATRICIA A. EVANS --------------------- Name: Patricia A. Evans Title: Financial Services Officer Acknowledged and Agreed: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Certificate Registrar and Certificate Paying Agent By: /s/ MELANIE ANBARCI -------------------------- Name: Melanie Anbarci Title: Assistant Secretary EXHIBIT A Form of Class [C-1][C-2][C-3][ X] Certificate [Face] [THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE BONDS AS DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.] [THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE BONDS AND THE CLASS C-1 CERTIFICATES AS DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.] [THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE BONDS, THE CLASS C-1 CERTIFICATES AND THE CLASS C-2 CERTIFICATES AS DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.] [THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBORDINATE TO THE BONDS AND THE CLASS C CERTIFICATES AS DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.] [NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE MADE UNLESS THE CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AS DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT.] [NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE MADE UNLESS THE CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF NON- FOREIGN STATUS CERTIFYING AS TO THE TRANSFEREE'S STATUS AS A U.S. PERSON OR CORPORATION UNDER U.S. LAW.] THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE RESOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS IT IS REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR IS SOLD OR TRANS FERRED IN TRANSACTIONS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE LAW AND IS TRANSFERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3.05 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN. NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE MADE UNLESS THE CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE RECEIVED EITHER (I) A REPRESENTATION LETTER FROM THE TRANSFEREE OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFEREE IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), OR A PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH PLAN OR USING THE A-2 ASSETS OF ANY SUCH PLAN, OR (II) IF THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE NAME OF A PLAN SUBJECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY PROVISIONS OF ERISA, OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (OR COMPARABLE PROVISIONS OF ANY SUBSEQUENT ENACTMENTS), OR A TRUSTEE OF ANY SUCH PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO IS USING THE ASSETS OF ANY SUCH PLAN TO EFFECT SUCH ACQUISITION, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PURCHASE OR HOLDING OF THIS CERTIFICATE WILL NOT RESULT IN THE ASSETS OF THE OWNER TRUST ESTATE BEING DEEMED TO BE "PLAN ASSETS" AND SUBJECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF THE CODE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 406 OR SECTION 407 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE, AND WILL NOT SUBJECT THE OWNER TRUSTEE OR THE DEPOSITOR TO ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY. NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE MADE UNLESS THE CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF NON- FOREIGN STATUS CERTIFYING AS TO THE TRANSFEREE'S STATUS AS A U.S. PERSON OR CORPORATION UNDER U.S. LAW. THIS CERTIFICATE DOES NOT REPRESENT AN INTEREST IN OR OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER, THE DEPOSITOR, THE MASTER SERVICER, THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, OR THE OWNER TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT OR THE BASIC DOCUMENTS. A-3 Certificate No. ___ Certificate Percentage Interest of this Certificate: _________% Cut-off Date: January 1, 1998 Initial Certificate Principal Balance of the Class [C-1][C-2][C-3][X] Certificates: $_______________ Date of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement: First Payment Date: January 29, 1998 February 25, 1998 Master Servicer: Certificate Interest Rate: Impac Funding Corporation Weighted Average Pass-Through Rate IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 Evidencing a fractional undivided equity interest in the Owner Trust Estate, the property of which consists primarily of the Mortgage Loans in Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 (the "Trust"), a Delaware business trust formed by IMH ASSETS CORP., AS DEPOSITOR, pursuant to the Trust Agreement referred to below. This certifies that ________________________ is the registered owner of the Percentage Interest represented hereby. The Trust was created pursuant to a Trust Agreement, dated as of January 16, 1998 as amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of January 29, 1998 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Trust Agreement") between the Depositor and Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner Trustee", which term includes any successor entity under the Trust Agreement), a summary of certain of the pertinent provisions of which is set forth hereinafter. This Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms, provi sions and conditions of the Trust Agreement, to which Trust Agreement the Holder of this Certifi cate by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents and by which such Holder is bound. This Certificate is one of a duly authorized issue of Trust Certificates, Series 1998-1 (herein called the "Certificates") issued under the Trust Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee and the Holders of the Certificates and the terms upon which the Certificates are executed and delivered. All terms used in this Certificate which are defined in the Trust Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Agreement. The Owner Trust Estate consists of the Mortgage Loans in the Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1. The rights of the Holders of the A-4 Certificates are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Bonds, as set forth in the Indenture Series 1998-1. There will be distributed on the 25th day of each month or, if such 25th day is not a Business Day, the next Business Day (each, a "Payment Date"), commencing on February 25, 1998, to the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the last Business Day of the month preceding the month of such Payment Date (the "Record Date"), such Certificateholder's Percentage Interest in the amount to be distributed to Certificateholders on such Payment Date. The Certificateholder, by its acceptance of this Certificate, agrees that it will look solely to the funds on deposit in the Payment Account that have been released from the Lien of the Indenture for payment hereunder and that neither the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity nor the Depositor is personally liable to the Certificateholders for any amount payable under this Certificate or the Trust Agreement or, except as expressly provided in the Trust Agreement, subject to any liability under the Trust Agreement. The Holder of this Certificate acknowledges and agrees that its rights to receive distributions in respect of this Certificate are subordinated to the rights of the Bondholders as described in the Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, between the Trust and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture"). The Depositor and each Certificateholder, by acceptance of a Certificate, agree to treat, and to take no action inconsistent with the treatment of, the Certificates for federal, state and local income tax purposes as an equity interest in the Trust. Each Certificateholder, by its acceptance of a Certificate, covenants and agrees that such Certificateholder will not at any time institute against the Depositor, or join in any institution against the Depositor or the Trust of, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the Certificates, the Bonds, the Trust Agreement or any of the Basic Documents. Distributions on this Certificate will be made as provided in the Trust Agreement by the Certificate Paying Agent by wire transfer or check mailed to the Certificateholder of record in the Certificate Register without the presentation or surrender of this Certificate or the making of any notation hereon. Except as otherwise provided in the Trust Agreement and notwithstanding the above, the final distribution on this Certificate will be made after due notice by the Certificate Paying Agent of the pendency of such distribution and only upon presentation and surrender of this Certificate at the office or agency maintained by the Certificate Registrar for that purpose by the Trust in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. A-5 Notwithstanding the above, the final distribution on this Certificate will be made after due notice of the pendency of such distribution and only upon presentation and surrender of this Certificate at the office or agency appointed by the Trustee for that purpose in the City and State of New York. The initial Certificate Principal Balance of this Certificate is set forth above. [The Certificate Principal Balance hereof will be reduced to the extent of the distributions allocable to principal and any Realized Losses allocable hereto.] No transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition of a Class [C-1][C-2][C-3][X] Certificate shall be made unless such transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or is made in accordance with said Act and laws. In the event of any such transfer, the Certificate Registrar or the Depositor shall prior to such transfer require the transferee to execute (A) either (i) (a) an investment letter in substantially the form attached to the Agreement as Exhibit C (or in such form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor) which investment letters shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Regis trar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and which investment letter states that, among other things, such transferee (a) is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A, acting for its own account or the accounts of other "qualified institutional buyers" as defined under Rule 144A, and (b) is aware that the proposed transferor intends to rely on the exemption from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Rule 144A or (ii) (a) a written Opinion of Counsel acceptable to and in form and substance satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor that such transfer may be made pursuant to an exemption, describing the applicable exemption and the basis therefor, from said Act and laws or is being made pursuant to said Act and laws, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and (b) the transferee executes a representation letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit D to the Agreement, and the transferor executes a representation letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Agreement, each acceptable to and in form and substance satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor certifying the facts surrounding such transfer, which representation letters shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Depositor and (B) the Certificate of Non-Foreign Status (in substantially the form attached to the Agreement as Exhibit D) acceptable to and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor, which certificate shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Depositor. The Holder of a Certificate desiring to effect such transfer shall, and does hereby agree to, indemnify the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar, the Master Servicer and the Depositor against any liability that may result if the transfer is not so exempt or is not made in accordance with such federal and state laws. No transfer of Certificates or any interest therein shall be made to any employee benefit plan or certain other retirement plans and arrangements, including individual retirement accounts A-6 and annuities, Keogh plans and bank collective investment funds and insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans, accounts or arrangements are invested, that are subject to ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code (collectively, "Plan"), any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of any such Plan or any Person acquiring such Certificates with "plan assets" of a Plan within the meaning of the Department of Labor regulation promulgated at 29 C.F.R. ss.2510.3-101 ("Plan Assets") unless the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer are provided with an Opinion of Counsel which establishes to the satisfaction of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer that the purchase of Certificates is permissible under applicable law, will not constitute or result in any prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and will not subject the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Master Servicer to any obligation or liability (including obligations or liabilities under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) in addition to those undertaken in this Agreement, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Master Servicer. In lieu of such Opinion of Counsel, a Plan, any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of any such Plan or any Person acquiring such Certificates with Plan Assets of a Plan may provide a certification in the form of Exhibit G to the Agreement, which the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the Master Servicer may rely upon without further inquiry or investigation. Neither an Opinion of Counsel nor a certification will be required in connection with the initial transfer of any such Certificate by the Depositor to an affiliate of the Depositor (in which case, the Depositor or any affiliate thereof shall have deemed to have represented that such affiliate is not a Plan or a Person investing Plan Assets of any Plan) and the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a representation (which, upon the request of the Owner Trustee, shall be a written representation) from the Depositor of the status of such transferee as an affiliate of the Depositor. No offer, sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition (including any pledge, sale or transfer under a repurchase transaction or securities loan) of any Class [C-1][C-2][C-3][X] Certificate shall be made to any transferee unless, prior to such disposition, the proposed transferor delivers to the Owner Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, rendered by a law firm generally recognized to be qualified to opine concerning the tax aspects of asset securitization, to the effect that such transfer (including any disposition permitted following any default under any pledge or repurchase transaction) will not cause the Trust to be (i) treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (other than as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" as defined in Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) taxable as a taxable mortgage pool as defined in Section 7701(i) of the Code or (iii) taxable as a "publicly traded partnership" as defined in Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1. Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. A-7 Unless the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been executed by an authorized officer of the Owner Trustee, or an authenticating agent by manual signature, this Certificate shall not entitle the Holder hereof to any benefit under the Trust Agreement or be valid for any purpose. THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS. A-8 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Owner Trustee, on behalf of the Trust and not in its individual capacity, has caused this Certificate to be duly executed. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee Dated: January 29, 1998 By:____________________ Authorized Signatory CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Class [C-1][C-2][C-3][X] Certificates referred to in the within mentioned Agreement. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee By:________________________________________ Authorized Signatory or _______________________________________, as Authenticating Agent of the Trust By:________________________________________ Authorized Signatory A-9 [REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE] The Certificates do not represent an obligation of, or an interest in, the Depositor, the Seller, the Master Servicer, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee or any Affiliates of any of them and no recourse may be had against such parties or their assets, except as expressly set forth or contemplated herein or in the Trust Agreement or the Basic Documents. In addition, this Certificate is not guaranteed by any governmental agency or instrumentality and is limited in right of payment to certain collections and recoveries with respect to the Mortgage Loans, all as more specifically set forth herein and in the Trust Agreement. A copy of the Trust Agreement may be examined by any Certificateholder upon written request during normal business hours at the principal office of the Depositor and at such other places, if any, designated by the Depositor. The Trust Agreement permits the amendment thereof as specified below, provided that any amendment be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel to the Owner Trustee to the effect that such amendment complies with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and, if IMH Assets Corp. was not the Holder of 100% of the Certificates, would not cause the Trust to be subject to an entity level tax. If the purpose of the amendment is to prevent the imposition of any federal or state taxes at any time that any Security is outstanding, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of the any Holder, but the Owner Trustee shall be furnished with an Opinion of Counsel that such amendment is necessary or helpful to prevent the imposition of such taxes and is not materially adverse to any Holder. If the purpose of the amendment is to add or eliminate or change any provision of the Trust Agreement, other than as specified in the preceding two sentences, the amendment shall require the consent of Holders of the Certificates evidencing a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Certificates and the Indenture Trustee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such amendment shall (i) reduce in any manner the amount of, or delay the time of, payments received that are required to be distributed on any Certificate without the consent of the related Certificateholder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Certificates the Holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment without the consent of the Holders of all such Certificates then outstanding. As provided in the Trust Agreement and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Certificate is registerable in the Certificate Register upon surrender of this Certificate for registration of transfer at the offices or agencies of the Certificate Registrar maintained by the Trust in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Certificates of authorized denominations evidencing the same aggregate interest in the Trust will be issued to the designated transferee. The initial Certificate Registrar appointed under the Trust Agreement is Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. A-10 Except as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Certificates are issuable only in a minimum Certificate Percentage Interest of 10%. As provided in the Trust Agreement and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Certificates are exchangeable for new Certificates of authorized denominations evidencing the same aggregate denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Owner Trustee, the Certificate Paying Agent, the Certificate Registrar and any agent of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Paying Agent, or the Certificate Registrar may treat the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, and none of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Paying Agent, the Certificate Registrar or any such agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The obligations and responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement and the Trust created thereby shall terminate as and when provided in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. A-11 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE ________________________________________________________________________________ (Please print or type name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee) ________________________________________________________________________________ the within Certificate, and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing to transfer said Certificate on the books of the Certificate Registrar, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: ___________________________________________*/ Signature Guaranteed: ____________________________*/ - ----------------- */ NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or any change whatever. Such signature must be guaranteed by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or a commercial bank or trust company. A-12 DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS The assignee should include the following for the information of the Certificate Paying Agent: Distribution shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ for the account of ________________________________________, account number ______________, or, if mailed by check, to ______________. Applicable statements should be mailed to__________________. ------------------------------ Signature of assignee or agent (for authorization of wire transfer only) B-1 EXHIBIT B TO THE TRUST AGREEMENT CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 THIS Certificate of Trust of Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 (the "Trust"), dated January __, 1998, is being duly executed and filed by ______________________, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 DEL. CODE, ss. 3801 ET SEQ.). 1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1. 2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware is ______________________, __________________, _____________________, Attention: ________________________. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written. ----------------------, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner trustee under a Trust Agreement dated as of January __, 1998 By: _____________________________ Name: B-2 Title: C-1 EXHIBIT C [FORM OF RULE 144A INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION] Description of Rule 144A Securities, including numbers: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ The undersigned seller, as registered holder (the "Seller"), intends to transfer the Rule 144A Securities described above to the undersigned buyer (the "Buyer"). 1. In connection with such transfer and in accordance with the agreements pursuant to which the Rule 144A Securities were issued, the Seller hereby certifies the following facts: Neither the Seller nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered, transferred, pledged, sold or otherwise disposed of the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security to, or solicited any offer to buy or accept a transfer, pledge or other disposition of the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect to the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security with, any person in any manner, or made any general solicitation by means of general advertising or in any other manner, or taken any other action, that would constitute a distribution of the Rule 144A Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or that would render the disposition of the Rule 144A Securities a violation of Section 5 of the 1933 Act or require registration pursuant thereto, and that the Seller has not offered the Rule 144A Securities to any person other than the Buyer or another "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. 2. The Buyer warrants and represents to, and covenants with, the Owner Trustee and the Depositor (as defined in the Trust Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of January 29, 1998, between IMH Assets Corp., as Depositor and ______________________, as Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Agreement and __________________________________ as indenture trustee, as follows: a. The Buyer understands that the Rule 144A Securities have not been registered under the 1933 Act or the securities laws of any state. C-2 b. The Buyer considers itself a substantial, sophisticated institutional investor having such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investment in the Rule 144A Securities. c. The Buyer has been furnished with all information regarding the Rule 144A Securities that it has requested from the Seller, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee or the Master Servicer. d. Neither the Buyer nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered, transferred, pledged, sold or otherwise disposed of the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security to, or solicited any offer to buy or accept a transfer, pledge or other disposition of the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect to the Rule 144A Securities, any interest in the Rule 144A Securities or any other similar security with, any person in any manner, or made any general solicitation by means of general advertising or in any other manner, or taken any other action, that would constitute a distribution of the Rule 144A Securities under the 1933 Act or that would render the disposition of the Rule 144A Securities a violation of Section 5 of the 1933 Act or require registration pursuant thereto, nor will it act, nor has it authorized or will it authorize any person to act, in such manner with respect to the Rule 144A Securities. e. The Buyer is a "qualified institutional buyer" as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and has completed either of the forms of certification to that effect attached hereto as Annex 1 or Annex 2. The Buyer is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A. The Buyer is acquiring the Rule 144A Securities for its own account or the accounts of other qualified institutional buyers, understands that such Rule 144A Securities may be resold, pledged or transferred only (i) to a person reasonably believed to be a qualified institutional buyer that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, or (ii) pursuant to another exemption from registration under the 1933 Act. [3. The Buyer warrants and represents to, and covenants with, the Seller, the Indenture Trustee, Owner Trustee, Master Servicer and the Depositor that either (1) the Buyer is (A) not an employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")), or a plan (within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ("Code")), which (in either case) is subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (both a "Plan"), and (B) is not directly or indirectly purchasing the Rule 144A Securities on behalf of, as investment manager of, as named fiduciary of, as trustee of, or with "plan assets" of a Plan, or (2) the Buyer understands that registration of C-3 transfer of any Rule 144A Securities to any Plan, or to any Person acting on behalf of any Plan, will not be made unless such Plan delivers an opinion of its counsel, addressed and satisfactory to the Certificate Registrar and the Depositor, to the effect that the purchase and holding of the Rule 144A Securities by, on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan would not constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, and would not subject the Depositor, the Master Servicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Trust to any obligation or liability (including liabilities under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) in addition to those undertaken in the Agreement or any other liability.] 4. This document may be executed in one or more counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original; such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same document. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this document as of the date set forth below. ______________________________ _________________________________ Print Name of Seller Print Name of Buyer By:___________________________ By:______________________________ Name: Name: Title: Title: Taxpayer Identification: Taxpayer Identification: No. No. Date: Date: C-4 ANNEX 1 TO EXHIBIT C QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS UNDER SEC RULE 144A [For Buyers Other Than Registered Investment Companies] The undersigned hereby certifies as follows in connection with the Rule 144A Investment Representation to which this Certification is attached: 1. As indicated below, the undersigned is the President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President or other executive officer of the Buyer. 2. In connection with purchases by the Buyer, the Buyer is a "qualified institutional buyer" as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Rule 144A") because (i) the Buyer owned and/or invested on a discretionary basis $______________________1 in securities (except for the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer's most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A) and (ii) the Buyer satisfies the criteria in the category marked below. ___ CORPORATION, ETC. The Buyer is a corporation (other than a bank, savings and loan association or similar institution), Massachusetts or similar business trust, partnership, or charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. ___ BANK. The Buyer (a) is a national bank or banking institution organized under the laws of any State, territory or the District of Columbia, the business of which is substantially confined to banking and is supervised by the State or territorial banking commission or similar official or is a foreign bank or equivalent institution, and (b) has an audited net worth of at least $25,000,000 as demonstrated in its latest annual financial statements, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERETO. - -------- 1 Buyer must own and/or invest on a discretionary basis at least $100,000,000 in securities unless Buyer is a dealer, and, in that case, Buyer must own and/or invest on a discretionary basis at least $10,000,000 in securities. C-5 ___ SAVINGS AND LOAN. The Buyer (a) is a savings and loan association, building and loan association, cooperative bank, homestead association or similar institution, which is supervised and examined by a State or Federal authority having supervision over any such institutions or is a foreign savings and loan association or equivalent institution and (b) has an audited net worth of at least $25,000,000 as demonstrated in its latest annual financial statements. ___ BROKER-DEALER. The Buyer is a dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ___ INSURANCE COMPANY. The Buyer is an insurance company whose primary and predominant business activity is the writing of insurance or the reinsuring of risks underwritten by insurance companies and which is subject to supervision by the insurance commissioner or a similar official or agency of a State or territory or the District of Columbia. ___ STATE OR LOCAL PLAN. The Buyer is a plan established and maintained by a State, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of the State or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees. ___ ERISA PLAN. The Buyer is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. ___ INVESTMENT ADVISER. The Buyer is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. ___ SBIC. The Buyer is a Small Business Investment Company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. ___ BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. The Buyer is a business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. ___ TRUST FUND. The Buyer is a trust fund whose trustee is a bank or trust company and whose participants are exclusively (a) plans established and maintained by a State, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of the State or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, or (b) employee benefit plans within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, but is not a trust fund that includes as participants individual retirement accounts or H.R. 10 plans. C-6 3. The term "SECURITIES" as used herein DOES NOT INCLUDE (i) securities of issuers that are affiliated with the Buyer, (ii) securities that are part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by the Buyer, if the Buyer is a dealer, (iii) bank deposit Bonds and certificates of deposit, (iv) loan participations, (v) repurchase agreements, (vi) securities owned but subject to a repurchase agreement and (vii) currency, interest rate and commodity swaps. 4. For purposes of determining the aggregate amount of securities owned and/or invested on a discretionary basis by the Buyer, the Buyer used the cost of such securities to the Buyer and did not include any of the securities referred to in the preceding paragraph. Further, in determining such aggregate amount, the Buyer may have included securities owned by subsidiaries of the Buyer, but only if such subsidiaries are consolidated with the Buyer in its financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and if the investments of such subsidiaries are managed under the Buyer's direction. However, such securities were not included if the Buyer is a majority-owned, consolidated subsidiary of another enterprise and the Buyer is not itself a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 5. The Buyer acknowledges that it is familiar with Rule 144A and understands that the seller to it and other parties related to the Certificates are relying and will continue to rely on the statements made herein because one or more sales to the Buyer may be in reliance on Rule 144A. ___ ___ Will the Buyer be purchasing the Rule 144A Yes No Securities only for the Buyer's own account? 6. If the answer to the foregoing question is "no", the Buyer agrees that, in connection with any purchase of securities sold to the Buyer for the account of a third party (including any separate account) in reliance on Rule 144A, the Buyer will only purchase for the account of a third party that at the time is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A. In addition, the Buyer agrees that the Buyer will not purchase securities for a third party unless the Buyer has obtained a current representation letter from such third party or taken other appropriate steps contemplated by Rule 144A to conclude that such third party independently meets the definition of "qualified institutional buyer" set forth in Rule 144A. 7. The Buyer will notify each of the parties to which this certification is made of any changes in the information and conclusions herein. Until such notice is given, the Buyer's purchase of Rule 144A Securities will constitute a reaffirmation of this certification as of the date of such purchase. _________________________________________ Print Name of Buyer C-7 By: _________________________________________ Name: Title: Date:________________________________________ C-8 ANNEX 2 TO EXHIBIT C QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS UNDER SEC RULE 144A [For Buyers That Are Registered Investment Companies] The undersigned hereby certifies as follows in connection with the Rule 144A Investment Representation to which this Certification is attached: 1. As indicated below, the undersigned is the President, Chief Financial Officer or Senior Vice President of the Buyer or, if the Buyer is a "qualified institutional buyer" as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Rule 144A") because Buyer is part of a Family of Investment Companies (as defined below), is such an officer of the Adviser. 2. In connection with purchases by Buyer, the Buyer is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in SEC Rule 144A because (i) the Buyer is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (ii) as marked below, the Buyer alone, or the Buyer's Family of Investment Companies, owned at least $100,000,000 in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer's most recent fiscal year. For purposes of determining the amount of securities owned by the Buyer or the Buyer's Family of Investment Companies, the cost of such securities was used. ____ The Buyer owned $___________________ in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer's most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A). ____ The Buyer is part of a Family of Investment Companies which owned in the aggregate $______________ in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer's most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A). 3. The term "FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES" as used herein means two or more registered investment companies (or series thereof) that have the same investment adviser or investment advisers that are affiliated (by virtue of being majority owned subsidiaries of the same parent or because one investment adviser is a majority owned subsidiary of the other). 4. The term "SECURITIES" as used herein does not include (i) securities of issuers that are affiliated with the Buyer or are part of the Buyer's Family of Investment Companies, (ii) bank deposit Bonds and certificates of deposit, (iii) loan participations, (iv) repurchase C-9 agreements, (v) securities owned but subject to a repurchase agreement and (vi) currency, interest rate and commodity swaps. 5. The Buyer is familiar with Rule 144A and understands that each of the parties to which this certification is made are relying and will continue to rely on the statements made herein because one or more sales to the Buyer will be in reliance on Rule 144A. In addition, the Buyer will only purchase for the Buyer's own account. 6. The undersigned will notify each of the parties to which this certification is made of any changes in the information and conclusions herein. Until such notice, the Buyer's purchase of Rule 144A Securities will constitute a reaffirmation of this certification by the undersigned as of the date of such purchase. ____________________________________ Print Name of Buyer By:_________________________________ Name:_______________________________ Title:______________________________ IF AN ADVISER: ____________________________________ Print Name of Buyer Date:_______________________________ D-1 EXHIBIT D CERTIFICATE OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS This Certificate of Non-Foreign Status ("certificate") is delivered pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1998 (the "Trust Agreement"), between IMH Assets Corp., as depositor and Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee, in connection with the acquisition of, transfer to or possession by the undersigned, whether as beneficial owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the "Beneficial Owner"), or nominee on behalf of the Beneficial Owner of the Certificates, Series 1998-1 (the "Certificate"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the respective meanings given them in the Trust Agreement. Each holder must complete Part I, Part II (if the holder is a nominee), and in all cases sign and otherwise complete Part III. In addition, each holder shall submit with the Certificate an IRS Form W-9 relating to such holder. To confirm to the Trust that the provisions of Sections 871, 881 or 1446 of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to withholding tax on foreign partners) do not apply in respect of the Certificate held by the undersigned, the undersigned hereby certifies: Part I - Complete Either A or B A. Individual as Beneficial Owner 1. I am (The Beneficial Owner is ) not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation; 2. My (The Beneficial Owner's) name and home address are: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________; and 3. My (The Beneficial Owner's) U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is ______________________________ B. Corporate, Partnership or Other Entity as Beneficial Owner D-2 1. _______________ (Name of the Beneficial Owner) is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations; 2. The Beneficial Owner's office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is ______________; and 3. The Beneficial Owner's U.S. employer identification number is _______________. . Part II - Nominees If the undersigned is the nominee for the Beneficial Owner, the undersigned certifies that this certificate has been made in reliance upon information contained in: _______ an IRS Form W-9 _______ a form such as this or substantially similar provided to the undersigned by an appropriate person and (i) the undersigned agrees to notify the Trust at least thirty (30) days prior to the date that the form relied upon becomes obsolete, and (ii) in connection with change in Beneficial Owners, the undersigned agrees to submit a new Certificate of Non-Foreign Status to the Trust promptly after such change. Part III - Declaration The undersigned, as the Beneficial Owner or a nominee thereof, agrees to notify the Trust within sixty (60) days of the date that the Beneficial Owner becomes a foreign person. The undersigned understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Trust and any false statement contained therein could be punishable by fines, imprisonment or both. D-3 Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certificate and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and will further declare that I will inform the Trust of any change in the information provided above, and, if applicable, I further declare that I have the authority* to sign this document. _____________________________ Name _____________________________ Title (if applicable) _____________________________ Signature and Date *Note: If signed pursuant to a power of attorney, the power of attorney must accompany this certificate. E-1 EXHIBIT E FORM OF INVESTMENT LETTER [NON-RULE 144A] [DATE] [Certificate Registrar] Re: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 Trust Certificates, Series 1998-1 , (the "Certificates") ------------------------------------ Ladies and Gentlemen: In connection with our acquisition of the above-captioned Certificates, we certify that (a) we understand that the Certificates are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or any state securities laws and are being transferred to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and any such laws, (b) we are an "accredited investor," as defined in Regulation D under the Act, and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investments in the Certificates, (c) we have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Depositor concerning the purchase of the Certificates and all matters relating thereto or any additional information deemed necessary to our decision to purchase the Certificates, (d) we are not an employee benefit plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or a plan that is subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, nor are we acting on behalf of any such plan, (e) we are acquiring the Certificates for investment for our own account and not with a view to any distribution of such Certificates (but without prejudice to our right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of the Certificates in accordance with clause (g) below), (f) we have not offered or sold any Certificates to, or solicited offers to buy any Certificates from, any person, or otherwise approached or negotiated with any person with respect thereto, or taken any other action which would result in a violation of Section 5 of the Act, and (g) we will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Certificates unless (1) such sale, transfer or other disposition is made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act or is exempt from such registration requirements, and if requested, we will at our expense provide an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the addressees of this certificate that such sale, transfer or other disposition may be made pursuant to E-2 an exemption from the Act, (2) the purchaser or transferee of such Certificate has executed and delivered to you a certificate to substantially the same effect as this certificate, and (3) the purchaser or transferee has otherwise complied with any conditions for transfer set forth in the Trust Agreement. Very truly yours, [TRANSFEREE] By:_________________________ Authorized Officer F-1 EXHIBIT F TRANSFER CERTIFICATE Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee 11 North Market Street Rodney Square North Wilmington, Delaware 19890 Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. 3 Park Plaza, 16th Floor Irvine, California 92714 Re: PROPOSED TRANSFER OF TRUST CERTIFICATES Gentlemen: This certification is being made by ______________ (the "Proposed Transferee") in connection with the proposed Transfer to the Proposed Transferee of a trust certificate (the "Trust Certificate") representing ___% fractional undivided interest in Imperial CMB Trust Series (the "Trust") created pursuant to a Deposit Trust Agreement, dated as of January __, 1998 (such agreement, as amended, being referred to herein as the "Deposit Trust Agreement") between IMH Assets Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee. Initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Deposit Trust Agreement. The Proposed Transferee hereby certifies as follows: 1. The undersigned is a Person involved in the organization or operation of the Trust or an affiliate of such a Person within the meaning of Rule 3a-7 of the Investment Company Act. 2. The Proposed Transferee understands that (a) the Trust Certificates have not been and will not be registered or qualified under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any state, (b) neither the Trust nor the Owner Trustee is required, and neither intends, to so register or qualify the Trust Certificates, and (c) the Trust Certificates cannot be resold unless (i) they are registered and qualified under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities laws or (ii) an exemption from registration and qualification is available. 3. The Proposed Transferee is acquiring the Trust Certificate for its own account for investment only and not with a view to or for sale or other transfer in connection with any F-2 distribution of the Trust Certificate in any manner that would violate the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws. 4. The Proposed Transferee (a) is an accredited investor having such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, and in particular in such matters related to securities similar to the Trust Certificate, such that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investment in the Trust Certificate and (b) is able to bear the economic risks of such an investment. 5. The Proposed Transferee will not authorize nor has it authorized any person (a) to offer, pledge, sell, dispose of or otherwise transfer any Trust Certificate, any interest in any Trust Certificate or any other similar security to any person in any manner, (b) to solicit any offer to buy or to accept a pledge, disposition or other transfer of any Trust Certificate, any interest in any Trust Certificate or any other similar security from any person in any manner, (c) otherwise to approach or negotiate with respect to any Trust Certificate, any interest in any Trust Certificate or any other similar security with any person in any manner, (d) to make any general solicitation by means of general advertising or in any other manner, or (e) to take any other action that would constitute a distribution of any Trust Certificate under the Securities Act, that would render the disposition of any Trust Certificate a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act or any state securities law, or that could require registration or qualification pursuant thereto. Neither the Proposed Transferee nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered any Trust Certificate for sale or made any general solicitation by means of general advertising or in any other manner with respect to the Trust Certificate. The Proposed Transferee will not sell or otherwise transfer any Trust Certificates, except in compliance with the provisions of the Deposit Trust Agreement. Date:_________________________ ______________________________ Name of Proposed Transferee ______________________________ Signature ______________________________ Name ______________________________ Titled EX-4.1 3 INDENTURE IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 Issuer and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. Indenture Trustee ----------------------------------------- INDENTURE Dated as of January 29, 1998 ------------------------------------------ COLLATERALIZED ASSET-BACKED BONDS ------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ARTICLE I Definitions 1.01. Definitions.............................................2 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.......2 1.03. Rules of Construction...................................2 ARTICLE II Original Issuance of Bonds 2.01. Form....................................................4 2.02. Execution, Authentication and Delivery..................4 2.03. Acceptance of Mortgage Loans by Indenture Trustee.......4 ARTICLE III Covenants 3.01. Collection of Payments with respect to the Mortgage Loans...................................................6 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.........................6 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust; Paying Agent....6 3.04. Existence...............................................7 3.05. Payment of Principal and Interest.......................8 3.06. Protection of Trust Estate.............................10 3.07. Opinions as to Trust Estate............................10 3.08. Performance of Obligations.............................11 3.09. Negative Covenants.....................................11 3.10. Annual Statement as to Compliance......................12 3.11. [Reserved].............................................12 3.12. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Mortgage Loans..................................................12 3.13. Amendments to Servicing Agreement......................12 3.14. Master Servicer as Agent and Bailee of the Indenture Trustee................................................13 3.15. Investment Company Act.................................13 3.16. Issuer May Consolidate, etc............................13 3.17. Successor or Transferee................................15 3.18. No Other Business......................................15 3.19. No Borrowing...........................................15 3.20. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities......15 3.21. Capital Expenditures...................................15 3.22. [Reserved].............................................15 3.23. Restricted Payments....................................16 3.24. Notice of Events of Default............................16 3.25. Further Instruments and Acts...........................16 3.26. [Reserved].............................................16 3.27. Allocation of Realized Losses..........................16 ARTICLE IV The Bonds; Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 4.01. The Bonds..............................................18 4.02. Registration of and Limitations on Transfer and Exchange of Bonds; Appointment of Bond Registrar and Certificate Registrar..............................18 4.03. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds.............19 4.04. Persons Deemed Owners..................................20 4.05. Cancellation...........................................20 4.06. Book-Entry Bonds.......................................21 4.07. Notices to Depository..................................21 4.08. Definitive Bonds.......................................22 4.09. Tax Treatment..........................................22 4.10. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture................22 4.11. Application of Trust Money.............................23 4.12. Repayment of Monies Held by Paying Agent...............24 4.13. Temporary Bonds........................................24 ARTICLE V Default and Remedies 5.01. Events of Default......................................25 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.....25 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Indenture Trustee ..................................25 5.04. Remedies; Priorities...................................28 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Trust Estate..............29 5.06. Limitation of Suits....................................30 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Bondholders To Receive Principal and Interest ................................30 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.....................30 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.........................31 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.........................31 5.11. Control by Bondholders.................................31 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults................................32 5.13. Undertaking for Costs..................................32 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.......................32 5.15. Sale of Trust Estate...................................32 5.16. Action on Bonds........................................34 ARTICLE VI The Indenture Trustee 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee............................36 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee............................37 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee.................37 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer.........................37 6.05. Notice of Event of Default.............................38 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders................38 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity.............................38 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee.......................38 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger..................39 6.10. Appointment of Co-Indenture Trustee or Separate Indenture Trustee......................................40 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification..........................41 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer.......41 6.13. Representations and Warranties.........................41 6.14. Directions to Indenture Trustee........................42 6.15. The Agents.............................................42 ARTICLE VII Bondholders' Lists and Reports 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of Bondholders ..............................43 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Bondholders.........................................43 7.03. Reports of Issuer......................................43 7.04. Reports by Indenture Trustee...........................44 7.05. Statements to Bondholders..............................44 ARTICLE VIII Accounts, Disbursements and Releases 8.01. Collection of Money....................................47 8.02. Trust Accounts.........................................47 8.03. Officer's Certificate..................................47 8.04. Termination Upon Distribution to Bondholders...........48 8.05. Release of Trust Estate................................48 8.06. Surrender of Bonds Upon Final Payment..................48 8.07. Optional Redemption of the Bonds.......................48 ARTICLE IX Supplemental Indentures 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Bondholders............................................50 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Bondholders....51 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures...................52 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indenture.......................53 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act....................53 9.06. Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures..........53 ARTICLE X Miscellaneous 10.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc..............54 10.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee.......55 10.03. Acts of Bondholders....................................56 10.04. Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer and Rating Agencies........................................56 10.05. Notices to Bondholders; Waiver.........................57 10.06. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act......................58 10.07. Effect of Headings.....................................58 10.08. Successors and Assigns.................................58 10.09. Separability...........................................58 10.10. Benefits of Indenture..................................58 10.11. Legal Holidays.........................................58 10.12. GOVERNING LAW..........................................58 10.13. Counterparts...........................................59 10.14. Recording of Indenture.................................59 10.15. Issuer Obligation......................................59 10.16. No Petition............................................59 10.17. Inspection.............................................59 Signatures and Seals .........................................................59 Acknowledgments ..............................................................60 EXHIBITS Exhibit A-1 - Form of Class A Bonds Exhibit A-2 - Form of Class M Bonds Exhibit A-3 - Form of Class B Bonds Exhibit B - Trustee's Initial Certification Exhibit C - Trustee's Final Certification Exhibit D - Mortgage Loan Schedule Exhibit E - Certificate of Non-Foreign Status Appendix A Definitions This Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, a Delaware business trust, as Issuer (the "Issuer"), and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., a national banking association, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), WITNESSETH THAT: Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuer's Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 (the "Bonds"). GRANTING CLAUSE The Issuer hereby Grants to the Indenture Trustee at the Closing Date, as trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Bonds, all of the Issuer's right, title and interest in and to whether now existing or hereafter created by (a) the Mortgage Loans, Substitute Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof and all rights under the Related Documents; (b) all funds on deposit from time to time in the Collection Account allocable to the Mortgage Loans excluding any investment income from such funds; (c) all funds on deposit from time to time in the Payment Account and in all proceeds thereof; (d) all rights under the (i) Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement as assigned to the Issuer, (ii) the Servicing Agreement and any Sub-Servicing Agreements, (iii) any title, hazard and primary insurance policies with respect to the Mortgaged Property (including the CMAC PMI Policy); and (e) all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing and all payments on or under, and all proceeds of every kind and nature whatsoever in respect of, any or all of the foregoing and all payments on or under, and all proceeds of every kind and nature whatsoever in the conversion thereof, voluntary or involuntary, into cash or other liquid property, all cash proceeds, accounts, accounts receivable, Bonds, drafts, acceptances, checks, deposit accounts, rights to payment of any and every kind, and other forms of obligations and receivables, instruments and other property which at any time constitute all or part of or are included in the proceeds of any of the foregoing (collectively, the "Trust Estate" or the "Collateral"). The foregoing Grant is made in trust to secure the payment of principal of and interest on, and any other amounts owing in respect of, the Bonds, equally and ratably without prejudice, priority or distinction, and to secure compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, all as provided in this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee, as trustee on behalf of the Holders of the Bonds, acknowledges such Grant, accepts the trust under this Indenture in accordance with the provisions hereof and agrees to perform its duties as Indenture Trustee as required herein. ARTICLE I Definitions Section 1.01. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Definitions attached hereto as Appendix A which is incorporated by reference herein. All other capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified herein. Section 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act (the "TIA"), the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings: "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. "indenture securities" means the Bonds. "indenture security holder" means a Bondholder. "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture. "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Indenture Trustee. "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Issuer and any other obligor on the indenture securities. All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rules and have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions. Section 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires: (i) a term has the meaning assigned to it; (ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time; (iii) "or" is not exclusive; (iv) "including" means including without limitation; 2 (v) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular; and (vi) any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith means such agreement, instru ment or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments) references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. 3 ARTICLE II Original Issuance of Bonds Section 2.01. Form. The Bonds, together with the Indenture Trustee's certificate of authentication, shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibits A-1 through A-3, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture. The Bonds shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods (with or without steel engraved borders). The terms of the Bonds set forth in Exhibits A-1 through A-3 are part of the terms of this Indenture. Section 2.02. Execution, Authentication and Delivery. The Bonds shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer by any of its Authorized Officers. The signature of any such Authorized Officer on the Bonds may be manual or facsimile. Bonds bearing the manual or facsimile signature of individuals who were at any time Authorized Officers of the Issuer shall bind the Issuer, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Bonds or did not hold such offices at the date of such Bonds. The Indenture Trustee shall upon Issuer Request authenticate and deliver the Class A, Class M-1, Class M-2 and Class B Bonds for original issue in an aggregate initial principal amount of $362,836,189.00. Each Class of Bonds shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Bonds shall be issuable as registered Bonds and the Bonds shall be issuable in the minimum initial Bond Principal Balances of $25,000 and in integral multiples of $1 in excess thereof. No Bond shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Bond a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Indenture Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Bond shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Bond has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Section 2.03. Acceptance of Mortgage Loans by Indenture Trustee. (a) The Indenture Trustee acknowledges receipt of, subject to the exceptions it Bonds pursuant to the procedures described below, the documents (or certified copies thereof) referred to in Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and declares that it holds and will continue to hold those documents and any amendments, replacements or supplements thereto and all other assets of the Trust Estate as Indenture Trustee in trust for the use and benefit of all present and future Holders of the Bonds. No later than 45 days after the Closing Date (or, with respect to any 4 Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan, within 5 days after the receipt by the Indenture Trustee thereof and, with respect to any documents received beyond 45 days after the Closing Date, promptly thereafter), the Indenture Trustee agrees, for the benefit of the Bondholders, to review each Mortgage File delivered to it and to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Seller and the Master Servicer an Initial Certification in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B. In conducting such review, the Trustee will ascertain whether all required documents described in Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement have been executed and received and whether those documents relate, determined on the basis of the Mortgagor name, original principal balance and loan number, to the Mortgage Loans it has received, as identified in Exhibit D to this Indenture, as supplemented (provided, however, that with respect to those documents described in subclause (b)(vii) of such section, the Indenture Trustee's obligations shall extend only to documents actually delivered pursuant to such subclause). In performing any such review, the Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely on the purported due execution and genuineness of any such document and on the purported genuineness of any signature thereon. If the Indenture Trustee finds any document constituting part of the Mortgage File not to have been executed or received, or to be unrelated to the Mortgage Loans identified in Exhibit D or to appear to be defective on its face, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Seller of such finding and the Seller's obligation to cure such defect or repurchase or substitute for the related Mortgage Loan. (b) No later than 180 days after the Closing Date, the Indenture Trustee will review, for the benefit of the Bondholders, the Mortgage Files and will execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to the Seller, a Final Certification in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit C. In conducting such review, the Indenture Trustee will ascertain whether an original of each document described in subclauses (b)(ii)-(iv) of Section 2.1 of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement required to be recorded has been returned from the recording office with evidence of recording thereon or a certified copy has been obtained from the recording office. If the Indenture Trustee finds any document constituting part of the Mortgage File has not been received, or to be unrelated, determined on the basis of the Mortgagor name, original principal balance and loan number, to the Mortgage Loans identified in Exhibit D or to appear defective on its face, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Seller. (c) Upon deposit of the Repurchase Price in the Payment Account, the Indenture Trustee shall release to the Seller the related Mortgage File and shall execute and deliver all instruments of transfer or assignment, without recourse, furnished to it by the Seller as are necessary to vest in the Seller title to and rights under the related Mortgage Loan. Such purchase shall be deemed to have occurred on the date on which certification of the deposit of the Repurchase Price in the Payment Account was received by the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee shall amend the applicable Mortgage Loan Schedule to reflect such repurchase and shall promptly notify the Master Servicer and the Rating Agencies of such amendment. 5 ARTICLE III Covenants Section 3.01. Collection of Payments with respect to the Mortgage Loans. The Indenture Trustee shall establish and maintain in the corporate trust department of itself or an affiliate depository institution, a trust account (the "Payment Account") in which the Indenture Trustee shall, subject to the terms of this paragraph, deposit, on the same day as it is received from the Master Servicer, each remittance received by the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Mortgage Loans. The Indenture Trustee shall make all payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds, subject to Section 3.03 as provided in Section 3.05 herein from monies on deposit in the Payment Account. Section 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where, subject to satisfaction of conditions set forth herein, Bonds may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Bonds and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer hereby initially appoints the Indenture Trustee to serve as its agent for the foregoing purposes. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Indenture Trustee with the address thereof, such surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Indenture Trustee as its agent to receive all such surrenders, notices and demands. Section 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust; Paying Agent. (a) As provided in Section 3.01, all payments of amounts due and payable with respect to any Bonds that are to be made from amounts withdrawn from the Payment Account pursuant to Section 3.01 shall be made on behalf of the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by the Paying Agent, and no amounts so withdrawn from the Payment Account for payments of Bonds shall be paid over to the Issuer except as provided in this Section 3.03. The Issuer will cause each Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee to execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Indenture Trustee (and if the Indenture Trustee acts as Paying Agent it hereby so agrees), subject to the provisions of this Section 3.03, that such Paying Agent will: (i) hold all sums held by it for the payment of amounts due with respect to the Bonds in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and pay such sums to such Persons as herein provided; (ii) give the Indenture Trustee notice of any default by the Issuer of which it has actual knowledge in the making of any payment required to be made with respect to the Bonds; 6 (iii) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Indenture Trustee, forthwith pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; (iv) immediately resign as Paying Agent and forthwith pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held by it in trust for the payment of Bonds if at any time it ceases to meet the standards required to be met by a Paying Agent at the time of its appointment; (v) comply with all requirements of the Code with respect to the withholding from any payments made by it on any Bonds of any applicable withholding taxes imposed thereon and with respect to any applicable reporting requirements in connection therewith; and (vi) not commence a Bankruptcy proceeding against the Issuer in connection with this Indenture. The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, by Issuer Request direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Indenture Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which the sums were held by such Paying Agent; and upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Indenture Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money. Subject to applicable laws with respect to escheat of funds, any money held by the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of any amount due with respect to any Bond and remaining unclaimed for one year after such amount has become due and payable shall be discharged from such trust and be paid to the Issuer on Issuer Request; and the Holder of such Bond shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof (but only to the extent of the amounts so paid to the Issuer), and all liability of the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense and direction of the Issuer cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper published in the English language, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. The Indenture Trustee may also adopt and employ, at the expense and direction of the Issuer, any other reasonable means of notification of such repayment (including, but not limited to, mailing notice of such repayment to Holders whose Bonds have been called but have not been surrendered for redemption or whose right to or interest in monies due and payable but not claimed is determinable from the records of the Indenture Trustee or of any Paying Agent, at the last address of record for each such Holder). Section 3.04. Existence. The Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or becomes, organized under the laws of any other state or of the 7 United States of America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Bonds, the Mortgage Loans and each other instrument or agreement included in the Trust Estate. Section 3.05. Payment of Principal and Interest. (a) On each Payment Date from amounts on deposit in the Payment Account in accordance with Section 8.02 hereof, the Indenture Trustee shall pay to the Bondholders and to other Persons the Interest Remittance Amount and Principal Remittance Amount. Interest on the Bonds will be calculated on the basis of a 30-day month and a 360-day year. (b) On each Payment Date, the Interest Remittance Amount shall be distributed in the following order of priority, in each case to the extent of the then remaining Interest Remittance Amount: (i) first, to the Bondholders, on a pro rata basis, Accrued Bond Interest thereon for such Payment Date, plus any Unpaid Interest Shortfalls thereon remaining unpaid from any previous Payment Date; provided, that any if the Interest Remittance Amount is insufficient to pay the Bondholders in full any Accrued Bond Interest thereon, the amount of such shortfall shall be allocated first, to the Class B Bonds, second, to the Class M-2 Bonds, third, to the Class M-1 Bonds and fourth, to the Class A Bonds; (ii) second, to the Bondholders in the following order: first, to the Class A Bonds, second, to the Class M-1 Bonds, third, to the Class M-2 Bonds, and fourth, to the Class B Bonds, in each case in respect of the principal portion of any Realized Losses to be allocated thereto on such Payment Date, or previously allocated thereto on any prior Payment Date, until the amount of such losses has been fully reimbursed; (iii) third, to the Certificate Paying Agent on behalf of the Certificateholders. (c) On each Payment Date the Principal Remittance Amount shall be distributed in the following order of priority, in each case to the extent of the then remaining Principal Remittance Amount, as follows: (i) first, to the Bondholders on a pro rata basis, based on the then-current Bond Principal Balances thereof, an amount equal to the Bond Principal Distribution Amount, in reduction of the Bond Principal Balance thereof, until reduced to zero; and (ii) second, to the Certificate Paying Agent on behalf of the Certificateholders. 8 (d) Each distribution with respect to a Book-Entry Bond shall be paid to the Depository, as Holder thereof, and the Depository shall be responsible for crediting the amount of such distribution to the accounts of its Depository Participants in accordance with its normal procedures. Each Depository Participant shall be responsible for disbursing such distribution to the Bond Owners that it represents and to each indirect participating brokerage firm (a "brokerage firm" or "indirect participating firm") for which it acts as agent. Each brokerage firm shall be responsible for disbursing funds to the Bond Owners that it represents. None of the Indenture Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Depositor or the Master Servicer shall have any responsibility therefor except as otherwise provided by this Agreement or applicable law. (e) On each Payment Date, the Certificate Paying Agent shall deposit in the Certificate Distribution Account all amounts it received pursuant to this Section 3.05 for the purpose of distributing such funds to the Certificateholders. (f) Any installment of interest or principal, if any, payable on any Bond that is punctually paid or duly provided for by the Issuer on the applicable Payment Date shall, if such Holder shall have so requested at least five Business Days prior to the related Record Date and such Holder holds Bonds of an aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of at least $5,000,000, be paid to each Holder of record on the preceding Record Date, by wire transfer to an account specified in writing by such Holder reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee as of the preceding Record Date or in all other cases or if no such instructions have been delivered to the Indenture Trustee, by check to such Bondholder mailed to such Holder's address as it appears in the Bond Register in the amount required to be distributed to such Holder on such Payment Date pursuant to such Holder's Bonds; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee shall not pay to such Holders any amount required to be withheld from a payment to such Holder by the Code. (g) The principal of each Bond shall be due and payable in full on the Final Scheduled Payment Date for such Bond as provided in the forms of Bond set forth in Exhibits A-1 through A-3. All principal payments on the Bonds shall be made to the Bondholders entitled thereto in accordance with the Percentage Interests represented by such Bonds. Upon notice to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Person in whose name a Bond is registered at the close of business on the Record Date preceding the Final Scheduled Payment Date or other final Payment Date (including any final Payment Date resulting from any redemption pursuant to Section 8.07 hereof). Such notice shall to the extent practicable be mailed no later than five Business Days prior to such Final Scheduled Payment Date or other final Payment Date and shall specify that payment of the principal amount and any interest due with respect to such Bond at the Final Scheduled Payment Date or other final Payment Date will be payable only upon presentation and surrender of such Bond and shall specify the place where such Bond may be presented and surrendered for such final payment. No interest shall accrue on the Bonds on or after the Final Scheduled Payment Date or any such other final Payment Date. The Issuer hereby designates the Indenture Trustee its agent and attorney-in-fact to sign any financing statement, continuation statement or other instrument required to be signed pursuant to this Section 3.06 upon the Issuer's preparation thereof and delivery to the Indenture Trustee. 9 Section 3.06. Protection of Trust Estate. (a) The Issuer will from time to time prepare, execute and deliver all such supplements and amendments hereto and all such financing statements, continuation statements, instruments of further assurance and other instruments, and will take such other action necessary or advisable to: (i) maintain or preserve the lien and security interest (and the priority thereof) of this Indenture or carry out more effectively the purposes hereof; (ii) perfect, publish notice of or protect the validity of any Grant made or to be made by this Indenture; (iii) cause the Issuer or Master Servicer to enforce any of the rights to the Mortgage Loans; or (iv) preserve and defend title to the Trust Estate and the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders in such Trust Estate against the claims of all persons and parties. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall not remove any portion of the Trust Estate that consists of money or is evidenced by an instrument, certificate or other writing from the jurisdiction in which it was held at the date of the most recent Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof (or from the jurisdiction in which it was held as described in the Opinion of Counsel delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.07(a) hereof, or if no Opinion of Counsel has yet been delivered pursuant to Section 3.07(b) hereof unless the Trustee shall have first received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the lien and security interest created by this Indenture with respect to such property will continue to be maintained after giving effect to such action or actions). The Issuer hereby designates the Indenture Trustee its agent and attorney-in-fact to sign any financing statement, continuation statement or other instrument required to be signed pursuant to this Section 3.06 upon the Issuer's preparation thereof and delivery to the Indenture Trustee. Section 3.07. Opinions as to Trust Estate. (a) On the Closing Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee an Opinion of Counsel either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the recording and filing of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto, and any other requisite documents, and with respect to the execution and filing of any financing statements and continuation statements, as are necessary to perfect and make effective the lien and first priority security interest in the Collateral and reciting the details of such action, or stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make such lien and first priority security interest effective. (b) On or before April 15 in each calendar year, beginning in 1998, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel at the expense of the Issuer either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto and any 10 other requisite documents and with respect to the execution and filing of any financing statements and continuation statements as is necessary to maintain the lien and first priority security interest in the Collateral and reciting the details of such action or stating that in the opinion of such counsel no such action is necessary to maintain such lien and security interest. Such Opinion of Counsel shall also describe the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents and the execution and filing of any financing statements and continuation statements that will, in the opinion of such counsel, be required to maintain the lien and security interest in the Collateral until December 31 in the following calendar year. Section 3.08. Performance of Obligations. (a) The Issuer will punctually perform and observe all of its obligations and agreements contained in this Indenture, the Basic Documents and in the instruments and agreements included in the Trust Estate. (b) The Issuer may contract with other Persons to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture, and any performance of such duties by a Person identified to the Indenture Trustee in an Officer's Certificate of the Issuer shall be deemed to be action taken by the Issuer. (c) The Issuer will not take any action or permit any action to be taken by others which would release any Person from any of such Person's covenants or obligations under any of the documents relating to the Mortgage Loans or under any instrument included in the Trust Estate, or which would result in the amendment, hypothecation, subordination, termination or discharge of, or impair the validity or effectiveness of, any of the documents relating to the Mortgage Loans or any such instrument, except such actions as the Master Servicer is expressly permitted to take in the Servicing Agreement. The Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, shall be able to exercise the rights of the Issuer to direct the actions of the Master Servicer pursuant to the Servicing Agreement. (d) The Issuer may retain an administrator and may enter into contracts with other Persons for the performance of the Issuer's obligations hereunder, and performance of such obligations by such Persons shall be deemed to be performance of such obligations by the Issuer. Section 3.09. Negative Covenants. So long as any Bonds are Outstanding, the Issuer shall not: (i) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of the Trust Estate, unless directed to do so by the Indenture Trustee; (ii) claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the principal or interest payable in respect of, the Bonds (other than amounts properly withheld from such payments under the Code) or assert any claim against any present or former Bondholder by reason of the payment of the taxes levied or assessed upon any part of the Trust Estate; (iii) (A) permit the validity or effectiveness of this Indenture to be impaired, or permit the lien of this Indenture to be amended, hypothecated, subordinated, terminated 11 or discharged, or permit any Person to be released from any covenants or obligations with respect to the Bonds under this Indenture except as may be expressly permitted hereby, (B) permit any lien, charge, excise, claim, security interest, mortgage or other encumbrance (other than the lien of this Indenture) to be created on or extend to or other wise arise upon or burden the Trust Estate or any part thereof or any interest therein or the proceeds thereof or (C) permit the lien of this Indenture not to constitute a valid first priority security interest in the Trust Estate; or (iv) waive or impair, or fail to assert rights under, the Mortgage Loans, or impair or cause to be impaired the Issuer's interest in the Mortgage Loans, the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement or in any Basic Document, if any such action would materially and adversely affect the interests of the Bondholders. Section 3.10. Annual Statement as to Compliance. The Issuer will deliver to the Indenture Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer (commencing with the fiscal year 1998), an Officer's Certificate stating, as to the Authorized Officer signing such Officer's Certificate, that: (i) a review of the activities of the Issuer during such year and of its performance under this Indenture has been made under such Authorized Officer's supervision; and (ii) to the best of such Authorized Officer's knowledge, based on such review, the Issuer has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in its compliance with any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to such Authorized Officer and the nature and status thereof. Section 3.11. [Reserved]. Section 3.12. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Mortgage Loans. The Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, has the benefit of the representations and warranties made by the Seller in the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement concerning the Seller and the Mortgage Loans and the right to enforce the remedies against the Seller provided in such Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement to the same extent as though such representations and warranties were made directly to the Indenture Trustee. If the Indenture Trustee has actual knowledge of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Seller in the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Seller of such finding and the Seller's obligation to cure such defect or repurchase or substitute for the related Mortgage Loan. Section 3.13. Amendments to Servicing Agreement. The Issuer covenants with the Inden ture Trustee that it will not enter into any amendment or supplement to the Servicing Agreement without the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of 12 the Mortgage Loans, may decline to enter into or consent to any such supplement or amendment if the Bondholders' rights, duties or immunities shall be adversely affected. Section 3.14. Master Servicer as Agent and Bailee of the Indenture Trustee. Solely for purposes of perfection under Section 9-305 of the Uniform Commercial Code or other similar applicable law, rule or regulation of the state in which such property is held by the Master Servicer, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee hereby acknowledge that the Master Servicer is acting as agent and bailee of the Indenture Trustee in holding amounts on deposit in the Collection Account, as well as its agent and bailee in holding any Related Documents released to the Master Servicer, and any other items constituting a part of the Trust Estate which from time to time come into the possession of the Master Servicer. It is intended that, by the Master Servicer's acceptance of such agency, the Indenture Trustee, as a secured party of the Mortgage Loans, will be deemed to have possession of such Related Documents, such monies and such other items for purposes of Section 9-305 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the state in which such property is held by the Master Servicer. Section 3.15. Investment Company Act. The Issuer shall not become an "investment company" or under the "control" of an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor or amendatory statute), and the rules and regulations thereunder (taking into account not only the general definition of the term "investment company" but also any available exceptions to such general definition); provided, however, that the Issuer shall be in compliance with this Section 3.15 if it shall have obtained an order exempting it from regulation as an "investment company" so long as it is in compliance with the conditions imposed in such order. Section 3.16. Issuer May Consolidate, etc. (a) The Issuer shall not consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, unless: (i) the Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all Bonds and to the Certificate Paying Agent, on behalf of the Certificateholders and the performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iii) the Rating Agencies shall have notified the Issuer that such transaction shall not cause the rating of the Bonds to be reduced, suspended or withdrawn or to be considered by either Rating Agency to be below investment grade; 13 (iv) the Issuer shall have received an Opinion of Counsel (and shall have delivered a copy thereof to the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such transaction will not (A) result in a "substantial modification" of the Bonds under Treasury Regulation section 1.1001-3, or adversely affect the status of the Bonds as indebtedness for federal income tax purposes, or (B) if 100% of the Certificates are not owned by IMH Assets Corp., cause the Trust to be subject to an entity level tax for federal income tax purposes; (v) any action that is necessary to maintain the lien and security interest created by this Indenture shall have been taken; and (vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation or merger and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article III and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange Act). (b) The Issuer shall not convey or transfer any of its properties or assets, including those included in the Trust Estate, to any Person, unless: (i) the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Issuer the conveyance or transfer of which is hereby restricted shall (A) be a United States citizen or a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state, (B) expressly assumes, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all Bonds and the performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein, (C) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture that all right, title and interest so conveyed or trans ferred shall be subject and subordinate to the rights of the Holders of the Bonds, (D) unless otherwise provided in such supplemental indenture, expressly agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Issuer against and from any loss, liability or expense arising under or related to this Indenture and the Bonds and (E) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture that such Person (or if a group of Persons, then one specified Person) shall make all filings with the Commission (and any other appropriate Person) required by the Exchange Act in connection with the Bonds; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iii) the Rating Agencies shall have notified the Issuer that such transaction shall not cause the rating of the Bonds or the rating of the Bonds; (iv) the Issuer shall have received an Opinion of Counsel (and shall have delivered a copy thereof to the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such transaction will not (A) result in a "substantial modification" of the Bonds under Treasury Regulation 14 section 1.1001-3, or adversely affect the status of the Bonds as indebtedness for federal income tax purposes, or (B) if 100% of the Certificates are not owned by IMH Assets Corp., cause the Trust to be subject to an entity level tax for federal income tax purposes; (v) any action that is necessary to maintain the lien and security interest created by this Indenture shall have been taken; and (vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article III and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange Act). Section 3.17. Successor or Transferee. (a) Upon any consolidation or merger of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.16(a), the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Person had been named as the Issuer herein. (b) Upon a conveyance or transfer of all the assets and properties of the Issuer pursuant to Section 3.16(b), the Issuer will be released from every covenant and agreement of this Indenture to be observed or performed on the part of the Issuer with respect to the Bonds immediately upon the delivery of written notice to the Indenture Trustee of such conveyance or transfer. Section 3.18. No Other Business. The Issuer shall not engage in any business other than financing, purchasing, owning and selling and managing the Mortgage Loans and the issuance of the Bonds and Certificates in the manner contemplated by this Indenture and the Basic Documents and all activities incidental thereto. Section 3.19. No Borrowing. The Issuer shall not issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable, directly or indirectly, for any indebtedness except for the Bonds. Section 3.20. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities. Except as contemplated by this Indenture or the Basic Documents, the Issuer shall not make any loan or advance or credit to, or guarantee (directly or indirectly or by an instrument having the effect of assuring another's payment or performance on any obligation or capability of so doing or otherwise), endorse or otherwise become contingently liable, directly or indirectly, in connection with the obligations, stocks or dividends of, or own, purchase, repurchase or acquire (or agree contingently to do so) any stock, obligations, assets or securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person. Section 3.21. Capital Expenditures. The Issuer shall not make any expenditure (by long- term or operating lease or otherwise) for capital assets (either realty or personalty). 15 Section 3.22. [Reserved] Section 3.23. Restricted Payments. The Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) pay any dividend or make any distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, to the Owner Trustee or any owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer or otherwise with respect to any ownership or equity interest or security in or of the Issuer, (ii) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any such ownership or equity interest or security or (iii) set aside or otherwise segregate any amounts for any such purpose; provided, however, that the Issuer may make, or cause to be made, (x) distributions to the Owner Trustee and the Certificateholders as contemplated by, and to the extent funds are available for such purpose under this Indenture and the Trust Agreement and (y) payments to the Master Servicer pursuant to the terms of the Servicing Agreement. The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, make payments to or distributions from the Collection Account except in accordance with this Indenture and the Basic Documents. Section 3.24. Notice of Events of Default. The Issuer shall give the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies prompt written notice of each Event of Default hereunder and under the Trust Agreement. Section 3.25. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture. Section 3.26. [Reserved]. Section 3.27. Allocation of Realized Losses. (a) Prior to each Payment Date, the Master Servicer shall determine the total amount of Realized Losses, if any, that resulted from any Cash Liquidation, Debt Service Reduction, Deficient Valuation or REO Disposition that occurred during the related Collection Period. The amount of each Realized Loss shall be evidenced by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Indenture Trustee with the related Determination Date Report. (b) On each Payment Date, the principal portion of Realized Losses will be allocated as follows: first, to the Class C-3 Certificates; second, to the Class C-2 Certificates; third to the Class C-1 Certificates; fourth to the Class B Bonds; fifth, to the Class M-2 Bonds; sixth, to the Class M-1 Bonds; and seventh, to the Class A Bonds, in each case in reduction of the Certificate Principal Balance or Bond Principal Balance thereof, until such Certificate Principal Balance or Bond Principal Balance has been reduced to zero. Except as provided in the following sentence, any allocation of the principal portion of Realized Losses (other than Debt Service Reductions) to a Class of Certificates or Bonds shall be made by reducing the Certificate Principal Balance or Bond Principal Balance thereof, as applicable, by the amount so allocated, which allocation shall be deemed to have occurred on such Payment Date. Any allocation of the principal portion of Realized Losses (other than Debt Service Reductions) to the class of Class C Certificates then outstanding with the highest numerical designation shall be made by operation 16 of the definition of "Certificate Principal Balance" and by operation of the provisions of Section 3.05. Allocations of the principal portion of Debt Service Reductions shall be made by operation of the provisions of Section 3.05. All Realized Losses and all other losses allocated to a class of Certificates or class of Bonds hereunder will be allocated among the Certificates or Bonds of such class in proportion to the Certificate Percentage Interests or Percentage Interests, as applicable, evidenced thereby. 17 ARTICLE IV The Bonds; Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture Section 4.01. The Bonds. The Bonds shall be registered in the name of a nominee desig nated by the Depository. Beneficial Owners will hold interests in the Bonds through the book- entry facilities of the Depository in minimum initial Bond Principal Balances of $25,000 and inte gral multiples of $1 in excess thereof. The Indenture Trustee may for all purposes (including the making of payments due on the Bonds) deal with the Depository as the authorized representative of the Beneficial Owners with respect to the Bonds for the purposes of exercising the rights of Holders of the Bonds hereunder. Except as provided in the next succeeding paragraph of this Section 4.01, the rights of Beneficial Owners with respect to the Bonds shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Beneficial Owners and the Depository and Depository Participants. Except as provided in Section 4.08 hereof, Beneficial Owners shall not be entitled to definitive certificates for the Bonds as to which they are the Beneficial Owners. Requests and directions from, and votes of, the Depository as Holder of the Bonds shall not be deemed inconsistent if they are made with respect to different Beneficial Owners. The Indenture Trustee may establish a reasonable record date in connection with solicitations of consents from or voting by Bondholders and give notice to the Depository of such record date. Without the consent of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, no Bond may be transferred by the Depository except to a successor Depository that agrees to hold such Bond for the account of the Beneficial Owners. In the event the Depository Trust Company resigns or is removed as Depository, the Indenture Trustee with the approval of the Issuer may appoint a successor Depository. If no successor Depository has been appointed within 30 days of the effective date of the Depository's resignation or removal, each Beneficial Owner shall be entitled to certificates representing the Bonds it beneficially owns in the manner prescribed in Section 4.08. The Bonds shall, on original issue, be executed on behalf of the Issuer by the Owner Trustee, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee, authenticated by the Indenture Trustee and delivered by the Indenture Trustee to or upon the order of the Issuer. Section 4.02. Registration of and Limitations on Transfer and Exchange of Bonds; Appointment of Bond Registrar and Certificate Registrar. The Issuer shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a Bond Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Bond Registrar shall provide for the registration of Bonds and of transfers and exchanges of Bonds as herein provided. Subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth below, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Bond at the Corporate Trust Office, the Issuer shall execute and the Bond Registrar shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Bonds in authorized initial Bond Principal Balances evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interests. 18 Subject to the foregoing, at the option of the Bondholders, Bonds may be exchanged for other Bonds of like tenor and in authorized initial Bond Principal Balances evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interests upon surrender of the Bonds to be exchanged at the Corporate Trust Office of the Bond Registrar. Whenever any Bonds are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Bonds which the Bond holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Each Bond presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Bond Registrar) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Bond Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing with such signature guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company located or having a correspondent located in the city of New York. Bonds delivered upon any such transfer or exchange will evidence the same obligations, and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges, as the Bonds surrendered. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds, but the Bond Registrar shall require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds. The Issuer hereby appoints the Indenture Trustee as (i) Certificate Registrar to keep at its Corporate Trust Office a Certificate Register pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Trust Agreement in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Certificate Registrar shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers and exchanges thereof pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Trust Agreement and (ii) Bond Registrar under this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee hereby accepts such appointments. No Person shall become a Class B Bondholder until it shall establish its non-foreign status by submitting to the Bond Registrar an IRS Form W-9 and the Certificate of Non-Foreign Status in the form set forth in Exhibit E hereto, acceptable to and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Bond Registrar and the Company, which certificate shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Company. If the Bondholder is unable to provide a Certificate of Non-Foreign Status, the Bondholder must provide an Opinion of Counsel as to the non-foreign status of such Person which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Master Servicer or the Company. The Class B Bondholder desiring to effect such transfer shall, and does hereby agree to, indemnify the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Servicer and the Company against any liability that may result if the transfer is not so exempt or is not made in accordance with such federal and state laws. So long as the Class B Bonds are Book-Entry Bonds, any purchaser of a Class B Bond will be deemed to have represented by such purchase that such purchaser is a U.S. Person under the Code. Section 4.03. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds. If (i) any mutilated Bond is surrendered to the Indenture Trustee, or the Indenture Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Bond, and (ii) there is delivered to the Indenture Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by it to hold the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuer, the Bond Registrar or the Indenture Trustee 19 that such Bond has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, and provided that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the UCC are met, the Issuer shall execute, and upon its request the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, a replacement Bond; provided, however, that if any such destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, but not a mutilated Bond, shall have become or within seven days shall be due and payable, instead of issuing a replacement Bond, the Issuer may pay such destroyed, lost or stolen Bond when so due or payable without surrender thereof. If, after the delivery of such replacement Bond or payment of a destroyed, lost or stolen Bond pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, a bona fide purchaser of the original Bond in lieu of which such replacement Bond was issued presents for payment such original Bond, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to recover such replacement Bond (or such payment) from the Person to whom it was delivered or any Person taking such replacement Bond from such Person to whom such replacement Bond was delivered or any assignee of such Person, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee in connection therewith. Upon the issuance of any replacement Bond under this Section 4.03, the Issuer may require the payment by the Holder of such Bond of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other reasonable expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee) connected therewith. Every replacement Bond issued pursuant to this Section 4.03 in replacement of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Bonds duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section 4.03 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds. Section 4.04. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Bond is registered (as of the day of determination) as the owner of such Bond for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and interest, if any, on such Bond and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. Section 4.05. Cancellation. All Bonds surrendered for payment, registration of transfer, exchange or redemption shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Indenture Trustee, be delivered to the Indenture Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer may at any time deliver to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation any Bonds previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have acquired in any manner 20 whatsoever, and all Bonds so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Indenture Trustee. No Bonds shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Bonds cancelled as provided in this Section 4.05, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Bonds may be held or disposed of by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with its standard retention or disposal policy as in effect at the time unless the Issuer shall direct by an Issuer Request that they be destroyed or returned to it; provided, however, that such Issuer Request is timely and the Bonds have not been previously disposed of by the Indenture Trustee. Section 4.06. Book-Entry Bonds. The Bonds, upon original issuance, will be issued in the form of typewritten Bonds representing the Book-Entry Bonds, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Depository, by, or on behalf of, the Issuer. The Bonds shall initially be registered on the Bond Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Depository, and no Beneficial Owner will receive a Definitive Bond representing such Beneficial Owner's interest in such Bond, except as provided in Section 4.08. With respect to such Bonds, unless and until definitive, fully registered Bonds (the "Definitive Bonds") have been issued to Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 4.08: (i) the provisions of this Section 4.06 shall be in full force and effect; (ii) the Bond Registrar and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depository for all purposes of this Indenture (including the payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds and the giving of instructions or directions hereunder) as the sole holder of the Bonds, and shall have no obligation to the Beneficial Owners of the Bonds; (iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 4.06 conflict with any other provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Section 4.06 shall control; (iv) the rights of Beneficial Owners shall be exercised only through the Depository and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Owners of Bonds and the Depository and/or the Depository Participants. Unless and until Definitive Bonds are issued pursuant to Section 4.08, the initial Depository will make book-entry transfers among the Depository Participants and receive and transmit payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds to such Depository Participants; and (v) whenever this Indenture requires or permits actions to be taken based upon instructions or directions of Holders of Bonds evidencing a specified percentage of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, the Depository shall be deemed to represent such percentage with respect to the Bonds only to the extent that it has received instructions to such effect from Beneficial Owners and/or Depository Participants owning or representing, respectively, such required percentage of the beneficial interest in the Bonds and has delivered such instructions to the Indenture Trustee. Section 4.07. Notices to Depository. Whenever a notice or other communication to the Bond Holders is required under this Indenture, unless and until Definitive Bonds shall have been issued to Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 4.08, the Indenture Trustee shall give all such 21 notices and communications specified herein to be given to Holders of the Bonds to the Depository, and shall have no obligation to the Beneficial Owners. Section 4.08. Definitive Bonds. If (i) the Indenture Trustee determines that the Depository is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Bonds and the Indenture Trustee is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Indenture Trustee elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depository or (iii) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Beneficial Owners of Bonds representing beneficial interests aggregating at least a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds advise the Depository in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the Depository is no longer in the best interests of the Beneficial Owners, then the Depository shall notify all Beneficial Owners and the Indenture Trustee of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability of Definitive Bonds to Beneficial Owners requesting the same. Upon surrender to the Indenture Trustee of the typewritten Bonds representing the Book-Entry Bonds by the Depository, accompanied by registration instructions, the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate the Definitive Bonds in accordance with the instructions of the Depository. None of the Issuer, the Bond Registrar or the Indenture Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Bonds, the Indenture Trustee shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Bonds as Bondholders. Section 4.09. Tax Treatment. The Issuer has entered into this Indenture, and the Bonds will be issued, with the intention that, for federal, state and local income, single business and franchise tax purposes, the Bonds will qualify as indebtedness. The Issuer, by entering into this Indenture, and each Bondholder, by its acceptance of its Bond (and each Beneficial Owner by its acceptance of an interest in the applicable Book-Entry Bond), agree to treat the Bonds for federal, state and local income, single business and franchise tax purposes as indebtedness. Section 4.10. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Bonds except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds, (iii) rights of Bondholders to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, (iv) Sections 3.03, 3.04, 3.06, 3.09, 3.16, 3.18 and 3.19, (v) the rights, obligations and immunities of the Indenture Trustee hereunder (including the rights of the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 and the obligations of the Indenture Trustee under Section 4.11) and (vi) the rights of Bondholders as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Indenture Trustee payable to all or any of them, and the Indenture Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Bonds and shall release and deliver the Collateral to or upon the order of the Issuer, when (A) either (1) all Bonds theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Bonds that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 4.03 hereof and (ii) Bonds for whose payment money has theretofore been 22 deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 3.03) have been delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation; or (2) all Bonds not theretofore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation a. have become due and payable, b. will become due and payable at the Final Scheduled Payment Date within one year, or c. have been called for early redemption pursuant to Section 8.07 hereof, and the Issuer, in the case of a. or b. above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Indenture Trustee cash or direct obligations of or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America (which will mature prior to the date such amounts are payable), in trust for such purpose, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Bonds then outstanding not theretofore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation when due on the Final Scheduled Payment Date or other final Payment Date and has delivered to the Indenture Trustee a verification report from a nationally recognized accounting firm certifying that the amounts deposited with the Indenture Trustee are sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness of such Bonds, or, in the case of c. above, the Issuer shall have complied with all requirements of Section 8.07 hereof; (B) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder ; and (C) the Issuer has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each meeting the applicable requirements of Section 10.01 hereof, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with and, if the Opinion of Counsel relates to a deposit made in connection with Section 4.10(A)(2)b. above, such opinion shall further be to the effect that such deposit will constitute an "in-substance defeasance" within the meaning of Revenue Ruling 85-42, 1985-1 C.B. 36, and in accordance therewith, the Issuer will be the owner of the assets deposited in trust for federal income tax purposes. Section 4.11. Application of Trust Money. All monies deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Bonds and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent or the Issuer, Certificate Paying Agent as designee of the Issuer, as applicable, as the Indenture Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest or otherwise; but such monies need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required herein or required by law. 23 Section 4.12. Repayment of Monies Held by Paying Agent. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Bonds, all monies then held by any Person other than the Indenture Trustee under the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such Bonds shall, upon demand of the Issuer, be paid to the Indenture Trustee to be held and applied according to Section 3.05 and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such monies. Section 4.13. Temporary Bonds. Pending the preparation of any Definitive Bonds, the Issuer may execute and upon its written direction, the Indenture Trustee may authenticate and make available for delivery, temporary Bonds that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, photocopied or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Bonds in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Bonds may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Bonds. If temporary Bonds are issued, the Issuer will cause Definitive Bonds to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of the Definitive Bonds, the temporary Bonds shall be exchangeable for Definitive Bonds upon surrender of the temporary Bonds at the office or agency of the Indenture Trustee, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Bonds, the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange therefor, Definitive Bonds of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, such temporary Bonds shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Bonds. 24 ARTICLE V Default and Remedies Section 5.01. Events of Default. The Issuer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, within five days after learning of the occurrence of an Event of Default, written notice in the form of an Officer's Certificate of any event which with the giving of notice and the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clause (iii) of the definition of "Event of Default", its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. Section 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default should occur and be continuing, then and in every such case the Indenture Trustee at the written direction of the Holders of Bonds representing not less than a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of all Bonds may declare the Bonds to be immediately due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Bondholders), and upon any such declaration the unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of acceleration, shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such declaration of acceleration of maturity with respect to an Event of Default has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Indenture Trustee as hereinafter in this Article V, the Holders of Bonds representing a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of all Bonds, by written notice to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, may waive the related Event of Default and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay: (A) all payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds and all other amounts that would then be due hereunder or upon the Bonds if the Event of Default giving rise to such acceleration had not occurred; and (B) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and its agents and counsel; and (ii) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Bonds that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.12. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto. Section 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Indenture Trustee. 25 (a) The Issuer covenants that if (i) default is made in the payment of any interest (including the Interest Remittance Amount) on any Bond when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of five days, or (ii) default is made in the payment of the principal (including the Principal Remittance Amount) of or any installment of the principal of any Bond when the same becomes due and payable, the Issuer shall, upon demand of the Indenture Trustee, pay to the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Bonds, the whole amount then due and payable on the Bonds for principal and interest, with interest at the Bond Interest Rate upon the overdue principal, and in addition thereto such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and its agents and counsel. (b) In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Indenture Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, subject to the provisions of Section 10.16 hereof may institute a Proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such Proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Bonds and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor the Bonds, wherever situated, the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable. (c) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 10.16 hereof may, as more particularly provided in Section 5.04 hereof, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Bondholders, by such appropriate Proceedings as the Indenture Trustee shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy or legal or equitable right vested in the Indenture Trustee by this Indenture or by law. (d) In case there shall be pending, relative to the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Bonds or any Person having or claiming an ownership interest in the Trust Estate, Proceedings under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor or Person, or in case of any other comparable judicial Proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Bonds, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Indenture Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of any Bonds shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Indenture Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such Proceedings or otherwise: (i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Bonds and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and 26 for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Bondholders allowed in such Proceedings; (ii) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Holders of Bonds in any election of a trustee, a standby trustee or Person performing similar functions in any such Proceedings; (iii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Bondholders and of the Indenture Trustee on their behalf; and (iv) to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of Bonds allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, its creditors and its property; and any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official in any such Proceeding is hereby authorized by each of such Bondholders to make payments to the Indenture Trustee, and, in the event that the Indenture Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Bondholders, to pay to the Indenture Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith. (e) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Indenture Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Bondholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Bonds or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Indenture Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Bond holder in any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar Person. (f) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Bonds, may be enforced by the Indenture Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds or the production thereof in any trial or other Proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Indenture Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and their respective agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Bonds, subject to Section 5.05 hereof. (g) In any Proceedings brought by the Indenture Trustee (and also any Proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Indenture Trustee shall 27 be a party), the Indenture Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Bonds, and it shall not be necessary to make any Bondholder a party to any such Proceedings. Section 5.04. Remedies; Priorities. (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and if an acceleration has been declared and not rescinded pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, the Indenture Trustee subject to the provisions of Section 10.16 hereof shall, do one or more of the following (subject to Section 5.05 hereof): (i) institute Proceedings in its own name and as trustee of an express trust for the collection of all amounts then payable on the Bonds or under this Indenture with respect thereto, whether by declaration or otherwise, and enforce any judgment obtained, and collect from the Issuer and any other obligor upon such Bonds monies adjudged due; (ii) institute Proceedings from time to time for the complete or partial foreclosure of this Indenture with respect to the Trust Estate; (iii) exercise any remedies of a secured party under the UCC and take any other appropriate action to protect and enforce the rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee, the Holders of the Bonds; and (iv) sell the Trust Estate or any portion thereof or rights or interest therein, at one or more public or private sales called and conducted in any manner permitted by law; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise liquidate the Trust Estate following an Event of Default, unless (A) the Indenture Trustee obtains the consent of the Holders of 100% of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance, (B) the proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the Holders of the Bonds are sufficient to discharge in full all amounts then due and unpaid upon the Bonds for principal and interest or (C) the Indenture Trustee determines that the Mortgage Loans will not continue to provide sufficient funds for the payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds as they would have become due if the Bonds had not been declared due and payable, and the Indenture Trustee obtains the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance. In determining such sufficiency or insufficiency with respect to clause (B) and (C), the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and rely upon an opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the Trust Estate for such purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Servicer Termination has not occurred, any Sale of the Trust Estate shall be made subject to the continued servicing of the Mortgage Loans by the Master Servicer as provided in the Servicing Agreement. (b) If the Indenture Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article V, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order: FIRST: to the Indenture Trustee for amounts due under Section 6.07 hereof; 28 SECOND: to the Bondholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Bonds with respect to interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Bonds for interest (including Interest Remittance Amount but not any Unpaid Interest Shortfalls) from amounts available in the Trust Estate for the Bondholders; THIRD: to Bondholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Bonds with respect to principal (including, but not limited to, any Bond Principal Distribution Amount), from amounts available in the Trust Estate for such Bondholders, and to each Bondholder ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Bonds for principal, until the Bond Principal Balance is reduced to zero; FOURTH: to the Bondholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Bonds with respect to any Unpaid Interest Shortfalls, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Bonds with respect thereto, from amounts available in the Trust Estate for the Bondholders; and FIFTH: to the payment of the remainder, if any to the Certificate Paying Agent on behalf of the Issuer or to any other person legally entitled thereto. The Indenture Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Bondholders pursuant to this Section 5.04. With respect to any acceleration, the first payment date after the acceleration shall be the first Payment Date after the acceleration. At least 15 days before such record date, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to each Bondholder a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid. Section 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Trust Estate. If the Bonds have been declared to be due and payable under Section 5.02 following an Event of Default and such declaration and its consequences have not been rescinded and annulled, the Indenture Trustee shall elect to take and maintain possession of the Trust Estate. It is the desire of the parties hereto and the Bondholders that there be at all times sufficient funds for the payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds and other obligations of the Issuer, and the Indenture Trustee shall take such desire into account when determining whether or not to take and maintain possession of the Trust Estate. In determining whether to take and maintain possession of the Trust Estate, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and rely upon an opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the Trust Estate for such purpose. 29 Section 5.06. Limitation of Suits. No Holder of any Bond shall have any right to institute any Proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless and subject to the provisions of Section 10.16 hereof: (i) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Indenture Trustee of a continuing Event of Default; (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds have made a written request to the Indenture Trustee to institute such Proceeding in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Indenture Trustee hereunder; (iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Indenture Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in complying with such request; (iv) the Indenture Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice of request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute such Proceedings; and (v) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Indenture Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds. It is understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Bonds shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Bonds or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided. Subject to the last paragraph of Section 4.12 herein, in the event the Indenture Trustee shall receive conflicting or inconsistent requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders of Bonds, each representing less than a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, the Indenture Trustee in its sole discretion may determine what action, if any, shall be taken, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture. Section 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Bondholders To Receive Principal and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, the Holder of any Bond shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Bond on or after the respective due dates thereof expressed in such Bond or in this Indenture and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. Section 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Indenture Trustee or any Bondholder has instituted any Proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such Proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason or has been determined 30 adversely to the Indenture Trustee or to such Bondholder, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders shall, subject to any determination in such Proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders shall continue as though no such Proceeding had been instituted. Section 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Indenture Trustee or to the Bondholders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy. Section 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver. No delay or omission of the Indenture Trustee or any Holder of any Bond to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Indenture Trustee or to the Bondholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Indenture Trustee or by the Bondholders, as the case may be. Section 5.11. Control by Bondholders. The Holders of a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of Bonds shall have the right (subject to the provisions of Section 5.06) to direct the time, method and place of conducting any Proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Bonds or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee; provided that: (i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture; (ii) any direction to the Indenture Trustee to sell or liquidate the Trust Estate shall be by Holders of Bonds representing not less than 100% of the Bond Principal Balances of Bonds; (iii) if the conditions set forth in Section 5.05 hereof have been satisfied and the Indenture Trustee elects to retain the Trust Estate pursuant to such Section, then any direction to the Indenture Trustee by Holders of Bonds representing less than 100% of the Bond Principal Balances of Bonds to sell or liquidate the Trust Estate shall be of no force and effect; and (iv) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Indenture Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. 31 Notwithstanding the rights of Bondholders set forth in this Section, subject to Section 6.01, the Indenture Trustee need not take any action that it determines might involve it in liability or might materially adversely affect the rights of any Bondholders not consenting to such action. Section 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults. Prior to the declaration of the acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds as provided in Section 5.02 hereof, the Holders of Bonds of not less than a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds may waive any past Event of Default and its consequences except an Event of Default (a) with respect to payment of principal of or interest on any of the Bonds or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Bond. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of the Bonds shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto. Upon any such waiver, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto. Section 5.13. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Bond by such Holder's acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Indenture Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Indenture Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.13 shall not apply to (a) any suit instituted by the Indenture Trustee, (b) any suit instituted by any Bondholder, or group of Bondholders, in each case holding in the aggregate more than 10% of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds or (c) any suit instituted by any Bondholder for the enforcement of the payment of principal of or interest on any Bond on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Bond and in this Indenture. Section 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead or in any manner whatsoever, claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Indenture Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted. Section 5.15. Sale of Trust Estate. (a) The power to effect any sale or other disposition (a "Sale") of any portion of the Trust Estate pursuant to Section 5.04 hereof is expressly subject to the provisions of Section 5.05 hereof and this Section 5.15. The power to effect any such Sale shall not be exhausted by any one or more Sales as to any portion of the Trust 32 Estate remaining unsold, but shall continue unimpaired until the entire Trust Estate shall have been sold or all amounts payable on the Bonds and under this Indenture shall have been paid. The Indenture Trustee may from time to time postpone any public Sale by public announcement made at the time and place of such Sale. The Indenture Trustee hereby expressly waives its right to any amount fixed by law as compensation for any Sale. (b) The Indenture Trustee shall not in any private Sale sell the Trust Estate, or any portion thereof, unless (1) the Holders of all Bonds, consent to or direct the Indenture Trustee to make, such Sale, or (2) the proceeds of such Sale would not be less than the entire amount which would be payable to the Bondholders under the Bonds on the Payment Date next succeeding the date of such Sale; or (3) the Indenture Trustee determines, that the conditions for retention of the Trust Estate set forth in Section 5.05 hereof cannot be satisfied (in making any such deter mination, the Indenture Trustee may rely upon an opinion of an Independent investment banking firm obtained and delivered as provided in Section 5.05 hereof), and the Holders of Bonds representing at least 66-2/3% of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds consent to such Sale. The purchase by the Indenture Trustee of all or any portion of the Trust Estate at a private Sale shall not be deemed a Sale or other disposition thereof for purposes of this Section 5.15(b). (c) Unless the Holders representing at least 66-2/3% of the Principal Balances of the Bonds have otherwise consented or directed the Indenture Trustee, at any public Sale of all or any portion of the Trust Estate at which a minimum bid equal to or greater than the amount described in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Section 5.15 has not been established by the Indenture Trustee and no Person bids an amount equal to or greater than such amount, the Indenture Trustee, as trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Bonds, shall bid an amount at least $1.00 more than the highest other bid. (d) In connection with a Sale of all or any portion of the Trust Estate, (1) any Holder or Holders of Bonds may bid for the property offered for sale, and upon compliance with the terms of sale may hold, retain and possess and dispose of such property, without further accountability, and may, in paying the purchase money therefor, deliver any Bonds or claims for interest thereon in lieu of cash up to the amount which shall, upon distribution of the net proceeds of such sale, be payable thereon, and such Bonds, in case the amounts so payable thereon shall be less than the amount due thereon, shall be returned to the Holders thereof after being appropriately stamped to show such partial payment; (2) the Indenture Trustee may bid for and acquire the property offered for Sale in connection with any Sale thereof, and, subject to any requirements of, and to the extent 33 permitted by, applicable law in connection therewith, may purchase all or any portion of the Trust Estate in a private sale, and, in lieu of paying cash therefor, may make settlement for the purchase price by crediting the gross Sale price against the sum of (A) the amount which would be distributable to the Holders of the Bonds and Holders of Certificates as a result of such Sale in accordance with Section 5.04(b) hereof on the Payment Date next succeeding the date of such Sale and (B) the expenses of the Sale and of any Proceedings in connection therewith which are reimbursable to it, without being required to produce the Bonds in order to complete any such Sale or in order for the net Sale price to be credited against such Bonds, and any property so acquired by the Indenture Trustee shall be held and dealt with by it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; (3) the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument of conveyance transferring its interest in any portion of the Trust Estate in connection with a Sale thereof; (4) the Indenture Trustee is hereby irrevocably appointed the agent and attorney-in-fact of the Issuer to transfer and convey its interest in any portion of the Trust Estate in connection with a Sale thereof, and to take all action necessary to effect such Sale; and (5) no purchaser or transferee at such a Sale shall be bound to ascertain the Indenture Trustee's authority, inquire into the satisfaction of any conditions precedent or see to the application of any monies. Section 5.16. Action on Bonds. The Indenture Trustee's right to seek and recover judgment on the Bonds or under this Indenture shall not be affected by the seeking, obtaining or application of any other relief under or with respect to this Indenture. Neither the lien of this Indenture nor any rights or remedies of the Indenture Trustee or the Bondholders shall be impaired by the recovery of any judgment by the Indenture Trustee against the Issuer or by the levy of any execution under such judgment upon any portion of the Trust Estate or upon any of the assets of the Issuer. Any money or property collected by the Indenture Trustee shall be applied in accordance with Section 5.04(b) hereof. Section 5.17. Performance and Enforcement of Certain Obligations. (a) Promptly following a request from the Indenture Trustee to do so, the Issuer in its capacity as holder of the Mortgage Loans, shall take all such lawful action as the Indenture Trustee may request to cause the Issuer to compel or secure the performance and observance by the Seller and the Master Servicer, as applicable, of each of their obligations to the Issuer under or in connection with the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, and to exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully available to the Issuer under or in connection with the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the Servicing Agreement to the extent and in the manner directed by the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, including the transmission of notices of default on the part of the Seller or the Master Servicer thereunder and the institution of legal or administrative actions or proceedings to compel or secure performance by the Seller or the Master Servicer of each of their obligations under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the Servicing Agreement. 34 (b) The Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, may, and at the direction (which direction shall be in writing or by telephone (confirmed in writing promptly thereafter)) of Holders of 66-2/3% of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, shall exercise all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the Issuer against the Seller or the Master Servicer under or in connection with the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, including the right or power to take any action to compel or secure performance or observance by the Seller or the Master Servicer, as the case may be, of each of their obligations to the Issuer thereunder and to give any consent, request, notice, direction, approval, extension or waiver under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, as the case may be, and any right of the Issuer to take such action shall not be suspended. 35 ARTICLE VI The Indenture Trustee Section 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. (b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default: (i) the Indenture Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Indenture Trustee; and (ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Indenture Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, the Indenture Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture. (c) The Indenture Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.01; (ii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer unless it is proved that the Indenture Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (iii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 5.11. (d) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Indenture Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. (e) Money held in trust by the Indenture Trustee need not be segregated from other trust funds except to the extent required by law or the terms of this Indenture or the Trust Agreement. (f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Indenture Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that 36 repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Indenture Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA. (h) The Indenture Trustee shall act in accordance with Sections 6.03 and 6.04 of the Servicing Agreement and shall act as successor to the Master Servicer in accordance with Section 6.02 of the Servicing Agreement. Section 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee. (a) The Indenture Trustee may rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Indenture Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. (b) Before the Indenture Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer's Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officer's Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. (c) The Indenture Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys or a custodian or nominee. (d) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee's conduct does not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. (e) The Indenture Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Bonds shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. Section 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Bonds and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Indenture Trustee. Any Bond Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Indenture Trustee must comply with Sections 6.11 and 6.12 hereof. Section 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer. The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Bonds, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer's use of the proceeds from the Bonds, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in the Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Bonds or in the Bonds other than the Indenture Trustee's certificate of authentication. 37 Section 6.05. Notice of Event of Default. The Indenture Trustee shall mail to each Bondholder notice of the Event of Default within 10 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, unless such Event of Default shall have been waived or cured. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Bond, the Indenture Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Bondholders. Section 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders. The Indenture Trustee shall deliver to each Bondholder such information as may be required to enable such holder to prepare its federal and state income tax returns. In addition, upon the Issuer's written request, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly furnish information reasonably requested by the Issuer that is reasonably available to the Indenture Trustee to enable the Issuer to perform its federal and state income tax reporting obligations. Section 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Indenture Trustee on each Payment Date reasonable compensation for its services. The amount of the Indenture Trustee Fee shall be paid by the Master Servicer to the Indenture Trustee on each Payment Date pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) of the Servicing Agreement and all amounts owing to the Indenture Trustee hereunder in excess of such amount shall be paid solely as provided in a separate agreement between the Indenture Trustee and the Master Servicer. Indenture Trustee to itself from amounts on deposit in the Payment Account. The Indenture Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Indenture Trustee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee's agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer shall indemnify the Indenture Trustee against any and all loss, liability or expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by it in connection with the administration of this Trust and the performance of its duties hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Indenture Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend any such claim, and the Indenture Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer is not obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Indenture Trustee through the Indenture Trustee's own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. The Issuer's payment obligations to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Indenture Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law. Section 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and no appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.08. 38 The Indenture Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority of Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds may remove the Indenture Trustee by so notifying the Indenture Trustee and may appoint a successor Indenture Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Indenture Trustee if: (i) the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11 hereof; (ii) the Indenture Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent; (iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Indenture Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Indenture Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting. If the Indenture Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Indenture Trustee for any reason (the Indenture Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Indenture Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Indenture Trustee. A successor Indenture Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Indenture Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Indenture Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Indenture Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Indenture Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Bondholders. The retiring Indenture Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Indenture Trustee to the successor Indenture Trustee. If a successor Indenture Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Indenture Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Indenture Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of a majority of Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding the replacement of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer's obligations under Section 6.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Indenture Trustee. Section 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger. If the Indenture Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation, without any further act, shall be the successor Indenture Trustee; provided, that such corporation or banking association shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under Section 6.11 hereof. The Indenture Trustee shall provide the Rating Agencies with prior written notice of any such transaction. If at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Indenture Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture and any of the Bonds shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Indenture Trustee may adopt 39 the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee and deliver such Bonds so authenticated; and if at that time any of the Bonds shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Indenture Trustee may authenticate such Bonds either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Indenture Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is in the Bonds or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Indenture Trustee shall have. Section 6.10. Appointment of Co-Indenture Trustee or Separate Indenture Trustee. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, at any time, for the purpose of meet ing any legal requirement of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Estate may at the time be located, the Indenture Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or co-trustees, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of the Trust Estate, and to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the Bondholders, such title to the Trust Estate, or any part hereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Indenture Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 6.11 hereof but not to the Bondholders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required. (b) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions: (i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Indenture Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Indenture Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Indenture Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed the Indenture Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the Trust Estate or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Indenture Trustee; (ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and (iii) the Indenture Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee. (c) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Agreement and the conditions of this Article VI. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its 40 instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Indenture Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Indenture Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee. (d) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute the Indenture Trustee, its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Indenture Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee. Section 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Indenture Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA ss. 310(a). The Indenture Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition and it or its parent shall have a long-term debt rating of Baa3 or better by Moody's and BBB or better by Standard & Poor's. The Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 310(b), including the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of TIA ss. 310(b)(9); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA ss. 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA ss. 310(b)(1) are met. Section 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer. The Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). An Indenture Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated. Section 6.13. Representations and Warranties. The Indenture Trustee hereby represents that: (i) The Indenture Trustee is duly organized and validly existing as an association in good standing under the laws of the United States with power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are currently owned and such business is presently conducted; (ii) The Indenture Trustee has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Indenture and to carry out its terms; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Indenture have been duly authorized by the Indenture Trustee by all necessary corporate action; (iii) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default 41 under, the articles of organization or bylaws of the Indenture Trustee or any agreement or other instrument to which the Indenture Trustee is a party or by which it is bound; and (iv) To the Indenture Trustee's best knowledge, there are no proceedings or investigations pending or threatened before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Indenture Trustee or its properties: (A) asserting the invalidity of this Indenture (B) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or (C) seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and adversely affect the performance by the Indenture Trustee of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Indenture. Section 6.14. Directions to Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee is hereby directed: (a) to accept the pledge of the Mortgage Loans and hold the assets of the Owner Trust Estate in trust for the Bondholders; (b) to authenticate and deliver the Bonds substantially in the form prescribed by Exhibits A-1 through A-3 in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and (c) to take all other actions as shall be required to be taken by the terms of this Indenture. Section 6.15. The Agents. The provisions of this Indenture relating to the limitations of the Indenture Trustee's liability and to its indemnity shall inure also to the Paying Agent and Bond Registrar. 42 ARTICLE VII Bondholders' Lists and Reports Section 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of Bondholders. The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Indenture Trustee (a) not more than five days after each Record Date, a list, in such form as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Bonds as of such Record Date, (b) at such other times as the Indenture Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 10 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that so long as the Indenture Trustee is the Bond Registrar, no such list shall be required to be furnished. Section 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Bondholders. (a) The Indenture Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of the Holders of Bonds contained in the most recent list furnished to the Indenture Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 hereof and the names and addresses of Holders of Bonds received by the Indenture Trustee in its capacity as Bond Registrar. The Indenture Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in such Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. (b) Bondholders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other Bondholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Bonds. (c) The Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Bond Registrar shall have the protection of TIA ss. 312(c). Section 7.03. Reports of Issuer. (a)(i) The Indenture Trustee shall file with the Commission on behalf of the Issuer, with a copy to the Issuer within 15 days before the Issuer is required to file the same with the Commission, the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Issuer may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; (ii) The Indenture Trustee shall file with the Commission, on behalf of the Issuer, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Issuer with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and (iii) The Indenture Trustee shall supply (and the Indenture Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Bondholders described in TIA ss. 313(c)) such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.03(a) and by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission. 43 (b) Unless the Issuer otherwise determines, the fiscal year of the Issuer shall end on December 31 of each year. Section 7.04. Reports by Indenture Trustee. If required by TIA ss. 313(a), within 60 days after each January 29 beginning with January 29, 1998, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to each Bondholder as required by TIA ss. 313(c) a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA ss. 313(a). The Indenture Trustee also shall comply with TIA ss. 313(b). A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Bondholders shall be filed by the Indenture Trustee with the Commission and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Bonds are listed. The Issuer shall notify the Indenture Trustee if and when the Bonds are listed on any stock exchange. Section 7.05. Statements to Bondholders. (a) With respect to each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver to each Certificateholder, Bondholder, the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Paying Agent and each Rating Agency, a statement setting forth the following information as to each Class of Bonds and Certificates, to the extent applicable: (i) the aggregate amount of collections with respect to the Mortgage Loans; (ii) the Interest Remittance Amount, Principal Remittance Amount and Bond Principal Distribution Amount payable to the Bondholders and Certificates for such Payment Date, and the aggregate Unpaid Interest Shortfalls for all prior Payment Dates; (iii) (a) the amount of such distribution to the Holders of each Class of Bonds applied to reduce the Bond Principal Balance thereof, and (b) the aggregate amount included therein representing Principal Prepayments; (iv) (a) the amount of such distribution to the Holders of each Class of Class C Certificates applied to reduce the Certificate Principal Balance thereof, and (b) the aggregate amount included therein representing Principal Prepayments; (v) the amount of such distribution to Holders of such Class of Bonds allocable to interest; (vi) the amount of such distribution to Holders of such Class of Certificates allocable to interest; (vii) if the distribution to the Holders of any Class of Bonds or Certificates is less than the full amount that would be distributable to such Holders if there were sufficient funds available therefor, the amount of the shortfall; (viii) the number and the aggregate Stated Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans after giving effect to the distribution of principal on such Payment Date; 44 (ix) the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of each Class of the Bonds, after giving effect to the amounts distributed on such Payment Date, separately identifying any reduction thereof due to Realized Losses other than pursuant to an actual distribution of principal and the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of all of the Bonds after giving effect to the distribution of principal on such Payment Date; (x) the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Class C Certificates, after giving effect to the amounts distributed on such Payment Date, separately identifying any reduction thereof due to Realized Losses other than pursuant to an actual distribution of principal and the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of all of the Certificates after giving effect to the distribution of principal on such Payment Date; (xi) the Certificate Interest Rate on each Class of Certificates, (xii) the Notional Amount of the Class X Certificates, after giving effect to the amounts distributed on such Payment Date, (xiii) the number and aggregate Principal Balances of Mortgage Loans (a) as to which the Monthly Payment is delinquent for 30-59 days, 60-89 days, 90 or more days, respectively, (b) in foreclosure and (c) that have become REO Property, in each case as of the end of the preceding Due Period; provided, however, that such information will not be provided on the statements relating to the first Payment Date; (xiv) the amount of any Advances and Compensating Interest payments; (xv) the aggregate Realized Losses with respect to the related Payment Date and cumulative Realized Losses since the Closing Date; (xvi) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of Mortgage Loans repurchased pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement for the related Payment Date and cumulatively since the Closing Date; (xvii) the book value of any REO Property; and (xviii) the aggregate Principal Balance of Mortgage Loans purchased pursuant to Section 3.18 of the Servicing Agreement for the related Payment Date and cumulatively since the Closing Date. Items (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (ix), (x) and (xii) above shall be presented on the basis of a Bond or Certificate, as applicable, having a $1,000 denomination. In addition, by January 31 of each calendar year following any year during which the Bonds are outstanding, the Indenture Trustee shall furnish a report to each Bondholder of record if so requested in writing at any time during each calendar year as to the aggregate of amounts reported pursuant to (iii), (v), (vii) and (xiii) with respect to the Bonds for such calendar year. 45 The Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely upon the Determination Date Report provided by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Servicing Agreement in its preparation of its Statement to Bondholders. 46 ARTICLE VIII Accounts, Disbursements and Releases Section 8.01. Collection of Money. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Indenture Trustee may demand payment or delivery of, and shall receive and collect, directly and without intervention or assistance of any fiscal agent or other intermediary, all money and other property payable to or receivable by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee shall apply all such money received by it as provided in this Indenture. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, if any default occurs in the making of any payment or performance under any agreement or instrument that is part of the Trust Estate, the Indenture Trustee may take such action as may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, including the institution and prosecution of appropriate Proceedings. Any such action shall be without prejudice to any right to claim a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture and any right to proceed thereafter as provided in Article V. Section 8.02. Trust Accounts. (a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Issuer shall cause the Indenture Trustee to establish and maintain, in the name of the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Bondholders, the Payment Account as provided in Section 3.01 hereof. (b) All monies deposited from time to time in the Payment Account and all investments made with such monies including all income or other gain from such investments pursuant to the Servicing Agreement and all deposits therein pursuant to this Indenture are for the benefit of the Bondholders. The amount of any losses incurred with respect to any such investments shall be deposited in the Payment Account by the Master Servicer. On each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee shall distribute all amounts remaining on deposit in the Payment Account, after payment to the Indenture Trustee of the Indenture Trustee Fee and payment to the Owner Trustee of the Owner Trustee Fee, to the Bondholders in respect of the Bonds and to such other persons in the order of priority set forth in Section 3.05 hereof (except as otherwise provided in Section 5.04(b) hereof). The Indenture Trustee shall invest any funds in the Payment Account in Eligible Investments, as directed by the Master Servicer, maturing no later than the Business Day preceding each Payment Date and such Eligible Investments shall not be sold or disposed of prior to their maturity. In the absence of such direction, the Indenture Trustee shall invest the funds in the Payment Account in money market funds as further described in clause (vii) of the definition of Eligible Investments. Section 8.03. Officer's Certificate. The Indenture Trustee shall receive at least seven days' notice when requested by the Issuer to take any action pursuant to Section 8.05(a) hereof, accompanied by copies of any instruments to be executed, and the Indenture Trustee shall also require, as a condition to such action, an Officer's Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, stating the legal effect of any such action, outlining the steps required 47 to complete the same, and concluding that all conditions precedent to the taking of such action have been complied with. Section 8.04. Termination Upon Distribution to Bondholders. This Indenture and the respective obligations and responsibilities of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee created hereby shall terminate upon the distribution to Bondholders, the Certificate Paying Agent on behalf of the Certificateholders and the Indenture Trustee of all amounts required to be distributed pursuant to Article III; provided, however, that in no event shall the trust created hereby continue beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the survivor of the descendants of Joseph P. Kennedy, the late ambassador of the United States to the Court of St. James, living on the date hereof. Section 8.05. Release of Trust Estate. (a) Subject to the payment of its fees and expenses, the Indenture Trustee may, and when required by the provisions of this Indenture shall, execute instruments to release property from the lien of this Indenture, or convey the Indenture Trustee's interest in the same, in a manner and under circumstances that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture. No party relying upon an instrument executed by the Indenture Trustee as provided in Article VIII hereunder shall be bound to ascertain the Indenture Trustee's authority, inquire into the satisfaction of any conditions precedent, or see to the application of any monies. (b) The Indenture Trustee shall, at such time as (i) there are no Bonds Outstanding and (ii) all sums due to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture have been paid, release any remaining portion of the Trust Estate that secured the Bonds from the lien of this Indenture. (c) The Indenture Trustee shall release property from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to this Section 8.05 only upon receipt of a request from the Issuer accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all applicable requirements have been satisfied. Section 8.06. Surrender of Bonds Upon Final Payment. By acceptance of any Bond, the Holder thereof agrees to surrender such Bond to the Indenture Trustee promptly, prior to such Bondholder's receipt of the final payment thereon. Section 8.07. Optional Redemption of the Bonds. (a) The Issuer shall have the option to redeem the Bonds in whole, but not in part, on any Payment Date on or after the earlier of (i) the Payment Date on which the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than or equal to 20% of the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date or (ii) the Payment Date occurring in January 2008. The aggregate redemption price for the Bonds will be equal to the unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds as of the Payment Date on which the proposed redemption will take place in accordance with the foregoing, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the Bond Interest Rate through such Payment Date (including any Unpaid Interest Shortfalls), plus an amount sufficient to pay in full all amounts owing to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture (which amounts shall be specified in writing upon request of the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee). 48 (b) In order to exercise the foregoing option, the Issuer shall, not less than 15 days prior to the proposed Payment Date on which such redemption is to be made, deposit the aggregate redemption price specified in (a) above with the Indenture Trustee, and shall provide written notice of its exercise of such option to the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee and the Master Servicer. Following receipt of the notice and the aggregate redemption price, calculated as specified in Section 8.07(a) hereof, pursuant to the foregoing, the Indenture Trustee shall provide notice to the Bondholders of the final payment on the Bonds and shall apply such funds to make final payments of principal and interest on the Bonds in accordance with Section 3.05(b) and 3.05(c) hereof, and this Indenture shall be discharged subject to the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof. If for any reason the amount deposited by the Issuer is not sufficient to make such redemption or such redemption cannot be completed for any reason, the amount so deposited by the Issuer with the Indenture Trustee shall be immediately returned to the Issuer in full and shall not be used for any other purpose or be deemed to be part of the Trust Estate. 49 ARTICLE IX Supplemental Indentures Section 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Bondholders. (a) Without the consent of the Holders of any Bonds but with prior notice to the Rating Agencies, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Request, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof), in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, for any of the following purposes: (i) to correct or amplify the description of any property at any time subject to the lien of this Indenture, or better to assure, convey and confirm unto the Indenture Trustee any property subject or required to be subjected to the lien of this Indenture, or to subject to the lien of this Indenture additional property; (i to evidence the succession, in compliance with the applicable provisions hereof, of another person to the Issuer, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer herein and in the Bonds contained; (ii) to add to the covenants of the Issuer, for the benefit of the Holders of the Bonds, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer; (iii) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Indenture Trustee; (iv) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein or in any supplemental indenture that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental indenture; (v) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture; provided, that such action shall not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Bonds; (vi) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Bonds and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Article VI hereof; or (vii) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA or under any similar federal statute hereafter enacted and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the TIA; 50 provided, however, that no such indenture supplements shall be entered into unless the Indenture Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that entering into such indenture supplement will not result in a "substantial modification" of the Bonds under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1001.3 or adversely affect the status of the Bonds as indebtedness for federal income tax purposes. The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to join in the execution of any such supplemental indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained. (b) The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Request, may, also without the consent of any of the Holders of the Bonds but with prior notice to the Rating Agencies, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel, (i) adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Bondholder or (ii) if 100% of the Certificates are not owned by IMH Assets Corp., cause the Issuer to be subject to an entity level tax for federal income tax purposes. Section 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Bondholders. The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Request, also may, with prior notice to the Rating Agencies and, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds affected thereby, by Act (as defined in Section 10.03 hereof) of such Holders delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supple mental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Bond affected thereby: (i) change the date of payment of any installment of principal of or interest on any Bond, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest rate thereon, change the provisions of this Indenture relating to the application of collections on, or the proceeds of the sale of, the Trust Estate to payment of principal of or interest on the Bonds, or change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Bond or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture requiring the application of funds available therefor, as provided in Article V, to the payment of any such amount due on the Bonds on or after the respective due dates thereof; (ii) reduce the percentage of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; 51 (iii) modify or alter the provisions of the proviso to the definition of the term "Outstanding" or modify or alter the exception in the definition of the term "Holder"; (iv) reduce the percentage of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds required to direct the Indenture Trustee to direct the Issuer to sell or liquidate the Trust Estate pursuant to Section 5.04 hereof; (v) modify any provision of this Section 9.02 except to increase any percentage specified herein or to provide that certain additional provisions of this Indenture or the Basic Documents cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Bond affected thereby; (vi) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture in such manner as to affect the calculation of the amount of any payment of interest or principal due on any Bond on any Payment Date (including the calculation of any of the individual components of such calculation); or (vii) permit the creation of any lien ranking prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture with respect to any part of the Trust Estate or, except as otherwise permitted or contemplated herein, terminate the lien of this Indenture on any property at any time subject hereto or deprive the Holder of any Bond of the security provided by the lien of this Indenture; and provided, further, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel, cause the Issuer (if 100% of the Certificates are not owned by IMH Assets Corp.) to be subject to an entity level tax. The Indenture Trustee may, in its discretion determine whether or not any Bonds would be affected by any supplemental indenture and any such determination shall be conclusive upon the Holders of all Bonds, whether theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any such determination made in good faith. It shall not be necessary for any Act of Bondholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 9.02, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Bonds to which such amendment or supplemental indenture relates a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Indenture Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture. Section 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or permitting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 hereof, shall be fully protected in relying upon, 52 an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Indenture Trustee's own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Section 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall be and shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith with respect to the Bonds affected thereby, and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, liabilities and immunities under this Indenture of the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of the Bonds shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes. Section 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment of this Indenture and every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect so long as this Indenture shall then be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Section 9.06. Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures. Bonds authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX may, and if required by the Indenture Trustee shall, bear a notation in form approved by the Indenture Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuer or the Inden ture Trustee shall so determine, new Bonds so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Bonds. 53 ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Section 10.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc. (a) Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee (i) an Officer's Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that, in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished. Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (1) a statement that each signatory of such certificate or opinion has read or has caused to be read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such signatory, such signatory has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such signatory to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; (4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such signatory, such condition or covenant has been complied with; and (5) if the signatory of such certificate or opinion is required to be Independent, the statement required by the definition of the term "Independent". (b) (i) Prior to the deposit of any Collateral or other property or securities with the Indenture Trustee that is to be made the basis for the release of any property or securities subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Issuer shall, in addition to any obligation imposed in Section 10.01(a) or elsewhere in this Indenture, furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of each person signing such certificate as to the fair value (within 90 days of such deposit) to the Issuer of the Collateral or other property or securities to be so deposited and a report from a nationally recognized accounting firm verifying such value. (ii) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any signer thereof as to the matters 54 described in clause (i) above, the Issuer shall also deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate from a nationally recognized accounting firm as to the same matters, if the fair value to the Issuer of the securities to be so deposited and of all other such securities made the basis of any such withdrawal or release since the commencement of the then-current fiscal year of the Issuer, as set forth in the certificates delivered pursuant to clause (i) above and this clause (ii), is 10% or more of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, but such a certificate need not be furnished with respect to any securities so deposited, if the fair value thereof to the Issuer as set forth in the related Officer's Certificate is less than $25,000 or less than one percent of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds. (iii) Whenever any property or securities are to be released from the lien of this Indenture, the Issuer shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of each person signing such certificate as to the fair value (within 90 days of such release) of the property or securities proposed to be released and stating that in the opinion of such person the proposed release will not impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof. (iv) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any signer thereof as to the matters described in clause (iii) above, the Issuer shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the same matters if the fair value of the property or securities and of all other property, other than property as contemplated by clause (v) below or securities released from the lien of this Indenture since the commencement of the then-current calendar year, as set forth in the certificates required by clause (iii) above and this clause (iv), equals 10% or more of the Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds, but such certificate need not be furnished in the case of any release of property or securities if the fair value thereof as set forth in the related Officer's Certificate is less than $25,000 or less than one percent of the then Bond Principal Balances of the Bonds. Section 10.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents. Any certificate or opinion of an Authorized Officer of the Issuer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate of an Authorized Officer or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Seller or the Issuer, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Seller or the Issuer, unless such counsel knows, or 55 in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous. Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument. Whenever in this Indenture, in connection with any application or certificate or report to the Indenture Trustee, it is provided that the Issuer shall deliver any document as a condition of the granting of such application, or as evidence of the Issuer's compliance with any term hereof, it is intended that the truth and accuracy, at the time of the granting of such application or at the effective date of such certificate or report (as the case may be), of the facts and opinions stated in such document shall in such case be conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer to have such application granted or to the sufficiency of such certificate or report. The foregoing shall not, however, be construed to affect the Indenture Trustee's right to rely upon the truth and accuracy of any statement or opinion contained in any such document as provided in Article VI. Section 10.03. Acts of Bondholders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Bondholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Bondholders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing; and except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Indenture Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Bondholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 10.03 hereof. (b) The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner that the Indenture Trustee deems sufficient. (c) The ownership of Bonds shall be proved by the Bond Registrar. (d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Bonds shall bind the Holder of every Bond issued upon the registration thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Indenture Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Bond. Section 10.04. Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer and Rating Agencies. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Bondholders or other 56 documents provided or permitted by this Indenture shall be in writing and if such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or act of Bondholders is to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with: (i) the Indenture Trustee by any Bondholder or by the Issuer shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Indenture Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office. The Indenture Trustee shall promptly transmit any notice received by it from the Bondholders to the Issuer, or (ii) the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by any Bondholder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed first-class, postage prepaid to the Issuer addressed to: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, in care of Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer. The Issuer shall promptly transmit any notice received by it from the Bondholders to the Indenture Trustee. Notices required to be given to the Rating Agencies by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee shall be in writing, personally delivered or mailed first-class postage pre-paid, to (i) in the case of Moody's, at the following address: Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Residential Mortgage Monitoring Department, 99 Church Street, New York, New York 10007 and (ii) in the case of DCR, at the following address: Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., 55 East Monroe Street, 38th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Asset Backed Surveillance Department; or as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by written notice to the other parties. Section 10.05. Notices to Bondholders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Bondholders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid to each Bondholder affected by such event, at such Person's address as it appears on the Bond Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Bondholders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Bondholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Bondholders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall conclusively be presumed to have been duly given regardless of whether such notice is in fact actually received. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by any Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Bondholders shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such a waiver. In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or similar activity, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to Bondholders 57 when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. Where this Indenture provides for notice to the Rating Agencies, failure to give such notice shall not affect any other rights or obligations created hereunder, and shall not under any circumstance constitute an Event of Default. Section 10.06. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. The provisions of TIA ss.ss. 310 through 317 that impose duties on any Person (including the provisions automatically deemed included herein unless expressly excluded by this Indenture) are a part of and govern this Indenture, whether or not physically contained herein. Section 10.07. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. Section 10.08. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture and the Bonds by the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Indenture Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors, co-trustees and agents. Section 10.09. Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Bonds shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Section 10.10. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Bonds, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Bondholders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture. Section 10.11. Legal Holidays. In any case where the date on which any payment is due shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Bonds or this Indenture) payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date on which nominally due, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such nominal date. Section 10.12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS. 58 Section 10.13. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 10.14. Recording of Indenture. If this Indenture is subject to recording in any appropriate public recording offices, such recording is to be effected by the Issuer and at its expense accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel (which may be counsel to the Indenture Trustee or any other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such recording is necessary either for the protection of the Bondholders or any other Person secured hereunder or for the enforcement of any right or remedy granted to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture. Section 10.15. Issuer Obligation. No recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee on the Bonds or under this Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith, against (i) the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity, (ii) any owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer or (iii) any partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director, employee or agent of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity, any holder of a beneficial interest in the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee or of any successor or assign of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity, except as any such Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee have no such obligations in their individual capacity) and except that any such partner, owner or beneficiary shall be fully liable, to the extent provided by applicable law, for any unpaid consideration for stock, unpaid capital contribution or failure to pay any installment or call owing to such entity. For all purposes of this Indenture, in the performance of any duties or obligations of the Issuer hereunder, the Owner Trustee shall be subject to, and entitled to the benefits of, the terms and provisions of Article VI, VII and VIII of the Trust Agreement. Section 10.16. No Petition. The Indenture Trustee, by entering into this Indenture, and each Bondholder, by accepting a Bond, hereby covenant and agree that they will not at any time institute against the Depositor or the Issuer, or join in any institution against the Depositor or the Issuer of, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the Bonds, this Indenture or any of the Basic Documents. This Section 10.16 will survive for one year following the termination of this Indenture. Section 10.17. Inspection. The Issuer agrees that, on reasonable prior notice, it shall permit any representative of the Indenture Trustee, during the Issuer's normal business hours, to examine all the books of account, records, reports and other papers of the Issuer, to make copies and extracts therefrom, to cause such books to be audited by Independent certified public 59 accountants, and to discuss the Issuer's affairs, finances and accounts with the Issuer's officers, employees, and Independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested. The Indenture Trustee shall cause its representatives to hold in confidence all such information except to the extent disclosure may be required by law (and all reasonable applications for confidential treatment are unavailing) and except to the extent that the Indenture Trustee may reasonably determine that such disclosure is consistent with its obligations hereunder. 60 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee have caused their names to be signed hereto by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written. Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as Issuer By: /s/ Patricia A. Evans --------------------- Financial Services Officer Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, as Certificate Paying Agent and as Bond Registrar By: /s/ Melanie Anbarci ------------------- Name: Melanie Anbarci Title: Assistant Secretary Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. hereby accepts the appointment as Certificate Paying Agent pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof and as Certificate Registrar pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof. By: /s/ Melanie Anbarci ------------------- Name: Melanie Anbarci Title: Assistant Secretary STATE OF DELAWARE ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE ) On this 23rd day of December, before me personally appeared Patricia A. Evans to me known, who being by me duly sworn, did depose and say, that she resides at Newark, DE, she is the Administrative Account Manager of the Owner Trustee, one of the corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that she knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that she signed her name thereto by like order. Notary Public /s/ Kathleen A. Pedelini ------------------------ Kathleen A. Pedelini NOTARY PUBLIC My Commission expires October 31, 1998 [NOTARIAL SEAL] EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CLASS A BONDS UNLESS THIS BOND IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY BOND ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS BOND IS A NON-RECOURSE OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER, AND IS LIMITED IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FROM THE TRUST ESTATE AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO BELOW. THE ISSUER IS NOT OTHERWISE PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENTS ON THIS BOND. PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND IS PAYABLE OVER TIME AS SET FORTH HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND AT ANY TIME MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 COLLATERALIZED ASSET-BACKED BONDS CLASS A AGGREGATE BOND PRINCIPAL BOND INTEREST RATE:____% BALANCE:$ INITIAL BOND PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THIS BOND: BOND NO. $ PERCENTAGE INTEREST: ____% CUSIP NO. Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 (the "Issuer"), a Delaware business trust, for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________________________________________________ ($_________________) in monthly installments on the twenty-fifth day of each month or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (each a "Payment Date"), commencing in February 1998 and ending on or before the Payment Date occurring in November 2029 (the "Stated Maturity") and to pay interest on the Bond Principal Balance of this Class A Bond (this "Bond") outstanding from time to time as provided below. This Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of the Issuer's Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 (the "Bonds"), issued under an Indenture dated as of January 29, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee", which term includes any successor Indenture Trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Holders of the Bonds and the terms upon which the Bonds are to be authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Bond which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. Payments of principal and interest on this Bond will be made on each Payment Date to the Bondholder of record as of the related Record Date. On each Payment Date, Bondholders will be entitled to receive interest payments in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate Accrued Bond Interest for such Payment Date, together with principal payments in an aggregate amount equal to the Bond Principal Distribution Amount, if any, for such Payment Date. The "Bond Principal Balance" of a Bond as of any date of determination is equal to the initial Bond Principal Balance thereof, reduced by the aggregate of all amounts previously paid with respect to such Bond on account of principal and the aggregate amount of cumulative Realized Losses allocated to such Bond on all prior Payment Dates. The principal of, and interest on, this Bond are due and payable as described in the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer with respect to this Bond shall be equal to this Bond's pro rata share of the aggregate payments on all Bonds as described above, and shall be applied as between interest and principal as provided in the Indenture. All principal and interest accrued on the Bonds, if not previously paid, will become finally due and payable at the Final Scheduled Payment Date. The Bonds are subject to redemption in whole, but not in part, by the Issuer on any Payment Date on or after the earlier of (i) the Payment Date on which the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than or equal to 20% of the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date and (ii) the Payment Date in January 2008. The Issuer shall not be liable upon the indebtedness evidenced by the Bonds except to the extent of amounts available from the Trust Estate which constitutes security for the payment of the Bonds. The assets included in the Trust Estate will be the sole source of payments on the Bonds, and each Holder hereof, by its acceptance of this Bond, agrees that (i) such Bond will be limited in right of payment to amounts available from the Trust Estate as provided in the Indenture and (ii) such Holder shall have no recourse to the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, IMH Assets Corp., Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), the Master Servicer or any of their respective affiliates, or to the assets of any of the foregoing entities, except the assets of the Issuer pledged to secure the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and the rights conveyed to the Issuer under the Indenture. Any payment of principal or interest payable on this Bond which is punctually paid on the applicable Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Bond is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Payment Date by check mailed to such person's address as it appears in the Bond Register on such Record Date, except for the final installment of principal and interest payable with respect to such Bond, which shall be payable as provided below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon written request with appropriate instructions by the Holder of this Bond (holding an aggregate Initial Bond Principal Balance of at least $5,000,000) delivered to the Indenture Trustee at least five Business Days prior to the Record Date, any payment of principal or interest, other than the final installment of principal or interest, shall be made by wire transfer to an account in the United States designated by such Holder. All reductions in the principal amount of a Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds) effected by payments of principal made on any Payment Date shall be binding upon all Holders of this Bond and of any bond issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, whether or not such payment is noted on such Bond. The final payment of this Bond shall be payable upon presentation and surrender thereof on or after the Payment Date thereof at the Corporate Trust Office or the office or agency of the Issuer maintained by it for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Indenture. Subject to the foregoing provisions, each Bond delivered under the Indenture, upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Bond shall carry the right to unpaid principal and interest that were carried by such other Bond. If an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture shall occur and be continuing with respect to the Bonds, the Bonds may become or be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If any such acceleration of maturity occurs prior to the payment of the entire unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, the amount payable to the Holder of this Bond will be equal to the sum of the unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon as described in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that, notwithstanding the acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds, under certain circumstances specified therein, all amounts collected as proceeds of the Trust Estate securing the Bonds or otherwise shall continue to be applied to payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds as if they had not been declared due and payable. The failure to pay any Unpaid Interest Shortfall at any time when funds are not available to make such payment as provided in the Indenture shall not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Bond may be registered on the Bond Register of the Issuer. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of, or presentation of a written instrument of transfer for, this Bond at the office or agency designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, accompanied by proper instruments of assignment in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, one or more new Bonds of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Bond is registered as the owner of such Bond (i) on the applicable Record Date for the purpose of making payments and interest of such Bond, and (ii) on any other date for all other purposes whatsoever, as the owner hereof, whether or not this Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer with the consent of the Holders of a majority of all Bonds at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of Bonds representing specified percentages of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds on behalf of the Holders of all the Bonds, to waive any past Default under the Indenture and its consequences. Any such waiver by the Holder, at the time of the giving thereof, of this Bond (or any one or more Predecessor Bonds) shall bind the Holder of every Bond issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon such Bond. The Indenture also permits the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture without the consent of the Holders of the Bonds issued thereunder. Initially, the Bonds will be registered in the name of CEDE & Co. as nominee of DTC, acting in its capacity as the Depository for the Bonds. The Bonds will be delivered by the clearing agency in denominations as provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth. The Bonds are exchangeable for a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of Bonds of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering same. Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Indenture Trustee by manual signature, this Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS BOND AND THE INDENTURE CREATING THIS BOND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED THEREIN. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed by Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee. Dated: January 29, 1998 IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 BY: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Owner Trustee By:_______________________________________ Authorized Signatory INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Class A Bonds referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee By:______________________________________ Authorized Signatory ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the Bond, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM -- as tenants in common TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties JT TEN -- as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- ____________________Custodian_______________________ (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act ___________________ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ (Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of assignee) ________________________________________________________________________________ the within Bond and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ________________ attorney to transfer said Bond on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated:___________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature Guaranteed by_________________________________________________ NOTICE: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange. Notarized or witnessed signatures are not acceptable. EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF CLASS [M-1][M-2] BONDS UNLESS THIS BOND IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY BOND ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS BOND IS A NON-RECOURSE OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER, AND IS LIMITED IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FROM THE TRUST ESTATE AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO BELOW. THE ISSUER IS NOT OTHERWISE PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENTS ON THIS BOND. PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND IS PAYABLE OVER TIME AS SET FORTH HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND AT ANY TIME MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THIS BOND IS SUBORDINATED IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE SENIOR BONDS AS DESCRIBED IN THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN. IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 COLLATERALIZED ASSET-BACKED BONDS CLASS [M-1][M-2] AGGREGATE BOND PRINCIPAL BOND INTEREST BALANCE: $________________ RATE:____% INITIAL BOND PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THIS BOND: $_______________ BOND NO. ___ PERCENTAGE INTEREST: ______% CUSIP NO.___________ Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 (the "Issuer"), a Delaware business trust, for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________________________________________________ ($_________________) in monthly installments on the twenty-fifth day of each month or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (each a "Payment Date"), commencing in February 1998 and ending on or before the Payment Date occurring in November 2029 (the "Stated Maturity") and to pay interest on the Bond Principal Balance of this Class [M- 1][M-2] Bond (this "Bond") outstanding from time to time as provided below. This Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of the Issuer's Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 (the "Bonds"), issued under an Indenture dated as of January 29, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee", which term includes any successor Indenture Trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Holders of the Bonds and the terms upon which the Bonds are to be authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Bond which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. Payments of principal and interest on this Bond will be made on each Payment Date to the Bondholder of record as of the related Record Date. On each Payment Date, Bondholders will be entitled to receive interest payments in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate Accrued Bond Interest for such Payment Date, together with principal payments in an aggregate amount equal to the Bond Principal Distribution Amount, if any, for such Payment Date. The "Bond Principal Balance" of a Bond as of any date of determination is equal to the initial Bond Principal Balance thereof, reduced by the aggregate of all amounts previously paid with respect to such Bond on account of principal and the aggregate amount of cumulative Realized Losses allocated to such Bond on all prior Payment Dates. The principal of, and interest on, this Bond are due and payable as described in the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer with respect to this Bond shall be equal to this Bond's pro rata share of the aggregate payments on all Bonds as described above, and shall be applied as between interest and principal as provided in the Indenture. All principal and interest accrued on the Bonds, if not previously paid, will become finally due and payable at the Final Scheduled Payment Date. The Bonds are subject to redemption in whole, but not in part, by the Issuer on any Payment Date on or after the earlier of (i) the Payment Date on which the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than or equal to 20% of the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date and (ii) the Payment Date in January 2008. The Issuer shall not be liable upon the indebtedness evidenced by the Bonds except to the extent of amounts available from the Trust Estate which constitutes security for the payment of the Bonds. The assets included in the Trust Estate will be the sole source of payments on the Bonds, and each Holder hereof, by its acceptance of this Bond, agrees that (i) such Bond will be limited in right of payment to amounts available from the Trust Estate as provided in the Indenture and (ii) such Holder shall have no recourse to the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, IMH Assets Corp., Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), the Master Servicer or any of their respective affiliates, or to the assets of any of the foregoing entities, except the assets of the Issuer pledged to secure the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and the rights conveyed to the Issuer under the Indenture. Any payment of principal or interest payable on this Bond which is punctually paid on the applicable Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Bond is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Payment Date by check mailed to such person's address as it appears in the Bond Register on such Record Date, except for the final installment of principal and interest payable with respect to such Bond, which shall be payable as provided below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon written request with appropriate instructions by the Holder of this Bond (holding an aggregate Initial Bond Principal Balance of at least $5,000,000) delivered to the Indenture Trustee at least five Business Days prior to the Record Date, any payment of principal or interest, other than the final installment of principal or interest, shall be made by wire transfer to an account in the United States designated by such Holder. All reductions in the principal amount of a Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds) effected by payments of principal made on any Payment Date shall be binding upon all Holders of this Bond and of any bond issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, whether or not such payment is noted on such Bond. The final payment of this Bond shall be payable upon presentation and surrender thereof on or after the Payment Date thereof at the Corporate Trust Office or the office or agency of the Issuer maintained by it for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Indenture. Subject to the foregoing provisions, each Bond delivered under the Indenture, upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Bond shall carry the right to unpaid principal and interest that were carried by such other Bond. If an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture shall occur and be continuing with respect to the Bonds, the Bonds may become or be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If any such acceleration of maturity occurs prior to the payment of the entire unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, the amount payable to the Holder of this Bond will be equal to the sum of the unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon as described in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that, notwithstanding the acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds, under certain circumstances specified therein, all amounts collected as proceeds of the Trust Estate securing the Bonds or otherwise shall continue to be applied to payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds as if they had not been declared due and payable. The failure to pay any Unpaid Interest Shortfall at any time when funds are not available to make such payment as provided in the Indenture shall not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Bond may be registered on the Bond Register of the Issuer. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of, or presentation of a written instrument of transfer for, this Bond at the office or agency designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, accompanied by proper instruments of assignment in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, one or more new Bonds of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Bond is registered as the owner of such Bond (i) on the applicable Record Date for the purpose of making payments and interest of such Bond, and (ii) on any other date for all other purposes whatsoever, as the owner hereof, whether or not this Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer with the consent of the Holders of a majority of all Bonds at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of Bonds representing specified percentages of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds on behalf of the Holders of all the Bonds, to waive any past Default under the Indenture and its consequences. Any such waiver by the Holder, at the time of the giving thereof, of this Bond (or any one or more Predecessor Bonds) shall bind the Holder of every Bond issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon such Bond. The Indenture also permits the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture without the consent of the Holders of the Bonds issued thereunder. Initially, the Bonds will be registered in the name of CEDE & Co. as nominee of DTC, acting in its capacity as the Depository for the Bonds. The Bonds will be delivered by the clearing agency in denominations as provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth. The Bonds are exchangeable for a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of Bonds of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering same. The Bonds are exchangeable for a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of Bonds of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering same. Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Indenture Trustee by manual signature, this Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS BOND AND THE INDENTURE CREATING THIS BOND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED THEREIN. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed by Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee. Dated: January 29, 1998 IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 BY: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Owner Trustee By:_______________________________________ Authorized Signatory INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Class [M-1][M-2] Bonds referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee By:_____________________________________ Authorized Signatory ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the Bond, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM -- as tenants in common TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties JT TEN -- as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- ____________________Custodian_______________________ (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act ___________________ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ (Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of assignee) ________________________________________________________________________________ the within Bond and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ________________ attorney to transfer said Bond on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated:___________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature Guaranteed by_________________________________________________ NOTICE: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange. Notarized or witnessed signatures are not acceptable. EXHIBIT A-3 FORM OF CLASS B BONDS UNLESS THIS BOND IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY BOND ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS BOND IS A NON-RECOURSE OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER, AND IS LIMITED IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FROM THE TRUST ESTATE AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO BELOW. THE ISSUER IS NOT OTHERWISE PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR PAYMENTS ON THIS BOND. NO TRANSFER OF THIS BOND SHALL BE MADE UNLESS THE BOND REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS CERTIFYING AS TO THE TRANSFEREE'S STATUS AS A U.S. PERSON OR CORPORATION UNDER U.S. LAW. SO LONG AS THE CLASS B BONDS ARE BOOK-ENTRY BONDS, ANY PURCHASER OF THIS CLASS B BOND WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS FOLLOWS: THE PURCHASER OF THIS BOND IS DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY SUCH PURCHASE THAT SUCH PURCHASER IS A UNITED STATES PERSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND IS PAYABLE OVER TIME AS SET FORTH HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL OF THIS BOND AT ANY TIME MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THIS BOND IS SUBORDINATED IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE SENIOR BONDS AS DESCRIBED IN THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN. IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 COLLATERALIZED ASSET-BACKED BONDS CLASS B AGGREGATE BOND PRINCIPAL BOND INTEREST BALANCE: $________________ RATE: ____% INITIAL BOND PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THIS BOND: $_________________ BOND NO. ___ PERCENTAGE INTEREST: _____% CUSIP NO.__________ Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 (the "Issuer"), a Delaware business trust, for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________________________________________________ ($___________________) in monthly installments on the twenty-fifth day of each month or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (each a "Payment Date"), commencing in February 1998 and ending on or before the Payment Date occurring in November 2029 (the "Stated Maturity") and to pay interest on the Bond Principal Balance of this Class B Bond (this "Bond") outstanding from time to time as provided below. This Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of the Issuer's Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 (the "Bonds"), issued under an Indenture dated as of January 29, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee", which term includes any successor Indenture Trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Holders of the Bonds and the terms upon which the Bonds are to be authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Bond which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. Payments of principal and interest on this Bond will be made on each Payment Date to the Bondholder of record as of the related Record Date. On each Payment Date, Bondholders will be entitled to receive interest payments in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate Accrued Bond Interest for such Payment Date, together with principal payments in an aggregate amount equal to the Bond Principal Distribution Amount, if any, for such Payment Date. The "Bond Principal Balance" of a Bond as of any date of determination is equal to the initial Bond Principal Balance thereof, reduced by the aggregate of all amounts previously paid with respect to such Bond on account of principal and the aggregate amount of cumulative Realized Losses allocated to such Bond on all prior Payment Dates. The principal of, and interest on, this Bond are due and payable as described in the Indenture, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer with respect to this Bond shall be equal to this Bond's pro rata share of the aggregate payments on all Bonds as described above, and shall be applied as between interest and principal as provided in the Indenture. All principal and interest accrued on the Bonds, if not previously paid, will become finally due and payable at the Final Scheduled Payment Date. The Bonds are subject to redemption in whole, but not in part, by the Issuer on any Payment Date on or after the earlier of (i) the Payment Date on which the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than or equal to 20% of the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date and (ii) the Payment Date in January 2008. The Issuer shall not be liable upon the indebtedness evidenced by the Bonds except to the extent of amounts available from the Trust Estate which constitutes security for the payment of the Bonds. The assets included in the Trust Estate will be the sole source of payments on the Bonds, and each Holder hereof, by its acceptance of this Bond, agrees that (i) such Bond will be limited in right of payment to amounts available from the Trust Estate as provided in the Indenture and (ii) such Holder shall have no recourse to the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, IMH Assets Corp., Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), the Master Servicer or any of their respective affiliates, or to the assets of any of the foregoing entities, except the assets of the Issuer pledged to secure the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and the rights conveyed to the Issuer under the Indenture. Any payment of principal or interest payable on this Bond which is punctually paid on the applicable Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Bond is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Payment Date by check mailed to such person's address as it appears in the Bond Register on such Record Date, except for the final installment of principal and interest payable with respect to such Bond, which shall be payable as provided below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon written request with appropriate instructions by the Holder of this Bond (holding an aggregate Initial Bond Principal Balance of at least $5,000,000) delivered to the Indenture Trustee at least five Business Days prior to the Record Date, any payment of principal or interest, other than the final installment of principal or interest, shall be made by wire transfer to an account in the United States designated by such Holder. All reductions in the principal amount of a Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds) effected by payments of principal made on any Payment Date shall be binding upon all Holders of this Bond and of any bond issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, whether or not such payment is noted on such Bond. The final payment of this Bond shall be payable upon presentation and surrender thereof on or after the Payment Date thereof at the Corporate Trust Office or the office or agency of the Issuer maintained by it for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Indenture. Subject to the foregoing provisions, each Bond delivered under the Indenture, upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Bond shall carry the right to unpaid principal and interest that were carried by such other Bond. If an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture shall occur and be continuing with respect to the Bonds, the Bonds may become or be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If any such acceleration of maturity occurs prior to the payment of the entire unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, the amount payable to the Holder of this Bond will be equal to the sum of the unpaid Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon as described in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that, notwithstanding the acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds, under certain circumstances specified therein, all amounts collected as proceeds of the Trust Estate securing the Bonds or otherwise shall continue to be applied to payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds as if they had not been declared due and payable. The failure to pay any Unpaid Interest Shortfall at any time when funds are not available to make such payment as provided in the Indenture shall not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Bond may be registered on the Bond Register of the Issuer. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of, or presentation of a written instrument of transfer for, this Bond at the office or agency designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, accompanied by proper instruments of assignment in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, one or more new Bonds of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Bond is registered as the owner of such Bond (i) on the applicable Record Date for the purpose of making payments and interest of such Bond, and (ii) on any other date for all other purposes whatsoever, as the owner hereof, whether or not this Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer with the consent of the Holders of a majority of all Bonds at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of Bonds representing specified percentages of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds on behalf of the Holders of all the Bonds, to waive any past Default under the Indenture and its consequences. Any such waiver by the Holder, at the time of the giving thereof, of this Bond (or any one or more Predecessor Bonds) shall bind the Holder of every Bond issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon such Bond. The Indenture also permits the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture without the consent of the Holders of the Bonds issued thereunder. Initially, the Bonds will be registered in the name of CEDE & Co. as nominee of DTC, acting in its capacity as the Depository for the Bonds. The Bonds will be delivered by the clearing agency in denominations as provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth. The Bonds are exchangeable for a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of Bonds of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering same. The Bonds are exchangeable for a like aggregate initial Bond Principal Balance of Bonds of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering same. Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Indenture Trustee by manual signature, this Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. AS PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS BOND AND THE INDENTURE CREATING THIS BOND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED THEREIN. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed by Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee. Dated: January 29, 1998 IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1 BY: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Owner Trustee By:_______________________________________ Authorized Signatory INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Class B Bonds referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee By:_____________________________________ Authorized Signatory ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the Bond, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM -- as tenants in common TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties JT TEN -- as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- ____________________Custodian_______________________ (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act ___________________ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ (Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of assignee) ________________________________________________________________________________ the within Bond and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ________________ attorney to transfer said Bond on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated:___________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature Guaranteed by_________________________________________________ NOTICE: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a commercial bank or by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange. Notarized or witnessed signatures are not acceptable. EXHIBIT B FORM OF TRUSTEE INITIAL CERTIFICATION [Closing Date] [Master Servicer] [Depositor] _________________________ _________________________ Re: Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., IMH Assets Corp. Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 Gentlemen: In accordance with Section 2.03 of the above-captioned Indenture, and Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998 between Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.) and Impac Funding Corporation (formerly known as ICI Funding Corporation) (the "Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement"; and together with the Indenture, the "Agreements"), the undersigned, as Indenture Trustee, hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or listed on the attachment hereto) it has reviewed the Mortgage File and the Mortgage Loan Schedule and has determined that: (i) all documents required to be included in the Mortgage File are in its possession; (ii) such documents have been reviewed by it and appear regular on their face and relate to such Mortgage Loan; and (iii) based on examination by it, and only as to such documents, the information set forth in items (i) - (vi) of the definition or description of "Mort gage Loan Schedule" is correct. The Indenture Trustee has made no independent examination of any documents contained in each Mortgage File beyond the review specifically required in the above-referenced Agreements. The Indenture Trustee makes no representation that any documents specified in clause (v) of Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement should be included in any Mortgage File. The Indenture Trustee makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible to verify: (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, enforceability, due authorization, recordability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in each Mortgage File of any of the Mortgage Loans identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, (ii) the collectability, insurability, effectiveness or suitability of any such Mortgage Loan, or (iii) the existence of any assumption, modification, written assurance or substitution agreement with respect to any Mortgage File if no such documents appear in the Mortgage File delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the above-captioned Indenture. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee By:___________________________________ Name: Title: EXHIBIT C FORM OF TRUSTEE FINAL CERTIFICATION [date] [Master Servicer] [Depositor] ________________________ ________________________ Re: Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., IMH Assets Corp. Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 Gentlemen: In accordance with Section 2.03 of the above-captioned Indenture, and Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998 between Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.) and Impac Funding Corporation (formerly known as ICI Funding Corporation) (the "Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement"; and together with the Indenture, the "Agreements"), the undersigned, as Indenture Trustee, hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or listed on the attachment hereto) it has received the documents set forth in Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement. The Indenture Trustee has made no independent examination of any documents contained in each Mortgage File beyond the review specifically required in the Agreements. The Indenture Trustee makes no representation that any documents specified in clause (v) of Section 2.1(b) should be included in any Mortgage File. The Indenture Trustee makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible to verify: (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, enforceability, due authorization, recordability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in each Mortgage File of any of the Mortgage Loans identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, (ii) the collectability, insurability, effectiveness or suitability of any such Mortgage Loan or (iii) the existence of any assumption, modification, written assurance or substitution agreement with respect to any Mortgage File if no such documents appear in the Mortgage File delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the above-captioned Indenture. BANKERS TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee By: Name: Title: EXHIBIT D MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE EXHIBIT E CERTIFICATE OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS This Certificate of Non-Foreign Status ("Certificate") is delivered pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of January 29, 1998, between Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., in connection with the acquisition of, transfer to or possession by the undersigned, whether as beneficial owner (the "Beneficial Owner"), or nominee on behalf of the Beneficial Owner of the IMH Assets Corp. Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 Class B Bond (the "Bond"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate have the respective meanings given them in the Indenture. Each holder must complete Part I, Part II (if the holder is a nominee), and in all cases sign and otherwise complete Part III. In addition, each holder shall submit with the Certificate an IRS Form W-9 relating to such holder. To confirm to the Indenture Trustee that the provisions of Sections 871, 881 or 1446 of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to withholding tax on foreign partners) do not apply in respect of the Bond held by the undersigned, the undersigned hereby certifies: Part I - Complete Either A or B - ------------------------------------------- A. Individual as Beneficial Owner 1. [I am ][The Beneficial Owner is] not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation; 2. [My][The Beneficial Owner's] name and home address are: ; and 3. [My][The Beneficial Owner's] [U.S. taxpayer identification number][Social Security Number] is B. Corporate, Partnership or Other Entity as Beneficial Owner 1. [Name of the Beneficial Owner] is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations); 2. The Beneficial Owner's office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is ; and 3. The Beneficial Owner's U.S. employer identification number is Part II - Nominees - ----------------------------- If the undersigned is the nominee for the Beneficial Owner, the undersigned certifies that this certificate has been made in reliance upon information contained in: an IRS Form W-9 a form such as this or substantially similar provided to the undersigned by an appropriate person and (i) the undersigned agrees to notify the Indenture Trustee at least (30) days prior to the date that the form relied upon becomes obsolete, and (ii) in connection with change in Beneficial Owners, the undersigned agrees to submit a new Certificate of Non-Foreign Status to the Indenture Trustee promptly after such change. Part III - Declaration - -------------------------------- The undersigned, as the Beneficial Owner or a nominee thereof, agrees to notify the Indenture Trustee within sixty (60) days of the date that the Beneficial Owner becomes a foreign person. The undersigned understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Indenture Trustee and any false statement contained therein could be punishable by fines, imprisonment or both. Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certificate and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and will further declare that I will inform the Indenture Trustee of any change in the information provided above, and, if applicable, I further declare that I have the authority* to sign this document. Name Title (if applicable) Signature and Date *Note: If signed pursuant to a power of attorney, the power of attorney must accompany this certificate. APPENDIX A DEFINITIONS ACCRUED BOND INTEREST: With respect to each Payment Date, as to each Class of Bonds, one month's interest accrued at the related Bond Interest Rate on the Bond Principal Balance thereof immediately prior to such Payment Date. Accrued Bond Interest for the Bonds shall be calculated for the preceding calendar month on the basis of a 30-day month and 360-day year. ACCRUED CERTIFICATE INTEREST: With respect to each Payment Date, as to each Class of Class C Certificates, the sum of (a) one month's interest accrued at the related Certificate Interest Rate on the Certificate Principal Balance thereof immediately prior to such Payment Date and (b) an amount equal to the principal portion of any Realized Losses previously allocated to such Certificate. With respect to each Payment Date, as to the Class X Certificates, the sum of (a) one month's interest accrued at the related Certificate Interest Rate on the Notional Amount thereof immediately prior to such Payment Date and (b) any amounts in the Certificate Distribution Account with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv) of the definition of the Interest Remittance Amount. Clause (a) of Accrued Certificate Interest for the Certificates shall be calculated for the preceding calendar month on the basis of a 30-day month and 360-day year. ADVANCE: As to any Mortgage Loan, any advance made by the Master Servicer, pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Servicing Agreement. AFFILIATE: With respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and "controlling" and "controlled" shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing. APPRAISED VALUE: The appraised value of a Mortgaged Property based upon the lesser of (i) the appraisal made at the time of the origination of the related Mortgage Loan, or (ii) the sales price of such Mortgaged Property at such time of origination. With respect to a Mortgage Loan the proceeds of which were used to refinance an existing mortgage loan, the appraised value of the Mortgaged Property based upon the appraisal obtained at the time of refinancing. ASSIGNMENT OF MORTGAGE: An assignment of Mortgage, notice of transfer or equivalent instrument, in recordable form, which is sufficient under the laws of the jurisdiction wherein the related Mortgaged Property is located to reflect of record the sale of the Mortgage, which assignment, notice of transfer or equivalent instrument may be in the form of one or more blanket assignments covering Mortgages secured by Mortgaged Properties located in the same county, if permitted by law. 1 AUTHORIZED NEWSPAPER: A newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, printed in the English language and customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. AUTHORIZED OFFICER: With respect to the Issuer, any officer of the Owner Trustee who is authorized to act for the Owner Trustee in matters relating to the Issuer and who is identi fied on the list of Authorized Officers delivered by the Owner Trustee to the Indenture Trustee on the Closing Date (as such list may be modified or supplemented from time to time thereafter). BANKRUPTCY CODE: The Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended. BASIC DOCUMENTS: The Trust Agreement, the Certificate of Trust, the Indenture, the Servicing Agreement, the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and the other documents and certificates delivered in connection with any of the above. BENEFICIAL OWNER: With respect to any Bond, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Bond as reflected on the books of the Depository or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such Depository (directly as a Depository Participant or indirectly through a Depository Participant, in accordance with the rules of such Depository). BONDS: The Bonds issued and outstanding at any time pursuant to the Indenture. BOND ACCELERATED DISTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE: With respect to any Payment Date, the percentage indicated below: Bond Accelerated Payment Date Distribution Percentage ------------ ----------------------- February 1998 through January 2003...................... 100% February 2003 through January 2004...................... Bond Percentage, plus 70% of the Certificate Percentage February 2004 through January 2005...................... Bond Percentage, plus 60% of the Certificate Percentage February 2005 through January 2006...................... Bond Percentage, plus 40% of the Certificate Percentage 2 February 2006 through January 2007...................... Bond Percentage, plus 20% of the Certificate Percentage February 2007 and thereafter........................ Bond Percentage PROVIDED, HOWEVER, (i) that any scheduled reduction to the Bond Accelerated Distribution Percentage described above shall not occur as of any Payment Date unless either: (a)(1)(X) the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans delinquent 60 days or more averaged over the last six months, as a percentage of the aggregate outstanding Certificate Principal Balance of the Certificates, is less than 50% or (Y) the outstanding principal balance of Mortgage Loans delinquent 60 days or more averaged over the last six months, as a percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Mortgage Loans averaged over the last six months, does not exceed 2% and (2) Realized Losses on the Mortgage Loans to date for such Payment Date if occurring during the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth year (or any year thereafter) after the Closing Date are less than 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% or 50%, respectively, of the sum of the Initial Certificate Principal Balances of the Certificates; or (b)(1) the outstanding principal balance of Mortgage Loans delinquent 60 days or more averaged over the last six months, as a percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Mortgage Loans averaged over the last six months, does not exceed 4% and (2) Realized Losses on the Mortgage Loans to date for any Payment Date are less than 10% of the sum of the Initial Certificate Principal Balances of the Certificates and (ii) that for any Payment Date on which the Bond Percentage is greater than the Original Bond Percentage, the Bond Accelerated Distribution Percentage for such Payment Date shall be 100%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the reduction of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds to zero, the Bond Accelerated Distribution Percentage shall thereafter be 0%. BOND INTEREST RATE: With respect to the Class A Bonds, Class M-1 Bonds, Class M- 2 Bonds and Class B Bonds, 6.65%, 7.15%, 7.25% and 7.25%, respectively; provided, however, that on the Payment Date immediately following the earlier of (i) the Payment Date on which the aggregate Principal Balance (as defined herein) of the Mortgage Loans is less than or equal to 20% of the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date or (ii) the Payment Date occurring in January 2008, the Bond Interest Rate on each class of Bonds will be increased by 0.50% per annum. BOND OWNER: The Beneficial Owner of a Bond. 3 BOND PERCENTAGE: With respect to each Payment Date, the percentage equal to the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds immediately prior to such Payment Date divided by the aggregate Principal Balance of all of the Mortgage Loans immediately prior to such Payment Date. BOND PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to any Bond and any date of determination, the initial Bond Principal Balance as stated on the face thereof, minus all amounts distributed in respect of principal with respect to such Bond and the aggregate amount of Realized Losses allocated to such Bond on all prior Payment Dates. Reimbursement of the principal portion of Realized Losses from the Interest Remittance Amount shall not reduce the Bond Principal Balance of any Bond. BOND PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT: With respect to each Payment Date, the lesser of (a) the Principal Remittance Amount and (b) and amount equal to the sum of the following: (i) the product of (A) the then-applicable Bond Percentage and (B) the aggregate of the following amounts: (1) the principal portion of all scheduled monthly payments on the Mortgage Loans received or for which an Advance was made on the Mortgage Loans with respect to the related Due Date; (2) the principal portion of all proceeds of the repurchase of a Mortgage Loan (or, in the case of a substitution, certain amounts representing a principal adjustment) as required by the Servicing Agreement during the preceding calendar month; and (3) the principal portion of all other unscheduled collections received during the preceding calendar month (other than full and partial Mortgagor prepayments made by the respective Mortgagors and any amounts received in connection with a Final Disposition (as defined below) of a Mortgage Loan described in clause (ii) below), to the extent applied as recoveries of principal; (ii) in connection with the Final Disposition of a Mortgage Loan that occurred in the preceding calendar month, an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the then-applicable Bond Percentage of the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan and (B) the then-applicable Bond Accelerated Distribution Percentage (as defined below) of the related unscheduled collections, including Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds, to the extent applied as recoveries of principal; (iii) the then-applicable Bond Accelerated Distribution Percentage of the aggregate of all full and partial Mortgagor prepayments made by the respective Mortgagors of the Mortgage Loans during the preceding calendar month; and 4 (iv) any amounts allocable to principal for any previous Payment Date (calculated pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) above) that remain undistributed to the extent that any such amounts are not attributable to Realized Losses which were allocated to the Certificates. BOND REGISTER: The register maintained by the Bond Registrar in which the Bond Registrar shall provide for the registration of Bonds and of transfers and exchanges of Bonds. BOND REGISTRAR: The Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as Bond Registrar, or any successor to the Indenture Trustee in such capacity. BONDHOLDER OR HOLDER: The Person in whose name a Bond is registered in the Bond Register, except that, any Bond registered in the name of the Depositor, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee or any Affiliate of any of them shall be deemed not to be a holder or holder, nor shall any so owned be considered outstanding, for purposes of giving any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture or the Trust Agreement; provided that, in determining whether the Indenture Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Bonds that the Indenture Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Owners of Bonds that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Holders if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Indenture Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Bonds and that the pledgee is not the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Bonds or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons. BOOK-ENTRY BONDS: Beneficial interests in the Bonds, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by the Depository as described in Section 4.06 of the Indenture. BUSINESS DAY: Any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, Delaware or California or in the city in which the corporate trust offices of the Indenture Trustee are located, are required or authorized by law to be closed. BUSINESS TRUST STATUTE: Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 DEL. Code ss.ss.3801 ET SEQ., as the same may be amended from time to time. CASH LIQUIDATION: As to any defaulted Mortgage Loan other than a Mortgage Loan as to which an REO Acquisition occurred, a determination by the Master Servicer that it has received all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds and other payments or cash recoveries which the Master Servicer reasonably and in good faith expects to be finally recoverable with respect to such Mortgage Loan. CERTIFICATE DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT: The account or accounts created and maintained pursuant to Section 3.10(c) of the Trust Agreement. The Certificate Distribution Account shall be an Eligible Account. 5 CERTIFICATE INTEREST RATE: With respect to each Payment Date and the Class C Certificates, the weighted average as of the Due Date in the month preceding the month in which such Payment Date occurs (weighted on the basis of the Principal Balances of the Mortgage Loans as of the close of business on the immediately preceding Payment Date) of the Net Mortgage Rates on the Mortgage Loans. With respect to each Payment Date and the Class X Certificates the excess of the weighted average as of the Due Date in the month preceding the month in which such Payment Date occurs (weighted on the basis of the Principal Balances of the Mortgage Loans as of the close of business on the immediately preceding Payment Date) of the Net Mortgage Rates on the Mortgage Loans over the weighted average of the Bond Interest Rates on the Bonds based on the Bond Principal Balances thereof immediately prior to such Payment Date. CERTIFICATE PAYING AGENT: The meaning specified in Section 3.10 of the Trust Agreement. CERTIFICATE PERCENTAGE: As of any date of determination, 100% minus the Bond Percentage. CERTIFICATE PERCENTAGE INTEREST: With respect to each Certificate, the Certificate Percentage Interest on the face thereof. CERTIFICATE REGISTER: The register maintained by the Certificate Registrar in which the Certificate Registrar shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers and exchanges of Certificates. CERTIFICATE REGISTRAR: Initially, the Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as Certificate Registrar, or any successor to the Indenture Trustee in such capacity. CERTIFICATE OF TRUST: The Certificate of Trust filed for the Trust pursuant to Section 3810(a) of the Business Trust Statute. CERTIFICATE PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to any Certificate, the Initial Certificate Principal Balance thereof, minus all amounts distributed in respect of principal with respect thereto and all aggregate amount of all Realized Losses allocated thereto on all prior Payment Date; provided, that the Certificate Principal Balance as of any date of determination with respect to the most subordinate class of Class C Certificates then outstanding will equal the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans over (ii) the sum of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds and the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the Class C Certificates, if any, senior thereto. Reimbursement of the principal portion of Realized Losses from the Interest Remittance Amount shall not reduced the Certificate Principal Balance of any Class C Certificate. CERTIFICATES OR TRUST CERTIFICATES: The IMH Assets Corp., Trust Certificates, Series 1998-1, Class C-1, Class C-2, Class C-3 and Class X, evidencing the beneficial ownership interest 6 in the Issuer and executed by the Owner Trustee in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A to the Trust Agreement. CERTIFICATEHOLDER OR HOLDER: The Person in whose name a Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register. Owners of Certificates that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Holders if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Certificates and that the pledgee is not the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Certificates or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons. CLASS: Collectively, all of the Bonds bearing the same designation. CLASS A BONDS: The Class A Bonds. CLASS M BONDS: The Class M-1 Bonds and the Class M-2 Bonds. CLASS B BONDS: The Class B Bonds. CLASS C CERTIFICATES: The Class C-1, Class C-2 and Class C-3 Certificates. CLASS X CERTIFICATES: The Class X Certificates. CLOSING DATE: January 29, 1998. CMAC: Commonwealth Mortgage Assurance Company, or its successors or assigns. CMAC PMI POLICY: The modified primary insurance pool policy issued with respect to certain of the Mortgage Loans by CMAC. CMAC PMI POLICY RATE: With respect to any Insured Loan, the rate per annum at which the related premium on the CMAC PMI Policy accrues. CMAC PMI POLICY FEE: With respect to each Insured Loan and any Payment Date the product of (i) the CMAC PMI Policy Rate divided by 12 and (ii) the Principal Balance of such Insured Loans as of such date. CODE: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. COLLATERAL: The meaning specified in the Granting Clause of the Indenture. 7 COLLECTION ACCOUNT: The account or accounts created and maintained pursuant to Section 3.06(d) of the Servicing Agreement. The Collection Account shall be an Eligible Account. COLLECTION PERIOD: With respect to each Payment Date, the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such Payment Date occurs. COMBINED LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO: With respect to any Mortgage Loan and any date, the percentage equivalent of a fraction, the numerator of which is the Cut-Off Date Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan and of any mortgage loan or mortgage loans that are secured by liens on the Mortgaged Property that are subordinate to the Mortgage and the denominator of which is the Appraised Value of the related Mortgaged Property. COMPENSATING INTEREST: With respect to any Determination Date, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of Prepayment Interest Shortfall for the related Collection Period and (ii) the Servicing Fee for such Determination Date. CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE: With respect to the Indenture Trustee, Certificate Registrar, Certificate Paying Agent and Paying Agent, the principal corporate trust office of the Indenture Trustee and Bond Registrar at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of the execution of this instrument is located at 3 Park Plaza, 16th Floor, Irvine, California 92614, Attention: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, except that for purposes of Section 4.02 of the Indenture and Section 3.09 of the Trust Agreement, such term shall include the Indenture Trustee's office or agency at 4 Albany Street, New York, New York 10006, Attention: Certificate Transfers. With respect to the Owner Trustee, the principal corporate trust office of the Owner Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of the execution of this Trust Agreement is located at Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1. CUT-OFF DATE: With respect to the Mortgage Loans, January 1, 1998. CUT-OFF DATE PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, the unpaid principal balance thereof as of the opening of business on the last day of the related Due Period immediately prior to the Cut-Off Date. DCR: Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., or its successor in interest. DEBT SERVICE REDUCTION: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, a reduction in the scheduled Monthly Payment for such Mortgage Loan by a court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code, except such a reduction constituting a Deficient Valuation or any reduction that results in a permanent forgiveness of principal. 8 DEFAULT: Any occurrence which is or with notice or the lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default. DEFICIENT VALUATION: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, a valuation by a court of competent jurisdiction of the Mortgaged Property in an amount less than the then outstanding indebtedness under the Mortgage Loan, or any reduction in the amount of principal to be paid in connection with any scheduled Monthly Payment that constitutes a permanent forgiveness of principal, which valuation or reduction results from a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code. DEFINITIVE BONDS: The meaning specified in Section 4.06 of the Indenture. DELETED MORTGAGE LOAN: A Mortgage Loan replaced or to be replaced with an Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan. DEPOSITOR: IMH Assets Corp., a California corporation, or its successor in interest. DEPOSITORY OR DEPOSITORY AGENCY: The Depository Trust Company or a successor appointed by the Indenture Trustee with the approval of the Depositor. Any successor to the Depository shall be an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANT: A Person for whom, from time to time, the Depository effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depository. DETERMINATION DATE: With respect to any Payment Date, the 15th of the related month, or if the 15th day of such month is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day. DUE DATE: The date on which the Monthly Payment on the related Mortgage Loan is due in accordance with the terms of the related Mortgage Note. DUE PERIOD: With respect to any Mortgage Loan and Due Date, the period commencing on the second day of the month preceding the month of such Payment Date (or, with respect to the first Due Period, the day following the Cut-Off Date) and ending on the related Due Date. ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT: An account that is any of the following: (i) maintained with a depository institution the short term deposits of which have been rated by each Rating Agency in its highest rating available, or (ii) an account or accounts in a depository institution in which such accounts are fully insured to the limits established by the FDIC, PROVIDED that any deposits not so insured shall, to the extent acceptable to each Rating Agency, as evidenced in writing, be maintained such that (as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency) the Indenture Trustee have a claim with respect to the funds in such account or a perfected first security interest against any collateral (which shall be limited to 9 Eligible Investments) securing such funds that is superior to claims of any other depositors or creditors of the depository institution with which such account is maintained, or (iii) in the case of the Collection Account, either (A) a trust account or accounts maintained at the Corporate Trust Department of the Indenture Trustee or (B) an account or accounts maintained at the Corporate Trust Department of the Indenture Trustee, as long as its short term debt obligations are rated P-1 by Moody's and A-1 by Standard & Poor's or better and its long term debt obligations are rated A2 by Moody's and A by Standard & Poor's or better, or (iv) in the case of the Collection Account and the Payment Account, a trust account or accounts maintained in the corporate trust division of the Indenture Trustee, or (v) an account or accounts of a depository institution acceptable to each Rating Agency as evidenced in writing by each Rating Agency that use of any such account as the Collection Account or the Payment Account will not reduce the rating assigned to any of the Securities by such Rating Agency below investment grade. ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS: One or more of the following: (i) direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed by, the United States of America, the Federal Home Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Banks or any agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America; (ii) (A) demand and time deposits in, certificates of deposit of, banker's acceptances issued by or federal funds sold by any depository institution or trust company (including the Indenture Trustee or its agent acting in their respective commercial capacities) incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof and subject to supervision and examination by federal and/or state authorities, so long as at the time of such investment or contractual commitment providing for such investment, such depository institution or trust company has a short term unsecured debt rating in the highest available rating category of each of the Rating Agencies and provided that each such investment has an original maturity of no more than 365 days, and (B) any other demand or time deposit or deposit which is fully insured by the FDIC; (iii) repurchase obligations with a term not to exceed 30 days with respect to any security described in clause (i) above and entered into with a depository institution or trust company (acting as a principal) rated "A" or higher by S&P and A2 or higher by Moody's; provided, however, that collateral transferred pursuant to such repurchase obligation must (A) be valued weekly at current market price plus accrued interest, (B) pursuant to such valuation, equal, at all times, 105% of the cash transferred by the Indenture Trustee in exchange for such collateral and (C) be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or, if the Indenture Trustee is supplying the collateral, an agent for the Indenture Trustee, in such a manner as to accomplish perfection of a security interest in the collateral by possession of certificated securities. 10 (iv) securities bearing interest or sold at a discount issued by any corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a long term unsecured debt rating in the highest available rating category of each of the Rating Agencies at the time of such investment; (v) commercial paper having an original maturity of less than 365 days and issued by an institution having a short term unsecured debt rating in the highest available rating category of each of the Rating Agencies at the time of such investment; (vi) a guaranteed investment contract approved by each of the Rating Agencies and issued by an insurance company or other corporation having a long term unsecured debt rating in the highest available rating category of each of the Rating Agencies at the time of such investment; (vii) money market funds having ratings in the highest available long-term rating category of each of the Rating Agencies at the time of such investment; any such money market funds which provide for demand withdrawals being conclusively deemed to satisfy any maturity requirement for Eligible Investments set forth in the Indenture; and (viii) any investment approved in writing by each of the Rating Agencies. The Indenture Trustee may purchase from or sell to itself or an affiliate, as principal or agent, the Eligible Investments listed above. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each such instrument shall be acquired in an arm's length transaction and no such instrument shall be an Eligible Investment if it represents, either (1) the right to receive only interest payments with respect to the underlying debt instrument or (2) the right to receive both principal and interest payments derived from obligations underlying such instrument and the principal and interest payments with respect to such instrument provide a yield to maturity greater than 120% of the yield to maturity at par of such underlying obligations; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that each such instrument acquired shall not be acquired at a price in excess of par. ELIGIBLE SUBSTITUTE MORTGAGE LOAN: A Mortgage Loan substituted by the Seller for a Deleted Mortgage Loan which must, on the date of such substitution, as confirmed in an Officer's Certificate delivered to the Indenture Trustee, (i) have an outstanding principal balance, after deduction of the principal portion of the monthly payment due in the month of substitution (or in the case of a substitution of more than one Mortgage Loan for a Deleted Mortgage Loan, an aggregate outstanding principal balance, after such deduction), not in excess of the outstanding principal balance of the Deleted Mortgage Loan (the amount of any shortfall to be deposited by the Seller in the Collection Account in the month of substitution); (ii) comply with each representa tion and warranty set forth in clauses (ii) through (lxi) of Section 3.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement other than clauses (ii)-(viii), (ix) (other than with respect to the percentages of the Mortgage Loans that are first liens) (xi)-(xii), (xlii), (xliv) and (lvii); (iii) have a Mortgage 11 Rate no lower than and not more than 1% per annum higher than the Mortgage Rate of the Deleted Mortgage Loan as of the date of substitution; (iv) have a Loan-to-Value Ratio and a Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio at the time of substitution no higher than that of the Deleted Mortgage Loan at the time of substitution; (v) have a remaining term to stated maturity not greater than (and not more than one year less than) that of the Deleted Mortgage Loan and (vi) not be 30 days or more delinquent. ERISA: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. EVENT OF DEFAULT: With respect to the Indenture, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (i) a default in (a) the payment of Accrued Bond Interest on any class of Bonds or the Bond Principal Distribution Amount with respect to a Payment Date on such Payment Date or (b) the Unpaid Interest Shortfall with respect to any class of Bonds, but only, with respect to clause (b), to the extent funds are available to make such payment as provided in the Indenture; or (ii) the failure by the Issuer on the Final Scheduled Payment Date to reduce the Bond Principal Balance to zero; or (iii) there occurs a default in the observance or performance of any covenant or agreement of the Issuer made in the Indenture, or any representation or warranty of the Issuer made in the Indenture or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith proving to have been incorrect in any material respect as of the time when the same shall have been made, and such default shall continue or not be cured, or the circumstance or condition in respect of which such representation or warranty was incorrect shall not have been eliminated or otherwise cured, for a period of 30 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate Outstanding amount of the Bonds, a written notice specifying such default or incorrect representation or warranty and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a notice of default hereunder; or (iv) there occurs the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Issuer or any substantial part of the Trust Estate in an involuntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial part of the Trust Estate, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer's affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or 12 (v) there occurs the commencement by the Issuer of a voluntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Issuer to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Issuer to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial part of the assets of the Trust Estate, or the making by the Issuer of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by the Issuer generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of any action by the Issuer in furtherance of any of the foregoing. EVENT OF SERVICER TERMINATION: With respect to the Servicing Agreement, a Servicing Default as defined in Section 6.01 of the Servicing Agreement. EXCHANGE ACT: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. EXPENSE FEE RATE: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, the sum of the Servicing Fee Rate, the Indenture Trustee Fee Rate, the Owner Trustee Fee Rate and, with respect to the Insured Loans, the CMAC PMI Policy Rate. EXPENSES: The meaning specified in Section 7.02 of the Trust Agreement. FDIC: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto. FHLMC: The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or any successor thereto. FINAL DISPOSITION: With respect to a defaulted Mortgage Loan, upon a determination by the Master Servicer that it has received all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds and other payments or cash recoveries which the Master Servicer reasonably and in good faith expects to be finally recoverable with respect to such Mortgage Loan. FINAL SCHEDULED PAYMENT DATE: The Payment Date occurring in November 2029. FNMA: The Federal National Mortgage Association, or any successor thereto. FORECLOSURE PROFIT: With respect to a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, the amount, if any, by which (i) the aggregate of its Net Liquidation Proceeds exceeds (ii) the related Principal Balance (plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the applicable Mortgage Rate from the date interest was last paid through the date of receipt of the final Liquidation Proceeds) of such Liquidated Mortgage Loan immediately prior to the final recovery of its Liquidation Proceeds. GRANT: Pledge, bargain, sell, warrant, alienate, remise, release, convey, assign, transfer, create, and grant a lien upon and a security interest in and right of set-off against, [TPW: NY01:632641.4] 17572-00037 02/02/98 05:06PM 13 deposit, set over and confirm pursuant to the Indenture. A Grant of the Collateral or of any other agreement or instrument shall include all rights, powers and options (but none of the obligations) of the granting party thereunder, including the immediate and continuing right to claim for, collect, receive and give receipt for principal and interest payments in respect of such collateral or other agreement or instrument and all other moneys payable thereunder, to give and receive notices and other communications, to make waivers or other agreements, to exercise all rights and options, to bring proceedings in the name of the granting party or otherwise, and generally to do and receive anything that the granting party is or may be entitled to do or receive thereunder or with respect thereto. IMPAC HOLDINGS: Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), a Maryland corporation, and its successors and assigns. INDEMNIFIED PARTY: The meaning specified in Section 7.02 of the Trust Agreement. INDENTURE: The indenture dated as of January 29, 1998, between the Issuer, as debtor, and the Indenture Trustee, as Indenture Trustee, relating to the Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 Bonds. INDENTURE TRUSTEE: Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A., a national banking association, and its successors and assigns or any successor indenture trustee appointed pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. INDENTURE TRUSTEE FEE: With respect to each Mortgage Loan and any Payment Date the product of (i) the Indenture Trustee Fee Rate divided by 12 and (ii) the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loans as of such date. INDENTURE TRUSTEE FEE RATE: 0.0125% per annum. INDEPENDENT: When used with respect to any specified Person, the Person (i) is in fact independent of the Issuer, any other obligor on the Bonds, the Seller, the Issuer, the Depositor and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller, the Issuer, the Depositor or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons and (iii) is not connected with the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller, the Issuer, the Depositor or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions. INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATE: A certificate or opinion to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee under the circumstances described in, and otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 10.01 of the Indenture, made by an Independent appraiser or other expert appointed by an Issuer Order and approved by the Indenture Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care, and such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has read the definition of "Independent" in this Indenture and that the signer is Independent within the meaning thereof. 14 INITIAL BOND PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to the Class A Bonds, $295,678,848.00, with respect to the Class M-1 Bonds, $27,982,225.00, with respect to the Class M-2 Bonds, $24,251,262.00 and with respect to the Class B Bonds, $14,923,854.00. INITIAL CERTIFICATE PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to the Class C-1 Certificates, $4,663,704.00, with respect to the Class C-2 Certificates, $2,238,578.00 and with respect to the Class C-3 Certificates $3,357,867.00. INITIAL SUBSERVICER: With respect to the Mortgage Loans, Wendover. INSOLVENCY EVENT: With respect to a specified Person, (a) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person or any substantial part of its property in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of such Person's affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (b) the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such Person to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by such Person of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by such Person generally to pay its debts as such debts become due or the admission by such Person in writing (as to which the Indenture Trustee shall have notice) of its inability to pay its debts generally, or the adoption by the Board of Directors or managing member of such Person of a resolution which authorizes action by such Person in furtherance of any of the foregoing. INSURANCE PROCEEDS: Proceeds paid by any insurer pursuant to any insurance policy (including the CMAC PMI Policy) covering a Mortgage Loan which are required to be remitted to the Master Servicer, net of any component thereof (i) covering any expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Master Servicer in connection with obtaining such proceeds, (ii) that is applied to the restoration or repair of the related Mortgaged Property or (iii) released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the Master Servicer's normal servicing procedures. INSURED LOANS: Any Mortgage Loan included in the Mortgage Pool which is covered by the CMAC PMI Policy. INTEREST REMITTANCE AMOUNT: With respect to any Payment Date, the sum of the following: (i) the interest portion of each Monthly Payment received or advanced during the related Collection Period (other than Monthly Payments due after the related Collection Period, which shall be treated as if received during the Collection Period they were due) 15 on each Outstanding Mortgage Loan (less the related Servicing Fees, any subservicing fees under any Subservicing Agreement and any fees or penalties retained by the Servicer or any subservicer, any premiums paid in connection with the CMAC PMI Policy and the fees of the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee); and (ii) the interest portion of all other unscheduled collections (including, without limitation, Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds and REO Proceeds) received during the related Collection Period (or deemed to have been so received) to the extent applied by the Master Servicer as recoveries of interest on the related Mortgage Loan at the Net Mortgage Rate pursuant to Section 3.13 of the Servicing Agreement; (iii) interest on amounts in the Collection Account; (iv) any fees or penalties, including prepayment penalties, not retained by any Subservicer pursuant to the terms of the related Subservicing Agreement; minus (v) if the Bonds have been declared due and payable following an Event of Default on such Payment Date, any amounts owed to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT: The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and any amendments thereto. ISSUER: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, a Delaware business trust, or its successor in interest. ISSUER REQUEST: A written order or request signed in the name of the Issuer by any one of its Authorized Officers, and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. LIEN: Any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, conveyance, hypothecation, assignment, participation, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), preference, priority right or interest or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agree ment, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing and the filing of any financing statement under the UCC (other than any such financing statement filed for informational purposes only) or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence any of the foregoing; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any assignment pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Servicing Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a Lien. LIQUIDATED MORTGAGE LOAN: With respect to any Payment Date, any Mortgage Loan in respect of which the Master Servicer has determined, in accordance with the servicing procedures specified in the Servicing Agreement, as of the end of the related Prepayment Period 16 that substantially all Liquidation Proceeds which it reasonably expects to recover with respect to the disposition of the related Mortgaged Property or REO Property have been recovered. LIQUIDATION EXPENSES: Out-of-pocket expenses (exclusive of overhead) which are incurred by or on behalf of the Master Servicer in connection with the liquidation of any Mortgage Loan and not recovered under any insurance policy, such expenses including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, any unreimbursed amount expended (including, without limitation, amounts advanced to correct defaults on any mortgage loan which is senior to such Mortgage Loan and amounts advanced to keep current or pay off a mortgage loan that is senior to such Mortgage Loan) respecting the related Mortgage Loan and any related and unreimbursed expenditures for real estate property taxes or for property restoration, preservation or insurance against casualty loss or damage. LIQUIDATION PROCEEDS: Proceeds (including Insurance Proceeds) received in connection with the liquidation of any Mortgage Loan or related REO Property, whether through trustee's sale, foreclosure sale or otherwise. LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, as of any date of determination, a fraction expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the then current principal amount of the Mortgage Loan, and the denominator of which is the Appraised Value of the related Mortgaged Property. LOST NOTE AFFIDAVIT: With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the original Mortgage Note has been permanently lost or destroyed and has not been replaced, an affidavit from the Seller certifying that the original Mortgage Note has been lost, misplaced or destroyed (together with a copy of the related Mortgage Note). MASTER SERVICER: Impac Funding Corporation, a California corporation, and its successors and assigns. MONTHLY PAYMENT: With respect to any Mortgage Loan (including any REO Property) and any Due Date, the payment of principal and interest due thereon in accordance with the amortization schedule at the time applicable thereto (after adjustment, if any, for partial Prepayments and for Deficient Valuations occurring prior to such Due Date but before any adjustment to such amortization schedule by reason of any bankruptcy, other than a Deficient Valuation, or similar proceeding or any moratorium or similar waiver or grace period). MOODY'S: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or its successor in interest. MORTGAGE: The mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument creating a first lien on an estate in fee simple interest in real property securing a Mortgage Loan. 17 MORTGAGE FILE: The file containing the Related Documents pertaining to a particular Mortgage Loan and any additional documents required to be added to the Mortgage File pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement or the Servicing Agreement. MORTGAGE LOAN SALE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT: The Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, dated as of the Cut-Off Date, among the Seller, as seller, the Purchaser, as purchaser and the Master Servicer relating to the sale, transfer and assignment of the Mortgage Loans. MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE: With respect to any date, the schedule of Mortgage Loans held by the Issuer on such date. The initial schedule of Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-Off Date is the schedule set forth in Exhibit A of the Servicing Agreement, which schedule sets forth as to each Mortgage Loan: (i) the loan number and name of the Mortgagor; (ii) the street address, city, state and zip code of the Mortgaged Property; (iii) the Mortgage Rate; (iv) the maturity date; (v) the original principal balance; (vi) the first payment date; (vii) the type of Mortgaged Property; (viii) the Monthly Payment; (ix) the Cut-off Date Principal Balance; (x) the occupancy status; (xi) whether the Mortgage Loan is covered by the CMAC PMI Policy and the related CMAC PMI Policy Rate; (xii) the purpose of the Mortgage Loan; (xiii) the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property; (xiv) the original term to maturity; (xv) the paid-through date of the Mortgage Loan; 18 (xvi) the Loan-to-Value Ratio; and (xvii) whether or not the Mortgage Loan was underwritten pursuant to a limited documentation program. The Mortgage Loan Schedule shall also set forth the total of the amounts described under (ix) above for all of the Mortgage Loans. MORTGAGE LOANS: At any time, collectively, all the Mortgage Loans that have been sold to the Depositor under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement or substituted for pursuant to Section 2.1 and 3.1 of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and transferred and conveyed to the Issuer and contributed to the Trust, in each case together with the Related Documents, and that remain subject to the terms thereof. MORTGAGE NOTE: The note or other evidence of the indebtedness of a Mortgagor under a Mortgage Loan. MORTGAGE RATE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, the annual rate at which interest accrues on such Mortgage Loan. MORTGAGED PROPERTY: The underlying property, including real property and improvements thereon, securing a Mortgage Loan. MORTGAGOR: The obligor or obligors under a Mortgage Note. NET LIQUIDATION PROCEEDS: With respect to any Liquidated Mortgage Loan, Liquidation Proceeds net of Liquidation Expenses. NET MORTGAGE RATE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan and any day, the related Mortgage Rate less the Expense Fee Rate. NONRECOVERABLE ADVANCE: Any advance (i) which was previously made or is proposed to be made by the Master Servicer; and (ii) which, in the good faith judgment of the Master Servicer, will not or, in the case of a proposed advance, would not, be ultimately recoverable by the Master Servicer from Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds or future payments on any Mortgage Loan. NOTIONAL AMOUNT: With respect to any date of determination, the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of all classes of Bonds. OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE: With respect to the Master Servicer, a certificate signed by the President, Managing Director, a Director, a Vice President or an Assistant Vice President, of the Master Servicer and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. With respect to the Issuer, a certificate signed by any Authorized Officer of the Issuer, under the circumstances described in, 19 and otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 10.01 of the Indenture, and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Unless otherwise specified, any reference in the Indenture to an Officer's Certificate shall be to an Officer's Certificate of any Authorized Officer of the Issuer. OPINION OF COUNSEL: A written opinion of counsel who may be in-house counsel for the Master Servicer if acceptable to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies or counsel for the Depositor, as the case may be. ORIGINAL BOND PERCENTAGE: 97.25%. ORIGINAL VALUE: Except in the case of a refinanced Mortgage Loan, the lesser of the Appraised Value or sales price of Mortgaged Property at the time a Mortgage Loan is closed, and for a refinanced Mortgage Loan, the Original Value is the value of such property set forth in an appraisal acceptable to the Master Servicer. OUTSTANDING: With respect to the Bonds, as of the date of determination, all Bonds theretofore executed, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture except: (i) Bonds theretofore cancelled by the Bond Registrar or delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation; and (ii) Bonds in exchange for or in lieu of which other Bonds have been executed, authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture unless proof satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee is presented that any such Bonds are held by a holder in due course. OUTSTANDING MORTGAGE LOAN: As to any Due Date, a Mortgage Loan (including an REO Property) which was not the subject of a Principal Prepayment in Full, Cash Liquidation or REO Disposition and which was not purchased, deleted or substituted for prior to such Due Date pursuant to the Servicing Agreement. OWNER TRUST ESTATE: The corpus of the Issuer created by the Trust Agreement which consists of items referred to in Section 2.01 of the Trust Agreement. OWNER TRUSTEE: Wilmington Trust Company and its successors and assigns or any successor owner trustee appointed pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. OWNER TRUSTEE FEE: With respect to any Payment Date the product of (i) the Owner Trustee Fee Rate divided by 12 and (ii) the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loans as of such date. OWNER TRUSTEE FEE RATE: 0.0017% per annum. 20 PAYING AGENT: Any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, which initially shall be the Indenture Trustee. PAYMENT ACCOUNT: The account established by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Indenture and Section 4.03 of the Servicing Agreement. The Payment Account shall be an Eligible Account. PAYMENT DATE: The 25th day of each month, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next Business Day. PERCENTAGE INTEREST: With respect to any Bond, the percentage obtained by dividing the Bond Principal Balance of such Bond by the aggregate of the Bond Principal Balances of all Bonds. PERSON: Any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. POOL BALANCE: With respect to any date of determination, the aggregate of the Principal Balances of all Mortgage Loans as of such date. PREPAYMENT INTEREST SHORTFALL: As to any Payment Date and any Mortgage Loan (other than a Mortgage Loan relating to an REO Property) that was the subject of (a) a Principal Prepayment in Full during the related Collection Period, an amount equal to the excess of interest accrued during the related Collection Period at the Net Mortgage Rate on the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan over the sum of the amount of interest (less interest at the related Expense Fee Rate) paid by the Mortgagor for such Collection Period to the date of such Principal Prepayment in Full and any Advances made by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Servicing Agreement or (b) a partial Principal Prepayment during the related Collection Period, an amount equal to the interest accrued during the related Collection Period (less interest at the related Expense Fee Rate) on the amount of such partial Principal Prepayment. PRIMARY INSURANCE POLICY: Each primary policy of mortgage guaranty insurance issued by a Qualified Insurer or any replacement policy therefor, including the CMAC PMI Policy. PRINCIPAL BALANCE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan or related REO Property, at any given time, (i) the Cut-off Date Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan, minus (ii) the sum of (a) the principal portion of the Monthly Payments due with respect to such Mortgage Loan or REO Property during each Due Period ending prior to the most recent Payment Date which were received or with respect to which an Advance was made, and (b) all Principal Prepayments with respect to such Mortgage Loan or REO Property, and all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds and REO Proceeds, to the extent applied by the Master Servicer as recoveries of 21 principal in accordance with the Servicing Agreement with respect to such Mortgage Loan or REO Property, and (c) any Realized Loss with respect thereto for any previous Payment Date. PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT: Any payment of principal or other recovery on a Mortgage Loan, including a recovery that takes the form of Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds, which is received in advance of its scheduled Due Date and is not accompanied by an amount as to interest representing scheduled interest on such payment due on any date or dates in any month or months subsequent to the month of prepayment. PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT IN FULL: Any Principal Prepayment made by a Mortgagor of the entire principal balance of a Mortgage Loan. PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT: Any payment of principal or other recovery on a Mortgage Loan, including a recovery that takes the form of Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds, which is received in advance of its scheduled Due Date and is not accompanied by an amount as to interest representing scheduled interest on such payment due on any date or dates in any month or months subsequent to the month of prepayment. PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT IN FULL: Any Principal Prepayment made by a Mortgagor of the entire principal balance of a Mortgage Loan. PRINCIPAL REMITTANCE AMOUNT: With respect to any Payment Date, the sum of the following: (i) the principal portion of each Monthly Payment received or advanced during the related Collection Period (other than Monthly Payments due after the related Collection Period, which shall be treated as if received during the Collection Period they were due) on each Outstanding Mortgage Loan; (ii) the principal portion of all proceeds of any Mortgage Loan repurchased during the related Collection Period (or deemed to have been so repurchased in accordance with the Servicing Agreement) pursuant to the Servicing Agreement and the amount of any shortfall deposited in the Collection Account in connection with the substitution of a Deleted Mortgage Loan pursuant to the Servicing Agreement during the related Collection Period; and (iii) the principal portion of all other unscheduled collections (including, without limitation, Principal Prepayments, Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds and REO Proceeds) received during the related Collection Period (or deemed to have been so received) to the extent applied by the Master Servicer as recoveries of principal of the related Mortgage Loan pursuant to the Servicing Agreement; MINUS 22 (iv) expenses incurred by and reimbursable to Master Servicer or the Depositor pursuant to the Servicing Agreement or otherwise, or in connection with enforcing any repurchase, substitution or indemnification obligation of the Seller (other than an Affiliate of the Depositor); and (v) amounts expended by the Master Servicer (a) pursuant to the Servicing Agreement in good faith in connection with the restoration of property damaged by an Uninsured Cause, and (b) in connection with the liquidation of a Mortgage Loan or disposition of an REO Property to the extent not otherwise reimbursed to the Master Servicer pursuant to the Servicing Agreement; and (vi) if the Bonds have been declared due and payable following an Event of Default on such Payment Date, any amounts owed to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture that have not been paid from the Interest Remittance Amount. PROCEEDING: Any suit in equity, action at law or other judicial or administrative proceeding. PROSPECTUS: The Prospectus Supplement, dated January 27, 1998, together with the attached Prospectus, dated January 27, 1998. PURCHASE PRICE: The meaning specified in Section 2.2(a) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement. PURCHASER: IMH Assets Corp., a California corporation, and its successors and assigns. QUALIFIED INSURER: A mortgage guaranty insurance company duly qualified as such under the laws of the state of its principal place of business and each state having jurisdiction over such insurer in connection with the insurance policy issued by such insurer, duly authorized and licensed in such states to transact a mortgage guaranty insurance business in such states and to write the insurance provided by the insurance policy issued by it, approved as an insurer by the Master Servicer and as a FNMA-approved mortgage insurer. RATING AGENCY: Any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or its successor, that rated the Bonds at the request of the Depositor at the time of the initial issuance of the Bonds. Initially, Moody's or DCR. If such organization or a successor is no longer in existence, "Rating Agency" shall be such nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or other comparable Person, notice of which designation shall be given to the Indenture Trustee. References herein to the highest short term unsecured rating category of a Rating Agency shall mean A-1 or better in the case of Standard & Poor's and P-1 or better in the case of Moody's and in the case of any other Rating Agency shall mean such equivalent ratings. References herein to the highest long-term rating category of a Rating Agency shall mean "AAA" in the case of 23 Standard & Poor's and "Aaa" in the case of Moody's and in the case of any other Rating Agency, such equivalent rating. REALIZED LOSS: With respect to each Mortgage Loan (or REO Property) as to which a Cash Liquidation or REO Disposition has occurred, an amount (not less than zero) equal to (i) the Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan (or REO Property) as of the date of Cash Liquidation or REO Disposition, plus (ii) interest (and REO Imputed Interest, if any) at the Net Mortgage Rate from the Due Date as to which interest was last paid or advanced to Bondholders up to the last day of the month in which the Cash Liquidation (or REO Disposition) occurred on the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan (or REO Property) outstanding during each Due Period that such interest was not paid or advanced, minus (iii) the proceeds, if any, received during the month in which such Cash Liquidation (or REO Disposition) occurred, to the extent applied as recoveries of interest at the Net Mortgage Rate and to principal of the Mortgage Loan, net of the portion thereof reimbursable to the Master Servicer or any Subservicer with respect to related Advances or expenses as to which the Master Servicer or Subservicer is entitled to reimbursement thereunder but which have not been previously reimbursed. With respect to each Mortgage Loan which has become the subject of a Deficient Valuation, the difference between the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan outstanding immediately prior to such Deficient Valuation and the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan as reduced by the Deficient Valuation. With respect to each Mortgage Loan which has become the object of a Debt Service Reduction, the amount of such Debt Service Reduction. RECORD DATE: With respect to the Bonds and any Payment Date, the last day of the calendar month preceding such Payment Date. REGISTERED HOLDER: The Person in whose name a Bond is registered in the Bond Register on the applicable Record Date. RELATED DOCUMENTS: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, the documents specified in Section 2.1(b) of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement and any documents required to be added to such documents pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, the Trust Agreement, Indenture or the Servicing Agreement. RELIEF ACT: The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended. REO ACQUISITION: The acquisition by the Master Servicer on behalf of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Bondholders of any REO Property pursuant to Section 3.13 of the Servicing Agreement. REO DISPOSITION: As to any REO Property, a determination by the Master Servicer that it has received substantially all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds, REO Proceeds and other payments and recoveries (including proceeds of a final sale) which the Master Servicer expects to be finally recoverable from the sale or other disposition of the REO Property. 24 REO IMPUTED INTEREST: As to any REO Property, for any period, an amount equivalent to interest (at the Net Mortgage Rate that would have been applicable to the related Mortgage Loan had it been Outstanding) on the unpaid principal balance of the Mortgage Loan as of the date of acquisition thereof for such period as such balance is reduced pursuant to Section 3.13 of the Servicing Agreement by any income from the REO Property treated as a recovery of principal. REO PROCEEDS: Proceeds, net of expenses, received in respect of any REO Property (including, without limitation, proceeds from the rental of the related Mortgaged Property) which proceeds are required to be deposited into the Collection Account only upon the related REO Disposition. REO PROPERTY: A Mortgaged Property that is acquired by the Issuer by foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure. REPURCHASE EVENT: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, either (i) a discovery that, as of the Closing Date the related Mortgage was not a valid lien on the related Mortgaged Property subject only to (A) the lien of real property taxes and assessments not yet due and payable, (B) covenants, conditions, and restrictions, rights of way, easements and other matters of public record as of the date of recording of such Mortgage and such other permissible title exceptions as are permitted and (C) other matters to which like properties are commonly subject which do not materially adversely affect the value, use, enjoyment or marketability of the related Mortgaged Property or (ii) with respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Seller delivers an affidavit certifying that the original Mortgage Note has been lost or destroyed, a subsequent default on such Mortgage Loan if the enforcement thereof or of the related Mortgage is materially and adversely affected by the absence of such original Mortgage Note. REPURCHASE PRICE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan required to be repurchased on any date pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement or purchased by the Master Servicer pursuant to the Servicing Agreement, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (i) 100% of the Principal Balance thereof (without reduction for any amounts charged off) and (ii) unpaid accrued interest at the Mortgage Rate on the outstanding principal balance thereof from the Due Date to which interest was last paid by the Mortgagor to the first day of the month following the month of purchase plus (iii) the amount of Advances and any unreimbursed Servicing Advances or unreimbursed Advances made with respect to such Mortgage Loan plus (iv) any other amounts owed to the Master Servicer or the Subservicer pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Servicing Agreement and not included in clause (iii) of this definition. RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: With respect to the Indenture Trustee, any officer of the Indenture Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of the Trust Agreement and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 25 SECURITIES ACT: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. SECURITY: Any of the Certificates or Bonds. SECURITYHOLDER or HOLDER: Any Bondholder or a Certificateholder. SECURITY INSTRUMENT: A written instrument creating a valid first lien on a Mortgaged Property securing a Mortgage Note, which may be any applicable form of mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or security deed, including any riders or addenda thereto. SELLER: Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), a Maryland corporation, and its successors and assigns. SERVICING ACCOUNT: The separate trust account created and maintained by the Master Servicer or each Subservicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans or REO Property, which shall be an Eligible Account, for collection of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums and comparable items as described in Section 3.08 of the Servicing Agreement. SERVICING ADVANCES: All customary, reasonable and necessary "out of pocket" costs and expenses incurred in connection with a default, delinquency or other unanticipated event in the performance by the Master Servicer of its servicing obligations, including, without duplication, but not limited to, the cost of (i) the preservation, restoration and protection of a Mortgaged Property, (ii) any enforcement or judicial proceedings, including foreclosures, (iii) the management and liquidation of any REO Property and (iv) compliance with the obligations under Sections 3.10, 3.11, 3.13 of the Servicing Agreement. SERVICING AGREEMENT: The Servicing Agreement dated as of January 29, 1998, between the Master Servicer and the Issuer. SERVICING CERTIFICATE: A certificate completed and executed by a Servicing Officer on behalf of the Master Servicer in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Servicing Agreement. SERVICING DEFAULT: The meaning assigned in Section 6.01 of the Servicing Agreement. SERVICING FEE: With respect to each Mortgage Loan and any Payment Date the product of (i) the Servicing Fee Rate divided by 12 and (ii) the Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loans as of such date. SERVICING FEE RATE: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, 0.25% per annum. SERVICING OFFICER: Any officer of the Master Servicer involved in, or responsible for, the administration and servicing of the Mortgage Loans whose name and specimen signature 26 appear on a list of servicing officers furnished to the Indenture Trustee by the Master Servicer, as such list may be amended from time to time. SINGLE BOND: A Bond in the amount of $1,000. STANDARD & POOR'S: Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, or its successor in interest. SUBORDINATE BONDS: Any one of the Class M Bonds or Class B Bonds. SUBSERVICER: Any Person with whom the Master Servicer has entered into a Subservicing Agreement as a Subservicer by the Master Servicer and acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, including the Initial Subservicer. SUBSERVICING ACCOUNT: An Eligible Account established or maintained by a Sub servicer as provided for in Section 3.06(e) of the Servicing Agreement. SUBSERVICING AGREEMENT: The written contract between the Master Servicer and any Subservicer relating to servicing and administration of certain Mortgage Loans as provided in Section 3.02 of the Servicing Agreement. SUBSTITUTION ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT: With respect to any Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan, the amount as defined in Section 2.03 of the Servicing Agreement. TREASURY REGULATIONS: Regulations, including proposed or temporary Regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein to specific provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include analogous provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury Regulations. TRUST: The Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 to be created pursuant to the Trust Agreement. TRUST AGREEMENT: The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of January 29, 1998 between the Owner Trustee and the Depositor relating to the Trust. TRUST ESTATE: The meaning specified in the Granting Clause of the Indenture. TRUST INDENTURE ACT OR TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time, as in effect on any relevant date. UCC: The Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from time to time, as in effect in any specified jurisdiction. 27 UNINSURED CAUSE: Any cause of damage to property subject to a Mortgage that the complete restoration of such property is not fully reimbursable by the hazard insurance policies. UNPAID INTEREST SHORTFALL: With respect to each class of the Bonds and each Payment Date, any Accrued Bond Interest remaining unpaid as to such class of Bonds as a result of the insufficiency of the Interest Remittance Amount, plus any such shortfall for all prior Payment Dates, and plus interest thereon at the related Bond Interest Rate immediately prior to such Payment Date. With respect to each class of the Certificates and each Payment Date, any Accrued Certificate Interest remaining unpaid as to such class of Certificates as a result of the insufficiency of the Interest Remittance Amount, plus any such shortfall for all prior Payment Dates, and plus interest thereon at the related Certificate Interest Rate immediately prior to such Payment Date. VOTING RIGHTS: With respect to the Certificates, 40% of the Voting Rights will be allocated among the Holders of the Class C Certificates in proportion to their then outstanding Certificate Principal Balances and 60% of all Voting Rights will be allocated among the Holders of the Class X Certificates in proportion to the Certificate Percentage Interests thereof. WENDOVER: Wendover Funding, Inc., or its successor in interest. 28 EX-99.1 4 SERVICING AGREEMENT ================================================================================ IMPAC FUNDING CORPORATION, as Master Servicer, and THE IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1, as Issuer ---------------------- SERVICING AGREEMENT Dated as of January 1, 1998 ---------------------- Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 ================================================================================ TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ARTICLE I Definitions Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS.........................................1 Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.......................2 Section 1.03. INTEREST CALCULATIONS...............................2 ARTICLE II Representations and Warranties Section 2.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE MASTER SERVICER.....................................3 Section 2.02. EXISTENCE...........................................4 Section 2.03. ENFORCEMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......4 ARTICLE III Administration and Servicing of Mortgage Loans Section 3.01. MASTER SERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING.................6 Section 3.02. SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MASTER SERVICER AND SUBSERVICERS ...................................7 Section 3.03. SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS..............................7 Section 3.04. LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER....................8 Section 3.05. ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BY INDENTURE TRUSTEE.....................8 Section 3.06. COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS................9 Section 3.07. WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT............11 Section 3.09. ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE MORTGAGE LOANS.......................14 Section 3.10. MAINTENANCE OF PRIMARY INSURANCE POLICIES; COLLECTION THEREUNDER .............................14 Section 3.11. MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE..................................15 Section 3.12. DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS........16 Section 3.13. REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED MORTGAGE LOANS..........17 Section 3.14. INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE FILES.....................................18 Section 3.15. MASTER SERVICING COMPENSATION......................20 Section 3.16. ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE....................20 Section 3.18. OPTIONAL PURCHASE OF DEFAULTED MORTGAGE LOANS......21 Section 3.19. INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY.............21 i PAGE ARTICLE IV Servicing Certificate Section 4.01. REMITTANCE REPORTS.................................23 Section 4.02. RESERVED...........................................23 Section 4.03. PAYMENT ACCOUNT....................................23 Section 4.04. ADVANCES...........................................23 Section 4.05. COMPENSATING INTEREST PAYMENTS.....................24 ARTICLE V The Master Servicer Section 5.01. LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER...................25 Section 5.02. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF, OR ASSUMPTION OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF, THE MASTER SERVICER............25 Section 5.03. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER AND OTHERS.........................................25 Section 5.04. MASTER SERVICER NOT TO RESIGN......................26 Section 5.05. DELEGATION OF DUTIES...............................26 Section 5.06. MASTER SERVICER TO PAY INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S AND OWNER TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION....................................27 ARTICLE VI Default Section 6.01. SERVICING DEFAULT..................................29 Section 6.02. INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR..........................................31 Section 6.03. NOTIFICATION TO BONDHOLDERS........................32 Section 6.04. WAIVER OF DEFAULTS.................................32 ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous Provisions Section 7.01. AMENDMENT..........................................33 Section 7.02. GOVERNING LAW......................................33 Section 7.03. NOTICES............................................33 Section 7.04. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.........................34 Section 7.05. THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES..........................34 Section 7.06. COUNTERPARTS.......................................34 Section 7.07. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS...........34 ii PAGE Section 7.08. TERMINATION........................................35 Section 7.09. NO PETITION........................................35 Section 7.10. NO RECOURSE........................................35 ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF THE MASTER SERVICER Section 8.01. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES..............................36 Section 8.02. RECORDS............................................37 Section 8.03. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED.............37 EXHIBIT A - MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE...........................................A-1 EXHIBIT B - FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE......................................B-1 iii This Servicing Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Impac Funding Corporation, as Master Servicer (the "Master Servicer") and Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, as Issuer (the "Issuer"). W I T N E S S E T H T H A T: WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, IMH Assets Corp. (the "Company" or the "Depositor") will acquire the Mortgage Loans; WHEREAS, the Company will create Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1, a Delaware business trust, and will transfer the Mortgage Loans and all of its rights under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement to the Issuer; WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of a Trust Agreement dated as of January 1, 1998 (the "Trust Agreement") between the Company, as depositor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner Trustee"), the Company will convey the Mortgage Loans to the Issuer in exchange for the Certificates (as defined below); WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement between the Depositor and the Owner Trustee, the Issuer will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the Trust Certificates, Series 1998-1 (the "Certificates"); WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of January 1, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Issuer and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A. (the "Indenture Trustee"), the Issuer will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Purchaser the Collateralized Asset-Backed Bonds, Series 1998-1 (the "Bonds"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer will service the Mortgage Loans set forth on the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A directly or through one or more Subservicers; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I Definitions Section 1.01. DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Servicing Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Definitions contained in Appendix A to the Indenture which is incorporated by reference herein. All other capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified herein. Section 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS. (a) All terms defined in this Servicing Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. (b) As used in this Servicing Agreement and in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles, the definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document shall control. (c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Servicing Agreement shall refer to this Servicing Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Servicing Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this Servicing Agreement are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to this Servicing Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term "including" shall mean "including without limitation". (d) The definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as the feminine and neuter genders of such terms. (e) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments) references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. Section 1.03. INTEREST CALCULATIONS. All calculations of interest hereunder that are made in respect of the Principal Balance of a Mortgage Loan shall be made in accordance with the terms of the related Mortgage Note and Mortgage. The calculation of the Servicing Fee shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. -2- ARTICLE II Representations and Warranties Section 2.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE MASTER SERVICER. The Master Servicer represents and warrants to the Issuer and for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans and the Bondholders, as of the Cut-Off Date and the Closing Date, that: (i) The Master Servicer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California and has the corporate power to own its assets and to transact the business in which it is currently engaged. The Master Servicer is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the business transacted by it or properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, or condition (financial or other) of the Master Servicer or the validity or enforceability of the Mortgage Loans; (ii) The Master Servicer has the power and authority to make, execute, deliver and perform this Servicing Agreement and all of the transactions contemplated under this Servicing Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Servicing Agreement. When executed and delivered, this Servicing Agreement will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Master Servicer enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) The Master Servicer is not required to obtain the consent of any other Person or any consent, license, approval or authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any governmental authority, bureau or agency in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Servicing Agreement, except for such consent, license, approval or authorization, or registration or declaration, as shall have been obtained or filed, as the case may be; (iv) The execution and delivery of this Servicing Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Master Servicer will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation or any order or decree of any court applicable to the Master Servicer or any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Master Servicer, or constitute a material breach of any mortgage, indenture, contract or other agreement to which the Master Servicer is a party or by which the Master Servicer may be bound; and (v) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or before any court, tribunal or governmental body is currently pending, or to the knowledge of the Master -3- Servicer threatened, against the Master Servicer or any of its properties or with respect to this Servicing Agreement or the Bonds or the Certificates which, to the knowledge of the Master Servicer, has a reasonable likelihood of resulting in a material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this Servicing Agreement. The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any termination of the Master Servicer hereunder. Section 2.02. EXISTENCE. The Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or becomes, organized under the laws of any other state or of the United States of America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of this Servicing Agreement. Section 2.03. ENFORCEMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Master Servicer, on behalf of and subject to the direction of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, shall enforce the representations and warranties and related obligations for breaches thereof of the Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement. Upon the discovery by the Seller, the Master Servicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Company of a breach of any of the representations and warranties made in the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Bondholders or the Certificateholders, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other parties. The Master Servicer shall promptly notify the Seller of such breach and request that, pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, the Seller either (i) cure such breach in all material respects or (ii) purchase such Mortgage Loan, in each instance in accordance with the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement; PROVIDED that the Seller shall, subject to the conditions set forth in the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, have the option to substitute an Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan or Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans for such Mortgage Loan. Monthly Payments due with respect to Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution shall not be part of the Trust Estate and will be retained by the Master Servicer and remitted by the Master Servicer to the Seller on the next succeeding Payment Date. For the month of substitution, distributions to the Payment Account pursuant to the Servicing Agreement will include the Monthly Payment due on a Deleted Mortgage Loan for such month and thereafter the Seller shall be entitled to retain all amounts received in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan. The Master Servicer shall amend or cause to be amended the Mortgage Loan Schedule to reflect the removal of such Mortgage Loan and the substitution of the Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans and the Master Servicer shall promptly deliver the amended Mortgage Loan Schedule to the related Subservicer, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee. In connection with the substitution of one or more Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans for one or more Deleted Mortgage Loans, the Master Servicer will determine the amount (such amount, a "Substitution Adjustment Amount"), if any, by which the aggregate principal balance -4- of all such Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans as of the date of substitution is less than the aggregate principal balance of all such Deleted Mortgage Loans (after application of the principal portion of the Monthly Payments due in the month of substitution that are to be distributed to the Payment Account in the month of substitution). The Seller shall pay the Substitution Adjustment Amount to the Master Servicer and the Master Servicer shall deposit such Substitution Adjustment Amount into the Collection Account upon receipt. -5- ARTICLE III Administration and Servicing of Mortgage Loans Section 3.01. MASTER SERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING. (a) The Master Servicer shall supervise, or take such actions as are necessary to ensure, the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans and any REO Property in accordance with this Servicing Agreement and its normal servicing practices, which generally shall conform to the standards of an institution prudently servicing mortgage loans for its own account and shall have full authority to do anything it reasonably deems appropriate or desirable in connection with such servicing and administration. The Master Servicer may perform its responsibilities relating to servicing through other agents or independent contractors, but shall not thereby be released from any of its responsibilities as hereinafter set forth. The authority of the Master Servicer, in its capacity as master servicer, and any Subservicer acting on its behalf, shall include, without limitation, the power to (i) consult with and advise any Subservicer regarding administration of a related Mortgage Loan, (ii) approve any recommendation by a Subservicer to foreclose on a related Mortgage Loan, (iii) supervise the filing and collection of insurance claims and take or cause to be taken such actions on behalf of the insured Person thereunder as shall be reasonably necessary to prevent the denial of coverage thereunder, and (iv) effectuate foreclosure or other conversion of the ownership of the Mortgaged Property securing a related Mortgage Loan, including the employment of attorneys, the institution of legal proceedings, the collection of deficiency judgments, the acceptance of compromise proposals, the filing of claims under any Primary Insurance Policy and any other matter pertaining to a delinquent Mortgage Loan. The authority of the Master Servicer shall include, in addition, the power on behalf of the Bondholders, the Indenture Trustee, or any of them to (i) execute and deliver customary consents or waivers and other instruments and documents, (ii) consent to transfer of any related Mortgaged Property and assumptions of the related Mortgage Notes and Security Instruments (in the manner provided in this Servicing Agreement) and (iii) collect any Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Master Servicer and any Subservicer acting on its behalf may, and is hereby authorized, and empowered by the Indenture Trustee to, execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the Bondholders, the Indenture Trustee or any of them, any instruments of satisfaction, cancellation, partial or full release, discharge and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the related Mortgage Loans, the Insurance Policies and the accounts related thereto, and the Mortgaged Properties. The Master Servicer may exercise this power in its own name or in the name of a Subservicer. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 3.01(a), the Master Servicer shall not take any action inconsistent with the interests of the Indenture Trustee or the Bondholders or with the rights and interests of the Indenture Trustee or the Bondholders under this Servicing Agreement. (c) The Indenture Trustee shall furnish the Master Servicer with any powers of attorney and other documents in form as provided to it necessary or appropriate to enable the Master Servicer to service and administer the related Mortgage Loans and REO Property. -6- Section 3.02. SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MASTER SERVICER AND SUBSERVICERS. (a) The Master Servicer may enter into Subservicing Agreements with Subservicers for the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans and for the performance of any and all other activities of the Master Servicer hereunder. Each Subservicer shall be either (i) an institution the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC or (ii) another entity that engages in the business of originating or servicing mortgage loans comparable to the Mortgage Loans, and in either case shall be authorized to transact business in the state or states in which the related Mortgaged Properties it is to service are situated, if and to the extent required by applicable law to enable the Subservicer to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Subservicing Agreement, and in either case shall be a FHLMC or FNMA approved mortgage servicer. Any Subservicing Agreement entered into by the Master Servicer shall include the provision that such Agreement may be immediately terminated (x) with cause and without any termination fee by any Master Servicer hereunder or (y) without cause in which case the Master Servicer shall be responsible for any termination fee or penalty resulting therefrom. In addition, each Subservicing Agreement shall provide for servicing of the Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this Servicing Agreement. With the consent of the Indenture Trustee, the Master Servicer and the Subservicers may enter into Subservicing Agreements and make amendments to the Subservicing Agreements or enter into different forms of Subservicing Agreements providing for, among other things, the delegation by the Master Servicer to a Subservicer of additional duties regarding the administration of the Mortgage Loans; provided, however, that any such amendments or different forms shall be consistent with and not violate the provisions of this Servicing Agreement, and that no such amendment or different form shall be made or entered into which could be reasonably expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Bondholders, without the consent of at least 51% of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Outstanding Bonds. The Master Servicer has entered into Subservicing Agreements with the Initial Subservicer for the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans and may enter into additional Subservicing Agreements with Subservicers acceptable to the Indenture Trustee for the servicing and administration of certain of the Mortgage Loans. (b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the Master Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders, shall enforce the obligations of each Subservicer under the related Subservicing Agreement. Such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims, termination of Subservicing Agreements and the pursuit of other appropriate remedies, shall be in such form and carried out to such an extent and at such time as the Master Servicer, in its good faith business judgment, would require were it the owner of the related Mortgage Loans. The Master Servicer shall pay the costs of such enforcement at its own expense, but shall be reimbursed therefor only (i) from a general recovery resulting from such enforcement only to the extent, if any, that such recovery exceeds all amounts due in respect of the related Mortgage Loan or (ii) from a specific recovery of costs, expenses or attorneys' fees against the party against whom such enforcement is directed. Section 3.03. SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS. The Master Servicer shall be entitled to terminate any Subservicing Agreement that may exist in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Subservicing Agreement and without any limitation by virtue of this Servicing Agreement; -7- PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon termination, the Master Servicer shall either act as servicer of the related Mortgage Loan or enter into an appropriate contract with a successor Subservicer acceptable to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to which such successor Subservicer will be bound by all relevant terms of the related Subservicing Agreement pertaining to the servicing of such Mortgage Loan. Section 3.04. LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER. (a) Notwithstanding any Subservicing Agreement, any of the provisions of this Servicing Agreement relating to agreements or arrangements between the Master Servicer and a Subservicer or reference to actions taken through a Subservicer or otherwise, the Master Servicer shall under all circumstances remain obligated and primarily liable to the Indenture Trustee, the Bondholders for the servicing and administering of the Mortgage Loans and any REO Property in accordance with this Servicing Agreement. The obligations and liability of the Master Servicer shall not be diminished by virtue of Subservicing Agreements or by virtue of indemnification of the Master Servicer by any Subservicer, or any other Person. The obligations and liability of the Master Servicer shall remain of the same nature and under the same terms and conditions as if the Master Servicer alone were servicing and administering the related Mortgage Loans. The Master Servicer shall, however, be entitled to enter into indemnification agreements with any Subservicer or other Person and nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such indemnification. For the purposes of this Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer shall be deemed to have received any payment on a Mortgage Loan on the date the Subservicer received such payment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this sentence shall not apply to the Indenture Trustee acting as the Master Servicer; PROVIDED, FURTHER, however, that the foregoing provision shall not affect the obligation of the Master Servicer if it is also the Indenture Trustee to advance amounts which are not Nonrecoverable Advances. (b) Any Subservicing Agreement that may be entered into and any transactions or services relating to the Mortgage Loans involving a Subservicer in its capacity as such and not as an originator shall be deemed to be between the Subservicer and the Master Servicer alone, and the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders shall not be deemed parties thereto and shall have no claims, rights, obligations, duties or liabilities with respect to the Subservicer except as set forth in Section 3.05. Section 3.05. ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BY INDENTURE TRUSTEE. (a) If the Indenture Trustee or its designee shall assume the master servicing obligations of the Master Servicer in accordance with Section 6.02 below, the Indenture Trustee, to the extent necessary to permit the Indenture Trustee to carry out the provisions of Section 6.02 with respect to the Mortgage Loans, shall succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer under each of the Subservicing Agreements. In such event, the Indenture Trustee or its designee as the successor master servicer shall be deemed to have assumed all of the Master Servicer's rights and obligations therein and to have replaced the Master Servicer as a party to such Subservicing Agreements to the same extent as if such Subservicing Agreements had been assigned to the Indenture Trustee or its designee as a successor master servicer, except that the Indenture Trustee or its designee as a successor master servicer shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligations or liabilities of the Master Servicer arising prior to such assumption (other than the obligation to make any Advances) and the Master Servicer shall not thereby be relieved of any -8- liability or obligations under such Subservicing Agreements arising prior to such assumption. Nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to entitle the Indenture Trustee or its designee as a successor master servicer at any time to receive any portion of the servicing compensation provided under Section 3.17 except for such portion as the Master Servicer would be entitled to receive. (b) In the event that the Indenture Trustee or its designee as successor master servicer for the Indenture Trustee assumes the servicing obligations of the Master Servicer under Section 6.02, upon the reasonable request of the Indenture Trustee or such designee as successor master servicer the Master Servicer shall at its own expense deliver to the Indenture Trustee, or at its written request to such designee, photocopies of all documents, files and records, electronic or otherwise, relating to the Subservicing Agreements and the related Mortgage Loans or REO Property then being serviced and an accounting of amounts collected and held by it, if any, and will otherwise cooperate and use its reasonable efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the Subservicing Agreements, or responsibilities hereunder to the Indenture Trustee, or at its written request to such designee as successor master servicer. Section 3.06. COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS. (a) The Master Servicer will coordinate and monitor remittances by Subservicers to it with respect to the Mortgage Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement. (b) The Master Servicer shall make its best reasonable efforts to collect or cause to be collected all payments required under the terms and provisions of the Mortgage Loans and shall follow, and use its best reasonable efforts to cause Subservicers to follow, collection procedures comparable to the collection procedures of prudent mortgage lenders servicing mortgage loans for their own account to the extent such procedures shall be consistent with this Servicing Agreement. Consistent with the foregoing, the Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may in its discretion (i) waive or permit to be waived any late payment charge, prepayment charge, assumption fee, or any penalty interest in connection with the prepayment of a Mortgage Loan and (ii) suspend or reduce or permit to be suspended or reduced regular monthly payments for a period of up to six months, or arrange or permit an arrangement with a Mortgagor for a scheduled liquidation of delinquencies; provided, however, that the Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may permit the foregoing only if it believes, in good faith, that recoveries of Monthly Payments will be maximized; provided further, however, that Monthly Payments may not be suspended during the twelve months prior to the final maturity of the Bonds. In the event the Master Servicer or related Subservicer shall consent to the deferment of the due dates for payments due on a Mortgage Note, the Master Servicer shall nonetheless make an Advance or shall cause the related Subservicer to make an advance to the same extent as if such installment were due, owing and delinquent and had not been deferred through liquidation of the Mortgaged Property; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the obligation of the Master Servicer or the related Subservicer to make an Advance shall apply only to the extent that the Master Servicer believes, in good faith, that such advances are not Nonrecoverable Advances. (c) Within five Business Days after the Master Servicer has determined that all amounts which it expects to recover from or on account of a Mortgage Loan have been recovered and that -9- no further Liquidation Proceeds will be received in connection therewith, the Master Servicer shall provide to the Indenture Trustee a certificate of a Servicing Officer that such Mortgage Loan became a Liquidated Mortgage Loan as of the date of such determination. (d) The Master Servicer shall establish a segregated account in the name of the Indenture Trustee (the "Collection Account"), which shall be an Eligible Account, in which the Master Servicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited any amounts representing payments on and any collections in respect of the Mortgage Loans received by it subsequent to the Cut-Off Date (other than in respect of the payments referred to in the following paragraph) within one Business Day following receipt thereof (or otherwise on or prior to the Closing Date), including the following payments and collections received or made by it (without duplication): (i) all payments of principal of or interest on the Mortgage Loans received by the Master Servicer directly from Mortgagors or from the respective Subservicer, net of any portion of the interest thereof retained by the Subservicer as subservicing fees; (ii) the aggregate Repurchase Price of the Mortgage Loans purchased by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.18; (iii) Net Liquidation Proceeds; (iv) all proceeds of any Mortgage Loans repurchased by the Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, and all Substitution Adjustment Amounts required to be deposited in connection with the substitution of an Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement; (v) Insurance Proceeds, other than Net Liquidation Proceeds, resulting from any insurance policy (including, without limitation, the CMAC PMI Policy) maintained on a Mortgaged Property; (vi) amounts required to be paid by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 7.08; (vii) any Advance and any Compensating Interest payments; and (viii) any other amounts received by the Master Servicer, including any fees or penalties not retained by a Subservicer, or the Indenture Trustee required to be deposited in the Collection Account pursuant to this Servicing Agreement. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to each Due Period, the Master Servicer shall be permitted to retain from payments in respect of interest on the Mortgage Loans, the Servicing Fee and the CMAC PMI Policy Fee for such Due Period. The foregoing requirements respecting deposits to the Collection Account are exclusive, it being understood that, without limiting the generality of -10- the foregoing, the Master Servicer need not deposit in the Collection Account fees (including annual fees or assumption fees) or late charge and prepayment penalties, payable by Mortgagors, each as further described in Section 3.15, or amounts received by the Subservicer for the accounts of Mortgagors for application towards the payment of taxes, insurance premiums, assessments and similar items. In the event any amount not required to be deposited in the Collection Account is so deposited, the Master Servicer may at any time (prior to being terminated under this Agreement) withdraw such amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. The Master Servicer shall keep records that accurately reflect the funds on deposit in the Collection Account that have been identified by it as being attributable to the Mortgage Loans and shall hold all collections in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Bondholders, as their interests may appear. The Master Servicer shall remit all Foreclosure Profits to the Collection Account. Funds in the Collection Account may not be invested and shall not be commingled with the Master Servicer's own funds or general assets or with funds respecting payments on mortgage loans or with any other funds not related to the Bonds. (e) The Master Servicer will require each Subservicer to hold all funds constituting collections on the Mortgage Loans, pending remittance thereof to the Master Servicer, in one or more accounts meeting the requirements of an Eligible Account, and invested in Eligible Investments. The Subservicer shall segregate and hold all funds collected and received pursuant to each Mortgage Loan separate and apart from any of its own funds and general assets and any other funds. Each Subservicer shall make remittances to the Master Servicer no later than the eighteenth (18th) day of each month, commencing on the eighteenth (18th) day of the month next following the Cut-off Date, or if such eighteenth (18th) day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day immediately succeeding such eighteenth (18th) day. Section 3.07. WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The Master Servicer shall, from time to time as provided herein, make withdrawals from the Collection Account of amounts on deposit therein pursuant to Section 3.06 that are attributable to the Mortgage Loans for the following purposes (without duplication): (i) to deposit in the Payment Account, by the third Business Day prior to each Payment Date, all collections on the Mortgage Loans required to be distributed on a Payment Date; (ii) to the extent deposited to the Collection Account, to reimburse itself or the related Subservicer for previously unreimbursed expenses incurred in maintaining individual insurance policies pursuant to Sections 3.10 or 3.11, or Liquidation Expenses, paid pursuant to Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this Servicing Agreement, such withdrawal right being limited to amounts received on particular Mortgage Loans (other than any Repurchase Price in respect thereof) which represent late recoveries of the payments for which such advances were made, or from related Liquidation Proceeds; -11- (iii) to pay to itself out of each payment received on account of interest on a Mortgage Loan as contemplated by Section 3.15, an amount equal to the related Servicing Fee (to the extent not retained pursuant to Section 3.06), to pay to any Subservicer any subservicing fees not previously withheld by the Subservicer and to pay CMAC any amounts owed under the CMAC PMI Policy; (iv) to pay to itself or the Seller, with respect to any Mortgage Loan or property acquired in respect thereof that has been purchased or otherwise transferred to the Seller, the Master Servicer or other entity, all amounts received thereon and not required to be distributed to Bondholders as of the date on which the related Purchase Price or Repurchase Price is determined; (v) to reimburse the Master Servicer or any Subservicer for any Advance of its own funds or any advance of such Subservicer's own funds, the right of the Master Servicer or a Subservicer to reimbursement pursuant to this subclause (v) being limited to amounts received on a particular Mortgage Loan (including, for this purpose, the Repurchase Price therefor, Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds) which represent late payments or recoveries of the principal of or interest on such Mortgage Loan respecting which such Advance or advance was made; (vi) to reimburse the Master Servicer or any Subservicer from Insurance Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds relating to a particular Mortgage Loan for amounts expended by the Master Servicer or such Subservicer pursuant to Section 3.13 in good faith in connection with the restoration of the related Mortgage Property which was damaged by the uninsured cause or in connection with the liquidation of such Mortgage Loan; (vii) to pay the Master Servicer or any Subservicer (payment to any Subservicer to be subject to prior payment to the Master Servicer of an amount equal to the Servicing Fee), as appropriate, from Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds received in connection with the liquidation of any Mortgage Loan, the amount which it or such Subservicer would have been entitled to receive under subclause (x) of this Subsection 3.07(a) as servicing compensation on account of each defaulted scheduled payment on such Mortgage Loan if paid in a timely manner by the related Mortgagor, but only to the extent that the aggregate of Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds with respect to such Mortgage Loan, after any reimbursement to the Master Servicer or any Subservicer, pursuant to other subclauses of this Subsection 3.07(a), exceeds the outstanding Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the related Mortgage Rate less the Servicing Fee to but not including the date of payment (in any event, the amount of servicing compensation received by a Subservicer and the Master Servicer with respect to any defaulted scheduled payment shall not exceed the applicable Servicing Fee); (viii) to reimburse the Master Servicer or any Subservicer for advances of funds pursuant to Article III, the right to reimbursement pursuant to this subclause being -12- limited to amounts received on the related Mortgage Loan (including, for this purpose, the Repurchase Price therefor, Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds) which represent late recoveries of the payments for which such advances were made; (ix) to reimburse the Master Servicer or any Subservicer for any Nonrecoverable Advance previously made, and not reimbursed pursuant to this Subsection 3.07(a); (x) to deposit in the Payment Account, by the third Business Day prior to each Payment Date, the Owner Trustee Fee and the Indenture Trustee Fee; (xi) to withdraw any other amount deposited in the Collection Account that was not required to be deposited therein pursuant to Section 3.06; (xii) to reimburse the Master Servicer for costs associated with the environmental report specified in Section 3.13(c); and (xiii) clear and terminate the Collection Account pursuant to Section 7.08. In connection with withdrawals pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii), the Master Servicer's entitlement thereto is limited to collections or other recoveries on the related Mortgage Loan, and the Master Servicer shall keep and maintain separate accounting, on a Mortgage Loan by Mortgage Loan basis, for the purpose of justifying any withdrawal from the Collection Account pursuant to such clauses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Servi cing Agreement, the Master Servicer shall be entitled to reimburse itself for any previously unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable expenses incurred pursuant to the terms of this Servicing Agreement, but only to the extent of collections or other recoveries on the related Mortgage Loan. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.07, the Master Servicer may, but is not required to, allow the Subservicers to deduct from amounts received by them or from the related account maintained by a Subservicer, prior to deposit in the Collection Account, any portion to which such Subservicers are entitled as servicing compensation (including income on Eligible Investments) or reimbursement of any reimbursable Advances made by such Subservicers. Section 3.08. COLLECTION OF TAXES, ASSESSMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS; SERVICING ACCOUNTS. (a) The Master Servicer shall establish and maintain or cause the related Subservicer to establish and maintain, one or more Servicing Accounts. The Master Servicer or a Subservicer will deposit and retain therein all collections from the Mortgagors for the payment of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or comparable items as agent of the Mortgagors. (b) The deposits in the Servicing Accounts shall be held in trust by the Master Servicer or a Subservicer (and its successors and assigns) in the name of the Indenture Trustee. Such Servicing Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts and if permitted by applicable law, invested in -13- Eligible Investments held in trust by the Master Servicer or a Subservicer as described above and maturing, or be subject to redemption or withdrawal, no later than the date on which such funds are required to be withdrawn, and in no event later than 45 days after the date of investment; withdrawals of amounts from the Servicing Accounts may be made only to effect timely payment of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or comparable items, to reimburse the Master Servicer or a Subservicer for any advances made with respect to such items, to refund to any Mortgagors any sums as may be determined to be overages, to pay interest, if required, to Mortgagors on balances in the Servicing Accounts or to clear and terminate the Servicing Accounts at or any time after the termination of this Servicing Agreement. Section 3.09. ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE MORTGAGE LOANS. The Master Servicer shall provide, and shall cause any Subservicer to provide, to the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee access to the documentation regarding the related Mortgage Loans and REO Property and to the Bondholders, the FDIC, and the supervisory agents and examiners of the FDIC (to which the Indenture Trustee shall also provide) access to the documentation regarding the related Mortgage Loans required by applicable regulations, such access being afforded without charge but only upon reasonable request and during normal business hours at the offices of the Master Servicer or the Subservicers that are designated by these entities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise required by law, the Indenture Trustee, the Master Servicer or the Subservicer shall not be required to provide access to such documentation if the provision thereof would violate the legal right to privacy of any Mortgagor; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee shall coordinate their requests for such access so as not to impose an unreasonable burden on, or cause an unreasonable interruption of, the business of the Master Servicer or any Subservicer. The Master Servicer, the Subservicers and the Indenture Trustee shall allow representatives of the above entities to photocopy any of the documentation and shall provide equipment for that purpose at a charge that covers their own actual out-of-pocket costs. Section 3.10. MAINTENANCE OF PRIMARY INSURANCE POLICIES; COLLECTION THEREUNDER. (a) The Master Servicer shall, or shall cause the related Subservicer to, exercise its best reasonable efforts to maintain and keep in full force and effect each Primary Insurance Policy by a Qualified Insurer, or other insurer satisfactory to the Rating Agencies, with respect to each first lien Mortgage Loan as to which as of the Cut-Off Date such a Primary Insurance Policy was in effect (or, in the case of a Substitute Mortgage Loan, the date of substitution) and the original principal amount of the related Mortgage Note exceeded 80% of the Original Value in an amount at least equal to the excess of such original principal amount over 75% of such Original Value until the principal amount of any such first lien Mortgage Loan is reduced below 80% of the Original Value or, based upon a new appraisal, the principal amount of such first lien Mortgage Loan represents less than 80% of the new appraised value. The Master Servicer shall, or shall cause the related Subservicer to, effect the timely payment of the premium on each Primary Insurance Policy. The Master Servicer and the related Subservicer shall have the power to substitute for any Primary Insurance Policy another substantially equivalent policy issued by another Qualified Insurer, PROVIDED, THAT, such substitution shall be subject to the condition that it will not cause the ratings on the Bonds to be downgraded or withdrawn, as evidenced by a writing from each Rating Agency. -14- (b) In connection with its activities as administrator and master servicer of the Mortgage Loans, the Master Servicer agrees to file, on behalf of itself, the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor and the Certificateholders claims to CMAC with respect to the CMAC PMI Policy in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms of such policy and, in this regard, to take such action as shall be necessary to permit recovery under such policy respecting a related defaulted Mortgage Loan which is covered by such policy. Pursuant to Section 3.06, any amounts collected by the Master Servicer under the CMAC PMI Policy (other than any amount to be applied to the restoration or repair of the property encumbered by the related Mortgage Loan with respect to which such amount was collected) shall be deposited in the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.06. Section 3.11. MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE. (a) The Master Servicer shall maintain and keep, or cause each Subservicer to maintain and keep, with respect to each Mortgage Loan and each REO Property, in full force and effect hazard insurance (fire insurance with extended coverage) equal to at least the lesser of the Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan or the current replacement cost of the Mortgaged Property, and containing a standard mortgagee clause, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount of hazard insurance may not be less than the amount necessary to prevent loss due to the application of any co-insurance provision of the related policy. Unless applicable state law requires a higher deductible, the deductible on such hazard insurance policy may be no more than $1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of coverage, whichever is less. In the case of a condominium unit or a unit in a planned unit development, the required hazard insurance shall take the form of a multi-peril policy covering the entire condominium project or planned unit development, in an amount equal to at least 100% of the insurable value based on replacement cost. (b) Any amounts collected by the Master Servicer or a Subservicer under any such hazard insurance policy (other than amounts to be applied to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or amounts released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the Master Servicer's or a Subservicer's normal servicing procedures, the Mortgage Note, the Security Instrument or applicable law) shall be deposited initially in a Collection Account, for transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.07. (c) Any cost incurred by a Master Servicer or a Subservicer in maintaining any such hazard insurance policy shall not be added to the amount owing under the Mortgage Loan for the purpose of calculating monthly distributions to Bondholders, notwithstanding that the terms of the Mortgage Loan so permit. Such costs shall be recoverable by the Master Servicer or a Subservicer out of related late payments by the Mortgagor or out of Insurance Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds or by the Master Servicer from the Repurchase Price, to the extent permitted by Section 3.07. (d) No earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required of any Mortgagor or maintained on property acquired with respect to a Security Instrument other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as shall at any time be in force and shall require such additional insurance. When, at the time of origination of the Mortgage Loan or at any subsequent time, the Mortgaged Property is located in a federally designated special flood hazard area, the Master -15- Servicer shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause with respect to the Mortgage Loans and each REO Property flood insurance (to the extent available and in accordance with mortgage servicing industry practice) to be maintained. Such flood insurance shall cover the Mortgaged Property, including all items taken into account in arriving at the Appraised Value on which the Mortgage Loan was based, and shall be in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan and (ii) the minimum amount required under the terms of coverage to compensate for any damage or loss on a replacement cost basis, but not more than the maximum amount of such insurance available for the related Mortgaged Property under either the regular or emergency programs of the National Flood Insurance Program (assuming that the area in which such Mortgaged Property is located is participating in such program). Unless applicable state law requires a higher deductible, the deductible on such flood insurance may not exceed $1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of coverage, whichever is less. (e) If insurance has not been maintained complying with Subsections 3.11 (a) and (d) and there shall have been a loss which would have been covered by such insurance had it been maintained, the Master Servicer shall pay, or cause the related Subservicer to pay, for any necessary repairs. (f) The Master Servicer shall present, or cause the related Subservicer to present, claims under any applicable Primary Insurance Policy or the related hazard insurance or flood insurance policy. (g) The Master Servicer shall obtain and maintain at its own expense and for the duration of this Servicing Agreement a blanket fidelity bond and shall cause each Subservicer to obtain and maintain an errors and omissions insurance policy covering such Subservicer's officers, employees and other persons acting on its behalf in connection with its activities under this Servicing Agreement. The amount of coverage shall be at least equal to the coverage maintained by the Master Servicer acceptable to FNMA or FHLMC to service loans for it or otherwise in an amount as is commercially available at a cost that is generally not regarded as excessive by industry standards. The Master Servicer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee of any material change in the terms of such bond or policy. The Master Servicer shall provide annually to the Indenture Trustee a certificate of insurance that such bond and policy are in effect. If any such bond or policy ceases to be in effect, the Master Servicer shall, to the extent possible, give the Indenture Trustee ten days' notice prior to any such cessation and shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain a comparable replacement bond or policy, as the case may be. Any amounts relating to the Mortgage Loans collected under such bond or policy shall be deposited initially in a Collection Account for transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.07. Section 3.12. DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS. (a) In any case in which the Master Servicer is notified by any Mortgagor or Subservicer that a Mortgaged Property relating to a Mortgage Loan has been or is about to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the Master Servicer shall enforce, or shall instruct such Subservicer to enforce, any due-on-sale clause contained in the related Security Instrument to the extent permitted under the terms of the related Mortgage Note and by applicable law. The Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may -16- repurchase a Mortgage Loan at the Repurchase Price when the Master Servicer requires acceleration of the Mortgage Loan, but only if the Master Servicer is satisfied, as evidenced by an Officer's Certificate delivered to the Indenture Trustee, that either (i) such Mortgage Loan is in default or default is reasonably foreseeable or (ii) if such Mortgage Loan is not in default or default is not reasonably foreseeable, such repurchase will have no adverse tax consequences for the Trust Estate or any Securityholder. If the Master Servicer reasonably believes that such due-on-sale clause cannot be enforced under applicable law or if the Mortgage Loan does not contain a due-on-sale clause, the Master Servicer is authorized, and may authorize any Subservicer, to consent to a conveyance subject to the lien of the Mortgage, and to take or enter into an assumption agreement from or with the Person to whom such property has been or is about to be conveyed, pursuant to which such Person becomes liable under the related Mortgage Note and unless prohibited by applicable state law, such Mortgagor remains liable thereon, on condition, however, that the related Mortgage Loan shall continue to be covered by a hazard policy and (if so covered before the Master Servicer or the related Subservicer enters into such agreement) by any Primary Insurance Policy. In connection with any such assumption, no material term of the related Mortgage Note may be changed. The Master Servicer shall notify the Indenture Trustee, whenever possible, before the completion of such assumption agreement, and shall forward to the Indenture Trustee the original copy of such assumption agreement, which copy shall be added by the Indenture Trustee to the related Mortgage File and which shall, for all purposes, be considered a part of such Mortgage File to the same extent as all other documents and instruments constituting a part thereof. A portion, equal to up to 2% of the Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, of any fee or additional interest collected by the related Subservicer for consenting in any such conveyance or entering into any such assumption agreement may be retained by the related Subservicer as additional servicing compensation. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision of this Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer shall not be deemed to be in default, breach or any other violation of its obligations hereunder by reason of any assumption of a Mortgage Loan by operation of law or any conveyance by the Mortgagor of the related Mortgaged Property or assumption of a Mortgage Loan which the Master Servicer reasonably believes it may be restricted by law from preventing, for any reason whatsoever or if the exercise of such right would impair or threaten to impair any recovery under any applicable insurance policy. Section 3.13. REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED MORTGAGE LOANS. (a) The Master Servicer shall, or shall direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties securing any Mortgage Loans that come into and continue in default and as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments pursuant to Section 3.06, except that the Master Servicer shall not, and shall not direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert a Mortgaged Property if there is evidence of toxic waste or other environmental hazards thereon unless the Master Servicer follows the procedures in Subsection (c) below. In connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the Master Servicer in conjunction with the related Subservicer, if any, shall use its best reasonable efforts to preserve REO Property and to realize upon defaulted Mortgage Loans in such manner as to maximize the receipt of principal and interest by the Bondholders, taking into account, among other things, the timing of foreclosure and the considerations set forth in -17- Subsection 3.13(b). The foregoing is subject to the proviso that the Master Servicer shall not be required to expend its own funds in connection with any foreclosure or towards the restoration of any property unless it determines in good faith (i) that such restoration or foreclosure will increase the proceeds of liquidation of the Mortgage Loan to Bondholders after reimbursement to itself for such expenses and (ii) that such expenses will be recoverable to it either through Liquidation Proceeds (respecting which it shall have priority for purposes of reimbursements from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.07) or through Insurance Proceeds (respecting which it shall have similar priority). The Master Servicer shall be responsible for all other costs and expenses incurred by it in any such proceedings; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that it shall be entitled to reimbursement thereof (as well as its normal servicing compensation), and in respect of any Subservicer only, to receive Foreclosure Profits as additional servicing compensation to the extent that transfers or withdrawals from the Collection Account with respect thereto are permitted under Section 3.07. Any income from or other funds (net of any income taxes) generated by REO Property shall be deemed for purposes of this Servicing Agreement to be Insurance Proceeds. (b) The Trust Estate shall not acquire any real property (or any personal property incident to such real property) except in connection with a default or reasonably foreseeable default of a Mortgage Loan. In the event that the Trust Estate acquires any real property (or personal property incident to such real property) in connection with a default or imminent default of a Mortgage Loan, such property shall be disposed of by the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Trust Estate within two years after its acquisition by the Trust Estate. (c) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Master Servicer or a Subservicer has received notice of, or has actual knowledge of, the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property, the Master Servicer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee. The Master Servicer may, in its sole discretion, obtain an environmental audit report prepared by a Person who regularly conducts environmental audits using customary industry standards, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee. The Master Servicer shall be entitled to reimbursement for such report pursuant to Section 3.07. The Master Servicer shall take such action as it deems to be in the best economic interest of the Trust Estate (other than proceeding against the Mortgaged Property) and is hereby authorized at such time as it deems appropriate to release such Mortgaged Property from the lien of the related Mortgage. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Master Servicer shall not obtain on behalf of the Issuer a deed as a result or in lieu of foreclosure, and shall not otherwise acquire possession of or title to, or commence any proceedings to acquire possession of or title to, or take any other action with respect to, any Mortgage Property, if the Owner Trustee could reasonably be considered to be a responsible party for any liability arising from the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property, unless the Owner Trustee has been indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against such liability. Section 3.14. INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE FILES. (a) Upon payment in full of any Mortgage Loan or the receipt by the Master Servicer of a notification that payment in full will be escrowed in a manner customary for such purposes, the Master Servicer will immediately notify the Indenture Trustee by a certification signed by a Servicing Officer in the form of the Request for Release attached hereto as Exhibit B (which certification shall include -18- a statement to the effect that all amounts received or to be received in connection with such payment which are required to be deposited in the Payment Account have been or will be so deposited) and shall request delivery to the Master Servicer or Subservicer, as the case may be, of the Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly release the related Mortgage File to the Master Servicer or Subservicer and execute and deliver to the Master Servicer, without recourse, the request for reconveyance, deed of reconveyance or release or satisfaction of mortgage or such instrument releasing the lien of the Security Instrument (furnished by the Master Servicer), together with the Mortgage Note with written evidence of cancellation thereon. (b) From time to time as is appropriate, for the servicing or foreclosure of any Mortgage Loan or collection under an insurance policy, the Master Servicer may deliver to the Indenture Trustee a Request for Release signed by a Servicing Officer on behalf of the Master Servicer in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B hereto. Upon receipt of the Request for Release, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver the Mortgage File or any document therein to the Master Servicer or Subservicer, as the case may be, as bailee for the Indenture Trustee. (c) The Master Servicer shall cause each Mortgage File or any document therein released pursuant to Subsection 3.14(b) to be returned to the Indenture Trustee when the need therefor no longer exists, and in any event within 21 days of the Master Servicer's receipt thereof, unless the Mortgage Loan has become a Liquidated Mortgage Loan and the Liquidation Proceeds relating to the Mortgage Loan have been deposited in the Collection Account or such Mortgage File is being used to pursue foreclosure or other legal proceedings. Prior to return of a Mortgage File or any document to the Indenture Trustee, the Master Servicer, the related insurer or Subservicer to whom such file or document was delivered shall retain such file or document in its respective control as bailee for the Indenture Trustee unless the Mortgage File or such document has been delivered to an attorney, or to a public trustee or other public official as required by law, to initiate or pursue legal action or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the Mortgaged Property either judicially or non-judicially, and the Master Servicer has delivered to the Indenture Trustee a certificate of a Servicing Officer certifying as to the name and address of the Person to which such Mortgage File or such document was delivered and the purpose or purposes of such delivery. If a Mortgage Loan becomes a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver the Request for Release with respect thereto to the Master Servicer upon deposit of the related Liquidation Proceeds in the Collection Account. (d) The Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Master Servicer any court pleadings, requests for trustee's sale or other documents necessary to (i) the foreclosure or trustee's sale with respect to a Mortgaged Property; (ii) any legal action brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor on the Mortgage Note or Security Instrument; (iii) obtain a deficiency judgment against the Mortgagor; or (iv) enforce any other rights or remedies provided by the Mortgage Note or Security Instrument or otherwise available at law or equity. Together with such documents or pleadings the Master Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee a certificate of a Servicing Officer in which it requests the Indenture Trustee to execute the pleadings or documents. The certificate shall certify and explain the reasons for which the pleadings or documents are required. It shall further certify that the Indenture Trustee's execution -19- and delivery of the pleadings or documents will not invalidate any insurance coverage under the insurance policies or invalidate or otherwise affect the lien of the Security Instrument, except for the termination of such a lien upon completion of the foreclosure or trustee's sale. Section 3.15. MASTER SERVICING COMPENSATION. (a) As compensation for its activities hereunder, the Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive the Servicing Fee from full payments of accrued interest on each Mortgage Loan. The Master Servicer shall be solely responsible for paying any and all fees with respect to a Subservicer and the Trust Estate shall not bear any fees, expenses or other costs directly associated with any Subservicer. (b) The related Subservicer may retain additional servicing compensation in the form of conversion fees, if any, with respect to a prepayment charges, if any, a portion of the assumption fees up to 2% of the Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, tax service fees, fees for statement of account or payoff, late payment charges, or otherwise, to the extent such fees are collected from the related Mortgagors or, with respect to a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, to the extent such fees have accrued. The Master Servicer shall not be entitled to servicing compensation other than its Servicing Fee. The Master Servicer shall be required to pay all expenses it incurs in connection with servicing activities under this Servicing Agreement and shall not be entitled in connection with servicing activities under this Servicing Agreement to reimbursement except as provided in this Servicing Agreement. Expenses to be paid by the Master Servicer under this Subsection 3.15(b) shall include payment of the expenses of the accountants retained pursuant to Section 3.17. Section 3.16. ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE. Within 120 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 1998, the Master Servicer at its own expense shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, with a copy to the Rating Agencies, an Officer's Certificate stating, as to the signer thereof, that (i) a review of the activities of the Master Servicer during the preceding calendar year and of performance under this Servicing Agreement has been made under such officer's supervision, (ii) to the best of such officer's knowledge, based on such review, the Master Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under this Servicing Agreement for such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to such officer and the nature and status thereof including the steps being taken by the Master Servicer to remedy such default; (iii) a review of the activities of each Subservicer during the Subservicer's most recently ended calendar year on or prior to such December 31 and its performance under its Subservicing Agreement has been made under such officer's supervision; and (iv) to the best of the Servicing Officer's knowledge, based on his review and the certification of an officer of the Subservicer (unless the Servicing Officer has reason to believe that reliance on such certification is not justified), either each Subservicer has performed and fulfilled its duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Servicing Agreement and its Subservicing Agreement in all material respects throughout the year, or, if there has been a default in performance or fulfillment of any such duties, responsibilities or obligations, specifying the nature and status of each such default known to the Servicing Officer. Copies of such statements shall be provided by the Master Servicer to the Bondholders upon request or by the Indenture Trustee at the expense of the Master Servicer should the Master Servicer fail to provide such copies. -20- Section 3.17. ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICING REPORT. (a) Within 120 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December, 1998, the Master Servicer, at its expense, shall cause a firm of Independent public accountants who are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to furnish a statement to the Master Servicer, which will be provided to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies, to the effect that, in connection with the firm's examination of the Master Servicer's financial statements as of the end of such calendar year, nothing came to their attention that indicated that the Master Servicer was not in compliance with Sections 3.06, 3.07 and 3.08 except for (i) such exceptions as such firm believes to be immaterial and (ii) such other exceptions as are set forth in such statement. (b) Within 120 days after December 31 of each year, commencing December 1998, the Master Servicer, at its expense, shall or shall cause each Subservicer to cause a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants to furnish to the Master Servicer or such Subservicer a report stating that (i) it has obtained a letter of representation regarding certain matters from the management of the Master Servicer or such Subservicer which includes an assertion that the Master Servicer or such Subservicer has complied with certain minimum mortgage loan servicing standards (to the extent applicable to commercial and multifamily mortgage loans) identified in the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers established by the Mortgage Bankers Association of America with respect to the servicing of first and second lien conventional single family mortgage loans during the most recently completed calendar year and (ii) on the basis of an examination conducted by such firm in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, such representation is fairly stated in all material respects, subject to such exceptions and other qualifications that may be appropriate. Immediately upon receipt of such report, the Master Servicer shall or shall cause each Subservicer to furnish a copy of such report to the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies. Section 3.18. OPTIONAL PURCHASE OF DEFAULTED MORTGAGE LOANS. The Master Servicer may repurchase any Mortgage Loan delinquent in payment for a period of 90 days or longer for a price equal to the Repurchase Price. Any such purchase shall be accomplished as provided in Subsection 2.03(c) hereof. Section 3.19. INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY. The Master Servicer shall prepare and deliver all federal and state information reports when and as required by all applicable state and federal income tax laws. In particular, with respect to the requirement under Section 6050J of the Code to the effect that the Master Servicer or Subservicer shall make reports of foreclosures and abandonments of any mortgaged property for each year beginning in 1998, the Master Servicer or Subservicer shall file reports relating to each instance occurring during the previous calendar year in which the Master Servicer (i) acquires an interest in any Mortgaged Property through foreclosure or other comparable conversion in full or partial satisfaction of a Mortgage Loan, or (ii) knows or has reason to know that any Mortgaged Property has been abandoned. The reports from the Master Servicer or Subservicer shall be in form and substance sufficient to meet the reporting requirements imposed by Section 6050J, Section 6050H (reports -21- relating to mortgage interest received) and Section 6050P of the Code (reports relating to cancellation of indebtedness). -22- ARTICLE IV Servicing Certificate Section 4.01. REMITTANCE REPORTS. On the second Business Day following each Determination Date, the Master Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee a report, prepared as of the close of business on the Determination Date (the "Determination Date Report"), in the form of an electromagnetic tape or disk. The Determination Date Report and any written information supplemental thereto shall include such information with respect to the Mortgage Loans that is reasonably available to the Master Servicer and that is required by the Indenture Trustee for purposes of making the calculations and providing the reports referred to in the Indenture, as set forth in written specifications or guidelines issued by the Indenture Trustee from time to time. Such information shall include the aggregate amounts required to be withdrawn from the Collection Account and deposited into the Payment Account pursuant to 3.07. The determination by the Master Servicer of such amounts shall, in the absence of obvious error, be presumptively deemed to be correct for all purposes hereunder and the Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee shall be protected in relying upon the same without any independent check or verification. Section 4.02. RESERVED. Section 4.03. PAYMENT ACCOUNT. The Indenture Trustee shall establish and maintain a separate trust account (the "Payment Account") in accordance with the Indenture. The Payment Account shall be an Eligible Account. On each Payment Date, amounts on deposit in the Payment Account will be distributed by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture. The Indenture Trustee shall, upon written request from the Master Servicer, invest or cause the institution maintaining the Payment Account to invest the funds in the Payment Account in Eligible Investments designated in the name of the Indenture Trustee, which shall mature not later than the Business Day next preceding the Payment Date next following the date of such investment (except that (i) any investment in the institution with which the Payment Account is maintained may mature on such Payment Date and (ii) any other investment may mature on such Payment Date if the Indenture Trustee shall advance funds on such Payment Date to the Payment Account in the amount payable on such investment on such Payment Date, pending receipt thereof to the extent necessary to make distributions on the Bonds) and shall not be sold or disposed of prior to maturity. All income and gain realized from any such investment shall be for the benefit of the Bondholders. The amount of any losses incurred with respect to any such investments shall be deposited in the Payment Account by the Master Servicer. Section 4.04. ADVANCES. If any Monthly Payment (together with any advances from the Subservicers) on a Mortgage Loan that was due on the immediately preceding Due Date and delinquent on the Determination Date is delinquent other than as a result of application of the Relief Act, the Master Servicer will deposit in the Collection Account not later than the third Business Day immediately preceding the related Payment Date an amount equal to such deficiency net of the related Servicing Fee for such Mortgage Loan, except to the extent the Master Servicer -23- determines any such advance to be nonrecoverable from Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds or future payments on any Mortgage Loan. Subject to the foregoing and in the absence of such a determination, the Master Servicer shall continue to make such advances through the date that the related Mortgaged Property has, in the judgment of the Master Servicer, been completely liquidated. If applicable, on the fourth Business Day preceding each Payment Date, the Master Servicer shall present an Officer's Certificate to the Indenture Trustee (i) stating that the Master Servicer elects not to make an Advance in a stated amount and (ii) detailing the reason it deems the advance to be nonrecoverable. Section 4.05. COMPENSATING INTEREST PAYMENTS. The Master Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account not later than the third Business Day preceding the Payment Date an amount equal to the Compensating Interest related to the related Determination Date. The Master Servicer shall not be entitled to any reimbursement of any Compensating Interest payment. -24- ARTICLE V The Master Servicer Section 5.01. LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER. The Master Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the Master Servicer herein. Section 5.02. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF, OR ASSUMPTION OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF, THE MASTER SERVICER. Any corporation into which the Master Servicer may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Master Servicer shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the business of the Master Servicer, shall be the successor of the Master Servicer, hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. The Master Servicer may assign its rights and delegate its duties and obligations under this Servicing Agreement; PROVIDED, that the Person accepting such assignment or delegation shall be a Person which is qualified to service mortgage loans on behalf of FNMA or FHLMC, is reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee (as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans) and the Company (in its sole discretion), is willing to service the Mortgage Loans and executes and delivers to the Indenture Trustee and the Company an agreement, in form and substance reason ably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee and the Company, which contains an assumption by such Person of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition to be performed or observed by the Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that each Rating Agency's rating of the Bonds in effect immediately prior to such assignment and delegation will not be qualified, reduced, or withdrawn as a result of such assignment and delegation (as evidenced by a letter to such effect from each Rating Agency) or considered to be below investment grade. Section 5.03. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE MASTER SERVICER AND OTHERS. Neither the Master Servicer nor any of the directors or officers or employees or agents of the Master Servicer shall be under any liability to the Company, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the Bondholders for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in good faith pursuant to this Servicing Agreement, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this provision shall not protect the Master Servicer or any such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The Master Servicer and any director or officer or employee or agent of the Master Servicer may rely in good faith on any document of any kind PRIMA FACIE properly executed and submitted by any Person respecting any matters arising hereunder. The Master Servicer and any director or officer or employee or agent of the Master Servicer shall be indemnified by the Company and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with any legal action relating to this Servicing Agreement or the Bonds, including any amount paid to the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 5.06(b), other than any loss, liability or expense related to -25- any specific Mortgage Loan or Mortgage Loans (except as any such loss, liability or expense shall be otherwise reimbursable pursuant to this Servicing Agreement) and any loss, liability or expense incurred by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The Master Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action which is not incidental to its duties to service the Mortgage Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement, and which in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Master Servicer may in its sole discretion undertake any such action which it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Servicing Agreement, and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Bondholders hereunder. In such event, the reasonable legal expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom shall be expenses, costs and liabilities of the Company, and the Master Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor. The Master Servicer's right to indemnity or reimbursement pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall survive any resignation or termination of the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 5.04 or 6.01 with respect to any losses, expenses, costs or liabilities arising prior to such resignation or termination (or arising from events that occurred prior to such resignation or termination). Section 5.04. MASTER SERVICER NOT TO RESIGN. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.02, the Master Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except (i) upon determination that the performance of its obligations or duties hereunder are no longer permissible under applicable law or (ii) upon satisfaction of the following conditions: (a) the Master Servicer has proposed a successor servicer to the Company and the Indenture Trustee in writing and such proposed successor servicer is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Indenture Trustee; and (b) each Rating Agency shall have delivered a letter to the Company and the Indenture Trustee prior to the appointment of the successor servicer stating that the proposed appointment of such successor servicer as Master Servicer hereunder will not result in the reduc tion or withdrawal of the then current rating of the Bonds; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such resig nation by the Master Servicer shall become effective until such successor servicer or, in the case of (i) above, the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, shall have assumed the Master Servicer's responsibilities and obligations hereunder or the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, shall have designated a successor servicer in accordance with Section 6.02. Any such resignation shall not relieve the Master Servicer of responsibility for any of the obligations specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that survive the resignation or termination of the Master Servicer. The Master Servicer shall have no claim (whether by subroga tion or otherwise) or other action against any Bondholder for any amounts paid by the Master Servicer pursuant to any provision of this Servicing Agreement. Any such determination permitting the resignation of the Master Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Section 5.05. DELEGATION OF DUTIES. In the ordinary course of business, the Master Servicer at any time may delegate any of its duties hereunder to any Person, including any of its Affiliates, who agrees to conduct such duties in accordance with standards comparable to those with which the Master Servicer complies pursuant to Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not -26- relieve the Master Servicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with respect to such duties and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section 5.04. Section 5.06. MASTER SERVICER TO PAY INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S AND OWNER TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Master Servicer covenants and agrees to pay to the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and any co-trustee of the Indenture Trustee from time to time, and the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and any such co-trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by each of them in the execution of the trusts created under the Trust Agreement and the Indenture and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties under the Trust Agreement or the Indenture, as the case may be, of the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and any co-trustee of the Indenture Trustee, and the Master Servicer will pay or reimburse (i) the Indenture Trustee and any co-trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Indenture Trustee or any co-trustee of the Indenture Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Servicing Agreement except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith and (ii) the Owner Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Owner Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Servicing Agreement except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or grossly negligent failure to act. (b) The Master Servicer agrees to indemnify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee for, and to hold the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, harmless against, any claim, tax, penalty, loss, liability or expense of any kind whatsoever, incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of, or in connection with, the failure by the Master Servicer to perform its duties in compliance with this Servicing Agreement, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against any claim in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under any Basic Document, provided that: (i) with respect to any such claim, the Indenture Trustee or Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have given the Master Servicer written notice thereof promptly after the Indenture Trustee or Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have actual knowledge thereof; (ii) while maintaining control over its own defense, the Company, the Indenture Trustee or Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall cooperate and consult fully with the Master Servicer in preparing such defense; and (iii) notwithstanding anything in this Servicing Agreement to the contrary, the Master Servicer shall not be liable for settlement of any claim by the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, entered into without the prior consent of the Master Servicer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. -27- No termination of this Servicing Agreement shall affect the obligations created by this Section 5.06 of the Master Servicer to indemnify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee under the conditions and to the extent set forth herein. This section shall survive the termination of this Servicing Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Master Servicer. Any amounts to be paid by the Master Servicer pursuant to this Subsection may not be paid from the Trust Estate. -28- ARTICLE VI Default Section 6.01. SERVICING DEFAULT. If any one of the following events ("Servicing Default") shall occur and be continuing: (i) Any failure by the Master Servicer to deposit in the Collection Account or Payment Account any deposit required to be made under the terms of this Servicing Agreement, including any Advances and Compensating Interest, which continues unremedied for a period of five Business Days after the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the Master Servicer by the Company, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee; or (ii) Failure on the part of the Master Servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect any other covenants or agreements of the Master Servicer set forth in the Bonds or in this Servicing Agreement, which failure, in each case, materially and adversely affects the interests of Bondholders and which continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder, shall have been given to the Master Servicer by the Company, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee; or (iii) The entry against the Master Servicer of a decree or order by a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a trustee, conservator, receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship, receivership, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceed ings, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iv) The Master Servicer shall voluntarily go into liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator, receiver, liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Master Servicer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court, agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a conservator, receiver, liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceed ings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the Master Servicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the Master Servicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend payment of its obligations; then, and in every such case, so long as a Servicing Default shall not have been remedied by the Master Servicer, either the Issuer, subject to the direction of the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of -29- the Mortgage Loans, with the consent of the holders of at least 51% of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds, by notice then given in writing to the Master Servicer (and to the Indenture Trustee), terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer as servicer under this Servicing Agreement other than its right to receive servicing compensation and expenses for servicing the Mortgage Loans hereunder during any period prior to the date of such termina tion and the Company, subject to the direction of the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans, may exercise any and all other remedies available at law or equity. Any such notice to the Master Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Company and the Issuer. On or after the receipt by the Master Servicer of such written notice, all authority and power of the Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement, whether with respect to the Bonds or the Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Indenture Trustee, pursuant to and under this Section 6.01; and, without limitation, the Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Master Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such notice of termination, whether to complete the transfer and endorsement of each Mortgage Loan and related documents, or other wise. The Master Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Indenture Trustee in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Master Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, the transfer to the Indenture Trustee for the administration by it of all cash amounts relating to the Mortgage Loans that shall at the time be held by the Master Servicer and to be deposited by it in the Collection Account, or that have been deposited by the Master Servicer in the Collection Account or thereafter received by the Master Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans. All reasonable costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with amending this Servicing Agreement to reflect such succession as Master Servicer pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be paid by the predecessor Master Servicer (or if the predecessor Master Servicer is the Indenture Trustee, the initial Master Servicer) upon presen tation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses. Notwithstanding any termination of the activities of the Master Servicer hereunder, the Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive, out of any late collection of a payment on a Mortgage Loan which was due prior to the notice terminating the Master Servicer's rights and obligations hereunder and received after such notice, that portion to which the Master Servicer would have been entitled pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.15 as well as its Servicing Fee in respect thereof, and any other amounts payable to the Master Servicer hereunder the entitlement to which arose prior to the termination of its activities hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a delay in or failure of performance under Section 6.01(i) or under Section 6.01(ii) after the applicable grace periods specified in such Sections, shall not constitute a Servicing Default if such delay or failure could not be prevented by the exercise of reasonable diligence by the Master Servicer and such delay or failure was caused by an act of God or the public enemy, acts of declared or undeclared war, public disorder, rebellion or sabotage, epidemics, landslides, lightning, fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or similar causes. The pre ceding sentence shall not relieve the Master Servicer from using reasonable efforts to perform its respective obligations in a timely manner in accordance with the terms of this Servicing Agreement and the Master Servicer shall provide the Indenture Trustee and the Bondholders with -30- notice of such failure or delay by it, together with a description of its efforts to so perform its obligations. The Master Servicer shall immediately notify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee in writing of any Servicing Default. Section 6.02. INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR. (a) On and after the time the Master Servicer receives a notice of termination pursuant to Section 6.01 or sends a notice pursuant to Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Bondholders shall be the successor in all respects to the Master Servicer in its capacity as servicer under this Servicing Agreement and the transactions set forth or provided for herein and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities relating thereto placed on the Master Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof, including but not limited to the provisions of Article VIII. Nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be construed to permit or require the Indenture Trustee to (i) succeed to the responsibilities, duties and liabilities of the initial Master Servicer in its capacity as the Seller under the Mortgage Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement, (ii) be responsible or accountable for any act or omission of the Master Servicer prior to the issuance of a notice of termination hereunder, (iii) require or obligate the Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as successor Master Servicer, to purchase, repurchase or substitute any Mortgage Loan, (iv) fund any losses on any Eligible Investment directed by any other Master Servicer, or (v) be responsible for the representations and warranties of the Master Servicer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Indenture Trustee, as successor Master Servicer, shall be required to make any Advances to the extent that the Master Servicer failed to make such Advances. As compensation therefor, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Master Servicer would have been entitled to hereunder if no such notice of termination had been given. Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the Indenture Trustee is unwilling to act as successor Master Servicer, or (ii) if the Indenture Trustee is legally unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Bondholders may (in the situation described in clause (i)) or shall (in the situation described in clause (ii)) appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage loan servicer having a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 as the successor to the Master Servicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any part of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the Master Servicer hereunder; PROVIDED, that any such successor Master Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to the Bonds by the Rating Agencies or the ratings assigned to the Bonds. Pending appointment of a successor to the Master Servicer hereunder, unless the Indenture Trustee is prohibited by law from so acting, the Indenture Trustee shall act in such capacity as hereinabove provided. In connection with such appointment and assumption, the successor shall be entitled to receive compensation out of payments on Mortgage Loans in an amount equal to the compensa tion which the Master Servicer would otherwise have received pursuant to Section 3.15 (or such lesser compensation as the Indenture Trustee and such successor shall agree). The appointment of a successor Master Servicer shall not affect any liability of the predecessor Master Servicer which may have arisen under this Servicing Agreement prior to its termination as Master Servicer (including, without limitation, the obligation to purchase Mortgage Loans pursuant to Section 3.01, to pay any deductible under an insurance policy pursuant to Section 3.11 or to indemnify the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 5.06), nor shall any successor Master Servicer be liable for any acts or omissions of the predecessor Master Servicer or for any breach by such Master Servicer of any of its representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document -31- or agreement. The Indenture Trustee and such successor shall take such action, consistent with this Servicing Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession. (b) Any successor, including the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Bondholders, to the Master Servicer as servicer shall during the term of its service as servicer (i) continue to service and administer the Mortgage Loans for the benefit of the Bondholders, (ii) maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as Master Servicer hereunder and a fidelity bond in respect of its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the Master Servicer is so required pursuant to Section 3.11. (c) Any successor Master Servicer, including the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Bondholders, shall not be deemed to be in default or to have breached its duties hereunder if the predecessor Master Servicer shall fail to deliver any required deposit to the Collection Account or otherwise cooperate with any required servicing transfer or succession hereunder. Section 6.03. NOTIFICATION TO BONDHOLDERS. Upon any termination or appointment of a successor to the Master Servicer pursuant to this Article VI or Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Bondholders, the Owner Trustee, the Company, the Issuer and each Rating Agency. Section 6.04. WAIVER OF DEFAULTS. The Indenture Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Bondholders, within 10 days after the occurrence of any Servicing Default known to the Indenture Trustee, unless such Servicing Default shall have been cured, notice of each such Servicing Default hereunder known to the Indenture Trustee. The holders of at least 51% of the aggregate Bond Principal Balance of the Bonds may waive any default by the Master Servicer in the performance of its obligations hereunder and the consequences thereof, except a default in the making of or the causing to be made any required distribution on the Bonds. Upon any such waiver of a past default, such default shall be deemed to cease to exist, and any Servicing Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been timely remedied for every purpose of this Servicing Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon except to the extent expressly so waived. The Master Servicer shall give notice of any such waiver to the Rating Agencies. -32- ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous Provisions Section 7.01. AMENDMENT. This Servicing Agreement may be amended from time to time by the parties hereto, provided that any amendment be accompanied by a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to the Bonds. Section 7.02. GOVERNING LAW. THIS SERVICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS. Section 7.03. NOTICES. All demands, notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered at or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to: (a) in the case of the Master Servicer: Impac Funding Corporation 20371 Irvine Avenue Santa Ana Heights, CA 92707 Attention: Mary Glass-Schannault (b) in the case of Rating Agencies: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 4th Floor 99 Church Street New York, NY 10007 Attention: Residential Mortgage Monitoring Unit Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. 55 East Monroe Street, 30th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1 -33- (c) in the case of the Owner Trustee, the Corporate Trust Office: Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration (d) in the case of the Issuer, to Imperial CMB Trust Series 1998-1: c/o IMH Assets Corp. 20371 Irvine Avenue Santa Ana Heights, California 92707 Attention: Richard Johnson or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. Any notice required or permitted to be mailed to a Bondholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Bondholder as shown in the Certificate Register. Any notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Servicing Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Bondholder receives such notice. Any notice or other document required to be delivered or mailed by the Indenture Trustee to any Rating Agency shall be given on a reasonable efforts basis and only as a matter of courtesy and accommodation and the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability for failure to deliver such notice or document to any Rating Agency. Section 7.04. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Servicing 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 Servicing Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Servicing Agreement or of the Bonds or the rights of the Bondholders thereof. Section 7.05. THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Servicing Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Bondholders, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Servicing Agreement, no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall have the right to exercise all rights of the Issuer under this Agreement. Section 7.06. COUNTERPARTS. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 7.07. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. -34- Section 7.08. TERMINATION. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Master Servicer and the Issuer created hereby shall terminate upon the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 4.10 thereof. Section 7.09. NO PETITION. The Master Servicer, by entering into this Servicing Agreement, hereby covenants and agrees that it will not at any time institute against the Issuer, or join in any institution against the Issuer, any bankruptcy proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations of the Issuer. This section shall survive the termination of this Servicing Agreement by one year. Section 7.10. NO RECOURSE. The Master Servicer acknowledges that no recourse may be had against the Issuer, except as may be expressly set forth in this Servicing Agreement. -35- ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF THE MASTER SERVICER Section 8.01. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. (a) DUTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE INDENTURE. The Master Servicer shall perform all its duties and the duties of the Issuer under the Indenture. In addition, the Master Servicer shall consult with the Owner Trustee as the Master Servicer deems appropriate regarding the duties of the Issuer under the Indenture. The Master Servicer shall monitor the performance of the Issuer and shall advise the Owner Trustee when action is necessary to comply with the Issuer's duties under the Indenture. The Master Servicer shall prepare for execution by the Issuer or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate Persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuer to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Indenture. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Master Servicer shall take all necessary action that is the duty of the Issuer to take pursuant to the Indenture. (b) DUTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUER. (i) In addition to the duties of the Master Servicer set forth in this Servicing Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, the Master Servicer shall perform such calculations and shall prepare for execution by the Issuer or the Owner Trustee or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate Persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuer or the Owner Trustee to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to this Servicing Agreement or any of the Basic Documents or under state and federal tax and securities laws, and at the request of the Owner Trustee shall take all appropriate action that it is the duty of the Issuer to take pursuant to this Servicing Agreement or any of the Basic Documents. In accordance with the directions of the Issuer or the Owner Trustee, the Master Servicer shall administer, perform or supervise the performance of such other activities in connection with the Bonds (including the Basic Documents) as are not covered by any of the foregoing provisions and as are expressly requested by the Issuer or the Owner Trustee and are reasonably within the capability of the Master Servicer. (ii) Notwithstanding anything in this Servicing Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to the contrary, the Master Servicer shall be responsible for promptly notifying the Owner Trustee in the event that any withholding tax is imposed on the Issuer's payments (or allocations of income) to an Owner (as defined in the Trust Agreement) as contemplated in Section 5.03 of the Trust Agreement. Any such notice shall be in writing and specify the amount of any withholding tax required to be withheld by the Owner Trustee pursuant to such provision. (iii) In carrying out the foregoing duties or any of its other obligations under this Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer may enter into transactions with or otherwise deal with any of its Affiliates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the terms of any such transactions or dealings shall be in accordance with any directions received from the Issuer and shall be, in the Master Servicer's opinion, no less favorable to the Issuer in any material respect than with terms made available to unrelated third-parties. -36- (c) TAX MATTERS. The Master Servicer shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed), on behalf of the Owner Trustee, all tax returns and information reports, tax elections, financial statements and such annual or other reports of the Issuer as are necessary for preparation of tax returns and information reports as provided in Section 5.03 of the Trust Agreement, including without limitation Form 1099. All tax returns and information reports shall be signed by the Owner Trustee as provided in Section 5.03 of the Trust Agreement. (d) NON-MINISTERIAL MATTERS. With respect to matters that in the reasonable judgment of the Master Servicer are non-ministerial, the Master Servicer shall not take any action pursuant to this Article VIII unless within a reasonable time before the taking of such action, the Master Servicer shall have notified the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee of the proposed action and the Owner Trustee and, with respect to items (A), (B), (C) and (D) below, the Indenture Trustee shall not have withheld consent or provided an alternative direction. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, "non-ministerial matters" shall include: (A) the amendment of or any supplement to the Indenture; (B) the initiation of any claim or lawsuit by the Issuer and the compromise of any action, claim or lawsuit brought by or against the Issuer (other than in connection with the collection of the Mortgage Loans); (C) the amendment, change or modification of this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents; (D) the appointment of successor Certificate Paying Agents and successor Indenture Trustees pursuant to the Indenture or the appointment of successor Servicers or the consent to the assignment by the Certificate Registrar, Paying Agent or Trustee of its obligations under the Indenture; and (E) the removal of the Indenture Trustee. Section 8.02. RECORDS. The Master Servicer shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to services performed under this Servicing Agreement, which books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by the Issuer at any time during normal business hours. Section 8.03. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED. The Master Servicer shall furnish to the Issuer from time to time such additional information regarding the Bonds as the Issuer shall reasonably request. -37- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Master Servicer and the Issuer have caused this Servicing Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first above written. IMPAC FUNDING CORPORATION, as Master Servicer By: /s/MARY GLASS-SCHANNAULT ------------------------ Name: Mary Glass-Schannault Title: Senior Vice President IMPERIAL CMB TRUST SERIES 1998-1, as Issuer Wilmington Trust Company, not in its capacity but solely as Owner Trustee By: /s/PATRICIA A. EVANS -------------------- Name: Patricia A. Evans Title: Financial Services Officer EXHIBIT A MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE (provided upon request) EXHIBIT B FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE DATE: TO: RE: REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS In connection with your administration of the Mortgage Loans, we request the release of the Mortgage File described below. Servicing Agreement Dated: Series #: Account #: Pool #: Loan #: Borrower Name(s): Reason for Document Request: (circle one) Mortgage Loan Prepaid in Full Other Mortgage Loan Repurchased Please deliver the Mortgage File to:____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ "We hereby certify that all amounts received or to be received in connection with such payments which are required to be deposited have been or will be so deposited as provided in the Servicing Agreement." _____________________________________ [Name of Master Servicer] Authorized Signature ******************************************************************************** TO CUSTODIAN/Indenture Trustee: Please acknowledge this request, and check off documents being enclosed with a copy of this form. You should retain this form for your files in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement. Enclosed Documents: [ ] Promissory Note [ ] Primary Insurance Policy [ ] Mortgage or Deed of Trust [ ] Assignment(s) of Mortgage or Deed of Trust [ ] Title Insurance Policy [ ] Other: ___________________________ ______________________ Name ______________________ Title ______________________ Date B-1 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----