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NISSAN AUTO RECEIVABLES 2000-C OWNER TRUST
$162,000,000, 6.70% ASSET BACKED NOTES, CLASS A-1
$182,000,000, 6.71% ASSET BACKED NOTES, CLASS A-2
$243,000,000, 6.72% ASSET BACKED NOTES, CLASS A-3
$111,500,000, 6.80% ASSET BACKED NOTES, CLASS A-4
NISSAN AUTO RECEIVABLES CORPORATION
(SELLER)
November 7, 2000
Underwriting Agreement
Chase Securities Inc.
As Representative of the
Several Underwriters,
270 Park Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. Nissan Auto Receivables Corporation (the
"Seller"), a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Nissan Motor
Acceptance Corporation, a California corporation (the "Servicer"), proposes to
sell $162,000,000 principal amount of 6.70% Asset Backed Notes, Class A-1 (the
"Class A-1 Notes"), $182,000,000 principal amount of 6.71% Asset Backed Notes,
Class A-2 (the "Class A-2 Notes"), $243,000,000 principal amount of 6.72% Asset
Backed Notes, Class A-3 (the "Class A-3 Notes"), and $111,500,000 principal
amount of 6.80% Asset Backed Notes, Class A-4 (the "Class A-4 Notes" and,
together with the Class A-1 Notes, the Class A-2 Notes and the Class A-3 Notes,
the "Notes"), each issued by the Nissan Auto Receivables 2000-C Owner Trust (the
"Trust"). The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Indenture"),
to be dated as of November 15, 2000, between the Trust and the Indenture Trustee
(as defined therein) and will be governed by the terms of a Sale and Servicing
Agreement (the "Sale and Servicing Agreement"), to be dated as of November 15,
2000, among the Trust, the Seller and the Servicer. The Trust will also issue
certain asset backed certificates which will represent fractional undivided
interests in the Trust and will not be sold hereunder.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings given them in the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Seller and the Servicer.
Each of the Seller and the Servicer, jointly and severally, represents and
warrants to and agrees with the several underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto
(the "Underwriters") that:
(a) A registration statement (No. 333-82763), including a
form of prospectus supplement relating to the Notes and a form of base
prospectus relating to
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each class of securities to be registered under such registration
statement (the "Registered Securities"), has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and either (i) has
been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), and is not proposed to be amended or (ii) is proposed to be
amended by amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration
statement (the "initial registration statement") has been declared
effective, either (i) any additional registration statement (the
"additional registration statement") relating to the Notes has been filed
with the Commission pursuant to rule 462(b) ("Rule 462(b)") under the Act
and declared effective upon filing, and the Notes have been registered
under the Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and such
additional registration statement or (ii) any such additional
registration statement proposed to be filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 462(b) will become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b)
and upon such filing the Notes will have been duly registered under the
Act pursuant to the initial registration statement and such additional
registration statement. If the Seller does not propose to amend the
initial registration statement, any such additional registration
statement or any post-effective amendment to either such registration
statement filed with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, then the most recent amendment (if any) to each such
registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission or
has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Act
("Rule 462(c)") or Rule 462(b).
For purposes of this Agreement, "Effective Time" with respect to
the initial registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the additional registration statement
means (A) if the Seller has advised the Representative that it does not
propose to amend such registration statement, the date and time as of
which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereto (if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, was declared effective by the Commission or has become
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) or (B) if the Seller has
advised the Representative that it proposes to file an amendment or
post-effective amendment to such registration statement, the date and
time as of which such registration statement as amended by such amendment
or post-effective amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by
the Commission. If the Seller has advised the Representative that it
proposes to file, but has not filed, an additional registration
statement, "Effective Time" with respect to such additional registration
statement means the date and time as of which such registration statement
is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule 462(b). "Effective Date"
with respect to the initial registration statement or the additional
registration statement (if any) means the date of the Effective Time
thereof.
The initial registration statement, as amended at its Effective
Time, including all information (A) contained in the additional
registration statement (if any), (B) deemed to be a part of the initial
registration statement as of the Effective Time of the additional
registration statement (if any) pursuant to the General Instructions of
the Form on which it is filed and (C) deemed to be a part of the initial
registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b)
under the Act ("Rule 430A(b)"), is hereinafter referred to as the
"Initial Registration Statement." The additional registration statement,
as amended at its Effective Time, including the contents of the initial
registration
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statement incorporated by reference therein and deemed to be a part of
the additional registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant
to Rule 430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "Additional
Registration Statement." The Initial Registration Statement and the
Additional Registration Statement are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Registration Statements" and individually as a
"Registration Statement." The form of prospectus supplement relating to
the Notes (the "Prospectus Supplement") and the form of prospectus (the
"Base Prospectus") relating to the Registered Securities (including the
Notes), as first filed with the Commission in connection with the
offering and sale of the Notes pursuant to and in accordance with Rule
424(b) under the Act ("Rule 424(b)") or, if no such filing is required,
as included in a Registration Statement, including all material
incorporated by reference in such prospectus, is hereinafter referred to
as the "Prospectus." The Seller filed the Term Sheet dated November 6,
2000 relating to the Notes (the "Term Sheet") disseminated by the
Underwriters on Form 8-K with the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), within two
business days of its delivery to the Underwriters.
(b) (A) On the Effective Date of any Registration Statement
whose Effective Time is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, each such Registration Statement conformed, (B) on the date of
this Agreement, each such Registration Statement conforms and (C) on any
related Effective Date subsequent to the date of this Agreement, each
such Registration Statement will conform, in all respects to the
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
(the "Rules and Regulations") and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "1939 Act"), and at such times each such Registration
Statement, as amended, did not and will not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading. At the time of filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
424(b) or, if no such filing is required, at the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement that includes the Prospectus, on the
date of this Agreement and at the Closing Date, the Prospectus will
conform, in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and does not include, and will not include, any untrue
statement of a material fact, nor does the Prospectus omit, nor will it
omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The two
preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement or Prospectus based upon written information
furnished to the Seller by any Underwriter through the Representative
specifically for use therein or to that part of the Registration
Statement which constitutes the Statement of Qualification under the 1939
Act on Form T-1 (the "Form T-1") of the Indenture Trustee. If the
Effective Time of the Registration Statement is subsequent to the date of
this Agreement, no Additional Registration Statement has been or will be
filed. The Indenture has been qualified under the 1939 Act.
(c) The Seller has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware with corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its
property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in
good standing would not have a
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material adverse effect on the Seller's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Purchase
Agreement, the Assignment, the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Yield
Supplement Agreement or the Securities Account Control Agreement
(collectively, the "Basic Documents").
(d) The Servicer has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
California with corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its
property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Servicer's
ability to perform its obligations under the Basic Documents.
(e) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the Basic Documents, and the fulfillment of the terms thereof, will not
conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any lien,
charge, or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Seller
or the Servicer pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement, guarantee, lease financing agreement, or
similar agreement or instrument under which the Seller or the Servicer is
a debtor or guarantor, except where such conflict, breach, default or
creation would not have a material adverse effect on the Seller's or the
Servicer's respective ability to perform its obligations under the Basic
Documents or the validity or enforceability thereof.
(f) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
filing with, any court or governmental agency or body is required to be
obtained or made by the Seller or the Servicer for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except such as have been
obtained and made under the Act, such as may be required under state
securities laws and the filing of any financing statements required to
perfect the Trust's interest in the Receivables.
(g) Neither the Seller nor the Servicer is in violation of
its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or in default in the
performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any agreement or instrument to which it is a party
or by which it or its properties are bound which would have a material
adverse effect on the transactions contemplated herein or on the Seller's
or the Servicer's respective ability to perform its obligations under the
Basic Documents. The execution, delivery and performance of the Basic
Documents and the issuance and sale of the Notes and compliance with the
terms and provisions thereof will not, subject to obtaining any consents
or approvals as may be required under the securities or "blue sky" laws
of various jurisdictions: (i) result in a breach or violation of any of
the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute,
rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court
having jurisdiction over the Seller or the Servicer or their respective
properties or any agreement or instrument to which either is a party or
by which either is bound or to which any of their respective properties
are subject, except where such breach, violation, or default would not
have a material adverse effect on the
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Seller's or the Servicer's respective ability to perform its obligations
under the Basic Documents or the validity or enforceability thereof, or
(ii) conflict with the Seller's or the Servicer's charter or by-laws, and
each of the Seller and the Servicer has corporate power and authority to
enter into the Basic Documents and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
(h) The Basic Documents have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by, and (assuming due authorization and delivery thereof by
the other parties hereto and thereto) constitute valid and binding
obligations of, the Seller and the Servicer, as applicable, enforceable
against such party in accordance with their respective terms, except as
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
and by general equitable principles, regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(i) The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed
and delivered in accordance with the Indenture and delivered against
payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement, will be valid and binding
obligations of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance
with their respective terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law.
(j) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending
to which the Seller or the Servicer is a party or of which any property
of the Seller or the Servicer is the subject, and to the Seller's
knowledge no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
governmental authorities or threatened by others, (A) that are required
to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or (B)(1) asserting the
invalidity of all or part of any Basic Document, (2) seeking to prevent
the issuance of the Notes, (3) that would materially and adversely affect
the Seller's or the Servicer's obligations under any Basic Document to
which it is a party, or (4) seeking to affect adversely the federal or
state income tax attributes of the Notes.
(k) Any taxes, fees and other governmental charges that
have been assessed and are known to the Seller to be due in connection
with the execution, delivery and issuance of the Basic Documents shall
have been paid by the Seller or the Servicer at or prior to the Closing
Date (as defined in Section 3(c) hereof).
(l) Each of the Seller and the Servicer possesses all
material licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies, the
absence of which would have a material adverse effect on the ability of
the Seller or the Servicer to perform its duties under the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, and neither of the Seller or Servicer has received
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in
the aggregate, if the subject of any
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unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially and adversely
affect the ability of the Seller or the Servicer to perform its
obligations under the Basic Documents.
(m) As of the Closing Date, the Reserve Account and the
Yield Supplement Account will be subject to a first-priority security
interest in favor of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the
Noteholders.
(n) As of the Closing Date, the Trust (for the benefit of
the Noteholders) will have good title, free and clear of all prior liens,
charges and encumbrances, to the Receivables and such other items
comprising the corpus of the Trust transferred to the Trust pursuant to
the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
(o) As of the Closing Date, the Indenture, the Notes and
the Basic Documents will conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(p) Deloitte & Touche LLP are independent public
accountants with respect to the Seller within the meaning of the Act and
the Rules and Regulations.
(q) Neither the Trust nor the Seller is required to be
registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
(r) The representations and warranties of the Seller and
the Servicer in the Sale and Servicing Agreement are true and correct in
all material respects.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Notes.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, the Seller agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and the
Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Seller, the aggregate principal amounts of the Notes set forth opposite
the names of the Underwriters in Schedule 1 hereto.
(b) The Notes are to be purchased at a purchase price equal
to (i) in the case of the Class A-1 Notes, 99.875000% of the aggregate
principal amount thereof, (ii) in the case of the Class A-2 Notes,
99.791087% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, (iii) in the case
of the Class A-3 Notes, 99.765545% of the aggregate principal amount
thereof, and (iv) in the case of the Class A-4 Notes, 99.747458% of the
aggregate principal amount thereof.
(c) Against payment of the purchase price by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to the Seller, the Seller will deliver the
Notes to the Representative, for the account of the Underwriters, at the
office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, at 400 South Hope Street, Los Angeles,
California, on November 15, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., Los Angeles time, or at
such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the
Representative and the Seller determine, such time being herein referred
to as the "Closing Date." The Notes to be so delivered will be initially
represented by one or more securities registered in the name of Cede &
Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust
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Company ("DTC"). The interests of beneficial owners of the Notes will be
represented by book entries on the records of DTC and participating
members thereof. Definitive securities will be available only under the
limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Notes for sale to the public as set forth in
the Prospectus.
5. Covenants of the Seller. The Seller covenants and agrees with
the several Underwriters that:
(a) If the Effective Time is prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Seller will file the Prospectus with the
Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) not later than
the second business day following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and an Additional
Registration Statement is necessary to register a portion of the Notes
under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of such
execution and delivery, the Seller will file the Additional Registration
Statement or a post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, with
the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b). The Seller
will advise the Representative promptly of any such filing pursuant to
Rule 424(b).
(b) The Seller will advise the Representative promptly of
any proposal to amend or supplement the registration statement as filed
or the related prospectus or the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, and will not effect such amendment or supplementation without
the Representative's consent; and the Seller will also advise the
Representative promptly of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement (if the Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement) and of any amendment or supplementation of
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and of the institution by
the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the
Registration Statement and will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and to lift such stop order as soon as
possible, if issued.
(c) The Seller will arrange for the qualification of the
Notes for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions in the United States as the Representative may reasonably
designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as
necessary under such laws for the distribution of such securities;
provided that in connection therewith the Seller shall not be required to
qualify as a foreign corporation to do business, or to file a general
consent to service of process, in any jurisdiction.
(d) If, at any time when the delivery of a prospectus shall
be required by law in connection with sales of any Notes, either (i) any
event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus would
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
(ii) for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement
the Prospectus, the Seller will
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promptly notify the Representative and will promptly prepare for review
by the Representative and file with the Commission an amendment or a
supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or
omission or effect such compliance. Neither your consent to, nor the
Underwriters' delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall
constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.
(e) The Seller will cause the Trust to make generally
available to Holders as soon as practicable, but not later than fourteen
months after the Effective Date, an earnings statement of the Trust
covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after
such Effective Date and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Act (including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder).
(f) The Seller will furnish to you copies of the
Registration Statement (two of which will include all exhibits), the Form
8-K relating to the Term Sheet, each related preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each
case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representative
may from time to time reasonably request.
(g) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Seller
will furnish to the Representative copies of all reports or other
communications (financial or otherwise) furnished to Holders, and deliver
to the Representative during such same period (i) as soon as they are
available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or
filed with the Commission and (ii) such additional information concerning
the business and financial condition of the Seller and the Trust as the
Representative may from time to time reasonably request.
(h) The Seller will pay or cause to be paid all expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
including (i) the printing (or otherwise reproducing) and filing of the
Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto;
(ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes to the
Underwriters; (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Seller's and the
Servicer's counsel and accountants; (iv) the fees of DTC in connection
with the book-entry registration of the Notes; (v) the qualification of
the Notes under state securities law in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5(c) hereof, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection
with the preparation of the blue sky survey, if required; (vi) the
printing (or otherwise reproducing) and delivery to the Underwriters of
copies of each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto; (vii) the reproducing and delivery to
the Underwriters of copies of the blue sky survey; and (viii) the fees
charged by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
("S&P"), for rating the Notes. The Underwriters shall not be responsible
for the fees and disbursements of the Owner Trustee and its counsel.
(i) Until the retirement of the Notes, or until such time
as the Underwriters shall cease to maintain a secondary market in the
Notes, whichever occurs first, the Seller will deliver to the
Representative the annual statements of compliance and
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the annual independent certified public accountants' reports furnished to
the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Article IV of the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, as soon as such statements and reports are furnished to the
Indenture Trustee.
(j) On or promptly after the Closing Date, the Seller shall
cause its and the Servicer's computer records relating to the Receivables
to be marked to show the Trust's absolute ownership of the Receivables,
and from and after the Closing Date neither the Seller nor the Servicer
shall take any action inconsistent with the Trust's ownership of such
Receivables, other than as permitted by the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
(k) To the extent, if any, that the rating provided with
respect to the Notes by Moody's or S&P is conditional upon the furnishing
of documents or the taking of any other actions by the Seller, the Seller
shall furnish, and shall cause the Servicer to furnish, such documents
and take any such other actions.
6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes will
be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of
the Seller and the Servicer herein on the date hereof and at the Closing Date,
to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Seller and the Servicer
made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Seller and the
Servicer of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following
additional conditions precedent:
(a) At the time this Agreement is executed and delivered by
the Seller and at the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have
furnished to the Representative letters dated respectively as of the date
of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date substantially in the forms
of the drafts to which the Representative previously agreed.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 p.m., New
York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date as shall have
been consented to by the Representative. If the Effective Time of the
Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission
in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) of this
Agreement. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement
(if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 p.m., New
York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the
Prospectus is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have
occurred at such later date as shall have been consented to by the
Representative. Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of the Seller, shall be contemplated by the Commission.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received an officers'
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by the Chairman of the Board,
the President or any Vice President
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and by a principal financial or accounting officer of the Seller
representing and warranting that, to the best of such officers' knowledge
after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date, the
representations and warranties of the Seller in this Agreement are true
and correct in all material respects, that the Seller has complied with
all agreements and satisfied in all material respects all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the
Closing Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge, are
contemplated by the Commission.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received an officers'
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by the Chairman of the Board,
the President or any Vice President and by a principal financial or
accounting officer of the Servicer representing and warranting that, to
the best of such officers' knowledge after reasonable investigation, as
of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Servicer
in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, that the
Servicer has complied with all agreements and satisfied, in all material
respects, all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, that no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of
their knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any
development involving a prospective change, in or affecting particularly
the business or properties of the Seller, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Nissan
North America, Inc. ("NNA") or the Servicer which, in the judgment of the
Representative, materially impairs the investment quality of the Notes or
makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the
sale of and payment for the Notes; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of
any debt securities of NNA or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries
by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as
defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public
announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review
its rating of any such debt securities (other than an announcement with
positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a
possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any suspension or limitation
of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or any
setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange; (iv) any banking
moratorium declared by federal or New York authorities; or (v) any
outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is
involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial
national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of
the Representative, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation,
declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to
proceed with completion of the sale of and payment for the Notes.
(f) Joy Crose, Esq., General Counsel of the Seller, or
other counsel satisfactory to the Representative in its reasonable
judgment, shall have furnished to the Representative such counsel's
written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in substantially the form set
forth below, with such changes therein as counsel for the Underwriters
shall reasonably agree:
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(i) The Seller has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or the ownership of its property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Seller's ability
to perform its obligations under the Basic Documents.
(ii) The Servicer has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
of the State of California with corporate power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or the ownership of its property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Servicer's ability
to perform its obligations under the Basic Documents.
(iii) The Basic Documents have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by each of the Seller and the Servicer, as
applicable, and each of the Seller and the Servicer has the
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its
respective obligations under the Basic Documents.
(iv) The execution, delivery and performance of the
Basic Documents by the Seller and the Servicer will not conflict
with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the
respective properties or assets of the Seller or the Servicer,
pursuant to the terms of the Notes or the charter or bylaws of the
Seller or the Servicer, any statute, any rule, regulation or order
of any governmental agency or body or any court having
jurisdiction over the Seller or the Servicer or any of their
respective properties or any material agreement or instrument to
which the Seller or the Servicer is a party or by which either the
Seller or the Servicer or any of their respective properties is
bound.
(v) No authorization, approval or consent of any
court or governmental agency or authority is necessary in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the
Seller or the Servicer of the Basic Documents to which it is a
party, except such as may be required under the Act or the Rules
and Regulations and state securities laws, and except for such
authorizations, approvals or consents (specified in such opinion)
as are in full force and effect as of the Effective Date and the
Closing Date.
(vi) Nothing has come to such counsel's attention
that would cause it to believe that as of the Effective Date and
at the Closing Date the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements and the other accounting
information contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to
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which such counsel need express no belief) contained or contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or that the
descriptions therein of statutes and governmental proceedings and
contracts and other documents are inaccurate and do not fairly
present the information required to be shown therein.
(vii) Such counsel does not know of any contract or
other document of a character required to be filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement or required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not filed or
described as required.
(viii) There are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Seller or the Servicer is a party
or of which any property of the Seller or the Servicer is the
subject, and no such proceedings are known by such counsel to be
threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or
threatened by others, (A) that are required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement or (B)(1) asserting the invalidity of all
or part of any Basic Document, (2) seeking to prevent the issuance
of the Notes, (3) that would materially and adversely affect the
Seller's or the Servicer's obligations under any Basic Document to
which it is a party, or (4) seeking to affect adversely the
federal or state income tax attributes of the Notes.
(ix) The Servicer has corporate power and authority
to sell and assign the property to be sold and assigned to the
Seller pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and has duly authorized
such sale and assignment to the Seller by all necessary corporate
action.
(x) The Seller has corporate power and authority to
sell and assign the property to be sold and assigned to and
deposited with the Trust and has duly authorized such sale and
assignment to the Trust by all necessary corporate action.
(xi) The Receivables are "chattel paper" as defined
in the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in the State of
California.
(xii) Such counsel is familiar with the Servicer's
standard operating procedures relating to the Servicer's
acquisition of a perfected first priority security interest in the
vehicles financed by the retail installment sale contracts
purchased by the Servicer in the ordinary course of the Servicer's
business and relating to the sale by the Servicer to the Seller of
such contracts and such security interests in the Financed
Vehicles in the ordinary course of the Servicer's and the Seller's
business. Assuming that the Servicer's standard procedures are
followed with respect to the perfection of security interests in
the Financed Vehicles (and such counsel has no reason to believe
that the Servicer has not or will not continue to follow its
standard procedures in connection with
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the perfection of security interests in the Financed Vehicles),
the Servicer has acquired or will acquire a perfected first
priority security interest in the Financed Vehicles.
(g) O'Melveny & Myers LLP, special counsel to the Seller,
shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated
as of the Closing Date, in substantially the form set forth below, with
such changes therein as counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably
agree:
(i) Each Basic Document to which the Seller or the
Servicer is a party has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of such Person and has been executed
and delivered by such Person.
(ii) Assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee,
each Basic Document to which the Seller or the Servicer is a party
constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Seller
or the Servicer, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or
hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally and by the application of general principles of equity,
including without limitation concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible
unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any
other equitable remedy (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(iii) Assuming the Notes have been duly and validly
authorized, when executed and authenticated by the Trust as
specified in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the
consideration specified in this Agreement, the Notes will be
legally valid and binding obligations of the Trust, and entitled
to the benefits of the Indenture enforceable against the Trust in
accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
now or hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally and by the application of general principles of
equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible
unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any
other equitable remedy (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(iv) Assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Trust and the Indenture Trustee, each of
the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Indenture constitutes the
valid and binding obligation of the Trust enforceable against the
Trust in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
now or hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally and by the application of general principles of
equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible
unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any
other
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equitable remedy (regardless of whether enforcement is considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(v) Neither the Seller nor the Trust is required to
be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(vi) With respect to Financed Vehicles in the State
of California, no filing or other action other than (A) the filing
of a UCC financing statement naming the Servicer as transferor and
the Seller as the transferee and (B) the filing of a UCC financing
statement naming the Seller as the transferor and the Trust as the
transferee, is necessary to perfect the transfer and assignment of
the Servicer's security interest in such Financed Vehicles to the
Seller, and the Seller's security interest in such Financed
Vehicles to the Trust, respectively, and as a result of such
transfer and assignment and upon filing of such financing
statements, the Trust has a first perfected security interest in
such Financed Vehicles, except that so long as the Servicer is
named as the legal owner and lien holder on a certificate of
title, the Servicer has the ability to release the security
interest in the Financed Vehicle or to assign it to another party.
(vii) The Trust will not be classified as an
association taxable as a corporation or as a publicly traded
partnership for federal or California income and franchise tax
purposes, and for such purposes the Notes will be characterized as
debt.
(viii) The statements in the Prospectus Supplement
under "MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES" and "ERISA
CONSIDERATIONS," and in the Base Prospectus under the "MATERIAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES," "ERISA CONSIDERATIONS" and "MATERIAL
LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE RECEIVABLES," to the extent that they
constitute matters of law or legal conclusions relating to the
federal laws of the United States or the laws of the States of
California or New York with respect thereto, have been reviewed by
such counsel and are correct in all material respects.
(ix) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of each of the Seller and
the Servicer, and has been duly executed and delivered by each of
the Seller and the Servicer.
(x) No order, consent, permit or approval of any
California, New York or federal governmental authority that such
counsel has, in the exercise of customary professional diligence,
recognized as applicable to the Servicer or the Seller, or to the
transactions of the type contemplated by any Basic Document,
including the issuance of the Notes, is required on the part of
the Servicer or the Seller for the execution and delivery of, and
the performance of its obligations under, any Basic Document to
which it is a party, except for such as have been obtained or made
and are in full force and effect as of the Closing Date; provided
that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to any orders,
consents,
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permits, approvals, filings or licenses related to the authority
to sell motor vehicles, originate retail installment sales
contracts or service retail installment sales contracts or as may
be required by any regional or local governmental authority or
under any foreign or state securities laws.
(xi) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no
actions, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened, to
which the Seller or the Servicer is a party or of which any
property of the Seller or the Servicer is the subject, required to
be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those
disclosed therein, (A) asserting the invalidity of any Basic
Document or the Notes, (B) seeking to prevent the issuance of the
Notes or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by any Basic Document, or (C) seeking adversely to affect the
federal income tax attributes of the Notes as described in the
Base Prospectus under the heading "MATERIAL INCOME TAX
CONSEQUENCES" or the California income tax attributes of the
Notes.
(xii) At the time of execution and delivery of (A)
the Purchase Agreement, the Servicer had the corporate power and
corporate authority to transfer the Receivables and such other
property being transferred to the Seller pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement and (B) the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Seller had
the corporate power and corporate authority to transfer the
Receivables and such other property being transferred to the Trust
pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and to cause the
transfer of the Notes to the Underwriters.
(xiii) The Indenture, the Notes and the Basic
Documents each conform in all material respects with the
respective descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
(xiv) Neither the Trust Agreement nor the Sale and
Servicing Agreement needs to be qualified under the 1939 Act.
(xv) The Registration Statement filed with the
Commission has been declared effective under the Act, and, to such
counsel's knowledge upon due inquiry, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under
the Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the
Commission, and the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and
each amendment or supplement thereto, as of its respective
effective or issue date, appeared on its face to be appropriately
responsive in all material respects to the applicable requirements
of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, except that such counsel
does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness
or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus except as contemplated by paragraphs
(viii) and (xiii) of this Section to the extent set forth therein;
such counsel does not opine as to any financial statements or
other financial, numerical or statistical data contained or
incorporated by reference therein; and such counsel does not opine
as to the Form T-1.
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(xvi) The form of the Indenture has been qualified
under the 1939 Act and no further action is required to qualify
the Indenture under the 1939 Act. The Indenture complies as to
form in all material respects with the 1939 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xvii) The Seller has duly authorized and executed
the written order to the Owner Trustee to execute and deliver the
issuer order to the Indenture Trustee to authenticate the Notes.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with the officers and other representatives
of the Seller and the Servicer, representatives of their independent
public accountants, and representatives of the Underwriters and their
counsel, at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and related matters were discussed, but has not independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained or incorporated by reference therein, and accordingly such
counsel is unable to assume, and does not assume, any responsibility for
such accuracy, completeness or fairness. However, on the basis of such
counsel's review and participation in conferences in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and relying
as to its determination of materiality to an extent upon opinions of
officers and other representatives of the Seller and the Servicer, such
counsel shall state that it does not believe that any Registration
Statement, at the related Effective Time, contained any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or that the Prospectus, at the date of the Prospectus
Supplement (or any such amendment or supplement, as of its respective
date) contained, or on the Closing Date contains any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such
counsel need express no opinion or belief as to the financial statements
or other financial, numerical or statistical data contained or
incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus
or the Form T-1.
Such counsel's opinions as to enforceability shall be
subject to the unenforceability under certain circumstances of: (i)
waivers of rights granted by law where the waivers are against public
policy or prohibited by law; (ii) waivers of vaguely or broadly stated
rights or future rights; (iii) any indemnification provisions; (iv) any
provisions that rights or remedies are not exclusive, that every right or
remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to or with any
other right or remedy or that the election of some particular remedy or
remedies does not preclude recourse to one or more other remedies; (v)
choice of law provisions; and (vi) severability provisions; provided that
such unenforceability will not, subject to the other exceptions,
qualifications and limitations contained in such opinion, render the
relevant agreements invalid as a whole or substantially interfere with
the substantial realization of the principal benefits that such
agreements purport to provide (except for the economic consequences of
procedural or other delay).
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(h) O'Melveny & Myers LLP shall have furnished their
written opinion, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the
characterization of the transfer of the Receivables by the Servicer to
the Seller and with respect to other bankruptcy and perfection of
security interest matters, and such opinion shall be in substantially the
form previously discussed with the Representative and its counsel and in
any event satisfactory in form and in substance to the Representative and
its counsel.
(i) You shall have received an opinion of Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the
Notes and such other related matters as the Representative shall require,
and the Seller shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to such
counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(j) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you,
the Seller and the Servicer of Richards, Layton & Finger, counsel to the
Owner Trustee, dated the Closing Date and satisfactory in form and
substance to the Representative and its counsel, to the effect that:
(i) The Owner Trustee is a banking corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware with power and authority (corporate and
other) to own its properties and conduct its business, as
presently conducted by it, and to enter into and perform its
obligations under the Trust Agreement.
(ii) The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Owner Trustee, and, assuming that
such agreement is a legally effective and enforceable obligation
of each of the other parties thereto, constitutes the legal, valid
and binding agreement of the Owner Trustee, enforceable against
the Owner Trustee in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be (a) limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or other
similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors' rights
generally and (b) subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether considered in proceedings in equity or at
law) as well as concepts of reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing.
(iii) The Notes have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee under
the Trust Agreement.
(iv) Neither the execution nor delivery by the Owner
Trustee of the Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the
transactions by the Owner Trustee contemplated thereby requires
the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the
registration with, or the taking of any other action with respect
to, any governmental authority or agency under any existing
federal or Delaware state law governing the banking or trust
powers of the Owner Trustee.
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(v) The Trust has been duly formed and is validly
existing as a statutory business trust and is in good standing
under the laws of the state of Delaware, with full power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under
the Indenture and the Basic Documents to which it is a party and
the Notes.
(vi) The execution and delivery by the Owner Trustee
of the Trust Agreement and the performance by the Owner Trustee of
its obligations thereunder, do not conflict with, result in a
breach or violation of or constitute a default under the Articles
of Association or Bylaws of the Owner Trustee.
(k) You shall have received an opinion of counsel to the
Indenture Trustee, dated the Closing Date and satisfactory in form and
substance to the Representative and its counsel, to the effect that:
(i) The Indenture Trustee has been duly organized as
a national banking association and is validly existing as a
national banking association in good standing under the laws of
the United States of America.
(ii) The Indenture Trustee has the requisite power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under the Indenture and has taken all action necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of the
Indenture.
(iii) The Indenture has been duly executed and
delivered by the Indenture Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Indenture Trustee, enforceable
against the Indenture Trustee in accordance with its terms, except
as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law.
(l) The Representative shall have received an officer's
certificate dated the Closing Date of the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President and by a principal financial or
accounting officer of each of the Seller and the Servicer in which each
such officer shall state that, to the best of such officer's knowledge
after reasonable investigation, the representations and warranties of the
Seller or the Servicer, as applicable, contained in the Sale and
Servicing Agreement and the representations and warranties of the
Servicer or the Seller, as applicable, contained in the Purchase
Agreement are true and correct in all material respects and that the
Seller or the Servicer, as applicable, has complied with all agreements
and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
under such agreements at or prior to the Closing Date in all material
respects.
(m) The Notes shall have been rated in the highest rating
category by Moody's and S&P.
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(n) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall have
furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents
as the Representative shall reasonably have required.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Seller and the Servicer shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold each Underwriter and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(each a "Control Person"), harmless against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter or Control
Person may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement,
the Term Sheet, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or any related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and Control Person
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter
or Control Person in connection with investigating or defending any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred;
provided, however, that neither the Seller nor the Servicer will be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of
such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Seller or the Servicer by any Underwriter through the
Representative specified in the last sentence of subsection (b) below
specifically for use therein; provided, further, that neither the Seller
nor the Servicer shall be liable under this subsection (a) to any
Underwriter to the extent that such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
omission made in the Term Sheet that is subsequently corrected in the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made available to
such Underwriter, if the person asserting such loss, claim, damage or
liability was not sent or given the Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein), on
or prior to the confirmation of the sale of the Notes; and provided,
further, that neither the Seller nor the Servicer shall be liable to any
Underwriter or any Control Person under the indemnity agreement in this
subsection (a) with respect to any of such documents to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter or such
Control Person results from the fact that such Underwriter sold Notes to
a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written
confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Prospectus or of the Prospectus
as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by
reference therein), whichever is most recent, if the Seller or the
Servicer has previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter.
(b) Each Underwriter shall, severally and not jointly,
indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and the Servicer against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Seller or the
Servicer may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar
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as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
related preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Seller or the Servicer by such Underwriter through the
Representative specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Seller or the Servicer in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as
such expenses are incurred. The Seller and the Servicer acknowledge and
agree that the only such information furnished to the Seller or the
Servicer by any Underwriter through the Representative consists of the
following: the statements in the second and fourth paragraphs (concerning
initial offering prices, concessions and reallowances) and in the sixth
and seventh paragraphs (concerning stabilizing and other activities)
under the heading "Underwriting" in the Prospectus Supplement.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any
governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be
brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnity may
be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person
(the "Indemnified Party") shall promptly notify the person against whom
such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing of the
commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying
Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
Indemnified Party otherwise than under such preceding paragraphs. In case
any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party and it notifies
the Indemnifying Party of the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying
Party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it
may wish, jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified,
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party (who may be counsel to the Indemnifying Party) and
after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof and after acceptance of counsel
by the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party will not be liable to
such Indemnified Party under this Section for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In any such
proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and
the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary, (ii)
the Indemnified Party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of
counsel to the Indemnified Party) that there may be legal defenses
available to it or other Indemnified Parties that are different from or
in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Party, (iii) a
conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to
the Indemnified Party) between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party will not have the right to
direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified Party) or
(iv) the Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the
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defense of such proceeding but has failed within a reasonable time to
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. The
Indemnifying Party shall not, with respect to any action brought against
any Indemnified Party, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties,
and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed within a reasonable
period of time as they are incurred. Any separate firm appointed for the
Underwriters and any Control Person in accordance with this subsection
(c) shall be designated in writing by the Representative, and any such
separate firm appointed for the Seller or the Servicer, its respective
directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement and Control
Persons in accordance with this subsection (c) shall be designated in
writing by the Seller or the Servicer, as the case may be. The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent, with respect to an action of which the Indemnifying Party was
notified and had the opportunity to participate in (whether or not it
chose to so participate), the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any
Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of
such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time
an Indemnified Party shall have requested an Indemnifying Party to
reimburse the Indemnified Party for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the fourth sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying
Party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered
into more than 60 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Party of the
aforesaid request, and during such 60 day period the Indemnifying Party
has not responded thereto, and (ii) such Indemnifying Party shall not
have reimbursed the Indemnified Party in accordance with such request
prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Party shall,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which
any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under
subsection (a) or (b) above, then each Indemnifying Party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Seller and the Servicer on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the
Notes. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each Indemnifying Party
shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative
benefits but also the relative fault of the Seller and the Servicer on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Seller and the Servicer on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion that the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Seller and the
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Servicer bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Seller or the
Servicer or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such untrue statement or omission. The Seller, the Servicer and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection
(d). The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to above in this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or
defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection
(d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount
of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection (d)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Seller and the Servicer under
this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Seller or
the Servicer may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under
this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective
Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each director of the Seller or the Servicer, to each
officer of the Seller or Servicer who has signed the Registration
Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Seller or the
Servicer within the meaning of the Act.
8. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Seller, the Servicer or their respective officers and of the
Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation or statement as to the results
thereof made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Seller or the Servicer or
any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any Control
Person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes. If this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 or if for any reason the purchase
of the Notes by the Underwriters is not consummated, the Seller shall remain
responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section
5, and the respective obligations of the Seller and the Underwriters pursuant to
Section 7 shall remain in effect. If the purchase of the Notes by the
Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9, the Seller will reimburse
the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and
22
<PAGE> 23
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the
offering of the Notes.
9. Failure to Purchase the Notes. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters default on their obligations to purchase Notes hereunder and the
aggregate principal amount of Notes that such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total
principal amount of such Notes, the Representative may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Seller for the purchase of such Notes by other persons,
including the nondefaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, but if no such
arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the nondefaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters shall be obligated, in proportion to their commitments hereunder,
to purchase the Notes that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the
aggregate principal amount of Notes with respect to which such default or
defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of Notes, as
applicable, and arrangements satisfactory to the nondefaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters and the Seller for the purchase of such Notes by other persons are
not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate
without liability on the part of any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Seller,
except as provided in Section 8.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will
relieve a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters from liability for its default.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and,
if sent to the Representative or the Underwriters will be mailed, delivered or
sent by facsimile transmission and confirmed to Chase Securities Inc., 270 Park
Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Brad Dansker (facsimile number
(212) 834-6562); and if sent to the Seller, will be mailed, delivered or sent by
facsimile transmission and confirmed to it at Nissan Auto Receivables
Corporation, 990 West 190th Street, Torrance, California 90502-10l9, attention
of the Assistant Secretary (facsimile number (310) 324-2542).
11. No Bankruptcy Petition. Each Underwriter agrees that, prior to
the date which is one year and one day after the payment in full of all
securities issued by the Seller or by a trust for which the Seller was the
depositor which securities were rated by any nationally recognized statistical
rating organization, it will not institute against, or join any other person in
instituting against, the Seller any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings under any federal or
state bankruptcy or similar law. 12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Seller and their
respective successors and the officers and directors and Control Persons
referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligations
hereunder.
13. Representation of Underwriters. The Representative will act
for the several Underwriters in connection with the transactions described in
this Agreement, and any action taken by the Representative under this Agreement
will be binding upon all the Underwriters.
23
<PAGE> 24
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to its conflict of law provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the
General Obligations Law of the State of New York).
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by each of the
parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto
on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and
delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
24
<PAGE> 25
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon it will become a binding
agreement between the Seller and the several Underwriters in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours,
NISSAN AUTO RECEIVABLES
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Joji Tagawa
------------------------------------------------
Name: Joji Tagawa
Title: Treasurer
NISSAN MOTOR ACCEPTANCE
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Joji Tagawa
------------------------------------------------
Name: Joji Tagawa
Title: Treasurer
S-1
<PAGE> 26
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
By: /s/ Deborah Murnin
-------------------------------
Name: Deborah Murnin
Title: Vice President
Acting on behalf of itself
and as the Representative of the
several Underwriters.
S-2
<PAGE> 27
SCHEDULE 1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF
UNDERWRITER CLASS A-1 NOTES CLASS A-2 NOTES CLASS A-3 NOTES CLASS A-4 NOTES
----------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Chase Securities Inc. $54,000,000 $60,668,000 $81,000,000 $37,168,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. $54,000,000 $60,666,000 $81,000,000 $37,166,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & $54,000,000 $60,666,000 $81,000,000 $37,166,000
Smith Incorporated
Total $162,000,000 $182,000,000 $243,000,000 $111,500,000
</TABLE>
1-1
