EX-10.4



 




EXHIBIT
10.4





EXECUTION COPY




 





HSBC FUNDING (USA) INC. V,




Transferor




and




WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,




Owner Trustee




AMENDED AND RESTATED

TRUST AGREEMENT

amending and restating in full the

Trust Agreement dated as of June 12, 2001




Dated as of August 11, 2006




 





 









 








TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 1.01 Capitalized Terms
	 	 	1	 
	Section 1.02 Other Definitional Provisions
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION
	 	 	4	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 2.01 Name
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.02 Office
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.03 Purpose and Powers
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.04 Appointment of Owner Trustee
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.05 Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.07 Title to Trust Estate
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.08 Situs of Trust; Principal Office of Owner Trustee
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.09 Representations and Warranties of Transferor
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.10 Liability of Holders of the Certificates
	 	 	7	 
	Section 2.11 Payments and Distributions
	 	 	7	 
	Section 2.12 Fiscal Year
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III CERTIFICATES
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 3.01 Initial Ownership
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.02 Form of Certificates
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.03 Authentication of Certificates
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.04 Restrictions on Transfer
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificate
	 	 	9	 
	Section 3.06 Issuance of New Transferor Certificates
	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV ACTIONS BY OWNER TRUSTEE
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 4.01 Prior Notice to Transferor with Respect to Certain Matters
	 	 	11	 
	Section 4.02 Restrictions on Power
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE
	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 5.01 General Authority
	 	 	12	 
	Section 5.02 General Duties
	 	 	12	 
	Section 5.03 Action Upon Instruction
	 	 	12	 






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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	Section 5.04 No Duties Except as Specified in this Agreement or in Instructions
	 	 	13	 
	Section 5.05 No Action Except under Specified Documents or Instructions
	 	 	13	 
	Section 5.06 Restrictions
	 	 	14	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE
	 	 	15	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 6.01 Acceptance of Trust and Duties
	 	 	15	 
	Section 6.02 Furnishing of Documents
	 	 	16	 
	Section 6.03 Representations and Warranties
	 	 	16	 
	Section 6.04 Reliance; Advice of Counsel
	 	 	17	 
	Section 6.05 Not Acting in Individual Capacity
	 	 	17	 
	Section 6.06 Owner Trustee Not Liable for Certificates, Notes or Receivables
	 	 	17	 
	Section 6.07 Owner Trustee May Own Notes
	 	 	18	 
	Section 6.08 Payments from Owner Trust Estate
	 	 	18	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VII COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE
	 	 	19	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 7.01 Owner Trustee’s Fees and Expenses
	 	 	19	 
	Section 7.02 Indemnification
	 	 	19	 
	Section 7.03 Payments to the Owner Trustee
	 	 	19	 
	Section 7.04 Non-recourse Obligations
	 	 	19	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT
	 	 	21	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 8.01 Termination of Trust Agreement
	 	 	21	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IX SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES
	 	 	22	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 9.01 Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee
	 	 	22	 
	Section 9.02 Resignation or Removal of Owner Trustee
	 	 	22	 
	Section 9.03 Successor Owner Trustee
	 	 	23	 
	Section 9.04 Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee
	 	 	23	 
	Section 9.05 Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee
	 	 	23	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
	 	 	25	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 10.01 Supplements and Amendments
	 	 	25	 
	Section 10.02 No Legal Title to Trust Estate in Transferor
	 	 	26	 






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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	Section 10.03  Limitations on Rights of Others
	 	 	26	 
	Section 10.04  Notices
	 	 	26	 
	Section 10.05  Severability
	 	 	26	 
	Section 10.06  Separate Counterparts
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.07  Successors and Assigns
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.08  Nonpetition Covenants
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.09  No Recourse
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.10  Headings
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.11  GOVERNING LAW
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.12  Acceptance of Terms of Agreement
	 	 	27	 
	Section 10.13  Integration of Documents
	 	 	28	 







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EXHIBITS




	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT A   FORM OF TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE

	 	A-1






 iv









 





     This HSBC PRIVATE LABEL CREDIT CARD MASTER NOTE TRUST (USA) I AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST
AGREEMENT, dated as of August 11, 2006, between HSBC FUNDING (USA) INC. V, a Delaware corporation,
as Transferor, and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as Owner Trustee,
amends and restates in full the Trust Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2001, between the Transferor
and the Owner Trustee.



ARTICLE I




DEFINITIONS




     Section 1.01 Capitalized Terms. For all purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:



     “Agreement” shall mean this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement relating to the HSBC
Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust (USA) I, as the same may be amended, modified or
otherwise supplemented from time to time.



     “Certificates” shall mean, unless otherwise indicated, the Transferor Certificates and
any Supplemental Certificates.



     “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.



     “Corporate Trust Office” shall mean, with respect to the Owner Trustee, the principal
corporate trust office of the Owner Trustee located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration; or such other address as the Owner Trustee
may designate by notice to the Transferor, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor
Owner Trustee (the address of which the successor Owner Trustee will notify the Transferor).



     “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.



     “Expenses” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.02.



     “Foreclosure Remedy” shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.



     “Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.02.



     “Indenture” shall mean the Amended and Restated Master Indenture, dated as of August
11, 2006, between the Owner Trustee and U.S. Bank National Association, as Indenture Trustee, as
the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.



     “Indenture Trustee” shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual
capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, and any successor Indenture Trustee
under the Indenture.



     “Issuer” shall mean the Trust.



 









 





     “Owner” shall mean HSBC Funding (USA) Inc. V, and its successors and permitted
assigns, in its capacity as holder of the Transferor Certificate.



     “Owner Trustee” shall mean Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation,
not in its individual capacity but solely as owner trustee under this Agreement (unless otherwise
specified herein), and any successor Owner Trustee hereunder.



     “Plan” shall mean (i) an employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA or (ii) a plan (within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(2)
of the Code) that is subject to Section 4975 of the Code.



     “Secretary of State” shall mean the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.



     “Supplemental Certificate” shall have the meaning specified in subsection 3.06(b).



     “Transfer and Servicing Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Transfer and
Servicing Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2006, among the Issuer, the Transferor and HSBC Finance
Corporation, as Servicer, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.



     “Transferor” shall mean HSBC Funding (USA) Inc. V, in its capacity as Transferor
hereunder and its successors and assigns in such capacity.



     “Transferor Certificate Supplement” shall have the meaning specified in subsection
3.06(b).



     “Transferor Certificates” shall mean the Transferor’s uncertificated interest in the
Trust as set forth in Section 3.06; provided, however, if the Transferor elects to evidence such
interest in certificated form pursuant to Section 3.06, the certificates shall be executed by the
Transferor and authenticated by or on behalf of the Owner Trustee, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.



     “Trust” shall mean the trust created by this Agreement, acting by and through
Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee.



     “Trust Company” shall mean Wilmington Trust Company.



     “Trust Estate” shall mean all right, title and interest of the Owner Trustee in and to
the property and rights assigned to the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 2.05 of this Agreement
and Section 2.01 of the Transfer and Servicing Agreement, all monies, investment property,
instruments and other property on deposit from time to time in the Collection Account, the Series
Accounts and the Special Funding Account and all other property of the Trust from time to time,
including any rights of the Owner Trustee pursuant to the Transaction Documents.



     “Trust Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.01.



     Section 1.02 Other Definitional Provisions. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined have the meanings assigned to them in the Transfer and Servicing Agreement or, if
not defined therein, in the Indenture.



2









 





     (a) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.



     (b) As used in this Agreement and in any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not defined in this Agreement or in any such
certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Agreement or in any such
certificate or other document to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given
to them under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles, as
applicable and as in effect on the date of this Agreement. To the extent that the definitions of
accounting terms in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are inconsistent
with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory
accounting principles in the United States, the definitions contained in this Agreement or in any
such certificate or other document shall control.



     (c) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement; references to any subsection, Section, Schedule or Exhibit
are references to subsections, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified; and the term “including” means “including without limitation.”



     (d) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the
plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of
such terms.



[End of Article I]




3









 








ARTICLE II




ORGANIZATION




     Section 2.01 Name. The Trust created hereby, formerly known as “Household Credit Card
Master Note Trust I”, shall, effective as of August 11, 2006, be known as “HSBC Private Label
Credit Card Master Note Trust (USA) I”, in which name the Owner Trustee may conduct any activities
and business of the Trust contemplated hereby, execute contracts and other instruments.



     Section 2.02 Office. The office of the Trust shall be in care of the Owner Trustee at
the Corporate Trust Office or at such other address in the State of Delaware as the Owner Trustee
may designate by written notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Transferor.



     Section 2.03 Purpose and Powers. The purpose of the Trust is and the Owner Trustee
shall have the power and authority to engage in the following activities:




     (i) to issue the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the Certificates pursuant to this
Agreement;




     (ii) with the proceeds of the sale of the Notes and the Certificates, to acquire the
Receivables and related property and to pay the Transferor the amounts owed pursuant to
Section 2.01 of the Transfer and Servicing Agreement;




     (iii) to assign, grant, pledge and mortgage the Collateral pursuant to the Indenture
and to hold, manage and distribute to the Transferor and the Noteholders pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents any portion of the Collateral released
from the lien of, and remitted to the Trust pursuant to, the Indenture;




     (iv) to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which
it is to be a party;




     (v) to engage in those activities, including entering into agreements, that are
necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish the foregoing or are incidental thereto or
connected therewith;




     (vi) to own preferred stock in the Transferor; and




     (vii) subject to compliance with the Transaction Documents, to engage in such other
activities as may be required in connection with conservation of the Trust Estate and the
making of payments to the Noteholders and distributions to the Transferor.



     The Owner Trustee shall not engage in any activity other than in connection with the foregoing
or other than as required or authorized by the terms of this Agreement or the Transaction
Documents.



4









 





     Section 2.04 Appointment of Owner Trustee. The Transferor hereby appoints the Trust
Company as Owner Trustee of the Trust effective as of the date hereof, to have all the rights,
powers and duties set forth herein.



     Section 2.05 Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate. The Transferor has
assigned, transferred, conveyed and set over to the Owner Trustee, the sum of $1. The Owner
Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt in trust from the Transferor of the foregoing contribution,
which constituted the initial Trust Estate and has been held by the Owner Trustee. The Transferor
shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they may arise or shall, upon the request of the
Owner Trustee, promptly reimburse the Owner Trustee for any such expenses paid by the Owner
Trustee.



     Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust. The Owner Trustee hereby declares that it will
hold the Trust Estate in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the use and
benefit of the Transferor, subject to the obligations of the Trust under the Transaction Documents
to which it is a party. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust constitute a
common law trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. It is the intention of the parties
hereto that, for federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes, the Trust and its
assets shall be treated as a security device and disregarded as an entity and not treated as an
association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, and the Trust’s assets shall
be treated as owned in whole by the Transferor. The parties hereto agree that they will make no
election and will take no action contrary to the foregoing intention. In addition, unless
otherwise specified in any Indenture Supplement, any Class of any Series of Notes issued by the
Trust will be treated as indebtedness of the Transferor secured by the assets in the Trust.
Effective as of the date hereof, the Owner Trustee shall have all rights, powers and duties set
forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust.



     Section 2.07 Title to Trust Estate. Legal title to all of the Trust Estate shall be
vested at all times in the Owner Trustee, a co-trustee and/or a separate trustee, as the case may
be.



     Section 2.08 Situs of Trust; Principal Office of Owner Trustee. The Trust will be
located and administered in the State of Delaware. All bank accounts maintained by the Owner
Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall be located in the State of Delaware, the State of New York or
the State of Minnesota. The Trust shall not have any employees in any state other than Delaware;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall restrict or prohibit the Owner Trustee from having
employees within or without the State of Delaware. Payments will be received by the Trust only in
Delaware, New York or Minnesota, and payments will be made by the Trust only from Delaware, New
York or Minnesota. The only office of the Trust will be at the Corporate Trust Office in Delaware.



     Section 2.09 Representations and Warranties of Transferor. The Transferor hereby
represents and warrants to the Owner Trustee that:



     (a) The Transferor is a Delaware corporation duly organized and validly existing in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has full corporate power and authority to own
its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are presently owned and such business
is presently conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this



5









 







Agreement and any other document related hereto to which it is a party and to perform its
obligations as contemplated hereby and thereby.



     (b) The Transferor is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing (or is exempt from
such requirement) in any state required in order to conduct its business, and has obtained all
necessary licenses and approvals with respect to the Transferor, in each jurisdiction in which
failure to so qualify or to obtain such licenses and approvals would have a material adverse effect
on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other document related hereto
to which the Transferor is a party.



     (c) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
provided for in this Agreement and in the other Transaction Documents to which the Transferor is a
party have been duly authorized by the Transferor by all necessary corporate action on its part and
each of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Transferor is a party will
remain, from the time of its execution, an official record of the Transferor; the Transferor has
the power and authority to assign the property to be assigned to and deposited with the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.05 of this Agreement and Section 2.01 of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreement.



     (d) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with,
result in any breach of any of the material terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) a material default under, any indenture, contract, agreement,
mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to which the Transferor is a party or by which it or
any of its properties are bound (other than violations of such indentures, contracts, agreements,
mortgages, deeds of trust or other instruments which, individually or in the aggregate, would not
have a material adverse effect on the Transferor’s ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement).



     (e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or
violate any Requirements of Law applicable to the Transferor.



     (f) There are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Transferor, threatened against the Transferor before any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency, or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Transferor
(i) asserting the invalidity of any of the Transaction Documents to which the Transferor is a
party, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of
the Transaction Documents to which the Transferor is a party, (iii) seeking any determination or
ruling that, in the reasonable judgment of the Transferor, would materially and adversely affect
the performance by the Transferor of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which the
Transferor is a party, or (iv) seeking any determination or ruling that would materially and
adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the Transaction Documents to which the
Transferor is a party.



6









 





     Section 2.10 Liability of Holders of the Certificates. The holders of the
Certificates shall not be personally liable for the debts or other obligations of the Trust except
to the extent provided otherwise in the Transaction Documents.



     Section 2.11 Payments and Distributions.



     (a) Any amount held by the Trust with respect to the Trust Estate which is not, and will not
be, allocable to the Indenture Trustee to be applied in accordance with the Indenture, shall be
applied on the first Business Day following each Distribution Date in the following order:




     (i) to the extent not otherwise paid, to pay any other operating or administrative
expenses of the Trust; and




     (ii) to distribute any remaining amounts and other property to the holders of the
Certificates.


The Servicer shall deliver a statement to the Owner Trustee setting forth the amounts to be applied
pursuant to such clauses (i) and (ii), which the Owner Trustee may rely upon in making any payment.




     (b) All payments and distributions required to be made to the holders of the Certificates
pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be made to the holders of the Certificates by wire transfer of
immediately available funds or by such other means as are acceptable to the Owner Trustee at least
five Business Days prior to such payment or distribution; provided that payments and distributions
to the Holders of the Certificates will only be made under this Section 2.11 to the extent that (i)
the value of the assets of the Trust exceed the value of the liabilities of the Trust and (ii)
following any such payment and distribution, the Trust will have sufficient assets to satisfy all
probable liabilities of the Trust and provided further, that the Owner Trustee shall assume that
the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) are satisfied unless the Indenture Trustee informs the Owner
Trustee otherwise.



     Section 2.12 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust will end on the last day of
December of each year.



[End of Article II]





7









 








ARTICLE III




CERTIFICATES




     Section 3.01 Initial Ownership. Upon the formation of the Trust, the Transferor shall
be the Owner of the Trust.



     Section 3.02 Form of Certificates. (a) The Transferor’s initial interest in the Trust
will be uncertificated. The Transferor or any Additional Transferor may elect at any time, by
written notice to the Owner Trustee, to have its interest in the Trust be (i) an uncertificated
interest or (ii) evidenced by a certificate. The Transferor Certificate, if subsequently
certificated, will be issued in registered form, substantially in the form of Exhibit A,
and shall upon issue, be executed and delivered by the Transferor to the Owner Trustee for
authentication and redelivery as provided in Section 3.03. If the Transferor or any Additional
Transferor elects to have its interest in the Trust be uncertificated, it shall deliver to the
Owner Trustee for cancellation any Transferor Certificate or Supplemental Certificate, as the case
may be, previously issued and the Owner Trustee shall make appropriate entries in its books and
records to evidence such uncertificated interest in the Trust. The Owner Trustee shall keep with
the books and records of the Trust a register, in book-entry form, of each Person owning any
uncertificated interest in the Trust.



     (b) The Certificates, if certificated, shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or
facsimile signature of the Owner Trustee. The Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile
signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed,
authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall, when duly authenticated pursuant to Section 3.03,
be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Agreement, notwithstanding that such
individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and
delivery of the Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and
delivery of the Certificates.



     Section 3.03 Authentication of Certificates. The Owner Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver the Certificate, if certificated, upon the written order of the Transferor, signed by its
chairman of the board, its president, any vice president, secretary, treasurer, any assistant
treasurer or any authorized signatory, without further corporate action by the Transferor. No
Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement, or be valid for any purpose,
unless there appears on such Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
provided for herein, executed by or on behalf of the Owner Trustee by the manual signature of a
duly authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Certificate shall be conclusive evidence,
and the only evidence, that such Certificate has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Each Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication.



     Section 3.04 Restrictions on Transfer. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, the Certificates (or any interest therein) may not be sold, transferred, assigned,
participated, pledged or otherwise disposed of to any Person; provided, however, that a Certificate
(or any interest therein) may be sold, transferred, assigned, participated, pledged or otherwise
disposed of if the transferor thereof has provided (a) the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee
with (i) a Tax Opinion relating to such sale, transfer, assignment, participation, pledge or other
disposition and (ii) a representation letter from the transferee to the effect that the transferee
is



8









 







not a Plan and is not acting on behalf of or investing the assets of a Plan and (b) each
Rating Agency written notice (unless such notice requirement is otherwise waived by the Rating
Agency) ten days prior to such transfer.



     Section 3.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificate. If (a) any mutilated
Certificate is surrendered to the Owner Trustee, or the Owner Trustee receives evidence to its
reasonable satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate, and (b) there is
delivered to the Owner Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by it to hold the
Owner Trustee harmless, then, the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute, and the Owner
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a replacement Certificate of like tenor (including the same
date of issuance) and denomination. Upon the issuance of any replacement Certificate under this
Section, the Owner Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other reasonable expenses
connected therewith. Every replacement Certificate issued pursuant to this Section in replacement
of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate shall constitute complete and indefeasible
evidence of an interest in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate shall be found at any time.



     Section 3.06 Issuance of New Transferor Certificates. (a) Taken together, the
Transferor Certificates shall represent an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the Trust
Estate subject to the lien of the Notes, including the right to receive Collections with respect to
the Receivables and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in the Indenture and
any Indenture Supplement to be paid to the Transferor on behalf of all holders of the Transferor
Certificates.



     (b) At any time, a Transferor may surrender its certificated Transferor Certificate, if any,
to the Owner Trustee or request in writing that the Owner Trustee transfer an uncertificated
Transferor Certificate on the books and records of the Trust in exchange for a newly issued
certificated or uncertificated Transferor Certificate and a second certificated or uncertificated
interest in the Transferor’s interest (a “Supplemental Certificate”) in the Trust, the
terms of which shall be defined in a supplement (a “Transferor Certificate Supplement”) to
this Agreement (which Transferor Certificate Supplement shall be subject to Section 10.01 to the
extent that it amends any of the terms of this Agreement); to be delivered to or upon the order of
the Transferor (or the Holder of a Supplemental Certificate, in the case of the transfer and
exchange thereof); provided, however, notwithstanding anything contained herein, any exchange of a
certificated Transferor Certificate for an uncertificated Transferor Certificate or an
uncertificated Transferor Certificate for a certificated Transferor Certificate by the Holder of
such Transferor Certificate shall not be subject to the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through
(vi) below. Except as set forth in the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, the issuance
of any such Supplemental Certificate shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:




     (i) on or before the fifth day immediately preceding the Transferor Certificate
surrender and exchange, the Transferor shall have given the Owner Trustee, the Servicer, the
Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency notice (unless such notice requirement is otherwise
waived) of such Transferor Certificate surrender and exchange;



9









 






     (ii) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee
any related Transferor Certificate Supplement in form satisfactory to the Owner Trustee and
the Indenture Trustee, executed by each party hereto (other than the Owner Trustee, the
Indenture Trustee and the Holder of the Supplemental Certificate, if any);




     (iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such
Transferor Certificate surrender and exchange;




     (iv) such surrender and exchange will not result in any Adverse Effect and the
Transferor shall have delivered to the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee an Officer’s
Certificate, dated the date of such surrender and exchange to the effect that the Transferor
reasonably believes that such surrender and exchange will not, based on the facts known to
such officer at the time of such certification, have an Adverse Effect; and




     (v) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee
(with a copy to each Rating Agency) a Tax Opinion, dated the date of such surrender and
exchange with respect to such surrender and exchange.



     (c) Any Supplemental Certificate held by any Person may be transferred or exchanged only upon
the delivery to the Trustee of a Tax Opinion dated as of the date of such transfer or exchange, as
the case may be, with respect to such transfer or exchange.



[End of Article III]




10









 








ARTICLE IV




ACTIONS BY OWNER TRUSTEE




     Section 4.01 Prior Notice to Transferor with Respect to Certain Matters. With respect
to the following matters, unless otherwise instructed by the Transferor, the Owner Trustee shall
not take action unless at least thirty (30) days before the taking of such action the Owner Trustee
shall have notified the Transferor:



     (a) the initiation of any claim or lawsuit by the Trust or the Owner Trustee (other than an
action to collect on the Trust Estate) and the settlement of any action, claim or lawsuit brought
by or against the Trust or the Owner Trustee (other than an action to collect on the Trust Estate);



     (b) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the
consent of any Noteholder is required;



     (c) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the
consent of any Noteholder is not required and such amendment materially adversely affects the
interest of the Transferor; or



     (d) the appointment pursuant to the Indenture of a replacement or successor Note Registrar or
Indenture Trustee, or the consent to the assignment by the Note Registrar, or Indenture Trustee of
its obligations under the Indenture.



     Section 4.02 Restrictions on Power. The Owner Trustee shall not be required to take
or refrain from taking any action if such action or inaction would be contrary to any obligation of
the Owner Trustee under any of the Transaction Documents or would be contrary to Section 2.03.



[End of Article IV]




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ARTICLE V




AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE




     Section 5.01 General Authority. The Owner Trustee is authorized and directed to
execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and each certificate or other
document attached as an exhibit to or contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which the Owner
Trustee is to be a party, or any amendment thereto or other agreement, in each case, in such form
as the Transferor shall approve as evidenced conclusively by the Owner Trustee’s execution thereof
and the Transferor’s execution of the related documents. In addition to the foregoing, the Owner
Trustee is authorized, but shall not be obligated, to take all actions required of the Owner
Trustee pursuant to the Transaction Documents. The Owner Trustee is further authorized from time
to time to take such action as the Transferor or the Servicer directs in writing with respect to
the Transaction Documents.



     Section 5.02 General Duties. It shall be the duty of the Owner Trustee to discharge
(or cause to be discharged) all of its responsibilities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to administer the Trust in the interest
of the Transferor, subject to the Transaction Documents and in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Owner Trustee shall be deemed to have
discharged its duties and responsibilities hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents to
the extent the Servicer has agreed in the Transaction Documents to perform any act or to discharge
any duty of the Owner Trustee or the Trust under any Transaction Document, and the Owner Trustee
shall not be liable for the default or failure of the Servicer to carry out its obligations under
such Transaction Document.



     Section 5.03 Action Upon Instruction.



     (a) The Owner Trustee shall not be required to take any action hereunder or under any other
Transaction Document if the Owner Trustee shall have reasonably determined, or shall have been
advised by counsel, that such action is likely to result in liability on the part of the Owner
Trustee or is contrary to the terms of any Transaction Document or is otherwise contrary to law.



     (b) Whenever the Owner Trustee is unable to decide between alternative courses of action
permitted or required by the terms of any Transaction Document, the Owner Trustee shall promptly
give notice (in such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the Transferor
requesting instruction as to the course of action to be adopted, and to the extent the Owner
Trustee acts in good faith in accordance with any written instruction of the Transferor received,
the Owner Trustee shall not be liable on account of such action to any Person. If the Owner
Trustee shall not have received appropriate instruction within ten (10) days of such notice (or
within such shorter period of time as reasonably may be specified in such notice or may be
necessary under the circumstances) it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from
taking such action, not in violation of the Transaction Documents, as it shall deem to be in the
best interest of the Transferor, and shall have no liability to any Person for such action or
inaction.



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     (c) In the event that the Owner Trustee is unsure as to the application of any provision of
any Transaction Document or any such provision is ambiguous as to its application, or is, or
appears to be, in conflict with any other applicable provision, or in the event that this Agreement
permits any determination by the Owner Trustee or is silent or is incomplete as to the course of
action that the Owner Trustee is required to take with respect to a particular set of facts, the
Owner Trustee may give notice (in such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the
Transferor requesting instruction and, to the extent that the Owner Trustee acts or refrains from
acting in good faith in accordance with any such instruction received, the Owner Trustee shall not
be liable, on account of such action or inaction, to any Person. If the Owner Trustee shall not
have received appropriate instruction within ten (10) days of such notice (or within such shorter
period of time as reasonably may be specified in such notice or may be necessary under the
circumstances) it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action, not
in violation of the Transaction Documents, as it shall deem to be in the best interests of the
Transferor, and shall have no liability to any Person for such action or inaction.



     (d) The Transferor hereby authorizes and directs the Owner Trustee to execute this Agreement
and any amendments hereto, any Transaction Document to which it is a party, and any amendments
thereto, and any further instruments as may be necessary in connection therewith to accomplish any
change or modification as the Transferor may direct and the Transferor also hereby directs the
Owner Trustee to take any action in the furtherance of the accomplishment of any objectives as the
Transferor may, from time to time, direct, subject to Section 10.01 hereof.



     Section 5.04 No Duties Except as Specified in this Agreement or in Instructions. The
Owner Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to manage, make any payment with respect to,
register, record, sell, dispose of, or otherwise deal with the Trust or the Trust Estate, or to
otherwise take or refrain from taking any action under, or in connection with, this Agreement or
any document contemplated hereby to which the Owner Trustee is a party, except as expressly
provided by the terms of this Agreement or such other document; and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into any Transaction Document against the Owner Trustee. The Owner
Trustee shall have no responsibility for any filing or recording, including filing any financing or
continuation statement in any public office at any time or to otherwise perfect or maintain the
perfection of any security interest or lien granted to it hereunder or to prepare or file any
Commission filing for the Trust or to record any Transaction Document. The Trust Company
nevertheless agrees that it will, at its own cost and expense, promptly take all action as may be
necessary to discharge any liens on any part of the Trust Estate that result from actions by, or
claims against, the Trust Company that are not related to the ownership or the administration of
the Trust Estate or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.



     Section 5.05 No Action Except under Specified Documents or Instructions. The Owner
Trustee shall not manage, control, use, sell, dispose of or otherwise deal with any part of the
Trust Estate except (a) in accordance with the powers granted to and the authority conferred upon
the Owner Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, (b) in accordance with the Transaction Documents and
(c) in accordance with any document or instruction delivered to the Owner Trustee pursuant to
Section 5.03.



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     Section 5.06 Restrictions. The Owner Trustee shall not take any action (a) that, to
the actual knowledge of the Owner Trustee, would violate the purposes of the Trust set forth in
Section 2.03 or (b) that, to the actual knowledge of the Owner Trustee, would result in the Trust’s
becoming an association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes. In accordance with the foregoing, neither the Owner nor any Certificateholder
will, under any circumstances, and at any time, make an election on IRS Form 8832 or otherwise, to
classify the Trust as an association taxable as a corporation for federal, state or any other
applicable tax purpose. The Transferor shall not direct the Owner Trustee to take action that
would violate the provisions of this Section.



[End of Article V]





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ARTICLE VI




CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE




     Section 6.01 Acceptance of Trust and Duties. The Owner Trustee accepts the trust
hereby created and agrees to perform its duties hereunder with respect to such trust, but only upon
the terms of this Agreement. The Owner Trustee also agrees to disburse all monies actually
received by it constituting part of the Trust Estate in accordance with the terms of the
Transaction Documents. The Owner Trustee shall not be answerable or accountable under any
Transaction Document under any circumstances, except (i) for its own willful misconduct or
negligence or (ii) in the case of the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in
Section 6.03 expressly made by the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity. In particular, but
not by way of limitation (and subject to the exceptions set forth in the preceding sentence):



     (a) the Owner Trustee shall not be personally liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by an authorized officer of the Owner Trustee, so long as the same will not constitute
willful misconduct or negligence;



     (b) the Owner Trustee shall not be personally liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the instructions of the Servicer or the Transferor;



     (c) no provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall require the Owner
Trustee to expend or risk its personal funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its rights or powers hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, if
the Owner Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it;



     (d) except for Section 6.03 of this Agreement, under no circumstances shall the Owner Trustee
be liable for any representation, warranty, consent or other indebtedness evidenced by or arising
under any of the Transaction Documents, including the principal of and interest on the Notes;



     (e) the Owner Trustee shall not be responsible for or in respect of the validity or
sufficiency of this Agreement or for the due execution hereof by the Transferor or for the form,
character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or validity of any of the Trust Estate or for or in
respect of the validity or sufficiency of the Transaction Documents, other than the genuineness of
the signature on the certificate of authentication on the Certificates, and the Owner Trustee shall
in no event assume or incur any liability, duty, or obligation to any Noteholder or to the Owner,
other than as expressly provided for herein or expressly agreed to in the other Transaction
Documents;



     (f) the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of the Transferor, the
Servicer, or the Indenture Trustee under any of the Transaction Documents or otherwise, and the
Owner Trustee shall have no obligation or liability to perform the obligations of the Owner Trustee
under the Transaction Documents that are required to be performed by the



15









 







Indenture Trustee under the Indenture or the Servicer under the Transfer and Servicing
Agreement;



     (g) the Owner Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Agreement, or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation under this
Agreement or otherwise or in relation to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, at the
request, order or direction of the Transferor, unless the Transferor has offered to the Owner
Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
may be incurred by the Owner Trustee therein or thereby. The right of the Owner Trustee to perform
any discretionary act enumerated in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall not be
construed as a duty, and the Owner Trustee shall not be answerable for, other than its negligence
or willful misconduct in the performance of, any such act; and



     (h) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Owner Trustee shall not be
required to take any action in any jurisdiction other than in the State of Delaware if the taking
of such action will (i) require the registration with, licensing by or the taking of any other
similar action in respect of, any state or other governmental authority or agency of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware by or with respect to the Owner Trustee; (ii) result
in any fee, tax or other governmental charge under the laws of any jurisdiction or any political
subdivisions thereof in existence on the date hereof other than the State of Delaware becoming
payable by the Owner Trustee; or (iii) subject the Owner Trustee to personal jurisdiction in any
jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware for causes of action arising from acts unrelated to
the consummation of the transactions by the Owner Trustee contemplated hereby. The Owner Trustee
shall be entitled to obtain advice of counsel (which advice shall be an expense of the Transferor)
to determine whether any action required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement results in the
consequences described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the preceding sentence. In the event that
said counsel advises the Owner Trustee that such action will result in such consequences, the
Transferor shall appoint an additional trustee pursuant to Section 9.05 hereof to proceed with such
action.



     Section 6.02 Furnishing of Documents. The Owner Trustee shall furnish to the
Transferor and the Indenture Trustee, promptly upon written request therefor, duplicates or copies
of all reports, notices, requests, demands, certificates, financial statements and any other
instruments furnished to the Owner Trustee under the Transaction Documents or with respect to the
Trust or the Trust Estate.



     Section 6.03 Representations and Warranties. The Owner Trustee hereby represents and
warrants to the Transferor that:



     (a) It is a banking corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware. It has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.



     (b) It has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it
of this Agreement, and this Agreement will be executed and delivered by one of its officers who is
duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement on its behalf.



16









 





     (c) Neither the execution nor the delivery by it of this Agreement, nor the consummation by it
of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by it with any of the terms or provisions
hereof will contravene any federal or Delaware law, governmental rule or regulation governing the
banking or trust powers of the Owner Trustee or any judgment or order binding on it, or constitute
any default under its charter documents or by-laws or any indenture, mortgage, contract, agreement
or instrument to which it is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound.



     Section 6.04 Reliance; Advice of Counsel.



     (a) The Owner Trustee shall incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any signature,
instrument, notice, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, bond, or
other document or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and reasonably believed by it to be
signed by the proper party or parties. The Owner Trustee may accept a certified copy of a
resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of any corporate party as conclusive
evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted by such body and that the same is in full force
and effect. As to any fact or matter the method of the determination of which is not specifically
prescribed herein, the Owner Trustee may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate, signed by
the president or any vice president or by the treasurer or other authorized officers of the
relevant party, as to such fact or matter, and such certificate shall constitute full protection to
the Owner Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance
thereon.



     (b) In the exercise or administration of the trust hereunder and in the performance of its
duties and obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the Owner Trustee
(i) may act directly or through its agents or attorneys pursuant to agreements entered into with
any of them, and the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the conduct or misconduct of such agents
or attorneys if such agents or attorneys shall have been selected by the Owner Trustee with
reasonable care, and (ii) may consult with counsel, accountants and other skilled Persons to be
selected with reasonable care and employed by it. The Owner Trustee shall not be liable for
anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith by it in accordance with the written opinion or
written advice of any such counsel, accountants or other such Persons.



     Section 6.05 Not Acting in Individual Capacity. Except as expressly provided in this
Article VI, in accepting the trusts hereby created Wilmington Trust Company acts solely as Owner
Trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all Persons having any claim against the
Owner Trustee by reason of the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Document shall look
only to the Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof.



     Section 6.06 Owner Trustee Not Liable for Certificates, Notes or Receivables. The
recitals contained herein and in the Certificates (other than the genuineness of the signature and
counter-signature of the Owner Trustee on the Certificates and its representations and warranties
in Section 6.03) shall be taken as the statements of the Transferor, and the Owner Trustee assumes
no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Owner Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or the Certificates
(other than the genuineness of the signature and counter-signature of the Owner Trustee on the
Certificates), the Notes, or related documents. The Owner Trustee



17









 







shall at no time have any responsibility or liability for or with respect to the legality,
validity and enforceability of the Receivables or the perfection and priority of any security
interest in the Receivables or the maintenance of any such perfection and priority, or for or with
respect to the sufficiency of the Trust Estate or its ability to generate the payments to be
distributed to the Noteholders under the Indenture, including, without limitation: the existence,
condition and ownership of the Receivables; the existence and contents of the Receivables on any
computer or other record thereof; the validity of the assignment of the Receivables to the Trust or
of any intervening assignment; the completeness of the Receivables; the performance or enforcement
of the Receivables; the compliance by the Transferor with any warranty or representation made under
any Transaction Document or in any related document or the accuracy of any such warranty or
representation or any action of the Servicer or the Indenture Trustee taken in the name of the
Owner Trustee.



     Section 6.07 Owner Trustee May Own Notes. The Owner Trustee in its individual or any
other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may deal with the Transferor, the
Servicer and the Indenture Trustee in banking transactions with the same rights as it would have if
it were not Owner Trustee.



     Section 6.08 Payments from Owner Trust Estate. All payments to be made by the Owner
Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents or, with
respect to Certificates, any Series Supplement or any Series related Document to which the Trust or
the Owner Trustee is a party shall be made only from the income and proceeds of the Trust Estate
and only to the extent that the Owner Trustee shall have received income or proceeds from the Trust
Estate to make such payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Wilmington Trust Company, or any
successor thereto, in its individual capacity, shall not be liable for any amounts payable under
this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents or, with respect to the Notes, the Certificates
or any Series related document to which the Trust or the Owner Trustee is a party.



[End of Article VI]





18









 








ARTICLE VII




COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE




     Section 7.01 Owner Trustee’s Fees and Expenses. The Trust Company shall receive as
compensation for its services hereunder such fees as have been separately agreed upon before the
date hereof between the Transferor and the Trust Company, and the Trust Company shall be entitled
to be reimbursed by the Transferor for its other reasonable expenses hereunder, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses and disbursements of such agents, representatives, experts and
counsel as the Owner Trustee may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its
rights and its duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Owner Trustee’s right to enforce such
obligation shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.08.



     Section 7.02 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Transferor
shall be liable as primary obligor for, and shall indemnify the Trust Company and its successors,
assigns, agents, employees and servants (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and
against, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, taxes, claims, actions and suits,
and any and all reasonable out of pocket costs, expenses and disbursements (including reasonable
legal fees and expenses) of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Expenses”) which
may at any time be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Owner Trustee or any
Indemnified Party in any way relating to or arising out of the Transaction Documents, the Trust
Estate, the acceptance and administration of the Trust Estate or the action or inaction of the
Owner Trustee hereunder; provided that the Transferor shall not be liable for or required to
indemnify any Indemnified Party from and against Expenses arising or resulting from any of the
matters described in the third sentence of Section 6.01; provided further, that the Transferor
shall not be liable for or required to indemnify an Indemnified Party from and against expenses
arising or resulting from (i) the Indemnified Party’s own willful misconduct, bad faith or
negligence, or (ii) the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in Section 6.03 made
by the Indemnified Party. An Indemnified Party’s right to enforce such obligation shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 10.08. The indemnities contained in this Section 7.02 shall survive
the resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee or the termination of this Agreement. In the
event of any claim, action or proceeding for which indemnity will be sought pursuant to this
Section 7.02, the Owner Trustee’s choice of legal counsel shall be subject to the approval of the
Transferor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Section 7.02, no Indemnified Party shall have any claim against the
Transferor in respect of the amounts described in this Section 7.02, to the extent that there are
not funds of the Transferor available to pay such amounts (it being understood that funds of the
Transferor available for such purpose shall be limited to all amounts distributed to the Transferor
in respect of the “Transferor Amount” under and as defined in the Transfer and Servicing Agreement,
and all amounts otherwise distributed to the Transferor pursuant to the Indenture and Series
Supplement with respect thereto).



     Section 7.03 Payments to the Owner Trustee. Any amounts paid to an Indemnified Party
pursuant to this Article VII shall be deemed not to be a part of the Trust Estate immediately after
such payment.



     Section 7.04 Non-recourse Obligations. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement



19









 







or any Transaction Document or, with respect to Certificates or Notes, any Indenture
Supplement or any Series related document, the Owner Trustee agrees in its individual capacity and
in its capacity as Owner Trustee for the Trust that all obligations of the trust to the Owner
Trustee individually or as Owner Trustee for the Trust shall be recourse to the Trust Estate only
and specifically shall not be recourse to the assets of any Certificateholder or Owner.



[End of Article VII]





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ARTICLE VIII




TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT




     Section 8.01 Termination of Trust Agreement.



     (a) The Trust shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) dissolution of the Trust in accordance
with applicable law and (ii) at the option of the Transferor, the day on which the right of all
series of Notes to receive payments from the Trust Estate has terminated (the “Trust Termination
Date”). Any money or other property held as part of the Trust Estate following such termination
shall be distributed to the Transferor. The bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, termination,
death or incapacity of the Transferor shall not (x) operate to terminate this Agreement or the
Trust, or (y) entitle the Transferor’s legal representatives or heirs to claim an accounting or to
take any action or proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of all or any part of the
Trust or Trust Estate or (z) otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the
parties hereto.



     (b) Except as provided in subsection 8.01(a), so long as the Indenture shall not have been
terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement and the Trust created hereby are
irrevocable by the Transferor, unless the Indenture Trustee consents in writing to the termination.



     (c) Upon the completion of the winding up of the Trust, this Agreement (other than Article
VII) shall terminate.



[End of Article VIII]





21









 








ARTICLE IX




SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES




     Section 9.01 Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee. The Owner Trustee shall at
all times be a corporation authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities; and having (or having a parent which has) a long-term unsecured rating of at least
Baa3 by Moody’s, at least BBB- by Standard & Poor’s and, if rated by Fitch, at least BBB- by Fitch,
or otherwise satisfactory to each Rating Agency. If such corporation shall publish reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or
examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. In case at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible
in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Owner Trustee shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.02.



     Section 9.02 Resignation or Removal of Owner Trustee. The Owner Trustee may at any
time resign and be discharged from the trusts hereby created by giving written notice thereof to
the Transferor; provided, however, that such resignation and discharge shall only be effective upon
the appointment of a successor Owner Trustee. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the
Transferor shall promptly appoint a successor Owner Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate,
one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Owner Trustee and one copy to the
successor Owner Trustee. If no successor Owner Trustee shall have been so appointed and have
accepted appointment within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning
Owner Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Owner Trustee.



     If at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9.01 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Transferor, or if at
any time the Owner Trustee shall be legally unable to act, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or
insolvent, or a receiver of the Owner Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public
officer shall take charge or control of the Owner Trustee or of its property or affairs for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then the Transferor may, but shall not be
required to, remove the Owner Trustee. If the Transferor shall remove the Owner Trustee under the
authority of the immediately preceding sentence, the Transferor shall promptly (i) appoint a
successor Owner Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be
delivered to the outgoing Owner Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Owner Trustee and
(ii) pay all fees owed to the outgoing Owner Trustee.



     Any resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee and appointment of a successor Owner Trustee
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall not become effective until acceptance of
appointment by the successor Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 9.03 and payment of all fees and
expenses owed to the outgoing Owner Trustee. The Transferor shall provide notice of such
resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee to each Rating Agency.



22









 





     Section 9.03 Successor Owner Trustee. Any successor Owner Trustee appointed pursuant
to Section 9.02 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Transferor and to its predecessor
Owner Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment under this Agreement, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the predecessor Owner Trustee shall become effective and such successor
Owner Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the
rights, powers, duties, and obligations of its predecessor under this Agreement, with like effect
as if originally named as Owner Trustee. The predecessor Owner Trustee shall upon payment of its
fees and expenses deliver to the successor Owner Trustee all documents and statements and monies
held by it under this Agreement; and the Transferor and the predecessor Owner Trustee shall execute
and deliver such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for fully and
certainly vesting and confirming in the successor Owner Trustee all such rights, powers, duties,
and obligations.



     No successor Owner Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 9.03 unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Owner Trustee shall be eligible pursuant to Section
9.01.



     Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to this Section, the
Transferor shall mail notice of such acceptance of appointment including the name of such successor
Owner Trustee to the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders and each Rating Agency. If the Transferor
shall fail to mail such notice within ten (10) days after acceptance of appointment by the
successor Owner Trustee, the successor Owner Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the
expense of the Transferor.



     Section 9.04 Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, any corporation into which the Owner Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Owner Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Owner Trustee, shall be the successor of
the Owner Trustee hereunder (provided that such corporation shall meet the eligibility requirements
set forth in Section 9.01), without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto; provided further, that the Owner Trustee shall mail notice
of such merger or consolidation to each Rating Agency.



     Section 9.05 Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement, at any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal requirements of any
jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Estate may at the time be located, the Transferor and
the Owner Trustee acting jointly shall have the power and shall execute and deliver all instruments
to appoint one or more Persons approved by each of the Transferor and the Owner Trustee to act as
co-trustee, jointly with the Owner Trustee, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any
part of the Trust Estate, and to vest in such Person, in such capacity, such title to the Trust
Estate, or any part thereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this Section, such powers,
duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Transferor and the Owner Trustee may consider
necessary or desirable. If the Transferor shall not have joined in such appointment within 15 days
after the receipt by it of a request so to do, the Owner Trustee alone shall have the power to make
such appointment. No co-trustee or separate trustee under this Agreement shall be required to meet
the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee pursuant to



23









 







Section 9.01 and no notice of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be
required pursuant to Section 9.03.



     Each separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and
act subject to the following provisions and conditions:




     (i) all rights, powers, duties, and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Owner
Trustee shall be conferred upon and exercised or performed by the Owner Trustee and such
separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or
co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Owner Trustee joining in such
act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular
act or acts are to be performed, the Owner Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to
perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations
(including the holding of title to the Trust or any portion thereof in any such
jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or
co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Owner Trustee;




     (ii) no trustee under this Agreement shall be personally liable by reason of any act or
omission of any other trustee under this Agreement; and




     (iii) the Transferor and the Owner Trustee acting jointly may at any time accept the
resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.



     Any notice, request or other writing given to the Owner Trustee shall be deemed to have been
given to each of the then-separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of
them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Agreement
and the conditions of this Article. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of
the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of
appointment, either jointly with the Owner Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein,
subject to all the provisions of this Agreement, specifically including every provision of this
Agreement relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the
Owner Trustee. Each such instrument shall be filed with the Owner Trustee and a copy thereof given
to the Transferor.



     Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Owner Trustee, its agent or
attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any
lawful act under or in respect of this Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate
trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its
estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Owner
Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.



[End of Article IX]





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ARTICLE X




MISCELLANEOUS




     Section 10.01 Supplements and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended from time to
time, by a written amendment duly executed and delivered by the Transferor and the Owner Trustee,
with the written consent of the Indenture Trustee and 10 days prior written notice to the Rating
Agencies, but without the consent of any of the Noteholders, to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
supplement any provisions in this Agreement or for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or modifying in any
manner the rights of the Noteholders; provided, however, that such amendment will not (i) as
evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Transferor addressed and delivered to the Owner
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, materially and adversely affect the interest of any Noteholder
or the Owner and (ii) as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel addressed and delivered to the Owner
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, cause the Trust to be classified as an association (or a
publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes; provided
further that Section 2.03 of this Agreement may be amended only with the consent of the Holders of
Notes evidencing more than 50% of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes. Additionally,
notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be amended by the Transferor and the
Owner Trustee without the consent of the Indenture Trustee or any of the Noteholders to add, modify
or eliminate such provisions as may be necessary or advisable in order to enable all or a portion
of the Trust to avoid the imposition of state or local income or franchise taxes imposed on the
Trust’s property or its income; provided, however, that (i) the Transferor delivers to the
Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the proposed
amendments meet the requirements set forth in this subsection, (ii) each Rating Agency will have
notified the Transferor, the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee in writing that
the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such amendment and (iii) such amendment
does not affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Owner Trustee hereunder. The actions
which the Transferor may take without the consent of Noteholders pursuant to the preceding sentence
include, without limitation, the addition of Receivables.



     This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by a written amendment duly executed and
delivered by the Transferor and the Owner Trustee, with prior written notice to each Rating Agency,
with the consent of the Indenture Trustee and, the Holders of Notes evidencing more than 50% of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any
manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the
rights of the Noteholders; provided, however, that without the consent of all Noteholders, no such
amendment shall (a) increase or reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the
timing of distributions that are required to be made for the benefit of the Noteholders or (b)
reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes, the Holders of which are
required to consent to any such amendment; provided further, such amendment shall be subject to
delivery to the Indenture Trustee of a Tax Opinion.



25









 





     Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, the Transferor shall furnish
written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to the Indenture Trustee and
each Rating Agency.



     It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Noteholders pursuant to this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if
such consent shall approve the substance thereof.



     The Owner Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon,
an officer’s certificate of the Transferor to the effect that the conditions to such amendment have
been satisfied.



     The Owner Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which
affects the Owner Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.



     Section 10.02 No Legal Title to Trust Estate in Transferor. The Transferor shall not
have legal title to any part of the Trust Estate. No transfer, by operation of law or otherwise,
of any right, title, and interest of the Transferor to and in its beneficial ownership interest in
the Trust Estate shall operate to terminate this Agreement or the trusts hereunder or entitle any
transferee to an accounting or to the transfer to it of legal title to any part of the Trust
Estate.



     Section 10.03 Limitations on Rights of Others. The provisions of this Agreement are
solely for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Transferor, the holder of any Certificate and, to
the extent expressly provided herein, the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, and nothing in
this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in the Trust Estate or under or in respect of this
Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained herein.



     Section 10.04 Notices. Unless otherwise expressly specified or permitted by the terms
hereof, all notices shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt by the intended
recipient or three Business Days after mailing if mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid (except
that notice to the Owner Trustee or Indenture Trustee shall be deemed given only upon actual
receipt by the Owner Trustee or Indenture Trustee), if to the Owner Trustee, addressed to the
Corporate Trust Office; if to the Indenture Trustee, addressed to U.S. Bank National Association,
111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601, if to the Transferor, addressed to HSBC Funding
(USA) Inc. V, 1111 Town Center Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144, if to Fitch, addressed to Fitch,
Inc., One State Street Plaza, New York, New York 10004, Attention: ABS Surveillance, if to
Moody’s, addressed to Moody’s Investors Service Inc., 99 Church Street, New York, New York 10007,
Attention: ABS Monitoring Group, if to Standard & Poor’s, addressed to Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Group, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, Attention: Credit Card ABS or, as to each party,
at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party.



     Section 10.05 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any



26









 







such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.



     Section 10.06 Separate Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.



     Section 10.07 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained herein
shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Owner Trustee and its successors and the
Transferor and its successors and permitted assigns, all as herein provided. Any request, notice,
direction, consent, waiver or other instrument or action by the Transferor shall bind the
successors and assigns of the Transferor.



     Section 10.08 Nonpetition Covenants. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, notwithstanding any prior termination of the Trust or this Agreement, the Owner Trustee (not
in its individual capacity) shall not at any time with respect to the Trust or the Transferor,
acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Trust or the Transferor to invoke the process
of any court or governmental authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case against
the Trust or the Transferor under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or
appointing a receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other
similar official of the Trust or the Transferor or any substantial part of its property, or
ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Trust or the Transferor; provided,
however, that this Section 10.08 shall not operate to preclude any remedy described in Article V of
the Indenture.



     Section 10.09 No Recourse. Each Person owning or holding a Certificate by accepting
the Certificates (other than the Trust) acknowledges that the Certificates do not represent
interests in or obligations of the Servicer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or any
Affiliate thereof (other than the Trust), and no recourse may be had against such parties or their
assets, or against the assets pledged under the Indenture, except as expressly provided in the
Transaction Documents.



     Section 10.10 Headings. The headings of the various Articles and Sections herein are
for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or provisions
hereof.



     Section 10.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS AND THE
OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SUCH LAWS.



     Section 10.12 Acceptance of Terms of Agreement. THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE
TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE BY THE TRANSFEROR, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT,
SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE TRANSFEROR OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF
THIS AGREEMENT, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE



27









 







THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING,
OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND THE TRANSFEROR.



     Section 10.13 Integration of Documents. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto and thereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof
and supersedes all prior agreements relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.



[End of Article X]




[Signature Page to Follow]




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their
respective officers hereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Rachel L. Simpson	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Name: Rachel L. Simpson
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: Sr. Financial Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	HSBC FUNDING (USA) INC. V,	 	 
	 	 	as Transferor,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Steven H. Smith	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Name: Steven H. Smith
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: Vice President and Assistant Treasurer	 	 






29









 





EXHIBIT A




Form of Transferor Certificate




     THIS TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED. NEITHER THIS TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE NOR ANY PORTION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION
FROM SUCH REGISTRATION PROVISIONS.



     THIS TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE IS NOT PERMITTED TO BE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, EXCHANGED OR
OTHERWISE PLEDGED OR CONVEYED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN.



	 	 	 
	No. R-___

	 	One Unit






HSBC PRIVATE LABEL CREDIT CARD MASTER NOTE TRUST (USA) I TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE




THIS CERTIFICATE REPRESENTS AN INTEREST IN THE ASSETS OF THE HSBC PRIVATE LABEL CREDIT CARD MASTER NOTE TRUST (USA) I




     Evidencing a beneficial interest in a trust, the corpus of which consists primarily of an
interest in receivables generated from time to time in the ordinary course of business in a
portfolio of revolving credit accounts transferred by HSBC Funding (USA) Inc. V (the
“Transferor”).



(Not an interest in or obligation of the Transferor or any affiliate thereof)




     This certifies that HSBC FUNDING (USA) INC. V is the registered owner of an undivided
beneficial ownership interest in the assets of HSBC Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust
(USA) I, a Delaware common law trust (the “Trust”) subject to the lien of the Noteholders
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Master Indenture dated as of August 11, 2006 (as amended and
supplemented, the “Indenture”) between the Trust and U.S. Bank National Association, as
Indenture Trustee, and not allocated to the interest of any Holder of a Supplemental Certificate
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of August 11, 2006 (as amended and
supplemented, the “Trust Agreement”), between HSBC Funding (USA) Inc. V, a Delaware
corporation, as Transferor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee (the “Owner
Trustee”). The corpus of the Trust consists of (a) a portfolio of certain receivables (the
“Receivables”) existing in the revolving credit accounts identified under the Amended and
Restated Transfer and Servicing Agreement dated as of August 11, 2006 (the “Transfer and
Servicing Agreement”), among the Transferor, HSBC Finance Corporation, as Servicer (the
“Servicer”), and the Trust, as Issuer (the “Accounts”), (b) certain Receivables
generated under the Accounts from time to time thereafter, (c) certain funds collected or to be
collected from accountholders in respect of the Receivables, (d) all funds which are from time to
time on deposit in the Collection Account, Special Funding Account and in the Series Accounts,



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(e) the benefits of any Series Enhancements issued and to be issued by Series Enhancers with
respect to one or more Series of Notes and (f) all other assets and interests constituting the
Trust, including Interchange and Recoveries allocated to the Trust pursuant to the Transfer and
Servicing Agreement. Although a summary of certain provisions of the Transfer and Servicing
Agreement, the Trust Agreement and the Indenture (collectively, the “Agreements”) is set
forth below, this Certificate does not purport to summarize the Agreements and reference is made to
the Agreements for information with respect to the interests, rights, benefits, obligations,
proceeds and duties evidenced hereby and the rights, duties and obligations of the Owner Trustee.
A copy of the Agreements may be requested from the Owner Trustee by writing to the Owner Trustee at
the Corporate Trust Office. To the extent not defined herein, the capitalized terms used herein
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreements.




     This Certificate is issued under the Trust Agreement and is subject to the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Agreements, to which Agreements, as amended and supplemented from time to
time, the Transferor by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents and is bound. By accepting this
certificate, the holder acknowledges and agrees that it is the intention of the parties to the
Trust Agreement that, for federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes, the Trust and
its assets shall be treated as a security device and disregarded as an entity and its assets shall
be treated as owned in whole by the Transferor. The holder hereof agrees that it will make no
election and will take no action contrary to the foregoing intention.



     The Receivables consist of Principal Receivables which arise generally from the purchase of
merchandise and services and amounts advanced to cardholders as cash advances and Finance Charge
and Administrative Receivables which arise generally from Periodic Finance Charges, Late Fees and
other fees and charges with respect to the Accounts.



     This Certificate is the Transferor Certificate, which represents the undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Trust, subject to the lien of the Notes, including the right to
receive a portion of the Collections and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in
the Indenture. In addition to the Transferor Certificate, (a) Notes will be issued to investors
pursuant to the Indenture, which will represent obligations of the Trust, and (b) Supplemental
Certificates may be issued pursuant to the Trust Agreement.



     Unless otherwise specified in an Indenture Supplement with respect to a particular Series the
Transferor has entered into the Transfer and Servicing Agreement, and this Certificate is issued,
with the intention, and the holder hereof acknowledges and agrees, that, for federal, state and
local income and franchise tax purposes, (a) the Notes of each Series which are characterized as
indebtedness at the time of their issuance will qualify as indebtedness of the Transferor secured
by the Receivables and (b) the Trust shall not be treated as an association (or a publicly traded
partnership) taxable as a corporation. The Transferor, by entering into the Transfer and Servicing
Agreement and by the acceptance of this Transferor Certificate, agrees to treat the Notes for
federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes as indebtedness of the Transferor.



     Subject to certain conditions and exceptions specified in the Agreements, the obligations
created by the Agreements and the Trust created thereby shall terminate on the Trust Termination
Date.



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     This Certificate shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without reference to its conflict of law provisions and the obligations, rights and remedies of the
Transferor shall be determined in accordance with such laws.



     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Owner
Trustee, by manual signature, this Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Agreement or be valid for any purpose.



A-3









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate to be duly executed by the Owner Trustee.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,	 	 
	 	 	not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee on behalf of the	 	 
	 	 	HSBC PRIVATE LABEL CREDIT CARD MASTER NOTE TRUST (USA) I	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 






Dated: [                     __, ____]




A-1









 








TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION




This is the Transferor Certificate described in the within-mentioned Agreement.




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,	 	 
	 	 	not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee on behalf of the	 	 
	 	 	HSBC PRIVATE LABEL CREDIT CARD MASTER NOTE TRUST (USA) I	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Authorized Signatory
	 	 






A-2