0000950123-11-040300.txt : 20110428 0000950123-11-040300.hdr.sgml : 20110428 20110427202516 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-11-040300 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-4/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20110428 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20110427 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar Mortgage LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001507951 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MORTGAGE BANKERS & LOAN CORRESPONDENTS [6162] IRS NUMBER: 752921540 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370 FILM NUMBER: 11785166 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar Capital Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001507955 IRS NUMBER: 271996157 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-14 FILM NUMBER: 11785180 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508009 IRS NUMBER: 203437712 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-12 FILM NUMBER: 11785178 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Harwood Insurance Services, LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508010 IRS NUMBER: 752921540 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-10 FILM NUMBER: 11785176 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Harwood Service Co LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508011 IRS NUMBER: 752925375 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-11 FILM NUMBER: 11785177 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Harwood Service Co Of Georgia, LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508012 IRS NUMBER: 731643246 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-09 FILM NUMBER: 11785175 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Harwood Service Co Of New Jersey, LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508013 IRS NUMBER: 743047401 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-08 FILM NUMBER: 11785174 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508014 IRS NUMBER: 201356314 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-07 FILM NUMBER: 11785173 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar 2009 Equity Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508015 IRS NUMBER: 041583514 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-06 FILM NUMBER: 11785172 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar Equity Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508016 IRS NUMBER: 752711305 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NV FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-05 FILM NUMBER: 11785171 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar Industrial Loan Co CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508017 IRS NUMBER: 752786875 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-04 FILM NUMBER: 11785170 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Nationstar Industrial Loan Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508018 IRS NUMBER: 752903483 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-03 FILM NUMBER: 11785169 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NSM Foreclosure Services Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508019 IRS NUMBER: 273916074 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-01 FILM NUMBER: 11785167 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NSM Recovery Services Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508020 IRS NUMBER: 273275696 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-02 FILM NUMBER: 11785168 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001508022 IRS NUMBER: 752921540 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-171370-13 FILM NUMBER: 11785179 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 BUSINESS PHONE: (469) 549-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 HIGHLAND DRIVE CITY: LEWISVILLE STATE: TX ZIP: 75067 S-4/A 1 y04304a3sv4za.htm FORM S-4/A sv4za
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2011
Registration No. 333-171370
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Amendment No. 3
to
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 
 
 
     
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
  NATIONSTAR CAPITAL CORPORATION
     
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
  Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
6162
  6162
(Primary standard industrial classification code number)
  (Primary standard industrial classification code number)
75-2921540
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  27-1996157
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
  350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of principal executive offices)
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of principal executive offices)
 
and the Guarantors identified in Table of Additional Registrant Guarantors below
 
 
 
 
     
Anne Sutherland, Esq. 
  Duane McLaughlin, Esq.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
  Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
  One Liberty Plaza
350 Highland Drive
  New York, New York 10006
Lewisville, Texas, 75067
  (212) 225-2000
(469) 549-2000
   
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
  (Copies of all communications, including
communications sent
to agent for service)
     
 
 
 
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  o
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 


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Table of Additional Registrant Guarantors
 
                   
Name
   
Jurisdiction
   
I.R.S. Employer ID #
   
Address and Telephone #
Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III
General Partner, LLC
    Delaware     75-2921540     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P.      Delaware     20-3437712     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Harwood Service Company LLC     Delaware     75-2925375     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Harwood Insurance Services, LLC     California     75-2921540     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Harwood Service Company Of Georgia, LLC     Georgia     73-1643246     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Harwood Service Company Of New Jersey, LLC     New Jersey     74-3047401     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC     Delaware     20-1356314     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation     Delaware     27-1285662     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Nationstar Equity Corporation     Nevada     75-2711305     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Nationstar Industrial Loan Company     Tennessee     75-2786875     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation     Minnesota     75-2903483     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
NSM Recovery Services Inc.      Delaware     27-3275696     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
NSM Foreclosure Services Inc.      Delaware     27-3916074     350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(469) 549-2000
                   


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 27, 2011
 
PROSPECTUS
 
(NATIONSTAR LOGO)
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
 
Nationstar Capital Corporation
 
Offer to Exchange any and all of our outstanding unregistered 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015
for $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our new 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015
that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

Terms of the Exchange Offer
 
  •  We are offering to exchange any and all of our outstanding 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015 that were issued on March 26, 2010 (the “Old Notes”) for an equal amount of new 10.875% Senior Notes 2015 (the “New Notes”, and together with the Old Notes, the “Notes”).
 
  •  The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011 (such date and time, the “Expiration Date”, unless we extend or terminate the exchange offer, in which case the “Expiration Date” will mean the latest date and time to which we extend the exchange offer).
 
  •  Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
  •  All Old Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged.
 
  •  The exchange of Old Notes for New Notes generally will not be a taxable exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
  •  We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.
 
  •  The terms of the New Notes to be issued in the exchange offer are substantially the same as the terms of the Old Notes, except that the offer of the New Notes is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the New Notes have no transfer restrictions, rights to additional interest or registration rights.
 
  •  The New Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of each of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Nationstar Capital Corporation, jointly and severally, and will be unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries other than non-guarantor subsidiaries as defined by the indenture governing the New Notes. See “Description of the New Notes.”
 
  •  The New Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. A public market for the New Notes may not develop, which could make selling the New Notes difficult.
 
We are making the exchange offer in reliance on the position of the staff of the SEC as set forth in interpretive letters addressed to third parties in other transactions, including the SEC staff’s no-action letter, Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, available May 13, 1988. See “Description of the Exchange Offer—Resale of the New Notes.”
 
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes. The letter of transmittal accompanying this prospectus states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Starting on the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business 90 days after the Expiration Date, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”
 
Investing in the New Notes to be issued in the exchange offer involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17.
 
We are not making an offer to exchange Notes in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The date of this prospectus is          , 2011.


 

 
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 EX-10.3
 EX-10.4
 EX-10.10
 EX-10.11
 EX-23.1
 
 
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the offering that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus or the related registration statement. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register this exchange offer of the New Notes, which you can access on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in that registration statement. For further information about us and about the New Notes offered in this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. These materials are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.


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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
 
Certain market and industry data included in this prospectus has been obtained from third party sources that we believe to be reliable. Market estimates are calculated by using independent industry publications, government publications and third party forecasts in conjunction with our assumptions about our markets. We have not independently verified such third party information. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any market, industry or similar data presented herein, such data involves risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
 
WEBSITES
 
The information contained on or that can be accessed through any of our websites is not incorporated in, and is not part of, this prospectus or the registration statement.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
This prospectus summary contains basic information about our company and the offering. It may not contain all the information that may be important to you. For certain industry terms, investors are referred to the section entitled “Glossary of Industry Terms” beginning on page 82. Investors should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the information set forth under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Nationstar,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer collectively to Nationstar Mortgage LLC and its subsidiaries. With respect to the discussion of the terms of the notes on the cover page, in the section entitled “Prospectus Summary—Summary of the Exchange Offer,” in the section entitled “Prospectus Summary—Summary of the New Notes” and in the section entitled “Description of the New Notes,” references to “we,” “us” or “our” include only Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Nationstar Capital Corporation and not any other subsidiaries of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.
 
Company Overview
 
We are a leading residential mortgage company specializing in residential mortgage loan servicing and residential mortgage loan originations. Our business primarily consists of two Operating Segments: Servicing and Originations.
 
Loan Servicing
 
We are one of the largest independent loan servicers in the United States. Our servicing portfolio consists of mortgage servicing rights acquired from or subserviced for various third parties as well as loans we originate through our integrated origination platform. As of December 31, 2010, our servicing portfolio included over 389,000 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $64.2 billion. We service mortgage loans in all 50 states, and we are licensed as a residential mortgage loan servicer and/or a third party debt collector in all states that require such licensing. Our Servicing Segment produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees.
 
Servicing fees primarily consist of an amount based on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans serviced and also include ancillary fees such as late fees and insufficient funds fees. In addition, we earn interest income on amounts deposited in collection accounts and amounts held in escrow to pay property taxes and insurance, which we refer to as float income. We also generate incentive fees from owners of the loans that we service for meeting certain loss-mitigation metrics and for arranging successful loss mitigation programs. Moreover, the U.S. federal government pays us incentive fees for loans that we successfully modify within the parameters of the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. In addition, we leverage our loan servicing business and customer base to provide several complementary services that generate fee-based revenues.
 
We use a flexible, high-touch servicing model that focuses on personal contact with borrowers and is designed to decrease borrower delinquencies and defaults on mortgages and to increase borrower repayment performance with a goal of home ownership preservation. Our operating culture emphasizes individual collector accountability for asset performance (what we refer to as credit loss ownership) and loss mitigation practices to improve asset performance and cash flow and to reduce credit losses. Our servicing model and operating culture have proven especially valuable in the current distressed residential market, and we have established an excellent track record servicing credit-sensitive loans.
 
We believe that our demonstrated performance in servicing loans for a government-sponsored enterprise facilitated our acquisitions of two significant mortgage servicing rights portfolios totaling approximately $25.0 billion since November 2008. These two portfolios were previously serviced by other servicers. These acquisitions helped us grow our servicing portfolio from $12.7 billion on December 31, 2007, to $64.2 billion on December 31, 2010, including approximately $25 billion in


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unpaid principal balance which we boarded in November and December 2010, when we entered into a subservicing agreement with a government sponsored enterprise.
 
Loan Originations
 
We are also one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with a loan origination platform. We currently originate primarily prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage loans, and we are licensed to originate residential mortgage loans in 49 states. Our Originations Segment diversifies our offering of mortgage services and further stabilizes our revenue stream. In 2009, we originated $1.5 billion in aggregate principal balance entirely consisting of prime residential mortgage loans. In 2010, our originations totaled $2.8 billion in aggregate principal balance. We originate loans through our three loan origination channels:
 
  •  Consumer Direct Retail Channel—through which we market refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans directly to selected consumers from our centralized call center;
 
  •  Distributed Retail Channel—through which we market refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans directly to consumers from local branches; and
 
  •  Wholesale Channel—through which we market our refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans to third party mortgage brokers.
 
We originate purchase money loans and refinance existing loans, including loans that we service. Our strategy is to mitigate the credit, market and interest rate risk from loan originations by either selling newly originated loans or placing them in government-sponsored enterprise or government securitizations. We typically sell new loans within 30 days of origination, and we do not expect to hold any of the loans that we currently originate on our balance sheet on a long-term basis. At the time of sale, we have the option to retain the mortgage servicing rights on loans we originate.
 
Our origination capability differentiates us from other non-bank, high-touch loan servicers without an integrated origination platform by:
 
  •  providing us with an organic source of new loans to service as existing loans are repaid or otherwise liquidated as originated loans serviced by us typically generate higher returns than comparable mortgage servicing rights that we would acquire from a third party;
 
  •  providing an attractive supplementation to our servicing loss mitigation strategies by allowing us to modify and refinance mortgage loans, including loans that we service;
 
  •  creating a diversified source of revenue; and
 
  •  building brand recognition.
 
Legacy Assets and Other
 
We also have a legacy asset portfolio, which consists primarily of non-prime and nonconforming residential mortgage loans, most of which we originated from April to July 2007. In November 2009, we term-financed our legacy assets with non-recourse debt that requires no additional capital or equity contributions. In conjunction with the transaction, we reclassified our legacy assets to “held for investment” on our consolidated balance sheet, which allowed us to eliminate further mark-to-market accounting exposure on these assets. We continue to service these loans using our high-touch servicing model. Additionally, we consolidated certain securitization trusts where it was determined that we had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, pursuant to new consolidation accounting guidance related to VIEs adopted on January 1, 2010.


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Industry Overview
 
Loan Servicing
 
According to Inside Mortgage Finance, there were $10.5 trillion in residential mortgage loans outstanding in the United States as of December 31, 2010, and each mortgage loan requires servicing. Loan servicers normally earn a servicing fee of 25 to 50 basis points per annum on the unpaid principal balance of loans serviced, as well as associated ancillary fees, such as late fees. Consequently, a loan servicer can create value for both itself and the owner of the mortgage loan by increasing the number of borrowers that remain current in their repayment obligations. Owners may include a lender, investor or residential mortgage-backed securities trust, in the case of a securitized pool of mortgages.
 
Loan servicing primarily involves the calculation, collection and remittance of principal and interest payments, the administration of mortgage escrow accounts, the collection of insurance claims, the administration of foreclosure procedures, the management of real estate owned and the making of required advances. Loan servicers play a key role in the residential mortgage market by providing loan servicing functions on behalf of the owners of loans including collecting the scheduled principal and interest payments, as well as taxes and insurance; performing customer service functions; and taking active steps to mitigate any potential losses associated with borrower delinquencies and defaults. Typically, a servicer is contractually obligated to service a mortgage loan in accordance with accepted servicing industry practices as well as applicable regulations and statutes. A servicer’s rights and obligations are governed by the pooling and servicing agreement for the underlying loans. A subservicer’s rights and obligations are governed by the subservicing agreement with the third party that owns the related mortgage servicing rights.
 
To the extent a borrower does not make a payment, servicers are generally required to make advances of principal and interest, taxes and insurance and legal fees until such time as the underlying property is liquidated or the servicer determines that additional advances will not be recoverable from future payments, proceeds or other collections on the mortgage loan. In the event of foreclosure, servicers are entitled to reimbursement of advances from the sale proceeds of the related property. Typically, in the event such proceeds are insufficient to reimburse the advances in full, which we refer to as a non-recoverable advance, servicers are entitled to reimbursement of advances from collections on other mortgage loans in the related residential mortgage-backed securities trust. For this reason, advances and the right of reimbursement are typically senior to the claims of holders of securities issued by the residential mortgage-backed securities trusts.
 
Loan Originations
 
According to Inside Mortgage Finance, total residential mortgage originations in the United States were $1.6 trillion in 2010, a decrease of 13% compared to 2009. Of the 2010 originations, approximately 87% were conforming mortgages guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or government agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. From 2006 to 2010, the annual aggregate principal balance of newly originated mortgage loans that were either insured or guaranteed by government agencies or sold to government-sponsored enterprises or into government securitizations increased from $1.1 trillion to $1.4 trillion, or at a compound annual growth rate, which we refer to as CAGR, of 6%.
 
The United States residential mortgage market consists of a primary mortgage market that links borrowers and lenders and a secondary mortgage market that links lenders and investors. In the primary mortgage market, residential mortgage lenders such as mortgage banking companies, commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions and other financial institutions originate or provide mortgages to borrowers. Lenders obtain liquidity for originations in a variety of ways, including by selling mortgages or mortgage-related securities into the secondary mortgage market. Loan originators that are banks also have access to customer deposits to fund their originations business.


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The secondary mortgage market consists of institutions engaged in buying and selling mortgages in the form of whole loans (i.e., mortgages that have not been securitized) and mortgage- related securities. Government-sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a government agency, Ginnie Mae, participate in the secondary mortgage market by purchasing mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities for investment and by issuing guaranteed mortgage-related securities.
 
Industry Trends
 
Loan Servicing
 
In a weak economic and credit environment with elevated delinquencies and defaults, servicing becomes operationally more challenging and more capital intensive as servicers need to add and train staff to manage the increase in delinquent borrowers. In addition, servicers are generally required to make advances on delinquent mortgage loans for principal and interest payments, taxes, insurance, legal fees and property maintenance fees, all of which are typically recovered upon foreclosure or liquidation. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, delinquent loans and foreclosures have increased from $0.6 trillion at December 2006 to $1.4 trillion at December 31, 2010. Furthermore, Fannie Mae estimates that as of December 31, 2010, it had $764 billion of assets within its own portfolio with characteristics that we believe make them credit-sensitive.
 
The majority of loan servicing in the United States is performed by the nation’s money center banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, which together service approximately 54% of all outstanding mortgage loans on one to four-family residences as of December 31, 2010. These bank-owned servicers mainly service prime, performing mortgages and are most effective at routine account management of portfolios with low delinquencies that require limited interaction with borrowers. The traditional servicer model was constructed to process simple payments and minimize costs, and functioned well in environments characterized by low delinquencies and defaults. However, in the current environment of rising delinquencies, extensive foreclosures and elevated real estate owned activity, traditional servicers are experiencing higher operating costs, and their performance is declining due to the high level of foreclosures and liquidation processes. According to CalculatedRisk, from 2007 through 2010, approximately 3.4 million homes were lost to foreclosure and as of September 30, 2010, more than 3.5 million mortgages were in foreclosure or 90+ days delinquent.
 
We believe that there is a growing recognition that the incremental cost of high-touch servicing, with a strong emphasis on asset performance and foreclosure avoidance, is a value added service as the credit loss savings that result are greater than those realized from traditional loan servicing business models. Holders of residential mortgage credit risk are demanding better performance and many are moving the servicing of their loans to specialized servicing companies with expertise and focus on asset performance.
 
The passage of both the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 on October 1, 2008, and the U.S. federal government’s Making Home Affordable Plan announced on February 18, 2009, which we refer to as the MHA, and other related government initiatives provided an advantage for servicers with loss mitigation expertise. The MHA provides a financial incentive to servicers to modify qualifying loans in accordance with the plan’s guidelines and requirements.
 
Loan Originations
 
Residential mortgage loans are generally originated through either a direct lending network or a mortgage brokerage network. A direct lending network consists of retail branches, Internet and telephone-based operations. Typical referral sources for a direct lending network include realtors, homebuilders, credit unions, small banks and affinity groups.


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The length of time from the origination or purchase of a mortgage loan to its sale or securitization generally ranges from 10 to 60 days, depending on a variety of factors including loan volume, product type, interest rates and capital market conditions. An important source of capital for the residential mortgage industry is warehouse lending. These facilities provide funding to mortgage loan originators until the loans are sold to investors in the secondary mortgage loan market.
 
The MHA and other similar initiatives, along with low interest rates and a high rate of refinancing activity, provide opportunities for servicers that also conduct originations to leverage their servicing portfolio by refinancing existing loans.
 
Our Strengths
 
We believe the following competitive strengths contribute to our market position and differentiate us from our competition.
 
Attractive Business Model with Strong Cash Flow
 
We have an attractive business model as one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with an integrated loan origination platform.
 
Our Servicing Segment produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees, and we are exposed to minimal credit risk with respect to the mortgage loans that we service. We believe that we continue to demonstrate our ability to produce lower delinquency rates on the loans we service, including credit-sensitive loans, compared to our competitors, and we believe that we will continue to acquire mortgage servicing rights at attractive prices from mortgage investors or provide subservicing for third parties that value our servicing capabilities.
 
We believe that our Originations Segment differentiates us from other high-touch servicers without an origination platform by providing us with a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing new mortgage servicing rights as the unpaid principal balance of our existing servicing portfolio decreases over time; diversifying and stabilizing our revenue in a variety of interest rate environments; and building brand recognition.
 
We generate significant cash flow for debt service as a result of the profitability of our Operating Segments. We believe that our focus on asset performance and operational efficiency has enabled us to strengthen our relationships with the government-sponsored enterprises and other third parties and has allowed us to grow our earnings from our Operating Segments.
 
Substantial Liquidity and Access to Multiple Capital and Funding Sources
 
We maintain substantial levels of funding and liquidity through multiple capital and funding sources for our Operating Segments. We have access to multiple funding sources, and we believe that our liquidity sources are sufficient to meet our immediate and future needs. These sources include servicing advance lines to finance our Servicing Segment, warehouse lines to finance our Originations Segment and loans from government-sponsored enterprises to facilitate the acquisition of mortgage servicing rights. As of December 31, 2010, we had a total of $706.0 million of unused capacity under our existing servicing advance facilities and origination warehouse lines. We believe that our strong relationships with liquidity providers and our continued ability to access sufficient capital during the recent economic downturn demonstrate the depth of our liquidity and access to capital. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations.”


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Servicing Platform with Loss Mitigation Focus
 
We believe that, by focusing on personal contact with borrowers, our high-touch servicing approach reduces credit losses and maximizes cash collections for credit-sensitive loans. This highly flexible model allows for customization to meet individual borrower requirements, and is further differentiated by providing personal contact at critical borrower touch points, including via telephone, mail, electronic communications and other personal contact methods. Our approach facilitates strong relationships with borrowers and greater employee accountability for desired performance. We believe that our servicing expertise and focus on optimal outcomes reduces credit impairments and losses to loan investors. We believe that this model presents continued opportunities for growth.
 
Scalable Platform and Established Track Record
 
Establishing a servicing platform requires significant initial capital investments, infrastructure, licensing and expertise to properly service credit-sensitive loans, which creates substantial barriers to entry. We operate a highly scalable platform, with the capacity to add up to a total of approximately $15 billion of unpaid principal balance to our servicing operations within 90 to 120 days with minimal incremental fixed costs. We can service these additional accounts with our existing infrastructure, real estate and technology platform.
 
Additionally, we have used our high-touch servicing model and our mix of proprietary and commercially available technology solutions to establish a track record of superior performance in servicing credit-sensitive loans. The unpaid principal balance of the loans we serviced increased 406% from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2010, primarily through acquiring mortgage servicing rights and entering into subservicing agreements. We believe these acquisitions and agreements can be attributed to our established track record in servicing credit-sensitive residential mortgage loans, and we believe that our track record, together with our scalable platform, positions us well relative to our competitors to acquire similar portfolios in the future.
 
Culture of Credit Loss Ownership and Accountability
 
Since our inception, our operating culture has emphasized superior operational and financial performance, credit loss ownership (our term for individual collector accountability for asset performance), employee development and customer relations. We establish financial and operational goals across all levels of the organization, and compensation for all of our employees is based upon achieving the desired results. As a result, we have a streamlined organizational structure that allows us to react to business needs and changes in an expeditious manner. We hire recent college graduates and teach them our business through a systematic training program. We primarily develop existing employees for management positions. We strongly endorse promotion from within and routinely identify and place senior level staff in our Manager in Training program as a developmental tool to prepare them for supervisory positions. Supervisors typically then rotate through progressively more complex management assignments to improve both their technical and managerial proficiency.
 
We believe that our culture of credit loss ownership and accountability has enabled us to outperform the industry. As of December 15, 2010, according to Loan Performance.com, our 60 or more day delinquency rate for our legacy assets (as a percentage of original balance) was approximately 12%, while the delinquency rate for the ABX 07-2 Mortgage Index was approximately 24%.
 
Stable and Seasoned Management Team
 
Our senior management team is comprised of experienced mortgage industry executives with an average of approximately 25 years in the industry and a track record of generating financial and operational improvements. Several members of our management team have held senior positions at other residential mortgage companies. In addition, our senior management team has remained in place through multiple business cycles and has a demonstrated ability to adapt to changing market


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conditions. We believe that the experience of our senior management team and its management philosophy are significant contributors to improving the operating performance of our Company.
 
Our Strategy
 
Our primary goal is to increase the value of our loans and our clients’ loans by reducing delinquencies and credit losses. This goal is achieved through our culture, processes and expertise. We plan to grow our revenue and operating cash flow by employing the following business strategies:
 
Capitalizing on Industry Opportunities
 
We believe we are well positioned to benefit from the current trends in the residential mortgage industry. The disruption in the mortgage industry has resulted in limited access to funding and capital, lower than anticipated performance of residential portfolios and a strong demand for high-touch servicing. We believe that competitors with significant residential exposure or limited access to capital have shifted their operations to selling residential real estate assets, including mortgage servicing rights. This allows existing strong servicers the opportunity to acquire or subservice additional portfolios at attractive valuations. Additionally, due to a variety of economic factors, residential loan delinquencies and related losses are at historical highs prompting government-sponsored enterprises and other owners of residential mortgage loans to focus on home ownership preservation and servicing for superior credit performance. The heightened focus in these areas has led to a strong demand for high-touch servicers by these owners. Also, we believe that many of the largest loan servicers—who are experiencing unprecedented levels of delinquencies and losses—do not have sufficient internal capacity to perform high-touch servicing in their own portfolios and, as a result, may look to independent high-touch servicers to assist them in servicing their portfolios. As a result, we believe that there will continue to be strong demand for experienced high-touch servicers with a proven ability to improve loan performance. We also believe that there will be significant opportunities to continue to acquire mortgage servicing rights at attractive prices.
 
Maintaining and Growing Our Steady Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio
 
Our servicing business produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees. We intend to continue to utilize our established and scalable servicing platform to grow our servicing operations organically and through acquisitions. We believe that we will continue to benefit from our strong relationship with government-sponsored enterprises and other third party investors, which we believe will enable us to acquire additional servicing rights at attractive prices and subservicing contracts in order to grow our business. Additionally, we have invested in our loan administration and customer service servicing divisions to accommodate the increased scale and size of our portfolio, which allows us to service newly originated prime mortgage loans at attractive return levels in a variety of operating and economic environments.
 
Continuing To Expand Our Originations Platform
 
Our Originations Segment diversifies our offering of mortgage services and further stabilizes our revenue stream by providing us with a natural hedge against fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. We have a diversified, multi-channel strategy to continue to build our prime originations platform in order to organically replace servicing run-off. Through our origination platform, we are also able to create loan servicing assets at valuation levels below where our servicing competitors can purchase comparable mortgage servicing rights. Also, we can recapture loan payoffs in our existing servicing portfolio by providing origination services to our existing borrowers.
 
We believe that there are significant opportunities to originate loans for servicers and other financial institutions lacking origination capacity, and we intend to capitalize on these opportunities by expanding our retail channels. Our expansion efforts will focus primarily on purchase money lending, which is a stable origination source through various interest rate cycles. Unlike certain competitors


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who are required to utilize third party intermediaries in transactions with the government-sponsored enterprises and Ginnie Mae, we are a direct lender with the capability to sell loans directly to the government-sponsored enterprises and to securitize loans directly with Ginnie Mae. We believe that this capability allows us to control the credit quality of the loans we originate, thereby reducing our repurchase risk.
 
Engaging in Opportunistic Acquisitions and New Business Opportunities
 
There are numerous banks, insurance companies and other financial entities that have significant exposure to the residential mortgage sector. Our management, together with our dedicated servicing and origination relationship teams and our sponsor, Fortress Investment Group LLC, or Fortress, have extensive business and corporate expertise, receive numerous requests to review potential acquisition opportunities and continually conduct due diligence to identify potential opportunistic acquisitions. We are currently seeking out opportunities and believe there will continue to be significant opportunities to take advantage of the dislocation in the residential mortgage sector and acquire assets at attractive valuations. We intend to opportunistically grow our business through acquiring mortgage servicing rights, subservicing rights, servicing platforms and originations platforms. We may purchase assets and/or platforms of significant size. We believe there are several assets and platforms currently for sale in our industry and we are currently in the process of pursuing a number of such opportunities.
 
Company History
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. We were formed in 1994 in Denver, Colorado as Nova Credit Corporation, a Nevada corporation. In 1997, we moved our executive offices and primary operations to Dallas, Texas and changed our name to Centex Credit Corporation. In 2001, Centex Credit Corporation was merged into Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CHEC”). In 2006, FIF HE Holdings, LLC, acquired all of our outstanding membership interests (the “Acquisition”), and we changed our name to Nationstar Mortgage LLC. Nationstar Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is our wholly-owned subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of being a corporate co-issuer of the notes.
 
Fortress Investment Group
 
As of December 31, 2010, FIF HE Holdings, LLC, a holding company, is the sole member of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, owning 100% of our outstanding membership interests. FIF HE Holdings, LLC, in turn, is owned by certain private equity funds managed by an affiliate of Fortress and company management. Fortress is a leading global investment management firm with approximately $44.6 billion in fee paying assets under management as of December 31, 2010. Fortress is headquartered in New York and has affiliates with offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, New Canaan, Philadelphia, Rome, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.


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Fortress has extensive experience and expertise in the residential mortgage and financial services sectors. Senior management members have managed businesses at many leading financial firms, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and UBS. Fortress has a strong track record of investing in the residential mortgage sector, including current or prior investments in: AMRESCO Inc., Conseco Finance Corp., Capstead Mortgage Corp., Italfondiario S.p.A., American General Finance Inc., GreenPoint and Bombardier.
 
Risk Factors
 
Participation in this exchange offer involves substantial risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and the other information contained in this prospectus prior to participating in the exchange offer. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17.
 
Ownership Structure
 
Set forth below is the ownership structure of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and its subsidiaries as of April 27, 2011.
 
(FLOW CHART)
 
Corporate Information
 
Our executive offices are located at 350 Highland Drive, Lewisville, Texas 75067 and our telephone number is (469) 549-2000.


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Summary of the Exchange Offer
 
Background On March 26, 2010, we issued $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes in an unregistered offering. In connection with that offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement on March 26, 2010 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) in which we agreed, among other things, to complete this exchange offer. Under the terms of the exchange offer, you are entitled to exchange Old Notes for New Notes evidencing the same indebtedness and with substantially similar terms. You should read the discussion under the heading “Description of the Notes” for further information regarding the New Notes.
 
The Exchange Offer We are offering to exchange, for each $1,000 aggregate principal amount of our Old Notes validly tendered and accepted, $1,000 aggregate principal amount of our New Notes.
 
We will not pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the Old Notes that we acquire in the exchange offer. Instead, interest on the notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including March 26, 2010, the date on which we issued the Old Notes.
 
As of the date of this prospectus, approximately $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes are outstanding.
 
Denominations of New Notes Tendering holders of Old Notes must tender Old Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. New Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
 
Expiration Date The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011, unless we extend or terminate the exchange offer in which case the “Expiration Date” will mean the latest date and time to which we extend the exchange offer.
 
Settlement Date The settlement date of the exchange offer will be as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date of the exchange offer.
 
Withdrawal of Tenders Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
Conditions to the Exchange Offer Our obligation to consummate the exchange offer is subject to certain customary conditions, which we may assert or waive. See “Description of the Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”
 
Procedures for Tendering To participate in the exchange offer, you must follow the automatic tender offer program (“ATOP”), procedures established by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for tendering Old Notes held in book-entry form. The ATOP procedures require that the exchange agent receive, prior to the Expiration Date of the exchange offer, a computer-


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generated message known as an “agent’s message” that is transmitted through ATOP and that DTC confirm that:
 
• DTC has received instructions to exchange your Old Notes; and
 
• you agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal.
 
For more details, please read “Description of the Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer” and “Description of the Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering.” If you elect to have Old Notes exchanged pursuant to this exchange offer, you must properly tender your Old Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. All Old Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange. Old Notes may be exchanged only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
 
Consequences of Failure to Exchange If we complete the exchange offer and you do not participate in it, then:
 
• your Old Notes will continue to be subject to the existing restrictions upon their transfer;
 
• we will have no further obligation to provide for the registration under the Securities Act of those Old Notes except under certain limited circumstances; and
 
• the liquidity of the market for your Old Notes could be adversely affected.
 
Taxation The exchange pursuant to the exchange offer generally will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this prospectus.
 
Use of Proceeds We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes in this exchange offer.
 
Exchange Agent Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the exchange agent for the exchange offer.


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Summary of the New Notes
 
Issuers Nationstar Mortgage LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Nationstar Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
 
Securities Offered $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10.875% Senior Notes due April 1, 2015.
 
Maturity Date April 1, 2015.
 
Interest Rate 10.875% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2010. Interest on the New Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including March 26, 2010.
 
Guarantees The New Notes will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by each of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries, other than our securitization and certain finance subsidiaries and subsidiaries that in the future we designate as excluded restricted and unrestricted subsidiaries.
 
Ranking The New Notes and the guarantees will be our and the guarantors’ general unsecured senior indebtedness, respectively, and will:
 
• rank equally in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future indebtedness and other obligations that are not, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the guarantees;
 
• rank senior in right of payment to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior subordinated and subordinated indebtedness and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the subsidiary guarantees; and
 
• be effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior secured indebtedness and other obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and other obligations.
 
Form and Denomination The New Notes will be issued in fully-registered form. The New Notes will be represented by one or more global notes, deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and any transfers will be effective only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.
 
The New Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
 
Optional Redemption We may redeem the New Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to April 1, 2013, at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes plus the applicable “make whole” premium, as described in “Description of the New Notes—Redemption—Optional Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date.


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We may redeem the New Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after April 1, 2013, at the applicable redemption price specified in “Description of the New Notes—Redemption—Optional Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date.
 
In addition, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes at any time on or prior to April 1, 2013 with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at the applicable redemption price specified “Description of the New Notes—Redemption—Optional Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date.
 
Change of Control If certain change-of-control events occur, we must offer to repurchase all of the New Notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
 
Asset Sales If we sell assets under certain circumstances, we will be required to make an offer to purchase the New Notes at their face amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, as of the purchase date.
 
Absence of a Public Market The New Notes are new securities for which there currently is no market and we cannot assure you that any public market for the New Notes will develop or be sustained.
 
Certain Covenants The indenture governing the New Notes will, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:
 
• incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
 
• incur liens;
 
• pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or make other restricted payments;
 
• make investments;
 
• consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets; and
 
• enter into transactions with our affiliates.
 
These covenants are subject to important exceptions, limitations and qualifications as described in “Description of the New Notes—Certain Covenants.”
 
Listing We do not intend to list the New Notes on any securities exchange.
 
Governing Law The New Notes are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
Book-Entry Depository DTC.
 
Trustee Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
 
Risk Factors You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” for a discussion of material risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the New Notes.


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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following tables summarize consolidated financial information for our business. You should read these tables along with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
The summary consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008 has been derived from our audited financial statements, which is not included in this prospectus.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
    (in thousands)  
Statement of Operations Data:
                       
Revenues:
                       
Total fee income
  $ 74,007     $ 100,218     $ 184,084  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
    (86,663 )     (21,349 )     77,344  
                         
Total revenues
    (12,656 )     78,869       261,428  
Total expenses and impairments
    147,777       142,367       220,976  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    92,060       52,518       98,895  
Interest expense
    (65,548 )     (69,883 )     (116,163 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (23,689 )     (14 )     (9,801 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
                (23,297 )
                         
Total other income (expense)
    2,823       (17,379 )     (50,366 )
                         
Net income (loss)
  $  (157,610 )   $  (80,877 )   $ (9,914 )
                         
 
                         
    As of December 31,
    2008   2009   2010
    (in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 9,357     $ 41,645     $ 21,223  
Mortgage servicing rights
    110,808       114,605       145,062  
Total assets
      1,122,001        1,280,185       1,947,181  
Unsecured senior notes
                244,061  
Notes payable
    810,041       771,857       709,758  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
          177,675       138,662  
ABS nonrecourse debt
                496,692  
Total liabilities
    866,079       1,016,362       1,690,809  
Total members’ equity
    255,922       263,823       256,372  
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2008   2009   2010
    (in thousands)
Other Data:
                       
Net cash provided by (used in):
                       
Operating activities
  $ 40,212     $  (83,641 )   $ (101,653 )
Investing activities
     (34,643 )     29,983       101,196  
Financing activities
    (37,463 )     85,946       (19,965 )
Adjusted EBITDA (1) (non-GAAP measure)
    23,141       48,644       65,306  
Operating Segments:
                       
Interest expense from unsecured senior notes
                24,628  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    11,701       27,915       6,043  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,172       1,542       1,873  
Share-based compensation
    1,633       579       8,999  


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Notes
 
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a key performance measure used by management in evaluating the performance of our segments. Adjusted EBITDA represents our Operating Segments’ income (loss), and excludes income and expenses that relate to the financing of the unsecured senior notes, depreciable (or amortizable) asset base of the business, income taxes (if any), exit costs from our 2007 restructuring and certain non-cash items. Adjusted EBITDA excludes results from our legacy asset portfolio and certain securitization trusts that were consolidated upon adoption of the new accounting guidance eliminating the concept of QSPE.
 
Adjusted EBITDA provides us with a key measure of our Operating Segments’ performance as it assists us in comparing our Operating Segments’ performance on a consistent basis. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful in assessing the profitability of our core business and uses Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating our operating performance as follows:
 
•  Financing arrangements for our Operating Segments are secured by assets that are allocated to these segments. Interest expense that relate to the financing of the unsecured senior notes is not considered in evaluating our operating performance because this obligation is serviced by the excess earnings from our Operating Segments after the debt obligations that are secured by their assets.
 
•  To monitor operating costs of each Operating Segment excluding the impact from depreciation, amortization and fair value change of the asset base, exit costs from our 2007 restructuring and non-cash operating expense, such as share-based compensation. Operating costs are analyzed to manage costs per our operating plan and to assess staffing level, implementation of technology based solutions, rent and other general and administrative costs.
 
Management does not assess the growth prospect and profitability of our legacy asset portfolio and certain securitization trusts that were consolidated upon adoption of the new accounting guidance, except to the extent to assess cash flows from the assets in the legacy asset portfolio are sufficient to service its debt obligations.
 
We also use Adjusted EBITDA (with additional adjustments) to measure our compliance with covenants such as leverage coverage ratios for our unsecured senior notes.
 
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Some of these limitations are:
 
•  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
 
•  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
 
•  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash requirements necessary to service principal payments related to the financing of the business.
 
•  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our corporate debt;
 
•  although depreciation and amortization and changes in fair value of mortgage servicing rights are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
 
•  other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.


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Because of these and other limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Adjusted EBITDA is presented to provide additional information about our operations. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, operating income, net income, operating cash flow and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
    (in thousands)  
 
Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
                       
Net income (loss)
  $  (157,610 )   $  (80,877 )   $ (9,914 )
Add:
                       
Net (income) loss from Legacy Portfolio and Other
    164,738       97,263       24,806  
                         
Net income (loss) from Operating Segments
    7,128       16,386       14,892  
Adjust for:
                       
Interest expense from unsecured senior notes
                24,628  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,172       1,542       1,873  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    11,701       27,915       6,043  
Exit costs(a)
    1,507       2,222        
Share-based compensation
    1,633       579       8,999  
Fair value changes on interest rate swap(b)
                9,801  
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedge
                (930 )
                         
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 23,141     $ 48,644     $ 65,306  
                         
 
 
(a) Relates to restructuring program initiated in 2007, which included closing several offices and the termination of a portion of our workforce. Restructuring charges for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, are primarily due to reserves on future lease payments.
 
(b) Relates to an interest rate swap agreement which was treated as an economic hedge under ASC 815 since inception to September 30, 2010.


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RISK FACTORS
 
You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all the other information included in this prospectus, before deciding to participate in the exchange offer and to invest in the New Notes. See also “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.
 
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
 
Our foreclosure proceedings in certain states have been delayed due to inquiries by certain state Attorneys General, court administrators, and state and federal governmental agencies, the outcome of which could have a negative effect on our operations or liquidity.
 
Certain state Attorneys General, court administrators and governmental agencies, as well as representatives of the federal government, have issued letters of inquiry to mortgage servicing companies, including us, requesting written responses to questions regarding policies and procedures, especially with respect to notarization and affidavit procedures. These requests or any subsequent administrative, judicial or legislative actions taken by these regulators court administrators or other governmental entities may subject us to fines and other sanctions, including a foreclosure moratorium or suspension. Additionally, because we do business in all fifty states, we may be affected by regulatory actions or court decisions that are taken on the individual state level.
 
In addition to these inquiries, four state Attorneys General have requested that mortgage servicers, like us, suspend foreclosure proceedings pending internal review to ensure compliance with applicable law. Pursuant to these requests and in light of industry-wide press coverage regarding mortgage foreclosure documentation practices, we, as a precaution, have delayed foreclosure proceedings in 23 states so that we may evaluate our foreclosure practices and underlying documentation. Such inquiries may cause an extended delay in the foreclosure process.
 
Even in states where we have not suspended foreclosure proceedings or where we have lifted or will soon lift any such delayed foreclosures, we have faced, and may continue to face, increased delays and costs in the foreclosure process. For example, we have incurred, and may continue to incur, additional costs related to the re-execution and re-filing of certain documents. We may also be required to take other action in our capacity as a servicer in connection with pending foreclosures. In addition, the current legislative and regulatory climate could lead borrowers to contest foreclosures who would not have contested such foreclosures under ordinary circumstances, and we may incur increased litigation costs if the validity of a foreclosure action is challenged by a borrower. Delays in foreclosure proceedings could also require us to make additional servicing advances and draw on our servicing advance facilities, or delay the recovery of advances, which could materially affect our earnings and liquidity and increase our need for capital.
 
The continued deterioration of the residential mortgage market may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Since mid-2007, adverse economic conditions, including high unemployment, have impacted the residential mortgage market, resulting in unprecedented delinquency, default and foreclosure rates, leading to increased loss severities on all types of residential mortgage loans due to sharp declines in residential real estate values. Falling home prices have resulted in higher loan-to-value ratios and combined loan-to-value ratios, which yield lower recoveries in foreclosure, and result in an increase in loss severities above those that would have been realized had property values remained the same or continued to increase. As loan-to-value ratios increase, borrowers are left with insufficient equity in their homes to permit them to refinance their existing loans. This may also give borrowers an incentive to default on their mortgage loan even if they have the ability to make principal and interest payments, which we refer to as strategic defaults.
 
Adverse economic conditions may also impact our Originations Segment. Declining home prices and increasing loan-to-value ratios may preclude many potential borrowers, including borrowers whose existing loans we service, from refinancing their existing loans. An increase in prevailing interest rates


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could decrease our origination volume through our Consumer Direct Retail originations channel, our largest originations channel by volume from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2010, because this channel focuses predominantly on refinancing existing mortgage loans.
 
A continued deterioration or a delay in any recovery in the residential mortgage market may reduce the number of mortgages we service or new mortgages that we originate, reduce the profitability of mortgages currently serviced by us or adversely affect our ability to sell mortgage loans originated by us or increase delinquency rates. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We may experience serious financial difficulties as some servicers and originators have experienced.
 
Since late 2006, a number of servicers and originators of residential mortgage loans have experienced serious financial difficulties and, in some cases, have gone out of business. These difficulties have resulted, in part, from declining markets for their mortgage loans as well as from claims for repurchases of mortgage loans previously sold under provisions that require repurchase in the event of early payment defaults or for breaches of representations and warranties regarding loan quality and certain other loan characteristics. Higher delinquencies and defaults may contribute to these difficulties by reducing the value of mortgage loan portfolios and requiring originators to sell their portfolios at greater discounts to par. In addition, the cost of servicing an increasingly delinquent mortgage loan portfolio may be rising without a corresponding increase in servicing compensation. The value of many residual interests retained by sellers of mortgage loans in the securitization market has also been declining in these market conditions. Overall origination volumes are down significantly in the current economic environment. According to Inside Mortgage Finance, total U.S. residential mortgage origination volume decreased from $3.0 trillion in 2006 to $1.6 trillion in 2010. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are especially exposed to increases in monthly payments and they might not be able to refinance, which might cause delinquency, default and foreclosure and therefore adversely affect our business.
 
As of December 31, 2010, adjustable rate mortgage loans by count made up approximately 14% of our servicing portfolio. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are being exposed to increased monthly payments when the related mortgage loan’s interest rate adjusts upward from an initial fixed rate or a low introductory rate, as applicable, to the rate computed in accordance with the applicable index and margin. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans seeking to refinance their mortgage loans to avoid increased monthly payments as a result of an upwards adjustment of the mortgage loan’s interest rate may no longer be able to find available replacement loans at comparably low interest rates. This increase in borrowers’ monthly payments, together with any increase in prevailing market interest rates, may result in significantly increased monthly payments for borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans, which may cause delinquency, default and foreclosure.
 
A significant change in delinquencies for the loans we service could adversely affect our financial results.
 
Delinquency rates have a significant impact on our revenues, our expenses and on the valuation of our mortgage servicing rights as follows:
 
  •  Revenue.  An increase in delinquencies will result in lower revenue for loans that we service for government-sponsored enterprises because we only collect servicing fees from government-sponsored enterprises for performing loans. Additionally, while increased delinquencies generate higher ancillary fees, including late fees, these fees are not likely to be recoverable in the event that the related loan is liquidated. In addition, an increase in delinquencies lowers the interest income we receive on cash held in collection and other accounts.


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  •  Expenses.  An increase in delinquencies will result in a higher cost of service due to the increased time and effort required to collect payments from delinquent borrowers. It may also result in an increase in interest expense as a result of an increase in our advancing obligations.
 
  •  Liquidity.  An increase in delinquencies also could negatively impact our liquidity because of an increase in borrowing under our advance facilities.
 
  •  Valuation of mortgage servicing rights.  We base the price we pay for mortgage servicing rights on, among other things, our projections of the cash flows from the related pool of mortgage loans. Our expectation of delinquencies is a significant assumption underlying those cash flow projections. If delinquencies were significantly greater than expected, the carrying value of our mortgage servicing rights could exceed their estimated fair value, which is based on our cash flow projections. When the carrying value of mortgage servicing rights exceeds their fair value, we would suffer a valuation adjustment, which has a negative impact on our financial results.
 
A further increase in delinquency rates could therefore adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Decreasing property values have caused an increase in loan-to-value ratios, resulting in borrowers having little or negative equity in their property, which may reduce new loan originations and provide incentive to borrowers to strategically default on their loans.
 
According to First American CoreLogic, from December 2006 to December 2010, the number of borrowers who owe more on a related mortgage loan than the property is worth, or have negative equity in their property, has increased from 7% to 23%. We believe that borrowers with negative equity in their properties are more likely to strategically default on mortgage loans and that a significant increase in strategic defaults could materially affect our business. Also, with the exception of loans modified under the MHA, we are unable to refinance loans with high loan-to-value ratios. Increased loan-to-value ratios could reduce our ability to originate loans for borrowers with low or negative equity and could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The industry in which we operate is highly competitive.
 
We operate in a highly competitive industry that could become even more competitive as a result of economic, legislative, regulatory and technological changes. In the servicing industry, we face competition in areas such as fees and performance in reducing delinquencies and entering successful modifications. Competition to service mortgage loans comes primarily from large commercial banks and savings institutions. These financial institutions generally have significantly greater resources and access to capital than we do, which gives them the benefit of a lower cost of funds. Additionally, our servicing competitors may decide to modify their servicing model to compete more directly with our servicing model, or our servicing model may generate lower margins as a result of competition or as overall economic conditions improve.
 
In the mortgage loan originations industry, we face competition in such areas as mortgage loan offerings, rates, fees and customer service. Competition to originate mortgage loans comes primarily from large commercial banks and savings institutions. These financial institutions generally have significantly greater resources and access to capital than we do, which gives them the benefit of a lower cost of funds.
 
In addition, technological advances and heightened e-commerce activities have increased consumers’ accessibility to products and services generally. This has intensified competition among banking as well as non-banking companies in offering mortgage loans and loan servicing. We may be unable to compete successfully in our industries and this could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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We might not be able to maintain or grow our business if we can not identify and acquire mortgage servicing rights on favorable terms.
 
From December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2010, we have grown the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans we service from $12.7 billion to $64.2 billion, primarily through acquisitions. Our servicing portfolio is subject to “run off,” meaning that mortgage loans serviced by us may be repaid at maturity, prepaid prior to maturity, refinanced with a mortgage not serviced by us or liquidated through foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or other liquidation process or repaid through standard amortization of principal. As a result, our ability to maintain the size of our servicing portfolio depends on our ability to originate additional mortgages and to acquire the right to service additional pools of residential mortgages. We may not be able to acquire servicing rights on terms favorable to us or at all. In determining the purchase price for servicing rights, management makes certain assumptions, many of which are beyond our control, including, among other things:
 
  •  the rates of prepayment and repayment within the underlying pools of mortgage loans;
 
  •  projected rates of delinquencies, defaults and liquidations;
 
  •  future interest rates;
 
  •  our cost to service the loans;
 
  •  ancillary fee income; and
 
  •  amounts of future servicing advances.
 
We may not be able to realize our significant investments in personnel and our technology platform if we cannot identify and acquire mortgage servicing rights on favorable terms.
 
We have made, and expect to continue to make, significant investments in personnel and our technology platform to allow us to service additional loans. In particular, prior to acquiring a large portfolio of mortgage servicing rights, we invest significant resources in recruiting, training, technology and systems. We may not realize the expected benefits of these investments to the extent we are unable to increase the pool of residential mortgages serviced, or we do not appropriately value the mortgage servicing rights that we do purchase. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of potential future acquisitions.
 
Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of potential future acquisitions of servicing portfolios, originations platforms and/or companies will depend, in part, on our ability to scale-up to appropriately service any such assets, and/or integrate the businesses of such acquired companies with our business. The process of acquiring assets and/or companies may disrupt our business, and may not result in the full benefits expected. The risks associated with acquisitions include, among others:
 
  •  coordinating market functions;
 
  •  unanticipated issues in integrating information, communications and other systems;
 
  •  unanticipated incompatibility of purchasing, logistics, marketing and administration methods;
 
  •  retaining key employees; and
 
  •  the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns.
 
Moreover, the success of any acquisition will depend upon our ability to effectively integrate the acquired servicing portfolios, origination platforms or businesses. The acquired servicing portfolios, originations platforms or businesses may not contribute to our revenues or earnings to any material extent, and cost savings and synergies we expect at the time of an acquisition may not be realized


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once the acquisition has been completed. If we inappropriately value the assets we acquire or the value of the assets we acquire declines after we acquire them, the resulting charges may negatively affect the carrying value of the assets on our balance sheet or our earnings. Furthermore, if we incur additional indebtedness to finance an acquisition, the acquired business may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to service that additional indebtedness. Unsuitable or unsuccessful acquisitions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may be unable to obtain sufficient capital to meet the financing requirements of our business.
 
Our financing strategy includes the use of significant leverage. Accordingly, our ability to finance our operations and repay maturing obligations rests in large part on our ability to borrow money. We are generally required to renew our financing arrangements each year, which exposes us to refinancing and interest rate risks. In addition, a large portion of our outstanding debt, including our MBS Advance Financing Facility, our ABS Advance Financing Facility, our MSR Notes, our $300 Million Warehouse Facility, our $100 Million Warehouse Facility, our $75 Million Warehouse Facility and our GSE ASAP+ Short-Term Financing Facility, matures prior to 2013. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Summary of Other Indebtedness.” Our ability to refinance existing debt and borrow additional funds is affected by a variety of factors including:
 
  •  limitations imposed on us under the notes and other financing agreements that contain restrictive covenants and borrowing conditions that may limit our ability to raise additional debt;
 
  •  the decline in liquidity in the credit markets;
 
  •  prevailing interest rates;
 
  •  the strength of the lenders from whom we borrow;
 
  •  borrowing on advance facilities is limited by the amount of eligible collateral pledged and may be less than the borrowing capacity of the facility; and
 
  •  accounting changes that may impact calculations of covenants in our debt agreements.
 
In the ordinary course of our business, we periodically borrow money or sell newly-originated loans to fund our servicing and origination operations. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Our ability to fund current operations and meet our service advance obligations depends on our ability to secure these types of financings on acceptable terms and to renew or replace existing financings as they expire. Such financings may not be available with the government-sponsored enterprises or other counterparties on acceptable terms or at all.
 
An event of default, a negative ratings action by a rating agency, an adverse action by a regulatory authority or a general deterioration in the economy that constricts the availability of credit—similar to the market conditions that we have experienced during the last two years—may increase our cost of funds and make it difficult for us to renew existing credit facilities and obtain new lines of credit. We intend to continue to pursue opportunities to acquire loan servicing portfolios, originations platforms and/or businesses that engage in loan servicing and/or loan originations. Our liquidity and capital resources may be diminished by any such transactions. Additionally, we believe that a significant acquisition may require us to raise additional capital to facilitate such a transaction, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms for any of the foregoing reasons, this could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We may not be able to continue to grow our loan origination volume.
 
Our loan origination business consists of refinancing existing loans and, increasingly, providing purchase money loans to homebuyers. The origination of purchase money mortgage loans is greatly


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influenced by traditional business partners in the home buying process such as realtors and builders. As a result, our ability to secure relationships with such traditional business partners will influence our ability to grow our purchase money mortgage loan volume and, thus, our loan origination business.
 
As we grow our retail origination business, we may not be able to receive the necessary volume of referrals or compete successfully with other retail branches in the communities. In addition, we may not recover investments made in acquiring or establishing branches or achieve margins acceptable to us. Our wholesale origination business operates largely through third party mortgage brokers who are not contractually obligated to do business with us. Further, our competitors also have relationships with our brokers and actively compete with us in our efforts to expand our broker networks. Accordingly, we may not be successful in maintaining our existing relationships or expanding our broker networks.
 
While we intend to use sales lead aggregators and Internet marketing to reach new borrowers, our Consumer Direct Retail origination platform may not succeed because of the referral-driven nature of our industry. Further, our largest customer base consists of the borrowers whose existing loans we service. Because we primarily service credit-sensitive loans, many of our existing servicing customers may not be able to qualify for prime mortgage loans with us and/or may pose a higher credit risk than other consumers. Furthermore, our Consumer Direct Retail origination platform focuses predominantly on refinancing existing mortgage loans. This type of origination activity is sensitive to increases in interest rates. If we are unable to continue to grow our loan origination business, this could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our counterparties may terminate our servicing rights and subservicing contracts.
 
The owners of the loans we service and the primary servicers for the loans we subservice, may, under certain circumstances, terminate our mortgage servicing rights or subservicing contracts, respectively.
 
As is standard in the industry, under the terms of our master servicing agreement with government-sponsored enterprises, they have the right to terminate us as servicer of the loans we service on their behalf at any time and also have the right to cause us to sell the mortgage servicing rights to a third party. In addition, they may also have the right to require us to assign the mortgage servicing rights to a subsidiary and to sell our equity interest in the subsidiary to a third party. Under our subservicing contracts, the primary servicers for whom we conduct subservicing activities have the right to terminate our subservicing rights with or without cause, with little notice and little to no compensation. In November and December 2010, through our relationship with the same government-sponsored enterprise, we boarded subservicing rights totaling approximately $25 billion in unpaid principal balance. We expect to continue to acquire subservicing rights, which could exacerbate these risks.
 
If we were to have our servicing or subservicing rights terminated on a material portion of our servicing portfolio, this could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Federal, state and local laws and regulations may materially adversely affect our business.
 
Federal, state and local governments have recently proposed or enacted numerous laws, regulations and rules related to mortgage loans generally, and foreclosure actions in particular. These laws, regulations and rules may result in delays in the foreclosure process, reduced payments by borrowers, modification of the original terms of mortgage loans, permanent forgiveness of debt and/or increased servicing advances. In some cases, local governments have ordered moratoriums on foreclosure activity, which prevent a servicer or trustee, as applicable, from exercising any remedies they might have in respect of liquidating a severely delinquent mortgage loan. Several courts also have taken unprecedented steps to slow the foreclosure process or prevent foreclosure altogether.


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Due to the highly regulated nature of the residential mortgage industry, we are required to comply with a wide array of federal, state and local laws and regulations that regulate, among other things, the manner in which we conduct our servicing and originations business and the fees we may charge. These regulations directly impact our business and require constant compliance, monitoring and internal and external audits. A material failure to comply with any of these laws or regulations could subject us to lawsuits or governmental action, and this could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
In addition, there continue to be changes in legislation and licensing in an effort to simplify the consumer mortgage experience, which require technology changes and additional implementation costs for loan originators. We expect legislative changes will continue in the foreseeable future, which may increase our operating expenses.
 
Any of these changes in the law could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. See “Business—Regulation.”
 
Unlike competitors that are banks, we are subject to state licensing requirements and substantial compliance costs.
 
Because we are not a depository institution, we do not benefit from a federal exemption to state mortgage banking, loan servicing or debt collection licensing and regulatory requirements. We must comply with state licensing requirements in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, and we are sensitive to regulatory changes that may increase our costs through stricter licensing laws, disclosure laws or increased fees or that may impose conditions to licensing that we or our personnel are unable to meet. Future state legislation and changes in regulation may significantly increase the compliance costs on our operations or reduce the amount of ancillary fees, including late fees that we may charge to borrowers. This could make our business cost-prohibitive in the affected state or states and could materially affect our business.
 
Pending legislative changes in mortgage-backed securities and securitization may adversely affect our business.
 
There are federal and state legislative proposals pending or under consideration that could, if enacted, require loan originators to retain a minimum beneficial interest in mortgage-backed securities that they sell through a securitization. Due to the volume of our origination business, any such legal requirement would result in us retaining a larger amount of mortgage-backed securities on our balance sheet. Additionally, proposed federal legislation would permit borrowers in bankruptcy to restructure mortgage loans secured by primary residences. Bankruptcy courts could, if this legislation is enacted, reduce the principal balance of a mortgage loan that is secured by a lien on mortgaged property, reduce the mortgage interest rate, extend the term to maturity or otherwise modify the terms of a bankrupt borrower’s mortgage loan. Any of the foregoing could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our business would be adversely affected if we lost our licenses.
 
Our operations are subject to regulation, supervision and licensing under various federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations. In most states in which we operate, a regulatory agency regulates and enforces laws relating to mortgage servicing companies and mortgage origination companies such as us. These rules and regulations generally provide for licensing as a mortgage servicing company, mortgage origination company or third party debt collector, as applicable, requirements as to the form and content of contracts and other documentation, licensing of our employees and employee hiring background checks, licensing of independent contractors with whom we contract, restrictions on collection practices, disclosure and record-keeping requirements and enforcement of borrowers’ rights. In certain states, we are subject to periodic examination by state


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regulatory authorities. Some states in which we operate require special licensing or provide extensive regulation of our business.
 
We believe that we maintain all material licenses and permits required for our current operations and are in substantial compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations. We may not be able to maintain all requisite licenses and permits, and the failure to satisfy those and other regulatory requirements could result in a default under our servicing agreements and have a material adverse effect on our operations. Those states that currently do not provide extensive regulation of our business may later choose to do so, and if such states so act, we may not be able to obtain or maintain all requisite licenses and permits. The failure to satisfy those and other regulatory requirements could result in a default under our servicing agreements and have a material adverse effect on our operations. Furthermore, the adoption of additional, or the revision of existing, rules and regulations could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We may be required to repurchase loans we originated, or will originate, if our loans fail to meet certain criteria or characteristics or under other circumstances.
 
The indentures governing our securitized pools of loans and our contracts with purchasers of our whole loans contain provisions that require us to repurchase the related loans under certain circumstances. While our contracts vary, they contain provisions that require us to repurchase loans if:
 
  •  Our representations and warranties concerning loan quality and loan circumstances are inaccurate, including representations concerning the licensing of a mortgage broker;
 
  •  We fail to secure adequate mortgage insurance within a certain period after closing;
 
  •  A mortgage insurance provider denies coverage; and
 
  •  We fail to comply, at the individual loan level or otherwise, with regulatory requirements in the current dynamic regulatory environment.
 
We believe that, as a result of the current market environment, many purchasers of residential mortgage loans are particularly aware of the conditions under which servicers must repurchase loans and would benefit from enforcing any repurchase remedies that they may have. If we are required to repurchase a significant amount of loans that we originate and sell or securitize, this could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We may incur litigation costs and related losses if the validity of a foreclosure action is challenged by a borrower or if a court overturns a foreclosure.
 
We may incur costs if we are required to, or if we elect to, execute or re-file documents or take other action in our capacity as a servicer in connection with pending or completed foreclosures. We may incur litigation costs if the validity of a foreclosure action is challenged by a borrower. If a court were to overturn a foreclosure because of errors or deficiencies in the foreclosure process, we may have liability to a title insurer of the property sold in foreclosure. These costs and liabilities may not be legally or otherwise reimbursable to us, particularly to the extent they relate to securitized mortgage loans. In addition, if certain documents required for a foreclosure action are missing or defective, we could be obligated to cure the defect or repurchase the loan. A significant increase in litigation costs could adversely affect our liquidity, and our inability to be reimbursed for an advance could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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We are required to follow the guidelines of the government-sponsored enterprises with which we do business, and we are not able to negotiate our fees with these entities for the purchase of our loans. Our competitors may be able to sell their loans to these entities on more favorable terms.
 
Even though we currently only originate prime agency and government conforming loans, because we previously originated non-prime mortgage loans, we believe that we are required to pay a higher fee to access the secondary market for selling our loans to government-sponsored enterprises. We believe that because many of our competitors have always originated prime loans, they are able to sell newly originated loans on more favorable terms than us. As a result, these competitors are able to earn higher margins than we earn on originated loans, which could materially impact our business.
 
In our transactions with government-sponsored enterprises, we are required to follow specific guidelines that impact the way we service and originate mortgage loans including:
 
  •  our staffing levels and other servicing practices;
 
  •  the servicing and ancillary fees that we may charge;
 
  •  our modification standards and procedures; and
 
  •  the amount of advances reimbursable.
 
We cannot negotiate these terms with the government-sponsored enterprises and they are subject to change at any time. A significant change in these guidelines that has the effect of decreasing our fees or requires us to expend additional resources in providing mortgage services could decrease our revenues or increase our costs, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We are required to make servicing advances that can be subject to delays in recovery or may not be recoverable in certain circumstances.
 
During any period in which a borrower is not making payments, we are required under most of our servicing agreements to advance our own funds to meet contractual principal and interest remittance requirements for investors, pay property taxes and insurance premiums, legal expenses and other protective advances. We also advance funds to maintain, repair and market real estate properties on behalf of investors. As home values change, we may have to reconsider certain of the assumptions underlying our decisions to make advances and, in certain situations, our contractual obligations may require us to make certain advances for which we may not be reimbursed. In addition, in the event a mortgage loan serviced by us defaults or becomes delinquent, the repayment to us of the advance may be delayed until the mortgage loan is repaid or refinanced or a liquidation occurs. A delay in our ability to collect an advance may adversely affect our liquidity, and our inability to be reimbursed for an advance could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Changes to government mortgage modification programs may adversely affect future incremental revenues.
 
Under HAMP and similar government programs, a participating servicer may be entitled to receive financial incentives in connection with any modification plans it enters into with eligible borrowers and subsequent “pay for success” fees to the extent that a borrower remains current in any agreed upon loan modification. While we participate in and dedicate numerous resources to HAMP, we may not continue to participate in or realize future revenues from HAMP or any other government mortgage modification program. Changes in legislation regarding HAMP that result in the modification of outstanding mortgage loans, and changes in the requirements necessary to qualify for refinancing mortgage loans may impact the extent to which we participate in and receive financial benefits from such programs, or may increase the expense of participating in such programs. Changes in governmental loan modification programs could also result in an increase to our costs.


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Under the MHA, a participating servicer may receive a financial incentive to modify qualifying loans, in accordance with the plan’s guidelines and requirements. The MHA also allows us to refinance loans with a high loan-to-value ratio of up to 125%. This allows us to refinance loans to existing borrowers who have little or negative equity in their homes. Changes in legislation or regulations regarding the MHA could reduce our volume of refinancing originations to borrowers with little or negative equity in their homes. Changes to HAMP, the MHA and other similar programs could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We are highly dependent upon programs administered by government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to generate revenues through mortgage loan sales to institutional investors. Any changes in existing U.S. government-sponsored mortgage programs could materially and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Our ability to generate revenues through mortgage loan sales to institutional investors depends to a significant degree on programs administered by government-sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a government agency, Ginnie Mae, and others that facilitate the issuance of mortgage-backed securities in the secondary market. These government-sponsored enterprises play a critical role in the residential mortgage industry, and we have significant business relationships with many of them. Almost all of the conforming loans that we originate qualify under existing standards for inclusion in guaranteed mortgage securities backed by government-sponsored enterprises. We also derive other material financial benefits from these relationships, including the assumption of credit risk by these government-sponsored enterprises on loans included in such mortgage securities in exchange for our payment of guarantee fees and the ability to avoid certain loan inventory finance costs through streamlined loan funding and sale procedures.
 
Any discontinuation of, or significant reduction in, the operation of these government- sponsored enterprises or any significant adverse change in the level of activity in the secondary mortgage market or the underwriting criteria of these government-sponsored enterprises could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and related efforts, along with any changes in laws and regulations affecting the relationship between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. federal government, may adversely affect our business and prospects.
 
Due to increased market concerns about the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the U.S. federal government, on July 30, 2008, the government passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or the FHFA, placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship and, together with the U.S. Treasury, established a program designed to boost investor confidence in their respective debt and mortgage-backed securities. As the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the FHFA controls and directs the operations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and may (i) take over the assets of and operate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors and the officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and conduct all business of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; (ii) collect all obligations and money due to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; (iii) perform all functions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which are consistent with the conservator’s appointment; (iv) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; and (v) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator.
 
In addition to the FHFA becoming the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the U.S. Treasury and the FHFA have entered into preferred stock purchase agreements between the U.S. Treasury and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will ensure that each of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintains a positive net worth.


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Although the U.S. Treasury has committed capital to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, these actions may not be adequate for their needs. If these actions are inadequate, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could continue to suffer losses and could fail to honor their guarantees and other obligations. The future roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be significantly reduced and the nature of their guarantees could be considerably limited relative to historical measurements. Any changes to the nature of the guarantees provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could redefine what constitute agency and government conforming mortgage-backed securities and could have broad adverse market implications. Such market implications could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The geographic concentration of our servicing portfolio may result in a higher rate of delinquencies and may affect our financial condition.
 
As of December 31, 2010, approximately 18%, 16% and 5% of the aggregate outstanding loan balance in our servicing portfolio is secured by properties located in California, Florida and Texas, respectively. Some of these states have experienced severe declines in property values and are experiencing a disproportionately high rate of delinquencies and foreclosures relative to other states. To the extent that these states continue to experience weaker economic conditions or greater rates of decline in real estate values than the United States generally, a concentration of the loans we service in those regions may be expected to increase the effect of the risks listed in this “Risk Factors” section. The impact of property value declines may increase in magnitude and it may continue for a long period of time. Additionally, if states in which we have greater concentrations of business were to change their licensing or other regulatory requirements to make our business cost prohibitive, this could require us to stop doing business in those states or increase the cost of doing business in those states and could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We use financial models and estimates in determining the fair value of certain assets, such as mortgage servicing rights and investments in debt securities. If our estimates or assumptions prove to be incorrect, we may be required to record impairment charges, which could adversely affect our earnings.
 
We use internal financial models that utilize, wherever possible, market participant data to value certain of our assets, including our mortgage servicing rights, newly originated loans held for sale and investments in debt securities for purposes of financial reporting. These models are complex and use asset-specific collateral data and market inputs for interest and discount rates. In addition, the modeling requirements of mortgage servicing rights are complex because of the high number of variables that drive cash flows associated with mortgage servicing rights. Even if the general accuracy of our valuation models is validated, valuations are highly dependent upon the reasonableness of our assumptions and the predictability of the relationships that drive the results of the models. If loan loss levels are higher than anticipated, due to an increase in delinquencies or prepayment speeds, or financial market illiquidity continues beyond our estimate, the value of certain of our assets may decrease. We may be required to record impairment charges, which could impact our ability to satisfy minimum net worth covenants of $150.0 million and borrowing conditions in our debt agreements and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Errors in our financial models or changes in assumptions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our earnings may decrease because of changes in prevailing interest rates.
 
Our profitability is directly affected by changes in prevailing interest rates. The following are the material risks we face related to changes in prevailing interest rates:
 
  •  an increase in prevailing interest rates could generate an increase in delinquency, default and foreclosure rates resulting in an increase in both operating expenses and interest expense and could cause a reduction in the value of our assets;


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  •  a substantial and sustained increase in prevailing interest rates could adversely affect our loan origination volume because refinancing an existing loan would be less attractive for homeowners and qualifying for a loan may be more difficult for consumers;
 
  •  an increase in prevailing interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our outstanding debt, including our ability to finance servicing advances and loan originations;
 
  •  a decrease in prevailing interest rates may require us to record a decrease in the value of our mortgage servicing rights; and
 
  •  a change in prevailing interest rates could impact our earnings from our custodial deposit accounts.
 
Any such change in prevailing interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our hedging strategies may not be successful in mitigating our risks associated with interest rates.
 
From time to time, we have used various derivative financial instruments to provide a level of protection against interest rate risks, but no hedging strategy can protect us completely. The derivative financial instruments that we select may not have the effect of reducing our interest rate risks. In addition, the nature and timing of hedging transactions may influence the effectiveness of these strategies. Poorly designed strategies, improperly executed and documented transactions or inaccurate assumptions could actually increase our risks and losses. In addition, hedging strategies involve transaction and other costs. Our hedging strategies and the derivatives that we use may not be able to adequately offset the risks of interest rate volatility and our hedging transactions may result in or magnify losses. Furthermore, interest rate derivatives may not be available at all, or at favorable terms, particularly during economic downturns. Any of the foregoing risks could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
A downgrade in our servicer ratings could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rate us as a residential loan servicer. Our current favorable ratings from the rating agencies are important to the conduct of our loan servicing business. These ratings may be downgraded in the future. Any such downgrade could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about borrowers and counterparties.
 
In deciding whether to extend credit or to enter into other transactions with borrowers and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished to us by or on behalf of borrowers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of borrowers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. We additionally rely on representations from public officials concerning the licensing and good standing of the third party mortgage brokers through whom we do business. While we have a practice of independently verifying the borrower information that we use in deciding whether to extend credit or to agree to a loan modification, including employment, assets, income and credit score, if any of this information is intentionally or negligently misrepresented and such misrepresentation is not detected prior to loan funding, the value of the loan may be significantly lower than expected. Whether a misrepresentation is made by the loan applicant, the mortgage broker, another third party or one of our employees, we generally bear the risk of loss associated with the misrepresentation. We have controls and processes designed to help us identify misrepresented information in our loan origination


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operations. We, however, may not have detected or may not detect all misrepresented information in our loan originations and/or our business partners. Any such misrepresented information could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Technology failures could damage our business operations and increase our costs.
 
The financial services industry as a whole is characterized by rapidly changing technologies, and system disruptions and failures caused by fire, power loss, telecommunications failures, unauthorized intrusion, computer viruses and disabling devices, natural disasters and other similar events, may interrupt or delay our ability to provide services to our borrowers. Security breaches, acts of vandalism and developments in computer capabilities could result in a compromise or breach of the technology that we use to protect our borrowers’ personal information and transaction data. Systems failures could cause us to incur significant costs and this could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The success and growth of our business will depend upon our ability to adapt to and implement technological changes.
 
Our mortgage loan origination business is currently dependent upon our ability to effectively interface with our brokers, borrowers and other third parties and to efficiently process loan applications and closings. The origination process is becoming more dependent upon technological advancement, such as our continued ability to process applications over the Internet, accept electronic signatures, provide process status updates instantly and other borrower-expected conveniences. Maintaining and improving this new technology and becoming proficient with it may also require significant capital expenditures. As these requirements increase in the future, we will have to fully develop these technological capabilities to remain competitive and any failure to do so could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Any failure of our internal security measures or breach of our privacy protections could cause harm to our reputation and subject us to liability.
 
In the ordinary course of our business, we receive and store certain confidential information concerning borrowers. Additionally, we enter into third party partnerships to assist with various aspects of our business, some of which require the exchange of confidential borrower information. If a third party were to compromise or breach our security measures or those of the vendors, through electronic, physical or other means, and misappropriate such information, it could cause interruptions in our operations, expose us to significant liabilities, reporting obligations, remediation costs and damage to our reputation. Any of the foregoing risks could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our vendor relationships subject us to a variety of risks.
 
We have significant vendors that, among other things, provide us with financial, technology and other services to support our servicing and originations businesses. With respect to vendors engaged to perform activities required by servicing criteria, we have elected to take responsibility for assessing compliance with the applicable servicing criteria for the applicable vendor and are required to have procedures in place to provide reasonable assurance that the vendor’s activities comply in all material respects with servicing criteria applicable to the vendor. In the event that a vendor’s activities do not comply with the servicing criteria, it could negatively impact our servicing agreements. In addition, if our current vendors were to stop providing services to us on acceptable terms, including as a result of one or more vendor bankruptcies due to poor economic conditions, we may be unable to procure alternatives from other vendors in a timely and efficient manner and on acceptable terms, or at all. Further, we may incur significant costs to resolve any such disruptions in service and this could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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The loss of the services of our senior managers could have an adverse effect on our business.
 
The experience of our senior managers is a valuable asset to us. Our management team has an average of approximately 25 years of experience in the residential mortgage origination and servicing industry and has been with us for an average of approximately 10 years. We do not maintain key life insurance policies relating to our senior managers. The loss of the services of our senior managers could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our historical financial statements do not reflect payments for income taxes.
 
Our historical financial statements set forth in this prospectus do not reflect any payments for income taxes. The indenture governing the notes permits us to distribute to our equity holders amounts (based generally on a hypothetical calculation of combined federal, state and local income taxes we would owe if we were taxable as a corporation) to pay their income taxes for so long as we are treated as a disregarded entity or partnership for income tax purposes. If we become taxable as a corporation, the indenture governing the notes generally will permit us to pay our combined tax group’s federal, state and local income taxes. See “Description of the New Notes—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”
 
Our business could suffer if we fail to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce.
 
Our future success will depend on our ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified personnel for all areas of our organization, in particular skilled managers, loan servicers, debt collectors, loan officers and underwriters. Trained and experienced personnel are in high demand, and may be in short supply in some areas. Many of the companies with which we compete for experienced employees have greater resources than we have and may be able to offer more attractive terms of employment. In addition, we invest significant time and expense in training our employees, which increases their value to competitors who may seek to recruit them. We may not be able to attract, develop and maintain an adequate skilled workforce necessary to operate our businesses, and labor expenses may increase as a result of a shortage in the supply of qualified personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain such personnel, we may not be able to take advantage of acquisitions and other growth opportunities that may be presented to us and this could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Legal proceedings and related costs could adversely affect our financial results.
 
We are routinely involved in legal proceedings concerning matters that arise in the ordinary course of our business. The outcome of these proceedings may adversely affect our financial results. In addition, a number of participants in our industry have been the subject of class action lawsuits and regulatory actions by states’ attorneys general. Litigation and other proceedings may require that we pay settlement costs, damages, penalties or other charges, which could adversely affect our financial results. See “Business—Legal Proceedings.”
 
Negative public opinion could damage our reputation and adversely affect our earnings.
 
Reputation risk, or the risk to our business, earnings and capital from negative public opinion, is inherent in our business. Negative public opinion can result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending and debt collection practices, corporate governance, and from actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to those activities. Negative public opinion can also result from media coverage, whether accurate or not. Negative public opinion can adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers, trading counterparties and employees and can expose us to litigation and regulatory action. Although we take steps to minimize reputation risk in dealing with our customers and communities, this risk will always be present in our organization.


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Fortress indirectly controls our sole equityholder and there may be situations in which the interests of Fortress and the holders of the notes will not be aligned.
 
FIF HE Holdings, LLC, a holding company, is our sole member, owning 100% of our outstanding membership interests. FIF HE Holdings, LLC, in turn, is owned by certain private equity funds managed by an affiliate of Fortress and our past and present management. As a result, Fortress is able to control our business direction and policies, including mergers, acquisitions and consolidations with third parties and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets. Consequently, circumstances may arise in which the interests of Fortress could be in conflict with your interests as a holder of the notes, and Fortress may pursue transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their equity investment, even though the transaction might involve risks to holders of the notes.
 
Risks Related to the New Notes
 
Our substantial indebtedness may limit our financial and operating activities and our ability to incur additional debt to fund future needs.
 
As of December 31, 2010, we and our guarantors had approximately $1,690.8 million of total indebtedness and unfunded availability of approximately $706.0 million under our various financing facilities. Our substantial indebtedness and any future indebtedness we incur could:
 
  •  require us to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on indebtedness, including indebtedness we may incur in the future, thereby reducing the funds available for other purposes;
 
  •  make it more difficult for us to satisfy and comply with our obligations with respect to the notes;
 
  •  subject us to increased sensitivity to increases in prevailing interest rates;
 
  •  place us at a competitive disadvantage to competitors with relatively less debt in economic downturns, adverse industry conditions or catastrophic external events; or
 
  •  reduce our flexibility in planning for or responding to changing business, industry and economic conditions.
 
Our substantial obligations could have other important consequences. For example, our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness, including the indenture governing the notes, which limit our ability to incur liens, to incur debt and to sell assets, could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could harm our business or prospects and could result in our bankruptcy.
 
We may incur more debt, which could exacerbate the risks described above.
 
We and our subsidiaries are able to incur additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the limitations contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, including the indenture governing the notes. Although these agreements generally restrict us and our restricted subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to important exceptions and qualifications. If we or our subsidiaries incur additional debt, the related risks could be magnified.
 
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service obligations including the notes.
 
Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make scheduled payments on our debt obligations including the notes will depend on our current and future financial performance, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy our


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debt obligations, including interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring our debt, selling assets, reducing or delaying capital investments or seeking to raise additional capital. Such alternative financing plans may not be available or may not be able to generate timely and sufficient amount of proceeds to satisfy our debt obligations. Additional financing may not be obtained on acceptable terms, or permitted under the terms of our various debt instruments then in effect. Furthermore, our ability to refinance would depend upon the condition of the finance and credit markets. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms or on a timely basis, would materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
In addition, we are dependent on the cash flow of and dividends and distributions to us from our subsidiaries in order to service our current indebtedness. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to any indebtedness of ours or to make any funds available therefor, except for those subsidiaries that have guaranteed our obligations under our outstanding indebtedness and that will guarantee our obligations under the notes. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay any dividends and distributions will be subject to, among other things, the terms of any debt instruments of our subsidiaries then in effect as well as applicable law. Our subsidiaries may not be able to generate cash flow sufficient to pay dividends or distributions to us that enable us to pay interest or principal on our existing indebtedness or the notes.
 
We may be unable to repay or repurchase the notes at maturity.
 
At maturity, the entire outstanding principal amount of the notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, will become due and payable. We may not have the funds to fulfill these obligations or the ability to renegotiate these obligations. If upon the maturity date other arrangements prohibit us from repaying the notes, we could try to obtain waivers of such prohibitions from the lenders and holders under those arrangements, or we could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain the restrictions. In these circumstances, if we were not able to obtain such waivers or refinance these borrowings, we would be unable to repay the notes.
 
The indenture governing the notes, as well as other agreements governing our debt, include provisions that may restrict our financial and business operations, but may not necessarily restrict our ability to take actions that may impair our ability to repay the notes.
 
The agreements governing our indebtedness, including our servicing advance facilities that relate to servicing loan portfolios, our warehouse facilities that relate to originating mortgage loans, the notes we issued to finance our purchase of a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights and the indenture that will govern the notes, contain negative covenants customary for such financings, such as limiting our ability to sell or dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness or liens, make certain restricted payments, make certain investments, consummate mergers, consolidations or other business combinations or engage in other lines of business. These restrictions may interfere with our ability to engage in other necessary or desirable business activities, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our financing facilities also require us to comply with certain financial ratios and covenants, such as maximum leverage ratios, minimum tangible net worth, minimum liquidity and positive earnings covenants. In addition, availability under certain of our financing facilities is limited by borrowing base and minimum collateral conditions. Our ability to comply with these covenants depends on our financial condition and performance and also is subject to events outside our control. Asset write-downs, other non-cash charges and other one-time events also impact our ability to comply with these covenants. In addition, these restrictions may interfere with our ability to obtain financing or to engage in other necessary or desirable business activities, which may have a material effect on our operations. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications.


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Moreover, if we fail to comply with these covenants and are unable to obtain a waiver or amendment, an event of default would result.
 
Our financing facilities and other debt agreements, including the indenture governing the notes, also contain other events of default customary for such financings. In addition, as a servicer, we are required to observe and perform the covenants and obligations in the agreements under which we service loans. As a servicer, we also have obligations under Regulation AB under the Securities Act. Failure to service in accordance with these requirements may lead to an event of default under our credit facilities. We may not have sufficient liquidity to repay or refinance the notes or borrowings under our credit facilities if such amounts were accelerated upon an event of default. If we are unable to service our debt, this could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.
 
Any default under the agreements covering our indebtedness that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could make us unable to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain alternative financing necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we would be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness, which could also result in an event of default under other financing agreements. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, or we could be forced to apply all available cash flows to repay such indebtedness, and, in any case, we could ultimately be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
 
The repayment of the notes will be effectively subordinated to substantially all of our existing and future secured debt and the existing and future secured debt of our subsidiaries.
 
The notes, and each guarantee of the notes, will be unsecured obligations. The notes, and any other unsecured debt securities issued by us, will be effectively junior in right of payment to all secured indebtedness. In the event of our bankruptcy, or the bankruptcy of our subsidiaries or special purpose vehicles, holders of any secured indebtedness of ours or of our subsidiaries will have claims that are prior to the claims of the holders of any debt securities issued by us with respect to the assets securing our other indebtedness. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate carrying value of our and our subsidiaries’ secured indebtedness was approximately $1,345.1 million.
 
If we defaulted on our obligations under any of our secured debt, our secured lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. If any secured indebtedness were to be accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full that indebtedness and our other indebtedness, including the notes. In addition, upon any distribution of assets pursuant to any liquidation, insolvency, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding, the holders of secured indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full from the proceeds of the collateral securing our secured indebtedness before the holders of the notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect thereto. As a result, the holders of the notes may recover proportionally less than holders of secured indebtedness.


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The notes and related subsidiary guarantees will effectively be subordinated to indebtedness of our existing and future non-guarantor subsidiaries.
 
Not all of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments, including trade payables, of our existing and future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes. Any right of the holders of the notes to participate in the assets of a non-guarantor subsidiary upon any liquidation or reorganization of the subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors.
 
As of the date of this prospectus, Nationstar Home Equity Loan Trust 2009-A; Nationstar Home Equity Loan 2009-A REO LLC; Nationstar Residual, LLC; Nationstar Advance Funding II, LLC; Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2009-ADV1; Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2010-ADV1; Nationstar Funding LLC and Nationstar Advance Funding LLC are our non-guarantor subsidiaries. Non-guarantor subsidiaries held approximately 51.2% of our total assets as of December 31, 2010.
 
Unrestricted subsidiaries generally will not be subject to any of the covenants in the indenture and will not guarantee the notes, and we may not be able to rely on the cash flow or assets of those unrestricted subsidiaries to pay our indebtedness.
 
Subject to compliance with the restrictive covenants contained in the indenture governing the notes, we will be permitted to designate certain of our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. If we designate a subsidiary guarantor as an unrestricted subsidiary for purposes of the indenture governing the notes, any guarantees of the notes by such subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries will be released under the indenture. As a result, the creditors of the unrestricted subsidiary and its subsidiaries will have a senior claim on the assets of such unrestricted subsidiary and its subsidiaries.
 
Unrestricted subsidiaries will generally not be subject to the covenants under the indenture governing the notes and will not guarantee the notes. Unrestricted subsidiaries may enter into financing arrangements that limit their ability to make loans or other payments to fund payments in respect of the notes. Accordingly, we may not be able to rely on the cash flow or assets of unrestricted subsidiaries to pay any of our indebtedness, including the notes.
 
As of the date of this prospectus there are no unrestricted subsidiaries, and we do not have any plans to designate any of our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries.
 
Your right to be repaid would be adversely affected if a court determined that any of our subsidiaries made any guarantee for inadequate consideration or with the intent to defraud creditors.
 
Under the federal bankruptcy laws and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, any guarantee made by any of our subsidiaries could be voided, or claims under the guarantee made by any of our subsidiaries could be subordinated to all other obligations of any such subsidiary, if the subsidiary, at the time it incurred the obligations under the guarantee:
 
  •  incurred the obligations with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud creditors; or
 
  •  received less than reasonably equivalent value in exchange for incurring those obligations; and
 
  •  was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of that incurrence;
 
  •  was engaged in a business or transaction for which the subsidiary’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
 
  •  intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.


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A legal challenge to the obligations under any guarantee on fraudulent conveyance grounds could focus on any benefits received in exchange for the incurrence of those obligations. A guarantee could be subject to the claim that, since the guarantee was incurred for our benefit and only indirectly for the benefit of the guarantor, the obligations of the applicable guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration. The liability of each guarantor under the indenture will be limited to the amount that will result in its guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance, but a court may apply an alternative standard to determine the maximum liability of each guarantor. We believe that each of our subsidiaries making a guarantee will receive reasonably equivalent value for incurring the guarantee, but a court may disagree with our conclusion.
 
The measures of insolvency for purposes of the fraudulent transfer laws vary depending on the law applied in the proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent if:
 
  •  the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, is greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets;
 
  •  the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
 
  •  it cannot pay its debts as they become due.
 
The credit ratings assigned to the notes may not reflect all risks of an investment in the notes.
 
The credit ratings assigned to the notes reflect the rating agencies’ assessments of our ability to make payments on the notes when due. Consequently, actual or anticipated changes in these credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the notes. These credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to structure, market or other factors related to the value of the notes.
 
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture governing the notes.
 
Upon the occurrence of a “change of control,” as defined in the indenture governing the notes, we must offer to buy back the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, together with any accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any, to the date of the repurchase. Our failure to purchase, or give notice of purchase of, the notes would be a default under the indenture governing the notes. See “Description of New Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control.”
 
If a change of control occurs, it is possible that we may not have sufficient assets at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of notes or to satisfy all obligations under our other debt instruments, including future debt instruments. In order to satisfy our obligations, we could seek to refinance our indebtedness or obtain a waiver from the other lenders or you as a holder of the notes. We may not be able to obtain a waiver or refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Our failure to repurchase any notes submitted in a change of control offer could constitute an event of default under our other debt documents, even if the change of control offer itself would not cause a default under the indenture governing the notes.
 
The change of control provision in the indenture may not protect you in the event we consummate a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or other similar transaction, unless such transaction constitutes a change of control under the indenture. Such a transaction may not involve a change in voting power or beneficial ownership or, even if it does, may


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not involve a change of the magnitude required under the definition of a change of control triggering event in the indenture to trigger our obligation to repurchase the notes.
 
There is no established trading market for the notes. If an actual trading market does not develop for the notes, you may not be able to resell the notes quickly, for the price that you paid or at all.
 
The notes are a new issue of securities and therefore there is no established trading market for the notes, and an active trading market may not develop. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed on any securities exchange or to arrange for any quotation on any automated dealer quotation systems. The initial purchasers have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so. The initial purchasers may discontinue any market making in the notes at any time, at their sole discretion. As a result, there might be very little liquidity of any trading market for the notes.
 
You may not be able to sell your notes at a particular time or at all, or the prices that you receive when you sell them may not be favorable. You may not be able to resell your notes at their fair market value. The liquidity of, and trading market for, the notes may also be adversely affected by, among other things:
 
  •  prevailing interest rates;
 
  •  our operating performance and financial condition;
 
  •  the interest of securities dealers in making a market; and
 
  •  the market for similar securities.
 
Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused volatility in the prices of securities similar to the notes. It is possible that the market for the notes will be subject to disruptions. Any disruptions may have a negative effect on noteholders, regardless of our prospects and financial performance.
 
The Old Notes were issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
The Old Notes were issued with OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes because the stated principal amount of the notes exceeded their issue price by more than a de minimis amount.
 
U.S. holders will generally be required to include such OID in gross income on a constant yield to maturity basis in advance of the receipt of cash payment thereof and regardless of such holders’ method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
 
Risks Relating to the Exchange Offer
 
The consummation of the exchange offer may not occur.
 
We are not obligated to complete the exchange offer under certain circumstances. See “Description of the Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.” Even if the exchange offer is completed, it may not be completed on the schedule described in this prospectus. Accordingly, holders participating in the exchange offer may have to wait longer than expected to receive their New Notes,


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during which time those holders of Old Notes will not be able to effect transfers of their Old Notes tendered in the exchange offer.
 
You may be required to deliver prospectuses and comply with other requirements in connection with any resale of the New Notes.
 
If you tender your Old Notes for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the New Notes, you will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the New Notes. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer that receives New Notes for your own account in exchange for Old Notes that you acquired as a result of market-making activities or any other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.


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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are not statements of historical facts. When used in this discussion, the words “anticipate,” “appears,” “foresee,” “intend,” “should,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “are likely” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve predictions of our future financial condition, performance, plans and strategies, and are thus dependent on a number of factors including, without limitation, assumptions and data that may be imprecise or incorrect. Specific factors that may impact performance or other predictions of future actions have, in many but not all cases, been identified in connection with specific forward-looking statements. Also see “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus regarding the additional factors that have impacted or may impact our performance and financial results. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including, without limitation:
 
  •  the continued deterioration of the residential mortgage market, increase in monthly payments on adjustable rate mortgage loans, adverse economic conditions, decrease in property values or increase in delinquencies and defaults;
 
  •  our ability to compete successfully in the mortgage loan servicing and mortgage loan originations industry;
 
  •  our ability to maintain the size of our servicing portfolio by successfully identifying attractive acquisition opportunities, including mortgage servicing rights, subservicing contracts, servicing platforms and origination platforms;
 
  •  our ability to scale-up appropriately and integrate our acquisitions to realize the anticipated benefits of any such potential future acquisitions;
 
  •  our ability to obtain sufficient capital to meet our financing requirements;
 
  •  our ability to grow our loan origination volume and develop a distributed retail sales channel;
 
  •  the termination of our servicing rights and subservicing contracts;
 
  •  changes to federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning loan servicing, loan origination, loan modification or the licensing of entities that engage in these activities;
 
  •  changes in accounting standards;
 
  •  our ability to meet certain criteria or characteristics under the indentures governing our securitized pools of loans;
 
  •  our ability to follow the specific guidelines of government-sponsored enterprises or a significant change in such guidelines;
 
  •  delays in our ability to collect or be reimbursed for servicing advances;
 
  •  changes to the Home Affordable Modification Program, the Make Home Affordable Plan or other similar government programs;
 
  •  loss of our licenses;
 
  •  changes in our business relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and others that facilitate the issuance of mortgage-backed securities;
 
  •  changes to the nature of the guarantees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the market implications of such changes;
 
  •  errors in our financial models or changes in assumptions;


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  •  requirement to write down the value of certain assets;
 
  •  changes in prevailing interest rates;
 
  •  our ability to successfully mitigate our risks through hedging strategies;
 
  •  changes in our servicer ratings;
 
  •  the accuracy and completeness of information about borrowers and counterparties;
 
  •  our ability to maintain our technology systems and our ability to adapt such systems for future operating environments;
 
  •  failure of our internal security measures or breach of our privacy protections;
 
  •  failure of our vendors to comply with servicing criteria;
 
  •  the loss of the services of our senior managers;
 
  •  changes to our income tax status;
 
  •  failure to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce;
 
  •  increase in legal proceedings and related costs;
 
  •  changes in public opinion concerning mortgage originators or debt collectors;
 
  •  conflicts of interest with Fortress and the holders of the notes; and
 
  •  other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 17.
 
We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date they were made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following tables present selected consolidated financial information for our business. You should read these tables along with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
We have not presented selected consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet data for periods prior to the Acquisition. The entity that we acquired—CHEC—was a consolidated subsidiary of Centex Financial Services (“CFS”), and we did not receive, separate audited or unaudited financials of CHEC in connection with the Acquisition. We only received consolidated financials of CFS. In 2009, CFS was subsequently acquired by a third party. We do not have, nor do we have the right to obtain, financial statements for CHEC prior to the date of the Acquisition. Therefore, because the information is not available to us, it cannot be created without unreasonable effort and expense. We also believe that financial information for the period from April 1, 2006 to July 10, 2006 does not contribute to an investor’s understanding of our historical financial performance and financial condition because, before the Acquisition, CHEC had historically operated as a subprime mortgage lender. After the Acquisition, in the third fiscal quarter of 2007, we transformed the business from a subprime mortgage lender to a mortgage servicer and conforming loan originator. As a result, financial information with respect to the business conducted before the Acquisition would not provide useful information to investors about trends in our financial condition and results of operation.
 
The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008 have been derived from our audited financial statements that are not included in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the period from July 11, 2006 to December 31, 2006 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2006, and 2007 have been derived from our unaudited financial statements, which are not included in this prospectus.
 
                                         
    July 11, 2006
                         
    to December
    Year Ended December 31,  
     31, 2006     2007     2008     2009     2010  
    (in thousands)  
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                                       
Revenues:
                                       
Total fee income
  $ 14,161     $ 46,301     $ 74,007     $ 100,218     $ 184,084  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
    4,476       (94,673 )     (86,663 )     (21,349 )     77,344  
                                         
Total revenues
    18,637       (48,372 )     (12,656 )     78,869       261,428  
Total expenses and impairments
    98,837       259,222       147,777       142,367       220,976  
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income
    75,114       163,022       92,060       52,518       98,895  
Interest expense
    (55,172 )     (118,553 )     (65,548 )     (69,883 )     (116,163 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
          (21,353 )     (23,689 )     (14 )     (9,801 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
                            (23,297 )
                                         
Total other income (expense)
    19,942       23,116       2,823       (17,379 )     (50,366 )
                                         
Net income (loss)
  $  (60,258 )   $  (284,478 )   $  (157,610 )   $  (80,877 )   $ (9,914 )
                                         
 


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    As of December 31,
    2006   2007   2008   2009   2010
    (in thousands)
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,335     $ 41,251     $ 9,357     $ 41,645     $ 21,223  
Mortgage servicing rights
    49,783       82,634       110,808       114,605       145,062  
Total assets
    2,145,007       1,303,221       1,122,001       1,280,185       1,947,181  
Unsecured senior notes
                            244,061  
Notes payable
    1,966,368       967,307       810,041       771,857       709,758  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
                      177,675       138,662  
ABS nonrecourse debt
                            496,692  
Total liabilities
    2,005,213       1,041,525       866,079       1,016,362       1,690,809  
Total members’ equity
    139,794       261,696       255,922       263,823       256,372  

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
The following table sets forth information regarding our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods shown. For purposes of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings consist of income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes and fixed charges and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest expense, which includes amortization of deferred finance charges, and imputed interest on our lease obligations. The interest component of rent was determined based on an estimate of a reasonable interest factor at the inception of the leases.
 
                                         
    July 11, 2006
               
    to December
  Year Ended December 31,
     31, 2006   2007   2008   2009   2010
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
    (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)
 
 
(1) Earnings for the period from July 11, 2006 to December 31, 2006 and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The coverage deficiencies were $60.3 million, $284.5 million, $157.6 million, $80.9 million and $9.9 million, respectively.


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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
 
On March 26, 2010, we issued $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes. In connection with that issuance, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement on March 26, 2010. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we agreed that we would use reasonable best efforts to:
 
  •  file a registration statement (“Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) covering an offer to the Holders of Old Notes to exchange all Old Notes for New Notes not later than March 31, 2011;
 
  •  have the Exchange Offer Registration Statement remain effective for 90 days after Expiration Date for use by broker-dealers who acquired the Old Notes directly from us;
 
  •  commence the Exchange Offer as soon as reasonably practicable after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; and
 
  •  complete the registered exchange offer not later than 90 days after March 31, 2011.
 
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will offer the New Notes in exchange for the Old Notes. We filed a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement.
 
Resale of the New Notes
 
We are making the exchange offer in reliance on the position of the staff of the SEC as set forth in interpretive letters addressed to other parties in other transactions. For further information on the SEC’s position, see Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, available May 13, 1988, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, available June 5, 1991 and Shearman & Sterling, available July 2, 1993, and other interpretive letters to similar effect. We have not sought our own interpretive letter, however, and we cannot assure you that the staff would make a similar determination with respect to the exchange offer as it has in interpretive letters to other parties. Based on these interpretations by the staff, we believe that the New Notes issued under the exchange offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by you, without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, so long as you:
 
  (1)   are acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of the business of yourself and any beneficial owner;
 
  (2)   are not participating in, and do not intend to participate in, a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;
 
  (3)   are not a broker-dealer who acquired the Old Notes directly from us; and
 
  (4)   are not an “affiliate” of ours, within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
By tendering the Old Notes in exchange for New Notes, you will be required to represent to us that each of the above statements applies to you. If you are participating in or intend to participate in, a distribution of the New Notes, or have any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes to be acquired in this exchange offer, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC. If you are so deemed, you will have to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction.
 
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where the Old Notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or


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other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the New Notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes which the broker-dealer acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities. See “Plan of Distribution.”
 
The exchange offer is not being made to, nor will we accept tenders for exchange from, holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which the exchange offer or the acceptance of it would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.
 
Terms of the Exchange Offer
 
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal, we will accept any and all Old Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of New Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of Old Notes validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the exchange offer.
 
We will not pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the Old Notes that we acquire in the exchange offer. Instead, interest on the New Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including March 26, 2010, the date on which we issued the Old Notes.
 
Tendering holders of Old Notes must tender Old Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. New Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
 
The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material respects to the terms of the Old Notes, except that:
 
  (1)   we have registered the New Notes under the Securities Act and therefore these notes will not bear legends restricting their transfer; and
 
  (2)   specified rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, including the provisions providing for payment of additional interest in specified circumstances relating to the exchange offer, will be eliminated for all the Notes.
 
The New Notes will evidence the same debt as the Old Notes. The New Notes will be issued under the same indenture and will be entitled to the same benefits under that indenture as the Old Notes being exchanged. As of the date of this prospectus, approximately $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes are outstanding. Old Notes accepted for exchange will be retired and cancelled and not reissued.
 
Except as described under “Form, Book-Entry Procedures and Transfer,” we will issue the New Notes in the form of one or more global notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, and each beneficial owner’s interest in it will be transferable in book-entry form through DTC.
 
We will conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
 
We will be considered to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes if and when we have given oral or written notice to that effect to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the New Notes from us.
 
If we do not accept any tendered Old Notes for exchange because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of the other events described in this prospectus or otherwise, we will return these Old


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Notes, without expense, to the tendering holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date of the exchange offer.
 
Holders who tender Old Notes will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes on exchange of Old Notes in connection with the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes in certain circumstances, in connection with the exchange offer. See “—Other Fees and Expenses” and “—Transfer Taxes.”
 
If we successfully complete the exchange offer, any Old Notes which holders do not tender or which we do not accept in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest. The holders of Old Notes after the exchange offer in general will not have further rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, including registration rights and any rights to additional interest. Holders wishing to transfer the Old Notes would have to rely on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
 
Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments; Termination
 
For purposes of the exchange offer, the term “Expiration Date” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011, subject to our right to extend that time and date in our sole discretion, in which case the Expiration Date means the latest time and date to which the exchange offer is extended.
 
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, by giving oral or written notice to the exchange agent, to:
 
  •  extend the exchange offer;
 
  •  terminate the exchange offer if a condition to our obligation to exchange Old Notes for New Notes is not satisfied or waived on or prior to the Expiration Date; and
 
  •  amend the exchange offer.
 
If the exchange offer is amended in a manner that we determine constitutes a material change, we will extend the exchange offer for a period of two to ten business days, depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to the holders, if the exchange offer would otherwise have expired during that two to ten business day period.
 
We will notify holders of the Old Notes of any extension, amendment or termination of the exchange offer by press release or other public announcement. We will announce any extension of the Expiration Date no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. We have no other obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any information about any extension, amendment or termination.
 
Settlement Date
 
We will deliver the New Notes on the settlement date, which will be as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date of the exchange offer. We will not be obligated to deliver New Notes unless the exchange offer is consummated.
 
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of the exchange offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue New Notes in exchange for, any Old Notes and may terminate or amend the exchange offer if at any time before the expiration of the exchange offer, we determine (i) that the exchange offer violates applicable law, any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC or any order of any governmental agency or court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) an action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially


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impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer or a material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to us; or (iii) all governmental approvals that we deem necessary for the consummation of the exchange offer have not been obtained.
 
The foregoing conditions are for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by us in whole or in part at any time and from time to time. The failure by us at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any of those rights and each of those rights shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination made by us concerning an event, development or circumstance described or referred to above will be conclusive and binding.
 
If any of the foregoing conditions are not satisfied, we may, at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date:
 
  •  terminate the exchange offer and return all tendered Old Notes to the respective tendering holders;
 
  •  modify, extend or otherwise amend the exchange offer and retain all tendered Old Notes until the Expiration Date, as extended, subject, however, to the withdrawal rights of holders; or
 
  •  to the extent lawful, waive the unsatisfied conditions with respect to the exchange offer and accept all Old Notes tendered and not previously validly withdrawn.
 
In addition, we will not accept for exchange any Old Notes tendered, and no New Notes will be issued in exchange for those Old Notes, if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or with respect to the qualification of the indenture governing the New Notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
 
Effect of Tender
 
Any tender by a holder, and our subsequent acceptance of that tender, of Old Notes will constitute a binding agreement between that holder and us upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange offer described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. The acceptance of the exchange offer by a tendering holder of Old Notes will constitute the agreement by that holder to deliver good and marketable title to the tendered Old Notes, free and clear of any and all liens, restrictions, charges, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or rights of any kind of third parties.
 
Letter of Transmittal; Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Holders of Old Notes
 
Upon agreement to the terms of the letter of transmittal pursuant to an agent’s message, a holder, or the beneficial holder of Old Notes on behalf of which the holder has tendered, will, subject to that holder’s ability to withdraw its tender, and subject to the terms and conditions of the exchange offer generally, thereby:
 
  (1)   irrevocably sell, assign and transfer to or upon our order or the order of our nominee all right, title and interest in and to, and any and all claims in respect of or arising or having arisen as a result of the holder’s status as a holder of, all Old Notes tendered thereby, such that thereafter the holder shall have no contractual or other rights or claims in law or equity against us or any fiduciary, trustee, fiscal agent or other person connected with the Old Notes arising under, from or in connection with those Old Notes;
 
  (2)  waive any and all rights with respect to the Old Notes tendered thereby, including, without limitation, any existing or past defaults and their consequences in respect of those Old Notes; and


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  (3)  release and discharge us and the trustee for the Old Notes from any and all claims the holder may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to the Old Notes tendered thereby, including, without limitation, any claims that the holder is entitled to receive additional principal or interest payments with respect to the Old Notes tendered thereby, other than as expressly provided in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, or to participate in any redemption or defeasance of the Old Notes tendered thereby.
 
In addition, by tendering Old Notes in the exchange offer, each holder of Old Notes will represent, warrant and agree that:
 
  (1)  it has received and reviewed this prospectus;
 
  (2)  it is the beneficial owner (as defined below) of, or a duly authorized representative of one or more beneficial owners of, the Old Notes tendered thereby, and it has full power and authority to execute the letter of transmittal;
 
  (3)  the Old Notes being tendered thereby were owned as of the date of tender, free and clear of any liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, interests and restrictions of any kind, and we will acquire good, indefeasible and unencumbered title to those Old Notes, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, interests and restrictions of any kind, when we accept the same;
 
  (4)  it will not sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or transfer any Old Notes tendered thereby from the date of the letter of transmittal, and any purported sale, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or transfer will be void and of no effect;
 
  (5)  in evaluating the exchange offer and in making its decision whether to participate in the exchange offer by tendering its Old Notes, it has made its own independent appraisal of the matters referred to in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal and in any related communications and it is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, express or implied, made to it by us or the exchange agent, other than those contained in this prospectus, as amended or supplemented through the Expiration Date;
 
  (6)  the execution and delivery of the letter of transmittal shall constitute an undertaking to execute any further documents and give any further assurances that may be required in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case on and subject to the terms and conditions described or referred to in this prospectus;
 
  (7)  the agreement to the terms of the letter of transmittal pursuant to an agent’s message shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, constitute the irrevocable appointment of the exchange agent as its attorney and agent and an irrevocable instruction to that attorney and agent to complete and execute all or any forms of transfer and other documents at the discretion of that attorney and agent in relation to the Old Notes tendered thereby in favor of us or any other person or persons as we may direct and to deliver those forms of transfer and other documents in the attorney’s and agent’s discretion and the certificates and other documents of title relating to the registration of Old Notes and to execute all other documents and to do all other acts and things as may be in the opinion of that attorney or agent necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the acceptance of the exchange offer, and to vest in us or our nominees those Old Notes;
 
  (8)  the terms and conditions of the exchange offer shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and form a part of, the letter of transmittal, which shall be read and construed accordingly;
 
  (9)  it is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of the business of the holder and any beneficial owner;
 
  (10)  it is not participating in, and does not intend to participate in, a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and has no arrangement or understanding


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  with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;
 
  (11)  it is not a broker-dealer who acquired the Old Notes directly from us; and
 
  (12)  it is not an “affiliate” of ours, within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
The representations, warranties and agreements of a holder tendering Old Notes will be deemed to be repeated and reconfirmed on and as of the Expiration Date and the settlement date. For purposes of this prospectus, the “beneficial owner” of any Old Notes means any holder that exercises investment discretion with respect to those Old Notes.
 
Absence of Dissenters’ Rights
 
Holders of the Old Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the exchange offer.
 
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange and Delivery of New Notes
 
On the settlement date, New Notes to be issued in exchange for Old Notes in the exchange offer, if consummated, will be delivered in book-entry form.
 
We will be deemed to accept validly tendered Old Notes that have not been validly withdrawn as provided in this prospectus when, and if, we give oral or written notice of acceptance to the exchange agent. Subject to the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, delivery of the New Notes will be made by the exchange agent on the settlement date following receipt of that notice. The exchange agent will act as agent for tendering holders of Old Notes for the purpose of receiving Old Notes and transmitting New Notes as of the settlement date. If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for any reason described in the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, such unaccepted Old Notes will be returned without expense to the tendering holders as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
 
Procedures for Tendering
 
To participate in the exchange offer, you must properly tender your Old Notes to the exchange agent as described below. We will only issue New Notes in exchange for Old Notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the Old Notes, and you should follow carefully the instructions on how to tender your Old Notes. It is your responsibility to properly tender your Old Notes. We have the right to waive any defects. However, we are not required to waive defects, and neither we, nor the exchange agent is required to notify you of defects in your tender.
 
If you have any questions or need help in exchanging your Old Notes, please contact the exchange agent at the address or telephone numbers set forth below.
 
All of the Old Notes were issued in book-entry form, and all of the Old Notes are currently represented by global certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. We have confirmed with DTC that the Old Notes may be tendered using DTC’s automatic tender offer program, or ATOP. The exchange agent will establish an account with DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly after the commencement of the exchange offer, and DTC participants may electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer their Old Notes to the exchange agent using the ATOP procedures. In connection with the transfer, DTC will send an “agent’s message” to the exchange agent. The agent’s message will state that DTC has received instructions from the participant to tender Old Notes and that the participant agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal.


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By using the ATOP procedures to exchange Old Notes, you will not be required to deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent. However, you will be bound by its terms just as if you had signed it.
 
Determinations Under the Exchange Offer.  We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered Old Notes and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any Old Notes not properly tendered or any Old Notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Old Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old Notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Old Notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date of the exchange.
 
When We Will Issue New Notes.  In all cases, we will issue New Notes for Old Notes that we have accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent receives, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date:
 
  •  a book-entry confirmation of such number of Old Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC; and
 
  •  a properly transmitted agent’s message.
 
Return of Old Notes Not Accepted or Exchanged.  If we do not accept any tendered Old Notes for exchange or if Old Notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged Old Notes will be returned without expense to their tendering holder. Such non-exchanged Old Notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC. These actions will occur as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
 
Participating Broker-Dealers.  Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where those Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those New Notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”
 
Withdrawal of Tenders
 
Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
 
For a withdrawal to be effective, you must comply with the appropriate ATOP procedures. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn Old Notes and otherwise comply with the ATOP procedures.
 
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and time of receipt of a notice of withdrawal. Our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any Old Notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer.
 
Any Old Notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any reason will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the Old Notes. This return or crediting will take place as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender, expiration or termination of the exchange offer. You may retender properly withdrawn Old Notes by following the procedures described


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under “—Procedures for Tendering” above at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date of the exchange offer.
 
Exchange Agent
 
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association has been appointed as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. All correspondence in connection with the exchange offer should be sent or delivered by each holder of Old Notes, or a beneficial owner’s commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee, to the exchange agent at:
 
By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Corporate Trust Operations
MAC N9303-121
Sixth & Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55479

By facsimile: (612)-667-6282

For Information or Confirmation by Telephone: (800) 344-5128
 
Questions concerning tender procedures and requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the letter of transmittal should be directed to the exchange agent at the address, telephone numbers or fax number listed above. Holders of Old Notes may also contact their commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the exchange offer. We will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
 
Announcements
 
We may make any announcement required pursuant to the terms of this prospectus or required by the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder through a reasonable press release or other public announcement in our sole discretion; provided, that, if any such announcement is made by issuing a press release to Business Wire, such announcement shall be reasonable and sufficient.
 
Other Fees and Expenses
 
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders of the Old Notes. The principal solicitation is being made by mail. Additional solicitations may, however, be made by e-mail, facsimile transmission, telephone or in person by the exchange agent as well as our officers and other employees and those of our affiliates.
 
We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with this exchange offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. However, we will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
 
Tendering holders of Old Notes will not be required to pay any fee or commission to the exchange agent. If, however, a tendering holder handles the transaction through its commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other institution, that holder may be required to pay brokerage fees or commissions.
 
Transfer Taxes
 
Holders who tender their Old Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with that tender or exchange, except that holders who instruct us to register New Notes in the name of, or request that Old Notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be


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returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax on those Old Notes.
 
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
 
Holders of Old Notes who do not exchange their Old Notes for New Notes under this exchange offer will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable in the Old Notes (i) as set forth in the legend printed on the Old Notes as a consequence of the issuance of the Old Notes pursuant to exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and (ii) otherwise as set forth in the prospectus distributed in connection with the private offering of the Old Notes.
 
Any Old Notes not tendered by their holders in exchange for New Notes in this exchange offer will not retain any rights under the Registration Rights Agreement (except in certain limited circumstances). See “—Resale Registration Statement; Additional Interest.”
 
In general, you may not offer or sell the Old Notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not intend to register resales of the Old Notes under the Securities Act. Based on interpretations of the SEC staff, New Notes issued pursuant to this exchange offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by their holders (other than any such holder that is our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the holders acquired the New Notes in the ordinary course of the business of the holder and any beneficial owner and the holders are not engaged in, have no arrangement with any person to participate in, and do not intend to engage in, any public distribution of the New Notes to be acquired in this exchange offer. Any holder who tenders in this exchange offer and is engaged in, has an arrangement with any person to participate in, or intends to engage in, any public distribution of the New Notes (i) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the SEC and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.
 
Resale Registration Statement; Additional Interest
 
Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we have agreed that if:
 
  (1)   any change in law or applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC do not permit us to effect the exchange offer;
 
  (2)   for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed by March 31, 2011 or the exchange offer is not completed within 90 days after March 31, 2011;
 
  (3)   any holder of the Notes notifies us that:
 
  (a)   it is prohibited by law or SEC policy from participating in the exchange offer; or
 
  (b)   it may not resell the New Notes acquired by it in the exchange offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales; or
 
  (c)   it is a broker-dealer (“Participating Broker-Dealer”) receiving New Notes in the exchange offer and owns Notes acquired directly from us or an affiliate of ours;
 
then we will use our reasonable best efforts, at our cost, to (a) file as promptly as practicable a registration statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) covering resales of the Notes; (b) cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act and (c) use our reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective for a period of one year after the Expiration Date, or such earlier date on which (a) such Notes covered by the Shelf Registration


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Statement have been sold, or (b)(i) the Notes are freely transferable by holders that are not our affiliates in accordance with Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act or otherwise where no conditions of Rule 144 are then applicable (other than the holding period requirement in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of Rule 144 so long as such holding period requirement is satisfied), (ii) the restrictive legend has been removed from the Notes, and (iii) the Notes do not bear a restricted CUSIP number. We will, in the event a Shelf Registration Statement is filed, among other things, provide to each holder for whom such Shelf Registration Statement was filed copies of the prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement, notify each such holder when the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective and take certain other actions as are required to permit unrestricted resales of the Notes. A holder selling Old Notes or New Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement generally would be required to be named as a selling security holder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers, and will be subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with such sales and will be bound by the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement which are applicable to such holder (including certain indemnification obligations).
 
The Registration Rights Agreement further provides that in the event that either (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed prior to June 30, 2011, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required under Registration Rights Agreement, has not become effective on or prior to June 30, 2011 or (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required, ceases to be effective or this prospectus ceases to be usable for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, the interest rate on the Old Notes will be increased by (x) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following and (y) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90 day period thereafter, in each case until the Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required, becomes effective or is no longer required or this prospectus becomes usable, up to a maximum increase of 0.50% per annum.
 
Other
 
Participation in this exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to participate. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision as to what action to take.


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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our financial statements and related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Except where the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to the business of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
General
 
Our Business
 
We are a leading mortgage company that services and originates residential mortgage loans. Our business primarily consists of two Operating Segments: residential mortgage loan servicing, or Servicing, and residential mortgage loan originations, or Originations.
 
We are one of the largest independent loan servicers in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, our servicing portfolio included over 389,000 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $64.2 billion. Our servicing portfolio consists of servicing rights acquired from or subservicing agreements entered into with various third parties as well as mortgage loans originated by our integrated origination platform. We are licensed as a residential mortgage loan servicer and/or a third party debt collector in all states that require such licensing.
 
We are one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with a loan origination platform. During 2010, we originated $2.8 billion in aggregate unpaid principal balance of prime residential mortgage loans. We currently only originate prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage loans, and we are licensed to originate residential mortgage loans in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Our loan production is originated with the intent of selling to the secondary market.
 
We also have a legacy asset portfolio, which consists primarily of non-prime and nonconforming residential mortgage loans, most of which we originated from April to July 2007. In November 2009, we engaged in a transaction through which we term-financed our legacy assets with a non-recourse loan that requires no additional capital or equity contributions. Additionally, we consolidated certain securitization trusts where it was determined that we had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the variable interest entities’ (VIE) economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, pursuant to new consolidation accounting guidance related to VIEs adopted on January 1, 2010.
 
The analysis of our financial condition and results of operations as discussed herein is primarily focused on the combined results of our two Operating Segments: Servicing and Originations.
 
Managing Business Performance
 
Management is focused on three key initiatives to manage our Operating Segments: (i) effective management of our servicing portfolio; (ii) growing our servicing portfolio through the acquisition of servicing rights or subservicing contracts; and (iii) origination and sale or securitization of prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage loans and retention of mortgage servicing rights. We also focus on access to diverse and multiple liquidity sources to finance (i) our obligations to pay advances as required by our servicing agreements and (ii) our loan originations.
 
We service loans by purchasing the right to service the loans, which is referred to as a “mortgage servicing right,” from the owner of the mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans, or


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retaining the mortgage servicing right related to the loans that we originate and sell. Additionally, we enter into subservicing contracts with primary servicers that own mortgage servicing rights, pursuant to which we agree to service the loan on behalf of the primary servicer for a fee. The aggregate unpaid principal balance of our servicing portfolio as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $64.2 billion, $33.7 billion and $21.3 billion, respectively.
 
Servicing fee income is primarily based on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans serviced and varies by loan type. Other factors that impact servicing fee income include delinquency rates, delinquency status and prepayment speeds.
 
Delinquency rates on the loans we service impact the contractual servicing and ancillary fees we receive, and the costs to service. Delinquent loans cost more to service than performing loans due to the additional resources and servicing advances required. We monitor our delinquency levels through our staffing models, our business plans and other macroeconomic factors.
 
Apart from the cost of financing our advances, the largest cost in our servicing organization is staffing cost, which is primarily impacted by delinquency levels and the size of our portfolio. Other operating costs in our Servicing Segment include technology, occupancy and general and administrative costs. Management continually monitors these costs to improve efficiency by streamlining workflows and implementing technology based solutions.
 
We intend to continue building our prime originations platform. Through our originations platform, we are able to create mortgage servicing assets at a reasonable cost and partially replenish our servicing portfolio organically.
 
Prevailing interest rates are one of the key factors that impact origination volume. Housing market trends also impact origination volume with a strong housing market leading to higher loan origination volume, and a weak housing market leading to lower loan origination volume. Management continually evaluates interest rate movements and trends to assess the impact on loan applications and volume, as well as their corresponding impact on revenue and costs.
 
In evaluating revenue per loan originated, management focuses on various revenue sources, including: loan origination points and fees; and overall gain or loss on the sale or securitization of the loan. These components are compared to established revenue targets and operating plans.
 
In addition to the cost of financing our originations, our Originations Segment operating costs include staffing costs, sales commissions, technology, rent and other general and administrative costs. Management continually monitors costs through comparisons to operating plans.
 
Market Considerations
 
Revenues from our Operating Segments primarily consist of (i) servicing fee income based generally on the size of our servicing portfolio and (ii) gain on mortgage loans held for sale based generally on the origination volume. Maintaining and growing our revenues depends on our ability to acquire additional mortgage servicing rights and to expand our originations platform.
 
Servicing
 
Current trends in the mortgage servicing industry include high delinquencies, a significant increase in loan modifications and the need for more loss mitigation and high-touch servicing expertise.
 
Overall, all segments of the residential mortgage sector, including prime and non-prime, have experienced increased delinquency levels and higher credit losses due to stress in the real estate market and economic environment. Residential loan delinquencies and related losses are at historical highs, prompting government-sponsored enterprises and other owners of mortgage loans to focus on home ownership preservation and superior credit performance.


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The increase in delinquencies has placed significant pressure on the operating capacity of servicers that are not staffed at appropriate levels for delinquent borrowers and also led owners of mortgage loans to search for servicers with experience in loss mitigation. This trend has led to increased demand for experienced high-touch servicers and provides us opportunities to acquire additional mortgage servicing rights.
 
However, we cannot predict how many, if any, mortgage servicing rights will be available for sale or subservicing opportunities will be available in the future; if we will be able to acquire mortgage servicing rights from third parties, including any transactions facilitated by government-sponsored enterprises; or whether these mortgage servicing rights will be available at acceptable prices or on acceptable terms.
 
Originations
 
Today’s U.S. residential loan originations sector primarily offers prime agency and government conforming mortgage loans. Non-prime and alternative lending programs and products represent only a small fraction of total originations. This has led to a consolidation in mortgage lenders in both the retail and wholesale channels and has resulted in less competition. We believe that the consolidation of the lending community has led to a market share opportunity for us.
 
Origination volume is impacted by changes in interest rates and the housing market. Depressed home prices and increased loan-to-value ratios may preclude many potential borrowers, including borrowers whose existing loans we service, from refinancing their existing loans. An increase in prevailing interest rates could decrease our origination volume through our Consumer Direct Retail originations channel, our largest originations channel by volume, because this channel focuses predominantly on refinancing existing mortgage loans.
 
In addition, there continue to be changes in legislation and licensing in an effort to simplify the consumer mortgage experience, which require technology changes and additional implementation costs for loan originators. We expect legislative changes will continue in the foreseeable future, which may increase our operating expenses.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments. In particular, we have identified two policies that, due to the judgment, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements. These policies relate to: (a) fair value measurements; and (b) sale of mortgage loans. We believe that the judgment, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are appropriate given the factual circumstances at the time. However, given the sensitivity of our consolidated financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition. Management currently views its fair value measurements, which include the valuation of mortgage loans held for sale, the valuation of mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, investment in debt securities-available-for sale, the valuation of mortgage servicing rights, the valuation of derivative instruments, the valuation of ABS nonrecourse debt and sale of mortgage loans to be our critical accounting policies.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
 
Through September 30, 2009, we recorded mortgage loans held for sale at the lower of amortized cost or fair value on an aggregate basis grouped by delinquency status. Effective October 1, 2009, we elected to measure newly originated prime residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair


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value, as permitted under current accounting guidance. We estimate fair value by evaluating a variety of market indicators including recent trades and outstanding commitments, calculated on an aggregate basis.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
 
We determine the fair value on loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt using internally developed valuation models. These valuation models estimate the exit price we expect to receive in the loan’s principal market. Although we utilize and give priority to observable market inputs such as interest rates and market spreads within these models, we typically are required to utilize internal inputs, such as prepayment speeds, credit losses, and discount rates. These internal inputs require the use of our judgment and can have a significant impact on the determination of the loan’s fair value.
 
Investment in Debt Securities
 
Investment in debt securities consists of beneficial interests we retain in securitization transactions accounted for as a sale under current accounting guidance. These securities are classified as available-for-sale securities, and are therefore carried at their market value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported in the comprehensive income (loss) component of members’ equity. We base our valuation of debt securities on observable market prices when available; however, due to illiquidity in the markets, observable market prices were not available on these debt securities at December 31, 2010 and 2009. When observable market prices are not available, we base valuations on internally developed discounted cash flow models that use a market-based discount rate. The valuation considers recent market transactions, experience with similar securities, current business conditions and analysis of the underlying collateral, as available. In order to estimate cash flows, we utilize a variety of assumptions, including assumptions for prepayments, cumulative losses, and other variables.
 
We evaluate investment in debt securities for impairment each quarter, and investment in debt securities is considered to be impaired when the fair value of the investment is less than its cost. The impairment is separated into impairments related to credit losses, which are recorded in current period operations, and impairments related to all other factors, which are recorded in other comprehensive income/loss.
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
We recognize mortgage servicing rights related to all existing residential mortgage loans transferred to a third party in a transfer that meets the requirements for sale accounting. Additionally, we may acquire the rights to service residential mortgage loans through the purchase of these rights from third parties. We apply fair value accounting to these mortgage servicing rights, with all changes in fair value recorded as a charge or credit to servicing fee income in the consolidated statement of operations. We estimate the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights using a process that combines the use of a discounted cash flow model and analysis of current market data to arrive at an estimate of fair value. The cash flow assumptions and prepayment assumptions used in the model are based on various factors, with the key assumptions being mortgage prepayment speeds and discount rates.
 
We use internal financial models that use, wherever possible, market participant data to value our mortgage servicing rights. These models are complex and use asset-specific collateral data and market inputs for interest and discount rates. In addition, the modeling requirements of mortgage servicing rights are complex because of the high number of variables that drive cash flows associated with mortgage servicing rights. Even if the general accuracy of our valuation models is validated, valuations are highly dependent upon the reasonableness of our assumptions and the predictability of the relationships that drive the results of the models. On a periodic basis, a portion of our mortgage servicing rights is reviewed by an outside valuation expert.


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Derivative Financial Instruments
 
We utilize certain derivative instruments in the ordinary course of our business to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates. These derivative instruments include forward sales of mortgage-backed securities, forward loan sale commitments and interest rate swaps and caps. We also issue interest rate lock commitments to borrowers in connection with single family mortgage loan originations. We recognize all derivative instruments on our consolidated statement of financial position at fair value. The estimated fair values of forward sales of mortgage-backed securities, forward sale commitments and interest rate swaps and caps are based on quoted market values and are recorded as other assets or derivative financial instruments liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The initial and subsequent changes in value on forward sales of mortgage-backed securities are a component of loss on mortgage loans held for sale in the consolidated statement of operations. The estimated fair values of interest rate lock commitments are based on quoted market values and are recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The initial and subsequent changes in value of interest rate lock commitments are a component of gain on mortgage loans held for sale in the consolidated statement of operations.
 
ABS Nonrecourse Debt
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance related to VIEs eliminated the concept of a QSPE, and all existing SPEs are now subject to the new consolidation guidance. Upon adoption of this new accounting guidance, we identified certain securitization trusts where we, through our affiliates, continued to hold beneficial interests in these trusts. These retained beneficial interests obligate us to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. In addition, as Master Servicer on the related mortgage loans, we retain the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE. When it is determined that we have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs are included in our consolidated financial statements. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, we derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests obtained as part of the securitization, including any retained investment in debt securities, mortgage servicing rights, and any remaining residual interests. In addition, we recognized the securitized mortgage loans as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as ABS nonrecourse debt on our consolidated balance sheet.
 
We estimate the fair value of ABS nonrecourse debt based on the present value of future expected discounted cash flows with the discount rate approximating current market value for similar financial instruments.
 
Sale of Mortgage Loans
 
Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered by us. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from us, (2) the transferee has the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) we do not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through either (a) an agreement that entitles and obligates us to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity or (b) the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets. Loan securitizations structured as sales as well as whole loan sales are accounted for as sales of mortgage loans and the resulting gains or losses on such sales, net of any accrual for standard representations and warranties, are reported in operating results as a component of loss on mortgage loans held for sale in the consolidated statement of operations during the period in which the securitization closes or the sale occurs.


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Recent Developments
 
On March 31, 2011, we purchased a 22% interest in ANC Acquisition LLC (ANC) for $6.6 million. ANC is the parent company of National Real Estate Information Services, Inc. (NREIS) a real estate services company. We will account for our investment in ANC on the equity method.
 
Results of Operations
 
Consolidated Results
 
The following table summarizes our consolidated operating results for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Revenues:
                       
Total fee income
  $ 184,084     $ 100,218     $ 74,007  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
    77,344       (21,349 )     (86,663 )
                         
Total revenues
    261,428       78,869       (12,656 )
Total expenses and impairments
    220,976       142,367       147,777  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    98,895       52,518       92,060  
Interest expense
    (116,163 )     (69,883 )     (65,548 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (9,801 )     (14 )     (23,689 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
    (23,297 )            
                         
Total other income (expense)
    (50,366 )     (17,379 )     2,823  
                         
Net loss
  $ (9,914 )   $ (80,877 )   $ (157,610 )
                         
 
We provide further discussion of our results of operations for each of our reportable segments in the “Segment Results” section below. Certain income and expenses not allocated to our reportable segments are presented in the Legacy Portfolio and Other as discussed in Note 22- Business Segment Reporting, in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this prospectus.
 
Comparison of Consolidated Results for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Revenues increased $182.5 million from $78.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 to $261.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to the significant increase in our total fee income and an increase in our gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale. The increase in our total fee income was primarily a result of (1) our higher average servicing portfolio balance of $38.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $25.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009, and (2) an increase in portfolio level performance-based fees and fees earned for loss mitigation activities. The increase in the gain on loans held for sale was a result of the $1.3 billion, or 88.7%, increase in the amount of loans originated during 2010 as well as the elimination of lower of cost or market adjustments related to our legacy asset portfolio.
 
Expenses and impairments increased $78.6 million from $142.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 to $221.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to the increase in compensation expenses related to increased staffing levels in order to accommodate our larger servicing portfolio and originations as well as other related increases in general and administrative expenses. Our 2010 operating results include an additional $12.1 million in share-based compensation expense from a revised compensation plan executed for certain members of our executive team. Additionally, expenses and impairments increased from the consolidation of certain VIEs from January 1, 2010, and from expenses associated with the settlement of certain claims.


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Other expense increased $33.0 million from $17.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 to $50.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to the effects of the consolidation of certain VIEs and the losses on our outstanding interest rate swap positions during 2010.
 
Comparison of Consolidated Results for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Revenues increased $91.6 million from $(12.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $78.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to (1) the increase in fee income as a result of the 57.7% increase in our servicing portfolio year over year and (2) the reduction in the loss on mortgage loans held for sale.
 
The decrease in loss was caused by the increase in our loans originated during 2009 compared to 2008 and the reduction in the lower of cost or market adjustments recorded in 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Expenses and impairments decreased $5.4 million from $147.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $142.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to the reduction in the other-than-temporary impairments recognized on available for sale securities during 2009, partially offset by the increase in all other expense categories due to the increases in our loan originations and loan servicing portfolio.
 
Other income (expense) increased $20.2 million from $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $(17.4) million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily due to a decrease in interest income and an increase in interest expense as a result of larger advance balances caused by our increased servicing portfolio, offset by a reduction in loss on interest rate swaps and caps.
 
Segment Results
 
Our primary business strategy is to generate recurring, stable income from managing and growing our servicing portfolio and our originations. We operate through two business segments: Servicing and Originations, which we refer to collectively as our Operating Segments. We report the activity not related to either operating segment in the Legacy Portfolio and Other. The Legacy Portfolio and Other includes primarily all sub-prime mortgage loans (i) originated in the latter portion of 2006 and during 2007 or (ii) acquired from Centex Home Equity Company, LLC (CHEC), and VIEs which were consolidated pursuant to the January 1, 2010 adoption of new consolidation guidance related to VIEs.
 
The accounting policies of each reportable segment are the same as those of the consolidated financial statements except for (i) expenses for consolidated back-office operations and general overhead expenses such as executive administration and accounting and (ii) revenues generated on inter-segment services performed. Expenses are allocated to individual segments based on the estimated value of the services performed, including estimated utilization or square footage and corporate personnel, as well as the equity invested in each segment. Revenues generated or inter-segment services performed are valued based on similar services provided to external parties.


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Servicing Segment
 
The Servicing Segment provides loan servicing on our servicing portfolio, including the collection of principal and interest payments and the generation of ancillary fees related to the servicing of mortgage loans.
 
The following table summarizes our operating results from our Servicing Segment for the periods indicated (in thousands).
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Revenues:
                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 175,569     $ 91,266     $ 69,235  
Other fee income
    7,273       8,867       5,366  
                         
Total fee income
    182,842       100,133       74,601  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
                 
                         
Total revenues
    182,842       100,133       74,601  
Expenses and impairments:
                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    78,269       56,726       41,755  
General and administrative
    24,664       10,669       9,878  
Occupancy
    4,350       3,502       3,404  
                         
Total expenses and impairments
    107,283       70,897       55,037  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    263       4,143       10,872  
Interest expense
    (51,791 )     (25,877 )     (15,718 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (9,801 )            
                         
Total other income (expense)
    (61,329 )     (21,734 )     (4,846 )
                         
Net income from Servicing Segment
  $ 14,230     $ 7,502     $ 14,718  
                         
 
Increase in aggregate unpaid principal balance of our servicing portfolio primarily governs the increase in revenues, expenses and other income (expense) of our Servicing Segment.
 
The table below provides detail of the characteristics and key performance metrics of our servicing portfolio as of or for the year ended.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (dollars in millions, except for average loan amount)  
 
Unpaid principal balance (by investor):
                       
Special Servicing
  $ 4,885     $ 1,554     $ 1,218  
Government-sponsored enterprises
    52,202       24,235       10,709  
ABS
    7,089       7,875       9,415  
                         
Total unpaid principal balance
  $ 64,176     $ 33,664     $ 21,342  
                         
Loan count—servicing
    389,172       230,615       159,336  
Average Servicing Portfolio
  $ 38,653     $ 25,799     $ 12,775  
Average loan amount
  $ 164,904     $ 145,977     $ 133,943  
Average coupon
    5.74 %     6.76 %     7.49 %
Average FICO
    631       644       588  
60+ delinquent (% of loans)(1)
    17.0 %     19.9 %     13.1 %
Total prepayment speed (12 month CPR)
    13.3 %     16.3 %     16.2 %
 
 
(1) Loan delinquency is based on the current contractual due date of the loan. In the case of a completed loan modification, delinquency is based on the modified due date of the loan.


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Revenues
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Total revenues were $182.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $100.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $82.7 million, or 82.6%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Servicing fee income increased $84.3 million period over period primarily from:
 
  (a)  Increase of $34.8 million due to higher average unpaid principal balance of $38.7 billion in 2010 compared to $25.8 billion in 2009. The increase in our servicing portfolio was primarily driven by an increase in average unpaid principal balance for loans serviced for government-sponsored enterprises and other subservicing contracts for third party investors of $31.2 billion in 2010 compared to $17.2 billion in 2009. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in average unpaid principal balance for our asset-backed securitizations portfolio, which decreased to $7.4 billion in 2010 compared to $8.7 billion in 2009.
 
  (b)  Increase of $8.9 million due to increased loss mitigation and performance-based incentive fees earned from a government-sponsored enterprise.
 
  (c)  Increase of $17.9 million due to higher fees earned from HAMP and from modification fees earned on non-HAMP modifications. As a high-touch servicer, we use modifications as a key loss mitigation tool. Under HAMP, subject to a program participation cap, we, as a servicer, will receive an initial incentive payment of up to $1,500 for each loan modified in accordance with HAMP subject to the condition that the borrower successfully completes a trial modification period. With this program, the servicer must forego any late fees and may not charge any other fees. In addition, provided that a HAMP modification does not become 90 days or more delinquent, we will receive an incentive of up to $1,000. Initial redefault rates have been favorable, averaging 10% to 20%. The HAMP program has an expiration date of December 31, 2012 and is only eligible for first lien mortgages that were originated on or before January 1, 2009. For non-HAMP modifications, we generally do not waive late fees, and we charge a modification fee. These amounts are collected at the time of the modification.
 
  (d)  Increase of $21.7 million from change in fair value on mortgage servicing rights which was recognized in servicing fee income. The fair value of our mortgage servicing rights is impacted by expected future cash flows from our MSRs considering prepayment estimates, portfolio characteristics, delinquencies, interest rates and other economic factors. Generally, the value of MSRs increases when interest rates increase and decreases when interest rates decline due to the effect those changes in interest rates have on prepayment estimates. Other factors affecting the MSR value includes the estimated effects of loan modifications on expected cash flows. Such modifications tend to extend the expected life of the affected MSR and have the potential to produce additional revenue opportunities depending on the type of modification. However, given that the fair value of our MSRs is determined using assumptions that are consistent with what other major market participants use in valuing MSRs, the effects of loan modifications are not a significant component of the valuation as most market participants are not high touch servicers. In addition, the number of modifications executed varies with the delinquencies and characteristics of the portfolio. Delinquent portfolios tend to have lower MSR values compared to newly originated servicing rights. Modifications are an even smaller component of the value for newly originated servicing rights as the collateral is less credit sensitive.
 
  (e)  Increase of $1.0 million due to an increase in ancillary and late fees arising from growth in the servicing portfolio. Late fees are recognized as revenue at collection.
 
  •  Other fee income decreased $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 due to lower lender-placed insurance commissions and lower REO sales commissions resulting from a decline in REO sales managed by our internal REO sales group.


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For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Total revenues were $100.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $74.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $25.5 million, or 34.2%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Servicing fee income increased $22.1 million year over year primarily from:
 
  (a)  Increase of $20.8 million due to higher average unpaid principal balance of $25.8 billion in 2009 compared to $12.8 billion in 2008. The increase in our servicing portfolio was primarily driven by an increase in average unpaid principal balance for loans serviced for government-sponsored enterprises and other subservicing contracts for third party investors in 2009 compared to 2008. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in average unpaid principal balance for our private asset-backed securitizations portfolio, which decreased in 2009 compared to 2008.
 
  (b)  Increase of $7.7 million due to increased loss mitigation and performance-based incentive fees earned from a government-sponsored enterprise.
 
  (c)  Increase of $3.3 million due to higher modification fees earned from HAMP and from modification fees earned on non-HAMP modifications.
 
  (d)  Increase of $7.0 million due to increased collection of late fees, primarily due to higher average unpaid principal balance of our servicing portfolio. Late fees are recognized as revenue at collection.
 
  (e)  Decrease of $16.2 million from change in fair value on mortgage servicing rights which was recognized in servicing fee income.
 
  •  Other fee income increased $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from higher lender-placed insurance commissions, which is primarily due to higher delinquency rates in 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Expenses and Impairments
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Expenses and impairments were $107.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $70.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $36.4 million, or 51.3%, primarily due to an increase of $21.6 million in salaries, wages and benefits expense resulting from an increase in headcount from 910 in 2009 to 1,178 in 2010 and $4.8 million in additional share-based compensation from a revised compensation plan for certain of our executives. Additionally, we recognized an increase of $14.8 million in general and administrative and occupancy expenses associated with increased headcount, growth in the servicing portfolio and increases in reserves for non-recoverable advances.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Expenses and impairments were $70.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $55.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $15.9 million, or 28.9%, primarily due to the increase of $14.9 million in salaries, wages and benefits expense resulting from an increase in headcount from 570 in 2008 to 910 in 2009.


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Other Income (Expense)
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Total other income (expense) was $(61.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $(21.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase in expense, net of income, of $39.6 million, or 182.5%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Interest income decreased $3.8 million due to lower average index rates received on custodial cash deposits associated with mortgage loans serviced combined with lower average outstanding custodial cash deposit balances.
 
  •  Interest expense increased $25.9 million primarily due to higher average outstanding debt of $638.6 million in 2010 compared to $313.3 million in 2009, offset by lower interest rates due to declines in the base LIBOR and decreases in the overall index margin on outstanding servicer advance facilities. Additionally, in 2010, we have included the balances related to our outstanding corporate note and senior unsecured debt balances, and the related interest expense thereon, as a component of our Servicing Segment. As a result of the weakening housing market, we continued to carry approximately $368.3 million in residential mortgage loans that we were unable to securitize as mortgage loans held for sale on our balance sheet throughout most of 2009. During this time period, we allocated a portion of our outstanding corporate note balance to Legacy Portfolio and Other to account for the increased capacity and financing costs we incurred while these loans were retained on our balance sheet. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded $21.7 million in interest expense related to our outstanding corporate and senior unsecured notes.
 
  •  Loss on interest rate swaps and caps was $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, with no corresponding gain or loss recognized for the year ended December 31, 2009. The loss for the period was a result of a decline in fair value recognized during the period on outstanding interest rate swaps designed to economically hedge the interest rate risk associated with our 2009-ADV1 Servicer Advance Facility. This facility was not executed until the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, so we did not recognize any corresponding fair value adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Total other income (expense), which for the most part consisted of interest expense, was $(21.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $(4.8) million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase in expense, net of income, of $16.9 million, or 352.1%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Increase of $7.7 million from additional amortization of deferred financing costs resulting from refinancing or renewal of our advance financing facilities.
 
  •  Increase of $6.7 million from decline in interest income earned on custodial cash deposits associated with mortgage loans serviced primarily due to lower average deposits and index rates.
 
  •  Increase of $1.4 million from compensating interest due to increased average unpaid principal balance.
 
  •  Increase of $1.1 million from higher average outstanding debt of $313.3 million in 2009 compared to $259.1 million in 2008, offset by lower interest rates due to declines in the base LIBOR.


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Originations Segment
 
The Originations Segment involves the origination, packaging, and sale of government-sponsored enterprise mortgage loans into the secondary markets via whole loan sales or securitizations.
 
The following table summarizes our operating results from our Originations Segment for the periods indicated (in thousands).
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Revenues:
                       
Other fee income
  $ 7,042     $ 1,156     $ 589  
                         
Total fee income
    7,042       1,156       589  
Gain on mortgage loans held for sale
    77,498       54,437       21,985  
                         
Total revenues
    84,540       55,593       22,574  
Expenses and impairments:
                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    57,852       31,497       18,357  
General and administrative
    26,761       14,586       10,864  
Occupancy
    2,307       1,449       1,574  
                         
Total expenses and impairments
    86,920       47,532       30,795  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    11,848       4,261       1,920  
Interest expense
    (8,806 )     (3,438 )     (1,289 )
                         
Total other income (expense)
    3,042       823       631  
                         
Net income (loss) from Originations Segment
  $ 662     $ 8,884     $ (7,590 )
                         
 
Increase in origination volume primarily governs the increase in revenues, expenses and other income (expense) of our Originations Segment. The table below provides detail of the loan characteristics of loans originated for the periods presented.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Origination Volume (in millions):
                       
Retail
  $ 1,608     $ 1,093     $ 538  
Wholesale
    1,183       38       4  
                         
Total Originations
  $ 2,791     $ 1,479     $ 542  
                         
 
Revenues
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Total revenues were $84.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $55.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $28.9 million, or 52.1%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Other fee income increased $5.8 million primarily due to our election to measure newly originated prime residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, effective October 1, 2009. Subsequent to this election, any collected points and fees related to originated mortgage loans held for sale are included in other fee income. Prior to this election, points and fees were recorded as deferred origination income and recognized over the life of the mortgage loan as an adjustment to our interest income yield or, when the related loan was sold to a third-party purchaser, included as a component of gain on mortgage loans held for sale.


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• Gain on mortgage loans held for sale increased $23.1 million primarily from:
 
  (a)  Increase of $22.4 million from improved margins and larger volume of originations, which increased from $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009 to $2.8 billion in originations for the year December 31, 2010.
 
  (b)  Increase of $17.9 million from capitalized mortgage servicing rights due to the larger volume of originations and subsequent retention of servicing rights.
 
  (c)  Decrease of $0.7 million from change in unrealized gains/(losses) on derivative financial instruments. These include interest rate lock commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities.
 
  (d)  Decrease of $20.2 million from recognition of points and fees earned on mortgage loans held for sale for the year ended December 31, 2009. Effective October 1, 2009, all points and fees are recognized at origination upon the election to apply fair value accounting to newly-originated loans and are recognized as a component of other fee income.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Total revenues were $55.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $22.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $33.0 million, or 146.0%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Gain on mortgage loans held for sale increased $32.4 million primarily from:
 
  (a)  Increase of $24.8 million from larger volume of originations, which increased from $0.5 billion in 2008 to $1.5 billion in 2009.
 
  (b)  Increase of $3.8 million from capitalized mortgage servicing rights due to larger volume of origination and subsequent retention of servicing rights.
 
  (c)  Increase of $3.8 million from change in unrealized gains/(losses) on derivative financial instruments. These include interest rate lock commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities.
 
Expenses and Impairments
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Expenses and impairments were $86.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $47.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $39.4 million, or 82.9%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Increase of $26.4 million in salaries, wages and benefits expense from increase in headcount of 452 in 2009 to 688 in 2010 and increases in performance based compensation. Additionally, we recognized $3.9 million in share-based compensation expense from a revised compensation plan for certain of our executives.
 
  •  Increase of $13.1 million in general and administrative and occupancy expense primarily due to increase in overhead expenses from the larger volume of originations in 2010 and expenses associated with the settlement of certain claims.


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For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Expenses and impairments were $47.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $30.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $16.7 million, or 54.2%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Increase of $13.1 million in salaries, wages and benefits expense from increase in headcount of 311 in 2008 to 452 in 2009 and increases in performance based compensation.
 
  •  Increase of $3.7 million in general and administrative expense primarily due to increase in overhead expenses from larger volume of origination in 2009.
 
Other Income (Expense)
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Total other income (expense) was $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase in income, net of expense, of $2.2 million, or 275.0%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Interest income increased $7.5 million from interest earned from originated loans prior to sale or securitization. The increase is primarily due to the increase in the volume of originations. Loans are typically sold within 30 days of origination.
 
  •  Interest expense increased $5.4 million primarily due to an increase in origination volume in 2010 and associated financing required to originate these loans combined with a slight increase in outstanding average days in warehouse on newly originated loans.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Total other income (expense) was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase in income, net of expense, of $0.2 million, or 33.3%, primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Interest income increased $2.4 million primarily due to interest earned from originated loans prior to sale or securitization. Loans are typically sold within 30 days of origination.
 
  •  Interest expense increased $2.1 million primarily due to interest expense from warehouse facilities that finance the origination of loans.
 
Legacy Portfolio and Other
 
Through December 2009, our legacy asset portfolio consisted primarily of non-prime and nonconforming residential mortgage loans that we primarily originated from April to July 2007. Revenues and expenses are primarily a result of mortgage loans transferred to securitization trusts that were structured as secured borrowings, resulting in carrying the securitized loans as mortgage loans held for investment on our consolidated balance sheets and recognizing the asset-backed certificates as nonrecourse debt. Prior to September 2009, these residential mortgage loans were classified as mortgage loans held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet and carried at the lower of cost or fair value and financed through a combination of our existing warehouse facilities and our corporate note. These loans were transferred on October 1, 2009, from mortgage loans held for sale to a held-for-investment classification at fair value on the transfer date. Subsequent to the transfer date, we completed the securitization of the mortgage loans, which was structured as a secured borrowing. This structure resulted in carrying the securitized loans as mortgages on our consolidated balance sheet and recognizing the asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as nonrecourse debt.
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE. Consequently, all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to the new consolidation guidance. Upon consolidation of certain of these VIEs, we recognized the securitized


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mortgage loans related to these securitization trusts as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt (see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements). Additionally, we elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10. Assets and liabilities related to these VIEs are included in Legacy Portfolio and Other in our segmented results.
 
The following table summarizes our operating results from Legacy Portfolio and Other for the periods indicated (in thousands).
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Revenues:
                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 820     $     $  
Other fee income
    2,643              
                         
Total fee income
    3,463              
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
          (75,786 )     (108,648 )
                         
Total revenues
    3,463       (75,786 )     (108,648 )
Expenses and impairments:
                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    13,148       3,537       2,854  
General and administrative
    7,488       5,239       1,452  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    3,503       7,512       2,567  
Occupancy
    2,788       1,912       1,043  
Loss on available-for-sale securities-other-than-temporary
          6,809       55,212  
                         
Total expenses and impairments
    26,927       25,009       63,128  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    77,521       44,114       79,268  
Interest expense
    (55,566 )     (40,568 )     (48,541 )
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps and caps
          (14 )     (23,689 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
    (23,297 )            
                         
Total other income (expense)
    (1,342 )     3,532       7,038  
                         
Net loss from Legacy Portfolio & Other
  $ (24,806 )   $ (97,263 )   $ (164,738 )
                         
 
The table below provides detail of the characteristics of our Legacy Portfolio and other for the dates indicated (in thousand):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010(1)     2009     2008  
 
Legacy Portfolio and Other Performance:
                       
Performing—UPB
  $ 1,037,201     $ 345,516     $ 627,368  
Nonperforming (90+ Delinquency)—UPB
    337,779       141,602       100,452  
Real Estate Owned—Estimated Fair Value
    27,337       10,262       21,822  
                         
Total Legacy Portfolio and Other—UPB
  $ 1,402,318     $ 497,380     $ 749,642  
                         
 
 
(1) Amounts include one previously off-balance sheet securitization which was consolidated upon adoption of ASC 810 related to consolidation of certain VIEs.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Total revenues were $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $(75.8) million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily a result of a change in classification on mortgage loans held for sale discussed above, with no gain on mortgage loans held


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for sale recorded for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a loss of $75.8 million recorded for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Expenses and impairments were $26.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $1.9 million, or 7.6%, primarily due to an increase in headcount and allocated expenses for corporate support functions and executive oversight. Additionally, we recognized $3.6 million in additional share-based compensation expense from a revised compensation plan for certain of our executives. These expense increases were offset by the net impact of the adoption of new accounting guidance on the consolidation of certain securitization trusts which resulted in a $4.0 million reduction in charges from losses realized on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate and a decrease of $6.8 million in other-than-temporary impairments recognized on our investment in debt securities-available-for-sale.
 
Total other income (expense) was $(1.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of $4.8 million, or 137.1%. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in our net interest income, offset by fair value changes in our ABS securitizations. Interest income, net of interest expense, increased to $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in interest income, net was due to the consolidation of certain securitization trusts upon the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs. Fair value changes in ABS securitizations included a loss of $23.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, with no corresponding amount for the year ended December 31, 2009, due to the election of the fair value option on consolidated VIEs.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Total revenues were $(75.8) million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $(108.6) million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $32.8 million, or 30.2%. This increase was a result of lower mark-to-market adjustments on our outstanding legacy portfolio. We accounted for the excess of cost over fair value of these loans as a valuation allowance with changes in the valuation allowance included in loss on mortgage loans held for sale. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the change in the outstanding valuation allowance resulted in net income of $8.8 million, compared to a net loss of $42.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. These amounts were partially offset by higher realized losses on existing portfolio rewrites and liquidations on our existing legacy portfolio and real estate owned of $80.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to a loss of $56.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
Expenses and impairments were $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $63.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of $38.1 million, or 60.4%, primarily due to a decrease of $48.4 million in other-than-temporary impairments recognized on our investment in debt securities-available-for-sale attributable to lower overall outstanding carrying balances on outstanding debt securities, offset by an increase in unallocated corporate expenses and an increase in losses realized on loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate.
 
The deterioration of the housing market and related illiquidity in the capital markets resulted in an overall decrease in the credit quality of the residential mortgage loans that collateralize our retained investment in debt securities. As a result of these weakening conditions, in 2008 we determined that we would not be able to fully recover all of our recorded investment in these related debt securities, and recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $55.2 million, compared to $6.8 million in impairments for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease in our recognized impairments was primarily a result of our lower overall total outstanding investment in these debt securities.
 
During late 2008 and 2009, increased foreclosure activities resulted in an increase in real estate owned, coupled with the continuing deterioration of the housing market, our real estate owned losses increased. Our increased loss severities were also impacted by management initiatives enacted in 2009


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to liquidate existing foreclosed real estate in advance of continued deterioration in certain housing markets.
 
We estimate the fair value of the real estate owned at the time that a loan is transferred to the real estate owned classification. Real estate owned is recorded at estimated fair value less costs to sell at the date of foreclosure. Fair value is estimated using the most recently obtained appraised value or broker price opinion, as applicable, adjusted, as necessary, to reflect expected price concessions based on historical experience. Upon foreclosure, we obtain a third party appraisal and a third party broker price opinion. Subsequently, we obtain updated broker price opinions every 90 days for our real estate owned. We review recent real estate owned sales activity on a quarterly basis to ensure that the resulting overall net sales proceeds received are consistent with our estimated fair value. Any subsequent declines in fair value are credited to a valuation allowance and charged to operations as incurred.
 
Total other income was $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 50.0%. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income year over year of approximately $27.3 million, offset by a decrease in loss on interest rate swaps and caps. The decrease in interest income, net was attributable to an overall decrease in our total outstanding performing legacy portfolio assets to $345.5 million as of December 31, 2009, compared to $627.4 million as of December 31, 2008. In addition, our weighted average interest rates on our outstanding legacy portfolio assets decreased to 7.58% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 9.11% for the year ended December 31, 2008. Loss on interest rate swaps and caps decreased to $0.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to $23.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Prior to 2009, we entered into interest rate swap agreements to economically hedge the interest payments on the warehouse debt and securitization of our mortgage loans held for sale. The $23.7 million decrease in loss on interest rate swaps and caps was due to our unwinding of outstanding interest rate swap positions during 2008.


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Analysis of Items on Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
The following table presents our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).
 
                 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
 
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 21,223     $ 41,645  
Restricted cash
    91,125       52,795  
Accounts receivable
    439,071       509,974  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    371,160       203,131  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    266,840       301,910  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    538,440        
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale
          2,486  
Receivables from affiliates
    8,993       12,574  
Mortgage servicing rights
    145,062       114,605  
Property and equipment, net
    8,394       6,575  
Real estate owned, net (includes $17,509 and $0, respectively, of real estate owned, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    27,337       10,262  
Other assets
    29,536       24,228  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,947,181     $ 1,280,185  
                 
Liabilities and members’ equity
               
Notes payable
  $ 709,758     $ 771,857  
Unsecured senior notes
    244,061        
Payables and accrued liabilities
    75,054       66,830  
Derivative financial instruments
    7,801        
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781        
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    138,662       177,675  
ABS nonrecourse debt
    496,692        
                 
Total liabilities
    1,690,809       1,016,362  
Total members’ equity
    256,372       263,823  
                 
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 1,947,181     $ 1,280,185  
                 
 
Comparison of Consolidated Balance Sheet Items—December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2009
 
Assets
 
Restricted cash consists of custodial accounts related to collections on certain mortgage loans and mortgage loan advances that have been pledged to debt counterparties under various Master Repurchase Agreements. Restricted cash was $91.1 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $38.3 million from December 31, 2009, primarily a result of the increase in custodial deposits from mortgage loan advances. These custodial deposits are held in trust until they are remitted to the bond investors to pay down the asset-backed certificates.
 
Accounts receivable consists primarily of accrued interest receivable on mortgage loans and securitizations, collateral deposits on surety bonds, and advances made to nonconsolidated securitization trusts, as required under various servicing agreements related to delinquent loans, which are ultimately paid back to us from the securitization trusts. Accounts receivable was $439.1 million at December 31, 2010, a decrease of $70.9 million from December 31, 2009. The decrease in accounts receivable was primarily a result of decreases in outstanding delinquency and corporate and escrow advances of $57.6 million and $41.6 million, respectively. During the period, the GSEs began to repurchase loans from securitization trusts that we service for them that are 120 days or more past


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due. In conjunction with these repurchases, principal and interest advances that we had made as servicer for these loans were repaid. As such, our accounts receivable balance decreased significantly during the period as well as our corresponding borrowings under our MBS Advance Funding facility that we utilize to fund such advances.
 
Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value, as permitted under ASC 825, Financial Instruments. We estimate fair value by evaluating a variety of market indicators including recent trades and outstanding commitments. Mortgage loans held for sale was $371.2 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $168.1 million over December 31, 2009, a result of higher origination volume during the 2010 period.
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—legacy assets consist of nonconforming or subprime mortgage loans securitized which serve as collateral for the nonrecourse debt. These loans were transferred on October 1, 2009, from mortgage loans held for sale at fair value on the transfer date, as determined by the present value of expected future cash flows, with no valuation allowance recorded. Any decreases in expected cash flows subsequent to the transfer are recognized as a valuation allowance. Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—legacy assets was $266.8 million at December 31, 2010, a decrease of $35.1 million from December 31, 2009, a result of principal collections and liquidations on the outstanding mortgage loans.
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt consist of mortgage loans that were recognized upon the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs effective January 1, 2010. To more accurately represent the future economic performance of the securitization collateral and related debt balances, we elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10 Financial Instruments-Overall. This option was applied to all eligible items within the VIE, including mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related ABS nonrecourse debt.
 
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale consists of beneficial interests we retain in securitization transactions accounted for as a sale under the guidance of ASC 860. Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance for VIEs eliminated the concept of a QSPE and all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to the new consolidation guidance. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests, including retained investment in debt securities, obtained as part of the securitization (see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements).
 
Receivables from affiliates consist of periodic transactions with Nationstar Regular Holdings, Ltd., a subsidiary of FIF HE Holdings LLC. These transactions typically involve the monthly payment of principal and interest advances that are required to be remitted to securitization trusts as required under various Pooling and Servicing Agreements. These amounts are later repaid to us when principal and interest advances are recovered from the respective borrowers. Receivables from affiliates were $9.0 million at December 31, 2010, a decrease of $3.6 million from December 31, 2009, as a result of increased recoveries on outstanding principal and interest advances.
 
Mortgage servicing rights consist of servicing assets related to all existing residential mortgage loans transferred to a third party in a transfer that meets the requirements for sale accounting, or through the acquisition of the right to service residential mortgage loans that do not relate to our assets. Mortgage servicing rights were $145.1 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $30.5 million over December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily a result of the capitalization of newly created mortgage servicing rights of $26.3 million, combined with the purchase of $17.8 million in mortgage servicing rights, offset by the de-recognition of previously recognized mortgage servicing rights on the consolidation of certain securitization trusts for the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs of $7.6 million, and the change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights.


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Property and equipment, net increased by approximately $1.8 million, primarily as a result of expenditures related to newly opened retail branches and increased hardware acquisitions to support servicing expansion.
 
Real estate owned, net represents property we acquired as a result of foreclosures on delinquent mortgage loans. Real estate owned, net is recorded at estimated fair value, less costs to sell, at the date of foreclosure. Any subsequent operating activity and declines in value are charged to earnings. Real estate owned, net was $27.3 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $17.0 million over December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily a result of the adoption of the new accounting guidance related to VIEs, resulting in the recognition of $17.5 million in real estate owned properties from a consolidated VIE.
 
Other assets consist of principally deferred financing costs, derivative financial instruments, and prepaid expenses. Other assets were $29.5 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $5.3 million over December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily a result of an increase in deferred financing costs from our March 2010 offering and other higher prepaid expenses.
 
Liabilities and Members’ Equity
 
At December 31, 2010, total liabilities were $1.7 billion, a $0.7 billion increase from December 31, 2009. The increase in total liabilities was primarily a result of the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs, resulting in the recognition of $0.5 billion in asset-backed certificates from a consolidated VIE combined with a March 2010 offering of Senior Unsecured Notes of $244 million.
 
Included in our payables and accrued liabilities caption on our balance sheet is our reserve for repurchases and indemnifications amounting to $7.3 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. This liability represents our (i) estimate of losses to be incurred on the repurchase of certain loans that we previously sold and (ii) an estimate of losses to be incurred for indemnification of losses incurred by purchasers or insurers with respect to loans that we sold . Certain sale contracts include provisions requiring us to repurchase a loan or indemnify the purchaser or insurer for losses if a borrower fails to make certain initial loan payments due to the acquirer or if the accompanying mortgage loan fails to meet certain customary representations and warranties. These representations and warranties are made to the loan purchasers or insurers about various characteristics of the loans, such as manner of origination, the nature and extent of underwriting standards applied and the types of documentation being provided and typically are in place for the life of the loan. Although the representations and warranties are in place for the life of the loan, we believe that most repurchase requests occur within the first five years of the loan. In the event of a breach of the representations and warranties, we may be required to either repurchase the loan or indemnify the purchaser for losses it sustains on the loan. In addition, an investor may request that we refund a portion of the premium paid on the sale of mortgage loans if a loan is prepaid within a certain amount of time from the date of sale. We record a provision for estimated repurchases, loss indemnification and premium recapture on loans sold, which is charged to gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale.
 
During 2010, the reserve for repurchases and indemnifications increased by approximately $3.7 million. This increase was principally due to the significant increase in loan sales during 2010 over the 2009 period. Secondarily, the reserve was increased based on outstanding claims received. Since 2008, we have completed the repurchase process on approximately sixty loans. Of this number, fifteen were repurchased and one represented a make whole (i.e. indemnification of investor). Of the remaining requests thirty four were rescinded and ten were refinanced with minimal loss to us. We have observed an increase in repurchase requests in each of the last two years. We believe that because of the increase in our originations during 2009 and 2010, we expect that repurchase requests are likely to increase. Should home values continue to decrease, our realized losses from loan repurchases and indemnifications may increase as well. As such, our reserve for repurchases may be


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required to increase beyond our current expectations. While the ultimate amount of repurchases and premium recapture is an estimate, we consider the liability to be adequate at each balance sheet date.
 
At December 31, 2010, outstanding members’ equity was $256.4 million, a $7.4 million decrease from December 31, 2009. The decrease in members’ equity was primarily driven by an $9.9 million net loss for the year ended December 31, 2010, a cumulative effect adjustment from the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs resulting in a cumulative effect decrease in our beginning members’ units of $8.1 million, offset by $9.5 million in share-based compensation (net of taxes) during the period and $1.1 million in the change in value of a cash flow hedge.
 
Recent Accounting Developments
 
On January 1, 2010, we adopted new Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) accounting guidance on transfers of financial assets and consolidation of VIEs. This new accounting guidance revises sale accounting criteria for transfers of financial assets, including elimination of the concept of and accounting for qualifying special purpose entities (QSPEs), and significantly changes the criteria for consolidation of a VIE. The adoption of this new accounting guidance resulted in the consolidation of certain VIEs that previously were QSPEs that were not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet prior to January 1, 2010. We recorded an $8.1 million charge to members’ equity on January 1, 2010 for the cumulative effect of the adoption of this new accounting guidance, which resulted principally from the derecognition of the retained interests in the securitizations. Initial recording of these assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet had no impact at the date of adoption on consolidated results of operations.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (Update No. 2010-06). Update No. 2010-06 requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements, including separate disclosures of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the reasons for the transfers. Additionally, the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. Update No. 2010-06 also clarifies previous disclosure requirements, including the requirement that entities provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements for both Level 2 and Level 3 measurements. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures required under Update No. 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, and was adopted for the interim reporting period ending March 31, 2010, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlement in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-18, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan Is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset (Update No. 2010-18). Update No. 2010-18 clarifies the accounting treatment for modifications of loans that are accounted for within a pool under Subtopic 310-30, Receivables—Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (Subtopic 310-30), requiring an entity to continue to include modified loans in the pool even if the modification of those loans would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring. Loans accounted for individually under Subtopic 310-30 continue to be subject to the troubled debt restructuring accounting provisions within Subtopic 310-40, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors. The amendments in this update were effective for Nationstar for modifications of loans accounted for within pools under Subtopic 310-30 occurring in the first interim or annual period ending on or after July 15, 2010. The adoption of Update No. 2010-18 did not have a material impact on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses (Update No. 2010-20). Update No. 2010-20 is intended


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to provide users of financial statements with greater transparency regarding a company’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. It is intended to provide additional information to assist financial statement users in assessing an entity’s credit risk exposures and evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses. The additional disclosure requirements for this amendment are effective for Nationstar for annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of Update No. 2010-20 will not have a material impact on Nationstar’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Liquidity measures our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including the funding of servicing advances, paying operating expenses, origination of loans and repayment of borrowings. Our cash balance decreased from $41.6 million as of December 31, 2009 to $21.2 million as of December 31, 2010, primarily due to greater cash outflows from our financing activities to repay our outstanding debt facilities.
 
We shifted our strategy after 2007 to leverage our industry-leading servicing capabilities and capitalize on the opportunities to grow our origination platform has led to the strengthening of our liquidity position. As a part of our shift in strategy, we ceased originating non-prime loans in 2007, and new originations have been focused on loans that are eligible to be sold to government-sponsored enterprises. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, substantially all originated loans have either been sold or are pending sale. Additionally, we grew our servicing portfolio from $33.7 billion as of December 31, 2009 to $64.2 billion as of December 31, 2010.
 
As part of the normal course of our business, we borrow money to fund servicing advances and loan originations. The loans we originate are financed through several warehouse lines on a short-term basis. We typically hold the loans for approximately 30 days and then sell the loans or place them in government securitizations and repay the borrowings under the warehouse lines. We rely upon several counterparties to provide us with financing facilities to fund a portion of our servicing advances and to fund our loan originations on a short-term basis. Our ability to fund current operations depends upon our ability to secure these types of short-term financings on acceptable terms and to renew or replace the financings as they expire.
 
In March 2010, we completed the offering of $250 million of unsecured senior notes, which were issued with an issue discount of $7.0 million for net cash proceeds of $243.0 million, with a maturity date of April 2015. These unsecured senior notes pay interest biannually at an interest rate of 10.875%. Cash proceeds from this offering were used to pay down outstanding balances on our existing debt facilities.
 
At this time, we see no material negative trends that we believe would affect our access to long-term borrowings, short-term borrowings or bank credit lines sufficient to maintain our current operations, or would likely cause us to cease to be in compliance with any applicable covenants in our indebtedness or that would inhibit our ability to fund operations and capital commitments for the next 12 months.
 
Our primary sources of funds for liquidity include: (i) lines of credit and other secured borrowings; (ii) servicing fees and ancillary fees; (iii) payments received from sale or securitization of loans; and (iv) payments received from mortgage loans held for sale.
 
Our primary uses of funds for liquidity include: (i) funding of servicing advances; (ii) origination of loans; (iii) payment of interest expenses; (iv) payment of operating expenses; and (v) repayment of borrowings.
 
Our servicing agreements impose on us various rights and obligations that affect our liquidity. Among the most significant of these obligations is the requirement that we advance our own funds to meet contractual principal and interest payments for certain investors and to pay taxes, insurance,


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foreclosure costs and various other items that are required to preserve the assets being serviced. Delinquency rates and prepayment speed affect the size of servicing advance balances.
 
We intend to continue to seek opportunities to acquire loan servicing portfolios, originations platforms and/or businesses that engage in loan servicing and/or loan originations. We cannot predict the extent to which our liquidity and capital resources will be diminished by any such transactions. Additionally, we believe that a significant acquisition may require us to raise additional capital to facilitate such a transaction. We would likely finance acquisitions through a combination of corporate debt issuances, asset-backed acquisition financing and/or cash from operations.
 
Operating Activities
 
Our operating activities provided (used) ($101.7) million and ($83.6) million of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease of $18.1 million was primarily due to the net effect of the following:
 
  •  Increase of $1,613.9 million attributable to increased proceeds received from sale of loans, offset by decrease in cash attributable to $1,311.1 million increase in origination volume.
 
  •  Decrease in principal payments/prepayments received and other changes in mortgages loans held for sale of $437.7 million.
 
  •  Increase of $130.4 million primarily due to increased delinquency advances to investors to cover scheduled payments of principal and interest that are required to be remitted to securitization trusts.
 
  •  Increase of $71.0 million attributable to decrease in net loss period over period, primarily a result of increased revenues from our higher servicing portfolio and increased volume in loan originations.
 
Our operating activities provided (used) $(83.6) million and $40.2 million of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in operating cash flow from 2008 to 2009 was primarily due to $934.6 million higher volume of originations in 2009, offset by $493.5 million increase from proceeds received from sale of loans and $268.9 million increase in principal payments received from loans.
 
Investing Activities
 
Our investing activities provided (used) $101.2 million, $30.0 million and $(34.6) million of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in cash flows from investing activities from 2009 to 2010 was primarily a result of an increase in cash proceeds from sales of real estate owned and principal payments received and other changes on mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt. The increase in cash flow from investing activities from 2008 to 2009 was primarily due to the absence of interest rate swap settlements in 2009 compared to $51.6 million of settlements in 2008 and a $17.8 million decrease in cash used for the purchase of mortgage servicing rights, net of liabilities, offset by no principal payments received from debt securities in 2009 compared to $8.4 million in 2008.
 
Financing Activities
 
Our financing activities provided (used) $(20.0) million, $85.9 million and $(37.5) million of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in cash outflow from financing activities from 2009 to 2010 was primarily a result of repayment of ABS and Legacy Asset nonrecourse debt. We also did not receive any capital contributions from our existing members in 2010, compared to $20.7 million in capital contributions received in 2009. In 2009, the Company issued non-recourse debt, which provided $191.3 million cash. The increase in cash flow from


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financing activities from 2008 to 2009 was primarily due to the non-recourse debt, net issued in 2009 related to the secured financing of our legacy assets.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
The table below sets forth our contractual obligations, excluding our Legacy Asset Securitized Debt and ABS nonrecourse debt, as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
 
                                         
          2012
    2014
    After
       
    2011     to 2013     to 2015     2015     Total  
 
Senior Unsecured Notes
  $     $     $ 250,000           $ 250,000  
Interest expense from Senior Unsecured Notes
    27,188       54,375       33,985             115,548  
MBS Advance Financing Facility
    114,562                         114,562  
ABS Advance Financing Facility
    236,808                         236,808  
MSR Notes
    5,552       10,181                   15,733  
$300 Million Warehouse Facility
    209,477                           209,477  
$100 Million Warehouse Facility
    39,014                         39,014  
$75 Million Warehouse Facility
    43,059                         43,059  
GSE ASAP+ Short-Term Financing Facility
    51,105                         51,105  
Operating leases
    7,015       13,299       7,972       1,243       29,529  
                                         
    $ 733,780     $ 77,855     $ 291,957     $ 1,243     $ 1,104,835  
                                         
 
In addition to the above contractual obligations, we have also been involved with several securitizations of asset-backed securities, which were structured as secured borrowings. These structures resulted in us carrying the securitized loans as mortgages on our consolidated balance sheet and recognizing the asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as nonrecourse debt. The timing of the principal payments on this nonrecourse debt is dependent on the payments received on the underlying mortgage loans and liquidation of real estate owned. The outstanding principal balance on our Nonrecourse Debt—Legacy Assets and ABS nonrecourse debt was $161.2 million and $1,037.9 million respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
 
Summary of Other Indebtedness
 
Senior Unsecured Notes
 
In March 2010, we completed the offering of $250 million of unsecured senior notes, which were issued with an issue discount of $7.0 million for net cash proceeds of $243.0 million, with a maturity date of April 2015. These unsecured senior notes pay interest biannually at an interest rate of 10.875%.
 
The indenture for our unsecured senior notes contains various covenants and restrictions that will limit us and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends, make certain investments, create liens, designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries, consolidate, merge or sell substantially all the assets, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates.
 
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the indenture governing the unsecured senior notes, is the key financial covenant measure that monitors our ability to undertake investing and financing functions, such as making investments/acquisitions, paying dividends, and incurring additional indebtedness.
 
The ratios included in the indenture for the unsecured senior notes are incurrence based compared to the customary ratio covenants that are often found in credit agreements that require a company to maintain a certain ratio.


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The consolidated leverage ratio as defined in the indenture is equal to Corporate Indebtedness, as defined in the indenture, divided by Consolidated EBITDA, and limits the activities of the Company as discussed above, if the ratio is equal to or greater than 4.5.
 
Consolidated EBITDA is computed as follows (in thousands):
 
         
    Twelve Months Ended
 
    December 31, 2010  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (9,914 )
Adjust for:
       
Impact from consolidation of securitization trusts(1)
    (8,933 )
Interest expense from Corporate Indebtedness(2)
    24,628  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,117  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights(3)
    6,458  
Exit costs
    2,287  
Share-based compensation
    12,856  
Fair value changes on interest rate swap
    9,801  
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedge
    (930 )
(Gain) loss from asset sales and other than temporary impairment of assets
    6,084  
Amortization/write-off of deferred financing cost for debt obligations in existence prior to issuance of unsecured senior notes
    15,944  
Servicing resulting from transfers of financial assets
    (26,253 )
Other
    6  
         
Consolidated EBITDA
  $ 34,151  
         
 
 
(1) Represents impact to net income from the consolidation of certain securitization trusts. Net income, as defined in the Indenture, is based on generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of December 31, 2009, and does not include the impact of the consolidation of identified VIEs where we have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
 
(2) Includes interest expense from the unsecured senior notes and an unsecured line of credit that was paid down with the proceeds from the unsecured senior notes.
 
(3) Represents change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights after deconsolidation of the securitization trusts as discussed in note (1) above.
 
Servicing
 
Our Servicing Segment’s debt consists of our Senior Unsecured Notes, our MBS Advance Financing Facility, our ABS Advance Financing Facility and our MSR Notes. As of December 31, 2010, the two separate advance financing facilities had $625.0 million of committed capacity to fund the Servicing Segment. In addition, we had a $200 million advance facility that had not been drawn upon, and $15.7 million of notes outstanding that we had entered into to purchase a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights.
 
MBS Advance Financing Facility
 
Our MBS Advance Financing Facility is used to finance our obligations to pay advances as required by our servicing agreements. These agreements may require us to advance certain payments to the owners of the mortgage loans we service, including: principal and interest, or P&I advances, taxes and insurance, or T&I advances, or legal fees, maintenance and preservation costs, or corporate advances. See “Industry—Servicing Industry Overview.”
 
In September 2009, we entered into our MBS Advance Financing Facility with a government- sponsored enterprise which currently has a total facility size of $275.0 million. Our MBS Advance


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Financing Facility is secured by certain servicing advance receivables and is subject to margin calls in the event that the value of our collateral decreases. We draw on the facility periodically throughout the month, as necessary, to satisfy our advancing obligations under our servicing agreements, and we repay the facility when advances are recovered through liquidations, prepayments and reimbursement of advances from modifications.
 
Our MBS Advance Facility requires us to comply with various customary operating covenants and performance tests on the underlying receivables related to payment rates and minimum balance. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50%. The maturity date of this facility is December 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants and performance tests under our MBS Advance Financing Facility and had an aggregate principal amount of $114.6 million outstanding.
 
ABS Advance Financing Facility
 
In November 2007, we entered into our ABS Advance Financing Facility with a financial services company. In December 2009, we entered into an amendment to our ABS Advance Financing Facility, which, as amended, has a total facility size of $350.0 million. The transaction was a securitization of the servicing advance receivables that entailed the issuance and sale of $174.0 million in term notes and $176.0 million in variable funding notes. Our ABS Advance Financing Facility is a non-recourse obligation that is secured by certain servicing advance receivables. We draw on the facility periodically throughout the month, as necessary, to satisfy our advancing obligations under our servicing agreements, and we repay the facility when advances are recovered through liquidations, prepayments and reimbursement of advances after modifications. The balance of the $174.0 million term notes stays constant, while the variable funding notes fluctuate with our financing needs.
 
Our ABS Advance Facility requires us to comply with various customary operating covenants and performance tests on the underlying receivables related to payment rates and minimum balance. The interest rate is based on LIBOR, subject to an interest rate swap, and had a weighted average cost of 4.82% during the year ended December 31, 2010. Upon an event of default, the notes issued by the servicing advance facilities may be declared immediately due and payable. The stated maturity date of this facility is December 2013, twenty-four months after the repayment date of December 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants and performance tests under our ABS Advance Financing Facility and had an aggregate principal amount of $236.8 million outstanding.
 
In December 2010, we executed the 2010-ABS Advance Financing Facility with a financial institution. This facility has the capacity to purchase up to $200 million of advance receivables. This facility is a non-recourse obligation that will be secured by certain servicing advance receivables. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%. The maturity date of this facility with the financial institution is July 2011, which may be extended if we elect to pledge any additional advances to this facility. We have yet to draw on this facility as of December 31, 2010.
 
MSR Notes
 
In October 2009, we entered into our MSR Notes, with an aggregate principal amount of $22.2 million, to a government-sponsored enterprise to finance our acquisition of certain mortgage servicing rights. Our MSR Notes are secured by all of our rights, title and interest in the mortgage servicing rights that we acquired in the transaction.
 
Our MSR Notes require us to comply with various customary operating covenants and specific covenants including maintaining a disaster recovery plan, maintaining priority of the lender’s lien, and certain covenants related to the collateral and limitations on the creation of liens on the collateral or assigned servicing compensation. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50%. The maturity date of our MSR Notes is October 2013. As of December 31, 2010, we had an aggregate principal amount of $15.7 million outstanding.


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Originations
 
As of December 31, 2010 we maintained four separate financing facilities with $400 million of committed capacity to fund the Originations Segment: our $300 Million Warehouse Facility, our $100 Million Warehouse Facility, our $75 Million Warehouse Facility and our GSE ASAP+ Short-Term Financing Facility.
 
$300 Million Warehouse Facility
 
Our $300 Million Warehouse Facility is used to finance our loan originations on a short-term basis. In the ordinary course, we originate mortgage loans on a near-daily basis, and we use a combination of our four warehouse facilities and cash to fund the loans. We agree to transfer to our counterparty certain mortgage loans against the transfer of funds by the counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement by the counterparty to transfer the loans back to us at a date certain, or on demand by us, against the transfer of funds from us. We typically renegotiate our warehouse facilities on an annual basis. See “Industry—Industry Overview.”
 
In July 2006, we entered into our $300 Million Warehouse Facility with a financial services company. In January 2010, we amended our $300 Million Warehouse Facility, which, as amended, has a total facility size of $300.0 million. We sell our newly originated mortgage loans to our counterparty to finance the origination of our mortgage loans and typically repurchase the loan within 30 days of origination when we sell the loan to a government-sponsored enterprise or into a government securitization.
 
Our $300 Million Warehouse Facility requires us to comply with various customary operating covenants and specific covenants including maintaining a minimum tangible net worth of $150.0 million, limitations on transactions with affiliates, maintenance of liquidity of $20 million and the maintenance of additional funding through warehouse loans. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00%, with a minimum interest rate of 4.00%. The termination date of this facility is February 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants and performance tests under our $300 Million Warehouse Facility and had an aggregate principal amount of $209.4 million outstanding.
 
In February 2011, we amended our $300 Million Warehouse Facility, which as amended, is set to expire in February 2012, has an interest rate based on LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25% and requires us to maintain a minimum tangible net worth of not less than $175 million.
 
$100 Million Warehouse Facility
 
In October 2009, we entered into our $100 Million Warehouse Facility with a financial services company with a total facility size of $50.0 million. In October 2010, this facility was increased to $100.0 million. We sell our newly originated mortgage loans to our counterparty to finance the origination of our mortgage loans and typically repurchase the loan within 30 days of origination when we sell the loan to a government-sponsored enterprise or into a government securitization.
 
Our $100 Million Warehouse Facility requires us to comply with various customary operating covenants and specific covenants including maintaining additional warehouse facilities, restrictions on the assignment of purchased loans, limits on transactions with affiliates and certain financial covenants, including maintaining a minimum tangible net worth of $150.0 million. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 3.50%. The termination date of this facility is December 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants and performance tests under our $100 Million Warehouse Facility and had an aggregate principal amount of $39.0 million outstanding.
 
$75 Million Warehouse Facility
 
In February 2010, we entered into our Warehouse Facility with a financial services company, with a total facility size of $50.0 million. In October 2010, this facility was increased to $75.0 million. We sell our newly originated mortgage loans to our counterparty to finance the origination of our mortgage


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loans and typically repurchase the mortgage loan within 30 days of origination when we sell the mortgage loan to a government- sponsored enterprise or into a government securitization.
 
Our $75 Million Warehouse Facility requires us to comply with various customary operating covenants and specific covenants including financial covenants regarding our liquidity ratio of liabilities and warehouse credit to net worth and operating income, maintenance of a minimum tangible net worth of $150.0 million, maintenance of additional warehouse facilities and limitations on entering into warehouse facilities with more favorable terms (with respect to the lender) than this facility without also applying those more favorable terms to this facility. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.75% to 3.25%. The termination date of this facility is October 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all covenants and performance tests under this facility and had an aggregate principal amount of $43.1 million outstanding.
 
GSE ASAP+ Short-Term Financing Facility
 
During 2009, we began executing a series of As Soon As Pooled Plus, or ASAP+, agreements with a government-sponsored enterprise with a total commitment of $75.0 million. Pursuant to these agreements, we agree to transfer to the government-sponsored enterprise certain mortgage loans against the transfer of funds by the government-sponsored enterprise, with a simultaneous agreement by the counterparty to transfer the loans back to us at a date certain, or on demand by us, against the transfer of funds from us. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 1.50%. These agreements typically have a maturity of up to 45 days. As of December 31, 2010, we had an aggregate principal amount of $51.1 million outstanding.
 
Legacy Assets and Other
 
Legacy Asset Term-Funded Notes
 
In November 2009, we completed the securitization of approximately $222.4 million of mortgage assets and issued our Legacy Asset Term-Funded Notes. The interest rate is 7.50%, subject to an available funds cap. In conjunction with the securitization, we reclassified our legacy assets as “held for investment” on our consolidated balance sheet and recognize the Legacy Asset Term-Funded Notes as non-recourse debt. We pay the principal and interest on these notes using the cash flows from the underlying legacy assets, which serve as collateral for the debt. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the legacy assets that secure our Legacy Asset Term-Funded Notes was $430.0 million. Monthly cash flows generated from the legacy assets are used to service the debt, which has a final legal maturity of October 2039. As of December 31, 2010, our Legacy Asset Term-Funded Notes had a par amount and carrying value, net of financing costs and unamortized discount of $161.2 million and $138.7 million, respectively.
 
ABS Nonrecourse Debt
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE, and all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to new consolidation guidance provided in ASC 810. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests obtained as part of the securitization. In addition, Nationstar recognized the securitized mortgage loans as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as ABS nonrecourse debt on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, Nationstar elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10. The principal and interest on these notes are paid using the cash flows from the underlying mortgage loans, which serve as collateral for the debt. The interest rate paid on the outstanding securities is based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 0.13% to 2.00%, which is subject to an interest rate cap. The total outstanding principal balance on the underlying mortgage loans servicing as collateral for the debt was approximately $1,025.3 million at December 31, 2010. The timing of the principal payments on this ABS nonrecourse debt is dependent on the payments received


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on the underlying mortgage loans. The outstanding principal balance on the outstanding notes related to these consolidated securitization trusts was $1,037.9 million at December 31, 2010.
 
Variable Interest Entities
 
We have been the transferor in connection with a number of securitizations or asset-backed financing arrangements, from which we have continuing involvement with the underlying transferred financial assets. We aggregate these securitizations or asset-backed financing arrangements into two groups: 1) securitizations of residential mortgage loans and 2) transfers accounted for as secured borrowings.
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance related to VIEs eliminated the concept of a QSPE and all existing SPEs are now subject to the new consolidation guidance. Upon adoption of this new accounting guidance, we identified certain securitization trusts where we, through our affiliates, continued to hold beneficial interests in these trusts. These retained beneficial interests obligate us to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. In addition, as Master Servicer on the related mortgage loans, we retain the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE. When it is determined that we have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs are included in our consolidated financial statements. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, we derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests obtained as part of the securitization, including any retained investment in debt securities, mortgage servicing rights, and any remaining residual interests. In addition, we recognized the securitized mortgage loans as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as ABS nonrecourse debt on our consolidated balance sheet.
 
We also maintained various agreements with SPEs, under which we transfer mortgage loans and/or advances on residential mortgage loans in exchange for cash. These SPEs issue debt supported by collections on the transferred mortgage loans and/or advances. These transfers do not qualify for sale treatment because we continue to retain control over the transferred assets. As a result, we account for these transfers as financings and continue to carry the transferred assets and recognize the related liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. Collections on the mortgage loans and/or advances pledged to the SPEs are used to repay principal and interest and to pay the expenses of the entity. The holders of these beneficial interests issued by these SPEs do not have recourse to us and can only look to the assets of the SPEs themselves for satisfaction of the debt.
 
SPEs created for the purpose of issuing debt supported by collections on loans that have been transferred to it are considered VIEs. VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary and have the power to direct the activities that directly impact the economic performance are consolidated into our consolidated financial statements.


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A summary of the assets and liabilities of our transactions with VIEs included in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
                         
          Transfers
       
    Securitization
    Accounted for as
       
    Trusts     Secured Borrowings     Total  
 
Assets
                       
Restricted cash
  $ 1,472     $ 32,075     $ 33,547  
Accounts receivable
    2,392       286,808       289,200  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt
          261,305       261,305  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    538,440             538,440  
Real estate owned
    17,509       9,505       27,014  
                         
Total Assets
  $ 559,813     $ 589,693     $ 1,149,506  
                         
Liabilities
                       
Notes payable
  $     $ 236,808     $ 236,808  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    95       1,173       1,268  
Outstanding servicer advances(1)
    32,284             32,284  
Derivative financial instruments
          7,801       7,801  
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781             18,781  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
          138,662       138,662  
ABS nonrecourse debt
    497,289             497,289  
                         
Total Liabilities
  $ 548,449     $ 384,444     $ 932,893  
                         
 
 
(1) Outstanding servicer advances consists of principal and interest advances paid by Nationstar to cover scheduled payments and interest that have not been timely paid by borrowers. These outstanding servicer advances are eliminated upon the consolidation of the securitization trusts.
 
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
A summary of the outstanding collateral and certificate balances for securitization trusts, including any retained beneficial interests and mortgage servicing rights, that were not consolidated by us for the years ending December 31, 2010 and 2009 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
                 
    December 31,
  December 31,
    2010(1)   2009(2)
 
Total collateral balance
  $ 4,038,978     $ 3,240,879  
Total certificate balance
    4,026,844       3,262,995  
Total beneficial interests held at fair value
          2,486  
Total mortgage servicing rights at fair value
    26,419       20,505  
 
 
(1) Unconsolidated securitization trusts as of December 31, 2010 consist of VIE’s where we lack (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance or (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
 
(2) Unconsolidated securitization trusts as of December 31, 2009 consists of those qualifying for sale treatment under ASC 860.


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Derivatives
 
We record all derivative transactions at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. We use these derivatives primarily to manage our interest rate risk and price risk associated with interest rate lock commitments, which we refer to as IRLCs. We actively manage the risk profiles of our IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale on a daily basis. To manage the price risk associated with IRLCs, we enter into forward sales of mortgage-backed securities in an amount equal to the portion of the IRLC we expected to close, assuming no change in interest rates.
 
In addition, to manage the interest rate risk associated with mortgage loans held for sale, we enter into forward sales of mortgage-backed securities to deliver mortgage loan inventory to investors.
 
We also entered into interest rate cap agreements to hedge the interest payments on our ABS Servicing Facility and our MBS Servicing Facility. These interest rate cap agreements generally require an upfront payment and receive cash flow only when a variable rate based on LIBOR exceeds a defined interest rate. As of December 31, 2010, these interest rate cap agreements were out of the money and, unless there is a significant change to LIBOR, we do not anticipate a material effect to our consolidated financial statements.
 
To hedge the aggregate risk of interest rate fluctuations with respect to our outstanding borrowings, we have entered into swap agreements whereby we receive floating rate payments in exchange for fixed rate payments, effectively converting our outstanding borrowings to fixed rate debt.
 
As part of our January 1, 2010 adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs, we were required to consolidate certain VIEs related to previous asset-backed securitizations that were treated as sales under GAAP. Accordingly, we recognized all assets and liabilities held by these securitization trusts in our consolidated balance sheet. As a form of credit enhancement to the senior noteholders, these securitization trusts contained embedded interest rate swap agreements to hedge the required interest payments on the underlying asset-backed certificates. These interest rate swap agreements generally require the securitization trust to pay a variable interest rate and receive a fixed interest rate based on LIBOR.


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GLOSSARY OF INDUSTRY TERMS
 
Adjustable Rate Mortgage.  A mortgage loan where the interest rate on the loan adjusts periodically based on a specified index and margin agreed to at the time the loan is originated.
 
Agency and Government Conforming Loan.  A mortgage loan that meets all requirements (loan type, maximum amount, loan-to-value ratio and credit quality) for purchase by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or FHA.
 
Compensating Interest.  Money paid to the owner of a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans on a monthly basis (typically by the servicer from its own funds) to compensate the owner of the mortgage loan for interest shortfalls caused by intra-month prepayments.
 
Consumer Direct Retail Origination.  A type of mortgage loan origination pursuant to which a lender markets refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans directly to selected consumers.
 
Conventional Mortgage Loans.  A mortgage loan that is not guaranteed or insured by the FHA, the VA or any other government agency. Although a conventional loan is not insured or guaranteed by the government, it can still follow the guidelines of government-sponsored enterprises.
 
Corporate Advance.  A servicing advance to pay costs and expenses incurred in foreclosing upon, preserving and selling real estate owned, including attorneys’ and other professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with foreclosure and liquidation or other legal proceedings arising in the course of servicing the mortgage loans.
 
Credit-Sensitive Loan.  A mortgage loan with certain characteristics such as low borrower credit quality, relaxed original underwriting standards and high loan-to-value ratio, which we believe indicates that the mortgage loan presents an elevated credit risk.
 
Delinquent Loan.  A mortgage loan that is 30 or more days past due from its scheduled due date.
 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. federal government, which guarantees certain home loans for qualified borrowers.
 
Distributed Retail Originations.  A type of mortgage loan origination pursuant to which a lender markets primarily purchase money mortgage loans directly to consumers from local branches.
 
Fannie Mae.  The Federal National Mortgage Association, a federally chartered association that buys mortgage loans from lenders and resells them as securities in the secondary mortgage market.
 
Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  The Federal Housing Administration is a U.S. federal government agency within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders in compliance with FHA guidelines throughout the United States.
 
Float Income.  Interest income earned by a servicer on (i) funds collected from borrowers during the period of time between receipt of the funds and the remittance of the funds to investors and (ii) funds collected from borrowers for the payment of taxes and insurance, where applicable.
 
Freddie Mac.  The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a federally chartered corporation that buys mortgage loans from lenders and resells them as securities in the secondary mortgage market.
 
Ginnie Mae.  The Government National Mortgage Association, a wholly-owned U.S. federal government corporation that is an agency of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The main focus of Ginnie Mae is to ensure liquidity for U.S. federal government-insured mortgages including those insured by the FHA. Ginnie Mae guarantees to investors who purchase mortgage- backed securities the timely payment of principal and interest. Ginnie Mae securities are the only mortgage-backed securities to carry the full faith and credit guarantee of the U.S. federal government.
 
Government-Sponsored Enterprise.  Financing corporations established by the United States Congress, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.


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High-Touch Servicing.  A servicing model that is designed to increase borrower repayment performance with a view towards home ownership preservation, and to decrease borrower delinquencies and defaults on mortgage portfolios. This model emphasizes a focus on loss mitigation and frequent interactions with borrowers—via telephone, mail, electronic communications and other personal contact methods.
 
Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).  A U.S. federal government program designed to help eligible homeowners avoid foreclosure through mortgage loan modifications. Participating servicers may be entitled to receive financial incentives in connection with loan modifications they enter into with eligible borrowers and subsequent “pay for success” fees to the extent that a borrower remains current in any agreed upon loan modification.
 
Independent Loan Servicer.  A loan servicer that is not affiliated with a depository institution.
 
Loan Modification.  Temporary or permanent modifications, including re-modifications, to the terms and conditions of a borrower’s original mortgage loan. Loan modifications are usually made to loans that are in default, or in imminent danger of defaulting.
 
Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV).  The unpaid principal balance of a mortgage loan as a percentage of the total appraised value of the property that secures the loan. LTV is one of the key risk factors that originators assess when qualifying borrowers for a mortgage loan. A loan with a low LTV is seen as less of a credit risk than a loan with a high LTV. An LTV over 100% indicates that the unpaid principal balance of the mortgage loan exceeds the value of the property.
 
Loss Mitigation.  The range of servicing activities designed by a servicer to minimize the losses suffered by the owner of a mortgage loan in connection with a borrower default. Loss mitigation techniques include short-sales, deed-in-lieu of foreclosures and loan modifications, among other options.
 
Making Home Affordable Plan (MHA).  Also known as the President of the United States’ Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. A U.S. federal government program designed to help eligible homeowners avoid foreclosure and keep their homes by refinancing their existing mortgages. MHA loans are available to eligible homeowners with loan-to-value ratios of up to 125%.
 
Mortgage Servicing Right.  The right to service a loan or pool of loans and to receive a servicing fee. Mortgage servicing rights may be bought and sold, resulting in the transfer of loan servicing obligations.
 
Non-Conforming Mortgage Loan.  A mortgage loan that does not meet the standards of eligibility for purchase or securitization by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.
 
Non-Recoverable Advance.  A servicing advance made by a servicer, which will not ultimately be recoverable by the servicer from funds received upon liquidation of the underlying property of the mortgage loan.
 
Origination.  The process through which a lender provides a mortgage loan to a borrower.
 
P&I Advance.  A servicing advance to cover scheduled payments of principal and interest that have not been timely paid by borrowers. P&I Advances serve to ensure the cash flows paid to holders of securities issued by the residential mortgage-backed securities trust.
 
Prepayment Speed.  The rate at which mortgage prepayments occur or are projected to occur. The statistic is calculated on an annualized basis and expressed as a percentage of the outstanding principal balance.
 
Primary Servicer.  The servicer that owns the right to service a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans. This differs from a subservicer, which has a contractual right with the primary servicer to service a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans in exchange for a subservicing fee.
 
Prime Mortgage Loan.  Generally, a high-quality mortgage loan that meets the underwriting standards set by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and is eligible for purchase or securitization in the secondary mortgage market. Prime mortgage loans generally have lower default risk and are


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made to borrowers with good credit records and a monthly income at least three to four times greater than their monthly housing expenses (mortgage payments plus taxes and other debt payments). Mortgages not classified as prime mortgages are generally called either non-prime or Alt-A.
 
Real Estate Owned.  Property acquired by the servicer on behalf of the owner of a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans, usually through foreclosure or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure on a defaulted loan. The servicer or a third party real estate management firm is responsible for selling the real estate owned. Net proceeds of the sale are returned to the owner of the related loan or loans. In most cases, the sale of real estate owned does not generate enough to pay off the balance of the loan underlying the real estate owned, causing a loss to the owner of the related mortgage loan.
 
Residential Mortgage-Backed Security.  A fixed income security backed by pools of residential mortgages.
 
Servicing.  The performance of contractually specified administrative functions with respect to a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans. Duties of a servicer typically include, among other things, collecting monthly payments, maintaining escrow accounts, providing periodic reports and managing insurance. A servicer is generally compensated with a specific fee outlined in the contract established prior to the commencement of the servicing activities.
 
Servicing Advance.  In the course of servicing loans, servicers are required to make servicing advances that are reimbursable from collections on the related mortgage loan. There are typically three types of servicing advances: P&I Advances, T&I Advances and Corporate Advances. Servicing advances are reimbursed to the servicer if and when the borrower makes a payment on the underlying mortgage loan or upon liquidation of the underlying mortgage loan. The types of servicing advances that a servicer must make are set forth in its servicing agreement with the owner of the mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans.
 
Servicing Advance Facility.  A secured financing facility backed by a pool of mortgage servicing advance receivables made by a servicer to the owner of a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans.
 
Special Servicers.  Special servicers are responsible for enhancing recoveries on delinquent loans and real estate owned assets. Loans are transferred to a special servicer based on predetermined delinquency or other performance measures.
 
Subservicing.  Subservicing is the process of outsourcing the duties of the primary servicer to a third party servicer. The third party servicer performs the servicing responsibilities for a fee and is typically not responsible for making servicing advances.
 
T&I Advance.  A servicing advance to pay specified expenses associated with the preservation of a mortgaged property or the liquidation of defaulted mortgage loans, including but not limited to property taxes, insurance premiums or other property-related expenses that have not been timely paid by borrowers in order for the lien holder to maintain their interest in the property.
 
Unpaid Principal Balance.  The amount of principal outstanding on a mortgage loan or a pool of mortgage loans. Unpaid principal balance is used as a means of estimating future revenue stream for a servicer.
 
Warehouse Facility.  A type of facility used to finance mortgage loan originations. Pursuant to a warehouse facility, a loan originator typically agrees to transfer to a counterparty certain mortgage loans against the transfer of funds by the counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement by the counterparty to transfer the loans back to the originator at a date certain, or on demand, against the transfer of funds from the originator.
 
Wholesale Origination.  A type of mortgage loan origination pursuant to which a lender acquires refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans from third party mortgage brokers or correspondent lenders.


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INDUSTRY
 
We conduct our business in the residential mortgage industry in the United States. We participate in two distinct, but related, sectors of the mortgage industry: residential mortgage loan servicing and residential mortgage loan originations.
 
Servicing Industry Overview
 
According to Inside Mortgage Finance, there were $10.5 trillion in residential mortgage loans outstanding in the United States as of December 31, 2010, and each mortgage loan must be serviced by a loan servicer. Loan servicers normally earn a servicing fee of 25 to 50 basis points per annum on the unpaid principal balance of loans serviced, as well as associated ancillary fees, such as late fees. Consequently, a loan servicer can create value for both itself and the owner of the mortgage loan by increasing the number of borrowers that remain current in their repayment obligations. Owners may include a lender, investor or residential mortgage-backed securities trust, in the case of a securitized pool of mortgages.
 
Loan servicing primarily involves the calculation, collection and remittance of principal and interest payments, the administration of mortgage escrow accounts, the collection of insurance claims, the administration of foreclosure procedures, the management of real estate owned and the making of required advances.
 
In a weak economic and credit environment with elevated delinquencies and defaults, servicing becomes operationally more challenging and more capital intensive as servicers need to add and train staff to manage the increase in delinquent borrowers. In addition, servicers are generally required to make advances on delinquent mortgage loans for principal and interest payments, taxes, insurance, legal fees and property maintenance fees, all of which are typically recovered upon foreclosure or liquidation. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, delinquent loans and foreclosures have increased from $0.6 trillion at December 2006 to $1.4 trillion at December 31, 2010. Furthermore, Fannie Mae estimates that as of December 31, 2010, it had $764 billion of assets within its own portfolio with characteristics that we believe make them credit-sensitive.
 
Mortgage Servicing Functions
 
Loan servicers play a key role in the residential mortgage market by providing loan servicing functions on behalf of the owners of mortgage loans including collecting the scheduled principal and interest payments, taxes and insurance, performing customer service functions and taking active steps to mitigate any potential losses associated with borrower delinquencies and defaults. Typically, a servicer is contractually obligated to service a mortgage loan in accordance with accepted servicing industry practices as well as applicable regulations and statutes. A servicer’s rights and obligations are governed by the pooling and servicing agreement for the underlying loans. A subservicer’s rights and obligations are governed by the subservicing agreement with the third party that owns the related mortgage servicing rights.
 
To the extent a borrower does not make a payment, servicers are generally required to make advances of principal and interest, taxes and insurance and legal fees until such time as the underlying property is liquidated or the servicer determines that additional advances will not be recoverable from future payments, proceeds or other collections on the mortgage loan. In the event of a foreclosure, servicers are entitled to reimbursement of advances from the sale proceeds of the related property and, typically, in the event of non-recoverable advances, from collections on other mortgage loans in the related residential mortgage-backed securities trusts they service.
 
Collection efforts attempt to maximize early contact with borrowers who are late or newly delinquent, with more focused attention on borrowers of lower credit quality. In addition, servicers are responsible for closely managing their collection calls and letter campaigns which are tailored to specific loan products.


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Loan Servicing Landscape
 
The majority of loan servicing in the United States is performed by the nation’s money center banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, which together service approximately 54% of all outstanding mortgage loans on one to four-family residences as of December 31, 2010. These bank-owned servicers mainly service prime, performing mortgages and are most effective at routine account management of portfolios with low delinquencies that require limited interaction with the borrowers. The traditional servicer model was constructed to process simple payments and minimize costs, and functioned well in environments characterized by low delinquencies and defaults. However, in the current environment of rising delinquencies, extensive foreclosures and elevated real estate owned activity, traditional servicers are experiencing higher operating costs, and their performance metrics are declining due to the elevated level of foreclosures and liquidation processes. According to CalculatedRisk, from 2007 through 2010, approximately 3.4 million homes were lost to foreclosure and as of September 30, 2010, more than 3.5 million mortgages were in foreclosure or 90+ days delinquent. Given this environment, there is a demonstrated need for high-touch servicers of credit-sensitive assets, resulting in significant growth opportunities for us and other independent high-touch loan servicers.
 
Servicer Compensation
 
Loan servicers primarily service loans on which they own the mortgage servicing right, which is referred to as primary servicing. Alternatively, loan servicers may enter into a subservicing agreement with the entity that owns the mortgage servicing right pursuant to which the servicer agrees to service the loan on the owner’s behalf. Loan servicers earn servicing fees pursuant to these mortgage servicing rights and subservicing contracts, and these fees represent the largest source of revenue from loan servicing operations. By purchasing the mortgage servicing right, the loan servicer is generally entitled to receive 25 to 50 basis points annually on the average unpaid principal balance of the loans serviced. Under subservicing arrangements, where the loan servicer does not pay for the mortgage servicing right and is not required to make advancing obligations, the servicer generally receives between 5 and 45 basis points annually on the unpaid principal balance. The servicing and subservicing fees are typically supplemented by incentive fees and ancillary fees. Incentive fees include modification initiation and success fees from the HAMP program and modification or collateral workout related incentives from various pool owners and GSEs. Ancillary fees include late fees, insufficient funds fees, convenience fees and interest income earned on loan payments that have been collected but have not yet been remitted to the owner of the mortgage loan, or float. Loan servicers have additional opportunities to provide value-added services to the owners of the loans they service. These value-added services can include obtaining broker price opinions for valuation of underlying properties, trustee services, real estate owned preservation services and other revenues related to real estate owned sales.
 
Advances
 
In the course of servicing delinquent loans, servicers are required to make advances that are reimbursable from collections on the related mortgage loan, or in the event of a non-recoverable advance, from collections on other mortgage loans in the related residential mortgage-backed securities trust.
 
There are generally three types of advances: P&I Advances, T&I Advances and Corporate Advances.
 
P&I Advances:  Advances to cover scheduled payments of principal and interest that have not been timely paid by borrowers. P&I Advances serve to smooth the cash flows paid to holders of securities issued by the residential mortgage-backed securities trust.
 
T&I Advances:  Advances to pay specified expenses associated with the preservation of a mortgaged property or the liquidation of defaulted mortgage loans, including, but not limited to, property taxes, insurance premiums or other property-related expenses that have not been timely paid by borrowers.


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Corporate Advances:  Advances to pay costs and expenses incurred in foreclosing upon, preserving and selling real estate owned, including attorneys’ and other professional fees and expenses incurred in connection with foreclosure and liquidation or other legal proceedings arising in the course of servicing mortgage loans.
 
A servicer may decide to stop making P&I Advances prior to liquidation of the mortgage loan if the servicer deems future P&I Advances to be non-recoverable. In this circumstance, T&I Advances and Corporate Advances will likely continue in order to preserve existing value of the mortgage loan and complete the foreclosure and real estate owned sale process.
 
Servicers of Fannie Mae MBS are reimbursed by Fannie Mae for their advances upon completion of the foreclosure sale at which point the mortgage loan is repurchased out of the MBS by Fannie Mae. Servicers of Fannie Mae MBS are not responsible for managing real estate owned. Conversely, servicers of non-agency MBS are obligated under the servicing agreement to make advances through liquidation of the related real estate owned.
 
Advances are a non-interest bearing asset. Non-bank servicers typically utilize securitizations (i.e., match funded liabilities) to finance their advances. The securitizations are generally non-recourse to the servicer, and the advances are financed at a discount to par accounting for the non-interest bearing nature of the asset. Advance rates for securitizations generally range between 70% to 85% depending upon the rating and structure.
 
Opportunities under HAMP
 
In response to the rising level of foreclosures, the United States Department of the Treasury announced the implementation of HAMP in February 2009, which is designed to keep borrowers in their homes. HAMP provides financial incentives to loan servicers and borrowers to successfully modify qualifying residential mortgages. Under the program, servicers receive an up-front fee of $1,000 for each completed modification and an additional $500 if the loan is current, but in risk of imminent default, at the time the borrower enters the HAMP trial period. Servicers also receive “Pay-for-Success” payments of as much as $1,000 each year for up to three years. These fees accrue monthly and are paid annually on the anniversary of the month in which the trial period plan was executed. The annual incentives are predicated on the borrower remaining in good standing (i.e., the borrower must not be more than 2 months delinquent at any time during the year).
 
Originations Industry Overview
 
According to Inside Mortgage Finance, total residential mortgage originations in the United States were $1.6 trillion in 2010, a decrease of 13% compared to 2009. Of the 2010 originations, approximately 87% were conforming mortgages guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or government agencies, such as the Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans’ Administration. From 2006 to 2010, the annual aggregate principal balance of newly originated mortgage loans that were either insured or guaranteed by government agencies or sold to government-sponsored enterprises or into government securitizations increased from $1.1 trillion to $1.4 trillion, or at a CAGR of 6%.
 
The United States residential mortgage market consists of a primary mortgage market that links borrowers and lenders and a secondary mortgage market that links lenders and investors. In the primary mortgage market, residential mortgage lenders such as mortgage banking companies, commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions and other financial institutions originate or provide mortgages to borrowers. Lenders obtain the funds they lend to mortgage borrowers in a variety of ways, including by selling mortgages or mortgage-related securities into the secondary mortgage market. The secondary mortgage market consists of institutions engaged in buying and selling mortgages in the form of whole loans (i.e., mortgages that have not been securitized) and mortgage-related securities. Government- sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a government agency, Ginnie Mae, participate in the secondary mortgage market by purchasing


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mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities for investment and by issuing guaranteed mortgage-related securities.
 
Loan Origination Process
 
Residential mortgage loans are generally originated through either a direct retail lending network or a mortgage brokerage network.
 
A direct retail lending network consists of distributed retail branches which are individual branch locations and/or a centralized retail platform. A centralized retail platform is a telephone based platform with multiple loan officers in one location. Typical referral sources for a direct retail lending network include realtors, homebuilders, credit unions, banks, the Internet and refinances from existing servicing portfolios. In a direct lending retail network, the lender controls all loan origination processes, including: sourcing the borrower, taking the application and setting the interest rate, ordering the appraisal, underwriting and processing the loan and closing and funding the loan.
 
Loans sourced by mortgage brokers are funded by the lender and generally closed in the lender’s name. When originating loans through mortgage brokers, the mortgage broker’s role is to identify the applicant, assist in completing the loan application, gather necessary information and documents and serve as the liaison to the borrower through the lending process. The lender reviews and underwrites the application submitted by the mortgage broker, approves or denies the application, sets the interest rate and other terms of the loan and, upon acceptance by the borrower and satisfaction of all conditions required by the lender, funds the loan. Because mortgage brokers conduct their own marketing, employ their own personnel to complete the loan applications and maintain contact with the borrowers, mortgage brokers represent an efficient loan origination channel.
 
The length of time from the origination or purchase of a mortgage loan to its sale or securitization generally ranges from 10 to 60 days, depending on a variety of factors including loan volume, product type, interest rates and capital market conditions. An important source of capital for the residential mortgage industry is warehouse lending. These facilities provide funding to mortgage loan originators until the loans are sold to investors in the secondary mortgage loan market.
 
Types of Mortgage Loans
 
Mortgage loans generally fall into one of the following five categories: prime conforming mortgage loans, prime non-conforming mortgage loans, government mortgage loans, non-prime mortgage loans and prime second-lien mortgage loans.
 
Prime Conforming Mortgage Loans:  These are prime credit quality first-lien mortgage loans secured by single-family residences that meet or “conform” to the underwriting standards established by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac for inclusion in their guaranteed mortgage securities programs.
 
Prime Non-Conforming Mortgage Loans:  These are prime credit quality first-lien mortgage loans secured by single-family residences that either (1) do not conform to the underwriting standards established by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, because they have original principal amounts exceeding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac limits, which are commonly referred to as jumbo mortgage loans, or (2) have alternative documentation requirements and property or credit-related features (e.g., higher loan-to-value or debt-to-income ratios) but are otherwise considered prime credit quality due to other compensating factors.
 
Government Mortgage Loans:  These are first-lien mortgage loans secured by single-family residences that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and securitized into Ginnie Mae securities.
 
Non-prime Mortgage Loans:  These are first-lien and certain junior lien mortgage loans secured by single-family residences, made to individuals with credit profiles that do not qualify for a prime loan,


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have credit-related features that fall outside the parameters of traditional prime mortgage loans or have performance characteristics that otherwise expose us to comparatively higher risk of loss.
 
Prime Second-Lien Mortgage Loans:  These are open- and closed-end mortgage loans secured by a second or more junior lien on single-family residences, which include home equity mortgage loans.
 
Due to the significant stress in the residential mortgage industry experienced over the last few years, underwriting standards have improved. Some of these improvements include the elimination or significant reduction of mortgage affordability products such as no income verification loans, limited or no documentation loans, option adjustable rate mortgage loans, and non-owner occupied loans. Also, underwriting standards now include higher minimum credit scores and lower maximum loan-to-value ratios than were acceptable under past lending practices. These improvements in underwriting standards should lead to improved performance.
 


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BUSINESS
 
Overview
 
We are a leading residential mortgage company specializing in residential mortgage loan servicing and residential mortgage loan originations. Our business primarily consists of two Operating Segments: Servicing and Originations.
 
Loan Servicing
 
We are one of the largest independent loan servicers in the United States. Our servicing portfolio consists of mortgage servicing rights acquired from or subserviced for various third parties as well as loans we originate through our integrated origination platform. As of December 31, 2010, our servicing portfolio included over 389,000 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $64.2 billion. We service mortgage loans in all 50 states, and we are licensed as a residential mortgage loan servicer and/or a third party debt collector in all states that require such licensing. Our Servicing Segment produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees.
 
Servicing fees primarily consist of an amount based on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans serviced and also include ancillary fees such as late fees and insufficient funds fees. In addition, we earn interest income on amounts deposited in collection accounts and amounts held in escrow to pay property taxes and insurance, which we refer to as float income. We also generate incentive fees from owners of the loans that we service for meeting certain loss-mitigation metrics and for arranging successful loss mitigation programs. Moreover, the U.S. federal government pays us incentive fees for loans that we successfully modify within the parameters of the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. In addition, we leverage our loan servicing business and customer base to provide several complementary services that generate fee-based revenues.
 
We use a flexible, high-touch servicing model that focuses on personal contact with borrowers and is designed to decrease borrower delinquencies and defaults on mortgages and to increase borrower repayment performance with a goal of home ownership preservation. Our operating culture emphasizes individual collector accountability for asset performance (what we refer to as credit loss ownership) and loss mitigation practices to improve asset performance and cash flow and to reduce credit losses. Our servicing model and operating culture have proven especially valuable in the current distressed residential market, and we have established an excellent track record servicing credit-sensitive loans.
 
We believe that our demonstrated performance in servicing loans for a government-sponsored enterprise facilitated our acquisitions of two significant mortgage servicing rights portfolios totaling approximately $25.0 billion since November 2008. These two portfolios were previously serviced by other servicers. These acquisitions helped us grow our servicing portfolio from $12.7 billion on December 31, 2007, to $64.2 billion on December 31, 2010, including approximately $25 billion in unpaid principal balance which we boarded in November and December 2010, when we entered into a subservicing agreement with a government-sponsored enterprise. We expect this relationship to generate additional portfolio servicing opportunities in the future.
 
Loan Originations
 
We are also one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with a loan origination platform. We currently originate primarily prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage loans, and we are licensed to originate residential mortgage loans in 49 states. Our Originations Segment diversifies our offering of mortgage services and further stabilizes our revenue stream. In 2009, we originated $1.5 billion in aggregate principal balance entirely consisting of prime residential mortgage loans. During the year ended December 31, 2010, our originations totaled


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$2.8 billion in aggregate principal balance. We originate loans through our three loan origination channels:
 
  •  Consumer Direct Retail Channel—through which we market refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans directly to selected consumers from our centralized call center;
 
  •  Distributed Retail Channel—through which we market refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans directly to consumers from local branches; and
 
  •  Wholesale Channel—through which we market our refinancing and purchase money mortgage loans to third party mortgage brokers.
 
We originate purchase money loans and refinance existing loans, including loans that we service. Our strategy is to mitigate the credit, market and interest rate risk from loan originations by either selling newly originated loans or placing them in government-sponsored enterprise or government securitizations. We typically sell new loans within 30 days of origination, and we do not expect to hold any of the loans that we currently originate on our balance sheet on a long-term basis. At the time of sale, we have the option to retain the mortgage servicing rights on loans we originate.
 
Our origination capability differentiates us from other non-bank, high-touch loan servicers without an integrated origination platform by:
 
  •  providing us with an organic source of new loans to service as existing loans are repaid or otherwise liquidated as originated loans serviced by us typically generate higher returns than comparable mortgage servicing rights that we would acquire from a third party;
 
  •  providing an attractive supplementation to our servicing loss mitigation strategies by allowing us to modify and refinance mortgage loans, including loans that we service;
 
  •  creating a diversified source of revenue; and
 
  •  building brand recognition.
 
Legacy Assets and Other
 
We also have a legacy asset portfolio, which consists primarily of non-prime and nonconforming residential mortgage loans, most of which we originated from April to July 2007. In November 2009, we term-financed our legacy assets with a non-recourse loan that requires no additional capital or equity contributions. In conjunction with the transaction, we reclassified our legacy assets to “held for investment” on our consolidated balance sheet, which allowed us to eliminate further mark-to-market accounting exposure on these assets. We continue to service these loans using our high-touch servicing model. Additionally, we consolidated certain securitization trusts where it was determined that we had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, pursuant to new consolidation accounting guidance related to VIEs adopted on January 1, 2010.
 
History and Operating Structure
 
We are a Delaware limited liability company. We were formed in 1994 in Denver, Colorado as Nova Credit Corporation, a Nevada corporation. In 1997, we moved our executive offices and primary operations to Dallas, Texas and, in the same year, we changed our name to Centex Credit Corporation. In 2001, Centex Credit Corporation was merged into Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. In 2006, FIF HE Holdings, LLC, acquired all of our outstanding membership interests and we changed our name to Nationstar Mortgage, LLC. Nationstar Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is our wholly-owned subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of being a corporate co-issuer of the notes.


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Competitive Strengths
 
We believe the following competitive strengths contribute to our market position and differentiate us from our competition.
 
Attractive Business Model with Strong Cash Flow
 
We have an attractive business model as one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with an integrated loan origination platform.
 
Our Servicing Segment produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees, and we are exposed to minimal credit risk with respect to the mortgage loans that we service. We believe that we continue to demonstrate our ability to produce lower delinquency rates on the loans we service, including credit-sensitive loans, compared to our competitors, and we believe that we will continue to acquire mortgage servicing rights at attractive prices from mortgage investors or provide subservicing for third parties that value our servicing capabilities.
 
We believe that our Originations Segment differentiates us from other high-touch servicers without an origination platform by providing us with a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing new mortgage servicing rights as the unpaid principal balance of our existing servicing portfolio decreases over time; diversifying and stabilizing our revenue in a variety of interest rate environments; and building brand recognition.
 
We generate significant cash flow for debt service as a result of the profitability of our Operating Segments. We believe that our focus on asset performance and operational efficiency has enabled us to strengthen our relationships with the government-sponsored enterprises and other third parties and has allowed us to grow our earnings from our Operating Segments.
 
Substantial Liquidity and Access to Multiple Capital and Funding Sources
 
We maintain substantial levels of funding and liquidity through multiple capital and funding sources for our Operating Segments. We have access to multiple funding sources, and we believe that our liquidity sources are sufficient to meet our immediate and future needs. These sources include servicing advance lines to finance our Servicing Segment, warehouse lines to finance our Originations Segment and loans from government-sponsored enterprises to facilitate the acquisition of mortgage servicing rights. As of December 31, 2010, we had a total of $706.0 million of unused capacity under our existing servicing advance facilities and origination warehouse lines. We believe that our strong relationships with liquidity providers and our continued ability to access sufficient capital during the recent economic downturn demonstrate the depth of our liquidity and access to capital. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations.”
 
Servicing Platform with Loss Mitigation Focus
 
We believe that, by focusing on personal contact with borrowers, our high-touch servicing approach reduces credit losses and maximizes cash collections for credit-sensitive loans. This highly flexible model allows for customization to meet individual borrower requirements, and is further differentiated by providing personal contact at critical borrower touch points, including via telephone, mail, electronic communications and other personal contact methods. Our approach facilitates strong relationships with borrowers and greater employee accountability for desired performance. We believe that our servicing expertise and focus on optimal outcomes reduces credit impairments and losses to loan investors. We believe that this model presents continued opportunities for growth.


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Scalable Platform and Established Track Record
 
Establishing a servicing platform requires significant initial capital investments, infrastructure, licensing and expertise to properly service credit-sensitive loans, which creates substantial barriers to entry. We operate a highly scalable platform, with the capacity to add up to a total of approximately $15 billion of unpaid principal balance to our servicing operations within 90 to 120 days with minimal incremental fixed costs. We can service these additional accounts with our existing infrastructure, real estate and technology platform.
 
Additionally, we have used our high-touch servicing model and our mix of proprietary and commercially available technology solutions to establish a track record of superior performance in servicing credit-sensitive loans. The unpaid principal balance of the loans we serviced increased 406% from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2010, primarily through acquiring mortgage servicing rights and entering into subservicing agreements. We believe these acquisitions and agreements can be attributed to our established track record in servicing credit-sensitive residential mortgage loans, and we believe that our track record, together with our scalable platform, positions us well relative to our competitors to acquire similar portfolios in the future.
 
Culture of Credit Loss Ownership and Accountability
 
Since our inception, our operating culture has emphasized superior operational and financial performance, credit loss ownership (our term for individual collector accountability for asset performance), employee development and customer relations. We establish financial and operational goals across all levels of the organization and compensation for all of our employees is based upon achieving the desired results. As a result, we have a streamlined organizational structure that allows us to react to business needs and changes in an expeditious manner. We hire recent college graduates and teach them our business through a systematic training program. We primarily develop existing employees for management positions. We strongly endorse promotion from within and routinely identify and place senior level staff in our Manager in Training program as a developmental tool to prepare them for supervisory positions. Supervisors typically then rotate through progressively more complex management assignments to improve both their technical and managerial proficiency.
 
We believe that our culture of credit loss ownership and accountability has enabled us to outperform the industry. As of December 15, 2010, according to Loan Performance.com, our 60 or more day delinquency rate for our legacy assets (as a percentage of original balance) was approximately 12% while the delinquency rate for the ABX 07-2 Mortgage Index was approximately 24%.
 
Stable and Seasoned Management Team
 
Our senior management team is comprised of experienced mortgage industry executives with an average of approximately 25 years in the industry and a track record of generating financial and operational improvements. Several members of our management team have held senior positions at other residential mortgage companies. In addition, our senior management team has remained in place through multiple business cycles and has a demonstrated ability to adapt to changing market conditions. We believe that the experience of our senior management team and its management philosophy are significant contributors to improving the operating performance of our Company.


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Our Strategy
 
Our primary goal is to increase the value of our loans and our clients’ loans by reducing delinquencies and credit losses. This goal is achieved through our culture, processes and expertise. We plan to grow our revenue and operating cash flow by employing the following business strategies:
 
Capitalizing on Industry Opportunities
 
We believe we are well positioned to benefit from the current trends in the residential mortgage industry. The disruption in the mortgage industry has resulted in limited access to funding and capital, lower than anticipated performance of residential portfolios and a strong demand for high-touch servicing. We believe that competitors with significant residential exposure or limited access to capital have shifted their operations to selling residential real estate assets, including mortgage servicing rights. This allows existing strong servicers the opportunity to acquire or subservice additional portfolios at attractive valuations. Additionally, due to a variety of economic factors, residential loan delinquencies and related losses are at historical highs prompting government-sponsored enterprises and other owners of residential mortgage loans to focus on home ownership preservation and servicing for superior credit performance. The heightened focus in these areas has led to a strong demand for high-touch servicers by these owners. Also, we believe that many of the largest loan servicers—who are experiencing unprecedented levels of delinquencies and losses—do not have sufficient internal capacity to perform high-touch servicing in their own portfolios and, as a result, may look to independent high-touch servicers to assist them in servicing their portfolios. As a result, we believe that there will continue to be strong demand for experienced high-touch servicers with a proven ability to improve loan performance. We also believe that there will be significant opportunities to continue to acquire mortgage servicing rights at attractive prices.
 
Maintaining and Growing Our Steady Fee-Based Servicing Portfolio
 
Our servicing business produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees. We intend to continue to utilize our established and scalable servicing platform to grow our servicing operations organically and through acquisitions. We believe that we will continue to benefit from our strong relationship with government-sponsored enterprises and other third party investors, which we believe will enable us to acquire additional servicing rights at attractive prices and subservicing contracts in order to grow our business. Additionally, we have invested in our loan administration and customer service servicing divisions to accommodate the increased scale and size of our portfolio, which allows us to service newly originated prime mortgage loans at attractive return levels in a variety of operating and economic environments.
 
Continuing To Expand Our Originations Platform
 
Our Originations Segment diversifies our offering of mortgage services and further stabilizes our revenue stream by providing us with a natural hedge against fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. We have a diversified, multi-channel strategy to continue to build our prime originations platform in order to organically replace servicing run-off. Through our origination platform, we are also able to create loan servicing assets at valuation levels below where our servicing competitors can purchase comparable mortgage servicing rights. Also, we can recapture loan payoffs in our existing servicing portfolio by providing origination services to our existing borrowers.
 
We believe that there are significant opportunities to originate loans for servicers and other financial institutions lacking origination capacity, and we intend to capitalize on these opportunities by expanding our retail channels. Our expansion efforts will focus primarily on purchase money lending, which is a stable origination source through various interest rate cycles. Unlike certain competitors who are required to utilize third party intermediaries in transactions with the government-sponsored enterprises and Ginnie Mae, we are a direct lender with the capability to sell loans directly to the government-


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sponsored enterprises and to securitize loans directly with Ginnie Mae. We believe that this capability allows us to control the credit quality of the loans we originate, thereby reducing our repurchase risk.
 
Engaging in Opportunistic Acquisitions and New Business Opportunities
 
There are numerous banks, insurance companies and other financial entities that have significant exposure to the residential mortgage sector. Our management, together with our dedicated servicing and origination relationship teams and our sponsor, Fortress Investment Group LLC, or Fortress, have extensive business and corporate expertise, receive numerous requests to review potential acquisition opportunities and continually conduct due diligence to identify potential opportunistic acquisitions. We are currently seeking out opportunities and believe there will continue to be significant opportunities to take advantage of the dislocation in the residential mortgage sector and acquire assets at attractive valuations. We intend to opportunistically grow our business through acquiring mortgage servicing rights, subservicing rights, servicing platforms and originations platforms. We may purchase assets and/or platforms of significant size. We believe there are several assets and platforms currently for sale in our industry and we are currently in the process of pursuing a number of such opportunities.
 
Our Operations
 
We are a leading residential mortgage company specializing in residential mortgage loan servicing and prime residential mortgage loan originations. Our business primarily consists of two Operating Segments: Servicing and Originations.
 
Servicing
 
We are one of the largest independent loan servicers in the United States. As of December 31, 2010, our servicing portfolio included over 389,000 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $64.2 billion. The servicing portfolio consists of loans originated by our integrated origination platform as well as mortgage servicing rights either acquired or subserviced from various third parties. We service these loans using a high-touch servicing model designed to increase borrower repayment performance and home ownership preservation and decrease borrower delinquencies and defaults. The unpaid principal balance of the loans we serviced increased 406% from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2010, primarily through acquiring mortgage servicing rights and entering into subservicing agreements. As set forth in the chart below, revenues from our Servicing Segment were $74.6 million, $100.1 million and $182.8 million for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
Servicing Portfolio (dollars in millions):
                       
Unpaid principal balance (by investor):
                       
Special Servicing
  $ 1,218     $ 1,554     $ 4,893  
Government-sponsored enterprises
    10,709       24,235       48,861  
ABS
    9,415       7,875       10,422  
                         
Total unpaid principal balance
  $ 21,342     $ 33,664     $ 64,176  
                         
Summary Financial Data (dollars in thousands):
                       
Total revenue
  $  74,601     $  100,133     $ 182,842  
Net income (loss)
    14,718       7,502       14,230  


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Key performance metrics for our servicing portfolio are shown in the chart below:
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
    (dollars in millions, except for average loan amount)  
 
Loan count—servicing
    159,336       230,615       389,172  
Ending unpaid principal balance
  $ 21,342     $ 33,664     $ 64,176  
Average unpaid principal balance
  $ 12,775     $ 25,799     $ 38,653  
Average loan amount
  $  133,943     $  145,977     $ 164,904  
Average coupon
    7.49 %     6.76 %     5.74 %
Average FICO
    588       644       631  
60+ DQ (% of loans)
    13.1 %     19.9 %     17.0 %
Total prepayment speed (12 month CPR)
    16.2 %     16.3 %     13.3 %
 
Our Servicing Model
 
Our servicing business produces recurring, fee-based revenues based upon contractually established servicing fees. Servicing fees are primarily based on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans serviced and the payment structure varies by loan source and type. For loans that we do not originate, the services we provide and the fees we receive vary depending on our agreement with the owner of the mortgage loan or the primary servicer, as the case may be. These include differences in rate of servicing fees as a percentage of unpaid principal balance and in the structure of advances. For a more detailed description of advances, see “Industry—Servicing Industry Overview.”
 
Our operating culture emphasizes credit loss ownership and loss mitigation practices to improve asset performance and cash flow and to reduce credit losses. We seek to ensure that each loan that we service is paid in accordance with its terms. In circumstances where the borrower is, or is at risk of becoming, delinquent or in default, we employ both industry standard and proprietary strategies to work proactively with borrowers in an effort to bring borrowers current in their payments, avoiding foreclosure and keeping borrowers in their homes. We refer to this frequent interaction with borrowers—via phone, Internet, mailings, and personal contact methods—as high-touch loan servicing. Our servicing model and operating culture have proven especially valuable in the current high- delinquency environment.
 
To ensure a customer-centric focus, we have separate account resolution and foreclosure prevention groups for each type of owner of mortgage loans for whom we service. We maintain centralized loan administration and default management groups, which provide services to all customers.
 
We are dedicated to a culture of customer service and credit ownership for our servicing employees. We hire recent college graduates and train them in the mortgage servicing business by systematically rotating them through a variety of our business teams. Our new employees initially work on performing loans and loans that are less than 30 days past due. After gaining experience in this environment, we train our employees in the more challenging 60 and 90 day delinquent categories, where we particularly emphasize a culture of ownership and accountability.
 
To select the best resolution option for a delinquent loan, we perform a structured analysis of all options using information provided by the borrower as well as external data. We use recent broker price opinions, automated valuation models and other methods to value the property. We then determine the option with the best expected outcome for the owner of the mortgage loan. In the current environment, loan modifications often provide a better outcome for owners of mortgage loans than foreclosure. We believe that our high-touch servicing model is more effective in keeping borrowers in their homes and avoiding foreclosure. This is a win-win situation for both the owners of mortgage loans and the borrowers that we serve. We conducted over 41,000 loan modifications in 2010 as compared to over 29,000 in 2009. The majority of loans modified were delinquent, although we modified some performing loans proactively under the American Securitization Forum guidelines.


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The most common term modified is the interest rate, while some modifications also involve the forbearance or rescheduling of delinquent principal and interest. Of the loans we modified in 2010, we modified over 12,000 mortgage loans pursuant to the MHA. Under the MHA, we receive an annual financial incentive for up to four years, provided certain conditions are met. At the same time, we forego uncollected late fees incurred in the year of modification for each qualifying loan modification.
 
The government-sponsored enterprises act as a source of liquidity for the secondary mortgage market and contract with various independent servicers to service their mortgage loan portfolio. In transactions with government-sponsored enterprises, we are required to follow specific guidelines that impact the way we service and originate mortgage loans including:
 
  •  our staffing levels and other servicing practices;
 
  •  the servicing and ancillary fees that we may charge;
 
  •  our modification standards and procedures; and
 
  •  the amount of advances reimbursable.
 
During December 2009, Nationstar entered into a strategic relationship with a government-sponsored enterprise, which contemplates, among other things, significant mortgage servicing rights and subservicing transfers to Nationstar upon terms to be determined. Under this arrangement, if certain delivery thresholds have been met, the government-sponsored enterprise may require Nationstar to establish an operating division or newly created subsidiary with separate, dedicated employees within a specified timeline to service such mortgage servicing rights and subservicing. After a specified time period, the government-sponsored enterprise may purchase the subsidiary at an agreed upon price.
 
Our Servicing Portfolio
 
Our servicing portfolio consists of mortgage servicing rights that we retain from loans that we originate; mortgage servicing rights that we acquire from third party investors, including in transactions facilitated by government-sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; and mortgage servicing rights that we manage through subservicing contracts with third party investors. Our loan servicing operations are located in Lewisville, Texas.
 
The charts below illustrate the composition of our servicing portfolio by investor and product type as of December 31, 2010.
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
The loans that we service have typically been securitized—meaning that the originator of the loan has pooled the loan together with multiple other loans and then sold securities to third party investors that are secured by loans in the securitization pool. We typically service loans that have been securitized pursuant to one of two arrangements. We primarily service loans by purchasing the right to service the loans, which is referred to as a “mortgage servicing right,” from the owner of the loan, or


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retaining the mortgage servicing right related to the loans that we originate. Alternatively, we may enter into a subservicing agreement with the entity that owns the mortgage servicing right pursuant to which we agree to service the loan on behalf of the primary servicer. We earn servicing fees pursuant to these servicing and subservicing contracts, and these fees represent the largest source of revenue from our loan servicing operations. In the majority of cases, we purchase the mortgage servicing rights, which generally entitle us to receive 25 to 50 basis points annually on the average unpaid principal balance of the loans serviced, with a weighted average across our servicing portfolio of approximately 35 basis points. Under subservicing arrangements, where we do not pay for the mortgage servicing rights and are not required to make advancing obligations, we generally receive between 5 and 45 basis points annually on the unpaid principal balance. The servicing and subservicing fees are supplemented by related income, including late fees, insufficient funds fees, fees from borrowers who pay by telephone and interest income earned on funds held in escrow to pay taxes and insurance and loan payments that we have collected but have not yet remitted to the owner of the loan.
 
As set forth in the chart below, our servicing portfolio is diversified with respect to geography. As of December 31, 2010, 66.2% of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans we service were secured by properties located in the ten largest states by population. Therefore, we are not as susceptible to local and regional real estate price fluctuations as servicers whose portfolios are more concentrated in a single state or region.
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
Key Drivers of Revenue
 
Three key factors drive the amount of revenue we generate from our Servicing operations: aggregate unpaid principal balance, delinquency rates and prepayment speed.
 
Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance:  Aggregate unpaid principal balance is a key revenue driver. As noted earlier, servicing fees are usually earned as a percentage of unpaid principal balance, and growth in the unpaid principal balance of a portfolio means growth in servicing fees. Additionally, a larger servicing portfolio generates increased ancillary fees and leads to larger custodial balances that generate greater float income. A larger servicing portfolio also drives increases in expenses. We will also incur additional interest expense to finance the servicing advances as the size of our portfolio increases. Servicers of government-sponsored enterprises collect servicing fees only on performing loans while servicers of non-government-sponsored enterprise residential mortgage-backed securities, are entitled to servicing fees on both performing loans and delinquent loans. The servicing fee relating


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to delinquent loans is accrued and paid from liquidation proceeds ahead of the reimbursement of advances.
 
Delinquency Rates:  Delinquency rates also have a significant impact on our results of operations. Delinquent loans are more expensive to service than performing loans because our cost of servicing is higher and, although credit losses are generally not a concern for our financial results, our advances to investors increase, which results in higher financing costs. Performing loans include those loans that are current or have been delinquent for less than 30 days in accordance with their original terms and those loans on which borrowers are making scheduled payments under loan modifications, forbearance plans or bankruptcy plans. We consider all other loans to be delinquent.
 
When borrowers are delinquent, the amount of funds that we are required to advance to the owners of the loans on behalf of the borrowers increases. While the collectability of advances is generally not an issue, we do incur significant costs to finance those advances. We intend to utilize both securitization and revolving credit facilities to finance our advances. As a result, increased delinquencies result in increased interest expense.
 
The cost of servicing delinquent loans is higher than the cost of servicing performing loans primarily because the loss mitigation techniques that we employ to keep borrowers in their homes are more costly than the techniques used in handling a performing loan. When loans are performing, we have limited interaction with the borrowers, and relatively low-cost customer service personnel conduct most of the interaction. Once a loan becomes delinquent, however, we must employ our loss mitigation capabilities to work with the borrower to return the loan to performing status. These procedures involve increased contact with the borrower and the development of forbearance plans, loan modifications or other techniques by highly skilled consultants with higher compensation. On those occasions when loans go into foreclosure, we incur additional costs related to coordinating the work of local attorneys to represent us in the foreclosure process. Finally, when we foreclose on loans, we employ specialists to service the real estate and manage the sale of those properties on behalf of our investors. A significant increase in delinquencies would cause us to increase our activities in these areas resulting in increased operating expenses.
 
Prepayment Speed:  A significant driver of our business is prepayment speed, which is the measurement of how quickly unpaid principal balance is reduced. Items reducing unpaid principal balance include normal monthly principal payments, refinancings, voluntary property sales and involuntary property sales such as foreclosures or short sales. Prepayment speed impacts future servicing fees, amortization of servicing rights, float income, interest expense on advances and compensating interest expense. When prepayment speed increases, our servicing fees decrease faster than projected due to the shortened life of a portfolio. The converse is true when prepayment speed decreases.
 
Prepayment speed affects our float income. Decreased prepayment speed typically leads to our holding lower float balances before remitting payoff collections to the investor and lower float income due to a lower invested balance. Lower prepayments have been associated with higher delinquency rates, higher advance balances and interest expense.
 
Servicing Organization
 
The servicing organization is comprised of four primary functional areas as detailed below.
 
Loan Administration:  The loan administration area includes the customer service, payment processing, loan accounting, escrow, taxes and insurance and document administration groups. The customer service group is primarily responsible for handling borrower inquiries including date of last payment, date of next payment due, arranging for a payment, refinance assistance and standard escrow and balance questions. In December 2010, the customer service group managed over 110,000 calls and service inquiries. The payment processing group is responsible for posting borrower payments and managing any payment-related issues. The majority of the borrower payments are


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posted electronically via our lock-box operation, Western Union, ACH or web-based payments. The loan accounting group manages the payoff of loans. The escrow, taxes and insurance group manage all escrow balances and the external vendors we utilize for property insurance and tax tracking. The document administration group manages the lien release process upon the payoff of a loan and the tracking of loan documents for new originations.
 
Account Resolution:  The account resolution group is responsible for early stage collections (borrowers who are 1 to 59 days delinquent). For accounts where payments are past due but not yet delinquent (less than 30 days past due), we use a behavioral scoring methodology to prioritize our borrower calling efforts. The key drivers of behavioral score are payment pattern behavior (i.e., if the borrower historically has made their payment on the 5th of each month and that pattern changes more attention will be paid to the borrower) and updated credit scores. For accounts 31 to 59 days delinquent, collectors are assigned individual accounts and are charged with making contact with the delinquent borrower to understand the reason for delinquency and attempt to collect a payment or work on an alternative solution. In the account resolution group, we use a combination of predictive dialer technology and account level assignments to contact the borrowers. The primary objective of this group is to reduce delinquency levels.
 
Foreclosure Prevention:  The foreclosure prevention group, commonly referred to in the industry as loss mitigation, is responsible for late stage collections (borrowers who are 60 or more days delinquent). The primary focus of this group is reducing delinquency levels. All accounts in this group are assigned to individual collectors loss mitigators. The primary role of the collector loss mitigator is to contact the borrower and understand the reasons for the borrower’s delinquency and the borrower’s desire and ability to stay in their house. The foreclosure prevention group performs most of our government and other loan modifications.
 
Default Management:  The default management area includes the foreclosure, bankruptcy, real estate owned and claims processing groups. The foreclosure group manages accounts involved in the foreclosure process. In the late stage delinquency status, we will initiate foreclosure proceedings in accordance with state foreclosure timelines. Accounts in the foreclosure group are assigned to foreclosure specialists based on a state-specific assignment. The primary focus of the foreclosure group is to perform the foreclosure process in accordance with the state timelines. Any account which has filed bankruptcy is assigned to a bankruptcy specialist who will administer the bankruptcy plain proceedings in accordance with applicable law and in conjunction with an outsourcing firm. The real estate owned group manages properties within the servicing portfolio that have completed the foreclosure process. We use both internal and external resources to manage the disposition of the real estate owned properties. The primary goal of the real estate owned team is to dispose of the property within an acceptable timeframe at the lowest possible loss.
 
Originations
 
We are one of the few high-touch servicers in the United States with a loan origination platform. We are licensed to originate residential mortgage loans in 49 states and have obtained all required federal approvals to originate FHA and conventional loans. We currently only originate prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage loans, which we either sell servicing released to other secondary market participants, which we refer to as conduits, or securitize through the issuance of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae bonds. As such, we minimize any credit or interest rate risk by not retaining loans on our balance sheet for more than approximately 30 days beyond funding. As set forth in the chart below, revenues from our Originations Segment were $22.6 million, $55.6 million and $85.5 million for 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The significant decrease in origination volume from 2007 to 2008 resulted from our decision to move from the non-prime market in the latter portion of 2007 to the prime agency and government conforming residential mortgage market. Origination volumes in 2009 and 2010 increased significantly as we expanded our prime market footprint.
 


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    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
 
Origination Volume ($ in millions):
                       
Retail
  $ 538     $ 1,093     $ 1,608  
Wholesale
    4       386       1,184  
                         
Total Originations
  $ 542     $ 1,479     $ 2,792  
                         
Summary Financial Data ($ in thousands):
                       
Total revenue
  $  22,574     $  55,593     $  85,540  
Net income (loss)
    (7,590 )     8,884       662  
 
Our Originations Platform
 
We originate loans through our three loan origination channels: Consumer Direct Retail, Distributed Retail and Wholesale. Our largest channel is our Consumer Direct Retail channel which operates as a centralized call center. Our second largest channel, the Wholesale channel, involves brokers sourcing borrowers for us. Our smallest and newest channel is our Distributed Retail channel, which includes traditional retail branches with loan officers who source loans primarily from realtors and builders. We currently have twelve retail locations in Texas, Alabama and Tennessee and, while it is our newest channel, we believe the Distributed Retail channel represents a significant growth opportunity for us. Our multi-channel origination strategy enables us to diversify our originations without becoming overly reliant on any single segment of the mortgage loan market.
 
We originate purchase money loans and refinance existing loans, including those that we service. Our strategy is to mitigate the credit, market and interest rate risk from loan originations by either selling newly originated loans or placing them in government-sponsored enterprise or government securitizations. We typically sell new loans within 30 days of origination, and we do not expect to hold any of the loans that we currently originate on our balance sheet on a long-term basis. At the time of sale, we have the option to retain the mortgage servicing rights on loans we originate.
 
Our origination capability differentiates us from other non-bank, high-touch loan servicers without an integrated origination platform by:
 
  •  providing us with an organic source of new loans to service as existing loans are repaid or otherwise liquidated—originated loans serviced by us generate higher returns than comparable mortgage servicing rights that we would acquire from a third party;
 
  •  providing an attractive complement to servicing by allowing us to modify and refinance mortgage loans, including loans that we service;
 
  •  creating a diversified source of revenue that we believe will remain stable in a variety of interest rate environments; and
 
  •  building brand recognition.
 
Originations Organization
 
Each of our loan origination channels has dedicated operations, support and fulfillment functions (processing, underwriting, closing and shipping) which are primarily performed at our offices in Lewisville, Texas. As part of our efforts to manage credit risk and enhance operating efficiencies, the underwriting, closing, funding and shipping for all of our originations channels are managed centrally. Centralizing these functions is designed to enable us to control loan quality, loan processing times, cost and, ultimately, borrower satisfaction. Additionally, to maintain independence from the sales

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organization, we have the underwriting function report directly to the Chief Financial Officer. Our three mortgage loan originations channels are discussed in more detail below:
 
Retail Originations—Consumer Direct
 
In the year ended December 31, 2010, our largest originations channel was our Consumer Direct Retail channel. We employ a single centralized call center strategy leveraging multiple potential borrower lead sources. In our Consumer Direct Retail channel, each sales team typically consists of between 10 and 12 mortgage professionals managed by a sales leader. Three to four sales leaders report to a senior vice president responsible for the specific lead source.
 
Our primary divisions within our Consumer Direct Retail channel include Renewal, New Customer Acquisition, Centralized Purchase and Strategic Alliances. Each division specializes in meeting the needs of their specific target borrowers. This strategy provides a flexible organizational structure capable of shifting to new opportunities quickly. The four divisions of our Consumer Direct Retail channel are as follows:
 
Renewal:  Focuses on retaining current borrowers in our servicing portfolio and utilizes an integrated approach with our Servicing Segment to capture borrowers who either qualify to refinance their current mortgage or who take action indicating they may be paying off their loan. The Renewal teams receive leads for borrowers from telemarketing, live transfers and scheduled callbacks from Customer Service and website programs.
 
New Customer Acquisition:  Focuses on generating new mortgage business from prospective borrowers. We use credit bureau modeling to identify borrowers who are likely to be in the market for and likely to qualify to refinance their existing mortgage loan. Marketing channels include telemarketing, direct marketing, Internet lead aggregators, credit bureau triggers such as mortgage inquiries and website programs.
 
Purchase:  Focuses on meeting the purchase needs of borrowers through a centralized sales force that focus on real estate owned financing programs, relocation lending and business to business and a decentralized sales force located in real estate offices in various states. All fulfillment operations are done through a centralized group. Our marketing channels include both consumer and business strategies such as e-mail or newsletter campaigns, flyers, websites and other direct marketing programs.
 
Strategic Alliances (Partner Plus):  Focuses on serving the needs of strategic and joint marketing partners who, in many cases, do not have the originations capabilities to provide refinancing for their own portfolios. Currently, we are providing origination services to several servicers without origination capability. In many instances, these alliances involve providing certain incentives for the borrower to refinance (e.g., payment of closing fees). These programs typically begin with a direct mail announcement of the partnership followed by direct marketing campaigns to increase borrower responses.
 
Wholesale Originations
 
In the year ended December 31, 2010, our Wholesale channel was our second largest originations channel. The primary business strategy of the Wholesale channel is to acquire high-quality servicing at a reduced price through a network of non-exclusive relationships with various approved mortgage companies and mortgage brokers. The Wholesale channel is comprised of seven sales regions throughout the United States, each staffed with a regional sales manager, and three centralized sales regions that operate out of our offices in Lewisville, Texas. Each region generally has 8-12 account executives whose primary responsibility is to source and service mortgage brokers. We provide a variety of conforming prime mortgage loans to our brokers to allow them to better service their borrowers.
 
Mortgage brokers identify applicants, help them complete a loan application, gather required information and documents, and act as our liaison with the borrower during the lending process. We review and underwrite an application submitted by a broker, accept or reject the application, determine


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the range of interest rates and other loan terms, and fund the loan upon acceptance by the borrower and satisfaction of all conditions to the loan. By relying on brokers to market our products and assist the borrower throughout the loan application process, we can increase loan volume through our Wholesale channel with proportionately lower increases in overhead costs compared with the costs of increasing loan volume in loan originations through our retail channels.
 
New brokers are sourced through our account executives, industry trade shows forums and our website. The broker approval process is critical to maintaining a high quality network of brokers. Brokers must meet various requirements and must complete the broker application package, provide evidence of appropriate state licenses, articles of incorporation, financial statements, resumes of key personnel and other information as needed. The Wholesale operations team reviews all submitted materials to determine whether the broker should be approved. The broker application is reviewed and investigated by our quality control and risk management department before final approval is provided. The process is designed to ensure that borrowers we acquire through our Wholesale channel are working with reputable and legitimate mortgage brokers.
 
Our ongoing investment in technology has allowed us to provide our broker network with the ability to obtain instantaneous online loan decisions, product options and corresponding pricing. We believe that the utility and convenience of online loan decisions and product options are a value-added service that has and will continue to solidify our business relationships. In addition, our website provides our brokers with loan status reports, product guidelines, loan pricing, interest rate locks and other added features. We expect to continue to adapt web-based technologies to enhance our one-on-one relationships with our brokers.
 
Retail Originations—Distributed Retail
 
The Distributed Retail channel is our newest origination channel. The primary strategy within the Distributed Retail channel is to expand our purchase money mortgage loan capability. Purchase money mortgage loans involve the purchase of a property. We believe that having a purchase mortgage strategy is an integral part of growing our originations platform. In order to pursue this strategy, we believe it is necessary to establish retail branches to develop relationships with traditional business partners such as realtors and builders. Distributed Retail strategies focused on purchase money mortgage loan volume and higher overall credit quality volume and are less susceptible to changing interest rate environments.
 
The Distributed Retail channel aims to promote sales growth without compromising credit quality primarily through the use of centralized underwriting and through the decentralized processing and closing (maintained at the originating branch). Mortgage professionals develop relationships with local realtors and builders in their respective markets. Realtors and builders then refer their borrowers to us to facilitate the home purchase. Marketing primarily supports these business-to-business relationships with emails, flyers, open houses, trade show support and other direct marketing efforts.
 
We currently have twelve retail locations in Texas, Alabama and Tennessee. We plan to continue to seek attractive opportunities to open new branches. Each branch is expected to have ten to twelve mortgage professionals, one to two loan processing specialists and a branch manager.
 
Technology
 
In the vast majority of cases, our key, critical systems are hosted, managed and maintained by our in-house Information Technology team. Our key systems consist of a combination of vendor developed applications as well as internally developed proprietary systems. On our most critical vendor developed applications (OPUS, XpressQual, TMO, LSAMS and FORTRACS) we maintain license rights to the source code to enable in-house customization of these systems to meet our business needs in a time effective manner.


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Servicing
 
For our Servicing Segment, our system of record is LSAMS, which we use for all loan accounting functions, claims functions and supports our Customer Service functions. Our early stage account collection efforts are focused and prioritized through the use of ESP, our proprietary early delinquency score model, used to identify higher risk accounts. Our collections and loss mitigation efforts are supported by Remedy, a proprietary default management system which, along with our proprietary Net Present Value engine and our proprietary Property Valuation Management system, enables our loan resolution personnel to guide our borrowers to the optimal economic workout alternative based on the unique factors of each borrower’s situation. For our foreclosure and bankruptcy processes, we use the FORTRACS system, which integrates with the Lendstar system to enable online communications and case tracking with our attorney network. For properties whereby we complete foreclosure and take them into real estate owned status, we utilize the web-based real estate owned management system REOTrans to manage the marketing and disposition of our owned real estate. To support our Investor Reporting functions, we use a combination of systems that include LSAMS and Lewtan ABS, a vendor hosted system. We also have a website, www.NationstarMtg.com, that is a fully automated system to apply and process mortgage loan applications and that our existing borrowers can access to receive information on their account.
 
Originations
 
The critical systems that support our loan origination activities include:
 
  •  MLS (Marketing Lead System), our proprietary marketing lead system which routes, tracks and delivers leads to our loan officers, who we refer to as our mortgage professionals;
 
  •  OPUS, a web-based point-of-sale system that provides product eligibility and pricing to our retail sales force;
 
  •  TMO, our loan origination system used for loan processing, underwriting and closing;
 
  •  XpressQual, a web-based point-of-sale system that provides product eligibility and pricing to our wholesale brokers and allows them to submit loans to us online;
 
  •  www.NationstarBroker com, our website for wholesale brokers to receive information on our products and services;
 
  •  CLASS, our proprietary system used to manage our sales relationships and licensing of our wholesale brokers;
 
  •  ODE, a rules-based pricing and eligibility engine that is integrated with OPUS, XpressQual and TMO;
 
  •  High Cost Fee Engine, our proprietary compliance fee engine that enforces both federal and local high cost and fee limits throughout the loan originations process; and
 
  •  CLT (Compliance License Tracker), our proprietary system that maintains and tracks all mortgage professionals locational licensing to ensure that leads and applications are only processed by properly licensed mortgage professionals.
 
For our Retail origination channels, the loan origination process starts when a lead is imported (or accepted) into our Marketing Lead System (MLS), a propriety system that our mortgage professionals use to manage the initial borrower contact process. Once a mortgage professional has made contact with a potential borrower, the mortgage professional moves the lead into OPUS, our web-based point-of-sale system. Here, our mortgage professionals capture the necessary loan application information, obtain credit reports to determine full product eligibility and establish pricing to facilitate the sales process. Once our mortgage professionals have helped our borrowers determine


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the program and pricing that meets their needs, the loan application is transferred into TMO, our loan origination system where we complete the loan process, underwrite the loan, prepare the closing documents and complete the loan process.
 
For our Wholesale origination channel, we provide our brokers a web-based point of sale system, XpressQual, to use to access product eligibility and pricing and to submit loans online. We also use TMO in this channel for the processing, underwriting and closing functions. Through XpressQual, our brokers have access to a web-based portal where they can upload their loan applications to determine product eligibility and loan pricing. Once they select a program and price, the broker is able to submit the file to us for processing as well as lock the rate using XpressQual. As in our retail origination channels, once submitted for processing, the file is transferred into TMO to verify the application information, clear conditions, underwrite and close the loan. Supporting OPUS, XpressQual and TMO, we also utilize a vendor developed rules-based pricing and eligibility engine called ODE as well as a proprietary compliance fee engine that enforces high cost and fee limits throughout the entire originations process. There is also a Compliance License Tracker system that maintains and tracks all mortgage professional and location level licensing. All systems are fully integrated and share information to ensure complete, up-to-date and accurate information for reporting purposes.
 
To protect our business in the event of disaster, we have implemented a disaster recovery data facility in a co-location in Irving, Texas where we maintain near real-time replication of all critical servicing systems and data.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2010, we had a total of 1,954 employees, all of which are based in the United States. None of our employees are members of any labor union or subject to any collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced any business interruption as a result of any labor dispute. Our employees are allocated among our business functions as follows:
 
  •  60% are in Servicing;
 
  •  35% are in Originations;
 
  •  5% are in support functions, including Human Resources, Accounting and other corporate functions.
 
In our Servicing Segment, we hire recent college graduates and teach them our high-touch servicing model. Our loan servicers and debt collectors follow a training program in which they first service performing loans and slightly delinquent loans. As they gain experience, they service more delinquent loans and assume increased personal responsibility for servicing a certain set of loans and contacting certain borrowers.
 
In our Originations Segment, we hire experienced prime mortgage originators and provide them with training to acclimate them to Nationstar, as well as compliance and regulatory training.
 
Regulation
 
Our business is subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation. Our loan origination, loan servicing and debt collection operations are primarily regulated at the state level by state licensing authorities and administrative agencies. Because we do business in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, we, along with certain of our employees who engage in regulated activities, must apply for licensing as a mortgage banker lender, loan servicer and/or debt collector, pursuant to applicable state law. These state licensing requirements typically require an application process, processing fees, background checks and administrative review. Our servicing operations center in Lewisville, Texas is licensed (or maintains an appropriate statutory exemption) to service mortgage loans in all fifty states


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and the District of Columbia. Our retail loan origination branch is licensed to originate loans in at least the states in which it operates, and our direct origination branch is licensed to originate loans in 49 states and the District of Columbia. From time to time, we receive requests from states and other agencies for records, documents and information regarding our policies, procedures and practices regarding our loan origination, loan servicing and debt collection business activities, and undergo periodic examinations by state regulatory agencies. We incur significant ongoing costs to comply with these licensing requirements.
 
While the U.S. federal government does not primarily regulate loan originations, the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, or the SAFE Act, requires all states to enact laws that require all United States sales representatives to be individually licensed or registered if they intend to offer mortgage loan products. These licensing requirements include enrollment in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System, application to state regulators for individual licenses, a minimum of 20 hours of pre-licensing education, an annual minimum of eight hours of continuing education and the successful completion of both national and state exams.
 
In addition to licensing requirements, we must comply with a number of federal consumer protection laws, including, among others:
 
  •  the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which requires us to maintain privacy with respect to certain consumer data in our possession and to periodically communicate with consumers on privacy matters;
 
  •  the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which regulates the timing and content of debt collection communications;
 
  •  the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z thereunder, which require certain disclosures to the mortgagors regarding the terms of the mortgage loans;
 
  •  the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which regulates the use and reporting of information related to the credit history of consumers;
 
  •  the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B thereunder, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, race and certain other characteristics, in the extension of credit;
 
  •  the Homeowners Protection Act, which requires the cancellation of mortgage insurance once certain equity levels are reached;
 
  •  the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and Regulation C thereunder, which require financial institutions to report certain public loan data;
 
  •  the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and certain other characteristics; and
 
  •  Regulation AB under the Securities Act, which requires certain registration, disclosure and reporting for mortgage-backed securities.
 
We must also comply with applicable state and local consumer protection laws, which may impose more comprehensive and costly restrictions than the regulations listed above. In a response to the decline in the housing market and the increase in foreclosures, many local governments have extended the time period necessary prior to initiating foreclosure proceedings, which prevent a servicer or trustee, as applicable, from exercising any remedies they might have in respect of liquidating a severely delinquent mortgage loan in a timely manner.
 
On May 28, 2009, we voluntarily entered into an agreement to actively participate as a loan servicer in HAMP, which enables eligible borrowers to avoid foreclosure through a more affordable and sustainable loan modification made in accordance with HAMP guidelines, procedures, directives and


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requirements. Loan modifications pursuant to HAMP may include a rescheduling of payments or a reduction in the applicable interest rates and, in some cases, a reduction in the principal amount due. Under HAMP, subject to a program participation cap, we, as a servicer, will receive an initial incentive payment of up to $1,500 for each loan modified in accordance with HAMP subject to the condition that the borrower successfully completes a trial modification period. In addition, provided that a HAMP modification does not become 90 days or more delinquent, we will receive an incentive of up to $1,000. As of December 31, 2010, 14,184 loans with an unpaid principal balance of $3.1 billion after modification had been modified through HAMP.
 
Competition
 
In our Servicing Segment, we compete with large financial institutions and with other independent servicers. Our ability to differentiate ourselves from other loan servicers through our high- touch servicing model and culture of credit largely determines our competitive position within the mortgage loan servicing industry.
 
In our Originations Segment, we compete with large financial institutions and local and regional mortgage bankers and lenders. Our ability to differentiate the value of our financial products primarily through our mortgage loan offerings, rates, fees and customer service determines our competitive position within the mortgage loan origination industry. The placement of mortgage loans is greatly influenced by traditional business partners such as realtors and builders. As a result, our ability to secure relationships with traditional business partners will influence our ability to grow our purchase line.
 
Seasonality
 
Our Originations Segment is subject to seasonal fluctuations, and activity tends to diminish somewhat in the winter months of December, January and February, when home sales volume and loan origination volume are at their lowest. This typically causes seasonal fluctuations in our Originations Segment’s revenue. Our Servicing segment is not subject to seasonality.
 
Intellectual Property
 
We use a variety of methods, such as trademarks, patents, copyrights and trade secrets, to protect our intellectual property. We also place appropriate restrictions on our proprietary information to control access and prevent unauthorized disclosures.
 
Properties
 
Our principal executive headquarters is located in Lewisville, Texas. At our main campus in Lewisville, Texas, we lease two buildings containing an aggregate of approximately 201,000 square feet of general office space, pursuant to two leases, both of which are currently due to expire in the first half of 2014. In addition to serving as our principal executive headquarters, our main Lewisville campus houses a portion of our servicing operations and all of our Consumer Direct Retail origination platform. We also own a parcel of undeveloped land at our campus location which can be used for future expansion.
 
We lease an additional 40,897 square feet of space in Lewisville, Texas, which is currently due to expire in December, 2011. This building houses our wholesale loan origination platform and some administrative support functions. We also lease 83,467 square feet at another location in Lewisville, Texas, which is currently due to expire in April 2016. We intend to use this additional space to meet the needs of our growing servicing operation.


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Consistent with our plans to open new branches in our Distributed Retail channel, we have completed leases on our regional management office in Montgomery, Alabama as well as branch office leases in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. As of December 31, 2010, we had 17 Distributed Retail branch leases. Our typical Distributed Retail branch office is between 2,500 and 4,000 square feet with lease terms of three years or less.
 
To meet various state local presence regulations, we maintain leases on four small (150 square feet) executive suite offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada and Missouri.
 
We also have one lease (80,000 square feet) on property located in Parsippany, New Jersey which we no longer utilize and which is being actively marketed for disposal.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
We are routinely involved in legal proceedings concerning matters that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although the outcome of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not currently expect any of the proceedings pending against us, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
We are exposed to a variety of market risks which include interest rate risk, consumer credit risk and counterparty credit risk.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
Changes in interest rates affect our operations primarily as follows:
 
Servicing Segment
 
  •  an increase in interest rates would increase our costs of servicing our outstanding debt, including our ability to finance servicing advances;
 
  •  a decrease (increase) in interest rates would generally increase (decrease) prepayment rates and may require us to report a decrease (increase) in the value of our mortgage servicing rights;
 
  •  a change in prevailing interest rates could impact our earnings from our custodial deposit accounts; and
 
  •  an increase in interest rates could generate an increase in delinquency, default and foreclosure rates resulting in an increase in both operating expenses and interest expense and could cause a reduction in the value of our assets.
 
Originations Segment
 
  •  a substantial and sustained increase in prevailing interest rates could adversely affect our loan origination volume because refinancing an existing loan would be less attractive and qualifying for a loan may be more difficult; and
 
  •  an increase in interest rates would increase our costs of servicing our outstanding debt, including our ability to finance loan originations;
 
We actively manage the risk profiles of interest rate lock commitments or IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale on a daily basis and enter into forward sales of mortgage backed securities in an amount equal to the portion of the IRLC expected to close, assuming no change in mortgage interest rates. In addition, to manage the interest rate risk associated with mortgage loans held for sale, we enter into forward sales of mortgage backed securities to deliver mortgage loan inventory to investors.
 
Consumer Credit Risk
 
We sell our loans on a non-recourse basis. We also provide representations and warranties to purchasers and insurers of the loans sold that typically are in place for the life of the loan. In the event of a breach of these representations and warranties, we may be required to repurchase a mortgage loan or indemnify the purchaser, and any subsequent loss on the mortgage loan may be borne by us. If there is no breach of a representation and warranty provision, we have no obligation to repurchase the loan or indemnify the investor against loss. The outstanding unpaid principal balance of loans sold by us represents the maximum potential exposure related to representation and warranty provisions.
 
We maintain a reserve for losses on loans repurchased or indemnified as a result of breaches of representations and warranties on our sold loans. Our estimate is based on our most recent data regarding loan repurchases and indemnity payments, actual credit losses on repurchased loans, recovery history, among other factors. Our assumptions are affected by factors both internal and external in nature. Internal factors include, among other things, level of loan sales, as well as to whom the loans are sold, the expectation of credit loss on repurchases and indemnifications, our success rate at appealing repurchase demands and our ability to recover any losses from third parties. External factors that may affect our estimate includes, among other things, the overall economic condition in the housing market, the economic condition of borrowers, the political environment at investor


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agencies and the overall U.S. and world economy. Many of the factors are beyond our control and may lead to judgments that are susceptible to change.
 
Counterparty Credit Risk
 
We are exposed to counterparty credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties to various agreements. We monitor the credit ratings of our counterparties and do not anticipate losses due to counterparty non-performance.
 
Sensitivity Analysis
 
We assess our market risk based on changes in interest rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis measures the potential impact on fair values based on hypothetical changes (increases and decreases) in interest rates.
 
We use a duration-based model in determining the impact of interest rate shifts on our loan portfolio, certain other interest-bearing liabilities measured at fair value and interest rate derivatives portfolios. The primary assumption used in these models is that an increase or decrease in the benchmark interest rate produces a parallel shift in the yield curve across all maturities.
 
We utilize a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of mortgage servicing rights and the impact of parallel interest rate shifts on mortgage servicing rights. The primary assumptions in this model are prepayment speeds, market discount rates and cost to service. However, this analysis ignores the impact of interest rate changes on certain material variables, such as the benefit or detriment on the value of future loan originations, non-parallel shifts in the spread relationships between mortgage-backed securities, swaps and U.S. Department of the Treasury rates and changes in primary and secondary mortgage market spreads. For mortgage loans, interest rate lock commitments and forward delivery commitments on mortgage-backed securities, we rely on a model in determining the impact of interest rate shifts. In addition, for interest rate lock commitments, the borrower’s propensity to close their mortgage loans under the commitment is used as a primary assumption.
 
Our total market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors including market volatility and the liquidity of the markets. There are certain limitations inherent in the sensitivity analysis presented, including the necessity to conduct the analysis based on a single point in time and the inability to include the complex market reactions that normally would arise from the market shifts modeled.
 
We used December 31, 2010 market rates on our instruments to perform the sensitivity analysis. The estimates are based on the market risk sensitive portfolios described in the preceding paragraphs and assume instantaneous, parallel shifts in interest rate yield curves. These sensitivities are hypothetical and presented for illustrative purposes only. Changes in fair value based on variations in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in fair value may not be linear.


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The following table summarizes the estimated change in the fair value of our assets and liabilities sensitive to interest rates as of December 31, 2010 given hypothetical instantaneous parallel shifts in the yield curve:
 
                 
    Change in Fair Value  
    Down
    Up
 
    25 bps     25 bps  
    (in thousands)  
 
Increase (decrease) in assets
               
Mortgage loans held for sale
    $4,142       $(4,303 )
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    (596 )     809  
Mortgage servicing rights
    (2,636 )     2,809  
Other assets (derivatives)
               
IRLCs
    1,694       (2,163 )
Forward MBS trades
    (6,278 )     6,569  
                 
Total change in assets
    (3,674 )     3,720  
Increase (decrease) in liabilities
               
Derivative financial instruments
               
Interest rate swaps and caps
    $1,521       $(1,367 )
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    1,030       (1,030 )
ABS nonrecourse debt
    (1,484 )     1,698  
                 
Total change in liabilities
    1,067       (699 )
                 
Total, net change
     $(4,741 )     $4,420  
                 


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MANAGEMENT, BOARD OF MANAGERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
Executive Officers
 
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of our current executive officers.
 
             
Name
  Age  
Position
 
Anthony H. Barone
    53     President, Chief Executive Officer and Manager
Jay Bray
    44     Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Robert Appel
    49     Executive Vice President of Servicing
Amar Patel
    39     Executive Vice President of Portfolio Investments
Douglas Krueger
    42     Executive Vice President of Capital Markets
Anne E. Sutherland
    50     Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Steven L. Hess
    54     Executive Vice President of Marketing
Mark O’Brien
    58     Executive Vice President of Organizational Development
 
Board of Managers
 
The Board of Managers of Nationstar LLC consists of two managers. Our ability to expand our Board of Managers is subject to complying with applicable notice, background check and other state licensing requirements. No board committees have been designated at this time. Managers hold office until a successor is elected and qualifies or until the Manager’s death, resignation or removal. The following table sets forth the name, age and position of the current managers of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.
 
             
Name
  Age  
Position
 
Anthony H. Barone
    53     President, Chief Executive Officer and Manager
Peter Smith
    43     Manager
 
Board of Directors
 
The Board of Directors of Nationstar Capital Corporation consists of two directors. No board committees have been designated at this time. Directors hold office until a successor is elected and qualifies or until the Director’s death, resignation or removal. The following table sets forth the name, age and position of the current directors of Nationstar Capital Corporation.
 
             
Name
  Age  
Position
 
Anthony H. Barone
    53     President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Jay Bray
    44     Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
 
Anthony H. Barone is the President, Chief Executive Officer of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 1997. Mr. Barone is Manager of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served as Manager since 2006. Mr. Barone is also President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nationstar Capital Corporation and has served in this capacity since 2010. Mr. Barone has over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry. From 1980 to 1989, Mr. Barone held management positions in loan servicing, originations, secondary marketing and credit administration at General Electric Capital Corporation. From 1990 to 1997, Mr. Barone served as Executive Vice President of Ford Consumer Finance, a former mortgage lending and servicing subsidiary of Ford Motor Credit Corporation. Mr. Barone holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut.
 
Jay Bray is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 2000. Mr. Bray is also Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Nationstar Capital Corporation and has served in this capacity since 2010. Mr. Bray has over 22 years of experience in the mortgage servicing and origination industry. From 1988 to 1994, Mr. Bray served as an Audit Manager with Arthur Andersen in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Bray held a variety of leadership roles at Bank of America and predecessor entities, where he managed the Asset Backed Securitization process for mortgage related


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products, developed and implemented a secondary execution strategy and profitability plan and managed investment banking relationships, secondary marketing operations and investor relations. Additionally, Mr. Bray led the portfolio acquisition, pricing and modeling group. Mr. Bray holds a B.A.A. in Accounting from Auburn University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia.
 
Robert Appel is the Executive Vice President of Servicing of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in February 2008. Mr. Appel has over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry and 5 years of public accounting experience. From 1985 to 1990, he served as an audit manager with Ernst and Young LLP. From 1990 to 1992, he held a position as Vice President of Control for Tyler Cabot Mortgage Securities Fund, a NYSE listed bond fund. From 1992 to 1999, Mr. Appel held a position at Capstead Mortgage where he started a master servicing organization and later became Senior Vice President of Default Management for Capstead’s primary servicer. From 1999 to 2003, he was Managing Director of GMAC’s Master Servicing operation. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Appel was Chief Executive Officer of GMAC’s United Kingdom mortgage lending business. From 2005 to 2008, he served as Servicing Manager of GMAC’s $100 billion non-prime residential servicing platform. Mr. Appel holds a B.S., cum laude, in Business Control Systems from the University of North Texas and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner in the State of Texas and is a former member of the Freddie Mac Default Advisory Group.
 
Amar Patel is the Executive Vice President of Portfolio Investments of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in June 2006. Mr. Patel has over 17 years of experience in the mortgage industry. From 1993 to 2006, Mr. Patel held various management roles at Capstead Mortgage Corporation, last serving as Senior Vice President of Asset and Liability Management. Mr. Patel holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Mathematics from Baylor University and an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
 
Douglas Krueger is the Executive Vice President of Capital Markets and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 2009. Mr. Krueger has over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry. For five years, Mr. Krueger held various senior leadership roles with CitiMortgage managing the secondary marketing and master servicing areas. Mr. Krueger also served as Senior Vice President with Principal Residential Mortgage for thirteen years. Mr. Krueger holds a B.B.A. from the University of Iowa and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
 
Anne E. Sutherland is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 1997. Ms. Sutherland has over 24 years of legal experience in the mortgage banking and consumer finance industry. From 1986 to 1988, Ms. Sutherland served as Staff Attorney for the Oklahoma Bankers Association. From January 1988 until its dissolution in July 1989, Ms. Sutherland served as Counsel for Wells Fargo Credit Corporation. From 1989 to 1994, Ms. Sutherland was the Assistant General Counsel for Ford Consumer Finance Company. From 1994 to 1997, Ms. Sutherland served as Vice President, Division Counsel and Secretary of ContiMortgage Corporation, a subsidiary of ContiFinancial. Ms. Sutherland holds a B.B.A. in Finance and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
 
Steven L. Hess is the Executive Vice President of Marketing of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 1997. Mr. Hess has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry. He assumed his current role as the Executive Vice President, Marketing for Nationstar in 2001. From 1980 to 1989, Mr. Hess held various management roles in marketing, loan servicing and credit administration. From 1989 to 1997, he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Ford Consumer Finance Company, a former subsidiary of Ford Motor Credit that is now part of Citigroup. He also served in a subsequent assignment as Senior Vice President and Product Manager of Card Services and was responsible for managing the P&L and marketing for an $800 million co-brand Visa portfolio issued in partnership with Amoco Oil Company and Unocal 76. Mr. Hess holds a B.S. in Marketing and Advertising from the University of Colorado.
 
Mark O’Brien is the Executive Vice President of Organizational Development of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and has served in this capacity since joining Nationstar in 2002. Mr. O’Brien has over


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35 years of experience in the financial services industry. From 1974 to 1983, Mr. O’Brien held various management roles in consumer finance and human resources at GE Capital Corporation. From 1984 to 1989, he served as Vice President of Human Resources for PSFS Bank, a subsidiary of Meritor Financial Group. From 1990 to 1997, Mr. O’Brien served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Fleet Mortgage Group, during which time loan origination volume and the loan servicing portfolio doubled in size. From 1997 to 2002, he served as Executive Vice President of Human Resources for North America Mortgage Company, the mortgage banking subsidiary of Dime Savings Bank of New York. Mr. O’Brien holds a B.B.A. in Management from Xavier University and is a member of the Association of Financial Services and recently served as Chair of the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
 
Peter Smith is a Manager of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and a Managing Director of Fortress Investment Group in the asset management area. Mr. Smith has served as Manager of Nationstar Mortgage LLC since 2006. Mr. Smith joined Fortress in May 1998. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Smith was a Vice President at CRIIMI MAE Inc. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Smith held positions at UBS and BlackRock. Mr. Smith holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Radford University and an M.B.A. in Finance from George Washington University.
 
Family Relationships
 
There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers or directors.
 
Director Independence
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Nationstar Capital Corporation are privately owned. As a result, we are not required to have independent directors.


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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
 
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis is designed to provide an understanding of the compensation program for our CEO, Anthony H. Barone, our CFO, Jay Bray, our Executive Vice President of Servicing, Robert L. Appel, our Executive Vice President, Amar Patel, and, our Executive Vice President, Capital Markets, Douglas Krueger (collectively, our named executive officers or “NEOs”), with respect to our 2010 fiscal year.
 
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
 
Our primary executive compensation goals are to attract, motivate and retain the most talented and dedicated executives and to align annual and long-term incentives while enhancing unitholder value. To achieve these goals we maintain compensation plans that:
 
  •  Deliver a mix of fixed and at-risk compensation, including through the grants of restricted units and restricted preferred units.
 
  •  Through dividend equivalents on grants of restricted units and restricted preferred units, tie a portion of the overall compensation of executive officers to the dividends we pay to our unitholders.
 
  •  Encourage the achievement of our short- and long-term goals on both the individual and company levels.
 
Process for Setting Executive Officer Compensation
 
Peter Smith, the designated manager (the “Manager”) of FIF HE Holdings LLC, the sole member of the Company (our “Parent”), and its unitholders evaluate our performance, including the achievement of key investment and capital raising goals, and the individual performance of each named executive officer, with a goal of setting overall compensation at levels that our Parent and its unitholders believe are appropriate.
 
During 2010, in connection with new grants of restricted units and restricted preferred units, we amended the employment agreements with Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel, and Patel, further described below. The amendments were minor and were intended to bring the agreements in line with customary practice in our industry. We believe that the employment agreements and these amendments benefit the Company and its unitholders by providing these individuals with a degree of comfort during the contract term about their employment so that they may focus on managing the business.
 
Participation of Management. Our NEOs are not directly responsible for determining our CEO’s compensation, although they regularly provide information to our Parent and its unitholders that is relevant to its evaluation of the NEOs’ compensation (for instance, in terms of our performance against established compensation goals and otherwise). By contrast, the CEO plays a more active role in determining the compensation of the other NEOs, who are his subordinates. He regularly advises our Parent and its unitholders of his own evaluation of their job performance and offers for consideration his own recommendations for their compensation levels. Final compensation decisions are executed by the Manager.
 
Compensation Consultant. We have not retained a compensation consultant to review our policies and procedures with respect to executive compensation, although the Company or Parent may elect in the future to retain a compensation consultant if they determine that doing so would assist it in implementing and maintaining compensation plans.
 
Risk considerations. In developing and reviewing the executive incentive programs, our Parent and unitholders consider the business risks inherent in program designs to ensure they do not induce executives to take unacceptable levels of business risk for the purpose of increasing their incentive plan awards. Our Parent and unitholders believe that the mix of compensation components used in the


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determination of our NEOs’ compensation reflects the performance of our Company and the performance of the individual employee and does not encourage our NEOs to take unreasonable risks relating to the business. Our NEOs’ ownership interest in the Company aligns our NEOs’ interests with our long-term performance and discourages excessive risk taking.
 
Elements of Compensation
 
Our executive compensation consists of the elements set forth below. Determinations regarding any one element of compensation affect determinations regarding each other element of compensation, because the goal of our Parent and unitholders is to set overall compensation at an appropriate level. Our Parent and unitholders take into account in this regard the extent to which different compensation elements are at-risk. Accordingly, for example, the amount of salary paid to a named executive officer is considered by our Parent and unitholders in determining the amount of any cash bonus or restricted unit or restricted preferred unit award, but the relationship among the elements is not formulaic because of the need to balance the likelihood that the at-risk components of compensation will actually be paid at any particular level. We further base overall compensation packages of our executive officers on their experience, current market conditions, business trends, and overall Company performance. As a result, the total compensation of our NEOs in 2010 consisted of the following elements: (1) base salary, (2) non-equity incentive plan awards, (3) equity awards, and (4) participation in employee benefit plans.
 
Base Salary
 
We utilize base salary as a building block of our compensation program. Base salaries for our NEOs are established based upon the scope of their responsibilities and what is necessary to recruit and retain skilled executives. We believe that our executives’ base salaries are comparable with salaries paid to executives at companies of a similar size and with a similar performance to us. Base salaries are reviewed annually in accordance with the named executive officer’s annual performance evaluation and increased from time to time in view of each named executive officer’s individual responsibilities, individual and company performance, and experience. Base salaries may not be reduced without the NEO’s approval.
 
Our named executive officers have entered into employment agreements with the Company that set a minimum salary upon execution of the agreement. These base salaries are intended to complement the at-risk components of the Company’s compensation program by assuring that our NEOs will receive an appropriate minimum level of compensation.
 
Annual Bonus Plans
 
Annual bonus incentives keyed to short-term objectives form an important part of our compensation program. The bonus plans are designed to provide incentives to achieve certain financial goals of the Company, as well as personal objectives.
 
The Incentive Plan for Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel and Patel. Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel, and Patel participate in our Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). The Incentive Plan provides for payment of annual cash incentive bonuses from a pool equal to 5% of the Company’s Operating Cash Flow. Operating Cash Flow is generally equal to Adjusted EBITDA from the Operating segments less Servicing resulting from transfers of financial assets. In calculating Operating Cash Flow, non-cash components affecting Adjusted EBITDA both positively and negatively, if any, are excluded. This measure of Operating Cash Flow is intended to represent the Company’s cash revenues less all fully allocated cash and accrued expenses. Tying bonus payments to Operating Cash Flow puts a significant portion of these executives’ salary at risk and ties their compensation to our operational and financial results. The Incentive Plan is maintained at FIF HE Holdings LLC and is administered by the Manager. Our Parent chose the Company’s Operating Cash Flow as an incentive metric believing that it reflects the efficiency with which our management team manage the Company on a short- and long-term basis.


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Our Parent may not decrease the amount of the bonus pool. Each fiscal year, the Manager determines each named executive officer’s allocable portion of the bonus pool for that fiscal year, provided, however, that the Manager may not reduce any executive’s allocable percentage to less than 75% of the executive’s percentage for the prior fiscal year. To receive the actual award, the named executive officer must be employed by the Company (and not have given notice of intent to resign) on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.
 
Annual Incentive Program for Mr. Krueger. Mr. Krueger participates in our annual cash incentive program, which includes Company and individual performance measures. These measures are established at the beginning of the fiscal year by the Company’s Board of Managers. Mr. Krueger’s key objectives for 2010 were Operating Cash Flow (40% weight factor in final payout), secondary marketing profit/loss (30% weight) and other deliverables (30% weight). In 2010, Mr. Krueger’s other deliverables were associated with managing hedging risks, execution of loan sales, Government Sponsored Enterprise and investor relations and frequency of repurchase requests. At year end, the Board of Managers rates the results for each key objective on a scale of one to five. The rating is multiplied by the weight of each key objective to result in a weighted score, with five being the highest possible score. The weighted score is converted into a percentage and multiplied by Mr. Krueger’s bonus opportunity to result in the annual cash incentive awarded. Mr. Krueger’s maximum bonus opportunity pursuant to his employment agreement, discussed below, is set at 150% of annual base salary. In 2010, the Company’s and Mr. Krueger’s performance were rated by the Board of Managers as exceeding target in all three key objectives resulting in an above target annual cash incentive. The annual cash incentive is generally paid in a single installment in the first quarter following completion of the plan year, the amount of which is determined by our Board of Managers. Mr. Krueger must be employed by the Company on December 31 of the award year and not have given notice of termination by the time that the award is paid to receive the bonus. As a condition of participation in the annual incentive plan, Mr. Krueger is subject to a non-solicitation covenant.
 
The following are our NEO’s target bonus percentages for 2010:
 
                 
    Allocable
  Target Bonus
    Percentage of the
  As Percent Of
Name
  Bonus Pool   Salary
 
Anthony H. Barone
    35.6%       N/A  
Jay Bray
    31.7%       N/A  
Robert L. Appel
    17.2%       N/A  
Amar Patel
    15.5%       N/A  
Douglas Krueger
    N/A       90.0%  
 
Long-Term Incentive Plans
 
Equity Incentive Plan. Long-term incentives in the form of grants of units and preferred units to our NEOs are intended to promote sustained high performance. In 2010, Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel, and Patel received grants of Series 1 and Series 2 Class A units of FIF HE Holdings LLC. The units vest over three years. In determining the 2010 grants to each of Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel, and Patel, to achieve the desired ownership percentage for each executive, prior vested awards of Class A units and Class A units previously purchased by each executive were taken into account. The executives are entitled to share in any dividend distribution with respect to the Class A units whether or not they have vested. Following termination of employment, the Company will have certain repurchase rights as set forth in the applicable unit award agreement and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of FIF HE Holdings LLC.
 
The Company also granted each of Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel, and Patel restricted preferred stock units (“RSUs”) relating to Series 1 Class C Preferred units and Series 1 Class D Preferred units. Each RSU represents the right to receive one Class C unit or Class D unit, as applicable, upon vesting and settlement of the RSU. If the Company pays a dividend to Class C or Class D unitholders (other


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than with respect to any pre-2010 preferred yield), then the executive will be entitled to receive a proportionate payment based on the number of RSUs he holds, whether or not they have vested.
 
Our equity plans provide for accelerated vesting of a portion of the unvested awards where the employment of any of our NEOs is terminated without “cause” (other than within six months after a change in control), by the NEO for “good reason” or upon death or disability, subject to the named executive officer executing a general release of claims in favor of the Company. If the employment of any of our NEOs is terminated without cause, subject to the named executive officer executing a general release of claims in favor of the Company, all unvested units and RSUs will vest. We believe that such a provision benefits the Company and its unitholders by giving the executives some protection so they may make decisions about the Company and any potential transaction free from concerns about the impact to their unvested equity awards. On any other termination of employment, all unvested units and RSUs will be forfeited.
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan. Mr. Krueger participates in a long-term incentive plan which is designed to reward company and individual performance and serve as a retention device. Awards are determined at the conclusion of the plan year (calendar) based upon the Company’s overall financial performance and Mr. Krueger’s contribution to those results. Awards are approved by our Board of Managers with an award date of December 31 of the year just concluded. The award is generally subject to a three year cliff vesting requirement from the date of the award, which provides an important retention incentive as the executive must remain employed by the Company to receive the bonus. The bonus ordinarily is paid in a single installment in the first quarter of the third year following grant. Mr. Krueger must be employed by the Company on the date of payout to receive the award.
 
Severance Benefits
 
We have entered into employment agreements with our NEOs that provide severance benefits to such officers in the circumstances described in greater detail below in the section entitled “Employment Agreements.” We believe that these severance benefits are essential elements of our executive compensation and assist us in recruiting and retaining talented executives.
 
Other Compensation Components
 
All of our executive officers are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans, including medical, dental, life insurance and 401(k) plans. These plans are available to all employees and do not discriminate in favor of our named executive officers. In addition, we reimburse Mr. Barone and Mr. Bray the cost of life insurance premiums pursuant to our Executive Life Program. We do not view perquisites as a significant element of our comprehensive compensation structure; however, we believe some perquisites are necessary for the Company to attract and retain superior management talent for the benefit of all unitholders. The value of these benefits to the NEOs is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table under the column “All Other Compensation” and detail about each benefit is set forth in a table following the Summary Compensation Table.


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Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth the annual compensation for the Principal Executive Officer, the Principal Financial Officer, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers (referred to as the named executive officers or “NEOs”) serving at the end of fiscal year 2010.
 
                                                         
                            Non-Stock
             
                      Stock
    Incentive Plan
    All Other
       
          Salary
    Bonus
    Awards
    Compensation
    Compensation
    Total
 
Name
  Year     ($)     ($)     ($)(1)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
 
Anthony H. Barone
    2010       424,350             9,584,458       907,862 (2)     16,116 (3)     10,932,786  
      2009       424,350                   706,872 (4)     16,116 (3)     1,147,338  
Jay Bray
    2010       320,000             9,918,148       809,434 (2)     11,048 (5)     11,058,630  
      2009       289,800                   630,235 (4)     11,069 (6)     931,104  
Robert L. Appel
    2010       275,000             6,467,985       439,288 (2)     5,500 (7)     7,187,746  
      2009       274,999                   342,035 (4)     5,500 (7)     622,534  
Amar Patel
    2010       255,000             4,147,863       395,415 (2)     6,231 (7)     4,804,509  
      2009       255,000                   307,875 (4)     6,231 (7)     569,106  
Douglas Krueger
    2010       250,000                   425,000 (8)     3,125 (7)     678,125  
      2009       215,064       50,000 (9)           450,000 (10)     41,239 (11)     706,303  
 
 
(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures during the applicable vesting periods, of units and RSUs granted to the NEOs. Information with respect to vesting of these awards is disclosed in the Grant of Plan Based Awards table and the accompanying notes.
 
(2) These amounts will be paid in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, but represent awards with respect to the Company’s and individual performance in fiscal year 2010.
 
(3) Represents payment of a life insurance premium equal to $9,216 and a $6,900 contribution to Mr. Barone’s 401(k) account.
 
(4) These amounts were paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, but represent awards with respect to the Company’s and individual performance in fiscal year 2009.
 
(5) Represents payment of a life insurance premium equal to $5,998 and a $5,050 contribution to Mr. Bray’s 401(k) account.
 
(6) Represents payment of a life insurance premium equal to $5,998 and a $5,071 contribution to Mr. Bray’s 401(k) account.
 
(7) Represents a contribution to the named executive officer’s 401(k) account.
 
(8) Of this amount, $300,000 will be paid in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, although it represents an award with respect to the Company’s and Mr. Krueger’s individual performance in fiscal year 2010, as described in Annual Incentive Program for Mr. Krueger. The remaining $125,000 is pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan, described above, and is subject to three-year time-based cliff vesting; this amount will become vested on December 31, 2013 as long as Mr. Krueger remains employed with the Company.
 
(9) Represents a sign-on bonus Mr. Krueger received pursuant to his employment agreement when he joined the Company.
 
(10) Of this amount, $225,000 was paid in the first quarter of fiscal year 2010, although it represents an award with respect to the Company’s and Mr. Krueger’s individual performance in fiscal year 2009, as described in Annual Incentive Program for Mr. Krueger. The remaining $225,000 is pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan, described above, and is subject to three-year time-based cliff vesting; this amount will become vested on December 31, 2012 as long as Mr. Krueger remains employed with the Company.
 
(11) Represents payment of a relocation expenses equal to $39,469 and a $1,770 contribution to Mr. Krueger’s 401(k) account.


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Grants of Plan-Based Awards
 
The following table sets forth, for each of the Executive Officers, the grants of awards under any plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
 
                                                                         
          Estimated
                                           
          Future
                                           
          Payouts
                                           
          Under
                                           
          Non-Equity
                                           
          Incentive Plan
    All Other Stock Awards:
    Grant Date Fair Value of
       
          Awards
    Number of Units (#)     Equity Awards ($)        
Name
  Grant Date     Target ($)     1A     2A     C&D     1A     2A     C&D        
 
Anthony H. Barone
    9/17/2010(1 )     907,862       136,993       25,607       2,494,500       6,752,295       22,088       2,810,075          
Jay Bray
    9/17/2010(2 )     809,434       153,212       28,637       2,078,750       7,551,718       24,701       2,341,729          
Robert L. Appel
    9/17/2010(3 )     439,288       102,384       19,137       1,247,250       5,046,440       16,507       1,405,038          
Amar Patel
    9/17/2010(4 )     395,415       64,937       12,137       831,500       3,200,702       10,469       936,692          
Douglas Krueger
            125,000 (5)                                                        
 
 
(1) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award vested with respect to 481 Series 1 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 68,256 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award vested with respect to 91 Series 2 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 12,758 on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 831,500 units on each of September 17, 2010, June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
 
(2) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award vested with respect to 39,452 Series 1 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 56,880 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award vested with respect to 7,373 Series 2 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 10,631 on June 30, 2011 and with respect to 10,633 on June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 692,916 units on September 17, 2010 and 692,917 units on each of June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
 
(3) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 34,128 units on each of September 17, 2010, June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 6,379 units on each of September 17, 2010, June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 415,750 units on each of September 17, 2010, June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
 
(4) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award vested with respect to 19,433 Series 1 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 22,752 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award vested with respect to 3,631 Series 2 Class A units on September 17, 2010, and will vest with respect to 4,252 on June 30, 2011 and 4,254 on June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 277,166 units on September 17, 2010 and 277,167 units on each of June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
 
(5) This bonus under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, described above, is subject to three-year time-based cliff vesting, which will become vested on December 31, 2013 as long as Mr. Krueger remains employed with the Company.


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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
 
The following table sets forth, for each of the Executive Officers, the outstanding equity awards as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
 
                                                 
    Stock Awards  
    Number of Units That Have
    Market Value of Units That Have
 
    Not Vested (#)     Not Vested ($)  
Name
  1A     2A     C&D     1A     2A     C&D  
 
Anthony H. Barone(1)
    136,512       25,516       1,663,000       6,715,749       22,009       1,886,089  
Jay Bray(2)
    113,760       21,264       1,385,834       5,596,458       18,342       1,571,741  
Robert L. Appel(3)
    68,256       12,758       831,500       3,357,875       11,005       943,045  
Amar Patel(4)
    45,504       8,506       554,334       2,238,583       7,337       628,696  
Douglas Krueger
                                   
 
 
(1) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 68,256 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 12,758 on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 831,500 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012.
 
(2) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 56,880 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 10,631 on June 30, 2011 and with respect to 10,633 on June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 692,917 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012.
 
(3) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 34,128 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 6,379 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 415,750 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012.
 
(4) This award is subject to vesting. With respect to the Series 1 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 22,752 Series 1 Class A units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012. With respect to the Series 2 Class A, the award will vest with respect to 4,252 on June 30, 2011 and 4,254 on June 30, 2012. With respect to the Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, the award vests in equal tranches with respect to 277,167 units on each of June 30, 2011 and 2012.
 
Stock Vested
 
The following table sets forth, for each of the Executive Officers, information with respect to the exercise of stock options, SARs and similar instruments and vesting of other equity-based awards during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
 
                                                 
    Stock Awards  
    Number of Shares
       
    Acquired on Vesting (#)     Value Realized on Vesting ($)  
Name
  1A     2A     C&D     1A     2A     C&D  
 
Anthony H. Barone
    19,845       3,710       831,500       1,021,205       3,386       936,692  
Jay Bray
    44,432       8,304       692,916       2,201,098       7,210       780,576  
Robert L. Appel
    34,128       6,379       415,750       1,682,147       5,502       468,346  
Amar Patel
    19,433       3,631       277,166       957,840       3,132       312,230  
Douglas Krueger
                                   


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Employment Agreements
 
The Company has entered into employment agreements with all of our named executive officers.
 
Employment Agreements of Messrs. Barone and Bray
 
Mr. Barone and the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Barone agreed to serve as our Chief Executive Officer on September 17, 2010. Mr. Bray and the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Bray agreed to serve as our Chief Financial Officer on September 17, 2010. The employment agreements expire on July 10, 2011. Pursuant to the employment agreements, upon a termination for any reason or no reason, Messrs. Barone and Bray are bound by non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. These covenants survive the expiration of Messrs. Barone’s and Bray’s employment agreements.
 
The employment agreements provide, among other things, for payments to the executive following certain terminations of employment. If Mr Barone’s employment or Mr. Bray’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or is terminated by him for “good reason,” subject to his execution of a release of claims, he would be entitled to (1) 18 months of continued base salary, (2) an amount equal to 150% of the average of his annual cash bonus for the three most recently completed fiscal years and (3) continued coverage under the Company’s medical plan until the earlier of (a) the time he becomes eligible for coverage from a new employer and (b) 12 months following the date of termination. If Mr. Barone’s or Mr. Bray’s employment terminates due to his resignation, subject to his execution of a release of claims, he will be entitled to (1) six months of continued base salary and (2) 50% of the average of his annual cash bonus for the three most recently completed fiscal years. Following July 10, 2011, absent an earlier termination of their employment agreements, Mr. Barone and Mr. Bray will continue as employees at-will and will not be entitled to any severance payments under their respective employment agreements upon any subsequent termination.
 
Employment Agreement of Mr. Appel
 
Mr. Appel and the Company entered into an amended employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Appel agreed to serve as our Executive Vice President, Servicing on September 17, 2010. The initial term of the employment agreement ends on February 3, 2011 and will be automatically renewed for two additional periods of one year commencing on each of February 4, 2011 and February 4, 2012 unless either party gives the other notice of intent not to renew by no later than January 4, 2011 and January 4, 2012, respectively. Failure by the Company to renew Mr. Appel’s term of employment on February 4, 2011 and February 4, 2012, would entitle Mr. Appel to terminate his employment for “good reason” and receive the severance payments described below. Pursuant to the employment agreement, upon a termination for any reason or no reason, Mr. Appel is bound by non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. These covenants survive the expiration of Mr. Appel’s employment agreement.
 
The employment agreement provides for a one-time cash retention bonus if Mr. Appel is employed by the Company on February 4, 2013 (and has not given notice of his intent to resign). If Mr. Appel’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or is terminated by Mr. Appel for “good reason”, subject to his execution of a release of claims, he would be entitled to (1) an amount equal to (a) 12 months of base salary plus (b) a lump sum severance payment, (2) a prorated portion of the annual cash incentive bonus for the year of termination, (3) if such termination occurs prior to February 4, 2013, the retention bonus, and (4) continued coverage under the Company’s medical plan until the earlier of (a) the time Mr. Appel becomes eligible for coverage from a new employer and (b) 12 months following the date of termination. Following February 3, 2013, absent an earlier termination of his employment agreement, Mr. Appel will continue as an employee at-will and will not be entitled to any severance payments under his employment agreement upon any subsequent termination.


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Employment Agreement of Mr. Patel
 
Mr. Patel and the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Patel agreed to serve as our Executive Vice President on September 17, 2010. The employment agreement expires on June 1, 2011. Pursuant to the employment agreement, upon a termination for any reason or no reason, Mr. Patel is bound by non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. These covenants survive the termination of Mr. Patel’s employment agreement.
 
If Mr. Patel’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or is terminated by Mr. Patel for “good reason,” subject to Mr. Patel’s execution of a release of claims, he would be entitled to (1) six months of continued base salary, (2) an amount equal to 50% of his annual cash bonus paid to him for the most recently completed fiscal year and (3) continued coverage under the Company’s medical plan until the earlier of (a) the time he becomes eligible for coverage from a new employer and (b) six months following the date of termination. Following June 1, 2011, absent an earlier termination of his employment agreement, Mr. Patel will continue as an employee at-will and will not be entitled to any severance payments under his employment agreement upon any subsequent termination.
 
Employment Agreement of Mr. Krueger
 
Mr. Krueger and the Company entered into an employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Krueger agreed to serve as our Executive Vice President, Capital Markets on February 19, 2009. Pursuant to its terms, the agreement will expire on February 18, 2011. Mr. Krueger is bound by non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. These covenants survive the termination of Mr. Krueger’s employment agreement.
 
If Mr. Krueger’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or is terminated by Mr. Krueger for “good reason,” subject to Mr. Krueger’s execution of a release of claims, he would be entitled to (1) accrued benefits, (ii) an amount equal to Mr. Krueger’s unpaid base salary and guaranteed bonus through February 18, 2011 and (2) continued coverage under the Company’s medical plan until the earlier of (a) the time he becomes eligible for coverage from a new employer and (b) six months following the date of termination.
 
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
 
                                         
                            After
 
                      Termination without
    Change in
 
                      Cause Other than
    Control,
 
                      After A Change in
    Termination
 
                Voluntary
    Control or for Good
    without
 
    Death(1)
    Disability(1)
    Termination
    Reason(1)
    Cause(2)
 
    ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
 
Anthony H. Barone
    4,311,924       4,311,924       564,630       6,015,435       10,327,358  
Jay Bray
    3,593,269       3,593,269       483,278       5,052,723       8,645,995  
Robert L. Appel
    2,155,962       2,155,962       0       3,454,870       5,610,833  
Amar Patel
    1,437,307       1,437,307       0       1,767,324       3,204,634  
Douglas Krueger
    0       0       0       33,656       33,656  
 
 
(1) Pursuant to the equity grant agreements granting each of Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel and Patel Series 1 Class A units, Series 2 Class A units, and RSUs with respect to Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, in the event the named executive officer’s employment terminates as a result of the named executive officer’s death, disability or voluntary resignation for good reason or as a result of the Company terminating the named executive officer’s employment without cause other than in connection with a change in control, an additional tranche of any outstanding and unvested equity awards will become vested.


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(2) Pursuant to the equity grant agreements granting each of Messrs. Barone, Bray, Appel and Patel Series 1 Class A units, Series 2 Class A units, and RSUs with respect to Series 1 Class C and D preferred units, in the event the named executive officer’s employment terminates as a result the Company terminating the named executive officer’s employment without cause within 6 months following a change in control, all of the named executive officer’s outstanding and unvested equity awards will become vested.
 
Manager Compensation
 
The Nationstar Board of Managers is comprised of managers elected by our unitholders. We currently have two members on the Board of Managers: Peter Smith and Anthony Barone. Mr. Barone receives no payments in addition to what has been described as a result of his service on the Board of Managers. Mr. Smith is an employee of our sponsor and we pay him no additional compensation for his service on the Company’s Board of Managers.
 
The Nationstar Capital Corporation Board of Directors is comprised of directors elected by the stockholders of Nationstar Capital Corporation. We currently have two members on the Board of Directors: Anthony Barone and Jay Bray. Mr. Barone and Mr. Bray receive no payments in addition to what has been described as a result of their service on the Board of Directors.


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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Under SEC rules, a related person is an officer, director, nominee for director or beneficial holder of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities since the beginning of the last fiscal year or an immediate family member of any of the foregoing. Our Board of Managers is primarily responsible for developing and implementing processes and controls to obtain information from our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders regarding related-person transactions and then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether we or a related person has a direct or indirect material interest in these transactions. We currently do not have a standalone written policy for evaluating related party transactions. Our officers and managers use an established process to review, approve and ratify transactions with related parties. When considering potential transactions involving a related party that may require board approval, our officers notify our board of managers of the proposed transaction, provide a brief background of the transaction and schedule a meeting with the board of managers to review the matter. At such meetings, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other members of management, as appropriate, provide information to the board of managers regarding the proposed transaction, after which the board of managers and management discuss the transaction and the implications of engaging a related party as opposed to an unrelated third party. If the board of managers (or specified managers as required by applicable legal requirements) determines that the transaction is in our best interests, it will vote to approve entering into the transaction with the applicable related party. Other than compensation agreements and other arrangements which are described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and the transactions described below, since January 1, 2009, there has not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
 
We currently serve as the loan servicer for two securitized loan portfolios managed by Newcastle Investment Corp., which is managed by an affiliate of Fortress, for which we receive a monthly net servicing fee equal to 0.5% per annum on the unpaid principal balance of the portfolios. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, we received servicing fees of $7.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively. The outstanding unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2010, was $1.2 billion.
 
We currently serve as the loan sub-servicer for three loan portfolios managed by FCDB FF1 LLC, FCDB 8020 REO LLC, FCDB FF1 2008-1 Trust, FCDB UB 8020 Residential LLC and FCDB GMPL 2008-1 Trust, which is managed by an affiliate of Fortress, for which we receive a monthly per loan sub-servicing fee and other performance incentive fees subject to our agreement with them. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, we received $1.0 million and $0.6 million of sub-servicing fees, respectively. The outstanding unpaid principal balance as of December 31, 2010, was $121.1 million.
 
In September 2010, we entered into a marketing agreement with American General Home Equity, Inc. (“Amgen”), American General Financial Services of Arkansas, Inc. (“Amgen Arkansas”) and MorEquity, Inc. (“MorEquity” and together with Amgen and Amgen Arkansas, the “Amgen Entities”), each of which are indirectly owned by investment funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC. Pursuant to this agreement, we market our mortgage origination products to customers of the Amgen Entities, and are compensated by the origination fees of loans that we refinance. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recognized revenue of $0.4 million. The marketing agreement has an initial term of six months. Additionally, in January, 2011, we entered into three agreements to act as the loan sub-servicer for the Amgen Entities for a whole loan portfolio and two securitized loan portfolios totaling $4.5 billion for which we receive a monthly per loan sub-servicing fee and other performance incentive fees subject to our agreement with the Amgen Entities. We have not yet received any servicing fees from this arrangement.


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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
As of March 31, 2011, Nationstar Mortgage LLC is the sole shareholder of Nationstar Capital Corporation, owning 100% of its outstanding capital stock. As of December 31, 2010, FIF HE Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”), a holding company, is the sole member of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, owning 100% of its outstanding membership interests. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2010 regarding the beneficial ownership of Holdings’ issued and outstanding Series 1 units by:
 
  •  each person or group who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of Holdings’ issued and outstanding Series 1 Class A units;
 
  •  each of our directors;
 
  •  each of our named executive officers; and
 
  •  all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
 
For further information regarding material transactions between us and certain of our stockholders, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
 
Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the following table is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These rules generally provide that a person is the beneficial owner of securities if such person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of securities, or to dispose or direct the disposition of securities or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as disclosed in the footnotes to this table and subject to applicable community property laws, we believe that each beneficial owner identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all Series 1 units shown as beneficially owned by the beneficial owner. For purposes of the calculations in the table below, the number of Series 1 units deemed outstanding includes Series 1 units issuable upon exercise of options held by the respective person which may be exercised within 60 days after January 31, 2011. For purposes of calculating each person’s percentage ownership, Series 1 units issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days after December 31, 2010 are included as outstanding and beneficially owned for that person or group, but are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated in the table or footnotes below, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o Nationstar Mortgage LLC, 350 Highland Drive, Lewisville, Texas 75067.
 
Holdings has four types of issued and outstanding Series 1 units. Series 1 Class A units have voting rights. Series 1 Class B preferred units, Series 1 Class C preferred units and Series 1 Class D units do not have voting rights. The percentage of beneficial ownership of our Series 1 units is based on 13,076,679 Series 1 Class A units, 1,000 Series 1 Class B preferred units, 82,214,532 Series 1 Class C preferred units and 83,309,399 Series 1 Class D preferred units issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2011. The percentage of beneficial ownership of our Series 1 Class A units is based on 13,076,679 Series 1 Class A units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2010.
 
                 
    Number of
    Percentage of
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
  Series 1 Units(2)     Series 1 Units(2)  
 
Executive Officers and Directors
               
Peter Smith
    0       *  
Anthony H. Barone
    601,784       *  
Jay Bray
    491,722       *  
Robert Appel
    292,420       *  
Amar Patel
    196,107       *  
Douglas Krueger
    0       *  
All executive officers, managers and directors as a group (6 persons)
    1,582,033       0.9%  
 


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    Number of
    Percentage of
 
    Series 1 Class A
    Series 1 Class A
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
  Units(2)     Units(2)  
 
5% Interest holders
               
Fortress Fund III Funds(1)
    6,434,408       49.2%  
Fortress Fund IV Funds(1)
    6,434,411       49.2%  
 
 
Less than 1%
 
(1) Fortress Fund III Funds represent Fortress Investment Fund III LP, Fortress Investment Fund III (Fund B) LP, Fortress Investment Fund III (Fund C) LP, Fortress Investment Fund III (Fund D) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund III (Fund E) L.P., FIF III B HE BLKR LLC, and FIF III C HE BLKR LLC. Fortress Fund IV Funds represent Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund A) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund B) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund C) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund D) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund E) L.P., Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund F) L.P. and Fortress Investment Fund IV (Fund G) L.P., FIF IV B HE BLKR LLC and FIF IV CFG HE BLKR LLC. Fortress Fund III GP LLC is the general partner of each of the Fortress Fund III Funds. The sole managing member of Fortress Fund III GP LLC is Fortress Investment Fund GP (Holdings) LLC. The sole managing member of Fortress Investment Fund III GP (Holdings) LLC is Fortress Operating Entity I LP (“FOE I”). FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I, and FIG Corp. is wholly owned by Fortress Investment Group LLC. Fortress Fund IV GP L.P. is the general partner of each of the Fortress Fund IV Funds. Fortress Fund IV GP Holdings Ltd. is the general partner of Fortress Fund IV GP L.P. Fortress Fund IV GP Holdings Ltd. is wholly owned by FOE I. FIG Corp. is the general partner of FOE I. FIG Corp. is wholly owned by Fortress Investment Group LLC. By virtue of his ownership interest in Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its affiliates, as well as his role in advising certain investment funds, Wesley R. Edens may be deemed to be the natural person that has sole or shared voting and investment control over the shares listed as beneficially owned by Holdings. Mr. Edens disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of all persons listed above is c/o Fortress Investment Group LLC, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10105.
 
(2) Holdings issues its equity interests in two series, each of which relate to certain specified assets of the LLC: Series 1 units, which relate to all the issued and outstanding membership interests in Nationstar Mortgage LLC; and Series 2 units, which relate to equity interests in a separate entity, which is neither a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage LLC nor a guarantor of the Notes. Certain executive compensation arrangements include equity grants of the Series 2 units of Holdings. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES
 
We issued the Old Notes and issue the New Notes under an indenture, or the “Indenture,”, dated as of March 26, 2010, among Nationstar Mortgage LLC (the “Company”), Nationstar Capital Corporation, (the “ Co-Issuer” and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement. We urge you to read the Indenture, including the form and terms of the notes, and the Registration Rights Agreement because they define your rights as a holder of notes. The terms of the notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the “TIA.” You may request a copy of the Indenture at our address as shown under “—Additional Information” below. You can find definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this section under “—Certain Definitions.” For purposes of this section, references to the “Company” or “our” include only Nationstar Mortgage LLC and not its Subsidiaries. The term “Issuers” refers collectively to the Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Nationstar Capital Corporation.
 
The Issuers will issue $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of the New Notes due 2015 in fully registered form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Trustee will initially act as the paying agent, or the “Paying Agent,” and the registrar, or the “Registrar,” for the New Notes. The Company may change any Paying Agent and Registrar without notice to holders of the New Notes, or the “Holders.” The Company will pay principal (and premium, if any) on the New Notes at the Trustee’s corporate trust office in New York, New York. At the Company’s option, interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be paid at the Trustee’s corporate trust office or by check mailed to the registered address of Holders.
 
Brief Description of the Notes and the Note Guarantees
 
The New Notes:
 
  •  will be general unsecured obligations of the Issuers;
 
  •  will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and any future senior Indebtedness of the Issuers;
 
  •  will be effectively junior in right of payment to all existing and future senior secured Indebtedness of the Issuers to the extent of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
 
  •  will be senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers;
 
  •  will be subject to registration with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;
 
  •  will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors; and
 
  •  will be effectively junior to any existing and future liabilities of our non-Guarantor subsidiaries.
 
We have not issued other debt securities, except for the Old Notes, which will be pari passu in right of payment with the New Notes. We have not issued and do not plan to issue any securities which will materially limit or qualify the rights of holders of the Old Notes and the New Notes.
 
Without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, the notes will be effectively subordinated to secured Indebtedness of the Company—including, without limitation, all Indebtedness under the Existing Facilities, Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness, Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness, Permitted MSR Indebtedness, Permitted Residual Indebtedness and Securitization Indebtedness. In the event of the Company’s bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, the Company’s assets that secure such secured Indebtedness will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after all Indebtedness under such secured Indebtedness has been repaid in full from such assets.
 
The notes will be guaranteed by all of the Company’s existing and future Domestic Subsidiaries other than our future Excluded Restricted Subsidiaries, our existing and future Securitization Entities,


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our future Warehouse Facility Trusts, our future MSR Facility Trusts and other than any Domestic Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the future. As of the Issue Date, Nationstar Home Equity Loan Trust 2009-A, Nationstar Home Equity Loan 2009-A REO LLC, Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2009-ADVI, Nationstar Residual, LLC, Nationstar Funding LLC and Nationstar Advance Funding LLC are our Securitization Entities which will not guarantee the notes.
 
Each guarantee of the notes:
 
  •  will be a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;
 
  •  will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of that Guarantor;
 
  •  will be effectively junior in right of payment to all existing and future senior secured Indebtedness of that Guarantor to the extent of the assets securing such Indebtedness; and
 
  •  will be senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of that Guarantor.
 
Without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, the guarantee of the notes will be effectively subordinated to secured Indebtedness of the Guarantor—including, without limitation, all Indebtedness under the Existing Facilities, Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness, Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness, Permitted MSR Indebtedness, Permitted Residual Indebtedness, Securitization Indebtedness and any secured guarantee of the Indebtedness of the Company. In the event of a Guarantor’s bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up or similar proceeding, the Guarantor’s assets that secure such secured Indebtedness of the Guarantor will be available to pay obligations on its note guarantee only after all Indebtedness under such secured Indebtedness has been repaid in full from such assets.
 
As of the date of the Indenture, all of our Subsidiaries will be “Restricted Subsidiaries.” However, under the circumstances described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” we will be permitted to designate Subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes.
 
Transfer and Exchange
 
A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the Indenture. The registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of Notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuers will not be required to transfer or exchange any notes selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer. Also, the Issuers will not be required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of notes to be redeemed. The registered Holder of a note will be treated as the owner of the note for all purposes.
 
Principal, Maturity and Interest
 
The notes are initially being offered up to the principal amount of $250.0 million. The Issuers may, without the consent of the Holders, increase the principal amount of the notes in the future on the same terms and conditions and with the same CUSIP number as the notes being offered hereby. Any offering of additional notes is subject to the covenant described below under the caption “Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.” The notes offered hereby and any additional notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture.
 
The notes will mature on April 1, 2015. Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 10.875% per annum and will be payable semiannually in cash on each April 1 and October 1, commencing on


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October 1, 2010, to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. Interest on the notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including March 26, 2010.
 
The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund.
 
Additional Interest may accrue on the notes in certain circumstances pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. See “Exchange Offer; Registration Rights.”
 
Note Guarantees
 
The notes will be guaranteed by each of the Company’s current and future Domestic Subsidiaries, other than our future Excluded Restricted Subsidiaries, Securitization Entities, Warehouse Facility Trusts, MSR Facility Trusts and future Unrestricted Subsidiaries. These Note Guarantees will be joint and several obligations of the Guarantors. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Note Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. This provision may not, however, be effective to protect a Note Guarantee from being voided under fraudulent transfer law, or may reduce the applicable Guarantor’s obligation to an amount that effectively makes its Note Guarantee worthless. If a Note Guarantee was rendered voidable, it could be subordinated by a court to all other indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent liabilities) of the Guarantor, and, depending on the amount of such indebtedness, a Guarantor’s liability on its Note Guarantee could be reduced to zero. See “Risk Factors—Your right to be repaid would be adversely affected if a court determined that any of our subsidiaries made any guarantee for inadequate consideration or with the intent to defraud creditors.”
 
A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Issuers or another Guarantor, unless:
 
  (1)  except in the case of a merger entered into solely for the purpose of reincorporating a Guarantor in another jurisdiction, immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
  (2)  either:
 
  (a)  the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if not the Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under the Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the trustee; or
 
  (b)  the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are either (i) applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture or (ii) not required to be applied in accordance with any provision of the Indenture.
 
The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released:
 
  (1)  in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the “Asset Sale” provisions of the Indenture;
 
  (2)  in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the “Asset Sale” provisions of the Indenture;


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  (3)  if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture; or
 
  (4)  upon legal defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture as provided below under the captions “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” and “—Satisfaction and Discharge.”
 
Redemption
 
Optional Redemption.  At any time prior to April 1, 2013, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable date of redemption).
 
On or after April 1, 2013, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve month period beginning on April 1 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders of notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable date of redemption:
 
         
Year
  Percentage
 
2013
    105.438 %
2014 and thereafter
    100.000 %
 
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the then outstanding principal amount of such note and (ii) the excess of:
 
  (1)  the present value at such redemption date of the sum of (i) the redemption price of such note at April 1, 2013 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing above under “—Optional Redemption”) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such note through April 1, 2013 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), such present value to be computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over
 
  (2)  the then outstanding principal amount of such note.
 
“Treasury Rate” means, as determined by the Issuers, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of constant maturity United States Treasury securities (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to such redemption date (or, if such statistical release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to April 1, 2013; provided, however, that if no published maturity exactly corresponds with such date, then the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis from the arithmetic mean of the yields for the next shortest and next longest published maturities; provided further, however, that if the period from such redemption date to April 1, 2013, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
 
Optional Redemption Upon Equity Offerings.  At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to April 1, 2013, the Issuers may, at their option, use the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (as defined below) to redeem up to 35.0% of the principal amount of all notes issued at a redemption price equal to 110.875% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and


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unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable date of redemption); provided that:
 
  1.  at least 65.0% of the principal amount of all notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after any such redemption; and
 
  2.  the Issuers makes such redemption not more than 90 days after the consummation of any such Equity Offering.
 
“Equity Offering” means a sale either (1) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Capital Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) by the Company or (2) of Equity Interests of a direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent that the net proceeds therefrom are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company.
 
Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.
 
In addition to the Issuers’ rights to redeem notes as set forth above, the Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase notes in open-market transactions, tender offers or otherwise.
 
Selection and Notice of Redemption
 
In the event that the Issuers choose to redeem less than all of the notes, selection of the notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee either:
 
  1.  in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the notes are listed; or
 
  2.  on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
 
No notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If a partial redemption is made with the proceeds of an Equity Offering, the Trustee will select the notes only on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to DTC procedures). Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long as the Issuers have deposited with the Paying Agent funds in satisfaction of the applicable redemption price.
 
Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event
 
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right to require that the Issuers purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a purchase price equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the rights of Holders of notes on the relevant regular record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date that is on or prior to the applicable date of redemption).
 
Within 30 days following the date upon which a Change of Control occurs, the Issuers must send, by first class mail, a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). Holders electing to have a note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect


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Purchase” on the reverse of the note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the last day of the offer period, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the notes, the principal amount of the notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his tendered notes and his election to have such notes purchased.
 
The Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the Indenture as described above under the caption “—Optional Redemption,” unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.
 
If a Change of Control Offer is made, we cannot assure you that the Issuers will have available funds sufficient to pay the Change of Control purchase price for all the notes that might be delivered by Holders seeking to accept the Change of Control Offer. In the event the Issuers are required to purchase notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the Issuers expect that they would seek third-party financing to the extent they do not have available funds to meet their purchase obligations. However, we cannot assure you that the Issuers would be able to obtain such financing. See “Risk Factors—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture governing the notes.”
 
The Company’s other existing and future senior Indebtedness may prohibit events that would constitute a Change of Control. If the Company were to experience a change of control that triggers a default under such other senior Indebtedness, the Company could seek a waiver of such default or seek to refinance such other senior Indebtedness. In the event that the Company does not obtain such a waiver or refinance such senior Indebtedness, such default could result in amounts outstanding under such other senior Indebtedness to be declared due and payable. In addition, the exercise by the Holders of notes of their right to require the Issuers to repurchase the notes could cause a default under such other senior Indebtedness, even if the occurrence of the Change of Control itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on the Issuers.
 
Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor the Trustee may waive the covenant relating to a Holder’s right to redemption upon a Change of Control; such provisions may only be waived or modified with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes.
 
Restrictions in the Indenture described herein on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional Indebtedness, to grant liens on its property and to make Restricted Payments (as defined below) may also make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company, whether favored or opposed by the management of the Company. Consummation of any such transaction in certain circumstances may require redemption or repurchase of the notes, and we cannot assure you that the Company or the acquiring party will have sufficient financial resources to effect such redemption or repurchase. Such restrictions and the restrictions on transactions with Affiliates may, in certain circumstances, make more difficult or discourage any leveraged buyout of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the management of the Company. While such restrictions cover a wide variety of arrangements that have traditionally been used to effect highly leveraged transactions, the Indenture may not afford the Holders protection in all circumstances from the adverse aspects of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction.
 
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under


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applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
 
The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the “Change of Control” provisions of the Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the “Change of Control” provisions of the Indenture by virtue thereof.
 
Asset Sales
 
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, other than a Required Asset Sale or any Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale unless:
 
  (1)  the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and
 
  (2)  at least 75.0% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:
 
  (a)  any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party on behalf of such transferee) pursuant to a customary innovation or other agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;
 
  (b)  any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and
 
  (c)  any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 2.5% of Total Assets, at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).
 
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, including a Required Asset Sale or a Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale, the Issuers (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds at its option, in any combination of the following:
 
  (1)  to prepay or repay Secured Debt or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor, and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; provided, however, that, except in the case of Net Proceeds from a Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale, Net Proceeds, may not be applied to the prepayment or repayment of Non-Recourse Indebtedness, Indebtedness under Existing Facilities or Permitted Funding Indebtedness,


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  other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness, Indebtedness under Existing Facilities or Permitted Funding Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were subject to such Asset Sale;
 
  (2)  to prepay or repay Pari Passu Debt permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Indenture to the extent required by the terms thereof, and, in the case of Pari Passu Debt under revolving credit facilities or other similar Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;
 
  (3)  to make one or more offers to the holders of the notes (and, at the option of the Company, the holders of Pari Passu Debt) to purchase notes (and such other Pari Passu Debt) pursuant to and subject to the conditions applicable to Asset Sale Offers described below;
 
  (4)  to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
 
  (5)  to acquire other assets (including, without limitation, MSRs and Securitization Assets) that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.
 
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings and/or borrowings under Permitted Funding Indebtedness or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture.
 
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second paragraph of this covenant will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, within thirty days thereof, the Issuers will make an Asset Sale Offer to all holders of notes and all holders of Pari Passu Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and such Pari Passu Debt that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100.0% of the principal amount (or, in the case of any other Pari Passu Debt offered at a significant original issue discount, 100.0% of the accreted value thereof, if permitted by the relevant indenture or other agreement governing such Pari Passu Debt) plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes and Pari Passu Debt tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes and such Pari Passu Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
 
The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such compliance.


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Certain Covenants
 
Covenant Suspension
 
During any period of time that the notes are rated Investment Grade and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following covenants:
 
  •  “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;”
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries;”
 
  •  clause (2) of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets;”
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates;”
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries;” and
 
  •  “—Certain Covenants—Conduct of Business”
 
(collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”). In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence and, subsequently, one or both of the Rating Agencies, as applicable, withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the notes such that the notes are not rated Investment Grade, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, it being understood that no actions taken by (or omissions of) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the suspension period shall constitute a Default or an Event of Default under the Suspended Covenants. Furthermore, after the time of reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants upon such withdrawal or downgrade, calculations with respect to Restricted Payments will be made in accordance with the terms of the covenant described below under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” as though such covenant had been in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue Date.
 
There can be no assurance that the notes will ever achieve or maintain Investment Grade Ratings.
 
Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to, or otherwise become responsible for payment of (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock, in each case other than Permitted Indebtedness.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness), and the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries may issue Preferred Stock, in each case if on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof and the use of proceeds thereof:
 
  1.  the Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio of the Company is less than 1.1 to 1.0; and
 
  2.  the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company is less than 4.5 to 1.0.


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In connection with any incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to the second paragraph of this covenant incurred prior to the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers are required to provide an officers’ certificate to the Trustee on or prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio and the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Trustee, together with such certificate, a covenant compliance certificate from the Company’s independent auditors attesting to the accuracy of such calculations.
 
Limitation on Restricted Payments.  The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
 
  1.  declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (other than dividends or distributions payable in Qualified Capital Stock of the Company) on or in respect of shares of the Company’s Capital Stock to holders of such Capital Stock;
 
  2.  purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any warrants, rights or options to purchase or acquire shares of any class of such Capital Stock (other than in exchange for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);
 
  3.  make any principal payment on, purchase, defease, redeem, prepay, decrease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled final maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the Company) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the notes; or
 
  4.  make any Restricted Investment
 
if at the time of such action (each such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as, a “Restricted Payment”) or immediately after giving effect thereto,
 
  (i)  a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or
 
  (ii)  immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Company is not able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on the Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;” or
 
  (iii)  the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments (including such proposed Restricted Payment) made subsequent to the Issue Date (the amount expended for such purposes, if other than in cash, being the Fair Market Value of such property) shall exceed the sum of:
 
  (a)  50.0% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100.0% of such deficit); plus
 
  (b)  100.0% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of marketable securities or other property received by the Company from any Person since the Issue Date including:
 
  (i)  any contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Capital Stock and Excluded Contributions);


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  (ii)  the issuance or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Capital Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Capital Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus
 
  (c)  to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment; plus
 
  (d)  to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after the Issue Date, the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date.
 
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:
 
  1.  the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of such dividend or notice of such redemption if the dividend or payment of the redemption price, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of declaration or notice under the Indenture;
 
  2.  the making of any Restricted Payment, either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, (ii) through the application of net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or (iii) through the application of a substantially concurrent cash capital contribution received by the Company from its shareholders (which capital contribution (to the extent so used) shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under clause (iii)(b) of the immediately preceding paragraph);
 
  3.  the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the acquisition of any shares of Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company) that is unsecured or contractually subordinated to the notes or to any Note Guarantee by exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
 
  4.  so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value by the Company of Common Stock (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Common Stock) of the Company (or payments to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to permit distributions to repurchase common equity (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire common equity) thereof) of such direct or indirect parent company) from any future, current or former officer, director, manager or employee (or any spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs or legatees of any of the foregoing) of the Company, any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or their authorized representatives, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.5 million in any calendar year plus (i) the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date from the issuance of such Equity Interests to, or the exercise of options to purchase such Equity Interests by, any current or former director, officer or employee of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (provided that the amount of such net cash proceeds received by the Company and utilized pursuant to this clause (4)(i) for any such repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement will be excluded from clause


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  (iii)(b) of the preceding paragraph) and (ii) the proceeds of “key-man” life insurance policies that are used to make such redemptions or repurchases; provided that amounts available pursuant to this clause (4) to be utilized for Restricted Payments during any twelve-month period may be carried forward and utilized in the next succeeding twelvemonth period and provided, further, that the cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from any future, current or former officer, director, manager or employee (or any spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs or legatees of any of the foregoing) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any repurchase of Capital Stock of such entities (or warrants or options or rights to acquire such Capital Stock) will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment under the Indenture;
 
  5.  (a) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or warrants to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options or warrants and (b) repurchases of Equity Interests or options to purchase Equity Interests deemed to occur in connection with the exercise of stock options to the extent necessary to pay applicable withholding taxes;
 
  6.  the declaration and payment of dividends by the Company to, or the making of loans to, its direct parent company in amounts required for the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies to pay, without duplication as to amounts of:
 
  (a)  franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain the corporate existence of the Company and its direct and indirect parent entities (including a corporation organized to hold interests in the Company in connection with the public issuance of shares) plus $250,000 per year;
 
  (b)  federal, state, and local income taxes on a consolidated or combined tax group of which the direct or indirect parent is the common parent, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and not directly payable by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from any of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company; provided that (i) in determining such taxes, the effect thereon of any net operating loss carryforwards or other carryforwards or tax attributes, such as alternative minimum tax carryforwards, shall be taken into account, (ii) if there is an adjustment in the amount of Taxable Income for any periods, an appropriate positive or negative adjustment shall be made to the amount of distributions or loans permitted pursuant to this Section 6(b), and if the adjustment is negative, then the permitted distribution on loan for succeeding periods shall be reduced (without duplication of reductions due to clause 6(b)(i) hereof) to take into account such negative amount until such negative amount is reduced to zero, (iii) any distribution or loan in respect of such taxes other than amounts relating to estimated payments shall be computed by a nationally recognized accounting firm and (iv) in no event will such dividends and loans exceed the amounts that the Company and its Restricted and/or Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as applicable) would have paid a stand-alone group;
 
  (c)  so long as the Company is treated for income tax purposes as a disregarded entity or a partnership, distributions to equity holders or partners of the Company in an amount not to exceed the Tax Amount for such period; provided that a distribution of the Tax Amount shall be made no earlier than 10 days prior to the due date of the tax payable by equityholders or partners of the Company to which such Tax Amount relates;
 
  (d)  customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other


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  benefits are attributable to the ownership or operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
 
  (e)  general corporate overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  7.  so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on the Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”;
 
  8.  the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
 
  9.  any repricing or issuance of employee stock options or the adoption of bonus arrangements, in each case in connection with the issuance of the notes, and payments pursuant to such arrangements;
 
  10.  Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
 
  11.  Restricted Payments made with Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales remaining after application thereof as required by the “Asset Sale” provisions of the Indenture (including after the making by the Issuers of any Asset Sale Offer required to be made by the Issuers pursuant to such covenant and the purchase of all notes tendered therein);
 
  12.  upon occurrence of a Change of Control and within 60 days after the completion of the Change of Control Offer pursuant to the “Change of Control” provisions of the Indenture (including the purchase of all notes tendered), any purchase or redemption of Obligations of the Company that are subordinate or junior in right of payment to the notes required pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control at a purchase or redemption price not to exceed 101.0% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any; provided, however, that (A) at the time of such purchase or redemption, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom) and (B) such purchase or redemption is not made, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of (or made in anticipation of) any issuance of Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and
 
  13.  Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $17.5 million.
 
In determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with clause (iii) above, amounts expended pursuant to clauses (1), (4), (7) and (13) shall be included in such calculation.
 
Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.  The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to:
 
  1.  pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  2.  make loans or advances or to pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or


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  3.  transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, except, with respect to clauses (1), (2) and (3), for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
 
  (a)  applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
 
  (b)  the Indenture and the notes;
 
  (c)  customary non-assignment provisions of any contract or any lease of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  (d)  any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired;
 
  (e)  the Existing Facilities as each exists on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that any restrictions imposed pursuant to any such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing are ordinary and customary with respect to facilities similar to the Existing Facilities (under the relevant circumstances) and will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal and interest payments on the notes (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company);
 
  (f)  agreements existing on the Issue Date to the extent and in the manner such agreements are in effect on the Issue Date;
 
  (g)  restrictions on the transfer of assets (other than cash) held in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company imposed under any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with the Indenture;
 
  (h)  provisions in agreements evidencing Permitted Funding Indebtedness that impose restrictions on the collateral securing such Indebtedness;
 
  (i)  restrictions on the transfer of assets subject to any Lien permitted under the Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien;
 
  (j)  restrictions imposed by any agreement to sell assets or Capital Stock permitted under the Indenture to any Person pending the closing of such sale;
 
  (k)  any agreement or instrument governing Capital Stock of any Person that is acquired;
 
  (l)  the requirements of any Securitization, Warehouse Facility or MSR Facility that are exclusively applicable to any Securitization Entity, Warehouse Facility Trust, MSR Facility Trust or special purpose Subsidiary of the Company formed in connection therewith;
 
  (m)  customary provisions in joint venture and other similar agreements relating solely to such joint venture;
 
  (n)  customary provisions in leases, licenses and other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (o)  restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (p)  other Indebtedness, Disqualified Capital Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described under “—Limitation on the Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” that impose restrictions solely on the Foreign Subsidiaries party thereto; provided that the restrictions will not materially


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  affect the ability of the Issuers to pay the principal, interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Company; and
 
  (q)  any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (b) through (d), (f) through (n) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors whose judgment shall be conclusively binding, not materially more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions, taken as a whole, than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
 
Limitation on Liens.  The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Liens of any kind on the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries unless:
 
  1.  in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to the notes, the notes are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; and
 
  2.  in all other cases, the notes are equally and ratably secured except for:
 
  (a)  Liens existing as of the Issue Date to the extent and in the manner such Liens are in effect on the Issue Date;
 
  (b)  Liens securing the notes and the Note Guarantees;
 
  (c)  Liens securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness;
 
  (d)  Liens securing Permitted Funding Indebtedness so long as any such Lien shall encumber only (i) the assets acquired or originated with the proceeds of such Indebtedness, assets that consist of Servicing Advances, MSRs, loans, mortgage related securities and other mortgage related receivables, REO Assets, Residual Assets and other similar assets subject to and pledged to secure such Indebtedness and (ii) any intangible contract rights and proceeds of, and other, related documents, records and assets directly related to the assets set forth in clause (i);
 
  (e)  Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness that is incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness that has been secured by a Lien permitted under the Indenture and that has been incurred in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture; provided, however, that such Liens: (i) are no less favorable to the Holders than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and (ii) do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries not securing the Indebtedness so Refinanced (or property of the same type and value); and
 
  (f)  Permitted Liens.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Liens on any MSR Assets or on the Capital Stock of any MSR Subsidiaries owned by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (x) Liens on MSR Assets owned on the Issue Date securing Indebtedness at any one time outstanding not to exceed $25.0 million or (y) Liens pursuant to clauses (1), (5), (6) (provided such


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Liens are in existence at the time such assets or property is acquired and were not incurred in contemplation thereof), (14), (19) and (34) of the definition of Permitted Liens) unless all payments due under the Indenture and the notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.
 
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:
 
  (1)  the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Liens;”
 
  (2)  the consideration of that sale and leaseback transaction is at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the property that is the subject of that sale and leaseback transaction; and
 
  (3)  the transfer of assets in that sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”
 
Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.  (A) Neither Issuer, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, may consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all such Issuer’s assets, to any Person and (B) the Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries) whether as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless:
 
  (1)  either:
 
  (a)  the Company, or such Issuer, as the case may be, shall be the surviving or continuing entity; or
 
  (b)  the Person (if other than the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition the properties and assets of the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, and of the Company’s Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety (the “Surviving Entity”):
 
  (i)  shall be a Person organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia; provided that in the case where the Surviving Entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the notes is a corporation; and
 
  (ii)  shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all of the notes and the performance of every covenant of the notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement on the part of the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, to be performed or observed;


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  (2)  immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(ii) above (including giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with or in respect of such transaction), the Company, such Issuer, or such Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall either (x) be able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” or (y) have a pro forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio and a pro forma Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio that would not be more than the actual Consolidated Leverage Ratio and Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio of the Company, as applicable, immediately prior to such transaction;
 
  (3)  immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(ii) above (including, without limitation, giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred and any Lien granted in connection with or in respect of the transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing; and
 
  (4)  the Company, such Issuer or the Surviving Entity shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.
 
For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.
 
The Indenture provides that upon any consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, is not the continuing entity, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, is merged or to which such conveyance, lease or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, under the Indenture and the notes with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named as such.
 
This “Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to:
 
  (1)  a merger of the Company or such Issuer, as the case may be, with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Company in another jurisdiction or converting the Company into a corporation;
 
  (2)  any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
 
  (3)  any Required Asset Sale or Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale that complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales.”
 
Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any of its Affiliates (each an “Affiliate Transaction”), involving aggregate payment of consideration in excess of $5.0 million other


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than: (1) Affiliate Transactions permitted as described below; and (2) Affiliate Transactions on terms that are no less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or such Subsidiary.
 
All Affiliate Transactions (and each series of related Affiliate Transactions which are similar or part of a common plan) involving aggregate payments or other property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $7.5 million shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, such approval to be evidenced by a Board Resolution stating that such Board of Directors has determined that such transaction complies with the foregoing provisions.
 
The restrictions set forth in the first and second paragraphs of this covenant shall not apply to:
 
  1.  any employment or consulting agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or approved in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and payments pursuant thereto and the issuance of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) to directors and employees pursuant to stock option or stock ownership plans;
 
  2.  transactions between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or between or among such Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  3.  transactions between the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person in which the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries has made an Investment in the ordinary course of business and such Person is an Affiliate solely because of such Investment;
 
  4.  transactions between the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person in which the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries holds an interest as a joint venture partner and such Person is an Affiliate solely because of such interest;
 
  5.  any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto or any transactions or payments contemplated thereby (including pursuant to any amendment thereto) in any replacement agreement thereto so long as any such amendment or replacement agreement is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith);
 
  6.  Restricted Payments permitted by the Indenture;
 
  7.  sales of Qualified Capital Stock and capital contributions to the Company from one or more holders of its Capital Stock;
 
  8.  the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders’ agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (8) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement, taken as a whole, are not disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes in any material respect (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith);
 
  9.  transactions in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, receives an opinion from a nationally recognized investment banking, appraisal or accounting firm that such Affiliate Transaction is either fair, from a financial


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  standpoint, to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or is on terms not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company;
 
  10.  (i) the provision of mortgage servicing and similar services to Affiliates in the ordinary course of business and otherwise not prohibited by the Indenture that are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined by the Company in good faith) or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party (as determined by the Company in good faith) and (ii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture that are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;
 
  11.  payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent entities or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith);
 
  12.  Guarantees by the Sponsor or any direct and indirect parent of the Company for Obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
 
  13.  investments by the Sponsor in securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company so long as the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms or the securities are acquired in market transactions.
 
Limitation on Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries.  The Company will not permit any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary, other than (i) an Excluded Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) an MSR Facility Trust, a Securitization Entity or a Warehouse Facility Trust, directly or indirectly, by way of the pledge of any intercompany note or otherwise, to assume, guarantee or in any other manner become liable with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Indebtedness” (other than Permitted Funding Indebtedness to the extent such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary is a guarantor thereunder), unless, in any such case:
 
  1.  such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, providing a guarantee (“Guarantee”) of payment of the notes by such Subsidiary; and
 
  2.  if such assumption, guarantee or other liability of such Restricted Subsidiary is provided in respect of Indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the notes, the guarantee or other instrument provided by such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such subordinated Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Guarantee pursuant to subordination provisions no less favorable to the Holders of the notes than those contained in the Indenture.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the notes shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, upon:
 
  1.  the unconditional release of such Restricted Subsidiary from its liability in respect of the Indebtedness in connection with which such Guarantee was executed and delivered pursuant to the preceding paragraph; or
 
  2.  sale or other disposition (by merger or otherwise) to any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of all of the Company’s Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all of the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that: (a) such sale or disposition of such Capital Stock or assets is otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture;


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  and (b) such assumption, guarantee or other liability of such Restricted Subsidiary has been released by the holders of the other Indebtedness so guaranteed.
 
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default or Event of Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as Unrestricted will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
 
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an officers’ certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.” The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would occur and be continuing following such designation.
 
Conduct of Business.  The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
 
Restrictions on Activities of Nationstar Capital Corporation.  Nationstar Capital Corporation may not hold any assets, become liable for any obligations or engage in any business activities; provided that Nationstar Capital Corporation may be a co-obligor of (i) the notes and (ii) any other Indebtedness incurred by the Company pursuant to the covenant described above under ‘‘—Limitation on Incurrence of Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” and in each case may engage in any activities directly related or necessary in connection therewith.
 
Reports to Holders.  Following consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of notes or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders of notes within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:
 
  (1)  all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports; and
 
  (2)  all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
 
The availability of the foregoing materials on the SEC’s EDGAR service (or its successor) shall be deemed to satisfy the Company’s delivery obligation.
 
All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include a report on the


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Company’s consolidated financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants, and each Form 10-Q and 10-K will include a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries. In addition, following the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such filing).
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement by (1) the filing with the SEC of the exchange offer registration statement and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of financial information in this prospectus, to the extent filed within the time specified above, or (2) by posting on its website or providing to the Trustee within 15 days of the time periods after the Company would have been required to file annual and interim reports with the SEC (which for the first quarterly report required to be posted or provided after the Issue Date shall be 60 days after the end of the applicable fiscal quarter), the financial information (including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section) that would be required to be included in such reports, subject to exceptions consistent with the presentation of financial information in this prospectus.
 
Prior to the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will disclose in the financial information posted on its website or provided to the Trustee (1) the amount of the Company’s Consolidated Net Income for the applicable quarter or year, and (2) the amount of the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA for the most-recently ended four full fiscal quarters. After the consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company may disclose such amounts of Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA (a) by posting on its website, (b) by delivering to the Trustee, or (c) by furnishing on Form 8-K.
 
In the event that any direct or indirect parent of the Company becomes a Guarantor of the notes, the Indenture will permit the Company to satisfy its obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such parent; provided that such reporting is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information related to the Company, the Note Guarantors and the other Subsidiaries of the Company on a standalone basis on the other hand.
 
If, at any time after consummation of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs of this covenant with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on a website within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.
 
If, at any time, the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then any “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or other comparable section, shall provide an analysis and discussion of the material differences with respect to the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as compared to the Company and its Subsidiaries (including such Unrestricted Subsidiaries).


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In addition, the Company agrees that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Description of New Notes, the Company will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations described below under clause (3) of the caption under “—Events of Default” until 30 days after the date on which any report hereunder is due.
 
Events of Default
 
The following events are defined in the Indenture as “Events of Default”:
 
  1.  the failure to pay interest, or Additional Interest, if any, on any notes when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
 
  2.  the failure to pay the principal on any notes, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise (including the failure to make a payment to purchase notes tendered pursuant to a Change of Control Offer);
 
  3.  a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture and such default continues for a period of 60 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% of the then outstanding principal amount of all notes issued under the Indenture;
 
  4.  the failure to pay at final maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 20 days of receipt by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated, aggregates $25.0 million or more at any time;
 
  5.  one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $25.0 million shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable (other than any judgments as to which, and only to the extent, a reputable insurance company has acknowledged coverage of such judgments in writing);
 
  6.  certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency affecting the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; or
 
  7.  the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary of the Company shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of the Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture.
 
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above with respect to the Company) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture may declare the principal of and accrued interest on all the notes issued under the Indenture to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a


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“notice of acceleration,” or the “Acceleration Notice,” and the same shall become immediately due and payable.
 
If an Event of Default specified in clause (6) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
 
The Indenture provides that, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the notes as described in the preceding paragraph, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all notes issued under the Indenture may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:
 
  1.  if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;
 
  2.  if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration;
 
  3.  to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;
 
  4.  if the Company has paid the Trustee (including its agents and counsel) its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and
 
  5.  in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (6) of the description above of Events of Default, the Trustee shall have received an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.
 
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
 
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture may waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on any notes.
 
Holders of the notes may not enforce the Indenture or the notes except as provided in the Indenture and under the TIA. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.
 
Under the Indenture, the Issuers are required to provide an officers’ certificate to the Trustee within five Business Days of any Default or Event of Default (provided that such officers shall provide such certification at least annually whether or not they know of any Default or Event of Default) that has occurred and is continuing and, if applicable, describe such Default or Event of Default and the status thereof.
 
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
 
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuers or any Guarantors shall have any liability for any obligation of the Issuers or any Guarantors, respectively, under the notes, the Note Guarantees and the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided that the foregoing shall not limit any Guarantor’s obligations under its Note Guarantee. Each Holder by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. Such waiver may not be


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effective to waive liabilities under the Federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
 
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
 
The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have their obligations discharged with respect to the notes (“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the notes, except for:
 
  1.  the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the notes when such payments are due;
 
  2.  the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments;
 
  3.  the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and
 
  4.  the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.
 
In addition, the Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Issuers released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under “Events of Default” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes.
 
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
 
  1.  on the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in Dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and any other amounts owing under the Indenture (in the case of an optional redemption date prior to electing to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice to redeem all of the outstanding notes on such redemption date);
 
  2.  in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions:
 
  (a)  the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
 
  (b)  since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
 
  3.  in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize


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  income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
 
  4.  no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and the incurrence of Liens associated with any such borrowings));
 
  5.  such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;
 
  6.  the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Issuers or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuers or others; and
 
  7.  the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the opinion of counsel required by clause 2 above with respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable on the maturity date within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers.
 
Satisfaction and Discharge
 
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all notes when:
 
  1.  either:
 
  (a)  all the notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuers and thereafter repaid to the Issuers or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
  (b)  all notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under irrevocable arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers, and the Issuers have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on (including Additional Interest, if any) the notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuers directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
 
  2.  the Issuers have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Issuers; and


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  3.  the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.
 
Modification of the Indenture
 
From time to time, the Issuers and the Trustee, without the consent of the Holders, may amend the Indenture to:
 
  1.  cure any mistakes, ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies;
 
  2.  provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes or to alter the provisions of the Indenture relating to the form of the notes (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;
 
  3.  provide for the assumption of the Issuers’ or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the notes by a successor to the Company or a Guarantor pursuant to the “Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets” covenant;
 
  4.  make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the notes or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder of the notes or to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;
 
  5.  comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA;
 
  6.  provide for the issuance of notes issued after the Issue Date in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;
 
  7.  allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Guarantee with respect to the notes or to effect the release of any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or the Indenture (to the extent permitted by the Indenture);
 
  8.  secure the notes;
 
  9.  provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes; or
 
  10.  conform the text of the Indenture, the Guarantees or the notes to any provision of this “Description of the New Notes” to the extent that such provision in this “Description of the New Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Guarantees or the notes.
 
The consent of the Holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.
 
In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be entitled to conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting upon, such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an opinion of counsel. Other modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture, except that, without the consent of each Holder affected thereby, no amendment may:
 
  1.  reduce the amount of notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;
 
  2.  reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any notes;


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  3.  reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any notes, or change the date on which any notes may be subject to redemption or reduce the redemption price therefor;
 
  4.  make any notes payable in money other than that stated in the notes;
 
  5.  make any change in provisions of the Indenture protecting the right of each Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such note on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of notes issued under the Indenture to waive Defaults or Events of Default;
 
  6.  waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, or Additional Interest, if any, on the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
 
  7.  after the Issuers’ obligation to purchase notes arises thereunder, amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Issuers to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control or modify any of the provisions or definitions with respect thereto; or
 
  8.  modify or change any provision of the Indenture or the related definitions affecting the ranking of the notes in a manner which adversely affects the Holders.
 
Governing Law
 
The Indenture provides that it and the notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.
 
The Trustee
 
The Indenture provides that, except during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
 
The Indenture and the provisions of the TIA contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Issuers, to obtain payments of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. Subject to the TIA, the Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the TIA, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
 
Additional Information
 
Anyone who receives this prospectus may obtain a copy of the Indenture without charge by writing to Nationstar Mortgage LLC, 350 Highland Drive, Lewisville, Texas 75067, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
 
Certain Definitions
 
Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the full definition of all such terms, as well as any other terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
 
“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or at the time it merges or consolidates


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with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and in each case whether or not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition, merger or consolidation.
 
“Additional Interest” means the additional interest that may accrue on the notes under the circumstances described under the caption “Exchange Offer; Registration Rights.”
 
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.
 
“Asset Acquisition” means: (1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or (2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) other than in the ordinary course of business.
 
“Asset Sale” means:
 
  (1)  the sale, lease (other than operating leases entered in the ordinary course of business), conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided that the sale, lease (other than operating leases entered in the ordinary course of business), conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than any Required Asset Sale or a Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale, will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and/or the provisions described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets” and not by the provisions of the Asset Sale covenant; and
 
  (2)  the issuance or sale of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:
 
  (1)  any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $5.0 million;
 
  (2)  a transfer of assets between or among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  (3)  an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  (4)  the sale of advances, loans, customer receivables, mortgage related securities or other assets in the ordinary course of business, the sale of accounts receivable or other assets that by their terms convert into cash in the ordinary course of business and any sale of MSRs in connection with the origination of the associated mortgage loan in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (5)  the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;
 
  (6)  disposition of Investments or other assets and disposition or compromise of receivables, in each case, in connection with the workout, compromise, settlement or collection thereof or exercise of remedies with respect thereto, in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy, foreclosure or similar proceedings, including foreclosure, repossession and


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  disposition of REO Assets and other collateral for loans serviced and/or originated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
 
  (7)  the modification of any loans owned or serviced by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (8)  a Restricted Payment that does not violate the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or a Permitted Investment;
 
  (9)  disposals or replacements of damaged, worn out or obsolete equipment or other assets no longer used or useful in the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case the ordinary course of business;
 
  (10)  assets sold pursuant to the terms of Permitted Funding Indebtedness;
 
  (11)  a sale (in one or more transactions) of Securitization Assets or Residual Interests in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (12)  sales, transfers or contributions of Securitization Assets to Securitization Entities, Warehouse Facility Trusts and MSR Facility Trusts in connection with Securitizations in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (13)  a sale or other disposition of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
 
  (14)  the creation of a Lien (but not the sale or other disposition of the property subject to such Lien) permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Liens;” and
 
  (15)  transactions pursuant to repurchase agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business.
 
“Asset Sale Offer” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Indenture.
 
“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, as of the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest rate per annum implicit in the lease involved in such sale and leaseback transaction, as determined in good faith by the Company) of the obligation of the lessee thereunder for rental payments (excluding, however, any amounts required to be paid by such lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of sales or similar contingent amounts) during the remaining term of such lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended); provided, however, that if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligation. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such rental payments shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rental payments shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.
 
“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the Board of Directors, or similar governing body, of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.
 
“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
 
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or the place of payment.


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“Capital Stock” means:
 
  1.  with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person; or
 
  2.  with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests (whether general or limited) of such Person.
 
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Cash Equivalents” means:
 
  1.  Dollars;
 
  2.  in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, such local currencies held by such Foreign Subsidiary of the Company from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
 
  3.  securities or any evidence of indebtedness issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities or such evidence of indebtedness);
 
  4.  marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the three highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s;
 
  5.  certificates of deposit with maturities of twelve months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding twelve months and overnight bank deposits with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;
 
  6.  repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (5) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (5) above;
 
  7.  commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and in each case maturing within twelve months after the date of acquisition; and
 
  8.  money market funds at least 90.0% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (7) of this definition.
 
In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (b) local currencies and other short-term investments utilized by foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (1) through (8) and in this paragraph.


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“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:
 
  1.  the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any Required Asset Sales or Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or
 
  2.  the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that for purposes of calculating the “beneficial ownership” of any group, any Voting Stock of which any Permitted Holder is the “beneficial owner” shall not be included in determining the amount of Voting Stock “beneficially owned” by such group.
 
“Co-Issuer” means Nationstar Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
 
“Common Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s common stock, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued after the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
 
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:
 
  1.  Consolidated Net Income; and
 
  2.  to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby:
 
  (a)  Consolidated Taxes;
 
  (b)  Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense on Indebtedness incurred under clauses (2), (5), (6), (10), (11), (12), (15) and (27) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness);
 
  (c)  depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (including charges related to the writeoff of goodwill or intangibles as a result of impairment, but excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period), all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP;
 
  (d)  (1) customary fees and expenses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable in connection with (i) the issuance of the notes and (ii) the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock or the Common Stock of any of its direct or indirect parent companies after the Issue Date, (2) costs associated with exit and disposal activities incurred in connection with a restructuring as defined in ASC 420-10 (provided that such charges relating to the Company’s restructuring program initiated in 2007 (as described in this prospectus) may not exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate


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  in any Four Quarter Period) and (3) any amortization or write-off of debt issuance costs for Indebtedness incurred prior to the Issue Date;
 
  (e)  any amortization or write-off of debt issuance costs payable in connection with Corporate Indebtedness incurred concurrent with and after the Issue Date;
 
  (f)  recovery of other-than-temporary loss on available-for-sale securities recognized through members’ (or shareholders’) equity;
 
  (g)  all other unusual or non-recurring items of loss or expense as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith; and
 
  (h)  the amount of any expense related to minority interests; and, 3 decreased by (without duplication):
 
  (a)  non-cash gains pursuant to clause (2) above increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period (other than such cash charges that have been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with this definition);
 
  (b)  all other unusual or non-recurring gains or revenue as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith;
 
  (c)  all interest income to the extent a matching interest expense has been added back to clause (2) above; and
 
  (d)  fair market value of MSRs capitalized by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:
 
  1.  the aggregate of the interest expense on Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including without limitation: (a) any amortization of debt discount; (b) the net costs under Permitted Hedging Transactions; (c) all capitalized interest; and (d) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation;
 
  2.  to the extent not already included in clause (1), the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
 
  3.  the imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt created after the Issue Date; and
 
  4.  the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Capital of such Person or preferred stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Corporate Indebtedness to (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recently ended


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four full fiscal quarters (the “Four Quarter Period”) for which internal financial statements are available ending prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (the “Transaction Date”).
 
In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, “Corporate Indebtedness” and “Consolidated EBITDA” shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:
 
  1.  the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness (and the application of the proceeds thereof), other than the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to working capital facilities, occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period; and
 
  2.  any asset sales or other dispositions or any asset originations, asset purchases, Investments and Asset Acquisitions (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Indebtedness that is Acquired Indebtedness and also including any Consolidated EBITDA (including any pro forma expense and cost reductions) attributable to the assets which are originated or purchased, the Investments that are made and the assets that are the subject of the Asset Acquisition or asset sale or other disposition during the Four Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such asset sale or other disposition or asset origination, asset purchase, Investment or Asset Acquisition (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period. If such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly guarantees Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding sentence shall give effect to the incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such guaranteed Indebtedness.
 
The pro forma calculations shall be made by a responsible accounting officer of the Company in good faith based on the information reasonably available to it at the time of such calculation. The foregoing calculations, pursuant to the transactions listed above in clauses (1) and (2), shall be required to comply with the requirements for pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto.
 
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries before the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom:
 
  1.  after-tax gains and losses from asset sales or abandonments or reserves relating thereto;
 
  2.  after-tax items classified as extraordinary gains or losses and direct impairment charges or the reversal of such charges on the Person’s assets;
 
  3.  the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is restricted by a contract, operation of law or otherwise, except for such restrictions permitted by clauses (g) and (h) of the “Limitation on Dividend and Other


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  Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries” covenant, whether such permitted restrictions exist on the Issue Date or are created thereafter, except to the extent (in the case of net income) of cash dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person, or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary also subject to such restrictions), by such other Person;
 
  4.  the net income or loss of any other Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person, except:
 
  (a)  to the extent (in the case of net income) of cash dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person, or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (3) above), by such other Person; or
 
  (b)  that the referent Person’s share of any net income or loss of such other Person under the equity method of accounting for Affiliates shall not be excluded;
 
  5.  any restoration to income of any contingency reserve of an extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual nature, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Issue Date;
 
  6.  income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued);
 
  7.  in the case of a successor to the referent Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of the referent Person’s assets, any earnings of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;
 
  8.  any valuation allowance for mortgage loans held-for-investment and/or any change in fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and corresponding debt in relation to securitized loans in accordance with GAAP that require no additional capital or equity contributions to the Company;
 
  9.  change in fair value of MSRs or the amortization of MSRs pursuant to such Person’s accounting policy; and
 
  10.  an amount equal to all distributions during such period pursuant to clause (6)(c) of the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”
 
“Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means, with respect to any Person, the excess of such Person’s total assets over its total liabilities determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding (1) goodwill, (2) other intangibles and (3) cumulative impact from Issue Date of any valuation allowance for mortgage loans held-for-investment and/or any change in fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and corresponding debt in relation to securitized loans in accordance with GAAP that require no additional capital or equity contributions to the Company, in each case as of the end of the last completed fiscal quarter ending on or prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
 
“Consolidated Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (1) all income taxes and foreign withholding taxes and taxes based on capital and commercial activity (or similar taxes) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period and (2) all distributions pursuant to clause (6)(c) of the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”
 
“Corporate Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate consolidated amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries then outstanding that would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding, for


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the purpose of this definition, Indebtedness incurred under clauses (2), (5), (6), (10), (11), (12), (15) and (27) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness).
 
“Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date, the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of Corporate Indebtedness outstanding as of such date to (ii) the Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, with such pro forma adjustments for transactions consummated on or prior to or simultaneously with the date of the calculation as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
 
“Credit Enhancement Agreements” means, collectively, any documents, instruments, guarantees or agreements entered into by the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any Securitization Entity for the purpose of providing credit support (that is reasonably customary as determined by Company senior management) with respect to any Permitted Funding Indebtedness or Permitted Securitization Indebtedness.
 
“Currency Agreement” means, with respect to any specified Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any its Restricted Subsidiary against fluctuations in currency values.
 
“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
 
“Designated Noncash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of any noncash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an officers’ certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such Asset Sale less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Noncash Consideration.
 
“Disqualified Capital Stock” means that portion of any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event (other than an event which would constitute a Change of Control), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control) on or prior to the final maturity date of the notes.
 
“Dollar” or “$” means the lawful money of the United States of America.
 
“Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
 
“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
 
“Excluded Contributions” means net cash proceeds or marketable securities received by the Company from contributions to its common equity capital designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an officers’ certificate on the date such capital contributions are made.
 
“Excluded Restricted Subsidiary” means any newly acquired or created Subsidiary of the Company that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary but prohibited, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, from guaranteeing the notes by any applicable law, regulation or contractual restriction existing at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and which, in the case of any such contractual restriction, in the good faith opinion of the management of the Company, cannot be


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removed through commercially reasonable efforts. As of the Issue Date, there are no Excluded Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
“Existing Facilities” means, collectively, the Existing Servicing Advance Facilities, the Existing Warehouse Facilities and the Existing MSR Facilities.
 
“Existing MSR Facilities” means the MSR Notes together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, increasing the interest rate or fees applicable thereto, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
 
“Existing Servicing Advance Facilities” means: (1) the $375.0 million Agreement with respect to MBS Loan Buyout Financing Option and the Further Amended and Restated Servicer Advance Early Reimbursement Mechanics Addendum, dated as of January 13, 2010, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein, (2) the $350.0 million Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2009, by and among the Company and the noteholders identified therein and (3) the MSR Notes, in each case, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, increasing the interest rate or fees applicable thereto, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
 
“Existing Warehouse Facilities” mean: (1) the $300.0 million Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein, (2) the $50.0 million Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2009, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein, (3) the $50.0 million Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as February 24, 2010, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein and (4) the $50.0 million As Soon As Pooled Plus Agreements, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein; in each case, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, increasing the interest rate or fees applicable thereto, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
 
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair market value shall be determined by the senior management of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, when the fair market value of any asset other than cash is estimated in good faith to be below $5.0 million, and by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith and, if the fair market value exceeds $10.0 million, shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee.
 
“Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.


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“Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company, as determined in accordance with GAAP in good faith by the Company without intercompany eliminations.
 
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, which are in effect as of December 31, 2009.
 
“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).
 
“Guarantor” means each of:
 
  (1)  Nationstar Equity Corporation, Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC, Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P., Nationstar Industrial Loan Company, Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation, Harwood Insurance Services, LLC, Harwood Service Company of Georgia, LLC, Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC, Harwood Service Company LLC, Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC, Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation; and
 
  (2)  any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture,
 
and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture; provided that any Excluded Restricted Subsidiary, any Securitization Entities, any Warehouse Facility Trusts and any MSR Facility Trusts shall not be deemed to be Guarantors.
 
“Holder” means the Person in whose name the note is registered on the registrar’s book.
 
“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication:
 
  1.  all Obligations of such Person for borrowed money;
 
  2.  all Obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
 
  3.  all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
 
  4.  all Obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all Obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by 90 days or more or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted);
 
  5.  all Obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction;
 
  6.  guarantees and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (5) above and clauses (8) or (9) below;
 
  7.  Obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above and clause (9) below which are secured by any lien on any property or asset of such Person, the amount of such Obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or asset and the amount of the Obligation so secured;
 
  8.  all Obligations under currency agreements and interest swap agreements of such Person;


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  9.  all Attributable Debt of such Person; and
 
  10.  all Disqualified Capital Stock issued by such Person with the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified Capital Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price, but excluding accrued dividends, if any.
 
For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such Fair Market Value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Capital Stock.
 
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:
 
  (1)  the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued at a discount to par;
 
  (2)  with respect to any Obligations under currency agreements and interest swap agreements, the net amount payable if such agreements terminated at that time due to default by such Person;
 
  (3)  in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:
 
  (a)  the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and
 
  (b)  the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person; or
 
  (4)  except as provided above, the principal amount or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
 
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect loan or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, a guarantee), advance or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidences or Indebtedness issued by, any Person that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. “Investment” shall exclude (x) accounts receivable, extensions of trade credit or advances by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ normal trade practices, as the case may be, (y) deposits made in the ordinary course of business and customary deposits into reserve accounts related to Securitizations and (z) commission, travel and similar advances to officers, directors, managers and employees, in each case, made in the ordinary course of business.
 
“Investment Grade” means a rating of the notes by both S&P and Moody’s, each such rating being one of such agency’s four highest generic rating categories that signifies investment grade (i.e. BBB- (or the equivalent) or higher by S&P and Baa3 (or the equivalent) or higher by Moody’s); provided that, in each case, such ratings are publicly available; provided, further, that in the event Moody’s or S&P is no longer in existence for purposes of determining whether the notes are rated “Investment Grade,” such organization may be replaced by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) designated by the Company, notice of which shall be given to the Trustee.
 
“Investment Grade Securities” means marketable securities of a Person (other than the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, an Affiliate of joint venture of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business that


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are rated, at the time of acquisition, BBB- (or the equivalent) or higher by S&P and Baa3 (or the equivalent) or higher by Moody’s.
 
“Issue Date” means the date on which the notes are originally issued.
 
“Issuers” means the Company and the Co-Issuer.
 
“Legacy Loan Portfolio Sale” means the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, in one or more transactions of all or a portion of the residential mortgage loans subject to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2009 by and among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers party thereto.
 
“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
 
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.
 
“MSR” means mortgage servicing rights entitling the holder to service mortgage loans.
 
“MSR Assets” means MSRs other than (i) MSRs on loans originated by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries for so long as such MSRs are financed in the normal course of the origination of such loans and (ii) MSRs subject to existing Liens on the Issue Date securing Existing MSR Facilities.
 
“MSR Facility” means any financing arrangement of any kind, including, but not limited to, financing arrangements in the form of repurchase facilities, loan agreements, note issuance facilities and commercial paper facilities (excluding in all cases, Securitizations), with a financial institution or other lender or purchaser exclusively to finance or refinance the purchase, origination, pooling or funding by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of MSRs originated, purchased, or owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business.
 
“MSR Facility Trust” means any Person (whether or not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) established for the purpose of issuing notes or other securities in connection with an MSR Facility, which (i) notes and securities are backed by specified MSRs purchased by such Person from the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) notes and securities are backed by specified mortgage loans purchased by such Person from the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
 
“MSR Indebtedness” means Indebtedness in connection with a MSR Facility; the amount of any particular MSR Indebtedness as of any date of determination shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 
“MSR Loans” means loans outstanding under the MSR Notes that are, in accordance with the terms thereof, secured by the pledge of an MSR.
 
“MSR Notes” means the $22.2 million Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2009, by and among the Company and the lender identified therein.
 
“MSR Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that owns MSR Assets that have a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million.
 
“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, distributions to minority interest


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holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness that is:
 
  1.  specifically advanced to finance the acquisition of investment assets and secured only by the assets to which such Indebtedness relates without recourse to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation, breach of representation and warranty and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of such Person for GAAP purposes);
 
  2.  advanced to (i) such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries that holds investment assets or (ii) any of such Person’s Subsidiaries or group of such Person’s Subsidiaries formed for the sole purpose of acquiring or holding investment assets, in each case, against which a loan is obtained that is made without recourse to, and with no cross-collateralization against, such Person’s or any of such Person’s Restricted Subsidiaries’ other assets (other than: (A) cross-colateralization against assets which serve as collateral for other Non-Recourse Indebtedness; and (B) subject to such customary carve-out matters for which such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation, breach of representation and warranty and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of such Person for GAAP purposes) and upon complete or partial liquidation of which the loan must be correspondingly completely or partially repaid, as the case may be; or
 
  3.  specifically advanced to finance the acquisition of real property and secured by only the real property to which such Indebtedness relates without recourse to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation, breach of representation and warranty and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of such Person for GAAP purposes)
 
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Non-Recourse Indebtedness is made with recourse to other assets of a Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, only that portion of such Non-Recourse Indebtedness that is recourse to such other assets or Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed not to be Non-Recourse Indebtedness.
 
“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.
 
“Obligations” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.


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“Pari Passu Debt” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is senior or pari passu in right of payment with the notes. For the purposes of this definition, no Indebtedness will be considered to be senior or junior by virtue of being secured on a first or junior priority basis.
 
“Permitted Business” means businesses associated with the purchase and origination of mortgage loans or interests related thereto, and the purchase, management, collection and sale of mortgage servicing rights or complementary assets and businesses that are reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto or reasonable developments or extensions thereof.
 
“Permitted Funding Indebtedness” means (i) any Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness, (ii) any Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness, (iii) any Permitted Residual Indebtedness, (iv) any Permitted MSR Indebtedness, (v) any facility that combines any Indebtedness under clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) and (vi) any Refinancing of the Indebtedness under clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) and advanced to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries based upon, and secured by, Servicing Advances, mortgage related securities, loans, MSRs, consumer receivables, REO Assets or Residual Interests existing on the Issue Date or created or acquired thereafter, provided, however that the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any, of (x) the amount of any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this clause (vi) for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect thereto over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such Indebtedness shall not be Permitted Funding Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred under this clause (vi) which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provision under the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”). The amount of any Permitted Funding Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Indebtedness.”
 
“Permitted Hedging Transactions” means entering into instruments and contracts and making margin calls thereon by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in reasonable relation to a Permitted Business that are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculative purposes (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars, forward hedge and TBA contracts or mortgage sale contracts and similar instruments, “interest only” mortgage derivative assets or other mortgage derivative products, future contracts and options on futures contracts on the Eurodollar, Federal Funds, Treasury bills and Treasury rates and similar financial instruments.
 
“Permitted Holders” means Sponsor and its Affiliates and members of management of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
“Permitted Indebtedness” means, without duplication, each of the following:
 
  1.  Indebtedness under the notes issued in this offering and exchange notes issued in exchange for such notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and exchange notes issued in exchange for any additional notes issued under the Indenture and the Note Guarantees;
 
  2.  Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Existing Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the maximum amount available under each Existing Facility as in effect on the Issue Date reduced by any required permanent repayments (which are accompanied by a corresponding permanent commitment reduction) thereunder;
 
  3.  Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under the Working Capital Facility in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding (with letters of credit being


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  deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) in an amount not to exceed $35.0 million;
 
  4.  other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) above);
 
  5.  Permitted Hedging Transactions;
 
  6.  Indebtedness under Currency Agreements; provided that in the case of Currency Agreements which relate to Indebtedness, such Currency Agreements do not increase the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder;
 
  7.  Indebtedness owed to and held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided, however, that (a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the incurrence of such Indebtedness by the obligor thereon and (b) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the notes;
 
  8.  Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company for so long as such Indebtedness is held by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subject to no Lien; provided that: (a) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor is unsecured and subordinated in right of payment, pursuant to a written agreement, to the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the notes; and (b) if as of any date any Person other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company owns or holds, directly or indirectly, any such Indebtedness or any Person holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of Indebtedness not constituting Permitted Indebtedness by the Company;
 
  9.  [reserved];
 
  10.  Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, in order to provide security for workers’ compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar requirements in the ordinary course of business;
 
  11.  Permitted Funding Indebtedness;
 
  12.  Permitted Securitization Indebtedness and Indebtedness under Credit Enhancement Agreements;
 
  13.  Refinancing Indebtedness;
 
  14.  (A) any guarantee by the Company or a Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is permitted under the terms of the Indenture, or (B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness); provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with the covenant described below under “—Limitation on Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries”;
 
  15.  Non-Recourse Indebtedness;


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  16.  Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of the Guarantors in connection with the acquisition of a Permitted Business; provided that on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof and the use of proceeds therefrom, either
 
  (a)  the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the second paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;” or
 
  (b)  the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and the Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio of the Company would not be more than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and the Corporate Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio of the Company, as applicable, immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness;
 
  17.  Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred to finance the development, construction, purchase, lease, repairs, maintenance or improvement of assets (including MSRs and related Servicing Advances) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Liens securing such Indebtedness may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred and the Indebtedness secured by the Lien may not be incurred more than 180 days after the latter of the acquisition or completion of the construction of the property subject to the Lien, provided, further that the amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the Fair Market Value of the assets purchased or constructed with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;
 
  18.  Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, amounts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (18));
 
  19.  Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness from the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value by the Company of Common Stock (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Common Stock) of the Company (or payments to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to permit distributions to repurchase common equity (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire common equity) thereof) from any future, current or former officer, director, manager or employee (or any spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs or legatees of any of the foregoing) of the Company, any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or their authorized representatives to the extent described in clause (4) of the second paragraph under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”
 
  20.  Indebtedness in respect of overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with customary deposit accounts maintained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with banks and other financial institutions as part of its ordinary cash management program;
 
  21.  the incurrence of Indebtedness by a Foreign Subsidiary in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding, together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (21), 5.0% of Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets;
 
  22.  shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any


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  Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such share of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares or Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (22);
 
  23.  Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiary consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;
 
  24.  Obligations in respect of performance, bid, surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
 
  25.  [reserved];
 
  26.  to the extent otherwise constituting Indebtedness, obligations arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of Residual Interests or other loans and other mortgage-related receivables purchased or originated by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising in the ordinary course of business;
 
  27.  Guarantees by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness that is otherwise Permitted Indebtedness;
 
  28.  Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Capital Stock or Preferred Stock of any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Capital Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) to the extent that such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied to the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Guarantors) pursuant to this clause (28) may not exceed $15.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
 
  29.  Indebtedness arising out of or to fund purchases of all remaining outstanding asset-backed securities of any Securitization Entity for the purpose of relieving the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of the administrative expense of servicing such Securitization Entity;
 
  30.  Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock issued under this clause (30);
 
  31.  Guarantees by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to owners of servicing rights in the ordinary course of business; and
 
  32.  additional Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12.5 million at any one time outstanding.
 
For purposes of determining compliance with the “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (32) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the second paragraph of such covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock in the form of additional


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shares of the same class of Disqualified Capital Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of the ‘‘—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant.
 
“Permitted Investments” means:
 
  1.  any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  2.  any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;
 
  3.  any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in a Permitted Business or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  4.  Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in Securitization Entities, Warehouse Facility Trusts, MSR Facility Trusts, Investments in mortgage related securities or charge-off receivables in the ordinary course of business;
 
  5.  Investments arising out of purchases of all remaining outstanding asset-backed securities of any Securitization Entity for the purpose of relieving the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of the administrative expense of servicing such Securitization Entity;
 
  6.  Investments in MSRs;
 
  7.  Investments in Residual Interests in connection with any Securitization, Warehouse Facility or MSR Facility;
 
  8.  Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the form of loans extended to non-Affiliate borrowers in connection with any loan origination business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
 
  9.  any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of securities or other assets of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales,” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;
 
  10.  Investments made solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company, or any of its direct or indirect parent entities, or any Unrestricted Subsidiary;
 
  11.  any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;
 
  12.  Investments in connection with Permitted Hedging Transactions;
 
  13.  repurchases of the notes;
 
  14.  Investments in and making of Servicing Advances, residential or commercial mortgage loans and Securitization Assets (whether or not made in conjunction with the acquisition of MSRs);
 
  15.  guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under the covenant described in “—Certain covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”;
 
  16.  any transaction to the extent it constitutes an investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of the third paragraph of the covenant described under


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  “—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in clauses (6) and (9) of such paragraph);
 
  17.  Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;
 
  18.  endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;
 
  19.  any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may only be increased pursuant to this clause (19) to the extent required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date;
 
  20.  any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;
 
  21.  any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a joint venture not to exceed the greater of (x) $5.0 million and (y) 1.0% of Total Assets; and
 
  22.  other Investments having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (22) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash and/or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (x) $30.0 million and (y) 1.0% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).
 
“Permitted Liens” means the following types of Liens:
 
  1.  Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims either: (a) not delinquent for a period of more than 30 days; or (b) contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or its Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;
 
  2.  statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;
 
  3.  Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation and other types of social security or obtaining of insurance, including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection therewith, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);
 
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  5.  Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  6.  Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the assets or property or within 360 days of such acquisition, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto); provided, further that the aggregate amount of obligations secured thereby does not exceed $15.0 million at any time outstanding and no such Lien may secure obligations in an amount that exceeds the Fair Market Value of the assets or property acquired as of the date of acquisition;
 
  7.  Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  8.  leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  9.  Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
 
  10.  Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the Working Capital Facility, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;
 
  11.  Liens in favor of the Issuers or any Guarantor;
 
  12.  Liens on the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
 
  13.  grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;
 
  14.  Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (4), (5), (6), (28) and (34) of this definition; provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (4), (5), (6), (28) and (34) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;
 
  15.  Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;
 
  16.  Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business and Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;


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  17.  any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;
 
  18.  any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  19.  judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;
 
  20.  minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of other for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property or Liens incidental to the conduct of the Permitted Business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and other similar charges or encumbrances in respect of real property not interfering, in the aggregate, in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
 
  21.  any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation; provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which is not leased property subject to such Capitalized Lease Obligation;
 
  22.  Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
 
  23.  Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;
 
  24.  Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off;
 
  25.  Liens securing Permitted Hedging Transactions and the costs thereof;
 
  26.  Liens securing Indebtedness under Currency Agreements;
 
  27.  Liens with respect to obligations at any one time outstanding that do not exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 1.0% of Total Assets;
 
  28.  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the construction or purchase of assets (excluding MSR Assets) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any acquisition of Capital Stock or by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), provided that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred and the Indebtedness secured by the Lien may not be incurred more than 180 days after the acquisition or completion of the construction of the property subject to the Lien, provided further that the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens does not exceed the purchase price of the assets purchased or constructed with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;
 
  29.  Liens on Securitization Assets and the proceeds thereof incurred in connection with Permitted Securitization Indebtedness or permitted guarantees thereof;


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  30.  Liens on spread accounts and credit enhancement assets, Liens on the stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company substantially all of which are spread accounts and credit enhancement assets and Liens on interests in Securitization Entities, in each case incurred in connection with Credit Enhancement Agreements;
 
  31.  Liens to secure Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company or Excluded Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary of the Company or any Excluded Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred;
 
  32.  Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
 
  33.  Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement; and
 
  34.  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase of MSR Assets (“Acquired MSR Assets”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any acquisition of Capital Stock or by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), provided that (x) any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred and the Indebtedness secured by the Lien may not be incurred more than 180 days after the acquisition of the property subject to the Lien and (y) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by the Acquired MSR Assets in such purchase does not exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 35.0% of the purchase price of such Acquired MSR Assets less the amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses related to such acquisition (the purchase price of the Acquired MSR Assets shall be determined by the terms of the contract governing such purchase or, if not specified in such contract, management in good faith).
 
“Permitted MSR Indebtedness” means MSR Indebtedness; provided, that the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any, of (x) the amount of any such MSR Indebtedness for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect to such MSR Indebtedness (excluding recourse for matters such as fraud, misappropriation, breaches of representations and warranties and misapplication) over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such MSR Indebtedness shall not be Permitted MSR Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provisions in the covenant described above under the caption ‘‘—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”). The amount of any particular Permitted MSR Indebtedness as of any date of determination shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Permitted Residual Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under a Residual Funding Facility; provided that the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any of (x) the amount of any such Permitted Residual Indebtedness for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect to such Permitted Residual Indebtedness (not including customary contractual recourse for breaches of representations and warranties) over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such Permitted Residual Indebtedness shall be deemed not to be Permitted Residual


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Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, at such time.
 
“Permitted Securitization Indebtedness” means Securitization Indebtedness; provided that (i) in connection with any Securitization, any Warehouse Indebtedness or MSR Indebtedness used to finance the purchase, origination or pooling of any Receivables subject to such Securitization is repaid in connection with such Securitization to the extent of the net proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from the applicable Securitization Entity, and (ii) the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any, of (x) the amount of any such Securitization Indebtedness for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect to such Securitization Indebtedness (excluding recourse for matters such as fraud, misappropriation, breaches of representations and warranties and misapplication) over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such Securitization Indebtedness shall not be Permitted Securitization Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”).
 
“Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred under a Servicing Advance Facility; provided, however, that the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any of (x) the amount of any such Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation, breaches of representations or warranties and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of such Person for GAAP purposes) to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect to such Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness shall not be Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness under a Servicing Advance Facility which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provisions in the covenant described above under the caption “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, at such time.
 
“Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness” means Warehouse Indebtedness; provided, that the excess (determined as of the most recent date for which internal financial statements are available), if any, of (x) the amount of any such Warehouse Indebtedness for which the holder thereof has contractual recourse to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries to satisfy claims with respect to such Warehouse Indebtedness (excluding recourse for matters such as fraud, misappropriation, breaches of


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representations and warranties and misapplication) over (y) the aggregate (without duplication of amounts) Realizable Value of the assets that secure such Warehouse Indebtedness shall not be Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness (but shall not be deemed to be a new incurrence of Indebtedness subject to the provisions in the covenant described above under the caption ‘‘—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” except with respect to, and solely to the extent of, any such excess that exists upon the initial incurrence of such Indebtedness which excess shall be entitled to be incurred pursuant to any other provisions the covenant described above under the caption ‘‘—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”). The amount of any particular Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness as of any date of determination shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
“Preferred Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.
 
“Qualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.
 
“Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P.
 
“Realizable Value” of an asset means (i) with respect to any REO Asset, the value realizable upon the disposition of such asset as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion and consistent with customary industry practice and (ii) with respect to any other asset, the lesser of (x) if applicable, the face value of such asset and (y) the market value of such asset as determined by the Company in accordance with the agreement governing the applicable Permitted Servicing Advance Facility Indebtedness, Permitted Warehouse Indebtedness, Permitted MSR Indebtedness or Permitted Residual Indebtedness, as the case may be, (or, if such agreement does not contain any related provision, as determined by senior management of the Company in good faith); provided, however, that the realizable value of any asset described in clause (i) or (ii) above which an unaffiliated third party has a binding contractual commitment to purchase from the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be the minimum price payable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for such asset pursuant to such contractual commitment.
 
“Receivables” means loans and other mortgage-related receivables (including Servicing Receivables and MSRs but excluding Residual Interests and net interest margin securities) purchased or originated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or, with respect to Servicing Receivables and MSRs, otherwise arising in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the amount of a Receivable at any time, such amount shall be determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, as of the most recent practicable date.
 
“Refinance” means, in respect of any security or Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue a security or Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such security or Indebtedness in whole or in part. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
 
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Refinancing by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clauses (1), (4), (13), (16), (17), (28) or (29) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, and in each case that does not:
 
  1.  result in an increase in the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of such Person as of the date of such proposed Refinancing (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness and plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such Refinancing and amounts of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Indenture); or


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  2.  create Indebtedness with a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; or a final maturity earlier than the final maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred either (a) by the Company or any Guarantor or (b) by the Restricted Subsidiary that is the obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (ii) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinate or junior to the notes, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinate to the notes at least to the same extent and in the same manner as the Indebtedness being Refinanced.
 
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the notes dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.
 
“REO Asset” of a Person means a real estate asset owned by such Person and acquired as a result of the foreclosure or other enforcement of a lien on such asset securing a Servicing Advance or loans and other mortgage-related receivables purchased or originated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business.
 
“Residual Funding Facility” means any funding arrangement with a financial institution or institutions or other lenders or purchasers under which advances are made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary secured by Residual Interests.
 
“Residual Interests” means any residual, subordinated, reserve accounts and retained ownership interest held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in Securitization Entities, Warehouse Facility Trusts and/or MSR Facility Trusts, regardless of whether required to appear on the face of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
 
“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
 
“Required Asset Sale” means any Asset Sale that is a result of a repurchase right or obligation or a mandatory sale right or obligation related to (i) MSRs, (ii) pools or portfolios of MSRs, or (iii) the Capital Stock of any Person that holds MSRs or pools or portfolios of MSRs, which rights or obligations are either in existence on the Issue Date (or substantially similar in nature to such rights or obligations in existence on the Issue Date) or pursuant to the guidelines or regulations of a government-sponsored enterprise.
 
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.
 
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
“Secured Debt” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien upon the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (regardless of the Realizable Value of such property).
 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
 
“Securitization” means a public or private transfer, sale or financing of Servicing Advances and/or mortgage loans, installment contracts, other loans and any other asset capable of being securitized (collectively, the “Securitization Assets”) by which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly securitizes a pool of specified Securitization Assets including, without limitation, any such transaction involving the sale of specified Servicing Advances or mortgage loans to a Securitization Entity.
 
“Securitization Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Securitization.”
 
“Securitization Entity” means (i) any Person (whether or not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) established for the purpose of issuing asset-backed or mortgaged-backed or mortgage


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pass-through securities of any kind (including collateralized mortgage obligations and net interest margin securities), (ii) any special purpose Subsidiary established for the purpose of selling, depositing or contributing Securitization Assets into a Person described in clause (i) or holding securities in any related Securitization Entity, regardless of whether such person is an issuer of securities; provided that such Person is not an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor and (iii) any special purpose Subsidiary of the Company formed exclusively for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of Credit Enhancement Agreements and regardless of whether such Subsidiary is an issuer of securities; provided that such Person is not an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor other than under Credit Enhancement Agreements. As of the Issue Date, Nationstar Home Equity Loan Trust 2009-A, Nationstar Home Equity Loan 2009-A REO LLC, Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2009-ADVI, Nationstar Funding LLC, Nationstar Residual, LLC and Nationstar Advance Funding LLC shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the foregoing definition.
 
“Securitization Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred pursuant to on-balance sheet Securitizations treated as financings and (ii) any Indebtedness consisting of advances made to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries based upon securities issued by a Securitization Entity pursuant to a Securitization and acquired or retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
“Servicing Advances” means advances made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in its capacity as servicer of any mortgage-related receivables to fund principal, interest, escrow, foreclosure, insurance, tax or other payments or advances when the borrower on the underlying receivable is delinquent in making payments on such receivable; to enforce remedies, manage and liquidate REO Assets; or that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise advances in its capacity as servicer.
 
“Servicing Advance Facility” means any funding arrangement with lenders collateralized in whole or in part by Servicing Advances under which advances are made to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries based on such collateral.
 
“Servicing Receivables” means rights to collections under mortgage-related receivables, or other rights to reimbursement of Servicing Advances that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company has made in the ordinary course of business and on customary industry terms.
 
“Significant Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means any Subsidiary of such Person that satisfies the criteria for a “significant subsidiary” set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.
 
“Sponsor” means Fortress Investment Group LLC.
 
“Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means:
 
  1.  any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person; or
 
  2.  any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.
 
“Taxable Income” means, for any period, the taxable income or loss of the Company for such period for federal income tax purposes.
 
“Tax Amount” means, for any period, the combined federal, state and local income taxes, including estimated taxes, that would be payable with respect to the Company’s taxable income for such period (or in respect of the actual or deemed transfer of an interest in the Company to a corporation in connection with the public issuance of shares in a transaction intended to qualify (based upon an opinion of a nationally recognized accounting or law firm that the transaction should so


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qualify) under Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, in which the only consideration is common stock of the corporation and the assumption of liabilities of the Company) by an equity owner of the Company who is an individual resident in New York City who is subject to the maximum rates of tax; provided that in determining the Tax Amount, the effect thereon of any net operating loss carryforwards or other carryforwards or tax attributes, such as alternative minimum tax carryforwards, that would apply to such an individual shall be taken into account assuming the only income and gain of such individual in current and prior tax periods is income and gain attributable to the Company; provided, further, that (i) if there is an adjustment in the amount of the Taxable Income for any period, an appropriate positive or negative adjustment shall be made in the Tax Amount, and if the Tax Amount is negative, then the Tax Amount for succeeding periods shall be reduced (without duplication of reductions due to the first proviso hereof) to take into account such negative amount until such negative amount is reduced to zero and (ii) any Tax Amount other than amounts relating to estimated taxes shall be computed by a nationally recognized accounting firm.
 
“Total Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company.
 
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
 
  (1)  has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness and other Indebtedness that is not recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their assets;
 
  (2)  except as permitted by the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates,” is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;
 
  (3)  is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and
 
  (4)  has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.
 
“Warehouse Facility” means any financing arrangement of any kind, including, but not limited to, financing arrangements in the form of repurchase facilities, loan agreements, note issuance facilities and commercial paper facilities (excluding in all cases, Securitizations), with a financial institution or other lender or purchaser exclusively to (i) finance or refinance the purchase, origination or funding by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of, provide funding to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company through the transfer of, loans, mortgage related securities and other mortgage-related receivables purchased or originated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business, (ii) finance the funding of or refinance Servicing Advances; or (iii) finance or refinance the carrying of REO Assets related to loans and other mortgage-related receivables purchased or originated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such purchase, origination, pooling, funding, refinancing and carrying is in the ordinary course of business.


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“Warehouse Facility Trust” means any Person (whether or not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) established for the purpose of issuing notes or other securities in connection with a Warehouse Facility, which (i) notes and securities are backed by specified Servicing Advances purchased by such Person from the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) notes and securities are backed by specified mortgage loans purchased by such Person from the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
 
“Warehouse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness in connection with a Warehouse Facility; the amount of any particular Warehouse Indebtedness as of any date of determination shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Capital Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Capital Stock or Preferred Stock into; (2) the sum of the total of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.
 
“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person of which all the outstanding voting securities (other than in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, directors’ qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person.
 
“Working Capital Facility” means (i), any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that provide loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments permitted under clause (3) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness and (ii) any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that alters the maturity thereof, as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


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FORM, BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND TRANSFER
 
General
 
The New Notes will be issued in fully registered global form. The New Notes initially will be represented by one or more global certificates without interest coupons (the “global notes”). The global notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee for credit to the accounts of direct or indirect participants in DTC, as described below under “—Depositary Procedures.”
 
The global notes will be deposited on behalf of the acquirers of the New Notes for credit to the respective accounts of the acquirers or to such other accounts as they may direct. Except as described below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes may not be exchanged for New Notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below under “—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.”
 
Transfers of beneficial interests in the global notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants, which may change from time to time.
 
Depositary Procedures
 
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC is provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. We take no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the systems or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
 
DTC has advised us that it is:
 
  •  a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York State Banking Law;
 
  •  a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law;
 
  •  a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System;
 
  •  a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and
 
  •  a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
 
DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “participants”) and facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “indirect participants”). Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through participants or indirect participants. DTC has no knowledge of the identity of beneficial owners of securities held by or on behalf of DTC. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of participants to whose accounts securities are credited. The ownership interests and transfer of ownership interests of each beneficial owner of each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the participants and indirect participants.
 
DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures established by DTC, ownership of interests in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of such interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the participants) or by the participants and the indirect participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the global notes).


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Investors in the global notes may hold their interests therein directly through DTC if they are participants in such system or indirectly through organizations that are participants or indirect participants in such system. All interests in the global notes will be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery of certificates evidencing securities they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global notes to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants, which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of beneficial owners of interests in the global notes to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
 
Except as described below, owners of interests in the global notes will not have New Notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of New Notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the indenture for any purpose.
 
Payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the global notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable by the trustee (or the paying agent if other than the trustee) to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture. We and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the New Notes, including the global notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, none of us, the trustee or any agent of ours or the trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for:
 
  •  any aspect of DTC’s records or any participant’s or indirect participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global notes, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any participant’s or indirect participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the global notes; or
 
  •  any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its participants or indirect participants.
 
DTC has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the New Notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant participants with the payment on the payment date in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC, unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Payments by the participants and the indirect participants to the beneficial owners of New Notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the participants or the indirect participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or us. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the New Notes, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
 
Interests in the global notes are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System and secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and its participants.
 
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of New Notes only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account with DTC interests in the global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction.
 
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among participants in DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and the procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will


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have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
 
The information in this section concerning DTC and its book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
 
Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes
 
If (i) DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, (ii) DTC has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (iii) we, at our option, notify the trustee in writing that we elect to cause the issuance of the Notes in the form of certificated notes, or (iv) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, upon request by the holders of the Notes, we will issue Notes in certificated form in exchange for global securities. The indenture permits us to determine at any time and in our sole discretion that Notes shall no longer be represented by global securities. DTC has advised us that, under its current practices, it would notify its participants of our request, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from the global security at the request of each DTC participant. We would issue definitive certificates in exchange for any beneficial interests withdrawn.


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CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to holders of the Notes who are exchanging Notes pursuant to the Offer to Exchange. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, in each case as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this offering memorandum may affect the tax consequences described herein, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary deals only with notes that will be held as capital assets and, except where otherwise specifically noted, is only addressed to persons who hold Notes pursuant to this Offer to Exchange. It does not address tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, such as banks, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities electing to mark to market, persons that will hold notes as a position in a “straddle” or conversion transaction, or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated financial transaction, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, certain U.S. expatriates, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, pass-through entities (including partnerships and entities and arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal tax purposes), or persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar.
 
If an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Persons who are partners of a partnership holding our Notes should consult their tax advisors.
 
Persons considering the exchange of Notes should consult their own tax advisors in determining the tax consequences to them of the ownership and disposition of Notes, including the application to their particular situation of the U.S. federal income tax considerations discussed below, as well as the application of state, local, foreign or other tax laws.
 
Pursuant to U.S. Treasury Department Circular 230, holders of Notes or prospective purchasers are hereby notified that: (a) any discussion of U.S. federal tax issues contained or referred to in this Offer to Exchange or any document referred to herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by note holders for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Code; (b) such discussion is written for use in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transactions or matters addressed herein; and (c) note holders should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
 
As used under this heading “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a U.S. domestic corporation; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if (A) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of the Code) have the authority to control all of the trust’s substantial decisions, or (B) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a “United States person.” As used under this heading “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership) that is organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof. The following summary applies equally to all Notes, except where expressly stated otherwise.
 
Exchange Pursuant to the Offer to Exchange
 
The exchange of Old Notes for New Notes in this Offer to Exchange will not be treated as an “exchange” for U.S. federal income tax purposes because the New Notes will not be considered to differ materially in kind or extent from the Old Notes. Accordingly, the exchange of Old Notes for New Notes will not be a taxable event to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Moreover, the New Notes will have the same tax attributes and tax consequences as the outstanding notes exchanged


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therefor, including without limitation, the same issue price, adjusted issue price, adjusted tax basis and holding period.
 
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
 
Original Issue Discount
 
The Notes were issued with original issue discount (“OID”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of OID with respect to the Notes is equal to the excess of the “stated redemption price at maturity” of the Notes over the issue price of the Notes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each U.S. Holder (regardless of its regular accounting method) generally must accrue the OID in gross income over the term of the Notes on a constant yield to maturity method that reflects compounding of interest. As a result, U.S. Holders generally will recognize taxable income in respect of a Note in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to such income.
 
Market Discount, Acquisition Premium, Amortizable Bond Premium
 
If a U.S. Holder acquires a Note at a cost that is less than its adjusted issue price on the acquisition date, the amount of the difference is treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless the difference is de minimis. In general, market discount will be treated as accruing ratably over the remaining term of the Note or, at the holder’s election, on a constant yield to maturity basis. A U.S. holder may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues. The holder that does not make this election will be required to treat any gain on the disposition of the Note as ordinary income to the extent of accrued market discount not previously included in income with respect to the Note, and to defer the deduction of a portion of the interest on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry the Note until maturity or until a taxable disposition of the Note.
 
If a U.S. Holder has a tax basis in a Note that is more than the issue price of such Note but less than the stated redemption price at maturity of such Note, the U.S. Holder will have acquisition premium with respect to such Note to the extent of that excess, and the amounts of OID otherwise included in the U.S. Holder’s income will generally be reduced to the extent of the acquisition premium.
 
If a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Note exceeds the Note’s stated redemption price at maturity, the Note has bond premium to the extent of that excess, and the U.S. Holder will not be required to include any of the OID on the Note in income. It is generally possible to elect to amortize bond premium on a constant yield to maturity method, as a reduction of interest income from a Note. Such election, once made, generally applies to all bonds held or subsequently acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first taxable year to which the election applies and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. A U.S. holder who elects to amortize bond premium must reduce its tax basis in the Note by the amount of bond premium used to offset stated interest income.
 
Purchase, Sale and Retirement of Notes
 
Initially, the tax basis in a Note generally will equal the cost of the Note to the U.S. Holder. A U.S. Holder’s basis will increase by any amounts that are included in income under the rules governing original issue discount and market discount, and will decrease by the amount of any amortized premium and any payments other than qualified stated interest made on the Note.
 
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement (not including accrued qualified stated interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income) and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Note.
 
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
 
Under U.S. federal income tax law, and subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, no withholding of U.S. federal income tax generally will be required with respect to the payment by us or our paying agent on a Note owned by a Non-U.S. Holder of interest (including OID) that qualifies as portfolio interest (including payment of the mandatory principal redemption amount). Interest on a Note owned by a Non-U.S. Holder will qualify as portfolio interest, provided that (i) such


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interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of such U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business, (ii) such Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, (iii) such Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us actually or constructively through stock ownership, and (iv) such Non-U.S. Holder either a) provides a statement signed under penalties of perjury that includes its name and address and certifies that it is a Non-U.S. Holder in compliance with applicable requirements generally made, under current procedures, on IRS Form W-8BEN (or satisfies certain documentary evidence requirements for establishing that is it a Non-U.S. Holder) or b) holds Notes through certain foreign intermediaries and satisfies the certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Special certification and other rules apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are entities rather than individuals.
 
A Non-U.S. Holder with interest income that does not qualify as portfolio interest will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax unless, under current procedures, it delivers a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI (stating that interest paid on its Notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected to its conduct of a trade or business in the U.S.) or IRS Form W-8BEN (claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty).
 
A Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of a Note, unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the U.S. or (ii) in the case of gain realized by an individual holder, the holder is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the retirement or disposition and certain other conditions are met.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder with respect to interest (including OID) income or gain that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, that is attributable to its U.S. “permanent establishment,” unless such treaty provides otherwise. In addition, under certain circumstances, effectively connected earnings and profits of a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to a “branch profits” tax imposed at a 30% rate or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
 
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
 
Under current U.S. federal income tax law, information reporting requirements apply with respect to payments made to U.S. Holders of principal, interest and OID on, and the proceeds of dispositions (including retirements and redemptions) of, Notes unless an exemption exists. In addition, if a U.S. Holder is not exempt, such U.S. Holder will be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 28%) in respect of such payments if, among other things, that U.S. Holder does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number to us or our paying agent. All individuals are subject to these requirements. In general, corporations are exempt from these requirements. Backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability (and may entitle you to a refund), provided that correct information is timely provided to the IRS.
 
A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to payments made by us with respect to the Notes if the beneficial owner has provided us with an IRS Form W-8BEN and we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person. In addition, no backup withholding will be required regarding the gross proceeds of the sale of Notes made within the United States or conducted through certain U.S. financial intermediaries if the payor receives that statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts so withheld will be allowed as a credit against such non-U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund provided you timely furnish the required information to the IRS.


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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business 90 days after the Expiration Date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until the date that is 90 days from the date of original issuance of the New Notes, all dealers effecting transactions in the New Notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.
 
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by broker-dealers. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
 
For a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of New Notes in the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the New Notes, we will receive Old Notes in like principal amount. The Old Notes surrendered in exchange for the New Notes will be retired and cancelled.
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
The validity of the New Notes, the Indenture under which they will be issued, and/or the corporate action authorizing the same will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, Memphis, Tennessee, and Greenberg Traurig LLP, Dallas, Texas, as more particularly set forth in the applicable opinions.
 
EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements of Nationstar Mortgage LLC at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, appearing in this Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Members
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Nationstar Mortgage LLC and subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for transfers of financial assets and consolidation of variable interest entities, effective January 1, 2010.
 
/s/  Ernst & Young LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
March 28, 2011,


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NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
 
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 21,223     $ 41,645  
Restricted cash (includes $1,472 and $0, respectively, of restricted cash, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    91,125       52,795  
Accounts receivable, net (includes $2,392 and $0, respectively, of accrued interest, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    439,071       509,974  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    371,160       203,131  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net
    266,840       301,910  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt (at fair value)
    538,440        
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale
          2,486  
Receivables from affiliates
    8,993       12,574  
Mortgage servicing rights
    145,062       114,605  
Property and equipment, net
    8,394       6,575  
Real estate owned, net (includes $17,509 and $0, respectively, of real estate owned, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    27,337       10,262  
Other assets
    29,536       24,228  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,947,181     $ 1,280,185  
                 
Liabilities and members’ equity
               
Notes payable
  $ 709,758     $ 771,857  
Unsecured senior notes
    244,061        
Payables and accrued liabilities (includes $95 and $0, respectively, of accrued interest payable, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    75,054       66,830  
Derivative financial instruments
    7,801        
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781        
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    138,662       177,675  
ABS nonrecourse debt (at fair value)
    496,692        
                 
Total liabilities
    1,690,809       1,016,362  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
               
Total members’ equity
    256,372       263,823  
                 
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 1,947,181     $ 1,280,185  
                 
 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31  
    2010     2009     2008  
          (in thousands)        
 
Revenues:
                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 167,126     $ 90,195     $ 68,052  
Other fee income
    16,958       10,023       5,955  
                         
Total fee income
    184,084       100,218       74,007  
Gain/(loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
    77,344       (21,349 )     (86,663 )
                         
Total revenues
    261,428       78,869       (12,656 )
Expenses and impairments:
                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    149,115       90,689       61,783  
General and administrative
    58,913       30,494       22,194  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    3,503       7,512       2,567  
Occupancy
    9,445       6,863       6,021  
Loss on available-for-sale securities—other-than-temporary
          6,809       55,212  
                         
Total expenses and impairments
    220,976       142,367       147,777  
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    98,895       52,518       92,060  
Interest expense
    (116,163 )     (69,883 )     (65,548 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (9,801 )     (14 )     (23,689 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
    (23,297 )            
                         
Total other income (expense)
    (50,366 )     (17,379 )     2,823  
                         
Net loss
  $ (9,914 )   $ (80,877 )   $ (157,610 )
                         
 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 
                         
          Accumulated
       
          Other
    Total
 
    Member
    Comprehensive
    Members’
 
    Units     Loss     Equity  
          (in thousands)        
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 265,599     $ (3,903 )   $ 261,696  
Capital contributions
    145,600             145,600  
Share-based compensation
    2,333             2,333  
Comprehensive loss:
                       
Net loss
    (157,610 )           (157,610 )
Reclassification of loss on investment in debt securities due to other-than-temporary impairments
          3,903       3,903  
                         
Total comprehensive loss
                    (153,707 )
                         
Balance at December 31, 2008
    255,922             255,922  
Capital contributions
    87,951             87,951  
Share-based compensation
    827             827  
Net loss and comprehensive loss
    (80,877 )           (80,877 )
                         
Balance at December 31, 2009
    263,823             263,823  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principles as of January 1, 2010 related to adoption of new accounting guidance on consolidation of variable interest entities
    (8,068 )           (8,068 )
Share-based compensation
    12,856             12,856  
Tax related share-based settlement of units by members
    (3,396 )           (3,396 )
Comprehensive loss:
                       
Net loss
    (9,914 )           (9,914 )
Change in value of cash flow hedge
          1,071       1,071  
                         
Total comprehensive loss
                    (8,843 )
                         
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 255,301     $ 1,071     $ 256,372  
                         
 
See accompanying notes.


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Table of Contents

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31  
    2010     2009     2008  
          (in thousands)        
 
Operating activities
                       
Net loss
  $ (9,914 )   $ (80,877 )     (157,610 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                       
Share-based compensation
    12,856       827       2,333  
Loss/(gain) on mortgage loans held for sale
    (77,344 )     21,349       86,663  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    3,503       7,512       2,567  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,117       1,767       1,309  
Accretion of discount on securities
                (4,422 )
Impairment of investments in debt securities
          6,809       55,212  
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
    23,297              
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    8,872       14       23,689  
Unrealized gains/losses on derivative financial instruments
          (2,436 )     2,077  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    6,043       27,915       11,701  
Amortization of debt discount
    18,731       21,287       8,879  
Amortization of premiums/discounts
    (4,526 )     (1,394 )     (85 )
Mortgage loans originated and purchased, net of fees
    (2,791,639 )     (1,480,549 )     (545,860 )
Cost of loans sold, net of fees
    2,621,275       1,007,369       513,924  
Principal payments/prepayments received and other changes in mortgage loans originated as held for sale
    32,415       470,072       201,184  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable, net
    39,388       (154,000 )     (165,566 )
Receivables from affiliates
    3,958       66,940       2,452  
Other assets
    1,152       (9,115 )     38,363  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    8,163       12,869       (36,598 )
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    (101,653 )     (83,641 )     40,212  
                         
 
Continued on following page


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Table of Contents

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31  
    2010     2009     2008  
          (in thousands)        
 
Investing activities
                       
Principal payments received and other changes on mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
  $ 48,838     $     $  
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned
    74,107       34,181       29,276  
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights, net of liabilities incurred
    (17,812 )     (1,169 )     (19,013 )
Interest rate swap settlements
                (51,570 )
Property and equipment additions, net of disposals
    (3,936 )     (3,029 )     (1,772 )
Principal payments received on debt securities
                8,436  
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    101,197       29,983       (34,643 )
                         
Financing activities
                       
Transfers to restricted cash, net
    (33,731 )     (31,763 )     (9,871 )
Issuance of non-recourse debt, net
          191,272        
Issuance of unsecured notes, net of issue discount
    243,013              
Repayment of nonrecourse debt—Legacy assets
    (45,364 )     (15,809 )      
Repayment of ABS nonrecourse debt
    (103,466 )            
Decrease in notes payable, net
    (62,099 )     (60,395 )     (157,266 )
Debt financing costs
    (14,923 )     (18,059 )     (15,926 )
Tax related share-based settlement of units by members
    (3,396 )            
Capital contributions from members
          20,700       145,600  
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (19,966 )     85,946       (37,463 )
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (20,422 )     32,288       (31,894 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    41,645       9,357       41,251  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 21,223     $ 41,645     $ 9,357  
                         
Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities
                       
Transfer of mortgage loans held for sale to real estate owned
  $ 827     $ 73,264     $ 65,304  
Mortgage servicing rights resulting from sale or securitization of mortgage loans
    26,253       8,332       4,522  
Transfer of mortgage loans held for investment to real estate owned
    53,408       12,990        
Transfer of mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, to real estate owned
    111,865              
Transfer of mortgage loans held for sale to mortgage loans held for investment
          319,183        
Contribution of intercompany payable from parent
          67,251        
Financing of acquisition of mortgage servicing rights
          22,211        
Change in value of cash flow hedge—accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,071              
See accompanying notes.
                       


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
 
1.   Description of the Companies and Basis of Presentation
 
General
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nationstar Mortgage LLC (Nationstar), formerly Centex Home Equity Company, LLC (CHEC), a Delaware limited liability company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, after the elimination of intercompany balances and transactions. Nationstar is a subsidiary of FIF HE Holdings LLC (FIF), a subsidiary of Fortress Private Equity Funds III and IV (Fortress).
 
Nature of Business
 
Nationstar’s principal business is the origination and selling or securitization of single-family conforming mortgage loans to government-sponsored entities and the servicing of residential mortgage loans for others.
 
The sale or securitization of mortgage loans typically involves Nationstar retaining the right to service the mortgage loans that it sells. The servicing of mortgage loans includes the collection of principal and interest payments and the assessment of ancillary fees related to the servicing of mortgage loans. Additionally, Nationstar may occasionally obtain additional servicing rights through the acquisition of servicing portfolios from third parties.
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies
 
Use of Estimates in Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates due to factors such as adverse changes in the economy, increases in interest rates, declines in home prices or discrete events adversely affecting specific borrowers, and such differences could be material.
 
Nationstar evaluated subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued.
 
Reclassification Adjustments
 
Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-period presentation.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand and other highly liquid investments having an original maturity of less than three months.
 
Restricted Cash
 
Restricted cash consists of custodial accounts related to Nationstar’s portfolio securitizations or to collections on certain mortgage loans and mortgage loan advances that have been pledged to a financial services company under a Master Repurchase Agreement. Restricted cash also includes certain fees collected on mortgage loan payments that are required to be remitted to a government-sponsored entity (GSE) to settle outstanding guarantee fee requirements.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
 
Nationstar maintains a strategy of originating mortgage loan products primarily for the purpose of selling to government-sponsored entities or other third-party investors in the secondary market. Generally, all newly originated mortgage loans held for sale are delivered to third-party purchasers or securitized within three months after origination.
 
Through September 30, 2009, mortgage loans held for sale were carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value on an aggregate basis grouped by delinquency status. Nationstar estimates fair value by evaluating a variety of market indicators including recent trades and outstanding commitments, calculated on an aggregate basis (see Note 16).
 
Effective October 1, 2009, Nationstar elected to measure newly originated prime residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, as permitted under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 825, Financial Instruments.
 
In connection with Nationstar’s election to measure mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, Nationstar is no longer permitted to defer the loan origination fees, net of direct loan origination costs associated with these loans. Prior to October 1, 2009, Nationstar deferred all nonrefundable fees and costs as required under ASC 310, Receivables. In accordance with this guidance, loan origination fees, net of direct loan origination costs were capitalized and added as an adjustment to the basis of the individual loans originated. These fees are accreted into income as an adjustment to the loan yield over the life of the loan or recognized when the loan is sold to a third party purchaser.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, Net
 
Mortgage loans held for investment principally consist of nonconforming or subprime mortgage loans securitized which serve as collateral for the issued debt. These loans were transferred on October 1, 2009, from mortgage loans held for sale at fair value on the transfer date, as determined by the present value of expected future cash flows, with no valuation allowance recorded. The difference between the undiscounted cash flows expected and the investment in the loan is recognized as interest income on a level-yield method over the life of the loan. Contractually required payments for interest and principal that exceed the undiscounted cash flows expected at transfer are not recognized as a yield adjustment or as a loss accrual or a valuation allowance. Increases in expected cash flows subsequent to the transfer are recognized prospectively through adjustment of the yield on the loans over the remaining life. Decreases in expected cash flows subsequent to transfer are recognized as a valuation allowance.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses on Mortgage Loans Held for Investment
 
An allowance for loan losses is established by recording a provision for loan losses in the consolidated statement of operations when management believes a loss has occurred on a loan held for investment. When management determines that a loan held for investment is partially or fully uncollectible, the estimated loss is charged against the allowance for loan losses. Recoveries on losses previously charged to the allowance are credited to the allowance at the time the recovery is collected.
 
Nationstar accounts for the loans that were transferred to held for investment from held for sale during October 2009 in a manner similar to ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. At the date of transfer, management evaluated such loans to determine whether there was evidence of deterioration of credit quality since acquisition and if it was probable that Nationstar would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the loan’s contractual terms.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
The transferred loans were aggregated into separate pools of loans based on common risk characteristics (loan delinquency). Nationstar considers expected prepayments, and estimates the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest, and other cash flows for each aggregated pool of loans. Nationstar determines the excess of the pool’s scheduled contractual principal and contractual interest payments over all cash flows expected as of the transfer date as an amount that should not be accreted (nonaccretable difference). The remaining amount is accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the pool of loans (accretable yield).
 
Over the life of the transferred loans, management continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected. Nationstar evaluates at the balance sheet date whether the present value of the loans determined using the effective interest rates has decreased, and if so, records an allowance for loan loss. The present value of any subsequent increase in the transferred loans cash flows expected to be collected is used first to reverse any existing allowance for loan loss related to such loans. Any remaining increase in cash flows expected to be collected are used to adjust the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the remaining life of the loans.
 
Nationstar accounts for its allowance for loan losses for all other mortgage loans held for investment in accordance with ASC 450-20, Loss Contingencies. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loans held for investment portfolio. Mortgage loans held for investment portfolio is comprised primarily of large groups of homogeneous residential mortgage loans. These loans are evaluated based on the loan’s present delinquency status. The estimate of probable losses on these loans considers the rate of default of the loans and the amount of loss in the event of default. The rate of default is based on historical experience related to the migration of these from each delinquency category to default over a twelve-month period. The entire allowance is available to absorb probable credit losses from the entire held for investment portfolio.
 
Substantially, all mortgage loans held for investment were transferred from mortgage loans held for sale at fair value in October 2009.
 
Investment in Debt Securities
 
Investment in debt securities consists of beneficial interests Nationstar retains in securitization transactions accounted for as a sale under the guidance of ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing. These securities are classified as available-for-sale securities, and are therefore carried at their market value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported in the comprehensive income (loss) component of members’ equity. Nationstar accounts for debt securities based on ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities. Nationstar evaluates investment in debt securities for impairment each quarter, and investment in debt securities is considered to be impaired when the fair value of the investment is less than its cost. The impairment is separated into impairments related to credit losses, which are recorded in current-period operations, and impairments related to all other factors, which are recorded in other comprehensive income/(loss). Substantially all impairments related to Nationstar’s investment in debt securities were credit related.
 
Receivables from Affiliates
 
Nationstar engages in periodic transactions with Nationstar Regular Holdings, Ltd., a subsidiary of FIF. These transactions typically involve the monthly payment of principal and interest advances that are required to be remitted to the securitization trusts as required under various Pooling and Servicing


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
Agreements. These amounts are later repaid to Nationstar when principal and interest advances are recovered from the respective borrowers.
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs)
 
Nationstar recognizes MSRs related to all existing residential mortgage loans transferred to a third party in a transfer that meets the requirements for sale accounting and for which the servicing rights are retained. Additionally, Nationstar may acquire the rights to service residential mortgage loans that do not relate to assets transferred by Nationstar through the purchase of these rights from third parties. Nationstar applies fair value accounting to these MSRs, with all changes in fair value recorded as charges or credits to servicing fee income.
 
Property and Equipment, Net
 
Property and equipment, net is comprised of land, furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements, computer software, and computer hardware. These assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, usually three to ten years. Cost and accumulated depreciation applicable to assets retired or sold are eliminated from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are recognized at such time through a charge or credit to general and administrative expenses.
 
Real Estate Owned, Net
 
Nationstar holds real estate owned as a result of foreclosures on delinquent mortgage loans. Real estate owned is recorded at estimated fair value less costs to sell at the date of foreclosure. Any subsequent declines in fair value are credited to a valuation allowance and charged to operations as incurred.
 
Variable Interest Entities
 
Nationstar has been the transferor in connection with a number of securitizations or asset-backed financing arrangements, from which Nationstar has continuing involvement with the underlying transferred financial assets. Nationstar aggregates these securitizations or asset-backed financing arrangements into two groups: 1) securitizations of residential mortgage loans that were accounted for as sales and 2) financings accounted for as secured borrowings.
 
On securitizations of residential mortgage loans, Nationstar’s continuing involvement typically includes acting as servicer for the mortgage loans held by the trust and holding beneficial interests in the trust. Nationstar’s responsibilities as servicer include, among other things, collecting monthly payments, maintaining escrow accounts, providing periodic reports and managing insurance in exchange for a contractually specified servicing fee. The beneficial interests held consist of both subordinate and residual securities that were retained at the time of the securitization. Prior to January 1, 2010, each of these securitization trusts were considered QSPEs, and these trusts were excluded from Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements.
 
Nationstar also maintains various agreements with special purpose entities (SPEs), under which Nationstar transfers mortgage loans and/or advances on residential mortgage loans in exchange for cash. These SPEs issue debt supported by collections on the transferred mortgage loans and/or advances. These transfers do not qualify for sale treatment because Nationstar continues to retain control over the transferred assets. As a result, Nationstar accounts for these transfers as financings


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
and continues to carry the transferred assets and recognizes the related liabilities on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheets. Collections on the mortgage loans and/or advances pledged to the SPEs are used to repay principal and interest and to pay the expenses of the entity. The holders of these beneficial interests issued by these SPEs do not have recourse to Nationstar and can only look to the assets of the SPEs themselves for satisfaction of the debt.
 
Prior to January 1, 2010, Nationstar evaluated each special purpose entity (SPE) for classification as a QSPE. QSPEs were not consolidated in Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements. When an SPE was determined to not be a QSPE, Nationstar further evaluated it for classification as a VIE. When an SPE met the definition of a VIE, and when it was determined that Nationstar was the primary beneficiary, Nationstar included the SPE in its consolidated financial statements.
 
Nationstar considers the SPEs created for the purpose of issuing debt supported by collections on loans and/or advances that have been transferred to it as VIEs, and Nationstar is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Nationstar consolidates the assets and liabilities of the VIEs into its consolidated financial statements.
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE and all existing SPEs are now subject to new consolidation guidance. Upon adoption of this new accounting guidance, Nationstar identified certain securitization trusts where Nationstar, or through its affiliates, continued to hold beneficial interests in these trusts. These retained beneficial interests obligate Nationstar to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. In addition, Nationstar as Master Servicer on the related mortgage loans, retains the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE. When it is determined that Nationstar has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs are included in Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests obtained as part of the securitization, including any retained investment in debt securities, mortgage servicing rights, and any remaining residual interests. In addition, Nationstar recognized the securitized mortgage loans as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related asset-backed certificates (ABS nonrecourse debt) acquired by third parties as ABS nonrecourse debt on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheet.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
Nationstar enters into interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) with prospective borrowers. These commitments are carried at fair value in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 815 clarifies that the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of a loan should be included in the measurement of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value through earnings. The estimated fair values of IRLCs are based on quoted market values and are recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The initial and subsequent changes in the value of IRLCs are a component of gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale.
 
Nationstar actively manages the risk profiles of its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale on a daily basis. To manage the price risk associated with IRLCs, Nationstar enters into forward sales of mortgage backed securities (MBS) in an amount equal to the portion of the IRLC expected to close, assuming no change in mortgage interest rates. In addition, to manage the interest rate risk associated with mortgage loans held for sale, Nationstar enters into forward sales of MBS to deliver mortgage


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
loan inventory to investors. The estimated fair values of forward sales of MBS and forward sale commitments are based on quoted market values and are recorded as a component of mortgage loans held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets. The initial and subsequent changes in value on forward sales of MBS are a component of gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale.
 
Periodically, Nationstar has entered into interest rate swap agreements to hedge the interest payment on the warehouse debt and securitization of its mortgage loans held for sale. These interest rate swap agreements generally require Nationstar to pay a fixed interest rate and receive a variable interest rate based on LIBOR. Unless designated as an accounting hedge, Nationstar records losses on interest rate swaps as a component of loss on interest rate swaps and caps in Nationstar’s consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized losses on undesignated interest rate derivatives are separately disclosed under operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. At December 31, 2009, Nationstar had no interest rate swap agreements designated as accounting hedges.
 
On October 1, 2010, the Company designated an existing interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge against outstanding floating rate financing associated with the Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2009-ADV1 financing. Under the swap agreement, the Company receives interest equivalent to one month LIBOR and pays a fixed rate of 2.0425% based on an amortizing notional of $268M as of December 31, 2010, with settlements occurring monthly until November 2013. This interest rate swap is a cash flow hedge under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and is recorded at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with any changes in fair value being recorded as an adjustment to other comprehensive income. To qualify as a cash flow hedge, the hedge must be highly effective at reducing the risk associated with the exposure being hedged and must be formally designated at hedge inception. Nationstar considers a hedge to be highly effective if the change in fair value of the derivative hedging instrument is within 80% to 125% of the opposite change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Ineffective portions of the cash flow hedge are reflected in earnings as they occur as a component of interest expense.
 
During 2008, Nationstar entered into interest rate cap agreements to hedge the interest payment on the servicing advance facility. These interest rate cap agreements generally require an upfront payment and receive cash flow only when a variable rate based on LIBOR exceeds a defined interest rate. These interest rate cap agreements are not designated as hedging instruments, and unrealized gains and losses are recorded in loss on interest rate swaps and caps in Nationstar’s consolidated statements of operations.
 
Interest Income
 
Interest income is recognized using the interest method. Revenue accruals for individual loans are suspended and accrued amounts reversed when the mortgage loan becomes contractually delinquent for 90 days or more. Delinquency payment status is based on the most recently received payment from the borrower. The accrual is resumed when the individual mortgage loan becomes less than 90 days contractually delinquent. For individual loans that have been modified, a period of six timely payments is required before the loan is returned to an accrual basis. Interest income also includes (1) interest earned on custodial cash deposits associated with the mortgage loans serviced and (2) deferred origination income, net of deferred origination costs and other revenues derived from the origination of mortgage loans, which is deferred and recognized over the life of a mortgage loan or recognized when the related loan is sold to a third-party purchaser. Effective October 1, 2009, in connection with Nationstar’s election to measure mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, Nationstar


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
is no longer permitted to defer the loan origination fees, net of direct loan origination costs for such loans originated subsequent to the election date.
 
Servicing Fee Income
 
Servicing fees include contractually specified servicing fees, late charges, prepayment penalties and other ancillary charges. Servicing encompasses, among other activities, the following processes: billing, collection of payments, movement of cash to the payment clearing bank accounts, investor reporting, customer service, recovery of delinquent payments, instituting foreclosure, and liquidation of the underlying collateral.
 
Nationstar recognizes servicing and ancillary fees as they are earned, which is generally upon collection of the payments from the borrower. In addition, Nationstar also receives various fees in the course of providing servicing on its various portfolios. These fees include modification fees for modifications performed outside of government programs, modification fees for modifications pursuant to various government programs, and incentive fees for servicing performance on specific GSE portfolios.
 
Fees recorded on modifications of mortgage loans held for investment performed outside of government programs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment to the loans held for investment. These fees are accreted into interest income as an adjustment to the loan yield over the life of the loan. Fees recorded on modifications of mortgage loans serviced by Nationstar for others are recognized on collection and are recorded as a component of service fee income. Fees recorded on modifications pursuant to various government programs are recognized when Nationstar has completed all necessary steps and the loans have performed for the minimum required time frame to establish eligibility for the fee. Revenue earned on modifications pursuant to various government programs are included as a component of service fee income. Incentive fees for servicing performance on specific GSE portfolios are recognized as various incentive standards are achieved and are recorded as a component of service fee income.
 
Sale of Mortgage Loans
 
Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from Nationstar, (2) the transferee has the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) Nationstar does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through either (a) an agreement that entitles and obligates Nationstar to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity or (b) the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.
 
Loan securitizations structured as sales, as well as whole loan sales, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 860 and the resulting gains on such sales, net of any accrual for recourse obligations, are reported in operating results during the period in which the securitization closes or the sale occurs.
 
Share-Based Compensation Expense
 
Share-based compensation is recognized in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. This guidance requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized as an expense in the consolidated statements of operations, based on their fair values. The amount of compensation is measured at the fair value of the awards


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
when granted and this cost is expensed over the required service period, which is normally the vesting period of the award.
 
Advertising Costs
 
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included as part of general and administrative expenses.
 
Income Taxes
 
For federal income tax purposes, Nationstar has elected to be a disregarded entity and is treated as a branch of its parent, FIF HE Holdings LLC. FIF HE Holdings LLC is taxed as a partnership, whereby all income is taxed at the member level. Certain states impose income taxes on LLC’s. However, Nationstar does not believe it is subject to material state or local income tax in any of the jurisdictions in which it does business.
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows—Supplemental Disclosure
 
Total interest paid for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, was approximately $91.8 million, $47.6 million, and $58.8 million, respectively.
 
New Accounting Standards
 
On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted new FASB accounting guidance on transfers of financial assets and consolidation of VIEs. This new accounting guidance revises sale accounting criteria for transfers of financial assets, including elimination of the concept of and accounting for qualifying special purpose entities (QSPEs), and significantly changes the criteria for consolidation of a VIE. The adoption of this new accounting guidance resulted in the consolidation of certain VIEs that previously were QSPEs that were not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet prior to January 1, 2010. The adoption of this new accounting guidance resulted in a net incremental increase in assets of $905.5 million and a net increase in liabilities of $913.6 million. These amounts are net of retained interests in securitizations held on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009. The Company recorded an $8.1 million charge to members’ equity on January 1, 2010 for the cumulative effect of the adoption of this new accounting guidance, which resulted principally from the derecognition of the retained interests in the securitizations. Initial recording of these assets and liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet had no impact at the date of adoption on consolidated results of operations. See Note 3.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (Update No. 2010-06). Update No. 2010-06 requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements, including separate disclosures of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the reasons for the transfers. Additionally, the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. Update No. 2010-06 also clarifies previous disclosure requirements, including the requirement that entities provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements for both Level 2 and Level 3 measurements. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures required under Update No. 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, and was adopted for the interim reporting period ending March 31, 2010, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlement in the roll forward of activity in Level 3


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-18, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan Is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset (Update No. 2010-18). Update No. 2010-18 clarifies the accounting treatment for modifications of loans that are accounted for within a pool under Subtopic 310-30, Receivables—Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (Subtopic 310-30), requiring an entity to continue to include modified loans in the pool even if the modification of those loans would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring. Loans accounted for individually under Subtopic 310-30 continue to be subject to the troubled debt restructuring accounting provisions within Subtopic 310-40, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors. The amendments in this update were effective for Nationstar for modifications of loans accounted for within pools under Subtopic 310-30 occurring in the first interim or annual period ending on or after July 15, 2010. The adoption of Update No. 2010-18 did not have a material impact on Nationstar’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
 
Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses (Update No. 2010-20). Update No. 2010-20 is intended to provide users of financial statements with greater transparency regarding a company’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. It is intended to provide additional information to assist financial statement users in assessing an entity’s credit risk exposures and evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses. The additional disclosure requirements for this amendment were initially to be effective for Nationstar for annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2011, but was subsequently deferred by Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-01, Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20. In the proposed Update for determining what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, the clarifications would be effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011. The adoption of Update No. 2010-20 will not have a material impact on Nationstar’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations
 
A VIE is an entity that has either a total equity investment that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or whose equity investors lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is the entity that, through its variable interests has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE and all existing SPEs are now subject to new consolidation guidance. Upon adoption of this new accounting guidance, Nationstar identified certain securitization trusts where Nationstar had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impacted the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the assets and liabilities of these VIEs are included in Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements. The net incremental impact of this accounting change on the Company’s Consolidated


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations (continued)
 
Balance Sheet is set forth in the following table. The net effect of the accounting change on January 1, 2010 members’ equity was an $8.1 million charge to members’ equity (in thousands).
 
                         
    Ending Balance
          Beginning Balance
 
    Sheet
    Net Increase/
    Sheet
 
    December 31, 2009     (Decrease)     January 1, 2010  
 
Assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 41,645     $     $ 41,645  
Restricted cash
    52,795       6,183       58,978  
Accounts receivable
    509,974       (39,612 )     470,362  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    203,131             203,131  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    301,910             301,910  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
          928,891       928,891  
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale
    2,486       (2,486 )      
Receivables from affiliates
    12,574             12,574  
Mortgage servicing rights
    114,605       (10,431 )     104,174  
Property and equipment, net
    6,575             6,575  
Real estate owned, net
    10,262       22,970       33,232  
Other assets
    24,228             24,228  
                         
Total assets
  $ 1,280,185     $ 905,515     $ 2,185,700  
                         
                         
Liabilities and members’ equity                        
Notes payable
  $ 771,857     $     $ 771,857  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    66,830       123       66,953  
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
          28,614       28,614  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    177,675             177,675  
ABS nonrecourse debt
          884,846       884,846  
                         
Total liabilities
    1,016,362       913,583       1,929,945  
Total members’ equity
    263,823       (8,068 )     255,755  
                         
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 1,280,185     $ 905,515     $ 2,185,700  
                         
 
As a result of market conditions and deteriorating credit performance on these consolidated VIEs, Nationstar expects minimal to no future cash flows on the economic residual. Under existing GAAP, Nationstar would be required to provide for additional allowances for loan losses on the securitization collateral as credit performance deteriorated, with no offsetting reduction in the securitization’s debt balances, even though any nonperformance of the assets will ultimately pass through as a reduction of amounts owed to the debt holders, once the economic residuals are extinguished. Therefore, Nationstar would be required to record accounting losses beyond its economic exposure.
 
To more accurately represent the future economic performance of the securitization collateral and related debt balances, Nationstar elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10,


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations (continued)
 
Financial Instruments-Overall. This option was applied to all eligible items within the VIE, including mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related ABS nonrecourse debt.
 
Subsequent to this fair value election, Nationstar no longer records an allowance for loan loss on mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt. Nationstar continues to record interest income in Nationstar’s consolidated statement of operations on these fair value elected loans until they are placed on a nonaccrual status when they are 90 days or more past due. The fair value adjustment recorded for the mortgage loans held for investment is classified within fair value changes of ABS securitizations in Nationstar’s consolidated statement of operations.
 
Subsequent to the fair value election for ABS nonrecourse debt, Nationstar continues to record interest expense in Nationstar’s consolidated statement of operations on the fair value elected ABS nonrecourse debt. The fair value adjustment recorded for the ABS nonrecourse debt is classified within fair value changes of ABS securitizations in Nationstar’s consolidated statement of operations.
 
Under the existing pooling and servicing agreements of these securitization trusts, the principal and interest cash flows on the underlying securitized loans are used to service the asset-backed certificates. Accordingly, the timing of the principal payments on this nonrecourse debt is dependent on the payments received on the underlying mortgage loans and liquidation of real estate owned.
 
Nationstar consolidates the SPEs created for the purpose of issuing debt supported by collections on loans and advances that have been transferred to it as VIEs, and Nationstar is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Nationstar consolidates the assets and liabilities of the VIEs into its consolidated financial statements.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations (continued)
 
A summary of the assets and liabilities of Nationstar’s transactions with VIEs included in Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
                         
          Transfers
       
          Accounted for as
       
    Securitization
    Secured
       
    Trusts     Borrowings     Total  
 
Assets
                       
Restricted cash
  $ 1,472     $ 32,075     $ 33,547  
Accounts receivable
    2,392       286,808       289,200  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt
          261,305       261,305  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    538,440             538,440  
Real estate owned
    17,509       9,505       27,014  
                         
Total Assets
  $ 559,813     $ 589,693     $ 1,149,506  
                         
                         
Liabilities                        
Notes payable
  $     $ 236,808     $ 236,808  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    95       1,173       1,268  
Outstanding servicer advances(1)
    32,284             32,284  
Derivative financial instruments
          7,801       7,801  
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781             18,781  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
          138,662       138,662  
ABS nonrecourse debt
    497,289             497,289  
                         
Total Liabilities
  $ 548,449     $ 384,444     $ 932,893  
                         
 
 
(1) Outstanding servicer advances consists of principal and interest advances paid by Nationstar to cover scheduled payments and interest that have not been timely paid by borrowers. These outstanding servicer advances are eliminated upon the consolidation of the securitization trusts.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations (continued)
 
 
A summary of the assets and liabilities of Nationstar’s transactions with VIEs included in Nationstar’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
         
    Transfers
 
    Accounted for as
 
    Secured
 
    Borrowings  
 
Assets
       
Restricted cash
  $ 11,318  
Accounts receivable
    294,973  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt
    297,737  
Real estate owned
    10,262  
         
Total Assets
  $ 614,290  
         
         
Liabilities        
Notes payable
  $ 240,935  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    1,393  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
    177,675  
         
Total Liabilities
  $ 420,003  
         
 
As of July 1, 2010, cumulative realized losses related to a consolidated securitization trust were in excess of Nationstar’s retained beneficial interests. In accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation, Nationstar has evaluated this securitization trust and determined that Nationstar no longer has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, and this securitization trust was derecognized on July 1, 2010. Upon derecognition of this VIE, Nationstar derecognized the securitized mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related ABS nonrecourse debt, and recognized any mortgage servicing rights on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheet. The impact of this derecognition on Nationstar’s consolidated statement of operations was a decrease in net income of approximately $0.7 million during 2010.
 
A summary of the outstanding collateral and certificate balances for securitization trusts, including any retained beneficial interests and mortgage servicing rights, that were not consolidated by Nationstar for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010(1)     2009  
 
Total collateral balance
  $ 4,038,978     $ 3,240,879  
Total certificate balance
    4,026,844       3,262,995  
Total beneficial interests held at fair value
          2,486  
Total mortgage servicing rights at fair value
    26,419       20,505  
 
 
(1) Unconsolidated securitization trusts as of December 31, 2010 consist of VIE’s where Nationstar does not have both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
3.   Variable Interest Entities and Securitizations (continued)
 
 
Nationstar has no recorded variable interests in the unconsolidated securitization trusts that were outstanding as of December 31, 2010, and does not have any exposure to loss related to these unconsolidated VIEs.
 
A summary of mortgage loans transferred to unconsolidated securitization trusts that are 60 days or more past due and the credit losses incurred in the unconsolidated securitization trusts are presented below (in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Year Ended
  Year Ended
  Year Ended
    December 31, 2010   December 31, 2009   December 31, 2008
    Principal Amount of
      Principal Amount of
      Principal Amount of
   
    Loans 60 Days or
  Credit
  Loans 60 Days or
  Credit
  Loans 60 Days or
  Credit
    More Past Due   Losses   More Past Due   Losses   More Past Due   Losses
 
Total securitization Trusts
  $ 830,953     $ 18,341     $ 1,172,822     $ 27,734     $ 979,556     $ 16,708  
 
Certain cash flows received from securitization trusts accounted for as sales for the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Servicing
          Servicing
          Servicing
       
    Fees
    Loan
    Fees
    Loan
    Fees
    Loan
 
    Received     Repurchases     Received     Repurchases     Received     Repurchases  
 
Total securitization trusts
  $ 29,129     $   —     $ 32,593     $   —     $ 25,535     $   —  
 
4.   Accounts Receivable
 
Accounts receivable consist primarily of accrued interest receivable on mortgage loans and securitizations, collateral deposits on surety bonds, and advances made to securitization trusts, as required under various servicing agreements related to delinquent loans, which are ultimately paid back to Nationstar from such trusts.
 
Accounts receivable consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010     2009  
 
Delinquency advances
  $ 148,752     $ 206,446  
Corporate and escrow advances
    233,432       275,001  
Insurance deposits
    6,390       6,025  
Accrued interest (includes $2,392 and $0, respectively, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt)
    4,302       3,353  
Receivable from trusts
    30,095       1,779  
Other
    16,100       17,370  
                 
Total accounts receivable
  $ 439,071     $ 509,974  
                 


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
5.   Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Investment
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
 
Mortgage loans held for sale consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010     2009  
 
Mortgage loans held for sale—unpaid principal balance
  $ 366,880     $ 201,121  
Mark-to-market adjustment
    4,280       2,010  
                 
Total mortgage loans held for sale
  $ 371,160     $ 203,131  
                 
 
Mortgage loans held for sale on a nonaccrual status are presented in the following table for the years indicated (in thousands):
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
  $ 2,016     $ 920     $ 101,418  
 
A reconciliation of the changes in mortgage loans held for sale to the amounts presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the dates indicated is presented in the following table (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010     2009  
 
Mortgage loans held for sale—beginning balance
  $ 203,131     $ 560,354  
Mortgage loans originated and purchased, net of fees
    2,791,639       1,480,549  
Cost of loans sold, net of fees
    (2,621,275 )     (1,007,369 )
Principal payments/prepayments received on mortgage loans held for sale and other changes (including fair value mark-to-market adjustments from adoption of ASC 825 and other lower of cost or market valuation adjustments)
    (1,508 )     (437,956 )
Transfer of mortgage loans held for sale to mortgage loans held for investment
          (319,183 )
Transfer of mortgage loans held for sale to real estate owned
    (827 )     (73,264 )
                 
Mortgage loans held for sale—ending balance
  $ 371,160     $ 203,131  
                 
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net
 
In November 2009, Nationstar completed the securitization of approximately $222 million of asset-backed securities, which was structured as a secured borrowing, resulting in carrying the securitized loans as mortgage loans on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheets and recognizing the asset-backed certificates as nonrecourse debt. Prior to this securitization, Nationstar transferred $530.9 million in mortgage loans held for sale to mortgage loans held for investment. These mortgage loans were transferred to the held for investment classification at their fair value of $319.2 million with no associated allowance for loan losses, in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables. Subsequent to the transfer date, mortgage loans held for sale consisted principally of single-family conforming loans originated for sale to GSEs or the other third-party investors in the secondary market.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
5.   Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Investment (continued)
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010     2009  
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net—unpaid principal balance
  $ 412,398     $ 490,610  
Transfer discount
               
Accretable
    (25,219 )     (22,040 )
Non-accretable
    (117,041 )     (166,660 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (3,298 )      
                 
Total mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net
  $ 266,840     $ 301,910  
                 
 
Over the life of the loan pools, Nationstar continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected. Nationstar considers expected prepayments and estimates the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest, and other cash flows (expected as of the transfer date) for each aggregate pool of loans. Nationstar evaluates at the balance sheet date whether the present value of its loans determined using the effective interest rates, has decreased and if so, recognizes a valuation allowance subsequent to the transfer date. The present value of any subsequent increase in the loan pool’s actual cash flows expected to be collected is used first to reverse any existing valuation allowance for that loan pool. Any remaining increase in cash flows expected to be collected adjusts the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the loan pool’s remaining life.
 
The changes in accretable yield on loans transferred to mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net were as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Balance at the beginning of the period
  $ 22,040     $  
Additions
          23,331  
Accretion
    (4,082 )     (1,291 )
Reclassifications from (to) nonaccretable discount
    7,261        
Disposals
           
                 
Balance at the end of the period
  $ 25,219     $ 22,040  
                 
 
Nationstar will occasionally modify the terms of any outstanding mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net for loans that are either in default or in imminent default. Modifications often involve reduced payments by borrowers, modification of the original terms of the mortgage loans, forgiveness of debt and/or increased servicing advances. As a result of the volume of modification agreements entered into, the estimated average outstanding life in this pool of mortgage loans has been extended. Nationstar records interest income on the transferred loans on a level-yield method. To maintain a level-yield on these transferred loans over the estimated extended life, Nationstar reclassified approximately $7.3 million from nonaccretable difference. Furthermore, the Company considers the decrease in principal, interest, and other cash flows expected to be collected arising from the transferred loans as an impairment, and Nationstar recorded a $3.3 million provision for loan losses on the transferred loans to reflect this impairment.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
5.   Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Investment (continued)
 
The changes in the allowance for loan losses on mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net were as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    December 31, 2010  
          Non-
       
    Performing     Performing     Total  
 
Balance at the beginning of the period
  $     $     $  
Provision for loan losses
    829       2,469       3,298  
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off
                 
Charge-offs
                 
                         
Balance at the end of the period
  $ 829     $ 2,469     $ 3,298  
                         
Ending balance: Collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 311,122     $ 101,276     $ 412,398  
 
Loan delinquency, and Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) are common credit quality indicators that Nationstar monitors and utilizes in its’ evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, of which the primary indicator of credit quality being loan delinquency. LTV refers to the ratio of comparing the loan’s unpaid principal balance to the property’s collateral value. These values are frequently updated based on the most recent unpaid principal balance, however, updated appraisal values are obtained on an as needed basis.
 
The following tables provide the outstanding unpaid principal balance of Nationstar’s mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net by credit quality indicators as of December 31, 2010.
 
         
    2010  
    (In thousands)  
 
Credit Quality by Delinquency Status
       
Performing
  $ 311,122  
Non-Performing
    101,276  
         
Total
  $ 412,398  
         
Credit Quality by Loan-to-Value Ratio
       
Less than 60
  $ 47,627  
Less than 70 and more than 60
    17,498  
Less than 80 and more than 70
    26,805  
Less than 90 and more than 80
    36,125  
Less than 100 and more than 90
    37,599  
Greater than 100
    246,744  
         
Total
  $ 412,398  
         
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE, and all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to new consolidation guidance provided in ASC 810. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar recognized the securitized mortgage loans related to these securitization trusts as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
5.   Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Investment (continued)
 
nonrecourse debt (see Note 3). Additionally, Nationstar elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10.
 
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt as of December 31, 2010 includes (in thousands):
 
         
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt—unpaid principal balance
  $ 983,106  
Fair value adjustment
    (444,666 )
         
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, net
  $ 538,440  
         
 
As of December 31, 2010, approximately $223.5 million of the unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt were over 90 days past due. The fair value of such loans was approximately $117.6 million.
 
6.   Investment in Debt Securities
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE, and all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to new accounting guidance provided in ASC 810. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests, including retained investment in debt securities, obtained as part of the securitization (see Note 3).
 
The following table presents a summary of Nationstar’s bonds retained from securitization trusts as of December 31, 2009, which are classified as available-for-sale securities, and are therefore carried at fair value (in thousands):
 
                         
    December 31, 2009  
    Outstanding
    Accreted
    Fair
 
    Face     Cost     Value  
 
Retained bonds security rating
                       
BBs
  $ 68,432     $ 2,486     $ 2,486  
Bs
                 
                         
Total retained bonds
    68,432       2,486       2,486  
Retained net interest margin securities
    11,950              
                         
Total investment in debt securities
  $ 80,382     $ 2,486     $ 2,486  
                         


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
6.   Investment in Debt Securities (continued)
 
The following table presents a summary of unrealized gains (losses), both temporary and other-than-temporary, recognized on outstanding debt securities for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2009     Year Ended December 31, 2008  
          Unrealized
          Unrealized
 
    Other-than-
    Gains
    Other-than-
    Gains
 
    Temporary     (Losses)(1)     Temporary(2)     (Losses)(1)  
 
Retained bonds security rating
                               
BBs
  $ (5,505 )   $      —     $ (40,901 )   $      —  
Bs
    (1,214 )           (3,670 )      
                                 
Total retained bonds
    (6,719 )           (44,571 )      
Retained net interest margin securities
    (90 )           (10,641 )      
                                 
Total investment in debt securities
  $ (6,809 )   $     $ (55,212 )   $  
                                 
 
 
(1) Unrealized gains (losses) are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).
 
(2) As part of the 2008 impairment charges, Nationstar reclassified approximately $3.9 million in unrealized losses from other comprehensive income (loss).
 
7.   Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
MSRs arise from contractual agreements between Nationstar and investors in mortgage securities and mortgage loans. Nationstar records MSR assets when it sells loans on a servicing-retained basis, at the time of securitization or through the acquisition or assumption of the right to service a financial asset. Under these contracts, Nationstar performs loan servicing functions in exchange for fees and other remuneration.
 
The fair value of the MSRs is based upon the present value of the expected future cash flows related to servicing these loans. Nationstar receives a base servicing fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% annually on the remaining outstanding principal balances of the loans. The servicing fees are collected from investors. Nationstar determines the fair value of the MSRs by the use of a cash flow model that incorporates prepayment speeds, discount rate, and other assumptions management believes are consistent with the assumptions other major market participants use in valuing the MSRs. During 2010, Nationstar obtained third-party valuations of a portion of its MSRs to assess the reasonableness of the fair value calculated by the cash flow model.
 
Nationstar used the following assumptions in estimating the fair value of MSRs for the dates indicated:
 
                 
    December 31
    2010   2009
 
Discount rate
    9.7% to 30.0%       15.0%  
Total prepayment speeds
    10.57% to 28.71%       12.89% to 25.40%  
Expected weighted-average life
    3.49 to 6.75 years       3.50 to 6.37 years  
Credit losses
    5.82% to 60.19%       12.50% to 64.62%  


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
7.   Mortgage Servicing Rights (continued)
 
The activity of MSRs carried at fair value is as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31  
    2010     2009  
 
Fair value at the beginning of the period
  $ 114,605     $ 110,808  
Additions:
               
Servicing resulting from transfers of financial assets
    26,253       8,332  
Recognition of MSRs from derecognition of variable interest entities
    2,866        
Purchases of servicing assets
    17,812       23,380  
Deductions:
               
Derecognition of servicing assets due to new accounting guidance on consolidation of variable interest entities
    (10,431 )      
Changes in fair value:
               
Due to changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in the valuation model
    9,455       (9,355 )
Other changes in fair value
    (15,498 )     (18,560 )
                 
Fair value at the end of the period
  $ 145,062     $ 114,605  
                 
Unpaid principal balance of loans serviced for others
               
Originated or purchased mortgage loans
  $ 31,686,641     $ 32,109,547  
Subserviced for others
    30,649,472       793,428  
                 
Total unpaid principal balance of loans serviced for others
  $ 62,336,113     $ 32,902,975  
                 
 
The following table shows the hypothetical effect on the fair value of the MSRs using various unfavorable variations of the expected levels of certain key assumptions used in valuing these assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).
 
                                                 
        Total Prepayment
   
    Discount Rate   Speeds   Credit Losses
    100 bps
  200 bps
  10%
  20%
  10%
  20%
    Adverse
  Adverse
  Adverse
  Adverse
  Adverse
  Adverse
    Change   Change   Change   Change   Change   Change
 
December 31, 2010
                                               
Mortgage servicing rights
  $ (3,828 )   $ (7,458 )   $ (8,175 )   $ (16,042 )   $ (4,310 )   $ (9,326 )
 
These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be evaluated with care. The effect on fair value of a 10% variation in assumptions generally cannot be determined because the relationship of the change in assumptions to the fair value may not be linear. Additionally, the impact of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value is calculated while holding other assumptions constant. In reality, changes in one factor may lead to changes in other factors (e.g., a decrease in total prepayment speeds may result in an increase in credit losses), which could impact the above hypothetical effects.
 
In November 2008, Nationstar acquired MSRs on a portfolio of residential mortgage loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $12.7 billion from a third-party servicer. Nationstar’s share of the acquisition price was $35.4 million. An additional amount was paid by a third-party investor in the underlying loans to the previous servicer. Contemporaneously, Nationstar and the third-party investor entered into a supplemental servicing agreement, which, among other matters, established that any sale by Nationstar of these servicing rights had to be approved by the investor and that if Nationstar were to sell the MSRs in the five-year period following the acquisition transaction, Nationstar would be


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
7.   Mortgage Servicing Rights (continued)
 
entitled to the proceeds from the sale of up to a specified amount of the then existing aggregate unpaid principal balance of the underlying mortgage loans, the investor would be entitled to a specified amount, and the remaining excess proceeds, if any, over and above these allocations would be retained by Nationstar. In October 2009, Nationstar acquired MSRs on a portfolio of residential mortgage loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $12.3 billion from another third party servicer. Nationstar’s share of the acquisition price of these servicing rights was $23.4 million. An additional amount was paid by a third-party investor in the underlying loans to the previous servicer. Contemporaneously, Nationstar and the third-party investor entered into a supplemental servicing agreement, which, among other matters, established that any sale by Nationstar of these servicing rights had to be approved by the investor and that if Nationstar were to sell the MSRs following the acquisition transaction, Nationstar would be entitled to the proceeds from the sale of up to a specified amount of the then existing aggregate unpaid principal balance of the underlying mortgage loans, the investor would be entitled to a specified amount, and the remaining excess proceeds, if any, over and above these allocations would be retained by Nationstar. Nationstar carries these mortgage servicing rights at their estimated fair value, which includes consideration of the effect of the restriction on any sale by Nationstar due to the investor’s right to approve such sale. Under the supplemental servicing agreement, Nationstar is entitled to all of the contractually specified servicing fees, ancillary fees and also certain incentive fees, if certain performance conditions are met, and does not share these servicing revenues with the investor.
 
Total servicing and ancillary fees from Nationstar’s portfolio of residential mortgage loans are presented in the following table for the years indicated (in thousands):
 
                         
    For the Years Ended
 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Servicing fees
  $ 103,690     $ 89,893     $ 60,021  
Ancillary fees
    70,130       28,642       19,734  
                         
Total servicing and ancillary fees
  $ 173,820     $ 118,535     $ 79,755  
                         
 
8.   Other Assets
 
Other assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Deferred financing costs
  $ 14,396     $ 11,786  
Derivative financial instruments
    8,666       7,236  
Prepaid expenses
    3,379       2,791  
Other
    3,095       2,415  
                 
Total other assets
  $ 29,536     $ 24,228  
                 
 
9.   Derivative Financial Instruments
 
On October 1, 2010, the Company designated an existing interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge against outstanding floating rate financing associated with the Nationstar Mortgage Advance Receivables Trust 2009-ADV1 financing. Under the swap agreement, the Company receives interest equivalent to one month LIBOR and pays a fixed rate of 2.0425% based on an amortizing notional of


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
9.   Derivative Financial Instruments (continued)
 
$268.0 million as of December 31, 2010, with settlements occurring monthly until November 2013. Unrealized gains associated with the effective portion of this cash flow hedge of approximately $1.1 million were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2010. Realized gains associated with the ineffective portion of this cash flow hedge of approximately $0.9 million were recorded as a component of interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
As of December 31, 2010, there are no credit risk related contingent features in any of the Company’s derivative agreements. The amount of OCI expected to be reclassified to the consolidated statement of operations in the next 12 months is $5.0 million.
 
The following tables provide the outstanding notional balances and fair values of outstanding positions for the dates indicated, and recorded gains (losses) during the years indicated (in thousands).
 
                             
                    Recorded
 
    Expiration
  Outstanding
    Fair
    Gains /
 
    Dates   Notional     Value     Losses  
 
Year-ended December 31, 2010
                           
MORTGAGE LOANS HELD FOR SALE
                           
Loan sale commitments
  2011   $ 28,641     $ 42     $ (1,397 )
Other Assets
                           
IRLCs
  2011     391,990       4,703       2,289  
Forward MBS trades
  2011     546,500       3,963       580  
LIABILITIES
                           
Interest rate swaps and caps
  2011-2013     429,000       7,801       8,872  
Interest rate swap,subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
  2013     245,119       18,781       2,049  
Year-ended December 31, 2009
                           
Other Assets
                           
IRLCs
  2010   $ 278,181     $ 2,414     $ 1,207  
Forward MBS trades
  2010     292,553       3,383       (210 )
Loan sale commitments
  2010     56,131       1,439       1,439  
Interest rate cap agreements
  2011     344,075             (14 )
Interest rate swap
  2013     220,000              


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
10.  Indebtedness
 
   Notes Payable
 
A summary of the balances of notes payable for the dates indicated is presented below (in thousands).
 
                                 
    December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
          Collateral
          Collateral
 
    Outstanding     Pledged     Outstanding     Pledged  
 
Financial institutions repurchase facility (2010)
  $ 43,059     $ 45,429     $     $  
Financial services company repurchase facility
    209,477       223,119       149,449       159,281  
Financial services company unsecured line of credit
          N/A       88,915       N/A  
Financial institutions repurchase facility (2009)
    39,014       40,640       31,582       33,245  
Financial services company 2009-ADV1 advance facility
    236,808       285,226       240,935       291,462  
Financial institutions 2010-ADV1 advance facility
                       
GSE MSR facility
    15,733       18,951       21,286       23,185  
GSE ASAP+ facility
    51,105       53,230       7,755       7,803  
GSE EAF facility
    114,562       142,327       231,935       252,034  
                                 
Total notes payable
  $ 709,758     $ 808,922     $ 771,857     $ 767,010  
                                 
 
In February 2010, Nationstar executed a Master Repurchase Agreement (MRA) with a financial institution, under which Nationstar may currently enter into transactions, for an aggregate amount of $75 million, in which Nationstar agrees to transfer to the same financial institution certain mortgage loans against the transfer of funds by the same financial institution, with a simultaneous agreement by the same financial institution to transfer such mortgage loans to Nationstar at a date certain, or on demand by Nationstar, against the transfer of funds from Nationstar. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.75% to 3.50%, with a minimum interest rate of 4.75%. The maturity date of this MRA is October 2011.
 
Nationstar has a second MRA with a financial services company, which expires in February 2011. The MRA states that from time to time Nationstar may enter into transactions, for an aggregate amount of $300 million, in which Nationstar agrees to transfer to the financial services company certain mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities against the transfer of funds by the financial services company, with a simultaneous agreement by the financial services company to transfer such mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities to Nationstar at a certain date, or on demand by Nationstar, against the transfer of funds from Nationstar. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00%, with a minimum interest rate of 4.00%.
 
In October 2009, Nationstar executed a third MRA with a financial institution. This MRA states that from time to time Nationstar may currently enter into transactions, for an aggregate amount of $100 million, in which Nationstar agrees to transfer to the financial institution certain mortgage loans against the transfer of funds by the financial institution, with a simultaneous agreement by the financial institution to transfer such mortgage loans to Nationstar at a certain date, or on demand by Nationstar, against the transfer of funds from Nationstar. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread of 3.50%. The maturity date of this MRA with the financial institution is December 2011.
 
Nationstar maintains a facility with a financial services company, the 2009-ADV1 Advance Facility. This facility has the capacity to purchase up to $350 million of advance receivables. The


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
10.  Indebtedness (continued)
 
interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 3.00% to 12.00%. The maturity date of this facility with the financial services company is December 2011. This debt is nonrecourse to Nationstar.
 
In December 2010, Nationstar executed the 2010-ADV1 Advance Facility with a financial institution. This facility has the capacity to purchase up to $200 million of advance receivables. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread of 3.00%. The maturity date of this facility with the financial institution is July 2011, which may be extended if Nationstar elects to pledge any additional advances to this facility. This debt is nonrecourse to Nationstar.
 
In connection with the October 2009 mortgage servicing rights acquisition, Nationstar executed a four-year note agreement with a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE). As collateral for this note, Nationstar has pledged Nationstar’s rights, title, and interest in the acquired servicing portfolio. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus 2.50%. The maturity date of this facility is October 2013.
 
During 2009, Nationstar began executing As Soon As Pooled Plus agreements with a GSE, under which Nationstar transfers to the GSE eligible mortgage loans that are to be pooled into the GSE MBS against the transfer of funds by the GSE. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread of 1.50%. These agreements typically have a maturity of up to 45 days.
 
In September 2009, Nationstar executed a committed facility agreement with a GSE, under which Nationstar agrees to transfer to the GSE certain servicing advance receivables against the transfer of funds by the GSE. This facility currently has the capacity to purchase up to $275 million in eligible servicing advance receivables. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread of 2.50%. The maturity date of this facility is December 2011.
 
   Senior Unsecured Notes
 
In March 2010, Nationstar completed the offering of $250 million of unsecured senior notes, which were issued with an issue discount of $7.0 million for net cash proceeds of $243.0 million, with a maturity date of April 2015. These unsecured senior notes pay interest biannually at an interest rate of 10.875%.
 
The indenture for the unsecured senior notes contains various covenants and restrictions that limit Nationstar, or certain of its subsidiaries’, ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends, make certain investments, create liens, consolidate, merge or sell substantially all the assets, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates.
 
   Nonrecourse Debt—Legacy Assets
 
In November 2009, Nationstar completed the securitization of approximately $222 million of asset-backed securities, which was structured as a secured borrowing. This structure resulted in Nationstar carrying the securitized loans as mortgages on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheet and recognizing the asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as nonrecourse debt, totaling approximately $138.7 million and $177.7 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The principal and interest on these notes are paid using the cash flows from the underlying mortgage loans, which serve as collateral for the debt. The interest rate paid on the outstanding securities is 7.50%, which is subject to an available funds cap. The total outstanding principal balance on the underlying mortgage loans serving as collateral for the debt was approximately $430.0 million and $515.5 million at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Accordingly, the timing of the principal payments on this nonrecourse debt is dependent on the payments received on the


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
10.  Indebtedness (continued)
 
underlying mortgage loans. The unpaid principal balance on the outstanding notes was $161.2 million and $206.6 million at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
 
   ABS Nonrecourse Debt
 
Effective January 1, 2010, new accounting guidance eliminated the concept of a QSPE, and all existing securitization trusts are considered VIEs and are now subject to new consolidation guidance provided in ASC 810. Upon consolidation of these VIEs, Nationstar derecognized all previously recognized beneficial interests obtained as part of the securitization. In addition, Nationstar recognized the securitized mortgage loans as mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt, and the related asset-backed certificates acquired by third parties as ABS nonrecourse debt on Nationstar’s consolidated balance sheet (see Note 3). Additionally, Nationstar elected the fair value option provided for by ASC 825-10. The principal and interest on these notes are paid using the cash flows from the underlying mortgage loans, which serve as collateral for the debt. The interest rate paid on the outstanding securities is based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 0.13% to 2.00%, which is subject to an interest rate cap. The total outstanding principal balance on the underlying mortgage loans serving as collateral for the debt was approximately $1,025.3 million at December 31, 2010. The timing of the principal payments on this ABS nonrecourse debt is dependent on the payments received on the underlying mortgage loans. The outstanding principal balance on the outstanding notes related to these consolidated securitization trusts was $1,037.9 million at December 31, 2010.
 
   Financial Covenants
 
As of December 31, 2010, Nationstar was in compliance with its covenants on Nationstar’s borrowing arrangements and credit facilities. These covenants generally relate to Nationstar’s tangible net worth, liquidity reserves, and leverage requirements.
 
11.  Repurchase Reserves
 
Certain whole loan sale contracts include provisions requiring Nationstar to repurchase a loan if a borrower fails to make certain initial loan payments due to the acquirer or if the accompanying mortgage loan fails to meet customary representations and warranties. These representations and warranties are made to the loan purchasers about various characteristics of the loans, such as manner of origination, the nature and extent of underwriting standards applied and the types of documentation being provided and typically are in place for the life of the loan. In the event of a breach of the representations and warranties, the Company may be required to either repurchase the loan or indemnify the purchaser for losses it sustains on the loan. In addition, an investor may request that Nationstar refund a portion of the premium paid on the sale of mortgage loans if a loan is prepaid within a certain amount of time from the date of sale. Nationstar records a provision for estimated repurchases and premium recapture on loans sold, which is charged to gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale. The reserve for repurchases is included as a component of payables and accrued liabilities. The current unpaid principal balance of loans sold by Nationstar represents the maximum potential exposure to repurchases related to representations and warranties. Reserve levels are a function of expected losses based on actual pending and expected claims, repurchase requests, historical experience, and loan volume. While the amount of repurchases and premium recapture is uncertain, Nationstar considers the liability to be adequate.


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
11.  Repurchase Reserves (continued)
 
The activity of the outstanding repurchase reserves were as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Repurchase reserves, beginning of period
  $ 3,648     $ 3,965     $ 4,196  
Additions
    4,649       820       1,164  
Charge-offs
    (976 )     (1,137 )     (1,395 )
                         
Repurchase reserves, end of period
  $ 7,321     $ 3,648     $ 3,965  
                         
 
12.  General and Administrative
 
General and administrative expense consists of the following for the dates indicated (in thousands).
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 2,117     $ 1,767     $ 1,309  
Advertising
    4,559       3,882       3,318  
Equipment
    3,862       3,300       3,359  
Servicing
    14,122       1,951       1,739  
Telecommunications
    2,347       1,590       1,479  
Legal and professional fees
    14,736       9,610       6,184  
Postage
    4,220       2,315       1,057  
Stationary and supplies
    2,594       1,500       903  
Travel
    2,231       827       740  
Dues and fees
    4,114       2,264       1,383  
Insurance and taxes
    2,798       1,218       1,680  
Other
    1,213       270       (957 )
                         
Total general and administrative expense
  $ 58,913     $ 30,494     $ 22,194  
                         
 
13.  Members’ Equity
 
The limited liability company interests in FIF HE Holdings LLC are represented by four separate classes of units, Class A Units, Class B Units, Class C Preferred Units, and Class D Preferred Units, as defined in the FIF HE Holdings LLC Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated December 31, 2008 (the Agreement). Class A Units have voting rights and Class B Units, Class C Preferred Units, and Class D Preferred Units have no voting rights. Distributions and allocations of profits and losses to members are made in accordance with the Agreement. Class C Preferred Units and Class D Preferred Units represent preferred priority return units, accruing distribution preference on any contributions at an annual rate of 15% and 20%, respectively.
 
A total of 100,887 Company Match Class A Units were granted to certain management members on the date of the acquisition of CHEC. Subsequently, the Company Match Class A Units were increased to 141,707, net of forfeitures. No consideration was paid for the Company Match Class A Units, and these units vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule per the Agreement, generally in years three through five after grant date.


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
13.  Members’ Equity (continued)
 
Effective September 17, 2010, FIF HE Holdings LLC executed the FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the Fifth Agreement). This Fifth Agreement provided for a total of 457,526 Class A Units to be granted to certain management members. No consideration was paid for the granted units, and the units vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule per the Fifth Agreement.
 
Simultaneously to the execution of the Fifth Agreement, FIF HE Holdings LLC executed several Restricted Series I Preferred Stock Unit Award Agreements (PRSU Agreements). These Agreements provided for a total of 3,304,000 Class C Units and 3,348,000 Class D Units to be granted to certain management members. No consideration was paid for the granted units, and the units vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule per the PRSU Agreements.
 
These awards were valued using a sum of the parts analysis in computing the fair value of the company’s equity. The analysis adds the value of the servicing and originations businesses to the value of the assets and securities that Nationstar owns. The value of the servicing and originations businesses is derived using both a market approach and an income approach. The market approach considers market multiples from public company examples in the industry. The income approach employs a discounted cash flow analysis that utilizes several factors to capture the ongoing cash flows of the business and then is discounted with an assumed equity cost of capital. The valuation of the assets applies a net asset value method utilizing a variety of assumptions, including assumptions for prepayments, cumulative losses, and other variables. Recent market transactions, experience with similar assets and securities, current business combinations, and analysis of the underlying collateral, as available, are considered in the valuation.
 
The Class A, Class C and Class D Units vest over 1.8 years, vesting schedule of these Units are as follows:
 
                 
    September 17, 2010   June 30, 2011   June 30, 2012   Total
 
Class A Units
  93,494   182,016   182,016   457,526
Class C Units
  1,101,332   1,101,334   1,101,334   3,304,000
Class D Units
  1,116,000   1,116,000   1,116,000   3,348,000
 
The weighted average grant date fair value of the Units was $4.23. Subsequent to December 31, 2010, Nationstar expects to recognize $16.9 million of compensation expense over the next 1.6 years.
 
In 2010, certain management members elected to settle a portion of the units which vested during the year to offset tax liabilities of $3.4 million that these members have incurred related to these awarded units.
 
Total share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures, is provided in the table below for the years indicated.
 
                         
    December 31,
    2010   2009   2008
 
Share-based compensation
  $ 12,856     $ 827     $ 2,333  
 
14.  Commitments and Contingencies
 
Nationstar leases various office facilities under noncancelable lease agreements with primary terms extending through fiscal 2016. These lease agreements generally provide for market-rate renewal options, and may provide for escalations in minimum rentals over the lease term (see Note 19).


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
14.  Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
 
Minimum annual rental commitments for office leases with unrelated parties and with initial or remaining terms of one year or more, net of sublease payments, are presented below (in thousands).
 
         
2011
  $ 7,015  
2012
    6,756  
2013
    6,543  
2014
    4,591  
Thereafter
    4,624  
         
Total
  $ 29,529  
         
 
Nationstar enters into IRLCs with prospective borrowers whereby the Company commits to lend a certain loan amount under specific terms and interest rates to the borrower. These IRLCs are treated as derivatives and are carried at fair value (See Note 9).
 
Nationstar is engaged in legal actions arising from the normal course of business. In management’s opinion, Nationstar has adequate legal defenses with respect to these actions, and the resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect upon the consolidated results of operations or financial condition of Nationstar.
 
During December 2009, Nationstar entered into a strategic relationship with a major mortgage market participant, which contemplates, among other things, significant mortgage servicing rights and subservicing transfers to Nationstar upon terms to be determined. Under this arrangement, if certain delivery thresholds have been met, the market participant may require Nationstar to establish an operating division or newly created subsidiary with separate, dedicated employees within a specified timeline to service such mortgage servicing rights and subservicing. After a specified time period, this market participant may purchase the subsidiary at an agreed upon price. As of December 2010, all of the required delivery thresholds with this market participant have been met, but the market participant has not required the Company to establish an operating division or newly created subsidiary with separate, dedicated employees.
 
15.  Employee Benefits
 
Nationstar holds a contributory defined contribution plan (401(k) plan) that covers substantially all full-time employees. Nationstar matches 50% of participant contributions, up to 6% of each participant’s total annual base compensation. Matching contributions totaled approximately $1.5 million, $1.0 million, and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements
 
ASC 820 provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard applies when GAAP requires or allows assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value and, therefore, does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstance.
 
ASC 820 emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy based on the level of observable inputs used in the measurement of fair value (e.g., Level 1


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
representing quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market; Level 2 representing values using observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1; and Level 3 representing estimated values based on significant unobservable inputs). In addition, ASC 820 requires an entity to consider all aspects of nonperformance risk, including its own credit standing, when measuring the fair value of a liability. Under ASC 820, related disclosures are segregated for assets and liabilities measured at fair value based on the level used within the hierarchy to determine their fair values.
 
The following describes the methods and assumptions used by Nationstar in estimating fair values:
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, Notes Payable—The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale—Nationstar originates mortgage loans in the U.S. that it intends to sell to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and GNMA (collectively, the Agencies). Additionally, Nationstar holds mortgage loans that it intends to sell into the secondary markets via whole loan sales or securitizations. Effective October 2009, in conjunction with Nationstar’s election under ASC 825, Nationstar began measuring newly originated prime residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair value.
 
Mortgage loans held for sale are typically pooled together and sold into certain exit markets, depending upon underlying attributes of the loan, such as agency eligibility, product type, interest rate, and credit quality.
 
Mortgage loans held for sale are valued using a market approach by utilizing either: (i) the fair value of securities backed by similar mortgage loans, adjusted for certain factors to approximate the fair value of a whole mortgage loan, including the value attributable to mortgage servicing and credit risk, (ii) current commitments to purchase loans or (iii) recent observable market trades for similar loans, adjusted for credit risk and other individual loan characteristics. As these prices are derived from quoted market prices, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 2 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Nationstar determines the fair value on loans held for investment using internally developed valuation models. These valuation models estimate the exit price Nationstar expects to receive in the loan’s principal market. Although Nationstar utilizes and gives priority to observable market inputs such as interest rates and market spreads within these models, Nationstar typically is required to utilize internal inputs, such as prepayment speeds, credit losses, and discount rates. These internal inputs require the use of judgment by Nationstar and can have a significant impact on the determination of the loan’s fair value. As these prices are derived from a combination of internally developed valuation models and quoted market prices, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt—Nationstar determines the fair value on loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt using internally developed valuation models. These valuation models estimate the exit price Nationstar expects to receive in the loan’s principal market. Although Nationstar utilizes and gives priority to observable market inputs such as interest rates and market spreads within these models, Nationstar typically is required to utilize internal inputs, such as prepayment speeds, credit losses, and discount rates. These internal inputs require the use of judgment by Nationstar and can have a significant impact on the determination of the loan’s fair value. As these prices are derived from a combination of


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
internally developed valuation models and quoted market prices, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Investment in Debt Securities—Nationstar bases its valuation of debt securities on observable market prices when available; however, due to illiquidity in the markets, observable market prices were not available on these debt securities at December 31, 2009. When observable market prices are not available, Nationstar bases valuations on internally developed discounted cash flow models that use a market-based discount rate. The valuation considers recent market transactions, experience with similar securities, current business conditions, and analysis of the underlying collateral, as available. In order to estimate cash flows, Nationstar utilizes a variety of assumptions, including assumptions for prepayments, cumulative losses, and other variables. These assumptions require the use of judgment by Nationstar and can have a significant impact on the determination of the securities’ fair values. Accordingly, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights—Nationstar will typically retain the servicing rights when it sells loans into the secondary market. Nationstar estimates the fair value of its MSRs using a process that combines the use of a discounted cash flow model and analysis of current market data to arrive at an estimate of fair value. The cash flow assumptions and prepayment assumptions used in the model are based on various factors, with the key assumptions being mortgage prepayment speeds, discount rates and credit losses. These assumptions are generated and applied based on collateral stratifications including product type, remittance type, geography, delinquency and coupon dispersion. These assumptions require the use of judgment by Nationstar and can have a significant impact on the determination of the MSR’s fair value. During 2010, management obtained third-party valuations that covered portions of the portfolio to assess the reasonableness of the fair value calculations provided by the cash flow model. Because of the nature of the valuation inputs, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Real Estate Owned—Nationstar determines the fair value of real estate owned properties through the use of third-party appraisals and broker price opinions, adjusted for estimated selling costs. Such estimated selling costs include realtor fees and other anticipated closing costs. These values are adjusted to take into account factors that could cause the actual liquidation value of foreclosed properties to be different than the appraised values. This valuation adjustment is based upon Nationstar’s historical experience with real estate owned. Nationstar regularly reviews recent sales activity of its real estate owned properties in order to ensure that the estimated realizable value is consistent with the recorded amount. Real estate owned is classified as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Derivative Instruments—Nationstar enters into a variety of derivative financial instruments as part of its hedging strategy. The majority of these derivatives are exchange-traded or traded within highly active dealer markets. In order to determine the fair value of these instruments, Nationstar utilizes the exchange price or dealer market price for the particular derivative contract; therefore, these contracts are classified as Level 2.
 
Unsecured Senior Notes—The fair value of unsecured senior notes are based on quoted market prices, and Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 1 in the fair value disclosures.
 
Nonrecourse Debt — Legacy Assets—Nationstar estimates fair value based on the present value of future expected discounted cash flows with the discount rate approximating current market value for similar financial instruments. As these prices are derived from a combination of internally developed valuation models and quoted market prices, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
ABS Nonrecourse Debt—Nationstar estimates fair value based on the present value of future expected discounted cash flows with the discount rate approximating current market value for similar financial instruments. As these prices are derived from a combination of internally developed valuation models and quoted market prices, Nationstar classifies these valuations as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures.
 
The estimated carrying amount and fair value of Nationstar’s financial instruments and other assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows for the dates indicated (in thousands):
 
                                 
          December 31, 2010  
    Total
    Recurring Fair Value Measurements  
    Fair Value     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
 
Assets
                               
Mortgage loans held for sale(1)
  $ 371,160     $      —     $ 371,160     $  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt(1)
    538,440                   538,440  
Mortgage servicing rights(1)
    145,062                   145,062  
Other assets:
                               
IRLCs
    4,703             4,703        
Forward MBS trades
    3,963             3,963        
                                 
Total assets
  $ 1,063,328     $     $ 379,826     $ 683,502  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Derivative financial instruments
                               
Interest rate swaps
  $ 7,801     $     $ 7,801     $  
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781             18,781        
ABS nonrecourse debt(1)
    496,692                   496,692  
                                 
Total liabilities
  $ 523,274     $     $ 26,582     $ 496,692  
                                 
 
 
(1) Based on the nature and risks of these assets and liabilities, the Company has determined that presenting them as a single class is appropriate.
 
                                 
          December 31, 2009  
    Total
    Recurring Fair Value Measurements  
    Fair Value     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
 
Assets
                               
Mortgage loans held for sale(1)
  $ 203,131     $      —     $ 203,131     $  
Investment in debt securities(1)
    2,486                   2,486  
Mortgage servicing rights(1)
    114,605                   114,605  
Other assets:
                               
IRLCs
    2,414             2,414        
Forward MBS trades
    3,383             3,383        
Loan sale commitments
    1,439             1,439        
                                 
Total assets
  $ 327,458     $     $ 210,367     $ 117,091  
                                 
 
 
(1) Based on the nature and risks of these assets and liabilities, the Company has determined that presenting them as a single class is appropriate.


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
 
The table below presents a reconciliation for all of Nationstar’s Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands).
 
                                                 
    Level 3 Recurring Fair Value Measurements  
          Total Gains (Losses) Included in     Purchases,
             
    Fair Value—
          Other
    Sale,
    Transfers
       
    Beginning of
    Net Income
    Comprehensive
    Issuances, and
    In/Out of
    Fair Value—
 
    Period(1)     (Loss)     Income     Settlements     Level 3     End of Period  
 
Year-ended December 31, 2010
                                               
Assets
                                               
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
  $ 928,891     $ 71,239     $        —     $ (461,690 )   $      —     $ 538,440  
Mortgage servicing rights
    104,174       20,210             20,678             145,062  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 1,033,065     $ 91,449     $     $ (441,012 )   $     $ 683,502  
                                                 
LIABILITIES
                                               
ABS nonrecourse debt
  $ 884,846     $ (16,937 )   $     $ (371,217 )   $     $ 496,692  
                                                 
Year-ended December 31, 2009
                                               
Assets
                                               
Investment in debt securities
  $ 9,294     $ (6,808 )   $     $     $     $ 2,486  
Mortgage servicing rights
    110,808       (19,583 )           23,380             114,605  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 120,102     $ (26,391 )   $     $ 23,380     $     $ 117,091  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Amounts include derecognition of previously retained beneficial interests and mortgage servicing rights upon adoption of ASC 810 related to consolidation of certain VIEs.
 
The table below presents the items which Nationstar measures at fair value on a nonrecurring basis (in thousands).
 
                                         
                            Total Gains
 
    Nonrecurring Fair Value
    Total
    (Losses)
 
    Measurements     Estimated
    Included in
 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value     Earnings  
 
Year-ended December 31, 2010
                                       
Assets
                                       
Real estate owned(1)
  $      —     $        —     $ 27,337     $ 27,337     $  
                                         
Total assets
  $     $     $ 27,337     $ 27,337     $  
                                         
Year-ended December 31, 2009
                                       
Assets
                                       
Real estate owned(1)
  $     $     $ 10,262     $ 10,262     $ (7,512 )
                                         
Total assets
  $     $     $ 10,262     $ 10,262     $ (7,512 )
                                         
 
 
(1) Based on the nature and risks of these assets and liabilities, the Company has determined that presenting them as a single class is appropriate.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009, Nationstar transferred approximately $530.9 million in mortgage loans held for sale to the held for investment classification in connection with the securitization of approximately $222 million of asset-backed securities, which was structured as a


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
secured borrowing. These loans were classified as Level 3 assets that were measured on a nonrecurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2008, but were not measured at fair value for the year ended December 31, 2009. In addition, Nationstar elected under ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments-Overall to measure newly originated prime residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair value at origination. These newly originated prime residential mortgage loans were classified as Level 2 assets that were measured on a nonrecurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2008, but are measured on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
The table below presents a summary of the estimated carrying amount and fair value of Nationstar’s financial instruments (in thousands).
 
                                 
    December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying
          Carrying
       
    Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
 
Financial assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 21,223     $ 21,223     $ 41,645     $ 41,645  
Restricted cash
    91,125       91,125       52,795       52,795  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    371,160       371,160       203,131       203,131  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy assets
    266,840       239,035       301,910       284,774  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    538,440       538,440              
Investment in debt securities
                2,486       2,486  
Derivative instruments
    8,666       8,666       7,236       7,236  
Financial liabilities:
                               
Notes payable
    709,758       709,758       771,857       771,857  
Unsecured senior notes
    244,061       244,375              
Derivative financial instruments
    7,801       7,801              
Derivative instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
    18,781       18,781              
Nonrecourse debt
    138,662       140,197       177,675       178,161  
ABS nonrecourse debt
    496,692       496,692              
 
17.  Termination of the Company
 
The duration of Nationstar’s existence is indefinite per the Agreement and shall continue until dissolved in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (DLLCA).
 
18.  Limited Liability of Members
 
The members of a Delaware limited liability company are generally not liable for the acts and omissions of the company, much in the same manner as the shareholders, officers, and directors of a corporation are generally limited by the provisions of the DLLCA and by applicable case law.
 
19.  Restructuring Charges
 
To respond to the decreased demand in the home equity mortgage market and other market conditions, Nationstar initiated a program to reduce costs and improve operating effectiveness in 2007. This program included the closing of several offices and the termination of a large portion of


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
19.  Restructuring Charges (continued)
 
Nationstar’s workforce. As part of this plan, Nationstar expected to incur lease and other contract termination costs. Nationstar recorded restructuring charges totaling $2.3 million, $2.2 million, and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively, related to cancelled lease expenses that are reflected in general and administrative expenses. In addition, Nationstar recorded severance and other employee termination benefits totaling $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. No severance or other employee termination benefits were incurred for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
The following table summarizes, by category, the Company’s restructuring charge activity for the dates indicated (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Liability Balance
    Restructuring
    Restructuring
    Liability Balance
 
    at January 1     Adjustments     Settlements     at December 31  
 
Year-ended December 31, 2008
                               
Restructuring charges:
                               
Employee severance and other
  $ 1,048     $ 270     $ (1,318 )   $  
Lease terminations
    18,310       1,237       (8,644 )     10,903  
                                 
Total
  $ 19,358     $ 1,507     $ (9,962 )   $ 10,903  
                                 
Year-ended December 31, 2009
                               
Restructuring charges:
                               
Lease terminations
  $ 10,903     $ 2,222     $ (3,660 )   $ 9,465  
                                 
Total
  $ 10,903     $ 2,222     $ (3,660 )   $ 9,465  
                                 
Year-ended December 31, 2010
                               
Restructuring charges:
                               
Lease terminations
  $ 9,465     $ 2,287     $ (2,569 )   $ 9,183  
                                 
Total
  $ 9,465     $ 2,287     $ (2,569 )   $ 9,183  
                                 
 
20.  Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
Properties collateralizing mortgage loans held for investment and real estate owned were geographically disbursed throughout the United States (measured by principal balance and expressed as a percent of the total outstanding mortgage loans held for investment and real estate owned).
 
The following table details the geographical concentration of mortgage loans held for investment and real estate owned by state for the dates indicated (in thousands).
 
                                 
    December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Unpaid
    % of
    Unpaid
    % of
 
    Principal
    Total
    Principal
    Total
 
State
  Balance     Outstanding     Balance     Outstanding  
 
Florida
  $ 62,775       14.4 %   $ 78,331       15.1 %
Texas
    58,815       13.4 %     65,519       12.6 %
California
    41,019       9.4 %     55,785       10.7 %
All other states(1)
    274,235       62.8 %     320,010       61.6 %
                                 
    $ 436,844       100.0 %   $ 519,645       100.0 %
                                 
 
 
(1) No other state contains more than 5.0% of the total outstanding.


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Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
20.  Concentrations of Credit Risk (continued)
 
 
Additionally, certain loan products’ contractual terms may give rise to a concentration of credit risk and increase Nationstar’s exposure to risk of nonpayment or realization.
 
The following table details the unpaid principal balance of ARM loans included in mortgage loans held for investment that are subject to future payment increases for the dates indicated (in thousands).
 
                 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
 
Interest only ARMs
  $ 43,687     $ 57,745  
Amortizing ARMs:
               
2/28
    71,614       108,052  
3/27
    5,608       9,900  
All other ARMs
    11,173       5,617  
                 
    $ 132,082     $ 181,314  
                 
 
21.  Capital Requirements
 
Certain of Nationstar’s secondary market investors require various capital adequacy requirements, as specified in the respective selling and servicing agreements. To the extent that these mandatory, imposed capital requirements are not met, Nationstar’s secondary market investors may ultimately terminate Nationstar’s selling and servicing agreements, which would prohibit Nationstar from further originating or securitizing these specific types of mortgage loans. In addition, these secondary market investors may impose additional net worth or financial condition requirements based on an assessment of market conditions or other relevant factors.
 
Among Nationstar’s various capital requirements related to its outstanding selling and servicing agreements, the most restrictive of these requires Nationstar to maintain a minimum adjusted net worth balance of $83.2 million.
 
As of December 31, 2010, Nationstar was in compliance with all of its selling and servicing capital requirements. Additionally, Nationstar is required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth of at least $150 million as of each quarter-end related to its outstanding Master Repurchase Agreements on our outstanding repurchase facilities. As of December 31, 2010, Nationstar was in compliance with these minimum tangible net worth requirements.
 
22.  Business Segment Reporting
 
Nationstar currently conducts business in two separate operating segments: Servicing and Originations. The Servicing segment provides loan servicing on Nationstar’s total servicing portfolio, including the collection of principal and interest payments and the assessment of ancillary fees related to the servicing of mortgage loans. The Originations segment involves the origination, packaging, and sale of agency mortgage loans into the secondary markets via whole loan sales or securitizations. Nationstar reports the activity not related to either operating segment in the Legacy Portfolio and Other column. The Legacy Portfolio and Other column primarily includes all sub-prime mortgage loans originated in the latter portion of 2006 and during 2007 or acquired from CHEC and consolidated VIEs which were consolidated pursuant to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to VIEs adopted on January 1, 2010.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
22.  Business Segment Reporting (continued)
 
Nationstar’s segments are based upon Nationstar’s organizational structure which focuses primarily on the services offered. The accounting policies of each reportable segment are the same as those of Nationstar except for 1) expenses for consolidated back-office operations and general overhead-type expenses such as executive administration and accounting and 2) revenues generated on inter-segment services performed. Expenses are allocated to individual segments based on the estimated value of services performed, including estimated utilization of square footage and corporate personnel as well as the equity invested in each segment. Revenues generated or inter-segment services performed are valued based on similar services provided to external parties.
 
To reconcile to Nationstar’s consolidated results, certain inter-segment revenues and expenses costs are eliminated in the “Elimination” column in the following tables.
 
The following tables are a presentation of financial information by segment for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2010  
                Operating
    Legacy Portfolio
             
    Servicing     Originations     Segments     and Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
REVENUES:
                                               
Servicing fee income
  $ 175,569     $     $ 175,569     $ 820     $ (9,263 )   $ 167,126  
Other fee income
    7,273       7,042       14,315       2,643             16,958  
                                                 
Total fee income
    182,842       7,042       189,884       3,463       (9,263 )     184,084  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
          77,498       77,498             (154 )     77,344  
                                                 
Total revenues
    182,842       84,540       267,382       3,463       (9,417 )     261,428  
Total expenses and impairments
    107,283       86,920       194,203       26,927       (154 )     220,976  
Other income (expense):
                                               
Interest income
    263       11,848       12,111       77,521       9,263       98,895  
Interest expense
    (51,791 )     (8,806 )     (60,597 )     (55,566 )           (116,163 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (9,801 )           (9,801 )                 (9,801 )
Change in fair value on ABS nonrecourse debt
                      (23,297 )           (23,297 )
                                                 
Total other income (expense)
    (61,329 )     3,042       (58,287 )     (1,342 )     9,263       (50,366 )
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 14,230     $ 662     $ 14,892     $ (24,806 )   $     $ (9,914 )
                                                 
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,092     $ 781     $ 1,873     $ 244     $     $ 2,117  
Total assets
    689,923       402,627       1,092,550       854,631             1,947,181  
 


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
22. Business Segment Reporting (continued)
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2009  
                Operating
    Legacy Portfolio
             
    Servicing     Originations     Segments     and Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
REVENUES:
                                               
Servicing fee income
  $ 91,266     $     $ 91,266     $     $ (1,071 )   $ 90,195  
Other fee income
    8,867       1,156       10,023                   10,023  
                                                 
Total fee income
    100,133       1,156       101,289             (1,071 )     100,218  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
          54,437       54,437       (75,786 )           (21,349 )
                                                 
Total revenues
    100,133       55,593       155,726       (75,786 )     (1,071 )     78,869  
Total expenses and impairments
    70,897       47,532       118,429       25,009       (1,071 )     142,367  
Other income (expense):
                                               
Interest income
    4,143       4,261       8,404       44,114             52,518  
Interest expense
    (25,877 )     (3,438 )     (29,315 )     (40,568 )           (69,883 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
                      (14 )           (14 )
                                                 
Total other income (expense)
    (21,734 )     823       (20,911 )     3,532             (17,379 )
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 7,502     $ 8,884     $ 16,386     $ (97,263 )   $     $ (80,877 )
                                                 
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,004     $ 538     $ 1,542     $ 225     $     $ 1,767  
Total assets
    681,543       239,202       920,745       359,440             1,280,185  
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31, 2008  
                Operating
    Legacy Portfolio
             
    Servicing     Originations     Segments     and Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
REVENUES:
                                               
Servicing fee income
  $ 69,235     $     $ 69,235     $     $ (1,183 )   $ 68,052  
Other fee income
    5,366       589       5,955                   5,955  
                                                 
Total fee income
    74,601       589       75,190             (1,183 )     74,007  
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held for sale
          21,985       21,985       (108,648 )           (86,663 )
                                                 
Total revenues
    74,601       22,574       97,175       (108,648 )     (1,183 )     (12,656 )
Total expenses and impairments
    55,037       30,795       85,832       63,128       (1,183 )     147,777  
Other income (expense):
                                               
Interest income
    10,872       1,920       12,792       79,268             92,060  
Interest expense
    (15,718 )     (1,289 )     (17,007 )     (48,541 )           (65,548 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
                      (23,689 )           (23,689 )
                                                 
Total other income (expense)
    (4,846 )     631       (4,215 )     7,038             2,823  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 14,718     $ (7,590 )   $ 7,128     $ (164,738 )         $ (157,610 )
                                                 
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 789     $ 383     $ 1,172     $ 137           $ 1,309  
Total assets
    479,819       72,888       552,707       569,294             1,122,001  

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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information
 
In March 2010, Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Nationstar Capital Corporation (the “Issuers”), sold in a private offering $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.875% senior unsecured notes which mature on April 1, 2015. In December 2010, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Form S-4 registration statement to exchange the privately placed notes with registered notes. The terms of the registered notes are substantially identical to those of the privately placed notes. The notes are jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Issuer’s existing and future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions. All guarantor subsidiaries are 100% owned by the Issuer. All amounts in the following tables are in thousands.


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
 
DECEMBER 31, 2010
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 20,904     $ 319     $     $     $ 21,223  
Restricted cash
    57,579             33,546             91,125  
Accounts receivable, net
    435,096             3,975             439,071  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    371,160                         371,160  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt-Legacy Assets, net
    5,536             261,304             266,840  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt (at fair value)
                538,440             538,440  
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale
    597                   (597 )      
Investment in subsidiaries
    158,276                   (158,276 )      
Receivables from affiliates
          62,171       132,353       (185,531 )     8,993  
Mortgage servicing rights
    145,062                         145,062  
Property and equipment, net
    7,559       835                   8,394  
Real estate owned, net
    323             27,014             27,337  
Other assets
    29,536                         29,536  
                                         
Total assets
  $ 1,231,628     $ 63,325     $ 996,632     $ (344,404 )   $ 1,947,181  
                                         
 
Liabilities and members’ equity
Notes payable
  $ 472,950     $     $ 236,808     $     $ 709,758  
Unsecured senior notes
    244,061                         244,061  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    73,785             1,269             75,054  
Payables to affiliates
    185,531                   (185,531 )      
Derivative financial instruments
                7,801             7,801  
Derivative financial instruments, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
                18,781             18,781  
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
                138,662             138,662  
ABS nonrecourse debt (at fair value)
                497,289       (597 )     496,692  
                                         
Total liabilities
    976,327             900,610       (186,128 )     1,690,809  
                                         
Total members’ equity
    255,301       63,325       96,022       (158,276 )     256,372  
                                         
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 1,231,628     $ 63,325     $ 996,632     $ (344,404 )   $ 1,947,181  
                                         


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Revenues:
                                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 174,660     $ 1,730     $     $ (9,264 )   $ 167,126  
Other fee income
    8,259       7,551       1,148             16,958  
                                         
Total fee income
    182,919       9,281       1,148       (9,264 )     184,084  
Gain on mortgage loans held for sale
    77,344                         77,344  
                                         
Total revenues
    260,263       9,281       1,148       (9,264 )     261,428  
                                         
Expenses and impairments:
                                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    146,746       2,369                   149,115  
General and administrative
    57,329       1,642       (58 )           58,913  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    1,558             1,945             3,503  
Occupancy
    9,289       156                   9,445  
                                         
                                         
Total expenses and impairments
    214,922       4,167       1,887             220,976  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income
    17,019       6       72,606       9,264       98,895  
Interest expense
    (54,075 )           (62,088 )           (116,163 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
                (9,801 )           (9,801 )
Fair value changes in ABS securitizations
                (23,748 )     451       (23,297 )
Gain (loss) from subsidiaries
    (18,650 )                 18,650        
                                         
                                         
Total other income (expense)
    (55,706 )     6       (23,031 )     28,365       (50,366 )
                                         
                                         
Net income (loss)
  $ (10,365 )   $ 5,120     $ (23,770 )   $ 19,101     $ (9,914 )
                                         


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Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating activities
                                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (10,365 )   $ 5,120     $ (23,770 )   $ 19,101     $ (9,914 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                                       
Loss from subsidiaries
    18,650                   (18,650 )      
Share-based compensation
    12,856                         12,856  
Gain on mortgage loans held for sale
    (77,344 )                       (77,344 )
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    1,558             1,945             3,503  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,104       13                   2,117  
Fair value changes in ABS securitization
                23,297             23,297  
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
                8,872             8,872  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    6,043                         6,043  
Amortization of debt discount
    12,380             6,351             18,731  
Amortization of premiums/discounts
                (4,526 )           (4,526 )
Mortgage loans originated and purchased, net of fees
    (2,791,639 )                       (2,791,639 )
Cost of loans sold, net of fees
    2,621,275                         2,621,275  
Principal payments/prepayments received and other changes in mortgage loans originated as held for sale
    49,049             (16,634 )           32,415  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                                       
Accounts receivable, net
    71,364       3       (31,979 )           39,388  
Payables to affiliates
    (52,594 )     (5,110 )     61,662             3,958  
Other assets
    1,152                         1,152  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    8,444       (96 )     (185 )           8,163  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities
    (127,067 )     (70 )     25,033       451       (101,653 )
                                         
                                         
Investing activities
                                       
Principal payments received and other changes on mortgage loans held for investment, subject to ABS nonrecourse debt
                48,838             48,838  
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned
    504             73,603             74,107  
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights, net of liabilities incurred
    (17,812 )                       (17,812 )
Property and equipment additions, net of disposals
    (3,923 )     (13 )                 (3,936 )
                                         
Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities
    (21,231 )     (13 )     122,441             101,197  
                                         
                                         
Financing activities
                                       
Transfers to/from restricted cash, net
    (38,617 )           4,886             (33,731 )
Issuance of unsecured notes, net of issue discount
    243,013                         243,013  


F-48


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Repayment of non-recourse debt—Legacy assets
                (45,364 )           (45,364 )
Repayment of ABS nonrecourse debt
    (146 )           (102,869 )     (451 )     (103,466 )
Decrease in notes payable, net
    (57,972 )           (4,127 )           (62,099 )
Debt financing costs
    (14,923 )                       (14,923 )
Tax related share-based settlement of units by members
    (3,396 )                       (3,396 )
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    127,959             (147,474 )     (451 )     (19,966 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (20,339 )     (83 )                 (20,422 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    41,243       402                   41,645  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 20,904     $ 319     $     $     $ 21,223  
                                         


F-49


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
 
DECEMBER 31, 2009
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Assets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 41,243     $ 402     $     $     $ 41,645  
Restricted cash
    18,962             33,833             52,795  
Accounts receivable, net
    506,460       3       3,511             509,974  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    203,131                         203,131  
Mortgage loans held for investment, subject to nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets, net
    6,413             295,497             301,910  
Investment in debt securities—available-for-sale
    2,486                         2,486  
Investment in subsidiaries
    275,661                   (275,661 )      
Receivables from affiliates
          160,645       190,772       (338,843 )     12,574  
Mortgage servicing rights
    114,605                         114,605  
Property and equipment, net
    5,740       835                   6,575  
Real estate owned, net
                10,262             10,262  
Other assets
    24,228                         24,228  
                                         
Total assets
  $ 1,198,929     $ 161,885     $ 533,875     $ (614,504 )   $ 1,280,185  
                                         
 
Liabilities and members’ equity
Notes payable
  $ 530,922     $     $ 240,935     $     $ 771,857  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    65,341       96       1,393             66,830  
Payables to affiliates
    338,843                   (338,843 )      
Nonrecourse debt—Legacy Assets
                177,675             177,675  
                                         
Total liabilities
    935,106       96       420,003       (338,843 )     1,016,362  
                                         
                                         
Total members’ equity
    263,823       161,789       113,872       (275,661 )     263,823  
                                         
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 1,198,929     $ 161,885     $ 533,875     $ (614,504 )   $ 1,280,185  
                                         


F-50


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Revenues:
                                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 89,151     $ 1,044     $     $     $ 90,195  
Other fee income
    4,823       5,200                   10,023  
                                         
Total fee income
    93,974       6,244                   100,218  
Loss on mortgage loans held for sale
    (21,349 )                       (21,349 )
                                         
Total revenues
    72,625       6,244                   78,869  
                                         
Expenses and impairments:
                                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    88,075       2,614                   90,689  
General and administrative
    30,111       379       4             30,494  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    (1,352 )     (10,925 )     19,789               7,512  
Occupancy
    6,621       242                   6,863  
Loss on available-for-sale securities-other-than-temporary
    6,809                         6,809  
                                         
Total expenses and impairments
    130,264       (7,690 )     19,793               142,367  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income
    42,160       233       10,125             52,518  
Interest expense
    (52,810 )     (2,694 )     (14,379 )           (69,883 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (14 )                       (14 )
Gain (loss) from subsidiaries
    (12,574 )                 12,574        
                                         
Total other income (expense)
    (23,238 )     (2,461 )     (4,254 )     12,574       (17,379 )
                                         
                                         
Net income/(loss)
  $ (80,877 )   $ 11,473     $ (24,047 )   $ 12,574     $ (80,877 )
                                         


F-51


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009

(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating activities:
                                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (80,877 )   $ 11,473     $ (24,047 )   $ 12,574     $ (80,877 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                                       
Loss from subsidiaries
    12,574                   (12,574 )      
Share-based compensation
    827                         827  
Loss on mortgage loans held for sale
    21,349                         21,349  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    (1,352 )     (10,925 )     19,789             7,512  
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    14                         14  
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments
    (2,436 )                       (2,436 )
Depreciation and amortization
    1,728       39                   1,767  
Impairment of investments in debt securities
    6,809                         6,809  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    27,915                         27,915  
Amortization of debt discount
    19,075             2,212             21,287  
Amortization of premiums/discounts
    (1,394 )                       (1,394 )
Mortgage Loans originated and purchased, net of fees
    (1,480,549 )                       (1,480,549 )
Cost of loans sold, net of fees
    1,007,369                         1,007,369  
Principal payments/prepayments received and other changes in mortgage loans originated as held for sale
    403,256             66,816             470,072  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                                       
Accounts receivable, net
    (151,602 )     1,113       (3,511 )           (154,000 )
Payables to affiliates
    247,676       (47,397 )     (133,339 )           66,940  
Other assets
    (9,115 )                       (9,115 )
Payables and accrued liabilities
    11,550       (12 )     1,331             12,869  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities
    32,817       (45,709 )     (70,749 )           (83,641 )
                                         
Investing activities:
                                       
                                         
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned
    1,896       32,202       83             34,181  
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights, net of liabilities incurred
    (1,169 )                       (1,169 )
Property and equipment additions, net of disposals
    (2,990 )     (39 )                 (3,029 )
                                         
Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities
    (2,263 )     32,163       83             29,983  


F-52


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
                                         
Financing activities:
                                       
Transfers to/from restricted cash, net
    (18,444 )     13,737       (27,056 )           (31,763 )
Issuance of non-recourse debt, net
                191,272             191,272  
(Decrease) increase in notes payable, net
    17,346             (77,741 )           (60,395 )
Repayment of non-recourse debt—Legacy assets
                (15,809 )           (15,809 )
Debt financing costs
    (18,059 )                       (18,059 )
Capital contributions from members
    20,700                         20,700  
                                         
Net cash provided by financing activities
    1,543       13,737       70,666             85,946  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    32,097       191                   32,288  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    9,146       211                   9,357  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 41,243     $ 402     $     $     $ 41,645  
                                         


F-53


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Revenues
                                       
Servicing fee income
  $ 67,876     $ 74     $ 102     $     $ 68,052  
Other fee income
    1,304       4,651                   5,955  
                                         
Total fee income
    69,180       4,725       102             74,007  
Loss on mortgage loans held for sale
    (86,663 )                       (86,663 )
                                         
Total revenues
    (17,483 )     4,725       102             (12,656 )
                                         
Expenses and impairments
                                       
Salaries, wages, and benefits
    60,808       975                   61,783  
General and administrative
    22,059       135                   22,194  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    (1,011 )     3,578                   2,567  
Occupancy
    5,989       32                   6,021  
Loss on available-for-sale securities- other-than-temporary
    55,212                         55,212  
                                         
Total expenses and impairments
    143,057       4,720                   147,777  
                                         
Other income (expense)
                                       
Interest income
    92,030       30                   92,060  
Interest expense
    (52,931 )     (45 )     (12,572 )           (65,548 )
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    (23,689 )                       (23,689 )
Gain (loss) from subsidiaries
    (12,480 )                 12,480        
                                         
                                         
Total other income (expense)
    2,930       (15 )     (12,572 )     12,480       2,823  
                                         
                                         
Net income (loss)
  $ (157,610 )   $ (10 )   $ (12,470 )   $ 12,480     $ (157,610 )
                                         


F-54


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
 
(In Thousands)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating activities
                                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (157,610 )   $ (10 )   $ (12,470 )   $ 12,480     $ (157,610 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                                       
Loss from subsidiaries
    12,480                   (12,480 )      
Share-based compensation
    2,333                         2,333  
Loss on mortgage loans held for sale
    86,663                         86,663  
Loss on mortgage loans held for investment and foreclosed real estate
    (1,011 )     3,578                   2,567  
Loss on interest rate swaps and caps
    23,689                         23,689  
Unrealized loss on derivative financial instruments
    2,077                         2,077  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,301       8                   1,309  
Accretion of discount on securities
    (4,422 )                       (4,422 )
Impairment of investments in debt securities
    55,212                         55,212  
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
    11,701                         11,701  
Amortization of debt discount
    8,879                         8,879  
Amortization of premiums/discounts
    (85 )                       (85 )
Mortgage loans originated and purchased, net of fees
    (545,860 )                       (545,860 )
Cost of loans sold, net of fees
    513,924                         513,924  
Principal payments/prepayments received and other changes in mortgage loans originated as held for sale
    201,184                         201,184  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                                       
Accounts receivable, net
    (164,961 )     (605 )                 (165,566 )
Payables to affiliates
    129,110       128,659       (255,317 )           2,452  
Other assets
    38,363                         38,363  
Payables and accrued liabilities
    (36,363 )     (297 )     62             (36,598 )
                                         
Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities
    176,604       131,333       (267,725 )           40,212  
                                         
Investing activities
                                       
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned
    52,764       (23,488 )                 29,276  
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights, net of liabilities incurred
    (19,013 )                       (19,013 )
Interest rate swap settlements
    (51,570 )                       (51,570 )
Property and equipment additions, net of disposals
    (1,764 )     (8 )                 (1,772 )
Principal payments received on debt securities
    8,436                         8,436  
                                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (11,147 )     (23,496 )                 (34,643 )
                                         
Financing activities
                                       
Transfers to/from restricted cash, net
    (517 )     (8,402 )     (952 )           (9,871 )
(Decrease)/increase in notes payable, net
    (325,943 )     (100,000 )     268,677             (157,266 )


F-55


Table of Contents

Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Subsidiaries
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
 
23.  Guarantor Financial Statement Information (continued)
 
                                         
                Non-
             
    Issuer
    Guarantor
    Guarantor
             
    (Parent)     (Subsidiaries)     (Subsidiaries)     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Debt financing costs
    (15,926 )                       (15,926 )
Capital contributions from members
    145,600                         145,600  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (196,786 )     (108,402 )     267,725             (37,463 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (31,329 )     (565 )                 (31,894 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    40,475       776                   41,251  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 9,146     $ 211     $     $     $ 9,357  
                                         
 
24.  Subsequent Events
 
In February 2011, Nationstar amended one of its outstanding Master Repurchase Agreements with a financial services company. Under the terms of this new agreement, Nationstar is now required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth of not less than $175 million and is now set to expire in February 2012. In addition, the interest rate paid on any transfer loans has been amended to LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25%.
 
In March 2011, Nationstar executed a MRA with a financial institution, under which Nationstar may enter into transactions, for an aggregate amount of $50.0 million, in which Nationstar agrees to transfer to the same financial institution certain mortgage loans and certain securities against the transfer of funds by the same financial institution, with a simultaneous agreement by the same financial institution to transfer such mortgage loans and securities to Nationstar at a date certain, or on demand by Nationstar, against the transfer of funds Nationstar. The interest rate is based on LIBOR plus a spread of 1.45% to 3.95%, which varies based on the underlying transferred collateral. The maturity date of this MRA is March 2012.


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Annex A
 
THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to the action to be taken, you should immediately consult your broker, bank manager, lawyer, accountant, investment advisor or other professional adviser.
 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
 
Relating to
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
 
Nationstar Capital Corporation
 
Offer to Exchange
 
any and all of their outstanding unregistered 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015 (CUSIP Nos. U6375Y AA4 and 63860U AA8) for $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its new 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015 that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
 
This document relates to the exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) made by Nationstar Mortgage LLC (the “Company”) and Nationstar Capital Corporation (the “Co-issuer,” and together with the Company, the “Issuers”) to exchange any and all of their unregistered $250,000,000 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Old Notes”) for new 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “New Notes”) that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Exchange Offer is described in the Prospectus dated          , 2011 (the “Prospectus”) and in this letter of transmittal (this “Letter of Transmittal”). All terms and conditions contained in, or otherwise referred to in, the Prospectus are deemed to be incorporated in, and form a part of, this Letter of Transmittal. Therefore you are urged to read carefully the Prospectus and the items referred to therein. The terms and conditions contained in the Prospectus, together with the terms and conditions governing this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions herein, are collectively referred to herein as the “terms and conditions.”
 
The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011, unless extended by the Issuers (such date and time, as they may be extended, the “Expiration Date”). Tendered Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer.
 
Upon the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the acceptance of Old Notes set forth in the Prospectus under “Description of the Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer”, the Issuers will accept for settlement Old Notes that have been validly tendered (and not subsequently validly withdrawn). This acceptance date is referred to as the “Acceptance Date.” The Issuers will deliver the New Notes on a date (the “Settlement Date”) as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date.
 
The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
 
By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:
 
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Corporate Trust Operations
MAC N9303-121
Sixth & Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55479
 
By facsimile: (612)-667-6282
 
For Information or Confirmation by Telephone: (800) 344-5128
 
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by holders of the Old Notes. Tender of Old Notes is to be made using the Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of the Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering.” DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must


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transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s DTC account. DTC will then send a computer-generated message known as an “agent’s message” to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. For you to validly tender your Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Agent must receive, prior to the Expiration Date, an agent’s message under the ATOP procedures that confirms that:
 
  •  DTC has received your instructions to tender your Old Notes; and
 
  •  You agree to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal.
 
By using the ATOP procedures to tender Old Notes, you will not be required to deliver this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent. However, you will be bound by its terms, and you will be deemed to have made the acknowledgments and the representations and warranties it contains, just as if you had signed it.
 
The New Notes will be issued in full exchange for Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, if consummated, on the Settlement Date and will be delivered in book-entry form.


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Please read the accompanying instructions carefully.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Issuers the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes credited by the undersigned to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC using ATOP.
 
The undersigned understands that validly tendered Old Notes (or defectively tendered Old Notes with respect to which the Issuers have waived such defect or caused such defect to be waived) will be deemed to have been accepted by the Issuers if, as and when the Issuers give oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent. The undersigned understands that, subject to the terms and conditions, Old Notes properly tendered and accepted (and not validly withdrawn) in accordance with the terms and conditions will be exchanged for New Notes. The undersigned understands that, under certain circumstances, the Issuers may not be required to accept any of the Old Notes tendered (including any such Old Notes tendered after the Expiration Date). If any Old Notes are not accepted for exchange for any reason (or if Old Notes are validly withdrawn), such Old Notes will be returned, without expense, to the undersigned’s account at DTC or such other account as designated herein, pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described in the Prospectus, as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.
 
By tendering Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, the undersigned acknowledges that the Exchange Offer is being made based upon the Issuers’ understanding of an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in no-action letters issued to other parties, including Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), that the New Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by each holder thereof (other than a broker-dealer who acquires such New Notes directly from the Issuers for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or any such holder that is an “affiliate” of the Issuers within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the business of such holder and any beneficial owner and such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of such New Notes and has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of such New Notes. If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquires the New Notes in the ordinary course of the business of such undersigned and any beneficial owner, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Notes and it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, it represents that the Old Notes to be exchanged for New Notes were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
 
Upon agreement to the terms of this Letter of Transmittal pursuant to an agent’s message, the undersigned, or the beneficial holder of Old Notes on behalf of which the undersigned has tendered, will, subject to that holder’s ability to withdraw its tender, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer generally, hereby:
 
  •  irrevocably sell, assign and transfer to or upon the order of the Issuers or their nominee all right, title and interest in and to, and any and all claims in respect of or arising or having arisen as a result of the undersigned’s status as a holder of, all Old Notes tendered hereby, such that thereafter it shall have no contractual or other rights or claims in law or equity against the


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  Issuers or any fiduciary, trustee, fiscal agent or other person connected with the Old Notes arising under, from or in connection with such Old Notes;
 
  •  waive any and all rights with respect to the Old Notes tendered hereby, including, without limitation, any existing or past defaults and their consequences in respect of such Old Notes; and
 
  •  release and discharge the Issuers, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the trustee for the Old Notes from any and all claims the undersigned may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to the Old Notes tendered hereby, including, without limitation, any claims that the undersigned is entitled to receive additional principal or interest payments with respect to the Old Notes tendered hereby, other than as expressly provided in the Prospectus and in this Letter of Transmittal, or to participate in any redemption or defeasance of the Old Notes tendered hereby.
 
The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the procedures described in the Prospectus and in this Letter of Transmittal and acceptance of such Old Notes by the Issuers will, following such acceptance, constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Issuers upon the terms and conditions.
 
By tendering Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, the undersigned represents, warrants and agrees that:
 
  •  it has received and reviewed the Prospectus;
 
  •  it is the beneficial owner (as defined below) of, or a duly authorized representative of one or more beneficial owners of, the Old Notes tendered hereby, and it has full power and authority to execute this Letter of Transmittal;
 
  •  the Old Notes being tendered hereby were owned as of the date of tender, free and clear of any liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, interests and restrictions of any kind, and the Issuers will acquire good, indefeasible and unencumbered title to such Old Notes, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, interests and restrictions of any kind, when the Issuers accept the same;
 
  •  it will not sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or transfer any Old Notes tendered hereby from the date of this Letter of Transmittal, and any purported sale, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or transfer will be void and of no effect;
 
  •  in evaluating the Exchange Offer and in making its decision whether to participate in the Exchange Offer by tendering its Old Notes, the undersigned has made its own independent appraisal of the matters referred to in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal and in any related communications and it is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, express or implied, made to such holder by the Issuers or the Exchange Agent, other than those contained in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented through the Expiration Date;
 
  •  the execution and delivery of this Letter of Transmittal shall constitute an undertaking to execute any further documents and give any further assurances that may be required in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case on and subject to the terms and conditions described or referred to in the Prospectus;
 
  •  the agreement to the terms of this Letter of Transmittal pursuant to an agent’s message shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, constitute the irrevocable appointment of the Exchange Agent as its attorney and agent and an irrevocable instruction to such attorney and agent to complete and execute all or any forms of transfer and other documents at the discretion of that attorney and agent in relation to the Old Notes tendered hereby in favor of the Issuers or any other person or persons as the Issuers may direct and to deliver such forms of transfer and other documents in the attorney’s and agent’s discretion and


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  the certificates and other documents of title relating to the registration of such Old Notes and to execute all other documents and to do all other acts and things as may be in the opinion of that attorney or agent necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the acceptance of the Exchange Offer, and to vest in the Issuers or their nominees such Old Notes;
 
  •  the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and form a part of, this Letter of Transmittal, which shall be read and construed accordingly;
 
  •  it is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of the business of such undersigned and any beneficial owner;
 
  •  it is not participating in, and does not intend to participate in, a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;
 
  •  it is not a broker-dealer who acquired the Old Notes directly from the Issuers; and
 
  •  it is not an “affiliate” of the Issuers, within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
The representations, warranties and agreements of a holder tendering Old Notes shall be deemed to be repeated and reconfirmed on and as of the Expiration Date and the Settlement Date. For purposes of this Letter of Transmittal, the “beneficial owner” of any Old Notes means any holder that exercises investment discretion with respect to such Old Notes.
 
The undersigned understands that tenders may not be withdrawn at any time after the Expiration Date, except as set forth in the Prospectus, unless the Exchange Offer is amended with changes to the terms and conditions that are, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuers, materially adverse to the tendering holders, in which case tenders may be withdrawn under the conditions described in the extension.
 
If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by the Issuers to constitute a material change, the Issuers will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of two to ten business days, depending on the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to such holders, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise have expired during such two to ten business day period.
 
All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the undersigned’s successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned.
 
  o   CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
 
Name:
 
Address:
 
Name of Tendering Institution:
 
Account Number:
 
Transaction Code Number:
 
By crediting the Old Notes to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC using ATOP and by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the Exchange Offer, the participant in DTC confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Old Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal (including all representations and warranties) applicable to it and such beneficial owner as fully as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent.


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INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
1.  Book-Entry Confirmations
 
Any confirmation of a book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, as well as an agent’s message, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth on the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
 
2.  Validity of Tenders
 
The Issuers will determine in their sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered Old Notes and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes. The Issuers’ determination will be final and binding. The Issuers reserve the absolute right to reject any Old Notes not properly tendered or any acceptance of Old Notes that would, in the opinion of its counsel, be unlawful. The Issuers also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Old Notes. The Issuers’ interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, including the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes must be cured within such time as the Issuers shall determine. Although the Issuers intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes, none of the Issuers, the Exchange Agent and any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old Notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Old Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder through the facilities of DTC as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date.
 
3.  Waiver of Conditions
 
The Issuers reserve the absolute right to waive, in whole or part, at any time or from time to time, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus or in this Letter of Transmittal.
 
4.  No Conditional Tender
 
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tender of Old Notes will be accepted.
 
5.  Request for Assistance or Additional Copies
 
Requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address, telephone numbers or fax number set forth on the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may also contact their commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.
 
6.  Withdrawal
 
Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal to be effective you must comply with the appropriate ATOP procedures. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn Old Notes and otherwise comply with the ATOP procedures. For more information, see the section of the Prospectus entitled “Description of the Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”


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7.  Transfer Taxes
 
Holders who tender their Old Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with that tender or exchange, except that holders who instruct the Issuers to register New Notes in the name of, or request that Old Notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax on those Old Notes.
 
IMPORTANT: BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT.


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(COMPANY LOGO)
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
 
Nationstar Capital Corporation
 


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PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 20.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
(a) Nationstar Capital Corporation; Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation; NSM Recovery Services Inc.; NSM Foreclosure Services Inc. (each a Delaware corporation and, collectively referred to herein as the “Delaware Corporations”)
 
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
 
Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
 
Subsection (d) of Section 145 of the DGCL provides that any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
 
Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim,


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issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith and that such expenses may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL; that any indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; that any indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators; and empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.
 
Section 174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director, who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be held liable for these actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to these actions to be entered in the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time the action occurred or immediately after the absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.
 
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 
Article VII of By-laws of Nationstar Capital Corporation provides that it shall indemnify each person who is or was an officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by Certificate of Incorporation, which in turns provides in Article IV that the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by DGCL, indemnify any director or officer against any expenses, liabilities or other matter referred to in Section 145 of DGCL.
 
Article VII of By-laws of Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation provides that it shall indemnify each person who is or was an officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by Certificate of Incorporation, which in turns provides in Article IV that the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by DGCL, indemnify any director or officer against any expenses, liabilities or other matter referred to in Section 145 of DGCL.
 
Both Article VII of Certificate of Incorporation and Article VIII of By-laws of NSM Recovery Services Inc. provide that the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of DGCL, indemnify any director, officer against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlements and/or other matters referred to in or covered by Section 145 of DGCL.
 
Both Article VII of Certificate of Incorporation and Article VIII of By-laws of NSM Foreclosure Services Inc. provide that the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of DGCL, indemnify any director, officer against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlements and/or other matters referred to in or covered by Section 145 of DGCL.


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(b) Nationstar Mortgage LLC; Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC; Harwood Service Company LLC; Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC (each a Delaware limited liability company and, collectively referred to herein as the “LLCs”)
 
The LLCs are each empowered by Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.
 
Section 19 of Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Nationstar Mortgage LLC provides that officers and directors shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to indemnification from the Company for any liability, loss, damage or claim arises out of any action or inaction of an officer or director, which indemnification shall only be available, except in cases of fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
 
Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC’s Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
Harwood Service Company LLC’s Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC’s Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC maintains insurance on behalf of its members, managers and officers, insuring them against any liability asserted against them in their capacities as members, managers and officers or arising out of such status.
 
(c) Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P. (a Delaware limited partnership and referred to herein as the “Delaware LP”)
 
The Delaware LP is empowered by Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, subject to the limitations in the partnership agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless any person against any and all claims and demands.
 
The Section 5.4 of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Delaware LP provides that the Partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless the General Partner, any such Affiliates, and any Specified Agents against losses, damages, expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or in connection with such claim, action, suit or processing, except in cases of bad faith, willful misconduct or fraud.
 
(d) Harwood Insurance Services, LLC (a California Limited Liability Company and referred to herein as the “California LLC”)
 
Under Section 17153 of the California Limited Liability Company Act, except for a breach of duty, the articles of organization or written operating agreement of a limited liability company may provide for indemnification of any person, including, without limitation, any manager, member, officer, employee or agent of the limited liability company, against judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or expenses of any kind incurred as a result of acting in that capacity. A limited liability company shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any manager, member, officer, employee or agent of the limited liability company against any liability asserted against on incurred by the person in that capacity or arising out of the person’s status as a manager, member, officer, employee or agent of the limited liability company.
 
The California LLC’s Articles of Organization and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
(e) Harwood Service Company Of Georgia, LLC (a Georgia Limited Liability Company and referred to herein as the “Georgia LLC”)


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Section 14-11-306 of the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act provides that subject to the standards and restrictions, if any, set forth in the article of organization or written operating agreement, a limited liability company may indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising in connection with the limited liability company; provided that a limited liability company shall not have the power to indemnify any member or manager for (i) for his or her intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law or (ii) for any transaction for which the person received a personal benefit in violation of any provision of a written operating agreement.
 
The Georgia LLC’s Articles of Organization and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
(f) Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC (a New Jersey Limited Liability Company and referred to herein as the “New Jersey LLC”)
 
Section 42:2B-10 of the New Jersey Limited Liability Company Act provides that subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in a limited liability company’s operating agreement, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.
 
The New Jersey LLC’s Articles of Organization and Limited Liability Company Agreement are silent on indemnification provisions.
 
(g) Nationstar Equity Corporation (a Nevada Corporation and referred to herein as the “Nevada Corporation”)
 
Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) allows directors and officers to be indemnified against liabilities they may incur while serving in such capacities. Under the applicable statutory provisions, the registrant may indemnify its directors or officers who were or are a party or are threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that they are or were directors or officers of the corporation, or are or were serving at the request of the corporation as directors or officers of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, unless it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that they breached their fiduciary duties by intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law or did not act in good faith and in a manner which they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. In addition, the applicable statutory provisions mandate that the registrant indemnify its directors and officers who have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense. The registrant will advance expenses incurred by directors or officers in defending any such action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of written confirmation from such officers or directors that they have met certain standards of conduct and an undertaking by or on behalf of such officers or directors to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that they are not entitled to indemnification by the registrant.
 
Article VI of the By-laws of the Nevada Corporation provides that the Nevada Corporation shall indemnify any director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to be the best interests of the Nevada Corporation.
 
(h) Nationstar Industrial Loan Company (a Tennessee Company and referred to herein as the “Tennessee Corporation”)


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Part 5 of Chapter 18 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations.
 
Sections 48-18-301(d) and 48-18-403(d) of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act provide that a director or officer shall not be liable for any action taken as a director or officer or any failure to take any action if the director or officer performed the duties of his or her office (i) in good faith, (ii) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances and (iii) in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.
 
Article IV of the By-laws of the Tennessee Corporation provides that the Tennessee Corporation shall indemnify any director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to be the best interests of the Tennessee Corporation.
 
(i) Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation (a Minnesota Corporation and referred to herein as the “Minnesota Corporation”)
 
Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (“MNBCA”) provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity (as defined in Section 302A.521 of the MNBCA) of such person against judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of such person complained of in the proceeding, such person: has not been indemnified therefor by another organization or employee benefit plan; acted in good faith; received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255 of the MNBCA (with respect to director conflicts of interest), if applicable, has been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or omissions occurring in such person’s performance in an official capacity, such person must have acted in a manner such person reasonably believed was in the best interests of the corporation or, in certain limited circumstances, not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
 
In addition, Section 302A.521, subd. 3 of the MNBCA requires payment by the registrant, upon written request, of reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition in certain instances. A decision as to required indemnification is made by a majority of the disinterested board of directors present at a meeting at which a disinterested quorum is present, or by a designated committee of disinterested directors, by special legal counsel, by the disinterested shareholders, or by a court.
 
Article IV of the By-laws of the Minnesota Corporation provides that the Minnesota Corporation shall indemnify any director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to be the best interests of the Minnesota Corporation.
 
Item 21.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  3 .1   Certificate of Formation of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.(1)
  3 .2   Operating Agreement of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.(1)


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Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  3 .3   Certificate of Incorporation of Nationstar Capital Corporation.(1)
  3 .4   By-Laws of Nationstar Capital Corporation.(1)
  3 .5   Certificate of Formation of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC(2)
  3 .6   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC(2)
  3 .7   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P.(2)
  3 .8   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P.(2)
  3 .9   Certificate of Formation of Harwood Service Company, LLC(2)
  3 .10   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company, LLC(2)
  3 .11   Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization of Harwood Insurance Services, LLC(2)
  3 .12   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Insurance Services, LLC(2)
  3 .13   Certificate of Organization of Harwood Service Company of Georgia, LLC(2)
  3 .14   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company of Georgia, LLC(2)
  3 .15   Certificate of Formation of Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC(2)
  3 .16   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC(2)
  3 .17   Certificate of Formation of Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC(2)
  3 .18   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC(2)
  3 .19   Certificate of Incorporation of Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .20   By-Laws of Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .21   Articles of Incorporation of Nationstar Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .22   By-Laws of Nationstar Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .23   Charter of Nationstar Industrial Loan Company(2)
  3 .24   By-Laws of Nationstar Industrial Loan Company(2)
  3 .25   Articles of Incorporation of Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation(2)
  3 .26   By-Laws of Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation(2)
  3 .27   Certificate of Incorporation of NSM Recovery Services Inc.(2)
  3 .28   By-Laws of NSM Recovery Services Inc.(2)
  3 .29   Certificate of Incorporation of NSM Foreclosure Services Inc.(2)
  3 .30   By-Laws of NSM Foreclosure Services Inc.(2)
  4 .1   Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2010, among Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Nationstar Capital Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, including the form of 10.875% Senior Note due 2015 (the “Indenture”).(1)
  4 .2   Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 31, 2010, among NSM Recovery Services Inc, a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.(1)
  4 .3   Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 13, 2010, among NSM Foreclosure Services Inc, a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.(1)
  4 .4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2010, among Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Nationstar Capital Corporation, Barclays Capital Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and RBS Securities Inc.(1)
  5 .1   Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.(3)
  5 .2   Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.(3)
  5 .3   Opinion of Greenberg Traurig LLP.(3)
  10 .1   Amended and Restated Servicer Advance Early Reimbursement Addendum, dated as of August 16, 2010, between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Fannie Mae.*(1)

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Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  10 .2   Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, between The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as buyer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as seller.*(1)
  10 .3   Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, and Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, both dated as of April 6, 2010, between The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(4)
  10 .4   Amendment Number Two to Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, and Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, both dated as of February 25, 2011, between The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(4)
  10 .5   Subservicing Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2010, between Fannie Mae and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(2)
  10 .6   Strategic Relationship Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2009, between Fannie Mae and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(1)
  10 .7   Subservicing Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, among MorEquity, Inc., American General Financial Services of Arkansas, Inc. and American General Home Equity, Inc. as owners and as servicers, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .8   Subservicing Agreement (American General Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-1), dated as of February 1, 2011, between MorEquity, Inc., as servicer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .9   Subservicing Agreement (American General Mortgage Loan Trust 2010-1), dated as of February 1, 2011, between MorEquity, Inc., as servicer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .10   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2010, between The Financial Asset Securities Corp., as Depositor, Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, as Originator and Servicer, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, as Issuer, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.(4)
  10 .11   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, between Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities I LLC, as Depositor, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as Servicer, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, as Issuing Entity, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian, and The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee.(4)
  10 .12   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2008, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Robert L. Appel.(1)
  10 .13   Amendment, dated as of September 17, 2010, to Employment Agreement dated January 29, 2008 by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Robert L. Appel.(1)
  10 .14   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2009, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Douglas Krueger.(1)
  10 .15   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Anthony H. Barone.(1)
  10 .16   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between the Company and Jay Bray.(1)
  10 .17   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Amar Patel.(1)
  10 .18   Form of Restricted Series 1 Preferred Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement.(1)
  10 .19   Form of Series 1 Class A Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company.(1)
  10 .20   Form of Series 2 Class A Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company.(1)
  10 .21   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.(1)
  10 .22   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Incentive Program for Mr. Krueger.(1)

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Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  10 .23   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Long-Term Incentive Plan for Mr. Krueger.(1)
  12 .1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.(3)
  21 .1   Subsidiaries of the Registrants.(1)
  23 .1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.(4)
  23 .2   Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  23 .3   Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5.2).
  23 .4   Consent of Greenberg Traurig LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3).
  25 .1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture.(1)
 
 
Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted and have been filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 406 as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
(1)  Previously filed with Form S-4 on December 22, 2010.
 
(2)  Previously filed with Form S-4/A on February 9, 2011.
 
(3)  Previously filed with Form S-4/A on March 28, 2011.
 
(4)  Filed herewith.
 
Item 22.   Undertakings.
 
(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
 
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
 
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
 
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

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(b) The undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by each registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of each registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, each registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.
 
(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
         
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone

Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Manager
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray

Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     
/s/  Peter Smith

Peter Smith
  Manager


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
         
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone

Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray

Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
CENTEX LAND VISTA RIDGE LEWISVILLE III
     GENERAL PARTNER, LLC
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
         
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone

Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray

Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
CENTEX LAND VISTA RIDGE LEWISVILLE III, L.P.
 
  By:  CENTEX LAND VISTA RIDGE LEWISVILLE III
     GENERAL PARTNER, LLC,
its General Partner
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC,
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
         
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone

Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray

Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
 
HARWOOD SERVICE COMPANY LLC
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
         
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone

Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray

Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
HARWOOD INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
HARWOOD INSURANCE COMPANY OF
GEORGIA, LLC
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
HARWOOD SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, LLC
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
HOMESELECT SETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC
 
  By:  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
its Sole Member
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR EQUITY CORPORATION
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR INDUSTRIAL LOAN COMPANY
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR INDUSTRIAL LOAN CORPORATION
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NATIONSTAR 2009 EQUITY CORPORATION
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NSM RECOVERY SERVICES INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on April 27, 2011.
 
NSM FORECLOSURE SERVICES INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  Ron L. Fountain
Ron L. Fountain
Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2011.
 
     
/s/  Anthony H. Barone
Anthony H. Barone
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/  Jay Bray
Jay Bray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  3 .1   Certificate of Formation of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.(1)
  3 .2   Operating Agreement of Nationstar Mortgage LLC.(1)
  3 .3   Certificate of Incorporation of Nationstar Capital Corporation.(1)
  3 .4   By-Laws of Nationstar Capital Corporation.(1)
  3 .5   Certificate of Formation of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC(2)
  3 .6   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III General Partner, LLC(2)
  3 .7   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P.(2)
  3 .8   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Centex Land Vista Ridge Lewisville III, L.P.(2)
  3 .9   Certificate of Formation of Harwood Service Company, LLC(2)
  3 .10   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company, LLC(2)
  3 .11   Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization of Harwood Insurance Services, LLC(2)
  3 .12   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Insurance Services, LLC(2)
  3 .13   Certificate of Organization of Harwood Service Company of Georgia, LLC(2)
  3 .14   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company of Georgia, LLC(2)
  3 .15   Certificate of Formation of Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC(2)
  3 .16   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Harwood Service Company of New Jersey, LLC(2)
  3 .17   Certificate of Formation of Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC(2)
  3 .18   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Homeselect Settlement Solutions, LLC(2)
  3 .19   Certificate of Incorporation of Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .20   By-Laws of Nationstar 2009 Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .21   Articles of Incorporation of Nationstar Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .22   By-Laws of Nationstar Equity Corporation(2)
  3 .23   Charter of Nationstar Industrial Loan Company(2)
  3 .24   By-Laws of Nationstar Industrial Loan Company(2)
  3 .25   Articles of Incorporation of Nationstar Industrial Loan Corporation(2)
  3 .26   By-Laws of CHEC Industrial Loan Corporation(2)
  3 .27   Certificate of Incorporation of NSM Recovery Services Inc.(2)
  3 .28   By-Laws of NSM Recovery Services Inc.(2)
  3 .29   Certificate of Incorporation of NSM Foreclosure Services Inc.(2)
  3 .30   By-Laws of NSM Foreclosure Services Inc.(2)
  4 .1   Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2010, among Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Nationstar Capital Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, including the form of 10.875% Senior Note due 2015 (the “Indenture”).(1)
  4 .2   Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 31, 2010, among NSM Recovery Services Inc, a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.(1)
  4 .3   Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 13, 2010, among NSM Foreclosure Services Inc, a subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.(1)
  4 .4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2010, among Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Nationstar Capital Corporation, Barclays Capital Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and RBS Securities Inc.(1)
  5 .1   Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.(3)
  5 .2   Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.(3)
  5 .3   Opinion of Greenberg Traurig LLP.(3)


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  10 .1   Amended and Restated Servicer Advance Early Reimbursement Addendum, dated as of August 16, 2010, between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Fannie Mae.*(1)
  10 .2   Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, between The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as buyer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as seller.*(1)
  10 .3   Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, and Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, both dated as of April 6, 2010, between The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(4)
  10 .4   Amendment Number Two to Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, and Amendment Number One to Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, both dated as of February 25, 2011, between The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(4)
  10 .5   Subservicing Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2010, between Fannie Mae and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(2)
  10 .6   Strategic Relationship Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2009, between Fannie Mae and Nationstar Mortgage LLC.*(1)
  10 .7   Subservicing Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2011, among MorEquity, Inc., American General Financial Services of Arkansas, Inc. and American General Home Equity, Inc. as owners and as servicers, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .8   Subservicing Agreement (American General Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-1), dated as of February 1, 2011, between MorEquity, Inc., as servicer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .9   Subservicing Agreement (American General Mortgage Loan Trust 2010-1), dated as of February 1, 2011, between MorEquity, Inc., as servicer, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as subservicer.*(3)
  10 .10   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2010, between The Financial Asset Securities Corp., as Depositor, Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, as Originator and Servicer, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, as Issuer, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.(4)
  10 .11   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, between Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities I LLC, as Depositor, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as Servicer, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, as Issuing Entity, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian, and The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee.(4)
  10 .12   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2008, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Robert L. Appel.(1)
  10 .13   Amendment, dated as of September 17, 2010, to Employment Agreement dated January 29, 2008 by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Robert L. Appel.(1)
  10 .14   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2009, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Douglas Krueger.(1)
  10 .15   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Anthony H. Barone.(1)
  10 .16   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between the Company and Jay Bray.(1)
  10 .17   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2010, by and between Nationstar Mortgage LLC and Amar Patel.(1)
  10 .18   Form of Restricted Series 1 Preferred Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement.(1)
  10 .19   Form of Series 1 Class A Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company.(1)
  10 .20   Form of Series 2 Class A Unit Award Agreement under FIF HE Holdings LLC Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company.(1)
  10 .21   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.(1)
  10 .22   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Incentive Program for Mr. Krueger.(1)


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
 
  10 .23   Nationstar Mortgage LLC Long-Term Incentive Plan for Mr. Krueger.(1)
  12 .1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.(3)
  21 .1   Subsidiaries of the Registrants.(1)
  23 .1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.(4)
  23 .2   Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  23 .3   Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5.2).
  23 .4   Consent of Greenberg Traurig LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3).
  25 .1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture.(1)
 
 
Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted and have been filed separately with the SEC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 406 as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
(1)  Previously filed with Form S-4 on December 22, 2010.
 
(2)  Previously filed with Form S-4/A on February 9, 2011.
 
(3)  Previously filed with Form S-4/A on March 28, 2011.
 
(4)  Filed herewith.

EX-10.3 2 y04304a3exv10w3.htm EX-10.3 exv10w3
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE
to the
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 27, 2010
between
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
and
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
     This AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (this “Amendment Number One”) is made this 6th day of April, 2010 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) between NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC (“Seller”) and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC (“Buyer”), to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, between Seller and Buyer (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
RECITALS
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer desire to amend the Agreement to include additional loan level representations and loan types eligible for funding under the Agreement; and
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer have agreed to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and for the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
          SECTION 1. Amendments. As of the Amendment Effective Date, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
     (a) Section 2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new definition thereto in proper alphabetical order:
     “Manufactured Home Loan” shall mean an Agency Eligible Loan that is secured by real property improved by manufactured housing.
     (b) Schedule 1 Part I of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following subsection at the end thereto:
     (iii) No Refinancing. Except for the security interest created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and as further expressly contemplated herein, the Loan has not been assigned or pledged, or been subject to any encumbrance, participation interest, lien, or pledge in connection with any repurchase agreement, loan and security agreement or similar credit facility or agreement since the origination thereof unless the Seller shall have first obtained the written consent of Buyer, which consent may be withheld in Buyer’s sole discretion.
          SECTION 2. Defined Terms. Any terms capitalized but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.
          SECTION 3. Fees and Expenses. Seller agrees to pay to Buyer all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with this Amendment Number One (including

 


 

all reasonable fees and out of pocket costs and expenses of the Buyer’s legal counsel) in accordance with Sections 23 and 25 of the Agreement.
          SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment Number One shall become effective on the Amendment Effective Date, provided that the Buyer shall have received this Amendment Number One delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Seller and such other documents as the Buyer or counsel to the Buyer may reasonably request.
          SECTION 5. Representations. Seller hereby represents to Buyer that as of the date hereof, Seller is in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and each other Program Document and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Agreement or any other Program Document.
          SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS DOCTRINE APPLIED IN SUCH STATE (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL GOVERN).
          SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Amendment Number One may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same agreement. This Amendment Number One, to the extent signed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No signatory to this Amendment Number One shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such Person forever waives any such defense.
          SECTION 8. Limited Effect. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Reference to this Amendment Number One need not be made in the Agreement or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to, or with respect to, the Agreement, any reference in any of such items to the Agreement being sufficient to refer to the Agreement as amended hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]

2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Amendment Number One to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the Amendment Effective Date.
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
(Seller)
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory A. Oniu   
    Name:   Gregory A. Oniu   
    Title:   SVP   
 
  THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(Buyer)

By: RBS Securities Inc., its agent
 
 
  By:   /s/ Regina Abayer   
    Name:   Regina Abayer   
    Title:   Vice President   
 

 


 

EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE
to the
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PRICING SIDE LETTER
Dated as of January 27, 2010
between
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
and
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
     This AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (this “Amendment Number One”) is made this 6th day of April, 2010 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) between NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC (“Seller”) and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC (“Buyer”), to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, dated as of January 27, 2010, between Seller and Buyer, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
RECITALS
     WHEREAS, Seller has requested that Buyer agree to amend certain pricing terms and permit certain types of loans to be eligible under the Agreement as more fully set forth herein; and
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer have agreed to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and for the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
          SECTION 1. Amendments. As of the Amendment Effective Date, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
     (a) Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition “Applicable Margin” in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
          “Applicable Margin” shall mean, with respect to:
     (a) Eligible Loans, [***];
     (b) Eligible Participation Certificates, [***]; and
     (c) Eligible Securities, [***].
     (b) The definition of “Eligible Loan” in Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting subclause (14) thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
     (14) if such Loan is a Manufactured Home Loan and the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds at any time $3,000,000;
     (c) Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “Pricing Rate” in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

Pricing Rate” shall, as of any date of determination, be equal to (x) with respect to Eligible Loans or Eligible Participation Certificates, the sum of (i) the greater of (a) the one-month LIBO Rate as of such date of determination and (b) the LIBO Floor plus (ii) the Applicable Margin and (y) with respect to Eligible Securities, the sum of (i) the one-month LIBO Rate as of such date of determination plus (ii) the Applicable Margin. In each case, the Pricing Rate is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed between the Purchase Date and the Repurchase Date.
     (d) Exhibit A to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and replaced with the Exhibit A attached hereto as Annex I.
          SECTION 2. Defined Terms. Any terms capitalized but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.
          SECTION 3. Fees and Expenses. Seller agrees to pay to Buyer all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with this Amendment Number One (including all reasonable fees and out of pocket costs and expenses of the Buyer’s legal counsel) in accordance with Sections 23 and 25 of that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, between Buyer and Seller, as amended from time to time.
          SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment Number One shall become effective on the Amendment Effective Date, provided that the Buyer shall have received this Amendment Number One delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Seller and such other documents as the Buyer or counsel to the Buyer may reasonably request.
          SECTION 5. Representations. Seller hereby represents to Buyer that as of the date hereof, Seller is in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and each other Program Document and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Agreement or any other Program Document.
          SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS DOCTRINE APPLIED IN SUCH STATE (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL GOVERN).
          SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Amendment Number One may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same agreement. This Amendment Number One, to the extent signed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No signatory to this Amendment Number One shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such Person forever waives any such defense.
          SECTION 8. Limited Effect. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Reference to this Amendment Number One

 


 

need not be made in the Agreement or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to, or with respect to, the Agreement, any reference in any of such items to the Agreement being sufficient to refer to the Agreement as amended hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Amendment Number One to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the Amendment Effective Date.
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
(Seller)
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory A. Oniu   
    Name:   Gregory A. Oniu   
    Title:   SVP   
 
  THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(Buyer)

By: RBS Securities Inc., its agent
 
 
  By:   /s/ Regina Abayer   
    Name:   Regina Abayer   
    Title:   Vice President   
 

 


 

ANNEX I
EXHIBIT A
                 
    Days Such Assets            
    are Subject to       Applicable   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not            
    consecutive)            
Non-Conforming
Loans that are Dry
Loans
  45 or fewer days   (i) $10,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate Purchase Price of all Non-Conforming Loans that are Dry Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive)   [***]   [***]
                 
    between 46 days and
60 days (inclusive)
  (i) $10,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate Purchase Price of all Non-Conforming Loans that are Dry Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 60 days   0%   [***]   [***]
                 
Agency Eligible
Loans (other than
Manufactured Home
Loans) that are Dry
Loans or Securities
  45 or fewer days   100%   [***]   [***]
               
  between 46 days and
60 days (inclusive)
  100%   [***]   [***]
               
    between 61 days and
90 days (inclusive)
  2% of aggregate outstanding Purchase Price   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 90 days   0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

                 
    Days Such Assets            
    are Subject to       Applicable   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not            
    consecutive)            
Manufactured Home
Loans that are Dry
Loans
  45 or fewer days   (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive) and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 61 days and 90 days (inclusive)   [***]   [***]
                 
    between 46 days and
60 days (inclusive)
  (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 61 days and 90 days (inclusive)   [***]   [***]
                 
    between 61 days and
90 days (inclusive)
  (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive)   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 90 days   0%   [***]   [***]
                 
Wet Loans   12 or fewer
Business Days
  30% of Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price (other than during Ramp Up Period)   [***]   [***]
                 
        40% of aggregate outstanding Purchase Price (during Ramp Up Period)        
                 
    more than 12
Business Days
  0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

                 
    Days Such Assets            
    are Subject to       Applicable   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not            
    consecutive)            
FNMA and GNMA I
Participation
Certificates
  3 or fewer Business
Days
  100%   [***]   [***]
               
  between 4 and 6
Business Days
(inclusive)
  100%   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 6
Business Days
  0%   [***]   [***]
                 
GNMA II
Participation
Certificates
  4 or fewer Business
Days
  100%   [***]   [***]
               
  between 5 and 6
Business Days
(inclusive)
  100%   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 6
Business Days
  0%   [***]   [***]
                 
FHLMC Participation
Certificates
  5 or fewer Business
Days
  100%   [***]   [***]
                 
    6 Business Days   100%   [***]   [***]
                 
    more than 6
Business Days
  0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

EX-10.4 3 y04304a3exv10w4.htm EX-10.4 exv10w4
Exhibit 10.4
EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO
to the
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 27, 2010
between
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
and
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
     This AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (this “Amendment Number Two”) is made this 25th day of February, 2011 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) between NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC (“Seller”) and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC (“Buyer”), to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010, between Seller and Buyer (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.
RECITALS
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer desire to amend the Agreement to extend the termination date, modify certain pricing terms and provide for the sale of certain types of loans under the Agreement; and
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer have agreed to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and for the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
          SECTION 1. Amendments. As of the Amendment Effective Date, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
     (a) The definitions of “Loan”, “Loan-to-Value Ratio”, “Mortgage” and “Termination Date” in Section 2 of the Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:
     “Loan” shall mean a closed-end, fully funded First Lien loan or Second Lien loan, in either case secured by a mortgage on a one to four family residential property, together with the Servicing Rights thereon, which the Custodian has been instructed to hold for Buyer pursuant to the Custodial Agreement, and which Loan includes, without limitation, (i) a Note, the related Mortgage and all other Loan Documents and (ii) all right, title and interest of Seller in and to the Mortgaged Property covered by such Mortgage.
     “Loan-to-Value Ratio” or “LTV” shall mean with respect to any Loan, the ratio expressed as a percentage of the outstanding principal amount of such Loan at the time of origination of such Loan to the lesser of (a) most recently obtained the Appraised Value of the related Mortgaged Property and (b) if the related Mortgage Loan was made to finance the acquisition of the related Mortgaged Property, the purchase price of the related Mortgaged Property, or if such Loan has been approved under DU (as defined above), the value attributed to the related Mortgaged Property and approved by DU.
     “Mortgage” shall mean with respect to a Loan, the mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, which creates a First Lien or Second Lien (as indicated on the Asset Schedule) on the fee simple or leasehold estate in such real property which secures the Note.

 


 

     “Termination Date” shall mean February 24, 2012, or such earlier date on which this Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the provisions hereof or by operation of law.
     (b) Section 2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new definitions thereto in proper alphabetical order:
     “Alabama Second Lien Loan” shall mean a Loan that (i) is secured by a Second Lien on the related Mortgaged Property, (ii) Seller intends to sell to the State of Alabama and (iii) is identified as an Alabama Second Lien Loan on the related Asset Schedule.
     “Amendment Effective Date” shall mean February 25, 2011.
     “Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio” or “CLTV” shall mean with respect to any Loan, the ratio of (i) the original outstanding principal amount of the Loan and any other loan which is secured by a lien on the related Mortgaged Property to (ii) the lesser of (a) the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property at origination of such Loan and (b) if the Mortgaged Property was purchased within twelve (12) months of the origination of the Loan, the purchase price of the Mortgaged Property, or if such Loan has been approved under Fannie Mae’s “Desktop Underwriter” program (“DU”), the value attributed to the Mortgaged Property and approved by DU.
     “Initial S&D Loan Schedule” shall mean the list of S&D Loans set forth in Schedule 5 to this Agreement, which S&D Loans are included in Seller’s balance sheet as of February 25, 2011.
     “S&D Loan” shall mean a Loan identified on the Asset Schedule as an S&D Loan and which contains one or more of the following characteristics identified on the Asset Schedule: (i) such Loan was originated more than one-hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the initial Purchase Date of such Loan, (ii) such Loan was thirty (30) or more days past due during the prior twelve (12) month period, (iii) a repurchase demand was made upon Seller by an investor with respect to such Loan, or (iv) the related Mortgage File does not contain all documents required to be delivered with respect to such Loan for sale to or securitization by an Agency. For the avoidance of doubt, each S&D Loan shall be deemed a Dry Loan under this Agreement.
     “Second Lien” shall mean with respect to each Mortgaged Property, the lien of the mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument securing a mortgage note which creates a second lien on the Mortgaged Property.
     (c) Section 4(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (c) Commitment Fee. The Seller agrees to pay to the Buyer a commitment fee equal to the Commitment Fee Amount (the “Commitment Fee”), such payment to be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds, without deduction, set off or counterclaim, to the Buyer on the Amendment Effective Date. The Commitment Fee shall be deemed earned, due and payable on the Amendment Effective Date. The Buyer may, in its sole discretion, net such Commitment Fee from the proceeds of any Purchase Price paid to Seller. The Commitment Fee is and shall be deemed to be non-refundable when paid.
     (d) Section 4 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof:

2


 

     (d) Non-Utilization Fee. On a quarterly basis and on the Termination Date, Buyer shall determine the average utilization of the facility during the preceding calendar quarter (or portion thereof with respect to (i) the first utilization calculation, during the period from the Effective Date to the calculation date, or (ii) with respect to the Termination Date, during the period from the date through which the last non-utilization fee calculation has been made to the Termination Date) by Seller by dividing (a) the sum of the Purchase Prices outstanding on each day during such period, by (b) the number of days in such period. If such average amount determined for any period as a percentage of the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price (the “Utilization Percentage”) is less than 50%, Seller shall pay to Buyer on the Repurchase Dates in occurring in the last month of each calendar quarter or the Termination Date (as applicable), the Non-Utilization Fee; provided that Seller shall not be obligated to pay any Non-Utilization Fee to Buyer for any period with respect to which the Utilization Percentage in such period is greater than or equal to 50%. All payments shall be made to Buyer in Dollars, in immediately available funds, without deduction, setoff or counterclaim. Buyer may, in its sole discretion, net such Non-Utilization Fee from the proceeds of any Purchase Price paid to any Seller. Each payment of the Non-Utilization Fee is and shall be deemed to be non-refundable when paid.
     (e) Section 12(o) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (o) Tangible Net Worth; Liquidity; Leverage. The ratio of Seller’s Total Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth is not greater than 9:1. Seller’s Tangible Net Worth is not less than $175,000,000. The Seller’s Liquidity is not less than $20,000,000 as of the end of each calendar month.
     (f) Section 13(p) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
          [Reserved]
     (g) Section 13(oo) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (oo) Financial Covenants. Seller shall comply with the following financial covenants: (A) the ratio of Seller’s Total Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth shall not at any time be greater than 9:1, (B) the Tangible Net Worth of the Seller shall at all times exceed $175,000,000 and (C) the Seller shall insure that, as of the end of each calendar month, it has Liquidity in an amount of not less than $20,000,000.
     (h) Paragraph (f) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (f) Hazard Insurance. The Mortgaged Property is insured by a fire and extended perils insurance policy, issued by a Qualified Insurer, and such other hazards as are customary in the area where the Mortgaged Property is located, and to the extent required by Seller as of the date of origination consistent with the Underwriting Guidelines and Agency Guidelines, against earthquake and other risks insured against by Persons operating like properties in the locality of the Mortgaged Property, in an amount not less than the greatest of (i) 100% of the replacement cost of all improvements to the Mortgaged Property, (ii) the outstanding principal balance of the Loan with respect to each First Lien Loan, or (B) with respect to each Alabama Second Lien Loan, the sum of the outstanding principal balance of the First Lien Loan and the outstanding principal balance of the Alabama Second Lien Loan or (iii) the amount necessary to avoid the

3


 

operation of any co-insurance provisions with respect to the Mortgaged Property, and consistent with the amount that would have been required as of the date of origination in accordance with the Underwriting Guidelines or (iv) the amount necessary to fully compensate for any damage or loss to the improvements that are a part of such property on a replacement cost basis. If any portion of the Mortgaged Property is in an area identified by any federal Governmental Authority as having special flood hazards, and flood insurance is available, a flood insurance policy meeting the current guidelines of the Federal Insurance Administration is in effect with a generally acceptable insurance carrier, which policy conforms to the requirements of the FHA, if applicable, in an amount representing coverage not less than the least of (1) the outstanding principal balance of the Loan, (2) the full insurable value of the Mortgaged Property, and (3) the maximum amount of insurance available under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended. All such insurance policies (collectively, the “Hazard Insurance Policy”) contain a standard mortgagee clause naming Seller, its successors and assigns (including without limitation, subsequent owners of the Loan), as mortgagee, and may not be reduced, terminated or canceled without thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the mortgagee. No such notice has been received by Seller. All premiums due and owing on such insurance policy have been paid. The related Mortgage obligates the Mortgagor to maintain all such insurance and, at such Mortgagor’s failure to do so, authorizes the mortgagee to maintain such insurance at the Mortgagor’s cost and expense and to seek reimbursement therefor from such Mortgagor. Where required by state law or regulation, the Mortgagor has been given an opportunity to choose the carrier of the required hazard insurance, provided the policy is not a “master” or “blanket” Hazard Insurance Policy covering a condominium, or any Hazard Insurance Policy covering the common facilities of a planned unit development. The Hazard Insurance Policy is the valid and binding obligation of the insurer and is in full force and effect. Seller has not engaged in, and has no knowledge of the Mortgagor’s having engaged in, any act or omission which would impair the coverage of any such policy, the benefits of the endorsement provided for herein, or the validity and binding effect of either including, without limitation, no unlawful fee, commission, kickback or other unlawful compensation or value of any kind has been or will be received, retained or realized by any attorney, firm or other Person, and no such unlawful items have been received, retained or realized by Seller.
     (i) Paragraph (j) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (j) Valid Lien. The Mortgage is a valid, subsisting, enforceable and perfected (A) first lien and first priority security interest with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be a First Lien (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), or (B) second lien and second priority security interest with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), in either case, on the real property included in the Mortgaged Property, including all buildings on the Mortgaged Property and all installations and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems located in or annexed to such buildings, and all additions, alterations and replacements made at any time with respect to the foregoing. The lien of the Mortgage is subject only to:
     (1) the lien of current real property taxes and assessments not yet due and payable;
     (2) covenants, conditions and restrictions, rights of way, easements and other matters of the public record as of the date of recording acceptable to prudent mortgage lending institutions generally and specifically referred to in the lender’s title insurance policy delivered to the originator of the Loan and (a) referred to or otherwise considered in the appraisal made for the originator of the Loan or (b) which do not adversely affect the Appraised Value of the related Mortgaged Property set forth in such appraisal;

4


 

     (3) other matters to which like properties are commonly subject which do not materially interfere with the benefits of the security intended to be provided by the Mortgage or the use, enjoyment, value or marketability of the related Mortgaged Property; and
     (4) with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule) a First Lien on the Mortgaged Property.
Any security agreement, chattel mortgage or equivalent document related to and delivered in connection with the Loan establishes and creates a valid, subsisting and enforceable (A) first lien and first priority security interest with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be a First Lien (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), or (B) Second Lien and second priority security interest with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), in either case, on the property described therein and Seller has full right to pledge and assign the same to Buyer. The Mortgaged Property was not, as of the date of origination of the Loan, subject to a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or other security instrument creating a lien subordinate to the lien of the Mortgage, unless otherwise disclosed to Buyer in writing on or prior to the date on which such Loan becomes subject to a Transaction hereunder.
     (j) Paragraph (m) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (m) Ownership. Seller is the sole owner and holder of the Loan (including without limitation the Servicing Rights appurtenant thereto). All Loans acquired by Seller from third parties (including affiliates) were acquired in a true and legal sale pursuant to which such third party sold, transferred, conveyed and assigned to Seller all of its right, title and interest in, to and under such Loan and retained no interest in such Loan. In connection with such sale, such third party received reasonably equivalent value and fair consideration and, in accordance with GAAP and for federal income tax purposes, reported the sale of such Loan to Seller as a sale of its interests in such Loan. The Loan is not assigned or pledged, and Seller has good, indefeasible and marketable title thereto, and has full right to transfer, pledge and assign the Loan to Buyer free and clear of any encumbrance, equity, participation interest, lien, pledge, charge, claim or security interest, and has full right and authority subject to no interest or participation of, or agreement with, any other party, to assign, transfer and pledge each Loan pursuant to this Agreement and following the pledge of each Loan, Buyer will hold such Loan free and clear of any encumbrance, equity, participation interest, lien, pledge, charge, claim or security interest except any such security interest created pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
     (k) Paragraph (o) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (o) LTV. As of the date of origination of the Loan, the LTV and CLTV (if applicable) are as identified on the Asset Schedule.
     (l) Paragraph (p) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (p) Title Insurance. The Loan is covered by either (i) an attorney’s opinion of title and abstract of title, the form and substance of which is acceptable to prudent mortgage lending institutions making mortgage loans in the area wherein the Mortgaged Property is located, (ii) an ALTA lender’s title insurance policy or other generally acceptable form of policy or insurance acceptable to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and each such title insurance policy is issued by a title

5


 

insurer acceptable to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and qualified to do business in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located, (iii) an attorney’s opinion of title and abstract of title, the form and substance of which is acceptable to the FHA with respect to FHA Loans, or (iv) an ALTA lender’s title insurance policy or other generally acceptable form of policy of insurance acceptable to the FHA with respect to the FHA Loans, and each such title insurance policy is issued by a title insurer acceptable to FHA and qualified to do business in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located, insuring the Seller, its successors and assigns, as to the first priority lien of the Mortgage in the original principal amount of the Loan (including, to the extent a Note provides for Negative Amortization, the maximum amount of Negative Amortization in accordance with the Mortgage), subject only to the exceptions contained in clauses (1), (2), (3) and, with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule) clause (4) of paragraph (j) of this Part I of Schedule 1, and in the case of Adjustable Rate Loans, against any loss by reason of the invalidity or unenforceability of the lien resulting from the provisions of the Mortgage providing for adjustment to the Mortgage Interest Rate and Monthly Payment. Where required by state law or regulation, the Mortgagor has been given the opportunity to choose the carrier of the required mortgage title insurance. Additionally, such lender’s title insurance policy affirmatively insures ingress and egress and against encroachments by or upon the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein. The title policy does not contain any special exceptions (other than the standard exclusions) for zoning and uses. Seller, its successors and assigns, are the sole insureds of such lender’s title insurance policy, and such lender’s title insurance policy is valid and remains in full force and effect and will be in force and effect upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No claims have been made under such lender’s title insurance policy, and no prior holder or servicer of the related Mortgage, including Seller, has done, by act or omission, anything which would impair the coverage of such lender’s title insurance policy, including, without limitation, no unlawful fee, commission, kickback or other unlawful compensation or value of any kind has been or will be received, retained or realized by any attorney, firm or other Person, and no such unlawful items have been received, retained or realized by Seller.
     (m) Paragraph (q) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following at the end thereof:
With respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule) (i) the First Lien is in full force and effect, (ii) there is no default, breach, violation or event of acceleration existing under such First Lien mortgage or the related mortgage note, (iii) no event which, with the passage of time or with notice and the expiration of any grace or cure period, would constitute a default, breach, violation or event of acceleration thereunder, and either (A) the First Lien mortgage contains a provision which allows or (B) applicable law requires, the mortgagee under the Alabama Second Lien Loan to receive notice of, and affords such mortgagee an opportunity to cure any default by payment in full or otherwise under the First Lien mortgage.
     (n) Paragraph (dd) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (dd) Consolidation of Future Advances. Any future advances made to the Mortgagor prior to the origination of the Loan have been consolidated with the outstanding principal amount secured by the Mortgage, and the secured principal amount, as consolidated, bears a single interest rate and single repayment term. The lien of the Mortgage securing the consolidated principal amount is expressly insured as having (A) first lien priority with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be a First Lien (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), or (B) second lien priority with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien

6


 

Loan (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), in either case, by a title insurance policy, an endorsement to the policy insuring the mortgagee’s consolidated interest or by other title evidence acceptable to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The consolidated principal amount does not exceed the original principal amount of the Loan.
     (o) Paragraph (ff) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (ff) Collection Practices; Escrow Deposits: Interest Rate Adjustments. The origination and collection practices used by the originator, each servicer of the Loan and Seller with respect to the Loan have been in all material respects in compliance with Accepted Servicing Practices, applicable laws and regulations, and have been in all material respects legal and proper. With respect to escrow deposits and Escrow Payments (other than with respect to each Loan which is indicated by Seller to be an Alabama Second Lien Loan and for which the mortgagee under the First Lien is collecting Escrow Payments (as reflected on the Asset Schedule), all such payments are in the possession of, or under the control of, Seller and there exist no deficiencies in connection therewith for which customary arrangements for repayment thereof have not been made. All Escrow Payments have been collected in full compliance with state and federal law. An escrow of funds is not prohibited by applicable law, has been established in an amount sufficient to pay for every item that remains unpaid and has been assessed but is not yet due and payable. No escrow deposits or Escrow Payments or other charges or payments due Seller have been capitalized under the Mortgage or the Note. All Mortgage Interest Rate adjustments have been made in strict compliance with state and federal law and the terms of the related Note. Any interest required to be paid pursuant to state, federal and local law has been properly paid and credited.
     (p) Paragraph (bbb) of Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
     (bbb) Custodian. With respect to each Loan, the Custodian shall be in possession of each required Loan Document for such Loan, other than a Wet Loan, a S&D Loan that has been identified on the Asset Schedule as missing the documents referenced in items (vii) and/or (ix) of Exhibit M to the Custodial Agreement, or Loan Documents that are released pursuant to the terms of the Custodial Agreement. With respect to each Loan Document that has been released from the possession of the Custodian under Section 6(a) of the Custodial Agreement to Seller or its bailee, such Loan Document shall be returned to the Custodian within ten (10) calendar days (or if such tenth day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) of release thereof. With respect to each Loan Document that has been released from the possession of the Custodian under Section 6(b) of the Custodial Agreement under any Transmittal Letter such Loan Document shall be returned to the Custodian within the time period stated in such Transmittal Letter. With respect to each Loan Document that has been released from the possession of the Custodian under Section 6(c) of the Custodial Agreement under an Attorney Bailee Letter, such Loan Document shall be returned to the Custodian from and after the date such Attorney’s Bailee Letter is terminated or ceases to be in full force and effect.
     (q) Schedule 1 (Representations and Warranties with respect to Loans) to the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new subclause at the end thereof:
     (jjj) First Lien Consent. With respect to each Loan which is an Alabama Second Lien Loan, (i) if the related first lien provides for negative amortization, the LTV was calculated at the maximum principal balance of such first lien that could result upon application of such negative

7


 

amortization feature, and (ii) either no consent for the Loan is required by the holder of the first lien or such consent has been obtained and is contained in the Mortgage File.
     (r) The Agreement is hereby amended by adding new Schedule 5 attached hereto as Annex I immediately after the end of Schedule 4 to the Agreement.
     (s) Exhibit A to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and replaced with Exhibit A attached hereto as Annex II.
     (t) Exhibit F to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and replaced with Exhibit F attached hereto as Annex III.
     (u) Exhibit G to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and replaced with Exhibit G attached hereto as Annex IV.
          SECTION 2. Defined Terms. Any terms capitalized but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.
          SECTION 3. Fees and Expenses. Seller agrees to pay to Buyer all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with this Amendment Number Two (including all reasonable fees and out of pocket costs and expenses of the Buyer’s legal counsel) in accordance with Sections 23 and 25 of the Agreement.
          SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment Number Two shall become effective on the Amendment Effective Date, provided that the Buyer shall have received this Amendment Number Two delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Seller and such other documents as the Buyer or counsel to the Buyer may reasonably request.
          SECTION 5. Representations. Seller hereby represents to Buyer that as of the date hereof, Seller is in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and each other Program Document and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Agreement or any other Program Document.
          SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS DOCTRINE APPLIED IN SUCH STATE (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL GOVERN).
          SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Amendment Number Two may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same agreement. This Amendment Number Two, to the extent signed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No signatory to this Amendment Number Two shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such Person forever waives any such defense.

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          SECTION 8. Limited Effect. Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Reference to this Amendment Number Two need not be made in the Agreement or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to, or with respect to, the Agreement, any reference in any of such items to the Agreement being sufficient to refer to the Agreement as amended hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Amendment Number Two to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the Amendment Effective Date.
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
(Seller)
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory A. Oniu    
    Name:   Gregory A. Oniu   
    Title:   SVP   
 
  THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(Buyer)
 
 
  By:   RBS Securities Inc., its agent    
     
  By:   /s/ Regina Abayer   
    Name:   Regina Abayer   
    Title:   Vice President   
 

 


 

ANNEX I
Schedule 5
Initial S&D Loan Schedule

 


 

ANNEX II
EXHIBIT A
QUARTERLY CERTIFICATION
     I, _______________________, _______________________ of Nationstar Mortgage LLC (the “Seller”), in accordance with that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, “Agreement”), dated as of January 27, 2010, between the Seller and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC do hereby certify that:
     (a) The Seller is in compliance in all material respects with all provisions and terms of the Agreement and all other Program Documents;
     (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred under the Agreement;
     (c) all material modifications to the Underwriting Guidelines since the date of the most recent disclosure to Buyer of any modification to the Underwriting Guidelines have been provided to the Buyer; and
     (iv) (A) Seller’s Tangible Net Worth, from [________] and thereafter, has at all times exceeded $175,000,000; (B) Seller’s ratio of Total Liabilities to its Tangible Net Worth has not at any time from [________] and thereafter been greater than 9:1; and (C) as of [___], the Seller’s Liquidity is not less than $20,000,000. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Agreement.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate.
Date: _______________, 201__
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      

 


 

         
ANNEX III
EXHIBIT F
REQUIRED FIELDS FOR SERVICING TRANSMISSION
1.   Loan #
 
2.   Borrower Name
 
3.   Address
 
4.   City
 
5.   State
 
6.   Zip
 
7.   Note Amount / Original Balance
 
8.   Interest Rate
 
9.   Term
 
10.   P & I Pymt
 
11.   Property Type
 
12.   Fixed/ARM flag
 
13.   Product Code (e.g. 3/27, 2/28, Fixed, Balloon)
 
14.   Note / Closing Date
 
15.   ARM Index
 
16.   Rate Adjustment Date
 
17.   Rate Adjustment Frequency
 
18.   Initial Periodic Cap
 
19.   Periodic Cap
 
20.   Minimum Rate
 
21.   Maximum Rate
 
22.   MERS Identification #
 
23.   Next Due Date
 
24.   LTV or CLTV (if applicable)
 
25.   Loan Type (Early Purchase Program Loan or non-Early Purchase Program Loan)
 
26.   S&D Loan (yes/no)
 
27.   Wet Loan/Dry Loan
 
28.   If a Loan is an S&D Loan, the reason(s) that such Loan is an S&D Loan
 
29.   First Lien Loan/Alabama Second Lien Loan

F-13


 

ANNEX IV
EXHIBIT G
REQUIRED FIELDS FOR ASSET SCHEDULE
1.   Loan #
 
2.   Borrower Name
 
3.   Address
 
4.   City
 
5.   State
 
6.   Zip
 
7.   Note Amount / Original Balance
 
8.   Interest Rate
 
9.   Term
 
10.   P & I Pymt
 
11.   Property Type
 
12.   Fixed/ARM flag
 
13.   Product Code (e.g. 3/27, 2/28, Fixed, Balloon)
 
14.   Note / Closing Date
 
15.   ARM Index
 
16.   Rate Adjustment Date
 
17.   Rate Adjustment Frequency
 
18.   Initial Periodic Cap
 
19.   Periodic Cap
 
20.   Minimum Rate
 
21.   Maximum Rate
 
22.   MERS Identification #
 
23.   Next Due Date
 
24.   LTV or CLTV (if applicable)
 
25.   Loan Type (Early Purchase Program Loan or non-Early Purchase Program Loan)
 
26.   S&D Loan (yes/no)
 
27.   Wet Loan/Dry Loan
 
28.   If a Loan is an S&D Loan, the reason(s) that such Loan is an S&D Loan
 
29.   First Lien Loan/Alabama Second Lien Loan

F-14


 

EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO
to the
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PRICING SIDE LETTER
Dated as of January 27, 2010
between
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
and
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
     This AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (this “Amendment Number Two”) is made this 25th day of February, 2011 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) between NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC (“Seller”) and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC (“Buyer”), to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Pricing Side Letter, dated as of January 27, 2010, between Seller and Buyer, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Side Letter”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Side Letter.
RECITALS
     WHEREAS, Seller has requested that Buyer agree to amend certain pricing terms and permit certain types of loans to be eligible under the Side Letter as more fully set forth herein; and
     WHEREAS, Seller and Buyer have agreed to amend the Side Letter as set forth herein.
     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and for the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
          SECTION 1. Amendments. As of the Amendment Effective Date, the Side Letter is hereby amended as follows:
     (a) Section 1 of the Side Letter is hereby amended by deleting the definitions “Applicable Margin”, “Commitment Fee Amount”, “Eligible Loan”, “Par Margin Percentage”, “Pricing Rate” and “Purchase Price” in their entirety and replacing them with the following new definitions in proper alphabetical order:
     “Applicable Margin” shall mean, (i) with respect to Eligible Loans and Eligible Participation Certificates, [***] and (ii) with respect to Eligible Securities, [***].
     “Commitment Fee Amount” shall mean an annualized amount equal the product of (i) [***] and (ii) the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price.
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

     “Eligible Loan” shall mean an Early Purchase Program Loan, an S&D Loan, a Non-Conforming Loan or an Agency Takeout Loan secured by a First Lien or a Second Lien (solely in the case of an Alabama Second Lien Loan), in either case on a one to four family residential property and as to which (i) the representations and warranties in Section 12(v) and 12(w) and Schedule 1 of the Agreement are correct, (ii) was originated or acquired by Seller in accordance with Seller’s or Buyer approved third party’s Underwriting Guidelines, (iii) if such Loan is a Dry Loan, contains all Loan Documents required under the Custodial Agreement to be provided to the Custodian for such Loan without Exceptions unless otherwise waived by Buyer, (iv) compiles with any and all requirements of any federal, state or local law including, without limitation, usury, truth-in-lending, all applicable predatory and abusive lending, real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit protection, equal credit opportunity or disclosure laws applicable to the origination and servicing of such Loan and will not involve the violation of any such laws or regulations following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and (v) such other customary criteria for eligibility determined by Buyer shall have been satisfied. No Loan shall be an Eligible Loan:
     (1) in respect of which there is a material breach of a representation and warranty set forth on Schedule 1 or there is an Exception which was not otherwise waived by Buyer;
     (2) which has been released from the possession of the Custodian under Section 6(a) of the Custodial Agreement to the Seller or its bailee for a period in excess of ten (10) calendar days (or if such tenth day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day);
     (3) which has been released from the possession of the Custodian (i) under Section 6(b) of the Custodial Agreement under any Transmittal Letter in excess of the time period stated in such Transmittal Letter for release, or (ii) under Section 6(c) of the Custodial Agreement under an Attorney Bailee Letter, from and after the date such Attorney’s Bailee Letter is terminated or ceases to be in full force and effect;
     (4) if such Loan is not subject to a Takeout Commitment (unless such Loan is a Best Execution Loan);
     (5) if the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Purchased Assets then subject to Transactions, exceeds the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price;
     (6) if such Loan has been subject to Transactions for more than sixty (60) days (whether or not consecutive), unless such Loan is an Agency Eligible Loan or an S&D Loan;
     (7) if such Loan has been subject to Transactions for more than ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive), unless such Loan is an S&D Loan;
     (8) in respect of which (a) the related Mortgaged Property is the subject of a foreclosure proceeding or (b) the related Note has been extinguished under relevant state law in connection with a judgment of foreclosure or foreclosure sale or otherwise;
     (9) if (a) the related Note or the related Mortgage is not genuine or is not the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the maker thereof, subject to no right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim or defense, or (b) such Mortgage, is not a valid, subsisting, enforceable and perfected First Lien on the Mortgaged Property, unless such Loan is an Alabama Second Lien Loan;

 


 

     (10) if such Loan is a Wet Loan subject to Transactions for more than twelve (12) Business Days;
     (11) if such Loan was originated more than thirty (30) days prior to the initial Purchase Date of such Loan, unless such Loan is an S&D Loan;
     (12) if such Loan is not a First Lien Loan, unless such Loan is an Alabama Second Lien Loan;
     (13) if such Loan is thirty (30) or more days past due, unless such Loan is an S&D Loan;
     (14) if such Loan has been delinquent at any time in the past twelve (12) months, unless such Loan is an S&D Loan;
     (15) if such Loan is a Manufactured Home Loan and the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds at any time $3,000,000;
     (16) in respect of which the related Mortgagor is the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding;
     (17) if the related Mortgagor has not made its first contractually due payment on such Loan within thirty (30) days of the related Due Date therefor;
     (18) if such Loan is a Non-Conforming Loan and the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Non-Conforming Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds at any time $10,000,000;
     (19) if such Loan is a Seasoned Agency Eligible Loan and the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Seasoned Agency Eligible Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds at any time 2% of the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Assets then subject to Transactions;
     (20) if such Loan is a Wet Loan, and on any date of determination (other than during the Ramp-up Period), the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Purchased Loans that are Wet Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds 30% of the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price;
     (21) if such Loan is a Wet Loan, and on any date of determination during the Ramp-up Period, the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Purchased Loans that are Wet Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds 40% of the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all Purchased Assets then subject to Transactions;
     (22) if such Loan is an Early Purchase Program Loan and Seller has not completed and transmitted the Applicable Agency Schedule to the applicable Agency in accordance with Section 3(i) of the Agreement;
     (23) if such Loan is an S&D Loan, and the Purchase Price of such Loan, when added to the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price of all S&D Loans then subject to Transactions exceeds $5,000,000;

 


 

     (24) if such Loan is an S&D Loan and such Loan not identified on the Initial S&D Loan Schedule (unless otherwise agreed to by Buyer in its sole discretion); or
     (25) if such Loan is an S&D Loan and the related Mortgage File does not contain an appraisal of the related Mortgage Property signed and dated within six (6) months of the related Purchase Date thereof (or within such other time period as Buyer may request in writing).
     “Par Margin Percentage” shall mean with respect to each Asset, the percentage set forth in the “Par Margin Percentage” column of Exhibit A hereto.
     “Pricing Rate” shall, as of any date of determination, be equal to the sum of (i) the one-month LIBO Rate as of such date of determination plus (ii) the Applicable Margin. The Pricing Rate is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed between the Purchase Date and the Repurchase Date.
     “Purchase Price” shall mean the price at which Purchased Assets are transferred by Seller to Buyer in a Transaction, which shall be equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage and (ii) (x) in the case of Purchased Loans and Purchased Participation Certificates, the lesser of (A) the outstanding principal amount of the related Purchased Loans or the Related Loans, as applicable and (B) the Market Value of the related Purchased Loans or the Related Loans, as applicable and (y) in the case of Purchased Securities, the related Takeout Price.
     (b) Section 1 of the Side Letter is hereby amended by adding the following new definition thereto in proper alphabetical order:
     “Non-Utilization Fee” shall mean a non-utilization fee in an amount equal to the product of (i) fifty basis points (0.50%) per annum, times (ii) the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price, times (iii) 1 minus the Utilization Percentage.
     (c) Section 1 of the Side Letter is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “LIBOR Floor” in its entirety.
     (d) Exhibit A to the Side Letter is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and replaced with the Exhibit A attached hereto as Annex I.
          SECTION 2. Defined Terms. Any terms capitalized but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Side Letter.
          SECTION 3. Fees and Expenses. Seller agrees to pay to Buyer all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with this Amendment Number Two (including all reasonable fees and out of pocket costs and expenses of the Buyer’s legal counsel) in accordance with Sections 23 and 25 of that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2010 (the “Repurchase Agreement”), between Buyer and Seller, as amended from time to time.
          SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment Number Two shall become effective on the Amendment Effective Date, provided that the Buyer shall have received this Amendment Number Two delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Seller and such other documents as the Buyer or counsel to the Buyer may reasonably request.
          SECTION 5. Representations. Seller hereby represents to Buyer that as of the date hereof, Seller is in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Side Letter and each other

 


 

Program Document and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Repurchase Agreement or any other Program Document.
          SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW) AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS DOCTRINE APPLIED IN SUCH STATE (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WHICH SHALL GOVERN).
          SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Amendment Number Two may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same agreement. This Amendment Number Two, to the extent signed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No signatory to this Amendment Number Two shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such Person forever waives any such defense.
          SECTION 8. Limited Effect. Except as amended hereby, the Side Letter shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Reference to this Amendment Number Two need not be made in the Side Letter or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to, or with respect to, the Side Letter, any reference in any of such items to the Side Letter being sufficient to refer to the Side Letter as amended hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Amendment Number Two to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the Amendment Effective Date.
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
(Seller)
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory A. Oniu   
    Name:   Gregory A. Oniu   
    Title:   SVP   
 
 
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(Buyer)
 
 
  By:   RBS Securities Inc., its agent    
     
  By:   /s/ Regina Abayer   
    Name:   Regina Abayer   
    Title:   Vice President   
 

 


 

ANNEX I
EXHIBIT A
                     
    Days Such Assets                
    are Subject to       Applicable   Par Margin   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not                
    consecutive)                
Non-Conforming Loans (other than S&D Loans and Alabama Second Lien Loans) that are Dry Loans   45 or fewer calendar days   (i) $10,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate Purchase Price of all Non-Conforming Loans that are Dry Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive)   96%   [***]   [***]
                     
    between 46 calendar days and 60 calendar days (inclusive)   (i) $10,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate Purchase Price of all Non-Conforming Loans that are Dry Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days   90%   [***]   [***]
                     
    more than 60 calendar days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
                     
Agency Eligible Loans (other than Manufactured Home Loans, S&D Loans and Alabama Second Lien Loans) that are Dry Loans or Securities   45 or fewer calendar days   100%   96%   [***]   [***]
                   
  between 46 calendar days and 60 calendar days(inclusive)   100%   90%   [***]   [***]
                   
  between 61 calendar days and 90 calendar days (inclusive)   2% of aggregate outstanding Purchase Price   80%   [***]   [***]
                   
  more than 90 calendar days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

                     
    Days Such Assets                
    are Subject to       Applicable   Par Margin   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not                
    consecutive)                
Manufactured Home Loans that are Dry Loans   45 or fewer calendar days   (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive) and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 61 days and 90 days (inclusive)   93%   [***]   [***]
                     
    between 46 calendar days and 60 calendar days (inclusive)   (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 61 days and 90 days (inclusive)   88%   [***]   [***]
                     
    between 61 calendar days and 90 calendar days (inclusive)   (i) $3,000,000 minus (ii) the sum of the (x) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for 45 or fewer days and (y) aggregate Purchase Price of all Manufactured Home Loans subject to Transactions (whether or not consecutive) for between 46 days and 60 days (inclusive)   78%   [***]   [***]
                     
    more than 90 calendar days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

                     
    Days Such Assets                
    are Subject to       Applicable   Par Margin   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not                
    consecutive)                
S&D Loans (other than S&D Loans that are Alabama Second Lien Loans)   N/A   $5,000,000   50%   [***]   [***]
                     
Wet Loans (other than Wet Loans that are Alabama Second Lien Loans)   12 or fewer Business Days   30% of Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price (other than during Ramp Up Period)   96%   [***]   [***]
                   
      40% of aggregate outstanding Purchase Price (during Ramp Up Period)            
                     
    more than 12 Business Days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
                     
Alabama Second Lien Loans   N/A   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

                     
    Days Such Assets                
    are Subject to       Applicable   Par Margin   MV Margin
Asset Type   Transactions   Applicable Sublimit   Percentage   Percentage   Percentage
    (whether or not                
    consecutive)                
FNMA and GNMA I Participation Certificates   3 or fewer Business Days   100%   96%   [***]   [***]
                   
  between 4 and 6 Business Days (inclusive)   100%   85%   [***]   [***]
                     
    more than 6 Business Days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
                     
GNMA II Participation Certificates   4 or fewer Business Days   100%   96%   [***]   [***]
                   
  between 5 and 6 Business Days (inclusive)   100%   85%   [***]   [***]
                     
    more than 6 Business Days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
                     
FHLMC Participation Certificates   5 or fewer Business Days   100%   96%   [***]   [***]
                   
  6 Business Days   100%   85%   [***]   [***]
                     
    more than 6 Business Days   0%   0%   [***]   [***]
[***] Note: Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to the information contained within the [***] marking. Such portions have been omitted from this filing and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

EX-10.10 4 y04304a3exv10w10.htm EX-10.10 exv10w10
Exhibit 10.10
SALE AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
 
 
FINANCIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORP.,
as Depositor
CENTEX HOME EQUITY COMPANY, LLC,
as Originator and Servicer
NEWCASTLE MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST 2006-1,
as Issuer
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Indenture Trustee
 
SALE AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 6, 2006
 
Mortgage Loans
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1
 
 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
ARTICLE I
 
       
DEFINITIONS
 
       
Section 1.01.
  Definitions    
Section 1.02.
  Other Definitional Provisions.    
Section 1.03.
  Interest Calculations    
 
       
ARTICLE II
 
       
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
       
Section 2.01.
  Conveyance of Mortgage Loans.    
Section 2.02.
  Acceptance by Indenture Trustee.    
Section 2.03.
  Repurchase or Substitution of Mortgage Loans by the Originator.    
Section 2.04.
  Intentionally Omitted.    
Section 2.05.
  Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer.    
Section 2.06.
  Existence    
 
       
ARTICLE III
 
       
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF MORTGAGE LOANS
 
       
Section 3.01.
  Servicer to Act as Servicer.    
Section 3.02.
  Sub-Servicing Agreements Between Servicer and Sub-Servicers.    
Section 3.03.
  Successor Sub-Servicers.    
Section 3.04.
  Liability of the Servicer.    
Section 3.05.
  No Contractual Relationship Between Sub-Servicers, the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders.    
Section 3.06.
  Assumption or Termination of Sub-Servicing Agreements by the Indenture Trustee.    
Section 3.07.
  Collection of Certain Mortgage Loan Payments.    
Section 3.08.
  Sub-Servicing Accounts.    
Section 3.09.
  Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items; Servicing Accounts.    
Section 3.10.
  Collection Account and Payment Account.    
Section 3.11.
  Withdrawals from the Collection Account and Payment Account.    
Section 3.12.
  Investment of Funds in the Collection Account and the Payment Account.    
Section 3.13.
  [Reserved].    
Section 3.14.
  Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Errors and Omissions and Fidelity Coverage.    
Section 3.15.
  Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements.    
Section 3.16.
  Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans.    
Section 3.17.
  Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files.    
Section 3.18.
  Servicing Compensation.    
Section 3.19.
  Reports to the Indenture Trustee and Others; Collection Account Statements.    
Section 3.20.
  Statement as to Compliance.    

 


 

         
Section 3.21.
  Assessments of Compliance and Attestation Reports.    
Section 3.22.
  Access to Certain Documentation; Filing of Reports by Indenture Trustee.    
Section 3.23.
  Title, Management and Disposition of REO Property.    
Section 3.24.
  Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls.    
Section 3.25.
  [Reserved].    
Section 3.26.
  Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Mortgage Rates and Monthly Payments.    
Section 3.27.
  [Reserved].    
Section 3.28.
  [Reserved].    
Section 3.29.
  Advance Facility.    
 
       
ARTICLE IV
 
       
REMITTANCE REPORTS; ADVANCES; EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING
 
       
Section 4.01.
  Remittance Reports and Advances    
Section 4.02.
  Exchange Act Reporting.    
Section 4.03.
  Swap Account.    
 
       
ARTICLE V
 
       
THE SERVICER AND THE DEPOSITOR
 
       
Section 5.01.
  Liability of the Servicer and the Depositor.    
Section 5.02.
  Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer or the Depositor.    
Section 5.03.
  Limitation on Liability of the Servicer and Others.    
Section 5.04.
  Servicer Not to Resign.    
Section 5.05.
  Delegation of Duties.    
Section 5.06.
  Indemnification.    
Section 5.07.
  Inspection    
 
       
ARTICLE VI
 
       
DEFAULT
 
       
Section 6.01.
  Servicer Events of Termination.    
Section 6.02.
  Indenture Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor.    
Section 6.03.
  Waiver of Defaults.    
Section 6.04.
  Notification to Noteholders.    
Section 6.05.
  Survivability of Servicer Liabilities.    
 
       
ARTICLE VII
 
       
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
       
Section 7.01.
  Amendment    
Section 7.02.
  GOVERNING LAW    
Section 7.03.
  Notices    
Section 7.04.
  Severability of Provisions    
Section 7.05.
  Third-Party Beneficiaries    
Section 7.06.
  Counterparts    
Section 7.07.
  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents    
Section 7.08.
  Termination    

 


 

         
Section 7.09.
  No Petition    
Section 7.10.
  No Recourse    
Section 7.11.
  Indenture Trustee Rights    
Section 7.12.
  Compliance    
Section 7.13.
  Intention of the Parties and Interpretation    
 
       
ARTICLE VIII
 
       
DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
 
       
Section 8.01.
  Administrative Duties.    
Section 8.02.
  Records    
Section 8.03.
  Additional Information to be Furnished    
Section 8.04.
  No Recourse to Owner Trustee    
 
       
EXHIBITS
 
       
Exhibit A
  Form of Assignment Agreement    
Exhibit B
  Mortgage Loan Schedule    
Exhibit C
  Form of Request for Release    
Exhibit D-1
  Form of Indenture Trustee’s Initial Certification    
Exhibit D-2
  Form of Indenture Trustee’s Final Certification    
Exhibit E
  Form of Lost Note Affidavit    
Exhibit F
  Form of Power of Attorney    
Exhibit G-1
  Form of Certification to Be Provided by the Servicer with Form 10-K    
Exhibit G-2
  Form of Certification to Be Provided to the Servicer by the Indenture Trustee    
Exhibit H
  Servicing Criteria    
Exhibit I
  Form 10-D, Form 8-K and Form 10-K Reporting Responsibility    

 


 

          This Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006 (the “Agreement”), among Financial Asset Securities Corp., as Depositor (the “Depositor” ), Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, as Originator and Servicer (the “Originator” and the “Servicer”), Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, as Issuer (the “Issuer”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H   T H A T :
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Assignment and Recognition Agreement, the Depositor will acquire the Mortgage Loans;
          WHEREAS, the Depositor will create Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, a Delaware statutory trust, and will transfer the Mortgage Loans and all of its rights under the Assignment and Recognition Agreement to the Issuer;
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of April 6, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”) among the Depositor, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the “Owner Trustee”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Certificate Registrar and Certificate Paying Agent, the Depositor will convey the Mortgage Loans to the Issuer in exchange for the Notes (as defined below);
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Issuer will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the Trust Certificates, Series 2006-1 (the “Certificates”);
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of April 6, 2006 (the “Indenture”) between the Issuer and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Indenture Trustee”), the Issuer will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue the Asset-Backed Notes Series 2006-1 Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class M-1, Class M-2, Class M-3, Class M-4, Class M-5, Class M-6, Class M-7, Class M-8, Class M-9, Class M-10 and Class M-11 Notes (collectively, the “Notes”); and
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer will service the Mortgage Loans set forth on the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B directly or through one or more Sub-Servicers;
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 Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and Servicing Agreement and in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in this Sale and Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and Servicing Agreement shall refer to this Sale and Servicing Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Sale and Servicing Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this Sale and Servicing Agreement are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to this Sale and Servicing Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term “including” shall mean “including without limitation”.
          (d) The definitions contained in this Sale and 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 Stated Principal Balance of a Mortgage Loan shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, notwithstanding the terms of the related Mortgage Note and Mortgage.

 


 

ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
          Section 2.01. Conveyance of Mortgage Loans.
          The Depositor, concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, does hereby transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey in trust to the Issuer without recourse for the benefit of the Noteholders all the right, title and interest of the Depositor, including any security interest therein for the benefit of the Depositor, in and to (i) each Mortgage Loan identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, including the related Cut-off Date Principal Balance, all interest accruing thereon on and after the Cut-off Date and all collections in respect of interest and principal due after the Cut-off Date; (ii) property which secured each such Mortgage Loan and which has been acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure; (iii) its interest in any insurance policies in respect of the Mortgage Loans; (iv) the rights of the Depositor under the Master Agreement (as assigned to the Depositor pursuant to the terms of the Assignment Agreement); (v) all other assets included or to be included in the Trust Fund; and (vi) all proceeds of any of the foregoing. Such assignment includes all interest and principal due and collected by the Depositor or the Servicer after the Cut-off Date with respect to the Mortgage Loans.
          In connection with such transfer and assignment, the Depositor, does hereby deliver to and deposit with the Indenture Trustee, or the Custodian, the following documents or instruments with respect to each Original Mortgage Loan so transferred and assigned, the following documents or instruments (with respect to each Mortgage Loan, a “Mortgage File”):
          (i) the original Mortgage Note, endorsed either (A) in blank or (B) in the following form: “Pay to the order of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, without recourse” or with respect to any lost Mortgage Note, an original Lost Note Affidavit stating that the original mortgage note was lost, misplaced or destroyed, together with a copy of the related mortgage note; provided, however, that such substitutions of Lost Note Affidavits for original Mortgage Notes may occur only with respect to Mortgage Loans, the aggregate Cut-off Date Principal Balance of which is less than or equal to 1.00% of the Pool Balance as of the Cut-off Date;
          (ii) the original Mortgage (noting the presence of the MIN of the Mortgage Loan and language indicating that the Mortgage Loan is a MOM Loan if the Mortgage Loan is a MOM Loan), with evidence of recording thereon, and the original recorded power of attorney, if the Mortgage was executed pursuant to a power of attorney, with evidence of recording thereon or, if such Mortgage or power of attorney has been submitted for recording but has not been returned from the applicable public recording office, has been lost or is not otherwise available, a copy of such Mortgage or power of attorney, as the case may be, certified to be a true and complete copy of the original submitted for recording;
          (iii) unless the Mortgage Loan is registered on the MERS® System, an original Assignment, in form and substance acceptable for recording. The Mortgage shall be assigned either (A) in blank or (B) to “JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Indenture Trustee, without recourse”;
          (iv) an original of any intervening assignment of Mortgage showing a complete chain of assignments (or to MERS if the Mortgage Loan is registered on the MERS® System and noting the presence of MIN);
          (v) the original or a certified copy of lender’s title insurance policy; and
          (vi) the original or copies of each assumption, modification, written assurance or substitution agreement, if any.
          The Depositor herewith also delivers to the Indenture Trustee an executed copy of the Assignment

 


 

          Agreement and the Master Agreement.
          If any of the documents referred to in Section 2.01(ii), (iii) or (iv) above has as of the Closing Date been submitted for recording but either (x) has not been returned from the applicable public recording office or (y) has been lost or such public recording office has retained the original of such document, the obligations of the Depositor to deliver such documents shall be deemed to be satisfied upon (1) delivery to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian no later than the Closing Date, of a copy of each such document certified by the Originator in the case of (x) above or the applicable public recording office in the case of (y) above to be a true and complete copy of the original that was submitted for recording and (2) if such copy is certified by the Originator, delivery to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian, promptly upon receipt thereof of either the original or a copy of such document certified by the applicable public recording office to be a true and complete copy of the original. If the original lender’s title insurance policy, or a certified copy thereof, was not delivered pursuant to Section 2.01(v) above, the Depositor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian, the original or a copy of a written commitment or interim binder or preliminary report of title issued by the title insurance or escrow company, with the original or a certified copy thereof to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian, promptly upon receipt thereof. The Servicer or the Depositor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian promptly upon receipt thereof any other documents constituting a part of a Mortgage File received with respect to any Mortgage Loan, including, but not limited to, any original documents evidencing an assumption or modification of any Mortgage Loan.
          Upon discovery or receipt of notice of any materially defective document in, or that a document is missing from, a Mortgage File, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Originator of such defect or missing document and request that the Originator deliver such missing document or cure such defect within 90 days from the date the Originator was notified of such missing document or defect, and if the Originator does not deliver such missing document or cure such defect in all material respects during such period, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Originator of its obligation to repurchase such Mortgage Loan from the Trust at the Purchase Price on or prior to the Determination Date following the expiration of such 90 day period (subject to Section 2.03(e)); provided that, in connection with any such breach that could not reasonably have been cured within such 90 day period, if the Originator has commenced to cure such breach within such 90 day period, the Originator shall be permitted to proceed thereafter diligently and expeditiously to cure the same within the additional period provided under the Assignment Agreement.
          Except with respect to any Mortgage Loan for which MERS is identified on the Mortgage, the Indenture Trustee shall enforce the obligations of the Originator under the Master Agreement to cause the Assignments which were delivered in blank to be completed and to record all Assignments referred to in Section 2.01(iii) hereof and, to the extent necessary, in Section 2.01(iv) hereof. The Indenture Trustee shall enforce the obligations of the Originator under the Master Agreement to deliver such assignments for recording within 180 days of the Closing Date. In the event that any such Assignment is lost or returned unrecorded because of a defect therein, the Indenture Trustee shall enforce the obligations of the Originator under the Master Agreement to promptly have a substitute Assignment prepared or have such defect cured, as the case may be, and thereafter cause each such Assignment to be duly recorded.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing, for administrative convenience and facilitation of servicing and to reduce closing costs, the Assignments of Mortgage shall not be required to be submitted for recording (except with respect to any Mortgage Loan located in Maryland) unless the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor receive written notice that such failure to record would result in a withdrawal or a downgrading by any Rating Agency of the rating on any Class of Notes; provided, however, each Assignment, except with respect to any Mortgage Loan for which MERS is identified on the Mortgage, shall be submitted for recording by the Originator in the manner described above, at no expense to the Trust or Indenture Trustee, upon the earliest to occur of: (i) reasonable direction by the Holders of 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, (ii) the occurrence of a Servicer Event of Termination, (iii) the occurrence of a bankruptcy, insolvency or foreclosure relating to the Seller and (iv) the occurrence of a servicing transfer as described in Section 6.02 hereof. In addition to the foregoing, the Servicer shall cause each Assignment of Mortgage to be recorded in accordance with customary servicing practices in order to convey, upon foreclosure, the title of any Mortgaged Property to the Trust as set forth in Section 3.23 hereof. In the event of (i) through (iv) set forth above, the Indenture Trustee shall enforce the obligations of the Originator to deliver such Assignments for recording as provided above, promptly and in any event within 30 days following receipt of notice by the Originator from the Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Originator fails to pay the cost of recording the

 


 

          Assignments, such expense will be paid by the Indenture Trustee and the Indenture Trustee shall be reimbursed for such expenses by the Trust.
          In connection with the assignment of any Mortgage Loan registered on the MERS® System, the Depositor further agrees that it will cause, within 30 Business Days after the Closing Date, the MERS® System to indicate that such Mortgage Loans have been assigned by the Depositor to the Indenture Trustee in accordance with this Sale and Servicing Agreement for the benefit of the Noteholders by including (or deleting, in the case of Mortgage Loans which are repurchased in accordance with this Agreement) in such computer files (a) the code in the field which identifies the specific Indenture Trustee and (b) the code in the field “Pool Field” which identifies the series of the Notes issued in connection with such Mortgage Loans. The Depositor further agrees that it will not, and will not permit the Servicer to, and the Servicer agrees that it will not, alter the codes referenced in this paragraph with respect to any Mortgage Loan during the term of this Agreement unless and until such Mortgage Loan is repurchased in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
          The Servicer shall forward to the Custodian original documents evidencing an assumption, modification, consolidation or extension of any Mortgage Loan entered into in accordance with this Agreement within two weeks of their execution; provided, however, that the Servicer shall provide the Custodian with a certified true copy of any such document submitted for recordation within two weeks of its execution, and shall provide the original of any document submitted for recordation or a copy of such document certified by the appropriate public recording office to be a true and complete copy of the original within 365 days of its submission for recordation. In the event that the Servicer cannot provide a copy of such document certified by the public recording office within such 365 day period, the Servicer shall deliver to the Custodian, within such 365 day period, an Officers’ Certificate of the Servicer which shall (A) identify the recorded document, (B) state that the recorded document has not been delivered to the Custodian due solely to a delay caused by the public recording office, (C) state the amount of time generally required by the applicable recording office to record and return a document submitted for recordation, if known and (D) specify the date the applicable recorded document is expected to be delivered to the Custodian, and, upon receipt of a copy of such document certified by the public recording office, the Servicer shall immediately deliver such document to the Custodian. In the event the appropriate public recording office will not certify as to the accuracy of such document, the Servicer shall deliver a copy of such document certified by an officer of the Servicer to be a true and complete copy of the original to the Custodian.
          Section 2.02. Acceptance by Indenture Trustee.
          Subject to the provisions of Section 2.01 and subject to the review described below and any exceptions noted on the exception report described in the next paragraph below, the Indenture Trustee acknowledges receipt of the documents referred to in Section 2.01 above and declares that it holds and will hold such documents and the other documents delivered to it constituting a Mortgage File, and that it holds or will hold all such assets and such other assets included in the definition of “Trust Estate” in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of all present and future Noteholders.
          The Indenture Trustee agrees, for the benefit of the Noteholders, to review (or to cause the Custodian to review) each Mortgage File no later than the Closing Date (or, with respect to any document delivered after the Closing Date, within 45 days of receipt and with respect to any Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, within 45 days after the assignment thereof). The Indenture Trustee further agrees, for the benefit of the Noteholders, to certify or cause the Custodian to certify to the Depositor and the Servicer in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1, on the Closing Date (or, with respect to any document delivered after the Closing Date, within 45 days of receipt and with respect to any Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, within 45 days after the assignment thereof) that, as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the exception report annexed thereto as not being covered by such certification), (i) all documents required to be delivered to it pursuant Section 2.01 (other than Section 2.01(vi)) of this Agreement and if actually delivered to it, the documents required to be delivered to it pursuant to Section 2.01(vi) of this Agreement 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 its examination of the foregoing documents, the information set forth in the Mortgage Loan Schedule that corresponds to items (i), (iii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xviii), (xxiv) and (xxv), but only as to Gross Margin, Maximum Mortgage Rate and Periodic Rate Cap) of the Mortgage Loan Schedule accurately reflects information set forth in the Mortgage File. It is herein acknowledged that, in conducting such review, the Indenture Trustee (or the Custodian, as applicable) is under no duty or obligation to inspect, review or examine

 


 

          any such documents, instruments, certificates or other papers to determine that they are recordable or genuine, legally enforceable, valid or binding or appropriate for the represented purpose or that they have actually been recorded or that they are other than what they purport to be on their face.
          No later than the first anniversary date of this Agreement, or the following Business Day if such first anniversary date is not a Business Day, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver (or cause the Custodian to deliver) to the Depositor and the Servicer a final certification in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit D-2, with any applicable exceptions noted on the exception report attached thereto.
          If in the process of reviewing the Mortgage Files and making or preparing, as the case may be, the certifications referred to above, the Indenture Trustee (or the Custodian, as applicable) finds any document or documents constituting a part of a Mortgage File to be missing or defective in any material respect, at the conclusion of its review the Indenture Trustee shall so notify the Originator, the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Servicer, such notification to be in the form of an exception report. In addition, upon the discovery by the Depositor or the Servicer (or upon receipt by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee of written notification of such breach) of a breach of any of the representations and warranties made by the Originator in the Master Agreement in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially adversely affects such Mortgage Loan or the interests of the related Noteholders in such Mortgage Loan, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other parties to this Agreement.
          The Depositor and the Issuer intend that the assignment and transfer herein contemplated constitute a sale of the Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Notes and the related documents, conveying good title thereto free and clear of any liens and encumbrances, from the Depositor to the Issuer in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders and that such property not be part of the Depositor’s estate or property of the Depositor in the event of any insolvency by the Depositor. In the event that such conveyance is deemed to be, or to be made as security for, a loan, the parties intend that the Depositor shall be deemed to have granted and does hereby grant to the Issuer a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Depositor’s right, title and interest in and to the Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Notes and the related documents, and that this Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law.
          Section 2.03. Repurchase or Substitution of Mortgage Loans by the Originator.
          (a) Upon discovery or receipt of written notice of any materially defective document in, or that a document is missing from, a Mortgage File or of the breach by the Originator of any representation, warranty or covenant under the Master Agreement in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially adversely affects the value of such Mortgage Loan or the interest therein of the Noteholders, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Originator of such defect, missing document or breach and request that the Originator deliver such missing document or cure such defect or that the Originator cure such breach within 90 days from the date the Originator was notified of such missing document, defect or breach, and if the Originator does not deliver such missing document or cure such defect or if the Originator does not cure such breach in all material respects during such period, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Originator of its obligation to repurchase such Mortgage Loan from the Trust at the Purchase Price on or prior to the Determination Date following the expiration of such 90 day period (subject to Section 2.03(e)); provided that, in connection with any such breach that could not reasonably have been cured within such 90 day period, if the Originator has commenced to cure such breach within such 90 day period, the Originator shall be permitted to proceed thereafter diligently and expeditiously to cure the same within the additional period provided under the Assignment Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent of a breach by the Originator of any representation, warranty or covenant under the Assignment Agreement in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially adversely affects the value of such Mortgage Loan or the interest therein of the Noteholders, the Indenture Trustee shall first request that the Originator cure such breach or repurchase such Mortgage Loan and if the Originator fails to cure such breach or repurchase such Mortgage Loan within 60 days of receipt of such request from the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee shall then request that the Seller cure such breach or repurchase such Mortgage Loan.
          The Purchase Price for the repurchased Mortgage Loan shall be remitted to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account, and the Indenture Trustee, upon receipt of written certification from the Servicer of such deposit, shall release (or cause the Custodian to release) to the Originator the related Mortgage File and shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty, as the Originator shall

 


 

           furnish to it and as shall be necessary to vest in the Originator any Mortgage Loan released pursuant hereto and the Indenture Trustee and the Custodian shall have no further responsibility with regard to such Mortgage File (it being understood that neither the Indenture Trustee nor the Custodian shall have any responsibility for determining the sufficiency of such assignment for its intended purpose). In lieu of repurchasing any such Mortgage Loan as provided above, the Originator may cause such Mortgage Loan to be removed from the Trust (in which case it shall become a Deleted Mortgage Loan) and substitute one or more Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans in the manner and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.03(d); provided, however, the Originator may not substitute for any Mortgage Loan which breaches a representation or warranty regarding abusive or predatory lending laws. It is understood and agreed that the obligation of the Originator to cure or to repurchase (or to substitute for) any Mortgage Loan as to which a document is missing, a material defect in a constituent document exists or as to which such a breach has occurred and is continuing shall constitute the sole remedy (other than any indemnification obligation of the Originator pursuant to the Master Agreement) against the Originator respecting such omission, defect or breach available to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders.
          (b) Within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Servicer or receipt of notice by the Servicer of the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Servicer set forth in Section 2.05 which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Noteholders in any Mortgage Loan, the Servicer shall cure such breach in all material respects.
          (c) As to any Deleted Mortgage Loan for which the Originator substitutes a Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, such substitution shall be effected by the Originator delivering to the Indenture Trustee, for such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, the Mortgage Note, the Mortgage and the Assignment to the Indenture Trustee, and such other documents and agreements, with all necessary endorsements thereon, as are required by Section 2.01, together with an Officers’ Certificate providing that each such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan satisfies the definition thereof and specifying the Substitution Adjustment (as described below), if any, in connection with such substitution. The Indenture Trustee (or the Custodian on its behalf) shall acknowledge receipt for such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and, within 45 days thereafter, shall review such documents as specified in Section 2.02 and deliver to the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Servicer, with respect to such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, a certification substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1, with any applicable exceptions noted thereon. Within one year of the date of substitution, the Indenture Trustee (or the Custodian on its behalf) shall deliver to the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Servicer a certification substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto with respect to such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, with any applicable exceptions noted thereon. Monthly Payments due with respect to Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution are not part of the Trust and will be retained by the Originator. For the month of substitution, payments to Noteholders will reflect the collections and recoveries in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan in the Due Period preceding the month of substitution and the Originator shall thereafter be entitled to retain all amounts subsequently received in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan. The Originator shall give or cause to be given written notice to the Indenture Trustee, who shall forward such notice to the Noteholders, that such substitution has taken place, shall amend the Mortgage Loan Schedule to reflect the removal of such Deleted Mortgage Loan from the terms of this Agreement and the substitution of the Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and shall deliver a copy of such amended Mortgage Loan Schedule to the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer and the Custodian. Upon such substitution by the Originator such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans shall constitute part of the Mortgage Pool and shall be subject in all respects to the terms of this Agreement and the Assignment Agreement, including all applicable representations and warranties thereof included in the Assignment Agreement as of the date of substitution.
          (d) For any month in which the Originator substitutes one or more Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans for one or more Deleted Mortgage Loans, the Servicer will determine the amount (the “Substitution Adjustment”), if any, by which the aggregate Purchase Price of all such Deleted Mortgage Loans exceeds the aggregate, as to each such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, of the Stated Principal Balance thereof as of the date of substitution, together with one month’s interest on such Stated Principal Balance at the applicable Mortgage Rate. On the date of such substitution, the Originator will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account an amount equal to the Substitution Adjustment, if any, and the Indenture Trustee, upon receipt of the related Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and certification by the Servicer of such deposit, shall release (or shall cause the Custodian to release) to the Originator the related Mortgage File or Files and shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty, as the Originator shall deliver to it and as shall be necessary to vest therein any Deleted Mortgage Loan released pursuant hereto.

 


 

          Section 2.04. Intentionally Omitted.
          Section 2.05. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer.
          The Servicer hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Issuer and for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans and the Noteholders, and to the Depositor, that as of the Closing Date or as of such date specifically provided herein:
          (i) The Servicer is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all licenses necessary to carry on its business as now being conducted and is licensed, qualified and in good standing in the states where the Mortgaged Property is located (or is otherwise exempt under applicable law from such qualification) if the laws of such state require licensing or qualification in order to conduct business of the type conducted by the Servicer or to ensure the enforceability or validity of each Mortgage Loan; the Servicer has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform in accordance herewith; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (including all instruments of transfer to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement) and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized; this Agreement and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, evidences the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Servicer, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; and all requisite corporate action has been taken by the Servicer to make this Agreement and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer valid and binding upon the Servicer in accordance with its terms;
          (ii) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are in the ordinary course of business of the Servicer and will not result in the material breach of any term or provision of the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Servicer or result in the breach of any term or provision of, or conflict with or constitute a default under or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any agreement, indenture or loan or credit agreement or other instrument to which the Servicer or its property is subject, or result in the violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree to which the Servicer or its property is subject;
          (iii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Servicer and the performance and compliance with its obligations and covenants hereunder do not require the consent or approval of any governmental authority or, if such consent or approval is required, it has been obtained;
          (iv) [Reserved];
          (v) The Servicer does not believe, nor does it have any reason or cause to believe, that it cannot perform each and every covenant contained in this Agreement;
          (vi) There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Servicer that, either individually or in the aggregate, (A) may result in any change in the business, operations, financial condition, properties or assets of the Servicer that might prohibit or materially and adversely affect the performance by such Servicer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement, or (B) may result in any material impairment of the right or ability of the Servicer to carry on its business substantially as now conducted, or (C) would draw into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any action taken or to be taken in connection with the obligations of the Servicer contemplated herein, or (D) would otherwise be likely to impair materially the ability of the Servicer to perform under the terms of this Agreement;

 


 

          (vii) Neither this Agreement nor any information, certificate of an officer, statement furnished in writing or report delivered to the Indenture Trustee by the Servicer in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact;
          (viii) The Servicer will not waive any Prepayment Charge unless it is waived in accordance with the standard set forth in Section 3.01; and
          (ix) The Servicer has accurately and fully reported, and will continue to accurately and fully report on a monthly basis, its borrower credit files for the Mortgage Loans to each of the three national credit repositories in a timely manner.
          The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any termination of the Servicer hereunder.
          It is understood and agreed that the representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Section 2.05 shall survive delivery of the Mortgage Files to the Indenture Trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor, the Noteholders and the Holders of the Certificates. Upon discovery by any of the Depositor, the Servicer or the Indenture Trustee of a breach of any of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants which materially and adversely affects the value of any Mortgage Loan, Prepayment Charge or the interests therein of the Noteholders, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice (but in no event later than two Business Days following such discovery) to the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Servicer or receipt of notice by the Servicer of the breach of the representation or covenant of the Servicer set forth in Section 2.05(viii) above which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates in any Prepayment Charge, the Servicer must pay the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge, for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates, by depositing such amount into the Collection Account. The foregoing shall not, however, limit any remedies available to the Noteholders, the Holders of the Certificates, the Depositor or the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders and, pursuant to the Master Agreement respecting a breach of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Originator.
          Section 2.06. Existence. The Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a statutory 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 Agreement.

 


 

ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION ANDSERVICING OF MORTGAGE LOANS
          Section 3.01. Servicer to Act as Servicer.
          The Servicer shall service and administer the Mortgage Loans on behalf of the Trust and in the best interests of and for the benefit of the Noteholders (as determined by the Servicer in its reasonable judgment) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Mortgage Loans and, to the extent consistent with such terms, in the same manner in which it services and administers similar mortgage loans for its own portfolio, giving due consideration to customary and usual standards of practice of mortgage lenders and loan servicers administering similar mortgage loans but without regard to:
          (i) any relationship that the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer or any Affiliate of the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer may have with the related Mortgagor;
          (ii) the ownership or non-ownership of any Note by the Servicer or any Affiliate of the Servicer;
          (iii) the Servicer’s obligation to make Advances or Servicing Advances; or
          (iv) the Servicer’s or any Sub-Servicer’s right to receive compensation for its services hereunder or with respect to any particular transaction.
          To the extent consistent with the foregoing, the Servicer (a) shall seek to maximize the timely and complete recovery of principal and interest on the Mortgage Notes and (b) shall waive (or permit a Sub-Servicer to waive) a Prepayment Charge only under the following circumstances: (i) such waiver is standard and customary in servicing similar Mortgage Loans, (ii) such waiver relates to a default or a reasonably foreseeable default and would, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer, maximize recovery of total proceeds taking into account the value of such Prepayment Charge and the related Mortgage Loan, (iii) the collection of such Prepayment Charge would be in violation of applicable laws or (iv) such waiver is in accordance with the Servicer’s internal policies. If a Prepayment Charge is waived as permitted by meeting the standard described in clause (iii) above, then the Servicer shall make commercially reasonable efforts to enforce the Indenture Trustee’s rights under the Master Agreement including the obligation of the Originator to pay the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates. If the Servicer makes a good faith determination, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate delivered by the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee, that the Servicer’s efforts are not reasonably expected to be successful in enforcing such rights, it shall notify the Indenture Trustee of such failure, and the Indenture Trustee shall enforce the obligation of the Originator under the Master Agreement to pay to the Servicer the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge. If a Prepayment Charge is waived as permitted by meeting the standard described in clause (iv) above, then the Servicer shall deposit the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates.
          Subject only to the above-described servicing standards and the terms of this Agreement and of the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer shall have full power and authority, acting alone or through Sub-Servicers as provided in Section 3.02, to do or cause to be done any and all things in connection with such servicing and administration which it may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Servicer, in the name of the Trust, is hereby authorized and empowered by the Indenture Trustee when the Servicer believes it appropriate in its best judgment in accordance with the Servicing Standard, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Trust, the Issuer, the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, any and all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge, and all

 


 

          other comparable instruments, with respect to the Mortgage Loans and the Mortgaged Properties and to institute foreclosure proceedings or obtain a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure so as to convert the ownership of such properties, and to hold or cause to be held title to such properties, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders. The Servicer shall service and administer the Mortgage Loans in accordance with applicable state and federal law and shall provide to the Mortgagors any reports required to be provided to them thereby. The Servicer shall also comply in the performance of this Agreement with all reasonable rules and requirements of each insurer under any standard hazard insurance policy. Subject to Section 3.17, within five (5) days of the Closing Date, the Indenture Trustee shall execute and furnish to the Servicer and any Sub-Servicer any limited powers of attorney in the form of Exhibit F hereto and other documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer to carry out their servicing and administrative duties hereunder; provided, such limited powers of attorney or other documents shall be prepared by the Servicer and submitted to the Indenture Trustee for execution. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for the actions by the Servicer or any Sub-Servicers under such powers of attorney and shall be indemnified by the Servicer (from its own funds without any right of reimbursement from the Collection Account), for any costs, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Indenture Trustee in connection with the use or misuse of such powers of attorney.
          The Servicer further is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, in its own name or in the name of the Sub-Servicer, when the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, as the case may be, believes it is appropriate in its best judgment to register any Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System, or cause the removal from the registration of any Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders or any of them, any and all instruments of assignment and other comparable instruments with respect to such assignment or re-recording of a Mortgage in the name of MERS, solely as nominee for the Indenture Trustee and its successors and assigns. Any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the actions described in the preceding sentence or as a result of MERS discontinuing or becoming unable to continue operations in connection with the MERS® System, shall be reimbursable to the Servicer by withdrawal from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.11.
          Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, in accordance with the standards of the preceding paragraph, the Servicer, on escrowed accounts, shall advance or cause to be advanced funds as necessary for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged Properties, which advances shall be Servicing Advances reimbursable in the first instance from related collections from the Mortgagors pursuant to Section 3.09, and further as provided in Section 3.11. Any cost incurred by the Servicer or by Sub-Servicers in effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on a Mortgaged Property shall not, for the purpose of calculating payments to Noteholders, be added to the unpaid Stated Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, notwithstanding that the terms of such Mortgage Loan so permit.
          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Servicer may not make any future advances with respect to a Mortgage Loan (except as provided in Section 4.01) and the Servicer shall not permit any modification with respect to any Mortgage Loan that would change the Mortgage Rate, reduce or increase the Stated Principal Balance (except for reductions resulting from actual payments of principal) or change the final maturity date on such Mortgage Loan, (unless, in any such case, as provided in Section 3.07, the Mortgagor is in default with respect to the Mortgage Loan or such default is, in the judgment of the Servicer, reasonably foreseeable). In addition, neither the Servicer nor the Indenture Trustee shall, under any circumstance, be permitted to sell any Mortgage Loan (other than with respect to the exercise of an optional purchase pursuant to Section 3.16(c) hereof or an optional redemption pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture).
          Section 3.02. Sub-Servicing Agreements Between Servicer and Sub-Servicers.
          (a) The Servicer may enter into Sub-Servicing Agreements with Sub-Servicers, which may be Affiliates of the Servicer, for the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans; provided, however, such sub-servicing arrangement and the terms of the related Sub-Servicing Agreement must provide for the servicing of the Mortgage Loans in a manner consistent with the servicing arrangement contemplated hereunder and in accordance with the Servicing Standard. The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to acknowledge, at the request of the Servicer, any Sub-Servicing Agreement. No such acknowledgment shall be deemed to imply that the Indenture Trustee has consented to any such Sub-Servicing Agreement, has passed upon whether such Sub-Servicing Agreement meets the requirements applicable to Sub-Servicing Agreements set forth in this Agreement or has passed upon whether such Sub-Servicing Agreement is otherwise permitted

 


 

          under this Agreement.
          Each Sub-Servicer shall be (i) authorized to transact business in the state or states where the related Mortgaged Properties it is to service are situated, if and to the extent required by applicable law to enable the Sub-Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Sub-Servicing Agreement and (ii) a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae approved mortgage servicer. Each Sub-Servicing Agreement must impose on the Sub-Servicer requirements conforming to the provisions set forth in Section 3.08 and provide for servicing of the Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this Agreement. The Servicer will examine each Sub-Servicing Agreement and will be familiar with the terms thereof. The terms of any Sub-Servicing Agreement will not be inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Agreement. Any variation in any Sub-Servicing Agreements from the provisions set forth in Section 3.08 relating to insurance or priority requirements of Sub-Servicing Accounts, or credits and charges to the Sub-Servicing Accounts or the timing and amount of remittances by the Sub-Servicers to the Servicer, are conclusively deemed to be inconsistent with this Agreement and therefore prohibited. The Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee copies of all Sub-Servicing Agreements, and any amendments or modifications thereof, promptly upon the Servicer’s execution and delivery of such instruments.
          (b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, shall enforce the obligations of each Sub-Servicer under the related Sub-Servicing Agreement, including, without limitation, any obligation to make advances in respect of delinquent payments as required by a Sub-Servicing Agreement. Such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims, termination of Sub-Servicing 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 Servicer, in its good faith business judgment, would require were it the owner of the related Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall pay the costs of such enforcement at its own expense, and shall be reimbursed therefor only (i) from a general recovery resulting from such enforcement, to the extent, if any, that such recovery exceeds all amounts due in respect of the related Mortgage Loans, 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 Sub-Servicers.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to terminate any Sub-Servicing Agreement and the rights and obligations of any Sub-Servicer pursuant to any Sub-Servicing Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Sub-Servicing Agreement. In the event of termination of any Sub-Servicer, all servicing obligations of such Sub-Servicer shall be assumed simultaneously by the Servicer without any act or deed on the part of such Sub-Servicer or the Servicer, and the Servicer either shall service directly the related Mortgage Loans or shall enter into a Sub-Servicing Agreement with a successor Sub-Servicer which qualifies under Section 3.02.
          Any Sub-Servicing Agreement shall include the provision that such agreement may be immediately terminated by the Servicer or the Indenture Trustee (if the Indenture Trustee is acting as Servicer) without fee, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in the event that the Servicer (or the Indenture Trustee, if such party is then acting as Servicer) shall, for any reason, no longer be the Servicer (including termination due to a Servicer Event of Termination).
          Section 3.04. Liability of the Servicer.
          Notwithstanding any Sub-Servicing Agreement or the provisions of this Agreement relating to agreements or arrangements between the Servicer and a Sub-Servicer or reference to actions taken through a Sub-Servicer or otherwise, the Servicer shall remain obligated and primarily liable to the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders for the servicing and administering of the Mortgage Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 without diminution of such obligation or liability by virtue of such Sub-Servicing Agreements or arrangements or by virtue of indemnification from the Sub-Servicer and to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the Servicer alone were servicing and administering the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall be entitled to enter into any agreement with a Sub-Servicer for indemnification of the Servicer by such Sub-Servicer and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such indemnification.

 


 

          Section 3.05. No Contractual Relationship Between Sub-Servicers, the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders.
          Any Sub-Servicing Agreement that may be entered into and any transactions or services relating to the Mortgage Loans involving a Sub-Servicer in its capacity as such shall be deemed to be between the Sub-Servicer and the Servicer alone, and the Indenture Trustee or Noteholders shall not be deemed parties thereto and shall have no claims, rights, obligations, duties or liabilities with respect to the Sub-Servicer except as set forth in Section 3.06. The Servicer shall be solely liable for all fees owed by it to any Sub-Servicer, irrespective of whether the Servicer’s compensation pursuant to this Agreement is sufficient to pay such fees.
          Section 3.06. Assumption or Termination of Sub-Servicing Agreements by the Indenture Trustee.
          In the event the Servicer shall for any reason no longer be the servicer (including by reason of the occurrence of a Servicer Event of Termination), the Indenture Trustee, pursuant to its duties under Section 6.02, shall thereupon assume all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer under each Sub-Servicing Agreement that the Servicer may have entered into, unless the Indenture Trustee elects to terminate any Sub-Servicing Agreement in accordance with its terms as provided in Section 3.03. Upon such assumption, the Indenture Trustee (or the successor servicer appointed pursuant to Section 6.02) shall be deemed, subject to Section 3.03, to have assumed all of the departing Servicer’s interest therein and to have replaced the departing Servicer as a party to each Sub-Servicing Agreement to the same extent as if each Sub-Servicing Agreement had been assigned to the assuming party, except that (i) the departing Servicer shall not thereby be relieved of any liability or obligations under any Sub-Servicing Agreement that arose before it ceased to be the Servicer and (ii) neither the Indenture Trustee nor any successor Servicer shall be deemed to have assumed any liability or obligation of the Servicer that arose before it ceased to be the Servicer.
          The Servicer at its expense shall, upon request of the Indenture Trustee, deliver to the assuming party all documents and records relating to each Sub-Servicing Agreement and the Mortgage Loans then being serviced and an accounting of amounts collected and held by or on behalf of it, and otherwise use its best efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the Sub-Servicing Agreements to the assuming party. All Servicing Transfer Costs shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs, and if such predecessor Servicer defaults in its obligation to pay such costs, such costs shall be paid by the successor Servicer or the Indenture Trustee (in which case the successor Servicer or the Indenture Trustee, as applicable, shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor from the assets of the Trust).
          Section 3.07. Collection of Certain Mortgage Loan Payments.
          The Servicer shall make reasonable efforts, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, to collect all payments called for under the terms and provisions of the Mortgage Loans and the provisions of any applicable insurance policies provided to the Servicer. Consistent with the foregoing, the Servicer may in its discretion (i) waive any late payment charge or, if applicable, any penalty interest, or any provisions of any Mortgage Loan requiring the related Mortgagor to submit to mandatory arbitration with respect to disputes arising thereunder or (ii) extend the due dates for the Monthly Payments due on a Mortgage Note for a period of not greater than 180 days; provided, however, that any extension pursuant to clause (ii) above shall not affect the amortization schedule of any Mortgage Loan for purposes of any computation hereunder, except as provided below. In the event of any such arrangement pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Servicer shall make timely Advances on such Mortgage Loan during such extension pursuant to Section 4.01 and in accordance with the amortization schedule of such Mortgage Loan without modification thereof by reason of such arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Mortgage Loan is in default or, in the judgment of the Servicer, such default is reasonably foreseeable, the Servicer, consistent with the standards set forth in Section 3.01, may also waive, modify or vary any term of such Mortgage Loan (including modifications that would change the Mortgage Rate, forgive the payment of principal or interest or extend the final maturity date of such Mortgage Loan), accept payment from the related Mortgagor of an amount less than the Stated Principal Balance in final satisfaction of such Mortgage Loan, or consent to the postponement of strict compliance with any such term or otherwise grant indulgence to any Mortgagor (any and all such waivers, modifications, variances, forgiveness of principal or interest, postponements, or indulgences collectively referred to herein as “forbearance”). The Servicer’s analysis supporting any forbearance and the conclusion that any forbearance meets the

 


 

          standards of Section 3.01 shall be reflected in writing in the Mortgage File.
          Section 3.08. Sub-Servicing Accounts.
          In those cases where a Sub-Servicer is servicing a Mortgage Loan pursuant to a Sub- Servicing Agreement, the Sub-Servicer will be required to establish and maintain one or more accounts (collectively, the “Sub-Servicing Account”). The Sub-Servicing Account shall be an Eligible Account and shall comply with all requirements of this Agreement relating to the Collection Account. The Sub-Servicer shall deposit in the clearing account in which it customarily deposits payments and collections on mortgage loans in connection with its mortgage loan servicing activities on a daily basis, and in no event more than one Business Day after the Sub-Servicer’s receipt thereof, all proceeds of Mortgage Loans received by the Sub-Servicer less its servicing compensation to the extent permitted by the Sub-Servicing Agreement, and shall thereafter deposit such amounts in the Sub-Servicing Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the receipt of such amounts. The Sub-Servicer shall thereafter deposit such proceeds in the Collection Account or remit such proceeds to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account not later than two Business Days after the deposit of such amounts in the Sub-Servicing Account. For purposes of this Agreement, the Servicer shall be deemed to have received payments on the Mortgage Loans when the Sub-Servicer receives such payments.
          Section 3.09. Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items; Servicing Accounts.
          To the extent required by the related Mortgage Note, the Servicer shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, one or more accounts (the “Escrow Accounts”), into which all Escrow Payments shall be deposited and retained. Escrow Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts. The Servicer shall deposit in the clearing account in which it customarily deposits payments and collections on mortgage loans in connection with its mortgage loan servicing activities, all Escrow Payments collected on account of the Mortgage Loans and shall deposit in the Escrow Accounts, in no event more than two Business Days after the receipt of such Escrow Payments, all Escrow Payments collected on account of the Mortgage Loans for the purpose of effecting the payment of any such items as required under the terms of this Agreement. Withdrawals of amounts from an Escrow Account may be made only to (i) effect payment of taxes, assessments, hazard insurance premiums, and comparable items in a manner and at a time that assures that the lien priority of the Mortgage is not jeopardized (or, with respect to the payment of taxes, in a manner and at a time that avoids the loss of the Mortgaged Property due to a tax sale or the foreclosure as a result of a tax lien); (ii) reimburse the Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer to the extent provided in the related Sub-Servicing Agreement) out of related collections for any Servicing Advances made pursuant to Section 3.01 (with respect to taxes and assessments) and Section 3.14 (with respect to hazard insurance); (iii) refund to Mortgagors any sums as may be determined to be overages; (iv) pay interest, if required and as described below, to Mortgagors on balances in the Escrow Account; or (v) clear and terminate the Escrow Account at the termination of the Servicer’s obligations and responsibilities in respect of the Mortgage Loans under this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.07 of the Indenture. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in a Escrow Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from such Escrow Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. The Servicer will be responsible for the administration of the Escrow Accounts and will be obligated to make Servicing Advances to such accounts when and as necessary to avoid the lapse of insurance coverage on the Mortgaged Property, or which the Servicer knows, or in the exercise of the required standard of care of the Servicer hereunder should know, is necessary to avoid the loss of the Mortgaged Property due to a tax sale or the foreclosure as a result of a tax lien. If any such payment has not been made and the Servicer receives notice of a tax lien with respect to the Mortgage being imposed, the Servicer will, within 10 Business Days of receipt of such notice, advance or cause to be advanced funds necessary to discharge such lien on the Mortgaged Property. As part of its servicing duties, the Servicer or any Sub-Servicers shall pay to the Mortgagors interest on funds in the Escrow Accounts, to the extent required by law and, to the extent that interest earned on funds in the Escrow Accounts is insufficient, to pay such interest from its or their own funds, without any reimbursement therefor. The Servicer may pay to itself any excess interest on funds in the Escrow Accounts, to the extent such action is in conformity with the Servicing Standard, is permitted by law and such amounts are not required to be paid to Mortgagors or used for any of the other purposes set forth above.
          Section 3.10. Collection Account and Payment Account.

 


 

          (a) On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, one or more accounts (such account or accounts, the “Collection Account”), held in trust for the benefit of the Trust, the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders. On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited in the Collection Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the Servicer’s receipt thereof, as and when received or as otherwise required hereunder, the following payments and collections received or made by it subsequent to the Cut-off Date (other than in respect of principal or interest on the Mortgage Loans due on or before the Cut-off Date) or payments (other than Principal Prepayments) received by it on or prior to the Cut-off Date but allocable to a Due Period subsequent thereto:
          (i) all payments on account of principal, including Principal Prepayments (but not Prepayment Charges), on the Mortgage Loans;
          (ii) all payments on account of interest (net of the Servicing Fee) on each Mortgage Loan;
          (iii) all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds, Subsequent Recoveries and condemnation proceeds (other than proceeds collected in respect of any particular REO Property and amounts paid in connection with the redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture) and Subsequent Recoveries;
          (iv) any amounts required to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.12 in connection with any losses realized on Permitted Investments with respect to funds held in the Collection Account;
          (v) any amounts required to be deposited by the Servicer pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 3.14(a) in respect of any blanket policy deductibles;
          (vi) all proceeds of any Mortgage Loan repurchased or purchased in accordance with Section 2.03, Section 3.16(c) or Section 8.07 of the Indenture;
          (vii) all amounts required to be deposited in connection with Substitution Adjustments pursuant to Section 2.03; and
          (viii) all Prepayment Charges collected by the Servicer in connection with the Principal Prepayment of any of the Mortgage Loans.
          The foregoing requirements for deposit in the Collection Account shall be exclusive, it being understood and agreed that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, payments in the nature of Servicing Fees, late payment charges, Prepayment Interest Excess, assumption fees, insufficient funds charges and ancillary income (other than Prepayment Charges) need not be deposited by the Servicer in the Collection Account and may be retained by the Servicer as additional compensation. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
          (b) On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee in immediately available funds for deposit in the Payment Account on or before 4:00 p.m. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date, that portion of the Available Funds (calculated without regard to the references in the definition thereof to amounts that may be withdrawn from the Payment Account) for the related Payment Date then on deposit in the Collection Account, the amount of all Prepayment Charges collected during the applicable Prepayment Period by the Servicer in connection with the Principal Prepayment of any of the Mortgage Loans then on deposit in the Collection Account, the amount of any funds reimbursable to an Advancing Person pursuant to Section 3.29 (unless such amounts are to be remitted in another manner as specified in the documentation establishing the related Advance Facility).

 


 

          (c) Funds in the Collection Account may be invested in Permitted Investments in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 3.12. The Servicer shall give notice to the Indenture Trustee of the location of the Collection Account maintained by it when established and prior to any change thereof. The Indenture Trustee shall give notice to the Servicer, the Sponsor and the Depositor of the location of the Payment Account when established and prior to any change thereof.
          (d) Funds held in the Collection Account at any time may be delivered by the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in an account (which may be the Payment Account and must satisfy the standards for the Payment Account as set forth in the definition thereof) and for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part of the Collection Account; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee shall have the sole authority to withdraw any funds held pursuant to this subsection (d). In the event the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in the Payment Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time request that the Indenture Trustee withdraw such amount from the Payment Account and remit to it any such amount, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In addition, the Servicer, with respect to items (i) through (iv) below, shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee from time to time for deposit, and the Indenture Trustee, with respect to items (i) through (iv) below, shall so deposit, in the Payment Account:
          (i) any Advances, as required pursuant to Section 4.01;
          (ii) any amounts required to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.23(d) or (f) in connection with any REO Property;
          (iii) any Compensating Interest to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.24 in connection with any Prepayment Interest Shortfall; and
          (iv) any amounts required to be paid to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Agreement, including, but not limited to Section 3.06 and Section 6.02.
          Section 3.11. Withdrawals from the Collection Account and Payment Account.
          (a) The Servicer shall, from time to time, make withdrawals from the Collection Account for any of the following purposes or as described in Section 4.01:
          (i) to remit to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in the Payment Account the amounts required to be so remitted pursuant to Section 3.10(b) or permitted to be so remitted pursuant to the first sentence of Section 3.10(d);
          (ii) subject to Section 3.16(d), to reimburse the Servicer for (a) any unreimbursed Advances to the extent of amounts received which represent Late Collections (net of the related Servicing Fees), Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds and Subsequent Recoveries on Mortgage Loans or REO Properties with respect to which such Advances were made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.01; or (b) without limiting any right of withdrawal set forth in clause (vi) below, any unreimbursed Advances that, upon a Final Recovery Determination with respect to such Mortgage Loan, are Nonrecoverable Advances, but only to the extent that Late Collections (net of the related Servicing Fees), Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan are insufficient to reimburse the Servicer for such unreimbursed Advances;
          (iii) subject to Section 3.16(d), to pay the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer (a) any unpaid Servicing Fees, (b) any unreimbursed Servicing Advances with respect to each Mortgage Loan, but only to the extent of any Late Collections, Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan or REO Property, and (c) without limiting any right of withdrawal set forth in clause (vi) below, any Servicing Advances made with respect to a Mortgage Loan that, upon a Final Recovery Determination with respect to such

 


 

          Mortgage Loan are Nonrecoverable Advances, but only to the extent that Late Collections, Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan are insufficient to reimburse the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer for Servicing Advances;
          (iv) to pay to the Servicer as additional servicing compensation (in addition to the Servicing Fee) on the Servicer Remittance Date any interest or investment income earned on funds deposited in the Collection Account;
          (v) to pay itself or the Seller with respect to each Mortgage Loan that has previously been purchased or replaced pursuant to Section 2.03 or Section 3.16(c) all amounts received thereon subsequent to the date of purchase or substitution, as the case may be;
          (vi) to reimburse the Servicer for any Advance or Servicing Advance previously made which the Servicer has determined to be a Nonrecoverable Advance in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.01;
          (vii) to pay, or to reimburse the Servicer for Servicing Advances in respect of, expenses incurred in connection with any Mortgage Loan pursuant to Section 3.16(b);
          (viii) to reimburse the Servicer for expenses incurred by or reimbursable to the Servicer pursuant to Section 5.03;
          (ix) to pay itself any Prepayment Interest Excess; and
          (x) to clear and terminate the Collection Account.
          The foregoing requirements for withdrawal from the Collection Account shall be exclusive. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
          The 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, to the extent held by or on behalf of it, pursuant to subclauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) above. The Servicer shall provide written notification to the Indenture Trustee, on or prior to the next succeeding Servicer Remittance Date, upon making any withdrawals from the Collection Account pursuant to subclause (vi) above; provided that an Officers’ Certificate in the form described under Section 4.01(d) shall suffice for such written notification to the Indenture Trustee in respect hereof.
          (b) The Indenture Trustee shall, from time to time, make withdrawals from the Payment Account, for any of the following purposes, without priority:
          (i) to make payments in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture;
          (ii) to pay and reimburse itself and the Owner Trustee amounts to which it or the Owner Trustee is entitled pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture;
          (iii) to clear and terminate the Payment Account pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture;
          (iv) to pay any amounts required to be paid to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to funds required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.01, Section 3.06 and Section 6.02 and Section 3.05 and Section 6.07 of the Indenture; and

 


 

          (v) to pay to an Advancing Person reimbursements for Advances and/or Servicing Advances pursuant to Section 3.29.
          Section 3.12. Investment of Funds in the Collection Account and the Payment Account.
          (a) The Servicer may direct any depository institution maintaining the Collection Account and any REO Account to invest the funds on deposit in such accounts (each such account, for the purposes of this Section 3.12, an “Investment Account”). All investments pursuant to this Section 3.12 shall be in one or more Permitted Investments bearing interest or sold at a discount, and maturing, unless payable on demand, (i) no later than the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which such funds are required to be withdrawn from such account pursuant to this Agreement, if a Person other than the Indenture Trustee is the obligor thereon or if such investment is managed or advised by a Person other than the Indenture Trustee or an Affiliate of the Indenture Trustee, and (ii) no later than the date on which such funds are required to be withdrawn from such account pursuant to this Agreement, if the Indenture Trustee is the obligor thereon or if such investment is managed or advised by the Indenture Trustee or any Affiliate or if the Indenture Trustee or any Affiliate of the Indenture Trustee is the Custodian, sub-custodian or administrator. All such Permitted Investments shall be held to maturity, unless payable on demand. Any investment of funds in an Investment Account shall be made in the name of the Indenture Trustee (in its capacity as such), or in the name of a nominee of the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to sole possession (except with respect to investment direction of funds held in the Collection Account and any REO Account, and any income and gain realized thereon) over each such investment, and any certificate or other instrument evidencing any such investment shall be delivered directly to the Indenture Trustee or its agent, together with any document of transfer necessary to transfer title to such investment to the Indenture Trustee or its nominee. In the event amounts on deposit in an Investment Account are at any time invested in a Permitted Investment payable on demand, the Indenture Trustee shall:
     (x) consistent with any notice required to be given thereunder, demand that payment thereon be made on the last day such Permitted Investment may otherwise mature hereunder in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) all amounts then payable thereunder and (2) the amount required to be withdrawn on such date; and
     (y) demand payment of all amounts due thereunder promptly upon determination by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee that such Permitted Investment would not constitute a Permitted Investment in respect of funds thereafter on deposit in the Investment Account.
          (b) All income and gain realized from the investment of funds deposited in the Collection Account and any REO Account held by or on behalf of the Servicer shall be for the benefit of the Servicer and shall be subject to its withdrawal in accordance with Section 3.11 or Section 3.23, as applicable. The Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account or any REO Account, as applicable, the amount of any loss of principal incurred in respect of any such Permitted Investment made with funds in such Account immediately upon realization of such loss.
          (c) Funds on deposit in the Payment Account shall be held uninvested.
          (d) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any default occurs in the making of a payment due under any Permitted Investment, or if a default occurs in any other performance required under any Permitted Investment, the Indenture Trustee may and, upon the request of the Holders of the 50% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, shall take such action as may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, including the institution and prosecution of appropriate proceedings.
          Section 3.13. [Reserved].
          Section 3.14. Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Errors and Omissions and Fidelity Coverage.

 


 

          (a) The Servicer shall cause to be maintained for each Mortgage Loan hazard insurance with extended coverage on the Mortgaged Property in an amount which is at least equal to the lesser of (i) the current Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan and (ii) the amount necessary to fully compensate for any damage or loss to the improvements that are a part of such property on a replacement cost basis, in each case in an amount not less than such amount as is necessary to avoid the application of any coinsurance clause contained in the related hazard insurance policy. The Servicer shall also cause to be maintained hazard insurance with extended coverage on each REO Property in an amount which is at least equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the improvements which are a part of such property and (ii) the outstanding Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan at the time it became an REO Property. The Servicer will comply in the performance of this Agreement with all reasonable rules and requirements of each insurer under any such hazard policies. Any amounts to be collected by the Servicer under any such policies (other than amounts to be applied to the restoration or repair of the property subject to the related Mortgage or amounts to be released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the procedures that the Servicer would follow in servicing loans held for its own account, subject to the terms and conditions of the related Mortgage and Mortgage Note) shall be deposited in the Collection Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.11, if received in respect of a Mortgage Loan, or in the REO Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.23, if received in respect of an REO Property. Any cost incurred by the Servicer in maintaining any such insurance shall not, for the purpose of calculating payments to Noteholders, be added to the unpaid Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, notwithstanding that the terms of such Mortgage Loan so permit. It is understood and agreed that no earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required of any Mortgagor other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as shall at any time be in force and as shall require such additional insurance. If the Mortgaged Property or REO Property is at any time in an area identified in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards and flood insurance has been made available, the Servicer will cause to be maintained a flood insurance policy in respect thereof. Such flood insurance shall be in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the unpaid Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan and (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available for the related Mortgaged Property under the national flood insurance program (assuming that the area in which such Mortgaged Property is located is participating in such program).
          In the event that the Servicer shall obtain and maintain a blanket policy insuring against hazard losses on all of the Mortgage Loans, it shall conclusively be deemed to have satisfied its obligations as set forth in the first two sentences of this Section 3.14, it being understood and agreed that such policy may contain a deductible clause on terms substantially equivalent to those commercially available and maintained by competent servicers, in which case the Servicer shall, in the event that there shall not have been maintained on the related Mortgaged Property or REO Property a policy complying with the first two sentences of this Section 3.14, and there shall have been one or more losses which would have been covered by such policy, deposit to the Collection Account from its own funds the amount not otherwise payable under the blanket policy because of such deductible clause. In connection with its activities as servicer of the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer agrees to prepare and present, on behalf of itself, the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and Noteholders, claims under any such blanket policy in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms of such policy.
          (b) The Servicer shall keep in force during the term of this Agreement a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and omissions for failure in the performance of the Servicer’s obligations under this Agreement, which policy or policies shall be in such form and amount that would meet the requirements of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac if it were the purchaser of the Mortgage Loans, unless the Servicer has obtained a waiver of such requirements from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Servicer shall also maintain a fidelity bond in the form and amount that would meet the requirements of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, unless the Servicer has obtained a waiver of such requirements from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Servicer shall be deemed to have complied with this provision if an Affiliate of the Servicer has such errors and omissions and fidelity bond coverage and, by the terms of such insurance policy or fidelity bond, the coverage afforded thereunder extends to the Servicer. Any such errors and omissions policy and fidelity bond shall by its terms not be cancelable without thirty days’ prior written notice to the Indenture Trustee. The Servicer shall also cause each Sub-Servicer to maintain a policy of insurance covering errors and omissions and a fidelity bond which would meet such requirements.
          Section 3.15. Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements.
          The Servicer will, to the extent it has knowledge of any conveyance or prospective conveyance of any Mortgaged Property by any Mortgagor (whether by absolute conveyance or by contract of sale, and whether or not the

 


 

          Mortgagor remains or is to remain liable under the Mortgage Note and/or the Mortgage), exercise its rights to accelerate the maturity of such Mortgage Loan under the “due-on-sale” clause, if any, applicable thereto; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not be required to take such action if in its sole business judgment the Servicer believes it is not in the best interests of the Trust and shall not exercise any such rights if prohibited by law from doing so. If the Servicer reasonably believes it is unable under applicable law to enforce such “due-on-sale” clause, or if any of the other conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence apply, the Servicer will enter into an assumption and modification agreement from or with the person to whom such property has been conveyed or is proposed to be conveyed, pursuant to which such person becomes liable under the Mortgage Note and, to the extent permitted by applicable state law, the Mortgagor remains liable thereon. The Servicer is also authorized, to the extent permitted under the related Mortgage Note, to enter into a substitution of liability agreement with such person, pursuant to which the original Mortgagor is released from liability and such person is substituted as the Mortgagor and becomes liable under the Mortgage Note, provided that no such substitution shall be effective unless such person satisfies the current underwriting criteria of the Servicer for a mortgage loan similar to the related Mortgage Loan. In connection with any assumption, modification or substitution, the Servicer shall apply such underwriting standards and follow such practices and procedures as shall be normal and usual in its general mortgage servicing activities and as it applies to other mortgage loans owned solely by it. The Servicer shall not take or enter into any assumption and modification agreement, however, unless (to the extent practicable in the circumstances) it shall have received confirmation, in writing, of the continued effectiveness of any applicable hazard insurance policy. Any fee collected by the Servicer in respect of an assumption, modification or substitution of liability agreement shall be retained by the Servicer as additional servicing compensation. In connection with any such assumption, no material term of the Mortgage Note (including but not limited to the related Mortgage Rate and the amount of the Monthly Payment) may be amended or modified, except as otherwise required pursuant to the terms thereof. The Servicer shall notify the Indenture Trustee that any such substitution, modification or assumption agreement has been completed by forwarding to the Indenture Trustee the executed original of such substitution, modification or assumption agreement, which document shall be added to the related Mortgage File and 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.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision of this Agreement, the 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 by the terms of the Mortgage Note or any assumption which the Servicer may be restricted by law from preventing, for any reason whatsoever. For purposes of this Section 3.15, the term “assumption” is deemed to also include a sale (of the Mortgaged Property) subject to the Mortgage that is not accompanied by an assumption or substitution of liability agreement.
          Section 3.16. Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans.
          (a) The Servicer shall use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the Servicing Standard, to foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties securing such of the Mortgage Loans as come into and continue in default and as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments pursuant to Section 3.07. Title to any such property shall be taken in the name of the Indenture Trustee or its nominee on behalf of the Noteholders or in the name of the Servicer in accordance with the Servicer’s customary servicing practices and held for the benefit of the Trust, subject to applicable law. The Servicer shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by it in any such proceedings; provided, however, that such costs and expenses will be recoverable as Servicing Advances by the Servicer as contemplated in Section 3.11(a) and Section 3.23. The foregoing is subject to the provision that, in any case in which a Mortgaged Property shall have suffered damage from an Uninsured Cause, the Servicer shall not be required to expend its own funds toward the restoration of such property unless it shall determine in its discretion that such restoration will increase the proceeds of liquidation of the related Mortgage Loan after reimbursement to itself for such expenses.
          (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.16 or any other provision of this Agreement, with respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Servicer has received actual notice of, or has actual knowledge of, the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the related Mortgaged Property, the Servicer shall not, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, either (i) obtain title to such Mortgaged Property as a result of or in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, or (ii) otherwise acquire possession of, or take any other action with respect to, such Mortgaged Property, if, as a result of any such action, the Indenture Trustee, the Trust or the Noteholders would be considered to hold title to, to be a

 


 

          “mortgagee-in-possession” of, or to be an “owner” or “operator” of such Mortgaged Property within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended from time to time, or any comparable law, unless the Servicer has also previously determined, based on its reasonable judgment and a report prepared by a Person who regularly conducts environmental audits using customary industry standards, that:
          (i) such Mortgaged Property is in compliance with applicable environmental laws or, if not, that it would be in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions as are necessary to bring the Mortgaged Property into compliance therewith; and
          (ii) there are no circumstances present at such Mortgaged Property relating to the use, management or disposal of any hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, or petroleum-based materials for which investigation, testing, monitoring, containment, clean-up or remediation could be required under any federal, state or local law or regulation, or that if any such materials are present for which such action could be required, that it would be in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions with respect to the affected Mortgaged Property.
          The cost of the environmental audit report contemplated by this Section 3.16 shall be advanced by the Servicer, subject to the Servicer’s right to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as provided in Section 3.11(a) (vii), such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account received in respect of the affected Mortgage Loan or other Mortgage Loans.
          If the Servicer determines, as described above, that it is in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions as are necessary to bring any such Mortgaged Property into compliance with applicable environmental laws, or to take such action with respect to the containment, clean-up or remediation of hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes or petroleum-based materials affecting any such Mortgaged Property, then the Servicer shall take such action as it deems to be in the best economic interest of the Trust; provided that any amounts disbursed by the Servicer pursuant to this Section 3.16(b) shall constitute Servicing Advances, subject to Section 4.01(d). The cost of any such compliance, containment, clean-up or remediation shall be advanced by the Servicer, subject to the Servicer’s right to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as provided in Section 3.11(a)(vii), such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account received in respect of the affected Mortgage Loan or other Mortgage Loans.
          (c) The Servicer may at its option, on behalf of the Issuer, purchase a Mortgage Loan which has become 90 or more days delinquent or for which the Servicer has accepted a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Prior to purchase pursuant to this Section 3.16(c), the Servicer shall be required to continue to make Advances pursuant to Section 4.01. The Servicer shall not use any procedure in selecting Mortgage Loans to be repurchased which is materially adverse to the interests of the Noteholders. The Servicer shall purchase such delinquent Mortgage Loan at a price equal to the Purchase Price of such Mortgage Loan. Any such purchase of a Mortgage Loan pursuant to this Section 3.16(c) shall be accomplished by deposit in the Collection Account of the amount of the Purchase Price. Upon the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 3.17(a), the Indenture Trustee shall promptly deliver the Mortgage File and any related documentation to the Servicer and will execute such documents provided to it as are necessary to convey the Mortgage Loan to the Servicer without recourse, representation or warranty.
          (d) Proceeds received in connection with any Final Recovery Determination, as well as any recovery resulting from a partial collection of Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds or condemnation proceeds, in respect of any Mortgage Loan, will be applied in the following order of priority: first, to unpaid Servicing Fees; second, to reimburse the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer for any related unreimbursed Servicing Advances pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iii) and Advances pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(ii); third, to accrued and unpaid interest on the Mortgage Loan, to the date of the Final Recovery Determination, or to the Due Date prior to the Payment Date on which such amounts are to be paid if not in connection with a Final Recovery Determination; and fourth, as a recovery of principal of the Mortgage Loan. The portion of the recovery so allocated to unpaid Servicing Fees shall be reimbursed to the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iii).

 


 

          Section 3.17. Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files.
          (a) Upon the payment in full of any Mortgage Loan, or the receipt by the Servicer of a notification that payment in full shall be escrowed in a manner customary for such purposes, the Servicer shall immediately notify or cause to be notified the Indenture Trustee by a certification and shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, in written or electronic format, which format is acceptable to the Custodian, two executed copies of a Request for Release in the form of Exhibit C hereto (which certification shall include 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 Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.10 have been or will be so deposited) signed by a Servicing Officer (or in a mutually agreeable electronic format that will, in lieu of a signature on its face, originate from a Servicing Officer) and shall request delivery to it of the Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the Indenture Trustee shall, within three Business Days, release and send by overnight mail, at the expense of the Servicer or the related Mortgagor, the related Mortgage File to the Servicer. No expenses incurred in connection with any instrument of satisfaction or deed of reconveyance shall be chargeable to the Collection Account or the Payment Account.
          (b) From time to time and as appropriate for the servicing or foreclosure of any Mortgage Loan, including, for this purpose, collection under any insurance policy relating to the Mortgage Loans, the Indenture Trustee shall, upon any request made by or on behalf of the Servicer and delivery to the Indenture Trustee of two executed copies of a written Request for Release in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by a Servicing Officer (or in a mutually agreeable electronic format that will, in lieu of a signature on its face, originate from a Servicing Officer), release the related Mortgage File to the Servicer within three Business Days, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Servicer, execute such documents provided to it by the Servicer as shall be necessary to the prosecution of any such proceedings. Such Request for Release shall obligate the Servicer to return each and every document previously requested from the Mortgage File to the Indenture Trustee when the need therefor by the Servicer no longer exists, unless the Mortgage Loan has been liquidated and the Liquidation Proceeds relating to the Mortgage Loan have been deposited in the Collection Account or 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, for purposes of initiating or pursuing legal action or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the Mortgaged Property either judicially or non-judicially, and the Servicer has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Indenture Trustee an additional Request for Release certifying as to such liquidation or action or proceedings. Upon the request of the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer shall provide notice to the Indenture Trustee of 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. Upon receipt of a Request for Release, in written (with two executed copies) or electronic format, from a Servicing Officer stating that such Mortgage Loan was liquidated and that all amounts received or to be received in connection with such liquidation that are required to be deposited into the Collection Account have been so deposited, or that such Mortgage Loan has become an REO Property, such Mortgage Loan shall be released by the Indenture Trustee to the Servicer or its designee within three Business Days.
          (c) Upon written certification of a Servicing Officer, the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, as the case may be, copies of any court pleadings, requests for Indenture Trustee’s sale or other documents necessary to the foreclosure or Indenture Trustee’s sale in respect of a Mortgaged Property or to any legal action brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor on the Mortgage Note or Mortgage or to obtain a deficiency judgment, or to enforce any other remedies or rights provided by the Mortgage Note or Mortgage or otherwise available at law or in equity. Each such certification shall include a request that such pleadings or documents be executed by the Indenture Trustee and a statement as to the reason such documents or pleadings are required and that the execution and delivery thereof by the Indenture Trustee will not invalidate or otherwise affect the lien of the Mortgage, except for the termination of such a lien upon completion of the foreclosure or Indenture Trustee’s sale.
          Section 3.18. Servicing Compensation.
          As compensation for its activities hereunder, the Servicer shall be entitled to the Servicing Fee with respect to each Mortgage Loan payable solely from payments of interest in respect of such Mortgage Loan, subject to Section 3.24. In addition, the Servicer shall be entitled to recover unpaid Servicing Fees out of Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds, Subsequent Recoveries or condemnation proceeds to the extent permitted by Section 3.11(a)(iii) and out of amounts derived

 


 

          from the operation and sale of an REO Property to the extent permitted by Section 3.23. Except as provided in Section 3.29, the right to receive the Servicing Fee may not be transferred in whole or in part except in connection with the transfer of all of the Servicer’s responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Servicer may pay from the Servicing Fee any amounts due to a Sub-Servicer pursuant to a Sub-Servicing Agreement entered into under Section 3.02.
          Additional servicing compensation in the form of assumption fees, late payment charges, insufficient funds charges or ancillary income (other than Prepayment Charges) shall be retained by the Servicer only to the extent such fees or charges are received by the Servicer. The Servicer shall also be entitled pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iv) to withdraw from the Collection Account and pursuant to Section 3.23(b) to withdraw from any REO Account, as additional servicing compensation, interest or other income earned on deposits therein, subject to Section 3.12 and Section 3.24. The Servicer shall also be entitled to receive Prepayment Interest Excess pursuant to Section 3.10 and 3.11 as additional servicing compensation. The Servicer shall be required to pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its servicing activities hereunder (including premiums for the insurance required by Section 3.14, to the extent such premiums are not paid by the related Mortgagors or by a Sub-Servicer, and servicing compensation of each Sub-Servicer) and shall not be entitled to reimbursement therefor except as specifically provided herein.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to any Prepayment Interest Excess, which it may withdraw from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(ix).
          Section 3.19. Reports to the Indenture Trustee and Others; Collection Account Statements.
          On each Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall forward to the Indenture Trustee, the Sponsor and the Depositor an account statement evidencing the status of the collection account reflecting activity in the previous month and an Officer’s Certificates shall accompany such account statement certifying that the information contained in such account statement is true and correct.
          Section 3.20. Statement as to Compliance.
          The Servicer will deliver to the Indenture Trustee, not later than March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2007, an Officers’ Certificate (an “Annual Statement of Compliance”) stating, as to each signatory thereof, that (i) a review of the activities of the Servicer during the preceding calendar year and of performance under this Agreement has been made under such officers’ supervision and (ii) to the best of such officers’ knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer has fulfilled all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects throughout such year, or, if there has been a failure to fulfill any such obligation in any material respect, specifying each such failure known to such officer and the nature and status of cure provisions thereof. Such Annual Statement of Compliance shall contain no restrictions or limitations on its use. The Servicer shall deliver a similar Annual Statement of Compliance by any Sub-Servicer to which the Servicer has delegated any servicing responsibilities with respect to the Mortgage Loans, to the Indenture Trustee as described above as and when required with respect to the Servicer.
          If the Servicer cannot deliver the related Annual Statement of Compliance by March 15th of such year, the Indenture Trustee (with the consent of the Depositor), may permit a cure period for the Servicer to deliver such Annual Statement of Compliance, but in no event later than March 20th of such year or if March 20th is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day.
          Failure of the Servicer to timely comply with this Section 3.20 (taking into account the cure period if permitted as set forth in the preceding paragraph) shall be deemed a Servicer Event of Termination, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Depositor (who shall simultaneously notify the Indenture Trustee of the identity of the successor servicer which shall be an entity other than the Indenture Trustee, who shall meet any requirements hereunder or under any other Basic Document and who shall have consented to its appointment as successor servicer hereunder), in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer

 


 

          under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Servicer for the same (other than as provided herein with respect to unreimbursed Advances or Servicing Advances or accrued and unpaid Servicing Fees). This paragraph shall supersede any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary.
          The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, as applicable and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any actual losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Servicer’s obligations under this Section 3.20.
          Section 3.21. Assessments of Compliance and Attestation Reports.
          Pursuant to Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB, the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee on or before March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2007, a report regarding the Servicer’s assessment of compliance (an “Assessment of Compliance”) with the applicable Servicing Criteria (as set forth in Exhibit H) during the preceding calendar year. The Assessment of Compliance must contain the following:
          (i) A statement by such officer of its responsibility for assessing compliance with the Servicing Criteria applicable to the Servicer;
          (ii) A statement by such officer that such officer used the Servicing Criteria, and which will also be attached to the Assessment of Compliance, to assess compliance with the Servicing Criteria applicable to the Servicer;
          (iii) An assessment by such officer of the Servicer’s compliance with the applicable Servicing Criteria for the period consisting of the preceding calendar year, including disclosure of any material instance of noncompliance with respect thereto during such period, which assessment shall be based on the activities it performs with respect to asset-backed securities transactions taken as a whole involving the Servicer, that are backed by the same asset type as the Mortgage Loans;
          (iv) A statement that a registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on the Servicer’s Assessment of Compliance for the period consisting of the preceding calendar year; and
          (v) A statement as to which of the Servicing Criteria, if any, are not applicable to the Servicer, which statement shall be based on the activities it performs with respect to asset-backed securities transactions taken as a whole involving the Servicer, that are backed by the same asset type as the Mortgage Loans.
          Such report at a minimum shall address each of the Servicing Criteria specified on Exhibit H hereto which are indicated as applicable to the Servicer.
          On or before March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2007, the Servicer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee a report (an “Attestation Report”) by a registered public accounting firm that attests to, and reports on, the Assessment of Compliance made by the Servicer, as required by Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122(b) of Regulation AB, which Attestation Report must be made in accordance with standards for attestation reports issued or adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
          The Servicer shall cause any Sub-Servicer, and each subcontractor determined by the Servicer to be “participating in the servicing function” within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB, to deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor an Assessment of Compliance and Attestation Report as and when provided above.
          Such Assessment of Compliance, as to any Sub-Servicer, shall address each of the Servicing Criteria

 


 

          applicable to the Sub-Servicer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as to any subcontractor determined by the Servicer to be “participating in the servicing function,” an Assessment of Compliance is not required to be delivered unless it is required as part of a Form 10-K with respect to the Trust.
          If the Servicer cannot deliver any Assessment of Compliance or Attestation Report by March 15th of such year, the Indenture Trustee (with the consent of the Depositor), may permit a cure period for the Servicer to deliver such Assessment of Compliance or Attestation Report, but in no event later than March 20th of such year or if March 20th is not a Business Day, the preceding Business Day.
          Failure of the Servicer to timely comply with this Section 3.21 (taking into account the cure period if permitted as set forth in the preceding paragraph) shall be deemed a Servicer Event of Termination, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Depositor (who shall simultaneously notify the Indenture Trustee of the identity of the successor servicer which shall be an entity other than the Indenture Trustee, who shall meet any requirements hereunder or under any other Basic Document and who shall have consented to its appointment as successor servicer hereunder), in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Servicer for the same (other than as provided herein with respect to unreimbursed Advances or Servicing Advances or accrued and unpaid Servicing Fees). This paragraph shall supercede any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary.
          The Indenture Trustee shall also provide an Assessment of Compliance and Attestation Report, as and when provided above, which shall at a minimum address each of the Servicing Criteria specified on Exhibit H hereto which are indicated as applicable to the “indenture trustee”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as to the Indenture Trustee, neither an Assessment of Compliance nor an Attestation Report is required to be delivered unless it is required as part of a Form 10-K with respect to the Trust.
          The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates against and from any actual losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Servicer’s obligations under this Section 3.21.
          Section 3.22. Access to Certain Documentation; Filing of Reports by Indenture Trustee.
          The Servicer shall provide to the Office of Thrift Supervision, the FDIC, and any other federal or state banking or insurance regulatory authority that may exercise authority over any Noteholder, access to the documentation regarding the Mortgage Loans required by applicable laws and regulations. Such access shall be afforded without charge, but only upon reasonable request and during normal business hours at the offices of the Servicer designated by it. In addition, access to the documentation regarding the Mortgage Loans will be provided to any Noteholder, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee and to any Person identified to the Servicer as a prospective transferee of a Note, upon reasonable request during normal business hours at the offices of the Servicer designated by it, at the expense of the Person requesting such access.
          Section 3.23. Title, Management and Disposition of REO Property.
          (a) The deed or certificate of sale of any REO Property shall, subject to applicable laws, be taken in the name of the Indenture Trustee, or its nominee, in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders or in the name of the Servicer in accordance with the Servicer’s customary servicing practices and held for the benefit of the Trust. The Servicer, on behalf of the Issuer, shall sell any REO Property as soon as practicable and in any event no later than the end of the third full taxable year after the taxable year in which such Issuer acquires ownership of such REO Property for purposes of the Code or request from the Internal Revenue Service, no later than 60 days before the day on which the three-year grace period would otherwise expire, an extension of such three-year period. The Servicer shall manage, conserve, protect and operate each REO Property

 


 

          for the Noteholders solely for the purpose of its prompt disposition and sale in a manner which does not cause such REO Property to fail to qualify as “foreclosure property” within the meaning of the Code.
          (b) The Servicer shall separately account for all funds collected and received in connection with the operation of any REO Property and shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, with respect to REO Properties an account held in trust for the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders (the “REO Account”), which shall be an Eligible Account. The Servicer shall be permitted to allow the Collection Account to serve as the REO Account, subject to separate ledgers for each REO Property. The Servicer shall be entitled to retain or withdraw any interest income paid on funds deposited in the REO Account.
          (c) The Servicer shall have full power and authority, subject only to the specific requirements and prohibitions of this Agreement, to do any and all things in connection with any REO Property as are consistent with the manner in which the Servicer manages and operates similar property owned by the Servicer or any of its Affiliates, all on such terms and for such period (subject to the requirement of prompt disposition set forth in Section 3.23(a)) as the Servicer deems to be in the best interests of Noteholders. In connection therewith, the Servicer shall deposit, or cause to be deposited in the REO Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the Servicer’s receipt thereof, all revenues received by it with respect to an REO Property and shall withdraw therefrom funds necessary for the proper operation, management and maintenance of such REO Property including, without limitation:
          (i) all insurance premiums due and payable in respect of such REO Property;
          (ii) all real estate taxes and assessments in respect of such REO Property that may result in the imposition of a lien thereon; and
          (iii) all costs and expenses necessary to maintain, operate and dispose of such REO Property.
          To the extent that amounts on deposit in the REO Account with respect to an REO Property are insufficient for the purposes set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above with respect to such REO Property, the Servicer shall advance from its own funds such amount as is necessary for such purposes if, but only if, the Servicer would make such advances if the Servicer owned the REO Property and if in the Servicer’s judgment, the payment of such amounts will be recoverable from the rental or sale of the REO Property.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Servicer nor the Indenture Trustee shall:
          (A) authorize the Issuer to enter into, renew or extend any New Lease with respect to any REO Property, if the New Lease by its terms will give rise to any income that does not constitute Rents from Real Property;
          (B) authorize any amount to be received or accrued under any New Lease other than amounts that will constitute Rents from Real Property;
          (C) authorize any construction on any REO Property, other than the completion of a building or other improvement thereon, and then only if more than ten percent of the construction of such building or other improvement was completed before default on the related Mortgage Loan became imminent, all within the meaning of Section 856(e)(4)(B) of the Code; or
          (D) authorize any Person to Directly Operate any REO Property on any date more than 90 days after its date of acquisition by the Issuer;
unless, in any such case, the Servicer has obtained an Opinion of Counsel, addressed to the Indenture Trustee, to the effect

 


 

that such action will not cause such REO Property to fail to qualify as “foreclosure property” within the meaning of the Code at any time that it is held by the Issuer, in which case the Servicer may take such actions as are specified in such Opinion of Counsel.
          The Servicer may contract with any Independent Contractor for the operation and management of any REO Property, provided that:
          (iv) the terms and conditions of any such contract shall not be inconsistent herewith;
          (v) any such contract shall require, or shall be administered to require, that the Independent Contractor pay all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the operation and management of such REO Property, including those listed above and remit all related revenues (net of such costs and expenses) to the Servicer as soon as practicable, but in no event later than thirty days following the receipt thereof by such Independent Contractor;
          (vi) none of the provisions of this Section 3.23(c) relating to any such contract or to actions taken through any such Independent Contractor shall be deemed to relieve the Servicer of any of its duties and obligations to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders with respect to the operation and management of any such REO Property; and
          (vii) the Servicer shall be obligated with respect thereto to the same extent as if it alone were performing all duties and obligations in connection with the operation and management of such REO Property.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to enter into any agreement with any Independent Contractor performing services for it related to its duties and obligations hereunder for indemnification of the Servicer by such Independent Contractor, and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such indemnification. The Servicer shall be solely liable for all fees owed by it to any such Independent Contractor, irrespective of whether the Servicer’s compensation pursuant to Section 3.18 is sufficient to pay such fees; provided, however, that to the extent that any payments made by such Independent Contractor would constitute Servicing Advances if made by the Servicer, such amounts shall be reimbursable as Servicing Advances made by the Servicer.
          (d) In addition to the withdrawals permitted under Section 3.23(c), the Servicer may from time to time make withdrawals from the REO Account for any REO Property: (i) to pay itself or any Sub-Servicer unpaid Servicing Fees in respect of the related Mortgage Loan; and (ii) to reimburse itself or any Sub-Servicer for unreimbursed Servicing Advances and Advances made in respect of such REO Property or the related Mortgage Loan. On the Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall withdraw from each REO Account maintained by it and deposit into the Payment Account in accordance with Section 3.10(d)(ii), for payment on the related Payment Date in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture, the income from the related REO Property received during the prior calendar month, net of any withdrawals made pursuant to Section 3.23(c) or this Section 3.23(d).
          (e) Subject to the time constraints set forth in Section 3.23(a), each REO Disposition shall be carried out by the Servicer in a manner, at such price and upon such terms and conditions as shall be normal and usual in the Servicing Standard.
          (f) The proceeds from the REO Disposition, net of any amount required by law to be remitted to the Mortgagor under the related Mortgage Loan and net of any payment or reimbursement to the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer as provided above, shall be deposited in the Payment Account in accordance with Section 3.10(d)(ii) on the Servicer Remittance Date in the month following the receipt thereof for payment on the related Payment Date in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture. Any REO Disposition shall be for cash only (unless changes in the REMIC Provisions made subsequent to the Closing Date allow a sale for other consideration).

 


 

          (g) The Servicer shall file information returns with respect to the receipt of mortgage interest received in a trade or business, reports of foreclosures and abandonments of any Mortgaged Property and cancellation of indebtedness income with respect to any Mortgaged Property as required by the Code. Such reports shall be in form and substance sufficient to meet the reporting requirements of the Code.
          Section 3.24. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls.
          Not later than 4:00 p.m. New York time on each Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall remit to the Payment Account an amount (“Compensating Interest”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate of the Prepayment Interest Shortfalls for the related Payment Date and (B) its aggregate Servicing Fee for the related Payment Date. The Servicer shall not have the right to reimbursement for any amounts remitted to the Indenture Trustee in respect of Compensating Interest. Such amounts so remitted shall be included in the Available Funds and paid therewith on the next Payment Date. The Servicer shall not be obligated to pay Compensating Interest with respect to Relief Act Interest Shortfalls.
          Section 3.25. [Reserved].
          Section 3.26. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Mortgage Rates and Monthly Payments.
          In the event that a shortfall in any collection on or liability with respect to the Mortgage Loans in the aggregate results from or is attributable to adjustments to Mortgage Rates, Monthly Payments or Stated Principal Balances that were made by the Servicer in a manner not consistent with the terms of the related Mortgage Note and this Agreement, the Servicer, upon discovery or receipt of notice thereof, immediately shall deposit in the Collection Account from its own funds the amount of any such shortfall and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor and any successor servicer in respect of any such liability. Such indemnities shall survive the resignation or termination of the Servicer or the termination or discharge of this Agreement or the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.26 shall not limit the ability of the Servicer to seek recovery of any such amounts from the related Mortgagor under the terms of the related Mortgage Note, as permitted by law.
          Section 3.27. [Reserved].
          Section 3.28. [Reserved].
          Section 3.29. Advance Facility.
          The Servicer is hereby authorized to enter into a financing or other facility (any such arrangement, an “Advance Facility”) under which (1) the Servicer sells, assigns or pledges to another Person (together with such Person’s successors and assigns, an “Advancing Person”) the Servicer’s rights under this Agreement to be reimbursed for any Advances or Servicing Advances and/or (2) an Advancing Person agrees to fund some or all Advances and/or Servicing Advances required to be made by the Servicer pursuant to this Agreement. No consent of the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders or any other party shall be required before the Servicer may enter into an Advance Facility. The Servicer shall notify each other party to this Agreement in writing prior to or promptly after entering into or terminating any Advance Facility stating the identity of the Advancing Person. Notwithstanding the existence of any Advance Facility under which an Advancing Person agrees to fund Advances and/or Servicing Advances on the Servicer’s behalf, the Servicer shall remain obligated pursuant to this Agreement to make Advances and Servicing Advances pursuant to and as required by this Agreement. If the Servicer enters into an Advance Facility, and for so long as an Advancing Person remains entitled to receive reimbursement for any Advances including Nonrecoverable Advances (“Advance Reimbursement Amounts”) and/or Servicing Advances including Nonrecoverable Advances (“Servicing Advance Reimbursement Amounts” and together with Advance Reimbursement Amounts, “Reimbursement Amounts”) (in each case to the extent such type of Reimbursement Amount is included in the Advance Facility), as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement, then the Servicer shall identify, in the Officer’s Certificate described in the next two sentences, such Reimbursement Amounts consistent with the reimbursement rights set forth in Section 3.11(a)(ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) and remit such Reimbursement Amounts in accordance with Section 3.10(b) or otherwise in accordance with the documentation establishing the Advance Facility to such

 


 

          Advancing Person or to a trustee, agent or custodian (an “Advance Facility Trustee”) designated by such Advancing Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if so required pursuant to the terms of the Advance Facility, the Servicer may direct, and if so directed the Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to and shall pay to the Advance Facility Trustee the Reimbursement Amounts identified pursuant to the preceding sentence. To the extent that an Advancing Person funds any Advance and the Servicer provides the Indenture Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate that such Advancing Person is entitled to reimbursement, such Advancing Person shall be entitled to receive reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement for such amount to the extent provided in this section. Such Officer’s Certificate must specify the amount of the reimbursement, the remittance date, the Section of this Agreement that permits the applicable Advance to be reimbursed and either the section(s) of the Advance Facility that entitle the Advancing Person to request reimbursement from the Indenture Trustee, rather than the Servicer, or proof of an event of default by the Servicer under the Advance Facility entitling the Advancing Person to reimbursement from the Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall Advance Reimbursement Amounts or Servicing Advance Reimbursement Amounts be included in the Available Funds or paid to Noteholders.
          Reimbursement Amounts shall consist solely of amounts in respect of Advances and/or Servicing Advances made with respect to the Mortgage Loans for which the Servicer would be permitted to reimburse itself in accordance with this Agreement, assuming the Servicer or the Advancing Person had made the related Advance(s) and/or Servicing Advance(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to reimbursement of Nonrecoverable Advances as set forth in this Agreement, no Person shall be entitled to reimbursement from funds held in the Collection Account for future payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Agreement. None of the Depositor or the Indenture Trustee shall have any duty or liability with respect to the calculation of any Reimbursement Amount and shall be entitled to rely, without independent investigation, on the Officer’s Certificate provided pursuant to this Section 3.29, nor shall the Depositor or the Indenture Trustee have any responsibility to track or monitor the administration of any Advance Facility and the Depositor shall not have any responsibility to track, monitor or verify the payment of Reimbursement Amounts to the related Advancing Person or Advance Facility Trustee. The Servicer shall maintain and provide to any successor servicer and (upon request) the Indenture Trustee a detailed accounting on a loan by loan basis as to amounts advanced by, sold, pledged or assigned to, and reimbursed to any Advancing Person. The successor servicer shall be entitled to rely on any such information provided by the predecessor servicer, and the successor servicer shall not be liable for any errors in such information. Any successor Servicer shall reimburse the predecessor Servicer and itself for outstanding Advances and Servicing Advances, respectively, with respect to each Mortgage Loan on a first in, first out (“FIFO”) basis; provided that the successor Servicer has received prior written notice from the predecessor Servicer or the Advancing Person of reimbursement amounts owed to the predecessor Servicer. Liquidation Proceeds with respect to a Mortgage Loan shall be applied to reimburse Advances outstanding with respect to that Mortgage Loan before being applied to reimburse Servicing Advances outstanding with respect to that Mortgage Loan.
          An Advancing Person who receives an assignment or pledge of the rights to be reimbursed for Advances and/or Servicing Advances, and/or whose obligations hereunder are limited to the funding or purchase of Advances and/or Servicing Advances shall not be required to meet the criteria for qualification of a subservicer set forth in this Agreement.
          Upon the direction of and at the expense of the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee agrees to execute such acknowledgments, certificates, and other documents provided by the Servicer recognizing the interests of any Advance Facility Trustee in such Reimbursement Amounts as the Servicer may cause to be made subject to Advance Facilities pursuant to this Section 3.29.
          The Servicer shall remain entitled to be reimbursed for all Advances and Servicing Advances funded by the Servicer to the extent the related rights to be reimbursed therefor have not been sold, assigned or pledged to an Advancing Person.
          The Servicer shall indemnify the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, any successor servicer and the Trust for any loss, liability or damage resulting from any Advance Facility, including, without limitation, any claim by the related Advancing Person, except to the extent that such claim, loss, liability or damage resulted from or arose out of negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct or breach of its duties hereunder on the part of the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee or any successor servicer.

 


 

          Any amendment to this Section 3.29 or to any other provision of this Agreement that may be necessary or appropriate to effect the terms of an Advance Facility as described generally in this Section 3.29, including amendments to add provisions relating to a successor servicer, may be entered into by the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor and the Servicer without the consent of any Noteholder but with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder, provided such amendment complies with Section 7.01 hereof. All reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of each party hereto of any such amendment shall be borne solely by the Servicer. Prior to entering into an Advance Facility, the Servicer shall notify the Advancing Person in writing that: (a) the Advances and/or Servicing Advances purchased, financed by and/or pledged to the Advancing Person are obligations owed to the Servicer on a non-recourse basis payable only from the cash flows and proceeds received under this Agreement for reimbursement of Advances and/or Servicing Advances only to the extent provided herein, and the Indenture Trustee and the Trust are not otherwise obligated or liable to repay any Advances and/or Servicing Advances financed by the Advancing Person and (b) the Indenture Trustee shall not have any responsibility to calculate any Reimbursement Amounts or to track or monitor the administration of the Advance Facility between the Servicer and the Advancing Person.

 


 

ARTICLE IV
REMITTANCE REPORTS; ADVANCES; EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING
          Section 4.01. Remittance Reports and Advances. (a) On the second Business Day following each Determination Date, the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the Sponsor by telecopy or electronic mail (or by such other means as the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee may agree from time to time) a Remittance Report with respect to the related Payment Date. Not later than the second Business Day following each Determination Date, the Servicer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee in addition to the information provided in the Remittance Report, such other information reasonably available to it with respect to the Mortgage Loans as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require to perform the calculations necessary to make the payments contemplated by Section 3.05 of the Indenture and to prepare the statements to Noteholders contemplated by Section 3.26 of the Indenture. The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible to recompute, recalculate or verify any information provided to it by the Servicer.
          (b) The amount of Advances to be made by the Servicer for any Payment Date shall equal, subject to Section 4.01(d), the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Monthly Payments (net of the related Servicing Fee), due during the related Due Period in respect of the Mortgage Loans, which Monthly Payments were delinquent on a contractual basis as of the Close of Business on the related Determination Date and (ii) with respect to each REO Property, which REO Property was acquired during or prior to the related Due Period and as to which REO Property an REO Disposition did not occur during the related Due Period, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the REO Imputed Interest on such REO Property for the most recently ended calendar month, over the net income from such REO Property transferred to the Payment Account pursuant to Section 3.23 for payment on such Payment Date.
          On or before 4:00 p.m. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall remit in immediately available funds to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in the Payment Account an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Advances, if any, to be made in respect of the Mortgage Loans and REO Properties for the related Payment Date either (i) from its own funds or (ii) from the Collection Account, to the extent of funds held therein for future payment (in which case it will cause to be made an appropriate entry in the records of the Collection Account that amounts held for future payment have been, as permitted by this Section 4.01, used by the Servicer in discharge of any such Advance) or (iii) in the form of any combination of (i) and (ii) aggregating the total amount of Advances to be made by the Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans and REO Properties. Any amounts held for future payment used by the Servicer to make an Advance as permitted in the preceding sentence shall be appropriately reflected in the Servicer’s records and replaced by the Servicer by deposit in the Collection Account on or before any future Servicer Remittance Date to the extent that the Available Funds for the related Payment Date (determined without regard to Advances to be made on the Servicer Remittance Date) shall be less than the total amount that would be paid to the Classes of Noteholders pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Indenture on such Payment Date if such amounts held for future payments had not been so used to make Advances. The Indenture Trustee will provide notice to the Servicer by telecopy by the Close of Business on any Servicer Remittance Date in the event that the amount remitted by the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee on such date is less than the Advances required to be made by the Servicer for the related Payment Date, as set forth in the related Remittance Report.
          (c) The obligation of the Servicer to make such Advances is mandatory, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement but subject to (d) below, and, with respect to any Mortgage Loan, shall continue until the Mortgage Loan is paid in full or until all Liquidation Proceeds thereon have been recovered, or a Final Recovery Determination has been made thereon.
          (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Advance or Servicing Advance shall be required to be made hereunder by the Servicer if such Advance or Servicing Advance would, if made, constitute a Nonrecoverable Advance. The determination by the Servicer that it has made a Nonrecoverable Advance or that any proposed Advance or Servicing Advance, if made, would constitute a Nonrecoverable Advance, shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate of the Servicer delivered to the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee. Furthermore, the Servicer shall not be required to advance

 


 

          Relief Act Interest Shortfalls.
          Section 4.02. Exchange Act Reporting.
          (a) (i) Unless and until a Form 15 Suspension Notice has been filed pursuant to Section 4.02(a)(iii) below, within 15 days after each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee shall, in accordance with industry standards, file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), a distribution report on Form 10-D, signed by the Servicer, with a copy of the monthly statement to be furnished by the Indenture Trustee to the Noteholders for such Payment Date. Any disclosure in addition to the monthly statement required to be included on the Form 10-D (“Additional Form 10-D Disclosure”) shall be determined and prepared by the entity that is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible entity for providing that information. The Indenture Trustee will have no duty or liability to verify the accuracy or sufficiency of any such Additional Form 10-D Disclosure and the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability with respect to any failure to properly prepare or file such Form 10-D resulting from or relating to the Indenture Trustee’s inability or failure to obtain any information in a timely manner from the party responsible for delivery of such Additional Form 10-D Disclosure.
          Within 5 calendar days after the related Determination Date, each entity that is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible entity for providing Additional Form 10-D Disclosure shall be required to provide to the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor, to the extent known with respect to themselves, in an EDGAR compatible format, clearly identifying which item of Form 10-D the information relates to, any Additional Form 10-D Disclosure, if applicable. The Indenture Trustee shall compile the information provided to it, prepare the Form 10-D and no later than 5 calendar days prior to the 15th day after the related Payment Date forward the Form 10-D to the Depositor for verification with a copy to the Sponsor. The Depositor will approve, as to form and substance, or disapprove, as the case may be, the Form 10-D. An officer of the Servicer shall sign the Form 10-D and return an electronic or fax copy of such signed Form 10-D (with an original executed hard copy to follow by overnight mail) to the Indenture Trustee. For administrative convenience, the Servicer may deliver executed signature pages to the Indenture Trustee to be held by the Indenture Trustee in escrow and attached to a Form 10-D only upon the Servicer’s electronic notification to the Indenture Trustee authorizing such attachment.
          (ii) At the direction and at the expense of the Depositor, within four (4) Business Days after the occurrence of an event requiring disclosure on Form 8-K (each such event, a “Reportable Event”), the Indenture Trustee shall prepare and file any Form 8-K, as required by the Exchange Act, in addition to the initial Form 8-K in connection with the issuance of the Notes (which shall be prepared and filed by the Depositor). Any disclosure or information related to a Reportable Event or that is otherwise required to be included on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K Disclosure Information”) shall be determined and prepared by the entity that is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible entity for providing that information.
          For so long as the Trust is subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements, no later than the end of business on the second Business Day after the occurrence of a Reportable Event, the entity that is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible entity for providing Form 8-K Disclosure Information shall be required to provide to the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor in EDGAR compatible format, to the extent known, the form and substance of any Form 8-K Disclosure Information, if applicable, clearly identifying the Form 8-K reporting section to which such Disclosure Information relates. The Indenture Trustee shall compile the information provided to it, and following its receipt of the Depositor’s approval thereof prepare and file the Form 8-K, which shall be signed by an officer of the Servicer.
          (iii) Prior to January 30 of the first year in which the Indenture Trustee is able to do so under applicable law, the Indenture Trustee shall file a Form 15 Suspension Notice with respect to the Trust, if applicable. Prior to (x) March 15, 2007 and (y) unless and until a Form 15 Suspension Notice shall have been filed, prior to March 15 of each year thereafter, the Servicer shall provide the Indenture Trustee with an Annual Compliance Statement, together with a copy of the Assessment of Compliance and Attestation Report to be delivered by the Servicer pursuant to Sections 3.20 and 3.21 (including with respect to any Sub-Servicer or any subcontractor, if required to be filed). Prior to (x) March 31, 2007 and (y) unless and until a Form 15 Suspension Notice shall have been filed, March 31 of each year thereafter, the Indenture Trustee shall file a Form 10-K with respect to the Trust. Such Form 10-K shall include the Assessment of Compliance, Attestation Report, Annual Compliance Statements and other documentation required by Sections 3.20 and 3.21 (including with respect

 


 

          to any Sub-Servicer or subcontractor, if required to be filed) and the Form 10-K certification in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1 (the “Certification”) signed by the senior officer of the Servicer in charge of securitization. The Indenture Trustee shall receive the items described in the preceding sentence no later than March 10 of each calendar year prior to the filing deadline for the Form 10-K.
          If information, data and exhibits to be included in the Form 10-K are not so timely delivered, the Indenture Trustee shall cooperate with the Depositor and the Servicer (at the expense of the Depositor) to file an amended Form 10-K including such documents as exhibits reasonably promptly after they are delivered to the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee shall have no liability with respect to any failure to properly prepare or file such periodic reports resulting from or relating to the Indenture Trustee’s inability or failure to timely obtain any information from any other party.
          The Indenture Trustee shall compile the information provided to it, prepare the Form 10-K and forward the Form 10-K to the Depositor and the Servicer for verification with a copy to the Sponsor. The Depositor and the Servicer will approve, as to form and substance, or disapprove, as the case may be, the Form 10-K by no later than March 25 of the relevant year (or the immediately preceding Business Day if March 25 is not a Business Day), an officer of the Servicer shall sign the Form 10-K and return an electronic or fax copy of such signed Form 10-K (with an original executed hard copy to follow by overnight mail) to the Indenture Trustee.
          The Servicer shall be responsible for determining the pool concentration applicable to any Sub-Servicer to which the Servicer delegated any of its responsibilities with respect to the Mortgage Loans at any time, for purposes of disclosure as required by Items 1117 and 1119 of Regulation AB. The Indenture Trustee will provide electronic or paper copies of all Form 10-D, 8-K and 10-K filings free of charge to any Noteholder upon request. Any expenses incurred by the Indenture Trustee in connection with the previous sentence shall be reimbursable to the Indenture Trustee out of the Trust.
          The Indenture Trustee shall sign a certification (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2) for the benefit of the Servicer and its officers, directors and Affiliates in respect of items 1 through 3 of the Certification. Such certification shall be delivered to the Servicer by March 15th of each year (or if not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day). The Certification attached hereto as Exhibit G-1 shall be delivered to the Indenture Trustee by March 15th for filing on or prior to March 30th of each year (or if not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).
          (b) (A) The Indenture Trustee shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor and its respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses directly resulting from (i) a failure by the Indenture Trustee to deliver the Assessment of Compliance required under Section 3.21 or any material misstatement or omission in the Assessment of Compliance delivered by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 3.21 or (ii) a breach of the Indenture Trustee’s obligations under this Section 4.02 caused by the Indenture Trustee’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith, and (B) the Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any actual losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) a breach of the Servicer’s obligations under this Section 4.02 or (ii) any material misstatement or omission in the Statement as to Compliance delivered by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.20 or the Assessment of Compliance delivered by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.21.
          (c) If the indemnification provided for in Section 4.02(b)(A) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 4.02(b)(A) above, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 4.02(b) (A) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (1) the relative fault and benefits of (a) the indemnifying party on the one hand and (b) the indemnified party on the other hand, as well as (2) any other relevant equitable considerations.
          (d) If the indemnification provided for in Section 4.02(b)(B) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 4.02(b)(B) above, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 4.02(b)

 


 

          (B) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (1) the relative fault and benefits of (a) the indemnifying party on the one hand and (b) the indemnified party on the other hand, as well as (2) any other relevant equitable considerations.
          (e) Upon any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Depositor and the Sponsor a copy of any such executed report, statement or information.
          (f) Each of the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee will be required to pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Section 4.02 and shall not be entitled to reimbursement therefor.
          (g) In no event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Basic Document, shall the Indenture Trustee be responsible or liable to any party for special, indirect or consequential damages, including pursuant to any indemnification agreement or indemnification provision hereunder or under any other Basic Document, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
          Section 4.03. Swap Account.
          (a) On the Closing Date, the Indenture Trustee shall establish and maintain a separate, segregated trust account titled, “Swap Account, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, in trust for the registered Noteholders of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1.” Such account shall be an Eligible Account and funds on deposit therein shall be held separate and apart from, and shall not be commingled with, any other moneys, including, without limitation, other moneys of the Indenture Trustee held pursuant to this Agreement. Amounts therein shall be held uninvested.
          (b) On each Payment Date, prior to any payment to any Note, the Indenture Trustee shall deposit into the Swap Account the amount of any Net Swap Payment or Swap Termination Payment (other than any Swap Termination Payment resulting from a Swap Provider Trigger Event) owed to the Swap Provider (after taking into account any upfront payment received from the counterparty to a replacement interest rate swap agreement) from funds collected and received with respect to the Mortgage Loans prior to the determination of Available Funds.
          (c) The Indenture Trustee shall use any payment received from the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Trust Agreement to make any upfront payment required under a replacement swap agreement and any upfront payment received from the counterparty to a replacement swap agreement shall be used to pay any Swap Termination Payment owed to the Swap Provider.

 


 

ARTICLE V
THE SERVICER AND THE DEPOSITOR
          Section 5.01. Liability of the Servicer and the Depositor.
          The Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by Servicer herein. The Depositor shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the Depositor.
          Section 5.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer or the Depositor.
          Any entity into which the Servicer or Depositor may be merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Servicer or the Depositor shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the business of the Servicer or the Depositor, shall be the successor of the Servicer or the Depositor, as the case may be, 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; provided, however, that the successor Servicer shall satisfy all the requirements of Section 6.02 with respect to the qualifications of a successor Servicer.
          Section 5.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer and Others.
          Neither the Servicer nor the Depositor nor any of the directors or officers or employees or agents of the Servicer or the Depositor shall be under any liability to the Trust or the Noteholders for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action by the Servicer or the Depositor in good faith pursuant to this Agreement, or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Servicer, the Depositor or any such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties of the Servicer or the Depositor, as the case may be, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties as Servicer or Depositor, as the case may be, hereunder. The Servicer and any director or officer or employee or agent of the 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 Servicer and the Depositor, and any director or officer or employee or agent of the Servicer or the Depositor, shall be indemnified by the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with (i) any legal action relating to this Agreement or the Notes, other than any loss, liability or expense incurred by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder or by reason of its failure to perform its obligations or duties hereunder and (ii) any breach of a representation or warranty regarding the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer or the Depositor may undertake any such action which it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement, and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Noteholders hereunder. In such event, unless the Depositor or the Servicer acts without the consent of the Holders of 51% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, the reasonable legal expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom shall be expenses, costs and liabilities of the Trust and the Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as and to the extent provided in Section 3.11, any such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of the Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account. The Servicer’s right to indemnity or reimbursement pursuant to this Section shall survive any resignation or termination of the 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). This paragraph shall apply to the Servicer solely in its capacity as Servicer hereunder and in no other capacities.
          Section 5.04. Servicer Not to Resign.
          The Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except upon determination that its duties hereunder are no longer permissible under applicable law. Any such determination pursuant to the preceding sentence permitting the resignation of the Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect

 


 

          obtained at the expense of the Servicer and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. No resignation of the Servicer shall become effective until the Indenture Trustee or a successor servicer shall have assumed the Servicer’s responsibilities, duties, liabilities (other than those liabilities arising prior to the assumption of servicing duties by the Indenture Trustee or the appointment of such successor) and obligations under this Agreement. Any such resignation shall not relieve the Servicer of responsibility for any of the obligations specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that survive the resignation or receipt of notice of termination of the Servicer
          Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Servicer shall not assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or privileges hereunder to any other Person, or delegate to or subcontract with, or authorize or appoint any other Person to perform any of the duties, covenants or obligations to be performed by the Servicer hereunder. The foregoing prohibition on assignment shall not prohibit the Servicer from designating a Sub-Servicer as payee of any indemnification amount payable to the Servicer hereunder; provided, however, no Sub-Servicer shall be a third-party beneficiary hereunder and the parties hereto shall not be required to recognize any Sub-Servicer as an indemnitee under this Agreement.
          Section 5.05. Delegation of Duties.
          In the ordinary course of business, the 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 set forth in Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not relieve the Servicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with respect to such duties and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section 5.04. Except as provided in Section 3.02, no such delegation is permitted that results in the delegee subservicing any Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall provide the Indenture Trustee with 60 days prior written notice prior to the delegation of any of its duties to any Person other than any of the Servicer’s Affiliates or their respective successors and assigns.
          Section 5.06. Indemnification.
          The Servicer agrees to indemnify and hold the Indenture Trustee, the Sponsor and the Depositor harmless against any and all claims, losses, penalties, fines, forfeitures, legal fees and related costs, judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses that the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor may sustain in any way related to the failure of the Servicer to perform its duties and service the Mortgage Loans in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
          Section 5.07. Inspection
          The Servicer, in its capacity as Servicer, shall afford the Indenture Trustee, upon reasonable notice, during normal business hours, access to all records maintained by the Servicer in respect of its rights and obligations hereunder and access to officers of the Servicer responsible for such obligations.

 


 

ARTICLE VI
DEFAULT
          Section 6.01. Servicer Events of Termination.
          (a) If any one of the following events (“Servicer Events of Termination”) shall occur and be continuing:
          (i) (A) The failure by the Servicer to make any Advance; or (B) any other failure by the Servicer to deposit in the Collection Account or the Payment Account any deposit required to be made under the terms of this Agreement which continues unremedied for a period of one Business Day after the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the Servicer by the Indenture Trustee or to the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee by any Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balances of the Notes; or
          (ii) The failure by the Servicer to make any required Servicing Advance which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days, or the failure by the Servicer duly to observe or perform, in any material respect, any other covenants, obligations or agreements of the Servicer as set forth in this Agreement, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days (or if such failure or breach cannot be remedied within 30 days, then such remedy shall have been commenced within 30 days and diligently pursued thereafter; provided, however, that in no event shall such failure or breach be allowed to exist for a period of greater than 90 days), after the date (A) on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Indenture Trustee or to the Indenture Trustee by any Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes or (B) of actual knowledge of such failure by a Servicing Officer of the Servicer; or
          (iii) The entry against the 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 proceedings, 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 days;
          (iv) any failure by the Servicer to timely comply with its obligations pursuant to Section 3.20 or Section 3.21 hereof; or
          (v) The Servicer shall voluntarily go into liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Servicer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property; or a decree or order of a court or 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 proceedings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the Servicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the 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;
          (b) then, and in each and every such case, so long as a Servicer Event of Termination shall not have been remedied within the applicable grace period, (x) with respect solely to clause (i)(A) above, if such Advance is not made by 11:00 A.M., New York time, on the Business Day immediately following the Servicer Remittance Date (provided the Indenture Trustee shall give the Servicer, and the Servicer shall have received, notice of such failure to advance by 5:00 P.M. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date), the Indenture Trustee shall terminate all of the rights and obligations of the

 


 

          Servicer under this Agreement and the Indenture Trustee, or a successor servicer appointed in accordance with Section 6.02, shall immediately make such Advance and assume, pursuant to Section 6.02, the duties of a successor Servicer and (y) in the case of (i)(B), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Holders of each Class of Notes evidencing Percentage Interests aggregating not less than 51%, by notice then given in writing to the Servicer (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Holders of Notes), terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer as servicer under this Agreement. Any such notice to the Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Servicer. On or after the receipt by the Servicer (and by the Indenture Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders) of such written notice, all authority and power of the Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Notes or the Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Indenture Trustee pursuant to and under this Section; and, without limitation, and the Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the 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 otherwise. The Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Indenture Trustee (or the applicable successor Servicer) in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, the delivery to the Indenture Trustee of all documents and records requested by it to enable it to assume the Servicer’s functions under this Agreement within ten Business Days subsequent to such notice, the transfer within one Business Day subsequent to such notice to the Indenture Trustee (or the applicable successor Servicer) for the administration by it of all cash amounts that shall at the time be held by the Servicer and to be deposited by it in the Collection Account, the Payment Account, any REO Account or any Escrow Account or that have been deposited by the Servicer in such accounts or thereafter received by the Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans or any REO Property received by the Servicer. All reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with transferring the Mortgage Files to the successor Servicer and amending this Agreement to reflect such succession as Servicer pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer (or if the predecessor Servicer is the Indenture Trustee, the initial Servicer) upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses and to the extent not paid by the Servicer, by the Trust.
          Notwithstanding the termination of the Servicer hereunder, the Servicer shall be entitled to reimbursement of all unpaid Servicing Fees and all unreimbursed Advances and Servicing Advances in the manner and at the times set forth herein.
          Section 6.02. Indenture Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor.
          (a) From the time the Servicer (and the Indenture Trustee, if notice is sent by the Holders) receives a notice of termination pursuant to Section 6.01 or is permitted to resign pursuant to Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee (or such other successor Servicer as is approved in accordance with this Agreement) shall be the successor in all respects to the Servicer in its capacity as servicer under this 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 Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof arising on and after its succession. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as successor Servicer, immediately will assume all of the obligations of the Servicer to make advances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as successor Servicer, shall not be responsible for the lack of information and/or documents that it cannot obtain through reasonable efforts. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that there will be a period of transition (not to exceed 90 days) before the transition of servicing obligations is fully effective. As compensation therefor, the Indenture Trustee (or such other successor Servicer) shall be entitled to such compensation as the Servicer would have been entitled to hereunder if no such notice of termination or resignation had been given. Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the Indenture Trustee is unwilling to act as successor Servicer or (ii) if the Indenture Trustee is legally unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee shall appoint (with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder) or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage loan or home equity loan servicer having a net worth of not less than $50,000,000 as the successor to the Servicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any part of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the Servicer hereunder; provided, that the appointment of any such successor Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to the Notes by the Rating Agencies as evidenced by a letter to such effect from the Rating Agencies. Pending appointment of a successor to the 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 compensation which the Servicer would otherwise have received pursuant to Section 3.18 (or such other compensation as the Indenture Trustee and such successor shall agree, not to exceed the Servicing Fee). The appointment of a successor Servicer shall not affect any liability of the predecessor Servicer which may have arisen under this Agreement prior to its termination as Servicer to pay any deductible under an insurance policy pursuant to Section 3.14 or to reimburse the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 3.06, nor shall any successor Servicer be liable for any acts or omissions of the predecessor Servicer or for any breach by such Servicer of any of its representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document or agreement. The Indenture Trustee and such successor shall take such action, consistent with this Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession. All reasonable Servicing Transfer Costs shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs, and if such predecessor Servicer defaults in its obligation to pay such costs, such costs shall be paid by the successor Servicer or the Indenture Trustee (in which case the successor Servicer or the Indenture Trustee, as applicable, shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor from the assets of the Trust).
          (b) Any successor to the Servicer, including the Indenture Trustee, shall during the term of its service as servicer continue to service and administer the Mortgage Loans for the benefit of Noteholders, and maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as Servicer hereunder and a fidelity bond in respect of its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the Servicer is so required pursuant to Section 3.14.
          (c) In connection with the termination or resignation of the Servicer hereunder, either (i) the successor servicer, including the Indenture Trustee if the Indenture Trustee is acting as a successor Servicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the related Mortgage Loans that are registered with MERS, in which case the predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the successor Servicer in causing MERS to revise its records to reflect the transfer of servicing to the successor Servicer as necessary under MERS’ rules and regulations, or (ii) the predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the successor Servicer in causing MERS to execute and deliver an Assignment in recordable form to transfer the Mortgage from MERS to the Indenture Trustee and to execute and deliver such other notices, documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to effect a transfer of such Mortgage Loan or servicing of such Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System to the successor Servicer. The predecessor Servicer (or, if the Indenture Trustee is the predecessor Servicer, the related initial Servicer) shall file or cause to be filed any such Assignment in the appropriate recording office. The predecessor Servicer shall bear any and all fees of MERS, costs of preparing any Assignments, and fees and costs of filing any Assignments that may be required under this Section 6.02(c).
          Section 6.03. Waiver of Defaults.
          The Majority Noteholders may, on behalf of all Noteholders, waive, in writing, any events permitting removal of the Servicer as servicer pursuant to this Article VI, provided, however, that the Majority Noteholders may not waive a default in making a required payment on a Note without the written consent of the Holder of such Note. Upon any waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist and any Servicer Event of Termination arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereto except to the extent expressly so waived. Notice of any such waiver shall be given by the Indenture Trustee to the Sponsor and the Rating Agencies.
          Section 6.04. Notification to Noteholders.
          (a) Upon any termination or appointment of a successor to the Servicer pursuant to this Article VI or Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Owner Trustee, the Sponsor, the Depositor and the Noteholders at their respective addresses appearing in the Note Register and each Rating Agency.
          (b) No later than the later of (a) 60 days after the occurrence of any event which constitutes or which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Servicer Event of Termination or (b) within five Business Days after a

 


 

          Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee becomes aware of the occurrence of such an event, the Indenture Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Noteholders notice of such occurrence unless such default or Servicer Event of Termination shall have been waived or cured.
          Section 6.05. Survivability of Servicer Liabilities.
          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon termination of the Servicer hereunder, any liabilities of the Servicer which accrued prior to such termination shall survive such termination.

 


 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
          Section 7.01. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the parties hereto (with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder), provided that any amendment be accompanied by (i) a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to the Notes and (ii) an Officer’s Certificate of the Sponsor, that such amendment will not cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a “qualified special purpose entity” under Financial Accounting Standard 140.
          In addition, the prior written consent of the Swap Provider shall be required for any amendment that materially adversely affects in any respect the rights and interest hereunder of the Swap Provider.
          Section 7.02. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW), 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 when delivered to:
(a) in the case of the Depositor:
Financial Asset Securities Corp.
600 Steamboat Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
Attention: Legal
(b) in the case of the Originator or Servicer:
Centex Home Equity Company, LLC
2828 N. Harwood Street, 11th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
(c) in the case of Rating Agencies:
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
4th Floor
99 Church Street
New York, New York 10007
Attention: Residential Mortgage Monitoring Unit
Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
55 Water Street — 41st Floor
New York, New York 10041
Attention: Asset Backed Surveillance Group

 


 

(d) 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
(e) in the case of the Issuer, to Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1:
c/o Newcastle Investment Corp.
750 B Street, Suite 2700
San Diego, CA 92101
Attention: Legal
with a copy to the Sponsor at the address in (g) below.
(f) in the case of the Indenture Trustee:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2477
Attention: Worldwide Securities Services/Structured Finance Services: Newcastle Mortgage Securities
Trust 2006-1
(g) in the case of the Sponsor:
Newcastle Investment Corp.
1245 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Debra Hess
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 Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Any notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder 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 Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement or of the Notes or the rights of the Noteholders thereof.
          Section 7.05. Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon

 


 

          the parties hereto, the Noteholders, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this 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.
          Section 7.08. Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the 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 Servicer, by entering into this 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 Agreement by one year.
          Section 7.10. No Recourse. The Servicer acknowledges that no recourse may be had against the Issuer, except as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement.
          Section 7.11. Indenture Trustee Rights. The Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to the same rights, protections, indemnities and immunities afforded to it under the Indenture as if specifically set forth herein.
          Section 7.12. Compliance. In order to comply with its duties under the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Indenture Trustee may obtain and verify certain information and documentation from the Servicer hereto, including but not limited to such Servicer’s name, address, and other identifying information.
          Section 7.13. Intention of the Parties and Interpretation. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the purpose of Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 of this Agreement is to facilitate compliance by the Depositor with the provisions of Regulation AB promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1934 Act (17 C.F.R. §§ 229.1100 — 229.1123), as such may be amended from time to time and subject to clarification and interpretive advice as may be issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Therefore, each of the parties agrees that (a) the obligations of the parties hereunder shall be interpreted in such a manner as to accomplish that purpose, (b) the parties’ obligations hereunder will be supplemented and modified as necessary to be consistent with any such amendments, interpretive advice or guidance, convention or consensus among active participants in the asset-backed securities markets, advice of counsel, or otherwise in respect of the requirements of Regulation AB, (c) the parties shall comply with reasonable requests made by the Depositor for delivery of additional or different information as the Depositor may determine in good faith is necessary to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, and (d) no amendment of this Agreement shall be required to effect any such changes in the parties’ obligations as are necessary to accommodate evolving interpretations of the provisions of Regulation AB.

 


 

ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
          Section 8.01. Administrative Duties.
          (a) Duties with Respect to the Indenture. The Administrator shall perform all its duties and the duties of the Issuer under the Indenture. In addition, the Administrator shall consult with the Owner Trustee as the Administrator deems appropriate regarding the duties of the Issuer under the Indenture. The Administrator 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 Administrator shall prepare for execution by the Issuer or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate Persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, Notes 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 Administrator 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 Administrator set forth in this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, the Administrator 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 Agreement or any of the Basic Documents or under state and federal tax and securities laws (including, but not limited to, UCC filings in applicable jurisdictions and annual compliance certificates, if any), and at the request of the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee shall take all appropriate action that it is the duty of the Issuer to take pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents. In accordance with the directions of the Issuer or the Owner Trustee, the Administrator shall administer, perform or supervise the performance of such other activities in connection with the Notes (including the Basic Documents) as are not covered by any of the foregoing provisions and as are expressly requested by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee.
          (ii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to the contrary, the Administrator shall be responsible for promptly notifying the Owner Trustee and Certificate Paying Agent 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 or the Certificate Paying Agent pursuant to such provision.
          (iii) In carrying out the foregoing duties or any of its other obligations under this Agreement, the Administrator 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 Administrator’s opinion, no less favorable to the Issuer in any material respect than with terms made available to unrelated third parties.
          (c) Tax Matters. The Administrator shall prepare, on behalf of the Owner Trustee, financial statements and such annual or other reports of the Issuer as are necessary for the preparation by the Indenture Trustee of tax returns and information reports as provided in Section 5.03 of the Trust Agreement, including, without limitation, Form 1099.
          (d) Non-Ministerial Matters. With respect to matters that in the reasonable judgment of the Administrator are non-ministerial, the Administrator shall not take any action pursuant to this Article VIII unless within a reasonable time before the taking of such action, the Administrator 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 to which the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, as applicable, is a party;
               (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, Certificate Paying Agent or Indenture Trustee of its obligations under the Indenture; and
               (E) the removal of the Indenture Trustee.
          (e) Sponsor shall act as Administrator. By execution of this Agreement, the Sponsor agrees to be bound as Administrator and shall perform the obligations of the Administrator as described herein.
          Section 8.02. Records. The Administrator shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to services performed under this Agreement, which books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee at any time during normal business hours.
          Section 8.03. Additional Information to be Furnished. The Administrator shall furnish to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee from time to time such additional information regarding the Mortgage Loans and the Notes as the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee shall reasonably request.
          Section 8.04. No Recourse to Owner Trustee. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that (a) this Agreement is executed and delivered by Wilmington Trust Company, not individually or personally, but solely as Owner Trustee of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (b) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Issuer is made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by Wilmington Trust Company but is made and intended for the purpose for binding only the Issuer, (c) nothing herein contained shall be construed as creating any liability of Wilmington Trust Company, individually or personally, to perform any covenant either expressed or implied contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and by any Person claiming by, through or under the parties hereto and (d) under no circumstances shall Wilmington Trust Company be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under this Agreement or any other related documents.

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Depositor, the Servicer, the Originator, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee have caused this Sale and Sale and Servicing Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first above written.
         
  FINANCIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORP.,
as Depositor
 
 
  By:   /s/ Patrick Leo    
    Name:   Patrick Leo   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
  CENTEX HOME EQUITY COMPANY, LLC,
as Originator and Servicer
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory Oniu    
    Name:   Gregory Oniu   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
  NEWCASTLE MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST
2006-1, as Issuer

By: Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual
capacity, but solely as Owner Trustee
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joann A. Rozell    
    Name:   Joann A. Rozell   
    Title:   Assistant Vice President   
 
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:   /s/ Steve M. Husbands    
    Name:   Steve M. Husbands   
    Title:   Assistant Vice President   

 


 

         
  For purposes of Article VIII:
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP., as Sponsor
 
  By:   /s/ Ken Riis    
    Name:   Ken Riis   
    Title:   President   

 


 

         
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
[AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST]

 


 

EXHIBIT B
MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
[AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST]

 


 

EXHIBIT C
FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE
(for Indenture Trustee)
LOAN INFORMATION
         
Name of Mortgagor:
       
 
 
 
   
Servicer Loan No.:
       
 
 
 
   
 
       
INDENTURE TRUSTEE
   
 
       
Name:
       
 
 
 
   
Address:
       
 
 
 
   
 
       
 
 
 
   
Trustee Mortgage
       
File No.:
       
 
 
 
   
 
       
ISSUER
       
 
       
Name:
  NEWCASTLE MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST 2006-1
 
       
Address:
       
Notes:
  Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1.    
          The undersigned Servicer hereby acknowledges that it has received from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee for the Holders of Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1, the documents referred to below (the “Documents”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Request for Release shall have the meanings given them in the Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, among the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer, the Servicer and the Depositor (the “Sale and Servicing Agreement”).
( )   Promissory Note dated _______________, 20__, in the original principal sum of $__________, made by _____________________, payable to, or endorsed to the order of, the Indenture Trustee.
( )   Mortgage recorded on _________________________ as instrument no. ____________________ in the County Recorder’s Office of the County of _______________, State of __________________ in book/reel/docket_________________ of official records at page/image ____________.
( )   Deed of Trust recorded on ___________________ as instrument no. ________________ in the County Recorder’s Office of the County of _________________, State of ____________________ in book/reel/docket _________________ of official records at page/image _____________.

 


 

( )   Assignment of Mortgage or Deed of Trust to the Indenture Trustee, recorded on __________________ as instrument no. _________ in the County Recorder’s Office of the County of _______________, State of _______________________ in book/reel/docket ____________ of official records at page/image ___________.
( )   Other documents, including any amendments, assignments or other assumptions of the Mortgage Note or Mortgage.
         
( )
 
 
   
 
( )
 
 
   
 
( )
 
 
   
 
( )
 
 
   

 


 

          The undersigned Servicer hereby acknowledges and agrees as follows:
          (1) The Servicer shall hold and retain possession of the Documents in trust for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, solely for the purposes provided in the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
          (2) The Servicer shall not cause or permit the Documents to become subject to, or encumbered by, any claim, liens, security interest, charges, writs of attachment or other impositions nor shall the Servicer assert or seek to assert any claims or rights of setoff to or against the Documents or any proceeds thereof.
          (3) The Servicer shall return each and every Document previously requested from the Mortgage File to the Indenture Trustee when the need therefor no longer exists, unless the Mortgage Loan relating to the Documents has been liquidated and the proceeds thereof have been remitted to the Collection Account and except as expressly provided in the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
          (4) The Documents and any proceeds thereof, including any proceeds of proceeds, coming into the possession or control of the Servicer shall at all times be earmarked for the account of the Indenture Trustee, and the Servicer shall keep the Documents and any proceeds separate and distinct from all other property in the Servicer’s possession, custody or control.
Dated:
         
  CENTEX HOME EQUITY COMPANY, LLC
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      

 


 

         
EXHIBIT D-1
FORM OF INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S INITIAL CERTIFICATION
         
 
                [Date]
 
 
  Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1   Financial Asset Securities Corp.
 
  c/o Wilmington Trust Company   600 Steamboat Road
 
  Rodney Square North   Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
 
  1100 North Market Street    
 
  Wilmington, Delaware 19990-0001    
 
  Attention: Corporate Trust Administration    
  Re:    Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated April 6, 2006, among Financial Asset Securities Corp., Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, Centex Home Equity Company, LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
          In accordance with Section 2.01(i)-(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, 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 any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the exception report annexed hereto as not being covered by such certification) (i) all documents constituting part of such Mortgage File (other than such documents described in Section 2.01 (vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement) required to be delivered to it pursuant to the Agreement 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 its examination and only as to the foregoing, the information set forth in the Mortgage Loan Schedule that corresponds to items (i), (iii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xviii), (xxiv) and (xxv) (but only as to Gross Margin, Maximum Mortgage Rate and Periodic Rate Cap) of the definition of “Mortgage Loan Schedule” accurately reflects information set forth in the Mortgage File.
          The Indenture Trustee makes no representations as to: (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, enforceability, recordability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in the 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) whether any Mortgage File included any of the documents specified in clause (vi) of Section 2.01 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement.

 


 

          Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the above-captioned Indenture.
         
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 


 

EXHIBIT D-2
FORM OF INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S FINAL CERTIFICATION
[Date]                                                                         
Financial Asset Securities Corp.
600 Steamboat Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
  Re:   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated April 6, 2006, among Financial Asset Securities Corp., Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, Centex Home Equity Company, LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
          In accordance with Section 2.01(i)-(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, 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 any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the exception report annexed hereto as not being covered by such certification) (i) all documents constituting part of such Mortgage File (other than such documents described in Section 2.01 (vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement) required to be delivered to it pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement are in its possession.
          The undersigned hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, other than any Mortgage Loan listed on Schedule I hereto, it has reviewed the documents listed above and has determined that each such document appears to be regular on its face and relates to such Mortgage Loan and, based on an examination of such documents, the information set forth in (i) of the definition of Mortgage Loan Schedule accurately reflects information in the Mortgage File.
          We have made no independent examination of any documents contained in each Mortgage File beyond the review specifically required in the Sale and Servicing Agreement. We make no representations as to (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, recordability, enforceability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in the Mortgage File pertaining to the Mortgage Loans identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, (ii) the collectability, insurability, effectiveness or suitability of any such Mortgage Loan or (iii) whether any Mortgage File includes any of the documents specified in clause (vi) of Section 2.01 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement.

 


 

          Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Agreements. This Certificate is qualified in all respects by the terms of said Agreements.
         
  [TRUSTEE / CUSTODIAN]
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      

 


 

         
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF LOST NOTE AFFIDAVIT
          Personally appeared before me the undersigned authority to administer oaths, _____________________ who first being duly sworn deposes and says: Deponent is ___________________________ of ____________________________, successor by merger to _________________________ (“Seller”) and who has personal knowledge of the facts set out in this affidavit.
          On _______________________, ____________________________ did execute and deliver a promissory note in the principal amount of $___________________.
          That said note has been misplaced or lost through causes unknown and is presently lost and unavailable after diligent search has been made. Seller’s records show that an amount of principal and interest on said note is still presently outstanding, due, and unpaid, and Seller is still owner and holder in due course of said lost note.
          Seller executes this Affidavit for the purpose of inducing JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as indenture trustee on behalf of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1, to accept the transfer of the above described loan from Seller.
          Seller agrees to indemnify JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Financial Asset Securities Corp. harmless for any losses incurred by such parties resulting from the above described promissory note has been lost or misplaced.
         
  By:      
       
         
STATE OF
    )  
 
    ) SS:  
COUNTY OF
    )  
          On this ______ day of ______________, 20_, before me, a Notary Public, in and for said County and State, appeared , who acknowledged the extension of the foregoing and who, having been duly sworn, states that any representations therein contained are true.
          Witness my hand and Notarial Seal this _________ day of 20_.
__________________________
__________________________
My commission expires __________________________

 


 

EXHIBIT F
FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association, having a place of business at 4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10004, as Indenture Trustee (and in no personal or other representative capacity), under the Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated April 6, 2006, among Financial Asset Securities Corp., as depositor, Centex Home Equity Company, LLC, as servicer, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, as issuer and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as indenture trustee (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms not defined herein have the definitions assigned to such terms in the Agreement), relating to Newcastle Mortgage Securities 2006-1, hereby appoints ______________________, in its capacity as the Servicer under the Agreement as the Indenture Trustee’s true and lawful Special Attorney-in-Fact, in the Indenture Trustee’s name, place and stead and for the Indenture Trustee’s benefit, but only in its capacity as Indenture Trustee aforesaid, to perform all acts and execute all documents as may be customary, necessary and appropriate to effectuate the following enumerated transactions in respect of any mortgage, deed of trust, promissory note or real estate owned from time to time owned (beneficially or in title, whether the Indenture Trustee is named therein as mortgagee or beneficiary or has become mortgagee or beneficiary by virtue of endorsement, assignment or other conveyance) or held by or registered to the Indenture Trustee (directly or through custodians or nominees), or in respect of which the Indenture Trustee has a security interest or other lien, all as provided under the Agreement and only to the extent the Indenture Trustee has an interest therein under the Agreement, and in respect of which the Servicer is acting as servicer pursuant to the Agreement (collectively the “Mortgage Documents”).
          This appointment shall apply to the following enumerated transactions under the Agreement only:
          1. The modification or re-recording of any Mortgage Document for the purpose of correcting it to conform to the original intent of the parties thereto or to correct title errors discovered after title insurance was issued and where such modification or re-recording does not adversely affect the lien under the Mortgage Document as insured.
          2. The subordination of the lien under a Mortgage Document to an easement in favor of a public utility company or a state or federal agency or unit with powers of eminent domain including, without limitation, the execution of partial satisfactions/releases, partial reconveyances and the execution of requests to trustees to accomplish same.
          3. The conveyance of the properties subject to a Mortgage Document to the applicable mortgage insurer, or the closing of the title to the property to be acquired as real estate so owned, or conveyance of title to real estate so owned.
          4. The completion of loan assumption and modification agreements in respect of Mortgage Documents.
          5. The full or partial satisfaction/release of a Mortgage Document or full conveyance upon payment and discharge of all sums secured thereby, including, without limitation, cancellation of the related note.
          6. The assignment of any Mortgage Document, in connection with the repurchase of the mortgage loan secured and evidenced thereby.
          7. The full assignment of a Mortgage Document upon payment and discharge of all sums secured

 


 

          thereby in conjunction with the refinancing thereof, including, without limitation, the assignment of the related note.
          8. With respect to a Mortgage Document, the foreclosure, the taking of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or the completion of judicial or non-judicial foreclosure or termination, cancellation or rescission of any such foreclosure, including, without limitation, any and all of the following acts:
          a. the substitution of indenture trustee(s) serving under a deed of trust, in accordance with state law and the deed of trust;
          b. the preparation and issuance of statements of breach or non-performance;
          c. the preparation and filing of notices of default and/or notices of sale;
          d. the cancellation/rescission of notices of default and/or notices of sale;
          e. the taking of a deed in lieu of foreclosure; and
          f. the preparation and execution of such other documents and performance of such other actions as may be necessary under the terms of the Mortgage Document or state law to expeditiously complete said transactions in paragraphs 8(a) through 8(e), above.
          9. Demand, sue for, recover, collection and receive each and every sum of money, debt, account and interest (which now is, or hereafter shall become due and payable) belonging to or claimed by the Indenture Trustee under the Mortgage Documents, and to use or take any lawful means for recovery thereof by legal process or otherwise.
          10. Endorse on behalf of the Indenture Trustee all checks, drafts and/or negotiable instruments made payable to the Indenture Trustee in respect of the Mortgage Documents.
          The Indenture Trustee gives the Special Attorney-in-Fact full power and authority to execute such instruments and to do and perform all and every act and thing necessary and proper to carry into effect the power or powers granted by this Limited Power of Attorney, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement including the standard of care applicable to servicers in the Agreement, and hereby does ratify and confirm to what such Special Attorney-in-Fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by authority hereof.
          This Power of Attorney is effective for one (1) year from the date hereof or the earlier of (i) revocation by the Indenture Trustee, (ii) the Attorney shall no longer be retained on behalf of the Indenture Trustee or an affiliate of the Indenture Trustee; or (iii) the expiration of one year from the date of execution.
          The authority granted to the attorney-in-fact by the Power of Attorney is not transferable to any other party or entity.
          This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Indenture Trustee has caused its corporate name and seal to be hereto signed and affixed and these presents to be acknowledged by its duly elected and authorized officer this ______ day of _________, 200__.
         
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
  WITNESS:
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
  WITNESS:
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
         
STATE OF NEW YORK
    )  
 
    )    ss.:  
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
    )  
          On _______________, 2006, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said state, personally appeared _______________________, personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and to be a duly authorized and acting Senior Vice President of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and such person acknowledged to me that such person executed the within instrument in such person’s authorized capacity as a Senior Vice President of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and that by such signature on the within instrument the entity upon behalf of which such person acted executed the instrument.
          WITNESS my hand and official seal.
         
       
    Notary Public    

 


 

EXHIBIT G-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE SERVICER WITH FORM 10-K
Certification
     Re: Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1 (the “Trust” or the “Issuer”)
               Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1
          I, [identify the certifying individual], certify, that:
          1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K, and all reports on Form 10-D required to be filed in respect of the period covered by this report on Form 10-K of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, Asset Backed Notes, Series 2006-1 (the “Exchange Act periodic reports”);
          2. Based on my knowledge, the Exchange Act periodic reports, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
          3. Based on my knowledge, all of the distribution, servicing and other information required to be provided under Form 10-D for the period covered by this report is included in the Exchange Act periodic reports;
          4. I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the servicer and based on my knowledge and the compliance review conducted in preparing the servicer compliance statements as required in this report under Item 1123 of Regulation AB, and except as disclosed in the Exchange Act periodic reports, the servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the sale and servicing agreement; and
          5. All of the reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and their related attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities required to be included in this report in accordance with Item 1122 of Regulation AB and Exchange Act Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 have been included as an exhibit to this report, except as otherwise disclosed in this report. Any material instances of noncompliance described in such reports have been disclosed in this report on From 10-K.
          In giving the certifications above, I have reasonably relied on information provided to me by the following unaffiliated parties: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as indenture trustee.
         
  CENTEX HOME EQUITY COMPANY, LLC
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
    Date:     

 


 

         
EXHIBIT G-2
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE
PROVIDED TO THE SERVICER BY THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
     Re: Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1 (the “Trust” or the “Issuer”)
               Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1
          I, [identify the certifying individual], a [title] of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, hereby certify to Centex Home Equity Company, LLC (the “Servicer”), and its officers, directors and affiliates, and with the knowledge and intent that they will rely upon this certification, that:
          1. I have reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2006, and all reports on Form 10-D containing distribution reports filed in respect of periods included in the year covered by that annual report, of the Depositor relating to the above-referenced trust;
          2. Based on my knowledge, the information in these distribution reports prepared by the Indenture Trustee, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by that annual report; and
          3. Based on my knowledge, the distribution information required to be provided under Form 10-D by the Indenture Trustee under Section 4.02(a) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement is included in these distribution reports.
          Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated April 6, 2006 (the “Indenture”), between Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1, as issuer, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as indenture trustee.
         
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
    Date:     

 


 

EXHIBIT H
SERVICING CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED
IN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Definitions
Primary Servicer — transaction party having borrower contact
Master Servicer — aggregator of pool assets
Securities Administrator — waterfall calculator (may be the Indenture Trustee, or may be the Servicer)
Custodian — safe keeper of pool assets
Paying Agent — distributor of funds to ultimate investor
Indenture Trustee — fiduciary of the transaction
Note: The definitions above describe the essential function that the party performs, rather than the party’s title. So, for example, in a particular transaction, the indenture trustee may perform the “paying agent” and “securities administrator” functions, while in another transaction, the securities administrator may perform these functions.
Where there are multiple checks for criteria the attesting party will identify in their management assertion that they are attesting only to the portion of the distribution chain they are responsible for in the related transaction agreements.
     Key: X — obligation
          XX — only needs to be provided if transaction documents require custodial accounts to be maintained at a federally insured depository institution
          XXX — will be provided by entity acting as custodian
          [X] — under consideration for obligation
                 
        Primary   Master   Indenture
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Servicer   Servicer   Trustee
 
  General Servicing Considerations            
 
               
1122(d)(1)(i)
  Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements.   X   X   X
 
               
1122(d)(1)(ii)
  If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third party’s performance and compliance with such servicing activities.   To the extent
applicable
  X    
 
               
1122(d)(1)(iii)
  Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for the Pool Assets are maintained.            
 
               
1122(d)(1)(iv)
  A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements.   X   X    
 
               
 
  Cash Collection and Administration            
 
               
 
  Payments on pool assets are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank   X   X   X

 


 

                 
        Primary   Master   Indenture
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Servicer   Servicer   Trustee
1122(d)(2)(i)
  clearing accounts no more than two business days following receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.            
 
               
1122(d)(2)(ii)
  Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel.   X   X   X
 
               
1122(d)(2)(iii)
  Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or paymnets, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X    
 
               
1122(d)(2)(iv)
  The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of over collateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements.   X   [X]   X
 
               
1122(d)(2)(v)
  Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, “federally insured depository institution” with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act.   X   X   XX
 
               
1122(d)(2)(vi)
  Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access.   If applicable        
 
               
1122(d)(2)(vii)
  Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations are (A) mathematically accurate; (B) prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X   X
 
               
 
  Investor Remittances and Reporting            
 
               
1122(d)(3)(i)
  Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the Commission, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable Commission requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the Commission as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors’ or the indenture trustee’s records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of Pool Assets serviced by the Servicer.   X   X   X

 


 

                 
        Primary   Master   Indenture
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Servicer   Servicer   Trustee
1122(d)(3)(ii)
  Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements.   X   X   X
 
               
1122(d)(3)(iii)
  Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the Servicer’s investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X   X
 
               
1122(d)(3)(iv)
  Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements.   X   X   X
 
               
 
  Pool Asset Administration            
 
               
1122(d)(4)(i)
  Collateral or security on pool assets is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related pool asset documents.       X   XXX
 
               
1122(d)(4)(ii)
  Pool assets and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements       X   XXX
 
               
1122(d)(4)(iii)
  Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements.   X   X   X
 
               
1122(d)(4)(iv)
  Payments on pool assets, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related pool asset documents are posted to the Servicer’s obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related pool asset documents.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(v)
  The Servicer’s records regarding the pool assets agree with the Servicer’s records with respect to an obligor’s unpaid principal balance.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(vi)
  Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligor’s pool assets (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents.   X   X    
 
               
1122(d)(4)(vii)
  Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements.   X   X    
 
               
1122(d)(4)(viii)
  Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period a pool asset is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment).   X        

 


 

                 
        Primary   Master   Indenture
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Servicer   Servicer   Trustee
1122(d)(4)(ix)
  Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for pool assets with variable rates are computed based on the related pool asset documents.   X   X    
 
               
1122(d)(4)(x)
  Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligor’s pool asset documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable pool asset documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related pool assets, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(xi)
  Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(xii)
  Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the Servicer’s funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligor’s error or omission.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(xiii)
  Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligor’s records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X        
 
               
1122(d)(4)(xiv)
  Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectible accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements.   X   X    
 
               
1122(d)(4)(xv)
  Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements.       X   X

 


 

EXHIBIT I
FORM 10-D, FORM 8-K AND FORM 10-K
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY
As to each item described below, the entity indicated as the Responsible Entity shall be primarily responsible for reporting the information to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 4.02(b). If the Indenture Trustee is indicated below as to any item, then the Indenture Trustee is primarily responsible for obtaining that information.
Under Item 1 of Form 10-D: a) items marked “7.05 statement” are satisfied by the provision of the periodic Payment Date statement under Section 7.05 of the Indenture, provided by the Indenture Trustee based on information received from the Servicer; and b) items marked “Form 10-D report” are required to be in the Form 10-D report but not the 7.05 statement, provided by the party indicated. Information under all other Items of Form 10-D is to be included in the Form 10-D report.
                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
10-D   Must be filed within 15 days of the Payment Date.    
 
               
 
    1     Distribution and Pool Performance Information    
 
               
 
          Item 1121(a) — Distribution and Pool Performance Information    
 
               
 
          (1) Any applicable record dates, accrual dates, determination dates for calculating payments and actual payment dates for the payment period.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
          (2) Cash flows received and the sources thereof for payments, fees and expenses.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
          (3) Calculated amounts and distribution of the flow of funds for the period itemized by type and priority of payment, including:   7.05 statement
 
               
 
               (i) Fees or expenses accrued and paid, with an identification of the general purpose of such fees and the party receiving such fees or expenses.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
               (ii) Payments accrued or paid with respect to enhancement or other support identified in Item 1114 of Regulation AB (such as insurance premiums or other enhancement maintenance fees), with an identification of the general purpose of such payments and the party receiving such payments.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
               (iii) Principal, interest and other distributions accrued and paid on the asset-backed securities by type and by class or series and any principal or interest shortfalls or carryovers.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
               (iv) The amount of excess cash flow or excess spread and the disposition of excess cash flow.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
          (4) Beginning and ending principal balances of the asset-backed securities.   7.05 statement

 


 

             
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
      (5) Interest rates applicable to the pool assets and the asset-backed securities, as applicable. Consider providing interest rate information for pool assets in appropriate distributional groups or incremental ranges.   7.05 statement
 
           
 
      (6) Beginning and ending balances of transaction accounts, such as reserve accounts, and material account activity during the period.   7.05 statement
 
           
 
      (7) Any amounts drawn on any credit enhancement or other support identified in Item 1114 of Regulation AB, as applicable, and the amount of coverage remaining under any such enhancement, if known and applicable.   7.05 statement
 
           
 
      (8) Number and amount of pool assets at the beginning and ending of each period, and updated pool composition information, such as weighted average coupon, weighted average life, weighted average remaining term, pool factors and prepayment amounts.   7.05 statement


Updated pool composition information fields to be as specified by Depositor from time to time
 
           
 
      (9) Delinquency and loss information for the period.   7.05 statement.
 
           
 
      In addition, describe any material changes to the information specified in Item 1100(b)(5) of Regulation AB regarding the pool assets.   Form 10-D report: Depositor
 
           
 
      (10) Information on the amount, terms and general purpose of any advances made or reimbursed during the period, including the general use of funds advanced and the general source of funds for reimbursements.   7.05 statement
 
           
 
      (11) Any material modifications, extensions or waivers to pool asset terms, fees, penalties or payments during the distribution period or that have cumulatively become material over time.   Form 10-D report; Servicer
 
           
 
      (12) Material breaches of pool asset representations or warranties or transaction covenants.   Form 10-D report: Servicer
 
           
 
      (13) Information on ratio, coverage or other tests used for determining any early amortization, liquidation or other performance trigger and whether the trigger was met.   7.05 statement
 
           
 
      (14) Information regarding any new issuance of asset-backed securities backed by the same asset pool,   Form 10-D report: Depositor

Form 10-D report: Depositor
 
 
      [information regarding] any pool asset changes (other than in connection with a pool asset converting into cash in accordance with its terms), such as additions or removals in connection with a prefunding or revolving period and pool asset substitutions and repurchases (and purchase rates, if applicable), and cash flows   Form 10-D report: Depositor

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
          available for future purchases, such as the balances of any prefunding or revolving accounts, if applicable.    
 
          Disclose any material changes in the solicitation, credit-granting, underwriting, origination, acquisition or pool selection criteria or procedures, as applicable, used to originate, acquire or select the new pool assets.    
 
               
 
          Item 1121(b) — Pre-Funding or Revolving Period Information   Depositor
 
          Updated pool information as required under Item 1121(b).    
 
               
 
    2     Legal Proceedings    
 
               
 
          Item 1117 — Legal proceedings pending against the following entities, or their respective property, that is material to Noteholders, including proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities:   Seller
Depositor
 
          Seller   Indenture Trustee
 
          Depositor   Depositor
 
          Indenture Trustee   Master Servicer
 
          Issuing entity   Servicer
 
          Master Servicer   Originator
 
          Servicer   Custodian
 
          Originator    
 
          Custodian    
 
               
 
    3     Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds  
 
               
 
          Information from Item 2(a) of Part II of Form 10- Q:    
 
               
 
          With respect to any sale of securities by the sponsor, depositor or issuing entity, that are backed by the same asset pool or are otherwise issued by the issuing entity, whether or not registered, provide the sales and use of proceeds information in Item 701 of Regulation S-K. Pricing information can be omitted if securities were not registered.   Depositor
 
               
 
    4     Defaults Upon Senior Securities  
 
               
 
          Information from Item 3 of Part II of Form 10-Q:    
 
               
 
          Report the occurrence of any Event of Default (after expiration of any grace period and provision of any required notice)   N/A
 
               
 
    5     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    
 
               
 
          Information from Item 4 of Part II of Form 10-Q   Indenture Trustee
 
               
 
    6     Significant Obligors of Pool Assets    
 
               
 
          Item 1112(b) — Significant Obligor Financial Information*   N/A
 
               
 
          *This information need only be reported on the Form 10-D for the distribution period in which updated information is required pursuant to the Item.    

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
    7     Significant Enhancement Provider Information    
 
               
 
          Item 1114(b)(2) — Credit Enhancement Provider Financial Information*   N/A
 
          Determining applicable disclosure threshold Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference   N/A
 
               
 
          Item 1115(b) — Derivative Counterparty Financial Information*   [TBD]
 
          Determining current maximum probable exposure   [TBD]
 
          Determining current significance percentage
Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
Depositor
 
               
 
          *This information need only be reported on the Form 10-D for the distribution period in which updated information is required pursuant to the Items.    
 
               
 
    8     Other Information    
 
               
 
          Disclose any information required to be reported on Form 8-K during the period covered by the Form 10-D but not reported   The Responsible Entity for the applicable
Form 8-K item as indicated below
 
               
 
    9     Exhibits    
 
               
 
          Distribution report   Indenture Trustee
 
               
 
          Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, such as material agreements   Depositor
 
               
8-K   Must be filed within four business days of an event reportable on Form 8-K.
 
               
 
    1.01     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required regarding entry into or amendment of any definitive agreement that is material to the securitization, even if depositor is not a party.   Depositor
 
          Examples: Sale and Servicing Agreement, custodial agreement.    
 
          Note: disclosure not required as to definitive agreements that are fully disclosed in the prospectus    
 
               
 
    1.02     Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required regarding termination of any definitive agreement that is material to the securitization (other than expiration in accordance with its terms), even if depositor is not a party.   Depositor
 
          Examples: Sale and Servicing Agreement, custodial agreement.    
 
               
 
    1.03     Bankruptcy or Receivership    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required regarding the bankruptcy or receivership, if known to the Depositor or Servicer, with respect to any of the following:   Depositor/Servicer
 
          Sponsor (Seller), Depositor, Servicer, Indenture Trustee, Swap Provider, Cap Provider, Custodian    

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
    2.04     Triggering Events that Accelerate or Increase a Direct
Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement
   
 
               
 
          Includes an early amortization, performance trigger or other event, including event of default, that would materially alter the payment priority/distribution of cash flows/amortization schedule.   N/A
 
          Disclosure will be made of events other than waterfall triggers which are disclosed in the 7.05 statement    
 
               
 
    3.03     Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required of any material modification to documents defining the rights of Noteholders, including the Pooling and Sale and Servicing Agreement   Party requesting material modification
 
               
 
    5.03     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required of any amendment “to the governing documents of the issuing entity”   Depositor
 
               
 
    5.06     Change in Shell Company Status   Depositor
 
               
 
          [Not applicable to ABS issuers]    
 
               
 
    6.01     ABS Informational and Computational Material    
 
               
 
          [Not included in reports to be filed under Section 4.07]   Depositor
 
               
 
    6.02     Change of Master Servicer, Servicer or Indenture Trustee    
 
               
 
          Requires disclosure of any removal, replacement, substitution or addition of any master servicer, affiliated servicer, other servicer servicing 10% or more of pool assets at time of report, other material servicers or indenture trustee (in the case of the Indenture Trustee, only with respect to itself). Reg AB disclosure about any new servicer or indenture trustee is also required.   Indenture Trustee, Servicer or Master
Servicer
 
               
 
    6.03     Change in Credit Enhancement or Other External Support    
 
               
 
          Covers termination of any enhancement in manner other than by its terms, the addition of an enhancement, or a material change in the enhancement provided. Applies to external credit enhancements as well as derivatives. Reg AB disclosure about any new enhancement provider is also required.   Depositor
 
               
 
    6.04     Failure to Make a Required Payment   Indenture Trustee
 
               
 
    6.05     Securities Act Updating Disclosure    
 
               
 
          If any material pool characteristic differs by 5% or more at the time of issuance of the securities from the description in the final prospectus, provide updated Reg AB disclosure about the actual asset pool.   Depositor

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
          If there are any new servicers or originators required to be disclosed under Regulation AB as a result of the foregoing, provide the information called for in Items 1108 and 1110 respectively.   Depositor
 
               
 
    7.01     Regulation FD Disclosure   Depositor
 
               
 
    8.01     Other Events    
 
               
 
          Any event, with respect to which information is not otherwise called for in Form 8-K, that the registrant deems of importance to security holders.   Depositor
 
               
 
    9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits   The Responsible Entity applicable to reportable event
 
               
10-K   Must be filed within 90 days of the fiscal year end for the registrant.
 
               
 
    9B     Other Information    
 
               
 
          Disclose any information required to be reported on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter covered by the Form 10-K but not reported   The Responsible Entity for the applicable Form 8-K item as indicated above
 
               
 
    15     Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    
 
               
 
          Item 1112(b) — Significant Obligor Financial Information   N/A
 
               
 
          Item 1114(b)(2) — Credit Enhancement Provider Financial Information   N/A
 
          Determining applicable disclosure threshold
Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
N/A
 
               
 
          Item 1115(b) — Derivative Counterparty Financial Information   [TBD]
 
          Determining current maximum probable exposure   [TBD]
 
          Determining current significance percentage
Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
Depositor
 
               
 
          Item 1119 — Affiliations and relationships between the following entities, or their respective affiliates, that are material to Noteholders:   Seller
 
          Seller   Depositor
 
          Depositor   Indenture Trustee
 
          Indenture Trustee   Issuing entity
 
          Issuing entity   Master Servicer
 
          Master Servicer   Servicer
 
          Servicer   Originator
 
          Originator   Custodian
 
          Custodian   Depositor
 
          Credit Enhancer/Support Provider, if any   Depositor
 
          Significant Obligor, if any    
 
               
 
          Item 1122 — Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria   Each Party participating in the servicing function
 
               
 
          Item 1123 — Servicer Compliance Statement   Servicer

 

EX-10.11 5 y04304a3exv10w11.htm EX-10.11 exv10w11
Exhibit 10.11
 
BEAR STEARNS ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES I LLC,
as Depositor
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC,
as Servicer
NEWCASTLE MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST 2007-1,
as Issuing Entity
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
as Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian
and
THE BANKOF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
 
SALE AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 12, 2007
 
Mortgage Loans
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1
 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Page  
ARTICLE I
 
       
DEFINITIONS
 
       
Section 1.01. Definitions
    2  
Section 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions
    2  
Section 1.03. Interest Calculations
    2  
 
       
ARTICLE II
 
       
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
       
Section 2.01. Conveyance of Mortgage Loans
    4  
Section 2.02. Acceptance by Indenture Trustee
    7  
Section 2.03. Repurchase or Substitution of Mortgage Loans by the Originator
    8  
Section 2.04. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Master Servicer
    11  
Section 2.05. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer
    12  
Section 2.06. Existence
    14  
 
       
ARTICLE III
 
       
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF MORTGAGE LOANS
 
       
Section 3.01. Servicer to Act as Servicer
    15  
Section 3.02. Sub-Servicing Agreements Between Servicer and Sub-Servicers
    17  
Section 3.03. Successor Sub-Servicers
    18  
Section 3.04. Liability of the Servicer
    18  
Section 3.05. No Contractual Relationship Between Sub-Servicers, the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders
    18  
Section 3.06. Assumption or Termination of Sub-Servicing Agreements by the Indenture Trustee
    19  
Section 3.07. Collection of Certain Mortgage Loan Payments
    19  
Section 3.08. Sub-Servicing Accounts
    20  
Section 3.09. Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items; Servicing Accounts
    20  
Section 3.10. Collection Account and Note Account
    21  
Section 3.11. Withdrawals from the Collection Account and Note Account
    23  
Section 3.12. Investment of Funds in the Collection Account and the Note Account
    25  
Section 3.13. [Reserved]
    26  
Section 3.14. Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Errors and Omissions and Fidelity Coverage
    26  
Section 3.15. Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements
    28  
Section 3.16. Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans
    29  
Section 3.17. Custodian and Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files
    30  
Section 3.18. Servicing Compensation
    32  
Section 3.19. Reports to the Securities Administrator and Others; Collection Account Statements
    32  
Section 3.20. Statement as to Compliance
    32  
Section 3.21. Assessments of Compliance and Attestation Reports
    33  
Section 3.22. Access to Certain Documentation; Filing of Reports by Indenture Trustee
    36  
Section 3.23. Title, Management and Disposition of REO Property
    36  
Section 3.24. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
    38  
Section 3.25. [Reserved]
    39  
Section 3.26. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Mortgage Rates and Monthly Payments
    39  
Section 3.27. [Reserved]
    39  
Section 3.28. [Reserved]
    39  
Section 3.29. Advance Facility
    39  
Section 3.30. Master Servicer
    41  
Section 3.31. Monitoring of Servicer
    42  
Section 3.32. Fidelity Bond
    43  
Section 3.33. Power to Act; Procedures
    43  
Section 3.34. Due-on-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements
    44  
Section 3.35. Documents, Records and Funds in Possession of Master Servicer To Be Held for Trustee
    44  
Section 3.36. Possession of Certain Insurance Policies and Documents
    45  
Section 3.37. Compensation for the Master Servicer
    45  
Section 3.38. Obligation of the Master Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
    45  
Section 3.39. Merger or Consolidation
    45  
Section 3.40. Resignation of Master Servicer
    46  
Section 3.41. Assignment or Delegation of Duties by the Master Servicer
    46  
 
       
ARTICLE IV
 
       
REMITTANCE REPORTS; ADVANCES; EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING
 
       
Section 4.01. Remittance Reports and Advances
    48  
Section 4.02. Exchange Act Reporting
    49  
Section 4.03. Swap Account
    60  
Section 4.04. Cap Account
    60  
 
       
ARTICLE V
 
       
THE SERVICER AND THE DEPOSITOR
 
       
Section 5.01. Liability of the Servicer, Master Servicer and the Depositor
    62  
Section 5.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer or the Depositor
    62  
Section 5.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer, Master Servicer and Others
    62  
Section 5.04. Servicer Not to Resign
    63  
Section 5.05. Delegation of Duties
    63  
Section 5.06. Indemnification
    64  
Section 5.07. Inspection
    64  
 
       
ARTICLE VI
 
       
DEFAULT
 
       
Section 6.01. Servicer Events of Termination
    65  
Section 6.02. Master Servicer to Act; Appointment of Successor
    66  
Section 6.03. Waiver of Defaults
    68  
Section 6.04. Notification to Noteholders
    68  
Section 6.05. Survivability of Liabilities
    69  
Section 6.06. Master Servicer Events of Termination
    69  
Section 6.07. Appointment of Successor Master Servicer
    71  
 
       
ARTICLE VII
 
       
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
       
Section 7.01. Amendment
    74  
Section 7.02. GOVERNING LAW
    74  
Section 7.03. Notices
    74  
Section 7.04. Severability of Provisions
    76  
Section 7.05. Third-Party Beneficiaries
    76  
Section 7.06. Counterparts
    77  
Section 7.07. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
    77  
Section 7.08. Termination
    77  
Section 7.09. No Petition
    77  
Section 7.10. No Recourse
    77  
Section 7.11. Indenture Trustee Rights
    77  
Section 7.12. Compliance
    77  
Section 7.13. Intention of the Parties and Interpretation
    77  
 
       
ARTICLE VIII
 
       
DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
 
       
Section 8.01. Administrative Duties
    79  
Section 8.02. Records
    80  
Section 8.03. Additional Information to be Furnished
    80  
Section 8.04. No Recourse to Owner Trustee
    81  
         
EXHIBITS
       
 
       
Exhibit A
  Form of Assignment Agreement    
Exhibit B
  Mortgage Loan Schedule    
Exhibit C
  Form of Request for Release    
Exhibit D-1
  Form of Custodian’s Initial Certification    
Exhibit D-2
  Form of Custodian’s Final Certification    
Exhibit E
  Form of Lost Note Affidavit    
Exhibit F
  Form of Power of Attorney    
Exhibit G-1
  Form of Certification to Be Provided by the Servicer with Form 10-K    
Exhibit G-2
  Form of Certification to Be Provided to the Servicer by the Securities Administrator    
Exhibit H
  Servicing Criteria    
Exhibit I
  Form 10-D, Form 8-K and Form 10-K Reporting Responsibility    
Exhibit J
  Standard File Layout-Scheduled/Scheduled    
Exhibit K
  Standard File Layout- Delinquency Reporting    
Exhibit L
  Calculation of Realized Loss/Form 332    
Exhibit M
  Additional Disclosure Notification    

 


 

          This Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007 (the “Agreement”), among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC., as depositor (the “Depositor” ), Nationstar Mortgage LLC, as servicer (the “Servicer”), Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1 (the “Issuing Entity”), Wells Fargo bank, N.A., as master servicer and securities administrator (the “Master Servicer” and “Securities Administrator”) and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H    T H A T :
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Assignment Agreement, the Depositor will acquire the Mortgage Loans;
          WHEREAS, the Depositor will create Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, a Delaware statutory trust;
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Depositor will convey the Mortgage Loans and all of its rights under the Assignment Agreement to the Issuing Entity in exchange for the Notes and the Certificates (as defined below);
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Issuing Entity will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the Certificates;
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture the Issuing Entity will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue the Notes and the Certificates; and
          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer will service the Mortgage Loans set forth on the Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B directly or through one or more Sub-Servicers;
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 Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and Servicing Agreement and in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in this Sale and Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and 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 Sale and Servicing Agreement shall refer to this Sale and Servicing Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Sale and Servicing Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this Sale and Servicing Agreement are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to this Sale and Servicing Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term “including” shall mean “including without limitation”.
          (d) The definitions contained in this Sale and 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 Stated Principal Balance of a Mortgage Loan shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, notwithstanding the terms of the related Mortgage Note and Mortgage.

 


 

ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
          Section 2.01. Conveyance of Mortgage Loans.
          The Depositor, concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, does hereby sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Issuing Entity as of the Closing Date, without recourse, and for the benefit of the Noteholders, all the right, title and interest of the Depositor, including any security interest therein for the benefit of the Depositor, in and to (i) each Mortgage Loan identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, including the related Cut-off Date Principal Balance, all interest accruing thereon on and after the Cut-off Date and all collections in respect of interest and principal due after the Cut-off Date; (ii) property which secured each such Mortgage Loan and which has been acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure; (iii) its interest in any insurance policies in respect of the Mortgage Loans; (iv) the rights of the Depositor under the Purchase Agreement (as assigned to the Depositor pursuant to the terms of the Assignment Agreement); and (v) all proceeds of any of the foregoing. Such sale includes all interest and principal due and collected by the Depositor or the Servicer after the Cut-off Date with respect to the Mortgage Loans. In consideration of the sale to it of such property, the Issuing Entity shall deliver to or at the order of the Depositor the Notes and the Certificates.
          In connection with such sale, transfer, and assignment, the Depositor shall instruct the Seller to deliver to and deposit with the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, the following documents or instruments with respect to each Original Mortgage Loan so sold, transferred, and assigned, the following documents or instruments (with respect to each Mortgage Loan, a “Mortgage File”):
          (i) the original Mortgage Note, endorsed either (A) in blank or (B) in the following form: “Pay to the order of The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee, without recourse” or with respect to any lost Mortgage Note, an original Lost Note Affidavit stating that the original mortgage note was lost, misplaced or destroyed, together with a copy of the related mortgage note; provided, however, that such substitutions of Lost Note Affidavits for original Mortgage Notes may occur only with respect to Mortgage Loans, the aggregate Cut-off Date Principal Balance of which is less than or equal to 1.00% of the Pool Balance as of the Cut-off Date;
          (ii) the original Mortgage (noting the presence of the MIN of the Mortgage Loan and language indicating that the Mortgage Loan is a MOM Loan if the Mortgage Loan is a MOM Loan), with evidence of recording thereon, and the original recorded power of attorney, if the Mortgage was executed pursuant to a power of attorney, with evidence of recording thereon or, if such Mortgage or power of attorney has been submitted for recording but has not been returned from the applicable public recording office, has been lost or is not otherwise available, a copy of such Mortgage or power of attorney, as the case may be, certified to be a true and complete copy of the original submitted for recording;
          (iii) unless the Mortgage Loan is registered on the MERS® System, an original Assignment, in form and substance acceptable for recording. The Mortgage shall be assigned either (A) in blank or (B) to “The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee, without recourse”;
          (iv) an original of any intervening assignment of Mortgage showing a complete chain of assignments (or to MERS if the Mortgage Loan is registered on the MERS® System and noting the presence of MIN);
          (v) the original or a certified copy of lender’s title insurance policy; and
          (vi) the original or copies of each assumption, modification, written assurance or substitution agreement, if any.
          The Depositor herewith also delivers to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, an executed copy of the Assignment Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.
          If any of the documents referred to in Section 2.01(ii), (iii) or (iv) above has as of the Closing Date been submitted for recording but either (x) has not been returned from the applicable public recording office or (y) has been lost or such public recording office has retained the original of such document, the obligations of the Depositor to instruct the Seller to deliver such documents shall be deemed to be satisfied upon (1) delivery to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, no later than the Closing Date, of a copy of each such document certified by the Originator in the case of (x) above or the applicable public recording office in the case of (y) above to be a true and complete copy of the original that was submitted for recording and (2) if such copy is certified by the Originator, delivery to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, promptly upon receipt thereof of either the original or a copy of such document certified by the applicable public recording office to be a true and complete copy of the original. If the original lender’s title insurance policy, or a certified copy thereof, was not delivered pursuant to Section 2.01(v) above, the Depositor shall instruct the Seller to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, the original or a copy of a written commitment or interim binder or preliminary report of title issued by the title insurance or escrow company, with the original or a certified copy thereof to be delivered to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, promptly upon receipt thereof. The Servicer or the Depositor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, promptly upon receipt thereof any other documents constituting a part of a Mortgage File received with respect to any Mortgage Loan, including, but not limited to, any original documents evidencing an assumption or modification of any Mortgage Loan.
          Upon discovery or receipt of notice of any materially defective document in, or that a document is missing from, a Mortgage File, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall promptly notify the Seller and the Originator of such defect or missing document and request that the Originator deliver such missing document or cure such defect within 15 days from the date the Originator was notified of such missing document or defect, and if the Originator does not deliver such missing document or cure such defect in all material respects during such period, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall notify the Seller and the Originator of the Originator’s obligation to repurchase such Mortgage Loan from the Trust on or prior to the Determination Date following the expiration of such 15 day period (subject to Section 2.03(e)); provided that, in connection with any such breach that could not reasonably have been cured within such 15 day period, if the Originator has commenced to cure such breach within such 15 day period, the Originator shall be permitted to proceed thereafter diligently and expeditiously to cure the same within any additional period provided under the Assignment Agreement.
          Except with respect to any Mortgage Loan for which MERS is identified on the Mortgage, the Servicer shall cause the Assignments with respect to any Mortgage Loan located in Maryland which were delivered in blank to be completed and recorded. In the event that any such Assignment is lost or returned unrecorded because of a defect therein, the Servicer or the Custodian via the Exception Report shall notify the Originator of its obligations under the Assignment Agreement to promptly have a substitute Assignment prepared or have such defect cured, as the case may be, and thereafter cause each such Assignment to be duly recorded.

 


 

          For administrative convenience and facilitation of servicing and to reduce closing costs, the Assignments of Mortgage shall not be required to be submitted for recording (except with respect to any Mortgage Loan located in Maryland) unless the Servicer receives written notice that such failure to record would result in a withdrawal or a downgrading by any Rating Agency of the rating on any Class of Notes; provided, however, each Assignment, except with respect to any Mortgage Loan for which MERS is identified on the Mortgage, shall be submitted for recording by the Originator in the manner described above, at no expense to the Trust, the Depositor, the Custodian or the Securities Administrator, upon the earliest to occur of: (i) reasonable direction by the Holders of 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, (ii) the occurrence of a Servicer Event of Termination, (iii) the occurrence of a bankruptcy, insolvency or foreclosure relating to the Seller and (iv) the occurrence of a servicing transfer as described in Section 6.02 hereof. In addition to the foregoing, the Servicer shall cause each Assignment of Mortgage to be recorded in accordance with customary servicing practices in order to convey, upon foreclosure, the title of any Mortgaged Property to the Trust as set forth in Section 3.23 hereof. The cost of recording the Assignments shall be paid by the Servicer and the Servicer shall be reimbursed for such expenses by the Trust.
          In connection with the assignment of any Mortgage Loan registered on the MERS® System, the Servicer further agrees that it will request that the Depositor cause, within 30 Business Days after the Closing Date, the MERS® System to indicate that such Mortgage Loans have been assigned by the Depositor to the Indenture Trustee in accordance with this Sale and Servicing Agreement for the benefit of the Noteholders by including (or deleting, in the case of Mortgage Loans which are repurchased in accordance with this Agreement) in such computer files (a) the code in the field which identifies the specific Indenture Trustee and (b) the code in the field “Pool Field” which identifies the series of the Notes issued in connection with such Mortgage Loans. The Depositor further agrees that it will not, and the Servicer agrees that it will not, alter the codes referenced in this paragraph with respect to any Mortgage Loan during the term of this Agreement unless and until such Mortgage Loan is repurchased in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
          The Servicer shall forward to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, original documents evidencing an assumption, modification, consolidation or extension of any Mortgage Loan entered into in accordance with this Agreement within two weeks of their execution; provided, however, that the Servicer shall provide the Custodian with a certified true copy of any such document submitted for recordation within two weeks of its execution, and shall provide the original of any document submitted for recordation or a copy of such document certified by the appropriate public recording office to be a true and complete copy of the original within 365 days of its submission for recordation. In the event that the Servicer cannot provide a copy of such document certified by the public recording office within such 365 day period, the Servicer shall deliver to the Custodian, within such 365 day period, an Officers’ Certificate of the Servicer which shall (A) identify the recorded document, (B) state that the recorded document has not been delivered to the Custodian due solely to a delay caused by the public recording office, (C) state the amount of time generally required by the applicable recording office to record and return a document submitted for recordation, if known and (D) specify the date the applicable recorded document is expected to be delivered to the Custodian, and, upon receipt of a copy of such document certified by the public recording office, the Servicer shall immediately deliver such document to the Custodian. In the event the appropriate public recording office will not certify as to the accuracy of such document, the Servicer shall deliver a copy of such document certified by an officer of the Servicer to be a true and complete copy of the original to the Custodian.
          Section 2.02. Acceptance by Custodian on behalf of Indenture Trustee.
          Subject to the provisions of Section 2.01 and subject to the review described below and any exceptions noted on the Exception Report, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, acknowledges receipt of the documents referred to in Section 2.01 above and declares that it holds and will hold such documents and the other documents delivered to it constituting a Mortgage File, and that it holds or will hold all such assets and such other assets included in the definition of “Trust Estate” in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of all present and future Noteholders.
          The Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and for the benefit of the Noteholders, agrees to review each Mortgage File no later than the Closing Date (or, with respect to any document delivered after the Closing Date, within 45 days of receipt and with respect to any Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, within 45 days after the assignment thereof). The Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and for the benefit of the Noteholders, further agrees to certify to the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1, on the Closing Date (or, with respect to any document delivered after the Closing Date, within 45 days of receipt and with respect to any Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, within 45 days after the assignment thereof) that, as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the Exception Report annexed thereto as not being covered by such certification), (i) all documents required to be delivered to it pursuant Section 2.01 (other than Section 2.01(vi)) of this Agreement and if actually delivered to it, the documents required to be delivered to it pursuant to Section 2.01(vi) of this Agreement 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 its examination of the foregoing documents, the information set forth in the Mortgage Loan Schedule that corresponds to items (i), (iii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xviii) and (xxv), (but only as to Gross Margin and Maximum Mortgage Rate) of the Mortgage Loan Schedule accurately reflects information set forth in the Mortgage File. It is herein acknowledged that, in conducting such review, the Custodian is under no duty or obligation to inspect, review or examine any such documents, instruments, certificates or other papers to determine that they are recordable or genuine, legally enforceable, valid or binding or appropriate for the represented purpose or that they have actually been recorded or that they are other than what they purport to be on their face.
          No later than the first anniversary date of this Agreement, or the following Business Day if such first anniversary date is not a Business Day, the Custodian shall deliver to the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer a final certification in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit D-2, with any applicable exceptions noted on the Exception Report attached thereto.
          If in the process of reviewing the Mortgage Files and making or preparing, as the case may be, the certifications referred to above, the Custodian finds any document or documents constituting a part of a Mortgage File to be missing or defective in any material respect, at the conclusion of its review the Custodian shall so notify the Indenture Trustee, the Originator, the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Seller, such notification to be in the form of the exception report attached to its certification following a review of the Mortgage Files (an “Exception Report”). In addition, upon the discovery by the Depositor, the Master Servicer or the Servicer (or upon receipt by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee of written notification of such breach) of a breach of any of the representations and warranties made by the Originator in the Assignment Agreement in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially adversely affects such Mortgage Loan or the interests of the related Noteholders in such Mortgage Loan, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other parties to this Agreement.

 


 

          The Depositor and the Issuing Entity intend that the assignment and transfer herein contemplated constitute a sale of the Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Notes and the related documents, conveying good title thereto free and clear of any liens and encumbrances, from the Depositor to the Issuing Entity for the benefit of the Noteholders and that such property not be part of the Depositor’s estate or property of the Depositor in the event of any insolvency by the Depositor. In the event that such conveyance is deemed to be, or to be made as security for, a loan, the parties intend that the Depositor shall be deemed to have granted and the Depositor does hereby grant to the Issuing Entity a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Depositor’s right, title and interest in and to the Mortgage Loans, the related Mortgage Notes and the related documents, and that this Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law.
          Section 2.03. Repurchase or Substitution of Mortgage Loans by the Originator.
          (a) Upon discovery or receipt of written notice of any materially defective document in, or that a document is missing from, a Mortgage File or of the breach by the Originator of any representation, warranty or covenant under the Purchase Agreement in respect of any Mortgage Loan which materially adversely affects the value of such Mortgage Loan or the interest therein of the Noteholders, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall promptly notify the Originator and the Seller of such defect, missing document (via the Exception Report with respect to a defect, or missing document) and the party discovering the breach shall give prompt written notice of the breach to the other parties to this Agreement and the Originator and the Securities Administrator shall request that the Originator deliver such missing document or cure such defect or that the Originator cure such breach within 30 days from the date the Originator was notified of such missing document, defect or breach, and if the Originator does not deliver such missing document or cure such defect or if the Originator does not cure such breach in all material respects during such period, the Securities Administrator, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Sponsor and the Originator of the Originator’s obligation to repurchase such Mortgage Loan from the Trust on or prior to the Determination Date following the expiration of such 30 day period (subject to Section 2.03(e)); provided that, in connection with any such breach that could not reasonably have been cured within such 30 day period, if the Originator has commenced to cure such breach within such 30 day period, the Originator shall be permitted to proceed thereafter diligently and expeditiously to cure the same within any additional period provided under the Assignment Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the price required to be paid by the Originator for a repurchased Mortgage Loan is less than the Purchase Price, the Seller, as required pursuant to the terms of the Assignment Agreement, shall pay the difference between that amount and the Purchase Price.
          The Purchase Price for the repurchased Mortgage Loan shall be remitted to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account, and the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and upon receipt of written certification (in the form of a Request for Release hereto as Exhibit C) from the Servicer of such deposit, shall release to the Originator the related Mortgage File and the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty, as the Originator shall furnish to it and as shall be necessary to vest in the Originator any Mortgage Loan released pursuant hereto and the Indenture Trustee and the Custodian shall have no further responsibility with regard to such Mortgage File (it being understood that neither the Indenture Trustee nor the Custodian shall have any responsibility for determining the sufficiency of such assignment for its intended purpose). In lieu of repurchasing any such Mortgage Loan as provided above, the Originator may cause such Mortgage Loan to be removed from the Trust (in which case it shall become a Deleted Mortgage Loan) and substitute one or more Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans in the manner and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.03(d); provided, however, the Originator may not substitute for any Mortgage Loan which breaches a representation or warranty regarding abusive or predatory lending laws. It is understood and agreed that the obligation of the Originator to cure or to repurchase (or to substitute for) any Mortgage Loan as to which a document is missing, a material defect in a constituent document exists or as to which such a breach has occurred and is continuing shall constitute the sole remedy (other than any indemnification obligation of the Originator pursuant to the Purchase Agreement) against the Originator respecting such omission, defect or breach available to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders.
          In the event that the Originator fails to comply with any of the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture Trustee, upon notice thereof from the Securities Administrator or the Master Servicer and on behalf of the Noteholders, shall enforce the obligations of the Originator to the extent such failure has a materially adverse effect on the value of such Mortgage Loan or the interest therein of the Noteholders.
          (b) Within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Servicer or receipt of notice by the Servicer of the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Servicer set forth in Section 2.05 which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Noteholders in any Mortgage Loan, the Servicer shall cure such breach in all material respects. Within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Master Servicer or receipt of notice by the Master Servicer of the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Servicer set forth in Section 2.04 which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Noteholders in any Mortgage Loan, the Master Servicer shall cure such breach in all material respects.
          (c) As to any Deleted Mortgage Loan for which the Originator substitutes a Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, such substitution shall be effected by the Originator delivering to the Custodian on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, for such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, the Mortgage Note, the Mortgage and the Assignment to the Indenture Trustee, and such other documents and agreements, with all necessary endorsements thereon, as are required by Section 2.01, together with an Officers’ Certificate providing that each such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan satisfies the definition thereof and specifying the Substitution Adjustment (as described below), if any, in connection with such substitution. The Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall acknowledge receipt for such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and, within 45 days thereafter, shall review such documents as specified in Section 2.02 and deliver to the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Seller and the Servicer, with respect to such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, a certification substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1, with any applicable exceptions noted thereon. Within one year of the date of substitution, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall deliver to the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Seller and the Servicer a certification substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto with respect to such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans, with any applicable exceptions noted thereon. Monthly Payments due with respect to Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution are not part of the Trust and will be retained by the Originator. For the month of substitution, payments to Noteholders will reflect the collections and recoveries in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan in the Due Period preceding the month of substitution and the Originator shall thereafter be entitled to retain all amounts subsequently received in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan. The Servicer shall give or cause to be given written notice to the Securities Administrator, who shall forward such notice to the Noteholders, that such substitution has taken place, shall amend the Mortgage Loan Schedule to reflect the removal of such Deleted Mortgage Loan from the terms of this Agreement and the substitution of the Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and shall deliver a copy of such amended Mortgage Loan Schedule to the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator, and the Custodian. Upon such substitution by the Originator such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans shall constitute part of the Mortgage Pool and shall be subject in all respects to the terms of this Agreement and the Assignment Agreement, including all applicable representations and warranties thereof included in the Assignment Agreement as of the date of substitution.

 


 

          (d) For any month in which the Originator substitutes one or more Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loans for one or more Deleted Mortgage Loans, the Servicer will determine the amount (the “Substitution Adjustment”), if any, by which the aggregate Purchase Price of all such Deleted Mortgage Loans exceeds the aggregate, as to each such Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan, of the Stated Principal Balance thereof as of the date of substitution, together with one month’s interest on such Stated Principal Balance at the applicable Mortgage Rate. On the date of such substitution, the Originator will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account an amount equal to the Substitution Adjustment, if any, and Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, upon receipt of the related Qualified Substitute Mortgage Loan or Loans and certification by the Servicer of such deposit, shall release (or shall cause the Custodian to release) to the Originator the related Mortgage File or Files and the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse, representation or warranty, as the Originator shall deliver to it and as shall be necessary to vest therein any Deleted Mortgage Loan released pursuant hereto.
          Section 2.04. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Master Servicer.
          The Master Servicer represents and warrants to the Issuing Entity, the Depositor, the Seller, the Sponsor and the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders, as follows:
          (i) The Master Servicer is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America 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 this Agreement;
          (ii) The Master Servicer has the power and authority to make, execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and all of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. When executed and delivered, this 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 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 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 charter 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 (other than litigation with respect to which pleadings or documents have been filed with a court, but not served on the Master Servicer), or to the knowledge of the Master Servicer threatened, against the Master Servicer or any of its properties or with respect to this Agreement or the Notes 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 Agreement.
     The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any termination of the Master Servicer hereunder.
          Section 2.05. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer.
          The Servicer hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Issuing Entity and for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans and the Noteholders, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator and to the Depositor, that as of the Closing Date or as of such date specifically provided herein:
          (i) The Servicer is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all licenses necessary to carry on its business as now being conducted and is licensed, qualified and in good standing in the states where the Mortgaged Property is located (or is otherwise exempt under applicable law from such qualification) if the laws of such state require licensing or qualification in order to conduct business of the type conducted by the Servicer or to ensure the enforceability or validity of each Mortgage Loan; the Servicer has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform in accordance herewith; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (including all instruments of transfer to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement) and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized; this Agreement and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, evidences the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Servicer, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; and all requisite corporate action has been taken by the Servicer to make this Agreement and all documents and instruments contemplated hereby which are executed and delivered by the Servicer valid and binding upon the Servicer in accordance with its terms;
          (ii) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are in the ordinary course of business of the Servicer and will not result in the material breach of any term or provision of the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Servicer or result in the breach of any term or provision of, or conflict with or constitute a default under or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any agreement, indenture or loan or credit agreement or other instrument to which the Servicer or its property is subject, or result in the violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree to which the Servicer or its property is subject;

 


 

          (iii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Servicer and the performance and compliance with its obligations and covenants hereunder do not require the consent or approval of any governmental authority or, if such consent or approval is required, it has been obtained;
          (iv) [Reserved];
          (v) The Servicer does not believe, nor does it have any reason or cause to believe, that it cannot perform each and every covenant contained in this Agreement;
          (vi) There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Servicer that, either individually or in the aggregate, (A) may result in any change in the business, operations, financial condition, properties or assets of the Servicer that might prohibit or materially and adversely affect the performance by such Servicer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement, or (B) may result in any material impairment of the right or ability of the Servicer to carry on its business substantially as now conducted, or (C) would draw into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any action taken or to be taken in connection with the obligations of the Servicer contemplated herein, or (D) would otherwise be likely to impair materially the ability of the Servicer to perform under the terms of this Agreement;
          (vii) Neither this Agreement nor any information, certificate of an officer, statement furnished in writing or any report delivered to the Securities Administrator or Indenture Trustee in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact;
          (viii) The Servicer will not waive any Prepayment Charge unless it is waived in accordance with the standard set forth in Section 3.01; and
          (ix) The Servicer has accurately and fully reported, and will continue to accurately and fully report on a monthly basis, its borrower credit files for the Mortgage Loans to each of the three national credit repositories in a timely manner.
          The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any termination of the Servicer hereunder.
          It is understood and agreed that the representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Section 2.05 shall survive delivery of the Mortgage Files to the Indenture Trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Noteholders and the Holders of the Certificates. Upon discovery by any of the Depositor, the Servicer, the Master Servicer or the Indenture Trustee of a breach of any of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants which materially and adversely affects the value of any Mortgage Loan, Prepayment Charge or the interests therein of the Noteholders, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice (but in no event later than two Business Days following such discovery) to the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the earlier of discovery by the Servicer or receipt of notice by the Servicer of the breach of the representation or covenant of the Servicer set forth in Section 2.05(viii) above which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates in any Prepayment Charge, the Servicer must pay the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge, for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates, by depositing such amount into the Collection Account. The foregoing shall not, however, limit any remedies available to the Noteholders, the Holders of the Certificates, the Depositor or the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders and, pursuant to the Assignment Agreement respecting a breach of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Originator.
          Section 2.06. Existence.
          The Issuing Entity will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuing Entity hereunder is or becomes, organized under the laws of any other state or of the United States of America, in which case the Issuing Entity 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 Agreement.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION ANDSERVICING OF MORTGAGE LOANS
          Section 3.01. Servicer to Act as Servicer.
          The Servicer shall service and administer the Mortgage Loans on behalf of the Trust and in the best interests of and for the benefit of the Noteholders (as determined by the Servicer in its reasonable judgment) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Mortgage Loans and, to the extent consistent with such terms, in the same manner in which it services and administers similar mortgage loans for its own portfolio, giving due consideration to customary and usual standards of practice of mortgage lenders and loan servicers administering similar mortgage loans but without regard to:
          (i) any relationship that the Servicer, any Sub-Servicer or any Affiliate of the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer may have with the related Mortgagor;
          (ii) the ownership or non-ownership of any Note by the Servicer or any Affiliate of the Servicer;
          (iii) the Servicer’s obligation to make Advances or Servicing Advances; or
          (iv) the Servicer’s or any Sub-Servicer’s right to receive compensation for its services hereunder or with respect to any particular transaction.
          To the extent consistent with the foregoing, the Servicer (a) shall seek to maximize the timely and complete recovery of principal and interest on the Mortgage Notes and (b) shall waive (or permit a Sub-Servicer to waive) a Prepayment Charge only under the following circumstances: (i) such waiver is standard and customary in servicing similar Mortgage Loans, (ii) such waiver relates to a default or a reasonably foreseeable default and would, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer, maximize recovery of total proceeds taking into account the value of such Prepayment Charge and the related Mortgage Loan, (iii) the collection of such Prepayment Charge would be in violation of applicable laws or (iv) such waiver is in accordance with the Servicer’s internal policies. If a Prepayment Charge is waived as permitted by meeting the standard described in clause (iii) above, then the Servicer shall make commercially reasonable efforts to enforce the Indenture Trustee’s rights under the Purchase Agreement including the obligation of the Originator to pay the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates. If the Servicer makes a good faith determination, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate delivered by the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee and the Master Servicer, that the Servicer’s efforts are not reasonably expected to be successful in enforcing such rights, it shall notify the Indenture Trustee and the Master Servicer of such failure, and the Master Servicer shall notify the Originator of its obligation under the Purchase Agreement to pay to the Servicer the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge. If a Prepayment Charge is waived as permitted by meeting the standard described in clause (iv) above, then the Servicer shall deposit the amount of such waived Prepayment Charge in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Holders of the Owner Trust Certificates.

 


 

          Subject only to the above-described servicing standards and the terms of this Agreement and of the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer shall have full power and authority, acting alone or through Sub-Servicers as provided in Section 3.02, to do or cause to be done any and all things in connection with such servicing and administration which it may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Servicer, in the name of the Trust, is hereby authorized and empowered by the Indenture Trustee when the Servicer believes it appropriate in its best judgment in accordance with the Servicing Standard, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Trust, the Issuing Entity, the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, any and all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge, and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the Mortgage Loans and the Mortgaged Properties and to institute foreclosure proceedings or obtain a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure so as to convert the ownership of such properties, and to hold or cause to be held title to such properties, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders. The Servicer shall service and administer the Mortgage Loans in accordance with applicable state and federal law and shall provide to the Mortgagors any reports required to be provided to them thereby. The Servicer shall also comply in the performance of this Agreement with all reasonable rules and requirements of each insurer under any standard hazard insurance policy. Subject to Section 3.17, within five (5) days of the Closing Date, the Indenture Trustee shall execute and furnish to the Servicer and any Sub-Servicer any limited powers of attorney in the form of Exhibit F hereto and other documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer to carry out their servicing and administrative duties hereunder; provided, such limited powers of attorney or other documents shall be prepared by the Servicer and submitted to the Indenture Trustee for execution. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for the actions by the Servicer or any Sub-Servicers under such powers of attorney and shall be indemnified by the Servicer (from its own funds without any right of reimbursement from the Collection Account), for any costs, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Indenture Trustee in connection with the use or misuse of such powers of attorney.
          The Servicer further is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, in its own name or in the name of the Sub-Servicer, when the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, as the case may be, believes it is appropriate in its best judgment to register any Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System, or cause the removal from the registration of any Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders or any of them, any and all instruments of assignment and other comparable instruments with respect to such assignment or re-recording of a Mortgage in the name of MERS, solely as nominee for the Indenture Trustee and its successors and assigns. Any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the actions described in the preceding sentence or as a result of MERS discontinuing or becoming unable to continue operations in connection with the MERS® System, shall be reimbursable to the Servicer by withdrawal from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.11.
          Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, in accordance with the standards of the preceding paragraph, the Servicer, on escrowed accounts, shall advance or cause to be advanced funds as necessary for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged Properties, which advances shall be Servicing Advances reimbursable in the first instance from related collections from the Mortgagors pursuant to Section 3.09, and further as provided in Section 3.11. Any cost incurred by the Servicer or by Sub-Servicers in effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on a Mortgaged Property shall not, for the purpose of calculating payments to Noteholders, be added to the unpaid Stated Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, notwithstanding that the terms of such Mortgage Loan so permit.
          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Servicer may not make any future advances with respect to a Mortgage Loan (except as provided in Section 4.01) and the Servicer shall not permit any modification with respect to any Mortgage Loan that would change the Mortgage Rate, reduce or increase the Stated Principal Balance (except for reductions resulting from actual payments of principal) or change the final maturity date on such Mortgage Loan, (unless, in any such case, as provided in Section 3.07, the Mortgagor is in default with respect to the Mortgage Loan or such default is, in the judgment of the Servicer, reasonably foreseeable). In addition and notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Servicer nor the Indenture Trustee shall, under any circumstance, be permitted to sell any Mortgage Loan (other than with respect to the exercise of an optional redemption pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture or the repurchase of a Mortgage Loan pursuant to Section 2.03).
          Section 3.02. Sub-Servicing Agreements Between Servicer and Sub-Servicers.
          (a) The Servicer may enter into Sub-Servicing Agreements with Sub-Servicers, which may be Affiliates of the Servicer, for the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans; provided, however, such sub-servicing arrangement and the terms of the related Sub-Servicing Agreement must provide for the servicing of the Mortgage Loans in a manner consistent with the servicing arrangement contemplated hereunder and in accordance with the Servicing Standard. The Master Servicer is hereby authorized to acknowledge, at the request of the Servicer, any Sub-Servicing Agreement. No such acknowledgment shall be deemed to imply that the Master Servicer has consented to any such Sub-Servicing Agreement, has passed upon whether such Sub-Servicing Agreement meets the requirements applicable to Sub-Servicing Agreements set forth in this Agreement or has passed upon whether such Sub-Servicing Agreement is otherwise permitted under this Agreement.
          Each Sub-Servicer shall be (i) authorized to transact business in the state or states where the related Mortgaged Properties it is to service are situated, if and to the extent required by applicable law to enable the Sub-Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Sub-Servicing Agreement and (ii) a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae approved mortgage servicer. Each Sub-Servicing Agreement must impose on the Sub-Servicer requirements conforming to the provisions set forth in Section 3.08 and provide for servicing of the Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this Agreement. The Servicer will examine each Sub-Servicing Agreement and will be familiar with the terms thereof. The terms of any Sub-Servicing Agreement will not be inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Agreement. Any variation in any Sub-Servicing Agreements from the provisions set forth in Section 3.08 relating to insurance or priority requirements of Sub-Servicing Accounts, or credits and charges to the Sub-Servicing Accounts or the timing and amount of remittances by the Sub-Servicers to the Servicer, are conclusively deemed to be inconsistent with this Agreement and therefore prohibited. The Servicer shall deliver to the Master Servicer copies of all Sub-Servicing Agreements, and any amendments or modifications thereof, promptly upon the Servicer’s execution and delivery of such instruments.

 


 

          (b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, shall enforce the obligations of each Sub-Servicer under the related Sub-Servicing Agreement, including, without limitation, any obligation to make advances in respect of delinquent payments as required by a Sub-Servicing Agreement. Such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims, termination of Sub-Servicing 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 Servicer, in its good faith business judgment, would require were it the owner of the related Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall pay the costs of such enforcement at its own expense, and shall be reimbursed therefor only (i) from a general recovery resulting from such enforcement, to the extent, if any, that such recovery exceeds all amounts due in respect of the related Mortgage Loans, 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 Sub-Servicers.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to terminate any Sub-Servicing Agreement and the rights and obligations of any Sub-Servicer pursuant to any Sub-Servicing Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Sub-Servicing Agreement. In the event of termination of any Sub-Servicer, all servicing obligations of such Sub-Servicer shall be assumed simultaneously by the Servicer without any act or deed on the part of such Sub-Servicer or the Servicer, and the Servicer either shall service directly the related Mortgage Loans or shall enter into a Sub-Servicing Agreement with a successor Sub-Servicer which qualifies under Section 3.02.
          Any Sub-Servicing Agreement shall include the provision that such agreement may be immediately terminated by the Servicer or the Successor Servicer without fee, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
          Section 3.04. Liability of the Servicer.
          Notwithstanding any Sub-Servicing Agreement or the provisions of this Agreement relating to agreements or arrangements between the Servicer and a Sub-Servicer or reference to actions taken through a Sub-Servicer or otherwise, the Servicer shall remain obligated and primarily liable to the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders for the servicing and administering of the Mortgage Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 without diminution of such obligation or liability by virtue of such Sub-Servicing Agreements or arrangements or by virtue of indemnification from the Sub-Servicer and to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the Servicer alone were servicing and administering the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall be entitled to enter into any agreement with a Sub-Servicer for indemnification of the Servicer by such Sub-Servicer and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such indemnification.
          Section 3.05. No Contractual Relationship Between Sub-Servicers, the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders.
          Any Sub-Servicing Agreement that may be entered into and any transactions or services relating to the Mortgage Loans involving a Sub-Servicer in its capacity as such shall be deemed to be between the Sub-Servicer and the Servicer alone, and the Indenture Trustee, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator or Noteholders shall not be deemed parties thereto and shall have no claims, rights, obligations, duties or liabilities with respect to the Sub-Servicer except as set forth in Section 3.06. The Servicer shall be solely liable for all fees owed by it to any Sub-Servicer, irrespective of whether the Servicer’s compensation pursuant to this Agreement is sufficient to pay such fees.
          Section 3.06. Assumption or Termination of Sub-Servicing Agreements by the Successor Servicer.
          In the event the Servicer shall for any reason no longer be the servicer (including by reason of the occurrence of a Servicer Event of Termination), the Successor Servicer shall thereupon assume all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer under each Sub-Servicing Agreement that the Servicer may have entered into, unless the Successor Servicer elects to terminate any Sub-Servicing Agreement in accordance with its terms as provided in Section 3.03. Upon such assumption, the Successor Servicer shall be deemed, subject to Section 3.03, to have assumed all of the departing Servicer’s interest therein and to have replaced the departing Servicer as a party to each Sub-Servicing Agreement to the same extent as if each Sub-Servicing Agreement had been assigned to the assuming party, except that (i) the departing Servicer shall not thereby be relieved of any liability or obligations under any Sub-Servicing Agreement that arose before it ceased to be the Servicer and (ii) the Successor Servicer shall not be deemed to have assumed any liability or obligation of the Servicer that arose before it ceased to be the Servicer.
          The Servicer at its expense shall, upon request of the Successor Servicer, deliver to the assuming party all documents and records relating to each Sub-Servicing Agreement and the Mortgage Loans then being serviced and an accounting of amounts collected and held by or on behalf of it, and otherwise use its best efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the Sub-Servicing Agreements to the assuming party. All Servicing Transfer Costs shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs, and if such predecessor Servicer defaults in its obligation to pay such costs, such costs shall be paid by Successor Servicer (in which case the Successor Servicer shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor from the assets of the Trust).
          Section 3.07. Collection of Certain Mortgage Loan Payments.
          The Servicer shall make reasonable efforts, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, to collect all payments called for under the terms and provisions of the Mortgage Loans and the provisions of any applicable insurance policies provided to the Servicer. Consistent with the foregoing, the Servicer may in its discretion (i) waive any late payment charge or, if applicable, any penalty interest, or any provisions of any Mortgage Loan requiring the related Mortgagor to submit to mandatory arbitration with respect to disputes arising thereunder or (ii) extend the due dates for the Monthly Payments due on a Mortgage Note for a period of not greater than 180 days; provided, however, that any extension pursuant to clause (ii) above shall not affect the amortization schedule of any Mortgage Loan for purposes of any computation hereunder, except as provided below. In the event of any such arrangement pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Servicer shall make timely Advances on such Mortgage Loan during such extension pursuant to Section 4.01 and in accordance with the amortization schedule of such Mortgage Loan without modification thereof by reason of such arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Mortgage Loan is in default or, in the judgment of the Servicer, such default is reasonably foreseeable, the Servicer, consistent with the standards set forth in Section 3.01, may also waive, modify or vary any term of such Mortgage Loan (including modifications that would change the Mortgage Rate, forgive the payment of principal or interest or extend the final maturity date of such Mortgage Loan), accept payment from the related Mortgagor of an amount less than the Stated Principal Balance in final satisfaction of such Mortgage Loan, or consent to the postponement of strict compliance with any such term or otherwise grant indulgence to any Mortgagor (any and all such waivers, modifications, variances, forgiveness of principal or interest, postponements, or indulgences collectively referred to herein as “forbearance”). The Servicer’s analysis supporting any forbearance and the conclusion that any forbearance meets the standards of Section 3.01 shall be reflected in writing in the Mortgage File.

 


 

          Section 3.08. Sub-Servicing Accounts.
          In those cases where a Sub-Servicer is servicing a Mortgage Loan pursuant to a Sub- Servicing Agreement, the Sub-Servicer will be required to establish and maintain one or more accounts (collectively, the “Sub-Servicing Account”). The Sub-Servicing Account shall be an Eligible Account and shall comply with all requirements of this Agreement relating to the Collection Account. The Sub-Servicer shall deposit in the clearing account in which it customarily deposits payments and collections on mortgage loans in connection with its mortgage loan servicing activities on a daily basis, and in no event more than one Business Day after the Sub-Servicer’s receipt thereof, all proceeds of Mortgage Loans received by the Sub-Servicer less its servicing compensation to the extent permitted by the Sub-Servicing Agreement, and shall thereafter deposit such amounts in the Sub-Servicing Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the receipt of such amounts. The Sub-Servicer shall thereafter deposit such proceeds in the Collection Account or remit such proceeds to the Servicer for deposit in the Collection Account not later than two Business Days after the deposit of such amounts in the Sub-Servicing Account. For purposes of this Agreement, the Servicer shall be deemed to have received payments on the Mortgage Loans when the Sub-Servicer receives such payments.
          Section 3.09. Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items; Servicing Accounts.
          To the extent required by the related Mortgage Note, the Servicer shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, one or more accounts (the “Escrow Accounts”), into which all Escrow Payments shall be deposited and retained. Escrow Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts. The Servicer shall deposit in the clearing account in which it customarily deposits payments and collections on mortgage loans in connection with its mortgage loan servicing activities, all Escrow Payments collected on account of the Mortgage Loans and shall deposit in the Escrow Accounts, in no event more than two Business Days after the receipt of such Escrow Payments, all Escrow Payments collected on account of the Mortgage Loans for the purpose of effecting the payment of any such items as required under the terms of this Agreement. Withdrawals of amounts from an Escrow Account may be made only to (i) effect payment of taxes, assessments, hazard insurance premiums, and comparable items in a manner and at a time that assures that the lien priority of the Mortgage is not jeopardized (or, with respect to the payment of taxes, in a manner and at a time that avoids the loss of the Mortgaged Property due to a tax sale or the foreclosure as a result of a tax lien); (ii) reimburse the Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer to the extent provided in the related Sub-Servicing Agreement) out of related collections for any Servicing Advances made pursuant to Section 3.01 (with respect to taxes and assessments) and Section 3.14 (with respect to hazard insurance); (iii) refund to Mortgagors any sums as may be determined to be overages; (iv) pay interest, if required and as described below, to Mortgagors on balances in the Escrow Account; or (v) clear and terminate the Escrow Account at the termination of the Servicer’s obligations and responsibilities in respect of the Mortgage Loans under this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.07 of the Indenture. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in a Escrow Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from such Escrow Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. The Servicer will be responsible for the administration of the Escrow Accounts and will be obligated to make Servicing Advances to such accounts when and as necessary to avoid the lapse of insurance coverage on the Mortgaged Property, or which the Servicer knows, or in the exercise of the required standard of care of the Servicer hereunder should know, is necessary to avoid the loss of the Mortgaged Property due to a tax sale or the foreclosure as a result of a tax lien. If any such payment has not been made and the Servicer receives notice of a tax lien with respect to the Mortgage being imposed, the Servicer will, within 10 Business Days of receipt of such notice, advance or cause to be advanced funds necessary to discharge such lien on the Mortgaged Property. As part of its servicing duties, the Servicer or any Sub-Servicers shall pay to the Mortgagors interest on funds in the Escrow Accounts, to the extent required by law and, to the extent that interest earned on funds in the Escrow Accounts is insufficient, to pay such interest from its or their own funds, without any reimbursement therefor. The Servicer may pay to itself any excess interest on funds in the Escrow Accounts, to the extent such action is in conformity with the Servicing Standard, is permitted by law and such amounts are not required to be paid to Mortgagors or used for any of the other purposes set forth above.
          Section 3.10. Collection Account and Note Account.
          (a) On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, one or more accounts (such account or accounts, the “Collection Account”), held in trust for the benefit of the Trust, the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders. On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited in the Collection Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the Servicer’s receipt thereof, as and when received or as otherwise required hereunder, the following payments and collections received or made by it subsequent to the Cut-off Date (other than in respect of principal or interest on the Mortgage Loans due on or before the Cut-off Date) or payments (other than Principal Prepayments) received by it on or prior to the Cut-off Date but allocable to a Due Period subsequent thereto:
          (i) all payments on account of principal, including Principal Prepayments (but not Prepayment Charges), on the Mortgage Loans;
          (ii) all payments on account of interest (net of the Servicing Fee) on each Mortgage Loan;
          (iii) all Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds, Subsequent Recoveries and condemnation proceeds (other than proceeds collected in respect of any particular REO Property and amounts paid in connection with the redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture) and Subsequent Recoveries;
          (iv) any amounts required to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.12 in connection with any losses realized on Permitted Investments with respect to funds held in the Collection Account;
          (v) any amounts required to be deposited by the Servicer pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 3.14(a) in respect of any blanket policy deductibles;
          (vi) all proceeds of any Mortgage Loan repurchased or purchased in accordance with Section 2.03 or Section 8.07 of the Indenture;
          (vii) all amounts required to be deposited in connection with Substitution Adjustments pursuant to Section 2.03; and
          (viii) all Prepayment Charges collected by the Servicer in connection with the Principal Prepayment of any of the Mortgage Loans.

 


 

          The foregoing requirements for deposit in the Collection Account shall be exclusive, it being understood and agreed that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, payments in the nature of Servicing Fees, late payment charges, Prepayment Interest Excess, assumption fees, insufficient funds charges and ancillary income (other than Prepayment Charges) need not be deposited by the Servicer in the Collection Account and may be retained by the Servicer as additional compensation. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
          (b) On behalf of the Trust, the Servicer shall deliver to the Securities Administrator in immediately available funds for deposit in the Note Account on or before 2:00 p.m. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date, that portion of the Available Funds (calculated without regard to the references in the definition thereof to amounts that may be withdrawn from the Note Account) for the related Payment Date then on deposit in the Collection Account, the amount of all Prepayment Charges collected during the applicable Prepayment Period by the Servicer in connection with the Principal Prepayment of any of the Mortgage Loans then on deposit in the Collection Account, the amount of any funds reimbursable to an Advancing Person pursuant to Section 3.29 (unless such amounts are to be remitted in another manner as specified in the documentation establishing the related Advance Facility).
          (c) Funds in the Collection Account may be invested in Permitted Investments in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 3.12. The Servicer shall give notice to the Securities Administrator of the location of the Collection Account maintained by it when established and prior to any change thereof. The Securities Administrator shall give notice to the Servicer, the Master Servicer and the Sponsor of the location of the Note Account when established and prior to any change thereof.
          (d) Funds held in the Collection Account at any time may be delivered by the Servicer to the Securities Administrator for deposit in an account (which may be the Note Account and must satisfy the standards for the Note Account as set forth in the definition thereof) and for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part of the Collection Account; provided, however, that the Securities Administrator shall have the sole authority to withdraw any funds held pursuant to this subsection (d).
          The Securities Administrator shall establish and maintain an Eligible Account (the “Note Account”) in which the Securities Administrator shall deposit, on the same day as it is received from the Servicer, each remittance received by the Securities Administrator with respect to the Mortgage Loans. In the event the Servicer shall deliver to the Securities Administrator for deposit in the Note Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time request that the Securities Administrator withdraw such amount from the Note Account and remit to it any such amount, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In addition, the Servicer, with respect to items (i) through (iv) below, shall deliver to the Securities Administrator from time to time for deposit, and the Securities Administrator, with respect to items (i) through (iv) below, shall so deposit, in the Note Account:
          (i) any Advances, as required pursuant to Section 4.01;
          (ii) any amounts required to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.23(d) or (f) in connection with any REO Property;
          (iii) any Compensating Interest to be deposited pursuant to Section 3.24 in connection with any Prepayment Interest Shortfall; and
          (iv) any amounts required to be paid to the Securities Administrator pursuant to the Agreement, including, but not limited to Section 3.06 and Section 6.02.
          Section 3.11. Withdrawals from the Collection Account and Note Account.
          (a) The Servicer shall, from time to time, make withdrawals from the Collection Account for any of the following purposes or as described in Section 4.01:
          (i) to remit to the Securities Administrator for deposit in the Note Account the amounts required to be so remitted pursuant to Section 3.10(b) or permitted to be so remitted pursuant to the first sentence of Section 3.10(d);
          (ii) subject to Section 3.16(d), to reimburse the Servicer for (a) any unreimbursed Advances to the extent of amounts received which represent Late Collections (net of the related Servicing Fees), Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds and Subsequent Recoveries on Mortgage Loans or REO Properties with respect to which such Advances were made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.01; or (b) without limiting any right of withdrawal set forth in clause (vi) below, any unreimbursed Advances that, upon a Final Recovery Determination with respect to such Mortgage Loan, are Nonrecoverable Advances, but only to the extent that Late Collections (net of the related Servicing Fees), Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan are insufficient to reimburse the Servicer for such unreimbursed Advances;
          (iii) subject to Section 3.16(d), to pay the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer (a) any unpaid Servicing Fees, (b) any unreimbursed Servicing Advances with respect to each Mortgage Loan, but only to the extent of any Late Collections, Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan or REO Property, and (c) without limiting any right of withdrawal set forth in clause (vi) below, any Servicing Advances made with respect to a Mortgage Loan that, upon a Final Recovery Determination with respect to such Mortgage Loan are Nonrecoverable Advances, but only to the extent that Late Collections, Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received with respect to such Mortgage Loan are insufficient to reimburse the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer for Servicing Advances;
          (iv) to pay to the Servicer as additional servicing compensation (in addition to the Servicing Fee) on the Servicer Remittance Date any interest or investment income earned on funds deposited in the Collection Account;
          (v) to pay itself or the Originator with respect to each Mortgage Loan that has previously been purchased or replaced pursuant to Section 2.03 all amounts received thereon subsequent to the date of purchase or substitution, as the case may be;
          (vi) to reimburse the Servicer for any Advance or Servicing Advance previously made which the Servicer has determined to be a Nonrecoverable Advance in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.01;
          (vii) to pay, or to reimburse the Servicer for Servicing Advances in respect of, expenses incurred in connection with any Mortgage Loan pursuant to Section 3.16(b);

 


 

          (viii) to reimburse the Servicer for expenses incurred by or reimbursable to the Servicer pursuant to Section 5.03;
          (ix) to pay itself any Prepayment Interest Excess; and
          (x) to clear and terminate the Collection Account.
          The foregoing requirements for withdrawal from the Collection Account shall be exclusive. In the event the Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may at any time withdraw such amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
          The 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, to the extent held by or on behalf of it, pursuant to subclauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) above. The Servicer shall provide written notification to the Securities Administrator, on or prior to the next succeeding Servicer Remittance Date, upon making any withdrawals from the Collection Account pursuant to subclause (vi) above; provided that an Officers’ Certificate in the form described under Section 4.01(d) shall suffice for such written notification to the Securities Administrator in respect hereof.
          (b) The Securities Administrator shall, from time to time, make withdrawals from the Note Account, for any of the following purposes, without priority:
          (i) to make payments in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture;
          (ii) to pay and reimburse itself and the Owner Trustee amounts to which it or the Owner Trustee is entitled pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture;
          (iii) to clear and terminate the Note Account pursuant to Section 8.07 of the Indenture;
          (iv) to pay any amounts required to be paid to the Securities Administrator, Master Servicer, Custodian or the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to funds required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.01, Section 3.06 and Section 6.02 and Section 3.05 and Section 6.07 of the Indenture;
          (v) to pay to an Advancing Person reimbursements for Advances and/or Servicing Advances pursuant to Section 3.29; and
          (vi) to pay to the Sponsor on each Payment Date any interest or investment income earned on funds deposited in the Note Account.
          Section 3.12. Investment of Funds in the Collection Account and the Note Account.
          (a) The Servicer may direct any depository institution maintaining the Collection Account and any REO Account to invest the funds on deposit in such accounts and the Sponsor may direct any depository institution maintaining the Note Account to invest the funds on deposit in such accounts (each such account, for the purposes of this Section 3.12, an “Investment Account”). All investments pursuant to this Section 3.12 shall be in one or more Permitted Investments bearing interest or sold at a discount, and maturing, unless payable on demand, (i) no later than the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which such funds are required to be withdrawn from such account pursuant to this Agreement, if a Person other than the Securities Administrator is the obligor thereon or if such investment is managed or advised by a Person other than the Securities Administrator or an Affiliate of the Securities Administrator, and (ii) no later than the date on which such funds are required to be withdrawn from such account pursuant to this Agreement, if the Securities Administrator is the obligor thereon or if such investment is managed or advised by the Securities Administrator or any Affiliate or if the Securities Administrator or any Affiliate of the Securities Administrator is the Custodian, sub-custodian or administrator. All such Permitted Investments shall be held to maturity, unless payable on demand. Any investment of funds in an Investment Account shall be made in the name of the Indenture Trustee (in its capacity as such), or in the name of a nominee of the Indenture Trustee. The Securities Administrator shall be entitled to sole possession (except with respect to investment direction of funds held in the Collection Account, Note Account and any REO Account, and any income and gain realized thereon) over each such investment, and any certificate or other instrument evidencing any such investment shall be delivered directly to the Securities Administrator or its agent, together with any document of transfer necessary to transfer title to such investment to the Indenture Trustee or its nominee. In the event amounts on deposit in an Investment Account are at any time invested in a Permitted Investment payable on demand, the Securities Administrator shall:
     (x) consistent with any notice required to be given thereunder, demand that payment thereon be made on the last day such Permitted Investment may otherwise mature hereunder in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) all amounts then payable thereunder and (2) the amount required to be withdrawn on such date; and
     (y) demand payment of all amounts due thereunder promptly upon determination by a Responsible Officer of the Securities Administrator that such Permitted Investment would not constitute a Permitted Investment in respect of funds thereafter on deposit in the Investment Account.
          (b) All income and gain realized from the investment of funds deposited in the Collection Account and any REO Account held by or on behalf of the Servicer shall be for the benefit of the Servicer and shall be subject to its withdrawal in accordance with Section 3.11 or Section 3.23, as applicable. The Servicer shall deposit in the Collection Account or any REO Account, as applicable, the amount of any loss of principal incurred in respect of any such Permitted Investment made with funds in such Account immediately upon realization of such loss.
          (c) All income and gain realized from the investment of funds deposited in the Note Account held by or on behalf of the Sponsor shall be for the benefit of the Sponsor and shall be subject to its withdrawal in accordance with Section 3.11. The Sponsor shall deposit in the Note Account the amount of any loss of principal incurred in respect of any such Permitted Investment made with funds in such Account immediately upon realization of such loss.
          (d) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any default occurs in the making of a payment due under any Permitted Investment, or if a default occurs in any other performance required under any Permitted Investment, the Indenture Trustee may and, upon the request of the Holders of the 50% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, shall take such action as may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, including the institution and prosecution of appropriate proceedings.

 


 

          Section 3.13. [Reserved].
          Section 3.14. Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Errors and Omissions and Fidelity Coverage.
          (a) The Servicer shall cause to be maintained for each Mortgage Loan hazard insurance with extended coverage on the Mortgaged Property in an amount which is at least equal to the lesser of (i) the current Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan and (ii) the amount necessary to fully compensate for any damage or loss to the improvements that are a part of such property on a replacement cost basis, in each case in an amount not less than such amount as is necessary to avoid the application of any coinsurance clause contained in the related hazard insurance policy. The Servicer shall also cause to be maintained hazard insurance with extended coverage on each REO Property in an amount which is at least equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the improvements which are a part of such property and (ii) the outstanding Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan at the time it became an REO Property. The Servicer will comply in the performance of this Agreement with all reasonable rules and requirements of each insurer under any such hazard policies. Any amounts to be collected by the Servicer under any such policies (other than amounts to be applied to the restoration or repair of the property subject to the related Mortgage or amounts to be released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the procedures that the Servicer would follow in servicing loans held for its own account, subject to the terms and conditions of the related Mortgage and Mortgage Note) shall be deposited in the Collection Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.11, if received in respect of a Mortgage Loan, or in the REO Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.23, if received in respect of an REO Property. Any cost incurred by the Servicer in maintaining any such insurance shall not, for the purpose of calculating payments to Noteholders, be added to the unpaid Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan, notwithstanding that the terms of such Mortgage Loan so permit. It is understood and agreed that no earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required of any Mortgagor other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as shall at any time be in force and as shall require such additional insurance. If the Mortgaged Property or REO Property is at any time in an area identified in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards and flood insurance has been made available, the Servicer will cause to be maintained a flood insurance policy in respect thereof. Such flood insurance shall be in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the unpaid Principal Balance of the related Mortgage Loan and (ii) the maximum amount of such insurance available for the related Mortgaged Property under the national flood insurance program (assuming that the area in which such Mortgaged Property is located is participating in such program).
          In the event that the Servicer shall obtain and maintain a blanket policy insuring against hazard losses on all of the Mortgage Loans, it shall conclusively be deemed to have satisfied its obligations as set forth in the first two sentences of this Section 3.14, it being understood and agreed that such policy may contain a deductible clause on terms substantially equivalent to those commercially available and maintained by competent servicers, in which case the Servicer shall, in the event that there shall not have been maintained on the related Mortgaged Property or REO Property a policy complying with the first two sentences of this Section 3.14, and there shall have been one or more losses which would have been covered by such policy, deposit to the Collection Account from its own funds the amount not otherwise payable under the blanket policy because of such deductible clause. In connection with its activities as servicer of the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer agrees to prepare and present, on behalf of itself, the Indenture Trustee and Noteholders, claims under any such blanket policy in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms of such policy.
          (b) The Servicer shall keep in force during the term of this Agreement a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and omissions for failure in the performance of the Servicer’s obligations under this Agreement, which policy or policies shall be in such form and amount that would meet the requirements of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac if it were the purchaser of the Mortgage Loans, unless the Servicer has obtained a waiver of such requirements from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Servicer shall also maintain a fidelity bond in the form and amount that would meet the requirements of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, unless the Servicer has obtained a waiver of such requirements from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Servicer shall be deemed to have complied with this provision if an Affiliate of the Servicer has such errors and omissions and fidelity bond coverage and, by the terms of such insurance policy or fidelity bond, the coverage afforded thereunder extends to the Servicer. Any such errors and omissions policy and fidelity bond shall by its terms not be cancelable without thirty days’ prior written notice to the Master Servicer and the Indenture Trustee. The Servicer shall also cause each Sub-Servicer to maintain a policy of insurance covering errors and omissions and a fidelity bond which would meet such requirements.
          Section 3.15. Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements.
          The Servicer will, to the extent it has knowledge of any conveyance or prospective conveyance of any Mortgaged Property by any Mortgagor (whether by absolute conveyance or by contract of sale, and whether or not the Mortgagor remains or is to remain liable under the Mortgage Note and/or the Mortgage), exercise its rights to accelerate the maturity of such Mortgage Loan under the “due-on-sale” clause, if any, applicable thereto; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not be required to take such action if in its sole business judgment the Servicer believes it is not in the best interests of the Trust and shall not exercise any such rights if prohibited by law from doing so. If the Servicer reasonably believes it is unable under applicable law to enforce such “due-on-sale” clause, or if any of the other conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence apply, the Servicer will enter into an assumption and modification agreement from or with the person to whom such property has been conveyed or is proposed to be conveyed, pursuant to which such person becomes liable under the Mortgage Note and, to the extent permitted by applicable state law, the Mortgagor remains liable thereon. The Servicer is also authorized, to the extent permitted under the related Mortgage Note, to enter into a substitution of liability agreement with such person, pursuant to which the original Mortgagor is released from liability and such person is substituted as the Mortgagor and becomes liable under the Mortgage Note, provided that no such substitution shall be effective unless such person satisfies the current underwriting criteria of the Servicer for a mortgage loan similar to the related Mortgage Loan. In connection with any assumption, modification or substitution, the Servicer shall apply such underwriting standards and follow such practices and procedures as shall be normal and usual in its general mortgage servicing activities and as it applies to other mortgage loans owned solely by it. The Servicer shall not take or enter into any assumption and modification agreement, however, unless (to the extent practicable in the circumstances) it shall have received confirmation, in writing, of the continued effectiveness of any applicable hazard insurance policy. Any fee collected by the Servicer in respect of an assumption, modification or substitution of liability agreement shall be retained by the Servicer as additional servicing compensation. In connection with any such assumption, no material term of the Mortgage Note (including but not limited to the related Mortgage Rate and the amount of the Monthly Payment) may be amended or modified, except as otherwise required pursuant to the terms thereof. The Servicer shall notify the Master Servicer and the Indenture Trustee that any such substitution, modification or assumption agreement has been completed by forwarding to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, the executed original of such substitution, modification or assumption agreement, which document shall be added to the related Mortgage File and 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.

 


 

          Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision of this Agreement, the 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 by the terms of the Mortgage Note or any assumption which the Servicer may be restricted by law from preventing, for any reason whatsoever. For purposes of this Section 3.15, the term “assumption” is deemed to also include a sale (of the Mortgaged Property) subject to the Mortgage that is not accompanied by an assumption or substitution of liability agreement.
          Section 3.16. Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans.
          (a) The Servicer shall use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the Servicing Standard, to foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties securing such of the Mortgage Loans as come into and continue in default and as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments pursuant to Section 3.07. Title to any such property shall be taken in the name of the Indenture Trustee or its nominee on behalf of the Noteholders or in the name of the Servicer in accordance with the Servicer’s customary servicing practices and held for the benefit of the Trust, subject to applicable law. The Servicer shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by it in any such proceedings; provided, however, that such costs and expenses will be recoverable as Servicing Advances by the Servicer as contemplated in Section 3.11(a) and Section 3.23. The foregoing is subject to the provision that, in any case in which a Mortgaged Property shall have suffered damage from an Uninsured Cause, the Servicer shall not be required to expend its own funds toward the restoration of such property unless it shall determine in its discretion that such restoration will increase the proceeds of liquidation of the related Mortgage Loan after reimbursement to itself for such expenses.
          (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.16 or any other provision of this Agreement, with respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Servicer has received actual notice of, or has actual knowledge of, the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the related Mortgaged Property, the Servicer shall not, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, either (i) obtain title to such Mortgaged Property as a result of or in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, or (ii) otherwise acquire possession of, or take any other action with respect to, such Mortgaged Property, if, as a result of any such action, the Indenture Trustee, the Trust or the Noteholders would be considered to hold title to, to be a “mortgagee-in-possession” of, or to be an “owner” or “operator” of such Mortgaged Property within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended from time to time, or any comparable law, unless the Servicer has also previously determined, based on its reasonable judgment and a report prepared by a Person who regularly conducts environmental audits using customary industry standards, that:
          (i) such Mortgaged Property is in compliance with applicable environmental laws or, if not, that it would be in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions as are necessary to bring the Mortgaged Property into compliance therewith; and
          (ii) there are no circumstances present at such Mortgaged Property relating to the use, management or disposal of any hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, or petroleum-based materials for which investigation, testing, monitoring, containment, clean-up or remediation could be required under any federal, state or local law or regulation, or that if any such materials are present for which such action could be required, that it would be in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions with respect to the affected Mortgaged Property.
          The cost of the environmental audit report contemplated by this Section 3.16 shall be advanced by the Servicer, subject to the Servicer’s right to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as provided in Section 3.11(a)(vii), such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account received in respect of the affected Mortgage Loan or other Mortgage Loans.
          If the Servicer determines, as described above, that it is in the best economic interest of the Trust to take such actions as are necessary to bring any such Mortgaged Property into compliance with applicable environmental laws, or to take such action with respect to the containment, clean-up or remediation of hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes or petroleum-based materials affecting any such Mortgaged Property, then the Servicer shall take such action as it deems to be in the best economic interest of the Trust; provided that any amounts disbursed by the Servicer pursuant to this Section 3.16(b) shall constitute Servicing Advances, subject to Section 4.01(d). The cost of any such compliance, containment, clean-up or remediation shall be advanced by the Servicer, subject to the Servicer’s right to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as provided in Section 3.11(a)(vii), such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account received in respect of the affected Mortgage Loan or other Mortgage Loans.
          (c) Reserved.
          (d) Proceeds received in connection with any Final Recovery Determination, as well as any recovery resulting from a partial collection of Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds or condemnation proceeds, in respect of any Mortgage Loan, will be applied in the following order of priority: first, to unpaid Servicing Fees; second, to reimburse the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer for any related unreimbursed Servicing Advances pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iii) and Advances pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(ii); third, to accrued and unpaid interest on the Mortgage Loan, to the date of the Final Recovery Determination, or to the Due Date prior to the Payment Date on which such amounts are to be paid if not in connection with a Final Recovery Determination; and fourth, as a recovery of principal of the Mortgage Loan. The portion of the recovery so allocated to unpaid Servicing Fees shall be reimbursed to the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iii).
          Section 3.17. Custodian and Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files.
          (a) Upon the payment in full of any Mortgage Loan, or the receipt by the Servicer of a notification that payment in full shall be escrowed in a manner customary for such purposes, the Servicer shall immediately notify or cause to be notified the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, by a certification and shall deliver to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, in written or electronic format, which format is acceptable to the Custodian, two executed copies of a Request for Release in the form of Exhibit C hereto (which certification shall include 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 Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.10 have been or will be so deposited) signed by a Servicing Officer (or in a mutually agreeable electronic format that will, in lieu of a signature on its face, originate from a Servicing Officer) and shall request delivery to it of the Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall, within three Business Days, release and send by overnight mail, at the expense of the Servicer or the related Mortgagor, the related Mortgage File to the Servicer. No expenses incurred in connection with any instrument of satisfaction or deed of reconveyance shall be chargeable to the Collection Account or the Note Account.

 


 

          (b) From time to time and as appropriate for the servicing or foreclosure of any Mortgage Loan, including, for this purpose, collection under any insurance policy relating to the Mortgage Loans, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall, upon any request made by or on behalf of the Servicer and delivery to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, of two executed copies of a written Request for Release in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by a Servicing Officer (or in a mutually agreeable electronic format that will, in lieu of a signature on its face, originate from a Servicing Officer), release the related Mortgage File to the Servicer within three Business Days, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Servicer, execute such documents provided to it by the Servicer as shall be necessary to the prosecution of any such proceedings. Such Request for Release shall obligate the Servicer to return each and every document previously requested from the Mortgage File to the Custodian when the need therefor by the Servicer no longer exists, unless the Mortgage Loan has been liquidated and the Liquidation Proceeds relating to the Mortgage Loan have been deposited in the Collection Account or 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, for purposes of initiating or pursuing legal action or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the Mortgaged Property either judicially or non-judicially, and the Servicer has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, an additional Request for Release certifying as to such liquidation or action or proceedings. Upon the request of the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian, the Servicer shall provide notice to the Indenture Trustee or the Custodian, as applicable, of 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. Upon receipt of a Request for Release, in written (with two executed copies) or electronic format, from a Servicing Officer stating that such Mortgage Loan was liquidated and that all amounts received or to be received in connection with such liquidation that are required to be deposited into the Collection Account have been so deposited, or that such Mortgage Loan has become an REO Property, such Mortgage Loan shall be released by the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, to the Servicer or its designee within three Business Days.
          (c) Upon written certification of a Servicing Officer, the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Servicer or the Sub-Servicer, as the case may be, copies of any court pleadings, requests for Indenture Trustee’s sale or other documents necessary to the foreclosure or Indenture Trustee’s sale in respect of a Mortgaged Property or to any legal action brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor on the Mortgage Note or Mortgage or to obtain a deficiency judgment, or to enforce any other remedies or rights provided by the Mortgage Note or Mortgage or otherwise available at law or in equity. Each such certification shall include a request that such pleadings or documents be executed by the Indenture Trustee and a statement as to the reason such documents or pleadings are required and that the execution and delivery thereof by the Indenture Trustee will not invalidate or otherwise affect the lien of the Mortgage, except for the termination of such a lien upon completion of the foreclosure or Indenture Trustee’s sale.
          Section 3.18. Servicing Compensation.
          As compensation for its activities hereunder, the Servicer shall be entitled to the Servicing Fee with respect to each Mortgage Loan payable solely from payments of interest in respect of such Mortgage Loan, subject to Section 3.24. In addition, the Servicer shall be entitled to recover unpaid Servicing Fees out of Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds, Subsequent Recoveries or condemnation proceeds to the extent permitted by Section 3.11(a)(iii) and out of amounts derived from the operation and sale of an REO Property to the extent permitted by Section 3.23. Except as provided in Section 3.29, the right to receive the Servicing Fee may not be transferred in whole or in part except in connection with the transfer of all of the Servicer’s responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Servicer may pay from the Servicing Fee any amounts due to a Sub-Servicer pursuant to a Sub-Servicing Agreement entered into under Section 3.02.
          Additional servicing compensation in the form of assumption fees, late payment charges, insufficient funds charges or ancillary income (other than Prepayment Charges) shall be retained by the Servicer only to the extent such fees or charges are received by the Servicer. The Servicer shall also be entitled pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(iv) to withdraw from the Collection Account and pursuant to Section 3.23(b) to withdraw from any REO Account, as additional servicing compensation, interest or other income earned on deposits therein, subject to Section 3.12 and Section 3.24. The Servicer shall also be entitled to receive Prepayment Interest Excess pursuant to Section 3.10 and 3.11 as additional servicing compensation. The Servicer shall be required to pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its servicing activities hereunder (including premiums for the insurance required by Section 3.14, to the extent such premiums are not paid by the related Mortgagors or by a Sub-Servicer, and servicing compensation of each Sub-Servicer) and shall not be entitled to reimbursement therefor except as specifically provided herein.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to any Prepayment Interest Excess, which it may withdraw from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.11(a)(ix).
          Section 3.19. Reports to the Securities Administrator and Others; Collection Account Statements.
          On each Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall forward to the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer, the Sponsor and the Depositor an account statement evidencing the status of the collection account reflecting activity in the previous month and an Officer’s Certificates shall accompany such account statement certifying that the information contained in such account statement is true and correct.
          Section 3.20. Statement as to Compliance.
          (a) The Servicer, Master Servicer and Securities Administrator shall deliver to the Depositor and the Securities Administrator, not later than March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2008 an Officers’ Certificate (an “Annual Statement of Compliance”) stating, as to each signatory thereof, that (i) a review of the activities of each such party during the preceding calendar year and of performance under this Agreement has been made under such officers’ supervision and (ii) to the best of such officers’ knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer has fulfilled all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects throughout such year, or, if there has been a failure to fulfill any such obligation in any material respect, specifying each such failure known to such officer and the nature and status of cure provisions thereof. Such Annual Statement of Compliance shall contain no restrictions or limitations on its use. The Servicer, Master Servicer and Securities Administrator shall deliver a similar Annual Statement of Compliance by any Sub-Servicer or subcontractor to which the Servicer, Master Servicer or Securities Administrator has delegated any servicing responsibilities with respect to the Mortgage Loans, to the Depositor and the Securities Administrator as described above as and when required with respect to the Servicer.
          Failure of the Servicer or Master Servicer to timely comply with this Section 3.20 shall be deemed a Servicer Event of Termination or Master Servicer Event of Termination, as applicable, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Depositor, in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer or Master Servicer, as applicable, under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Servicer or Master Servicer, as applicable, for the same (other than as provided herein with respect to unreimbursed Advances or Servicing Advances or accrued and unpaid Servicing Fees). This paragraph shall supersede any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary.

 


 

          The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Sponsor, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, as applicable and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any actual losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Servicer’s obligations under this Section 3.20.
          Section 3.21. Assessments of Compliance and Attestation Reports.
          Pursuant to Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB, the Servicer, Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian (each an “Attesting Party”) shall deliver to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor on or before March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2008, a report regarding such Attesting Party’s assessment of compliance (an “Assessment of Compliance”) with the applicable Servicing Criteria (as set forth in Exhibit H) during the preceding calendar year. The Assessment of Compliance must contain the following:
          (i) A statement by an authorized officer of such Attesting Party of its responsibility for assessing compliance with the Servicing Criteria applicable to such Attesting Party;
          (ii) A statement by an authorized officer of such Attesting Party that such officer used the Servicing Criteria, and which will also be attached to the Assessment of Compliance, to assess compliance with the Servicing Criteria applicable to such Attesting Party;
          (iii) An assessment by an authorized officer of such Attesting Party of such Attesting Party’s compliance with the applicable Servicing Criteria for the period consisting of the preceding calendar year, including disclosure of any material instance of noncompliance with respect thereto during such period, which assessment shall be based on the activities it performs with respect to asset-backed securities transactions taken as a whole involving such Attesting Party, that are backed by the same asset type as the Mortgage Loans;
          (iv) A statement that a registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on such Attesting Party’s Assessment of Compliance for the period consisting of the preceding calendar year; and
          (v) A statement as to which of the Servicing Criteria, if any, are not applicable to such Attesting Party, which statement shall be based on the activities it performs with respect to asset-backed securities transactions taken as a whole involving such Attesting Party, that are backed by the same asset type as the Mortgage Loans.
          Such report at a minimum shall address each of the Servicing Criteria specified on Exhibit H hereto which are indicated as applicable to such Attesting Party.
          On or before March 15th of each calendar year beginning in 2008, each Attesting Party shall furnish to the Depositor and the Securities Administrator a report (an “Attestation Report”) by a registered public accounting firm that attests to, and reports on, the Assessment of Compliance made by such Attesting Party, as required by Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122(b) of Regulation AB, which Attestation Report must be made in accordance with standards for attestation reports issued or adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
          The Servicer, Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian shall cause any Sub-Servicer engaged by it, and each subcontractor engaged by it and determined by such party to be “participating in the servicing function” within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB, to deliver to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor an Assessment of Compliance and Attestation Report as and when provided above.
          Such Assessment of Compliance, as to any Sub-Servicer, shall address each of the Servicing Criteria applicable to the Sub-Servicer. Such Assessment of Compliance, as to any subservicer or subcontractor, shall at a minimum address the applicable Servicing Criteria specified on Exhibit H hereto which are indicated as applicable to any “primary servicer” to the extent such subservicer or subcontractor is performing any servicing function for the party who engages it and to the extent such party is not itself addressing the Servicing Criteria related to such servicing function in its own Assessment of Compliance. The Securities Administrator shall confirm that each of the Assessments of Compliance delivered to it, taken as a whole, address all of the Servicing Criteria and taken individually address the Servicing Criteria for each party as set forth in Exhibit H and notify the Depositor of any exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as to any subcontractor, an Assessment of Compliance is not required to be delivered unless it is required as part of a Form 10-K with respect to the Trust Fund.
          The Custodian shall deliver to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor an Assessment of Compliance and Attestation Report, as and when provided above, which shall at a minimum address each of the Servicing Criteria specified on Exhibit H hereto which are indicated as applicable to a “custodian”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Assessment of Compliance or Attestation Report is not required to be delivered by any Custodian unless it is required as part of a Form 10-K with respect to the Trust Fund.
          The Custodian has not and shall not engage any Subcontractor which is “participating in the servicing function” within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB, unless such Subcontractor provides, beginning March 1, 2008, a report and a statement of a registered public accounting firm certifying its compliance with the applicable servicing criteria in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB.
          Failure of the Servicer or Master Servicer to timely comply with this Section 3.21 shall be deemed a Servicer Event of Termination or Master Servicer Event of Termination, as applicable, and the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Depositor, in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer or Master Servicer, as applicable, under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Servicer or Master Servicer, as applicable, for the same (other than as provided herein with respect to unreimbursed Advances or Servicing Advances or accrued and unpaid Servicing Fees). This paragraph shall supercede any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary. The Successor Servicer or Successor Master Servicer shall immediately assume the rights and obligations of the Servicer or Master Servicer, as applicable, under this Agreement.

 


 

          The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Custodian, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Sponsor, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates against and from any actual losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Servicer’s obligations under this Section 3.21.
          The Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Sponsor, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates against and from any actual losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Master Servicer’s obligations under this Section 3.21.
          The Securities Administrator shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Sponsor, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates against and from any actual losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses that such Person may sustain based upon a breach of the Securities Administrator’s obligations under this Section 3.21.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 3.21, in any calendar year in which an annual report on Form 10-K is not required to be filed, then, in each such event, the Servicer, Master Servicer and Securities Administrator may, in lieu of providing an assessment of compliance and attestation thereon in accordance with Item 1122 of Regulation AB, provide (and cause each Subservicer and Subcontractor described above to provide) to the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Master Servicer, by not later than March 1 of such calendar year, an Annual Independent Public Accountants’ Servicing Report. If the Servicer, Master Servicer or Securities Administrator provides an Annual Independent Public Accountants’ Servicing Report pursuant to this paragraph, then the certification required to be delivered by the Servicer, Master Servicer and Securities Administrator, as applicable (and its Subservicers and Subcontractors), shall be in the form of Exhibit G-1 attached hereto.
          Section 3.22. Access to Certain Documentation.
          The Servicer shall provide to the Office of Thrift Supervision, the FDIC, and any other federal or state banking or insurance regulatory authority that may exercise authority over any Noteholder, access to the documentation regarding the Mortgage Loans required by applicable laws and regulations. Such access shall be afforded without charge, but only upon reasonable request and during normal business hours at the offices of the Servicer designated by it. In addition, access to the documentation regarding the Mortgage Loans will be provided to any Noteholder, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Master Servicer and to any Person identified to the Servicer as a prospective transferee of a Note, upon reasonable request during normal business hours at the offices of the Servicer designated by it, at the expense of the Person requesting such access.
          Section 3.23. Title, Management and Disposition of REO Property.
          (a) The deed or certificate of sale of any REO Property shall, subject to applicable laws, be taken in the name of the Indenture Trustee, or its nominee, in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders or in the name of the Servicer in accordance with the Servicer’s customary servicing practices and held for the benefit of the Trust. The Servicer, on behalf of the Issuing Entity, shall sell any REO Property as soon as practicable and in any event no later than the end of the third full taxable year after the taxable year in which such Issuing Entity acquires ownership of such REO Property for purposes of the Code or request from the Internal Revenue Service, no later than 60 days before the day on which the three-year grace period would otherwise expire, an extension of such three-year period. The Servicer shall manage, conserve, protect and operate each REO Property for the Noteholders solely for the purpose of its prompt disposition and sale in a manner which does not cause such REO Property to fail to qualify as “foreclosure property” within the meaning of the Code.
          (b) The Servicer shall separately account for all funds collected and received in connection with the operation of any REO Property and shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, with respect to REO Properties an account held in trust for the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders (the “REO Account”), which shall be an Eligible Account. The Servicer shall be permitted to allow the Collection Account to serve as the REO Account, subject to separate ledgers for each REO Property. The Servicer shall be entitled to retain or withdraw any interest income paid on funds deposited in the REO Account.
          (c) The Servicer shall have full power and authority, subject only to the specific requirements and prohibitions of this Agreement, to do any and all things in connection with any REO Property as are consistent with the manner in which the Servicer manages and operates similar property owned by the Servicer or any of its Affiliates, all on such terms and for such period (subject to the requirement of prompt disposition set forth in Section 3.23(a)) as the Servicer deems to be in the best interests of Noteholders. In connection therewith, the Servicer shall deposit, or cause to be deposited in the REO Account, in no event more than two Business Days after the Servicer’s receipt thereof, all revenues received by it with respect to an REO Property and shall withdraw therefrom funds necessary for the proper operation, management and maintenance of such REO Property including, without limitation:
          (i) all insurance premiums due and payable in respect of such REO Property;
          (ii) all real estate taxes and assessments in respect of such REO Property that may result in the imposition of a lien thereon; and
          (iii) all costs and expenses necessary to maintain, operate and dispose of such REO Property.
          To the extent that amounts on deposit in the REO Account with respect to an REO Property are insufficient for the purposes set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above with respect to such REO Property, the Servicer shall advance from its own funds such amount as is necessary for such purposes if, but only if, the Servicer would make such advances if the Servicer owned the REO Property and if in the Servicer’s judgment, the payment of such amounts will be recoverable from the rental or sale of the REO Property.
          The Servicer may contract with any Independent Contractor for the operation and management of any REO Property, provided that:
          (i) the terms and conditions of any such contract shall not be inconsistent herewith;

 


 

          (ii) any such contract shall require, or shall be administered to require, that the Independent Contractor pay all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the operation and management of such REO Property, including those listed above and remit all related revenues (net of such costs and expenses) to the Servicer as soon as practicable, but in no event later than thirty days following the receipt thereof by such Independent Contractor;
          (iii) none of the provisions of this Section 3.23(c) relating to any such contract or to actions taken through any such Independent Contractor shall be deemed to relieve the Servicer of any of its duties and obligations to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders with respect to the operation and management of any such REO Property; and
          (iv) the Servicer shall be obligated with respect thereto to the same extent as if it alone were performing all duties and obligations in connection with the operation and management of such REO Property.
          The Servicer shall be entitled to enter into any agreement with any Independent Contractor performing services for it related to its duties and obligations hereunder for indemnification of the Servicer by such Independent Contractor, and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such indemnification. The Servicer shall be solely liable for all fees owed by it to any such Independent Contractor, irrespective of whether the Servicer’s compensation pursuant to Section 3.18 is sufficient to pay such fees; provided, however, that to the extent that any payments made by such Independent Contractor would constitute Servicing Advances if made by the Servicer, such amounts shall be reimbursable as Servicing Advances made by the Servicer.
          (d) In addition to the withdrawals permitted under Section 3.23(c), the Servicer may from time to time make withdrawals from the REO Account for any REO Property: (i) to pay itself or any Sub-Servicer unpaid Servicing Fees in respect of the related Mortgage Loan; and (ii) to reimburse itself or any Sub-Servicer for unreimbursed Servicing Advances and Advances made in respect of such REO Property or the related Mortgage Loan. On the Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall withdraw from each REO Account maintained by it and deposit into the Note Account in accordance with Section 3.10(d)(ii), for payment on the related Payment Date in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture, the income from the related REO Property received during the prior calendar month, net of any withdrawals made pursuant to Section 3.23(c) or this Section 3.23(d).
          (e) Subject to the time constraints set forth in Section 3.23(a), each REO Disposition shall be carried out by the Servicer in a manner, at such price and upon such terms and conditions as shall be normal and usual in the Servicing Standard.
          (f) The proceeds from the REO Disposition, net of any amount required by law to be remitted to the Mortgagor under the related Mortgage Loan and net of any payment or reimbursement to the Servicer or any Sub-Servicer as provided above, shall be deposited in the Note Account in accordance with Section 3.10(d)(ii) on the Servicer Remittance Date in the month following the receipt thereof for payment on the related Payment Date in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Indenture. Any REO Disposition shall be for cash only (unless changes in the REMIC Provisions made subsequent to the Closing Date allow a sale for other consideration).
          (g) The Servicer shall file information returns with respect to the receipt of mortgage interest received in a trade or business, reports of foreclosures and abandonments of any Mortgaged Property and cancellation of indebtedness income with respect to any Mortgaged Property as required by the Code. Such reports shall be in form and substance sufficient to meet the reporting requirements of the Code.
          Section 3.24. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls.
          Not later than 4:00 p.m. New York time on each Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall remit to the Note Account an amount (“Compensating Interest”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate of the Prepayment Interest Shortfalls for the related Payment Date and (B) its aggregate Servicing Fee for the related Payment Date. The Servicer shall not have the right to reimbursement for any amounts remitted to the Securities Administrator in respect of Compensating Interest. Such amounts so remitted shall be included in the Available Funds and paid therewith on the next Payment Date. The Servicer shall not be obligated to pay Compensating Interest with respect to Relief Act Interest Shortfalls.
          Section 3.25. [Reserved].
          Section 3.26. Obligations of the Servicer in Respect of Mortgage Rates and Monthly Payments.
          In the event that a shortfall in any collection on or liability with respect to the Mortgage Loans in the aggregate results from or is attributable to adjustments to Mortgage Rates, Monthly Payments or Stated Principal Balances that were made by the Servicer in a manner not consistent with the terms of the related Mortgage Note and this Agreement, the Servicer, upon discovery or receipt of notice thereof, immediately shall deposit in the Collection Account from its own funds the amount of any such shortfall and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor, the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer and any successor servicer in respect of any such liability. Such indemnities shall survive the resignation or termination of the Servicer or the termination or discharge of this Agreement or the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.26 shall not limit the ability of the Servicer to seek recovery of any such amounts from the related Mortgagor under the terms of the related Mortgage Note, as permitted by law.
          Section 3.27. [Reserved].
          Section 3.28. [Reserved].
          Section 3.29. Advance Facility.

 


 

          The Servicer is hereby authorized to enter into a financing or other facility (any such arrangement, an “Advance Facility”) under which (1) the Servicer sells, assigns or pledges to another Person (together with such Person’s successors and assigns, an “Advancing Person”) the Servicer’s rights under this Agreement to be reimbursed for any Advances or Servicing Advances and/or (2) an Advancing Person agrees to fund some or all Advances and/or Servicing Advances required to be made by the Servicer pursuant to this Agreement. No consent of the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee,the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator the Noteholders or any other party shall be required before the Servicer may enter into an Advance Facility. The Servicer shall notify each other party to this Agreement in writing prior to or promptly after entering into or terminating any Advance Facility stating the identity of the Advancing Person. Notwithstanding the existence of any Advance Facility under which an Advancing Person agrees to fund Advances and/or Servicing Advances on the Servicer’s behalf, the Servicer shall remain obligated pursuant to this Agreement to make Advances and Servicing Advances pursuant to and as required by this Agreement. If the Servicer enters into an Advance Facility, and for so long as an Advancing Person remains entitled to receive reimbursement for any Advances including Nonrecoverable Advances (“Advance Reimbursement Amounts”) and/or Servicing Advances including Nonrecoverable Advances (“Servicing Advance Reimbursement Amounts” and together with Advance Reimbursement Amounts, “Reimbursement Amounts”) (in each case to the extent such type of Reimbursement Amount is included in the Advance Facility), as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement, then the Servicer shall identify, in the Officer’s Certificate described in the next two sentences, such Reimbursement Amounts consistent with the reimbursement rights set forth in Section 3.11(a)(ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) and remit such Reimbursement Amounts in accordance with Section 3.10(b) or otherwise in accordance with the documentation establishing the Advance Facility to such Advancing Person or to a trustee, agent or custodian (an “Advance Facility Trustee”) designated by such Advancing Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if so required pursuant to the terms of the Advance Facility, the Servicer may direct, and if so directed the Securities Administrator is hereby authorized to and shall pay to the Advance Facility Trustee the Reimbursement Amounts identified pursuant to the preceding sentence. To the extent that an Advancing Person funds any Advance and the Servicer provides the Securities Administrator and Master Servicer with an Officer’s Certificate that such Advancing Person is entitled to reimbursement, such Advancing Person shall be entitled to receive reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement for such amount to the extent provided in this section. Such Officer’s Certificate must specify the amount of the reimbursement, the remittance date, the Section of this Agreement that permits the applicable Advance to be reimbursed and either the section(s) of the Advance Facility that entitle the Advancing Person to request reimbursement from the Securities Administrator, rather than the Servicer, or proof of an event of default by the Servicer under the Advance Facility entitling the Advancing Person to reimbursement from the Securities Administrator. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall Advance Reimbursement Amounts or Servicing Advance Reimbursement Amounts be included in the Available Funds or paid to Noteholders.
          Reimbursement Amounts shall consist solely of amounts in respect of Advances and/or Servicing Advances made with respect to the Mortgage Loans for which the Servicer would be permitted to reimburse itself in accordance with this Agreement, assuming the Servicer or the Advancing Person had made the related Advance(s) and/or Servicing Advance(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to reimbursement of Nonrecoverable Advances as set forth in this Agreement, no Person shall be entitled to reimbursement from funds held in the Collection Account for future payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Agreement. None of the Depositor, Master Servicer, Securities Administrator or the Indenture Trustee shall have any duty or liability with respect to the calculation of any Reimbursement Amount and shall be entitled to rely, without independent investigation, on the Officer’s Certificate provided pursuant to this Section 3.29, nor shall the Depositor, Master Servicer, Securities Administrator or the Indenture Trustee have any responsibility to track or monitor the administration of any Advance Facility and the Depositor shall not have any responsibility to track, monitor or verify the payment of Reimbursement Amounts to the related Advancing Person or Advance Facility Trustee. The Servicer shall maintain and provide to any successor servicer and (upon request) the Indenture Trustee, Master Servicer or Securities Administrator a detailed accounting on a loan by loan basis as to amounts advanced by, sold, pledged or assigned to, and reimbursed to any Advancing Person. The Successor Servicer shall be entitled to rely on any such information provided by the predecessor servicer, and the Successor Servicer shall not be liable for any errors in such information. Any Successor Servicer shall reimburse the predecessor Servicer and itself for outstanding Advances and Servicing Advances, respectively, with respect to each Mortgage Loan on a first in, first out (“FIFO”) basis; provided that the Successor Servicer has received prior written notice from the predecessor Servicer or the Advancing Person of reimbursement amounts owed to the predecessor Servicer. Liquidation Proceeds with respect to a Mortgage Loan shall be applied to reimburse Advances outstanding with respect to that Mortgage Loan before being applied to reimburse Servicing Advances outstanding with respect to that Mortgage Loan.
          An Advancing Person who receives an assignment or pledge of the rights to be reimbursed for Advances and/or Servicing Advances, and/or whose obligations hereunder are limited to the funding or purchase of Advances and/or Servicing Advances shall not be required to meet the criteria for qualification of a subservicer set forth in this Agreement.
          Upon the direction of and at the expense of the Servicer, the Securities Administrator agrees to execute such acknowledgments, certificates, and other documents provided by the Servicer recognizing the interests of any Advance Facility Trustee in such Reimbursement Amounts as the Servicer may cause to be made subject to Advance Facilities pursuant to this Section 3.29.
          The Servicer shall remain entitled to be reimbursed for all Advances and Servicing Advances funded by the Servicer to the extent the related rights to be reimbursed therefor have not been sold, assigned or pledged to an Advancing Person.
          The Servicer shall indemnify the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, any Successor Servicer and the Trust for any loss, liability or damage resulting from any Advance Facility, including, without limitation, any claim by the related Advancing Person, except to the extent that such claim, loss, liability or damage resulted from or arose out of negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct or breach of its duties hereunder on the part of the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee or any successor servicer.
          Any amendment to this Section 3.29 or to any other provision of this Agreement that may be necessary or appropriate to effect the terms of an Advance Facility as described generally in this Section 3.29, including amendments to add provisions relating to a successor servicer, may be entered into by the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor and the Servicer without the consent of any Noteholder but with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder, provided such amendment complies with Section 7.01 hereof. All reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of each party hereto of any such amendment shall be borne solely by the Servicer. Prior to entering into an Advance Facility, the Servicer shall notify the Advancing Person in writing that: (a) the Advances and/or Servicing Advances purchased, financed by and/or pledged to the Advancing Person are obligations owed to the Servicer on a non-recourse basis payable only from the cash flows and proceeds received under this Agreement for reimbursement of Advances and/or Servicing Advances only to the extent provided herein, and none of the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator nor the Trust are otherwise obligated or liable to repay any Advances and/or Servicing Advances financed by the Advancing Person and (b) none of the Indenture Trustee, Master Servicer or Securities Administrator shall have any responsibility to calculate any Reimbursement Amounts or to track or monitor the administration of the Advance Facility between the Servicer and the Advancing Person.
          Section 3.30. Master Servicer.
          The Master Servicer shall supervise, monitor and oversee the obligation of the Servicer to service and administer the Mortgage Loans in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and shall have full power and authority to do any and all things which it may deem necessary or desirable in connection with such master servicing and administration. In performing its obligations hereunder, the Master Servicer shall act in a manner consistent with Accepted Master Servicing Practices. Furthermore, the Master Servicer shall oversee and consult with the Servicer as necessary from time-to-time to carry out the Master Servicer’s obligations hereunder, shall receive, review and evaluate all reports, information and other data provided to the Master Servicer by the Servicer and shall enforce the obligations of the Servicer to perform and observe the covenants, obligations and conditions to be performed or observed by the Servicer under this Agreement. The Master Servicer shall independently and separately monitor the Servicer’s servicing activities with respect to each related Mortgage Loan, reconcile the results of such monitoring with such information provided in the previous sentence on a monthly basis and coordinate corrective adjustments to the Servicer’s and Master Servicer’s records. The Master Servicer shall reconcile the results of its Mortgage Loan monitoring with the actual remittances of the Servicer to the Note Account pursuant to the terms hereof based on information provided to the Master Servicer by the Securities Administrator pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 6.01(j) of the Indenture.

 


 

          The Indenture Trustee, Master Servicer, Custodian and Securities Administrator shall provide access, in each case to the records and documentation in possession of the Indenture Trustee, the Mater Servicer, the Custodian, or the Securities Administrator, as the case may be, regarding the related Mortgage Loans and REO Property and the servicing thereof to the Noteholders, the FDIC, and the supervisory agents and examiners of the FDIC, such access being afforded only upon reasonable prior written request and during normal business hours at the office of the Indenture Trustee, the Custodian or the Securities Administrator; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by law, none of the Indenture Trustee, the Custodian or the Securities Administrator shall be required to provide access to such records and documentation if the provision thereof would violate the legal right to privacy of any Mortgagor. The Indenture Trustee, the Custodian and the Securities Administrator shall allow representatives of the above entities, in each case to photocopy any of the records and documentation and shall provide equipment for that purpose at a charge that covers the Indenture Trustee’s, the Custodian’s or the Securities Administrator’s, as the case may be, actual costs.
          Section 3.31. Monitoring of Servicer.
          (a) The Master Servicer shall be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Servicer with its duties under this Agreement. In the review of the Servicer’s activities, the Master Servicer may rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Servicer with regard to the Servicer’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that the Master Servicer, in its judgment, determines that the Servicer should be terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, or that a notice should be sent pursuant to the terms hereof with respect to the occurrence of an event that, unless cured, would constitute a Servicer Event of Termination, the Master Servicer shall notify the Servicer, the Seller and the Indenture Trustee thereof and the Master Servicer shall issue such notice or take such other action as it deems appropriate.
          (b) The Master Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, shall enforce the obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement, and shall, in the event that the Servicer fails to perform its obligations in accordance with this Agreement, subject to the preceding paragraph, Article III and Article VI, to terminate the rights and obligations of the Servicer hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Article VI. Such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims 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; provided that the Master Servicer shall not be required to prosecute or defend any legal action except to the extent that the Master Servicer shall have received reasonable indemnity for its costs and expenses in pursuing such action.
          (c) The Master Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Servicer (or from amounts on deposit in the Note Account if the Servicer does not timely fulfill its obligations hereunder) for all Servicing Transfer Costs (or if the predecessor Servicer is the Master Servicer, from the Servicer immediately preceding the Master Servicer), including without limitation, any reasonable out-of-pocket or third party costs or expenses associated with the complete transfer of all servicing data and the completion, correction or manipulation of such servicing data as may be required by the Master Servicer to correct any errors or insufficiencies in the servicing data or otherwise to enable the Master Servicer to service the Mortgage Loans properly and effectively, upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses.
          (d) The Master Servicer shall require the Servicer to comply with the remittance requirements and other obligations set forth in this Agreement.
          (e) If the Master Servicer acts as successor Servicer, it will not assume liability for the representations and warranties of the terminated Servicer.
          (f) The Master Servicer shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of the Servicer.
          Section 3.32. Fidelity Bond.
          The Master Servicer, at its expense, shall maintain in effect a blanket fidelity bond and an errors and omissions insurance policy, affording coverage with respect to all directors, officers, employees and other Persons acting on such Master Servicer’s behalf, and covering errors and omissions in the performance of the Master Servicer’s obligations hereunder. The errors and omissions insurance policy and the fidelity bond shall be in such form and amount generally acceptable for entities serving as master servicers or trustees. Upon reasonable request of the Depositor or the Sponsor, the Master Servicer shall provide to the Depositor or the Sponsor evidence of such insurance or fidelity bond.
          Section 3.33. Power to Act; Procedures.
          The Master Servicer shall master service the Mortgage Loans and shall have full power and authority to do any and all things that it may deem necessary or desirable in connection with the master servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans, including but not limited to the power and authority (i) to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, customary consents or waivers and other instruments and documents, (ii) to consent to transfers of any Mortgaged Property and assumptions of the Mortgage Notes and related Mortgages, (iii) to collect any Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds, and (iv) to effectuate foreclosure or other conversion of the ownership of the Mortgaged Property. The Indenture Trustee shall furnish the Master Servicer, upon written request from a Master Servicing Officer, with any powers of attorney (in form delivered and acceptable to the Indenture Trustee) empowering the Master Servicer or the Servicer to execute and deliver instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge, and to foreclose upon or otherwise liquidate Mortgaged Property, and to appeal, prosecute or defend in any court action relating to the Mortgage Loans or the Mortgaged Property, in accordance with this Agreement, and the Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver such other documents, as the Master Servicer or the Servicer may request, to enable the Master Servicer to master service and administer the Mortgage Loans and carry out its duties hereunder, in each case in accordance with Accepted Master Servicing Practices (and the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability for misuse of any such powers of attorney by the Master Servicer or the Servicer and shall be indemnified by the Master Servicer or the Servicer, as applicable, for any cost, liability or expense incurred by the Indenture Trustee in connection with such Person’s use or misuse of any such power of attorney). If the Master Servicer or the Indenture Trustee has been advised that it is likely that the laws of the state in which action is to be taken prohibit such action if taken in the name of the Indenture Trustee or that the Indenture Trustee would be adversely affected under the “doing business” or tax laws of such state if such action is taken in its name, the Master Servicer shall join with the Indenture Trustee in the appointment of a co-trustee pursuant to Section 6.10 of the Indenture. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Master Servicer shall be an independent contractor and shall not, except in those instances where it is taking action in the name of the Indenture Trustee, be deemed to be the agent of the Indenture Trustee.

 


 

          Section 3.34. Due-on-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements.
          To the extent Mortgage Loans contain enforceable due-on-sale clauses, the Master Servicer shall cause the Servicer to enforce such clauses in accordance with this Agreement.
          Section 3.35. Documents, Records and Funds in Possession of Master Servicer To Be Held for Trustee.
          (a) The Master Servicer shall transmit to the Indenture Trustee or Custodian such documents and instruments coming into the possession of the Master Servicer from time to time as are required by the terms hereof to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or Custodian. Any funds received by the Master Servicer in respect of any Mortgage Loan or which otherwise are collected by the Master Servicer as Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds in respect of any Mortgage Loan shall be remitted to the Securities Administrator for deposit in the Note Account. The Master Servicer shall, and, subject to Section 3.11, shall enforce the obligations of the Servicer to, provide access to information and documentation regarding the Mortgage Loans to the Indenture Trustee, its agents and accountants at any time upon reasonable request and during normal business hours, and to Noteholders that are savings and loan associations, banks or insurance companies, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the FDIC and the supervisory agents and examiners of such Office and Corporation or examiners of any other federal or state banking or insurance regulatory authority if so required by applicable regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision or other regulatory authority, such access to be afforded without charge but only upon reasonable request in writing and during normal business hours at the offices of the Master Servicer designated by it. In fulfilling such a request the Master Servicer shall not be responsible for determining the sufficiency of such information.
          (b) All funds collected or held by, or under the control of, the Master Servicer, in respect of any Mortgage Loans, whether from the collection of principal and interest payments or from Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds, shall be remitted to the Securities Administrator for deposit in the Note Account.
          Section 3.36. Possession of Certain Insurance Policies and Documents.
          The Custodian, shall retain possession and custody of the originals (to the extent available) of any primary mortgage insurance policies, or certificate of insurance if applicable, and any Notes of renewal as to the foregoing as may be issued from time to time as contemplated by this Agreement. Until all amounts payable in respect of the Notes has been paid in full and the Master Servicer and the Servicer have otherwise fulfilled their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Custodian shall also retain possession and custody of each Mortgage File in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Master Servicer shall promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian, upon the execution or receipt thereof the originals of any primary mortgage insurance policies, any Notes of renewal, and such other documents or instruments related to the Mortgage Loans that come into the possession of the Master Servicer from time to time.
          Section 3.37. Compensation for the Master Servicer.
          As compensation for the activities of the Master Servicer hereunder, the Master Servicer shall be entitled to the Master Servicing Fee, payable to the Master Servicer on each Payment Date (with respect to the calendar month that immediately preceded the month of such Payment Date) from funds in the Note Account. The Master Servicing Fee payable to the Master Servicer in respect of any Payment Date shall be reduced in accordance with Section 3.38. The Master Servicer shall be required to pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities hereunder and shall not be entitled to reimbursement therefor except as provided in this Agreement.
          Section 3.38. Obligation of the Master Servicer in Respect of Prepayment Interest Shortfalls.
          In the event that the Servicer fails to perform on any Servicer Remittance Date its obligations pursuant to Section 3.24, the Master Servicer shall remit to the Securities Administrator not later than the Payment Date an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amounts required to be paid by the Servicer with respect to Prepayment Interest Shortfalls attributable to Principal Prepayments on the related Mortgage Loans for the related Payment Date, and not so paid by the Servicer and (ii) the Master Servicing Fee for such Payment Date, without reimbursement therefor.
          Section 3.39. Merger or Consolidation.
          Any Person into which the Master Servicer may be merged or consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion, other change in form or consolidation to which the Master Servicer shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Master Servicer, shall be the successor to 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; provided, however, that the successor or resulting Person to the Master Servicer or its Affiliate whose primary business is the servicing of conventional residential mortgage loans shall be a Person that is an Approved Servicer.
          Section 3.40. Resignation of Master Servicer.
          Except as otherwise provided in Sections 3.39 and 3.41 hereof, the Master Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it unless the Master Servicer’s duties hereunder are no longer permissible under applicable law or are in material conflict by reason of applicable law with any other activities carried on by it and cannot be cured. Any such determination permitting the resignation of the Master Servicer shall be evidenced by an independent Opinion of Counsel to such effect delivered to the Issuer, the Depositor, the Seller and the Indenture Trustee. No such resignation shall become effective until the Indenture Trustee shall have assumed, or a Successor Master Servicer shall have been appointed by the Sponsor or the Indenture Trustee and until such successor shall have assumed, the Master Servicer’s responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement. Notice of such resignation shall be given promptly by the Master Servicer to the Indenture Trustee.
          If, at any time, the Master Servicer resigns under this Section 3.40, or transfers or assigns its rights and obligations under Section 4.16, or is removed as Master Servicer pursuant to Section 6.07, then at such time Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. also shall resign (and shall be entitled to resign) as Securities Administrator, Custodian, Paying Agent and Note Registrar. In such event, the obligations of each such party shall be assumed by the Indenture Trustee or such Successor Master Servicer appointed by the Indenture Trustee (subject to the provisions of Section 6.07); provided, however, the Indenture Trustee shall have the same right to appoint, or petition a court to appoint, a successor Securities Administrator, Paying Agent or Note Registrar as it has pursuant to Section 6.07 with respect to a successor Master Servicer.

 


 

          Section 3.41. Assignment or Delegation of Duties by the Master Servicer.
          Except as expressly provided herein, the Master Servicer shall not assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or privileges hereunder to any other Person, or delegate to or subcontract with, or authorize or appoint any other Person to perform any of the duties, covenants or obligations to be performed by the Master Servicer hereunder; provided, however, that the Master Servicer shall have the right with the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee and the Seller (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and upon delivery to the Indenture Trustee and the Seller of a letter from each Rating Agency to the effect that such action shall not result in a downgrading of the Notes, to delegate or assign to or subcontract with or authorize or appoint any qualified Person to perform and carry out any duties, covenants or obligations to be performed and carried out by the Master Servicer hereunder. Notice of such permitted assignment shall be given promptly by the Master Servicer to the Seller and the Indenture Trustee. If, pursuant to any provision hereof, the duties of the Master Servicer are transferred to a Successor Master Servicer, the entire amount of the Master Servicing Fees and other compensation payable to the Master Servicer pursuant hereto shall thereafter be payable to such Successor Master Servicer. Such Successor Master Servicer shall also pay the fees of the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Administrator, as provided herein.
ARTICLE IV
REMITTANCE REPORTS; ADVANCES; EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING
          Section 4.01. Remittance Reports and Advances.
          (a) On the 10th calendar day of each month, the Servicer shall deliver to the Master Servicer and the Sponsor by telecopy or electronic mail (or by such other means as the Servicer and the Master Servicer may agree from time to time) a Remittance Report in the format attached as Exhibit J, Exhibit K and Exhibit L with respect to the related Payment Date. Not later than the second Business Day following each Determination Date, the Servicer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Master Servicer in addition to the information provided in the Remittance Report, information with respect to the Principal Prepayments in full from the portion of the Prepayment Period from the 1st to the 15th of each calendar month and such other information reasonably available to it with respect to the Mortgage Loans as the Master Servicer may reasonably require to perform the calculations necessary to make the payments contemplated by Section 3.05 of the Indenture and to prepare the statements to Noteholders contemplated by Section 3.26 of the Indenture. The Master Servicer shall not be responsible to recompute, recalculate or verify any information provided to it by the Servicer.
          (b) The amount of Advances to be made by the Servicer for any Payment Date shall equal, subject to Section 4.01(d), the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Monthly Payments (net of the related Servicing Fee), due during the related Due Period in respect of the Mortgage Loans, which Monthly Payments were delinquent on a contractual basis as of the Close of Business on the related Determination Date and (ii) with respect to each REO Property, which REO Property was acquired during or prior to the related Due Period and as to which REO Property an REO Disposition did not occur during the related Due Period, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the REO Imputed Interest on such REO Property for the most recently ended calendar month, over the net income from such REO Property transferred to the Note Account pursuant to Section 3.23 for payment on such Payment Date.
          On or before 2:00 p.m. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date, the Servicer shall remit in immediately available funds to the Securities Administrator for deposit in the Note Account an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Advances, if any, to be made in respect of the Mortgage Loans and REO Properties for the related Payment Date either (i) from its own funds or (ii) from the Collection Account, to the extent of funds held therein for future payment (in which case it will cause to be made an appropriate entry in the records of the Collection Account that amounts held for future payment have been, as permitted by this Section 4.01, used by the Servicer in discharge of any such Advance) or (iii) in the form of any combination of (i) and (ii) aggregating the total amount of Advances to be made by the Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans and REO Properties. Any amounts held for future payment used by the Servicer to make an Advance as permitted in the preceding sentence shall be appropriately reflected in the Servicer’s records and replaced by the Servicer by deposit in the Collection Account on or before any future Servicer Remittance Date to the extent that the Available Funds for the related Payment Date (determined without regard to Advances to be made on the Servicer Remittance Date) shall be less than the total amount that would be paid to the Classes of Noteholders pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Indenture on such Payment Date if such amounts held for future payments had not been so used to make Advances. The Securities Administrator will provide notice to the Servicer by telecopy by the Close of Business on any Servicer Remittance Date in the event that the amount remitted by the Servicer to the Securities Administrator on such date is less than the Advances required to be made by the Servicer for the related Payment Date, as set forth in the related Remittance Report.
          (c) The obligation of the Servicer to make such Advances is mandatory, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement but subject to (d) below, and, with respect to any Mortgage Loan, shall continue until the Mortgage Loan is paid in full or until all Liquidation Proceeds thereon have been recovered, or a Final Recovery Determination has been made thereon.
          (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Advance or Servicing Advance shall be required to be made hereunder by the Servicer if such Advance or Servicing Advance would, if made, constitute a Nonrecoverable Advance. The determination by the Servicer that it has made a Nonrecoverable Advance or that any proposed Advance or Servicing Advance, if made, would constitute a Nonrecoverable Advance, shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate of the Servicer delivered to the Sponsor and the Master Servicer. Furthermore, the Servicer shall not be required to advance Relief Act Interest Shortfalls.
          (e) If the Servicer fails to remit any Monthly Advance required to be made pursuant to this Section, the Master Servicer shall make, or the Successor Servicer shall make, such Advance. If the Master Servicer determines that a Monthly Advance is required, it shall on the Business Day preceding the related Payment Date immediately following such Determination Date remit to the Securities Administrator from its own funds (or funds advanced by the applicable Servicer) for deposit in the Note Account immediately available funds in an amount equal to such Monthly Advance. The Master Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all Monthly Advances made by it. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event the Master Servicer determines in its reasonable judgment that a Monthly Advance is a Nonrecoverable Advance, the Master Servicer shall be under no obligation to make such Monthly Advance. If the Master Servicer determines that a Monthly Advance is a Nonrecoverable Advance, it shall, on or prior to the related Payment Date, deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Administrator to such effect.

 


 

          Section 4.02. Exchange Act Reporting.
          (a) (i) (A) Within 15 days after each Distribution Date, the Securities Administrator shall, in accordance with industry standards, prepare and, in accordance with Section (a)(i)(C) below, file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), a Distribution Report on Form 10-D, signed by the Master Servicer, with a copy of the Monthly Statement to be furnished by the Securities Administrator to the Certificateholders for such Distribution Date; provided that, the Securities Administrator shall have received no later than five (5) calendar days after the related Distribution Date, all information required to be provided to the Securities Administrator as described in clause (a)(iv) below. Any disclosure that is in addition to the Monthly Statement and that is required to be included on Form 10-D (“Additional Form 10-D Disclosure”) shall be, pursuant to the paragraph immediately below, reported by the parties set forth on Exhibit I to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and approved for inclusion by the Depositor, and the Securities Administrator will have no duty or liability for any failure hereunder to determine or prepare any Additional Form 10-D Disclosure absent such reporting (other than in the case where the Securities Administrator is the reporting party as set forth in Exhibit I) and approval.
          (B) Within five (5) calendar days after the related Distribution Date, (i) the parties set forth in Exhibit I shall be required to provide, pursuant to Section 4.02(a)(iv) below, to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor, to the extent known by a responsible officer thereof, in EDGAR-compatible format, or in such other form as otherwise agreed upon by the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and such party, the form and substance of any Additional Form 10-D Disclosure, if applicable, and (ii) the Depositor will approve, as to form and substance, or disapprove, as the case may be, the inclusion of the Additional Form 10-D Disclosure on Form 10-D. The Issuing Entity shall be responsible for any reasonable fees and expenses assessed or incurred by the Securities Administrator in connection with including any Additional Form 10-D Disclosure on Form 10-D pursuant to this Section.
          (C) After preparing the Form 10-D, the Securities Administrator shall forward electronically a copy of the Form 10-D to the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Master Servicer for review. Within two Business Days after receipt of such copy, but no later than the 12th calendar day after the Distribution Date (provided that, the Securities Administrator forwards a copy of the Form 10-D no later than the 10th calendar after the Distribution Date), the Depositor shall notify the Securities Administrator in writing (which may be furnished electronically) of any changes to or approval of such Form 10-D. In the absence of receipt of any written changes or approval, the Securities Administrator shall be entitled to assume that such Form 10-D is in final form and the Securities Administrator may proceed with the execution and filing of the Form 10-D. No later than the 13th calendar day after the related Distribution Date, a duly authorized officer of the Master Servicer shall sign the Form 10-D and, in the case where the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator are not affiliated, return an electronic or fax copy of such signed Form 10-D (with an original executed hard copy to follow by overnight mail) to the Securities Administrator. If a Form 10-D cannot be filed on time or if a previously filed Form 10-D needs to be amended, the Securities Administrator shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 3.17(a)(v)(B). Promptly (but no later than one (1) Business Day) after filing with the Commission, the Securities Administrator shall make available on its internet website identified in Section 7.04 of the Indenture, a final executed copy of each Form 10-D filed by the Securities Administrator. The signing party at the Master Servicer can be contacted as set forth in Section 7.04. Form 10-D requires the registrant to indicate (by checking “yes” or “no”) that it (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. The Depositor shall notify the Securities Administrator in writing, no later than the fifth calendar day after the related Distribution Date with respect to the filing of a report on Form 10-D, if the answer to the questions should be “no”. The Securities Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the representations in Section 2.05(ix) and in any such notice in preparing, executing and/or filing any such report. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the performance by the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator of their respective duties under Sections 4.02(a)(i) and (v) related to the timely preparation, execution and filing of Form 10-D is contingent upon such parties strictly observing all applicable deadlines in the performance of their duties under such Sections. Neither the Master Servicer nor the Securities Administrator shall have any liability for any loss, expense, damage, claim arising out of or with respect to any failure to properly prepare, execute and/or timely file such Form 10-D, where such failure results from a party’s failure to deliver, on a timely basis, any information from any such party needed to prepare, arrange for execution or file such Form 10-D, not resulting from its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
          (ii) (A) Within four (4) Business Days after the occurrence of an event requiring disclosure on Form 8-K (each such event, a “Reportable Event”), the Securities Administrator shall prepare and, at the direction of the Depositor, file on behalf of the Trust, any Form 8-K, as required by the Exchange Act; provided that, the Depositor, upon receipt from the Sponsor of the relevant final Basic Documents within 14 days after the Closing Date, shall file the initial Form 8-K in connection with the issuance of the Notes. Any disclosure or information related to a Reportable Event or that is otherwise required to be included on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K Disclosure Information”) shall be, pursuant to the paragraph immediately below, reported by the parties set forth on Exhibit I to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and approved for inclusion by the Depositor, and the Securities Administrator will have no duty or liability for any failure hereunder to determine or prepare any Form 8-K Disclosure Information absent such reporting (other than in the case where the Securities Administrator is the reporting party as set forth in Exhibit I) and approval.
          (B) For so long as the Trust is subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements, no later than the close of business on the 2nd Business Day after the occurrence of a Reportable Event (i) the parties set forth in Exhibit I shall be required pursuant to Section 4.02(a)(iv) below to provide to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor, to the extent known by a responsible officer thereof, in EDGAR-compatible format, or in such other form as otherwise agreed upon by the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and such party, the form and substance of any Form 8-K Disclosure Information, if applicable, and (ii) the Depositor shall approve, as to form and substance, or disapprove, as the case may be, the inclusion of the Form 8-K Disclosure Information on Form 8-K. The Issuing Entity shall be responsible for any reasonable fees and expenses assessed or incurred by the Securities Administrator in connection with including any Form 8-K Disclosure Information on Form 8-K pursuant to this Section.
          (C) After preparing the Form 8-K, the Securities Administrator shall forward electronically a copy of the Form 8-K to the Depositor and the Master Servicer for review. No later than the close of business New York City time on the 3rd Business Day after the Reportable Event, or in the case where the Master Servicer and Securities Administrator are affiliated, no later than noon New York City time on the 4th Business Day after the Reportable Event, a duly authorized officer of the Master Servicer shall sign the Form 8-K and, in the case where the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator are not affiliated, return an electronic or fax copy of such signed Form 8-K (with an original executed hard copy to follow by overnight mail) to the Securities Administrator. Promptly, but no later than the close of business on the 3rd Business Day after the Reportable Event (provided that, the Securities Administrator forwards a copy of the Form 8-K no later than noon New York time on the third Business Day after the Reportable Event), the Depositor shall notify the Securities Administrator in writing (which may be furnished electronically) of any changes to or approval of such Form 8-K. In the absence of receipt of any written changes or approval, the Securities Administrator shall be entitled to assume that such Form 8-K is in final form and the Securities Administrator may proceed with the execution and filing of the Form 8-K. If a Form 8-K cannot be filed on time or if a previously filed Form 8-K needs to be amended, the Securities Administrator shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 4.02(a)(v)(B). Promptly (but no later than one (1) Business Day) after filing with the Commission, the Securities Administrator shall, make available on its internet website a final executed copy of each Form 8-K filed by the Securities Administrator. The signing party at the Master Servicer can be contacted as set forth in Section 7.03. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the performance by Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator of their respective duties under this Section 4.02(a)(ii) related to the timely preparation, execution and filing of Form 8-K is contingent upon such parties strictly observing all applicable deadlines in the performance of their duties under this Section 4.02(a)(ii). Neither the Master Servicer nor the Securities Administrator shall have any liability for any loss, expense, damage, claim arising out of or with respect to any failure to properly prepare, execute and/or timely file such Form 8-K, where such failure results from a party’s failure to deliver, on a timely basis, any information from such party needed to prepare, arrange for execution or file such Form 8-K, not resulting from its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 


 

          (iii) (A) Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Trust or such earlier date as may be required by the Exchange Act (the “10-K Filing Deadline”) (it being understood that the fiscal year for the Trust ends on December 31st of each year), commencing in March 2008, the Securities Administrator shall prepare and file on behalf of the Trust a Form 10-K, in form and substance as required by the Exchange Act. Each such Form 10-K shall include the following items, in each case to the extent they have been delivered to the Securities Administrator within the applicable time frames set forth in this Agreement, (I) an annual compliance statement for each Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator and any subservicer or subcontractor, as applicable, as described under Section 3.20, (II)(A) the annual reports on assessment of compliance with Servicing Criteria for each Servicer, the Master Servicer, each subservicer and subcontractor participating in the servicing function, the Securities Administrator and the Custodians, as described under Section 3.21, and (B) if any such report on assessment of compliance with Servicing Criteria described under Section 3.21 identifies any material instance of noncompliance, disclosure identifying such instance of noncompliance, or if any such report on assessment of compliance with Servicing Criteria described under Section 3.21 is not included as an exhibit to such Form 10-K, disclosure that such report is not included and an explanation why such report is not included, (III)(A) the registered public accounting firm attestation report for each Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, each subservicer, each subcontractor, as applicable, and the Custodians, as described under Section 3.21, and (B) if any registered public accounting firm attestation report described under Section 3.21 identifies any material instance of noncompliance, disclosure identifying such instance of noncompliance, or if any such registered public accounting firm attestation report is not included as an exhibit to such Form 10-K, disclosure that such report is not included and an explanation why such report is not included, and (IV) a Sarbanes-Oxley Certification as described in Section 4.02 (a)(iii)(D) below (provided, however, that the Securities Administrator, at its discretion, may omit from the Form 10-K any annual compliance statement, assessment of compliance or attestation report that is not required to be filed with such Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation AB). Any disclosure or information in addition to (I) through (IV) above that is required to be included on Form 10-K (“Additional Form 10-K Disclosure”) shall be, pursuant to the paragraph immediately below, reported by the parties set forth on Exhibit I to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and approved for inclusion by the Depositor, and the Securities Administrator will have no duty or liability for any failure hereunder to determine or prepare any Additional Form 10-K Disclosure absent such reporting (other than in the case where the Securities Administrator is the reporting party as set forth in Exhibit I) and approval.
          (B) No later than March 15th of each year that the Trust is subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements, commencing in 2008, (i) the parties set forth in Exhibit I shall be required to provide pursuant to Section 4.02(a)(iv) below to the Securities Administrator and the Depositor, to the extent known by a responsible officer thereof, in EDGAR-compatible format, or in such other form as otherwise agreed upon by the Securities Administrator and the Depositor and such party, the form and substance of any Additional Form 10-K Disclosure, if applicable, and (ii) the Depositor will approve, as to form and substance, or disapprove, as the case may be, the inclusion of the Additional Form 10-K Disclosure on Form 10-K. The Issuing Entity shall be responsible for any reasonable fees and expenses assessed or incurred by the Securities Administrator in connection with including any Additional Form 10-K Disclosure on Form 10-K pursuant to this Section.
          (C) After preparing the Form 10-K, the Securities Administrator shall forward electronically a copy of the Form 10-K to the Depositor (only in the case where such Form 10-K includes Additional Form 10-K Disclosure and otherwise if requested by the Depositor) and the Master Servicer for review. Within three Business Days after receipt of such copy, but no later than March 25th (provided that, the Securities Administrator forwards a copy of the Form 10-K no later than the third Business Day prior to March 25th), the Depositor shall notify the Securities Administrator in writing (which may be furnished electronically) of any changes to or approval of such Form 10-K. In the absence of receipt of any written changes or approval, the Securities Administrator shall be entitled to assume that such Form 10-K is in final form and the Securities Administrator may proceed with the execution and filing of the Form 10-K. No later than the close of business Eastern Standard time on the 4th Business Day prior to the 10-K Filing Deadline, an officer of the Master Servicer in charge of the master servicing function shall sign the Form 10-K and, in the case where the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator are unaffiliated, return an electronic or fax copy of such signed Form 10-K (with an original executed hard copy to follow by overnight mail) to the Securities Administrator. If a Form 10-K cannot be filed on time or if a previously filed Form 10-K needs to be amended, the Securities Administrator will follow the procedures set forth in Section 4.02(a)(v)(B). Promptly (but no later than one (1) Business Day) after filing with the Commission, the Securities Administrator shall make available on its internet website a final executed copy of each Form 10-K filed by the Securities Administrator. The signing party at the Master Servicer can be contacted as set forth in Section 7.03. Form 10-K requires the registrant to indicate (by checking “yes” or “no”) that it (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. The Depositor shall notify the Securities Administrator in writing, no later than March 15th of each year in which the Trust is subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a report on Form 10-K, if the answer to the question should be “no”. The Securities Administrator shall be entitled to rely on such response and in any such notice in preparing, executing and/or filing any such report. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the performance by the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator of their respective duties under Sections 4.02(a)(iv) and (v) related to the timely preparation, execution and filing of Form 10-K is contingent upon such parties strictly observing all applicable deadlines in the performance of their duties under such Sections and Sections 3.20 and Section 3.21. Neither the Master Servicer nor the Securities Administrator shall have any liability for any loss, expense, damage, claim arising out of or with respect to any failure to properly prepare, execute and/or timely file such Form 10-K, where such failure results from the Master Servicer’s or the Securities Administrator’s inability or failure to receive, on a timely basis, any information from any other party hereto needed to prepare, arrange for execution or file such Form 10-K, not resulting from its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
          (D) Each Form 10-K shall include a certification (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Certification”) required to be included therewith pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which shall be signed by the Certifying Person and delivered to the Securities Administrator no later than March 15th of each year in which the Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. The Master Servicer shall cause the Servicer, and any subservicer or subcontractor engaged by it to, provide to the Person who signs the Sarbanes-Oxley Certification (the “Certifying Person”), by March 10th of each year in which the Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (or such other date specified in the related Servicing Agreement) and otherwise within a reasonable period of time upon request, a certification (each, a “Back-Up Certification”), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit _, upon which the Certifying Person, the entity for which the Certifying Person acts as an officer, and such entity’s officers, directors and Affiliates (collectively with the Certifying Person, “Certification Parties”) can reasonably rely. In addition, the Mortgage Loan Seller and, in the case where the Master Servicer and Securities Administrator are not affiliated, the Securities Administrator shall sign a Back-Up Certification substantially in the form of Exhibit _; provided, however, the Mortgage Loan Seller and the Securities Administrator shall not be required to undertake an analysis of any accountant’s report attached as an exhibit to the Form 10-K. An officer of the Master Servicer in charge of the master servicing function shall serve as the Certifying Person on behalf of the Trust. Such officer of the Certifying Person can be contacted as set forth in Section 7.03.

 


 

          (iv) With respect to any Additional Form 10-D Disclosure, Additional Form 10-K Disclosure or any Form 8-K Disclosure Information (collectively, the “Additional Disclosure”) relating to the Trust Fund, the Securities Administrator’s obligation to include such Additional Information in the applicable Exchange Act report is subject to receipt from the entity that is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible party for providing that information, if other than the Securities Administrator, as and when required as described in Section 4.02(a)(i) through (iii) above. Such Additional Disclosure shall be accompanied by a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit M. Each of the Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Seller, the Securities Administrator and the Depositor hereby agrees to notify and provide, to the extent known to the Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Seller, the Securities Administrator and the Depositor all Additional Disclosure relating to the Trust Fund, with respect to which such party is indicated in Exhibit I as the responsible party for providing that information. The Issuing Entity shall be responsible for any reasonable fees and expenses assessed or incurred by the Securities Administrator in connection with including any Additional Disclosure information pursuant to this Section.
          So long as the Depositor is subject to the filing requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the Trust Fund, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Securities Administrator and the Depositor of any bankruptcy or receivership with respect to the Indenture Trustee or of any proceedings of the type described under Item 1117 of Regulation AB that have occurred as of the related Due Period, together with a description thereof, no later than the date on which such information is required of other parties hereto as set forth under this Section 4.02. In addition, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Securities Administrator and the Depositor of any affiliations or relationships that develop after the Closing Date between the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor, the Seller, the Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer or the Custodian of the type described under Item 1119 of Regulation AB, together with a description thereof, no later than March 15 of each year that the Trust is subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements, commencing in 2008. Should the identification of any of the Depositor, the Servicer, the Seller, the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer or the Custodian change, the Depositor and the Sponsor, to the extent known by them, shall each promptly notify the Indenture Trustee.
          (v) (A) On or prior to January 30th of the first year in which the Securities Administrator is able to do so under applicable law, the Securities Administrator shall prepare and file a Form 15 relating to the automatic suspension of reporting in respect of the Trust under the Exchange Act.
          (B) In the event that the Securities Administrator is unable to timely file with the Commission all or any required portion of any Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K required to be filed by this Agreement because required disclosure information was either not delivered to it or delivered to it after the delivery deadlines set forth in this Agreement or for any other reason, the Securities Administrator shall promptly notify the Depositor and the Master Servicer. In the case of Form 10-D and 10-K, the Depositor, the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator shall cooperate to prepare and file a Form 12b-25 and a 10-DA and 10-KA as applicable, pursuant to Rule 12b-25 of the Exchange Act. In the case of Form 8-K, the Securities Administrator will, upon receipt of all required Form 8-K Disclosure Information and upon the approval of the Depositor, include such disclosure information on the next Form 10-D. In the event that any previously filed Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K needs to be amended, and such amendment relates to any Additional Disclosure, the Securities Administrator shall notify the Depositor and the parties affected thereby and such parties will cooperate to prepare any necessary Form 8-K, 10-DA or 10-KA. Any Form 15, Form 12b-25 or any amendment to Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K shall be signed by an appropriate officer of the Master Servicer. The parties hereto acknowledge that the performance by the Master Servicer and the Securities Administrator of their respective duties under this Section 3.15(a)(v) related to the timely preparation, execution and filing of Form 15, a Form 12b-25 or any amendment to Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K is contingent upon the Master Servicer and the Depositor timely performing their duties under this Section. Neither the Master Servicer nor the Securities Administrator shall have any liability for any loss, expense, damage or claim arising out of or with respect to any failure to properly prepare, execute and/or timely file any such Form 15, Form 12b-25 or any amendments to Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K, where such failure results from a party’s failure to deliver, on a timely basis, any information from such party needed to prepare, arrange for execution or file such Form 15, Form 12b-25 or any amendments to Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K, not resulting from its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
          The Depositor and the Sponsor each agrees to promptly furnish to the Securities Administrator, from time to time upon reasonable request, such further information, reports and financial statements within its control and related to this Agreement and the Mortgage Loans as the Securities Administrator that it reasonably deems appropriate in order to prepare and file all necessary reports with the Commission. The Securities Administrator shall have no responsibility to file any items other than those specified in this Section 4.02; provided, however, the Securities Administrator shall cooperate with the Depositor in connection with any additional filings with respect to the Trust Fund as the Depositor deems necessary under the Exchange Act. Fees and expenses incurred by the Securities Administrator in connection with this Section 4.02 shall not be reimbursable from the Trust Fund.
          (b) The Securities Administrator shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer, the Seller and the Sponsor and each of its officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon a breach of the Securities Administrator’s obligations under Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 or the Securities Administrator’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith. In addition, the Securities Administrator shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer, the Seller and the Sponsor and each of their respective officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Back-Up Certification, any Annual Statement of Compliance, any Assessment of Compliance or any Additional Disclosure provided by the Securities Administrator on its behalf or on behalf of any subservicer or subcontractor engaged by the Securities Administrator pursuant to Section 3.20, 3.21 or 4.02 (the “Securities Administrator Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Securities Administrator Information and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Securities Administrator Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.

 


 

          The Depositor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Securities Administrator, the Servicer, the Seller, the Indenture Trustee, the Sponsor, the Custodian and the Master Servicer and each of its officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon a breach of the obligations of the Depositor to deliver the information to be provided by it as set forth in Exhibit I or the Depositor’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith. In addition, the Depositor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Master Servicer, the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee, the Seller, the Sponsor, the Custodian, the Securities Administrator and each of its respective officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Additional Disclosure provided by the Depositor that is required to be filed pursuant to this Section 4.02 (the “Depositor Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Depositor Information that is required to be filed and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Depositor Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.
          The Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, and the Depositor and each of its respective officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon a breach of the obligations of the Master Servicer under Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 or the Master Servicer’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith. In addition, the Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, and each of their officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Annual Statement of Compliance, any Assessment of Compliance or any Additional Disclosure provided by the Master Servicer on its behalf or on behalf of any subservicer or subcontractor engaged by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.20, 3.21 or 4.02 (the “Master Servicer Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Master Servicer Information and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Master Servicer Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.
          The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Custodian, the Indenture Trustee, and the Depositor and each of its respective officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon a breach of the obligations of the Servicer under Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 or the Servicer’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith. In addition, the Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Custodian, the Indenture Trustee, and the Depositor, and each of their officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Annual Statement of Compliance, any Assessment of Compliance or any Additional Disclosure provided by the Servicer on its behalf or on behalf of any subservicer or subcontractor engaged by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.20, 3.21 or 4.02 (the “Servicer Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Servicer Information and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Servicer Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.
          The Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless the Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, the Indenture Trustee, and the Depositor and each of its respective officers and directors from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses directly resulting from a material breach of the obligations of the Custodian under Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 of this Agreement constituting negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on behalf of the Custodian in connection therewith. In addition, the Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless Securities Administrator, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, the Indenture Trustee, and the Depositor, and each of their officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses directly resulting from (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Annual Statement of Compliance, any Assessment of Compliance or any Additional Disclosure provided by the Custodian on its behalf or on behalf of any subservicer or subcontractor engaged by the Custodian pursuant to Section 3.20, 3.21 or 4.02 of this Agreement (the “Custodian Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Custodian Information and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Custodian Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.
          The Sponsor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Securities Administrator, the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Custodian, the Securities Administrator and the Master Servicer and each of its officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon a breach of the obligations of the Sponsor under Section 4.02 or the Sponsor’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection therewith. In addition, the Sponsor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Custodian, the Securities Administrator and the Master Servicer and each of its respective officers, directors and affiliates from and against any losses, damages, claims, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Additional Disclosure provided by the Sponsor that is required to be filed pursuant to this Section 4.02 (the “Sponsor Information”), or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, by way of clarification, that this paragraph shall be construed solely by reference to the Sponsor Information that is required to be filed and not to any other information communicated in connection with the Notes, without regard to whether the Sponsor Information or any portion thereof is presented together with or separately from such other information.

 


 

          If the indemnification provided for herein is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the Depositor, the Securities Administrator, the Sponsor, the Servicer, the Seller or the Master Servicer, as applicable, then the defaulting party, in connection with any conduct for which it is providing indemnification under this Section 4.02(b), agrees that it shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the other parties as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities of the other party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault and the relative benefit of the respective parties.
          The indemnification provisions set forth in this Section 4.02(b) shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the termination of any party to this Agreement.
          (c) Failure of the Master Servicer to comply with Section 3.20, 3.21 and this Section 4.02 (including with respect to the timeframes required herein) shall constitute a Master Servicer Event of Termination, and at the written direction of the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee shall, in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Master Servicer for the same (but subject to the Master Servicer rights to payment of any Master Servicing Compensation and reimbursement of all amounts for which it is entitled to be reimbursed prior to the date of termination). Failure of the Securities Administrator to comply with this Section 3.17 (including with respect to the timeframes required in this Section) which failure results in a failure to timely file the related Form 10-K, shall, at the written direction of the Depositor, constitute a default and the Indenture Trustee at the direction of the Depositor shall, in addition to whatever rights the Indenture Trustee may have under this Agreement and at law or equity or to damages, including injunctive relief and specific performance, upon notice immediately terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Securities Administrator under this Agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans and the proceeds thereof without compensating the Securities Administrator for the same (but subject to the Securities Administrator’s right to reimbursement of all amounts for which it is entitled to be reimbursed prior to the date of termination). This paragraph shall supersede any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary. In connection with the termination of the Master Servicer or the Securities Administrator pursuant to this Section 4.02, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement of all costs and expenses associated with such termination to the extent set forth in Section 6.08 of the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Event of Default by the Master Servicer or default by the Securities Administrator shall have occurred with respect to any failure to properly prepare, execute and/or timely file any report on Form 8-K, Form 10-D or Form 10-K, any Form 15 or Form 12b-25 or any amendments to Form 8-K, 10-D or 10-K, where such failure results from a party’s failure to deliver, on a timely basis, any information from such party needed to prepare, arrange for execution or file any such report, Form or amendment, and does not result from its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
          (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.01, this Section 4.02 may be amended without the consent of the Noteholders.
          (e) Any report, notice or notification to be delivered by the Master Servicer or the Securities Administrator to the Depositor pursuant to this Section 4.02, may be delivered via email to RegABNotifications@bear.com or, in the case of a notification, telephonically by calling Reg AB Compliance Manager at 212-272-7525.
          (f) Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the purpose of Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 of this Agreement is to facilitate compliance by the Sponsor, the Depositor and the Master Servicer with the provisions of Regulation AB. Therefore, each of the parties agrees that (a) the obligations of the parties hereunder shall be interpreted in such a manner as to accomplish that purpose, (b) the parties’ obligations hereunder will be supplemented and modified as necessary to be consistent with any such amendments, interpretive advice or guidance, convention or consensus among active participants in the asset-backed securities markets, advice of counsel, or otherwise in respect of the requirements of Regulation AB, (c) the parties shall comply with reasonable requests made by the Sponsor, the Depositor, the Master Servicer or the Securities Administrator for delivery of additional or different information as the Sponsor, the Depositor, the Master Servicer or the Securities Administrator may determine in good faith is necessary to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, and (d) no amendment of this Agreement shall be required to effect any such changes in the obligations of the parties to this transaction as are necessary to accommodate evolving interpretations of the provisions of Regulation AB.
          Section 4.03. Swap Account.
          (a) On the Closing Date, the Securities Administrator shall establish and maintain a separate, segregated trust account titled, “Swap Account, The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee, in trust for the registered Noteholders of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2007-1.” Such account shall be an Eligible Account and funds on deposit therein shall be held separate and apart from, and shall not be commingled with, any other moneys, including, without limitation, other moneys of the Securities Administrator held pursuant to this Agreement. Amounts therein shall be held uninvested.
          (b) On the Business Day prior to Payment Date, prior to any payment to any Note, the Securities Administrator shall deposit into the Swap Account the amount of any Net Swap Payment or Swap Termination Payment (other than any Swap Termination Payment resulting from a Swap Provider Trigger Event) owed to the Swap Provider (after taking into account any upfront payment received from the counterparty to a replacement interest rate swap agreement) from funds collected and received with respect to the Mortgage Loans prior to the determination of Available Funds and all amounts received by it from the Swap Provider.
          (c) The Securities Administrator shall use any payment received from the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Trust Agreement to make any upfront payment required under a replacement swap agreement and any upfront payment received from the counterparty to a replacement swap agreement shall be used to pay any Swap Termination Payment owed to the Swap Provider.
          Section 4.04. Cap Account.
          (a) On the Closing Date, the Securities Administrator shall establish and maintain a separate, segregated trust account titled, “Cap Account, The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee, in trust for the registered Noteholders of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2007-1.” Such account shall be an Eligible Account and funds on deposit therein shall be held separate and apart from, and shall not be commingled with, any other moneys, including, without limitation, other moneys of the Securities Administrator held pursuant to this Agreement. Amounts therein shall be held uninvested.

 


 

ARTICLE V
THE SERVICER AND THE DEPOSITOR
          Section 5.01. Liability of the Servicer, Master Servicer and the Depositor.
          The Servicer and Master Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by Servicer or Master Servicer, as the case may be, herein. The Depositor shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the Depositor.
          Section 5.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer or the Depositor.
          Any entity into which the Servicer or Depositor may be merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Servicer or the Depositor shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the business of the Servicer or the Depositor, shall be the successor of the Servicer or the Depositor, as the case may be, 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; provided, however, that the successor Servicer shall satisfy all the requirements of Section 6.02 with respect to the qualifications of a successor Servicer.
          Section 5.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer, Master Servicer and Others.
          None of the Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Depositor nor any of the directors or officers or employees or agents of the Servicer, the Master Servicer or the Depositor shall be under any liability to the Trust or the Noteholders for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action by the Servicer the Master Servicer, or the Depositor in good faith pursuant to this Agreement, or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Servicer, the Master Servicer, the Depositor or any such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties of the Servicer, the Master Servicer, or the Depositor, as the case may be, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties as Servicer, Master Servicer, or Depositor, as the case may be, hereunder. The Servicer and Master Servicer, and any director or officer or employee or agent of the Servicer or 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 Servicer, the Master Servicer and the Depositor, and any director or officer or employee or agent of the Servicer, the Master Servicer or the Depositor, shall be indemnified by the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with (i) any legal action relating to this Agreement or the Notes, other than any loss, liability or expense incurred by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder or by reason of its failure to perform its obligations or duties hereunder and (ii) any breach of a representation or warranty regarding the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer, the Master Servicer or the Depositor may undertake any such action which it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement, and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Noteholders hereunder. In such event, unless the Depositor, the Master Servicer or the Servicer acts without the consent of the Holders of 51% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes, the reasonable legal expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom shall be expenses, costs and liabilities of the Trust and the Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor from the Collection Account as and to the extent provided in Section 3.11, any such right of reimbursement being prior to the rights of the Noteholders to receive any amount in the Collection Account. The Master Servicer shall be indemnified by the Issuing Entity pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture.
          The Servicer’s and the Depositor’s right to indemnity or reimbursement pursuant to this Section shall survive any resignation or termination of the 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). 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 3.40 or 6.06 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. Servicer Not to Resign.
          The Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except upon determination that its duties hereunder are no longer permissible under applicable law. Any such determination pursuant to the preceding sentence permitting the resignation of the Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect obtained at the expense of the Servicer and delivered to the Master Servicer. No resignation of the Servicer shall become effective until the Servicer appoints a successor servicer and the successor servicer shall have assumed the Servicer’s responsibilities, duties, liabilities (other than those liabilities arising prior to the assumption of servicing duties by the Successor Servicer) and obligations under this Agreement. Any such resignation shall not relieve the Servicer of responsibility for any of the obligations specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that survive the resignation or receipt of notice of termination of the Servicer
          Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Servicer shall not assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or privileges hereunder to any other Person, or delegate to or subcontract with, or authorize or appoint any other Person to perform any of the duties, covenants or obligations to be performed by the Servicer hereunder. The foregoing prohibition on assignment shall not prohibit the Servicer from designating a Sub-Servicer as payee of any indemnification amount payable to the Servicer hereunder; provided, however, no Sub-Servicer shall be a third-party beneficiary hereunder and the parties hereto shall not be required to recognize any Sub-Servicer as an indemnitee under this Agreement.
          Section 5.05. Delegation of Duties.
          In the ordinary course of business, the 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 set forth in Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not relieve the Servicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with respect to such duties and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section 5.04. Except as provided in Section 3.02, no such delegation is permitted that results in the delegee subservicing any Mortgage Loans. The Servicer shall provide the Indenture Trustee, Master Servicer and Securities Administrator with 60 days prior written notice prior to the delegation of any of its duties to any Person other than any of the Servicer’s Affiliates or their respective successors and assigns.

 


 

          Section 5.06. Indemnification.
          (a) The Servicer agrees to indemnify and hold the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Sponsor, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Seller, the Sponsor and the Depositor harmless against any and all claims, losses, penalties, fines, forfeitures, legal fees and related costs, judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses that the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Sponsor, the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator, the Seller, the Sponsor or the Depositor may sustain in any way related to the failure of the Servicer to perform its duties and service the Mortgage Loans in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
          (b) The Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Securities Administrator, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee from and against any loss, liability, expense, damage or injury suffered or sustained by reason of the Master Servicer’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its activities in master servicing or administering the Mortgage Loans pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding or claim related to the Master Servicer’s misfeasance, bad faith or negligence. Any such indemnification shall not be payable from the assets of the Trust. The provisions of this Section 5.06(b) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
          (c) The Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Servicer, the Seller, the Sponsor, the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee from and against any loss, liability, expense, damage or injury directly resulting from a Custodial Delivery Failure. The provisions of this Section 5.06(c) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
          Section 5.07. Inspection
          The Servicer, in its capacity as Servicer, shall afford the Indenture Trustee and the Master Servicer, upon reasonable notice, during normal business hours, access to all records maintained by the Servicer in respect of its rights and obligations hereunder and access to officers of the Servicer responsible for such obligations.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULT
          Section 6.01. Servicer Events of Termination.
          (a) If any one of the following events (“Servicer Events of Termination”) shall occur and be continuing:
          (i) (A) The failure by the Servicer to make any Advance; or (B) any other failure by the Servicer to deposit in the Collection Account or the Note Account any deposit required to be made under the terms of this Agreement which continues unremedied for a period of one Business Day after the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the Servicer by the Master Servicer, Securities Administrator or Indenture Trustee or to the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee by any Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balances of the Notes; or
          (ii) The failure by the Servicer to make any required Servicing Advance which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days, or the failure by the Servicer duly to observe or perform, in any material respect, any other covenants, obligations or agreements of the Servicer as set forth in this Agreement, which failure continues unremedied for a period of 30 days (or if such failure or breach cannot be remedied within 30 days, then such remedy shall have been commenced within 30 days and diligently pursued thereafter; provided, however, that in no event shall such failure or breach be allowed to exist for a period of greater than 90 days), after the date (A) on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Master Servicer, Securities Administrator or Indenture Trustee or to the Indenture Trustee by any Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes or (B) of actual knowledge of such failure by a Servicing Officer of the Servicer; or
          (iii) The entry against the 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 proceedings, 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 days;
          (iv) Reserved; or
          (v) The Servicer shall voluntarily go into liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Servicer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property; or a decree or order of a court or 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 proceedings, or for the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the Servicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the 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;
          (b) then, and in each and every such case, so long as a Servicer Event of Termination shall not have been remedied within the applicable grace period, (x) with respect solely to clause (i)(A) above, if such Advance is not made by 11:00 A.M., New York time, on the Business Day immediately following the Servicer Remittance Date (provided the Master Servicer shall give the Servicer, and the Servicer shall have received, notice of such failure to advance by 5:00 P.M. New York time on the Servicer Remittance Date), the Master Servicer shall terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement and the Successor Servicer appointed in accordance with Section 6.02, shall immediately make such Advance and assume, pursuant to Section 6.02, the duties of a successor Servicer and (y) in the case of (i)(B), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the Master Servicer shall, at the direction of the Holders of each Class of Notes evidencing Percentage Interests aggregating not less than 51%, by notice then given in writing to the Servicer and Master Servicer (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Holders of Notes), terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer as servicer under this Agreement. Any such notice to the Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Depositor, the Sponsor and the Seller. On or after the receipt by the Servicer (and by the Indenture Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders) of such written notice, all authority and power of the Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Notes or the Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Successor Servicer pursuant to and under this Section; and, without limitation, and the Successor Servicer is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the 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 otherwise. The Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Successor Servicer (or the applicable successor Servicer) in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, the delivery to the Successor Servicer of all documents and records requested by it to enable it to assume the Servicer’s functions under this Agreement within ten Business Days subsequent to such notice, the transfer within one Business Day subsequent to such notice to the Successor Servicer for the administration by it of all cash amounts that shall at the time be held by the Servicer and to be deposited by it in the Collection Account, the Note Account, any REO Account or any Escrow Account or that have been deposited by the Servicer in such accounts or thereafter received by the Servicer with respect to the Mortgage Loans or any REO Property received by the Servicer. All Servicing Transfer Costs shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses and to the extent not paid by the Servicer, by the Trust.

 


 

          Notwithstanding the termination of the Servicer hereunder, the Servicer shall be entitled to reimbursement of all unpaid Servicing Fees and all unreimbursed Advances and Servicing Advances in the manner and at the times set forth herein.
          Section 6.02. Master Servicer to Act; Appointment of Successor.
          (a) From the time the Servicer (and the Indenture Trustee, if notice is sent by the Holders) receives a notice of termination pursuant to Section 6.01, the Master Servicer (or such other successor Servicer as is approved in accordance with this Agreement) shall be the successor in all respects to the Servicer in its capacity as servicer under this Agreement (the “Successor Servicer”) 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 Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof arising on and after its succession. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Successor Servicer, immediately will assume all of the obligations of the Servicer to make Advances subject to Section 4.01. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Successor Servicer shall not be responsible for the lack of information and/or documents that it cannot obtain through reasonable efforts. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that there will be a period of transition (not to exceed 90 days) before the transition of servicing obligations is fully effective. As compensation therefor, the Successor Servicer shall be entitled to such compensation as the Servicer would have been entitled to hereunder if no such notice of termination or resignation had been given. The appointment of the Successor Servicer shall not affect any liability of the predecessor Servicer which may have arisen under this Agreement prior to its termination as Servicer to pay any deductible under an insurance policy pursuant to Section 3.14 or to reimburse the Successor Servicer pursuant to Section 3.06, nor shall any Successor Servicer be liable for any acts or omissions of the predecessor Servicer or for any breach by such Servicer of any of its representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document or agreement. The Successor Servicer shall take such action, consistent with this Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession. All reasonable Servicing Transfer Costs shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs, and if such predecessor Servicer defaults in its obligation to pay such costs, such costs shall be paid by the Successor Servicer (in which case the Successor Servicer shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor from the assets of the Trust).
          Notwithstanding the above, (a) if the Master Servicer is to act as successor servicer and is legally unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee shall act as Successor Servicer and (b) if the Indenture Trustee is to act as successor servicer and (i) if the Indenture Trustee is unwilling to act as Successor Servicer or (ii) if the Indenture Trustee is legally unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee shall appoint (with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder) or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage loan or home equity loan servicer having a net worth of not less than $50,000,000 as the successor to the Servicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any part of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the Servicer hereunder; provided, that the appointment of any such successor Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to the Notes by the Rating Agencies as evidenced by a letter to such effect from the Rating Agencies. Pending appointment of a successor to the 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 compensation which the Servicer would otherwise have received pursuant to Section 3.18 (or such other compensation as the Indenture Trustee and such successor shall agree, not to exceed the Servicing Fee).
          (b) Any Successor Servicer shall during the term of its service as servicer continue to service and administer the Mortgage Loans for the benefit of Noteholders, and maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as Servicer hereunder and a fidelity bond in respect of its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the Servicer is so required pursuant to Section 3.14.
          (c) In connection with the termination or resignation of the Servicer hereunder, either (i) the Successor Servicer, including the Master Servicer or the Indenture Trustee if acting as a Successor Servicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the related Mortgage Loans that are registered with MERS, in which case the predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the Successor Servicer in causing MERS to revise its records to reflect the transfer of servicing to the Successor Servicer as necessary under MERS’ rules and regulations, or (ii) the predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the Successor Servicer in causing MERS to execute and deliver an Assignment in recordable form to transfer the Mortgage from MERS to the Indenture Trustee and to execute and deliver such other notices, documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to effect a transfer of such Mortgage Loan or servicing of such Mortgage Loan on the MERS® System to the Successor Servicer. The predecessor Servicer shall file or cause to be filed any such Assignment in the appropriate recording office. The predecessor Servicer shall bear any and all fees of MERS, costs of preparing any Assignments, and fees and costs of filing any Assignments that may be required under this Section 6.02(c).
          Section 6.03. Waiver of Defaults.
          The Majority Noteholders may, on behalf of all Noteholders, waive, in writing, any events permitting removal of the Servicer as servicer or the Master Servicer as master servicer pursuant to this Article VI, provided, however, that the Majority Noteholders may not waive a default in making a required payment on a Note without the written consent of the Holder of such Note. Upon any waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist and any Servicer Event of Termination or Master Servicer Event of Termination, as applicable, arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereto except to the extent expressly so waived. Notice of any such waiver shall be given by the Securities Administrator to the Sponsor and the Rating Agencies.

 


 

          Section 6.04. Notification to Noteholders.
          (a) Upon any termination or appointment of a successor to the Servicer or Master Servicer pursuant to this Article VI or Section 5.04, the Securities Administrator shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Owner Trustee, the Sponsor, the Depositor and the Noteholders at their respective addresses appearing in the Note Register and each Rating Agency.
          (b) No later than the later of (a) 60 days after the occurrence of any event which constitutes or which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Servicer Event of Termination or (b) within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Securities Administrator becomes aware of the occurrence of such an event, the Securities Administrator shall transmit by mail to all Noteholders notice of such occurrence unless such default or Servicer Event of Termination shall have been waived or cured.
          Section 6.05. Survivability of Liabilities.
          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon termination of the Servicer or Master Servicer hereunder, any liabilities of the Servicer or Master Servicer, as the case may be, which accrued prior to such termination shall survive such termination.
          Section 6.06. Master Servicer Events of Termination.
          (a) If any one of the following events (“Master Servicer Events of Default”) shall occur and be continuing:
          (i) If the Master Servicer is not the Securities Administrator, any failure by the Master Servicer to furnish the Securities Administrator the Mortgage Loan data sufficient to prepare the reports described in Section 7.05 of the Indenture which continues unremedied for a period of one Business Day after the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to such Master Servicer by the Indenture Trustee or the Securities Administrator or to such Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator and the Indenture Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes; or
          (ii) Any failure on the part of the Master Servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect any other of the covenants or agreements (other than those referred to in clauses (viii) and (ix) below) on the part of the Master Servicer contained in this Agreement which continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Master Servicer by the Indenture Trustee or the Securities Administrator, or to the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator and the Indenture Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes; or
          (iii) A decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction for the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, 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 or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days or any Rating Agency reduces or withdraws or threatens to reduce or withdraw the rating of the Notes because of the financial condition or loan servicing capability of such Master Servicer; or
          (iv) The Master Servicer shall consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities, voluntary liquidation or similar proceedings of or relating to the Master Servicer or of or relating to all or substantially all of its property; or
          (v) 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; or
          (vi) The Master Servicer shall be dissolved, or shall dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or consolidate with or merge into another entity or shall permit another entity to consolidate or merge into it, such that the resulting entity does not meet the criteria for a Successor Master Servicer as specified in Section 6.04 hereof; or
          (vii) If a representation or warranty set forth in Section 2.01(b) hereof shall prove to be incorrect as of the time made in any respect that materially and adversely affects the interests of the Noteholders, and the circumstance or condition in respect of which such representation or warranty was incorrect shall not have been eliminated or cured within 30 days after the date on which written notice of such incorrect representation or warranty shall have been given to the Master Servicer by the Indenture Trustee or the Securities Administrator, or to the Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator and the Indenture Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes; or
          (viii) A sale or pledge of any of the rights of the Master Servicer hereunder or an assignment of this Agreement by the Master Servicer or a delegation of the rights or duties of the Master Servicer hereunder shall have occurred in any manner not otherwise permitted hereunder and without the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of not less than 50% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes; or
          (ix) Any failure of the Master Servicer to make any Monthly Advances when such Monthly Advances are due, as required to be made hereunder.
          (b) then, and in each and every such case, so long as a Master Servicer Event of Default shall not have been remedied, (x) with respect solely to clause (ix) above, upon receipt of written notice or discovery by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee or of the Securities Administrator of such failure, the Indenture Trustee shall give immediate telephonic notice of such failure to a Master Servicing Officer of the Master Servicer and the Indenture Trustee shall terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer under this Agreement and the Successor Master Servicer appointed in accordance with Section 6.07 shall immediately make such Monthly Advance (provided, if the Successor Master Servicer determines in its reasonable judgment that a Monthly Advance is a Nonrecoverable Advance or if it is prohibited by law from doing so, the Successor Master Servicer shall be under no obligation to make such Monthly Advance) prior to the payment of funds on the related Payment Date and assume, pursuant to Section 6.07, the duties of a Successor Master Servicer and (y) in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) above, the Indenture Trustee shall, at the direction of the Holders of not less than 51% of the aggregate Note Balance of the Notes by notice then given in writing to the Master Servicer (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Holders of Notes), terminate all of the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer as servicer under this Agreement. Any such notice to the Master Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency and the Seller. On or after receipt by the Master Servicer of such written notice, all authority and power of the Master Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Notes or the Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Successor Master Servicer pursuant to and under this Section 6.06; and, without limitation, the Successor Master Servicer 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 otherwise. The Master Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Successor Master Servicer, the Servicer, the Securities Administrator and the Indenture Trustee in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Master Servicer hereunder. All Servicing Transfer Costs and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with transferring any Mortgage Files to the Successor Master Servicer and amending this Agreement to reflect such succession as Master Servicer pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall be paid by the predecessor Master Servicer within 90 days of written demand, itemized in reasonable detail, or, to the extent not paid by the predecessor Master Servicer, by the Trust prior to payments to Noteholders (or, if the predecessor Master Servicer is the Indenture Trustee, by the initial Master Servicer), upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses. If the predecessor Master Servicer is required but fails to pay the amounts specified in the preceding sentence and such amounts are paid by the Trust, the Securities Administrator shall, at the direction and expense of the Certificateholders, take appropriate action to enforce such obligation and recover such amounts on behalf of such Certificateholders.
          Notwithstanding any termination of the activities of the Master Servicer hereunder, the Master Servicer shall continue to be entitled to receive from the Trust, payment of all the accrued and unpaid portion of the Master Servicing Fees to which the Master Servicer would have been entitled and reimbursement for all outstanding Monthly Advances which amount shall be remitted by the Successor Master Servicer to the terminated Master Servicer as permitted under Section 3.01 of the Indenture on a first-in, first-out basis. The Master Servicer shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.03, notwithstanding any termination hereunder, with respect to events occurring prior to such termination.

 


 

          Section 6.07. Appointment of Successor Master Servicer.
          (a) The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee hereby appoint, and The Bank of New York, hereby accepts appointment, on behalf of itself or an affiliate, subject to the provisions of Sections 3.40 and 6.07(d) hereof, upon receipt by the Master Servicer of a notice of termination pursuant to Section 6.06 or upon resignation of the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.40, to be the successor (the “Successor Master Servicer”) in all respects to the Master Servicer in its capacity as servicer under this 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 arising on and after its succession; provided, however, that, without affecting the immediate termination of the rights of the Master Servicer hereunder, it is understood and acknowledged by the parties hereto that there will be a period of transition not to exceed 90 days (the “Master Servicer Transition Period”) before the master servicing transfer is fully effected.
          During the Master Servicer Transition Period, neither the Successor Master Servicer, the Securities Administrator nor the Indenture Trustee shall be responsible for the lack of information and documents that it cannot reasonably obtain on a practicable basis under the circumstances.
          As compensation therefor, the Successor Master Servicer 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, if the Successor Master Servicer is legally unable to act as successor servicer, the Indenture Trustee may appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage loan or home equity loan servicer that is an Approved Servicer (defined for this purpose by (i) striking the words “the Master Servicer” in clause 1 of the definition thereof and (ii) striking clause 2(a) in the definition thereof) 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 the appointment of any such Successor Master Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to the Offered Notes by the Rating Agencies. Pending appointment of a successor to the Master Servicer hereunder, unless the Successor Master Servicer is prohibited by law from so acting, the Successor Master Servicer 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 the Mortgage Loans in an amount equal to the compensation which the Master Servicer would otherwise have received pursuant to Section 3.37 (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 Agreement prior to its termination as Master Servicer to indemnify the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer and the Securities Administrator 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 or agreement. The Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator or a Successor Master Servicer shall have no responsibility or obligation (i) to repurchase or substitute for any of the Mortgage Loans or (ii) for any acts or omissions of a predecessor Master Servicer. The Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator and such successor shall take such action, at the expense of the Trust, consistent with this Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession.
          (b) Any successor, including the Successor Master Servicer, to the Master Servicer as servicer shall during the term of its service as master servicer (i) continue to master service and administer the Mortgage Loans for the benefit of Noteholders and (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 3.32.
          (c) In connection with the termination or resignation of the Master Servicer hereunder, the Successor Master Servicer, including the Indenture Trustee if the Indenture Trustee is acting as Successor Master Servicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the Mortgage Loans that are registered with MERS.
          (d) Notwithstanding the above, the Indenture Trustee may, if it shall be unwilling to continue to so act, or shall, if it is unable to so act, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, or appoint on its own behalf any established housing and home finance institution servicer, master servicer, servicing or mortgage servicing institution having a net worth of not less than $25,000,000 and meeting such other standards for a successor master servicer as are set forth in this Agreement, as the successor to such Master Servicer in the assumption of all of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of a master servicer, like the Master Servicer.
          Neither the Indenture Trustee nor any other Successor Master Servicer shall be deemed to be in default hereunder by reason of any failure to make, or any delay in making, any distribution hereunder or any portion thereof or any failure to perform, or any delay in performing, any duties or responsibilities hereunder, in either case caused by the failure of the Master Servicer to deliver or provide, or any delay of the Master Servicer in delivering or providing, any cash, information, documents or records to it.
          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for any Servicing Fee or Master Servicing Fee or for any differential in the amount of the Servicing Fee or Master Servicing Fee paid hereunder and the amount necessary to induce any Successor Servicer or Successor Master Servicer to act as Successor Servicer or Successor Master Servicer, as applicable, under this Agreement and the transactions set forth or provided for herein.

 


 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
          Section 7.01. Amendment.
          This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the parties hereto (with the consent of the Majority Certificateholder), provided that any amendment be accompanied by (i) a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to the Notes and (ii) an Officer’s Certificate of the Sponsor, that such amendment will not cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a “qualified special purpose entity” under Financial Accounting Standards No. 140.
          Section 7.02. GOVERNING LAW.
          THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW), 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 when delivered to:
          (a) in the case of the Depositor:
      Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York, 10179
Attention: General Counsel
          (b) in the case of the Originator
      Fremont Investment & Loan
2727 East Imperial Highway
Brea, CA 92821
Attn: Senior Vice President, Capital Markets
Attn: Vice President, Secondary Marketing
          (c) in the case of the Servicer:
      Nationstar Mortgage LLC
350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
Attn: Jay Bray
          (d) in the case of Rating Agencies:
      Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
4th Floor
99 Church Street
New York, New York 10007
Attention: Residential Mortgage Monitoring Unit
 
      Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
55 Water Street — 41st Floor
New York, New York 10041
Attention: Asset Backed Surveillance Group
          (e) 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
          (f) in the case of the Issuing Entity:
      Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1
c/o Newcastle Investment Corp.
750 B Street, Suite 2700
San Diego, CA 92101
Attention: Legal
with a copy to the Sponsor at the address in (g) below.
          (g) in the case of the Indenture Trustee:
      The Bank of New York,
101 Barclay Street, Floor 4W
New York, New York 10286
Attn: Structured Finance — Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1
          (h) in the case of the Sponsor:
      Newcastle Investment Corp.
1245 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Debra Hess
          (i) in the case of the Master Servicer:
      Wells Fargo Bank, N.A,
9062 Old Annapolis Road,
Columbia, Maryland 24105,
Attn: Corporate Trust — Newcastle 2007-1
          (j) in the case of the Securities Administrator:
      Wells Fargo Bank, N.A,
Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479
          (k) in the case of the Custodian:
      Wells Fargo Bank, N.A,
24 Executive Park, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
Attn: Corporate Trust — Newcastle 2007-01

 


 

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 Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Any notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder receives such notice. Any notice or other document required to be delivered or mailed by the Securities Administrator to any Rating Agency shall be given on a reasonable efforts basis and only as a matter of courtesy and accommodation and the Securities Administrator 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 Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement or of the Notes or the rights of the Noteholders thereof.
          Section 7.05. Third-Party Beneficiaries.
          This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Noteholders, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall have the right to exercise all rights of the Issuing Entity 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.
          Section 7.08. Termination.
          The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Servicer and the Issuing Entity created hereby shall terminate upon the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Section 4.10 thereof.
          Section 7.09. No Petition.
          The Servicer, by entering into this Agreement, hereby covenants and agrees that it will not at any time institute against the Depositor or the Issuing Entity, or join in any institution against the Issuing Entity, any bankruptcy proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations of the Depositor or the Issuing Entity. This section shall survive the termination of this Agreement by one year.
          Section 7.10. No Recourse.
          The Servicer acknowledges that no recourse may be had against the Depositor or the Issuing Entity, except as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement.
          Section 7.11. Indenture Trustee Rights.
          The Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to the same rights, protections, indemnities and immunities afforded to it under the Indenture as if specifically set forth herein.
          Section 7.12. Compliance.
          In order to comply with its duties under the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Indenture Trustee may obtain and verify certain information and documentation from the Servicer or any other party hereto, including but not limited to such such party’s name, address, and other identifying information.
          Section 7.13. Intention of the Parties and Interpretation.
          Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that the purpose of Sections 3.20, 3.21 and 4.02 of this Agreement is to facilitate compliance by the Depositor with the provisions of Regulation AB promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1934 Act (17 C.F.R. §§ 229.1100 — 229.1123), as such may be amended from time to time and subject to clarification and interpretive advice as may be issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Therefore, each of the parties agrees that (a) the obligations of the parties hereunder shall be interpreted in such a manner as to accomplish that purpose, (b) the parties’ obligations hereunder will be supplemented and modified as necessary to be consistent with any such amendments, interpretive advice or guidance, convention or consensus among active participants in the asset-backed securities markets, advice of counsel, or otherwise in respect of the requirements of Regulation AB, (c) the parties shall comply with reasonable requests made by the Depositor for delivery of additional or different information as the Depositor may determine in good faith is necessary to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, and (d) no amendment of this Agreement shall be required to effect any such changes in the parties’ obligations as are necessary to accommodate evolving interpretations of the provisions of Regulation AB.

 


 

ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
          Section 8.01. Administrative Duties.
          (a) Duties with Respect to the Indenture. The Administrator shall perform all its duties and the duties of the Issuing Entity under the Indenture. In addition, the Administrator shall consult with the Owner Trustee as the Administrator deems appropriate regarding the duties of the Issuing Entity under the Indenture. The Administrator shall monitor the performance of the Issuing Entity and shall advise the Owner Trustee when action is necessary to comply with the Issuing Entity’s duties under the Indenture. The Administrator shall prepare for execution by the Issuing Entity or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate Persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, Notes and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuing Entity to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Indenture. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Administrator shall take all necessary action that is the duty of the Issuing Entity to take pursuant to the Indenture.
          (b) Duties with Respect to the Issuing Entity.
          (i) In addition to the duties of the Administrator set forth in this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, the Administrator shall perform such calculations and shall prepare for execution by the Issuing Entity 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 Issuing Entity or the Owner Trustee to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents or under state and federal tax and securities laws (including, but not limited to, UCC filings in applicable jurisdictions and annual compliance certificates, if any), and at the request of the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee shall take all appropriate action that it is the duty of the Issuing Entity to take pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents. In accordance with the directions of the Issuing Entity or the Owner Trustee, the Administrator shall administer, perform or supervise the performance of such other activities in connection with the Notes (including the Basic Documents) as are not covered by any of the foregoing provisions and as are expressly requested by the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee.
          (ii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to the contrary, the Administrator shall be responsible for promptly notifying the Owner Trustee and Certificate Paying Agent in the event that any withholding tax is imposed on the Issuing Entity’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 or the Certificate Paying Agent pursuant to such provision.
          (iii) In carrying out the foregoing duties or any of its other obligations under this Agreement, the Administrator 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 Issuing Entity and shall be, in the Administrator’s opinion, no less favorable to the Issuing Entity in any material respect than with terms made available to unrelated third parties.
          (c) Tax Matters. The Administrator shall prepare, on behalf of the Owner Trustee, financial statements and such annual or other reports of the Issuing Entity as are necessary for the preparation by the Securities Administrator of tax returns and information reports as provided in Section 5.03 of the Trust Agreement, including, without limitation, Form 1099.
          (d) Non-Ministerial Matters. With respect to matters that in the reasonable judgment of the Administrator are non-ministerial, the Administrator shall not take any action pursuant to this Article VIII unless within a reasonable time before the taking of such action, the Administrator 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 Issuing Entity and the compromise of any action, claim or lawsuit brought by or against the Issuing Entity (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 to which the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, as applicable, is a party;
     (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, Certificate Paying Agent or Indenture Trustee of its obligations under the Indenture; and
     (E) the removal of the Indenture Trustee.
          (e) Sponsor shall act as Administrator. By execution of this Agreement, the Sponsor agrees to be bound as Administrator and shall perform the obligations of the Administrator as described herein.
          Section 8.02. Records.
          The Administrator shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to services performed under this Agreement, which books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator, the Depositor and the Owner Trustee at any time during normal business hours.
          Section 8.03. Additional Information to be Furnished.
          The Administrator shall furnish to the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator and the Owner Trustee from time to time such additional information regarding the Mortgage Loans and the Notes as the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Administrator or the Owner Trustee shall reasonably request.
          Section 8.04. No Recourse to Owner Trustee.
          It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that (a) this Agreement is executed and delivered by Wilmington Trust Company, not individually or personally, but solely as Owner Trustee of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (b) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Issuing Entity is made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by Wilmington Trust Company but is made and intended for the purpose for binding only the Issuing Entity, (c) nothing herein contained shall be construed as creating any liability of Wilmington Trust Company, individually or personally, to perform any covenant either expressed or implied contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and by any Person claiming by, through or under the parties hereto and (d) under no circumstances shall Wilmington Trust Company be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Issuing Entity or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuing Entity under this Agreement or any other related documents.

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Sale and Sale and Servicing Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first above written.
         
  BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I LLC
as Depositor
 
 
  By:   /s/ Matthew Perkins  
    Name:   Matthew Perkins  
    Title:   CEO & President  
 
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC,
as Servicer
 
 
  By:   /s/ Gregory A. Oniu  
    Name:   Gregory A. Oniu  
    Title:   Senior Vice President  
 
  NEWCASTLE MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST 2007-1, as Issuing Entity

By: Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Owner Trustee
 
 
  By:   /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan  
    Name:   Donald G. MacKelcan  
    Title:   Senior Vice President  
 
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
not in its individual capacity, but solely as as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:   /s/ Michael J. Wiblis Hauser  
    Name:   Michael J. Wiblis Hauser  
    Title:   Assistant Vice President  
 
  WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. as Master Servicer, Securities Administrator and Custodian
 
 
  By:   /s/ Darron C. Woodus  
    Name:   Darron C. Woodus  
    Title:   Assistant Vice President  
 
         
For purposes of Article IV and Article VIII:
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.,
as Sponsor and Administrator
 
 
By:   /s/ Debra Hess  
  Name:   Debra Hess  
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer  
 

 


 

EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

 


 

EXHIBIT B
MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE

 


 

EXHIBIT C
FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
24 Executive Park, Suite 100
Irvine, California 92614
Attn: Mortgage Document Custody
Re:   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A and The Bank of New York
             In connection with the administration of the Mortgage Loans held by you, as Custodian, pursuant to the above-captioned Sale and Servicing Agreement, we request the release, and hereby acknowledge receipt, of the Mortgage File for the Mortgage Loan described below, for the reason indicated.
Mortgage Loan Number:
Mortgagor Name, Address & Zip Code:
Reason for Requesting Documents (check one):
             
____
    1.     Mortgage Paid in Full
 
____
    2.     Foreclosure
 
____
    3.     Substitution
 
____
    4.     Other Liquidation
 
____
    5.     Nonliquidation Reason: ______________________
             
 
  By:
   
             
    (authorized signer)
             
    [Servicer] [Master Servicer]:
             
         
    Address:        
 
           
    Date:
   
Custodian
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Please acknowledge the execution of the above request by your signature and date below:
         
 
       
 
 
 
   
Signature
  Date    
 
       
Documents returned to Custodian:
       
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
   
Custodian
  Date    

 


 

EXHIBIT D-1
FORM OF CUSTODIAN’S INITIAL CERTIFICATION
[Date]
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19990-0001
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The Bank of New York,
101 Barclay Street, Floor 4W
New York, New York 10286
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York, 10179
Attention: General Counsel
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
Re:   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A and The Bank of New York
Ladies and Gentlemen:
      In accordance with Section 2.01(i)-(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the undersigned, as Custodian, hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the Exception Report annexed hereto as not being covered by such certification) (i) all documents constituting part of such Mortgage File (other than such documents described in Section 2.01(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement) required to be delivered to it pursuant to the Agreement 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 its examination and only as to the foregoing, the information set forth in the Mortgage Loan Schedule that corresponds to items (i), (iii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xviii) and (xxv) (but only as to Gross Margin and Maximum Mortgage Rate) of the definition of “Mortgage Loan Schedule” accurately reflects information set forth in the Mortgage File.
      The Custodian makes no representations as to: (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, enforceability, recordability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in the 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) whether any Mortgage File included any of the documents specified in clause (vi) of Section 2.01 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
      Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the above-captioned Indenture.
         
  WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Custodian
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      

 


 

         
EXHIBIT D-2
FORM OF CUSTODIAN’S FINAL CERTIFICATION
[Date]
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19990-0001
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The Bank of New York,
101 Barclay Street, Floor 4W
New York, New York 10286
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York, 10179
Attention: General Counsel
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
350 Highland Drive
Lewisville, Texas 75067
Re:   Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A and The Bank of New York
Ladies and Gentlemen:
      In accordance with Section 2.01(i)-(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the undersigned, as Custodian, hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan listed in the Mortgage Loan Schedule (other than any Mortgage Loan paid in full or any Mortgage Loan specifically identified in the Exception Report annexed hereto as not being covered by such certification) (i) all documents constituting part of such Mortgage File (other than such documents described in Section 2.01(vi) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement) required to be delivered to it pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement are in its possession.
      The undersigned hereby certifies that as to each Mortgage Loan identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, other than any Mortgage Loan listed on Schedule I hereto, it has reviewed the documents listed above and has determined that each such document appears to be regular on its face and relates to such Mortgage Loan and, based on an examination of such documents, the information set forth in (i) of the definition of Mortgage Loan Schedule accurately reflects information in the Mortgage File.
      We have made no independent examination of any documents contained in each Mortgage File beyond the review specifically required in the Sale and Servicing Agreement. We make no representations as to (i) the validity, legality, sufficiency, recordability, enforceability or genuineness of any of the documents contained in the Mortgage File pertaining to the Mortgage Loans identified on the Mortgage Loan Schedule, (ii) the collectability, insurability, effectiveness or suitability of any such Mortgage Loan or (iii) whether any Mortgage File includes any of the documents specified in clause (vi) of Section 2.01 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
      Capitalized words and phrases used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Agreements. This Certificate is qualified in all respects by the terms of said Agreements.
         
  [CUSTODIAN]
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      

 


 

         
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF LOST NOTE AFFIDAVIT
     Personally appeared before me the undersigned authority to administer oaths, _____________________ who first being duly sworn deposes and says: Deponent is ___________________________ of ____________________________, successor by merger to _________________________ (“Seller”) and who has personal knowledge of the facts set out in this affidavit.
     On _______________________, ____________________________ did execute and deliver a promissory note in the principal amount of $___________________.
     That said note has been misplaced or lost through causes unknown and is presently lost and unavailable after diligent search has been made. Seller’s records show that an amount of principal and interest on said note is still presently outstanding, due, and unpaid, and Seller is still owner and holder in due course of said lost note.
     Seller executes this Affidavit for the purpose of inducing The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee on behalf of Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2007-1, to accept the transfer of the above described loan from Seller.
     Seller agrees to indemnify The Bank of New York harmless for any losses incurred by such parties resulting from the above described promissory note has been lost or misplaced.
       
   
By:      
        
     
 
                 
STATE OF
    )          
 
    )     SS:    
COUNTY OF
    )          
     On this ______ day of ______________, 20_, before me, a Notary Public, in and for said County and State, appeared , who acknowledged the extension of the foregoing and who, having been duly sworn, states that any representations therein contained are true.
     Witness my hand and Notarial Seal this _________ day of 20_.
_________________________________
_________________________________
My commission expires __________________________

 


 

EXHIBIT F
FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that The Bank of New York, a national banking association, having a place of business at ________________, as Indenture Trustee (and in no personal or other representative capacity), under the Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated July __, 2007, among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A and The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms not defined herein have the definitions assigned to such terms in the Agreement), relating to Newcastle Mortgage Securities 2007-1, hereby appoints ______________________, in its capacity as the Servicer under the Agreement as the Indenture Trustee’s true and lawful Special Attorney-in-Fact, in the Indenture Trustee’s name, place and stead and for the Indenture Trustee’s benefit, but only in its capacity as Indenture Trustee aforesaid, to perform all acts and execute all documents as may be customary, necessary and appropriate to effectuate the following enumerated transactions in respect of any mortgage, deed of trust, promissory note or real estate owned from time to time owned (beneficially or in title, whether the Indenture Trustee is named therein as mortgagee or beneficiary or has become mortgagee or beneficiary by virtue of endorsement, assignment or other conveyance) or held by or registered to the Indenture Trustee (directly or through custodians or nominees), or in respect of which the Indenture Trustee has a security interest or other lien, all as provided under the Agreement and only to the extent the Indenture Trustee has an interest therein under the Agreement, and in respect of which the Servicer is acting as servicer pursuant to the Agreement (collectively the “Mortgage Documents”).
     This appointment shall apply to the following enumerated transactions under the Agreement only:
     1. The modification or re-recording of any Mortgage Document for the purpose of correcting it to conform to the original intent of the parties thereto or to correct title errors discovered after title insurance was issued and where such modification or re-recording does not adversely affect the lien under the Mortgage Document as insured.
     2. The subordination of the lien under a Mortgage Document to an easement in favor of a public utility company or a state or federal agency or unit with powers of eminent domain including, without limitation, the execution of partial satisfactions/releases, partial reconveyances and the execution of requests to trustees to accomplish same.
     3. The conveyance of the properties subject to a Mortgage Document to the applicable mortgage insurer, or the closing of the title to the property to be acquired as real estate so owned, or conveyance of title to real estate so owned.
     4. The completion of loan assumption and modification agreements in respect of Mortgage Documents.
     5. The full or partial satisfaction/release of a Mortgage Document or full conveyance upon payment and discharge of all sums secured thereby, including, without limitation, cancellation of the related note.
     6. The assignment of any Mortgage Document, in connection with the repurchase of the mortgage loan secured and evidenced thereby.
     7. The full assignment of a Mortgage Document upon payment and discharge of all sums secured thereby in conjunction with the refinancing thereof, including, without limitation, the assignment of the related note.

 


 

     8. With respect to a Mortgage Document, the foreclosure, the taking of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or the completion of judicial or non-judicial foreclosure or termination, cancellation or rescission of any such foreclosure, including, without limitation, any and all of the following acts:
     a. the substitution of indenture trustee(s) serving under a deed of trust, in accordance with state law and the deed of trust;
     b. the preparation and issuance of statements of breach or non-performance;
     c. the preparation and filing of notices of default and/or notices of sale;
     d. the cancellation/rescission of notices of default and/or notices of sale;
     e. the taking of a deed in lieu of foreclosure; and
     f. the preparation and execution of such other documents and performance of such other actions as may be necessary under the terms of the Mortgage Document or state law to expeditiously complete said transactions in paragraphs 8(a) through 8(e), above.
     9. Demand, sue for, recover, collection and receive each and every sum of money, debt, account and interest (which now is, or hereafter shall become due and payable) belonging to or claimed by the Indenture Trustee under the Mortgage Documents, and to use or take any lawful means for recovery thereof by legal process or otherwise.
     10. Endorse on behalf of the Indenture Trustee all checks, drafts and/or negotiable instruments made payable to the Indenture Trustee in respect of the Mortgage Documents.
     The Indenture Trustee gives the Special Attorney-in-Fact full power and authority to execute such instruments and to do and perform all and every act and thing necessary and proper to carry into effect the power or powers granted by this Limited Power of Attorney, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement including the standard of care applicable to servicers in the Agreement, and hereby does ratify and confirm to what such Special Attorney-in-Fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by authority hereof.
     This Power of Attorney is effective for one (1) year from the date hereof or the earlier of (i) revocation by the Indenture Trustee, (ii) the Attorney shall no longer be retained on behalf of the Indenture Trustee or an affiliate of the Indenture Trustee; or (iii) the expiration of one year from the date of execution.
     The authority granted to the attorney-in-fact by the Power of Attorney is not transferable to any other party or entity.
     This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of law principles.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Indenture Trustee has caused its corporate name and seal to be hereto signed and affixed and these presents to be acknowledged by its duly elected and authorized officer this ______ day of _________, 200__.
         
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
         
  WITNESS:
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
         
  WITNESS:
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
     
STATE OF NEW YORK
   
 
  ss:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
   
     On _______________, 2007, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said state, personally appeared _______________________, personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and to be a duly authorized and acting Senior Vice President of The Bank of New York and such person acknowledged to me that such person executed the within instrument in such person’s authorized capacity as a Senior Vice President of The Bank of New York, and that by such signature on the within instrument the entity upon behalf of which such person acted executed the instrument.
     WITNESS my hand and official seal.
                                      
      Notary Public

 


 

EXHIBIT G-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE SERVICER TO THE MASTER SERVICER
Certification
  Re:   Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1 (the “Trust” or the “Issuing Entity”) Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2007-1
       I, [identify the certifying individual], certify, that:
          (i) 1. I have reviewed the servicer compliance statement of the Company provided in accordance with Item 1123 of Regulation AB (the “Compliance Statement”), the report on assessment of the Company’s compliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB (the “Servicing Criteria”), provided in accordance with Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Item 1122 of Regulation AB (the “Servicing Assessment”), the registered public accounting firm’s attestation report provided in accordance with Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 under the Exchange Act and Section 1122(b) of Regulation AB (the “Attestation Report”), and all servicing reports, officer’s certificates and other information relating to the servicing of the Mortgage Loans by the Company during 200[ ] that were delivered by the Company to the Depositor and the Master Servicer pursuant to the Agreement (collectively, the “Company Servicing Information”);
          (ii) Based on my knowledge, the Company Servicing Information, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period of time covered by the Company Servicing Information;
          (iii) Based on my knowledge, all of the Company Servicing Information required to be provided by the Company under the Agreement has been provided to the Depositor and the Master Servicer;
          (iv) I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the Company as servicer under the Agreement, and based on my knowledge and the compliance review conducted in preparing the Compliance Statement and except as disclosed in the Compliance Statement, the Servicing Assessment or the Attestation Report, the Company has fulfilled its obligations under the Agreement in all material respects; and
          (v) The Compliance Statement required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and the Servicing Assessment and Attestation Report required to be provided by the Company and by any Subservicer and Subcontractor pursuant to the Agreement, have been provided to the Depositor and the Master Servicer. Any material instances of noncompliance described in such reports have been disclosed to the Depositor and the Master Servicer. Any material instance of noncompliance with the Servicing Criteria has been disclosed in such reports.
Date: ___________________
         
  NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
    Date:      

 


 

         
EXHIBIT G-2
FORM CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE MASTER SERVICER
WITH FORM 10-K
Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1 (the “Trust” or the “Issuing Entity”)
Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2007-1
     I, [identify the certifying individual], certify that:
     1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and all reports on Form 10-D required to be filed in respect of the period covered by this report on Form 10-K [identify issuing entity] (i.e., the name of the specific deal to which this certification relates rather than just the name of the Depositor)] (the “Exchange Act periodic reports”);
     2. Based on my knowledge, the Exchange Act periodic reports, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
     3. Based on my knowledge, all of the distribution, servicing and other information required to be provided under Form 10-D for the period covered by this report is included in the Exchange Act periodic reports;
     4. I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the servicer and based on my knowledge and the compliance review conducted in preparing the servicer compliance statement required in this report under Item 1123 of Regulation AB, and except as disclosed in the Exchange Act periodic reports, the servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the servicing agreement in all material respects; and
     5. All of the reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and their related attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities required to be included in this report in accordance with Item 1122 of Regulation AB and Exchange Act Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 have been included as an exhibit to this report, except as otherwise disclosed in this report. Any material instances of noncompliance described in such reports have been disclosed in this report on Form 10-K.
     In giving the certifications above, I have reasonably relied on information provided to me by the following unaffiliated party: Nationstar Mortgage, LLC.
         
  WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
    Date:      
 

 


 

EXHIBIT H
SERVICING CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED
IN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Definitions
Primary Servicer — transaction party having borrower contact
Master Servicer — aggregator of pool assets
Securities Administrator — waterfall calculator (may be the Master Servicer, or may be the Servicer)
Custodian — safe keeper of pool assets
Paying Agent — distributor of funds to ultimate investor
Indenture Trustee — fiduciary of the transaction
Note: The definitions above describe the essential function that the party performs, rather than the party’s title.
Where there are multiple checks for criteria the attesting party will identify in their management assertion that they are attesting only to the portion of the distribution chain they are responsible for in the related transaction agreements.
         
Key:
  X -   obligation
 
  XX -   only needs to be provided if transaction documents Require custodial accounts to be maintained at a federally insured depository institution
 
  XXX -   will be provided by entity acting as custodian
 
  [X] -   under consideration for obligation
                     
            Master Servicer/        
            Securities        
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Primary Servicer   Administrator   Indenture Trustee   Custodian
 
  General Servicing Considerations                
 
                   
1122(d)(1)(i)
  Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(1)(ii)
  If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third party’s performance and compliance with such servicing activities.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(1)(iii)
  Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for the Pool Assets are maintained.                
 
                   
1122(d)(1)(iv)
  A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
 
  Cash Collection and Administration                
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(i)
  Payments on pool assets are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts no more than two business days following receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(ii)
  Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(iii)
  Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or paymnets, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(iv)
  The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of over collateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(v)
  Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, “federally insured depository institution” with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act.   X   X        

 


 

                     
            Master Servicer/        
            Securities        
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Primary Servicer   Administrator   Indenture Trustee   Custodian
1122(d)(2)(vi)
  Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(2)(vii)
  Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations are (A) mathematically accurate; (B) prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
 
  Investor Remittances and Reporting                
 
                   
1122(d)(3)(i)
  Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the Commission, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable Commission requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the Commission as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors’ or the indenture trustee’s records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of Pool Assets serviced by the Servicer.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(3)(ii)
  Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(3)(iii)
  Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the Servicer’s investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(3)(iv)
  Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements.   X   X        
 
                   
 
  Pool Asset Administration                
 
1122(d)(4)(i)
  Collateral or security on pool assets is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related pool asset documents.   X           X
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(ii)
  Pool assets and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements   X           X
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(iii)
  Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(iv)
  Payments on pool assets, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related pool asset documents are posted to the Servicer’s obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related pool asset documents.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(v)
  The Servicer’s records regarding the pool assets agree with the Servicer’s records with respect to an obligor’s unpaid principal balance.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(vi)
  Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligor’s pool assets (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents.   X            

 


 

                     
            Master Servicer/        
            Securities        
Reg AB Reference   Servicing Criteria   Primary Servicer   Administrator   Indenture Trustee   Custodian
1122(d)(4)(vii)
  Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(viii)
  Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period a pool asset is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment).   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(ix)
  Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for pool assets with variable rates are computed based on the related pool asset documents.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(x)
  Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligor’s pool asset documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable pool asset documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related pool assets, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(xi)
  Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(xii)
  Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the Servicer’s funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligor’s error or omission.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(xiii)
  Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligor’s records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   X            
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(xiv)
  Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectible accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements.   X   X        
 
                   
1122(d)(4)(xv)
  Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements.       X        

 


 

EXHIBIT I
FORM 10-D, FORM 8-K AND FORM 10-K
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY
As to each item described below, the entity indicated as the Responsible Entity shall be primarily responsible for reporting the information to the Securities Administrator pursuant to Section 4.02(b). If the Securities Administrator is indicated below as to any item, then the Securities Administrator is primarily responsible for obtaining that information.
Under Item 1 of Form 10-D: a) items marked “7.05 statement” are satisfied by the provision of the periodic Payment Date statement under Section 7.05 of the Indenture, provided by the Securities Administrator based on information received from the Servicer; and b) items marked “Form 10-D report” are required to be in the Form 10-D report but not the 7.05 statement, provided by the party indicated. Information under all other Items of Form 10-D is to be included in the Form 10-D report.
                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
10-D
  Must be filed within 15 days of the Payment Date.
 
               
 
    1     Distribution and Pool Performance Information    
 
               
 
          Item 1121(a) - Distribution and Pool Performance Information    
 
               
 
          (1) Any applicable record dates, accrual dates, determination dates for calculating payments and actual payment dates for the payment period.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
          (2) Cash flows received and the sources thereof for payments, fees and expenses.   7.05 statement
 
               
 
         
(3) Calculated amounts and distribution of the flow of funds for the period itemized by type and priority of payment, including:
  7.05 statement
 
   
           
      (i)Fees or expenses accrued and paid, with an identification of the general purpose of such fees and the party receiving such fees or expenses.
  7.05 statement
 
   
           
     (ii) Payments accrued or paid with respect to enhancement or other support identified in Item 1114 of Regulation AB (such as insurance premiums or other enhancement maintenance fees), with an identification of the general purpose of such payments and the party receiving such payments.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
     (iii) Principal, interest and other distributions accrued and paid on the asset-backed securities by type and by class or series and any principal or interest shortfalls or carryovers.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
     (iv) The amount of excess cash flow or excess spread and the disposition of excess cash flow.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(4) Beginning and ending principal balances of the asset-backed securities.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(5) Interest rates applicable to the pool assets and the asset-backed securities, as applicable. Consider providing interest rate information for pool assets in appropriate distributional groups or incremental ranges.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(6) Beginning and ending balances of transaction accounts, such as reserve accounts, and material account activity during the period.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(7) Any amounts drawn on any credit enhancement or other support identified in Item 1114 of Regulation AB, as applicable, and the amount of coverage remaining under any such enhancement, if known and applicable.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(8) Number and amount of pool assets at the beginning and ending of each period, and updated pool composition information, such as weighted average coupon, weighted average life, weighted average remaining term, pool factors and prepayment amounts.
  7.05 statement

Updated Pool composition information fields to be as specified by Servicer from time to time

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
         
(9) Delinquency and loss information for the period.
  7.05 statement.
 
 
         
In addition, describe any material changes to the information specified in Item 1100(b)(5) of Regulation AB regarding the pool assets.
  Form 10-D report: Servicer
 
   
 
         
(10) Information on the amount, terms and general purpose of any advances made or reimbursed during the period, including the general use of funds advanced and the general source of funds for reimbursements.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(11) Any material modifications, extensions or waivers to pool asset terms, fees, penalties or payments during the distribution period or that have cumulatively become material over time.
  Form 10-D report; Servicer
 
   
 
         
(12) Material breaches of pool asset representations or warranties or transaction covenants.
  Form 10-Dreport: Servicer, Master Servicer
 
   
 
         
(13) Information on ratio, coverage or other tests used for determining any early amortization, liquidation or other performance trigger and whether the trigger was met.
  7.05 statement
 
   
 
         
(14) Information regarding any new issuance of asset-backed securities backed by the same asset pool,
[information regarding] any pool asset changes (other than in connection with a pool asset converting into cash in accordance with its terms), such as additions or removals in connection with a prefunding or revolving period and pool asset substitutions and repurchases (and purchase rates, if applicable), and cash flows available for future purchases, such as the balances of any prefunding or revolving accounts, if applicable.
Disclose any material changes in the solicitation, credit-granting, underwriting, origination, acquisition or pool selection criteria or procedures, as applicable, used to originate, acquire or select the new pool assets.
  Form 10-D report: Sponsor
Form 10-D report: Seller







Form 10-D report: Seller
 
   
 
         
Item 1121(b) — Pre-Funding or Revolving Period Information Updated pool information as required under Item 1121(b).
  N/A
                 
 
    2     Legal Proceedings    
 
               
 
          Item 1117 — Legal proceedings pending against the following entities, or their respective property, that is material to Noteholders, including proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities:    
 
          Seller    
 
          Depositor   Seller
 
          Indenture Trustee   Depositor
 
          Issuing entity   Indenture Trustee
 
          Master Servicer   Sponsor
 
          Securities Administrator   Master Servicer
 
          Servicer   Securities Administrator
 
          Originator   Servicer
 
          Custodian   Originator
 
              Custodian
 
               
 
    3     Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds    
 
               
 
          Information from Item 2(a) of Part II of Form 10-Q:    
 
               
 
          With respect to any sale of securities by the sponsor, depositor or issuing entity, that are backed by the same asset pool or are otherwise issued by the issuing entity, whether or not registered, provide the sales and use of proceeds information in Item 701 of Regulation S-K. Pricing information can be omitted if securities were not registered.   Depositor, Sponsor, Issuing
Entity, as applicable
 
               
 
    4     Defaults Upon Senior Securities    
 
               
 
          Information from Item 3 of Part II of Form 10-Q:    
 
               
 
          Report the occurrence of any Event of Default (after expiration of any grace period and provision of any required notice)   Securities Administrator

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
 
    5     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    
 
               
 
          Information from Item 4 of Part II of Form 10-Q   Securities Administrator
Indenture Trustee
 
               
 
    6     Significant Obligors of Pool Assets    
 
               
 
        Item 1112(b) — Significant Obligor Financial Information   N/A 
 
               
 
          *This information need only be reported on the Form 10-D for the distribution period in which updated information is required pursuant to the Item.    
 
               
 
    7     Significant Enhancement Provider Information    
 
               
 
          Item 1114(b)(2) — Credit Enhancement Provider Financial Information*
Determining applicable disclosure threshold Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
N/A


N/A
 
               
 
          Item 1115(b) — Derivative Counterparty Financial Information*
Determining current maximum probable exposure Determining current significance percentage Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 

Depositor
Securities Administrator

Depositor
 
               
 
          *This information need only be reported on the Form 10-D for the distribution period in which updated information is required pursuant to the Items.    
 
               
 
    8     Other Information    
 
               
 
          Disclose any information required to be reported on Form 8-K during the period covered by the Form 10-D but not reported   The Responsible Entity for the applicable Form 8-K item as indicated below
 
               
 
    9     Exhibits    
 
               
 
          Distribution report   Securities Administrator
 
               
 
          Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, such as material agreements   All parties that are a party to such exhibit and if none, Sponsor
 
               
8-K
  Must be filed within four business days of an event reportable on Form 8-K.    
 
               
 
    1.01     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement    
 
               
 
          Disclosure is required regarding entry into or amendment of any definitive agreement that is material to the securitization, even if depositor is not a party.
Examples: Sale and Servicing Agreement, custodial agreement.
Note: disclosure not required as to definitive agreements that are fully disclosed in the prospectus
  All parties
 
       
    1.02      Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement   All parties
 
       
 
          Disclosure is required regarding termination of any definitive agreement that is material to the securitization (other than expiration in accordance with its terms), even if depositor is not a party.
Examples: Sale and Servicing Agreement, custodial agreement.
  All parties
 
       
    1.03      Bankruptcy or Receivership    
 
       
          Disclosure is required regarding the bankruptcy or receivership, if known to the Depositor or Servicer, with respect to any of the following: Sponsor (Seller), Depositor, Servicer, Master Servicer, Securities Administrator, Indenture Trustee, Swap Provider, Cap Provider, Custodian   Sponsor (Seller), Depositor,
Servicer, Master Servicer,
Securities Administrator,
Indenture Trustee, Custodian

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
     
2.04
    Triggering Events that Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement    
     
 
         
     
 
    Includes an early amortization, performance trigger or other event, including event of default, that would materially alter the payment priority/distribution of cash flows/amortization schedule.
Disclosure will be made of events other than waterfall triggers which are disclosed in the 7.05 statement
  Master Servicer Securities Administrator
     
 
         
     
3.03
    Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders    
     
 
         
     
 
    Disclosure is required of any material modification to documents defining the rights of Noteholders, including the Pooling and Sale and Servicing Agreement   Party requesting material modification
     
 
         
     
5.03
    Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year    
     
 
         
     
 
    Disclosure is required of any amendment “to the governing documents of the issuing entity”   Sponsor
     
 
         
     
5.06
    Change in Shell Company Status    
     
 
         
     
 
    [Not applicable to ABS Issuing Entitys]   N/A
     
 
         
     
6.01
    ABS Informational and Computational Material    
     
 
         
     
 
    [Not included in reports to be filed under Section 4.07]   N/A
     
 
         
     
6.02
    Change of Master Servicer, Servicer, Securities Administrator or Indenture Trustee    
     
 
         
     
 
    Requires disclosure of any removal, replacement, substitution or addition of any master servicer, affiliated servicer, other servicer servicing 10% or more of pool assets at time of report, other material servicers or indenture trustee (in the case of the Indenture Trustee, only with respect to itself). Reg AB disclosure about any new servicer or indenture trustee is also required.   Indenture Trustee, Securities Administrator, Servicer or Master Servicer
     
 
         
     
6.03
    Change in Credit Enhancement
or Other External Support
   
     
 
         
     
 
    Covers termination of any enhancement in manner other than by its terms, the addition of an enhancement, or a material change in the enhancement provided. Applies to external credit enhancements as well as derivatives. Reg AB disclosure about any new enhancement provider is also required.   Depositor/Securities Administrator/Indenture Trustee
     
 
         
     
6.04
    Failure to Make a Required Payment   Securities Administrator
     
 
         
     
6.05
    Securities Act Updating Disclosure    
     
 
         
     
 
    If any material pool characteristic differs by 5% or more at the time of issuance of the securities from the description in the final prospectus, provide updated Reg AB disclosure about the actual asset pool.   Sponsor
     
 
         
     
 
    If there are any new servicers or originators required to be disclosed under Regulation AB as a result of the foregoing, provide the information called for in Items 1108 and 1110 respectively.   Sponsor

 


 

                 
Form   Item   Description   Responsible Entity
     
7.01
    Regulation FD Disclosure   All parties
     
 
         
     
8.01
    Other Events    
     
 
         
     
 
    Any event, with respect to which information is not otherwise called for in Form 8-K, that the registrant deems of importance to security holders.   Depositor, Sponsor
     
 
         
     
9.01
    Financial Statements and Exhibits   The Responsible Entity applicable to reportable event
     
 
         
10-K     Must be filed within 90 days of the fiscal year end for the registrant.
     
 
         
     
9B
    Other Information    
     
 
         
     
 
    Disclose any information required to be reported on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter covered by the Form 10-K but not reported   The Responsible Entity for the applicable Form 8-K item as indicated above
     
 
         
     
15
    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1112(b) — Significant Obligor Financial Information   N/A
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1114(b)(2) — Credit Enhancement Provider Financial Information
Determining applicable disclosure threshold Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
N/A

N/A
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1115(b) — Derivative Counterparty Financial Information
Determining current maximum probable exposure Determining current significance percentage Obtaining required financial information or effecting incorporation by reference
 
Securities Administrator

Securities Administrator

Depositor
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1117 — Legal proceedings pending against the following entities, or their respective property, that is material to Noteholders, including proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities:    
     
 
    Seller
Depositor
Indenture Trustee
Issuing entity
Master Servicer
Securities Administrator
Servicer
Originator
Custodian
  Seller
Depositor
Indenture Trustee
Sponsor
Master Servicer
Securities Administrator
Servicer
Originator
Custodian
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1119 — Affiliations and relationships between the following entities, or their respective affiliates, that are material to Noteholders:    
     
 
    Seller
Depositor
Indenture Trustee
Issuing entity
Master Servicer
Securities Administrator
Servicer
Originator
Custodian
Credit Enhancer/Support Provider, if any
Significant Obligor, if any
  Seller
Depositor
Indenture Trustee
Issuing entity
Master Servicer
Securities Administrator
Servicer
Originator
Custodian
Depositor
Sponsor
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1122 — Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria   Each Party participating in the
servicing function
     
 
         
     
 
    Item 1123 — Servicer Compliance Statement   Servicer, Master Servicer

 


 

EXHIBIT J
STANDARD FILE LAYOUT-SCHEDULED/SCHEDULED
Standard Loan Level File Layout — Master Servicing
Exhibit 1: Layout
                         
                    Max
Column Name   Description   Decimal   Format Comment   Size
Each file requires the following fields:                    
 
                       
SER_INVESTOR_NBR
  A value assigned by the Servicer to define a group of loans.           Text up to 20 digits     20  
 
                       
LOAN_NBR
  A unique identifier assigned to each loan by the investor.           Text up to 10 digits     10  
 
                       
SERVICER_LOAN_NBR
  A unique number assigned to a loan by the Servicer. This may be different than the LOAN_NBR.           Text up to 10 digits     10  
 
                       
SCHED_PAY_AMT
  Scheduled monthly principal and scheduled interest payment that a borrower is expected to pay, P&I constant.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
NOTE_INT_RATE
  The loan interest rate as reported by the Servicer.     4     Max length of 6     6  
 
                       
NET_INT_RATE
  The loan gross interest rate less the service fee rate as reported by the Servicer.     4     Max length of 6     6  
 
                       
SERV_FEE_RATE
  The servicer’s fee rate for a loan as reported by the Servicer.     4     Max length of 6     6  
 
                       
SERV_FEE_AMT
  The servicer’s fee amount for a loan as reported by the Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
NEW_PAY_AMT
  The new loan payment amount as reported by the Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
NEW_LOAN_RATE
  The new loan rate as reported by the Servicer.     4     Max length of 6     6  
 
                       
ARM_INDEX_RATE
  The index the Servicer is using to calculate a forec asted rate.     4     Max length of 6     6  
 
                       
ACTL_BEG_PRIN_BAL
  The borrower’s actual principal balance at the beginning of the processing cycle.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
ACTL_END_PRIN_BAL
  The borrower’s actual principal balance at the end of the processing cycle.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
BORR_NEXT_ PAY_DUE_DATE
  The date at the end of processing cycle that the borrower’s next payment is due to the Servicer, as reported by Servicer.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
SERV_CURT_AMT_1
  The first curtailment amount to be applied.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SERV_CURT_DATE_1
  The curtailment date associated with the first curtailment amount.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
CURT_ADJ_ AMT_1
  The curtailment interest on the first curtailment amount, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SERV_CURT_AMT_2
  The second curtailment amount to be applied.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SERV_CURT_DATE_2
  The curtailment date associated with the second curtailment amount.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
CURT_ADJ_ AMT_2
  The curtailment interest on the second curtailment amount, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  


 

Exhibit 1: Continued          Standard Loan Level File Layout
                         
Column Name   Description   Decimal   Format Comment   Max
Size
SERV_CURT_AMT_3
  The third curtailment amount to be applied.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SERV_CURT_DATE_3
  The curtailment date associated with the third curtailment amount.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
CURT_ADJ_AMT_3
  The curtailment interest on the third curtailment amount, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
PIF_AMT
  The loan “paid in full” amount as reported by the Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
PIF_DATE
  The paid in full date as reported by the Servicer.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
 
              Action Code Key:        
 
                       
ACTION_CODE
  The standard FNMA numeric code used to indicate the default/delinquent status of a particular loan.     2     15=Bankruptcy,
30=Foreclosure,
60=PIF,
63=Substitution,
65=Repurchase,
70=REO
       
 
                       
INT_ADJ_AMT
  The amount of the interest adjustment as reported by the Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SOLDIER_SAILOR_ ADJ_AMT
  The Soldier and Sailor Adjustment amount, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
NON_ADV_LOAN_AMT
  The Non Recoverable Loan Amount, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
LOAN_LOSS_AMT
  The amount the Servicer is passing as a loss, if applicable.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
Plus the following applicable fields:                    
 
                       
SCHED_BEG_PRIN_BAL
  The scheduled outstanding principal amount due at the beginning of the cycle date to be passed through to investors.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SCHED_END_PRIN_BAL
  The scheduled principal balance due to investors at the end of a processing cycle.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SCHED_PRIN_AMT
  The scheduled principal amount as reported by the Servicer for the current cycle — only applicable for Scheduled/Scheduled Loans.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
SCHED_NET_INT
  The scheduled gross interest amount less the service fee amount for the current cycle as reported by the Servicer — only applicable for Scheduled/Scheduled Loans.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
ACTL_PRIN_AMT
  The actual principal amount collected by the Servicer for the current reporting cycle — only applicable for Actual/Actual Loans.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
ACTL_NET_INT
  The actual gross interest amount less the service fee amount for the current reporting cycle as reported by the Servicer — only applicable for Actual/Actual Loans.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
PREPAY_PENALTY_ AMT
  The penalty amount received when a borrower prepays on his loan as reported by the Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
PREPAY_PENALTY_ WAIVED
  The prepayment penalty amount for the loan waived by the servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
Exhibit 1: Continued          Standard Loan Level File Layout
                         
Column Name   Description   Decimal   Format Comment   Max
Size
MOD_DATE
  The Effective Payment Date of the Modification for the loan.           MM/DD/YYYY     10  
 
                       
MOD_TYPE
  The Modification Type.           Varchar — value can be alpha or numeric     30  
 
                       
DELINQ_P&I_ADVANCE_AMT
  The current outstanding principal and interest advances made by Servicer.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)     11  
 
                       
BREACH_FLAG
  Flag to indicate if the repurchase of a loan is due to a breach of Representations and Warranties           Y=Breach
N=NO Breach Let blank if N/A
    1  


 

EXHIBIT K
STANDARD FILE LAYOUT—DELINQUENCY REPORTING
                 
Column/Header Name   Description   Decimal   Format Comment
SERVICER_LOAN_NBR
  A unique number assigned to a loan by the Servicer. This may be different than the LOAN_NBR            
 
               
LOAN_NBR
  A unique identifier assigned to each loan by the originator.            
 
               
CLIENT_NBR
  Servicer Client Number            
 
               
SERV_INVESTOR_NBR
  Contains a unique number as assigned by an external servicer to identify a group of loans in their system.            
 
               
BORROWER_FIRST_NAME
  First Name of the Borrower.            
 
               
BORROWER_LAST_NAME
  Last name of the borrower.            
 
               
PROP_ADDRESS
  Street Name and Number of Property            
 
               
PROP_STATE
  The state where the property located.            
 
               
PROP_ZIP
  Zip code where the property is located.            
 
               
BORR_NEXT_PAY_DUE_DATE
  The date that the borrower’s next payment is due to the servicer at the end of processing cycle, as reported by Servicer.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
LOAN_TYPE
  Loan Type (i.e. FHA, VA, Conv)            
 
               
BANKRUPTCY_FILED_DATE
  The date a particular bankruptcy claim was filed.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
BANKRUPTCY_CHAPTER_CODE
  The chapter under which the bankruptcy was filed.            
 
               
BANKRUPTCY_CASE_NBR
  The case number assigned by the court to the bankruptcy filing.            
 
               
POST_PETITION_DUE_DATE
  The payment due date once the bankruptcy has been approved by the courts           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
BANKRUPTCY_DCHRG_DISM_DATE
  The Date The Loan Is Removed From Bankruptcy. Either by Dismissal, Discharged and/or a Motion For Relief Was Granted.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
LOSS_MIT_APPR_DATE
  The Date The Loss Mitigation Was Approved By The Servicer           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
LOSS_MIT_TYPE
  The Type Of Loss Mitigation Approved For A Loan Such As;            
 
               
LOSS_MIT_EST_COMP_DATE
  The Date The Loss Mitigation /Plan Is Scheduled To End/Close           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
LOSS_MIT_ACT_COMP_DATE
  The Date The Loss Mitigation Is Actually Completed           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FRCLSR_APPROVED_DATE
  The date DA Admin sends a letter to the servicer with instructions to begin foreclosure proceedings.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
ATTORNEY_REFERRAL_DATE
  Date File Was Referred To Attorney to Pursue Foreclosure           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FIRST_LEGAL_DATE
  Notice of 1st legal filed by an Attorney in a Foreclosure Action           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FRCLSR_SALE_EXPECTED_DATE
  The date by which a foreclosure sale is expected to occur.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FRCLSR_SALE_DATE
  The actual date of the foreclosure sale.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FRCLSR_SALE_AMT
  The amount a property sold for at the foreclosure sale.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)
 
               
EVICTION_START_DATE
  The date the servicer initiates eviction of the borrower.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
EVICTION_COMPLETED_DATE
  The date the court revokes legal possession of the property from the borrower.           MM/DD/YYYY

 


 

                 
Column/Header Name   Description   Decimal   Format Comment
LIST_PRICE
  The price at which an REO property is marketed.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)
 
               
LIST_DATE
  The date an REO property is listed at a particular price.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
OFFER_AMT
  The dollar value of an offer for an REO property.     2     No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)
 
               
OFFER_DATE_TIME
  The date an offer is received by DA Admin or by the Servicer.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
REO_CLOSING_DATE
  The date the REO sale of the property is scheduled to close.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
REO_ACTUAL_CLOSING_DATE
  Actual Date Of REO Sale           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
OCCUPANT_CODE
  Classification of how the property is occupied.            
 
               
PROP_CONDITION_CODE
  A code that indicates the condition of the property.            
 
               
PROP_INSPECTION_DATE
  The date a property inspection is performed.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
APPRAISAL_DATE
  The date the appraisal was done.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
CURR_PROP_VAL
  The current “as is” value of the property based on brokers price opinion or appraisal.     2      
 
               
REPAIRED_PROP_VAL
  The amount the property would be worth if repairs are completed pursuant to a broker’s price opinion or appraisal.     2      
 
               
If applicable:
               
 
               
DELINQ_STATUS_CODE
  FNMA Code Describing Status of Loan            
 
               
DELINQ_REASON_CODE
  The circumstances which caused a borrower to stop paying on a loan. Code indicates the reason why the loan is in default for this cycle.            
 
               
MI_CLAIM_FILED_DATE
  Date Mortgage Insurance Claim Was Filed With Mortgage Insurance Company.           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
MI_CLAIM_AMT
  Amount of Mortgage Insurance Claim Filed           No commas(,) or dollar signs ($)
                 
MI_CLAIM_PAID_DATE
  Date Mortgage Insurance Company Disbursed Claim Payment           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
MI_CLAIM_AMT_PAID
  Amount Mortgage Insurance Company Paid On Claim     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
POOL_CLAIM_FILED_DATE
  Date Claim Was Filed With Pool Insurance Company           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
POOL_CLAIM_AMT
  Amount of Claim Filed With Pool Insurance Company     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
POOL_CLAIM_PAID_DATE
  Date Claim Was Settled and The Check Was Issued By The Pool Insurer           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
POOL_CLAIM_AMT_PAID
  Amount Paid On Claim By Pool Insurance Company     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
FHA_PART_A_CLAIM_FILED_DATE
  Date FHA Part A Claim Was Filed With HUD           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FHA_PART_A_CLAIM_AMT
  Amount of FHA Part A Claim Filed     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
FHA_PART_A_CLAIM_PAID_DATE
  Date HUD Disbursed Part A Claim Payment           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FHA_PART_A_CLAIM_PAID_AMT
  Amount HUD Paid on Part A Claim     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
FHA_PART_B_CLAIM_FILED_DATE
  Date FHA Part B Claim Was Filed With HUD           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FHA_PART_B_CLAIM_AMT
  Amount of FHA Part B Claim Filed     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
FHA_PART_B_CLAIM_PAID_DATE
  Date HUD Disbursed Part B Claim Payment           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
FHA_PART_B_CLAIM_PAID_AMT
  Amount HUD Paid on Part B Claim     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)
 
               
VA_CLAIM_FILED_DATE
  Date VA Claim Was Filed With the Veterans Admin           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
VA_CLAIM_PAID_DATE
  Date Veterans Admin. Disbursed VA Claim Payment           MM/DD/YYYY
 
               
VA_CLAIM_PAID_AMT
  Amount Veterans Admin. Paid on VA Claim     2     No commas(,) or dollar
signs ($)

 


 

Exhibit 2: Standard File Codes — Delinquency Reporting
The Loss Mit Type field should show the approved Loss Mitigation Code as follows:
             
 
  o   ASUM —   Approved Assumption
 
  o   BAP —   Borrower Assistance Program
 
  o   CO —   Charge Off
 
  o   DIL —   Deed-in-Lieu
 
  o   FFA —   Formal Forbearance Agreement
 
  o   MOD —   Loan Modification
 
  o   PRE —   Pre-Sale
 
  o   SS —   Short Sale
 
  o   MISC —   Anything else approved by the PMI or Pool Insurer
NOTE: Wells Fargo Bank will accept alternative Loss Mitigation Types to those above, provided that they are consistent with industry standards. If Loss Mitigation Types other than those above are used, the Servicer must supply Wells Fargo Bank with a description of each of the Loss Mitigation Types prior to sending the file. The Occupant Code field should show the current status of the property code as follows:
         
 
  o   Mortgagor
 
  o   Tenant
 
  o   Unknown
 
  o   Vacant
The Property Condition field should show the last reported condition of the property as follows:
         
 
  o   Damaged
 
  o   Excellent
 
  o   Fair
 
  o   Gone
 
  o   Good
 
  o   Poor
 
  o   Special Hazard
 
  o   Unknown
Exhibit 2: Standard File Codes — Delinquency Reporting, Continued The FNMA Delinquent Reason Code field should show the Reason for Delinquency as follows:
     
Delinquency Code   Delinquency Description
001
  FNMA-Death of principal mortgagor
 
   
002
  FNMA-Illness of principal mortgagor
 
   
003
  FNMA-Illness of mortgagor’s family member
 
   
004
  FNMA-Death of mortgagor’s family member
 
   
005
  FNMA-Marital difficulties
 
   
006
  FNMA-Curtailment of income
 
   
007
  FNMA-Excessive Obligation
 
   
008
  FNMA-Abandonment of property
 
   
009
  FNMA-Distant employee transfer
 
   
011
  FNMA-Property problem
 
   
012
  FNMA-Inability to sell property
 
   
013
  FNMA-Inability to rent property
 
   
014
  FNMA-Military Service
 
   
015
  FNMA-Other
 
   
016
  FNMA-Unemployment
 
   
017
  FNMA-Business failure
 
   
019
  FNMA-Casualty loss
 
   
022
  FNMA-Energy environment costs
 
   
023
  FNMA-Servicing problems
 
   
026
  FNMA-Payment adjustment
 
   
027
  FNMA-Payment dispute
 
   
029
  FNMA-Transfer of ownership pending
 
   
030
  FNMA-Fraud
 
   
031
  FNMA-Unable to contact borrower
 
   
INC
  FNMA-Incarceration

 


 

Exhibit 2: Standard File Codes — Delinquency Reporting, Continued
The FNMA Delinquent Status Code field should show the Status of Default as follows:
     
Status Code   Status Description
09
  Forbearance
 
   
17
  Pre-foreclosure Sale Closing Plan Accepted
 
   
24
  Government Seizure
 
   
26
  Refinance
 
   
27
  Assumption
 
   
28
  Modification
 
   
29
  Charge-Off
 
   
30
  Third Party Sale
 
   
31
  Probate
 
   
32
  Military Indulgence
 
   
43
  Foreclosure Started
 
   
44
  Deed-in-Lieu Started
 
   
49
  Assignment Completed
 
   
61
  Second Lien Considerations
 
   
62
  Veteran’s Affairs-No Bid
 
   
63
  Veteran’s Affairs-Refund
 
   
64
  Veteran’s Affairs-Buydown
 
   
65
  Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
 
   
66
  Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
 
   
67
  Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

 


 

EXHIBIT L
CALCULATION OF REALIZED LOSS/GAIN FORM 332
     WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. — Calculation of Realized Loss/Gain Form 332
                             
  Prepared by:                  Date:       
                         
  Phone:            Email Address:               
                 
 
         
 
       
Servicer Loan No.
  Servicer Name   Servicer Address
 
 
       
 
       
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Loan No.                                                             
Borrower’s Name:                                                                                 
Property Address:                                                                                                     
                 
Liquidation Type:   REO Sale   3rd Party Sale   Short Sale   Charge Off
                 
Was this loan granted a Bankruptcy deficiency or cramdown
  Yes   No
If “Yes”, provide deficiency or cramdown amount                                                             
         
Liquidation and Acquisition Expenses:
       
(1) Actual Unpaid Principal Balance of Mortgage Loan
  $                      (1)
(2) Interest accrued at Net Rate
                         (2)
(3) Accrued Servicing Fees
                         (3)
(4) Attorney’s Fees
                         (4)
(5) Taxes (see page 2)
                         (5)
(6) Property Maintenance
                         (6)
(7) MI/Hazard Insurance Premiums (see page 2)
                         (7)
(8) Utility Expenses
                         (8)
(9) Appraisal/BPO
                         (9)
(10) Property Inspections
                         (10)
(11) FC Costs/Other Legal Expenses
                         (11)
(12) Other (itemize)
                         (12)
Cash for Keys                                                             
                         (12)
HOA/Condo Fees                                                             
                         (12)
                                                                                                    
                         (12)
 
       
Total Expenses
  $                      (13)
 
       
Credits:
       
(14) Escrow Balance
  $                      (14)
(15) HIP Refund
                         (15)
(16) Rental Receipts
                         (16)
(17) Hazard Loss Proceeds
                         (17)
(18) Primary Mortgage Insurance / Gov’t Insurance
                         (18a)
HUD Part A
       
 
                         (18b)
HUD Part B
       
(19) Pool Insurance Proceeds
                         (19)
(20) Proceeds from Sale of Acquired Property
                         (20)
(21) Other (itemize)
                         (21)
                                                                                                    
                         (21)
 
Total Credits
  $                      (22)
 
       
Total Realized Loss (or Amount of Gain)
  $                      (23)
Escrow Disbursement Detail
                         
Type       Period of                
(Tax /Ins.)   Date Paid   Coverage   Total Paid   Base Amount   Penalties   Interest
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 
                         
 

 


 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Calculation of Realized Loss/Gain Form 332- Instruction Sheet
NOTE: Do not net or combine items. Show all expenses individually and all credits as separate line items. Claim packages are due on the remittance report date. Late submissions may result in claims not being passed until the following month.
(b) The numbers on the 332 form correspond with the numbers listed below.
Liquidation and Acquisition Expenses:
    1.   The Actual Unpaid Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan. For documentation, an Amortization Schedule from date of default through liquidation breaking out the net interest and servicing fees advanced is required.
 
    2.   The Total Interest Due less the aggregate amount of servicing fee that would have been earned if all delinquent payments had been made as agreed. For documentation, an Amortization Schedule from date of default through liquidation breaking out the net interest and servicing fees advanced is required.
 
    3.   Accrued Servicing Fees based upon the Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan as calculated on a monthly basis. For documentation, an Amortization Schedule from date of default through liquidation breaking out the net interest and servicing fees advanced is required.
 
    4-12.   Complete as applicable. Required documentation:
  *   For interest advances — an amortization schedule (evidencing calculation of interest advances)
 
  *   For taxes and insurance advances — see page 2 of 332 form — breakdown required showing period of coverage, base tax, interest, penalty. Advances prior to default require evidence of servicer efforts to recover advances.
 
  *   For escrow advances — complete payment history (to calculate advances from last positive escrow balance forward)
 
  *   Other expenses — copies of corporate advance history showing all payments
 
  *   REO repairs > $1500 require explanation
 
  *   REO repairs >$3000 require evidence of at least 2 bids.
 
  *   Short Sale or Charge Off require P&L supporting the decision and WFB’s approved officer cert
 
  *   Unusual or extraordinary items may require further documentation.
    13.   The total of lines 1 through 12.
 
    (c)   Credits:
 
    14-21.    Complete as applicable. Required documentation:
  *   Copy of the HUD 1 from the REO sale. If a 3rd Party Sale bid instructions, copy of attorney letter of Foreclosure proceeds.
 
  *   Copy of EOB for any MI or gov’t guarantee
 
  *   All other credits need to be clearly defined on the 332 form
    22.   The total of lines 14 through 21.
  Please Note: For HUD/VA loans, use line (18a) for Part A/Initial proceeds and line (18b) for Part B/Supplemental proceeds.
 
  Total Realized Loss (or Amount of Any Gain)
    23.   The total derived from subtracting line 22 from 13. If the amount represents a realized gain, show the amount in parenthesis (      ).

 


 

EXHIBIT M
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE NOTIFICATION
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Securities Administrator
9062 Old Annapolis Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Fax: (410) 715-2380
E-mail: cts.sec.notifications@wellsfargo.com
Attn: Corporate Trust Services — Newcastle 2007-1-SEC REPORT PROCESSING
RE: **Additional Form [      ] Disclosure**Required
Ladies and Gentlemen:
          In accordance with Section 4.02 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2007, among Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I LLC, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2007-1, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A and The Bank of New York, the undersigned hereby notifies you that certain events have come to our attention that [shall] [may] need to be disclosed on Form [      ].
Description of Additional Form [      ] Disclosure:
List of Any Attachments hereto to be included in the Additional Form [      ] Disclosure:
          Any inquiries related to this notification should be directed to [      ], phone number: [      ]; email address: [      ].
         
  [NAME OF PARTY]
as [role]
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

 

EX-23.1 6 y04304a3exv23w1.htm EX-23.1 exv23w1
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated March 28, 2011 in Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-171370) dated December 23, 2010 and the related Prospectus of Nationstar Mortgage LLC for the registration of the $250,000,000 10.875% Senior Notes due 2015.
         
     
  /s/Ernst & Young LLP    
     
     
 
Dallas, Texas
April 27, 2011

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