REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-________
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1999
===============================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------------------------------------------
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUSTS
(Issuer of the Notes and the Certificates)
----------------------------------------------------
MELLON BANK, N.A.
(Originator of the Trust described herein)
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
UNITED STATES 25-0659306
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
ONE MELLON CENTER
500 GRANT STREET
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15258
(412) 234-7142
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
------------------------------------------------
STEPHEN COBAIN
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
MELLON BANK, N.A.
ONE MELLON CENTER
500 GRANT STREET
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15258
(412) 234-7142
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
------------------------------------------------
COPIES TO:
Robert T. Morris, Esq. Reed D. Auerbach, Esq.
REED SMITH SHAW & MCCLAY STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
435 Sixth Street 180 Maiden Lane
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 New York, New York 10038
-----------------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:
From time to time 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 securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO BE PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING AGGREGATE OFFERING REGISTRATION
TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED (1) PRICE PER UNIT (2) PRICE (2) FEE(3)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Asset Backed Notes and Asset Backed $1,000,000 100% $1,000,000 $278.00
Certificates
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) This Registration Statement also registers an undeterminable amount of
securities to be sold by Mellon Financial Markets, Inc. in market-making
transactions where required.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act.
</TABLE>
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS ALSO BEING USED TO REGISTER SECURITIES THAT MAY
BE SOLD IN MARKET-MAKING TRANSACTIONS BY AN AFFILIATE OF THE REGISTRANT. 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>
EXPLANATORY NOTE
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT CONTAINS (I) A FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT,
RELATING TO A PUBLIC OFFERING BY MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUSTS (THE "TRUST") OF
ASSET BACKED NOTES AND ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES (COLLECTIVELY, THE
"SECURITIES"); (II) CERTAIN PAGES OF A SECOND FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
WHICH MAY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH OFFERS AND SALES RELATING TO MARKET-MAKING
TRANSACTIONS IN THE SECURITIES BY AN AFFILIATE OF THE REGISTRANT AND (III) A
BASE PROSPECTUS RELATING TO THE SECURITIES. THE FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
RELATING TO THE SECURITIES FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS EXPLANATORY NOTE.
FOLLOWING SUCH FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ARE ALTERNATE PAGES OF THE
MARKET-MAKING FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT RELATING TO THE SECURITIES. ALL
OTHER PAGES OF THE PUBLIC OFFERING FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT FOR THE
SECURITIES ARE ALSO TO BE USED FOR THE MARKET-MAKING PROSPECTUS.
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these Securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These Securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these Securities
in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED ________, __
[SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED ______ __, 1999]
$--------------
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUST _____-__
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Seller and Master Servicer
FLOATING RATE ASSET-BACKED NOTES
FLOATING RATE ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES
--------------
SECURITIES OFFERED
o classes of notes and certificates You should carefully consider
listed in the table below the risk factors beginning on
page S-_ of this prospectus
ASSETS supplement and page 6 of the
o student loans guaranteed by federal prospectus.
guarantors
The securities are obligations
CREDIT ENHANCEMENT only of the trust and are payable
o notes solely from the student loans and
o subordination of certificates other assets of the trust. The
o reserve account securities are not guaranteed
o certificates by any person.
o reserve account
The securities are not bank
deposits.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ORIGINAL FINAL
PRINCIPAL INTEREST RATE MATURITY PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO THE
AMOUNT (PER ANNUM) DATE PUBLIC (1) DISCOUNT SELLER(1)(2)
--------- ------------- -------- --------- ------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class ___ Notes $ % % %
Class ___ Notes $ % % %
Certificates $ % % %
Total.......... $ $ $ $
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from ___________.
(2) Before deducting expenses, estimated to be $_______________.
Delivery of the securities will be made on or about ____________, 19__, against
payment in immediately available funds.
[NAMES OF UNDERWRITERS]
Prospectus Supplement dated _____________, _________
We provide information to you about the securities in two separate documents
that progressively provide more detail: (1) the accompanying prospectus, which
provides general information, some of which may not apply to your securities and
(2) this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of your
securities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
SUMMARY OF TERMS.....................................................S-3
RISK FACTORS.........................................................S-7
FORMATION OF THE TRUST...............................................S-13
USE OF PROCEEDS......................................................S-15
THE MASTER SERVICER AND THE SUB-SERVICE..............................S-15
THE FINANCED STUDENT LOAN POOL.......................................S-16
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES........................................S-40
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENTS.................S-48
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES..............................................S-69
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS.................................................S-70
UNDERWRITING.........................................................S-71
LEGAL MATTERS........................................................S-73
PROSPECTUS
RISK FACTORS.........................................................S-6
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENT SBY REFERENCE......................S-12
FORMATION OF THE TRUSTS..............................................S-13
USE OF PROCEEDS......................................................S-14
THE SELLER, THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE MASTER SERVICER AND THE
SUB-SERVICERS.....................................................S-14
THE STUDENT LOAN POOLS...............................................S-15
THE STUDENT LOAN FINANCING BUSINESS..................................S-17
WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIVES OF THE SECURITIES.............................S-36
POOL FACTORS AND TRADING INFORMATION.................................S-38
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NOTES............................................S-39
DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTIFICATES......................................S-47
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE SECURITIES.........................S-49
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENTS.................S-57
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDENT LOANS...........................S-74
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES......................................S-81
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS
FOR WHICH A PARTNERSHIP ELECTION IS MADE..........................S-82
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS IN WHICH ALL
RESIDUAL INTERESTS ARE RETAINED BY THE SELLER
OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE SELLER.....................................S-92
STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES.....................................S-93
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS.................................................S-94
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION...............................................S-96
LEGAL MATTERS........................................................S-97
INDEX OF PRINCIPAL TERMS.............................................S-98
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF TERMS
This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus
supplement and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider
in making your investment decision. To understand all of the terms of the
offering of the securities, we recommend that you carefully read this entire
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
PRINCIPAL PARTIES
THE TRUST
o Mellon Student Loan Trust ____-___
THE SELLER, MASTER SERVICER AND ADMINISTRATOR
o Mellon Bank, N.A.
THE SUB-SERVICERS
THE ELIGIBLE LENDER TRUSTEE
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
THE GUARANTORS
DATES
DISTRIBUTION DATES
The 27th day of each ______, _______, ________, and _______ or if the 27th is
not a business day, the next business day. The first distribution date is
_________ 2[7]th, _____.
CUTOFF DATE
- ------- ----------.
STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
___________, ___________. The statistical cutoff date is the date as of which
certain information with respect to student loans is presented in this
prospectus supplement.
CLOSING DATE
On or about __________.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED SECURITIES
o [Two] classes of notes and [one] class of certificates
o Original principal amounts and interest rates are on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement
o Securities issued in book-entry form through the Depository Trust Company,
Cedelbank and the Euroclear System
o Minimum denominations of $1,000
TREASURY BILL INDEXED SECURITIES
o -----------------------------
LIBOR INDEXED SECURITIES
o -----------------------------
INTEREST PAYMENTS
o Each interest rate is subject to an interest rate cap described in
this prospectus supplement under the caption "Description of the
Securities."
o Interest calculations
o actual/360 for the ________
o actual/365 or 366 as applicable for the _________
o Interest not paid on a distribution date due to the interest rate cap
may be paid on future distribution dates as described in this
prospectus supplement under the caption "Description of the
Securities."
PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS
Principal payments on the securities will be made on each distribution date in
an amount described in this prospectus supplement under the caption "Description
of the Securities."
PRIORITY OF PAYMENTS
On each distribution date, the indenture trustee will make the following
distributions and deposits to the extent of available funds in the order
indicated:
1. to the master servicer certain fees;
2. to the administrator, certain fees;
3. to the holders of the notes, interest on a pro rata basis;
4. to the holders of the certificates, interest;
5. to the reserve account, an amount, if any, necessary to reinstate the
balance of the reserve account to a specified amount;
6. to the holders of the notes, principal as follows:
(a) first to the Class ___ Notes until paid in full; and then
(b) to the Class ___ Notes until paid in full;
7. following the date on which the notes have been paid in full, to the
holders of the certificates, principal;
8. to the master servicer certain fees;
9. to the holders of the notes, interest due in excess of the interest rate
cap, if any, on a pro rata basis;
10. to the holders of the certificates, interest due in excess of the interest
rate cap, if any; and
11. to the seller, any remaining amounts.
FINAL MATURITY DATES
The unpaid principal amount of each class of securities will be payable in full
on the applicable final maturity date listed on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement.
AUCTION SALE
Any student loans remaining in the trust as of the end of the collection period
immediately preceding the __________ distribution date will be offered for sale.
The proceeds of any sale will be used to redeem your securities. The auction
price must at least equal the unpaid principal amount of the securities, plus
accrued and unpaid interest.
OPTIONAL PURCHASE
The seller may repurchase all remaining student loans when the principal balance
of the pool of student loans is equal to [5%] [10%] or less of the initial
principal balance of the pool of student loans.
TRUST PROPERTY
THE INITIAL STUDENT LOANS
The initial student loans consist of certain guaranteed education loans to
students and parents made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. The
initial student loans have the following characteristics as of __________,
______:
o Aggregate principal
amount: $______________
o Weighted average annual
percentage rate: _____%
o Weighted average original
term: _________ mths
o Weighted average remaining
term: _________ mths
o Percent guaranteed by the _____%
o Percent guaranteed by _____%
o Percent of graduate school loans _____%
o Percent of undergraduate school
loans _____%
PRE-FUNDING ACCOUNT
There will be a pre-funding account of approximately $________. The trust
expects to use those amounts to purchase prior to _____ __, ____, consolidation
loans and serial loans, to pay capitalized interest on the pool of student loans
and to pay advances for certain fees related to the student loans.
OTHER STUDENT LOANS
Following ________, _______ and prior to ________, ________, the trust expects
to purchase other consolidation loans and serial loans made to borrowers with
student loans previously purchased by the trust. The trust expects to purchase
these other student loans with certain collections on the pool of existing
student loans that are not required to be distributed to you or paid to the
trustee, the master servicer or the administrator.
THE RESERVE ACCOUNT
There will be a reserve account, initially $_____, to cover servicing fees,
administration fees, interest on the notes and, except as described under
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements -Credit Enhancement"
herein, interest on the certificates. Amounts on deposit in the reserve account
also will be available, if necessary, to reduce the principal balance of each
class of securities to zero on its respective final maturity date.
TAX STATUS
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, as federal tax counsel to the trust, is of the
opinion that (1) the trust will not be treated as an association or a publicly
traded partnership taxable as a corporation and (ii) the notes will be
characterized as indebtedness for federal income tax purposes. Each noteholder,
by accepting a note, will agree to treat the notes as indebtedness.
_________________________, as Pennsylvania tax counsel to the trust, is of the
opinion that the same characterizations of the notes and the trust would apply
for Pennsylvania state income tax purposes as for federal income tax purposes.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Subject to the considerations discussed under "ERISA Considerations" in this
prospectus supplement, the notes are eligible for purchase by employee benefit
plans.
The certificates may not be acquired by employee benefit plans or other
retirement arrangements subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and/or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended or by any other entity that is deemed to hold assets of such
plan or arrangement.
RATINGS
At least two nationally recognized rating agencies must each rate the notes in
the highest investment rating category and must rate the certificates in one of
the four highest investment rating categories.
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
We recommend that you consider the following risk factors together with all
the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the related
prospectus before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities.
YOU MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY
SELLING YOUR
SECURITIES The securities will not be listed on any securities
exchange. As a result, if you want to sell your
securities you must locate a purchaser that is
willing to purchase those securities. The
underwriters intend to make a secondary market for
the securities. The underwriters will do so by
offering to buy the securities from investors that
wish to sell. However, the underwriters will not
be obligated to make offers to buy the securities
and may stop making offers at any time. In
addition, the prices offered, if any, may not
reflect prices that other potential purchasers
would be willing to pay, were they to be given the
opportunity. There have been times in the past
where there have been very few buyers of asset
backed securities, and there may be such times in
the future. As a result, you may not be able to
sell your securities when you want to do so
or you may not be able to obtain the price that
you wish to receive.
IF THE TRUST ASSETS ARE
INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE
PAYMENTS ON THE SECURITIES,
YOU MAY INCUR A LOSS The trust is not permitted to have any significant
assets or sources of funds other than the student
loans, the guarantee agreements, the reserve
account, the escrow account and the pre-funding
account. The notes and the certificates will not be
insured or guaranteed by any entity. Consequently,
you must rely for repayment upon payments only from
the trust's assets. If the pre-funding account
and the reserve account are exhausted, the trust
will depend solely on payments with respect to the
student loans to make payments on the securities
and you could suffer a loss. You will have no
claim to any amounts properly distributed to Mellon
Bank, N.A., in its capacities as seller,
administrator or master servicer, or to any of
the sub-servicers, from time to time.
<PAGE>
THE TRUST'S PURCHASE OF
STUDENT LOANS AT A
PREMIUM MAY RESULT
IN LOSSES The original principal amount of the securities
will be equal to approximately ________% of the sum
of the outstanding principal balance of the student
loans as of the cutoff date and the amount
deposited in the pre-funding account, the reserve
account and the collection account on the closing
date. We cannot assure you as to when the
aggregate principal amount of the securities will
be equal to or less than the sum of the principal
amount of the pool of student loans and the amounts
on deposit in the reserve account. If the student
loans were liquidated at a time when the
outstanding principal amount of the securities
exceeded the sum of the principal amount of the
student loans, the amount on deposit in the pre-
funding account and the amounts on deposit in the
reserve account, you may suffer a loss.
THE CERTIFICATES WILL
ABSORB CASH SHORTFALLS AND
LOSSES BEFORE THE NOTES
The rights of the holders of certificates to
receive payments of interest are subordinated to
the rights of the holders of notes to receive
payments of interest. The holders of certificates
will not receive any payments of principal until
the notes are paid in full. Consequently, amounts
available to cover cash shortfalls will be
applied to the payment of interest on the notes
before payment of interest on the certificates. In
addition, if the pool of student loans is
liquidated because of an event of default under the
indenture or the insolvency of Mellon Bank, N.A.,
all amounts due on the notes will be payable before
any amounts are payable on the certificates.
Additionally, if the outstanding principal balance
of the notes is in excess of a specified amount,
described under "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements - Credit Enhancement" in this
prospectus supplement, principal will be payable to
the holders of the notes in the amount of such
excess to the extent of funds available before any
amounts are payable to the holders of the
certificates. If amounts otherwise allocable to the
certificates are used to fund payments of interest
or principal on the notes, distributions on the
certificates may be delayed or reduced.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
STUDENT LOANS MAY CHANGE
Certain characteristics of the student loans will
vary from the characteristics of the initial
student loans due to the trust's purchase of
consolidation loans and serial loans. The
distribution by weighted average interest rates may
vary as a result of variations in the effective
rates of interest applicable to the student loans
after each transfer of additional student loans to
the trust and the remaining term of the deferral
and forbearance periods.
The seller currently makes available and may in the
future make available certain incentive programs to
borrowers. The effect of these incentive programs
may be to reduce the yield on the initial pool of
student loans. If any incentive program reduces
the yield on the affected student loan and is not
required by the Higher Education Act of 1965, that
program will be applicable to student loans in the
trust only if the trust receives payment from the
seller in an amount sufficient to offset the
related yield reduction.
YOUR YIELD TO MATURITY MAY BE
REDUCED BY PREPAYMENTS,
DELINQUENCIES
AND DEFAULTS The pre-tax return on your investment is uncertain
and will depend on a number of factors including
the following:
o THE RATE OF RETURN OF PRINCIPAL IS UNCERTAIN.
The amount of distributions of principal on the
securities and the time when you receive those
distributions depends on the amount and the times
at which borrowers make principal payments on the
student loans. Those principal payments may be
regularly scheduled payments or unscheduled
payments resulting from prepayments, defaults or
consolidations of the student loans.
o YOU MAY RECEIVE A PREPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AT END
OF FUNDING PERIOD. If the amount in the pre-
funding account is not fully used to purchase
student loans that are consolidation loans or
serial loans by the end of the funding period, you
may receive a principal prepayment. If the amount
remaining is $________ or less, the indenture
trustee will distribute the amount on each class of
securities, pro rata, based on the initial
principal balance of the securities.
o YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REINVEST DISTRIBUTIONS IN
COMPARABLE INVESTMENTS. Asset backed securities,
like the securities offered by this prospectus
supplement, usually produce more returns of
principal to investors when market interest rates
fall below the interest rates on the student loans
and produce less returns of principal when market
interest rates are above the interest rates on
the student loans. As a result, you are likely to
receive more money to reinvest at a time when other
investments generally are producing a lower yield
than that on the securities, and are likely to
receive less money to reinvest when other
investments generally are producing a higher yield
than that on the securities. You will bear the
risk that the timing and amount of distributions on
your securities will prevent you from attaining
your desired yield.
o AN EARLY TERMINATION WILL SHORTEN THE LIFE OF
YOUR INVESTMENT WHICH MAY REDUCE YOUR YIELD TO
MATURITY. Your investment in the securities may
end before you desire if (1) the indenture trustee
successfully conducts an auction sale or (2) the
seller exercises its option to purchase all of the
assets of the trust. Because your securities will
no longer be outstanding, you will not receive the
additional interest payments that you would have
received had the securities remained outstanding.
In addition, you may not be able to reinvest the
principal you receive at a rate comparable to that
on your securities.
YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE CURRENT
PAYMENTS AT THE APPLICABLE
INTEREST RATE You may not be paid interest at the related note
rate or certificate rate as a result of an interest
rate cap. The interest rate cap may be triggered
for a number of reasons, including:
The applicable index used to calculate interest on
the securities may become greater than the indices
used to calculate interest on the student loans.
The principal balance of the student loans
initially will be less than the aggregate principal
amount of the securities. Consequently, the
aggregate principal balances of the student loans
on which interest will be collected will be less
than the principal amount of the securities.
The interest rate cap will be reduced as a result
of the trust's obligation to pay certain amounts to
the Department of Education or to repay certain
amounts to borrowers.
Although you may receive interest not paid because
of the interest rate cap on subsequent distribution
dates, we cannot assure you that there will be
sufficient funds available for that purpose. If
the note rate or certificate rate is limited by the
interest rate cap, the market value and liquidity
of your securities may decline.
[MELLON BANK, N.A. LACKS
EXPERIENCE IN SERVICING
STUDENT LOANS The master servicer does not have any experience
directly servicing any student loans. Although the
master servicer is obligated to cause the student
loans to be serviced in accordance with the terms
of the transaction agreements, the timing of
payments will be directly affected by the ability
of the sub-servicers to adequately service the
student loans. In addition, you will be relying on
each of the sub-servicers' compliance with
applicable federal program regulations to ensure
that the guarantors are obligated to maintain
guaranteed payments and that any reinsurance by the
Department of Education is maintained. If a sub-
servicer defaults on its obligations and is
terminated, you will be relying on the ability of
the master servicer to find an alternative sub-
servicer to service the student loans and you may
suffer a delay in the timing of payments
until any transfer of servicing is completed or
effective.]
COMPUTER PROBLEMS IN THE
YEAR 2000 MAY RESULT IN
LOSSES Many computers and computer chips were not
programmed to recognize more than two digits in a
year of a date. As a result, in the year 2000,
those computers will not know whether the '00
refers to the year 1900 or the year 2000. To the
extent that the systems of the master servicer, any
sub-servicer, the administrator, any of the
guarantors, the eligible lender trustee or the
indenture trustee have such problems in the year
2000 and later, the amount and timing of
distributions to noteholders and certificateholders
could be adversely affected.
[The Department of Education has undertaken a year
2000 compliance project to address year 2000
issues. Information regarding the Department of
Education's year 2000 efforts can be obtained at
the Department of Education's site on the World
Wide Web at http://www.ed.gov. Officials at the
Department of Education have made statements to the
public acknowledging that the Department of
Education has been placed on the Office of
Management and Budget's "watch list" for not
meeting certain milestones toward year 2000
compliance. Any failure by the Department of
Education to resolve any year 2000 issues or any
adverse effect on the Department of Education
caused by a party on which the Department of
Education relies as a result of year 2000
issues may have a material adverse effect on the
Federal Family Education Loan Program, the federal
guarantors and you.]
WITHDRAWAL OR DOWNGRADING
OF INITIAL RATINGS WILL
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PRICES
FOR THE SECURITIES A security rating is not a recommendation to buy,
sell or hold securities. Similar ratings on
different types of securities do not necessarily
mean the same thing. We recommend that you analyze
the significance of each rating independently from
any other rating. Any rating agency may change its
rating of the securities after the securities are
issued if that rating agency believes that
circumstances have changed. Any subsequent
withdrawal or downgrading of a rating will likely
reduce the price that a subsequent purchaser will
be willing to pay for the applicable securities.
The ratings do not address the likelihood of the
ultimate payment to you of any interest not paid as
a result of the interest rate cap.
THE SECURITIES ARE NOT
SUITABLE INVESTMENTS
FOR ALL INVESTORS The securities are not a suitable investment if you
require a regular or predictable schedule of
payments or payment on any specific date. The
securities are complex investments that should be
considered only by investors who, either alone or
with their financial, tax and legal advisors, have
the expertise to analyze the prepayment,
reinvestment, default and market risk, the tax
consequences of an investment, and the interaction
of these factors.
<PAGE>
FORMATION OF THE TRUST
THE TRUST
Mellon Student Loan Trust _____- (the "Trust") is a trust formed under the
laws of the State of pursuant to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated
as of ________, ____ (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Trust
Agreement") between Mellon Bank, N.A. (the "Seller") and as trustee (the
"Eligible Lender Trustee") for the transactions described in this prospectus
supplement. The assets of the Trust will include the education loans to students
and parents of students ("Student Loans") delivered on the Closing Date (the
"Initial Financed Student Loans") and additional Student Loans acquired by the
Trust after the Closing Date (the "Other Student Loans," and collectively with
the Initial Financed Student Loans, the "Financed Student Loans"). All of the
Financed Student Loans will be reinsured by the United States Department of
Education (the "Department").
The Trust will not engage in any activity other than
o acquiring, holding and managing the Financed Student Loans
and the other assets of the Trust and proceeds therefrom
o issuing the Certificates and the Notes
o making payments thereon and
o engaging in other activities that are related to the
activities listed above.
The Trust will be initially capitalized with equity of $____________
excluding amounts deposited in the Reserve Account in the name of the Indenture
Trustee by the Seller on the Closing Date, representing the initial principal
balance of the Floating Rate Asset Backed Certificates (the "Certificates").
Certificates with an original principal balance of approximately $___________
will be sold to and retained by the Seller and the remaining Certificates will
be sold to third-party investors that are expected to be unaffiliated with the
Seller, the Master Servicer, the Sub-Servicers, the Guarantors, the Trust or the
Department. The equity of the Trust, together with the proceeds from the sale of
the Notes, will be used by the Eligible Lender Trustee to purchase on behalf of
the Trust the Initial Financed Student Loans from the Seller pursuant to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of ______ __, ____ among the Trust, the
Seller, the Administrator, the Master Servicer, and the Eligible Lender Trustee
(the "Sale and Servicing Agreement") and to fund the deposit of $___________
(the "Pre-Funded Amount") into an account to be maintained by the Indenture
Trustee (the "Pre-Funding Account"). The Seller will use a portion of the net
proceeds it receives from the sale of the Initial Financed Student Loans to make
a deposit of $__________ on the Closing Date into the Reserve Account (the
"Reserve Account Initial Deposit").
Upon the consummation of such transactions, the property of the Trust will
consist of
(a) a pool of Financed Student Loans, legal title to which is held
by the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust,
(b) all funds collected in respect thereof on or after _______ __,
____,
(c) all Guarantee Agreements, and
(d) all moneys and investments on deposit in an account in the
name of the Indenture Trustee (the "Collection Account"), the
Pre-Funding Account, an account in the name of the Indenture
Trustee (the "Escrow Account") and the Reserve Account.
To facilitate servicing and to minimize administrative burden and expense,
the Sub-Servicers will be appointed by the Eligible Lender Trustee and the
Master Servicer the custodians of the promissory notes representing the Financed
Student Loans that each services on behalf of the Trust.
"Initial Financed Student Loans" means the Student Loans transferred by the
Seller to the Trust as of the Closing Date having an aggregate principal balance
of approximately $______________ as of ______ __, ____ (the "Statistical Cutoff
Date").
ELIGIBLE LENDER TRUSTEE
____________ is the Eligible Lender Trustee for the Trust under the Trust
Agreement pursuant to which the Eligible Lender Trustee acts as holder of legal
title to the Financed Student Loans on behalf of the Trust. __________ principal
offices are located at ___________ and its New York offices are located at New
York, New York ___.
The Eligible Lender Trustee will acquire on behalf of the Trust legal title
to all the Financed Student Loans acquired from time to time pursuant to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement. The Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust
will enter into a guarantee agreement or comparable arrangement with each of the
Guarantors with respect to the Financed Student Loans (each a "Guarantee
Agreement" and collectively, the "Guarantee Agreements"). The Eligible Lender
Trustee qualifies as an eligible lender and owner of all Student Loans that are
reinsured by the Department, for all purposes under the Higher Education Act of
1965 (the "Higher Education Act") and the Guarantee Agreements. Failure of the
Financed Student Loans to be owned by an eligible lender would result in the
loss of any Guarantee Payments (as defined in the Prospectus) from any of [ ]
(collectively, the "Guarantors") and any Federal Assistance (as defined in the
Prospectus) with respect to such Financed Student Loans. See "The Financed
Student Loan Pool--Insurance of Student Loans; Guarantors of Student Loans" in
this prospectus supplement.
The Eligible Lender Trustee's liability in connection with the issuance and
sale of the [Floating Rate Class ___ Asset Backed Notes (the "Class ___ Notes")
and Floating Rate Class ___ Asset Backed Notes (the "Class ___ Notes" and
together with the Class ___ Notes, the "Notes")] and the Certificates is limited
solely to the express obligations of the Eligible Lender Trustee set forth in
the Trust Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement. See "Description of
the Securities" and "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements"
herein. The Seller plans to maintain normal commercial banking relations with
the Eligible Lender Trustee.
In consideration for its performance of its obligations under the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, the Eligible Lender Trustee will be entitled to receive an
annual fee of $________.
USE OF PROCEEDS
After making the deposit of the Pre-Funded Amount to the Pre-Funding
Account, the balance of the net proceeds from the sale of the Certificates and
the Notes will be paid by the Trust to the Seller in consideration for the
purchase by the Trust of the Initial Financed Student Loans on the Closing Date.
The Seller will use such proceeds paid to it (x) to make the Reserve Account
Initial Deposit and an initial deposit into the Collection Account and (y) for
general corporate purposes.
THE MASTER SERVICER AND THE SUB-SERVICERS
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Mellon Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Master Servicer under the Sale and
Servicing Agreement (the "Master Servicer"), will be responsible for master
servicing the Financed Student Loans. The Master Servicer will arrange for and
oversee the performance by _____ and ______ (collectively the "Sub-Servicers"
and each a "Sub-Servicer") of their respective servicing obligations with
respect to the Financed Student Loans pursuant to separate sub-servicing
agreements (each, a "Sub-Servicing Agreement") with each Sub-Servicer. The
Master Servicer will be entitled to receive the Master Servicing Fee, but will
in turn be solely responsible for all compensation due to the Sub-Servicers for
the performance of their respective obligations pursuant to the related
Sub-Servicing Agreements.
[DESCRIPTION OF SUB-SERVICERS]
SERVICES AND FEES OF MASTER SERVICER AND THE SUB-SERVICERS
In accordance with the Sub-Servicing Agreements, each Sub-Servicer will
service and perform all related tasks with respect to the Financed Student Loans
on behalf of the Master Servicer and the Trust. The Trust will be an intended
third-party beneficiary of each Sub-Servicing Agreement. _______ will be
Sub-Servicer with respect to approximately _____% of the outstanding principal
balance of the Initial Financed Student Loans and _______ will be the Sub-
Servicer with respect to approximately _____% of the outstanding principal
balance of the Initial Financed Student Loans. With respect to the Financed
Student Loans it is servicing for the Trust, each Sub-Servicer is required to
perform the services and duties customary to the servicing of Student Loans it
is required to service with reasonable care and to do so in the same manner as
such Sub-Servicer has serviced Student Loans on behalf of the Seller or the
Master Servicer, as applicable, and otherwise in compliance with all applicable
standards and procedures. In addition, each Sub-Servicer is required to maintain
its eligibility as a third-party servicer under the Higher Education Act. See
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Servicing Procedures" in
this prospectus supplement.
In consideration for performing its obligations under the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer will receive a monthly fee payable by
the Trust on or about the twenty-seventh day of each month (the "Monthly
Servicing Payment Date") generally equal to _____% (the "Master Servicing Fee
Percentage") of the principal balance of the Financed Student Loans and certain
one-time fixed fees for each Financed Student Loan for which a forbearance
period was granted or renewed or for which a guarantee claim was filed, in each
case subject to certain adjustments, together with other administrative fees and
similar charges. In consideration for the Master Servicing Fee, the Master
Servicer will be solely responsible for the fees due to the Sub-Servicers
pursuant to the terms of the related Sub-Servicing Agreements. See "Description
of Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Master Servicing Compensation" in this
prospectus supplement.
THE FINANCED STUDENT LOAN POOL
GENERAL
The pool of Financed Student Loans will include the Initial Financed
Student Loans purchased by the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust as
of the Statistical Cutoff Date and any Additional Student Loans purchased by the
Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust from the Seller as of the
applicable Subsequent Cutoff Dates.
<PAGE>
The Financed Student Loans will be selected from the Seller's portfolio of
Student Loans by several criteria, including, as of the Statistical Cutoff Date
or the applicable Subsequent Cutoff Date, as the case may be, the following:
1. Each Financed Student Loan
(a) was originated in the United States or its territories or
possessions under and in accordance with the Programs (as defined
in the Prospectus) (including, a financial need analysis) to a
borrower who (or with respect to PLUS Loans to a parent of a
student who), (i) has graduated or otherwise left an
undergraduate institution or is expected to graduate or otherwise
leave an undergraduate institution by _____________, ____, and
(ii) has graduated or otherwise left graduate school or is
expected to graduate or otherwise leave graduate school by
_____________, ____,
(b) contains terms in accordance with those required by the Programs,
the applicable Guarantee Agreements and other applicable
requirements, and
(c) with respect to the Initial Financed Student Loans is not more
than 180 days past due as of the Statistical Cutoff Date or, with
respect to the Other Subsequent Students Loans or the Other
Student Loans not more than 90 days past due as of the applicable
Subsequent Cutoff Date, as the case may be.
2. As of the Statistical Cutoff Date, no Initial Financed Student Loan
had a borrower who was noted in the related records of the Master
Servicer or a Sub-Servicer as being currently involved in a bankruptcy
proceeding or deceased since the date the Trust was created.
3. No Initial Financed Student Loan as of the Statistical Cutoff Date
consists of a Student Loan that was subject to the Seller's prior
obligation to sell such loan to a third party.
4. No selection procedures believed by the Seller to be adverse to the
Securityholders were used or will be used in selecting the Financed
Student Loans.
5. The Financed Student Loans will not include any non-prime or sub-prime
Student Loans. Non-prime or sub-prime Student Loans are Student Loans
originated to individuals who have previously defaulted on their
Student Loans.
6. As of the Statistical Cutoff Date, none of the Initial Financed
Student Loans are non-performing Student Loans. Non-performing Student
Loans are Student Loans which are in default and the Seller expects to
write-off as a loss.
<PAGE>
Each of the Financed Student Loans provides or will provide for the
amortization of the outstanding principal balance of such Financed Student Loan
over a series of regular payments. Each regular payment consists of an
installment of interest which is calculated on the basis of the outstanding
principal balance of such Financed Student Loan multiplied by the applicable
interest rate 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 in respect of such Financed Student Loan, 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 a borrower pays
a regular 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 a borrower pays a 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, subject to any applicable Deferral Periods (as defined in
the Prospectus) or Forbearance Periods (as defined in the Prospectus), the
borrower pays a regular 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 of and any accrued but
unpaid interest on such Financed Student Loan.
The Additional Student Loans to be conveyed to the Eligible Lender Trustee
on behalf of the Trust during the Funding Period are required to consist of
Other Subsequent Student Loans originated by the Seller in accordance with the
Programs and other applicable requirements. The Other Subsequent Student Loans
must be made to a borrower who has, immediately prior to the date of any such
conveyance, outstanding Student Loans that are part of the pool of Financed
Student Loans. Each such Additional Student Loan is otherwise required to comply
with the criteria set forth above. See "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Additional Fundings" herein.
Except for the criteria described in the preceding paragraphs, there will
be no required characteristics of the Additional Student Loans. Therefore,
following the transfer of the Additional Student Loans to the Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the aggregate characteristics of the entire pool
of Financed Student Loans, including the composition of the Financed Student
Loans, the distribution by weighted average interest rate and the distribution
by principal amount described in the following tables, may vary significantly
from those of the Initial Financed Student Loans as of the Statistical Cutoff
Date. In addition, the distribution by weighted average interest rate applicable
to the Financed Student Loans on any date following the Statistical Cutoff Date
may vary significantly from that set forth in the following tables as a result
of variations in the effective rates of interest applicable to the Financed
Student Loans. Moreover, the remaining term to maturity of the Initial Financed
Student Loans as of the Statistical Cutoff Date may vary significantly from the
actual term to maturity of any of the Financed Student Loans as a result of the
granting of Deferral Periods and Forbearance Periods with respect thereto.
<PAGE>
THE FINANCED STUDENT LOANS
Set forth below in the following tables is a description of certain
additional characteristics of the Initial Financed Student Loans as of the
Statistical Cutoff Date.
COMPOSITION AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUST TOTAL
------------------------- -----
Aggregate Outstanding
Balance(1)
Number of Borrowers
Average Outstanding
Balance Per Borrower
Number of Loans
Average Outstanding
Balance Per Loan
Weighted Average
Remaining Term
to Maturity(2)
Weighted Average Annual
Borrower Interest Rate(3)
(1) Includes in each case net principal balance due from borrowers, plus
accrued interest thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment,
estimated to be $______________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
(2) Determined from the date of origination or the Statistical Cutoff Date, as
the case may be, to the stated maturity date of the applicable Initial
Financed Student Loans, assuming repayment commences promptly upon
expiration of the typical grace period following the expected graduation
date and without giving effect to any Deferral Periods or Forbearance
Periods that may be granted in the future. See "The Student Loan Financing
Business" in the Prospectus.
(3) Determined using the borrower interest rates exclusive of Special Allowance
Payments applicable to the Initial Financed Student Loans as of the
Statistical Cutoff Date. However, because all the Initial Financed Student
Loans effectively bear interest at a variable rate per annum, there can be
no assurance that the foregoing rate will remain applicable to the Initial
Financed Student Loans at any time after the Statistical Cutoff Date. See
"The Student Loan Financing Business" in the Prospectus. The weighted
average spread, including Special Allowance Payments, to the 91-day
Treasury Bill Rate or 52-week Treasury Bill Rate, as applicable, was ____%
as of the Statistical Cutoff Date and would have been ____% if all of the
Financed Student Loans were in repayment as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION BY LOAN TYPE AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL POOL
LOAN TYPE OF LOANS BALANCE(1) BALANCE
--------- -------- ---------- ------------
Stafford Subsidized Loans
Stafford Unsubsidized Loans
Consolidation Loans
SLS Loans
PLUS Loans
Total
(1) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION BY BORROWER INTEREST RATE AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
INTEREST NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL POOL
RATE OF LOANS BALANCE(2) BALANCE
------ -------- ---------- -------
Less than 7.50%(1)
7.50% to 7.99%
8.00% to 8.49%
8.50% to 8.99%
9.00% and above
Total
(1) Determined using the interest rates applicable to the Initial Financed
Student Loans as of the Statistical Cutoff Date. However, because all the
Initial Financed Student Loans effectively bear interest at a variable rate
per annum, there can be no assurance that the foregoing information will
remain applicable to the Initial Financed Student Loans at any time after
the Statistical Cutoff Date. See "The Student Loan Financing Business" in
the Prospectus.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DISTRIBUTION BY OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL BALANCE AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
OUTSTANDING
PRINCIPAL NUMBER OF AGGREGATE OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF INITIAL POOL
BALANCE LOANS(1) PRINCIPAL BALANCE(2) BALANCE
------------- --------- --------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $1,000
$1,000 to $1,999
$2,000 to $2,999
$3,000 to $3,999
$4,000 to $4,999
$5,000 to $5,999
$6,000 to $6,999
$7,000 to $7,999
$8,000 to $8,999
$9,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $10,999
$11,000 to $11,999
$12,000 to $12,999
$13,000 to $13,999
$14,000 to $14,999
$15,000 to $15,999
$16,000 to $16,999
$17,000 to $17,999
$18,000 to $18,999
$19,000 to $19,999
$20,000 to $20,999
$21,000 to $21,999
$22,000 to $22,999
$23,000 to $23,999
$24,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $25,999
$26,000 to $26,999
$27,000 to $27,999
$28,000 to $28,999
$29,000 to $29,999
$30,000 and above
Total
(1) Borrowers generally have more than one outstanding loan. The average aggregate outstanding
principal balance of loans per borrower is $_____, with respect to the Initial Financed Student
Loans as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest thereon to be
capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be $________ as of the Statistical
Cutoff Date.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION BY REMAINING TERM TO SCHEDULED MATURITY
AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
MONTHS TO OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
SCHEDULED NUMBER OF PRINCIPAL INITIAL POOL
MATURITY LOANS BALANCE(2) BALANCE
---------- --------- ----------- ------------
12 and below(1)
13 to 24
25 to 48
49 to 60
61 to 72
73 to 84
85 to 96
97 to 108
109 to 120
121 to 180
181 to 240
241 and above
Total
(1) Determined from the Statistical Cutoff Date to the stated maturity date of
the applicable Initial Financed Student Loan, assuming repayment commences
promptly upon expiration of the typical grace period following the expected
graduation date and without giving effect to any deferral or forbearance
periods that may be granted in the future. See "The Student Loan Financing
Business" in the Prospectus.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION BY BORROWER PAYMENT STATUS AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL POOL
PAYMENT STATUS OF LOANS BALANCE(2) BALANCE
- -------------- -------- ----------- ------------
In School(1)
Grace
Deferral
Forbearance
Repayment
First year in repayment
Second year in repayment
More than two years
in repayment
Total
(1) Refers to the status of the borrower of each Initial Financed Student Loan,
as of the Statistical Cutoff Date: such borrower may still be attending an
undergraduate institution or graduate school ("In-School"), may be in a
grace period prior to repayment commencing ("Grace"), may be repaying such
loan ("Repayment") or may have temporarily ceased repaying such loan
through a deferral ("Deferral") or a forbearance ("Forbearance") period.
See "The Student Loan Financing Business" in the Prospectus.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULED WEIGHTED AVERAGE MONTHS REMAINING IN STATUS
BY CURRENT BORROWER PAYMENT STATUS AS OF THE
STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE(1)
PAYMENT STATUS
- ---------------------------
IN-SCHOOL GRACE DEFERRAL FORBEARANCE REPAYMENT
--------- ----- -------- ----------- ---------
In-School
Grace
Deferral
Forbearance
Repayment
Total
(1) Determined without giving effect to any Deferral Periods or Forbearance
Periods that may be granted in the future.
<PAGE>
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF STATES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 4%
OF THE AGGREGATE POOL BALANCE AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE(1)
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL
OF LOANS BALANCE(2) POOL BALANCE
-------- ---------- -------------
[States]
All Other
States(3)
Total
(1) Based on the permanent billing addresses of the borrowers of the Initial
Financed Student Loans shown on the Master Servicer's or a Sub-Servicer's
records as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon of $_______ as of the Statistical Cut-Off Date to be capitalized
upon commencement of repayment.
(3) Includes all other states, none of which exceeds __% of the Initial Pool
Balance.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION BY LOAN REPAYMENT TERM AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
LOAN NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL
REPAYMENT TERMS OF LOANS BALANCE(1) POOL BALANCE
--------------- -------- ---------- -------------
Level Payment
Interest Only(2)
Graduated Payment(3)
Other (4)
Total
(1) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
(2) Student Loans with interest only repayment terms require borrowers to make
payments of interest only for the first two years after entering repayment
and thereafter to make level payments (made up of both principal and
interest) which will amortize the then outstanding principal balance of the
loan over the then remaining term.
(3) Student Loans with graduated repayment terms require borrowers to make
payments of interest only for the first two years after entering repayment
which increase over the next three years to a level payment amount which
will amortize the then outstanding principal balance of the loan over the
then remaining term.
(4) Loan still not in repayment status.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCED FEDERAL LOANS BY DATE OF DISBURSEMENT
AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
DATE OF NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL
DISBURSEMENT(1) OF LOANS BALANCE(2) POOL BALANCE
-------------- -------- ----------- -------------
Pre October 1, 1993
October 1, 1993 to
Present
Total
(1) Student Loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993 are 100% guaranteed by the
applicable Guarantor, and reinsured against default by the Department up to
100% of the Guarantee Payments. Student Loans disbursed on or after October
1, 1993 (but before October 1, 1998) are 98% guaranteed by the applicable
Guarantor, and reinsured against default by the Department up to a maximum
of 98% of the Guarantee Payments. Student Loans first disbursed on or after
October 1, 1998 are 98% guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor, and
reinsured against default by the Department up to 95% of the Guarantee
Payments. See "The Student Loan Financing Business--Description of Student
Loans Under the Programs" and "--Insurance of Student Loans; Guarantors of
Student Loans" in the Prospectus.
(2) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION OF FINANCED STUDENT LOANS BY
NUMBER OF DAYS OF DELINQUENCY AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE
OUTSTANDING PERCENT OF
NUMBER PRINCIPAL INITIAL
DAYS DELINQUENT OF LOANS BALANCE(1) POOL BALANCE
- --------------- -------- ---------- ------------
0-30
31-60
61-90
90-120
120-150
150-180
Total
(1) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
<PAGE>
MATURITY AND PREPAYMENT ASSUMPTIONS
The rate of payment of principal of the Notes and the Certificates and the
yield on the Notes and the Certificates will be affected by prepayments of the
Financed Student Loans that may occur as described below. All the Financed
Student Loans are prepayable in whole or in part by the borrowers at any time
(including by means of Consolidation Loans (as defined in the Prospectus) or as
a result of a borrower's default, death, disability or bankruptcy and subsequent
liquidation or collection of Guarantee Payments with respect thereto. The rate
of such prepayments cannot be predicted and may be influenced by a variety of
economic, social and other factors, including those described below. In general,
the rate of prepayments may tend to increase to the extent that alternative
financing becomes available at prevailing interest rates which fall
significantly below the interest rates applicable to the Financed Student Loans.
However, because many of the Financed Student Loans bear interest at a rate that
either actually or effectively is floating, it is impossible to determine
whether changes in prevailing interest rates will be similar to or vary from
changes in the interest rates on the Financed Student Loans.
To the extent borrowers of Financed Student Loans elect to borrow
Consolidation Loans with respect to such Financed Student Loans from the Seller
(x) after the Loan Purchase Termination Date or (y) from another lender at any
time, Noteholders (as defined in the Prospectus ) (and after the Notes have been
paid in full, Certificateholders (as defined in the Prospectus )) will
collectively receive as a prepayment of principal the aggregate principal amount
of such Financed Student Loans; provided, that if the Seller makes any such
Consolidation Loan during the Funding Period or prior to the Loan Purchase
Termination Date (in which event the Seller will then sell that Consolidation
Loan to the Eligible Lender Trustee, to the extent that funds are available in
the Escrow Account and during the Funding Period, the Pre-Funding Account or
following the Funding Period but prior to the Loan Purchase Termination Date,
the Collection Account from amounts which constitute Available Loan Purchase
Funds, for the purchase thereof), the aggregate outstanding principal balance of
Financed Student Loans (after giving effect to the addition of such
Consolidation Loans) will be at least equal to and in most cases greater than
such balance prior to such prepayment, although the portion of the loan
guaranteed will be 98% with respect to any Consolidation Loan disbursed on or
after October 1, 1993 even if the Underlying Student Loans (as defined in the
Prospectus) were 100% guaranteed. See "The Student Loan Financing
Business--Description of Student Loans Under the Programs--Consolidation Loans"
in the Prospectus. There can be no assurance that borrowers with Financed
Student Loans will not seek to obtain Consolidation Loans with respect to such
Financed Student Loans on or after the Loan Purchase Termination Date or by
another lender at any time.
In addition, the Seller is obligated to repurchase any Financed Student
Loan pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement as a result of a breach of any
of its representations and warranties, and the Master Servicer is obligated to
purchase any Financed Student Loan pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement
as a result of a breach of certain covenants with respect to such Financed
Student Loan, in each case where such breach materially adversely affects the
interests of the Certificateholders or the Noteholders in that Financed Student
Loan and is not cured within the applicable cure period (it being understood
that any such breach that does not affect any Guarantor's obligation to
guarantee payment of such Financed Student Loan will not be considered to have a
material adverse effect for this purpose). See "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Sale of Student Loans; Representations and Warranties" and
"-- Servicer Covenants" in the Prospectus. See also "Description of the Transfer
and Servicing Agreements--Additional Fundings" herein and in the Prospectus
regarding the prepayment of principal to Noteholders as a result of excess funds
remaining on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account at the end of the Funding
Period. See also, "--Insolvency Event" in the Prospectus regarding the sale of
the Financed Student Loans if a Seller Insolvency Event (as defined in the
Prospectus) occurs and "--Termination" herein and in the Prospectus regarding
the Seller's option to purchase the Financed Student Loans when the aggregate
Pool Balance is less than or equal to [5%] [10%] of the Initial Pool Balance and
the auction of the Financed Student Loans occurs on or after the ____ 200__
Distribution Date. Any reinvestment risk from such accelerated payment of
principal will be borne by the holders of Notes and Certificates receiving such
prepayment.
Scheduled payments with respect to, and maturities of, the Financed Student
Loans may be extended, including pursuant to Grace Periods (as defined in the
Prospectus, each a "Grace Period"), Deferral Periods and, under certain
circumstances, Forbearance Periods or as a result of the conveyance of Serial
Loans to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust prior to the Loan
Purchase Termination Date or of refinancings through Consolidation Loans to the
extent such Consolidation Loans are sold to the Eligible Lender Trustee on
behalf of the Trust as described above. In that event, the fact that such
Consolidation Loans will likely have longer maturities than the Financed Student
Loans they are replacing may lengthen the remaining term of the Financed Student
Loans and the average life of the Notes and the Certificates. The rate of
payment of principal of the Notes and the Certificates and the yield on the
Notes and the Certificates may also be affected by the rate of defaults
resulting in losses on defaulted Student Loans which have been liquidated, by
the severity of those losses and by the timing of those losses, which may affect
the ability of the Guarantors to make Guarantee Payments with respect thereto.
In addition, the maturity of many of the Financed Student Loans will extend well
beyond the Final Maturity Dates of the Notes and the Certificates.
The rate of prepayment on the Financed Student Loans cannot be predicted.
You will bear any reinvestment risks resulting from a faster or slower incidence
of prepayment of Financed Student Loans. Reinvestment risks may include the risk
that interest rates and the relevant spreads above particular interest rate
bases are lower at the time you receive payments from the Trust than the
interest rates and the spreads that would otherwise have been had prepayments
not been made or had prepayments been made at a different time.
"Available Loan Purchase Funds" means with respect to any Collection Period
and any Transfer Date after the Funding Period, the excess of Available Funds
(with certain exceptions) for the Collection Period relating to the Distribution
Date next succeeding such Transfer Date that are on deposit in the Collection
Account on such Transfer Date (before giving effect to any application thereof)
over the accrued expected expense payment for such Distribution Date as
specified in the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
The "Initial Pool Balance" will equal $_____________.
"Loan Purchase Termination Date" means ____________, ___________.
INSURANCE OF STUDENT LOANS; GUARANTORS OF STUDENT LOANS
Each Financed Student Loan will be required to be guaranteed by one of the
Guarantors and reinsured by the Department under the Higher Education Act and
must be eligible for Special Allowance Payments (as defined in the Prospectus)
and, with respect to each Financed Student Loan that is a Stafford Loan
(excluding any Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (as defined in the Prospectus, each an
"Unsubsidized Stafford Loan" )) or Consolidation Loan where none of the
Underlying Student Loans were Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, must be eligible for
Interest Subsidy Payments (as defined in the Prospectus) paid by the Department.
<PAGE>
The following tables provide information with respect to the portion of the
Financed Student Loans guaranteed by each Guarantor:
DISTRIBUTION BY GUARANTORS AS OF THE STATISTICAL CUTOFF DATE
AGGREGATE PERCENT OF
OUTSTANDING INITIAL
NUMBER PRINCIPAL POOL
OF LOANS BALANCE(1) BALANCE( )
-------- ----------- ----------
Total
(1) Includes net principal balance due from borrowers, plus accrued interest
thereon to be capitalized upon commencement of repayment, estimated to be
$________________ as of the Statistical Cutoff Date.
FEDERAL REINSURANCE. Under the Higher Education Act, each Guarantor is
reimbursed by the Department pursuant to certain agreements between the
Department and such Guarantor for amounts paid under its Guarantee Agreement.
The amount of such reimbursement is subject to reduction. See "The Student Loan
Financing Business--Insurance of Student Loans; Guarantors of Student Loans" in
the Prospectus for a description of the federal reinsurance program and factors
affecting the Guarantors.
GUARANTORS FOR THE FINANCED STUDENT LOANS. The Higher Education Act
requires every state to designate a guarantee agency, either by establishing its
own or by designating another guarantee agency. A Guarantor who has been
designated by a particular state is obligated to guarantee loans for students
who reside or attend school in such state and must agree to provide loans to any
such students who are otherwise unable to obtain a loan from any other lender.
Guarantee agencies may guarantee a loan made to any eligible borrower and are
not limited to guaranteeing loans for students attending institutions in their
particular state or region or for their residents attending schools in another
state or region.
The Eligible Lender Trustee has entered into a Guarantee Agreement with
each of [ ].
Pursuant to its respective Guarantee Agreement, each of _____, ___, ____,
______, and ____ guarantees payment of 100% of the principal (including any
interest capitalized from time to time) and accrued interest for each Financed
Student Loan guaranteed by it as to which any one of the following events has
occurred:
(a) failure by the borrower thereof to make monthly principal or
interest payments on such Financed Student Loan when due, provided such
failure continues for a period of 180 days (or 270 days with respect to
Financed Student Loans originated on or after _______, _____) (except that
such guarantee against such failures will be 98% of principal and accrued
interest for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1993);
(b) any filing by or against the borrower thereof of a petition in
bankruptcy pursuant to any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code (as defined in
the Prospectus);
(c) the closure of, or false certification of borrower eligibility by,
the school;
(d) the death of the borrower thereof;
(e) the total and permanent disability of the borrower thereof to work
and earn money or attend school, as certified by a qualified physician; or
(f) the failure of the borrower's school to pay a refund owed to the
borrower, to the extent of the amount of the refund that is allocable to
the loan.
<PAGE>
When these conditions are satisfied, the Higher Education Act requires the
Guarantor generally to pay the claim within 90 days of its submission by the
lender. The obligations of each Guarantor pursuant to its respective Guarantee
Agreements are obligations solely of that Guarantor, and are not supported by
the full faith and credit of any state government.
Each of the Guarantors' guarantee obligations with respect to any Financed
Student Loan are conditioned upon the satisfaction of all the conditions set
forth in the applicable Guarantee Agreement. These conditions include, but are
not limited to, the following:
o the origination and servicing of such Financed Student Loan being
performed in accordance with the Programs, the Higher Education Act
and other applicable requirements,
o the timely payment to the applicable Guarantor, of the guarantee fee
payable with respect to such Financed Student Loan,
o the timely submission to the applicable Guarantor of all required
pre-claim delinquency status notifications and of the claim with
respect to such Financed Student Loan, and
o the transfer and endorsement of the promissory note evidencing such
Financed Student Loan to the applicable Guarantor, upon and in
connection with making a claim to receive Guarantee Payments thereon.
Failure to comply with any of the applicable conditions, including the
foregoing, may result in the refusal of the applicable Guarantor to honor its
Guarantee Agreement with respect to such Financed Student Loan, in the denial of
guarantee coverage with respect to certain accrued interest amounts with respect
thereto or in the loss of certain Interest Subsidy Payments and Special
Allowance Payments with respect thereto. Under the Sale and Servicing Agreement,
such failure to comply would constitute a breach of the Master Servicer's
covenants or the Seller's representations and warranties, as the case may be,
and would create an obligation of the Seller or the applicable Master Servicer,
as the case may be, to repurchase or purchase such Financed Student Loan or to
reimburse the Trust for such non-guaranteed interest amounts or such lost
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments with respect thereto.
See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Sale of Financed
Student Loans; Representations and Warranties" and "-- Master Servicer
Covenants" herein.
Set forth below is certain current and historical information with respect
to each of the Guarantors in its capacity as a Guarantor of all education loans
guaranteed by each of them.
GUARANTY VOLUME. The following table sets forth the approximate aggregate
principal amount of federally reinsured education loans (including loans under
the Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students program but excluding Consolidation
Loans) that have first become guaranteed by each Guarantor and by all federal
guarantors in each of the last five federal fiscal years:*
STAFFORD, SLS AND PLUS LOANS GUARANTEED
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
FEDERAL FISCAL
YEAR ALL GUARANTORS
- -------------- --------------
1994 $23,053
1995 20,951
1996 19,728
1997 --
1998 --
* The information set forth in the table above for all guarantors has been
obtained from the Department of Education's Federal Student Loan Programs
Data Books (each, a "DOE Data Book"). Information for __________,
_________, and ________ was obtained from, ___________ and __________,
respectively.
RESERVE RATIO. Each Guarantor's reserve ratio is determined by dividing its
cumulative cash reserves by the original principal amount of the outstanding
loans it has agreed to guarantee. The term "cumulative cash reserves" refers to
cash reserves plus (a) sources of funds (including insurance premiums, state
appropriations, federal advances, federal reinsurance payments, administrative
cost allowances, collections on claims paid and investment earnings) minus (b)
uses of funds (including claims paid to lenders, operating expenses, lender
fees, the Department's share of collections on claims paid, returned advances
and reinsurance fees). The "original principal amount of outstanding loans"
consists of the original principal amount of loans guaranteed by such Guarantor
minus (x) the original principal amount of loans canceled, claims paid, loans
paid in full and loan guarantees transferred from such Guarantor to other
guarantors, plus (y) the original principal amount of loan guarantees
transferred to such Guarantor from other guarantors. The following tables set
forth for each of _______, _________ and _______, their respective cumulative
cash reserves and corresponding reserve ratios and the national average reserve
ratio for all federal guarantors for the last five federal fiscal years:*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
[GUARANTOR] [GUARANTOR] [GUARANTOR]
----------- ----------- ----------
CUMULATIVE CUMULATIVE CUMULATIVE
FEDERAL CASH RESERVE CASH RESERVE CASH RESERVE NATIONAL
FISCAL YEAR RESERVES RATIO RESERVES RATIO RESERVES RATIO AVERAGE
----------- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- ----- --------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1994 1.4
1995 1.6
1996 --
1997 --
1998 --
* The information set forth in the tables above with respect to _______, ______, and
________ has been obtained from _______, _______, and ___________, respectively, and
the information with respect to the national average has been obtained from the DOE Data
Books.
</TABLE>
RECOVERY RATES. A Guarantor's recovery rate, which provides a measure of
the effectiveness of the collection efforts against defaulting borrowers after
the guarantee claim has been satisfied, is determined by dividing the amount
recovered from borrowers by the Guarantor by the aggregate amount of default
claims paid by the Guarantor during the applicable federal fiscal year with
respect to borrowers. The table below sets forth the recovery rates for each of
________, ________, and _________ for the last five federal fiscal years:*
FEDERAL
FISCAL RECOVERY RATE
YEAR -----------------------------------------
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
* Information for ________, _______, and _________ was provided by each
entity, respectively.
LOAN LOSS RESERVE. In the event that a Guarantor receives less than full
reimbursement of its guarantee obligations from the Department (see "--FEDERAL
REINSURANCE" above), such Guarantor would be forced to look to its existing
assets to satisfy any such guarantee obligations not so reimbursed. Because
Guarantors are no longer reinsured by the Department at 100% (98% for loans
disbursed between October 1, 1993 and October 1, 1998 and 95% for loans
disbursed on and after October 1, 1998), many Guarantors have begun to maintain
reserves for the 2% to 5% "risk-sharing" associated with these guarantees. In
general, the Guarantors use historical default and recovery rates to attempt to
predict the reserves that should be maintained for this purpose.
CLAIMS RATE. For the past five federal fiscal years, none of _________'s,
_________'s, or _________'s claims rate has exceeded 5%, and as a result, all
claims of _________, _________, and _________ have been reimbursed by the
Department at the maximum reinsurance rate permitted by the Higher Education
Act. See "--Federal Reinsurance" above. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance
that any Guarantor will continue to receive such maximum reimbursement for such
claims. The following table sets forth the claims rates of each Guarantor for
each of the last five federal fiscal years:*
FEDERAL
FISCAL CLAIMS RATE
YEAR --------------------------------------
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
* Information for _________, _________, and _________was provided by each
entity, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
Terms used in this section and not previously defined and not defined
herein are defined under "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements
- --Distributions" herein.
GENERAL
The Notes will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, dated
_____ ___, ____ between the Trust and the Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture").
The Certificates will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement.
The following information supplements the summary of the material terms of the
Notes, the Certificates, the Indenture and the Trust Agreement set forth in the
Prospectus. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the provisions of the Notes, the Certificates, the
Indenture and the Trust Agreement.
Each class of Securities will initially be represented by one or more Notes
and Certificates, respectively, in each case registered in the name of the
nominee of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") (together with any successor
depository selected by the Administrator, the "Depository"), except as set forth
below. The Securities will be available for purchase in denominations of $1,000
and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. The
Trust has been informed by DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede & Co. ("Cede").
Accordingly, Cede is expected to be the holder of record of the Securities.
Unless and until Definitive Notes or Definitive Certificates are issued under
the limited circumstances described herein, no Noteholder or Certificateholder
will be entitled to receive a physical certificate representing a Note or
Certificate. All references herein to actions by Noteholders or
Certificateholders refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its
participating organizations (the "Participants") and all references herein to
distributions, notices, reports and statements to Noteholders or
Certificateholders refer to distributions, notices, reports and statements to
DTC or Cede, as the registered holder of the Notes or the Certificates, as the
case may be, for distribution to Noteholders or Certificateholders in accordance
with DTC's procedures with respect thereto. See "Certain Information Regarding
the Securities--Book-Entry Registration" and "--Definitive Securities" in the
Prospectus.
THE NOTES
DISTRIBUTIONS OF INTEREST. Interest will accrue on the principal balance of
each class of Notes at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of the Formula Rate
for such Notes and the Student Loan Rate (each such interest rate being a "Note
Interest Rate"). Interest will accrue from and including the Closing Date or
from the most recent Distribution Date on which interest has been paid to but
excluding the current Distribution Date (each, an "Interest Period") and will be
payable to the Noteholders on each Distribution Date. Interest accrued as of any
Distribution Date but not paid on such Distribution Date will be due on the next
Distribution Date together with an amount equal to interest on such amount at
the applicable Note Interest Rate. Interest payments on the Notes for any
Distribution Date will generally be funded from Available Funds and amounts on
deposit in the Reserve Account and, under certain limited circumstances, the
Pre-Funding Account remaining after the distribution of the Master Servicing Fee
for each of the two immediately preceding Monthly Servicing Payment Dates and of
the Master Servicing Fee, and the Administration Fee for each Distribution Date.
See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements -- Distributions" and
"--Credit Enhancement" herein. If such sources are insufficient to pay the
Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, such
shortfall will be allocated pro rata to the Noteholders (based upon the total
amount of interest then due on each class of Notes).
"Collection Period" means each period of three calendar months from and
including the date following the end of the preceding Collection Period (or,
with respect to the first Collection Period, the period beginning on the
Statistical Cutoff Date and ending on _______ __, ____).
"Formula Rate" means for any class of Securities, the applicable Investor
Index plus the applicable Margin.
"Investor Index" means (x) in the case of the Treasury Bill Indexed
Securities, the daily weighted average of the 91-day Treasury Bill Rates within
such Interest Period (determined as described under "--Determination of the
91-day Treasury Bill Rate" below) or (y) in the case of the LIBOR Indexed
Securities, Three Month LIBOR (determined as described under "--Determination of
LIBOR" below).
In the case of any LIBOR Indexed Securities and the initial Interest
Period, interest will accrue for the period from the Closing Date to but
excluding ______ __, ____ based on Three Month LIBOR as determined on the
initial LIBOR Determination Date and for the period from ______ ___, ____ to but
excluding ______ __, ____ based on Three Month LIBOR as determined on the LIBOR
Determination Date in _______ ____. See "--Determination of LIBOR" below.
The "Margin" for each class of Securities is ___% for the Class ___ Notes,
___% for the Class ___ Notes and ___% for the Certificates.
The "Student Loan Rate" for any class of Securities for any Interest Period
will equal the product of (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) 365 (or 366
in a leap year) by (y) the actual number of days elapsed in such Interest Period
and (b) the percentage equivalent of a fraction, the numerator of which is equal
to Expected Interest Collections for the Collection Period relating to such
Interest Period less the Master Servicing Fees and the Administration Fee and
payable on the related Distribution Date and any Master Servicing Fees paid on
the two preceding Monthly Servicing Payment Dates during the related Collection
Period and the denominator of which is the outstanding principal balance of the
Securities as of the first day of such Interest Period.
"Expected Interest Collections" means, with respect to any Collection
Period, the sum of
o the amount of interest accrued, net of amounts required by the
Higher Education Act to be paid to the Department or to be repaid
to borrowers, with respect to the Financed Student Loans for such
Collection Period (whether or not such interest is actually
paid),
o all Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments
expected to be received by the Eligible Lender Trustee for such
Collection Period (whether or not actually received) with respect
to the Financed Federal Loans and
o Investment Earnings for such Collection Period.
To the extent that for any Interest Period the rate for the Notes
calculated on the basis of the Formula Rate exceeds the Student Loan Rate, the
amount of the excess ("Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover") (together with
the unpaid portion of any such Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover from prior
Distribution Dates and interest accrued thereon at the Formula Rate for the
Notes) will be paid on such Distribution Date or any subsequent Distribution
Date on a subordinated basis to the extent funds are allocated and available
therefor after making all required prior allocations and distributions on such
Distribution Date, as described under "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Distributions" herein. Any Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover
due on the Notes that may exist on any Distribution Date will be payable to
holders of the Notes on that Distribution Date on a pro rata basis, based on the
amount of the Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover then owing on the Notes, and
on any succeeding Distribution Dates, solely out of the amount of Available
Funds remaining in the Collection Account on any such Distribution Date after
distribution of the amounts set forth in "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Distributions" herein. No amounts on deposit in the
Reserve Account or the Pre-Funding Account will be available to pay any
Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover. Any amount of Noteholders' Interest Index
Carryover due on the Notes remaining after distribution of all Available Funds
on the applicable Final Maturity Date will never become due and payable and will
be discharged on such date.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF PRINCIPAL. Principal payments will be made to the holders
of the Notes on each Distribution Date in an amount generally equal to the
Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, until the principal
balance of the Notes is reduced to zero. Principal payments on the Notes will
generally be derived from Available Funds remaining after the distribution of
the amounts set forth in "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Distributions" herein, provided, that, on any Distribution Date that
the principal balance of the Notes exceeds the Note Collateralization Amount, an
amount equal to the Noteholders' Priority Principal Distribution Amount will be
distributed to Noteholders prior to any payments to Certificateholders. If the
remaining amount of Available Funds is insufficient to pay the Noteholders'
Priority Principal Distribution Amount, for any Distribution Date, the remaining
shortfall will be distributable to the Noteholders on subsequent Distribution
Dates and (except with respect to the Final Maturity Date for such classes of
Notes), the remaining shortfall will not constitute an Event of Default (as
defined in the Prospectus). In addition, in the event the Financed Student Loans
are not sold pursuant to the auction process described under "Description of the
Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Termination," with respect to any
Distribution Date occurring on or after the ______ _____ Distribution Date, the
Specified Collateral Balance will be reduced to zero and all amounts on deposit
in the Collection Account (after distribution of the Master Servicing Fee for
each of the two immediately preceding Monthly Servicing Payment Dates and the
Master Servicing Fee, the Administration Fee, the Noteholders' Interest
Distribution Amount, any Noteholders' Priority Principal Distribution Amount,
the Certificateholders' Interest Distribution Amount and any amounts necessary
to reinstate the balance of the Reserve Account to the Specified Reserve Account
Balance on such Distribution Date) will be distributed to the Noteholders and
then to the Certificateholders as principal until the outstanding principal
balance of the Notes and Certificates has been reduced to zero. See "Description
of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Termination" herein.
Principal payments on the Notes will be applied on each Distribution Date,
first, to the principal balance of the Class ___ Notes until the principal
balance is reduced to zero and then to the principal balance of the Class ___
Notes until the principal balance is reduced to zero. The aggregate outstanding
principal amount of each class of Notes will be payable in full on the Final
Maturity Date for that class of Notes. The dates on which the Final Maturity
Dates occur for each class of Notes are set forth on the cover page. On the
Final Maturity Date for each class of Notes, amounts on deposit in the Reserve
Account, if any, will be available, if necessary, to be applied to reduce the
principal balance of the Notes to zero. Although the maturity of many of the
Financed Student Loans will extend well beyond the Final Maturity Dates, the
actual date on which the aggregate outstanding principal and accrued interest of
any class of Notes are paid may be earlier than the Final Maturity Date for the
related class of Notes, based on a variety of factors. See "The Financed Student
Loan Pool--Maturity and Prepayment Assumptions" herein.
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE. _______________, a ___________ banking corporation,
will be the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture. The Seller maintains normal
commercial banking relations with the Indenture Trustee.
THE CERTIFICATES
DISTRIBUTIONS OF INTEREST. Interest will accrue on the Certificate Balance
at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of the Formula Rate for the Certificates
and the Student Loan Rate (such interest rate being the "Certificate Rate").
Interest on the Certificates will be distributable quarterly on each
Distribution Date. Interest distributions due for any Distribution Date but not
distributed on such Distribution Date will be due on the next Distribution Date,
increased by an amount equal to interest on such amount at the Certificate Rate.
Interest distributions with respect to the Certificates for any Distribution
Date will generally be funded from the portion of the Available Funds and the
amounts on deposit in the Reserve Account and, under certain limited
circumstances, the Pre-Funding Account remaining after distribution of the
amounts set forth in "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Distributions" herein for such Distribution Date. See "Description
of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Distributions," "--Credit
Enhancement--Reserve Account" and "--Additional Fundings" herein.
To the extent that for any Interest Period the rate for the Certificates
calculated on the basis of the Formula Rate exceeds the Student Loan Rate, the
amount of such excess (together with the unpaid portion of any such excess from
prior Distribution Dates and interest accrued thereon at the Formula Rate for
the Certificates) will be paid on such Distribution Date or any subsequent
Distribution Date on a subordinated basis to the extent funds are allocated and
available therefor after making all required prior allocations and distributions
on such Distribution Dates, as described under "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements -- Distributions" herein. The payment of such amounts due
to Certificateholders on any Distribution Date (such amount, the
"Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover") is further subordinated to the
payment of Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover. To the extent funds are
available therefor, the Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover may be paid
prior to the time that the Notes are paid in full. Any Certificateholders'
Interest Index Carryover due on the Certificates that may exist on any
Distribution Date will be payable on that Distribution Date on a pro rata basis
and any succeeding Distribution Dates solely out of the amount of Available
Funds remaining in the Collection Account on any such Distribution Date after
distribution of the amounts set forth in "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Distributions" herein. No amounts on deposit in the
Reserve Account or Pre-Funding Account will be available to pay any
Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover. Any amount of Certificateholders'
Interest Index Carryover due on the Certificates remaining after distribution of
all Available Funds on the Final Maturity Date for the Certificates will never
become due and payable and will be discharged on such date.
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTIONS OF PRINCIPAL. The Certificates will be entitled to
distributions on each Distribution Date on and after which the Notes are paid in
full in an amount generally equal to the Principal Distribution Amount for such
Distribution Date. Distributions with respect to principal payments on the
Certificates for such Distribution Date will generally be funded from the
portion of Available Funds remaining after distribution of the amounts set forth
in "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Distributions" herein.
See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Distributions" and
"--Credit Enhancement--Reserve Account" herein.
The outstanding Certificate Balance will be payable in full on the Final
Maturity Date for the Certificates. The Final Maturity Date for the Certificates
is set forth on the cover page. On the Final Maturity Date for the Certificates,
amounts on deposit in the Reserve Account, if any, will be available, if
necessary, to be applied to reduce the Certificate Balance to zero. The actual
date on which the aggregate outstanding Certificate Balance and accrued interest
of the Certificates will be paid may be earlier than the Final Maturity Date for
the Certificates, however, based on a variety of factors. See "The Financed
Student Loan Pool--Maturity and Prepayment Assumptions" herein.
SUBORDINATION OF THE CERTIFICATES. The rights of the holders of the
Certificates to receive payments of interest are subordinated to the rights of
the holders of the Notes to receive payments of interest (and in certain
circumstances, principal) and the rights of the holders of the Certificates to
receive payments of principal are subordinated to the rights of the holders of
the Notes to receive payments of interest and principal. Consequently, amounts
on deposit in the Collection Account and to the extent necessary, the Reserve
Account and, during the Funding Period, the Other Additional Pre-Funding
Subaccount, will be applied to the payment of interest on the Notes before
payment of interest on the Certificates. Moreover, the holders of the
Certificates will not be entitled to any payments of principal until the Notes
are paid in full. In addition, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing
under the Indenture or a Seller Insolvency Event occurs and the Financed Student
Loans are liquidated, all amounts due on the Notes will be payable before any
amounts are payable on the Certificates. Additionally, if on any Distribution
Date the outstanding principal balance of the Notes (prior to giving effect to
distributions on such Distribution Date) is in excess of the Note
Collateralization Amount, principal will be payable to the holders of the Notes
in the amount of such excess to the extent of funds available before any amounts
are payable to the holders of the Certificates. If amounts otherwise allocable
to the Certificates are used to fund payments of interest or principal on the
Notes, distributions with respect to the Certificates may be delayed or reduced.
DETERMINATION OF THE TREASURY BILL RATE
"91-day Treasury Bill Rate" means, on any day, the weighted average per
annum discount rate (expressed on a bond equivalent basis and applied on a daily
basis) for 91-day Treasury Bills sold at the most recent 91-day Treasury Bill
auction prior to such date, as reported by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
In the event that the results of the auctions of 91-day Treasury Bills cease to
be reported as provided above, or that no such auction is held in a particular
week, then the 91-day Treasury Bill Rate in effect as a result of the last such
publication or report will remain in effect until such time, if any, as the
results of auctions of 91-day Treasury Bills shall again be reported or such an
auction is held, as the case may be. The 91-day Treasury Bill Rate will be
subject to a Lock-In Period of six business days.
"Lock-In Period" means the number of days preceding any Distribution Date
during which the Note Interest Rate or Certificate Rate, as applicable, in
effect on the first day of such period will remain in effect until the end of
the accrual period related to such Distribution Date.
Accrued interest on any class of Notes (and the Certificates) which are
Treasury Bill Indexed Securities from and including the Closing Date or the
preceding Distribution Date, as applicable, to but excluding the current
Distribution Date is calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the Notes
(or the Certificate Balance) by an "accrued interest factor." This factor is
calculated by adding the interest rates applicable to each day on which each
Note has been outstanding since the Closing Date or the preceding Distribution
Date, as applicable, and dividing the sum by 365 (or by 366 in the case of
accrued interest which is payable on a Distribution Date in a leap year) and
rounding the resulting number to nine decimal places.
The following table sets forth the accrued interest factors that would have
been applicable to any Notes which are Treasury Bill Indexed Securities bearing
interest at the indicated rates, assuming a 365-day year:
ASSUMED INTEREST
-----------------
SETTLEMENT DAYS RATE ON INTEREST
DATE OUTSTANDING THE NOTES FACTOR
------------ ----------- --------- ---------
1st
2nd 1
3rd 2
4th 3
5th* 4
6th 5
7th 6
8th 7
9th 8
10th 9
* First interest rate adjustment (91-day Treasury Bills are generally auctioned
weekly).
The numbers in this table are examples given for information purposes only
and are in no way a prediction of interest rates on any Notes which are Treasury
Bill Indexed Securities. A similar factor calculated in the same manner is
applicable to the return on Certificates which are Treasury Bill Indexed
Securities.
The Administrator makes information concerning the current 91-day Treasury
Bill Rate and the accrued interest factor available through Bloomberg L.P.
<PAGE>
DETERMINATION OF LIBOR
Pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Administrator will
determine Three-Month LIBOR for purposes of calculating the interest due on the
Notes and Certificates which are LIBOR Indexed Securities and the Noteholders'
Interest Index Carryover and the Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover,
in each case, for each given Interest Period on (x) the second business day
prior to the commencement of each Interest Period and (y) with respect to the
initial Interest Period, as determined pursuant to clause (x) for the period
from the Closing Date to but excluding ______ __, ____ and as determined on the
second business day prior to _______ __, ____ for the period from ________ __,
____ to but excluding _____ __, ____ (each, a "LIBOR Determination Date"). For
purposes of calculating Three-Month LIBOR, a business day is any day on which
banks in London and New York City are open for the transaction of business.
Interest due for any Interest Period will be determined based on the actual
number of days in such Interest Period over a 360-day year.
"Three-Month LIBOR" means the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR") for
deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the
related LIBOR Determination Date (the "Index Maturity") which appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination
Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, the rate for that day
will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars,
having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount of not less than U.S.
$1,000,000, are offered at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR
Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market by the
Reference Banks. The Administrator will request the principal London office of
each of such Reference Banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
such quotations are provided, the rate for that day will be the arithmetic mean
of the quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, the rate for that
day will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted by major banks in New York
City, selected by the Administrator, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on such LIBOR Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount equal to an
amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000; provided that if the banks selected as
aforesaid are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, Three-Month LIBOR in
effect for the applicable reset period will be Three-Month LIBOR in effect for
the previous reset period.
"Telerate Page 3750" means the display page so designated on the Bridge
Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace that page on that service
for the purpose of displaying comparable rates or prices).
"Reference Bank" means a leading bank (a) engaged in transactions in
Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurocurrency market, (b) not
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Administrator and
(c) having an established place of business in London.
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENTS
GENERAL
The following information supplements the summary set forth in the
Prospectus of the material terms of the following (collectively, the "Transfer
and Servicing Agreements"):
o Sale and Servicing Agreement, pursuant to which the Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of the Trust will purchase, the Master Servicer will
service (or will cause the Sub-Servicers to service) and the
Administrator will perform certain administrative functions with
respect to the Financed Student Loans;
o the Administration Agreement, dated _____ __, ____ among the
Administrator, the Trust and the Indenture Trustee (the
"Administration Agreement"), pursuant to which the Administrator will
undertake certain other administrative duties with respect to the
Trust and the Financed Student Loans; and
o the Trust Agreement, pursuant to which the Trust will be created and
the Certificates will be issued.
The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the provisions of such Transfer and Servicing Agreements.
SALE OF FINANCED STUDENT LOANS; REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
On or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller will sell and assign to the
Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust, without recourse, its entire
interest in the Initial Financed Student Loans, all collections received and to
be received with respect thereto for the period on and after _______ __, ____
and all the Assigned Rights pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement. Each
Initial Financed Student Loan will be identified in schedules appearing as an
exhibit to the Sale and Servicing Agreement. The Eligible Lender Trustee will,
concurrently with such sale and assignment, execute, authenticate and deliver
the Notes. The net proceeds received from the sale of the Notes and the
Certificates will be applied to the purchase of the Financed Student Loans and
the Assigned Rights and to the deposit of the Pre-Funded Amount in the
Pre-Funding Account and the Reserve Account Initial Deposit to the Reserve
Account. See "--Additional Fundings" below for a description of the application
of funds on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account during the Funding Period.
In the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Seller will make certain
representations and warranties with respect to the Financed Student Loans to the
Trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders and the Noteholders and will
have certain cure, repurchase and reimbursement obligations with respect to any
breaches. See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements" in the
Prospectus.
The "Purchase Price" of any Financed Student Loan will be (1) in the case
of Initial Financed Student Loans, an amount equal to _______ of the aggregate
principal balance of such Initial Financed student Loan as of the Statistical
Cutoff Date, and (2) in the case of Other Subsequent Student Loans, an amount
equal to ________ of the aggregate principal balance thereof as of its
Subsequent Cutoff Date. For purposes of the foregoing calculations, the
aggregate principal balance of each Financed Student Loan includes accrued
interest thereon from the date of origination to, with respect to each Initial
Financed Student Loan, the Statistical Cutoff Date, and to, with respect to each
Additional Student Loan, the related Subsequent Cutoff Date, in each case
expected to be capitalized upon entry into repayment.
To assure uniform quality in servicing and to reduce administrative costs,
each Sub-Servicer will be appointed custodian of the promissory notes
representing the Financed Student Loans which such Sub-Servicer is servicing by
the Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust. The
Seller's, the Master Servicer's and the each Sub-Servicers' accounting and other
records will reflect the sale and assignment of the Financed Student Loans to
the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust, and Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements reflecting such sale and assignment will be filed.
ACCOUNTS
The Administrator will establish and maintain four separate segregated
accounts as follows: the "Collection Account", the "Pre-Funding Account", the
"Escrow Account" and the "Reserve Account." Each such account will be
established in the name of the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders
and the Certificateholders.
Funds in the Collection Account, the Pre-Funding Account, the Escrow
Account and the Reserve Account (collectively, the "Trust Accounts") will be
invested as provided in the Sale and Servicing Agreement in Eligible
Investments. "Eligible Investments" are generally limited to short-term U.S.
government backed securities, certain highly rated commercial paper and money
market funds and other investments acceptable to the Rating Agencies as being
consistent with the rating of the Notes. Subject to certain conditions, Eligible
Investments may include securities or other obligations issued by the Seller or
its affiliates, or trusts originated by the Seller or its affiliates, or shares
of investment companies for which the Seller or its affiliates may serve as the
investment advisor. Eligible Investments are limited to obligations or
securities that mature not later than the business day immediately preceding the
next Distribution Date. Investment earnings on funds deposited in the Trust
Accounts, net of losses and investment expenses (collectively, "Investment
Earnings"), will be deposited in the Collection Account on each Distribution
Date and will be treated as collections of interest on the Financed Student
Loans.
<PAGE>
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 have a credit rating from each Rating
Agency in one of its generic rating categories which signifies investment grade.
Any such accounts may be maintained with the Seller or any of its affiliates, if
such accounts meet the requirements described in clause (a) of the preceding
sentence. "Eligible Institution" means a depository institution (which may be,
without limitation, the Seller or an affiliate thereof, the Eligible Lender
Trustee, or an affiliate thereof, or the Indenture Trustee or an affiliate
thereof) 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 has a long-term unsecured debt rating and/or a short-term
unsecured debt rating acceptable to the two nationally recognized rating
agencies rating the Securities and the deposits of which are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC").
ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS
The Trust may make expenditures (each, an "Additional Funding") from the
Pre-Funding Account and the Escrow Account on Transfer Dates during the Funding
Period and from the Escrow Account and Available Loan Purchase Funds on Transfer
Dates during the period which begins on the day following the end of the Funding
Period and ends on the Loan Purchase Termination Date, in each case consisting
of amounts paid to the Seller to acquire Additional Student Loans as of the
applicable Subsequent Cutoff Dates, to pay capitalized interest on the Financed
Student Loans and to pay Fee Advances as provided in the Sale and Servicing
Agreement.
On the Closing Date, the Seller will deposit $__________ (the "Initial
Pre-Funded Amount") into the Pre-Funding Account from the proceeds of the sale
of the Securities. Pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Seller is
obligated to sell, and the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust is
obligated to purchase during the Funding Period, Other Subsequent Student Loans
having an aggregate principal balance (net of the aggregate principal balance of
the Financed Student Loans repaid by any Other Subsequent Student Loans that are
Consolidation Loans) of not less than $__________ (less the amount thereof, if
any, used by the Trust to fund shortfalls in the payment of interest on the
Securities as described herein) to the extent that such Other Subsequent Student
Loans are available. Funds on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account will be used
from time to time during the Funding Period, subject to certain limitations
described below, together with any amounts on deposit in the Escrow Account, to
purchase from the Seller, for an amount equal to ___% of the aggregate principal
balance thereof plus accrued interest (to the extent capitalized or to be
capitalized), Other Subsequent Student Loans made by the Seller to those
eligible borrowers who have Student Loans that are part of the pool of Initial
Financed Student Loans as of the Statistical Cutoff Date and to pay capitalized
interest on any Financed Student Loan. See "The Student Loan Financing
Business--Description of Student Loans Under the Programs-- Consolidation Loans"
in the Prospectus.
The Seller expects that the total amount of Additional Fundings from the
Pre-Funding Account will approximate 100% of the Initial Pre-Funded Amount by
the last day of the Collection Period preceding the _______ ____ Distribution
Date; however, there can be no assurance that a sufficient amount of Additional
Fundings will be made during such time. If the Pre-Funded Amount has not been
reduced to zero by the end of the Funding Period, any amounts remaining in the
Pre-Funding Account will be deposited into the Collection Account for
distribution on the immediately following Distribution Date. Such reduction in
the Pre-Funded Amount will result in a corresponding increase in the amount of
principal distributable to the Securities on such Distribution Date.
The Pre-Funded Amount will also be available on each Monthly Servicing
Payment Date to cover any shortfalls in payments of the Master Servicing Fee and
on each Distribution Date to cover any shortfalls in payments of the Master
Servicing Fee, the Administration Fee, interest amounts payable in respect of
the Notes and the Certificates (other than the Noteholders' Interest Index
Carryover and the Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover) for such
Distribution Date for which funds otherwise available therefor on such
Distribution Date are insufficient to make such distributions and after giving
effect to the application of funds on deposit in the Reserve Account to cover
such shortfalls; provided, however, that the Pre-Funded Amount will only be
available to cover shortfalls in interest payments on the Certificates to the
extent that the Note Collateralization Amount (after giving effect to such
reductions in the Pre-Funded Amount) would not be less than the outstanding
principal balance of the Notes. Amounts withdrawn from the Pre-Funding Account
for the purposes described in this paragraph will not be replenished with future
available funds.
In addition to the conditions set forth under "The Financed Student Loan
Pool--General" herein, the obligation to purchase any Additional Student Loan by
the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust is subject to the following
conditions, among others:
(a) such Additional Student Loan must satisfy all applicable origination
requirements and all other requirements specified in the Sale and
Servicing Agreement or related agreements;
(b) the Seller will not select such Additional Student Loan in a manner
that it believes is adverse to the interests of the Securityholders;
and
(c) the Seller will deliver certain opinions of counsel to the Indenture
Trustee and the Rating Agencies with respect to the validity of the
conveyance of such Additional Student Loan.
In addition, (a) no Consolidation Loan will be transferred to the Trust
unless at least one Underlying Student Loan was held by the Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of the Trust at the time of consolidation and (b) no Serial
Loan will be transferred to the Trust unless the borrower of such loan is the
borrower for one or more Financed Student Loans already owned by the Trust.
On the fifteenth day (or, if such day is not a business day, the next
succeeding business day) of each month or on certain other dates designated by
the Seller during the Funding Period and during the period which begins
following the end of the Funding Period and ends on the Loan Purchase
Termination Date (each, a "Transfer Date"), the Seller will sell and assign,
without recourse, to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust, its
entire interest in the Other Subsequent Student Loans or Other Student Loans, as
applicable, made during the period preceding the applicable Transfer Date, in
each case as of the date specified in the applicable Transfer Agreement to be
delivered on such Transfer Date (each, a "Subsequent Cutoff Date"). Subject to
the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, the Seller will convey the
Additional Student Loans to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust
on each such Transfer Date pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the
applicable Transfer Agreement (a "Transfer Agreement") executed by the Seller,
the applicable Servicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Administrator on
such Transfer Date. Each such Transfer Agreement will include as an exhibit a
schedule identifying each Additional Student Loan transferred on such Transfer
Date. Upon such conveyance of Additional Student Loans to the Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Pool Balance will increase in an amount
equal to the aggregate principal balances of such Additional Student Loans (less
any existing Financed Student Loans being repaid pursuant to any Consolidation
Loans included within such Additional Student Loans) and an amount equal to the
Purchase Price of such Additional Student Loans will be withdrawn first from the
Escrow Account to the extent amounts are available therein and then (x) with
respect to Other Subsequent Student Loans, during the Funding Period, from the
Pre-Funding Account and (y) with respect to Other Student Loans, during the
period following the end of the Funding Period until the Loan Purchase
Termination Date, from Available Loan Purchase Funds on deposit in the
Collection Account, in each case on such date and transferred to the Seller. The
Trust will not purchase an aggregate amount of Other Subsequent Student Loans
and Other Student Loans which exceeds 25% of the Initial Pool Balance.
With respect to any Consolidation Loan to be made by the Seller to a given
borrower, the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust will convey to the
Seller all Underlying Student Loans held by it with respect to that borrower, as
specified in a notice delivered by or on behalf of the Seller. In exchange for
and simultaneously with such conveyance, the Seller will deposit into the Escrow
Account an amount of cash equal to the principal balances of all such Underlying
Student Loans, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of such conveyance.
Each purchase of a Serial Loan will be funded by means of a transfer from (a)
during the Funding Period, the Pre-Funding Account and (b) after the end of the
Funding Period until the Loan Purchase Termination Date, from Available Loan
Purchase Funds on deposit in the Collection Account, in each case, of an amount
equal to the Purchase Price of such Serial Loan.
Amounts on deposit in the Escrow Account will be invested in Eligible
Investments (see "-- Accounts" above) and will be used on the succeeding
Transfer Date, as described above, to purchase Additional Student Loans from the
Seller. Any of such amounts remaining in the Escrow Account on the Transfer Date
after giving effect to the conveyance of all such Additional Student Loans on
such Transfer Date will be deposited into the Collection Account and distributed
as Available Funds on the Distribution Date immediately following such Transfer
Date.
For purposes of the foregoing, the following terms have the respective
meanings set forth below:
"Additional Student Loans" means collectively the Other Subsequent
Student Loans and the Other Student Loans.
The "Funding Period" means the period from the Closing Date until the
first to occur of:
(1) an Event of Default occurring under the Indenture, a Master
Servicer Default (as defined in the Prospectus) occurring under the
Sale and Servicing Agreement or an Administrator Default occurring
under the Sale and Servicing Agreement or the Administration
Agreement, or a Sub-Servicer Default (as defined in the Prospectus )
occurring under a Sub-Servicing Agreement;
(2) certain events of insolvency with respect to the Seller;
(3) the date on which the amounts on deposit in the Pre-Funding
Account would be reduced to zero after giving effect to purchases of
Other Subsequent Student Loans on such date; or
(4) the last day of the Collection Period preceding the ______
____ Distribution Date.
"Loan Purchase Termination Date" means __________, ____________.
"Other Student Loans" means Serial Loans and Consolidation Loans made
to a borrower who is also a borrower under at least one outstanding
Financed Student Loan which the Trust is obligated to purchase from the
Seller during the period which begins following the end of the Funding
Period and ends on the Loan Purchase Termination Date, from amounts on
deposit in the Escrow Account and Available Loan Purchase Funds (as defined
below) to the extent permitted by the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
"Other Subsequent Student Loans" means Consolidation Loans and Serial
Loans made to a borrower which is also a borrower under at least one
outstanding Financed Student Loan which the Trust is obligated to purchase
from the Seller during the Funding Period with funds on deposit in the
Escrow Account and funds on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account.
"Serial Loans" constitute Student Loans which are made to a borrower
who is also a borrower under at least one outstanding Initial Financed
Student Loan but do not include Stafford Loans made after July 1, 1998
without each of the rating agencies confirming the then current rating of
the Securities.
SERVICING PROCEDURES
Pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer has
agreed to service and perform all other related tasks (or to cause the
Sub-Servicers to service and perform all other related tasks) with respect to
the Financed Student Loans acquired from time to time. So long as no claim is
being made against a Guarantor for any Financed Student Loan, the Master
Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer on its behalf) will hold, as custodian on behalf of
the Trust, the notes evidencing, and other documents relating to, that Financed
Student Loan. The Master Servicer is required pursuant to the Sale and Servicing
Agreement (or shall cause a Sub-Servicer) to perform all services and duties
customary to the servicing of Student Loans (including all collection practices)
with reasonable care, and in compliance with all standards and procedures
provided for in the Higher Education Act, the Guarantee Agreements and all other
applicable federal and state laws.
Without limiting the foregoing, the responsibilities of the Master Servicer
under the Sale and Servicing Agreement (or of a Sub-Servicer pursuant to a
Sub-Servicing Agreement) include, but are not limited to, the following:
collecting and depositing into the Collection Account (or, in the event that
daily deposits into the Collection Account are not required, paying to the
Administrator) all payments with respect to the Financed Student Loans such
Servicer is servicing, including claiming and obtaining any Guarantee Payments
with respect thereto but excluding such tasks with respect to Interest Subsidy
Payments and Special Allowance Payments (as to which the Administrator and the
Eligible Lender Trustee have agreed to perform, see "--Administrator" below),
responding to inquiries from borrowers on such Financed Student Loans,
investigating delinquencies and sending out statements, payment coupons and tax
reporting information to borrowers. In addition, the Master Servicer will (or
will cause each Sub-Servicer to) keep ongoing records with respect to such
Financed Student Loans and collections thereon and will furnish quarterly and
annual statements to the Administrator with respect to such information, in
accordance with the Master Servicer's (or such Sub-Servicer's) customary
practices with respect to the Seller and as otherwise required in the Sale and
Servicing Agreement. Without being released from its obligations under the Sale
and the Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer may cause the Sub-Servicers to
perform some or all of its duties listed above on its behalf pursuant to the
Sub-Servicing Agreements, and in the event that any such duties require
consents, approvals or licenses under the Higher Education Act or otherwise, the
Master Servicer shall appoint one or more Sub-Servicer that possesses such
consents, approvals and licenses to act on its behalf; provided, however, that
the Master Servicer shall remain responsible for the failure of any Sub-Servicer
to perform these activities.
<PAGE>
PAYMENTS ON FINANCED STUDENT LOANS
Except as provided below, Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable,
will deposit all payments on Financed Student Loans (from whatever source), and
all proceeds of Financed Student Loans collected by it during each Collection
Period into the Collection Account within two business days of receipt thereof.
Except as provided below, the Eligible Lender Trustee will deposit all Interest
Subsidy Payments and all Special Allowance Payments with respect to the Financed
Student Loans received by it during each Collection Period into the Collection
Account within two business days of receipt thereof.
However, in the event that Mellon Bank, N.A. satisfies certain requirements
for quarterly remittances and the rating agencies affirm their ratings of the
Notes and the Certificates at the initial level, then so long as Mellon Bank,
N.A. is the Administrator and provided that (x) there exists no Administrator
Default (as described below) and (y) each other condition to making quarterly
deposits as may be specified by the rating agencies is satisfied, the Master
Servicer, each Sub-Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee will pay all the
amounts referred to in the preceding paragraph that would otherwise be deposited
into the Collection Account to the Administrator, and the Administrator will not
be required to deposit such amounts into the Collection Account until on or
before the business day immediately preceding each Monthly Servicing Payment
Date (to the extent of the Master Servicing Fee payable on such date) and on or
before the business day immediately preceding each Distribution Date (to the
extent of the remainder of such amounts). In such event, the Administrator will
deposit the aggregate Purchase Amount of Financed Student Loans repurchased by
the Seller and purchased by the Master Servicer into the Collection Account on
or before the business day preceding each Distribution Date. Pending deposit
into the Collection Account, collections may be invested by the Administrator at
its own risk and for its own benefit, and will not be segregated from funds of
the Administrator.
MASTER SERVICER COVENANTS
In the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer covenants that:
(a) it will or will cause each Sub-Servicer to duly satisfy all
obligations on its part to be fulfilled under or in connection with the
Financed Student Loans the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer is servicing,
maintain in effect all qualifications required in order to service such
Financed Student Loans and comply in all material respects with all
requirements of law in connection with servicing such Financed Student
Loans, the failure to comply with which would have a materially adverse
effect on the Certificateholders or the Noteholders;
(b) it will not permit nor permit a Sub-Servicer to any rescission or
cancellation of a Financed Student Loan such Sub-Servicer is servicing
except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or other government
authority or as otherwise consented to by the Eligible Lender Trustee and
the Indenture Trustee;
(c) it will do nothing nor permit a Sub-Servicer to impair the rights
of the Certificateholders and the Noteholders in such Financed Student
Loans; and
(d) it will not nor permit a Sub-Servicer to reschedule, revise, defer
or otherwise compromise with respect to payments due on any such Financed
Student Loan except pursuant to any applicable deferral or forbearance
periods or otherwise in accordance with its guidelines for servicing
student loans in general and those of the Seller in particular and any
applicable Program requirements.
Certain incentive programs currently or hereafter made available by the
Seller to borrowers may also be made available by the Master Servicer or a
Sub-Servicer to borrowers with Financed Student Loans. Any such incentive
program that effectively reduces borrower payments on Financed Student Loans and
is not required by the Higher Education Act will be applicable to the Financed
Student Loans only if and to the extent that the Master Servicer or a
Sub-Servicer receives payment from the Seller in an amount sufficient to offset
such effective yield reductions.
Under the terms of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, if the Seller or the
Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) discovers, or receives written notice, that
any covenant of the Master Servicer (or covenants made by the Master Servicer
relating to either of the Sub-Servicers), set forth above has not been complied
with by the Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) in all material respects and
such noncompliance has not been cured within 60 days thereafter and has a
materially adverse effect on the interest of the Certificateholders or the
Noteholders in any Financed Student Loan (it being understood that any such
breach that does not affect any Guarantor's obligation to guarantee or insure
payment of such Financed Student Loan will not be considered to have such a
material adverse effect), unless such breach is cured, the Master Servicer will
purchase such Financed Student Loan as of the first day following the end of
such 60-day period that is the last day of a Collection Period. In that event,
the Master Servicer will be obligated to deposit into the Collection Account an
amount equal to the Purchase Amount of such Financed Student Loan and the
Trust's interest in any such purchased Financed Student Loan will be
automatically assigned to the Master Servicer. In addition, the Master Servicer
will reimburse the Trust with respect to any Financed Student Loan for any
accrued interest amounts that a Guarantor refuses to pay pursuant to its
Guarantee Agreement due to, or for any Interest Subsidy Payments and Special
Allowance Payments that are lost or that must be repaid to the Department as a
result of, a breach of any such covenant of the Master Servicer (or a
Sub-Servicer).
SERVICING COMPENSATION
The Master Servicer will be entitled to receive, subject to the limitations
set forth in the following paragraph, the Master Servicing Fee monthly in an
amount equal to the Master Servicing Fee Percentage of the Pool Balance as of
the last day of the immediately preceding calendar month and certain one-time
fixed fees for each Financed Student Loan for which a forbearance period was
granted or renewed or for which a guarantee claim was filed, in each case
subject to adjustment, together with other administrative fees and similar
charges, as compensation for performing the functions as master servicer for the
Trust described above. The Master Servicing Fee Percentage may be subject to
reasonable increase agreed to by the Administrator, the Eligible Lender Trustee
and the Master Servicer to the extent that a demonstrable and significant
increase occurs in the costs incurred by the Master Servicer in providing the
services to be provided under the Sale and Servicing Agreement, whether due to
changes in applicable governmental regulations, guarantor program requirements
or regulations, United States Postal Service postal rates or some other
identifiable cost increasing event. The Master Servicing Fee (together with any
portion of the Master Servicing Fee that remains unpaid from prior Distribution
Dates) will be payable on each Monthly Servicing Payment Date and will be paid
solely out of Available Funds and amounts on deposit in the Reserve Account on
such Monthly Servicing Payment Date. In return for receiving the Master
Servicing Fee, the Sub-Servicers will be paid solely by the Master Servicer,
pursuant to the Sub-Servicing Agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the aggregate fees payable
to the Master Servicer as defined above for any Monthly Servicing Payment Date
would exceed 0.50% per annum of the Pool Balance as of the last day of the
preceding calendar month (other than any deconversion fees) (the "Capped
Amount"), then the "Master Servicing Fee" for such Monthly Servicing Payment
Date will instead be the Capped Amount for such date plus any deconversion fees
referred to below. The remaining amount in excess of such Master Servicing Fee,
together with any such excess amounts from prior Monthly Servicing Payment Dates
that remain unpaid (the aggregate amounts being the "Excess Master Servicing
Fee"), will be payable to the Master Servicer on each succeeding Distribution
Date out of Available Funds after payment on such Distribution Date of the
amounts set forth in "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Distributions" herein. The Master Servicer will only be entitled to
receive the Excess Master Servicing Fee if and to the extent that Available
Funds exist to make such payments after making all prior distributions and
deposits.
The Master Servicing Fee and the Excess Master Servicing Fee will
compensate the Master Servicer for performing (or for arranging the performance
by the Sub-Servicers of) the functions of third party servicers of student loans
as agents for their beneficial owner, including collecting and posting all
payments, responding to inquiries of borrowers on the Financed Student Loans,
investigating delinquencies, pursuing, filing and collecting any Guarantee
Payments, accounting for collections and furnishing monthly and annual
statements to the Administrator. The Master Servicing Fee and the Excess Master
Servicing Fee also will reimburse the Master Servicer for certain taxes,
accounting fees, outside auditor fees, data processing costs and other costs
incurred in connection with administering the Financed Student Loans.
In the event of (x) any sale of the Financed Student Loans on behalf of the
Trust to any person (other than the Seller, the Administrator, the Master
Servicer, or a Sub-Servicer) in which the purchaser elects to deconvert the
Financed Student Loans and not retain the applicable Sub-Servicer as the
servicer of such Financed Student Loans or (y) any termination by the Master
Servicer, at the direction of or with the consent of Eligible Lender Trustee, of
a Sub-Servicer, except for any termination for cause or as a result of any
Sub-Servicer Default by the applicable Sub-Servicer, the Trust shall pay to the
Master Servicer, but only in the event that the Master Servicer is also
obligated to pay to the applicable Sub-Servicer, as a part of the Master
Servicing Fee (not subject to the Capped Amount) the following deconversion fee,
per loan, based on the status of the loan at the time of deconversion: (a) $115
for each in-school Stafford Loan or in-school deferred SLS Loan and (b) $62.50
for each loan of any other status or loan type.
DISTRIBUTIONS
DEPOSITS TO COLLECTION ACCOUNT. On or about the third business day prior to
each Distribution Date (the "Determination Date"), the Administrator will
provide the Indenture Trustee with certain information with respect to the
distributions to be made on such Distribution Date.
On or before the business day preceding each Monthly Servicing Payment Date
that is not a Distribution Date, the Administrator will cause (or will cause the
Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee to cause) a portion of the
amount of the Available Funds equal to the Master Servicing Fee, payable on such
date to be deposited into the Collection Account for payment to the Master
Servicer. On or before the business day prior to each Distribution Date, the
Administrator will cause (or will cause the Master Servicer and the Eligible
Lender Trustee to cause) the amount of Available Funds to be deposited into the
Collection Account.
For purposes hereof, the term "Available Funds" means, with respect to a
Distribution Date or any Monthly Servicing Payment Date, the sum of the
following amounts received with respect to the related Collection Period (or, in
the case of a Monthly Servicing Payment Date, the applicable portion thereof) to
the extent not previously distributed:
(1) all collections received by Master Servicer (or the Sub-Servicers)
on the Financed Student Loans (including any Guarantee Payments received
with respect to such Financed Student Loans) but net of (x) any Federal
Origination Fee (as defined in the Prospectus) and Consolidation Loan
Rebate (as defined in the Prospectus) payable to the Department on
Consolidation Loans disbursed after October 1, 1993, and (y) any
collections in respect of principal on the Financed Student Loans applied
by the Trust to repurchase guaranteed loans from the Guarantors in
accordance with the Guarantee Agreements;
(2) any Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments
received by the Eligible Lender Trustee during the then elapsed portion of
such Collection Period with respect to the Financed Student Loans;
(3) all proceeds of the Financed Student Loans which were liquidated
("Liquidated Student Loans") during the then elapsed portion of such
Collection Period in accordance with the Master Servicer's (or the
Sub-Servicers') respective customary servicing procedures, net of expenses
incurred by the Master Servicer (or the Sub-Servicers) in connection with
such liquidation and any amounts required by law to be remitted to the
borrower on such Liquidated Student Loans ("Liquidation Proceeds"), and all
recoveries in respect of Liquidated Student Loans which were written off in
prior Collection Periods or prior months of such Collection Period;
(4) the aggregate Purchase Amounts received for those Financed Student
Loans repurchased by the Seller or purchased by the Master Servicer or a
Sub-Servicer under an obligation which arose during the elapsed portion of
such Collection Period;
(5) the aggregate amounts, if any, received from the Seller or the
Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer), as the case may be, as reimbursement
of non-guaranteed interest amounts, or lost Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments;
(6) amounts deposited by the Seller into the Collection Account in
connection with the making of Consolidation Loans;
(7) with respect to the first Distribution Date, the initial deposit
into the Collection Account;
(8) Investment Earnings for such Distribution Date;
(9) amounts withdrawn from the Reserve Account in excess of the
Specified Reserve Account Balance and deposited into the Collection
Account;
(10) amounts withdrawn from the Escrow Account and deposited into the
Collection Account; and
(11) with respect to the Distribution Date on or immediately after the
end of the Funding Period, the amount transferred from the Pre-Funding
Account to the Collection Account;
Available Funds will exclude (A) all payments and proceeds (including
Liquidation Proceeds) of any Financed Student Loans, the Purchase Amount of
which has been included in Available Funds for a prior Distribution Date and (B)
following the end of the Funding Period and prior to the Loan Purchase
Termination Date, amounts withdrawn from the Collection Account to purchase
Other Student Loans during the period following the preceding Distribution Date
and ending on or prior to such Distribution Date. If on any Distribution Date
there would not be sufficient funds, after application of Available Funds
amounts available from the Reserve Account and the Pre-Funding Account (x) to
pay any of the items specified in clauses (1) through (3), respectively, under
"--Distributions from the Collection Account" below, for such Distribution Date
and (y) if the principal balance of the Notes (after giving effect to any
distributions thereon on such Distribution Date) is less than or equal to the
Note Collateralization Amount, to pay the Certificateholders' Interest
Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, then Available Funds for such
Distribution Date will include, in addition to the Available Funds on deposit in
the Collection Account on the Determination Date relating to such Distribution
Date which would have constituted Available Funds for the Distribution Date
succeeding such Distribution Date up to the amount necessary to pay, in the case
of clause (x) above such items specified in clauses (1) through (3) respectively
and in the case of clause (y) above the Certificateholders' Interest
Distribution Amount and the Available Funds for such succeeding Distribution
Date will be adjusted accordingly.
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT. On each Monthly Servicing
Payment Date that is not a Distribution Date, the Administrator will instruct
the Indenture Trustee to pay to the Master Servicer, the Master Servicing Fee
due with respect to the period from and including the preceding Monthly
Servicing Payment Date from amounts on deposit in the Collection Account.
On each Distribution Date, the Administrator will instruct the Indenture
Trustee to make the following deposits and distributions, in the amounts and in
the order of priority specified below, to the extent of Available Funds for the
related Collection Period:
(1) to the Master Servicer, the Master Servicing Fee due on such
Distribution Date and all prior unpaid Master Servicing Fees;
(2) to the Administrator, the Administration Fee and all unpaid
Administration Fees from prior Collection Periods;
(3) to the holders of the Notes, the Noteholders' Interest
Distribution Amount;
(4) to the holders of the Certificates, the Certificateholders'
Interest Distribution Amount;
(5) to the Reserve Account, an amount, up to the amount, if any,
necessary to reinstate the balance of the Reserve Account to the Specified
Reserve Account Balance;
(6) to the holders of the Notes, the Noteholders' Principal
Distribution Amount;
(7) on each Distribution Date on and after which the Notes have been
paid in full, to the holders of the Certificates, the Certificateholders'
Principal Distribution Amount;
(8) to the Master Servicer, the aggregate unpaid amount, if any, of
the Excess Master Servicing Fee;
(9) to the holders of the Notes on a pro rata basis, based on the
amount of the Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover owing on each class of
Notes, the aggregate unpaid amount of the Noteholders' Interest Index
Carryover, if any;
(10) to the holders of the Certificates, the aggregate unpaid amount
of the Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover, if any; and
(11) to the Seller, any remaining amounts after application of clauses
(1) through (10).
Additionally, if on any Distribution Date the outstanding principal balance
of the Notes (after giving effect to distributions on such Distribution Date) is
in excess of the Note Collateralization Amount, the principal will be payable to
the Noteholders in the amount of the Noteholders' Priority Principal
Distribution Amount to the extent of funds available before any amounts are
payable to the holders of the Certificates.
Upon any distribution to the Seller of any amounts included as Available
Funds, neither the Noteholders nor the Certificateholders will have any rights
in, or claims to, such amounts.
For purposes hereof, the following terms have the following meanings:
"Certificate Balance" equals $__________ as of the Closing Date and
thereafter, equals the initial Certificate Balance, reduced by all amounts
allocable to principal subsequently distributed to the Certificateholders.
"Certificateholders' Distribution Amount" means, with respect to any
Distribution Date, the Certificateholders' Interest Distribution Amount for such
Distribution Date plus, for each Distribution Date on and after which the Notes
have been paid in full, the Certificateholders' Principal Distribution Amount
for such Distribution Date.
"Certificateholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall" means with respect to
any Distribution Date, the excess of (x) the sum of the Certificateholders'
Interest Distribution Amount on the preceding Distribution Date over (y) the
amount of interest actually distributed to the holders of the Certificates on
such preceding Distribution Date, plus interest on the amount of such excess
interest due to the holders of the Certificates, to the extent permitted by law,
at the Certificate Rate from such preceding Distribution Date to the current
Distribution Date.
"Certificateholders' Interest Distribution Amount" means with respect to
any Distribution Date, the sum of (a) the amount of interest accrued at the
Certificate Rate for the related Interest Period on the outstanding Certificate
Balance on the immediately preceding Distribution Date, after giving effect to
all distributions of principal to holders of the Certificates on such
Distribution Date (or, in the case of the first Distribution Date, on the
Closing Date) and (b) the Certificateholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall for
such Distribution Date; provided, that the Certificateholders' Interest
Distribution Amount will not include any Certificateholders' Interest Index
Carryover.
"Certificateholders' Principal Distribution Amount" means on each
Distribution Date on and after which the principal balance of the Notes has been
paid in full, the Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date (or,
in the case of the Distribution Date on which the principal balance of the Notes
is paid in full, any remaining Principal Distribution Amount not otherwise
distributed to the holders of the Notes on such Distribution Date); provided
that the Certificateholders' Principal Distribution Amount will in no event
exceed the Certificate Balance. In addition, on the Final Maturity Date for the
Certificates, the principal required to be distributed to the holders of the
Certificates will include the amount required to reduce the outstanding
Certificate Balance to zero.
"Monthly Servicing Payment Date" means the 27th day of each month.
"Net Government Receivable" means, with respect to any Distribution Date,
the sum of the amount of Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance
Payments due from the Department less the amount owed to the Department for
Federal Origination Fee and Consolidation Loan Rebate as of the end of the
related Collection Period.
"Note Collateralization Amount" means, with respect to any Distribution
Date, the sum of
(a) the Pool Balance as of the end of the related Collection Period;
(b) the Pre-Funded Amount, as of the end of the related Collection
Period;
(c) the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account after giving effect
to distributions on such Distribution Date; and
(d) the Net Government Receivable.
"Noteholders' Distribution Amount" means, with respect to any Distribution
Date, the sum of the Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount and the
Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date.
"Noteholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall" means, with respect to any
Distribution Date, the excess of (x) the sum of the Noteholders' Interest
Distribution Amount on the preceding Distribution Date over (y) the amount of
interest actually distributed to the holders of the Notes on such preceding
Distribution Date, plus interest on the amount of such excess interest due to
the holders of the Notes, to the extent permitted by law, at the weighted
average of the Note Interest Rates from such preceding Distribution Date to the
current Distribution Date.
"Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount" means, with respect to any
Distribution Date, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of interest accrued at
the respective Note Interest Rate for the related Interest Period on the
outstanding principal balance of each class of the Notes on the immediately
preceding Distribution Date after giving effect to all principal distributions
to Noteholders on such date (or, in the case of the first Distribution Date, on
the Closing Date) and (b) the Noteholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall for such
Distribution Date; provided, that the Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount
will not include any Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover.
"Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount" means, with respect to any
Distribution Date, the Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date;
provided, however, that the Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount will not
exceed the outstanding principal balance of the Notes. In addition, (a) on the
Final Maturity Date for each class of Notes, the principal required to be
distributed to the class of Notes will include the amount required to reduce the
outstanding principal balance of such class of Notes to zero, and (b) on the
related Distribution Date following a sale of the Financed Student Loans in the
manner described under "--Termination" below, the principal required to be
distributed to the holders of Class ___ Notes will include the amount required
to reduce the outstanding principal balance of such Class ___ Notes to zero. In
the event that the outstanding balance of the Notes is in excess of the Note
Collateralization Amount, the Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount for the
Notes will be reduced by the amount of any Noteholders' Priority Principal
Distribution Amount.
"Noteholders' Priority Principal Distribution Amount" means, with respect
to any Distribution Date, the excess of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal
balance of such Notes (after giving effect to any distributions on such
Distribution Date) over (y) the Note Collateralization Amount.
"Pool Balance" means, at any time, the aggregate principal balance of the
Financed Student Loans at the end of the preceding Collection Period (including
accrued interest thereon for such Collection Period to the extent such interest
will be capitalized upon commencement of repayment), after giving effect to the
following without duplication:
o all payments received by the Trust related to the Financed
Student Loans during such Collection Period from or on
behalf of borrowers, Guarantors and the Department
(collectively, "Obligors"),
o all Purchase Amounts received by the Trust related to the
Financed Student Loans for such Collection Period from the
Seller, the Master Servicer or the Sub-Servicers,
o all Additional Fundings made from the Escrow Account and the
Pre-Funding o Account or the Available Loan Purchase Funds
with respect to such Collection Period, and
o all losses realized on Financed Student Loans liquidated
during such Collection Period.
<PAGE>
"Principal Distribution Amount" means, with respect to any Distribution
Date, the amount by which the sum of the outstanding principal balance of the
Notes and the Certificate Balance exceeds the Specified Collateral Balance for
such Distribution Date.
"Specified Collateral Balance" means, with respect to any Distribution
Date, the sum of (a) the Pool Balance as of the last day of the related
Collection Period plus (b) the Pre-Funded Amount as of the last day of the
related Collection Period for such Distribution Date. In the event that the
Financed Student Loans are not sold pursuant to the auction process described
under "-- Termination" below, with respect to any Distribution Date occurring on
or after the _________ ______ Distribution Date, the Specified Collateral
Balance will be zero.
CREDIT ENHANCEMENT
RESERVE ACCOUNT. Pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Reserve
Account will be created with an initial deposit by the Seller on the Closing
Date of cash or Eligible Investments in an amount equal to $__________ (the
"Reserve Account Initial Deposit"). On the Closing Date, the Reserve Account
Initial Deposit will equal the Specified Reserve Account Balance as of the
Closing Date. The amounts on deposit in the Reserve Account to the extent used
will be replenished up to the Specified Reserve Account Balance on each
Distribution Date by deposit therein of the amount, if any, necessary to
reinstate the balance of the Reserve Account to the Specified Reserve Account
Balance from the amount of Available Funds remaining after payment of the prior
amounts set forth under "--Distributions" above, all for such Distribution Date.
"Specified Reserve Account Balance" means, with respect to any Distribution
Date will be equal to the greater of (x) ____% of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Notes and the Certificate Balance on such Distribution
Date before giving effect to any distribution on such Distribution Date, and (y)
$________; provided, however, that in no event will such balance exceed the sum
of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and the outstanding principal
balance of the Certificates.
Funds will be withdrawn from the Reserve Account to the extent that the
amount of Available Funds is insufficient to pay the Master Servicing Fee on any
Monthly Servicing Payment Date and any of the items specified in clauses (1)
through (4) under "--Distributions--Distributions from Collection Account" above
on any Distribution Date; provided that amounts on deposit in the Reserve
Account shall only be available to cover shortfalls in interest payments on the
Certificates to the extent that the Note Collateralization Amount (after giving
effect to such withdrawals from the Reserve Account) is not less than the
outstanding principal balance of the Notes. Such funds will be paid from the
Reserve Account to the Master Servicer on a Monthly Servicing Payment Date, and
to the persons and in the order of priority specified for distributions out of
the Collection Account in such clauses (1) through (4) on a Distribution Date.
In addition, on the Final Maturity Dates for the Securities, amounts on deposit
in the Reserve Account, if any, will be available, if necessary, to be applied
to reduce the principal balance of the Securities to zero. Amounts on deposit in
the Reserve Account will not be available to cover any reimbursement for unpaid
Excess Master Servicing Fees, Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover or
Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover.
If the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account on any Distribution Date
(after giving effect to all deposits or withdrawals therefrom on such
Distribution Date) is greater than the Specified Reserve Account Balance for
such Distribution Date, subject to certain limitations, the Administrator will
instruct the Indenture Trustee to deposit the amount of the excess into the
Collection Account for distribution as Available Funds on such Distribution
Date. Upon any distribution to the Seller of any amounts included as Available
Funds, neither the Noteholders nor the Certificateholders will have any rights
in, or claims to, such amounts. Subject to the limitation described in the
preceding sentence, amounts held from time to time in the Reserve Account will
continue to be held for the benefit of the Trust.
The Reserve Account is intended to enhance the likelihood of timely receipt
by the holders of Notes and the holders of Certificates of the full amount of
interest due them and to decrease the likelihood that such holders will
experience losses. In certain circumstances, however, the Reserve Account could
be depleted.
SUBORDINATION OF THE CERTIFICATES. The rights of the holders of
Certificates to receive payments of interest are subordinated to the rights of
the holders of Notes to receive payments of interest (and, in certain
circumstances, principal) and the rights of the holders of Certificates to
receive payments of principal are subordinated to the rights of the holders of
Notes to receive payments of interest and principal. Consequently, amounts on
deposit in the Collection Account, the Reserve Account and the Pre-Funding
Account will be applied to the payment of interest on the Notes before payment
of interest on the Certificates and will be applied to the payment of principal
on the Notes before payment of principal on the Certificates. In addition if (x)
an Event of Default should occur and be continuing under the Indenture or (y) an
Insolvency Event should occur and the Financed Student Loans were liquidated,
all amounts due on the Notes will be payable before any amounts are payable on
the Certificates. Also if the outstanding principal balance of the Notes is in
excess of the Note Collateralization Amount, principal will be payable to
holders of Notes in the amount of such excess to the extent of funds available
before any amounts are payable to holders of Certificates. See "Description of
the Securities--The Certificates--Subordination of the Certificates" herein.
STATEMENTS TO INDENTURE TRUSTEE AND TRUST
Prior to each Distribution Date, the Administrator (based on the quarterly
statements and other information provided to it by the Master Servicer or the
Sub-Servicers) will provide to the Indenture Trustee and the Trust, as of the
close of business on the last day of the preceding Collection Period, a
statement which will include the following information with respect to such
Distribution Date or the preceding Collection Period as to the Notes and the
Certificates, to the extent applicable:
(1) the amount of the distribution allocable to principal of each
class of Securities;
(2) the amount of the distribution allocable to interest on each class
of Securities, together with the interest rates applicable with respect
thereto (indicating whether such interest rates are based on the Formula
Rate or on the Student Loan Rate and specifying what each such interest
rate would have been if it had been calculated using the alternate basis;
provided that no such calculation of the Student Loan Rate will be required
to be made unless the Investor Index for such Interest Period is 100 basis
points greater than the Investor Index of the preceding Determination Date
or, with respect to Treasury Bill Indexed Securities only, the 52-week
Treasury Bill Rate is 100 basis points less than the 91-day Treasury Bill
Rate as of such Determination Date);
(3) the amount of the distribution, if any, allocable to any
Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover and any Certificateholders' Interest
Index Carryover, together with the outstanding amount, if any, of each
thereof after giving effect to any such distribution;
(4) the Pool Balance as of the close of business on the last day of
the preceding Collection Period, after giving effect to payments allocated
to principal reported as described in clause (1) above;
(5) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of each Class of
Notes, the Certificate Balance and each Pool Factor as of such Distribution
Date, after giving effect to payments allocated to principal reported under
clause (1) above;
(6) the amount of the Master Servicing Fee and any Excess Master
Servicing Fee paid to the Master Servicer and the amount of the
Administration Fee paid to the Administrator with respect to such
Collection Period, and the amount, if any, of the Excess Master Servicing
Fee remaining unpaid after giving effect to any such payment;
(7) the amount of the aggregate Realized Losses, if any, for such
Collection Period and the balance of Financed Student Loans that are
delinquent in each delinquency period as of the end of such Collection
Period;
(8) the balance of the Reserve Account on such Distribution Date,
after giving effect to changes therein on such Distribution Date;
(9) for Distribution Dates during the Funding Period, the remaining
Pre-Funded Amount on such Distribution Date, after giving effect to changes
therein during the related Collection Period; and
(10) for the first Distribution Date on or following the end of the
Funding Period, the amount of any remaining Pre-Funded Amount that has not
been used to make Additional Fundings and is being paid out to the
Noteholders.
"Realized Losses" means, the excess of the principal balance of the
Liquidated Student Loans over the Liquidation Proceeds to the extent allocable
to principal.
"52-week Treasury Bill Rate" means, on any date of determination, the bond
equivalent rate of 52-week Treasury Bills auctioned at the final auction held
prior to the preceding June 1.
TERMINATION
The obligations of the Master Servicer, the Seller, the Administrator, the
Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements will terminate upon (a) the maturity or other liquidation
of the last Financed Student Loan and the disposition of any amount received
upon liquidation of any remaining Financed Student Loans and (b) the payment to
the holders of Notes and the holders of Certificates of all amounts required to
be paid to them pursuant to the Transfer and Servicing Agreements. In order to
avoid excessive administrative expense, the Seller is permitted at its option to
repurchase from the Eligible Lender Trustee, as of the end of any Collection
Period immediately preceding a Distribution Date, if the then outstanding Pool
Balance is [5%] [10%] or less than the Initial Pool Balance, all remaining
Financed Student Loans at a price sufficient to retire the Certificates
concurrently therewith. Upon termination of the Trust, all right, title and
interest in the Financed Student Loans and other funds of the Trust, after
giving effect to any final distributions to holders of Notes and holders of
Certificates therefrom, will be conveyed and transferred to the Seller.
Any Financed Student Loans remaining in the Trust as of the end of the
Collection Period immediately preceding the _______ _____ Distribution Date will
be offered for sale by the Indenture Trustee. [Mellon Holding Company], its
affiliates (other than the Seller and the Master Servicer), __________,
___________ and unrelated third parties may offer bids to purchase such Financed
Student Loans on such Distribution Date. If at least two bids are received, the
Indenture Trustee will solicit and resolicit bids from all participating bidders
until only one bid remains or the remaining bidders decline to resubmit bids.
The Indenture Trustee will accept the highest of such remaining bids if it is
equal to or in excess of an amount (the "Minimum Purchase Amount") equal to the
greatest of
(1) the Auction Purchase Amount;
(2) the fair market value of such Financed Student Loans as of the
end of the Collection Period immediately preceding such
Distribution Date; and
(3) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes and principal
balance of the Certificates plus, in each case, accrued and
unpaid interest thereon payable on such Distribution Date (other
than any Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover and
Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover).
<PAGE>
If at least two bids are not received or the highest bid after the
resolicitation process is completed is not equal to or in excess of the Minimum
Purchase Amount, the Indenture Trustee will not consummate such sale. In
connection with the determination of the Minimum Purchase Amount, the Indenture
Trustee may consult and, at the direction of the Seller, shall consult, with a
financial advisor, including the Underwriters or the Administrator, to determine
if the fair market value of the Financed Student Loans has been offered. The net
proceeds of any such sale will be used to redeem any outstanding Notes and to
retire any outstanding Certificates on such Distribution Date. If the sale is
not consummated in accordance with the foregoing, the Indenture Trustee may, but
shall not be under any obligation to, solicit bids to purchase the Financed
Student Loans on future Distribution Dates upon terms similar to those described
above.
No assurance can be given as to whether the Indenture Trustee will be
successful in soliciting acceptable bids to purchase the Financed Student Loans
on either the ______ _____ Distribution Date or any subsequent Distribution
Date. In the event the Financed Student Loans are not sold in accordance with
the foregoing, on each Distribution Date on and after the _____ ____
Distribution Date the Specified Collateral Balance shall be reduced to zero and
all Available Funds remaining after applying such amounts to pay the Master
Servicing Fee, the Administration Fee, the Noteholders' Interest Distribution
Amount, the Noteholders' Priority Principal Distribution Amount, if any, and the
Certificateholders' Interest Distribution Amount will be paid as principal to
the holders of Notes and then to the holders of Certificates until the
outstanding principal balance of the Notes and the Certificates has been reduced
to zero.
"Auction Purchase Amount" with respect to the Financed Student Loans means
the aggregate unpaid principal balance owed by the applicable borrowers thereon
plus accrued interest thereon to the date of purchase less the amount on deposit
in the Reserve Account as for such date.
ADMINISTRATOR
The Seller, in its capacity as Administrator, will enter into the
Administration Agreement with the Trust and the Indenture Trustee, and the Sale
and Servicing Agreement with the Trust, the Seller, the Master Servicer and the
Eligible Lender Trustee. For a description of the Administrator's duties, see
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements - Administrator" in the
Prospectus.
As compensation for the performance of the Administrator's obligations
under the Administration Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement and as
reimbursement for its expenses related thereto, the Administrator will be
entitled to an administration fee in an amount equal to $______ per quarter (the
"Administration Fee").
<PAGE>
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, Federal tax counsel ("Federal Tax Counsel")
is of the opinion that the Trust will not be classified as an association (or
publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes and that the Notes will be characterized as debt for federal income tax
purposes.
__________________________________, Pennsylvania tax counsel ("Pennsylvania
Tax Counsel") is of the opinion that the same characterizations of the Notes and
the Trust would apply for Pennsylvania state income tax purposes as for federal
income tax purposes.
The Seller and the Master Servicer will agree, and the Certificateholders
will agree by their purchase of Certificates, to treat the Trust as a
partnership for purposes of federal, state and local income and franchise tax
purposes, with the assets of the partnership being the assets held by the Trust,
the partners of the partnership being the Certificateholders (including the
Seller in its capacity as recipient of distributions from the Reserve Account),
and the Notes being debt of the partnership.
If the Trust were held to be an association (or publicly traded
partnership) taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, rather
than a partnership, the Trust would be subject to a corporate level income tax.
Any such corporate income tax could materially reduce or eliminate cash that
would otherwise be distributable with respect to the Notes and the Certificates
(and Certificateholders could be liable for any such tax that is unpaid by the
Trust).
We recommend that investors carefully review the information under the
caption "Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Section 406 of ERISA, and/or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), prohibit a pension, profit-sharing or other
employee benefit plan, as well as individual retirement accounts, and certain
types of Keogh Plans, and other plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code (each
a "Benefit Plan") from engaging in certain transactions with persons that are
"parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code with
respect to such Benefit Plan. A violation of these "prohibited transaction"
rules may result in an excise tax or other penalties and liabilities under ERISA
and the Code for such persons. Title I of ERISA also requires that fiduciaries
of a Benefit Plan subject to ERISA make investments that are prudent,
diversified (except if prudent not to do so) and in accordance with governing
plan documents.
Certain transactions involving the purchase, holding or transfer of the
Notes might be deemed to constitute prohibited transactions under ERISA and the
Code if assets of the Trust were deemed to be assets of a Benefit Plan. Under a
regulation issued by the United States Department of Labor (the "Plan Assets
Regulation"), the assets of the Trust would be treated as plan assets of a
Benefit Plan for the purposes of ERISA and the Code only if the Benefit Plan
acquires an "Equity Interest" in the Trust and none of the exceptions contained
in the Plan Assets Regulation is applicable. An equity interest is defined under
the Plan Assets Regulation as an interest other than an instrument which is
treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial
equity features. The Notes should be treated as indebtedness without substantial
equity features for purposes of the Plan Assets Regulation. However, without
regard to whether the Notes are treated as an Equity Interest for such purposes,
the acquisition or holding of Notes by or on behalf of a Benefit Plan could be
considered to give rise to a prohibited transaction if the Trust, the Trustee or
the Indenture Trustee, the Seller, the owner of collateral, or any of their
respective affiliates is or becomes a party in interest or a disqualified person
with respect to such Benefit Plan. In such case, certain exemptions from the
prohibited transaction rules could be applicable depending on the type and
circumstances of the plan fiduciary making the decision to acquire a Note.
Included among these exemptions are:
o Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 90-1, regarding
investments by insurance company pooled separate accounts;
o PTCE 95-60, regarding investments by insurance company general
accounts;
o PTCE 91-38, regarding investments by bank collective investment funds;
o PTCE 96-23, regarding transactions effected by in-house asset
managers; and
o PTCE 84-14, regarding transactions effected by "qualified professional
asset managers."
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section
3(32) of ERISA) and certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA)
are not subject to ERISA requirements.
A plan fiduciary considering the purchase of Notes should consult its tax
and/or legal advisors regarding whether the assets of the Trust would be
considered plan assets, the possibility of exemptive relief from the prohibited
transaction rules and other issues and their potential consequences.
No Certificates may be purchased for, or on behalf of, any Benefit Plan or
any entity whose underlying assets are deemed to be plan assets of such Benefit
Plan.
The purchaser of a Certificate is deemed to have represented that it is not
acquiring the Certificates directly or indirectly for, or on behalf of, a
Benefit Plan or any entity whose underlying assets are deemed to be plan assets
of such Benefit Plan. The purchaser of Notes is deemed to have represented that
either: (A) the purchaser is not acquiring the Notes directly or indirectly for,
or on behalf of, a Benefit Plan or any entity whose underlying assets are deemed
to be plan assets of such Benefit Plan, or (B) the acquisition and holding of
the Notes by the purchaser qualifies for prohibited transaction exemptive relief
under PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 90-1, PTCE 84-14 or some other
applicable exemption.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the respective
Underwriting Agreements relating to the Notes and the Certificates (the
"Underwriting Agreements"), the Seller has agreed to cause the Trust to sell to
the underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), and each of the Underwriters
has severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of Class ____ Notes,
Class ____ Notes and Certificates set forth opposite its name:
PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF PRINCIPAL
CLASS ___ CLASS ___ AMOUNT OF
UNDERWRITER NOTES NOTES CERTIFICATES TOTAL
- ----------- ----- --------- ------------- ----------
_____________
Total
In the respective Underwriting Agreements, the Underwriters have agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase (x) all the
Notes offered hereby if any of the Notes are purchased and (y) all the
Certificates offered hereby if any of the Certificates are purchased. The Seller
has been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters propose initially to
offer the Securities to the public at the respective public offering prices set
forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to certain dealers at
such prices less a concession not in excess of _____% per Class ___ Note, _____%
per Class ___ Note and _____% per Certificate. The Underwriters may allow and
such dealers may reallow to other dealers a discount not in excess of _____% per
Class ___ Note, _____% per Class ___ Note and _____% per Certificate. After the
initial public offering, such public offering prices, concessions and
reallowances may be changed.
The representative, on behalf of the underwriters, may engage in
over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and
penalty bides in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Over-allotment involves syndicate
sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position.
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long
as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate covering
transactions involve purchases of the Securities in the open market after the
distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a
syndicate member when the Securities originally sold by such syndicate member
are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short
positions. Such stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and
penalty bids may cause the price of the Securities to be higher than it would
otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
The Seller does not intend to apply for listing of the Securities on a
national securities exchange, but has been advised by ____________________ that
it intends to, and by ___________ that it may, make a market in the Securities.
The Underwriters are not obligated, however, to make a market in the Securities
and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice. No assurance can
be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Securities.
The Underwriting Agreements provide that the Seller will indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under applicable
securities laws, or contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to
make in respect thereof.
The Trust may, from time to time, invest the funds in the Trust Accounts in
Eligible Investments acquired from the Underwriters.
The closing of the sale of the Certificates is conditioned on the closing
of the sale of the Notes and the closing of the sale of the Notes is conditioned
on the closing of the sale of the Certificates.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the Securities will be passed upon
for the Seller by Carl Krasik, Esq., Associate General Counsel of Mellon Bank
Corporation (the "Corporation"). Mr. Krasik is also a shareholder of the
Corporation and one of its subsidiaries and holds options to purchase additional
shares of the Corporation's Common Stock. Certain legal matters with respect to
the Securities will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Stroock & Stroock &
Lavan LLP, New York, New York. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP also will pass upon
the material federal income tax consequences related to the Securities.
<PAGE>
INDEX OF PRINCIPAL TERMS
Set forth below is a list of the defined terms used in this Prospectus
Supplement and the pages on which the definitions of such terms may be found
herein.
PAGE
52-week Treasury Bill Rate............................................S-65
91-day Treasury Bill Rate.............................................S-44
Additional Funding....................................................S-49
Additional Student Loans..............................................S-51
Administration Agreement..............................................S-47
Administration Fee....................................................S-67
Auction Purchase Amount...............................................S-66
Available Funds.......................................................S-56
Available Loan Purchase Funds.........................................S-32
Bankruptcy Code.......................................................S-35
Benefit Plan..........................................................S-67
Capped Amount.........................................................S-55
Cede..................................................................S-39
Certificate Balance...................................................S-59
Certificate Rate......................................................S-43
Certificateholders....................................................S-31
Certificateholders' Distribution Amount...............................S-59
Certificateholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall......................S-60
Certificateholders' Interest Distribution Amount......................S-60
Certificateholders' Interest Index Carryover..........................S-43
Certificateholders' Principal Distribution Amount.....................S-60
Certificates..........................................................S-13
Class ___ Notes.......................................................S-14, 15
Code..................................................................S-67
Collection Account....................................................S-14
Collection Period.....................................................S-40
Deferral..............................................................S-25
Deferral Period.......................................................S-18
Department............................................................S-13
Depository............................................................S-39
Determination Date....................................................S-56
Distribution Dates....................................................S-3
DOE Data Book.........................................................S-37
DTC...................................................................S-39
Eligible Deposit Account..............................................S-48
Eligible Institution..................................................S-48
Eligible Investments..................................................S-48
Eligible Lender Trustee...............................................S-13
Equity Interest.......................................................S-68
ERISA.................................................................S-5
Escrow Account........................................................S-14
Event of Default......................................................S-42
Excess Master Servicing Fee...........................................S-55
Exchange Act..........................................................S-69
Expected Interest Collections.........................................S-41
FDIC..................................................................S-49
Federal Assistance....................................................S-14
Federal Consolidation Loan............................................S-31
Federal Consolidation Loan Rebate.....................................S-57
Federal Guarantors....................................................S-14
Federal Origination Fee...............................................S-57
Federal Tax Counsel...................................................S-67
Final Maturity Dates..................................................S-4
Forbearance...........................................................S-25
Forbearance Periods...................................................S-18
Formula Rate..........................................................S-40
Funding Period........................................................S-51
Grace.................................................................S-25
Grace Period..........................................................S-32
Guarantee Agreement...................................................S-14
Guarantee Payments....................................................S-14
Guarantors............................................................S-3
Higher Education Act..................................................S-14
Indenture.............................................................S-39
Indenture Trustee.....................................................S-3
Index Maturity........................................................S-46
Initial Financed Student Loans........................................S-14
Initial Pool Balance..................................................S-33
Initial Pre-Funded Amount.............................................S-49
In-School.............................................................S-25
Interest Period.......................................................S-40
Interest Subsidy Payments.............................................S-33
Investment Earnings...................................................S-48
Investor Index........................................................S-40
LIBOR.................................................................S-46
LIBOR Determination Date..............................................S-46
LIBOR Indexed Securities..............................................S-3
Liquidated Student Loans..............................................S-57
Liquidation Proceeds..................................................S-57
Loan Purchase Termination Date........................................S-33
Lock-In Period........................................................S-44
Margin................................................................S-41
Master Servicer.......................................................S-15
Master Servicer Default...............................................S-51
Master Servicing Fee..................................................S-55
Master Servicing Fee Percentage.......................................S-16
Minimum Purchase Amount...............................................S-66
Monthly Servicing Payment Date........................................S-16
Net Government Receivable.............................................S-60
Note Collateralization Amount.........................................S-60
Note Interest Rate....................................................S-40
Noteholders...........................................................S-31
Noteholders' Distribution Amount......................................S-61
Noteholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall.............................S-61
Noteholders' Interest Distribution Amount.............................S-61
Noteholders' Interest Index Carryover.................................S-41
Noteholders' Principal Distribution Amount............................S-61
Noteholders' Priority Principal Distribution Amount...................S-61
Notes.................................................................S-15
Obligors..............................................................S-62
Other Student Loans...................................................S-52
Other Subsequent Student Loans........................................S-52
Participants..........................................................S-39
Pennsylvania Tax Counsel..............................................S-67
Plan Assets Regulation................................................S-68
Pool Balance..........................................................S-61
Pre-Funded Amount.....................................................S-13
Pre-Funding Account...................................................S-13
Principal Distribution Amount.........................................S-62
Programs..............................................................S-16
Prospectus............................................................S-7
Prospectus Supplement.................................................S-7
PTCE..................................................................S-68
Purchase Price........................................................S-47
Realized Losses.......................................................S-65
Reference Bank........................................................S-46
Repayment.............................................................S-25
Reserve Account.......................................................S-5
Reserve Account Initial Deposit.......................................S-13
Sale and Servicing Agreement..........................................S-13
Seller................................................................S-13
Seller Insolvency Event...............................................S-32
Serial Loans..........................................................S-52
Special Allowance Payments............................................S-33
Specified Collateral Balance..........................................S-62
Specified Reserve Account Balance.....................................S-62
Statistical Cutoff Date...............................................S-14
Student Loan Rate.....................................................S-41
Subsequent Cutoff Date................................................S-50
Sub-Servicer..........................................................S-15
Sub-Servicer Default..................................................S-52
Sub-Servicers.........................................................S-15
Telerate Page 3750....................................................S-46
Three-Month LIBOR.....................................................S-46
Transfer Agreement....................................................S-50
Transfer Date.........................................................S-50
Treasury Bill Indexed Securities......................................S-40
Trust.................................................................S-13
Trust Accounts........................................................S-48
Trust Agreement.......................................................S-13
Underlying Student Loans..............................................S-31
Underwriters..........................................................S-69
Underwriting Agreements...............................................S-69
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan............................................S-33
<PAGE>
[ALTERNATE PAGE]
Prospectus supplement to prospectus dated _________, _____
$____________
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUST _____-__
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Seller
FLOATING RATE ASSET-BACKED NOTES
FLOATING RATE ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES
____________
SECURITIES OFFERED
o classes of notes and certificates You should carefully consider
listed in the table below the risk factors beginning on
page S-_ of this prospectus
ASSETS supplement and page 6 of the
o student loans guaranteed by federal prospectus.
guarantors
CREDIT ENHANCEMENT The securities are obligations
o notes only of the trust and are payable
o subordination of certificates solely from the student loans and
o reserve account other assets of the trust. The
o certificates securities are not guaranteed
o reserve account by any person.
The securities are not bank
deposits.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ORIGINAL FINAL
PRINCIPAL INTEREST RATE MATURITY PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO THE
AMOUNT (PER ANNUM) DATE PUBLIC (1) DISCOUNT SELLER(1)(2)
---------- ------------ -------- --------- ------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class ___ Notes $ % % %
Class ___ Notes $ % % %
Certificates $ % % %
Total.......... $ $ $ $
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from ___________.
(2) Before deducting expenses, estimated to be $_______________.
</TABLE>
Delivery of the securities will be made on or about ____________, 19__, against
payment in immediately available funds.
This prospectus supplement and the prospectus to which it relates are to be used
by Mellon Financial Markets, Inc., an affiliate of the Seller, in connection
with offers and sales related to market-making transactions in the securities in
which it acts as principal and/or agent. Sales will be made at prices related to
the prevailing prices at the time of sale.
[NAMES OF UNDERWRITERS]
Prospectus supplement dated _____________, _________
<PAGE>
[ALTERNATE PAGE]
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus to which it relates are to be
used by Mellon Financial Markets, Inc. an affiliate of the Seller ("MFMI"), in
connection with offers and sales related to market-making transactions in the
Securities in which MFMI acts as principal. MFMI may also act as agent in such
transactions. Sales will be made at prices related to prevailing prices at the
time of sale. Any obligations of MFMI are the sole obligations of MFMI and do
not create any obligations on the part of any affiliate of MFMI.
<PAGE>
Prospectus
[SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED ______ _, 1999]
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUSTS
Issuer
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Seller and Master Servicer
Asset Backed Notes
Asset Backed Certificates
SECURITIES OFFERED
o asset backed notes and asset backed You should carefully consider
certificates the risk factors beginning on
o rated in one of four highest rating page 6.
categories by at least one nationally The securities are not bank deposits
recognized rating organization and are not insured by the Federal
o not listed on any trading exchange Deposit Insurance Corporation.
o obligations only of the related trust
This prospectus must be accompanied
ASSETS by a prospectus supplement for the
o student loans particular series.
o may include one or more forms of
enhancement
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. MAKING ANY CONTRARY REPRESENTATION IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The seller may offer securities through underwriters or by other methods
described under the caption "Plan of Distribution."
The date of this Prospectus is ______, ____
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RISK FACTORS..................................................................6
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE..............................12
FORMATION OF THE TRUSTS......................................................13
The Trusts.............................................................13
Eligible Lender Trustee................................................13
USE OF PROCEEDS..............................................................14
THE SELLER, THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE MASTER SERVICER AND THE SUB-
SERVICERS....................................................................14
The Seller, Administrator and Master Servicer..........................14
General ......................................................14
Services and Fees of Administrator.............................14
Master Servicer................................................14
The Sub-Servicers.......................................................15
THE STUDENT LOAN POOLS.......................................................15
General.................................................................15
Claims and Recovery Rates...............................................17
THE STUDENT LOAN FINANCING BUSINESS..........................................17
Programs Offered by the Seller..........................................17
Description of Student Federal Loans Under the Programs.................17
General .....................................................17
Stafford Loan Program.........................................18
(1) Eligibility Requirements.................................19
(2) Loan Limits...............................................20
(3) Interest.................................................20
(4) Repayment.................................................21
(5) Grace Periods, Deferral Periods, Forbearance Periods......22
(6) Interest Subsidy Payments.................................22
(7) Special Allowance Payments...............................23
SLS Loan Program.............................................24
PLUS Loan Program............................................25
Student Consolidation Loan Program...........................26
Undergraduate Student Loans..................................28
Graduate Student Loans.......................................30
Insurance of Student Loans; Guarantors of Student Loans................30
Guarantors....................................................30
Federal Insurance and Reinsurance of Guarantors...............31
Origination Process....................................................34
Servicing and Collections Process......................................35
Incentive Programs.....................................................36
WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIVES OF THE SECURITIES.....................................36
POOL FACTORS AND TRADING INFORMATION.........................................38
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES.....................................................39
General...............................................................39
Principal of and Interest on the Notes................................40
The Indenture.........................................................41
Modification of Indenture....................................41
Events of Default; Rights upon Event of Default..............42
Certain Covenants............................................45
Annual Compliance Statement..................................47
Indenture Trustee's Annual Report............................47
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture......................47
The Indenture Trustee........................................47
DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTIFICATES..............................................47
General............................................................ ..47
Principal and Interest in Respect of the Certificates.............. ..48
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE SECURITIES.................................49
Fixed Rate Securities.................................................49
Floating Rate Securities..............................................49
Book-Entry Registration...............................................50
Definitive Securities.................................................54
List of Securityholders...............................................55
Reports to Securityholders............................................56
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENTS.........................57
General...............................................................57
Sale of Student Loans; Representations and Warranties.................57
Additional Fundings...................................................58
Accounts..............................................................59
Servicing Procedures..................................................60
Payments on Student Loans.............................................61
Master Servicer Covenants.............................................61
Master Servicing Compensation.........................................62
Distributions.........................................................63
Credit and Cash Flow Enhancement......................................64
General ......................................................64
Reserve Account................................................64
Statements to Indenture Trustee and Trust.............................65
Evidence as to Compliance.............................................66
Certain Matters Regarding the Master Servicer and the Sub-
Servicers...........................................................67
Master Servicer Default; Sub-Servicer Default;
Administrator Default...............................................68
Rights Upon Master Servicer Default; Sub-Servicer Default
and Administrator Default.........................................69
Waiver of Past Defaults...............................................70
Insolvency Event......................................................71
Amendment.............................................................71
Payment of Notes......................................................72
Seller Liability......................................................72
Termination...........................................................72
Administrator.........................................................74
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDENT LOANS...................................74
Transfer of Student Loans.............................................74
Certain Matters Relating to Receivership..............................76
Consumer Protection Laws..............................................76
Loan Origination and Servicing Procedures Applicable to
Student Loans.......................................................77
Failure to Comply with Third-Party Servicer Regulations
May Adversely Affect Loan Servicing.................................78
Student Loans Generally Not Subject to Discharge in
Bankruptcy..........................................................78
Recent Developments...................................................79
Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997.............79
FY 1998 Budget...............................................79
1998 Amendment...............................................79
1998 Reauthorization Bill....................................80
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES..............................................81
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS FOR WHICH A PARTNERSHIP
ELECTION IS MADE.............................................................82
Tax Characterization of the Trust.....................................82
Tax Consequences to Holders of the Notes..............................82
Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness......................82
Original Issue Discount.....................................83
Interest Income on the Notes................................83
Sale or Other Disposition...................................84
Foreign Holders.............................................84
Backup Withholding..........................................85
Recent Legislation....................................................86
Tax Consequences to Holders of the Certificates.......................86
Classification as a Partnership.......................................86
Treatment of the Trust as a Partnership.....................86
Partnership Taxation........................................87
Computation of Income.......................................88
Determining the Basis of Trust Assets.......................88
Discount and Premium........................................89
Disposition of Certificates.................................89
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.............90
Section 754 Election........................................90
Administrative Matters......................................90
Tax Consequences to Foreign Certificateholders..............91
Backup Withholding..........................................92
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS IN WHICH ALL RESIDUAL
INTERESTS ARE RETAINED BY THE SELLER OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE SELLER...........92
Tax Characterization of the Trust.....................................92
Tax Consequences to Holders of the Notes..............................93
Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness......................93
Possible Alternative Treatments of the Notes................93
STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES.............................................93
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS.........................................................94
The Notes.............................................................94
The Certificates......................................................95
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.......................................................96
LEGAL MATTERS................................................................97
INDEX OF PRINCIPAL TERMS.....................................................98
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
We recommend that you consider the following factors and the additional
factors described under "Risk Factors" in the related prospectus supplement
before purchasing the securities.
CREDIT ENHANCEMENT
MAY NOT PROTECT YOU
FROM ALL LOSSES Although every trust will include
some form of credit enhancement, that
credit enhancement may not cover every
class of securities issued by a trust.
In addition, every form of credit
enhancement will have certain
limitations on, and exclusions from
coverage. As a result, there is always a
risk that you may not recover the full
amount of your investment.
GUARANTEES OF STUDENT
LOANS MAY NOT PREVENT
LOSSES The student loans in a trust will
be guaranteed by a federal guarantor.
However, those guarantees may not
protect you against all losses for
several reasons, including:
o federal guarantees are generally
limited to 98% of the principal
amount of the student loan; and
o if Mellon Bank, N.A. fails to
follow prescribed origination
procedures or if the master
servicer or any sub-servicers fail
to follow required servicing
procedures, the applicable
guarantors may refuse to make
guarantee payments to the
applicable trust and the Department
of Education may refuse to make
interest subsidy or special
allowance payments to the trust.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF
FEDERAL GUARANTORS MAY BE
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SEVERAL
FACTORS The financial condition of the
federal guarantors may be adversely
affected by a number of factors
including:
o the amount of claims made against
that federal guarantor as a result
of borrower defaults;
o the amount of claims reimbursed to
that federal guarantor from the
Department of Education;
o changes in legislation that may
reduce expenditures from the
Department of Education that
support federal guarantors or that
may require federal guarantors to
pay more of their reserves to the
Department of Education;
o loss of reinsurance benefits due to
the master servicer's or a
sub-servicer's failure to follow
required servicing procedures; and
o expansion of the federal direct
student loan program.
If the financial status of the federal
guarantors deteriorates, the federal
guarantors may fail to make guarantee
payments to the trustee. In such event,
you may suffer delays in the payment of
principal and interest on your
securities.
REINSURANCE OF FEDERAL
GUARANTORS MAY NOT
PREVENT DELAYS OR LOSSES If a federal guarantor fails to make
guarantee payments, the applicable trust
may submit claims directly to the
Department of Education. However, the
Department of Education may determine
that the federal guarantor is able to
meet its obligations, and the Department
of Education will not make those
payments. Even if the Department of
Education determines to make those
payments, there may be delays in making
the necessary determination. Loss or
delay of any such guarantee payments,
interest subsidy payments or special
allowance payments could adversely
affect the related trust's ability to
pay timely interest and principal. In
such event, you may suffer a loss on
your investment.
THE TRUST IS DEPENDENT UPON
THE PERFORMANCE BY VARIOUS
PARTIES OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS The trust is relying, and the
performance of the securities depends,
on the performance of the seller, the
master servicer and the sub-servicers of
their respective obligations. Any
failure to perform could have material
adverse consequences as follows:
o FAILURE TO HONOR PURCHASE
OBLIGATIONS MAY CAUSE LOSSES.
Mellon Bank, N.A., as seller and
master servicer, or the applicable
sub-servicer, will be obligated to
purchase student loans from a trust
with respect to which it materially
breaches representations,
warranties or covenants. You can
not be assured, however, that
Mellon Bank, N.A., or the
applicable sub-servicer, will have
the financial resources to purchase
such student loans. The failure to
so purchase a student loan would
not constitute an event of default
under the related indenture or
permit the exercise of remedies
thereunder. However, the breach of
such representations, warranties or
covenants may cause you to suffer a
loss on your investment.
o FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIRD-PARTY
SERVICER REGULATIONS MAY ADVERSELY
AFFECT LOAN SERVICING. The
Department of Education regulates
each servicer of federal student
loans. Under certain of these
regulations, a third-party
servicer, such as one of the
sub-servicers, is jointly and
severally liable with its client
lenders for liabilities to the
Department of Education arising
from the sub-servicer's violation
of applicable requirements. In
addition, if a sub-servicer fails
to meet standards of financial
responsibility or administrative
capability included in the
regulations, or violates other
requirements, the Department of
Education may fine the sub-servicer
and/or limit, suspend, or terminate
that sub-servicer's eligibility to
contract to service federal student
loans. If a sub-servicer were so
fined or held liable, or its
eligibility were limited,
suspended, or terminated, its
ability to properly service the
federal loans and to satisfy its
obligation to purchase federal
loans with respect to which it
breaches its representations,
warranties or covenants could be
adversely affected. Moreover, if
the Department of Education
terminates a sub-servicer's
eligibility, a servicing transfer
will take place and there will be
delays in collections and temporary
disruptions in servicing. Any
servicing transfer will at least
temporarily adversely affect
payments to you.
o THE TRUST'S INTEREST IN ITS STUDENT
LOANS COULD BE DEFEATED BY ACTIONS
OF THE SUB-SERVICERS AS CUSTODIANS.
The applicable sub-servicer, as
custodian on behalf of each trust,
will have custody of the promissory
notes evidencing the student loans
it services. Although the accounts
of the seller will be marked to
indicate the sale and although the
seller will cause Uniform
Commercial Code financing
statements to be filed with the
appropriate authorities, the
student loans will not be
physically segregated, stamped or
otherwise marked to indicate that
such student loans have been sold
to the eligible lender trustee. If,
through inadvertence or otherwise,
any of the student loans were sold
to another party, or a security
interest therein were granted to
another party that purchased or
took a security interest in any of
such student loans in the ordinary
course of its business and took
possession of such student loans,
then the purchaser or secured
party, as applicable, would acquire
an interest in the student loans
superior to the interest of the
eligible lender trustee, if the
purchaser or secured party, as
applicable, acquired such student
loans without knowledge of the
eligible lender trustee's interest.
o INSOLVENCY OF THE MASTER SERVICER,
A SUB-SERVICER OR THE ADMINISTRATOR
MAY CAUSE LOSSES. In the event of
default by the master servicer, a
sub-servicer or the administrator
resulting solely from certain
events of insolvency or bankruptcy,
a court, conservator, receiver or
liquidator may have the power to
prevent either the indenture
trustee or the noteholders from
appointing a successor master
servicer, sub-servicer or
administrator, as the case may be,
and delays in collections in
respect of the student loans may
occur. Any delay in the collections
of student loans, may delay or
reduce payments to you.
CHANGES IN LEGISLATION MAY
ADVERSELY AFFECT STUDENT
LOANS AND FEDERAL GUARANTORS You can not be certain that the
Higher Education Act or other relevant
federal or state laws, rules and
regulations will not be amended or
modified in the future in a manner that
will adversely affect the federal
student loan programs described in this
prospectus, the student loans made
thereunder or the financial condition of
the federal guarantors.
In addition, if the direct student loan
program expands, the sub-servicers may
experience increased costs due to
reduced economies of scale or other
adverse effects on their business to the
extent the volume of loans serviced by
the sub-servicers is reduced. Such cost
increases could reduce the ability of
the sub-servicers to satisfy their
obligations to service the student loans
or to purchase student loans in the
event of certain breaches of its
covenants.
CERTAIN POLICIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MAY REDUCE AMOUNTS
AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENTS
ON YOUR SECURITIES Each trust will be obligated to pay to
the Department of Education a monthly
rebate at an annualized rate of
generally 1.05% of the outstanding
principal balance on each federal
consolidation loan which is a part of
the related trust. This rebate will be
payable prior to distributions made to
you. In addition, the trust must pay to
the Department of Education a 0.50%
origination fee on the initial principal
balance of each student loan which is
originated on its behalf by the eligible
lender trustee after the applicable
closing date. This fee will be deducted
by the Department of Education out of
interest subsidy payments and special
allowance payments otherwise payable to
the trust(s). In such event the amount
available to be distributed to you will
be reduced. Under certain circumstances,
the related trust is obligated to pay
any portion of the unpaid fee from other
assets of that trust prior to making
distributions to you. As a result, the
payment of the rebate fee and
origination fee to the Department of
Education will affect the rate and
timing of payments to you. Moreover, if
the origination fee is deducted from
interest subsidy payments and special
allowance payments the interest rate
payable on your securities may be capped
at a lower rate. In such event, the
value of your investment may be
impaired.
Due to a Department of Education policy
limiting the granting of new lender
identification numbers, all of the
trusts established by the seller to
securitize federal student loans may use
a common Department of Education lender
identification number. The Department of
Education regards the eligible lender
trustee as the party primarily
responsible to the Department of
Education for any liabilities owed to
the Department of Education or federal
guarantors resulting from the eligible
lender trustee's activities in the
federal student loan program. If the
Department of Education or a federal
guarantor determines such a liability
exists in connection with a trust using
the shared lender identification number,
the Department of Education or such
federal guarantor may collect that
liability or offset such liability from
amounts due the eligible lender trustee
under the shared lender identification
number.
Because the trust agreements for the
trusts established by the seller, which
share a lender identification number,
will require each such trust to
indemnify the other trusts for a
shortfall or an offset by the Department
of Education or a federal guarantor, if
the amount available for indemnification
by one trust to another trust is
insufficient, you may suffer a loss on
your investment as a result of the
performance of another trust.
NOTEHOLDERS' RIGHT TO CONTROL
UPON CERTAIN DEFAULTS
MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
CERTIFICATEHOLDERS In the event of a default by the master
servicer, a sub-servicer or the
administrator, the indenture trustee or
the noteholders, may remove the master
servicer, a sub-servicer or the
administrator, as the case may be,
without the consent of the eligible
lender trustee or any of the
certificateholders. In addition, the
noteholders have the ability, with
certain specified exceptions, to waive
defaults by the master servicer, a
sub-servicer or the administrator,
including defaults that could materially
adversely affect the certificateholders.
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS
MAY AFFECT ENFORCEABILITY OF
STUDENT LOANS Numerous federal and state consumer
protection laws and related regulations
impose substantial requirements upon
lenders and servicers involved in
consumer finance. Also, some state laws
impose finance charge ceilings and other
restrictions on certain consumer
transactions and require contract
disclosures in addition to those
required under federal law. These
requirements impose specific statutory
liability that could affect an
assignee's ability to enforce consumer
finance contracts such as the student
loans. In addition, the remedies
available to the indenture trustee or
the noteholders upon an event of default
under the indenture may not be readily
available or may be limited by
applicable state and federal laws.
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
Mellon Bank, N.A., as originator of each trust, has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
with respect to the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. The
Registration Statement, contains information which is not contained in this
prospectus. Prospective investors may read the Registration Statement and make
copies of it 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 Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and 500 West
Madison Street, 14th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60661. 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. The
Commission maintains a Web site at http://www.sec.gov containing registration
statements and other information regarding registrants, including Mellon Bank,
N.A., that file electronically with the Commission.
All documents filed by Mellon Bank, N.A., as originator of any trust,
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), subsequent to the date of this prospectus
and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. 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 any
subsequently filed document which also is to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes 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.
Mellon Bank, N.A., will provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner of securities, to whom a copy of this prospectus
is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any
or all of the documents incorporated herein or in any related prospectus
supplement by reference, except the exhibits to such documents (unless such
exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests
for such copies should be directed to Mellon Bank, N.A. at One Mellon Bank
Center, 4th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258 Attention: Asset Backed
Finance. Telephone requests for such copies should be directed to Mellon Bank,
N.A. at (412) 236-6559.
<PAGE>
FORMATION OF THE TRUSTS
THE TRUSTS
With respect to each series of asset-backed notes and/or asset-backed
certificates (collectively,"Securities"), the Seller will establish a separate
trust (each a "Trust") pursuant to the respective trust agreement (each a "Trust
Agreement"), for the transactions described herein and in the related Prospectus
Supplement. The property of each Trust will consist of
(a) a pool of undergraduate loans and/or graduate school student loans
(the "Student Loans"), legal title to which is held by the related
eligible lender trustee (the "Eligible Lender Trustee") on behalf of
each Trust,
(b) all funds collected or to be collected in respect thereof (including
any Guarantee Payments with respect thereto) on or after the
applicable date specified in the related Prospectus Supplement (the
"Cutoff Date"), and
(c) all moneys and investments on deposit in any Collection Account, any
Pre-Funding Account, any Escrow Account, any Negative Carry Account,
any Reserve Account and any other trust accounts or any other form of
credit or cash flow enhancement that may be obtained for the benefit
of holders of one or more classes of such Securities.
To the extent provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Notes
will be collateralized by the property of the related Trust. To facilitate
servicing and to minimize administrative burden and expense, the Sub-Servicers
will be appointed by the Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee as the
custodians of the promissory notes representing the Student Loans that each
services.
The principal offices of each Trust and the related Eligible Lender Trustee
will be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
ELIGIBLE LENDER TRUSTEE
The Eligible Lender Trustee for each Trust will be such entity as is
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Eligible Lender Trustee on
behalf of the related Trust will acquire legal title to all the related Student
Loans acquired pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement and will
enter into a Guarantee Agreement or comparable arrangement, if applicable, with
each of the Guarantors with respect to the Student Loans. Each Eligible Lender
Trustee will qualify as an eligible lender and owner of all Student Loans for
all purposes under the Higher Education Act and the Guarantee Agreements.
Failure of the Student Loans to be owned by an eligible lender would result in
the loss of any Guarantee Payments from any Guarantor and any Federal Assistance
with respect to such Student Loans. See "The Student Loan Financing
Business--Description of Student Loans Under the Programs." An Eligible Lender
Trustee's liability in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes and
the Certificates is limited solely to the express obligations of the Eligible
Lender Trustee as set forth in the related Trust Agreement and the related Sale
and Servicing Agreement. See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements." The Seller plans to maintain normal commercial banking relations
with the Eligible Lender Trustee.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of Securities of a given series will be used
by the applicable Trust to purchase the related Student Loans on the Closing
Date from the Seller and to make the initial deposit into the Reserve Account,
Pre-Funding Account or Negative Carry Account, if any. The Seller will use such
net proceeds paid to it with respect to any such Trust for general corporate
purposes.
THE SELLER, THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE MASTER SERVICER
AND THE SUB-SERVICERS
THE SELLER, ADMINISTRATOR AND MASTER SERVICER
GENERAL. Mellon Bank, N.A., will act as seller (the "Seller") and as master
servicer (the "Master Servicer"), pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing
Agreement, and as administrator (the "Administrator") pursuant to the related
Administration Agreement.
As of June 30, 1999, Mellon Bank, N.A. had total assets of
approximately $41 billion, total liabilities of approximately $37 billion and
approximately $4 billion in stockholder's equity. As of such date, the Seller
had an aggregate principal amount of student loans outstanding of approximately
$_____ billion, of which approximately $_____ billion aggregate principal amount
consists of Student Loans originated under various graduate student loan
programs. The principal executive offices of Mellon Bank, N.A. are located at
One Mellon Bank Center, Fourth Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its telephone
number is (412) 236-6559.
SERVICES AND FEES OF ADMINISTRATOR. Pursuant to the related Administration
Agreement, the Administrator will be responsible for preparing and filing claim
forms on behalf of the Eligible Lender Trustee for Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments from the United States Department of Education (the
"Department") and is required to provide notices and reports and to perform
other administrative obligations required by the related Indenture, the Trust
Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement. See "Description of the Transfer
and Servicing Agreements--Administrator."
<PAGE>
MASTER SERVICER. Mellon Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Master Servicer will
be responsible for master servicing the Student Loans. The Master Servicer will
arrange for and oversee the performance each Sub-Servicer of its respective
servicing obligations with respect to the Student Loans. [Mellon to review] [In
consideration for performing its obligations under the applicable Sale and
Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer will receive in the aggregate, subject
to certain limitations described herein, a monthly fee payable by each Trust as
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement and certain one-time fixed fees
for each Student Loan for which a forbearance period was granted or renewed or
for which a guarantee claim was filed, in each case subject to certain
adjustments, together with other administrative fees and similar charges. The
Master Servicer will in turn be solely responsible for all compensation due to
the Sub-Servicers for the performance of their respective obligations pursuant
to the related Sub-Servicing Agreements.] See "Description of Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Servicing Compensation."
THE SUB-SERVICERS
The sub-servicers (the "Sub-Servicers") under each Sale and Servicing
Agreement will be the entity or entities specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement.
With respect to the Student Loans it is servicing for each Trust, each
Sub-Servicer will be required by the related sub-servicing agreement between
such Sub-Servicer and the Master Servicer (each a "Sub-Servicing Agreement") to
perform the services and duties customary to the servicing of Student Loans it
is required to service and to do so in the same manner as such Sub-Servicer has
serviced Student Loans on behalf of the Seller and/or the Master Servicer and
otherwise in compliance with all applicable standards and procedures. In
addition, each Sub-Servicer is required to maintain its eligibility as a
third-party servicer under the Higher Education Act. See "Description of the
Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Servicing Procedures." Each Sub-Servicer will
be paid directly by the Master Servicer for its services rendered under each
Sub-Servicing Agreement. The Trust will be an intended third-party beneficiary
of each Sub-Servicing Agreement and will have certain rights in the event of a
default by the related Sub-Servicer. See "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Master Servicer Default; Sub-Servicer Default;
Administrator Default."
THE STUDENT LOAN POOLS
GENERAL
The Student Loans to be sold by the Seller to the Eligible Lender Trustee
on behalf of a Trust pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement will
be selected from the Seller's portfolio of Student Loans by several criteria,
including that each Student Loan:
o was originated in the United States or its territories or possessions
under and in accordance with the Programs (including, a financial need
analysis);
o contains terms in accordance with those required by the Programs, the
Guarantee Agreements and other applicable requirements;
o no selection procedures believed by the Seller to be adverse to the
Securityholders of any series will be used in selecting the related
Student Loans; and
o satisfies the other criteria, if any, set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
The Student Loans that comprise assets of each Trust will be held by the
related Eligible Lender Trustee, as trustee on behalf of such Trust. The
Eligible Lender Trustee will also enter into, on behalf of such Trust, Guarantee
Agreements with the Guarantors pursuant to which each of such Student Loans will
be guaranteed by one of such Guarantors. See "Formation of the Trusts--Eligible
Lender Trustee."
Information with respect to each pool of Student Loans for a given Trust
will be set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement, including, to the extent
appropriate, the composition, the distribution by loan type, loan payment
status, and states of borrowers' residence and the portion of such Student Loans
guaranteed by the specified Guarantors.
In the case of each series for which the related Trust may acquire Student
Loans originated by the Seller in accordance with the Programs after the related
Cutoff Date ("Additional Fundings"), information with respect to the Student
Loans eligible to be acquired by the related Trust will be set forth in the
related Prospectus Supplement as will information regarding the duration and
conditions of any related funding period (a "Funding Period") or revolving
period (a "Revolving Period"), the circumstances under which Additional Fundings
will be made during such period, and, if Additional Fundings may continue to be
made after such period, the circumstances under which such Additional Fundings
will be made.
Each of the Student Loans provides or will provide for the amortization of
the outstanding principal balance of such Student Loan over a series of regular
payments. Each regular payment consists of an installment of interest which is
calculated on the basis of the outstanding principal balance of such Student
Loan multiplied by the applicable interest rate 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 in respect of such Student Loan, 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 a
borrower pays a regular 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 a borrower pays a
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, subject to any applicable Deferral
Periods or Forbearance Periods, the borrower pays a regular 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 of and any accrued but unpaid interest on such Student Loan.
CLAIMS AND RECOVERY RATES
Certain historical information concerning guarantee claims and recovery
rates of the Guarantors for the Student Loans held by the related Trust as of
the applicable Closing Date with respect to each series of Securities will be
set forth in each Prospectus Supplement. There can be no assurance that the
claim and recovery experience on any pool of Student Loans with respect to a
given Trust will be comparable to prior experience or to any such information.
THE STUDENT LOAN FINANCING BUSINESS
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE SELLER
The Student Loans to be sold by the Seller to an Eligible Lender Trustee on
behalf of a Trust pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement will be
selected from Student Loans originated or acquired by the Seller under various
loan programs (the "Programs"). The proceeds of the loans are used to finance a
portion of the costs of
(1) undergraduate education ("Undergraduate Loans") or
(2) graduate education ("Graduate Loans").
Undergraduate Loans and Graduate Loans will have been originated through
the Federal Family Education Loan Program ("FFELP"). As described herein and in
the related Prospectus Supplement, substantially all payments of principal and
interest with respect to loans originated through FFELP will be guaranteed
against default, death, bankruptcy or disability of the applicable borrower by
certain federal guarantors pursuant to a guarantee agreement to be entered into
between such federal guarantors specified in the related Prospectus Supplement
(each a "Guarantor" and collectively, the "Guarantors") and the applicable
Eligible Lender Trustee (such agreements, each as amended or supplemented from
time to time, the "Guarantee Agreements"). Each of the Guarantors is entitled,
subject to certain conditions, to be reimbursed by the Department of Education
(the "Department") for all or substantially all Guarantee Payments it makes
pursuant to a program of federal reinsurance under the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (such act, together with all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder by the Department and/or the Guarantors, the "Higher Education Act").
In addition, each Eligible Lender Trustee, as a holder of the Student Loans on
behalf of the related Trust, is entitled to receive from the Department certain
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments with respect to certain
of such Student Loans as described herein. See "--Description of Student Loans
Under the Programs" below.
DESCRIPTION OF STUDENT LOANS UNDER THE PROGRAMS
GENERAL. The following descriptions of Federal Stafford Loan Program (the
"Stafford Loan Program"), Federal Supplemental Loans for Students Program (the
"SLS Loan Program"), the Federal Parental Loans For Undergraduate Students Loan
Program (the "PLUS Loan Program"), and Federal Consolidation Loan Program (the
"Federal Consolidation Loan Program") (such programs being collectively referred
to herein as the "Programs") as authorized under the Higher Education Act are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the Higher Education Act. Since its
original enactment in 1965, the Higher Education Act has been amended and
reauthorized several times, including by the Higher Education Amendments of 1992
(the "1992 Amendments") and the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (the "1998
Amendments"). The 1992 Amendments extended the principal provisions of the
Student Programs to September 30, 1998 (or, in the case of borrowers who have
received Student Loans prior to that date, September 30, 2002), and the 1998
Amendments further extended the principal provisions of the Programs through
June 30, 2003.
There can be no assurance that the Higher Education Act or other relevant
federal or state laws, rules and regulations and the programs implemented
thereunder will not be amended or modified in the future in a manner that will
adversely impact the programs described in this Prospectus, the related
Prospectus Supplement and the student loans made thereunder, including the
Student Loans, or the Guarantors. In addition, future measures to reduce any
future federal budget deficit or for other purposes may adversely affect the
amount and nature of federal financial assistance available with respect to
these programs. In recent years, federal legislation has provided for the
recovery of certain funds held by guarantee agencies in order to achieve
reductions in federal spending. There can be no assurance that future federal
legislation or administrative actions will not adversely affect expenditures by
the Department or the financial condition of the Guarantors. For a discussion of
each Guarantor's claims-paying ability, see the related Prospectus Supplement.
STAFFORD LOAN PROGRAM. "Stafford Loans" are loans made by eligible lenders
in accordance with the Higher Education Act to Eligible Students, based on
financial need, to finance a portion of the costs of attending an eligible
institution of higher education or a vocational school. The Higher Education Act
limits the amount of Stafford Loans that may be made to a student in any given
academic year, the amount a student may have outstanding in the aggregate and
specifies certain payment terms, including the interest rates that may be
charged on Stafford Loans. Holders of Stafford Loans complying with these
limitations and the other conditions specified in the Higher Education Act will
be entitled to the benefits of:
<PAGE>
1. a guarantee of the payment of principal and interest with respect
to such Stafford Loans by a guarantee agency, which guarantee will be
supported by federal reinsurance of all or most of such guaranteed amounts
as described herein;
2. federal interest subsidy payments equal to the interest payable on
such Stafford Loans prior to the time the borrower begins repayment of such
Stafford Loans and during any applicable Deferral Periods, together with
interest on any such amounts not paid by the Department when due ("Interest
Subsidy Payments"); and
3. federal special allowance payments, in varying amounts, during the
term of such Stafford Loans to ensure that interest payable on such
Stafford Loans approximates current market interest rates, together with
interest on any such amounts not paid by the Department when due ("Special
Allowance Payments"), (such federal reinsurance obligations, together with
those obligations referred to in clauses (2) and (3) above, being
collectively referred to herein as "Federal Assistance").
Certain Stafford Loans do not qualify for Interest Subsidy Payments but
otherwise qualify for all other forms of Federal Assistance ("Unsubsidized
Stafford Loans"). These loans are identical to Stafford Loans in all material
respects, except that interest accruing thereon during periods when the borrower
is in school or in a Deferral Period or Grace Period is either paid periodically
by the borrower during such periods or added periodically to the principal
balance of the loan by the holder thereof. A borrower qualifies for an
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan if, and to the extent that, the borrower's need for a
Stafford Loan, as calculated pursuant to the Higher Education Act, is more than
the maximum subsidized Stafford Loan authorized by statute.
(1) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. Subject to the annual and aggregate limits on
the amount of Stafford Loans that a student can borrow discussed below, Stafford
Loans are available to Eligible Students in amounts not exceeding their unmet
need for financing as determined in accordance with the provisions of the Higher
Education Act. "Eligible Students" are students that are:
1. enrolled in, or admitted for enrollment in, an approved or accredited
undergraduate or graduate school;
2. enrolled in, or admitted for enrollment in, an acceptable degree
program;
3. attending at least half-time;
4. making satisfactory progress toward the completion of that program
according to the standards of the school;
5. U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or eligible non-citizens;
6. not borrowers under Student Loans, including the requested loan, that
exceed the applicable annual and aggregate limits; and
7. not in default on any education loan or not required to refund an
educational grant.
Each Stafford Loan:
o must be unsecured;
o must provide for deferral of the obligation of the borrower to make
(x) interest payments for as long as the Department makes Interest
Subsidy Payments and (y) principal payments so long as the borrower
remains an Eligible Student and thereafter during any applicable Grace
Periods, Deferral Periods or Forbearance Periods; and
o must provide for repayment over a period not to exceed 10 years
(excluding any Deferral Periods or Forbearance Periods) from the date
repayment commences.
(2) LOAN LIMITS. In order to qualify for assistance under the Stafford Loan
Program, the Higher Education Act imposes an annual limit on the amount of
Stafford Loans and other Student Loans that may be made to any single student
and an aggregate limit on the amount of such Federal Loans such student may have
outstanding.
The following chart sets forth the current and historic loan limits.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALL STUDENTS (1) INDEPENDENT STUDENTS(1)
---------------- -----------------------
BASE AMOUNT ADDITIONAL
SUBSIDIZED AND UNSUBSIDIZED MAXIMUM
SUBSIDIZED SUBSIDIZED UNSUBSIDIZED ON ONLY ON OR AGGREGATE
ON OR AFTER ON OR AFTER OR AFTER AFTER TOTAL
1/1/87 1/1/87 10/1/93(2) 7/1/94(3) AMOUNT IN
----------- ----------- --------------- ------------ ---------
Undergraduate (per year)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1st year $ 2,500 $ 2,625 $ 2,625 $ 4,000 $ 6,625
2nd year $ 2,500 $ 2,625 $ 3,500 $ 4,000 $ 7,500
3rd year and above $ 2,500 $ 4,000 $ 5,500 $ 5,000 $10,500
Graduate (per year) $ 5,000 $ 7,500 $ 8,500 $10,000 $18,500
Aggregate Limit;
Undergraduate $12,500 $17,250 $23,000 $23,000 $46,000
Graduate (including
undergraduate) $25,000 $54,750 $65,500 $73,000 $138,500
- -----------------
(1) The loan limits are inclusive of both Stafford Loans and Student Loans.
(2) These amounts represent the combined maximum loan amount per year for Stafford Loans and
unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Accordingly, the maximum amount that a student may borrow under an
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is the difference between the combined maximum loan amount and the
amount the student received in the form of a Stafford Loan.
(3) Independent undergraduate students, graduate students or professional students may borrow these
additional amounts. In addition, dependent undergraduate students may also receive these
additional loan amounts if the parents of such students are unable to provide the family
contribution amount and it is unlikely that the student's parents will qualify for a PLUS Loan.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The annual loan limits are reduced in some instances where the student is
enrolled in a program that is less than one academic year or has less than a
full academic year remaining in his or her program. The Department has
discretion to raise these limits to accommodate highly specialized or
exceptionally expensive course of study.
(3) INTEREST. The borrower's interest rate on a Stafford Loan may be fixed
or variable. Stafford Loan interest rates are summarized in the chart below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRIGGER DATE(1) BORROWER RATE(2) MAXIMUM RATE INTEREST RATE MARGIN
-------------- --------------- -------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Prior to 01/01/81 7% 7% N/A
01/01/81-09/12/83 9% 9% N/A
09/13/83-06/30/88 8% 8% N/A
07/01/88-09/30/92 8% for 48 months; thereafter, 8% for 48 months, 3.25%
91-Day Treasury + Interest then 10%
Rate Margin
10/01/92-06/30/94 91-Day Treasury + Interest 9% 3.10%
Rate Margin
07/01/94-06/30/95 91-Day Treasury + Interest 8.25% 3.10%
Rate Margin
07/01/95-06/30/98 91-Day Treasury + Interest 8.25% 2.50% (In-School, Grace or
Rate Margin Deferment); 3.10% (in repayment)
On or after 07/01/98 91-Day Treasury + Interest 8.25% 1.70% (In-School, Grace or
Rate Margin Deferment); 2.30% (in repayment)
- ---------------------
(1) The Trigger Date for Stafford Loans made before October 1, 1992 is the first day of enrollment period for
which a borrower's first Stafford Loan in made and for Stafford Loans made on October 1, 1992 and after
the Trigger Date is the date of the disbursement of a borrower's first Stafford Loan.
(2) The rate for variable rate Stafford Loans applicable for any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and
ending on June 30, is determined on the preceding June 1 and is equal to the lesser of (a) the applicable
Maximum Rate or (b) the sum of (i) the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury Bills auctioned at the
final auction held prior to such June 1 and (ii) the applicable Interest Rate Margin.
</TABLE>
The 1992 Amendments provide that, for fixed rate loans made on or after
July 23, 1992 and for certain loans made to new borrowers on or after July 1,
1988, the lender must have converted by January 1, 1995 the interest rate on
such loans to an annual interest rate adjusted each July 1 equal to (a) for
certain loans made between July 1, 1988 and July 23, 1992, the 91-day Treasury
Bill rate at the final auction prior to the preceding June 1 plus 3.25%, (b) for
loans made on or after July 23, 1992 and prior to July 1, 1998, the 91-day
Treasury Bill rate at the final auction prior to the preceding June 1 plus
3.10%, and (c) for loans made on or after July 1, 1998, the 91-day Treasury Bill
rate at the final auction prior to the preceding June 1 plus 2.2%
(during-school, grace or deferment) or 2.8% (in repayment) in each case capped
at the applicable interest rate for such loan existing prior to the conversion.
The variable interest rate does not apply to loans made prior to July 23, 1992
during the first 48 months of repayment.
Interest is payable on each Stafford Loan monthly in arrears until the
principal amount thereof is paid in full. However, prior to the date the
borrower begins repaying the principal of such Stafford Loan and during any
applicable Deferral Period, the borrower has no obligation to make interest
payments. Instead, the Department makes quarterly Interest Subsidy Payments to
the holder of the Subsidized Stafford Loans on behalf of the borrower during
such periods, in amounts equal to the accrued and unpaid interest for the
previous quarter with respect to such Stafford Loan. During a Forbearance
Period, the Department will not make any Interest Subsidy Payments; instead, at
the borrower's option, interest on each Stafford Loan may be paid currently or
capitalized and added to the outstanding principal balance of such Stafford Loan
at the end of such Forbearance Period. See "--(6) Interest Subsidy Payments"
below.
"91-day Treasury Bill Rate" means, on any date of determination, the
weighted average per annum discount rate (expressed on a bond equivalent basis
and applied on a daily basis) for 91-day Treasury Bills at the most recent
91-day Treasury Bills auction prior to such date as published by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System or as reported by the U.S. Treasury
Department.
(4) REPAYMENT. No principal and/or interest payments with respect to a
Stafford Loan are required to be made during the time a borrower remains an
Eligible Student and during the existence of an applicable Grace Period,
Deferral Period or Forbearance Period. In general, a borrower must repay each
Stafford Loan in monthly installments over a period of not more than 10 years
(excluding any Deferral Period or Forbearance Period) after commencement of
repayment. New borrowers on or after October 7, 1998 who accumulate outstanding
loans under the Student Assistance General Provisions and FFELP totaling more
than $30,000, are entitled to extended repayment schedules of up to 25 years
subject to certain minimum repayment amounts. Any borrower may voluntarily
prepay without premium or penalty any Federal Loan and in connection therewith
may waive any Grace Period or Deferral Period. The Higher Education Act
presently requires a minimum annual principal and interest payment with respect
to a Stafford Loan of $600 in the aggregate (but in no event less than accrued
interest), unless the borrower and the lender agree to a lesser amount. For
Stafford Loans and SLS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1993 to a
borrower who has no outstanding Federal Loans on the date such loan is made, the
borrower must be offered the opportunity to repay the loan according to a
graduated or income-sensitive repayment schedule established in accordance with
Department regulations. For Stafford Loans entering repayment on or after
October 1, 1995, borrowers may choose among several repayment options, including
the option to make interest only payments for limited periods.
(5) GRACE PERIODS, DEFERRAL PERIODS, FORBEARANCE PERIODS. Borrowers of
Stafford Loans must generally commence repaying the loans following a period of
(a) not less than 9 months nor more than 12 months (with respect to loans for
which the applicable interest rate is 7% per annum) and (b) not more than 6
months (with respect to loans for which the applicable interest rate is other
than 7% per annum) (a "Grace Period") after the borrower ceases to be an
Eligible Student. However, subject to certain conditions, no principal
repayments need be made with respect to Stafford Loans during periods when the
borrower has returned to an eligible educational institution on at least a
half-time basis or is pursuing studies pursuant to an approved graduate
fellowship program, during certain other periods (varying from six months to
three years) when the borrower has joined the military or certain volunteer
organizations (for all loans made prior to July 1, 1993, or loans made after
such date to borrowers with loans already outstanding on such date), for periods
when the borrower is unable to secure employment (up to three years) or for
periods during which the borrower is experiencing economic hardship (for loans
made after July 1, 1993, to borrowers with no outstanding loans on such date)
(each, a "Deferral Period"). In addition, the lender may, and in some
circumstances must, allow, in accordance with standards and guidelines approved
by the applicable Guarantor and the Department, periods of forbearance during
which the borrower may defer principal and/or interest payments because of
temporary financial hardship (a "Forbearance Period").
(6) INTEREST SUBSIDY PAYMENTS. Interest Subsidy Payments are payments made
quarterly to the holder of a subsidized Stafford Loan by the Department with
respect to those Stafford Loans as to which the applicable conditions of the
Higher Education Act have been satisfied, in an amount equal to the accrued and
unpaid interest on the outstanding principal amount of each Stafford Loan for
such quarter, commencing from the date such Stafford Loan is made until the end
of the applicable Grace Period after the borrower ceases to be an Eligible
Student and during any applicable Deferral Period. The Department will not make
Interest Subsidy Payments during any Forbearance Period. The Higher Education
Act provides that the holder of such a qualifying Stafford Loan has a
contractual right against the United States, to receive Interest Subsidy
Payments from the Department (including the right to receive interest on any
Interest Subsidy Payments not timely paid). Receipt of Interest Subsidy Payments
is conditioned on compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act,
including satisfaction of certain need-based criteria (and the delivery of
sufficient information by the borrower and the lender to the Department to
confirm the foregoing) and continued eligibility of the Stafford Loan for
federal reinsurance. Such eligibility may be lost, however, if the loans are not
originated and serviced, or are not held by an eligible lender, in accordance
with the requirements of the Higher Education Act and the applicable guarantee
agreements. See "--(1) Eligibility Requirements"; "Formation of the
Trusts--Eligible Lender Trustee" and "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Servicing Procedures." The Seller expects that each of the
subsidized Stafford Loans that are part of a pool of Student Loans will be
eligible to receive Interest Subsidy Payments.
(7) SPECIAL ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS. The Higher Education Act requires, subject
to certain conditions, the Department to make quarterly Special Allowance
Payments to holders of qualifying Student Loans (including Stafford Loans), in
an amount equal to a specified percentage of the average outstanding principal
amount of each such Student Loan during each quarter.
The percentage or rate used to determine the Special Allowance Payments for
a particular loan varies based on a number of factors, including when the loan
was disbursed and the period of enrollment with respect to which it was made.
Generally, the Special Allowance Payment with respect to a Student Loan for a
quarter will be equal to the excess, if any, of (1) the amount of interest that
would be payable on such loan at a rate per annum equal to the average bond
equivalent rates of (x) 91-day Treasury Bills auctioned for such quarter plus
3.25% (3.10% for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1992) or (y) for
loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998, 91-day Treasury Bills auctioned
for such quarter plus 2.2% while borrowers are in-school, grace or deferment
status, or 2.8% while borrowers are in the repayment period, over (2) the stated
amount of interest payable on such loan.
The Higher Education Act provides that a holder of a qualifying loan who is
entitled to receive Special Allowance Payments has a contractual right against
the United States to receive those Special Allowance Payments (including the
right to receive interest on any Special Allowance Payments not timely paid).
Receipt of Special Allowance Payments, however, is conditioned on compliance
with the requirements of the Higher Education Act, including satisfaction of
certain need-based criteria (and the delivery of sufficient information by the
borrower and the lender to the Department to confirm the foregoing) and
continued eligibility for federal reinsurance. Such eligibility may be lost,
however, if the loans are not originated and serviced, or are not held by an
eligible lender, in accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act
and the applicable guarantee agreement. See "--(1) Eligibility Requirements;"
"Formation of the Trusts--Eligible Lender Trustee" and "Description of the
Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Servicing Procedures." The Seller expects
that each of the Stafford Loans that are part of a pool of Student Loans will be
eligible to receive Special Allowance Payments, if any are payable from time to
time.
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments are generally
received within 45 to 60 days after submission to the Department of the
applicable claims forms for any given calendar quarter, although there can be no
assurance that such payments will in fact be received from the Department within
that period. For each Trust, the related Administrator will agree to prepare and
file with the Department all such claims forms and any other required documents
or filings on behalf of the applicable Eligible Lender Trustee as owner of the
related Federal Loans on behalf of such Trust. The Administrator will also agree
to assist the Eligible Lender Trustee in monitoring, pursuing and obtaining such
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments, if any, with respect
to such Federal Loans. Except under certain conditions described herein, each
Eligible Lender Trustee will be required to remit Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments it receives with respect to the Student Loans within
two business days of receipt thereof to the related Collection Account.
SLS LOAN PROGRAM. In addition to the Stafford Loan Program, the Higher
Education Act provides a separate program to facilitate additional loans to
graduate and professional students and independent undergraduate students. This
program is referred to as the "Supplemental Loans for Students Program" (the
"SLS Program"). The basic framework and principal provisions of the Stafford
Loan Program as described above are similar in many respects to those that are
applicable to loans under the SLS Program ("SLS Loans"). In particular, SLS
Loans are subject to similar eligibility requirements and, provided that such
requirements are satisfied, are entitled to the same guarantee and federal
reinsurance arrangements. SLS Loans differ significantly from Stafford Loans,
however, in the context of the Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance
Payments discussed above.
The annual and aggregate limitations that are applicable to SLS Loans in
the case of those constituting Student Loans are as follows: SLS Loans to a
single borrower cannot exceed $4,000 per academic year (or $10,000 for loans
first disbursed on or after July 1, 1993) and $20,000 in aggregate principal
amount (or $73,000 for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1993)
(exclusive of any capitalized interest) at any one time outstanding. SLS Loans
are also limited, generally, to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid
for which the borrower is eligible. A determination of a borrower's eligibility
for the Stafford Loan Program, among other programs, is a condition to the
making of an SLS Loan.
As specified by the Higher Education Act, the applicable interest rate for
an SLS Loan depends upon the date of issuance of the loan and the period of
enrollment for which the loan is made. The interest rate per annum for SLS Loans
made and disbursed on or after July 1, 1987 is fixed each July 1 for each
succeeding 12-month period at a rate equal to the sum of
(1) the bond equivalent rate of 52-week Treasury Bills auctioned at the
final auction held prior to the preceding June 1; and
(2) 3.25% (3.10% for loans first disbursed on and after October 1, 1992),
with a maximum rate of 12% per annum (11% for loans first disbursed on
or after October 1, 1992).
Although holders of SLS Loans are not entitled to receive Interest Subsidy
Payments, interest on such SLS Loans accrues from the date each such SLS Loan is
made and may either be paid currently by a borrower or may be capitalized and
added to the outstanding principal amount of such SLS Loan at the time the
borrower begins repayment. SLS Loans are eligible for Special Allowance Payments
only if and to the extent that the interest rate for such SLS Loans calculated
based on the 52-week Treasury Bill rate referred to above would exceed the
applicable maximum borrower interest rate. Because the basis for determining the
amount, if any, of Special Allowance Payments due to lenders is based on the
91-day Treasury Bill Rate while the interest rate for SLS Loans is based on the
52-week Treasury Bill rate (which may differ from the 91-day Treasury Bill
Rate), there can be no assurance that any Special Allowance Payments will be due
and payable with respect to SLS Loans even though such SLS Loans are deemed to
be eligible therefor. See "--(7) Special Allowance Payments" above.
A borrower of an SLS Loan is required to begin repayment of the principal
of such SLS Loan within 60 days after the date the last installment of such SLS
Loan is advanced, subject to deferral so long as such borrower remains an
Eligible Student or as a result of any applicable Deferral Period or Forbearance
Period. In addition, any borrower of an SLS Loan made and advanced after July
23, 1992, who also has Stafford Loans outstanding may defer commencing repayment
of such SLS Loan for the Grace Period applicable to such Stafford Loans. For SLS
Loans entering repayment on or after October 1, 1995, borrowers may choose among
several repayment options, including the option to make interest only payments
for limited periods.
As of July 1, 1994, the SLS Program was discontinued and SLS Loans are no
longer made.
PLUS LOAN PROGRAM. The Higher Education Act authorizes Federal Parental
Loans For Undergraduate Students Loans ("PLUS Loans") to be made to parents of
eligible dependent students. After July 1, 1993, only parents who do not have an
adverse credit history or who can secure an endorser without an adverse credit
history are eligible for PLUS Loans. The basic provisions applicable to Federal
PLUS are similar to those of Stafford Loans with respect to the federal
insurance and reinsurance on the loans. However, PLUS Loans differ from Stafford
Loans, particularly because Interest Subsidy Payments are not available under
the PLUS Program and in some instances Special Allowance Payments are more
restricted.
PLUS Loans disbursed prior to July 1, 1993 are limited to $4,000 per
academic year with a maximum aggregate amount of $20,000. The only limit on the
annual and aggregate amounts of PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1,
1993 is the cost of the student's education less other financial aid received,
including scholarship, grants and other student loans.
The interest rate determination for a PLUS Loan is dependent on when the
PLUS Loan was originally made and disbursed and the period of enrollment. The
interest rates for PLUS Loans are summarized in the following chart.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INTEREST
TRIGGER DATE BORROWER RATE(1) MAXIMUM RATE(2) RATE MARGIN
------------ ---------------- -------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Prior to 10/01/81............. 9% 9% N/A
10/01/81-10/30/82............. 14% 14% N/A
11/01/82-06/30/87............. 12% 12% N/A
07/01/87-09/30/92............. 52-Week Treasury + Interest Rate Margin 12% 3.25%
10/01/92-06/30/94............. 52-Week Treasury + Interest Rate Margin 10% 3.10%
07/01/94-06/30/98............. 52-Week Treasury + Interest Rate Margin 9% 3.10%
After 6/30/98................. 91-Day Treasury + Interest Rate Margin 9% 3.10%
- ---------------------
(1) The Trigger Date for PLUS Loans made before October 1, 1992 is the first day of enrollment
period for which the PLUS Loan is made, and for PLUS Loans made on October 1, 1992 and after
the Trigger Date is the date of the disbursement of the PLUS Loan, respectively.
(2) For PLUS Loans that carry a variable rate, the rate is set annually for 12-month periods
beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 on the preceding June 1 and is equal to the lesser of
(a) the applicable maximum rate and (b) the sum of (i) the bond equivalent rate of 52-week
Treasury Bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1 and (ii) the applicable
Interest Rate Margin.
</TABLE>
A holder of a PLUS Loan is eligible to receive Special Allowance Payments
during any quarter if (a) the sum of (i) the average of the bond equivalent
rates of 91-day Treasury Bills auctioned during such quarter and (ii) the
Interest Rate Margin exceeds (b) the Maximum Rate.
Repayment of principal of PLUS Loans is required to commence no later than
60 days after the date of disbursement of such loan, subject to certain deferral
and forbearance provisions. The deferral provisions which apply are more limited
than those which apply to Stafford Loans. Repayment of interest, however, may be
deferred and capitalized during certain periods of educational enrollments and
periods of unemployment or hardship as specified under the Higher Education Act.
Further, whereas Interest Subsidy Payments are not available for such
deferments, interest may be capitalized during such periods upon agreement of
the lender and borrower. Maximum loan repayment periods and minimum payment
amounts are the same as for Stafford Loans.
A borrower may refinance all outstanding PLUS Loans under a single
repayment schedule for principal and interest, with the new repayment period
calculated from the date of repayment of the most recent included loan. The
interest rate of such refinanced loan shall be the weighed average of the rates
of all PLUS Loans being refinanced. A second type of refinancing enables an
eligible lender to reissue a PLUS Loan which was initially originated at a fixed
rate prior to July 1, 1987 in order to permit the borrower to obtain the
variable interest rate available on PLUS Loans on and after July 1, 1987. If a
lender is unwilling to refinance the original PLUS Loan, the borrower may obtain
a loan from another lender for the purpose of discharging the loan and obtaining
a variable interest rate.
STUDENT CONSOLIDATION LOAN PROGRAM. The Higher Education Act established a
program to facilitate the ability of eligible borrowers of Stafford Loans or SLS
Loans (each, an "Underlying Student Loan") to consolidate such Underlying
Student Loans, together with such borrowers' other education loans that are made
or guaranteed by the federal government, into a single loan (a "Consolidation
Loan"). Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the
Higher Education Act, including limitations on the timing and payment of
principal and interest with respect to Consolidation Loans and a requirement
that the proceeds of Consolidation Loans are to be used to repay the respective
Underlying Student Loans (and any other loans consolidated thereunder) of any
borrower, each holder of a Consolidation Loan will be entitled to substantially
the same guarantee and federal reinsurance arrangements as are available on
Stafford Loans and SLS Loans. Consolidation Loans, like Stafford Loans, are also
eligible for Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments. Under
this program, an eligible borrower of Consolidation Loans means a borrower (i)
with outstanding Underlying Student Loans and (ii) who has begun repaying, who
is in a grace period preceding repayment of, or who is a delinquent or defaulted
borrower who will, through such loan consolidation, recommence repayment of,
such Underlying Student Loans. A married couple, each of whom has outstanding
Underlying Student Loans, may apply for and obtain a single Consolidation Loan
so long as both individuals agree to be held jointly and severally liable on
such Consolidation Loan.
Under this program, a lender may make a Consolidation Loan to an eligible
borrower at the request of the borrower if the lender holds an outstanding
Underlying Student Loan of the borrower or the borrower certifies that he or she
has been unable to obtain a Consolidation Loan from any of the holders of the
outstanding Underlying Federal Loans of the borrower. The lender making any
Consolidation Loan will pay the amount thereof to the various lenders of the
respective Underlying Student Loans and other loans being consolidated thereby.
The 1998 Amendments allows lenders to make Consolidation Loans to borrowers with
multiple holders even if the lender does not own an Underlying Student Loan.
The Direct Consolidation Loan Program (the "Direct Consolidation Loan
Program") provides borrowers with the opportunity to consolidate outstanding
student loans at interest rates below, and income-contingent repayment terms
that some borrowers may find preferable to, those that would be available from
the Seller on a loan originated by the Seller under the Consolidation Loan
Program. The lower rate applies only to borrowers who applied before February 1,
1999. The availability of such lower-rate, income-contingent loans may decrease
the likelihood that the Seller would be the originator of a Consolidation Loan,
as well as increase the likelihood that a Student Loan in a Trust will be
prepaid through the issuance of a Direct Consolidation Loan (a "Direct
Consolidation Loan").
In accordance with the Higher Education Act, Consolidation Loans may bear
interest, as negotiated between the individual borrower and lender, at a rate
per annum up to the weighted average of the interest rates on the Underlying
Federal Loans (rounded up to the nearest whole percent) or, for loans made
before July 1, 1994, 9%, whichever is greater. However, Consolidation Loans made
on or after November 13, 1997 through September 30, 1998 will bear interest at
the annual variable rate applicable to Stafford Loans capped at 8.25%.
Consolidation Loans for which the application is received on or after October 1,
1998 bear interest at a rate equal to the weighted average interest rate of the
loans consolidated, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth percent and capped at
8.25%. Interest on Consolidation Loans accrues and, for applications received
prior to January 1, 1993, is to be paid without Interest Subsidy Payments by the
Department. For Consolidation Loans received on or after January 1, 1993, all
interest of the borrower is paid during all Deferral Periods. However,
Consolidation Loan applications received on or after August 10, 1993 will only
be subsidized if all of the underlying loans being consolidated were subsidized
Stafford Loans; provided that, in the case of Consolidation Loans made on or
after November 13, 1997, that portion of the Consolidation Loan that is
comprised of subsidized Stafford Loans will retain its subsidy benefits during
Deferral Periods. In general, a borrower must repay each Consolidation Loan in
scheduled monthly installments over a period of not more than 10 to 30 years
(excluding any Deferral Period and any Forbearance Period), depending on the
original principal amount of such Consolidation Loan. Borrowers may voluntarily
prepay all or a portion of any Consolidation Loan without premium or penalty.
Repayment of a Consolidation Loan must commence within 60 days after all holders
of Underlying Student Loans have discharged the liability of the borrower
thereon; provided, however, that such repayment obligation is deferred for as
long as the borrower remains an Eligible Student and during any applicable
Deferral Period and Forbearance Period. For Consolidation Loans entering
repayment on or after October 1, 1995, borrowers may choose among several
repayment options, including the option to make interest only payments for
limited periods. Special Allowance Payments are made on Consolidation Loans
whenever the rate charged the borrower is limited by the applicable fixed
percentage rate cap. However, for applications received on or after October 1,
1998, Special Allowance Payments are paid in order to afford the lender a yield
equal to the 91-day Treasury Bill Rate plus 3.1% whenever that formula exceeds
the borrower's interest rate.
The 1993 Act made a number of changes to the Consolidation Loan Program,
including (i) requiring holders of Consolidation Loans made on or after October
1, 1993, to pay to the Department a monthly fee equal to 1.05% per annum on the
outstanding balance of such loans (the "Consolidation Loan Rebate"), (ii)
requiring lenders of Consolidation Loans made on or after July 1, 1994, to offer
borrowers income-sensitive repayment schedules, (iii) repealing the $7,500
minimum indebtedness requirement, and (iv) removing the 9% interest rate floor
for Consolidation Loans made on or after July 1, 1994. In addition, with respect
to any Student Loan (including Consolidation Loans) made on or after October 1,
1993, the lender must pay to the Department an origination fee equal to 0.50% on
the initial principal balance of such loan (the "Origination Fee"). With respect
to any Consolidation Loan originated by the Seller and purchased by the Eligible
Lender Trustee on behalf of the related Trust, the related Trust must pay to the
Department the Origination Fee, which fee will be deducted by the Department out
of Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments. If sufficient
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments are not due to the
applicable Trust to cover the amount of the Origination Fee, the balance of such
Origination Fee may be deferred by the Department until sufficient Interest
Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments accrue to cover such fee. If
such amounts never accrue, the applicable Trust would be obligated to pay any
remaining fee from other assets of that Trust prior to making distributions to
Noteholders or Certificateholders.
The 1998 Amendments and the 1998 Reauthorization Bill made additional
changes with regard to Consolidation Loans. These changes include, among other
things, a reduction in the 1.05% per annum Consolidation Loan Rebate to .62% per
annum on Student Loans for which applications are received between October 1,
1998 and January 31, 1999.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT LOANS. The Seller originates or acquires Stafford
Loans and Consolidation Loans for students attending eligible schools.
Eligible schools include institutions of higher education and proprietary
institutions. Institutions of higher education must meet certain standards,
which generally provide that the institution
o only admits persons who have a high school diploma or its equivalent,
o is legally authorized to operate within a state,
o provides not less than a two-year program with credit acceptable
toward a bachelor's degree,
o is a public or non-profit institution and
o is credited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or is
determined by the Department to meet the standards of an accredited
institution.
Eligible proprietary institutions of higher education include business,
trade and vocational schools meeting standards which provide that the
institution
o only admits persons who have a high school diploma or its equivalent,
or persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance and
have the ability to benefit from the training offered (as defined in
the 1993 Act),
o is authorized by a state to provide a program of vocational education
designed to fit individuals for useful employment in recognized
occupations,
o has been in existence for at least two years,
o provides at least a six-month training program to prepare students for
gainful employment in a recognized occupation and
o is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or is
specially accredited by the Department.
<PAGE>
With specified exceptions, institutions are excluded from consideration as
educational institutions if the institution
o offers more than 50 percent of its courses by correspondence,
o enrolls 50 percent or more of its students in correspondence courses,
o has a student enrollment in which more than 25 percent of the students
are incarcerated or 1 has a student enrollment in which more than 50
percent of the students are admitted without a high school diploma or
its equivalent on the basis of their ability to benefit from the
education provided (as defined by statute and regulation).
Further, schools are specifically excluded from participation if
o the educational institution has filed for bankruptcy,
o the owner, or its chief executive officer, has been convicted or
pleaded "NOLO CONTENDERE" or "guilty" to a crime involving the
acquisition, use or expenditure of federal student aid funds, or has
been judicially determined to have committed fraud involving funds
under the student aid program or
o the educational institution has a cohort default rate in excess of the
rate prescribed by the Higher Education Act. In order to participate
in the program, the eligibility of a school must be approved by the
Department under standards established by regulation.
[GRADUATE STUDENT LOANS. The Seller originates or acquires Student Loans
under loan programs (the "Student Graduate Programs") to provide educational
financing to graduate and professional students enrolled in or recently
graduated from approved or accredited law schools, medical schools, dental
schools, graduate business schools and other graduate schools. The Graduate
Programs originally targeted law school students but have been expanded over the
years to include virtually all graduate level fields of study. The Seller (or
its predecessors) has been originating loans under the Graduate Programs since
____.]
The following table sets forth the approved or accredited schools and the
acceptable degree programs for each graduate field of study:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIELD OF STUDY APPROVED/ACCREDITED SCHOOLS ACCEPTABLE DEGREE
PROGRAMS
<S> <C> <C>
Law American Bar Association approved law schools that are Juris Doctor of Law or other
members of LSAC joint degree program
Medical Liaison Committee on Medical Education or American Medical Doctor or Doctor of
Osteopathic Association accredited graduate medical Osteopathy
schools
Dental American Dental Association accredited dental schools Graduate dental program
Business American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business Graduate business program
("AACSB") accredited graduate business schools; or
AACSB candidate schools accredited by the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges, the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges, or the North West
Association of Schools and Colleges
Graduate Schools accredited by the New England Association of Graduate level certificate or
Schools and Colleges, the Middle States Association of degree program
Colleges and Schools, The North Central Association of
Colleges and Schools, the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools, the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges, or the North West Association of Schools
and Colleges
</TABLE>
INSURANCE OF STUDENT LOANS; GUARANTORS OF STUDENT LOANS
GUARANTORS. The Higher Education Act authorizes Guarantors to support
education financing and credit needs of students at post-secondary schools. The
Higher Education Act encourages every state either to establish its own agency
or to designate another Guarantor in cooperation with the Secretary. Under
various programs throughout the United States of America, Guarantors insure and
sometimes service guaranteed student loans. The Guarantors are reinsured by the
federal government for from 80% to 100% of each default claim paid, depending on
their claims experience, for loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993 and from
78% to 98% of each default claim paid for loans disbursed on or after October 1,
1993. Guarantors are reinsured by the federal government for 100% of death,
disability, bankruptcy, closed school and false certification claims paid. Loans
guaranteed under the lender of last resort provisions of the Higher Education
Act are also 100% guaranteed and reinsured. See"--Federal Insurance and
Reinsurance of Guarantors" below.
Guarantors collect a one-time insurance premium ranging from 0% to 3% of
the principal amount of each guaranteed loan, depending on the Guarantor.
Guarantors are prohibited from charging insurance premiums on loans made under
the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program (the "Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Program") prior to July 1, 1994. On such loans made prior to July 1, 1994, the
Higher Education Act requires that a 6.5% combined loan origination fee and
insurance premium be paid by the borrower on Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. This
fee is passed through to the Department by the originating lender. Effective
July 1, 1994, the maximum insurance premium and origination fee for Stafford
Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are 1% and 3%, respectively.
Each Student Loan to be sold to an Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of a
Trust will be guaranteed as to principal and interest by a Guarantor pursuant to
a Guarantee Agreement between such Guarantor and the applicable Eligible Lender
Trustee. The applicable Prospectus Supplement for each Trust will identify each
related Guarantor for the Student Loans held by such Trust as of the applicable
Closing Date and the amount of such Student Loans it is guaranteeing for such
Trust.
FEDERAL INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE OF GUARANTORS. A Student Loan is
considered to be in default for purposes of the Higher Education Act when the
borrower fails to make an installment payment when due or to comply with other
terms of the loan, and if the failure persists for 180 days in the case of a
loan repayable in monthly installments or for 240 days in the case of a loan
repayable in less frequent installments. Under certain circumstances a loan
deemed ineligible for federal reinsurance may be restored to eligibility.
Procedures for such restoration of eligibility are discussed below.
If the loan in default is covered by federal loan insurance in accordance
with the provisions of the Higher Education Act, the Department is to pay the
applicable Guarantor, as insurance beneficiary, the amount of the loss sustained
thereby, upon notice and determination of such amount, within 90 days of such
notification, subject to reduction as described below.
If the loan is guaranteed by a Guarantor, the eligible lender is reimbursed
by the Guarantor for 100% (or not less than 98% for loans disbursed on or after
October 1, 1993) of the unpaid principal balance of the defaulted loan plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon so long as the eligible lender has properly
originated and serviced such loan. Under the Higher Education Act, the
Department enters into a guarantee agreement with each Guarantor, which provides
for federal reinsurance for amounts paid to eligible lenders by the Guarantor
with respect to defaulted loans.
Pursuant to such agreements, the Department also agrees to reimburse a
Guarantor for 100% of the amounts expended in connection with a claim resulting
from the death, bankruptcy, total and permanent disability of a borrower, the
death of a student whose parent is the borrower of a PLUS Loan or claims by
borrowers who received loans on or after January 1, 1986 and who are unable to
complete the programs in which they are enrolled due to school closure or
borrowers whose borrowing eligibility was falsely certified by the eligible
institution; such claims are not included in calculating a Guarantor's claims
rate experience for federal reinsurance purposes. The Department also agrees to
reimburse a Guarantor for 100% of the amounts expended in connection with claims
on loans made under the lender of last resort provisions. The Department is also
required to repay the unpaid balance of any loan if the borrower files for
relief under Chapter 12 or 13 of the Bankruptcy Code or files for relief under
Chapter 7 or 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and has been in repayment for more than 7
years or commences an action for a determination of dischargeability under
Section 523(a)(8)(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, and is authorized to acquire the
loans of borrowers who are at high risk of default and who request an
alternative repayment option from the Department.
The amount of such reinsurance payment to the Guarantor for default claims
is subject to reduction based upon the annual default claims rate of the
Guarantor, calculated to equal the amount of federal reinsurance claims paid by
the Department to the Guarantor during any fiscal year as a percentage of the
original principal amount of guaranteed loans in repayment at the end of the
prior federal fiscal year. The formula is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLAIMS RATE OF GUARANTORS REIMBURSEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (1)
- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
0% to and including 5% 98%
Greater than 5% to and including 9% 98% of claims to and including 5%; 88% of claims greater
than 5%
Greater than 9% 98% of claims to and including 5%; 88% of claims greater
than 5% to and including 9%; and 78% of claims greater
than 9%
- -------------------
(1) Each of the reimbursement percentages listed above is increased by two percentage points for a loan made
prior to October 1, 1993 and decreased by three percentage points for a loan made on or after October 1,
1998.
</TABLE>
The claims experience for any Guarantor is not accumulated from year to
year for purposes of this test but is determined solely on the basis of claims
filed in any one federal fiscal year. The Higher Education Act provides that,
subject to compliance with the Higher Education Act, Guarantors are deemed to
have a contractual right against the United States to receive reinsurance in
accordance with its provisions.
On August 10, 1993 President Clinton signed the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the "1993 Act"), which made a number of changes that
may adversely affect the financial condition of the Federal Guarantors,
including reducing to 98% the maximum percentage of Guarantee Payments the
Department will reimburse for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1993,
reducing substantially the premiums and default collections that Guarantors are
entitled to receive and/or retain and giving the Department broad powers over
Guarantors and their reserves. These powers include the authority to require a
Guarantor to return all reserve funds to the Department if the Department
determines such action is necessary to serve the best interests of the student
loan programs or to ensure the proper maintenance of such Guarantor's funds or
assets. The Department is also now authorized to direct a Guarantor to return a
portion of its reserve funds which the Department determines is unnecessary to
pay the program expenses and contingent liabilities of the Guarantor and/or to
cease any activities involving the use of the Guarantor's reserve funds or
assets which the Department determines is a misapplication or otherwise
improper. The Department may also terminate a Guarantor's reinsurance agreement
if the Department determines that such action is necessary to protect the
federal fiscal interest. These various changes create a risk that the resources
available to the Guarantors to meet their guarantee obligations will be
significantly reduced. Such changes could result in a reduction of a Trust's
ability to pay principal and interest on the related Notes and Certificates, as
a result of a reduction in the ability of the Guarantors to make Guarantee
Payments to the Eligible Lender Trustee with respect to the related Student
Loans. In addition, this legislation sought to greatly expand the loan volume
under the direct lending program (the "Direct Student Loan Program") to a target
of approximately 60% of student loan demand in academic year 1998-1999, although
only about 35% of such loan demand is currently being met by the direct lending
program. The expansion of this program in the future could result in increasing
reductions in the volume of Student Loans made by the Seller. Such changes could
have an adverse effect on the financial condition of the Guarantors and on the
ability of a Guarantor to satisfy its obligations under its Guarantee Agreement
with respect to the Student Loans. See "Risk Factors--Changes in Legislation May
Adversely Affect Student Loans and Guarantors." The 1998 Reauthorization Bill
created additional risks that the resources available to the Guarantors to meet
their guarantee obligations will be further reduced in the future, by mandating
additional recall of guarantor reserves and reducing reinsurance to guarantors
from 98% to 95%.
Pursuant to the 1992 Amendments and additional changes made in 1997 and
1998, each Guarantor is required to maintain a current minimum reserve level of
at least .25% of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Student Loans
guaranteed by such Guarantor. Annually, the Department will collect information
from each Guarantor to determine the amount of such Guarantor's reserves and
other information regarding its solvency. If a Guarantor's current reserve level
falls below the required minimum for any two consecutive years, that Guarantor's
annual claims rate exceeds 5% or the Department determines that a Guarantor's
administrative or financial condition jeopardizes that Guarantor's continued
ability to perform its responsibilities, then that Guarantor must submit and
implement a management plan acceptable to the Department. The 1992 Amendments
also provide that under certain circumstances the Department is authorized, on
terms and conditions satisfactory to the Department, but is not obligated, to
terminate its reimbursement agreement with any Guarantor. In that event,
however, the Department is required to assume the functions of such Guarantor
and in connection therewith is authorized to do one or more of the following: to
assume the guarantee obligations of, to assign to other guarantors the guarantee
obligations of, or to make advances to, a Guarantor in order to assist such
Guarantor in meeting its immediate cash needs and to ensure uninterrupted
payment of default claims to lenders or to take any other action the Department
deems necessary to ensure the continued availability of student loans and the
full honoring of guarantee claims thereunder. In addition, the 1992 Amendments
provide that if the Department determines that a Guarantor is unable to meet its
guarantee obligations, holders of Student Loans covered thereby may submit
guarantee claims directly to the Department until such time as such guarantee
obligations are transferred to a new guarantor capable of meeting such
obligations or until a successor guarantor assumes such obligations. There can
be no assurance that the Department would under any given circumstances assume
such obligation to ensure satisfaction of a guarantee obligation by exercising
its right to terminate a reimbursement agreement with a Guarantor or by making a
determination that such Guarantor is unable to meet its guarantee obligations.
ORIGINATION PROCESS
The Higher Education Act specifies rules regarding loan origination
practices, which lenders must comply with in order for their Student Loans to be
guaranteed and to be eligible to receive Federal Assistance. Lenders are
prohibited from offering points, premiums, payments or other inducements,
directly or indirectly, to any educational institution, guarantee agency or
individual in order to secure loan applications, and no lender may conduct
unsolicited mailings of student loan applications to students who have not
previously received student loans from that lender.
[With respect to all Student Loans (other than Consolidation Loans), the
Seller forwards each application for such Student Loans (which should include an
executed promissory note) to either a marketing agent or the Seller's
origination department. On behalf of the Seller, either the marketing agent or
the origination department reviews each application to confirm its completeness,
to confirm that the applicant is an Eligible Student and that such loan complies
with certain other conditions of the applicable Program.
The marketing agent or origination department forwards a copy of each
application that satisfies the foregoing reviews to the respective Guarantor,
which reviews the application to determine that such application satisfies all
applicable conditions, including the foregoing, for the loan to be eligible to
receive Guarantee Payments, subject to compliance with the terms of the
respective Guarantee Agreements, including the proper servicing of the loan.
Upon approval of an application by either the marketing agent or the origination
department and the respective Guarantor, and receipt of evidence from such
Guarantor that the applicable loan is guaranteed, the Seller causes the proceeds
of such loan to be disbursed in one or more installments. For each loan that is
made, the marketing agent or the origination department forwards the completed
loan application and executed promissory note to the designated Sub-Servicer,
which serves as custodian for such materials.]
Any borrower inquiries concerning Consolidation Loans received by the
marketing agent or the Seller are forwarded to the appropriate Sub-Servicer, who
contacts the borrower, prepares and sends to the borrower an application (which
includes a promissory note) for a Consolidation Loan for the borrower's review
and signature. Although the borrower is permitted to choose any lender to make a
Consolidation Loan, borrowers typically express no preference as to the identity
of the lender. In that event, each Sub-Servicer generally will choose the lender
that has the highest balance of the loans to be consolidated or, if there is no
such lender, the lender that has made the most recent loan to the borrower to be
consolidated. Each Sub-Servicer is required to obtain certifications from the
lenders of the loans to be consolidated and to review the loan application and
the certifications to confirm that the borrower is eligible for a Consolidation
Loan. Upon approval of an application for a Consolidation Loan, the applicable
lender causes the proceeds of such Consolidation Loan to be disbursed to each
lender of the loans being consolidated in amounts sufficient to retire each of
such loans. For each Consolidation Loan that is made by the Seller, a
Sub-Servicer retains the completed loan application and executed promissory note
as custodian.
SERVICING AND COLLECTIONS PROCESS
The Higher Education Act and the applicable Guarantee Agreements require
the holder of Student Loans to cause specified procedures, including due
diligence procedures and the taking of specific steps at specific intervals, to
be performed with respect to the servicing of the Student Loans that are
designed to ensure that such Student Loans are repaid on a timely basis by or on
behalf of borrowers. Each Sub-Servicer performs such procedures on behalf of the
Seller and the Master Servicer and will agree, pursuant to the related
Sub-Servicing Agreement, to perform specified and detailed servicing and
collection procedures with respect to the Student Loans on behalf of the related
Trust. Such procedures generally include periodic attempts to contact any
delinquent borrower by telephone and by mail, commencing with a written notice
at the tenth day of delinquency and including multiple written notices and
telephone calls to the borrower thereafter at specified times during any such
delinquency. All telephone calls and letters are automatically registered, and a
synopsis of each call or the mailing of each letter is noted in each
Sub-Servicer's loan file for the borrower. Each Sub-Servicer also will be
required to perform skip tracing procedures on delinquent borrowers whose
current location is unknown, including contacting such borrowers' schools and
references. Failure to comply with the established procedures could adversely
affect the ability of the applicable Eligible Lender Trustee, as holder of legal
title to the applicable Student Loans on behalf of the related Trust, to realize
the benefits of any Guarantee Agreement or to receive the benefits of Federal
Assistance from the Department with respect thereto. Failure to comply with
certain of the established procedures with respect to a Student Loan may also
result in the denial of coverage under a Guarantee Agreement for certain accrued
interest amounts, in circumstances where such failure has not caused the loss of
the guarantee of the principal of such Student Loan.
At prescribed times prior to submitting a claim for payment under a
Guarantee Agreement for a delinquent Student Loan, each Sub-Servicer is required
to notify the applicable Guarantor of the existence of such delinquency. These
requests notify the Guarantors of seriously delinquent accounts and allow the
Guarantors to make additional attempts to collect on such loans prior to the
filing of claims. If a loan is delinquent for 180 days (in the case of Student
Loans made prior to the enactment date of the 1998 Reauthorization Bill) or 240
days (in the case of Student Loans made on or after October 7, 1998), each
Sub-Servicer may file a default claim with the respective Guarantor. Failure to
file a claim within 270 days (in the case of Student Loans made prior to the
enactment date of the 1998 Reauthorization Bill) or 330 days (in the case of
Student Loans made on or after October 7, 1998), of delinquency may result in
denial of the guarantee claim with respect to such loan. Each Sub-Servicer's
failure to file a guarantee claim in a timely fashion would constitute a breach
of its covenants and create an obligation of such Sub-Servicer to purchase the
applicable Student Loan. See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Master Servicer Covenants."
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
[The Seller has offered, and may continue to offer, incentive programs to
certain Student Loan borrowers. Two such programs are currently made available
by the Seller and may apply to Student Loans owned by a Trust. These incentive
programs currently or hereafter made available by the Seller may also be made
available by each Sub-Servicer to borrowers with Student Loans. Any such
incentive program that effectively reduces borrower payments on Student Loans
and is not required by the Higher Education Act will be applicable to the
Student Loans only if and to the extent that the applicable Trust receives
payment from the Seller (or the Seller deposits or causes a deposit to be made
into the related Collection Account) in an amount sufficient to offset such
effective yield reductions.]
<PAGE>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIVES OF THE SECURITIES
The rate of payment of principal of the Notes and the Certificates of any
series and the yield on the Notes and the Certificates of any series will be
affected by prepayments of the Student Loans that may occur as described below.
All the Student Loans are prepayable in whole or in part by the borrowers at any
time (including by means of Consolidation Loans or consolidation loans made
under the Direct Student Loan Program as discussed below) or as a result of a
borrower's default, death, disability or bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation
or collection of Guarantee Payments with respect thereto. The rate of such
prepayments cannot be predicted and may be influenced by a variety of economic,
social and other factors, including those described below. In general, the rate
of prepayments may tend to increase to the extent that alternative financing
becomes available at prevailing interest rates which fall significantly below
the interest rates applicable to the Student Loans. However, because many of the
Student Loans bear interest at a rate that either actually or effectively is
floating, it is impossible to determine whether changes in prevailing interest
rates will be similar to or vary from changes in the interest rates on the
Student Loans.
To the extent borrowers of Student Loans elect to borrow Consolidation
Loans with respect to such Student Loans from the Seller:
(1) after the Funding Period but not beyond the end of the Revolving
Period, and collections on the Student Loans are not available to
purchase such Consolidation Loans,
(2) after the end of the Revolving Period, or
(3) from another lender at any time,
Noteholders of a series (and after the Notes have been paid in full,
Certificateholders of such series) will collectively receive as a prepayment of
principal the aggregate principal amount of such Student Loans; provided, that
if the Seller makes any such Consolidation Loan during a Funding Period or prior
to the end of the Revolving Period (in which event the Seller will then sell
that Consolidation Loan to the applicable Eligible Lender Trustee, to the extent
that funds are available in the applicable Escrow Account and during the Funding
Period, the Pre-Funding Account or following the Funding Period but prior to the
end of the Revolving Period, the applicable Collection Account from amounts
which constitute available loan purchase funds, for the purchase thereof), the
aggregate outstanding principal balance of Student Loans (after giving effect to
the addition of such Consolidation Loans) will be at least equal to and in most
cases greater than such balance prior to such prepayment, although the portion
of the loan guaranteed will be 98% with respect to any Consolidation Loan made
on or after October 1, 1993, even if the Underlying Student Loans were 100%
guaranteed. There can be no assurance that borrowers with Student Loans will not
seek to obtain Consolidation Loans with respect to such Student Loans or, if
they do so, that such Consolidation Loans will not be made by the Seller after
the end of a Funding Period when collections on the Student Loans are not
available to purchase such Consolidation Loans, on or after the end of the
Revolving Period or by another lender at any time.
The Direct Consolidation Loan Program provides borrowers with the
opportunity to consolidate outstanding student loans at interest rates below,
and income-contingent repayment terms that some borrowers may find preferable
to, those that would be available from the Seller on a loan originated by the
Seller under the Consolidation Loan Program. The lower rate applies only to
borrowers who applied for Student Loans before February 1, 1999. The
availability of such lower-rate, income-contingent loans may decrease the
likelihood that the Seller would be the originator of a Consolidation Loan with
respect to borrowers with federal loans, as well as increase the likelihood that
a federal loan in the trust will be prepaid through the issuance of a Direct
Consolidation Loan. Any such prepayments will result in a more rapid
amortization of the Securities of a series then would otherwise be the case. The
volume of existing loans that may be repaid in this fashion is not determinable
at this time.
In addition, the Seller will be obligated to repurchase any Student Loan
pursuant to the applicable Sale and Servicing Agreement as a result of a breach
of any of its representations and warranties, and the Master Servicer will be
obligated to purchase any Student Loan pursuant to the Sale and Servicing
Agreement as a result of a breach of certain covenants with respect to such
Student Loan, in each case where such breach materially adversely affects the
interests of the Certificateholders or the Noteholders of a series in that
Student Loan and is not cured within the applicable cure period (it being
understood that any such breach that does not affect any Guarantor's obligation
to guarantee payment of such Student Loan will not be considered to have a
material adverse effect for this purpose). See "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Sale of Student Loans; Representations and Warranties" and
"--Servicer Covenants." See also "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements---Additional Fundings" regarding the prepayment of principal to
Noteholders and Certificateholders of a series if as of the date specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement the amount on deposit in the related
Pre-Funding Account has not been reduced to zero and the prepayment of principal
to Noteholders of a series as a result of excess funds remaining on deposit in
the Pre-Funding Account at the end of the Funding Period, "--Insolvency Event"
regarding the sale of the Student Loans if a Seller Insolvency Event occurs and
"--Termination" regarding the Seller's option to purchase the Student Loans when
the aggregate Pool Balance is less than or equal to 5% of the initial Pool
Balance of a series and the auction of the Student Loans occurs on or after the
date specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
On the other hand, scheduled payments with respect to, and maturities of,
the Student Loans may be extended, including pursuant to Grace Periods, Deferral
Periods and, under certain circumstances, Forbearance Periods prior to the end
of the Revolving Period or of refinancings through Consolidation Loans to the
extent such Consolidation Loans are sold to an Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf
of a Trust as described above. In that event, the fact that such Consolidation
Loans will likely have longer maturities than the Student Loans they are
replacing may lengthen the remaining term of the Student Loans and the average
life of the Notes and the Certificates of a series. The rate of payment of
principal of the Notes and the Certificates of a series and the yield on the
Notes and the Certificates of a series may also be affected by the rate of
defaults resulting in losses on defaulted Student Loans which have been
liquidated, by the severity of those losses and by the timing of those losses,
which may affect the ability of the Guarantors to make Guarantee Payments with
respect thereto. In addition, the maturity of many of the Student Loans will
extend well beyond the final scheduled Distribution Dates of the Notes and the
Certificates of a series.
The rate of prepayment on the Student Loans cannot be predicted, and any
reinvestment risks resulting from a faster or slower incidence of prepayment of
Student Loans will be borne entirely by the Securityholders of a series. Such
reinvestment risks may include the risk that interest rates and the relevant
spreads above particular interest rate bases are lower at the time
Securityholders of a series receive payments from the related Trust than such
interest rates and such spreads would otherwise have been had such prepayments
not been made or had such prepayments been made at a different time.
POOL FACTORS AND TRADING INFORMATION
Each of the "Note Pool Factor" for each class of Notes and the "Certificate
Pool Factor" for each class of Certificates (each, a "Pool Factor") will be a
seven-digit decimal which the Administrator will compute for each Distribution
Date indicating the remaining outstanding principal amount of such class of
Notes or the remaining principal balance for such class of Certificates (the
"Certificate Balance"), respectively, as of that Distribution Date (after giving
effect to distributions to be made on such Distribution Date), as a fraction of
the initial outstanding principal amount of such class of the Notes or the
initial Certificate Balance for such class of Certificates, respectively. Each
Pool Factor will be 1.0000000 as of the Closing Date, and thereafter will
decline to reflect reductions in the outstanding principal amount of the
applicable class of Notes or reductions of the Certificate Balance of the
applicable class of Certificates, as applicable. A Securityholder's portion of
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the related class of Notes or of
the aggregate outstanding Certificate Balance for the related class of
Certificates, as applicable, is the product of (x) the original denomination of
that Securityholder's Note or Certificate and (y) the applicable Pool Factor.
Pursuant to the related Indenture and the related Trust Agreement, the
Securityholders will receive reports on or about each Distribution Date
concerning the payments received on the Student Loans, the Pool Balance (as such
term is defined in the related Prospectus Supplement, the "Pool Balance"), the
applicable Pool Factor and various other items of information. Securityholders
of record during any calendar year will be furnished information for tax
reporting purposes not later than the latest date permitted by law. See "Certain
Information Regarding the Securities--Reports to Securityholders."
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
GENERAL
With respect to each Trust, one or more classes of notes (the "Notes") of a
given series will be issued pursuant to the terms of an indenture (an
"Indenture") between the Trust and the trustee under such Indenture (the
"Indenture Trustee"), a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus (this "Prospectus") is a part.
The following summary describes the material terms of the Notes and the
Indenture. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to all the provisions of the Notes and the Indenture.
Each class of Notes is expected to be initially represented by one or more
Notes, in each case registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") (together with any successor depository selected by the
Administrator, the "Depository") except as set forth below. The Notes are
expected to be available for purchase in book-entry form only. The Trust has
been informed by DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede & Co. ("Cede"), unless
another nominee is specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. Accordingly,
such nominee is expected to be the holder of record of the Notes of each class.
Unless and until Definitive Notes are issued under the limited circumstances
described in this Prospectus, no Noteholder will be entitled to receive a
physical certificate representing a Note. All references in this Prospectus and
in the related Prospectus Supplement to actions by Noteholders of Notes held in
book-entry form refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its
participating organizations (the "Participants") and all references in this
Prospectus to distributions, notices, reports and statements to Noteholders
refer to distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC or its nominee,
as the case may be, as the registered holder of the Notes for distribution to
Noteholders in accordance with DTC's procedures with respect thereto. See
"Certain Information Regarding the Securities--Book-Entry Registration"
and"--Definitive Securities."
PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE NOTES
The timing and priority of payment, seniority, allocations of losses,
interest as a per annum interest rate (the "Interest Rate") and amount of or
method of determining payments of principal and interest on each class of Notes
of a given series will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. The
right of holders of any class of Notes to receive payments of principal and
interest may be senior or subordinate to the rights of holders of any other
class or classes of Notes of such series, as described in the related Prospectus
Supplement. Payments of interest on the Notes of such series will be made prior
to payments of principal thereon. Each class of Notes may have a different
Interest Rate, which may be a fixed, variable or adjustable Interest Rate or any
combination of the foregoing. The related Prospectus Supplement will specify the
Interest Rate for each class of Notes of a given series or the method for
determining such Interest Rate See also "Certain Information Regarding the
Securities--Fixed Rate Securities" and "--Floating Rate Securities". One or more
classes of the Notes of a series may be redeemable in whole or in part under the
circumstances specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, including as a
result of the exercise by the Seller, or such other party as may be named in the
related Prospectus Supplement, of its option to purchase the related Student
Loans.
Noteholders of all classes within a series are expected to have the same
priority with respect to payments of interest. Under certain circumstances, the
amount available for such payments could be less than the amount of interest
payable on the Notes on any of the dates specified for payments in the related
Prospectus Supplement (each, a "Distribution Date"), in which case each class of
Noteholders will receive its ratable share (based upon the aggregate amount of
interest due to such class of Noteholders) of the aggregate amount available to
be distributed in respect of interest on the Notes of such series. See
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Distributions" and
"--Credit and Cash Flow Enhancement."
In the case of a series of Notes which includes two or more classes of
Notes, the sequential order and priority of payment in respect of principal and
interest, and any schedule or formula or other provisions applicable to the
determination thereof, of each such class will be set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Payments in respect of principal and interest of any
class of Notes will be made on a pro rata basis among all the Noteholders of
such class.
In the case of a series of Notes relating to a Trust having a Pre-Funding
Account or Escrow Account, the Notes of such series will be redeemed in part on
the Distribution Date on or immediately following the last day of the related
Funding Period or Revolving Period, respectively, in the event that any amount
remains on deposit in the applicable account after giving effect to all
Additional Fundings on or prior to such date, in an aggregate principal amount
described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Credit and Cash
Flow Enhancement--RESERVE ACCOUNT" for a description of the Reserve Account and
the distribution of amounts in excess of the Specified Reserve Account Balance
(as defined in the related Prospectus Supplement, the "Specified Reserve Account
Balance").
THE INDENTURE
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE. With respect to each Trust, with the consent of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding Notes of the related series, the
Indenture Trustee and the Trust may execute a supplemental indenture to add
provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any provisions of, the
Indenture with respect to the Notes, or to modify (except as provided below) in
any manner the rights of the related Noteholders.
Without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note of a series
affected thereby, no supplemental indenture will:
(1) change the due date of any installment of principal of or interest on
any such Note or reduce the principal amount thereof, the interest
rate specified thereon or the redemption price with respect thereto or
change any place of payment where or the coin or currency in which any
such Note or any interest thereon is payable,
(2) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of certain
provisions of the related Indenture regarding payment,
(3) reduce the percentage of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Notes
of such series, the consent of the holders of which is required for
any such supplemental indenture or the consent of the holders of which
is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of
the related Indenture or of certain defaults thereunder and their
consequences as provided for in such Indenture,
(4) modify or alter the provisions of the related Indenture regarding the
voting of Notes held by the applicable Trust, the Seller, an affiliate
of either of them or any obligor on such Notes,
(5) reduce the percentage of the aggregate outstanding amount of such
Notes, the consent of the holders of which is required to direct the
related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the applicable Trust to
sell or liquidate the Student Loans if the proceeds of such sale would
be insufficient to pay the principal amount and accrued but unpaid
interest on the outstanding Notes of such series,
(6) decrease the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of such
Notes required to amend the sections of the related Indenture which
specify the applicable percentage of aggregate principal amount of
such Notes necessary to amend the related Indenture or certain other
related agreements, or
(7) permit the creation of any lien ranking prior to or on a parity with
the lien of the related Indenture with respect to any of the
collateral for the Notes of such series or, except as otherwise
permitted or contemplated in such Indenture, terminate the lien of
such Indenture on any such collateral or deprive the holder of any
Note of the security afforded by the lien of such Indenture.
The applicable Trust and the related Indenture Trustee may also enter into
supplemental indentures without obtaining the consent of Noteholders of such
series, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of the related Indenture or of modifying in
any manner the rights of Noteholders of such series so long as such action will
not, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the applicable Indenture Trustee,
materially and adversely affect the interest of any Noteholder of such series.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. With respect to the Notes
of a given series, an "Event of Default" under the related Indenture will
include the following:
(a) a default for five days or more in the payment of any interest on any
such Note after the same becomes due and payable;
(b) a default in the payment of the principal of or any installment of the
principal of any such Note when the same becomes due and payable;
(c) a default in the observance or performance of any covenant or
agreement of the applicable Trust made in the related Indenture and
the continuation of any such default for a period of 30 days after
notice thereof is given to the applicable Trust by the applicable
Indenture Trustee or to the applicable Trust and the applicable
Indenture Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount
of such Notes then outstanding;
(d) any representation or warranty made by the applicable Trust in the
related Indenture or in any certificate delivered pursuant thereto or
in connection therewith having been incorrect in a material respect as
of the time made, and such breach is not cured within 30 days after
notice thereof is given to such Trust by the applicable Indenture
Trustee or to such Trust and the applicable Indenture Trustee by the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes of such
series then outstanding; or
(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation
of such Trust.
However, the amount of principal required to be distributed to Noteholders
of such series under the related Indenture on any Distribution Date will
generally be limited to amounts available after payment of all prior obligations
of such Trust. Therefore, the failure to pay principal on a class of Notes
generally will not result in the occurrence of an Event of Default until the
final scheduled Distribution Date for such class of Notes.
If, with respect to any series of Notes, interest is paid at a variable
rate based on an index, the related Prospectus Supplement may provide that, in
the event that, for any Distribution Date, the Interest Rate as calculated based
on the index is less than an alternate rate calculated for such Distribution
Date based on interest collections on the Student Loans (the amount of such
difference, the "Index Shortfall Carryover"), the Interest Rate for such
Distribution Date will be such alternate rate and the Index Shortfall Carryover
shall be payable as described in such Prospectus Supplement. Payment of the
Index Shortfall Carryover generally will be lower in priority than payment of
interest on the Notes at the Interest Rate (whether the Interest Rate is based
on the index or such alternate rate) and, accordingly, the nonpayment of the
Index Shortfall Carryover on any Distribution Date will not generally constitute
a default in the payment of interest on such Notes.
If an Event of Default should occur and be continuing with respect to the
Notes of any series, the related Indenture Trustee or holders of a majority in
principal amount of such Notes then outstanding may declare the principal of
such Notes to be immediately due and payable. Unless otherwise specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, such declaration may be rescinded by the holders
of a majority in principal amount of such Notes then outstanding if (x) the
related Trust has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum equal to
all amounts then due with respect to the Notes (without giving effect to such
acceleration) and (y) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the
principal of the Notes that has become due solely by such acceleration, have
been cured or, under the circumstances described below, waived.
If the Notes of any series have been declared to be due and payable
following an Event of Default with respect thereto, the related Indenture
Trustee may, in its discretion, exercise remedies as a secured party, require
the related Eligible Lender Trustee to sell the Student Loans or elect to have
the related Eligible Lender Trustee maintain possession of the Student Loans and
continue to apply collections with respect to such Student Loans as if there had
been no declaration of acceleration. Unless otherwise specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement, however, the related Indenture Trustee is prohibited from
directing the related Eligible Lender Trustee to sell the Student Loans
following an Event of Default, other than a default in the payment of any
principal or a default for five days or more in the payment of any interest on
any Note with respect to any series, unless:
(1) the holders of all such outstanding Notes consent to such sale;
(2) the proceeds of such sale are sufficient to pay in full the principal
of and the accrued interest on such outstanding Notes at the date of
such sale; or
(3) the related Indenture Trustee determines that the collections on the
Student Loans would not be sufficient on an ongoing basis to make all
payments on such Notes as such payments would have become due if such
obligations had not been declared due and payable, and the related
Indenture Trustee obtains the consent of the holders of 66 2/3% of the
aggregate principal amount of such Notes then outstanding;
PROVIDED, that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise liquidate the
Student Loans following an Event of Default, other than a default in the payment
of any principal on the final scheduled Distribution Date for a class of Notes
or a default of five days or more on the payment of any interest on any Note,
unless:
(a) the proceeds of the sale or liquidation of the Student Loans
distributable to the Certificateholders are sufficient to pay to the
Certificateholders the outstanding Certificate Balance plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon; or
(b) after receipt of notice from the Eligible Lender Trustee that the
proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the
Certificateholders would not be sufficient to pay to the
Certificateholders the outstanding Certificate Balance plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, the Certificateholders of at least a
majority of the outstanding Certificate Balance consent thereto;
PROVIDED, FURTHER that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise liquidate
the Student Loans following an Event of Default, other than a default in the
payment of any principal on the final scheduled Distribution Date for a class of
Notes or a default of five days or more on the payment of any interest on any
Note unless:
(x) proceeds of the sale or liquidation of the Student Loans distributable
from such sale are sufficient (1) to pay to Noteholders, the
outstanding principal balance of the Notes (other than the
Noteholders' Index Shortfall Carryover) and (2) to pay to
Certificateholders, the outstanding Certificate Balance plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon (other than the Certificateholders' Index
Shortfall Carryover); or
(y) after receipt of notice from the Eligible Lender Trustee that the
proceeds of such sale or liquidation would not be sufficient (1) to
pay to Noteholders, the outstanding principal balance of the Notes
(other than the Noteholders' Index Shortfall Carryover) and (2) to pay
to Certificateholders the outstanding Certificate Balance plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon (other than the Certificateholders' Index
Shortfall Carryover).
If the proceeds of any such sale are insufficient to pay the then outstanding
principal amount of the Notes and any accrued interest, such proceeds shall be
distributed to the holders of Notes on a pro rata basis, based on the amount
then owing on each class of Notes.
Subject to the provisions of the applicable Indenture relating to the
duties of the related Indenture Trustee, if an Event of Default should occur and
be continuing with respect to a series of Notes, the related Indenture Trustee
will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the
applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of such
Notes, if such Indenture Trustee reasonably believes it will not be adequately
indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
by it in complying with such request. Subject to such provisions for
indemnification and certain limitations contained in the related Indenture, the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of a given
series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding or any remedy available to such Indenture Trustee and the holders
of a majority in principal amount of such Notes then outstanding may, in certain
cases, waive any default with respect thereto, except a default in the payment
of principal or interest or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of
the applicable Indenture that cannot be modified without the waiver or consent
of all the holders of such outstanding Notes.
No holder of Notes of any series will have the right to institute any
proceeding with respect to the related Indenture, unless:
(a) such holder previously has given to the applicable Indenture Trustee
written notice of a continuing Event of Default,
(b) the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such
outstanding Notes have requested in writing that such Indenture
Trustee institute such proceeding in its own name as Indenture
Trustee,
(c) such holder or holders have offered such Indenture Trustee reasonable
indemnity,
(d) such Indenture Trustee has for 60 days failed to institute such
proceeding, and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to
such Indenture Trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of such outstanding Notes.
In addition, each Indenture Trustee and the related Noteholders will
covenant that they will not at any time institute against the applicable Trust
any bankruptcy, reorganization or other proceeding under any federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law.
With respect to any Trust, none of the related Indenture Trustee, the
Seller, the Administrator, the Master Servicers, the Sub-Servicers or the
Eligible Lender Trustee in its individual capacity, or any holder of a
Certificate representing an ownership interest in the applicable Trust, or any
of their respective owners, beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors,
employees, successors or assigns will, in the absence of an express agreement to
the contrary, be personally liable for the payment of the principal of or
interest on the Notes or for the agreements of the Trust contained in the
Indenture.
CERTAIN COVENANTS. Each Indenture will provide that the related Trust may
not consolidate with or merge into any other entity, unless:
(a) the entity formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger is
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia,
(b) such entity expressly assumes such Trust's obligation to make due and
punctual payments upon the Notes of the related series and the
performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of such
Trust under the related Indenture,
(c) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately
after such merger or consolidation,
(d) such Trust has been advised that the ratings of the Notes and the
Certificates of the related series would not be reduced or withdrawn
by the Rating Agencies (as such term is defined in the related
Prospectus Supplement, each a "Rating Agency" and collectively, the
"Rating Agencies") as a result of such merger or consolidation, and
(e) such Trust has received an opinion of counsel to the effect that such
consolidation or merger would have no material adverse federal or
Pennsylvania state tax consequence to such Trust or to any
Certificateholder or Noteholder of the related series.
Each Trust will not, among other things:
o except as expressly permitted by the applicable Indenture, the
applicable Transfer and Servicing Agreements or certain related
documents (collectively, the "Related Documents"), sell, transfer,
exchange or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of such Trust,
o claim any credit on or make any deduction from the principal and
interest payable in respect of the Notes of the related series (other
than amounts withheld under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended or applicable state law) or assert any claim against any
present or former holder of such Notes because of the payment of taxes
levied or assessed upon such Trust,
o except as contemplated by the Related Documents, dissolve or liquidate
in whole or in part,
o permit the validity or effectiveness of the applicable Indenture to be
impaired or permit any person to be released from any covenants or
obligations with respect to such Notes under the applicable Indenture
except as may be expressly permitted thereby, or
o permit any lien, charge, excise, claim, security interest, mortgage or
other encumbrance to be created on or extend to or otherwise arise
upon or burden the assets of the Trust or any part thereof, or any
interest therein or the proceeds thereof, except as expressly
permitted by the Related Documents.
No Trust may engage in any activity other than financing, purchasing,
owning, selling and managing Student Loans and the other assets of the Trust and
making Additional Fundings, in each case in the manner contemplated by the
Related Documents and activities incidental thereto. No Trust will incur, assume
or guarantee any indebtedness other than indebtedness incurred pursuant to the
Notes of the related series and the applicable Indenture or otherwise in
accordance with the Related Documents.
ANNUAL COMPLIANCE STATEMENT. Each Trust will be required to file annually
with the applicable Indenture Trustee a written statement as to the fulfillment
of its obligations under the related Indenture.
INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT. Each Indenture Trustee will be required
to mail each year to all related Noteholders a brief report relating to, among
other things, its eligibility and qualification to continue as such Indenture
Trustee under the applicable Indenture, any amounts advanced by it under the
Indenture, the amount, interest rate and maturity date of certain indebtedness
owing by such Trust to the applicable Indenture Trustee in its individual
capacity, the property and funds physically held by the applicable Indenture
Trustee as such and any action taken by it that materially affects the related
Notes and that has not been previously reported.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE. An Indenture will be discharged
with respect to the collateral securing the related Notes upon the delivery to
the related Indenture Trustee for cancellation of all such Notes or, with
certain limitations, upon deposit with such Indenture Trustee of funds
sufficient for the payment in full of all such Notes.
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE. The Indenture Trustee for a series of Notes will be
specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Indenture Trustee for any
series may resign at any time, in which event the Trust will be obligated to
appoint a successor trustee for such series. The Trust may also remove any such
Indenture Trustee if such Indenture Trustee ceases to be eligible to continue as
such under the related Indenture or if such Indenture Trustee becomes insolvent.
In such circumstances, the Trust will be obligated to appoint a successor
trustee for the applicable series of Notes. Any resignation or removal of the
Indenture Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee for any series of Notes
does not become effective until acceptance of the appointment by the successor
trustee for such series.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTIFICATES
GENERAL
With respect to each Trust, one or more classes of certificates
("Certificates") of a given series will, unless otherwise specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, be issued pursuant to the terms of a Trust
Agreement, a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The following summary describes
the material terms of the Certificates and the Trust Agreement. The summary does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all
the provisions of the Certificates and the Trust Agreement.
Each class of Certificates is expected to be initially represented by a
single Certificate registered in the name of DTC, except as set forth below.
Except for the Certificates of a given series purchased by the Seller or an
affiliate of the Seller specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Certificates are expected to be available for purchase in book-entry form only.
The Seller has been informed by DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede, unless
another nominee is specified in the related Prospectus Supplement. Accordingly,
such nominee is expected to be the holder of record of the Certificates of any
series that are not purchased by the Seller or an affiliate of the Seller.
Unless and until Definitive Certificates are issued under the limited
circumstances described in this Prospectus or in the related Prospectus
Supplement, no Certificateholder (other than the Seller or an affiliate of the
Seller) will be entitled to receive a physical certificate representing a
Certificate. All references in this Prospectus and in the related Prospectus
Supplement to actions by Certificateholders (other than the Seller or an
affiliate of the Seller) refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from
the Participants and all references in this Prospectus and in the related
Prospectus Supplement to distributions, notices, reports and statements to
Certificateholders (other than the Seller or an affiliate of the Seller) refer
to distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered holder of the Certificates, for distribution to
Certificateholders in accordance with DTC's procedures with respect thereto. See
"Certain Information Regarding the Securities--Book-Entry Registration" and
"--Definitive Securities." Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement, Certificates of a given series owned by the Seller or its affiliates
will be entitled to equal and proportionate benefits under the applicable Trust
Agreement, except that, assuming that all Certificates of a given series are not
all owned by the Seller and its affiliates, the Certificates owned by the Seller
and its affiliates will be deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of
determining whether the requisite percentage of Certificateholders has given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or other action under
the Related Documents (other than the commencement by the related Trust of a
voluntary proceeding in bankruptcy as described under "Description of the
Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Insolvency Event").
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST IN RESPECT OF THE CERTIFICATES
The timing and priority of distributions, seniority, allocations of losses,
interest at a per annum interest rate (the "Pass-Through Rate") and amount of or
method of determining distributions with respect to principal and interest of
each class of Certificates of a given series will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Distributions of interest on such Certificates will be
made on each Distribution Date and will be made prior to distributions with
respect to principal of such Certificates. Each class of Certificates may have a
different Pass-Through Rate, which may be a fixed, variable or adjustable
Pass-Through Rate or any combination of the foregoing. The related Prospectus
Supplement will specify the Pass-Through Rate for each class of Certificates of
a given series or the method for determining such Pass-Through Rate. See also
"Certain Information Regarding the Securities--Fixed Rate Securities" and
"--Floating Rate Securities." Distributions in respect of the Certificates of a
given series may be subordinate to payments in respect of the Notes of such
series as more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
Distributions in respect of interest on and principal of any class of
Certificates will be made on a pro rata basis among all the Certificateholders
of such class.
In the case of a series of Certificates which includes two or more classes
of Certificates, the timing, sequential order, priority of payment or amount of
distributions in respect of interest and principal, and any schedule or formula
or other provisions applicable to the determination thereof, of each such class
shall be as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement.
<PAGE>
See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Credit and Cash
Flow Enhancement--RESERVE ACCOUNT" for a description of the Reserve Account and
the distribution of amounts in excess of the Specified Reserve Account Balance.
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE SECURITIES
FIXED RATE SECURITIES
Each class of Securities may bear interest at a fixed rate per annum
("Fixed Rate Securities") or at a variable or adjustable rate per annum
("Floating Rate Securities"), as more fully described below and in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Each class of Fixed Rate Securities will bear
interest at the applicable per annum Interest Rate or Pass-Through Rate, as the
case may be, specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Interest on each
class of Fixed Rate Securities will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. See "Description of the Notes--Principal of and
Interest on the Notes" and "Description of the Certificates--Principal and
Interest in Respect of the Certificates."
FLOATING RATE SECURITIES
Each class of Floating Rate Securities will bear interest for each
applicable Interest Reset Period (as such term is defined in the related
Prospectus Supplement with respect to a class of Floating Rate Securities,
"Interest Reset Period") at a rate per annum determined by reference to an
interest rate basis (the "Base Rate"), plus or minus the Spread, if any, or
multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, in each case as specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement. The "Spread" is the number of basis points (one
basis point equals one one-hundredth of a percentage point) that may be
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement as being applicable to such
class, and the "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage that may be specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement as being applicable to such class.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will designate a Base Rate for a given
Floating Rate Security based on the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR"),
commercial paper rates, Federal funds rates, U.S. Government treasury securities
rates, negotiable certificates of deposit rates or another rate or rates as set
forth in such Prospectus Supplement.
As specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Floating Rate
Securities of a given class may also have either or both of the following (in
each case expressed as a rate per annum): (a) a maximum limitation, or ceiling,
on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period and (b) a
minimum limitation, or floor, on the rate at which interest may accrue during
any interest period. In addition to any maximum interest rate that may be
applicable to any class of Floating Rate Securities, the interest rate
applicable to any class of Floating Rate Securities will in no event be higher
than the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, as the same may be modified
by United States law of general application.
Each Trust with respect to which a class of Floating Rate Securities will
be issued will appoint, and enter into agreements with, a calculation agent
(each, a "Calculation Agent") to calculate interest rates on each such class of
Floating Rate Securities issued with respect thereto. The applicable Prospectus
Supplement will set forth the identity of the Calculation Agent for each such
class of Floating Rate Securities of a given series, which may be the
Administrator, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee with respect
to such series. All determinations of interest by the Calculation Agent shall,
in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on
the holders of Floating Rate Securities of a given class. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, all percentages resulting
from any calculation of the rate of interest on a Floating Rate Security will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100,000 of 1% (.0000001), with five
one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward.
BOOK-ENTRY REGISTRATION
Persons acquiring beneficial ownership interests in the Notes may hold
their interests through DTC in the United States or Cedelbank ("Cedel") or The
Euroclear System ("Euroclear") in Europe and persons acquiring beneficial
ownership interests in the Certificates may hold their interests through DTC.
Securities will be registered in the name of Cede as nominee for DTC. Cedel and
Euroclear will hold omnibus positions with respect to the Notes on behalf of
Cedel Participants and the Euroclear Participants, respectively, through
customers' securities accounts in Cedel's and Euroclear's name on the books of
their respective depositaries (collectively, the "Depositories") which in turn
will hold such positions in customers' securities accounts in the Depositories'
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 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 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").
Noteholders and Certificateholders (collectively, "Securityholders") that
are not Participants or Indirect Participants but desire to purchase, sell or
otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in, Securities held through
DTC may do so only through Participants and Indirect Participants. In addition,
Securityholders will receive all distributions of principal and interest from
the related Indenture Trustee or the related Eligible Lender Trustee, as
applicable (the "Applicable Trustee"), through Participants and Indirect
Participants. Under a book-entry format, Securityholders may experience some
delay in their receipt of payments, since such payments will be forwarded by the
Applicable Trustee to DTC's nominee. DTC will forward such payments to its
Participants, which thereafter will forward them to Indirect Participants or
Securityholders. Except for the Seller or an affiliate of the Seller with
respect to any series of Securities, it is anticipated that the only
"Securityholder," "Certificateholder" and "Noteholder" will be DTC's nominee.
Securityholders will not be recognized by the Applicable Trustee as Noteholders
or Certificateholders, as such terms are used in each Indenture and each Trust
Agreement, respectively, and Securityholders will be permitted to exercise the
rights of Securityholders only indirectly through DTC and its Participants.
Transfers between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way 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.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities received in Cedel
or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made
during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day
following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such
securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant
Euroclear Participants or Cedel Participants 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 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.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding Notes 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 Depository; 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.
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 among Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the
Securities and to receive and transmit distributions of principal of, and
interest on, the Securities. Participants and Indirect Participants with which
Securityholders have accounts with respect to the Securities similarly are
required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit such payments on
behalf of their respective Securityholders. Accordingly, although
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, which in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a
Securityholder to pledge Securities 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.
Management of DTC is aware that some computer applications, systems and the
like for processing data ("Systems") that are dependent upon calendar dates,
including dates before, on, and after January 1, 2000, may encounter "Year 2000
problems" DTC has informed Direct and Indirect Participants and other members of
the financial community (the "Industry") that it has developed and is
implementing a program so that its Systems, as the same relate to the timely
payment of distributions (including principal and interest payments) to
securityholders, book-entry deliveries, and settlement of trades within DTC
("Depository Services"), continue to function appropriately. This program
includes a technical assessment and a remediation plan, each of which is
complete. Additionally, DTC's plan includes a testing phase, which is expected
to be completed within appropriate time frames.
However, DTC's ability to perform properly its services is also dependent
upon other parties, including, but not limited to, issuers and their agents, as
well as DTC's Direct and Indirect Participants, third party vendors from whom
DTC licenses software and hardware, and third party vendors on whom DTC relies
for information or the provision of services, including telecommunication and
electrical utility service providers, among others. DTC has informed the
Industry that it is contacting (and will continue to contact) third party
vendors from whom DTC acquires services to: (i) impress upon them the importance
of such services being Year 2000 compliant; and (ii) determine the extent of
their efforts for Year 2000 remediation (and, as appropriate, testing) of their
services. In addition, DTC is in the process of developing such contingency
plans as it deems appropriate.
Appropriate to DTC, the information in the preceding two paragraphs with
respect to DTC has been provided to the Industry for informational purposes only
and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty, or contract
modification of any kind.
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 in
accounts of Cedel Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates. Transactions may be settled in Cedel in any of 32
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 and may include any underwriters, agents or dealers with respect
to the Notes offered hereby. 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.
The Euroclear System 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 be settled in any of 32
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. The Euroclear
System is operated by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels,
Belgium office (the "Euroclear Operator"), under contract with Euroclear
Clearance Systems, S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative").
All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, 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 any underwriters,
agents or dealers with respect to the Notes offered hereby. 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, withdrawals 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 or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions with respect to Notes held through Cedel or Euroclear will be
credited to the cash accounts of Cedel Participants or Euroclear Participants in
accordance with the relevant system's rules and procedures, to the extent
received by its Depository. Such distributions will be subject to tax reporting
in accordance with relevant United States tax laws and regulations. Cedel or the
Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to
be taken by a beneficial holder of Notes under the Indenture on behalf of a
Cedel Participant or Euroclear Participant only in accordance with its relevant
rules and procedures and subject to its Depository's ability to effect such
actions on its behalf through DTC.
DTC has advised the Administrator that it will take any action permitted to
be taken by a Securityholder under the related Indenture or the related Trust
Agreement, as the case may be, only at the direction of one or more Participants
to whose accounts with DTC the Securities 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.
Although DTC, Cedel and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures
in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the Notes among Participants of
DTC, Cedel and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to
perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.
NONE OF THE TRUST, THE SELLER, THE MASTER SERVICER, ANY SUB-SERVICERS, THE
ADMINISTRATOR, THE ELIGIBLE LENDER TRUSTEE, THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE NOR THE
UNDERWRITERS WILL HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR OBLIGATION TO ANY PARTICIPANTS,
CEDEL PARTICIPANTS OR EUROCLEAR PARTICIPANTS OR THE PERSONS FOR WHOM THEY ACT AS
NOMINEES WITH RESPECT TO (1) THE ACCURACY OF ANY RECORDS MAINTAINED BY DTC,
CEDEL OR EUROCLEAR OR ANY PARTICIPANT, (2) THE PAYMENT BY DTC, CEDEL OR
EUROCLEAR OR ANY PARTICIPANT OF ANY AMOUNT DUE TO ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER IN
RESPECT OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF OR INTEREST ON THE SECURITIES, (3) THE
DELIVERY BY ANY PARTICIPANT, CEDEL PARTICIPANT OR EUROCLEAR PARTICIPANT OF ANY
NOTICE TO ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER WHICH IS REQUIRED OR PERMITTED UNDER THE TERMS OF
THE INDENTURE OR THE TRUST AGREEMENT TO BE GIVEN TO SECURITYHOLDERS OR (4) ANY
OTHER ACTION TAKEN BY DTC AS THE SECURITYHOLDER.
DEFINITIVE SECURITIES
Except with respect to the Certificates of a given series that may be
purchased by the Seller or an affiliate of the Seller, the Notes and the
Certificates of a given series will be issued in fully registered, certificated
form ("Definitive Notes" and "Definitive Certificates", respectively, and
collectively referred to herein as "Definitive Securities") to Noteholders or
Certificateholders or their respective nominees, rather than to DTC or its
nominee, only if:
(a) the related Administrator advises the Applicable Trustee in writing
that DTC is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its
responsibilities as depository with respect to the Securities and the
Administrator is unable to locate a qualified successor,
(b) the Administrator, at its option, elects to terminate the book-entry
system through DTC, or
(c) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, a Master Servicer Default
or a Sub-Servicer Default, Securityholders representing at least a
majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes or the
Certificates, as the case may be, of such series advise the Applicable
Trustee through DTC in writing that the continuation of a book-entry
system through DTC (or a successor thereto) with respect to such Notes
or Certificates is no longer in the best interest of the holders of
such Securities.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in the immediately preceding
paragraph, the Applicable Trustee will be required to notify all applicable
Securityholders of a given series through Participants of the availability of
Definitive Securities. Upon surrender by DTC of the Definitive Securities
representing the corresponding 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 Definitive Securities
will thereafter be made by the Applicable Trustee in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the related Indenture or the related Trust Agreement, as
the case may be, directly to holders of Definitive Securities in whose names the
Definitive Securities were registered at the close of business on the applicable
Record Date which will be the business day preceding each Distribution Date,
unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement (the "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 Definitive Security, however, will be made only upon presentation
and surrender of such Definitive Security at the office or agency specified in
the notice of final distribution to applicable Securityholders.
Definitive Securities will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices
of the Applicable Trustee or of a registrar named in a notice delivered to
holders of 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.
LIST OF SECURITYHOLDERS
Three or more holders of Notes or one or more holders of Notes evidencing
not less than 25% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such Notes
may, by written request to the related Indenture Trustee, obtain access to the
list of all Noteholders maintained by such Indenture Trustee for the purpose of
communicating with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under the
related Indenture or such Notes. Such Indenture Trustee may elect not to afford
the requesting Noteholders access to the list of Noteholders if it agrees to
mail the desired communication or proxy, on behalf and at the expense of the
requesting Noteholders, to all Noteholders of such series.
Three or more Certificateholders of such series or one or more holders of
such Certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the Certificate Balance of
such Certificates may, by written request to the related Eligible Lender
Trustee, obtain access to the list of all Certificateholders for the purpose of
communicating with other Certificateholders with respect to their rights under
the related Trust Agreement or under such Certificates.
REPORTS TO SECURITYHOLDERS
With respect to each series of Securities, on each Distribution Date, the
Applicable Trustee will provide to Securityholders of record as of the related
Record Date a statement setting forth substantially the same information as is
required to be provided on the periodic report provided to the related Indenture
Trustee and the related Trust described under "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Statements to Indenture Trustee and Trust". Such
statements will be filed with the Commission during the period required by Rule
15d-1 under the Exchange Act and will not be filed with the Commission
thereafter. The statements provided to Securityholders will not constitute
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Unless and until Definitive Notes or Definitive Certificates are issued,
quarterly and annual unaudited reports containing information concerning the
Student Loans will be prepared by [the Master Servicer] and sent on behalf of
the related Trust only to Cede, as nominee of DTC and registered holder of the
Notes and the Certificates, but will not be sent to any beneficial holder of the
Securities.
Within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the
end of each calendar year during the term of each Trust, the Applicable Trustee
will mail to each person who at any time during such calendar year was a
Securityholder with respect to such Trust and received any payment thereon, a
statement containing certain information for the purposes of such
Securityholder's preparation of federal income tax returns. See "Income Tax
Consequences."
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENTS
GENERAL
The following is a summary of the material terms of each of the following:
o Sale and Servicing Agreement (each a "Sale and Servicing Agreement"),
pursuant to which the related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of a
Trust will purchase Student Loans from the Seller and the Master
Servicer will (or will cause the related Sub-Servicers to) service
the same;
o Administration Agreement, pursuant to which the Administrator will
undertake certain administrative duties with respect to a Trust and
the Student Loans; and
o Trust Agreement, pursuant to which a Trust will be created and the
related Certificates will be issued (collectively, the "Transfer and
Servicing Agreements").
Forms of each of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements have been filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
However, this summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements.
In addition, and if so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
Master Servicer may directly assume servicing responsibilities for some or all
of a pool of Student Loans without a sub-servicer, or the related Trust may
contract directly with one or more Sub-Servicers, pursuant to the related Sale
and Servicing Agreement, to perform all of the requisite servicing
responsibilities with respect to the related pool of Student Loans without the
appointment of a master servicer, on the terms and conditions set forth herein
and therein.
SALE OF STUDENT LOANS; REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
On or prior to the Closing Date specified with respect to any given Trust
in the related Prospectus Supplement (the "Closing Date"), the Seller will sell
and assign to the related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of such Trust,
without recourse, except as provided in the Sale and Servicing Agreement, its
entire interest in the Student Loans, all collections received and to be
received with respect thereto for the period on and after the Cutoff Date and
all the Assigned Rights pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement. Each
Student Loan will be identified in a schedule appearing as an exhibit to such
Sale and Servicing Agreement. Each Eligible Lender Trustee will, concurrently
with such sale and assignment, execute, authenticate and deliver the related
Certificates and Notes.
<PAGE>
In each Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Seller will make certain
representations and warranties with respect to the Student Loans to a Trust for
the benefit of the Certificateholders and the Noteholders of a given series,
including, among other things, that:
o each Student Loan, on the date on which it is transferred to such
Trust, is free and clear of all security interests, liens, charges and
encumbrances and no offsets, defenses or counterclaims with respect
thereto have been asserted or threatened;
o the information provided with respect to the Student Loans is true and
correct as of the Cutoff Date; and
o each Student Loan, at the time it was originated, complied and, at the
Closing Date, complies in all material respects with applicable
federal and state laws (including, without limitation, the Higher
Education Act) and applicable restrictions imposed by the Programs or
any Guarantee Agreement.
Following the discovery by or notice to the Seller of a breach of any
representation or warranty with respect to any Student Loan that materially and
adversely affects the interests of the related Certificateholders or the
Noteholders in such Student Loan (it being understood that any such breach that
does not affect any Guarantor's obligation to guarantee payment of such Student
Loan will not be considered to have such a material adverse effect), the Seller
will, unless such breach is cured within 60 days, repurchase such Student Loan
from the related Eligible Lender Trustee, as of the first day following the end
of such 60-day period that is the last day of a Collection Period (as such term
is defined in the related Prospectus Supplement, the "Collection Period") at a
price equal to the unpaid principal balance owed by the applicable borrower plus
accrued interest thereon to the day of repurchase (the "Purchase Amount"). In
addition, the Seller will reimburse the related Trust with respect to a Student
Loan for any accrued interest amounts that a Guarantor refuses to pay pursuant
to its Guarantee Agreement due to, or for any Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments that are lost or that must be repaid to the
Department as a result of, a breach of any such representation or warranty by
the Seller. The repurchase and reimbursement obligations of the Seller will
constitute the sole remedy available to or on behalf of the related Trust, the
Certificateholders or the Noteholders for any such uncured breach. The Seller's
repurchase and reimbursement obligations are contractual obligations pursuant to
the Sale and Servicing Agreement that may be enforced against the Seller, but
the breach of which will not constitute an Event of Default.
To assure uniform quality in servicing and to reduce administrative costs,
each Sub-Servicer will be appointed custodian of the promissory notes
representing the Student Loans which such Sub-Servicer is servicing and any
other related documents by the Master Servicer and the related Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of each Trust. The Seller's, the Master Servicer's and the
Sub-Servicers' records and computer systems will reflect the sale and assignment
by the Seller of the Student Loans to the related Eligible Lender Trustee on
behalf of the related Trust, and UCC financing statements reflecting such sale
and assignment will be filed.
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS
In the case of a Trust having a Pre-Funding Account or an Escrow Account,
such Trust will use funds on deposit in such account from time to time during
the related Funding Period or Revolving Period, respectively, (x) to make
interest payments to Noteholders and Certificateholders in lieu of collections
of interest on certain of the Student Loans to the extent such interest is not
paid currently but is capitalized and added to the principal balance of such
Student Loans and (y) to fund the addition of Student Loans to the Trust under
the circumstances and having the characteristics described in the related
Prospectus Supplement ("Additional Fundings"). Such additional Student Loans may
be purchased by the Trust from the Seller or may be originated by the Trust, if
and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus Supplement.
There can be no assurance that substantially all of the amounts on deposit
in any Pre-Funding Account or Escrow Account will be expended during the
related Funding Period or Revolving Period, respectively. If the amount
initially deposited into a Pre-Funding Account or an Escrow Account for a series
has not been reduced to zero by the end of the related Funding Period or
Revolving Period, respectively, the amounts remaining on deposit therein will be
distributed to the related Securityholders in the amounts described in the
related Prospectus Supplement.
If and to the extent specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the
related Trust may use distributions on the Student Loans, or may exchange
Student Loans with the Seller, in order to pay for Additional Fundings after any
Funding Period or Revolving Period.
ACCOUNTS
With respect to each Trust, the Administrator will establish and maintain
one or more accounts entitled the "Collection Account", the "Pre-Funding
Account", the "Escrow Account", the "Negative Carry Account" and the "Reserve
Account" (collectively, the "Trust Accounts"), in the name of the Indenture
Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders and the Certificateholders.
For any series of Securities funds in the Trust Accounts will be invested
as provided in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement in Eligible Investments.
"Eligible Investments" are generally limited to short-term U.S. government
backed securities, certain highly rated commercial paper and money market funds
and other investments acceptable to the Rating Agencies as being consistent with
the rating of the Securities. Subject to certain conditions, Eligible
Investments may include securities or other obligations issued by the Seller or
its affiliates, or trusts originated by the Seller or its affiliates, or shares
of investment companies for which the Seller or its affiliates may serve as the
investment advisor. Eligible Investments are limited to obligations or
securities that mature not later than the business day immediately preceding the
next Distribution Date. Investment earnings on funds deposited in the Trust
Accounts, net of losses and investment expenses (collectively, "Investment
Earnings"), will be deposited in the Collection Account on each Distribution
Date and will be treated as collections of interest on the related Student
Loans.
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 have a credit rating from each Rating
Agency in one of its generic rating categories which signifies investment grade.
Any such accounts may be maintained with the Seller or any of its affiliates, if
such accounts meet the requirements described in clause (a) of the preceding
sentence. "Eligible Institution" means a depository institution (which may be,
without limitation, the Seller or an affiliate thereof, or the Indenture Trustee
or an affiliate thereof) 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 has a long-term unsecured debt rating
acceptable and/or a short-term unsecured debt rating or certificate of deposit
rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies, and the deposits of which are insured
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC").
SERVICING PROCEDURES
Pursuant to each Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer will
agree to service, and perform all other related tasks with respect to, all the
Student Loans acquired from time to time on behalf of each Trust. So long as no
claim is being made against a Guarantor for any Student Loan, the Master
Servicer will designate the related Sub-Servicer to hold as custodian on its
behalf and on behalf of the Trust, the notes evidencing, and other documents
relating to, that Student Loan. Pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing
Agreement, the Master Servicer is responsible for performing all services and
duties customary to the servicing of Student Loans (including all collection
practices), and to do so (or to cause the Sub-Servicers to do so) with
reasonable care and in compliance with, and to otherwise comply with, all
standards and procedures provided for in the Higher Education Act, the Guarantee
Agreements and all other applicable federal and state laws. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Master Servicer may designate one or more Sub-Servicers to
perform some or all of the requisite duties listed above; provided, however,
that irrespective of the performance or non-performance by a Sub-Servicer, the
Master Servicer shall not be relieved of its responsibilities and obligations
under the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
Without limiting the foregoing, the duties of the Master Servicer (any or
all of which may be delegated by the Master Servicer to a Sub-Servicer) with
respect to each Trust under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement will
include, but not be limited to, the following: collecting and depositing into
the Collection Account (or in the event that daily deposits are not required,
paying to the Administrator) all payments, including claiming and obtaining any
Guarantee Payments, but excluding such tasks with respect to any Interest
Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments with respect to the Student
Loans (as to which the Administrator and the Eligible Lender Trustee will
perform, see "--Administrator" below), responding to inquiries from borrowers
under the Student Loans, investigating delinquencies and sending out statements,
payment coupons and tax reporting information to borrowers. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any of the foregoing activities requires any consents, approvals
or licenses under the Higher Education Act or otherwise, the Master Servicer
shall designate one or more Sub-Servicers that possess such required consents,
approvals and licenses to perform some or all of the requisite duties listed
above; provided, however, that irrespective of the performance or non-
performance by such Sub-Servicer, the Master Servicer shall be responsible for
any failure of a Sub-Servicer to perform such activities. In addition, the
Master Servicer will (or will cause each Sub-Servicer to) keep ongoing records
with respect to such Student Loans and collections thereon and will furnish
quarterly and annual statements with respect to such information to the
Administrator, in accordance with the Master Servicer's or such Sub-Servicer's
customary servicing practices, as applicable, with respect to Student Loans and
as otherwise required in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement.
PAYMENTS ON STUDENT LOANS
With respect to each Trust, except as provided below, the Master Servicer
will (or will cause each Sub-Servicer to) deposit all payments on Student Loans
(from whatever source), and all proceeds of Student Loans collected by it during
each Collection Period into the Collection Account within two business days of
receipt thereof. Except as provided below, the Eligible Lender Trustee will
deposit all Interest Subsidy Payments and all Special Allowance Payments with
respect to the Student Loans received by it during each Collection Period into
the Collection Account within two business days of receipt thereof.
However, in the event that Mellon Bank, N.A. satisfies certain requirements
for monthly remittances and the Rating Agencies affirm their ratings of the
Notes and the Certificates of each series at the initial level, then so long as
Mellon Bank, N.A. is the Administrator and provided that (x) there exists no
Administrator Default and (y) each other condition to making monthly deposits as
may be specified by the Rating Agencies is satisfied, the Eligible Lender
Trustee and the Master Servicer will (and the Master Servicer will cause each
Sub-Servicer) to pay all the amounts referred to in the preceding paragraph that
would otherwise be deposited into the Collection Account to the Administrator,
and the Administrator will not be required to deposit such amounts into the
Collection Account until on or before the business day immediately preceding
each Monthly Servicing Payment Date (as such term is defined in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the "Monthly Servicing Payment Date") (to the extent of
the Master Servicing Fee payable on such date) and on or before the business day
immediately preceding each Distribution Date (to the extent of the remainder of
such amounts). In such event, the Administrator will deposit the aggregate
Purchase Amount of each Student Loans repurchased by the Seller and purchased by
the Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) into the Collection Account on or before
the business day preceding each Distribution Date. Pending deposit into the
Collection Account, collections may be invested by the Administrator at its own
risk and for its own benefit, and will not be segregated from funds of the
Administrator.
<PAGE>
MASTER SERVICER COVENANTS
With respect to each Trust, the Master Servicer will covenant in the
related Sale and Servicing Agreement that:
(a) it will (or will cause each Sub-Servicer to) duly satisfy all
obligations on its part to be fulfilled under or in connection with
the Student Loans, maintain in effect all qualifications required in
order to service the Student Loans and comply in all material respects
with all requirements of law in connection with servicing the Student
Loans, the failure to comply with which would have a materially
adverse effect on the related Certificateholders or Noteholders;
(b) it will not permit (nor will it allow any Sub-Servicer to permit) any
rescission or cancellation of a Student Loan except as ordered by a
court of competent jurisdiction or other government authority or as
otherwise consented to by the related Eligible Lender Trustee and the
related Indenture Trustee;
(c) it will do nothing to (nor will it permit any Sub-Servicer to) impair
the rights of the related Certificateholders and the related
Noteholders in the Student Loans; and
(d) it will not (nor will it permit any Sub-Servicer to) reschedule,
revise, defer or otherwise compromise with respect to payments due on
any Student Loan except pursuant to any applicable deferral or
forbearance periods or otherwise in accordance with its guidelines for
servicing student loans in general and those of the Seller in
particular and any applicable Program requirements.
Certain incentive programs currently or hereafter made available by the
Seller to borrowers may also be made available by the Master Servicer (or a
Sub-Servicer) to borrowers with Student Loans. Any such incentive program that
effectively reduces borrower payments on Student Loans and is not required by
the Higher Education Act will be applicable to the Student Loans only if and to
the extent that the Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) receives payment from
the Seller in an amount sufficient to offset such effective yield reductions.
Under the terms of the related Sale and Servicing Agreement, unless
otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, if the Seller or the
Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) discovers, or receives written notice, that
any covenant of Master Servicer (or a Sub-Servicer) set forth above has not been
complied with by the Master Servicer (or any Sub-Servicer) in all material
respects and such noncompliance has not been cured within 60 days thereafter and
has a materially adverse effect on the interest of the related
Certificateholders or Noteholders in any Student Loan (it being understood that
any such breach that does not affect any Guarantor's obligation to guarantee
payment of such Student Loan will not be considered to have such a material
adverse effect), unless such breach is cured, the Master Servicer will purchase
such Student Loan as of the first day following the end of such 60-day period
that is the last day of a Collection Period. In that event, the Master Servicer
will be obligated to deposit into the Collection Account an amount equal to the
Purchase Amount of such Student Loan and the related Trust's interest in any
such purchased Student Loan will be automatically assigned to the Master
Servicer. In addition, the Master Servicer will reimburse the related Trust with
respect to any Student Loan for any accrued interest amounts that a Guarantor
refuses to pay pursuant to its Guarantee Agreement due to, or for any Interest
Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments that are lost or that must be
repaid to the Department as a result of, a breach of any such covenant of the
Master Servicer (or such Sub-Servicer).
MASTER SERVICING COMPENSATION
With respect to any Trust, the Master Servicer will be entitled to receive,
a servicing fee monthly in an amount in the aggregate equal to a specified
amount per annum of the Pool Balance as of the last day of the preceding
calendar month as set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement and certain
one-time fixed fees for each Student Loan for which a forbearance period was
granted or renewed or for which a guarantee claim was filed, in each case
subject to adjustment, together with other administrative fees and similar
charges specified in the related Prospectus Supplement as compensation for
performing the functions as servicers for the related Trust described above (the
"Master Servicing Fee"). The Master Servicing Fee (together with any portion of
the Master Servicing Fee that remains unpaid from prior Distribution Dates) will
be paid as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
The Master Servicing Fee will compensate the Master Servicer for performing
the functions of third party servicers of student loans as agents for their
beneficial owner, including collecting and posting all payments, responding to
inquiries of borrowers on the Student Loans, investigating delinquencies,
pursuing, filing and collecting any Guarantee Payments, accounting for
collections and furnishing monthly and annual statements to the Administrator.
The Master Servicing Fee also will reimburse the Master Servicer for certain
taxes, accounting fees, outside auditor fees, data processing costs and other
costs incurred in connection with administering the Student Loans. The monthly
fees of the Sub-Servicers will be paid solely by the Master Servicer pursuant to
the terms of the applicable Sub-Servicing Agreement.
In the event of (x) any sale of the Student Loans on behalf of the Trust to
any person (other than the Seller, the Master Servicer, the Administrator, or
the Sub-Servicers) in which the purchaser elects to deconvert the Student Loans
and not retain the applicable Sub-Servicer as the servicer of such Student
Loans, or (y) any termination by the Trust of the applicable Sub-Servicer of the
Student Loans, except for any termination for cause or as a result of any
Sub-Servicer Default by the applicable Sub-Servicer, the Trust shall pay to the
Master Servicer, as a part of the Master Servicing Fee, a deconversion fee per
loan based on the status of the loan at the time of deconversion, in the amount
set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement, but only to the extent that the
Master Servicer is so obligated to the applicable Sub-Servicer.
DISTRIBUTIONS
With respect to each series of Securities, beginning on the Distribution
Date specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, distributions of principal
and interest on each class of such Securities entitled thereto will be made by
the applicable Trustee to the Noteholders and the Certificateholders of such
series. The timing, calculation, allocation, order, source, priorities of and
requirements for all payments to 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 Trust, collections on the related Student Loans will
be distributed from the Collection Account on each Distribution Date to
Noteholders and Certificateholders to the extent provided in the related
Prospectus Supplement. Credit and cash flow enhancement, such as a Reserve
Account, will 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 and/or
interest of a class of Securities of a given series will be subordinate to
distributions in respect of interest on one or more other classes of such
series, 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 ENHANCEMENT
GENERAL. The amounts and types of credit enhancement arrangements and the
provider thereof, if applicable, with respect to each class of Securities of a
given series, if any, 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 subordination of one or more classes of
Securities, Reserve Accounts, over-collateralization, letters of credit, credit
or liquidity facilities, surety bonds, guaranteed investment contracts,
repurchase obligations, interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, interest rate
floors, currency swaps, other agreements with respect to third party payments or
other support, cash deposits or such other arrangements as may be described in
the 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 a Reserve Account and other forms of credit enhancement for
the benefit of any class or series of Securities is intended to enhance the
likelihood of receipt by the Securityholders of 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. The credit enhancement for a class
or series of Securities generally 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.
<PAGE>
RESERVE ACCOUNT. If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement,
pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Seller will establish
for a series or class of Securities a Reserve Account, as specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement, which will be maintained in the name of the
applicable Indenture Trustee. The Reserve Account will be funded by an initial
deposit, if any, by the Seller on the Closing Date in the amount set forth in
the related Prospectus Supplement. As further described in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account will be
increased on each Distribution Date thereafter up to the Specified Reserve
Account Balance by the deposit therein of the amount of collections on the
related Student Loans remaining on each such Distribution Date after the payment
of all other required payments and distributions on such date. Amounts in the
Reserve Account will be available to cover shortfalls in amounts due to the
holders of those classes of Securities specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement in the manner and under the circumstances specified therein. The
related Prospectus Supplement will also specify to whom and the manner and
circumstances under which amounts on deposit in the Reserve Account (after
giving effect to all other required distributions to be made by the applicable
Trust) in excess of the Specified Reserve Account Balance will be distributed.
The Reserve Account is intended to enhance the likelihood of timely receipt
by the holders of Notes and the holders of Certificates of the full amount of
interest due them and to decrease the likelihood that such holders will
experience losses. In certain circumstances, however, the Reserve Account could
be depleted.
STATEMENTS TO INDENTURE TRUSTEE AND TRUST
Prior to each Distribution Date with respect to each series of Securities,
the Administrator (based on the statements and other information provided to it
by the Master Servicer or the Sub-Servicers) will provide to the Indenture
Trustee and the Trust, as of the close of business on the last day of the
preceding Collection Period, a statement which will include the following
information (and any other information so specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement) with respect to such Distribution Date or the preceding Collection
Period as to the Notes and the Certificates of such series, to the extent
applicable:
1. the amount of the distribution allocable to principal of each class
of Securities;
2. the amount of the distribution allocable to interest on each class
of Securities, together with the interest rates applicable with respect
thereto;
3. the amount of the distribution, if any, allocable to any Index
Shortfall Carryover together with the outstanding amount, if any, thereof
after giving effect to any such distribution;
4. the Pool Balance as of the close of business on the last day of the
preceding Collection Period, after giving effect to payments allocated to
principal reported as described in clause (1.) above;
5. the aggregate outstanding principal balance of each class of Notes,
the Certificate Balance and each Pool Factor as of such Distribution Date,
after giving effect to payments allocated to principal reported under
clause (1.) above;
6. the amount of the Master Servicing Fee paid to the Master Servicer
and the amount of the Administration Fee paid to the Administrator with
respect to such Collection Period;
7. the Interest Rate or Pass-Through Rate for the next period for any
class of Notes or Certificates of such series with variable or adjustable
rates;
8. the amount of the aggregate realized losses, if any, for such
Collection Period and the balance of Student Loans that are delinquent in
each delinquency period as of the end of such Collection Period;
9. the Certificateholders' Index Carryover Shortfall, the Noteholders'
Index Carryover Shortfall, the Noteholders' Interest Carryover Shortfall,
the Noteholders' Principal Carryover Shortfall, the Certificateholders'
Interest Carryover Shortfall and the Certificateholders' Principal
Carryover Shortfall (each as defined in the related Prospectus Supplement),
if any, in each case as applicable to each class of Securities, and the
change in such amounts from the preceding statement;
10. the aggregate Purchase Amounts for Student Loans, if any, that
were purchased in such Collection Period;
11. the balance of the Reserve Account, if any, on such Distribution
Date, after giving effect to changes therein on such Distribution Date;
12. for Distribution Dates during the Funding Period, if any, the
remaining Pre-Funded Amount (as such term is defined in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the "Pre-Funded Amount") on such Distribution Date,
after giving effect to changes therein during the related Collection Period
or for each Distribution date during the Revolving Period, if any, the
amount on deposit in the Escrow Account; and
13. the aggregate amount of claim payments deposited into the
Collection Account expressed as a percentage of the Initial Pool Balance.
Each amount set forth pursuant to subclauses (1), (2) (5) and (6) with respect
to the Notes or the Certificates of any series will be expressed as a dollar
amount per $1,000 of the initial principal amount of such Notes or the initial
Certificate Balance of such Certificates, as applicable.
<PAGE>
EVIDENCE AS TO COMPLIANCE
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement will provide that a firm of independent
public accountants will furnish to the Trust and the Indenture Trustee annually
a statement (based on a limited examination of certain documents and records and
on such accounting and auditing procedures considered appropriate under the
circumstances) as to compliance by the Master Servicer and the Sub-Servicers
during the preceding calendar year (or, in the case of the first such
certificate, the period from the applicable Closing Date) with certain standards
under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement relating to the servicing of the
Student Loans.
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement will further provide that a firm of
independent public accountants (which may be the same firm referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph) will furnish to the Trust and the Indenture
Trustee annually a statement (based on the examination of certain documents and
records and on such accounting and auditing procedures considered appropriate
under the circumstances) as to compliance by the Administrator during the
preceding calendar year (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the
period from the applicable Closing Date) with all applicable standards under the
related Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Administration Agreement relating
to the administration of the Trust and the Student Loans.
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement will also provide for delivery to the
Trust and the Indenture Trustee, concurrently with the delivery of each
statement of compliance referred to above, of a certificate signed by an officer
of the Master Servicer or the Administrator, as the case may be, stating that,
to his knowledge, the Master Servicer or the Administrator, as the case may be,
has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement throughout
the preceding calendar year (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, describing each such default. Each of the
Master Servicer, the Administrator and the Sub-Servicers will agree to give the
Indenture Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee notice of certain Master
Servicer Defaults and Administrator Defaults under the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, and Sub-Servicer Defaults under the Sub-Servicing Agreements, as the
case may be.
Copies of such statements and certificates may be obtained by
Securityholders by a request in writing addressed to the Applicable Trustee.
CERTAIN MATTERS REGARDING THE MASTER SERVICER AND THE SUB-SERVICERS
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement will provide that the Master Servicer may
not resign from its obligations and duties as Master Servicer thereunder, except
upon determination that the Master Servicer's performance of such duties is no
longer permissible under applicable law. No such resignation will become
effective until the related Indenture Trustee or a successor servicer has
assumed such Master Servicer's servicing obligations and duties under the Sale
and Servicing Agreement.
<PAGE>
Each Sub-Servicing Agreement will provide that the Sub-Servicer may not
resign from its obligations and duties as Sub-Servicer thereunder, except upon
determination that a Sub-Servicer's performance of such duties is no longer
permissible under applicable law. No such resignation will become effective
until the Master Servicer, related Indenture Trustee or a successor servicer has
assumed such Sub-Servicer's servicing obligations and duties under the
Sub-Servicing Agreement.
Each Sale and Servicing Agreement will further provide that neither the
Master Servicer nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents will be
under any liability to the related Trust or the related Noteholders or
Certificateholders for taking any action or for refraining from taking any
action pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement, or for errors in
judgment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise limited in the related
Prospectus Supplement, neither the Master Servicer nor any such person will be
protected against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of the Master
Servicer's duties thereunder or by reason of reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties thereunder. In addition, each Sale and Servicing
Agreement will provide that the Master Servicer is under no obligation to appear
in, prosecute, or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its
servicing responsibilities under such Sale and Servicing Agreement and that, in
its opinion, may cause it to incur any expense or liability.
Under the circumstances specified in each Sale and Servicing Agreement, any
entity into which a Master Servicer may be merged or consolidated, or any entity
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Master Servicer is a
party, or any entity succeeding to the business of the Master Servicer, which
corporation or other entity in each of the foregoing cases assumes the
obligations of the Master Servicer, will be the successor of the Master Servicer
under such Sale and Servicing Agreement; and under the circumstances specified
in each Sub-Servicing Agreement, any entity into which a Sub-Servicer may be
merged or consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation
to which the Sub-Servicer is a party, or any entity succeeding to the business
of the Sub-Servicer, which corporation or other entity in each of the foregoing
cases assumes the obligations of the Sub-Servicer, will be the successor of the
Sub-Servicer under such Sub-Servicing Agreement.
MASTER SERVICER DEFAULT; SUB-SERVICER DEFAULT; ADMINISTRATOR DEFAULT
A "Master Servicer Default" under each Sale and Servicing Agreement and a
"Sub-Servicer Default" under each Sub-Servicing Agreement will generally include
the following:
(1) any failure by the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable,
to deliver to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in any of the Trust
Accounts (or, in the event that daily deposits into the Collection
Account are not required, to the Administrator) any collections,
Guarantee Payments or other amounts received with respect to the
Student Loans, which failure continues unremedied for three business
days after written notice from the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible
Lender Trustee is received by the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer,
as applicable, or after discovery by the Master Servicer or a
Sub-Servicer, as applicable;
(2) any failure by the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable,
to duly observe or perform in any material respect any other covenant
or agreement in the related Sale and Servicing Agreement or
Sub-Servicing Agreement, as applicable, which failure materially and
adversely affects the rights of Noteholders or Certificateholders and
which continues unremedied for 60 days after the giving of written
notice of such failure (x) to the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer,
as applicable, by the Indenture Trustee, the Eligible Lender Trustee,
the Master Servicer or the Administrator or (y) to the Master Servicer
or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable, and to the Indenture Trustee and the
Eligible Lender Trustee by holders of Notes or Certificates, as
applicable, evidencing not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes or Certificates;
(3) certain events of insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of
assets and liabilities, or similar proceedings with respect to the
Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable, and certain actions
by the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable, indicating
its insolvency, reorganization pursuant to bankruptcy proceedings or
inability to pay its obligations; and
(4) failure by the Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable, to
comply with any requirements under the Higher Education Act resulting
in a loss of its eligibility as a third-party servicer.
An "Administrator Default" under each Sale and Servicing Agreement or each
Administration Agreement will generally include the following:
(1) (A) in the event that daily deposits into the Collection Account are
not required, any failure by the Administrator to deliver to the
Indenture Trustee for deposit in any of the Trust Accounts any
required payment on or before the business day prior to any monthly
servicing payment date or Distribution Date, as applicable, or (B) any
failure by the Administrator to direct the Indenture Trustee to make
any required distributions from any of the Trust Accounts on any
monthly servicing payment date or any Distribution Date, which failure
in case of either clause (A) or (B) continues unremedied for three
business days after written notice from the Indenture Trustee or the
Eligible Lender Trustee is received by the Administrator or after
discovery by the Administrator;
(2) any failure by the Administrator duly to observe or perform in any
material respect any other covenant or agreement in each
Administration Agreement or each Sale and Servicing Agreement which
failure materially and adversely affects the rights of Noteholders or
Certificateholders and which continues unremedied for 60 days after
the giving of written notice of such failure (x) to the Administrator
by the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender Trustee or (y) to the
Administrator, the Master Servicer and to the Indenture Trustee and
the Eligible Lender Trustee by holders of Notes or Certificates, as
applicable, evidencing not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes or Certificates; and
(3) certain events of insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of
assets and liabilities, or similar proceedings with respect to the
Administrator and certain actions by the Administrator indicating its
insolvency or inability to pay its obligations.
RIGHTS UPON MASTER SERVICER DEFAULT; SUB-SERVICER DEFAULT AND ADMINISTRATOR
DEFAULT
As long as a Master Servicer Default under a Sale and Servicing Agreement,
a Sub-Servicer Default under a Sub-Servicing Agreement, or an Administrator
Default under a Sale and Servicing Agreement or an Administration Agreement, as
the case may be, remains unremedied, the Indenture Trustee or holders of Notes
evidencing not less than 25% in principal amount of then outstanding Notes may
terminate all the rights and obligations of the Master Servicer under such Sale
and Servicing Agreement and/or the Administrator under such Sale and Servicing
Agreement or such Administration Agreement, as the case may be, whereupon a
successor servicer or administrator appointed by the related Indenture Trustee,
or such Indenture Trustee, will succeed to all of the responsibilities, duties
and liabilities of the applicable Master Servicer under such Sale and Servicing
Agreement or the Administrator under such Sale and Servicing Agreement and such
Administration Agreement, as the case may be, and will be entitled to similar
compensation arrangements. In the event of a Sub-Servicer Default under a
Sub-Servicing Agreement, the Master Servicer may or, upon the directions of the
Indenture Trustee or holders of Notes evidencing not less than 25% in principal
amount of then outstanding Notes, shall terminate all the rights and obligations
of the related Sub-Servicer under such Sub-Servicing Agreement and appoint a
successor sub-servicer. If, however, a bankruptcy trustee or similar official
has been appointed for the Master Servicer, a Sub-Servicer or the Administrator,
as applicable, and no Master Servicer Default, Sub-Servicer Default, or
Administrator Default, as the case may be, other than such appointment has
occurred, such trustee or official may have the power to prevent the Indenture
Trustee or the Noteholders from effecting such a transfer.
In the event that such Indenture Trustee is unwilling or unable to so act,
it may appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of, a successor servicer whose regular business includes the
servicing of student loans or a successor administrator whose regular business
includes administering trusts containing pools of loans or receivables. The
Indenture Trustee may make such arrangements for compensation to be paid, which
in no event may be greater than the compensation to the Master Servicer under
such Sale and Servicing Agreement or the Administrator under such Sale and
Servicing Agreement and such Administration Agreement, as the case may be,
unless such compensation arrangements will result in a downgrading of such Notes
and Certificates by any Rating Agency. In the event a Master Servicer Default,
Sub-Servicer Default, or an Administrator Default, as the case may be, occurs
and is continuing, such Indenture Trustee or the holders of Notes, as described
above, may cause the removal of the Master Servicer, a Sub-Servicer or the
Administrator, as the case may be, without the consent of the related Eligible
Lender Trustee or any of the holders of Certificates. Moreover, only the
Indenture Trustee or the holders of Notes, and not the Eligible Lender Trustee
or the holders of Certificates, have the ability to remove the Master Servicer
or the Administrator, as the case may be, if a Master Servicer Default or an
Administrator Default, as the case may be, occurs and is continuing.
WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS
With respect to each Trust, the holders of Notes evidencing at least a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (or the holders of
Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the outstanding Certificate
Balance, in the case of any Master Servicer Default, which does not adversely
affect the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of the related series) may, on
behalf of all Noteholders and Certificateholders, waive any default by the
Master Servicer, in the performance of its obligations under the related Sale
and Servicing Agreement, or any default by the Administrator of its obligations
under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement and the related Administration
Agreement, as the case may be, and their respective consequences, except a
default in making any required deposits to or payments from any of the Trust
Accounts or giving instructions regarding the same in accordance with such Sale
and Servicing Agreement. Therefore, the Noteholders have the ability, except as
noted above, to waive defaults by the Master Servicer or the Administrator, as
the case may be, which could materially adversely affect the Certificateholders.
No such waiver will impair the Noteholders' or the Certificateholders' rights
with respect to subsequent defaults.
INSOLVENCY EVENT
If any of certain events of insolvency or receivership, readjustment of
debt, marshaling of assets and liabilities, or similar proceedings with respect
to the Seller or certain actions by the Seller indicating its insolvency or
inability to pay its obligations (each, a "Seller Insolvency Event") occurs, the
Student Loans will be liquidated and the related Trust will be terminated 90
days after the date of such Seller Insolvency Event, unless, before the end of
such 90-day period, the Eligible Lender Trustee shall have received written
instructions from the holders of the Certificates (other than the Seller)
representing more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Certificates (not including the principal amount of Certificates held by the
Seller) to the effect that such group disapproves of the liquidation of the
Student Loans and termination of the related Trust. Promptly after the
occurrence of any Seller Insolvency Event, notice thereof is required to be
given to Noteholders and Certificateholders; provided that any failure to give
such required notice will not prevent or delay termination of the related Trust.
Upon termination of the related Trust, the Eligible Lender Trustee will direct
the Indenture Trustee promptly to sell the assets of the related Trust (other
than the Trust Accounts) in a commercially reasonable manner and on commercially
reasonable terms. Each of the Guarantors and certain other unrelated third
parties will be given the opportunity, upon 30 days' prior notice of any such
proposed sale, to bid to purchase the Student Loans and, if any such entity is
the highest bidder, the Student Loans must be sold to that entity. The proceeds
from any such sale, disposition or liquidation of the Student Loans will be
treated as collections thereon and deposited in the Collection Account. If the
proceeds from the liquidation of the Student Loans and any amounts on deposit in
the Reserve Account, if any, are not sufficient to pay the Notes in full, the
amount of principal returned to the holders of Notes will be delayed and the
holders of Notes will incur a loss. If such amounts are not sufficient to pay
the Notes and the Certificates in full, the amount of principal returned to the
holders of Certificates will be delayed and the holders of Certificates will
incur a loss.
Each Trust Agreement will provide that the Eligible Lender Trustee does not
have the power to commence a voluntary proceeding in bankruptcy relating to the
Trust without the unanimous prior approval of all holders of Certificates and
the delivery to the Eligible Lender Trustee by each holder of Certificates of a
certificate certifying that such holder reasonably believes that the related
Trust is insolvent.
AMENDMENT
Each of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements may be amended by the parties
thereto, without the consent of the related Noteholders or the
Certificateholders, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of such Transfer and Servicing
Agreements or of modifying in any manner the rights of such Noteholders or
Certificateholders; provided that such action will not, in the opinion of
counsel satisfactory to the related Indenture Trustee and the related Eligible
Lender Trustee, materially and adversely affect the interest of any such
Noteholder or Certificateholder. Each of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements
may also be amended by the Seller, the Administrator, the Master Servicer, the
related Eligible Lender Trustee and the related Indenture Trustee, as
applicable, with the consent of the holders of Notes of the related series
evidencing at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
and the holders of Certificates of the related series evidencing at least a
majority of the Certificate Balance for the purpose of adding any provisions to
or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of such Transfer
and Servicing Agreements or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders
of Notes or the holders of Certificates; provided, that no such amendment may
(x) increase or reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the
timing of, collections of payments (including any Guarantee Payments) with
respect to the Student Loans or distributions that are required to be made for
the benefit of the holders of Notes or the holders of Certificates or (y) reduce
the aforesaid percentage of the Notes or Certificates which are required to
consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the holders of all the
outstanding Notes and Certificates.
PAYMENT OF NOTES
Upon the payment in full of all outstanding Notes of a given series and the
satisfaction and discharge of the related Indenture, the Eligible Lender Trustee
will succeed to all the rights of the Indenture Trustee, and the
Certificateholders of such series will succeed to all the rights of the
Noteholders of such series, under the related Sale and Servicing Agreement,
except as otherwise provided therein.
SELLER LIABILITY
Under each Trust Agreement, the Seller will agree to be liable directly to
an injured party for the entire amount of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (other than those incurred by a holder of notes or a holder of
Certificates in the capacity of an investor) arising out of or based on the
arrangement created by the Trust Agreement as though such arrangement created a
partnership under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act in which
the Seller was a general partner.
TERMINATION
With respect to each Trust, the obligations of the Seller, the Master
Servicer, the Administrator, the related Eligible Lender Trustee and the related
Indenture Trustee pursuant to the related Transfer and Servicing Agreements will
terminate upon (x) the maturity or other liquidation of the last related Student
Loan and the disposition of any amount received upon liquidation of any such
remaining Student Loans and (y) the payment to the Noteholders and the
Certificateholders of the related series of all amounts required to be paid to
them pursuant to such Transfer and Servicing Agreements.
If so specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, in order to avoid
excessive administrative expense, the Seller or another party will be permitted
at its option to purchase from the related Eligible Lender Trustee, as of the
end of any Collection Period immediately preceding a Distribution Date, if the
then outstanding Pool Balance is less than the percentage specified in the
related Prospectus Supplement of the Initial Pool Balance (as defined in the
related Prospectus Supplement, the "Initial Pool Balance"), all remaining
related Student Loans at a price equal to the aggregate Purchase Amounts thereof
as of the end of such Collection Period, which amounts will be used to retire
the related Notes and Certificates concurrently therewith. Upon termination of a
Trust, as more fully described in the related Prospectus Supplement, all right,
title and interest in the Student Loans and other funds of such Trust, after
giving effect to any final distributions to Noteholders and Certificateholders
of the related series therefrom, will be conveyed and transferred to the Seller
or such other party.
If so provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, any Student Loans
remaining in the related Trust as of the end of the Collection Period
immediately preceding the Distribution Date which occurs immediately after the
10th anniversary of the Closing Date (the "Auction Date") will be offered for
sale by the related Indenture Trustee. Affiliates of the Seller, the Master
Servicer, the related Sub-Servicers and unrelated third parties may offer bids
to purchase such Student Loans on such Distribution Date. If at least two bids
are received, the Indenture Trustee will solicit and resolicit bids from all
participating bidders until only one bid remains or the remaining bidders
decline to resubmit bids. The Indenture Trustee will accept the highest of such
remaining bids if it is equal to or in excess of an amount (the "Minimum
Purchase Amount") equal to the greatest of:
o the Auction Purchase Amount (as such term is defined in the related
Prospectus Supplement, the "Auction Purchase Amount"),
o the fair market value of such Student Loans as of the end of the
Collection Period immediately preceding such Distribution Date, and
o the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the related Notes and
principal balance of the related Certificates plus, in each case,
accrued and unpaid interest thereon payable on such Distribution Date
(other than any Index Shortfall Carryover).
If at least two bids are not received or the highest bid after the
resolicitation process is completed is not equal to or in excess of the Minimum
Purchase Amount, the Indenture Trustee will not consummate such sale. In
connection with the determination of the Minimum Purchase Amount, the Indenture
Trustee may consult and, at the direction of the Seller, shall consult, with a
financial advisor, including the Underwriters or the Administrator, to determine
if the fair market value of the Student Loans has been offered. The net proceeds
of any such sale will be used to redeem any outstanding Notes and to retire any
outstanding Certificates on such Distribution Date. If the sale is not
consummated in accordance with the foregoing, the Indenture Trustee may, but
shall not be under any obligation to, solicit bids to purchase the Student Loans
on future Distribution Dates upon terms similar to those described above. No
assurance can be given as to whether the Indenture Trustee will be successful in
soliciting acceptable bids to purchase the Student Loans on either the Auction
Date or any subsequent Distribution Date. The related Prospectus Supplement will
specify what will happen in the event the Student Loans are not sold in
accordance with the foregoing.
ADMINISTRATOR
The Administrator will enter into an agreement (as amended and supplemented
from time to time, an "Administration Agreement") with each Trust and the
related Indenture Trustee and an Sale and Servicing Agreement with the related
Trust, the Seller, the Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee, pursuant
to which the Administrator will agree, to the extent provided therein,
(a) in the event that daily deposits into the Collection Account are not
required, to deliver to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in any of
the Trust Accounts any required payment on or before the business day
prior to any monthly servicing payment date or any Distribution Date,
as applicable,
(b) to direct the Indenture Trustee to make the required distributions
from the Trust Accounts on each monthly servicing payment date and
each Distribution Date,
(c) to prepare and file with the Department all appropriate claim forms
and other documents and filings on behalf of the Eligible Lender
Trustee in order to claim any Interest Subsidy Payments and Special
Allowance Payments that may be payable in respect of each Collection
Period with respect to the Federal Loans,
(d) to prepare (based on the quarterly and annual reports received from
the Master Servicer or the Sub-Servicers) and provide monthly,
quarterly and annual statements to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the
Indenture Trustee with respect to distributions to Noteholders and
Certificateholders and any related federal income tax reporting
information and
(e) to provide the notices and to perform other administrative obligations
required by the Indenture, the Trust Agreement and the Sale and
Servicing Agreement. As compensation for the performance of the
Administrator's obligations under the Administration Agreement and the
Sale and Servicing Agreement and as reimbursement for its expenses
related thereto, the Administrator will be entitled to an
administration fee in an amount set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement (the "Administration Fee").
CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDENT LOANS
TRANSFER OF STUDENT LOANS
The Seller intends that the transfer of the Student Loans by it to the
related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of each Trust will constitute a valid
sale and assignment of such Student Loans. In addition, the Seller has taken and
will take all actions that are required under applicable state law to perfect
the Eligible Lender Trustee's ownership interest in the Student Loans and the
collection with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the transfer
of the Student Loans is deemed to be an assignment of collateral as security for
the benefit of a Trust, a security interest in the Student Loans may, pursuant
to the provisions of 20 U.S.C. ss. 1087-2(d)(3), be perfected either through the
taking of possession of such loans or by the filing of notice of such security
interest in the manner provided by the applicable Uniform Commercial Code
("UCC") for perfection of security interests in accounts. A financing statement
or statements covering the Student Loans will be filed under the UCC to protect
the interest of the Eligible Lender Trustee in the event the transfer by the
Seller is deemed to be an assignment of collateral as security for the benefit
of the Trust.
If the transfer of the Student Loans is deemed to be an assignment as
security for the benefit of a Trust, there are certain limited circumstances
under the UCC in which prior or subsequent transferees of Student Loans coming
into existence after the Closing Date could have an interest in such Student
Loans with priority over the related Eligible Lender Trustee's interest. A tax
or other government lien on property of the Seller arising prior to the time a
Student Loan comes into existence may also have priority over the interest of
the related Eligible Lender Trustee in such Student Loan. Furthermore, if the
FDIC were appointed as a receiver or conservator of the Seller, the FDIC's
administrative expenses may also have priority over the interest of the Eligible
Lender Trustee in such Student Loans. Under the related Sale and Servicing
Agreement, however, the Seller will warrant that it has caused the Student Loans
to be transferred to the related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of a Trust
free and clear of the lien of any third party. In addition, the Seller will
covenant that it will not sell, pledge, assign, transfer or grant any lien on
any Student Loan held by a Trust (or any interest therein) other than to the
related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of a Trust, except as provided below.
Pursuant to each Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Sub-Servicer as
custodian on behalf the related Trust will have custody of the promissory notes
evidencing the Student Loans following the sale of the Student Loans to the
related Eligible Lender Trustee. Although the accounts and computer records of
the Seller and, the Master Servicer and the related Sub-Servicer will be marked
to indicate the sale and although the Seller will cause UCC financing statements
to be filed with the appropriate authorities, the Student Loans will not be
physically segregated, stamped or otherwise marked to indicate that such Student
Loans have been sold to such Eligible Lender Trustee. If, through inadvertence
or otherwise, any of the Student Loans were sold to another party, or a security
interest therein were granted to another party, that purchased (or took such
security interest in) any of such Student Loans in the ordinary course of its
business and took possession of such Student Loans, then the purchaser (or
secured party) might acquire an interest in the Student Loans superior to the
interest of the Eligible Lender Trustee if the purchaser (or secured party)
acquired (or took a security interest in) the Student Loans for new value and
without actual knowledge of the related Eligible Lender Trustee's interest. See
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Sale of Student Loans;
Representations and Warranties."
With respect to each Trust, in the event of a Master Servicer Default or a
Sub-Servicer Default, as the case may be, resulting solely from certain events
of insolvency or bankruptcy that may occur with respect to the Seller, the
Master Servicer or a Sub-Servicer, as applicable, a court,
trustee-in-bankruptcy, conservator, receiver or liquidator may have the power to
prevent either the related Indenture Trustee or Noteholders of the related
series from appointing a successor Master Servicer or Sub-Servicer, as
applicable. See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Rights
Upon Master Servicer Default; Sub-Servicer Default; Administrator Default."
CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO RECEIVERSHIP
The Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA"), as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), sets forth
certain powers that the FDIC could exercise if it were appointed as receiver or
conservator of the Seller.
Subject to clarification by FDIC regulations or interpretations, it would
appear from the positions taken by the FDIC that the FDIC, in its capacity as a
receiver or conservator for the Seller, would not interfere with the timely
transfer to the Trust of collections with respect to the Student Loans. To the
extent that the transfer of the Student Loans is deemed to create a security
interest, and that interest was validly perfected before the Seller's insolvency
and was not taken in contemplation of insolvency or with the intent to hinder,
delay or defraud the Seller or its creditors, based upon opinions and statements
of policy issued by the general counsel of the FDIC addressing the
enforceability against the FDIC, as conservator or receiver for a depository
institution, of a security interest in collateral granted by such depository
institution, such security interest should not be subject to avoidance and
payments to the Trust with respect to the Student Loans should not be subject to
recovery by the FDIC as receiver or conservator of the Seller. If, however, the
FDIC were to assert a contrary position, certain provisions of the FDIA which,
at the request of the FDIC, have been applied in recent lawsuits to avoid
security interests in collateral granted by depository institutions, would
permit the FDIC to avoid such security interest, thereby resulting in possible
delays and reductions in payments on the Notes and the Certificates. In
addition, if the FDIC were to require the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible
Lender Trustee to establish its right to such payments by submitting to and
completing the administrative claims procedure under the FDIA, as amended by
FIRREA, delays in payments on the Notes and the Certificates and possible
reductions in the amount of those payments could occur.
In the event of a Master Servicer Default or Sub-Servicer Default or an
Administrator Default, as the case may be, resulting solely from certain events
of insolvency or bankruptcy that may occur with respect to the Master Servicer,
a Sub-Servicer or the Administrator, as applicable, a court, conservator,
receiver or liquidator may have the power to prevent either the Indenture
Trustee or Noteholders from appointing a successor Master Servicer, Sub-Servicer
or Administrator, as the case may be. See "Description of the Transfer and
Servicing Agreements--Rights Upon Master Servicer Default; Sub-Servicer Default;
Administrator Default."
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS
Numerous federal and state consumer protection laws and related regulations
impose substantial requirements upon lenders and servicers involved in consumer
finance. Also, some state laws impose finance charge ceilings and other
restrictions on certain consumer transactions and require contract disclosures
in addition to those required under federal law. These requirements impose
specific statutory liabilities upon lenders who fail to comply with their
provisions. These requirements are generally inapplicable to Student Loans, but
in certain circumstances, a Trust may be liable for certain violations of
consumer protection laws that may apply to the Student Loans, either as assignee
or as the party directly responsible for obligations arising after the transfer.
For a discussion of a Trust's rights if the Student Loans were not originated or
serviced in compliance in all material respects with applicable laws, see
"Description of the Transfer and Servicing Agreements--Sale of Student Loans;
Representations and Warranties" and "--Master Servicer Covenants."
LOAN ORIGINATION AND SERVICING PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO STUDENT LOANS
The Higher Education Act, including the implementing regulations
thereunder, imposes specified requirements, guidelines and procedures with
respect to originating and servicing student loans such as the Student Loans.
Generally, those procedures require that completed loan applications be
processed, a determination of whether an applicant is an eligible borrower under
applicable standards (including a review of a financial need analysis) be made,
the borrower's responsibilities under the loan be explained to him or her, the
promissory note evidencing the loan be executed by the borrower and then that
the loan proceeds be disbursed in a specified manner by the lender. After the
loan is made, the lender must establish repayment terms with the borrower,
properly administer deferrals and forbearances and credit the borrower for
payments made thereon. If a borrower becomes delinquent in repaying a loan, a
lender or a servicing agent must perform certain collection procedures
(primarily telephone calls and demand letters) which vary depending upon the
length of time a loan is delinquent. The Master Servicer has agreed pursuant to
the related Sale and Servicing Agreement to perform (or to cause a Sub-Servicer
to perform) collection and servicing procedures on behalf of the related Trust.
However, failure to follow these procedures or failure of the originator of the
loan to follow procedures relating to the origination of any Student Loans could
result in adverse consequences. Any such failure could result in the
Department's refusal to make reinsurance payments to the Guarantors or to make
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments to the Eligible Lender
Trustee with respect to such Student Loans or in the Guarantors' refusal to
honor their Guarantee Agreements with the Eligible Lender Trustee with respect
to such Student Loans. Failure of the Guarantors to receive reinsurance payments
from the Department could adversely affect the Guarantors' ability or legal
obligation to make Guarantee Payments to the related Eligible Lender Trustee
with respect to such Student Loans.
Loss of any such Guarantee Payments, Interest Subsidy Payments or Special
Allowance Payments could adversely affect the amount of Available Funds (as such
term is defined in the related Prospectus Supplement, the "Available Funds") on
any Distribution Date and the related Trust's ability to pay principal and
interest on the Notes of the related series and to make distributions in respect
of the Certificates of the related series. Under certain circumstances, unless
otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the related Trust has
the right, pursuant to the related Sale and Servicing Agreement, to cause the
Seller to repurchase any Student Loan, or to cause the Master Servicer to
arrange for the purchase of any Student Loan, if a breach of the
representations, warranties or covenants of the Seller or the Master Servicer,
as the case may be, with respect to such Student Loan has a material adverse
effect on the interest of the Trust therein and such breach is not cured within
any applicable cure period. See "Description of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreements--Sale of Student Loans; Representations and Warranties" and
"--Servicer Covenants." The failure of the Seller to so purchase, or of the
Master Servicer to arrange for the purchase of, a Student Loan, if so required,
would constitute a breach of the related Sale and Servicing Agreement,
enforceable by the related Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the related
Trust or by the related Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders of the
related series, but would not constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIRD-PARTY SERVICER REGULATIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
LOAN SERVICING
On November 29, 1994, the Secretary of the Department of Education (the
"Secretary") published final regulations amending FFELP. These regulations,
among other things, establish requirements governing contracts between holders
of federal loans and third-party servicers, establish standards of
administrative and financial responsibility for third-party servicers that
administer any aspect of a guarantee agency's or lender's participation in the
FFELP and establish sanctions for third-party servicers.
Under these regulations, a third-party servicer (such as one of the
Sub-Servicers) is jointly and severally liable with its client lenders for
liabilities to the Department arising from the servicer's violation of
applicable requirements. In addition, if the servicer fails to meet standards of
financial responsibility or administrative capability included in the
regulations, or violates other FFELP requirements, the regulations authorize the
Department to fine the servicer and/or limit, suspend, or terminate the
servicer's eligibility to contract to service FFELP loans. The effect of such a
limitation or termination on the servicer's eligibility to service loans already
on its system, or to accept new loans for servicing under existing contracts, is
unclear. There can be no assurance that a Sub-Servicer will not be fined or held
liable by the Department liabilities arising out of its FFELP activities for the
Trust or other client lenders, or that its eligibility will not be limited,
suspended, or terminated in the future. If a Sub-Servicer were so fined or held
liable, or its eligibility were limited, suspended, or terminated, its ability
to properly service the federal loans and to satisfy its obligation to purchase
federal loans with respect to which it breaches its representations, warranties
or covenants under the Sale and Servicing Agreement could be adversely affected.
However, in the event of a termination of eligibility, each Sale and Servicing
Agreement will provide for the removal of the applicable Sub-Servicer and the
appointment of a successor sub-servicer.
STUDENT LOANS GENERALLY NOT SUBJECT TO DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY
Effective for bankruptcy actions commencing on or after October 8, 1998,
Student Loans are generally not dischargeable by a borrower in bankruptcy
pursuant to the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, as codified in 11
U.S.C. ss.ss.101-1330 (the "Bankruptcy Code") unless excepting such debt from
discharge will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's
dependents.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
EMERGENCY STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 1997. On November 13, 1997,
President Clinton signed into law the Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act
of 1997, which made significant changes to the Consolidation Loan Program. These
changes include:
(1) providing that federal direct student loans are eligible to be
included in a Consolidation Loan;
(2) changing the borrower interest rate on new Consolidation Loans
(previously a fixed rate based on the weighted average of the loans
consolidated, rounded up to the nearest whole percent) to the annually
variable rate applicable to Stafford Loans (i.e., the bond equivalent
rate at the last auction in May of 91-day Treasury Bills plus 3.10%,
not to exceed 8.25% per annum);
(3) providing that the portion of a Consolidated Loan that is comprised of
subsidized Stafford Loans retains its subsidy benefits during periods
of deferment; and
(4) establishing prohibitions against various forms of discrimination in
the making of Consolidation Loans.
Except for the last of the above changes, all such provisions expired on
September 30, 1998. The combination of the change to a variable rate and the
8.25% interest cap reduced the lender's yield in most cases below the rate that
would have been applicable under the previous weighted average formula.
FY 1998 BUDGET. In the 1997 Budget Reconciliation Act (P.L. 105-33),
several changes were made to the Higher Education Act that impact the FFELP.
These provisions include, among other things, requiring federal guarantors to
return $1 billion of their reserves to the U.S. Treasury by September 1, 2002
(to be paid in annual installments), greater restrictions on use of reserves by
federal guarantors and a continuation of the administrative cost allowance
payable to federal guarantors (which is a fee paid to federal guarantors equal
to 0.85% of new loans guaranteed).
1998 AMENDMENTS. On May 22, 1998, Congress passed, and on June 9, 1998, the
President signed into law, a temporary measure relating to the Higher Education
Act and FFELP loans as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act of 1998 that revised interest rate changes under the FFELP that were
scheduled to become effective on July 1, 1998. For loans made during the period
July 1, 1998 through September 30, 1998, the borrower interest rate for Stafford
Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans is reduced to a rate of 91-day Treasury
Bill Rate plus 2.30% (1.70% during school, grace and deferment), subject to a
maximum rate of 8.25%. As described below, the formula for Special Allowance
Payments on Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans is calculated to
produce a yield to the loan holder of 91-day Treasury Bill Rate plus 2.80%
(2.20% during school, grace and deferment).
1998 REAUTHORIZATION BILL. On October 7, 1998, President Clinton signed
into law the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (the "1998 Reauthorization
Bill"), which enacted significant reforms in FFELP. The major provisions of the
1998 Reauthorization Bill include the following:
o All references to a "transition" to full implementation of the Direct
Student Loan Program were deleted from the FFELP statute.
o Guarantor reserve funds were restructured so that federal guarantors
are provided with additional flexibility in choosing how to spend
certain funds they receive.
o Additional recall of reserve funds by the Secretary was mandated,
amounting to $85 million in fiscal year 2002, $82.5 million in fiscal
year 2006, and $82.5 million in fiscal year 2007. However, certain
minimum reserve levels are protected from recall.
o The administrative cost allowance was replaced by two (2) new
payments, a Student Loan processing and issuance fee equal to 65 basis
points (40 basis points for loans made on or after October 1, 1993)
paid at the time a loan is guaranteed, and an account maintenance fee
of 12 basis points (10 basis points for fiscal years 2001-2003) paid
annually on outstanding guaranteed Student Loans.
o The percentage of collections on defaulted Student Loans a federal
guarantor is permitted to retain is reduced from 27% to 24% (23%
beginning on October 1, 2003) plus the complement of the reinsurance
percentage applicable at the time a claim was paid to the lender on
the Student Loan.
o Federal reinsurance provided to federal guarantors is reduced from 98%
to 95% for Student Loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1998.
o The delinquency period required for a loan to be declared in default
is increased from 180 days to 240 days for loans on which the first
day of delinquency occurs on or after the date of enactment of the
1998 Reauthorization Bill.
o Interest rates charged to borrowers on Stafford Loans, and the yield
for Stafford Loan holders established by the 1998 Amendments, were
made permanent.
o Consolidation Loan interest rates were revised to equal the weighted
average of the loans consolidated rounded up to the nearest one-eighth
of 1%, capped at 8.25%. When the 91-day Treasury Bill Rate plus 3.1%
exceeds the borrower's interest rate, Special Allowance Payments are
made to make up the difference.
o The lender-paid offset fee on Consolidation Loans of 1.05% is reduced
to .62% for loans made pursuant to applications received on or after
October 1, 1998 and on or before January 31, 1999.
o The Consolidation Loan interest rate calculation was revised to
reflect the rate for Consolidation Loans, and will be effective for
loans on which applications are received on or after February 1, 1999.
o Lenders are required to offer extended repayment schedules to new
borrowers after the enactment of the 1998 Reauthorization Bill who
accumulate after such date outstanding loans under FFELP totaling more
than $30,000. Under these extended schedules, the repayment period may
extend up to 25 years subject to certain minimum repayment amounts.
o The Secretary is authorized to enter into six (6) voluntary flexible
agreements with federal guarantors under which various statutory and
regulatory provisions can be waived.
o Consolidation Loan lending restrictions are revised to allow lenders
who do not hold one of the borrower's Underlying Student Loans to
issue a Consolidation Loan to a borrower whose Underlying Student
Loans are held by multiple holders.
o Inducement restrictions were revised to permit federal guarantors and
lenders to provide assistance to schools comparable to that provided
to schools by the Secretary under the Direct Student Loan Program.
o The Secretary is now required to pay off Student Loan amounts owed by
borrowers due to failure of the borrower's school to make a tuition
refund allocable to the Student Loan.
o Discharge of FFELP and certain other Student Loans in bankruptcy is
now limited to cases of undue hardship regardless of whether the
Student Loan has been due for more than seven (7) years prior to the
bankruptcy filing.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Set forth below is a general summary of material federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes and the
Certificates. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP ("Federal Tax Counsel") has reviewed
this summary with respect to federal income tax matters and is of the opinion
that the descriptions of the law and legal conclusions contained herein are
correct in all material respects and the discussions hereunder fairly summarize
the federal income tax considerations that are likely to be material to
Noteholders and Certificateholders. The summary is intended as an explanatory
discussion of the possible effects of certain federal income tax consequences to
holders generally, but does not purport to furnish information in the level of
detail or with the attention to a holder's specific tax circumstances that would
be provided by a holder's own tax advisor. For example, it does not discuss the
tax treatment of Noteholders or Certificateholders that are insurance companies,
regulated investment companies or dealers in securities. In addition, any
discussion regarding the Notes is limited to the federal income tax consequences
of the initial Noteholders and not a purchaser in the secondary market.
Moreover, there are no cases or Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings on
similar transactions involving both debt and equity interests issued by a trust
with terms similar to those of the Notes and the Certificates. As a result, the
IRS may disagree with all or a part of the discussion below.
With respect to federal tax matters, the following summary is based upon
current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial or ruling
authority, all of which are subject to change, which change may be retroactive.
Each Trust will be provided with an opinion of Federal Tax Counsel regarding
certain federal income tax matters discussed below, which opinions will be filed
with the Commission on a Form 8-K prior to the sale of the securities issued by
such Trust. An opinion of Federal Tax Counsel, however, is not binding on the
IRS or the courts. No ruling on any of the issues discussed below will be sought
from the IRS. For purposes of the following summary, references to the Trust,
the Notes, the Certificates and related terms, parties and documents shall be
deemed to refer, unless otherwise specified herein, to each Trust and the Notes,
Certificates and related terms, parties and documents applicable to such Trust.
WE ENCOURAGE EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR TO CONSULT WITH ITS TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND ANY OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE,
OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES SPECIFIC TO SUCH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR.
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS
FOR WHICH A PARTNERSHIP ELECTION IS MADE
TAX CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRUST
Federal Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion that the Trust will not be an
association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes. This opinion will be based on the assumption that
the terms of the Trust Agreement and related documents will be complied with and
on counsel's conclusions that the nature of the income of the Trust will exempt
it from the rule that certain publicly traded partnerships are taxable as
corporations.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
TREATMENT OF THE NOTES AS INDEBTEDNESS. The Seller will agree, and the
Noteholders will agree by their purchase of Notes, to treat the Notes as debt
for federal income tax purposes. Federal Tax Counsel will, except as otherwise
provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, deliver an opinion to the Trust
that the Notes will be classified as debt for federal income tax purposes. The
discussion below assumes this characterization of the Notes is correct.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. The discussion below assumes that all payments on
the Notes are denominated in U.S. dollars, that the interest formula for the
Notes meets the requirements for "qualified stated interest" ("Qualified Stated
Interest") under Treasury regulations (the "OID Regulations") relating to
original issue discount ("OID"), and that any OID on the Notes (I.E., any excess
of the stated redemption price at maturity of the Notes, generally the principal
amount of the Notes, over their issue price) is less than a DE MINIMIS amount
(I.E., 0.25% of their principal amount multiplied by the weighted number of full
years included in their term), all within the meaning of the OID Regulations. If
these conditions are not satisfied with respect to any given series of Notes,
additional tax considerations with respect to such Notes will be disclosed in
the related Prospectus Supplement. The OID Regulations do not address their
application to debt instruments such as the Notes that are subject to prepayment
based on the prepayment of other debt instruments. The legislative history of
the OID provisions of the Code provides, however, that the calculation and
accrual of OID should be based on the prepayment assumption used by the parties
in pricing the transaction. In the event that any of the notes are issued with
OID, the prepayment assumption will be set forth in the related Prospectus
Supplement. Furthermore, although premium amortization and accrued market
discount on debt instruments such as the Notes, which are subject to prepayment
based on the payments on other debt instruments, are to be determined under
regulations yet to be issued, the legislative history of these Code provisions
provides that the same prepayment assumption used to calculate OID, whether or
not the debt instrument is issued with OID, should be used.
INTEREST INCOME ON THE NOTES. Based on the above assumptions, except as
discussed in the following paragraph, the Notes will not be considered issued
with OID. The stated interest thereon will be taxable to a Noteholder as
ordinary interest income when received or accrued in accordance with such
Noteholder's method of tax accounting. Under the OID Regulations, a holder of a
Note that was issued with a DE MINIMIS amount of OID must include such OID in
income, on a pro rata basis, as principal payments are made on the Note.
Alternatively, a Noteholder may elect to accrue all interest, discount
(including DE MINIMIS market discount or OID) and premium in income as interest,
based on a constant yield method. If such an election were made with respect to
a Note with market discount, the Noteholder would be deemed to have made an
election to include in income currently market discount with respect to all debt
instruments having market discount that such Noteholder acquires during the year
of the election and thereafter. Similarly, a Noteholder that makes this election
for a Note that is acquired at a premium will be deemed to have made an election
to amortize bond premium with respect to all debt instruments having amortizable
bond premium that such Noteholder owns at the beginning of the first taxable
year to which the election applies or acquires thereafter. The election to
accrue interest, discount and premium under a constant yield method with respect
to a Note is irrevocable. A purchaser who buys a Note for more or less than its
principal amount will generally be subject, respectively, to the premium
amortization or market discount rules of the Code.
Qualified Stated Interest, which is taxable in accordance with the holder's
method of accounting, is interest that is unconditionally payable (I.E.,
payments cam be compelled or the debt instrument provides terms and conditions
that make the likelihood of late payment or nonpayment remote) at least annually
at a single fixed rate (or certain variable rates). The Seller intends to treat
the interest paid on the Notes as Qualified Stated Interest.
A holder of a Note that has a fixed maturity date of not more than one year
from the issue date of such Note (each, a "Short-Term Note") may be subject to
special rules. An accrual basis holder of a Short-Term Note (and certain cash
method holders, including regulated investment companies, banks and securities
dealers, as set forth in Section 1281 of the Code) generally will be required to
report interest income as interest accrues on a ratable basis over the term of
each interest period or, at the election of the holder, on a constant yield
basis. Cash basis holders of a Short-Term Note will, in general, be required to
report interest income as interest is paid (or, if earlier, upon the taxable
disposition of the Short-Term Note). However, a cash basis holder of a
Short-Term Note reporting interest income as it is paid may be required to defer
a portion of any interest expense otherwise deductible on indebtedness incurred
to purchase or carry the Short-Term Note until the taxable disposition of the
Short-Term Note. A cash basis taxpayer may elect under Section 1282 of the Code
to accrue interest income on all nongovernment debt obligations with a term of
one year or less, in which case the taxpayer would include interest on the
Short-Term Note in income as it accrues, and would not be subject to the
interest expense deferral rule referred to in the preceding sentence. Certain
special rules apply if a Short-Term Note is purchased for more or less than its
principal amount.
SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION. If a Noteholder sells a Note, the holder will
recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount
realized on the sale and the holder's adjusted tax basis in the Note. The
adjusted tax basis of a Note to a particular Noteholder will equal the holder's
cost for the Note, increased by any market discount, acquisition discount, OID
and gain previously included by such Noteholder in income with respect to the
Note and decreased by the amount of bond premium (if any) previously amortized
and by the amount of principal payments previously received by such Noteholder
with respect to such Note. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if
the Note was held as a capital asset, except for gain representing accrued
interest and accrued market discount not previously included in income. Any such
gain or loss would be long-term capital gain or loss if the Noteholder's holding
period exceeded one year. Capital losses generally may be used only to offset
capital gains.
FOREIGN HOLDERS. Interest paid (or accrued) to a Noteholder who is a
nonresident alien, foreign corporation or other person that is not a United
States person as such term is defined in the Code and the Treasury regulations
thereunder (a "foreign person") generally will be considered "portfolio
interest", and generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax
and withholding tax, provided, that
(a) the interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business within the United States by the foreign person
(b) the foreign person is not actually or constructively a "10 percent
shareholder" of the Trust, the Seller or the Seller (including a
holder of 10% of the outstanding Certificates) or a "controlled
foreign corporation" with respect to which the Trust, the Seller or
the Seller is a "related person" within the meaning of the Code, and
(c) the foreign person provides the Trustee or other person who is
otherwise required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to the Notes with
an appropriate statement (on Form W-8 or a similar form), signed under
penalty of perjury, certifying that the beneficial owner of the Note
is a foreign person and providing the foreign person's name and
address.
If a Note is held through a securities clearing organization or certain other
financial institutions, the organization or institution may provide the relevant
signed statement to the withholding agent; in that case, however, the signed
statement must be accompanied by a Form W-8 or substitute form provided by the
foreign person that owns the Note. If such interest is not portfolio interest,
then it will be subject to United States federal income and withholding tax at a
rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated pursuant to an applicable tax treaty.
Any capital gain realized on the sale, redemption, retirement or other
taxable disposition of a Note by a foreign person generally will be exempt from
United States federal income and withholding tax, provided that (x) such gain is
not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States by the foreign person and (y) in the case of an individual foreign
person, the foreign person is not present in the United States for 183 days or
more in the taxable year.
If the interest, gain or income on a Note held by a foreign person is
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States by the foreign person (although exempt from the withholding tax
previously discussed if the holder provides an appropriate statement), the
holder generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on the
interest, gain or income at regular federal income tax rates. In addition, if
the foreign person is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch
profits tax equal to 30% of its "effectively connected earnings and profits"
within the meaning of the Code for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain
items, unless it qualifies for a lower rate under an applicable tax treaty (as
modified by the branch profits tax rules).
Final regulations dealing with backup withholding and information reporting
on income paid to foreign persons and related matters (the "New Withholding
Regulations") were published in the Federal Register on October 14, 1997. In
general, the New Withholding Regulations do not significantly alter the
substantive withholding and information reporting requirements, but do unify
current certification procedures and forms and clarify reliance standards. As
set forth in Notice 98-16, 1998-15 I.R.B. 1, the New Withholding Regulations
generally will be effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject
to certain transition rules. THE DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT TAKE THE
NEW WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS INTO ACCOUNT. PROSPECTIVE NOTEHOLDERS WHO ARE
FOREIGN PERSONS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH
RESPECT TO THE NEW WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING. Each holder of a Note (other than an exempt holder such
as a corporation, tax-exempt organization, qualified pension and profit-sharing
trust, individual retirement account or nonresident alien who provides
certification as to status as a nonresident) will be required to provide, under
penalty of perjury, a certificate setting forth the holder's name, address,
correct federal taxpayer identification number and a statement that the holder
is not subject to backup withholding. Should a nonexempt Noteholder fail to
provide the required certification, the related Trust will be required to
withhold 31% of the amount otherwise payable to the holder and remit the
withheld amount to the IRS as a credit against the holder's federal income tax
liability. As previously mentioned, the New Withholding Regulations generally
will be effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject to certain
transition rules.
<PAGE>
RECENT LEGISLATION
Sections 860H through 860L to the Code (the "FASIT Provisions") provide for
a new type of entity for federal income tax purposes known as a "financial asset
securitization investment trust" (a "FASIT"). The legislation providing for the
new FASIT entity, however, did not become effective until September 1, 1997, and
many technical issues are to be addressed in Treasury regulations yet to be
drafted. In general, the FASIT legislation enables trusts such as the Trust to
elect to be treated as a pass-through entity not subject to federal entity-level
income tax (except with respect to certain prohibited transactions) and to issue
securities that would be treated as debt for federal income tax purposes. If a
Trust is intended to qualify as a FASIT for federal income tax purposes, the
Prospectus Supplement will so indicate.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HOLDERS OF THE CERTIFICATES
The following discussion only applies to a Trust which issues one or more
classes of Certificates and assumes that all payments on the Certificates are
denominated in U.S. dollars, that a series of Securities includes a single class
of Certificates and that any such Certificates are sold to persons other than
the Seller. If these conditions are not satisfied with respect to any given
series of Certificates, any additional tax considerations with respect to such
Certificates will be disclosed in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
CLASSIFICATION AS A PARTNERSHIP
TREATMENT OF THE TRUST AS A PARTNERSHIP. The Seller and the Master Servicer
will agree, and the Certificateholders will agree by their purchase of
Certificates, to treat the Trust as a partnership for purposes of federal and
state income tax, franchise tax and any other tax measured in whole or in part
by income, with the assets of the partnership being the assets held by the
Trust, the partners of the partnership being the Certificateholders (including
the Seller in its capacity as recipient of distributions from the Reserve
Account, if any), and the Notes being debt of the partnership. However, the
proper characterization of the arrangement involving the Trust, the
Certificateholders, the Noteholders, the Seller and the Master Servicer is not
clear because there is no authority on transactions comparable to that
contemplated herein.
Under the provisions of Subchapter K, a partnership is not considered a
separate taxable entity. Instead, partnership income is taxed directly to the
partners and each partner generally is viewed as owning a direct undivided
interest in each partnership asset. The partnership is generally treated as an
entity, however, for computing partnership income, determining the tax
consequences of transactions between a partner and the partnership, and
characterizing the gain on the sale or exchange of a partnership interest. The
following discussion is a summary of some of the material federal income tax
consequences of classifying the Trust as a partnership. WE ENCOURAGE PROSPECTIVE
OWNERS OF CERTIFICATES TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE MATERIAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES DISCUSSED BELOW, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MATERIAL INCOME
TAX CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY RESULT FROM APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBCHAPTER K TO
THE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF A CERTIFICATE.
PARTNERSHIP TAXATION. As a partnership, the Trust will not be subject to
federal income tax. Rather, each Certificateholder will be required to
separately take into account such holder's allocated share of income, gains,
losses, deductions and credits of the Trust. The Trust's income will consist
primarily of interest and finance charges earned on the Student Loans (including
appropriate adjustments for market discount, OID and bond premium), investment
income from investments of amounts on deposit in any related Trust Accounts and
any gain upon collection or disposition of Student Loans. The Trust's deductions
will consist primarily of interest accruing with respect to the Notes, servicing
and other fees, and losses or deductions upon collection or disposition of
Student Loans.
The tax items of a partnership are allocable to the partners in accordance
with the Code, Treasury regulations and the partnership agreement (here, the
Trust Agreement and related documents). The Trust Agreement will provide, in
general, that the Certificateholders will be allocated taxable income of the
Trust for each Interest Period (as defined in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, an "Interest Period") equal to the sum of
(a) the interest that accrues on the Certificates in accordance with their
terms for such Interest Period, including interest accruing at the
Pass-Through Rate for such Interest Period and interest on amounts
previously due on the Certificates but not yet distributed;
(b) any Trust income attributable to discount on the Student Loans that
corresponds to any excess of the principal amount of the Certificates
over their initial issue price; and
(c) all other amounts of income payable to the Certificateholders for such
Interest Period.
All remaining taxable income of the Trust will be allocated to the Seller.
Losses will generally be allocated in the manner in which they are borne. Based
on the economic arrangement of the parties, this approach for allocating Trust
income should be permissible under applicable Treasury regulations, although no
assurance can be given that the IRS would not require a greater amount of income
to be allocated to Certificateholders. Moreover, even under the foregoing method
of allocation, Certificateholders may be allocated income equal to the entire
amount of interest accruing on the Certificates for an Interest Period, based on
the Pass-Through Rate plus the other items described above, even though the
Trust might not make (or have sufficient cash to make) current cash
distributions of such amount. Thus, cash basis holders will in effect be
required to report income from the Certificates on the accrual basis and
Certificateholders may become liable for taxes on Trust income even if they have
not received cash from the Trust to pay such taxes. In addition, because tax
allocations and tax reporting will be done on a uniform basis for all
Certificateholders but Certificateholders may be purchasing Certificates at
different times and at different prices, Certificateholders may be required to
report on their tax returns taxable income that is greater or less than the
amount reported to them by the Trust.
An individual taxpayer's share of expenses of the Trust (including fees to
the Master Servicer but not interest expenses) are miscellaneous itemized
deductions which are deductible only to the extent they exceed two percent of
the individual's adjusted gross income (and not at all for alternative minimum
tax purposes). Accordingly, such deductions might be disallowed to the
individual in whole or in part and might result in such holder being taxed on an
amount of income that exceeds the amount of cash actually distributed to such
holder over the life of the Trust. Such deductions may also be subject to
reduction under Section 68 of the Code if an individual taxpayers adjusted gross
income exceeds certain limits.
The Trust intends to make all tax calculations relating to income and
allocations to Certificateholders on an aggregate basis. If the IRS were to
require that such calculations be made separately for each of the Student Loans,
the Trust might be required to incur additional expense but it is believed that
there would not be a material adverse effect on Certificateholders.
COMPUTATION OF INCOME. Taxable income of the Trust will be computed at the
Trust level and the portion allocated to the Certificateholders will be
allocated to them PRO RATA. Consequently, the method of accounting for taxable
income will be chosen by, and any elections (such as those described above with
respect to the market discount rules) will be made by, the Trust rather than the
Certificateholders. The Trust intends, to the extent possible, to (x) have the
taxable income of the Trust computed under the accrual method of accounting and
(y) adopt a calendar-year taxable year for computing the taxable income of the
Trust. The tax year of the Trust, however, is generally determined by reference
to the tax years of the Certificateholders. An owner of a Certificate is
required to include its pro rata share of Trust income for a taxable year as
determined by the Trust in such Certificateholder's gross income for its taxable
year in which the taxable year of the Trust ends.
DETERMINING THE BASIS OF TRUST ASSETS. The will become a partnership on the
first date when Certificates are held by more than one person. On that date,
each of the Certificateholders should be treated as having purchased a share of
the assets of the Trust (subject to the liability for the Notes) followed
immediately by a deemed contribution of such assets to the newly formed
partnership. The partnership's basis in the Trust's assets would therefore equal
the sum of the Certificateholders' bases in their respective interests in the
Trust's assets immediately prior to the deemed contribution to the partnership.
To the extent that the fair market value of the assets deemed contributed to the
partnership varied from the bases of such assets to the partnership, the
allocation of taxable income to the Certificateholders would be adjusted in
accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code to account for such variations.
Under Section 708 of the Code, if 50% or more of the outstanding interests
in a partnership are sold or exchanged within any 12-month period, such
partnership will be deemed to terminate and then be reconstituted for federal
income tax purposes. If such a termination occurs, the assets of the terminated
partnership are deemed to be constructively contributed to a reconstituted
partnership in exchange for interests in such reconstituted partnership. Such
interests would be deemed distributed to the partners of the terminated
partnership in liquidation thereof, which distribution would not constitute a
sale or exchange. Accordingly, if the sale of the Certificates terminates the
partnership under Section 708 of the Code, a Certificateholder's basis in its
ownership interest would not change. The Trust's taxable year would also
terminate as a result of a constructive termination and, if the
Certificateholder's taxable year is different from the Trust's, the termination
could result in the "bunching" of more than 12 months' income or loss of the
Trust in such Certificateholder's income tax return for the year in which the
Trust was deemed to terminate. A redemption of interests is not considered a
sale or exchange of interests for purposes of applying this constructive
termination rule.
DISCOUNT AND PREMIUM. To the extent that OID, if any, on the Student Loans
exceeds a DE MINIMIS amount, the Trust would have OID income. As indicated
above, a portion of such OID income may be allocated to the Certificateholders.
Moreover, the purchase price paid by the Trust for the Student Loans may be
greater or less than the remaining aggregate principal balances of the Student
Loans at the time of purchase. If so, the Student Loans will have been acquired
at a premium or discount, as the case may be. (As indicated above, the Trust
will make this calculation on an aggregate basis, but might be required to
recompute it on a loan by loan basis.)
If the Trust acquires the Student Loans at a market discount or premium,
the Trust will elect to include any such discount in income currently as it
accrues over the life of the Student Loans or to offset any such premium against
interest income on the Student Loans. As indicated above, a portion of such
market discount income or premium deduction may be allocated to
Certificateholders.
DISPOSITION OF CERTIFICATES. Generally, capital gain or loss will be
recognized on a sale of Certificates in an amount equal to the difference
between the amount realized and the seller's tax basis in the Certificates sold.
Any such gain or loss would be long-term capital gain or loss if the
Certificateholder's holding period exceeded one year. A Certificateholder's tax
basis in a Certificate will generally equal the holder's cost increased by the
holder's share of Trust income (includible in gross income) and decreased by any
distributions received or losses allocated with respect to such Certificate. In
addition, both the tax basis in the Certificate and the amount realized on a
sale of a Certificate would include the holder's share of the Notes and other
liabilities of the Trust. A holder acquiring Certificates at different prices
may be required to maintain a single aggregate adjusted tax basis in such
Certificates and, upon sale or other disposition of some of the Certificates,
allocate a PRO RATA portion of such aggregate tax basis to the Certificates sold
(rather than maintaining a separate tax basis in each Certificate for purposes
of computing gain or loss on a sale of that Certificate).
<PAGE>
Any gain on the sale of a Certificate attributable to the holder's share of
unrecognized accrued market discount on the Student Loans would generally be
treated as ordinary income to the holder.
If a Certificateholder is required to recognize an aggregate amount of
income (not including income attributable to disallowed itemized deductions
described above) over the life of the Certificates that exceeds the aggregate
cash distributions with respect thereto, such excess will generally give rise to
a capital loss upon the retirement of the Certificates.
ALLOCATIONS BETWEEN TRANSFERORS AND TRANSFEREES. In general, the Trust's
taxable income and losses will be determined monthly and the tax items for a
particular calendar month will be apportioned among the Certificateholders in
proportion to the principal amount of Certificates owned by them as of the close
of the last day of such month. As a result, a holder purchasing Certificates may
be allocated tax items (which will affect the tax liability and tax basis of the
holder) attributable to periods before the actual transaction.
The use of such a monthly convention may not be permitted by existing laws
and regulations. If a monthly convention is not allowed (or only applies to
transfers of less than all of the partner's interest), taxable income or losses
of the Trust might be reallocated among the Certificateholders. The Seller is
authorized to revise the Trust's method of allocation between transferors and
transferees to conform to a method permitted by future laws, regulations or
other IRS guidance.
SECTION 754 ELECTION. In the event that a Certificateholder sells a
Certificate at a profit (or loss), the purchasing Certificateholder will have a
higher (or lower) basis in the Certificate than the selling Certificateholder
had. The tax basis of the Trust's assets will not be adjusted to reflect that
higher (or lower) basis unless the Trust were to file an election under Section
754 of the Code. In order to avoid the administrative complexities that would be
involved in keeping accurate accounting records, as well as potentially onerous
information reporting requirements, the Trust will not make such election. As a
result, Certificateholders might be allocated a greater or lesser amount of
Trust income than would be appropriate based on their own purchase price for
Certificates.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. The Eligible Lender Trustee is required to keep or
cause to be kept complete and accurate books of the Trust. The Eligible Lender
Trustee will file a partnership information return (IRS Form 1065) with the IRS
for each taxable year of the Trust and will report each Certificateholder's
allocable share of items of Trust income and expense to holders and the IRS on
Schedule K-1. The Trust will provide the Schedule K-1 information to nominees
that fail to provide the Trust with the information statement described below
and such nominees will be required to forward such information to the beneficial
owners of the Certificates. Generally, holders must file tax returns that are
consistent with the information returns filed by the Trust or be subject to
penalties unless the holder timely notifies the IRS of all such inconsistencies.
<PAGE>
Under Section 6031 of the Code, any person that holds Certificates as a
nominee at any time during a calendar year is required to furnish the Trust with
a statement containing certain information on the nominee, the beneficial owners
and the Certificates so held. Such information includes (a) the name, address
and taxpayer identification number of the nominee and (b) as to each beneficial
owner
(x) the name, address and identification number of such person,
(y) whether such person is a United States person, a tax-exempt entity or a
foreign government, an international organization, or any wholly owned agency or
instrumentality of either of the foregoing, and
(z) certain information on Certificates that were held, bought or sold on
behalf of such person throughout the year.
In addition, brokers and financial institutions that hold Certificates through a
nominee are required to furnish directly to the Trust information as to
themselves and their ownership of Certificates. A clearing agency registered
under Section 17A of the Exchange Act that holds Certificates as a nominee is
not required to furnish any such information statement to the Trust. The
information referred to above for any calendar year must be furnished to the
Trust on or before the following January 31. Nominees, brokers and financial
institutions that fail to provide the Trust with the information described above
may be subject to penalties.
The Seller will be designated as "tax matters partner" in the related Trust
Agreement and, as such, will be responsible for representing the
Certificateholders in certain disputes with the IRS. The Code provides for
administrative examination of a partnership as if the partnership were a
separate and distinct taxpayer. Generally, the statute of limitations for
partnership items does not expire before the later of three years after the date
on which the partnership information return is filed or the last day for filing
such return for such year (determined without regard to extensions). Any adverse
determination following an audit of the return of the Trust by the appropriate
taxing authorities could result in an adjustment of the returns of the
Certificateholders, and, under certain circumstances, a Certificateholder may be
precluded from separately litigating a proposed adjustment to the items of the
Trust. An adjustment could also result in an audit of a Certificateholder's
returns and adjustments of items not related to the income and losses of the
Trust.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO FOREIGN CERTIFICATEHOLDERS. It is not clear whether the
Trust would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the United
States for purposes of federal withholding taxes with respect to non-U.S.
persons because there is no clear authority dealing with that issue under facts
substantially similar to those described herein. Although it is not expected
that the Trust would be engaged in a trade or business in the United States for
such purposes, the Trust will withhold as if it were so engaged in order to
protect the Trust from possible adverse consequences of a failure to withhold.
The Trust expects to withhold on the portion of its taxable income that is
allocable to foreign Certificateholders pursuant to Section 1446 of the Code, as
if such income were effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business, at a rate
of 35% for foreign holders that are taxable as corporations and 39.6% for all
other foreign holders. Subsequent adoption of Treasury regulations or the
issuance of other administrative pronouncements may require the Trust to change
its withholding procedures. In determining a holder's withholding status, the
Trust may rely on IRS Form W-8, IRS Form W-9 or the holder's certification of
nonforeign status signed under penalty of perjury. As previously mentioned, the
New Withholding Regulations generally will be effective for payments made after
December 31, 1999, subject to certain transition rules. THE DISCUSSION SET FORTH
ABOVE DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE
PROSPECTIVE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS WHO ARE FOREIGN PERSONS TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS.
Each foreign holder may be required to file a U.S. individual or corporate
income tax return (including in the case of a corporation, the branch profits
tax) on its share of the Trust's income. Each foreign holder must obtain a
taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to the Trust
in order to assure appropriate crediting of the taxes withheld. A foreign holder
generally would be entitled to file with the IRS a claim for refund with respect
to taxes withheld by the Trust, taking the position that no taxes were due
because the Trust was not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. However, interest
payments made (or accrued) to a Certificateholder who is a foreign person may be
considered "guaranteed payments" (to the extent such payments are determined
without regard to the income of the Trust). If these interest payments are
properly characterized as guaranteed payments, then the interest will not be
considered "portfolio interest." As a result, Certificateholders will be subject
to United States federal income tax and withholding tax at a rate of 30 percent
on the Trust's gross income, unless reduced or eliminated pursuant to an
applicable treaty. In such case, a foreign holder would only be entitled to
claim a refund for that portion of the taxes, if any, in excess of the taxes
that should be withheld with respect to the guaranteed payments. AS A RESULT, WE
ENCOURAGE EACH POTENTIAL FOREIGN CERTIFICATEHOLDER TO CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR AS
TO WHETHER THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF HOLDING A CERTIFICATE MAKE IT AN UNSUITABLE
INVESTMENT.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING. Distributions made on the Certificates and proceeds
from the sale of the Certificates will be subject to a "backup" withholding tax
of 31% if, in general, the Certificateholder fails to comply with certain
identification procedures, unless the holder is an exempt recipient under
applicable provisions of the Code. As previously mentioned, the New Withholding
Regulations generally will be effective for payments made after December 31,
1999, subject to certain transition rules.
<PAGE>
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR TRUSTS IN WHICH ALL
RESIDUAL INTERESTS ARE RETAINED BY THE SELLER OR
AN AFFILIATE OF THE SELLER
TAX CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRUST
Federal Tax Counsel will deliver its opinion that a Trust which issues one
or more classes of Notes to investors and all the Residual Interests of which
are retained by the Seller or an affiliate thereof will be treated as a division
of its owner and as such will be disregarded as an entity separate from its
owner for federal income tax purposes, assuming no election will be made to
treat the Trust as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
TREATMENT OF THE NOTES AS INDEBTEDNESS. As discussed above, the Seller will
agree, and the Noteholders will agree by their purchase of Notes, to treat the
Notes as debt for federal income tax purposes. Federal Tax Counsel will, except
as otherwise provided in the related Prospectus Supplement, advise the Trust
that the Notes will be classified as debt for federal income tax purposes.
Assuming such characterization of the Notes is correct, the federal income tax
consequences to Noteholders described above under "Federal Tax Consequences For
Trusts For Which a Partnership Election is Made--Tax Consequences to Holders of
the Notes" would apply to the Noteholders.
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS OF THE NOTES. If, contrary to the opinion
of Federal Tax Counsel, the IRS successfully asserted that one or more classes
of Notes did not represent debt for federal income tax purposes, such class or
classes of Notes might be treated as equity interests in the Trust. If so
treated, the Trust could, in the view of Federal Tax Counsel, be treated as a
publicly traded partnership that would be taxable as a corporation In such case,
the entity would be subject to federal income taxes at corporate tax rates on
its taxable income generated by Student Loans. Such an entity-level tax could
result in reduced distribution to Noteholders and Noteholders could be liable
for a share of such tax.
Furthermore, even if the Trust were not taxable as a corporate, the
treatment of Notes as equity interests in such a partnership could have adverse
tax consequences to certain holders of such Notes. For example, income from
certain classes of Notes to certain tax-exempt entities (including pension
funds) might be "unrelated business taxable income", income to foreign holders
may be subject to U.S. withholding tax and U.S. tax return filing requirements,
and individual holders might be subject to certain limitations on their ability
to deduct their share of Trust expenses. In the event one or more classes of
Notes were treated as interests in a partnership, the consequences governing the
Certificates as equity interests in a partnership described above under "Federal
Tax Consequences For Trusts For Which a Partnership Election is Made--Tax
Consequences to Holders of the Certificates" would apply to the holders of such
Notes.
STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
The discussion above does not address the tax consequences of purchase,
ownership or disposition of the Securities under any state or local tax law. We
recommend that investors consult their own tax advisors regarding state and
local tax consequences.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),
and the Code impose certain requirements on employee benefit plans and on
certain other retirement plans and arrangements, including individual retirement
accounts and annuities, Keogh plans and collective investment funds and separate
accounts (and, as applicable, insurance company general accounts) in which such
plans, accounts or arrangements are invested that are subject to the fiduciary
responsibility provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code ("Plans") and on
persons who are fiduciaries with respect to such Plans in connection with the
investment of Plan assets. Certain employee benefit plans, such as governmental
plans (as defined in ERISA Section 3(32)), and, if no election has been made
under Section 410(d) of the Code, church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of
ERISA) are not subject to ERISA requirements. Accordingly, assets of such plans
may be invested in Notes without regard to the ERISA considerations described
below, subject to the provisions of other applicable federal and state law. Any
such plan which is qualified and exempt from taxation under Sections 401(a) and
501(a) of the Code, however, is subject to the prohibited transaction rules set
forth in Section 503 of the Code.
ERISA generally imposes on Plan fiduciaries certain general fiduciary
requirements, including those of investment prudence and diversification and the
requirement that a Plan's investments be made in accordance with the documents
governing the Plan. In addition, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the
Code prohibit a broad range of transactions involving assets of Plan and persons
(parties in interest under ERISA and disqualified persons under the Code,
collectively, "Parties in Interest") who have certain specified relationships to
the Plan unless a statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption is
available. Certain Parties in Interest that participate in a prohibited
transaction may be subject to an excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 of
the Code or a penalty imposed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA, unless a
statutory or administrative exemption is available. These prohibited
transactions generally are set forth in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of
the Code.
THE NOTES
Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Notes
of each series may be purchased by a Plan. The Trust, any underwriter, the
Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Master Servicer, the
Administrator, any provider of credit support or any of their affiliates may be
considered to be or may become Parties in Interest with respect to certain
Plans. Prohibited transactions under Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of
the Code may arise if a Note is acquired by a Plan with respect to which such
persons are Parties in Interest unless such transactions are subject to one or
more statutory or administrative exemptions, such as:
o Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 96-23, which exempts
certain transactions effected on behalf of a Plan by an "in-house
asset manager";
o PTCE 90-1, which exempts certain transactions between insurance
company separate accounts and Parties in Interest;
o PTCE 91-38, which exempts certain transactions between bank collective
investment funds and Parties in Interest;
o PTCE 95-60, which exempts certain transactions between insurance
company general accounts and Parties in Interest; or
o PTCE 84-14, which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a
Plan by a "qualified professional asset manager".
There can be no assurance that any of these class exemptions will apply with
respect to any particular Plan investment in Notes or, even if it were deemed to
apply, that any exemption would apply to all prohibited transactions that may
occur in connection with such investment. Accordingly, prior to making an
investment in the Notes, investing Plans should determine whether the Trust, any
underwriter, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Master
Servicer, the Administrator, or any provider of credit support or any of their
affiliates is a Party in Interest with respect to such Plan and, if so, whether
such transaction is subject to one or more statutory, regulatory or
administrative exemptions.
Any Plan fiduciary considering whether to invest in Notes on behalf of a
Plan should consult with its counsel regarding the applicability of the
fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the
Code to such investment. Each Plan fiduciary also should determine whether,
under the general fiduciary standards of investment prudence and
diversification, an investment in the Notes is appropriate for the Plan,
considering the overall investment policy of the Plan and the composition of the
Plan's investment portfolio, as well as whether such investment is permitted
under the governing Plan instruments.
THE CERTIFICATES
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Certificates
of each series may not be purchased by a Plan or by any entity whose underlying
assets include plan assets by reason of a plan's investment in the entity (each,
a "Benefit Plan"). Such purchase of an equity interest in the Trust will result
in the assets of the Trust being deemed assets of a Benefit Plan for the
purposes of ERISA and the Code and certain transactions involving the Trust may
then be deemed to constitute prohibited transactions under Section 406 of ERISA
and Section 4975 of the Code. A violation of the "prohibited transaction" rules
may result in an excise tax or other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and
the Code for such persons.
<PAGE>
By its acceptance of a Certificate, each Certificateholder will be deemed
to have represented and warranted that it is not a Benefit Plan.
If a given series of Certificates may be acquired by a Benefit Plan because
of the application of an exception contained in a regulation or administrative
exemption issued by the United States Department of Labor, such exception will
be discussed in the related Prospectus Supplement.
* * *
WE ENCOURAGE A PLAN FIDUCIARY CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF SECURITIES OF A
GIVEN SERIES TO CONSULT ITS TAX AND/OR LEGAL ADVISORS REGARDING WHETHER THE
ASSETS OF THE RELATED TRUST WOULD BE CONSIDERED PLAN ASSETS, THE POSSIBILITY OF
EXEMPTIVE RELIEF FROM THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION RULES AND OTHER ISSUES AND
THEIR POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES.
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION
Securities are being offered hereby in series from time to time through any
of the following methods:
1. By negotiated firm commitment underwriting and public reoffering by
underwriters;
2. By agency placements through one or more placement agents primarily
with institutional investors and dealers; and
3. By placement directly by the Seller with institutional investors.
A Prospectus Supplement will be prepared for each series which will
describe the method of offering being used for that series and will set forth
the identity of any underwriters thereof and either the price at which such
series is being offered, the nature and amount of any underwriting discounts or
additional compensation to such underwriters and the proceeds of the offering to
the Seller, or the method by which the price at which the underwriters will sell
the Notes and/or the Certificates will be determined. Each Prospectus Supplement
for an underwritten offering will also contain information regarding the nature
of the underwriters' obligations, any material relationship between the Seller
and any underwriter and, where appropriate, information regarding any discounts
or concessions to be allowed or reallowed to dealers or others and any
arrangements to stabilize the market for the Securities so offered. In firm
commitment underwritten offerings, the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all of the Notes and/or Certificates of such series, as applicable, if
any such Notes and/or Certificates are purchased. Securities may be acquired by
the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
Mellon Financial Services, Inc., an affiliate of the Seller, may from time
to time act as agent or underwriter in connection with the sale of the
Securities. This Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement may be used by
Mellon Financial Services, Inc. in connection with offers and sales related to
secondary market transactions in any series of Securities. Mellon Financial
Services, Inc. may act as principal or agent in such transactions. Such sales
will be made at prices related to the prevailing prices at the time of sale.
Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with
the Seller to indemnification by the Seller against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to
contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters or agents may be
required to make in respect thereof.
If a series is offered other than through underwriters, the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto will contain information regarding the nature of
such offering and any agreements to be entered into between the Seller and
purchasers of Securities of such series.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters relating to the Securities of any series will be
passed upon for the Seller by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, New York, New York.
Certain federal income tax and other matters will be passed upon for the Trust
by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.
<PAGE>
INDEX OF PRINCIPAL TERMS
Page
10 percent shareholder.................................................84
1992 Amendments........................................................18
1993 Act...............................................................33
1998 Amendments........................................................18
1998 Reauthorization Bill..............................................80
91-day Treasury Bill Rate..............................................21
AACSB..................................................................30
Additional Fundings....................................................16
Administration Agreement...............................................74
Administration Fee.....................................................74
Administrator..........................................................14
Administrator Default..................................................69
Applicable Trustee.....................................................51
Auction Date...........................................................73
Auction Purchase Amount................................................73
Available Funds........................................................77
Bankruptcy Code........................................................78
Base Rate..............................................................49
Benefit Plan...........................................................95
bunching...............................................................89
Calculation Agent......................................................50
Cede...................................................................39
Cedel..................................................................50
Cedel Participants.....................................................52
Certificate Balance....................................................39
Certificate Pool Factor................................................38
Certificateholder......................................................51
Certificates...........................................................47
Closing Date...........................................................57
Code...................................................................82
Collection Account.....................................................59
Collection Period......................................................58
Commission.............................................................12
Consolidation Loan.....................................................26
Consolidation Loan Rebate..............................................28
controlled foreign corporation.........................................84
Cooperative............................................................53
Cutoff Date............................................................13
Deferral Period........................................................22
Definitive Certificates................................................54
Definitive Notes.......................................................54
Definitive Securities..................................................54
Department.........................................................14, 17
Depositories...........................................................50
Depository.............................................................39
Depository Services....................................................52
Direct Consolidation Loan Program......................................27
Direct Student Loan Program............................................33
Distribution Date......................................................40
DTC....................................................................39
effectively connected earnings and profits.............................85
Eligible Deposit Account...............................................59
Eligible Institution...................................................60
Eligible Investments...................................................59
Eligible Lender Trustee................................................13
Eligible Students......................................................19
ERISA..................................................................94
Escrow Account.........................................................59
Euroclear..............................................................50
Euroclear Operator.....................................................53
Euroclear Participants.................................................53
Event of Default.......................................................42
Exchange Act...........................................................12
FASIT..................................................................86
FASIT Provisions.......................................................86
FDIA...................................................................76
FDIC...................................................................60
Federal Assistance.....................................................19
Federal Consolidation Loan Program.....................................18
Federal Direct Consolidation Loan......................................27
Federal Graduate Programs..............................................30
Federal Tax Counsel....................................................81
FFELP..................................................................22
FIRREA.................................................................76
Fixed Rate Securities..................................................49
Floating Rate Securities...............................................49
Forbearance Period.....................................................22
foreign person.........................................................84
Funding Period.........................................................16
Grace Period...........................................................22
Graduate Loans.........................................................17
Guarantee Agreements...................................................17
guaranteed payments....................................................92
Guarantors.............................................................17
Higher Education Act...................................................17
Indenture..............................................................39
Indenture Trustee......................................................39
Index Shortfall Carryover..............................................43
Indirect Participants..................................................50
Industry...............................................................52
in-house asset manager.................................................94
Initial Pool Balance...................................................73
Interest Period........................................................87
Interest Rate..........................................................40
Interest Reset Period..................................................49
Interest Subsidy Payments..............................................18
Investment Earnings....................................................59
IRS....................................................................82
LIBOR..................................................................49
Master Servicer........................................................14
Master Servicer Default................................................68
Master Servicing Fee...................................................63
Minimum Purchase Amount................................................73
Monthly Servicing Payment Date.........................................61
Negative Carry Account.................................................59
New Withholding Regulations............................................85
Note Pool Factor.......................................................38
Noteholder.............................................................51
Notes..................................................................39
OID....................................................................83
OID Regulations........................................................83
Origination Fee........................................................28
Participants...........................................................39
Parties in Interest....................................................94
Pass-Through Rate......................................................48
Plans..................................................................94
PLUS Loan..............................................................32
PLUS Loan Program......................................................18
PLUS Loans.............................................................25
Pool Balance...........................................................39
Pool Factor............................................................38
portfolio interest.....................................................84
Pre-Funded Amount......................................................66
Pre-Funding Account....................................................59
Programs...........................................................17, 18
Prospectus.............................................................39
PTCE...................................................................94
Purchase Amount........................................................58
qualified professional asset manager...................................95
Qualified Stated Interest..............................................83
Rating Agency..........................................................46
Record Date............................................................55
Registration Statement.................................................12
Related Documents......................................................46
related person.........................................................84
Reserve Account........................................................59
Revolving Period.......................................................16
Rules..................................................................51
Sale and Servicing Agreement...........................................57
Secretary..............................................................78
Securityholders........................................................51
Seller.................................................................14
Seller Insolvency Event................................................71
Short-Term Note........................................................84
SLS Loan Program.......................................................17
SLS Loans..............................................................24
SLS Program............................................................24
Special Allowance Payments.............................................19
Specified Reserve Account Balance......................................41
Spread.................................................................49
Spread Multiplier......................................................49
Stafford Loan Program..................................................17
Stafford Loans.........................................................18
Student Loans..........................................................13
Sub-Servicers..........................................................15
Sub-Servicing Agreement................................................15
Systems................................................................52
tax matters partner....................................................91
Terms and Conditions...................................................53
Transfer and Servicing Agreements......................................57
Trust..................................................................13
Trust Accounts.........................................................59
Trust Agreement........................................................13
UCC....................................................................75
Undergraduate Loans....................................................17
Underlying Student Loan................................................26
unrelated business taxable income......................................93
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program.....................................31
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans............................................19
Year 2000 problems.....................................................52
<PAGE>
MELLON STUDENT LOAN TRUST _____-1
$--------------
--------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
--------------
[Underwriters]
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have
not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.
We are not offering the securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted.
Dealers will deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus when acting as
underwriters of the securities, and with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions. In addition, all dealers selling the securities will be required
to deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus until ________, ____.
________________, ____
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
Expenses in connection with the offering of the Notes and the Certificates
being registered herein are estimated as follows:
SEC registration fee........................... *
Legal fees and expenses........................ *
Accounting fees and expenses................... *
Rating agency fees............................. *
Eligible Lender Trustee fees and expenses *
Indenture Trustee fees and expenses............ *
Printing and engraving......................... *
Servicer conversion fees....................... *
Miscellaneous.................................. *
--------------
Total............................... $ *
==============
- -----------------
* To be filed by amendment
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section I of Article Eight of the Articles of Association of the Registrant
(the "Association") provides as follows:
Except as prohibited by federal or state law, rule or regulation, every
Director and officer of the Association shall be entitled as of right to be
indemnified by the Association against expenses and any liability paid or
incurred by such person in connection with any actual or threatened claim,
action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
or other, whether brought by or in the right of the Association or
otherwise, in which he or she may be involved, as a party or otherwise, by
reason of such person being or having been a Director or officer of the
Association or by reason of the fact that such person is or was serving at
the request of the Association as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary
or other representative of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other entity (such claim, action, suit or
proceeding hereinafter being referred to as "Action"); provided, that no
such right of indemnification shall exist with respect to an Action brought
by an indemnitee (as hereinafter defined) against the Association except as
provided in the last sentence of this Section I. Persons who are not
directors or officers of the Association may be similarly indemnified in
respect of service to the Association or to another such entity at the
request of the Association to the extent the Board of Directors at any time
denominates any of such persons as entitled to the benefits of this Article
to the extent not prohibited by federal or state law, rule or regulation.
As used in this Article, "indemnitee" shall include each Director and
officer of the Association and each other person denominated by the Board
of Directors as entitled to the benefits of this Article, "expenses" shall
include fees and expenses of counsel selected by any such indemnitee and
"liability" shall include amounts of judgments, excise taxes, fines,
penalties and amounts paid in settlement. An indemnitee shall be entitled
to be indemnified pursuant to this Section I for expenses incurred in
connection with any Action brought by an indemnitee against the Association
only if (i) the Action is a claim for indemnity or expenses under Section
III of this Article or otherwise, (ii) the indemnitee is successful in
whole or in part in the Action for which expenses are claimed or (iii) the
indemnification for expenses is included in a settlement of the Action or
is awarded by a court.
The Registrant also maintains insurance on behalf of each director and
certain officers against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him in
any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
1.1. Form of Underwriting Agreement *
3.1. Articles of Association of Mellon Bank, N.A.
3.2. By-Laws Mellon Bank, N.A.
4.1. Form of Indenture (including as an exhibit thereto a form of Asset
Backed Note) *
4.2. Form of Trust Agreement (including as an exhibit thereto a form of
Asset Backed Certificate)*
5.1. Opinion of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP with respect to legality*
8.1. Opinion of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP with respect to federal tax
matters (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)*
10.1. Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement*
10.2. Form of Administration Agreement*
23.1 Consent of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (included as part of Exhibit
5.1)*
24.1. Power of Attorney
25.1. Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the
Indenture Trustee (Form T-1)*
- ---------------
* To be filed by Amendment.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) To provide to the Underwriters at the closing specified in the
Underwriting Agreements Notes and Certificates in such denominations and
registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to permit prompt
delivery to each purchaser.
(2) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be permitted
to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant
to the provisions described under 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
Securities 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 its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
(3) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
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.
(4) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, 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 the time shall be
deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
(5) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section
13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
(6) 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;
(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; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.
(7) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, 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.
(8) 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.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Mellon
Bank, N.A. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-3, it believes that the securities rating
requirement for use of Form S-3 will be met by the time of sale of the
securities and it has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 31st day of August, 1999.
MELLON BANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Martin G. McGuinn
---------------------------
Name: Martin G. McGuinn
Title: 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
indicated on the 31st day of August, 1999.
By: /s/ Steven G. Elliott
----------------------------
Steven G. Elliot
Principal Financial Officer
By: /s/ Michael K. Hughey
----------------------------
Michael K. Hughey
Principal Accounting Officer
MARTIN G. MCGUINN, Director, CHRISTOPHER M. CONDRON, President, Chief Operating
Officer and Director, DWIGHT L. ALLISON, JR., Director, BURTON C. BORGELT,
Director, CAROL R. BROWN, Director, FRANK V. CAHOUET, Director, JARED L. COHON,
Director, CHARLES A. CORRY, Director, Ira J. Gumberg, Director, GEORGE W.
JOHNSTONE, Director, ROTAN E. LEE, Director, EDWARD J. MCANIFF, Director, ROBERT
MEHRABIAN, Director, SEWARD PROSSER MELLON, Director, MARK A. NORDENBERG,
Director, DAVID S. SHAPIRA, Director, JOAB L. THOMAS, Director, WESLEY W. VON
SCHACK, Director
By: /s/ Carl Krasik
-----------------------------
Carl Krasik
Attorney-in-fact
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
NO. DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- -------- ----------------------
1.1. Form of Underwriting Agreement *
3.1. Articles of Association of Mellon Bank, N.A.
3.2. By-Laws Mellon Bank, N.A.
4.1. Form of Indenture (including as an exhibit thereto a form of Asset
Backed Note) *
4.2. Form of Trust Agreement (including as an exhibit thereto a form of
Asset Backed Certificate)*
5.1. Opinion of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP with respect to legality*
8.1. Opinion of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP with respect to federal tax
matters (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)*
10.1. Form of Sale and Servicing Agreement *
10.2. Form of Administration Agreement *
23.1 Consent of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (included as part of Exhibit
5.1)*
24.1. Power of Attorney
25.1. Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the
Indenture Trustee (Form T-1)*
- ---------------
* To be filed by Amendment.
EXHIBIT 3.1
MELLON BANK, N.A.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
FIRST: The title of this Association, which shall carry on the business of
banking under the laws of the United States, shall be "Mellon Bank, N.A."
SECOND: The Association's main office shall be located at One Mellon Bank
Center. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The business of the
Association shall be conducted at such office and such other branches and
offices as it may lawfully establish. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to change the location of the main office to any other place within the
limits of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, without the approval of
the shareholders, and shall have the power to establish or change the location
of any branch or branches of the Association to any other location permitted
under applicable law, without the approval of the shareholders subject to
approval by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD: The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of persons who
shall be qualified to serve as such, and the exact number of such Directors
shall be fixed from time to time in accordance with law by action of the
shareholders or of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law,
any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled by action of the Board of
Directors.
FOURTH: The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Association for the
election of Directors and the transaction of all other business that may
properly come before the meeting shall be held on the day specified in the
By-Laws at such place as the Board of Directors may determine. All such meetings
shall be conducted in accordance with such regulations as the By-Laws may
establish or the Board of Directors may prescribe, provided that such
regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of the banking laws of the
United States or of these Articles.
FIFTH: The capital stock of this Association shall be $175,000,000 divided into
35,000,000 shares of the par value of $5 each: but said capital stock may be
increased or decreased from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
the banking laws of the United States, and in the case of the increase of the
capital of the Association, and the proposed issue of shares thereof for cash
only, each shareholder shall have the privilege of subscribing for such shares
as he may be entitled to according to the number of shares owned by him before
such issue. No shareholder, however shall as such holder have any such
preemptive or other right or privilege to subscribe for, purchase or receive any
proportionate or other share of any debt obligations which may be converted into
shares of capital stock or any shares which may be issued upon the conversion of
any such debt obligations or any shares of capital stock which may be issued and
sold by this Association pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option Plan approved by
the shareholders on January 23, 1963, as from time to time amended in accordance
with its terms.
SIXTH: The board of Directors shall have full power to manage and administer the
business and affairs of this Association. All corporate powers of the
Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board of Directors
unless otherwise expressly limited by law. The Board of Directors shall appoint
a Chief Executive Officer, a Chairman and a President of the Association, and it
may appoint, and define the duties and fix the compensation of such other
officers, employees and agents of the Association as may be required to transact
the Association's business. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
Articles, the Board of Directors may establish such policies and procedures for
the regulation of the Association's business and internal affairs as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
SEVENTH: To the fullest extent that the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, as in effect on January 27, 1987 or as thereafter amended, permit
elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, no Director of the
Association shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such for any
action taken, or any failure to take any action as a Director.
This Article Seventh shall not apply to any administrative proceeding or action
instituted by an appropriate bank regulatory agency which proceeding or action
results in a final order assessing civil money penalties or requiring
affirmative action by the Director in the form of making payments to the
Association.
This Article Seventh shall not apply to any actions filed prior to January 27,
1987, nor to any breach of performance of duty or any failure of performance of
duty by any Director of the Association occurring prior to January 27, 1987. The
provisions of this Article shall be deemed to be a contract with each Director
of the Association who serves as such at any time while this Section is in
effect and each such Director shall be deemed to be doing so in reliance on the
provisions of this Article. Any amendment or repeal of this Article or adoption
of any other provision of the Articles or By-Laws of the Association which has
the effect of increasing Director liability shall operate prospectively only and
shall not affect any action taken, or any failure to act, prior to the adoption
of such amendment, repeal or other provision.
EIGHTH: Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others.
SECTION I. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION. Except as prohibited by federal
or state law, rule or regulation, every Director and officer of the
Association shall be entitled as of right to be indemnified by the
Association against expenses and any liability paid or incurred by
such person in connection with any actual or threatened claim, action,
suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
other, whether brought by or in the right of the Association or
otherwise, in which he or she may be involved, as a party or
otherwise, by reason of such person being or having been a Director or
officer of the Association or by reason of the fact that such person
is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary or other representative of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
or other entity (such claim, action, suit or proceeding hereinafter
being referred to as "Action"); provided, that no such right of
indemnification shall exist with respect to an Action brought by an
indemnitee (as hereinafter defined) against the Association except as
provided in the last sentence of this Section I. Persons who are not
directors or officers of the Association may be similarly indemnified
in respect of service to the Association or to another such entity at
the request of the Association to the extent the Board of Directors at
any time denominates any of such persons as entitled to the benefits
of this Article to the extent not prohibited by federal or state law,
rule or regulation. As used in this Article, "indemnitee" shall
include each Director and officer of the Association and each other
person denominated by the Board of Directors as entitled to the
benefits of this Article, "expenses" shall include fees and expenses
of counsel selected by any such indemnitee and "liability" shall
include amounts of judgments, excise taxes, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement. An indemnitee shall be entitled to be
indemnified pursuant to this Section I for expenses incurred in
connection with any Action brought by an indemnitee against the
Association only if (i) the Action is a claim for indemnity or
expenses under Section III of this Article or otherwise, (ii) the
indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in the Action for which
expenses are claimed or (iii) the indemnification for expenses is
included in a settlement of the Action or is awarded by a court.
SECTION II. RIGHT TO ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. Every indemnitee shall
be entitled as of right to have his or her expenses in any Action
(other than an Action brought by such indemnitee against the
Association) paid in advance by the Association prior to final
disposition of such Action, subject to any obligation which may be
imposed by law or by provision in the Articles, By-Laws, agreement or
otherwise to reimburse the Association in certain events.
SECTION III. RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION TO INITIATE ACTION. If a written
claim under Section I or Section II of this Article is not paid in
full by the Association within thirty days after such claim has been
received by the Association, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter
initiate an Action against the Association to recover the unpaid
amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the
indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of
prosecuting such Action. It shall be a defense to any Action to
recover a claim under Section I that the indemnitee's conduct was such
that under Pennsylvania law the Association is prohibited from
indemnifying the indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the burden of
proving such defense shall be on the Association. Neither the failure
of the Association (including its Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel and its shareholders) to have made a determination prior
to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the
indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination
by the Association (including its Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel or its shareholders) that the indemnitee's conduct, was
such that indemnification is prohibited by law, shall be a defense to
such Action or create a presumption that the indemnitee's conduct was
such that indemnification is prohibited by law. The only defense to
any such Action to receive payment of expenses in advance under
Section II of this Section shall be failure to make an undertaking to
reimburse if such an undertaking is required by law or by provision in
the Articles. By-Laws, agreement or otherwise.
SECTION IV. INSURANCE AND FUNDING. The Association may purchase and
maintain insurance to protect itself and any person eligible to be
indemnified hereunder against any liability or expense asserted or
incurred by such person in connection with any Action, whether or not
the Association would have the power to indemnify such person against
such liability or expense by law or under the provisions of this
Article. The Association may create a trust fund, grant a security
interest, cause a letter of credit to be issued or use other means
(whether or not similar to the foregoing) to ensure the payment of
such sums as may become necessary to effect indemnification as
provided herein.
SECTION V. NON-EXCLUSIVITY: NATURE AND EXTENT OF RIGHTS. The rights of
indemnification and advancement of expenses provide for in this
Article (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights, whether
now existing or hereafter created, to which any indemnitee may be
entitled under any agreement or by-law, charter provision, vote of
shareholders or directors or otherwise, (ii) shall be deemed to create
contractual rights in favor of each indemnitee, (iii) shall continue
as to each person who has ceased to have the status pursuant to which
he or she was entitled or was denominated as entitled to
indemnification hereunder and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs
and legal representatives of each indemnitee and (iv) shall be
applicable to Actions commenced after the adoption hereof, whether
arising from acts or omissions occurring before or after the adoption
hereof. The rights of indemnification provided for in this Article may
not be amended or repealed so as to limit in any way the
indemnification or the right to advancement of expenses provided for
herein with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to the
adoption of any such amendment or repeal.
SECTION VI. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Article Eighth shall apply to every
Action other than an Action file prior to January 27, 1987, except
that it shall not apply to the extent that Pennsylvania law prohibits
its application to any breach of performance of duty or any failure of
performance of duty by an indemnitee occurring prior to January 27,
1987.
NINTH: This Association shall have succession until such time as it is dissolved
by the act of its shareholders owning two-thirds of its stock or until such time
as it is terminated in accordance with the laws of the United States.
TENTH: Special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose by the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman or the President,
and any such special meeting shall be held at the place, day and time and upon
such notice as the Board of Directors or such person shall determine. Special
meetings of the shareholders shall be called for any purpose upon written
request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than twenty percent of the
votes which all shareholders are entitled to cast at the particular meeting, and
in such case the Secretary shall fix the place, date and time of the meeting and
shall give due notice thereof. Insofar as may be permitted by law, any action
that might be taken at any meeting of the shareholders may be taken pursuant to
waiver of notice thereof and upon the unanimous written consent of all
shareholders of the Association.
ELEVENTH: Except as otherwise provided by law, these Articles of Association may
be amended at any duly convened regular or special meeting of the shareholders
by the affirmative vote of the shareholder owning at least a majority of the
stock of this Association.
As amended, effective November 19, 1996.
EXHIBIT 3.2
MELLON BANK, N.A.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE ONE
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the shareholders of
the Bank for the election of Directions and the transaction of all other
business that may properly come before the meeting shall be held on the third
Tuesday of April in each year, or if that day is a legal holiday, then on the
next business day following. The annual meeting shall be held at such time and
place and upon such notice as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the shareholders may
be called for any purpose by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, the Chairman or the President, and any such special meeting shall be
held at the place, day and time and upon such notice as the Board of Directors
or such person shall determine. Special meetings of the shareholders shall be
called for any purpose upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast
not less than twenty percent of the votes which all shareholders are entitled to
cast at the particular meeting, and in such case the Secretary shall fix the
place, date and time of the meeting and shall give due notice thereof.
Section 3. ORGANIZATION. The Chief Executive Officer or, in the event
of his absence or disability, the Chairman, the President or any other officer
of the Bank designated by the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings
of the shareholders. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with such
regulations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe or as the
presiding officer may establish.
<PAGE>
Section 4. VOTING. Shareholders may vote at any meeting in person or
by proxies duly authorized in writing. The Board of Directors may fix a record
date for determining those shareholders entitled to vote at any such meeting.
Section 5. QUORUM; SHAREHOLDER ACTION. The presence, in person or by
proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that
all shareholders are entitled to cast shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of shareholders. Unless otherwise
provided by law, any action of the shareholders may be taken by a majority of
the votes cast at any duly convened shareholders' meeting. Any action that may
be taken by the shareholders at a duly convened meeting may also be taken
pursuant to waiver of notice thereof and upon the unanimous written consent of
all shareholders of the Bank; such consent shall set forth the action so taken
and shall be filed with the Secretary.
ARTICLE TWO
Directors
Section 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors shall manage and
administer the business and affairs of the Bank. Except as expressly limited by
law, all corporate powers of the Bank shall be vested in and may be exercised by
the Board of Directors.
Section 2. NUMBER. The Board of Directors shall consist of such number
of Directors as shall be fixed from time to time by the shareholders or by the
Board of Directors.
Section 3. ELECTION; TERM OF NOTICE. The Board of Directors shall be
elected at each annual meeting of the shareholders. Each Director shall hold
office from the time of his election and his qualification to serve as such and
until the election and qualification of his successor or until such Director's
earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Section 4. ORGANIZATION MEETING. A meeting of the Board of Directors
for the purpose of organizing the new Board, appointing the officers of the Bank
for the ensuing year and transacting other business shall be held without notice
immediately following the annual election of directors or as soon thereafter as
is practicable at such time and place as the Secretary may designate.
Section 5. REGULAR MEETINGS. Unless the Board otherwise directs,
regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such
times and places as the Board of Directors shall determine, in its Board
Policies adopted at its Organization Meeting each year.
Section 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The Chief Executive Officer, the
Chairman, or the President may call a special meeting of the Board of Directors
at any time. Any such officer or the Secretary shall call a special meeting of
the Board upon the written request of any three members of the Board. A special
meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be designated by the person
or persons calling the meeting. The person or persons calling the meeting shall
cause such notice of the meeting and of its purpose to be given as he may deem
appropriate, and such notice may be given orally or in writing, in person or by
telephone, mail or telegram.
Section 7. QUORUM; BOARD ACTION. A majority of the Directors then in
office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.
Unless otherwise provided by law, any action of the Board may be taken upon the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present at a duly convened
meeting or upon the unanimous written consent of all Directors.
Section 8. PARTICIPATION OTHER THAN BY ATTENDANCE. To the full extent
permitted by law, any Director may participate in any regular or special meeting
of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors by means
of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear each other.
Section 9. VACANCIES. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy on
the Board. Any Director so elected shall hold office until the election and
qualification of his successor or until such Director's earlier death,
resignation, disqualification or removal.
Section 10. COMPENSATION. Each Director who does not receive a salary
from the Bank or any affiliate thereof shall be entitled to such compensation as
the Board shall determine for his service upon the Board of Directors and any of
its committees, for his attendance at meetings of the Board and any of its
committees and for his expenses incident thereto. Directors shall also be
entitled to such compensation as the Board shall determine for services rendered
to the Bank in any capacity other than as Directors.
Section 11. RESIGNATION; REMOVAL. Any Director may resign by
submitting his resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman, the
President or the Secretary of the Bank. Such resignation shall become effective
upon its submission or at any later time specified. Any Director may be removed
from office by action of the shareholders or the Board taken in accordance with
applicable law.
Section 12. PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR MONETARY DAMAGES.
(a) To the fullest extent that the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, as in effect on January 27, 1987 or as thereafter amended, permit
elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, no Director of the
Association shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such for any
action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a Director.
(b) This Section 12 shall not apply to any administrative proceeding
or action instituted by an appropriate bank regulatory agency which proceeding
or action results in a final order assessing civil money penalties or requiring
affirmative action by the Director in the form of making payments to the
Association.
(c) This Section 12 shall not apply to any actions filed prior to
January 27, 1987, nor to any breach of performance of duty or any failure of
performance of duty by any Director of the Association occurring prior to
January 27, 1987. The provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be a
contract with each Director of the Association who serves as such at any time
while this Section is in effect and each such Director shall be deemed to be
doing so in reliance on the provisions of this Section. Any amendment repeal of
this Section or adoption of any other provision of the By-Laws or the Articles
of the Association which has the effect of increasing Director liability shall
operate prospectively only and shall not affect any action taken, or any failure
to act, prior to the adoption of such amendment, repeal or other provision.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE THREE
Committees of the Board
Section 1. APPOINTMENT; POWERS. The Board may appoint one or more
standing or temporary committees consisting of two or more Directors. The Board
may invest such committees with such powers and authority, subject to such
conditions, as it may see fit.
Section 2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board shall appoint from among its
members an Executive Committee which, so far as may be permitted by law and
except as specifically limited by the Board pursuant to Section 1 hereof, shall
have all the powers and may exercise all the authority of the Board during the
intervals between the meetings thereof. All acts done and powers conferred by
the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be, and may be certified as being,
done or conferred under authority of the Board.
Section 3. TERM; VACANCIES; ALTERNATES. All committee members
appointed by the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may
fill any committee vacancy and may designate one or more eligible Directors as
alternate members of any committee to take the place of any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting. The Chief Executive Officer may appoint a
Director who is eligible to serve on any such committee as a member pro tempore
to take the place of any absent or disqualified member or alternate member.
Section 4. ORGANIZATION. All committees shall determine their own
organization, procedures and times and places of meeting, unless otherwise
directed by the Board and except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE FOUR
Officers
Section 1. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors shall
appoint one of its members to be Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive
Officer shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of
Directors. He shall be the chief executive officer of the Bank and shall have
general executive powers concerning all the operations and business of the Bank.
The Chief Executive Officer shall have and exercise such further powers and
duties as may be conferred upon, or assigned to, him by the Board of Directors,
and he may delegate to any other officer such executive and other powers and
duties as he deems advisable. In the event of the absence or disability of the
Chief Executive Officer, any other officer of the Bank designated by the Board
of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board
of Directors and shall exercise all other powers and authority of the Chief
Executive Officer.
Section 2. CHAIRMAN. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its
members to be Chairman. The Chairman shall have general executive powers and he
shall have and exercise such further powers and duties as may be conferred upon,
or assigned to, him by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 3. PRESIDENT. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its
members to be President. The President shall have general executive powers, and
he shall have and exercise such further powers and duties as may be conferred
upon, or assigned to, him by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer.
<PAGE>
Section 4. SENIOR OFFICERS. The Board of Directors may appoint, or the
Chief Executive Officer may appoint, subject to confirmation by the Board of
Directors, one or more senior officers of the Bank, any of whom may be
designated as Vice Chairmen or as executive, senior, group or administrative
vice presidents or given any other descriptive titles. Each senior officer shall
have and exercise such powers and duties as may be conferred upon, or assigned
to, him by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 5. SECRETARY; ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The Board of Directors
shall appoint a Secretary. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings
of the shareholders, of the Board and of the Executive Committee, and he shall
keep minutes of all such meetings. He shall give such notice of the meetings as
is required by law or these By-Laws. He shall be the custodian of the minute
book, stock record and transfer books and all other general corporate records.
He shall be the custodian of the corporate seal and shall have the power to
affix and attest the same, and he may delegate such power to one or more
officers, employees or agents of the Bank. He shall have and exercise such
further powers and duties as may be conferred upon, or assigned to, him by the
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Board or the Chief
Executive Officer may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries who shall assist
the Secretary in the performance of his duties. At the direction of the
Secretary or in the event of his absence or disability, an Assistant Secretary
shall perform the duties of the Secretary. Each Assistant Secretary shall have
and exercise such further powers and duties as may be conferred upon, or
assigned to, him by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary.
Section 6. OTHER OFFICERS. The Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer or the delegate of either of them may appoint or hire such additional
officers of the Bank, who may be designated as vice presidents, assistant vice
presidents, officers, assistant officers or given any other descriptive titles,
and may hire such additional employees as it or he may deem necessary or
desirable to transact the business of the Bank, and the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or such delegate may establish the conditions of employment of
any of the persons mentioned above and may fix their compensation and dismiss
them. Such persons may have such descriptive titles as may be appropriate, and
they shall, respectively, have and exercise such powers and duties as pertain to
their several offices or as may be conferred upon, or assigned to, them by the
appropriate appointing authority.
Section 7. TENURE OF OFFICE. The Chief Executive Officer, the
Chairman, and the President shall each hold office for the year for which the
Board was elected and until the appointment and qualification of his successor
or until his earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. All other
officers and employees shall hold office at the pleasure of the appropriate
appointing authority.
Section 8. COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors may fix the
compensation of those officers appointed pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of
this Article Four as the Board may deem appropriate, and it may award additional
compensation to any officer or employee of the Bank for any year or years based
upon the performance of that person during any such period, the success of the
operations of the Bank thereof during any such period or any other reason deemed
appropriate. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise direct, the Chief
Executive Officer or his delegate shall fix the compensation of all other
officers or employees of the Bank.
ARTICLE FIVE
Stock, Stock Certificates and Holders of Record
Section 1. STOCK CERTIFICATES. Every holder of fully-paid stock of the
Bank shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of
shares so held. Such certificates shall in such form as the Board of Directors
may from time to time prescribe in accordance with law. Such certificates shall
be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, countersigned by the Secretary or any
other officer so authorized by the Board of Directors and sealed with the seal
of the Bank, and such signatures and seal may be facsimile or otherwise as
permitted by law.
Section 2. TRANSFER OF STOCK. Except as otherwise provided by law,
transfer of share certificates and of the shares of stock of the Bank
represented thereby shall be made only on the books of the Bank upon surrender
to the Bank or its agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares
properly endorsed by the shareholder, or by his assignee, agent or legal
representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of assignment, authority or
legal succession, or by the agent of one of the foregoing thereunto duly
authorized by an instrument duly executed and filed with the Bank in accordance
with regular commercial practice.
Section 3. LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. The holder of any
shares of the Bank shall immediately notify it of any loss, theft or destruction
of the stock certificate representing such shares. New certificates for shares
of stock may be issued to replace such shares upon satisfactory proof of the
loss, theft or destruction and upon such other terms and conditions as the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any person designated by either of
them may from time to time determine.
Section 4. HOLDERS OF RECORD. The Bank shall be entitled to treat any
person in whose name shares of stock of the Bank stand on its books as the
holder and owner in fact thereof for all purposes, and it shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claims to or interest in such shares on the
part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice
thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE SIX
Signing Authority
Section 1. SIGNING AUTHORITY. The Chief Executive Officer, the
Chairman, the President, any senior officer or any Vice President of the Bank
shall have full power and authority, in the name and on behalf of the Bank,
under the seal of the Bank or otherwise, to execute, acknowledge and deliver any
and all agreements, instruments or other documents relating to property or
rights of all kinds held or owned by the Bank or to the operation of the Bank,
all as may be incidental to the operation of the Bank and subject to such
limitations as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may impose.
Any such agreement, instrument or document may also be executed, acknowledged
and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Bank, under seal of the Bank or
otherwise, by such other officers, employees or agents of the Bank as the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the delegate of either of them may
from time to time authorize. In each such case, the authority so conferred shall
be subject to such limitations as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer or the delegate may impose. Any officer, employee or agent authorized
hereunder to execute, acknowledge and deliver any such agreement, instrument or
document is also authorized to cause the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or
any other authorized person to affix the seal of the Bank thereto and to attest
it.
Section 2. TRUST AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT SIGNING AUTHORITY. The
Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman, the President, any Vice Chairman, the
Officer in charge of the Trust and Investment Department, any senior officer or
Vice President in such Department shall have full power and authority, in the
name and on behalf of the Bank as trustee, administrator, executor, registrar,
transfer agent, or in any other fiduciary capacity, under seal of the Bank or
otherwise:
(a) To execute, acknowledge and deliver deeds, bonds, mortgages,
agreements, bills of sale, powers of attorney and all other instruments in
writing that may be necessary or proper in the management or in the sale,
leasing or other disposition of any real or personal property held by the Bank
in any fiduciary capacity; and to execute, acknowledge, deliver or accept
agreements, indentures, deeds of trust or mortgages that may be necessary or
proper in the acceptance of trusts, depositaryships, agency, custodian, escrow
or any other fiduciary accounts;
(b) To execute, acknowledge and deliver any instrument in writing that
may be necessary in order to assign, subordinate, release, satisfy or affect in
any other manner of record the whole or part of any judgment or of any mortgage
or other lien (except a corporate mortgage, deed of trust, indenture or other
instrument executed and delivered to the Bank as trustee for the purpose of
securing an issue of corporate obligations) held by the Bank in any fiduciary
capacity;
(c) To execute, acknowledge and deliver all authentications or
certifications of the Bank as trustee under any mortgage, deed of trust,
indenture or agreement securing or providing for bonds, debentures, notes or
other securities and all certificates as registrar or transfer agent, and all
checks as disbursing agent, and all certificates of deposit, interim
certificates and trust receipts or certificates;
(d) To execute, acknowledge and deliver, pursuant to the terms of any
corporate mortgage, deed of trust, indenture or other instrument executed and
delivered to the Bank as trustee for the purpose of securing an issue of
corporate obligations, any instrument in writing that may be necessary to
assign, modify, release or satisfy any such mortgage, deed of trust, indenture
or other instrument or that may be necessary to release all or any part of the
property covered by such mortgage, deed of trust, indenture or other instrument
from the lien thereof;
(e) To appear in any court of record and to enter upon the record in
such court and assignment, subordination, release or satisfaction, in whole or
in part, of any judgment held by or controlled by the Bank in any fiduciary
capacity;
(f) To verify under oath all pleadings and all other instruments of
every nature and description that may be prepared by or on behalf of the Bank in
any fiduciary capacity and of which such verification may be necessary or
proper.
All such powers and authority shall be subject to such limitations as
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may impose.
Any such agreement, instrument or other document may also be executed,
acknowledged and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Bank in any
fiduciary capacity, under seal of the Bank or otherwise, by such other officers,
employees or agents of the Bank as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, the Officer in charge of the Trust and Investment Department or the
delegate of any of them may from time to time authorize. In each such case, the
authority so conferred shall be subject to such limitations as the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Officer in charge of the Trust and
Investment Department or the delegate may impose.
Any officer, employee or agent authorized hereunder to execute,
acknowledge and deliver any such agreement, instrument or document is also
authorized to cause the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, any Trust Officer or
Assistant Trust Officer or any other authorized person to affix the seal of the
Bank thereto and to attest it.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE SEVEN
Trust and Investment Department
Section 1. EXERCISE OF FIDUCIARY POWERS. The administration of all
fiduciary powers of the Bank, except those incident to the conduct of the
banking business, shall be conducted through the Trust and Investment
Department. All fiduciary records of the Trust and Investment Department shall
be kept separate and distinct from other records of the Bank.
Section 2. TRUST AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE. The Board shall appoint
from among its members a Trust and Investment Committee which, so far as may be
permitted by law and except as specifically limited by the Board pursuant to
Article Three, Section 1 hereof, shall have general responsibility for the
proper exercise of the fiduciary powers of the Bank. The Trust and Investment
Committee may appoint such committees of the Trust and Investment Department as
it may deem necessary or desirable for the proper exercise of the Bank's
fiduciary powers, and it may assign to any such committee or to any officer or
employee of the Trust and Investment Department the administration of such of
the fiduciary powers of the Bank as it may consider proper.
Section 3. MANAGEMENT. The Board of Directors shall appoint an Officer
of the Bank who shall be responsible for the activities of the Trust and
Investment Department, subject to the general supervision of the Board of
Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. The Officer in charge of the Trust
and Investment Department shall do or cause to be done all things necessary or
proper in carrying on the business of the Trust and Investment Department in
accordance with the provisions of law and all applicable regulations.
Section 4. TRUST AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICERS. The Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Officer in charge of the Trust and
Investment Department may appoint such other officers of the Trust and
Investment Department as it or he may deem necessary or desirable for the proper
exercise of the Bank's fiduciary powers. Such officers shall, respectively, have
and exercise such powers and duties as pertain to their several offices or as
may be conferred upon, or assigned to, them by the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer or the Officer in charge of the Trust and Investment
Department.
Section 5. TRUST SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS. Any funds or assets held
in the Trust and Investment Department shall be kept separate from the assets of
the Bank and shall be placed in the joint custody or control of not less than
two officers or employees of the Bank who are adequately bonded and are
designated for that purpose by the Trust and Investment Committee of the Board
of Directors or by any officer of the Trust and Investment Department to whom
the Trust and Investment Committee may delegate such power of designation.
ARTICLE EIGHT
General Provisions
Section 1. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Bank shall be the
calendar year.
Section 2. RECORDS. The Articles of Association, By-Laws and the
proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, the
Executive Committee, and any other committee of the Board shall be recorded in
appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting
shall be signed by the Secretary or other person acting as secretary of the
meeting.
Section 3. SEAL. The Board of Directors shall from time to time
prescribe the form of a suitable corporate seal.
Section 4. GENDER AND NUMBER. Any reference in these By-Laws to one
gender, whether masculine, feminine or neuter, includes the other two, and the
singular includes the plural and vice versa unless the context indicates
otherwise.
Section 5. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PROCEDURES. To the extent not
inconsistent with applicable Federal banking statutes or regulations, or bank
safety and soundness, the Bank's corporate governance procedures shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
Section 6. CERTAIN INDEMNIFICATION PAYMENTS. For purposes of the
designation contemplated by 12 CFR ss. 7.2014(b) (or any successor provision),
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall govern indemnification
payments and requests for indemnification payments referred to in that paragraph
(or any successor provision).
<PAGE>
ARTICLE NINE
By-Laws
Section 1. AMENDMENTS. These By-Laws may be amended, altered and
repealed, and new By-Laws may be adopted, either by action of the shareholders
or (except as otherwise provided by law) by action of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. INSPECTION. A copy of the By-Laws, with all amendments
thereto, shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the head office of
the Bank and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during normal
business hours.
As amended, effective November 19, 1996.
EXHIBIT 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
MELLON BANK, N.A.
Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Carl Krasik and William E. Marquis, and each of them,
such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and revocation, for such person and in such person's name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, (i) to sign one or more Registration
Statements pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to
the registration of up to $1 billion aggregate principal amount of debt
securities backed by federally-guaranteed student loans, and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) to sign and file any and all
documents and instruments required by state securities or blue sky laws in
connection with the securities covered by the above Registration Statement,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in connection with any of the above, as fully to all
intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
This power of attorney shall be effective as of August 20, 1999 and shall
continue in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a writing
filed with the Secretary of the Bank.
/s/ Martin G. McGuinn
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Martin G. McGuinn, Director and Pemberton Hutchinson, Director
Principal Executive Officer
/s/ Dwight L. Allison, Jr. /s/ George W. Johnstone
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Dwight L. Allison, Jr., Director George W. Johnstone, Director
/s/ Burton C. Borgelt /s/ Rotan E. Lee
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Burton C. Borgelt, Director Rotan E. Lee, Director
/s/ Carol R. Brown /s/ Edward J. McAniff
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Carol R. Brown, Director Edward J. McAniff, Director
/s/ Frank V. Cahouet /s/ Robert Mehrabian
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Frank V. Cahouet, Director Robert Mehrabian, Director
/s/ Jared L. Cohon /s/ Seward Prosser Mellon
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Jared L. Cohon, Director Seward Prosser Mellon, Director
/s/ Christopher M. Condron /s/ Mark A. Nordenberg
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Christopher M. Condron, Director Mark A. Nordenberg, Director
/s/ David S. Shapira
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
J. W. Connolly, Director David S. Shapira, Director
/s/ Charles A. Corry /s/ Joab L. Thomas
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Charles A. Corry, Director Joab L. Thomas, Director
/s/ Ira J. Gumberg /s/ Wesley W. von Schack
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Ira J. Gumberg, Director Wesley W. von Schack, Director
