<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------
AMERICREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(SPONSOR OF THE TRUSTS DESCRIBED HEREIN)
DELAWARE 200 BAILEY AVENUE 75-2439888
(JURISDICTION) FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76107 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
CHRIS A. CHOATE, ESQ.
AMERICREDIT CORP.
200 BAILEY AVENUE
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76107
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPY TO:
CHRIS DIANGELO, ESQ.
DEWEY BALLANTINE
1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.[_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.[X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securites for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering.[_]
If this Form is filed as a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering.[_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================
PROPOSED PROPOSED
AMOUNT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TO BE AGGREGATE PRICE AGGREGATE REGISTRATION
TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED REGISTERED PER UNIT(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) FEE(2)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Auto Receivables Asset Backed Securities $2,200,000,000 100% $2,200,000,000 $666,667
=================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2) In accordance with Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the Prospectus
included herein is a combined prospectus which also relates to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-17981 (the
"Prior Registration Statement"). The amount of securities eligible to be
sold under the Prior Registration Statement ($209,058,186 as of September
25, 1997) shall be carried forward to this Registration Statement. A filing
fee in the amount of $303,030 was paid with the Prior Registration
Statement.
-------------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
TO FORM S-3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM AND CAPTION IN FORM S-3 CAPTION OR LOCATION
- ---------------------------- IN PROSPECTUS
-------------
<S> <C>
1. Forepart of the Registration Statement Forepart of Registration Statement;
and Outside Front Cover Page of Outside Front Cover Page**
Prospectus......................................
2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Page of Inside Front Cover Page**; Outside
Prospectus...................................... Back Cover Page**
3. Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio Summary of Prospectus**; Special
of Earnings to Fixed Charges.................... Considerations**;*
4. Use of Proceeds.................................... Use of Proceeds
5. Determination of Offering Price.................... *
6. Dilution........................................... *
7. Selling Security Holders........................... *
8. Plan of Distribution............................... Methods of Distribution**
9. Description of Securities to be Registered......... Outside Front Cover Page**;
Summary of Prospectus**;
Description of the Securities**;
Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences**
10. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel............. *
11. Material Changes................................... *
12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.. Inside Front Cover Page**;
Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference
13. Disclosure of Commission Position on
Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities.. See page II-3
</TABLE>
________________________
* Not applicable or answer is negative.
** To be completed from time to time
by Prospectus Supplement.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
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Auto Receivables Backed Securities Issuable in Series
AMERICREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
This Prospectus describes certain Auto Receivables Backed Notes (the
"Notes") and Auto Receivables Backed Certificates (the "Certificates" and,
together with the Notes, the "Securities") that may be sold from time to time in
one or more series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the
time of sale and to be set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus (each, a
"Prospectus Supplement"). Each series of Securities may include one or more
classes of Notes and one or more classes of Certificates, which will be issued
either by the Company, a Transferor (as hereinafter defined), or by a trust to
be formed by the Company for the purpose of issuing one or more series of such
Securities (each, a "Trust"). The Company, a Transferor or a Trust, as
appropriate, issuing Securities as described in this Prospectus and the related
Prospectus Supplement shall be referred to herein as the "Issuer."
Each class of Securities of any series will evidence beneficial
ownership in a segregated pool of assets (the "Trust Property") (such
Securities, "Certificates") or will represent indebtedness of the Issuer secured
by the Trust Property (such Securities, "Notes"), as described herein and in the
related Prospectus Supplement. The Trust Property may consist of any
combination of retail installment sales contracts between manufacturers, dealers
or certain other originators and retail purchasers secured by new and used
automobiles and light duty trucks financed thereby, or participation interests
therein, together with all monies received relating thereto (the "Contracts").
The Trust Property may also include a security interest in the underlying new
and used automobiles and light duty trucks and property relating thereto,
together with the proceeds thereof (the "Vehicles" together with the Contracts,
the "Receivables"). If and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, credit enhancement with respect to the Trust Property or any class
of Securities may include any one or more of the following: a financial
guaranty insurance policy (a "Policy") issued by an insurer specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, a reserve account, letters of credit, credit or
liquidity facilities, third party payments or other support, cash deposits or
other arrangements. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, credit
enhancement may be provided by means of subordination, cross-support among the
Receivables or over-collateralization. See "Description of the Trust Agreements
- -- Credit and Cash Flow Enhancement." The Receivables in the Trust Property for
a series will have been originated by the Company on or prior to the date of
issuance of the related Securities, as described herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The Receivables included in a Trust Fund will be
serviced by a servicer (the "Servicer") described in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Each series of Securities may include one or more classes (each, a
"Class"). A series may include one or more Classes of Securities entitled to
principal distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or no interest
distributions, or to interest distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or
no principal distributions. The rights of one or more Classes of Securities of
any series may be senior or subordinate to the rights of one or more of the
other Classes of Securities. A series may include two or more Classes of
Securities which differ as to the timing, order or priority of payment, interest
rate or amount of distributions of principal or interest or both. Information
regarding each Class of Securities of a series, together with certain
characteristics of the related Receivables, will be set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The rate of payment in respect of principal of the
Securities of any Class will depend on the priority of payment of such a Class
and the rate and timing of payments (including prepayments, defaults,
liquidations or repurchases of Receivables) on the related Receivables. A rate
of payment lower or higher than that anticipated may affect the weighted average
life of each Class of Securities in the manner described herein and in the
related Prospectus Supplement. See "Description of the Securities."
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER THE FACTORS SET FORTH UNDER
"RISK FACTORS" PAGE 13 HEREIN AND IN THE RELATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
THE NOTES OF A GIVEN SERIES REPRESENT OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER ONLY AND DO NOT
REPRESENT OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY, ANY SERVICER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
AFFILIATES. THE CERTIFICATES OF A GIVEN SERIES REPRESENT BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN THE RELATED TRUST ONLY AND DO NOT REPRESENT INTERESTS IN OR OBLIGATIONS OF
THE COMPANY, ANY TRANSFEROR, ANY SERVICER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR THE UNDERLYING RECEIVABLES WILL BE GUARANTEED OR
INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY OR BY THE COMPANY, ANY
SERVICER, ANY TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH
IN THE RELATED PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. SEE ALSO "RISK FACTORS" PAGE 13.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Offers of the Securities may be made through one or more different
methods, including offerings through underwriters as more fully described under
"Method of Distribution" herein and in the related Prospectus Supplement. Prior
to issuance, there will have been no market for the Securities of any series,
and there can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Securities will
develop, or if it does develop, it will continue.
RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT
BE USED TO CONSUMMATE SALES OF SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT.
The date of this Prospectus is ___________, 1997.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Securities to be
offered hereunder, among other things, will set forth with respect to such
series of Securities: (i) a description of the Class or Classes of such
Securities, (ii) the rate of interest, the "Pass-Through Rate" or "Interest
Rate" or other applicable rate (or the manner of determining such rate) and
authorized denominations of such Class of such Securities; (iii) certain
information concerning the Receivables and insurance polices, cash accounts,
letters of credit, financial guaranty insurance policies, third party guarantees
or other forms of credit enhancement, if any, relating to one or more pools of
Receivables or all or part of the related Securities; (iv) the specified
interest, if any, of each Class of Securities in, and manner and priority of,
the distributions from the Trust Property; (v) information as to the nature and
extent of subordination with respect to such series of Securities, if any; (vi)
the payment date to Securityholders; (vii) information regarding the Servicer(s)
for the related Receivables; (viii) the circumstances, if any, under which the
Trust Property may be subject to early termination; (ix) information regarding
tax considerations; and (x) additional information with respect to the method of
distribution of such Securities.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement (together with all amendments and
exhibits thereto, referred to herein as the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus. For further information,
reference is made to the Registration Statement which may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; and at the Commission's regional
offices at 500 West Madison, 14th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Seven World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of the Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representation other than those contained in this Prospectus and any Prospectus
Supplement with respect hereto and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon. This Prospectus and any Prospectus
Supplement with respect hereto do not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the Securities offered
hereby and thereby, nor an offer of the Securities to any person in any state or
other jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful. The delivery of this
Prospectus at any time does not imply that information herein is correct as of
any time subsequent to its date.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
All documents subsequently filed by the Company with respect to the
Registration Statement, either on its own behalf or on behalf of a Trust,
relating to any series of Securities referred to in the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement, with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), after the
date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of any offering of the
Securities issued by the Issuer, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus and to be a part of this Prospectus from the date of the
filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a
statement contained herein (or in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement) or in
any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, modifies or replaces such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
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REPORTS TO SECURITYHOLDERS
So long as the Securities are in book-entry form, monthly and annual
reports concerning the Securities and the Trust will be sent by the Trustee to
Cede & Co., as the nominee of DTC and as registered holder of the Securities
pursuant to the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement. DTC will supply such
reports to Securityholders in accordance with its procedures. To the extent
required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Trust will
provide financial information to the Securityholders which has been examined and
reported upon, with an opinion expressed by, an independent public accountant;
to the extent not so required, such financial information will be unaudited.
The Company has determined that the financial statements of no entity other than
the Security Insurer are material to the offering made hereby. The Trust will
be formed to own the Receivables, hold and administer the Pre-Funding Account,
to issue the Securities and to acquire the Subsequent Receivables, if available.
The Trust will have no assets or obligations prior to issuance of the Securities
and will engage in no activities other than those described herein.
Accordingly, no financial statements with respect to the Trust are included in
the related Prospectus Supplement. The audited financial statements of the
Certificate Insurer are set forth in Appendix A to the related Prospectus
Supplement, and the unaudited interim financial statements of the Certificate
Insurer are set forth in Appendix B to the related Prospectus Supplement. The
Company intends to discontinue filing periodic reports at the beginning of the
company's next fiscal year, to the extent permitted by Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.
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SUMMARY OF TERMS
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and by reference to
the information with respect to the Securities of any series contained in the
related Prospectus Supplement to be prepared and delivered in connection with
the offering of such Securities. Certain capitalized terms used in the summary
are defined elsewhere in the Prospectus on the pages indicated in the "Index of
Terms."
Issuer.............. With respect to each series of Securities, either the
Company, a special-purpose finance subsidiary of the
Company which may be organized and established by the
Company with respect to the Trust Property (each such
special-purpose finance subsidiary, a "Transferor") or a
trust (each, a "Trust") to be formed by the Company. For
purposes of this Prospectus, the term "Company" includes
the term "Transferor". The Company, a Transferor or a
Trust issuing Securities pursuant to this Prospectus and
the related Prospectus Supplement shall be referred to
herein as the "Issuer" with respect to the related
Securities. See "The Issuers."
Company............. AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. ("AFS" or, the
"Company"), a Delaware corporation. The Receivables will
be either (i) originated by various dealers, which may or
may not be affiliated with one or more manufacturers of
vehicles ("Dealers", and together with such manufacturers,
"Vendors") or (ii) acquired by the Company from other
originators or owners of Receivables. The Company's
principal executive offices are located at 200 Bailey
Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, and its telephone number
is (817) 332-7000. See "The Company and the Servicer."
Servicer............ AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. ("AFS" or, in its
capacity as the servicer, the "Servicer"). See
"AmeriCredit's Automobile Financing Program - Servicing
and Collections."
Trustee............. The Trustee for each series of Securities will be
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. In
addition, a Trust may separately enter into an Indenture
and may issue Notes pursuant to such Indenture; in any
such case the Trust and the Indenture will be administered
by separate, independent trustees as required by the rules
and regulations under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Securities...... Each Class of Securities of any series will either
evidence beneficial ownership in a segregated pool of
assets (the "Trust Property") (such Securities,
"Certificates") or will represent indebtedness of the
Issuer secured by the Trust Property (such Securities,
"Notes"), as described herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The Trust Property may consist of
any combination of retail installment sales contracts
between manufacturers, dealers or certain other
originators and retail purchasers secured by new and used
automobiles and light duty trucks financed thereby, or
participation interests therein, together with all monies
received relating thereto (the "Contracts"). The Trust
Property also may include a security interest in the
underlying new and used automobiles and light duty trucks
and property relating thereto, together with the proceeds
thereof (the "Vehicles" and together with the Contracts,
the "Receivables").
The Trust Property will include Receivables with respect
to which the related Contract or the related Vehicles is
subject to federal or state registration or titling
requirements. No Trust Property will include Receivables
with respect to which the underlying Contracts or Vehicles
relate to office equipment, aircraft, ships or boats,
firearms or other weapons, railroad rolling stock or
facilities such as factories, warehouses or plants subject
to state laws governing the manner in which title or
security interest in real property is determined or
perfected.
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If and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, credit enhancement with respect to the Trust
Property or any class of Securities may include any one or
more of the following: a financial guaranty insurance
policy (a "Policy") issued by an insurer specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, a reserve account, letters
of credit, credit or liquidity facilities, third party
payments or other support, cash deposits or other
arrangements. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing,
credit enhancement may be provided by means of
subordination, cross-support among the Receivables or
over-collateralization. The Company will originate
Receivables or acquire Receivables from one or more
originators on or prior to the date of issuance of the
related Securities, as described herein and in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
With respect to Securities issued by a Trust, each Trust
will be established pursuant to an agreement (each, a
"Pooling Agreement") by and between the Company and the
Trustee named therein. Each Pooling Agreement will
describe the related pool of Receivables held by the
Trust.
With respect to Securities that represent debt issued by
the Issuer, the Issuer will enter into an indenture (each,
an "Indenture") by and between the Issuer and the trustee
named on such Indenture (the "Indenture Trustee"). Each
Indenture will describe the related pool of Receivables
comprising the Trust Property and securing the debt issued
by the related Issuer.
The Receivables comprising the Trust Property will be
serviced by the Servicer pursuant to a servicing agreement
(each, a "Servicing Agreement") by and between the
Servicer and the related Issuer.
In the case of the Trust Property of any class of
Securities, the contractual arrangements relating to the
establishment of a Trust, if any, the servicing of the
related Receivables and the issuance of the related
Securities may be contained in a single agreement, or in
several agreements which combine certain aspects of the
Pooling Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and the
Indenture described above (for example, a pooling and
servicing agreement, or a servicing and collateral
management agreement). For purposes of this Prospectus,
the term "Trust Agreement" as used with respect to Trust
Property means, collectively, and except as otherwise
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, any and
all agreements relating to the establishment of a Trust,
if any, the servicing of the related Receivables and the
issuance of the related Securities. The term "Trustee"
means any and all persons acting as a trustee pursuant to
a Trust Agreement.
Securities Will Be Non-Recourse.
The Securities will not be obligations, either recourse or
non-recourse (except for certain non-recourse debt
described under "Certain Tax Considerations"), of the
Company, the related Servicer or any person other than the
related Issuer. The Notes of a given series represent
obligations of the Issuer, and the Certificates of a given
series represent beneficial interests in the related
Issuer only and do not represent interests in or
obligations of the Company, the related Servicer or any of
their respective affiliates other than the related Issuer.
In the case of Securities that represent beneficial
ownership interest in the related Issuer, such Securities
will represent the beneficial ownership interests in such
Issuer and the sole source of payment will be the assets
of such Issuer. In the case of Securities that represent
debt issued by the related Issuer, such Securities will be
secured by assets in the related Trust Property.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and as to be described in
the related Prospectus Supplement, certain types of
credit enhancement, such as a letter of credit, financial
guaranty insurance policy or reserve fund may
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constitute a full recourse obligation of the issuer of
such credit enhancement.
General Nature of the Securities as Investments.
All of the Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus
and the related Prospectus Supplement will be rated in one
of the four highest rating categories by one or more
Rating Agencies (as defined herein).
Additionally, except to the extent provided in the related
Prospectus Supplement, all of the Securities offered
pursuant to this Prospectus and the related Prospectus
Supplement will be of the fixed-income type ("Fixed Income
Securities"). Fixed Income Securities will generally be
styled as debt instruments, having a principal balance and
a specified interest rate ("Interest Rate"). Fixed Income
Securities may either represent beneficial ownership
interests in the related Receivables held by the related
Trust or debt secured by certain assets of the related
Issuer.
Each series or Class of Fixed Income Securities offered
pursuant to this Prospectus may have a different Interest
Rate, which may be a fixed or adjustable Interest Rate.
The related Prospectus Supplement will specify the
Interest Rate for each series or Class of Fixed Income
Securities described therein, or the initial Interest Rate
and the method for determining subsequent changes to the
Interest Rate.
A series may include one or more Classes of Fixed Income
Securities ("Strip Securities") entitled (i) to principal
distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or no
interest distributions, or (ii) to interest distributions,
with disproportionate, nominal or no principal
distributions. In addition, a series of Securities may
include two or more Classes of Fixed Income Securities
that differ as to timing, sequential order, priority of
payment, Interest Rate or amount of distribution of
principal or interest or both, or as to which
distributions of principal or interest or both on any
Class may be made upon the occurrence of specified events,
in accordance with a schedule or formula, or on the basis
of collections from designated portions of the related
pool of Receivables. Any such series may include one or
more Classes of Fixed Income Securities ("Accrual
Securities"), as to which certain accrued interest will
not be distributed but rather will be added to the
principal balance (or nominal balance, in the case of
Accrual Securities which are also Strip Securities)
thereof on each Payment Date, as hereinafter defined, or
in the manner described in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, a
series may include one or more other Classes of Fixed
Income Securities (collectively, the "Senior Securities")
that are senior to one or more other Classes of Fixed
Income Securities (collectively, the "Subordinate
Securities") in respect of certain distributions of
principal and interest and allocations of losses on
Receivables.
In addition, certain Classes of Senior (or Subordinate)
Securities may be senior to other Classes of Senior (or
Subordinate) Securities in respect of such distributions
or losses.
General Payment Terms of Securities.
As provided in the related Trust Agreement and as
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
holders of the Securities ("Securityholders") will be
entitled to receive payments on their Securities on
specified dates (each, a "Payment Date"). Payment Dates
with respect to Fixed Income Securities will occur
monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, as described in the
related Prospectus Supplement.
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The related Prospectus Supplement will describe a date
(the "Record Date") preceding such Payment Date, as of
which the Trustee or its paying agent will fix the
identity of the Securityholders for the purpose of
receiving payments on the next succeeding Payment Date.
As described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Payment Date will be a specified day of each month,
commonly the tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or twenty-fifth day
of each month (or, in the case of quarterly-pay
Securities, the tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or twenty-fifth
day of every third month; and in the case of semi-annual
pay Securities, the tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or twenty-
fifth day of every sixth month) and the Record Date will
be the close of business as of the last day of the
calendar month that precedes the calendar month in which
such Payment Date occurs.
Each Trust Agreement will describe a period (each, a
"Remittance Period") preceding each Payment Date (for
example, in the case of monthly-pay Securities, the
calendar month preceding the month in which a Payment Date
occurs). As more fully described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, collections received on or with
respect to the related Receivables constituting Trust
Property during a Remittance Period will be required to be
remitted by the Servicer to the related Trustee prior to
the related Payment Date and will be used to fund payments
to Securityholders on such Payment Date. As may be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
related Trust Agreement may provide that all or a portion
of the payments collected on or with respect to the
related Receivables may be applied by the related Trustee
to the acquisition of additional Receivables during a
specified period (rather than be used to fund payments of
principal to Securityholders during such period), with the
result that the related Securities will possess an
interest-only period, also commonly referred to as a
revolving period, which will be followed by an
amortization period. Any such interest only or revolving
period may, upon the occurrence of certain events to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, terminate
prior to the end of the specified period and result in the
earlier than expected amortization of the related
Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the related Trust Agreement may
provide that all or a portion of such collected payments
may be retained by the Trustee (and held in certain
temporary investments, including Receivables) for a
specified period prior to being used to fund payments of
principal to Securityholders.
Such retention and temporary investment by the Trustee of
such collected payments may be required by the related
Trust Agreement for the purpose of (a) slowing the
amortization rate of the related Securities relative to
the installment payment schedule of the related
Receivables, or (b) attempting to match the amortization
rate of the related Securities to an amortization schedule
established at the time such Securities are issued. Any
such feature applicable to any Securities may terminate
upon the occurrence of events to be described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, resulting in distributions
to the specified Securityholders and an acceleration of
the amortization of such Securities.
As more fully specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, neither the Securities nor the underlying
Receivables will be guaranteed or insured by any
governmental agency or instrumentality or the Company, the
related Servicer, any Trustee, or any of their affiliates.
No Investment
Companies........... Neither the Company nor any Trust will register as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act").
The Residual
Interest............ With respect to each Trust, the "Residual Interest" at
any time represents the rights to the related Trust
Property in excess of the
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Securityholders' interest of all series then outstanding
that were issued by such Trust. The Residual Interest in
any Trust Property will fluctuate as the aggregate Pool
Balance (as hereinafter defined) of such Trust Fund
changes from time to time. A portion of the Residual
Interest in any Trust may be sold separately in one or
more public or private transactions.
Master Trusts;
Issuance of
Additional Series... As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement,
the Company may cause one or more of the Trusts (such a
Trust, a "Master Trust") to issue additional series of
Securities from time to time. Under each Trust Agreement
relating to a Master Trust (each, a "Master Trust
Agreement"), the Company may determine the terms of any
such new series. See "Description of the Securities --
Master Trusts."
The Company may cause the related Trustee to offer any
such new series to the public or other investors, in
transactions either registered under the Securities Act or
exempt from registration thereunder, directly or through
one or more underwriters or placement agents, in fixed-
price offerings or in negotiated transactions or
otherwise.
A new series to be issued by a Master Trust which has a
series outstanding may, only be issued upon satisfaction
of the conditions described herein under "Description of
the Securities -- Master Trusts". Securities secured by
Receivables held by a Master Trust shall be entitled to
moneys received relating to such Receivables on a pari
passu basis with other Securities issued pursuant to the
other Trust Agreements by such Master Trust.
Cross-
Collateralization... As described in the related Trust Agreement and the
related Prospectus Supplement, the source of payment for
Securities of each series will be the assets of the
related Trust Property only.
However, as may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, a series or class of Securities may include
the right to receive moneys from a common pool of credit
enhancement which may be available for more than one
series of Securities, such as a master reserve account,
master insurance policy or a master collateral pool
consisting of similar Receivables. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, and as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, no payment received on any Receivable held by
any Trust may be applied to the payment of Securities
issued by any other Trust (except to the limited extent
that certain collections in excess of the amounts needed
to pay the related Securities may be deposited in a common
master reserve account or an overcollateralization account
that provides credit enhancement for more than one series
of Securities issued pursuant to the related Trust
Agreement).
Trust Property...... As specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Trust Property will consist of the related Contracts, and
may include a security interest in the related Vehicles.
If and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, credit enhancement with respect to Trust
Property or any class of Securities may include any one or
more of the following: a Policy issued by an insurer
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a reserve
account, letters of credit, credit or liquidity
facilities, repurchase obligations, third party payments
or other support, cash deposits or other arrangements. In
addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, credit
enhancement may be provided by means of subordination,
cross-support among the Receivables or over-
collateralization. See "Description of the Trust
Agreement -- Credit and Cash Flow Enhancement." The
Contracts are obligations for the purchase of the
Vehicles, or evidence borrowings used to acquire the
Vehicles. As specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Contracts may consist of any combination
of Rule of 78s Contracts, Fixed Value Contracts or Simple
Interest Contracts. Generally, "Rule of 78s Contracts"
provide for fixed level monthly payments which will
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amortize the full amount of the Contract over its term.
The Rule of 78s Contracts provide for allocation of
payments according to the "sum of periodic balances" or
"sum of monthly payments" method (the "Rule of 78s").
Each Rule of 78s Contract provides for the payment by the
Obligor of a specified total amount of payments, payable
in monthly installments on the related due date, which
total represents the principal amount financed and finance
charges in an amount calculated on the basis of a stated
annual percentage rate ("APR") for the term of such
Contract. The rate at which such amount of finance
charges is earned and, correspondingly, the amount of each
fixed monthly payment allocated to reduction of the
outstanding principal balance of the related Contract are
calculated in accordance with the Rule of 78s. Under the
Rule of 78s, the portion of each payment allocable to
interest is higher during the early months of the term of
a Contract and lower during later months than that under a
constant yield method for allocating payments between
interest and principal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, all
payments received by the related Servicer on or in respect
of the Rule of 78s Contracts may be allocated on an
actuarial or simple interest basis.
Generally, the "Fixed Value Contracts" provide for monthly
payments with a final fixed value payment which is greater
than the scheduled monthly payments. A Fixed Value
Contract provides for amortization of the loan over a
series of fixed level payment monthly installments, but
also requires a final fixed value payment due after
payment of such monthly installments which may be
satisfied by (i) payment in full in cash of such amount,
(ii) transfer of the vehicle to the Company provided
certain conditions are satisfied or (iii) refinancing the
fixed value payment in accordance with certain conditions.
With respect to Fixed Value Contracts, as specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, only the principal and
interest payments due prior to the final fixed value
payment and not the final fixed value payment may be
included initially in the related Trust Property.
"Simple Interest Contracts" provide for the amortization
of the amount financed under the receivable over a series
of fixed level monthly payments. However, unlike the
monthly payment under Rule of 78s Contracts, each monthly
payment consists of an installment of interest which is
calculated on the basis of the outstanding principal
balance of the receivable multiplied by the stated APR and
further multiplied by the period elapsed (as a fraction of
a calendar year) since the preceding payment of interest
was made. As payments are received under a Simple
Interest Contract, the amount received is applied first to
interest accrued to the date of payment and the balance is
applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance.
Accordingly, if an Obligor pays a fixed monthly
installment before its scheduled due date, the portion of
the payment allocable to interest for the period since the
preceding payment was made will be less than it would have
been had the payment been made as scheduled, and the
portion of the payment applied to reduce the unpaid
principal balance will be correspondingly greater.
Conversely, if an Obligor pays a fixed monthly installment
after its scheduled due date, the portion of the payment
allocable to interest for the period since the preceding
payment was made will be greater than it would have been
had the payment been made as scheduled, and the portion of
the payment applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance
will be correspondingly less. In either case, the Obligor
pays a fixed monthly installment until the final scheduled
payment date, at which time the amount of the final
installment is increased or decreased as necessary to
repay the then outstanding principal balance.
If an Obligor elects to prepay a Rule of 78s Contract in
full, it is entitled to a rebate of the portion of the
outstanding balance then due and payable attributable to
unearned finance charges. If a Simple Interest Contract
is prepaid, rather than receive a rebate, the Obligor is
required to pay interest only to the date of prepayment.
The
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amount of a rebate under a Rule of 78s Contract calculated
in accordance with the Rule of 78s will always be less
than had such rebate been calculated on an actuarial basis
and generally will be less than the remaining scheduled
payments of interest that would be due under a Simple
Interest Contract for which all payments were made on
schedule. Distributions to Securityholders may not be
affected by Rule of 78s rebates under the Rule of 78s
Contracts because pursuant to the related Prospectus
Supplement such distributions may be determined using the
actuarial or simple interest method.
The related Prospectus Supplement will further describe
the type and characteristics of the Contracts included in
the Trust Property relating to the Securities offered
pursuant to this Prospectus and the related Prospectus
Supplement.
The Receivables comprising the Trust Property will be
originated by the Company; such Receivables will have
theretofore been either (i) originated by Vendors and
acquired by the Company or (ii) acquired by the Company
from other originators or owners of Receivables.
The Company will either transfer Receivables to a Trust
pursuant to a Pooling Agreement or pledge the Company's
right, title and interest in and to such Receivables to a
Trustee on behalf of Securityholders pursuant to an
Indenture. The obligations of the Company, the Servicer,
the related Trustee and the related Indenture Trustee, if
any, under the related Trust Agreement include those
specified below and in the related Prospectus Supplement.
In addition, if so specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Trust Property will include monies on
deposit in a Pre-Funding Account (the "Pre-Funding
Account") to be established with the Trustee, which will
be used to acquire Additional Receivables (as hereinafter
defined) from time to time during the "Pre-Funding Period"
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Pre-
Funding Account, if any, will be reduced during the
related Pre-Funding Period by the amount thereof used to
purchase Additional Receivables. Any amount remaining in
the Pre-Funding Account at the end of the related Pre-
Funding Period will be distributed to the related
Securityholders, pro rata, on the Payment Date immediately
following the end of the Pre-Funding Period.
If and to the extent provided in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Company will be obligated (subject only to
the availability thereof) to either transfer to a Trust or
pledge to a Trustee on behalf of Securityholders,
additional Receivables (the "Additional Receivables") from
time to time during any Pre-Funding Period specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement.
Registration of
Securities.......... Securities may be represented by global securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co. ("Cede"), as nominee
of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), or another
nominee. In such case, Securityholders will not be
entitled to receive definitive securities representing
such Securityholders' interests, except in certain
circumstances described in the related Prospectus
Supplement. See "Description of the Securities -- Book
Entry Registration" herein.
Credit and Cash Flow
Enhancement......... If and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, credit enhancement with respect to Trust
Property or any class of Securities may include any one or
more of the following: a Policy issued by an insurer
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement (a
"Security Insurer"), a reserve account, letters of credit,
credit or liquidity facilities, third party payments or
other support, cash deposits or other arrangements. Any
form of credit enhancement will have certain limitations
and exclusions from coverage thereunder, which will be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement. See
"Description of the Trust Agreement -- Credit and Cash
Flow Enhancement."
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Repurchase Obligations
and the Receivables
Acquisition
Agreement........... As more fully described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the Company will be obligated to acquire from
the related Trust Property any Receivable which was
transferred pursuant to a Pooling Agreement or pledged
pursuant to an Indenture if the interest of the
Securityholders therein is materially adversely affected
by a breach of any representation or warranty made by the
Company with respect to such Receivable, which breach has
not been cured. In addition, if so specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the Company may from time
to time reacquire certain Receivables of the Trust
Property, subject to specified conditions set forth in the
related Trust Agreement.
Servicer's
Compensation........ The Servicer shall be entitled to receive a fee for
servicing the Trust Property equal to a specified
percentage of the value of such Trust Property, as set
forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. See
"Description of the Trust Agreements -- Servicing
Compensation" herein and in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Certain Legal Aspects
of the Contracts.... With respect to the transfer of the Contracts to the
related Trust pursuant to a Pooling Agreement or the
pledge of the related Issuer's right, title and interest
in and to such Contracts on behalf of Securityholders
pursuant to an Indenture, the Company will warrant, in
each case, that such transfer is either a valid transfer
and assignment of the Contracts to the Trust or the grant
of a security interest in the Contracts. Each Prospectus
Supplement will specify what actions will be taken by
which parties as will be required to perfect either the
Issuer's or the Securityholders' security interest in the
Contracts. The Company may also warrant that, if the
transfer or pledge by it to the Trust or to the
Securityholders is deemed to be a grant to the Trust or to
the Securityholders of a security interest in the
Contracts, then the related Issuer or the Securityholders
will have a first priority perfected security interest
therein, except for certain liens which have priority over
previously perfected security interests by operation of
law, and, with certain exceptions, in the proceeds
thereof. Similar security interest and priority
representations and warranties, as described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, may also be made by the
Company with respect to the Vehicles.
Perfection of security interests in automobiles and light
duty trucks is generally governed by the vehicle
registration or titling laws of the state in which each
vehicle is registered or titled. In most states, a
security interest in a vehicle is perfected by notation of
the secured party's lien on the vehicle's certificate of
title. Each Prospectus Supplement will specify whether
the Company, the Servicer or the Trustee, in light of the
administrative burden and expense, will amend any
certificate of title to identify the Company or the
Trustee as the new secured party on the certificates of
title relating to the Vehicles. See "Certain Legal
Aspects of the Receivables."
Each Prospectus Supplement will specify if the Company has
filed or will be required to file UCC (as herein defined)
financing statements identifying the Vehicles as
collateral pledged in favor of the related Trust or
Trustee on behalf of the Securityholders. In the absence
of such filings any security interest in the Vehicles will
not be perfected in favor of the related Trust or Trustee.
See "Certain Legal Aspects of the Receivables."
Optional
Termination......... The Servicer, the Company, or, if specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, certain other entities may,
at their respective options, effect early retirement of a
series of Securities under the circumstances and in the
manner set forth herein under "Description of The Trust
Agreement -- Termination" and in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
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Mandatory
Termination......... The Trustee, the Servicer or certain other entities
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement may be
required to effect early retirement of all or any portion
of a series of Securities by soliciting competitive bids
for the purchase of the Trust Property or otherwise, under
other circumstances and in the manner specified in
"Description of The Trust Agreement -- Termination" and in
the related Prospectus Supplement.
Tax Considerations.. Securities of each series offered hereby will, for federal
income tax purposes, constitute either (i) interests in a
Trust treated as a grantor trust under applicable
provisions of the Code ("Grantor Trust Securities"), (ii)
debt issued by a Trust or by the Company ("Debt
Securities") or (iii) interests in a Trust which is
treated as a partnership ("Partnership Interests").
The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities
will summarize, subject to the limitations stated therein,
federal income tax considerations relevant to the
purchase, ownership and disposition of such Securities.
Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors and to
review "Certain Federal and State Income Tax Consequences"
in the related Prospectus Supplement.
ERISA
Considerations...... The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities
will summarize, subject to the limitations discussed
therein, considerations under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),
relevant to the purchase of such Securities by employee
benefit plans and individual retirement accounts. See
"ERISA Considerations" in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Ratings............. Each Class of Securities offered pursuant to this
Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement will be
rated in one of the four highest rating categories by one
or more "national statistical rating organizations", as
defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and commonly referred to as "Rating
Agencies". Such ratings will address, in the opinion of
such Rating Agencies, the likelihood that the Issuer will
be able to make timely payment of all amounts due on the
related Securities in accordance with the terms thereof.
Such ratings will neither address any prepayment or yield
considerations applicable to any Securities nor constitute
a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any Securities.
The ratings expected to be received with respect to any
Securities will be set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
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RISK FACTORS
Prospective Securityholders should consider, among other things, the
following factors in connection with the purchase of the Securities:
LIMITED LIQUIDITY. There can be no assurance that a secondary market
for the Securities of any series or Class will develop or, if it does develop,
that it will provide Securityholders with liquidity of investment or that it
will continue for the life of such Securities. The Prospectus Supplement for
any series of Securities may indicate that an underwriter specified therein
intends to establish and maintain a secondary market in such Securities;
however, no underwriter will be obligated to do so. The Securities will not be
listed on any securities exchange.
OWNERSHIP OF CONTRACTS. In connection with the issuance of any series
of Securities, the Company will originate Contracts. The Company will warrant
in a Trust Agreement (i) if the Company retains title to the Contracts, that the
Trustee for the benefit of Securityholders has a valid security interest in such
Contracts, or (ii) if the Company transfers such Contracts to a Trust, that the
transfer of the Contracts to such Trust is either a valid assignment, transfer
and conveyance of the Contracts to the Trust or the Trustee on behalf of the
Securityholders has a valid security interest in such Contracts. As to be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related Trust Agreement will
provide either that the Trustee will be required to maintain possession of the
original copies of all Contracts that constitute chattel paper or that the
Company or the Servicer will retain possession of such Contracts; provided that
in case the Company retains possession of the related Contracts, the Servicer
may take possession of such original copies as necessary for the enforcement of
any Contract. If any Contracts remain in the possession of the Company, the
related Prospectus Supplement may describe specific trigger events that will
require delivery to the Trustee. If the Company, the Servicer, the Trustee or
other third party, while in possession of the Contracts, sells or pledges and
delivers such Contracts to another party, in violation of the Receivables
Acquisition Agreement or the Trust Agreement, there is a risk that such other
party could acquire an interest in such Contracts having a priority over the
Issuer's interest. Furthermore, if the Company, the Servicer or a third party,
while in possession of the Contracts, is rendered insolvent, such event of
insolvency may result in competing claims to ownership or security interests in
the Contracts. Such an attempt, even if unsuccessful, could result in delays in
payments on the Securities. If successful, such attempt could result in losses
to the Securityholders or an acceleration of the repayment of the Securities.
The Company will be obligated to repurchase any Contract originated by the
Company and currently in the related Trust Property if there is a breach of the
Company's representations and warranties that materially and adversely affects
the interests of the Trust in such Contract and such breach has not been cured.
SECURITY INTERESTS. The transfer of the Receivables by the Company to
the Trustee pursuant to the related Pooling Agreement, Indenture or Trust
Agreement, the perfection of the security interests in the Receivables and the
enforcement of rights to realize on the Vehicles as collateral for the
Receivables are subject to a number of federal and state laws, including the UCC
as in effect in various states. As specified in each Prospectus Supplement, the
Servicer will take such action as is required to perfect the rights of the
Trustee in the Receivables. If, through inadvertence or otherwise, a third
party were to purchase (including the taking of a security interest in) a
Receivable for new value in the ordinary course of its business, without actual
knowledge of the Trust's interest, and take possession of a Receivable, the
purchaser would acquire an interest in such Receivable superior to the interest
of the Trust. As further specified in each Prospectus Supplement, no action
will be taken to perfect the rights of the Trustee in proceeds of a VSI
Insurance Policy (as hereinafter defined) or of any other insurance policies
covering individual Vehicles or Obligors. Therefore, the rights of a third
party with an interest in such proceeds could prevail against the rights of the
Trust prior to the time such proceeds are deposited by the Servicer into a Trust
Account (as hereinafter defined). See "Certain Legal Aspects of the
Receivables".
Except to the extent specified in the related Prospectus Supplement,
each Contract will include a perfected security interest in the related Vehicle
in favor of the Trustee or the Company (and, if perfected in the name of the
Company, assigned pursuant to the related Pooling Agreement, Indenture or Trust
Agreement to the Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders). However, to
the extent provided in the
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related Prospectus Supplement, due to the administrative burden and expense, the
certificates of title of the Vehicles securing certain Contracts which reflect
the security interest of the Company in such Vehicles may not be endorsed to
reflect the Trustee's interest therein or delivered to the Trustee. In the
absence of such endorsement and delivery, the Trustee may not have a perfected
security interest in such Vehicles. As a result, a third party buyer of a
Vehicle for value from an Obligor may extinguish the interest of the Trust in
the Vehicle, a subsequent perfected lienholder may obtain a security interest
senior in right to that of the Trust, and a trustee in bankruptcy of the Company
may be able to assert successfully that the Trust did not have a security
interest in the Vehicle. In addition, statutory liens for repairs or unpaid
taxes and other liens arising by operation of law may have priority even over
prior perfected security interests in the name of the Trustee in the Vehicles.
RESTRICTIONS ON RECOVERIES. Unless specific limitations are described
on the related Prospectus Supplement with respect to specific Contracts, all
Contracts will provide that the obligations of the Obligors thereunder are
absolute and unconditional, regardless of any defense, set-off or abatement
which the Obligor may have against the Company or any other person or entity
whatsoever. The Company will warrant that no claims or defenses have been
asserted or threatened with respect to the Contracts and that all requirements
of applicable law with respect to the Contracts have been satisfied.
In the event that the Company or the Trustee must rely on repossession
and disposition of Vehicles to recover scheduled payments due on Defaulted
Contracts (as defined in the related Pooling Agreement), the Issuer may not
realize the full amount due on a Contract (or may not realize the full amount on
a timely basis). Other factors that may affect the ability of the Issuer to
realize the full amount due on a Contract include whether amendments to
certificates of title relating to the Vehicles had been filed, whether financing
statements to perfect the security interest in the Vehicles had been filed,
depreciation, obsolescence, damage or loss of any Vehicle, and the application
of Federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws. As a result, the
Securityholders may be subject to delays in receiving payments and suffer loss
of their investment in the Securities.
INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY MATTERS. The Company will take steps in
structuring the transactions contemplated hereby that are intended to ensure
that the voluntary or involuntary application for relief by the Company under
the United States Bankruptcy Code or similar applicable state laws ("Insolvency
Laws") will not result in the Trust Property becoming property of the estate of
the Company within the meaning of such Insolvency Laws. Such steps will
generally involve the creation by the Company of one or more separate, limited-
purpose subsidiaries (each, a "Finance Subsidiary") pursuant to articles of
incorporation containing certain limitations (including restrictions on the
nature of such Finance Subsidiary's business and a restriction on such Finance
Subsidiary's ability to commence a voluntary case or proceeding under any
Insolvency Law without the prior unanimous affirmative vote of all its
directors). However, there can be no assurance that the activities of any
Finance Subsidiary would not result in a court's concluding that the assets and
liabilities of such Finance Subsidiary should be consolidated with those of the
Company in a proceeding under any Insolvency Law.
With respect to the Trust Property, the Trustee and all
Securityholders will covenant that they will not at any time institute against
the Company or the related Finance Subsidiary any bankruptcy, reorganization or
other proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law.
While an originator is the Servicer, cash collections held by such
originator may, subject to certain conditions, be commingled and used for the
benefit of such originator prior to each Payment Date and, in the event of the
bankruptcy of such originator, the Company, a Trust or Trustee may not have a
perfected interest in such collections.
The Company believes that the transfer of the Receivables by the
Company to a Finance Subsidiary should be treated as a valid assignment,
transfer and conveyance of such Receivables. However, in the event of an
insolvency of the Company, a court, among other remedies, could attempt to
recharacterize the transfer of the Receivables by the Company to the Finance
Subsidiary as a borrowing by the Company from the Finance Subsidiary or the
related Securityholders, secured by a pledge of such Receivables. Such an
attempt, even if unsuccessful, could result in delays in payments on the
Securities.
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If such an attempt were successful, a court, among other remedies, could elect
to accelerate payment of the Securities and liquidate the Receivables, with the
Securityholders entitled to the then outstanding principal amount thereof and
interest thereon at the applicable Security Interest Rate to the date of
payment. Thus, the Securityholders could lose the right to future payments of
interest and might incur reinvestment losses. As more fully described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, in the event the related Issuer is rendered
insolvent, the related Trustee for a Trust, in accordance with the Trust
Agreement, will promptly sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate the related
Receivables in a commercially reasonable manner on commercially reasonable
terms. The proceeds from any such sale, disposition or liquidation of such
Receivables will be treated as collections on such Receivables. If the proceeds
from the liquidation of the Receivables and any amount available from any credit
enhancement, if any, are not sufficient to pay Securities of the related series
in full, the amount of principal returned to such Securityholders will be
reduced and such Securityholders will incur a loss.
Obligors of the Vehicles may be entitled to assert against the
Company, the Issuer, or the Trust, if any, claims and defenses which they have
against the Company with respect to the Receivables. The Company will warrant
that no such claims or defenses have been asserted or threatened with respect to
the Receivables and that all requirements of applicable law with respect to the
Receivables have been satisfied.
INSURANCE ON VEHICLES. Each Receivable generally requires the Company
to maintain insurance covering physical damage to the Vehicle in an amount not
less than the unpaid principal balance of such Receivable pursuant to which the
Company is named as a loss payee. Since the Obligors select their own insurers
to provide the requisite coverage, the specific terms and conditions of their
policies vary.
In addition, although each Receivable generally gives the Company the
right to force place insurance coverage in the event the required physical
damage insurance on a Vehicle is not maintained by an Obligor, neither the
Company nor the Servicer is obligated to place such coverage. In the event
insurance coverage is not maintained by Obligors and coverage is not force
placed, then insurance recoveries may be limited in the event of losses or
casualties to Vehicles included in the Trust Property, as a result of which
Securityholders could suffer a loss on their investment.
DELINQUENCIES. There can be no assurance that the historical levels
of delinquencies and losses experienced by the Company on its respective loan
and vehicle portfolio will be indicative of the performance of the Contracts
included in the Trust or that such levels will continue in the future.
Delinquencies and losses could increase significantly for various reasons,
including changes in the federal income tax laws, changes in the local, regional
or national economies or due to other events.
SUBORDINATION; LIMITED ASSETS. To the extent specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, distributions of interest and principal on one Class of
Securities of a series may be subordinated in priority of payment to interest
and principal due on other Classes of Securities of a related series. Moreover,
the Trust Property will not have, nor is it permitted or expected to have, any
significant assets or sources of funds other than the related Receivables and,
to the extent provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related reserve
account and any other credit enhancement. The Securities represent obligations
solely of the related Trust or debt secured by the related Trust Property, and
will not represent a recourse obligation to other assets of the Company. No
Securities of any series will be insured or guaranteed by the Company, the
Servicer, or the applicable Trustee. Consequently, holders of the Securities of
any series must rely for repayment primarily upon payments on the Receivables
and, if and to the extent available, the reserve account, if any, and any other
credit enhancement, all as specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
MASTER TRUSTS. As may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, a Master Trust may issue from time to time more than one series.
While the terms of any additional series will be specified in a supplement to
the related Master Trust Agreement, the provisions of such supplement and,
therefore, the terms of any additional series, will not be subject to prior
review by, or consent of, holders of the Securities of any series previously
issued by such Master Trust. Such terms may include methods for determining
applicable investor percentages and allocating collections, provisions creating
different or
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additional security or credit enhancements and any other provisions which are
made applicable only to such series. The obligation of the related Trustee to
issue any new series is subject to the condition, among others, that such
issuance will not result in any Rating Agency reducing or withdrawing its rating
of the Securities of any outstanding series (any such reduction or withdrawal is
referred to herein as a "Ratings Effect"). There can be no assurance, however,
that the terms of any series might not have an impact on the timing or amount of
payments received by a Securityholder of another series issued by the same
Master Trust. See "Description of the Securities -- Master Trusts."
BOOK-ENTRY REGISTRATION. Issuance of the Securities in book-entry
form may reduce the liquidity of such Securities in the secondary trading market
since investors may be unwilling to purchase Securities for which they cannot
obtain definitive physical securities representing such Securityholders'
interests, except in certain circumstances described in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
Since transactions in Securities will, in most cases, be able to be
effected only through DTC, direct or indirect participants in DTC's book-entry
system ("Direct Participants" or "Indirect Participants") or certain banks, the
ability of a Securityholder to pledge a Security to persons or entities that do
not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise to take actions in respect to
such Securities, may be limited due to lack of a physical security representing
the Securities.
Securityholders may experience some delay in their receipt of
distributions of interest on and principal of the Securities since distributions
may be required to be forwarded by the Trustee to DTC and, in such case, DTC
will be required to credit such distributions to the accounts of its
Participants which thereafter will be required to credit them to the accounts of
the applicable class of Securityholders either directly or indirectly through
Indirect Participants. See "Description of the Securities -- Book Entry
Registration."
SECURITY RATING. The rating of Securities credit enhanced by a letter
of credit, financial guaranty insurance policy, reserve fund, credit or
liquidity facilities, cash deposits or other forms of credit enhancement
(collectively "Credit Enhancement") will depend primarily on the
creditworthiness of the issuer of such external Credit Enhancement device (a
"Credit Enhancer"). Any reduction in the rating assigned to the claims-paying
ability of the related Credit Enhancer to honor its obligations pursuant to any
such Credit Enhancement below the rating initially given to the Securities would
likely result in a reduction in the rating of the Securities.
MATURITY AND PREPAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS. Because the rate of payment
of principal on the Securities will depend, among other things, on the rate of
payment on the related Contracts, the rate of payment of principal on the
Securities cannot be predicted. Payments on the Contracts will include
scheduled payments as well as partial and full prepayments (to the extent not
replaced with substitute Contracts), payments upon the liquidation of Defaulted
Contracts, payments upon acquisitions by the Servicer or the Company of
Contracts from the related Trust Property on account of a breach of certain
representations and warranties in the related Trust Agreement, payments upon an
optional acquisition by the Servicer or the Company of Contracts from the
related Trust Property (any such voluntary or involuntary prepayment or other
early payment of a Contract, a "Prepayment"), and residual payments. The rate
of early terminations of Contracts due to Prepayments and defaults may be
influenced by a variety of economic and other factors, including, among others,
obsolescence, then current economic conditions and tax considerations. The risk
of reinvesting distributions of the principal of the Securities will be borne by
the Securityholders. The yield to maturity on Strip Securities or Securities
purchased at premiums or discounts to par will be extremely sensitive to the
rate of Prepayments on the related Receivables. In addition, the yield to
maturity on certain other types of classes of Securities, including Strip
Securities, Accrual Securities or certain other Classes in a series including
more than one Class of Securities, may be relatively more sensitive to the rate
of prepayment of the related Contracts than other Classes of Securities.
The rate of Prepayments of Contracts cannot be predicted and is
influenced by a wide variety of economic, social, and other factors, including
prevailing interest rates, the availability of alternate financing
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and local and regional economic conditions. Therefore, no assurance can be
given as to the level of Prepayments that a Trust will experience.
Securityholders should consider, in the case of Securities purchased
at a discount, the risk that a slower than anticipated rate of Prepayments on
the Receivables could result in an actual yield that is less than the
anticipated yield and, in the case of any Securities purchased at a premium, the
risk that a faster than anticipated rate of Prepayments on the Receivables could
result in an actual yield that is less than the anticipated yield.
LIMITATIONS ON INTEREST PAYMENTS AND FORECLOSURES. Generally, under
the terms of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Relief Act"), or similar state legislation, an Obligor who enters military
service after the origination of the related Receivable (including an Obligor
who is a member of the National Guard or is in reserve status at the time of the
origination of the Receivable and is later called to active duty) may not be
charged interest (including fees and charges) above an annual rate of 6% during
the period of such Obligor's active duty status, unless a court orders otherwise
upon application of the lender. It is possible that such action could have an
effect, for an indeterminate period of time, on the ability of the Servicer to
collect full amounts of interest on certain of the Receivables. In addition,
the Relief Act imposes limitations that would impair the ability of the Servicer
to foreclose on an affected Receivable during the Obligor's period of active
duty status. Thus, in the event that such a Receivable goes into default, there
may be delays and losses occasioned by the inability of the Servicer to realize
upon the Financed Vehicle in a timely fashion.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF AFS. The Company is generally not obligated to
make any payments in respect of the Securities or the Receivables of a specific
Trust. If the Company were to cease acting as Servicer, delays in processing
payments on the Receivables and information in respect thereof could occur and
result in delays in payments to the Securityholders.
In certain circumstances, the Company will be required to acquire
Receivables from the related Trust Property with respect to which such
representations and warranties have been breached. In the event that the
Company is incapable of complying with its reacquire obligations and no other
party is obligated to perform or satisfy such obligations, Securityholders may
be subject to delays in receiving payments and suffer loss of their investment
in the Securities.
The related Prospectus Supplement will set forth certain information
regarding the Company. In addition, the Company is subject to the information
requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file reports and
other information with the Commission. For further information regarding the
Company reference is made to such reports and other information which are
available as described under "Available Information."
THE TRUST PROPERTY
The Trust Property will include, as specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, (i) a pool of Receivables, (ii) all moneys (including
accrued interest) due thereunder on or after the applicable Cut-off Date, (iii)
such amounts as from time to time may be held in one or more accounts
established and maintained by the Servicer pursuant to the related Trust
Agreement, as described below and in the related Prospectus Supplement, (iv) the
security interests, if any, in the Vehicles relating to such pool of
Receivables, (v) the right to proceeds from claims on physical damage policies,
if any, covering such Vehicles or the related Obligors, as the case may be, (vi)
the proceeds of any repossessed Vehicles related to such pool of Receivables,
(vii) the rights of the Company under the related Receivables Acquisition
Agreement and (viii) interest earned on certain short-term investments held in
such Trust Property, unless the related Prospectus Supplement specifies that
such earnings may be paid to the Servicer or the Company. The Trust Property
will also include, if so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, monies
on deposit in a Pre-Funding Account, which will be used by the Trustee to
acquire or receive a security interest in Additional Receivables from time to
time during the Pre-Funding Period specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. See "Desciption of the Securities -- Forward Commitments; Pre-
Funding." In addition, to the extent specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement,
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some combination of Credit Enhancements may be issued to or held by the Trustee
on behalf of the related Trust for the benefit of the holders of one ore more
classes of Securities.
The Receivables comprising the Trust Property will, as specifically
described in the related Prospectus Supplement, be either (i) originated by the
Company, (ii) originated by various manufacturers and acquired by the Company,
(iii) originated by various Dealers and acquired by the Company or (iv) acquired
by the Company from originators or owners of Receivables.
The Trust Property will include Receivables with respect to which the
related Contract or the related Vehicles is subject to federal or state
registration or titling requirements. No Trust Property will include
Receivables with respect to which the underlying Contracts or Vehicles relate to
office equipment, aircraft, ships or boats, firearms or other weapons, railroad
rolling stock or facilities such as factories, warehouses or plants subject to
state laws governing the manner in which title or security interest in real
property is determined or perfected.
The Receivables included in the Trust Property will be selected from
those Receivables held by the Company based on the criteria specified in the
applicable Trust Agreement and described herein or in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
With respect to each series of Securities, on or prior to the Closing
Date on which the Securities are delivered to Securityholders, the Company or a
Finance Subsidiary will form a Trust by either (i) transferring the related
Receivables into a Trust pursuant to a Trust Agreement between the Company or a
Finance Subsidiary and the Trustee or (ii) entering into an Indenture with an
Indenture Trustee, relating to the issuance of such Securities, secured by the
related Receivables.
The Receivables comprising the Trust Property will generally have been
originated by the Company or acquired by the Company from Dealers in accordance
with the Company's specified underwriting criteria. The underwriting criteria
applicable to the Receivables included in any Trust Property will be described
in all material respects in the related Prospectus Supplement.
THE ISSUERS
With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will either
establish a separate Trust that will issue such Securities, or the Company will
form a Finance Subsidiary that will issue such Securities, in each case pursuant
to the related Trust Agreement. For purposes of this Prospectus and the related
Prospectus Supplement, the Finance Subsidiary, if the Finance Subsidiary issues
the related Securities, or the related Trust, if a Trust issues the related
Securities, shall be referred to as the "Issuer" with respect to such
Securities.
Upon the issuance of the Securities of a given series, the proceeds
from such issuance will be used by the Company to originate Receivables. The
Servicer will service the related Receivables pursuant to the applicable
Servicing Agreement, and will be compensated for acting as the Servicer. To
facilitate servicing and to minimize administrative burden and expense, the
Servicer may be appointed custodian for the related Receivables by each Trustee
and the Company, as may be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
If the protection provided to the Securityholders of a given class by
the subordination of another Class of Securities of such series and by the
availability of the funds in the reserve account, if any, or any other Credit
Enhancement for such series is insufficient, the Issuer must rely solely on the
payments from the Obligors on the related Contracts, and the proceeds from the
sale of Vehicles which secure the Defaulted Contracts. In such event, certain
factors may affect such Issuer's ability to realize on the collateral securing
such Contracts, and thus may reduce the proceeds to be distributed to the
Securityholders of such series.
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THE RECEIVABLES
RECEIVABLES POOLS
Information with respect to the Receivables in the related Trust
Property will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement, including, to
the extent appropriate, the composition of such Receivables and the distribution
of such Receivables by geographic concentration, payment frequency and current
principal balance as of the applicable Cut-off Date.
THE CONTRACTS
As specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Contracts may
consist of any combination of Rule of 78s Contracts, Fixed Value Contracts or
Simple Interest Contracts. Generally, "Rule of 78s Contracts" provide for fixed
level monthly payments which will amortize the full amount of the Contract over
its term. The Rule of 78s Contracts provide for allocation of payments
according to the "sum of periodic balances" or "sum of monthly payments" method
(the "Rule of 78s"). Each Rule of 78s Contract provides for the payment by the
Obligor of a specified total amount of payments, payable in monthly installments
on the related due date, which total represents the principal amount financed
and finance charges in an amount calculated on the basis of a stated annual
percentage rate ("APR") for the term of such Contract. The rate at which such
amount of finance charges is earned and, correspondingly, the amount of each
fixed monthly payment allocated to reduction of the outstanding principal
balance of the related Contract are calculated in accordance with the Rule of
78s. Under the Rule of 78s, the portion of each payment allocable to interest
is higher during the early months of the term of a Contract and lower during
later months than that under a constant yield method for allocating payments
between interest and principal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement, all payments received by the Servicer on or
in respect of the Rule of 78s Contracts may be allocated on an actuarial or
simple interest basis.
Generally, the "Fixed Value Contracts" provide for monthly payments
with a final fixed value payment which is greater than the scheduled monthly
payments. A Fixed Value Contract provides for amortization of the loan over a
series of fixed level payment monthly installments, but also requires a final
fixed value payment due after payment of such monthly installments which may be
satisfied by (i) payment in full in cash of such amount, (ii) transfer of the
vehicle to the Company, provided certain conditions are satisfied or (iii)
refinancing the fixed value payment in accordance with certain conditions. With
respect to Fixed Value Contracts, as specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, only the principal and interest payments due prior to the final
fixed value payment and not the final fixed value payment may be included
initially in the related Trust Property.
"Simple Interest Contracts" provide for the amortization of the amount
financed under the receivable over a series of fixed level monthly payments.
However, unlike the monthly payment under Rule of 78s Contracts, each monthly
payment consists of an installment of interest which is calculated on the basis
of the outstanding principal balance of the receivable multiplied by the stated
APR and further multiplied by the period elapsed (as a fraction of a calendar
year) since the preceding payment of interest was made. As payments are
received under a Simple Interest Contract, the amount received is applied first
to interest accrued to the date of payment and the balance is applied to reduce
the unpaid principal balance. Accordingly, if an Obligor pays a fixed monthly
installment before its scheduled due date, the portion of the payment allocable
to interest for the period since the preceding payment was made will be less
than it would have been had the payment been made as scheduled, and the portion
of the payment applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance will be
correspondingly greater. Conversely, if an Obligor pays a fixed monthly
installment after its scheduled due date, the portion of the payment allocable
to interest for the period since the preceding payment was made will be greater
than it would have been had the payment been made as scheduled, and the portion
of the payment applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance will be
correspondingly less. In either case, the Obligor pays a fixed monthly
installment until the final scheduled payment date, at which time the amount of
the final installment is increased or decreased as necessary to repay the then
outstanding principal balance.
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If an Obligor elects to prepay a Rule of 78s Contract in full, it is
entitled to a rebate of the portion of the outstanding balance then due and
payable attributable to unearned finance charges. If a Simple Interest Contract
is prepaid, rather than receive a rebate, the Obligor is required to pay
interest only to the date of prepayment. The amount of a rebate under a Rule of
78s Contract calculated in accordance with the Rule of 78s will always be less
than had such rebate been calculated on an actuarial basis and generally will be
less than the remaining scheduled payments of interest that would be due under a
Simple Interest Contract for which all payments were made on schedule.
Distributions to Security holders may not be affected by Rule of 78s rebates
under the Rule of 78s Contract because pursuant to the related Prospectus
Supplement such distributions may be determined using the actuarial or simple
interest method.
DELINQUENCIES, REPOSSESSIONS, AND NET LOSSES
Certain information relating to the Company's delinquency,
repossession and net loss experience with respect to Contracts it has originated
or acquired will be set forth in each Prospectus Supplement. This information
may include, among other things, the experience with respect to all Contracts in
the Company's portfolio during certain specified periods. There can be no
assurance that the delinquency, repossession and net loss experience on any
Trust Property will be comparable to the Company's prior experience.
MATURITY AND PREPAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
As more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, if a
Contract permits a Prepayment, such payment, together with accelerated payments
resulting from defaults, will shorten the weighted average life of the related
pool of Receivables and the weighted average life of the related Securities.
The rate of Prepayments on the Receivables may be influenced by a variety of
economic, financial and other factors. In addition, under certain
circumstances, the Company will be obligated to acquire Receivables from the
related Trust Property pursuant to the applicable Trust Agreement or Receivables
Acquisition Agreement as a result of breaches of representations and warranties.
Any reinvestment risks resulting from a faster or slower amortization of the
related Securities which results from Prepayments will be borne entirely by the
related Securityholders.
The related Prospectus Supplement will set forth certain additional
information with respect to the maturity and prepayment considerations
applicable to a particular pool of Receivables and the related series of
Securities, together with a description of any applicable prepayment penalties.
AMERICREDIT'S AUTOMOBILE FINANCING PROGRAM
GENERAL
Through its branch offices and marketing representatives, AFS serves
as a funding source for franchised and independent automobile dealers to finance
their customers' purchase of new and used automobiles and light duty trucks.
Retail installment sale contracts ("Contracts") originated by Dealers which
conform to AFS's credit policies are purchased by AFS generally without recourse
to Dealers. AFS also services the Contracts that it purchases.
AFS's indirect lending programs are designed to serve consumers who
have limited access to traditional auto financing. The typical borrower may
have had previous financial difficulties, but is now attempting to re-establish
credit, or may not yet have sufficient credit history. Because AFS serves
consumers who are unable to meet the credit standards imposed by most
traditional auto financing sources, AFS generally charges interest at rates
which are higher than those charged by traditional auto financing sources. AFS
also expects to sustain a higher level of delinquencies and credit losses than
that experienced by traditional auto financing sources since AFS provides
financing in a relatively high risk market.
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AFS has established relationships with a variety of Dealers located in
the markets in which AFS has branch offices or marketing representatives. While
AFS occasionally finances purchases of new autos, substantially all of AFS's
Contracts were originated in connection with Obligor's purchases of used autos.
Contracts are generally purchased by AFS without recourse to the
Dealer, and accordingly, the Dealer usually has no liability to AFS if the
consumer defaults on the Contract. To mitigate AFS's risk from potential credit
losses, AFS charges the Dealers an acquisition fee when purchasing Contracts.
Such acquisition fees are negotiated with Dealers on a contract-by-contract
basis and are usually non-refundable. Although Contracts are purchased without
recourse to Dealers, Dealers typically make certain representations as to the
validity of the contract and compliance with certain laws, and indemnify AFS
against any claims, defenses and set-offs that may be asserted against AFS
because of assignment of the Contract.
CONTRACT ACQUISITION
AFS purchases individual Contracts through its branch offices and
through its central purchasing office, which underwrites applications solicited
by certain marketing representatives. The central purchasing office operates in
a manner similar to the branch office network.
All credit extensions are executed at the branch level. Each branch
manager has a specific credit authority based upon their experience and
historical loan portfolio results and credit scoring parameters. Extensions of
credit outside these limits are reviewed and approved by a regional vice
president. Although the credit approval process is decentralized, all credit
decisions are guided by AFS's credit scoring strategies and overall credit and
underwriting policies and procedures.
The Company has implemented a credit scoring system across its branch
network to support the branch level credit approval process. The credit scoring
system was developed by Fair Isaac & Co., Inc. from the Company's loan
origination and portfolio databases. Credit scoring is used to prioritize
applications for processing and to tailor pricing and structure to an empirical
assessment of credit risk.
Loan application packages completed by prospective Obligors are
received via facsimile at the branch offices from Dealers. Application data is
entered into AFS's automated application processing system. A credit bureau
report is automatically generated and a credit score is computed. Depending on
the credit quality of the applicant, a customer service representative may then
investigate the residence, employment and credit history of the applicant or
forward the application directly to the branch manager. In either case, the
Company's credit policy requires that all applications be investigated prior to
loan funding. The branch manager reviews the application package and determines
whether to approve the application, approve the application subject to
conditions that must be met, or to deny the application. The branch manager
considers many factors in arriving at a credit decision, including the
applicant's credit score, capacity to pay, stability, character and intent to
pay and the contract terms and collateral value. In certain cases, a regional
vice president may review and approve the branch manager's credit decision. AFS
estimates that approximately 50% of applicants are denied credit by AFS
typically because of their credit histories or because their income levels are
not sufficient to support the proposed level of monthly auto payments. Dealers
are contacted regarding credit decisions by facsimile and/or telephone.
Declined applicants are also provided with appropriate notification of the
decision.
Completed loan packages are received from Dealers at the branch
office. Loan terms are reverified with the Obligor by branch personnel and the
loan packages are forwarded to the centralized loan services department where
the package is scanned to create an electronic copy. Key original documents are
stored in a fire-proof vault and the loan packages are further processed in an
electronic environment. The loans are reviewed for proper documentation and
regulatory compliance and are entered into the loan accounting system. A daily
report is generated for final review by consumer finance operations management.
Once cleared for funding by consumer finance operations management, the
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loan services department issues a funding check to the Dealer. Upon funding of
the Contract, AFS acquires a perfected security interest in the Vehicle.
AFS requires all consumers to obtain or provide evidence that they
carry current comprehensive and collision insurance. Through a third party
administrator, AFS tracks the insurance status of each Contract and sends
notices to Obligors when collateral becomes uninsured. If no action is taken by
the Obligor to insure the collateral, continuing efforts are made to persuade
the Obligor to comply with the insurance requirements of the Contract. Although
it has the right, AFS rarely repossesses a Vehicle due to its being uninsured.
AFS also does not typically force place insurance coverage and add the premium
to the Obligor's obligations, although it has the right to do so under the terms
of the Contracts.
SERVICING AND COLLECTIONS
AFS's servicing activities consist of collecting and processing
Obligor payments, responding to Obligor inquiries, initiating contact with
Obligors who are delinquent in payment of a Receivable installment, maintaining
the security interest in the Vehicle, and repossessing and liquidating
collateral when necessary. AFS utilizes various automated systems to support
its servicing and collections activities.
Approximately 15 days before an Obligor's first payment due date and
each month thereafter, AFS mails the Obligor a billing statement directing them
to mail payments to a lockbox banking facility for deposit in a lockbox account.
Payment receipt data is electronically transferred to AFS by a lockbox banking
facility for posting to AFS records. All subsequent payment processing and
customer account maintenance is performed centrally by AFS's loan services
department.
Collection activity on Contracts is performed by collection personnel
("Collectors") at AFS's headquarters facility. The Collectors follow
standardized collection policies and procedures. Collectors monitor the
Receivables portfolio through a computer assisted collection system and usually
take action on delinquencies within a few days after delinquency occurs.
A Collector's action is typically telephone contact with the Obligor
utilizing AFS's automated predictive dialing system. This system dials multiple
telephone numbers simultaneously based upon parameters set by management. When
a telephone connection is made, the call is routed to a collector and the
delinquent Obligor's account information is displayed on a Collector's computer
terminal. The Collector then attempts to work out the delinquency with the
Obligor.
If an Obligor continues to be delinquent, AFS's policy is to work out
suitable payment arrangements with the Obligor. However, if the Obligor becomes
seriously delinquent or deals in bad faith with AFS, AFS may ultimately have to
repossess the Vehicle and generally will take prompt action to do so.
Repossessions are handled by independent repossession firms engaged by AFS. All
repossessions are approved by collection officers.
AFS follows prescribed legal procedures for repossessions, which
include peaceful repossession, one or more notifications to Obligors, a
prescribed waiting period prior to disposition of the Vehicle, and return of
personal items to the Obligor.
Upon repossession and after any prescribed waiting period, the Vehicle
is typically sold at auction. AFS will pursue collection of deficiencies when
it deems such action to be appropriate.
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POOL FACTORS
The "Pool Factor" for each Class of Securities will be a seven-digit
decimal, which the Servicer will compute prior to each distribution with respect
to such Class of Securities, indicating the remaining outstanding principal
balance of such Class of Securities as of the applicable Payment Date, as a
fraction of the initial outstanding principal balance of such Class of
Securities. Each Pool Factor will be initially 1.0000000, and thereafter will
decline to reflect reductions in the outstanding principal balance of the
applicable Class of Securities. A Securityholder's portion of the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of the related Class of Securities is the product
of (i) the original aggregate purchase price of such Securityholder's Securities
and (ii) the applicable Pool Factor.
As more specifically described in the related Prospectus Supplement
with respect to each series of Securities, the related Securityholders of record
will receive reports on or about each Payment Date concerning the payments
received on the Receivables, the Pool Balance (as such term is defined in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the "Pool Balance"), each Pool Factor and various
other items of information. In addition, Securityholders of record during any
calendar year will be furnished information for tax reporting purposes not later
than the latest date permitted by law.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, the proceeds
from the sale of the Securities of a given series will be used by the Company
for the acquisition of the related Receivables, for general corporate purposes,
including, but not limited to, the purchase of additional Receivables from
Dealers, repayment of indebtedness and general working capital purposes. The
Company expects that it will make additional transfers of Receivables to the
Trust from time to time, but the timing and amount of any such additional
transfers will be dependent upon a number of factors, including the volume of
Contracts originated or acquired by the Company, prevailing interest rates,
availability of funds and general market conditions.
THE COMPANY AND THE SERVICER
AFS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AmeriCredit Corp. AFS was
incorporated in Delaware on July 22, 1992. AFS purchases and services
automobile loans which are originated and assigned to AFS by automobile dealers.
AFS is the primary operating subsidiary of AmeriCredit Corp., a Texas
corporation the common shares of which are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange. AFS's executive offices are located at 200 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth,
Texas 76107-1220; telephone (817) 332-7000.
THE TRUSTEE
The Trustee for each series of Securities will be specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement. The Trustee's liability in connection with the
issuance and sale of the related Securities is limited solely to the express
obligations of such Trustee set forth in the related Trust Agreement.
With respect to each series of Securities, the procedures for the
resignation or removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee
shall be specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
GENERAL
The Securities will be issued in series. Each series of Securities
(or, in certain instances, two or more series of Securities) will be issued
pursuant to a Trust Agreement. The following summaries (together with
additional summaries under "The Trust Agreement" below) describe all material
terms and provisions relating to the Securities common to each Trust Agreement.
The summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Trust
Agreement for the related Securities and the related Prospectus Supplement.
All of the Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus and the
related Prospectus Supplement will be rated in one of the four highest rating
categories by one or more Rating Agencies.
The Securities will generally be styled as debt instruments, having a
principal balance and a specified Interest Rate. The Securities may either
represent beneficial ownership interests in the related Receivables held by the
related Trust or debt secured by certain assets of the related Issuer.
Each series or Class of Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus
may have a different Interest Rate, which may be a fixed or adjustable interest
rate. The related Prospectus Supplement will specify the Interest Rate for each
series or Class of Securities described therein, or the initial interest rate
and the method for determining subsequent changes to the Interest Rate.
A series may include one or more Classes of Strip Securities entitled
(i) to principal distributions, with disproportionate, nominal or no interest
distributions, or (ii) to interest distributions, with disproportionate, nominal
or no principal distributions. In addition, a series of Securities may include
two or more Classes of Securities that differ as to timing, sequential order,
priority of payment, Interest Rate or amount of distribution of principal or
interest or both, or as to which distributions of principal or interest or both
on any Class may be made upon the occurrence of specified events, in accordance
with a schedule or formula, or on the basis of collections from designated
portions of the related pool of Receivables. Any such series may include one or
more Classes of Accrual Securities, as to which certain accrued interest will
not be distributed but rather will be added to the principal balance (or nominal
balance, in the case of Accrual Securities which are also Strip Securities)
thereof on each Payment Date, as hereinafter defined, or in the manner described
in the related Prospectus Supplement.
If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, a series may
include one or more other Classes of Senior Securities that are senior to one or
more other Classes of Subordinate Securities in respect of certain distributions
of principal and interest and allocations of losses on Receivables.
In addition, certain Classes of Senior (or Subordinate) Securities may
be senior to other Classes of Senior (or Subordinate) Securities in respect of
such distributions or losses.
GENERAL PAYMENT TERMS OF SECURITIES
As provided in the related Trust Agreement and as described in the
related Prospectus Supplement, Securityholders will be entitled to receive
payments on their Securities on the specified Payment Dates. Payment Dates with
respect to the Securities will occur monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, as
described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
The related Prospectus Supplement will describe the Record Date
preceding such Payment Date, as of which the Trustee or its paying agent will
fix the identity of the Securityholders for the purpose of receiving payments on
the next succeeding Payment Date. As more fully described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the Payment Date may be the tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or
twenty-fifth day of each month (or, in the case of quarterly-pay Securities, the
tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or twenty-fifth day of every third month; and in the
case of semi-annual pay Securities, the tenth, twelfth, fifteenth or twenty-
fifth day
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of every sixth month) and the Record Date will be the close of business as of
the last day of the calendar month that precedes the calendar month in which
such Payment Date occurs.
Each Trust Agreement will describe a Remittance Period preceding each
Payment Date (for example, in the case of monthly-pay Securities, the calendar
month preceding the month in which a Payment Date occurs). As more fully
provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, collections received on or with
respect to the related Receivables held by a Trust during a Remittance Period
will be required to be remitted by the Servicer to the related Trustee prior to
the related Payment Date and will be used to fund payments to Securityholders on
such Payment Date. As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement,
the related Trust Agreement may provide that all or a portion of the payments
collected on or with respect to the related Receivables may be applied by the
related Trustee to the acquisition of additional Receivables during a specified
period (rather than be used to fund payments of principal to Securityholders
during such period) with the result that the related Securities will possess an
interest-only period, also commonly referred to as a revolving period, which
will be followed by an amortization period. Any such interest only or revolving
period may, upon the occurrence of certain events to be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, terminate prior to the end of the specified period and
result in the earlier than expected amortization of the related Securities.
In addition, and as may be described in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the related Trust Agreement may provide that all or a portion of
such collected payments may be retained by the Trustee (and held in certain
temporary investments, including Receivables) for a specified period prior to
being used to fund payments of principal to Securityholders.
Such retention and temporary investment by the Trustee of such
collected payments may be required by the related Trust Agreement for the
purposes of (a) slowing the amortization rate of the related Securities relative
to the installment payment schedule of the related Receivables, or (b)
attempting to match the amortization rate of the related Securities to an
amortization schedule established at the time such Securities are issued. Any
such feature applicable to any Securities may terminate upon the occurrence of
events to be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, resulting in
distributions to the specified Securityholders and an acceleration of the
amortization of such Securities.
Neither the Securities nor the underlying Receivables will be
guaranteed or insured by any governmental agency or instrumentality or the
Company, the Servicer, any Trustee or any of their respective affiliates unless
specifically set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, Securities
of each series covered by a particular Trust Agreement will either evidence
specified beneficial ownership interests in the Trust Property or represent debt
secured by the related Trust Property. To the extent that any Trust Property
includes certificates of interest or participations in Receivables, the related
Prospectus Supplement will describe the material terms and conditions of such
certificates or participations.
MASTER TRUSTS
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, each Trust
Agreement may provide that, pursuant to any one or more supplements thereto, the
Company may direct the related Trustee to issue from time to time new series
subject to the conditions described below (each such issuance a "Master Trust
New Issuance"). Each Master Trust New Issuance will have the effect of
decreasing the Residual Interest in the related Master Trust. Under each such
Master Trust Agreement, the Company may designate, with respect to any newly
issued series: (i) its name or designation; (ii) its initial principal amount
(or method for calculating such amount); (iii) its Interest Rate (or formula for
the determination thereof); (iv) the Payment Dates and the date or dates from
which interest shall accrue; (v) the method for allocating collections to
Securityholders of such series; (vi) any bank accounts to be used by such series
and the terms governing the operation of any such bank accounts; (vii) the
percentage used to calculate monthly servicing fees; (viii) the provider and
terms of any form of Credit Enhancement with respect thereto; (ix) the terms on
which the Securities of such series may be repurchased or remarketed to other
investors; (x) the number of Classes of Securities of such series, and if such
series consists of
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more than one Class, the rights and priorities of each such Class; (xi) the
extent to which the Securities of such series will be issuable in book-entry
form; (xii) the priority of such series with respect to any other series; and
(xiii) any other relevant terms. None of the Company, the Servicer, the related
Trustee or any Master Trust is required or intends to obtain the consent of any
Securityholder of any outstanding series to issue any additional series.
Each Master Trust Agreement provides that the Company may designate
terms such that each Master Trust New Issuance has an amortization period which
may have a different length and begin on a different date than such periods for
any series previously issued by the related Master Trust and then outstanding.
Moreover, each Master Trust New Issuance may have the benefits of Credit
Enhancements issued by enhancement providers different from the providers of the
Credit Enhancement, if any, with respect to any series previously issued by the
related Master Trust and then outstanding. Under each Master Trust Agreement,
the related Trustee shall hold any such Credit Enhancement only on behalf of the
Securityholders to which such Credit Enhancement relates. The Company will have
the option under each Master Trust Agreement to vary among series the terms upon
which a series may be repurchased by the Issuer or remarketed to other
investors. As more fully described in a related Prospectus Supplement, there is
no limit to the number of Master Trust New Issuances that the Company may cause
under a Master Trust Agreement. Each Master Trust will terminate only as
provided in the related Master Trust Agreement. There can be no assurance that
the terms of any Master Trust New Issuance might not have an impact on the
timing and amount of payments received by Securityholders of another series
issued by the same Master Trust.
Under each Master Trust Agreement and pursuant to a related
supplement, a Master Trust New Issuance may only occur upon the satisfaction of
certain conditions provided in each such Master Trust Agreement. The obligation
of the related Trustee to authenticate the Securities of any such Master Trust
New Issuance and to execute and deliver the supplement to the related Master
Trust Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (a)
on or before the date upon which the Master Trust New Issuance is to occur, the
Company shall have given the related Trustee, the Servicer, the Rating Agency
and certain related providers of Credit Enhancement, if any, written notice of
such Master Trust New Issuance and the date upon which the Master Trust New
Issuance is to occur; (b) the Company shall have delivered to the related
Trustee a supplement to the related Master Trust Agreement, in form satisfactory
to such Trustee, executed by each party to the related Master Trust Agreement
other than such Trustee; (c) the Company shall have delivered to the related
Trustee any related Credit Enhancement agreement; (d) the related Trustee shall
have received confirmation from the Rating Agency that such Master Trust New
Issuance will not result in any Rating Agency reducing or withdrawing its rating
with respect to any other series or Class of such Trust (any such reduction or
withdrawal is referred to herein as a "Ratings Effect"); (e) the Company shall
have delivered to the related Trustee, the Rating Agency and certain providers
of Credit Enhancement, if any, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the related
Trustee that for federal income tax purposes (i) following such Master Trust New
Issuance the related Master Trust will not be deemed to be an association (or
publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation, (ii) such Master Trust
New Issuance will not affect the tax characterization as debt of Securities of
any outstanding series or Class issued by such Master Trust that were
characterized as debt at the time of their issuance and (iii) such Master Trust
New Issuance will not cause or constitute an event in which gain or loss would
be recognized by any Securityholders or the related Master Trust; and (f) any
other conditions specified in any supplement. Upon satisfaction of the above
conditions, the related Trustee shall execute the supplement to the related
Master Trust Agreement and issue the Securities of such new series.
INDEXED SECURITIES
To the extent so specified in any Prospectus Supplement, any class of Securities
of a given series may consist of Securities ("Indexed Securities") in which the
principal amount payable at the final scheduled Payment Date (the "Indexed
Principal Amount") is determined by reference to a measure (the "Index") which
will be related to (i) the difference in the rate of exchange between United
States dollars and a currency or composite currency (the "Indexed Currency")
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (such Indexed Securities,
"Currency Indexed Securities"); (ii) the difference in the price of a specified
commodity (the "Indexed Commodity") on specified dates (such Indexed Securities,
"Commodity
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Indexed Securities"); (iii) the difference in the level of a specified stock
index (the "Stock Index"), which may be based on U.S. or foreign stocks, on
specified dates (such Indexed Securities, "Stock Indexed Securities"); or (iv)
such other objective price or economic measures as are described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The manner of determining the Indexed
Principal Amount of an Indexed Security and historical and other information
concerning the Indexed Currency, the Indexed Commodity, the Stock Index or other
price or economic measures used in such determination will be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, together with information concerning tax
consequences to the holders of such Indexed Securities.
If the determination of the Indexed Principal Amount of an Indexed
Security is based on an Index calculated or announced by a third party and such
third party either suspends the calculation or announcement of such Index or
changes the basis upon which such Index is calculated (other than changes
consistent with policies in effect at the time such Indexed Security was issued
and permitted changes described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), then
such Index shall be calculated for purposes of such Indexed Security by an
independent calculation agent named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement on
the same basis, and subject to the same conditions and controls, as applied to
the original third party. If for any reason such index cannot be calculated on
the same basis and subject to the same conditions and controls as applied to the
original third party, then the Indexed Principal Amount of such Indexed Security
shall be calculated in the manner set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. Any determination of such independent calculation agent shall in
the absence of manifest error be binding on all parties.
Interest on an Indexed Security will be payable based on the amount
designated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Face Amount"). The
applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe whether the principal amount of
the related Indexed Security, if any, that would be payable upon redemption or
repayment prior to the applicable final scheduled Distribution Date will be the
Face Amount of such Indexed Security, the Indexed Principal Amount of such
Indexed Security at the time of redemption or repayment or another amount
described in such Prospectus Supplement.
BOOK-ENTRY REGISTRATION
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement,
Securityholders of a given series may hold their Securities through DTC (in the
United States) or CEDEL or Euroclear (in Europe) if they are participants of
such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such
systems.
Cede, as nominee for DTC, will hold the global Securities in respect
of a given series. CEDEL and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of
the CEDEL Participants (as defined below) and the Euroclear Participants (as
defined below) (collectively, the "Participants"), respectively, through
customers' securities accounts in CEDEL's and Euroclear's names on the books of
their respective depositaries (collectively, the "Depositaries") which in turn
will hold such positions in customers' securities accounts in the Depositaries'
names on the books of DTC.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the New York UCC and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold
securities for its Participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement
of securities transactions between Participants through electronic book-entries,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of notes or certificates.
Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available to
others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or
indirectly ("Indirect Participants").
Transfers between DTC Participants will occur in accordance with DTC
rules. Transfers between CEDEL Participants and Euroclear Participants will
occur in the ordinary way in accordance with their applicable rules and
operating procedures.
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Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly
through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through CEDEL
Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in
accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international
clearing system by its Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will
require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing
system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and
procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant
European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its
settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its Depositary to take action
to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities
in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for
same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. CEDEL Participants and Euroclear
Participants may not deliver instructions directly to the Depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities in CEDEL or
Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made
during the subsequent securities settlement processing, dated the business day
following the DTC settlement date, and such credits or any transactions in such
securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant CEDEL
Participant or Euroclear Participant on such business day. Cash received in
CEDEL or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities by or through a CEDEL
Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received
with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant
CEDEL or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement
in DTC.
The Securityholders of a given series that are not Participants or
Indirect Participants but desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer
ownership of, or other interests in, Securities of such series may do so only
through Participants and Indirect Participants. In addition, Securityholders of
a given series will receive all distributions of principal and interest through
the Participants who in turn will receive them from DTC. Under a book-entry
format, Securityholders of a given series may experience some delay in their
receipt of payments, since such payments will be forwarded by the applicable
Trustee to Cede, as nominee for DTC. DTC will forward such payments to its
Participants, which thereafter will forward them to Indirect Participants or
such Securityholders. It is anticipated that the only "Securityholder" in
respect of any series will be Cede, as nominee of DTC. Securityholders of a
given series will not be recognized as Securityholders of such series, and such
Securityholders will be permitted to exercise the rights of Securityholders of
such series only indirectly through DTC and its Participants.
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC
and its operations (the "Rules"), DTC is required to make book-entry transfers
of Securities of a given series among Participants on whose behalf it acts with
respect to such Securities and to receive and transmit distributions of
principal of, and interest on, such Securities. Participants and Indirect
Participants with which the Securityholders of a given series have accounts with
respect to such Securities similarly are required to make book-entry transfers
and receive and transmit such payments on behalf of their respective
Securityholders of such series. Accordingly, although such Securityholders will
not possess Securities, the Rules provide a mechanism by which Participants will
receive payments and will be able to transfer their interests.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of Participants, who in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a
Securityholder of a given series to pledge Securities of such series to persons
or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or to otherwise act with
respect to such Securities, may be limited due to the lack of a physical
certificate for such Securities.
DTC will advise the Trustee in respect of each series that it will
take any action permitted to be taken by a Securityholder of the related series
only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose accounts with DTC the
Securities of such series are credited. DTC may take conflicting actions with
respect to other undivided interests to the extent that such actions are taken
on behalf of Participants whose holdings include such undivided interests.
CEDEL is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional
depository. CEDEL holds securities for its participating organizations ("CEDEL
Participants") and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between CEDEL Participants through electronic book-entry changes
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in accounts of CEDEL Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates. Transactions may be settled in CEDEL in any of 28
currencies, including United States dollars. CEDEL provides to its CEDEL
Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities
lending and borrowing. CEDEL interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. As a professional depository, CEDEL is subject to regulation by the
Luxembourg Monetary Institute. CEDEL Participants are recognized financial
institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. Indirect access to CEDEL is also available to others, such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a CEDEL Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of
the Euroclear System ("Euroclear Participants") and to clear and settle
transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic
book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of
securities and cash. Transactions may now be settled in any of 28 currencies,
including United States dollars. The Euroclear System includes various other
services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with
domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for
cross-market transfers with DTC described above. Euroclear is operated by
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels, Belgium office, under
contract with Euroclear Clearance System, S.C., a Belgian cooperative
corporation (the "Cooperative"). All operations are conducted by the "Euroclear
Operator" (as defined below), and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts
and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the
Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for the Euroclear System on
behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks
(including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional
financial intermediaries and may include the Underwriters. Indirect access to
the Euroclear System is also available to other firms that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly
or indirectly.
The "Euroclear Operator" is the Belgian branch of a New York banking
corporation which is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. As such, it
is regulated and examined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the New York State Banking Department, as well as the Belgian Banking
Commission.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear
Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and
the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and applicable Belgian
law (collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and Conditions govern
transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System, withdrawal of
securities and cash from the Euroclear System, and receipts of payments with
respect to securities in the Euroclear System. All securities in the Euroclear
System are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates
to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under
the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no
record of relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Except as required by law, the Trustee in respect of a series will not
have any liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made or
account of beneficial ownership interests of the related Securities held by
Cede, as nominee for DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
DEFINITIVE NOTES
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Securities will be issued in fully registered, certificated form ("Definitive
Securities") to the Securityholders of a given series or their nominees, rather
than to DTC or its nominee, only if (i) the Trustee in respect of the related
series advises in writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to discharge
properly its responsibilities as depository with respect to such Securities and
such Trustee is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) such Trustee, at
its option, elects to terminate the book-entry-system through DTC or (iii) after
the occurrence of an
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"Event of Default" under the related Indenture or a default by the Servicer
under the related Trust Agreements, Securityholders representing at least a
majority of the outstanding principal amount of such Securities advise the
applicable Trustee through DTC in writing that the continuation of a book-entry
system through DTC (or a successor thereto) is no longer in such
Securityholders' best interest.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, the applicable Trustee will be required to notify all such
Securityholders through Participants of the availability of Definitive
Securities. Upon surrender by DTC of the definitive certificates representing
such Securities and receipt of instructions for re-registration, the applicable
Trustee will reissue such Securities as Definitive Securities to such
Securityholders.
Distributions of principal of, and interest on, such Securities will
thereafter be made by the applicable Trustee in accordance with the procedures
set forth in the related Indenture or Trust Agreement directly to holders of
Definitive Securities in whose names the Definitive Securities were registered
at the close of business on the applicable Record Date specified for such
Securities in the related Prospectus Supplement. Such distributions will be
made by check mailed to the address of such holder as it appears on the register
maintained by the applicable Trustee. The final payment on any such Security,
however, will be made only upon presentation and surrender of such Security at
the office or agency specified in the notice of final distribution to the
applicable Securityholders.
Definitive Securities in respect of a given series of Securities will
be transferable and exchangeable at the offices of the applicable Trustee or of
a certificate registrar named in a notice delivered to holders of such
Definitive Securities. No service charge will be imposed for any registration
of transfer or exchange, but the applicable Trustee may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection
therewith.
REPORTS TO SECURITYHOLDERS
With respect to each series of Securities, on or prior to each Payment
Date for such series, the Servicer or the related Trustee will forward or cause
to be forwarded to each holder of record of such class of Securities a statement
or statements with respect to the related Trust Property setting forth the
information specifically described in the related Trust Agreement which
generally will include the following information:
(i) the amount of the distribution with respect to each class of
Securities;
(ii) the amount of such distribution allocable to principal;
(iii) the amount of such distribution allocable to interest;
(iv) the Pool Balance, if applicable, as of the close of business
on the last day of the related Remittance Period;
(v) the aggregate outstanding principal balance and the Pool
Factor for each Class of Securities after giving effect to all payments
reported under (ii) above on such Payment Date;
(vi) the amount paid to the Servicer, if any, with respect to the
related Remittance Period;
(vii) the amount of the aggregate purchase amounts for
Receivables that have been reacquired, if any, for such Remittance Period;
and
(viii) the amount of coverage under any letter of credit,
financial guaranty insurance policy, reserve account or other form of
credit enhancement covering default risk as of the close of business on the
applicable Payment Date and a description of any Credit Enhancement
substituted therefor.
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Each amount set forth pursuant to subclauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (v) with
respect to the Securities of any series will be expressed as a dollar amount per
$1,000 of the initial principal balance of such Securities, as applicable. The
actual information to be set forth in statements to Securityholders of a series
will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the
end of each calendar year, the applicable Trustee will provide to the
Securityholders a statement containing the amounts described in (ii) and (iii)
above for that calendar year and any other information required by applicable
tax laws, for the purpose of the Securityholders' preparation of federal income
tax returns.
FORWARD COMMITMENTS; PRE-FUNDING
A Trust may enter into an agreement (each, a "Forward Purchase
Agreement") with the Sponsor whereby the Sponsor will agree to transfer
additional Mortgage Loans to such Trust following the date on which such Trust
is established and the related Certificates are issued. The Trust may enter
into Forward Purchase Agreements to permit the acquisition of additional
Mortgage Loans that could not be delivered by the Sponsor or have not formally
completed the origination process, in each case prior to the date on which the
Certificates are delivered to the Certificateholders (the "Closing Date"). Any
Forward Purchase Agreement will require that any Mortgage Loans so transferred
to the Trust conform to the requirements specified in such Forward Purchase
Agreement.
If a Forward Purchase Agreement is to be utilized, and unless
otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related Trustee
will be required to deposit in a segregated account (each, a "Pre-Funding
Account") up to 100% of the net proceeds received by the Trustee in connection
with the sale of one or more classes of Certificates of the related Series; the
additional Mortgage Loans will be transferred to the related Trust in exchange
for money released to the Sponsor from the related Pre-Funding Account. Each
Forward Purchase Agreement will set a specified period (the "Funding Period")
during which any such transfers must occur; for a Trust which elects federal
income treatment as REMIC or as a grantor trust, the related Funding Period will
be limited to three months from the date such Trust is established; for a Trust
which is treated as a mere security device for federal income tax purposes, the
related Funding Period will be limited to nine months from the date such Trust
is established. The Forward Purchase Agreement or the related Pooling and
Servicing Agreement will require that, if all moneys originally deposited to
such Pre-Funding Account are not so used by the end of the related Funding
Period, then any remaining moneys will be applied as a mandatory prepayment of
the related class or classes of Certificates as specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
During the Funding Period the moneys deposited to the Pre-Funding
Account will either (i) be held uninvested or (ii) will be invested in cash-
equivalent investments rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at
least one nationally recognized statistical rating orgnaization and which will
either mature prior to the end of the Funding Period, or will be drawable on
demand and in any event, will not constitute the type of investment which would
require registration of the related Trust as an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AGREEMENTS
The following summary describes certain terms of each Trust Agreement
pursuant to which a Trust Property will be created and the related Securities in
respect of such Trust Property will be issued. For purposes of this Prospectus,
the term "Trust Agreement" as used with respect to a Trust means, collectively,
and except as otherwise specified, any and all agreements relating to the
establishment of the related Trust, the servicing of the related Receivables and
the issuance of the related Securities, including without limitation the
Indenture, (i.e. pursuant to which any Notes shall be issued). Forms of the
Trust Agreement have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which the Prospectus forms a part. The summary does not purport to be complete.
It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Trust
Agreements.
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ORIGINATION OF THE RECEIVABLES BY THE COMPANY AND ACQUISITION OF THE RECEIVABLES
PURSUANT TO A RECEIVABLES ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
On the closing date specified with respect to any given series of
Securities (the "Closing Date"), the Company or a Finance Subsidiary will
transfer Receivables originated by the Company either to a Trust pursuant to a
Pooling Agreement, or will pledge the Company's or the Finance Subsidiary's
right, title and interests in and to such Receivables to a Trustee on behalf of
the Securityholders pursuant to an Indenture. The Company or a Finance
Subsidiary will either transfer the Receivables to a Trust pursuant to a Pooling
Agreement, or will pledge the Company's right, title and interests in and to
such Receivables to a Trustee on behalf of Securityholders pursuant to an
Indenture. The obligations of the Company or a Finance Subsidiary and the
Servicer under the related Trust Agreement include those specified below and in
the related Prospectus Supplement.
As more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company
will be obligated to acquire from the related Trust Property its interest in any
Receivable transferred to a Trust or pledged to a Trustee on behalf of
Securityholders if the interest of the Securityholders therein is materially
adversely affected by a breach of any representation or warranty made by the
Company with respect to such Receivable, which breach has not been cured
following the discovery by or notice to the Company of the breach. In addition,
if so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company may from time
to time reacquire certain Receivables or substitute other Receivables for such
Receivable subject to specified conditions set forth in the related Trust
Agreement.
ACCOUNTS
With respect to each series of Securities issued by a Trust, the Servicer
will establish and maintain with the applicable Trustee one or more accounts, in
the name of such Trustee on behalf of the related Securityholders, into which
all payments made on or with respect to the related Receivables will be
deposited (the "Collection Account"). The Servicer will also establish and
maintain with such Trustee separate accounts, in the name of such Trustee on
behalf of such Securityholders, in which amounts released from the Collection
Account and the reserve account or other Credit Enhancement, if any, for
distribution to such Securityholders will be deposited and from which
distributions to such Securityholders will be made (the "Distribution Account").
Any other accounts to be established with respect to a Trust, including any
reserve account, will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
For any series of Securities, funds in the Collection Account, the
Distribution Account, any reserve account and other accounts identified as such
in the related Prospectus Supplement (collectively, the "Trust Accounts") shall
be invested as provided in the related Trust Agreement in Eligible Investments.
"Eligible Investments" are generally limited to investments acceptable to the
Rating Agencies as being consistent with the rating of such Securities. Subject
to certain conditions, Eligible Investments may include securities issued by the
Company, the Servicer or their respective affiliates or other trusts created by
the Company or its affiliates. Except as described below or in the related
Prospectus Supplement, Eligible Investments are limited to obligations or
securities that mature not later than the business day immediately preceding the
related Payment Date. However, subject to certain conditions, funds in the
reserve account may be invested in securities that will not mature prior to the
date of the next distribution and will not be sold to meet any shortfalls.
Thus, the amount of cash in any reserve account at any time may be less than the
balance of such reserve account. If the amount required to be withdrawn from
any reserve account to cover shortfalls in collections on the related
Receivables exceeds the amount of cash in such reserve account a temporary
shortfall in the amounts distributed to the related Securityholders could
result, which could, in turn, increase the average life of the Securities of
such series. Except as otherwise specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, investment earnings on funds deposited in the applicable Trust
Accounts, net of losses and investment expenses (collectively, "Investment
Earnings"), shall be deposited in the applicable Collection Account on each
Payment Date and shall be treated as collections of interest on the related
Receivables.
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The Trust Accounts will be maintained as Eligible Deposit Accounts.
"Eligible Deposit Account" means either (a) a segregated account with an
Eligible Institution or (b) a segregated trust account with the corporate trust
department of a depository institution organized under the laws of the United
States of America or any one of the states thereof or the District of Columbia
(or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), having corporate trust powers and
acting as trustee for funds deposited in such account, so long as any of the
securities of such depository institution has a credit rating from each Rating
Agency in one of its generic rating categories which signifies investment grade.
"Eligible Institution" means, with respect to a Trust, (a) the corporate trust
department of the related Indenture Trustee or the related Trustee, as
applicable, or (b) a depository institution organized under the laws of the
United States of America or any one of the states thereof or the District of
Columbia (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), which (i) (A) has either
(w) a long-term unsecured debt rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies or (x) a
short-term unsecured debt rating or certificate of deposit rating acceptable to
the Rating Agencies or (B) the parent corporation of which has either (y) a
long-term unsecured debt rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies or (z) a
short-term unsecured debt rating or certificate of deposit rating acceptable to
the Rating Agencies and (ii) whose deposits are insured by the FDIC.
THE SERVICER
The Servicer under each Trust Agreement will be named in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The entity serving as Servicer may be the Company or an
affiliate of the Company and may have other business relationships with the
Company or the Company's affiliates. The Servicer with respect to each series
will service the Receivables contained in the Trust Fund for such series. Any
Servicer may delegate its servicing responsibilities to one or more sub-
servicers, but will not be relieved of its liabilities with respect thereto.
The Servicer will make certain representations and warranties regarding its
authority to enter into, and its ability to perform its obligations under, the
related Trust Agreement. An uncured breach of such a representation or warranty
that in any respect materially and adversely affects the interests of the
Securityholders will constitute a Servicer Default (as hereinafter defined) by
the Servicer under the related Trust Agreement.
SERVICING PROCEDURES
Each Trust Agreement will provide that the Servicer will make reasonable
efforts to collect all payments due with respect to the Receivables which are
part of the Trust Fund and, in a manner consistent with the related Trust
Agreement, will continue such collection procedures as the Servicer follows with
respect to the particular type of Receivable in the particular pool it services
for itself and others. Consistent with its normal procedures, the Servicer may,
in its discretion and on a case-by-case basis, arrange with the Obligor on a
Receivable to extend or modify the payment schedule. Some of such arrangements
(including, without limitation any extension of the payment schedule beyond the
final scheduled Payment Date for the related Securities) may result in the
Servicer acquiring such Receivable if such Contract becomes a Defaulted
Contract. The Servicer may sell the Vehicle securing the respective Defaulted
Contract, if any, at a public or private sale, or take any other action
permitted by applicable law. See "Certain Legal Aspects of the Receivables".
The material aspects of any particular Servicer's collections and other
relevant procedures will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
PAYMENTS ON RECEIVABLES
With respect to each series of Securities, unless otherwise specified in
the related Prospectus Supplement, the Servicer will deposit into the Collection
Account all payments on the related Receivables (from whatever source) and all
proceeds of such Receivables collected within three (3) business days of receipt
thereof in the related collection facility, such as a lock-box account or
collection account. Moneys deposited in such collection facility for Trust
Property may be commingled with funds from other sources.
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SERVICING COMPENSATION
As may be described in the related Prospectus Supplement with respect to
any series of securities issued by a Trust, the Servicer will be entitled to
receive a servicing fee for each Collection Period (the "Servicing Fee") in an
amount equal to a specified percentage per annum (as set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the "Servicing Fee Rate") of the value of the assets of
the Trust Property, generally as of the first day of such Collection Period.
Each Prospectus Supplement and Servicing Agreement will specify the priority of
distributions with respect to the Servicing Fee (together with any portion of
the Servicing Fee that remains unpaid from prior Payment Dates). Generally, the
Servicing Fee will be paid prior to any distribution to the related
Securityholders.
The Servicer will also collect and retain any late fees, the penalty
portion of interest paid on past due amounts and other administrative fees or
similar charges allowed by applicable law with respect to the Receivables, and
will be entitled to reimbursement from each Trust for certain liabilities.
Payments by or on behalf of Obligors will be allocated to scheduled payments and
late fees and other charges in accordance with the Servicer's normal practices
and procedures.
The Servicing Fee will compensate the Servicer for performing the functions
of a third party servicer of similar types of receivables as an agent for their
beneficial owner, including collecting and posting all payments, responding to
inquiries of Obligors on the related Receivables, investigating delinquencies,
sending billing statements to Obligors, reporting tax information to Obligors,
paying costs of collection and disposition of defaults, and policing the
collateral. The Servicing Fee also will compensate the Servicer for
administering the related Receivables, accounting for collections and furnishing
statements to the applicable Trustee and the applicable Indenture Trustee, if
any, with respect to distributions. The Servicing Fee also will reimburse the
Servicer for certain taxes, accounting fees, outside auditor fees, data
processing costs and other costs incurred in connection with administering the
Receivables.
DISTRIBUTIONS
With respect to each series of Securities, beginning on the Payment Date
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, distributions of principal and
interest (or, where applicable, of principal or interest only) on each Class of
such Securities entitled thereto will be made by the applicable Indenture
Trustee to the holders of Notes (the "Noteholders") and by the applicable
Trustee to the holders of Certificates (the "Certificateholders") of such
series. The timing, calculation, allocation, order, source, priorities of and
requirements for each class of Noteholders and all distributions to each class
of Certificateholders of such series will be set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
With respect to each series of Securities, on each Payment Date collections
on the related Receivables will be transferred from the Collection Account to
the Distribution Account for distribution to Securityholders, respectively, to
the extent provided in the related Prospectus Supplement. Credit Enhancement,
such as a reserve account, may be available to cover any shortfalls in the
amount available for distribution on such date, to the extent specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement. As more fully described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, and unless otherwise specified therein, distributions in
respect of principal of a Class of Securities of a given series will be
subordinate to distributions in respect of interest on such Class, and
distributions in respect of the Certificates of such series may be subordinate
to payments in respect of the Notes of such series.
CREDIT AND CASH FLOW ENHANCEMENTS
The amounts and types of Credit Enhancement arrangements, if any, and the
provider thereof, if applicable, with respect to each class of Securities of a
given series will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. If and to
the extent provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, credit enhancement may
be in the form of a Policy, subordination of one or more Classes of Securities,
reserve accounts, overcollateralization, letters of credit, credit or liquidity
facilities, third party payments or other support, surety bonds, guaranteed cash
deposits or such other arrangements as may be described in the
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related Prospectus Supplement or any combination of two or more of the
foregoing. If specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Credit
Enhancement for a Class of Securities may cover one or more other Classes of
Securities of the same series, and Credit Enhancement for a series of Securities
may cover one or more other series of Securities.
The presence of Credit Enhancement for the benefit of any Class or series
of Securities is intended to enhance the likelihood of receipt by the
Securityholders or such Class or series of the full amount of principal and
interest due thereon and to decrease the likelihood that such Securityholders
will experience losses. As more specifically provided in the related Prospectus
Supplement, the credit enhancement for a Class or series of Securities will not
provide protection against all risks of loss and will not guarantee repayment of
the entire principal balance and interest thereon. If losses occur which exceed
the amount covered by any Credit Enhancement or which are not covered by any
Credit Enhancement, Securityholders of any Class or series will bear their
allocable share of deficiencies, as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement. In addition, if a form of Credit Enhancement covers more than one
series of Securities, Securityholders of any such series will be subject to the
risk that such Credit Enhancement will be exhausted by the claims of
Securityholders of other series.
STATEMENTS TO INDENTURE TRUSTEES AND TRUSTEES
Prior to each Payment Date with respect to each series of Securities, the
Servicer will provide to the applicable Indenture Trustee and/or the applicable
Trustee and Credit Enhancer as of the close of business on the last day of the
preceding related Collection Period a statement setting forth substantially the
same information as is required to be provided in the periodic reports provided
to Securityholders of such series described under "Description of the
Securities--Reports to Securityholders".
EVIDENCE AS TO COMPLIANCE
Each Trust Agreement will provide that a firm of independent public
accountants will furnish to the related Trust and/or the applicable Indenture
Trustee and Credit Enhancer, annually, a statement as to compliance by the
Servicer during the preceding twelve months (or, in the case of the first such
certificate, the period from the applicable Closing Date) with certain standards
relating to the servicing of the Receivables.
Each Trust Agreement will also provide for delivery to the related Trust
and/or the applicable Indenture Trustee of a certificate signed by an officer of
the Servicer stating that the Servicer either has fulfilled its obligations
under such Trust Agreement in all material respects throughout the preceding 12
months (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the period from the
applicable Closing Date) or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of
any such obligation in any material respect, describing each such default. The
Servicer also will agree to give each Indenture Trustee and each Trustee notice
of certain Servicer Defaults (as hereinafter defined) under the related Trust
Agreement.
Copies of such statements and certificates may be obtained by
Securityholders by a request in writing addressed to the applicable Indenture
Trustee or the applicable Trustee.
CERTAIN MATTERS REGARDING THE SERVICERS
Each Trust Agreement will provide that the Servicer may not resign from its
obligations and duties as Servicer thereunder, except upon determination that
the performance by the Servicer of such duties is no longer permissible under
applicable law. No such resignation will become effective until the related
Trustee or a successor servicer has assumed the Servicer's servicing obligations
and duties under the Trust Agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, each
Trust Agreement will further provide that neither the Servicer nor any of its
respective directors, officers, employees, or agents shall be under any
liability to the related Issuer or the related Securityholders for taking any
action or for refraining from taking any action pursuant to such Trust
Agreement, or for errors in judgment; provided,
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however, that neither the Servicer nor any such person will be protected against
any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of obligations and duties thereunder. In addition, such
Trust Agreement will provide that the Servicer is under no obligation to appear
in, prosecute, or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its
servicing responsibilities under such Trust Agreement and that, in its opinion,
may cause it to incur any expense or liability.
Under the circumstances specified in any such Trust Agreement, any entity
into which the Servicer may be merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Servicer is a party, or any entity
succeeding to the business of the Servicer or, with respect to its obligations
as Servicer, which corporation or other entity in each of the foregoing cases
assumes the obligations of the Servicer, will be the successor to the Servicer
under such Trust Agreement.
SERVICER DEFAULT
Except as otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement,
"Servicer Default" under a Trust Agreement will include (i) any failure by the
Servicer to deliver to the applicable Trustee for deposit in any of the related
Trust Accounts any required payment or to direct such Trustee to make any
required distributions therefrom, which failure continues unremedied for more
than three (3) Business Days after written notice from such Trustee is received
by the Servicer or after discovery by the Servicer; (ii) any failure by the
Servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect any other covenant
or agreement in such Trust Agreement, which failure materially and adversely
affects the rights of the related Securityholders and which continues unremedied
for more than thirty (30) days after the giving of written notice of such
failure (1) to the Servicer by the applicable Trustee or (2) to the Servicer,
and to the applicable Trustee by holders of the related Securities, as
applicable, evidencing not less than 50% of the voting rights of such
outstanding Securities; (iii) any Insolvency Event; and (iv) any claim being
made on a Policy issued as Credit Enhancement. An "Insolvency Event" shall mean
financial insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and
liabilities, or similar proceedings with respect to the Servicer and certain
actions by the Servicer indicating its insolvency, reorganization pursuant to
bankruptcy proceedings, or inability to pay its obligations.
RIGHTS UPON SERVICER DEFAULT
As more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, as long as a
Servicer Default under a Trust Agreement remains unremedied, the applicable
Trustee, Credit Enhancer or holders of Securities of the related series
evidencing not less than 50% of the voting rights of such then outstanding
Securities may terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer, if any,
under such Trust Agreement, whereupon a successor servicer appointed by such
Trustee or such Trustee will succeed to all the responsibilities, duties and
liabilities of the Servicer under such Trust Agreement and will be entitled to
similar compensation arrangements. If, however, a bankruptcy trustee or similar
official has been appointed for the Servicer, and no Servicer Default other than
such appointment has occurred, such bankruptcy trustee or official may have the
power to prevent the applicable Trustee or such Securityholders from effecting a
transfer of servicing. In the event that the Trustee is unwilling or unable to
so act, it may appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of, a successor with a net worth of at least $25,000,000 and whose
regular business includes the servicing of a similar type of receivables. Such
Trustee may make such arrangements for compensation to be paid, which in no
event may be greater than the servicing compensation payable to the Servicer
under the related Trust Agreement.
WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS
With respect to each Trust, unless otherwise provided in the related
Prospectus Supplement and subject to the approval of any Credit Enhancer, the
holders of Notes evidencing at least a majority of the voting rights of such
then outstanding Securities may, on behalf of all Securityholders of the related
Securities, waive any default by the Servicer in the performance of its
obligations under the related Trust Agreement and its consequences, except a
default in making any required deposits to or payments from
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any of the Trust Accounts in accordance with such Trust Agreement. No such
waiver shall impair the Securityholders' rights with respect to subsequent
defaults.
AMENDMENT
As more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, each of the
Trust Agreements may be amended by the parties thereto, without the consent of
the related Securityholders, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of such Trust
Agreements or of modifying in any manner the rights of such Securityholders;
provided that such action will not, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to
the applicable Trustee, materially and adversely affect the interests of any
such Securityholder and subject to the approval of any Credit Enhancer. As may
be described in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Trust Agreements may also
be amended by the Company, the Servicer, and the applicable Trustee with the
consent of the holders of Securities evidencing at least a majority of the
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voting rights of such then outstanding Securities for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
such Trust Agreements or of modifying in any manner the rights of such
Securityholders; provided, however, that no such amendment may (i) increase or
reduce in any manner the amount or priority of, or accelerate or delay the
timing of, collections of payments on the related Receivables or distributions
that are required to be made for the benefit of such Securityholders or (ii)
reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Securities of such series which are
required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the
Securityholders of such series.
INSOLVENCY EVENT
As described in the related Prospectus Supplement, if an Insolvency Event
occurs with respect to a Debtor relating to the applicable Trust Property, the
related Trust will terminate, and the Receivables of the related Trust Property
will be liquidated and each such Trust will be terminated 90 days after the date
of such Insolvency Event, unless, before the end of such 90-day period, the
Trustee of such Trust shall have received written instructions from each of the
related Securityholders (other than the Company) and/or Credit Enhancer to the
effect that such party disapproves of the liquidation of such Receivables.
Promptly after the occurrence of any Insolvency Event with respect to a Debtor,
notice thereof is required to be given to such Securityholders and/or Credit
Enhancer; provided, however, that any failure to give such required notice will
not prevent or delay termination of any Trust. Upon termination of any Trust,
the applicable Trustee shall direct that the assets of such Trust be promptly
sold (other than the related Trust Accounts) in a commercially reasonable manner
and on commercially reasonable terms. The proceeds from any such sale,
disposition or liquidation of such Receivables will be treated as collections on
such Receivables and deposited in the related Collection Account. If the
proceeds from the liquidation of such Receivables and any amounts on deposit in
the Reserve Account, if any, and the related Distribution Account are not
sufficient to pay the Securities of the related series in full, and no
additional Credit Enhancement is available, the amount of principal returned to
Securityholders will be reduced and some or all of such Securityholders will
incur a loss.
Each Trust Agreement will provide that the applicable Trustee does not have
the power to commence a voluntary proceeding in bankruptcy with respect to any
related Trust without the unanimous prior approval of all Certificateholders
(including the Company, if applicable) of such Trust and the delivery to such
Trustee by each such Certificateholder of a certificate certifying that such
Certificateholder reasonably believes that such Trust is insolvent.
TERMINATION
With respect to each Trust, the obligations of the Servicer, the Company
and the applicable Trustee pursuant to the related Trust Agreement will
terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity or other liquidation of
the last related Receivable and the disposition of any amounts received upon
liquidation of any such remaining Receivables and (ii) the payment to
Securityholders of the related series of all amounts required to be paid to them
pursuant to such Trust Agreement. As more fully described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, in order to avoid excessive administrative expense, the
Servicer
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will be permitted in respect of the applicable Trust Property, unless otherwise
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, at its option to purchase from
such Trust Property, as of the end of any Collection Period immediately
preceding a Payment Date, if the Pool Balance of the related Contracts is less
than a specified percentage (set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement) of
the initial Pool Balance in respect of such Trust Property, all such remaining
Receivables at a price equal to the aggregate of the Purchase Amounts thereof as
of the end of such Collection Period. The related Securities will be redeemed
following such purchase.
If and to the extent provided in the related Prospectus Supplement with
respect to the Trust Property, the applicable Trustee will, within ten days
following a Payment Date as of which the Pool Balance is equal to or less than
the percentage of the initial Pool Balance specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, solicit bids for the purchase of the Receivables remaining in such
Trust, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in such
Prospectus Supplement. If such Trustee receives satisfactory bids as described
in such Prospectus Supplement, then the Receivables remaining in such Trust
Property will be sold to the highest bidder.
As more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, any
outstanding Notes of the related series will be redeemed concurrently with
either of the events specified above and the subsequent distribution to the
related Certificateholders of all amounts required to be distributed to them
pursuant to the applicable Trust Agreement may effect the prepayment of the
Certificates of such series.
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE RECEIVABLES
GENERAL
The transfer of Receivables by the Company or its Finance Subsidiary to the
Trust pursuant to the related Trust Agreement, the perfection of the security
interests in the Receivables and the enforcement of rights to realize on the
Vehicles as collateral for the Receivables are subject to a number of federal
and state laws, including the UCC as in effect in various states. As specified
in each Prospectus Supplement, the Servicer will take such action as is required
to perfect the rights of the Trustee in the Receivables. If, through
inadvertence or otherwise, a third party were to purchase (including the taking
of a security interest in) a Receivable for new value in the ordinary course of
its business, without actual knowledge of the Trust's interest, and take
possession of a Receivable, the purchaser would acquire an interest in such
Receivable superior to the interest of the Trust. As further specified in each
Prospectus Supplement, no action will be taken to perfect the rights of the
Trustee in proceeds of any insurance policies covering individual Vehicles or
Obligors. Therefore, the rights of a third party with an interest in such
proceeds could prevail against the rights of the Trust prior to the time such
proceeds are deposited by the Servicer into a Trust Account.
SECURITY INTERESTS IN THE FINANCED VEHICLES
General
Retail installment sale contracts such as the Receivables evidence the
credit sale of automobiles and light duty trucks by dealers to consumers. The
contracts also constitute personal property security agreements and include
grants of security interests in the related automobiles and light duty trucks
under the UCC. Perfection of security interests in automobiles and light duty
trucks is generally governed by the vehicle registration or titling laws of the
state in which each vehicle is registered or titled. In most states a security
interest in a vehicle is perfected by notation of the secured party's lien on
the vehicle's certificate of title.
Perfection
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Company will sell and assign the
Receivables it has originated or acquired and its security interests in the
Vehicles to the Trustee. Alternatively, the Company
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may sell and assign the Receivables and its interest in the Vehicles to a
Finance Subsidiary which will, in turn, sell and assign such Receivables and
related security interests to the Trustee. Each of the related Prospectus
Supplements will specify whether, because of the administrative burden and
expense, the Company, the Servicer or the Trustee will amend any certificate of
title to identify the Trustee as the new secured party on the certificates of
title relating to the Vehicles. Each of the related Prospectus Supplements will
specify the UCC financing statements to be filed in order to perfect the
transfer to the Finance Subsidiary of Receivables and the transfer by the
Finance Subsidiary to the Trustee of the Receivables. Further, although the
Trustee will not rely on possession of the Receivables as the legal basis for
the perfection of its interest therein or in the security interests in the
Vehicles, the Servicer, as specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, will
continue to hold the Receivables and any certificates of title relating to the
Vehicles in its possession as custodian for the Trustee pursuant to the related
Trust Agreement which, as a practical matter, should preclude any other party
from claiming a competing security interest in the Receivables on the basis that
the security interest is perfected by possession.
A security interest in a motor vehicle registered in most states may be
perfected against creditors and subsequent purchasers without notice for
valuable consideration only by one or more of the following: depositing with the
related Department of Motor Vehicles or analogous state office a properly
endorsed certificate of title for the vehicle showing the secured party as legal
owner or lienholder thereon, or filing a sworn notice of lien with the related
Department of Motor Vehicles or analogous state office and noting such lien on
the certificate of title, or, if the vehicle has not been previously registered,
filing an application in usual form for an original registration together with
an application for registration of the secured party as legal owner or
lienholder, as the case may be. However, under the laws of most states, a
transferee of a security interest in a motor vehicle is not required to reapply
to the related Department of Motor Vehicles or analogous state office for a
transfer of registration when the security interest is sold or when the interest
of the transferee arises from the transfer of a security interest by the
lienholder to secure payment or performance of an obligation. Accordingly, under
the laws of such states, the assignment by the Company of its interest in the
Receivables to the Trustee under the related Trust Agreement is an effective
conveyance of the security interest of the Company in the Receivables, and
specifically, the Vehicles, without such re-registration and without amendment
of any lien noted on the related certificate of title, and (subject to the
immediately succeeding paragraphs) the Trustee will succeed to the Company's
rights as secured party.
Although re-registration of a Vehicle is not necessary to convey a
perfected security interest in the Vehicles to the Trustee, the Trustee's
security interest could be defeated through fraud, negligence, forgery or
administrative error since it may not be listed as legal owner or lienholder on
the certificates of title to the Vehicles. However, in the absence of fraud,
negligence, forgery or administrative error , the notation of the Company's lien
on the certificates of title will be sufficient to protect the Trust against the
rights of subsequent purchasers of a Vehicle or subsequent creditors who take a
security interest in a Vehicle. In the related Trust Agreement, the Company or
its Finance Subsidiary will represent and warrant that it has, or has taken all
action necessary to obtain, a perfected security interest in each Vehicle. If
there are any Vehicles as to which the Company failed to obtain a first priority
perfected security interest, the Company's security interest would be
subordinate to, among others, subsequent purchasers of such Vehicles and holders
of first priority perfected security interests therein. Such a failure,
however, would constitute a breach of the Company's or the Finance Subsidiary's
representations and warranties under the related Trust Agreement. Accordingly,
pursuant to the related Trust Agreement, the Company or Finance Subsidiary would
be required to repurchase the related Receivables from the Trustee unless the
breach were cured.
Continuity of Perfection
Under the laws of most states, a perfected security interest in a motor
vehicle continues for four months after the vehicle is moved to a new state from
the one in which it is initially registered and thereafter until the owner re-
registers such motor vehicle in the new state. A majority of states generally
require surrender of a certificate of title to re-register a vehicle. In those
states that require a secured party to hold possession of the certificate of
title to maintain perfection of the security interest, the secured party would
learn of the re-registration through the request from the Obligor under the
related installment
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sale contract to surrender possession of the certificate of title to assist in
such re-registration. In the case of vehicles registered in states providing
for the notation of a lien on the certificate of title but not requiring
possession by the secured party (such as Texas), the secured party would receive
notice of surrender from the state of re-registration if the security interest
is noted on the certificate of title. Thus, the secured party would have the
opportunity to reperfect its security interest in the vehicle in the state of
relocation. However, these procedural safeguards will not protect the secured
party if, through fraud, forgery or administrative error, the debtor somehow
procures a new certificate of title that does not list the secured party's lien.
Additionally, in states that do not require surrender of a certificate of title
for re-registration of a vehicle, re-registration could defeat perfection. In
each of the Trust Agreements, the Servicer will be required to take steps to
effect re-perfection upon receipt of notice of re-registration or information
from the Obligor as to relocation. Similarly, when an Obligor sells a Vehicle,
the Servicer will have an opportunity to require satisfaction of the related
Receivable before release of the lien, either because the Servicer will be
required to surrender possession of the certificate of title in connection with
the sale, or because the Servicer will receive notice as a result of its lien
noted thereon. Pursuant to the related Trust Agreement, the related Servicer
will hold the certificates of title for the related Vehicles as custodian for
the Trustee. Under the related Trust Agreement, the Servicer will be obligated
to take appropriate steps, at its own expense, to maintain perfected security
interests in the Vehicles.
Priority of Certain Liens Arising by Operation of Law
Under the laws of most states, certain statutory liens such as mechanics',
repairmen's and garagemen's liens for repairs performed on a motor vehicle,
motor vehicle accident liens, towing and storage liens, liens arising under
various state and federal criminal statutes and liens for unpaid taxes take
priority over even a first priority perfected security interest in such vehicle
by operation of law. The UCC also grants priority to certain federal tax liens
over the lien of a secured party. The laws of most states and federal law
permit the confiscation of motor vehicles by governmental authorities under
certain circumstances if used in or acquired with the proceeds of unlawful
activities, which may result in the loss of a secured party's perfected security
interest in a confiscated vehicle. The Company will represent and warrant to
the Trustee in the related Trust Agreement that, as of the related Closing Date,
each security interest in a Vehicle shall be a valid, subsisting and enforceable
first priority security interest in such Vehicle. However, liens for repairs or
taxes superior to the security interest of the Trustee in any such Vehicle, or
the confiscation of such Vehicle, could arise at any time during the term of a
Receivable. No notice will be given to the Trustee or any Securityholder in the
event such a lien or confiscation arises and any such lien or confiscation
arising after the related Closing Date would not give rise to the Company's
repurchase obligation under the related Trust Agreement.
REPOSSESSION
In the event of default by an Obligor, the holder of the related retail
installment sale contract has all the remedies of a secured party under the UCC,
except where specifically limited by other state laws. The UCC remedies of a
secured party include the right to repossession by self-help means, unless such
means would constitute a breach of the peace. Unless a vehicle is voluntarily
surrendered, self-help repossession is accomplished simply by taking possession
of the related financed vehicle. In cases where the Obligor objects or raises a
defense to repossession, or if otherwise required by applicable state law, a
court order is obtained from the appropriate state court, and the vehicle must
then be recovered in accordance with that order. In some jurisdictions, the
secured party is required to notify the debtor of the default and the intent to
repossess the collateral and give the debtor a time period within which to cure
the default prior to repossession. Generally, this right of cure may only be
exercised on a limited number of occasions during the term of the related
contract. Other jurisdictions permit repossession without prior notice if it
can be accomplished without a breach of the peace (although in some states, a
course of conduct in which the creditor has accepted late payments has been held
to create a right by the Obligor to receive prior notice).
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NOTICE OF SALE; REDEMPTION RIGHTS
The UCC and other state laws require a secured party to provide the Obligor
with reasonable notice of the date, time and place of any public sale and/or the
date after which any private sale of the collateral may be held. In addition,
some states also impose substantive timing requirements on the sale of
repossessed vehicles in certain circumstances and/or various substantive timing
and content requirements on such notices. In some states, under certain
circumstances after a financed vehicle has been repossessed, the Obligor may
redeem the collateral by paying the delinquent installments and other amounts
due. The Obligor has the right to redeem the collateral prior to actual sale or
entry by the secured party into a contract for sale of the collateral by paying
the secured party the unpaid principal balance of the obligation, accrued
interest thereon, reasonable expenses for repossessing, holding, and preparing
the collateral for disposition and arranging for its sale, plus, in some
jurisdictions, reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses or in some other
states, by payment of delinquent installments on the unpaid principal balance of
the related obligation.
DEFICIENCY JUDGMENTS AND EXCESS PROCEEDS
The proceeds of resale of the Vehicles generally will be applied first to
the expenses of resale and repossession and then to the satisfaction of the
indebtedness. In many instances, the remaining principal amount of such
indebtedness will exceed such proceeds. Under the UCC and laws applicable in
some states, a creditor is entitled to bring an action to obtain a deficiency
judgment from a debtor for any deficiency on repossession and resale of a motor
vehicle securing such debtor's loan; however, in some states, a creditor may not
seek a deficiency judgment from a debtor whose financed vehicle had an initial
cash sales price less than a specified amount, usually $3,000. Some states,
impose prohibitions or limitations or notice requirements on actions for
deficiency judgments. In addition to the notice requirement described above,
the UCC requires that every aspect of the sale or other disposition, including
the method, manner, time, place and terms, be "commercially reasonable".
Generally, courts have held that when a sale is not "commercially reasonable",
the secured party loses its right to a deficiency judgment. In addition, the
UCC permits the debtor or other interested party to recover for any loss caused
by noncompliance with the provisions of the UCC. Also, prior to a sale, the UCC
permits the debtor or other interested person to obtain an order mandating that
the secured party refrain from disposing of the collateral if it is established
that the secured party is not proceeding in accordance with the "default"
provisions under the UCC. However, the deficiency judgment would be a personal
judgment against the Obligor for the shortfall, and a defaulting Obligor can be
expected to have very little capital or sources of income available following
repossession. Therefore, in many cases, it may not be useful to seek a
deficiency judgment or, if one is obtained, it may be settled at a significant
discount or be uncollectible.
Occasionally, after resale of a vehicle and payment of all expenses and
indebtedness, there is a surplus of funds. In that case, the UCC requires the
creditor to remit the surplus to any holder of a subordinate lien with respect
to the vehicle or if no such lienholder exists or if there are remaining funds,
the UCC requires the creditor to remit the surplus to the Obligor under the
contract.
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS
Numerous federal and state consumer protection laws and related regulations
impose substantial requirements upon creditors and servicers involved in
consumer finance. These laws include the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Fair Credit Reporting
Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the
Federal Reserve Board's Regulations B and Z, state adaptations of the Uniform
Consumer Credit Code, state motor vehicle retail installment sale acts, state
"lemon" laws and other similar laws. In addition, the laws of certain states
impose finance charge ceilings and other restrictions on consumer transactions
and require contract disclosures in addition to those required under federal
law. These requirements impose specific statutory liabilities upon creditors
who fail to comply with their provisions. In some cases, this liability could
affect the ability of an assignee such as the Trustee to enforce consumer
finance contracts such as the Receivables.
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The so-called "Holder-in-Due-Course Rule" of the Federal Trade Commission
(the "FTC Rule") has the effect of subjecting any assignee of the seller in a
consumer credit transaction (and certain related creditors and their assignees)
to all claims and defenses which the Obligor in the transaction could assert
against the seller. Liability under the FTC Rule is limited to the amounts paid
by the Obligor under the contract, and the holder of the contract may also be
unable to collect any balance remaining due thereunder from the Obligor. The
FTC Rule is generally duplicated by the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, other
state statutes or the common law in certain states. To the extent that the
Receivables will be subject to the requirements of the FTC Rule, the Trustee, as
holder of the Receivables, will be subject to any claims or defenses that the
purchaser of the related Vehicle may assert against the seller of such Vehicle.
Such claims will be limited to a maximum liability equal to the amounts paid by
the Obligor under the related Receivable.
Under most state vehicle dealer licensing laws, sellers of automobiles and
light duty trucks are required to be licensed to sell vehicles at retail sale.
In addition, with respect to used vehicles, the Federal Trade Commission's Rule
on Sale of Used Vehicles requires that all sellers of used vehicles prepare,
complete and display a "Buyer's Guide" which explains the warranty coverage for
such vehicles. Furthermore, Federal Odometer Regulations promulgated under the
Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act and the motor vehicle title laws
of most states require that all sellers of used vehicles furnish a written
statement signed by the seller certifying the accuracy of the odometer reading.
If a seller is not properly licensed or if either a Buyer's Guide or Odometer
Disclosure Statement was not provided to the purchaser of a Vehicle, the Obligor
may be able to assert a defense against the seller of the Vehicle. If an
Obligor on a Receivable were successful in asserting any such claim or defense,
the Servicer would pursue on behalf of the Trust any reasonable remedies against
the seller or manufacturer of the vehicle, subject to certain limitations as to
the expense of any such action to be specified in the related Trust Agreement.
Any such loss, to the extent not covered by credit support (as specified in
the Related Prospectus Supplement), could result in losses to the
Securityholders. As specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, if an
Obligor were successful in asserting any such claim or defense as described in
this paragraph or the two immediately preceding paragraphs, such claim or
defense may constitute a breach of a representation and warranty under the
related Trust Agreement and may create an obligation of the Company to
repurchase such Receivable unless the breach were cured.
Courts have applied general equitable principles to secured parties
pursuing repossession or litigation involving deficiency balances. These
equitable principles may have the effect of relieving an Obligor from some or
all of the legal consequences of a default.
In several cases, consumers have asserted that the self-help remedies of
secured parties under the UCC and related laws violate the due process
protections of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Courts have generally either upheld the notice provisions of the UCC and related
laws as reasonable or have found that the creditor's repossession and resale do
not involve sufficient state action to afford constitutional protection to
consumers.
As specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company (or its
Finance Subsidiary, if any) will represent and warrant under the related Trust
Agreement that each Receivable complies with all requirements of law in all
material respects. Accordingly, if an Obligor has a claim against the Trustee
for violation of any law and such claim materially and adversely affects the
Trustee's interest in a Receivable, such violation would constitute a breach of
representation and warranty under the related Trust Agreement and would create
an obligation of the Company (or its Finance Subsidiary, if any) to repurchase
such Receivable unless the breach were cured.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' CIVIL RELIEF ACT OF 1940
Under the terms of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Relief Act"), an Obligor who enters military service after the
origination of such Obligor's Receivable (including an Obligor who was in
reserve status and is called to active duty after origination of the
Receivable), may
42
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not be charged interest (including fees and charges) above an annual rate of 6%
during the period of such Obligor's active duty status, unless a court orders
otherwise upon application of the lender. The Relief Act applies to Obligors
who are members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves,
Coast Guard, and officers of the U.S. Public Health Service assigned to duty
with the military. Because the Relief Act applies to Obligors who enter
military service (including reservists who are called to active duty) after
origination of the related Receivable, no information can be provided as to the
number of loans that may be effected by the Relief Act. Application of the
Relief Act would adversely affect, for an indeterminate period of time, the
ability of the Servicer to collect full amounts of interest on certain of the
Receivables. Any shortfall in interest collections resulting from the
application of the Relief Act or similar legislation or regulations, which would
not be recoverable from the related Receivables, would result in a reduction of
the amounts distributable to the holders of the related Securities, and would
not be covered by advances, any form of Credit Enhancement provided in
connection with the related series of Securities. In addition, the Relief Act
imposes limitations that would impair the ability of the Servicer to foreclose
on an affected Receivable during the Mortgagor's period of active duty status,
and, under certain circumstances, during an additional three month period
thereafter. Thus, in the event that the Relief Act or similar legislation or
regulations applies to any Receivable which goes into default, there may be
delays in payment and losses on the related Securities in connection therewith.
Any other interest shortfalls, deferrals or forgiveness of payments on the
Receivables resulting from similar legislation or regulations may result in
delays in payments or losses to Securityholders of the related series.
OTHER LIMITATIONS
In addition to the laws limiting or prohibiting deficiency judgments,
numerous other statutory provi sions, including federal bankruptcy laws and
related state laws, may interfere with or affect the ability of a creditor to
realize upon collateral or enforce a deficiency judgment. For example, in a
Chapter 13 proceeding under the federal bankruptcy law, a court may prevent a
creditor from repossessing a motor vehicle, and, as part of the rehabilitation
plan, reduce the amount of the secured indebtedness to the market value of the
motor vehicle at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the court), leaving
the party providing financing as a general unsecured creditor for the remainder
of the indebtedness. A bankruptcy court may also reduce the monthly payments
due under a contract or change the rate of interest and time of repayment of the
indebtedness. Any such shortfall, to the extent not covered by credit support
(as specified in each Prospectus Supplement), could result in losses to the
Securityholders.
CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities will summarize,
subject to the limitations stated therein, federal income tax considerations
relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of such Securities.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Securities will summarize,
subject to the limitations discussed therein, considerations under ERISA
relevant to the purchase of such Securities by employee benefit plans and
individual retirement accounts.
METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION
The Securities offered hereby and by the related Prospectus Supplement will
be offered in series through one or more of the methods described below. The
Prospectus Supplement prepared for each series will describe the method of
offering being utilized for that series and will state the public offering or
purchase price of such series and the net proceeds to the Company from such
sale.
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The Company intends that Securities will be offered through the following
methods from time to time and that offerings may be made concurrently through
more than one of these methods or that an offering of a particular series of
Securities may be made through a combination of two or more of these methods.
Such methods are as follows:
1. By negotiated firm commitment or best efforts underwriting and
public re-offering by underwriters;
2. By placements by the Company with institutional investors through
dealers;
3. By direct placements by the Company with institutional investors;
and
4. By competitive bid.
In addition, if specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, a series of
Securities may be offered in whole or in part in exchange for the Receivables
(and other assets, if applicable) that would comprise the Trust Property in
respect of such Securities.
If underwriters are used in a sale of any Securities (other than in
connection with an underwriting on a best efforts basis), such Securities will
be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at
fixed public offering prices or at varying prices to be determined at the time
of sale or at the time of commitment therefor. The Securities will be set forth
on the cover of the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series and the
members of the underwriting syndicate, if any, will be named in such Prospectus
Supplement.
In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may receive
compensation from the Company or from purchasers of the Securities in the form
of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters and dealers
participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be
underwriters in connection with such Securities, and any discounts or
commissions received by them from the Company and any profit on the resale of
Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions
under the Securities Act. The Prospectus Supplement will describe any such
compensation paid by the Company.
It is anticipated that the underwriting agreement pertaining to the sale of
any series of Securities will provide that the obligations of the underwriters
will be subject to certain conditions precedent, that the underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all such Securities if any are purchased (other than in
connection with an underwriting on a best efforts basis) and that, in limited
circumstances, the Company will indemnify the several underwriters and the
underwriters will indemnify the Company against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act or will contribute to payments
required to be made in respect thereof.
The Prospectus Supplement with respect to any series offered by placements
through dealers will contain information regarding the nature of such offering
and any agreements to be entered into between the Company and purchasers of
Securities of such series.
Purchasers of Securities, including dealers, may, depending on the facts
and circumstances of such purchases, be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with reoffers and sales by them of
Securities. Holders of Securities should consult with their legal advisors in
this regard prior to any such reoffer or sale.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Certain legal matters relating to the issuance of the Securities of any
series, including certain federal and state income tax consequences with respect
thereto, will be passed upon by Dewey Ballantine, New York, New York, or other
counsel specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Certain specified Trust Property will secure each series of Securities, no
Trust will engage in any business activities or have any assets or obligations
prior to the issuance of the related series of Securities, except for serial
issuances by a Master Trust. Accordingly, no financial statements with respect
to any Trust Property will be included in this Prospectus or in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
A Prospectus Supplement may contain the financial statements of the related
Credit Enhancer, if any.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Prospectus, together with the Prospectus Supplement for each
series of Securities, contains a summary of the material terms of the applicable
exhibits to the Registration Statement and the documents referred to herein and
therein. Copies of such exhibits are on file at the offices of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., and may be obtained at rates
prescribed by the Commission upon request to the Commission and may be
inspected, without charge, at the Commission's offices.
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INDEX OF TERMS
Set forth below is a list of the defined terms used in this Prospectus and
the pages on which the definitions of such terms may be found herein.
Accrual Securities.............................................6
Additional Receivables........................................10
AFS............................................................4
APR........................................................9,.19
Cede..........................................................10
CEDEL Participants............................................28
Certificateholders............................................34
Certificates................................................1, 4
Class..........................................................1
Closing Date..............................................31,.32
Collection Account............................................32
Collectors....................................................22
Commission.................................................... 2
Commodity Indexed Securities..................................26
Company....................................................... 4
Contracts.............................................. 1, 4,.20
Cooperative...................................................29
Credit Enhancement............................................16
Credit Enhancer...............................................16
Currency Indexed Securties....................................26
Dealers....................................................... 4
Debt Securities...............................................12
Definitive Securities.........................................29
Depositaries..................................................27
Direct Participants...........................................16
Distribution Account..........................................32
DTC...........................................................10
Eligible Deposit Account......................................33
Eligible Institution..........................................33
Eligible Investments..........................................32
ERISA.........................................................12
Euroclear Operator............................................29
Euroclear Participants........................................29
Event of Default..............................................30
Exchange Act...............................................2,.12
Face Amount...................................................27
Finance Subsidiary............................................14
Fixed Income Securities....................................... 6
Fixed Value Contracts......................................9,.19
Forward Purchase Agreement....................................31
FTC Rule......................................................42
Funding Period................................................31
Grantor Trust Securities......................................12
Holder-in-Due-Course Rule.....................................42
Indenture..................................................... 5
Indenture Trustee............................................. 5
Index.........................................................26
Indexed Commodity.............................................26
Indexed Currency..............................................26
Indexed Principal Amount......................................26
Indexed Securities............................................26
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Indirect Participants.....................................16, 27
Insolvency Event..............................................36
Insolvency Laws...............................................14
Interest Rate...............................................2, 6
Investment Company Act.........................................7
Investment Earnings...........................................32
Issuer..................................................1, 4, 18
Master Trust...................................................8
Master Trust Agreement.........................................8
Master Trust New Issuance.....................................25
Noteholders...................................................34
Notes.......................................................1, 4
Participants..................................................27
Partnership Interests.........................................12
Pass-Through Rate..............................................2
Payment Date...................................................6
Policy......................................................1, 5
Pool Balance..................................................23
Pool Factor...................................................23
Pooling Agreement..............................................5
Pre-Funding Account...........................................10
Pre-Funding Period............................................10
Prepayment....................................................16
Prospectus Supplement..........................................1
Rating Agencies...............................................12
Ratings Effect............................................16, 26
Receivables..............................................1, 4, 5
Record Date....................................................7
Registration Statement.........................................2
Relief Act................................................17, 42
Remittance Period..............................................7
Residual Interest..............................................7
Rule of 78s................................................9, 19
Rule of 78s Contracts.........................................19
Rules.........................................................28
Securities.....................................................1
Securities Act.................................................2
Security Insurer..............................................10
Securityholder................................................28
Securityholders................................................6
Senior Securities..............................................6
Servicer....................................................1, 4
Servicer Default..............................................36
Servicing Agreement............................................5
Servicing Fee.................................................34
Servicing Fee Rate............................................34
Simple Interest Contracts..................................9, 19
Stock Index...................................................27
Stock Indexed Securities......................................27
Strip Securities...............................................6
Subordinate Securities.........................................6
Terms and Conditions..........................................29
Transferor.....................................................4
Trust.......................................................1, 4
Trust Accounts................................................32
Trust Agreement............................................5, 31
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Trust Property..............................................1, 4
Trustee...................................................... 5
Vehicles....................................................1, 4
Vendors...................................................... 4
Accrual Securities........................................... 6
Additional Receivables....................................... 10
AFS.......................................................... 4
APR........................................................9, 19
Cede......................................................... 10
CEDEL Participants........................................... 28
Certificateholders........................................... 34
Certificates................................................1, 4
Class........................................................ 1
Closing Date........................................... 31, 32
Collection Account........................................... 32
Collectors................................................... 22
Commission................................................... 2
Commodity Indexed Securities................................. 26
Company...................................................... 4
Contracts.............................................. 1, 4, 20
Cooperative.................................................. 29
Credit Enhancement........................................... 16
Credit Enhancer.............................................. 16
Currency Indexed Securties................................... 26
Dealers...................................................... 4
Debt Securities.............................................. 12
Definitive Securities........................................ 29
Depositaries................................................. 27
Direct Participants.......................................... 16
Distribution Account......................................... 32
DTC.......................................................... 10
Eligible Deposit Account..................................... 33
Eligible Institution......................................... 33
Eligible Investments......................................... 32
ERISA........................................................ 12
Euroclear Operator........................................... 29
Euroclear Participants....................................... 29
Event of Default............................................. 30
Exchange Act...............................................2, 12
Face Amount.................................................. 27
Finance Subsidiary........................................... 14
Fixed Income Securities...................................... 6
Fixed Value Contracts......................................9, 19
Forward Purchase Agreement................................... 31
FTC Rule..................................................... 42
Funding Period............................................... 31
Grantor Trust Securities..................................... 12
Holder-in-Due-Course Rule.................................... 42
Indenture......................................................5
Indenture Trustee............................................. 5
Index.........................................................26
Indexed Commodity.............................................26
Indexed Currency..............................................26
Indexed Principal Amount......................................26
Indexed Securities............................................26
Indirect Participants.....................................16, 27
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Insolvency Event..............................................36
Insolvency Laws...............................................14
Interest Rate...............................................2,.6
Investment Company Act.........................................7
Investment Earnings...........................................32
Issuer................................................. 1, 4, 18
Master Trust...................................................8
Master Trust Agreement.........................................8
Master Trust New Issuance.....................................25
Noteholders...................................................34
Notes.......................................................1,.4
Participants..................................................27
Partnership Interests.........................................12
Pass-Through Rate..............................................2
Payment Date...................................................6
Policy......................................................1,.5
Pool Balance..................................................23
Pool Factor...................................................23
Pooling Agreement..............................................5
Pre-Funding Account...........................................10
Pre-Funding Period............................................10
Prepayment....................................................16
Prospectus Supplement..........................................1
Rating Agencies...............................................12
Ratings Effect............................................16, 26
Receivables..............................................1, 4,.5
Record Date....................................................7
Registration Statement.........................................2
Relief Act................................................17, 42
Remittance Period..............................................7
Residual Interest..............................................7
Rule of 78s................................................9, 19
Rule of 78s Contracts.........................................19
Rules.........................................................28
Securities.....................................................1
Securities Act.................................................2
Security Insurer..............................................10
Securityholder................................................28
Securityholders................................................6
Senior Securities..............................................6
Servicer....................................................1,.4
Servicer Default..............................................36
Servicing Agreement............................................5
Servicing Fee.................................................34
Servicing Fee Rate............................................34
Simple Interest Contracts..................................9, 19
Stock Index...................................................27
Stock Indexed Securities......................................27
Strip Securities...............................................6
Subordinate Securities.........................................6
Terms and Conditions..........................................29
Transferor.....................................................4
Trust.......................................................1,.4
Trust Accounts................................................32
Trust Agreement............................................5, 31
Trust Property..............................................1,.4
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Trustee........................................................5
Vehicles....................................................1, 4
Vendors........................................................4
50
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
Set forth below is an estimate of the amount of fees and expenses (other
than underwriting discounts and commissions) to be incurred in connection with
the issuance and distribution of the Offered Certificates.
SEC Filing Fee.................... $ 666,667
Trustee's Fees and Expenses*...... 20,000
Legal Fees and Expenses*.......... 300,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses*..... 80,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses*.. 100,000
Blue Sky Qualification and Legal
Investment Fees and Expenses*.... 10,000
Rating Agency Fees*............... 200,000
Certificate Insurer's Fee*........ 150,000
Miscellaneous*.................... 200,000
----------
TOTAL........................... $1,726,667
==========
__________
* Estimated in accordance with Item 511 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Indemnification. Under the laws which govern the organization of the
registrant, the registrant has the power and in some instances may be required
to provide an agent, including an officer or director, who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to certain proceedings, with indemnification
against certain expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts under
certain circumstances.
Section 9 of the Certificate of Incorporation of AmeriCredit Financial
Services, Inc. provides that all officers and directors of the corporation shall
be indemnified by the corporation from and against all expenses, liabilities or
other matters arising out of their status as an officer or director for their
acts, omissions or services rendered in such capacities.
The forms of the Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2
to this Registration Statement, provide that AmeriCredit Financial Services,
Inc. will indemnify and reimburse the underwriter(s) and each controlling person
of the underwriter(s) with respect to certain expenses and liabilities,
including liabilities under the 1933 Act or other federal or state regulations
or under the common law, which arise out of or are based on certain material
misstatements or omissions in the Registration Statement. In addition, the
Underwriting Agreements provide that the underwriter(s) will similarly indemnify
and reimburse AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. with respect to certain
material misstatements or omissions in the Registration Statement which are
based on certain written information furnished by the underwriter(s) for use in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement.
Insurance. As permitted under the laws which govern the organization
of the registrant, the registrant's Certificate of Incorporation permits the
board of directors to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the
registrant's agents, including its officers and directors, against any liability
asserted against them in such capacity or arising out of such agents' status as
such, whether or not such registrant would have the power to indemnify them
against such liability under applicable law.
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Item 16. Exhibits
1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement - Notes (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 1.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Reg. No.33-98620).
1.2 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement - Certificates (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registrant,s Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
3.1 -- Certificate of Incorporation of the Sponsor (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
3.2 -- By-Laws of the Sponsor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No.
33-98620).
4.1 -- Form of Indenture between the Trust and the Indenture Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.2 -- Form of Indenture between the Sponsor and the Indenture Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.3 -- Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.4 -- Form of Trust Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4
to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No.
33-98620).
5.1 -- Opinion of Dewey Ballantine with respect to validity.*
8.1 -- Opinion of Dewey Ballantine with respect to tax matters.*
10.1 -- Form of Receivables Acquisition Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
23.1 -- Consents of Dewey Ballantine are included in its opinions filed as
Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 hereto.
99.1 -- Form of Prospectus Supplement - Certificates and Notes
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.2 -- Form of Prospectus Supplement - Notes (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.3 -- Form of Prospectus Supplement - Certificates (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.4 -- Form of Prospectus Supplement - Master Trust (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant's Registration on Form
Statement S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
* Filed herewith.
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Item 17. Undertakings.
A. Undertaking in respect of indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described above in Item 15, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the 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, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the 1933
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
B. Undertaking pursuant to Rule 415.
The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(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 the Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change of such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in the post-effective amendment is contained in periodic
reports filed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference 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.
C. Undertaking pursuant to Rule 430A.
The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
of a registration statement in Reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form
of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
prospectus 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.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Fort Worth, State of Texas on the 24th day of
September, 1997.
AMERICREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
By /s/ Michael R. Barrington
-----------------------------
Michael R. Barrington
Director, Vice Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Michael R. Barrington Director, Vice Chairman and Chief September 24, 1997
- -------------------------
Michael R. Barrington Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Daniel E. Berce Director, Vice Chairman and Chief September 24, 1997
- ------------------------
Daniel E. Berce Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Edward H. Esstman Director, President and Chief September 24, 1997
- ------------------------
Edward H. Esstman Operating Officer
/s/ Clifton H. Morris, Jr.Director and Chairman of the Board September 24, 1997
- --------------------------
Clifton H. Morris, Jr.
II-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
- -------
1.1 - Form of Underwriting Agreement -- Notes (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 1.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Reg. No. 33-98620).
1.2 - Form of Underwriting Agreement -- Certificates (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
3.1 - Articles of Incorporation of the Sponsor (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Reg. No. 33-98620).
3.2 - Bylaws of the Sponsor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-
98620).
4.1 - Form of Indenture between the Trust and the
Indenture Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.2 - Form of Indenture between the Sponsor and the
Indenture Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.3 - Form of Pooling and Servicing Agreement (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Reg. No. 33-98620).
4.4 - Form of Trust Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-
98620).
5.1 - Opinion of Dewey Ballantine with respect to legality.*
8.1 - Opinion of Dewey Ballantine with respect to tax matters.*
10.1 - Form of Receivables Acquisition Agreement (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
23.1 - Consent of Dewey Ballantine (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
99.1 - Form of Prospectus Supplement -- Certificates and Notes (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.2 - Form of Prospectus Supplement -- Notes (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.3 - Form of Prospectus Supplement -- Certificates (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
99.4 - Form of Prospectus Supplement -- Master Trust (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 33-98620).
* Filed herewith.
II-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
-----------
<PAGE>
_____________ __,199__
AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc.
200 Bailey Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76107-1220
Re: AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc.
Automobile Receivables-Backed Securities
Series 199__-
----------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. (the
"Registrant") in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration
statement on Form S-3 (such registration statement, the "Registration
Statement") being filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), in respect of
Automobile Receivables-Backed Securities, Series 199__- ("Securities") which the
Registrant plans to offer in series, each series to be issued under a separate
[pooling and servicing agreement] [trust agreement] (a "[Pooling and Servicing
Agreement]" ["Trust Agreement"]), in substantially one of the forms incorporated
by reference as Exhibits to the Registration Statement, among AmeriCredit
Financial Services, Inc. (the "Company"), AmeriCredit Receivables Finance Corp.,
as issuer, AmeriCredit Receivables Corp., as seller, __________________, as
back-up servicer, and a trustee to be identified in the prospectus supplement
for such series of Securities (the "Trustee" for such series).
We have examined and relied on the originals or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such documents and records of
the Company and such other instruments and other certificates of public
officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons,
and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a
basis for the opinions expressed below.
The opinions expressed below are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally and to general equity principles.
<PAGE>
AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc.
_________________ ___, 199_
Page 2
We are admitted to the Bar of the State of New York and we express no
opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction except as to matters that are
governed by Federal law or the laws of the State of New York. All opinions
expressed herein are based on laws, regulations and policy guidelines currently
in force and may be affected by future regulations.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. When, in respect of a series of Securities, a [Pooling and
Servicing Agreement] [Trust Agreement] has been duly authorized by all
necessary action and duly executed and delivered by the Company, the
issuer, the seller, the back-up servicer and the Trustee for such series,
such Pooling and Servicing Agreement will be a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Company; and
2. When a [Pooling and Servicing Agreement] [Trust Agreement] for a
series of Securities has been duly authorized by all necessary action and
duly executed and delivered by the Company, the issuer, the seller, the
back-up servicer and the Trustee for such series, and when the Securities
of such series have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with
the provisions of the [Pooling and Servicing Agreement] [Trust Agreement],
and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the
prospectus, as amended or supplemented and delivered pursuant to Section 5
of the Act in connection therewith, such Securities will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders of such
Securities will be entitled to the benefits of such [Pooling and Servicing
Agreement] [Trust Agreement].
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to Dewey Ballantine in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus under the heading "Legal
Matters."
This opinion is furnished by us as counsel to the Registrant and is
solely for the benefit of the addressees hereof. It may not be relied upon by
any other person or for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 8.1
-----------
<PAGE>
_____________ __, 199__
AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc.
200 Bailey Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76107-1220
Re: AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc.
Automobile Receivables-Backed Securities
Series 199 -
----------------------------------------
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. in
connection with the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") being filed today with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), in respect of Automobile Receivables-Backed Securities, Series 199__-
("Securities") which the Registrant plans to offer in series.
The opinion contained in the relevant prospectus supplement
constitutes a part of the Registration Statement under the heading "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences", to the extent they constitute legal
conclusions with respect to matters federal law, have been prepared by us and,
in our opinion, provide a fair and accurate summary of such law or conclusions.
We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to Dewey Ballantine in the
Registration Statement and related prospectus under the heading "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences."
Very truly yours,
