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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest Event
Reported): November 20, 1996
CWABS, INC., (as depositor under the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 31, 1996, providing for the issuance
of the CWABS, INC., Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust 1996-A, Revolving Home
Equity Loan Asset Backed Certificates, Series 1996-A).
CWABS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 333-11095 95-4596514
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
155 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101
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(Address of Principal (Zip Code)
Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (818) 584-2212
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Item 5. Other Events.
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Filing of Certain Materials
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Enclosed herewith for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
is the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, dated November 20, 1996, relating to
certain tax matters of its Revolving Home Equity Loan Asset Backed
Certificates, Series 1996-A.
The Filed Opinion is filed as Exhibit 8.1
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
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Information and Exhibits.
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(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits:
8.1 Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CWABS, INC.
By: /s/ David Walker
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David Walker
Vice President
Dated: November 20, 1996
Exhibit Index
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Exhibit Page
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8.1 Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP 6
Exhibit 8.1
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November 20, 1996
CWABS, Inc.
155 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101-7139
The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee
One First National Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60670
Re: Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust 1996-A
Revolving Home Equity Loan Asset Backed Certificates,
Series 1996-A
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel for Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., a New
York corporation ("CHL"), and CWABS, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CWABS"),
and as counsel for Lehman Brothers, Inc. and Countrywide Securities
Corporation (the "Underwriters") in connection with the proposed transfer by
CHL to CWABS of certain home equity loans (the "Mortgage Loans") and the
proposed issuance of Revolving Home Equity Loan Asset Backed Certificates of
the above-referenced Series (the "Certificates") by Countrywide Home Equity
Loan Trust 1996-A (the "Trust"). You have requested our opinion as to
certain federal income tax consequences of the above-referenced transaction.
The assets of the Trust will consist primarily of a pool of Mortgage
Loans. The Mortgage Loans are secured by either first or second deeds of
trust or mortgages on one- to four-family residential properties.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the pooling and servicing agreement dated as of October 31,
1996 among CHL, CWABS and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the
"Pooling and Servicing Agreement").
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined such
documents and records as we have deemed appropriate, including the following:
(a) The Prospectus dated November 13, 1996 (the "Basic
Prospectus"), as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement relating to
the Investor Certificates, dated November 14, 1996 (the "Prospectus
Supplement"), in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the 1933 Act (the Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by the
Prospectus Supplement, the "Prospectus").
(b) Copy of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
(c) A specimen Certificate of each of the Investor Certificates
and the Transferor Certificate.
In addition, we have made such investigations of such matters of law as
we deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below. Further,
we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals.
Based upon the foregoing and consideration of such other matters as we
have deemed appropriate, we are of the opinion that:
1. For federal income tax purposes, the Trust will not be classified
as an association or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation,
or as a taxable mortgage pool within the meaning of section 7701(i) of the
Code.
2. The Investor Certificates will be treated as debt for federal
income tax purposes.
3. The statements in the Prospectus Supplement under the headings
"Summary of Terms -- Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Federal Income
Tax Consequences", to the extent that they constitute matters of federal law
or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been reviewed by us and are
correct in all material respects with respect to those consequences or
aspects that are discussed.
We do not express any opinion as to any laws other than the federal tax
law of the United States of America.
The opinions set forth herein are based upon the existing provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and Treasury regulations issued
or proposed thereunder, published Revenue Rulings and releases of the
Internal Revenue Service and existing case law, any of which could be changed
at any time. Any such changes may be retroactive in application and could
modify the legal conclusions upon which such opinions are based. The
opinions expressed herein are limited as described above, and we do not
express an opinion on any other legal or income tax aspect of the
transactions contemplated by the corporate documents or the effect of such
transactions on CHL or any member of CHL's consolidated tax group.
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we express no opinion as to the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal income tax laws of the United
States. This opinion will not be updated for subsequent changes or
modifications to the law and regulations or to the judicial and
administrative interpretations thereof, unless we are specifically engaged to
do so. This opinion is rendered only to those to whom it is addressed and
may not be relied on in connection with any transactions other than the
transactions contemplated herein. The opinion may not be relied upon for any
other purpose, or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation for
any purpose, without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
BROWN & WOOD LLP
One World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Telephone: (212) 839-5300
Facsimile: (212) 839-5599
November 20, 1996
BY MODEM
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Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: CWABS, Inc.
Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust 1996-A
Revolving Home Equity Loan Asset Backed
Certificates, 1996-A
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of CWABS, Inc. (the "Company"), we enclose herewith for
filing, pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, in connection with the
above-referenced transaction.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Kimberly Bothner
Kimberly Bothner
Enclosure
