Document:

Exhibit 4.8

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [                          ], 2015, is by and between OpGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, as Warrant Agent (the Warrant Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (the “Offering”) of units consisting of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company (“Warrants”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to [                  ] Warrants to public investors in the Offering, each such Warrant evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock of the Company for $[          ] per share, subject to adjustment as described herein, and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement, as amended, on Form S-l, No. 333-202478 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the units to be sold in the Offering, the shares of Common Stock included in the units to be sold in the Offering, and the Warrants included in the units to be sold in the Offering and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants (each a “Holder”), and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Appointment of Warrant Agent.  The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

2.                                      Warrants.

 

2.1                               Form of Warrant.  Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only and shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein.  Each Warrant shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company.  In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

2.2                               Effect of Countersignature.  Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

 

2.3                               Registration.

 

2.3.1                     Warrant Register.  The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.  Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

 

2.3.2                     Registered Holder.  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Warrant Certificate (as defined below) made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

3.                                      Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.1                               Exercise Price.  Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $[          ] per share, subject to the adjustments provided herein.  The term “Exercise Price” as used in this Warrant Agreement shall mean the price per share at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised.

 

3.2                               Duration of Warrants.  A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the date of issuance thereof and ending on

 

2

 

the earlier of: (a) [            ], 2020; or (b) upon the dissolution and winding up of the Company (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below with respect to an effective registration statement.  Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date.

 

3.3                               Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1                     Payment.  Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Warrant Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by submitting a duly executed election to purchase attached to the applicable Warrant, at the office of the Warrant Agent in the City of [                          ], Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the City of [                          ], State of [                              ], which may be done by fax or email delivery, and by paying, within two days of the date of exercise, in full the Exercise Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised, in lawful money of the United States, by wire transfer or in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Company or by Cashless Exercise in accordance with Section 3.2.2 hereof.  The Registered Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Upon delivery of an exercise notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which a Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be).

 

3.3.2                     Cashless Exercise.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if and only if an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock that are subject to the exercise notice is not available for the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, the Registered Holder may exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”):

 

3

 

	
Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)
    	
 
    
	
B
    	
 
    

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

A = the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

B = the arithmetic average of the Closing Sale Prices (as defined below) of the Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the date immediately preceding the date of the Exercise Notice.

 

C = the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable shares of Common Stock at the time of such exercise.

 

The term “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Nasdaq Capital Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may be, then the last bid price or the last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Nasdaq Capital Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink OTC Markets Inc.).  If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Registered Holder.  If the Company and the Registered Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof.  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

For purposes of Rule 144(d) promulgated under the Securities Act, as in effect on the date hereof, assuming the Registered Holder is not an affiliate of the Company, the shares of Common Stock issued in a Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Registered Holder, and the holding period for the shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued.

 

3.3.3                     Issuance of Common Stock on Exercise.  Assuming funds for exercise are paid on or before the second trading day following the date of receipt by the Company of an exercise notice, then on or before the third trading day following the date upon which the Company has received an exercise notice for a Warrant, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to (i) provided that the transfer agent is participating in The Depository Trust

 

4

 

Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian System, or (ii) if the transfer agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver to the Holder, or at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the delivered exercise notice, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case pursuant to this clause (ii), sent by reputable overnight courier to the address specified in the applicable exercise notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable exercise notice), for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise.

 

3.3.4                     Valid Issuance.  All Common Stock issued or issuable upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3.3.5                     Date of Issuance.  Each person in whose name any certificate for the Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant was surrendered and, other than in the case of a Cashless Exercise, payment of the Exercise Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books are open.

 

3.3.6                     Share Delivery Failure.  If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) trading days after receipt of the applicable exercise notice (the “Share Delivery Deadline”), a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon Holder’s exercise of a Warrant or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant (as the case may be, but in each case without a restrictive legend) (a “Delivery Failure”), and if on such or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder so anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to it, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to 100% of the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so

 

5

 

purchased (including, without limitation, by any other person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the shares of Common Stock on any trading day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable exercise notice and ending on the date immediately preceding the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (ii).

 

3.4                               Beneficial Ownership Limitation on Exercises.  The Company shall not affect the exercise of any portion of a Warrant, and the Registered Holder of such Warrant shall not have the right to exercise any portion of such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the Registered Holder (together with the Registered Holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any Registered Holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided, however, that the foregoing limitation on exercise shall not apply to any Registered Holder who, together with such Registered Holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such Registered Holder and such Registered Holder’s affiliates, owns in excess of the Maximum Percentage immediately prior to the closing of the Offering.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Registered Holder and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by the Registered Holder and its affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by the Registered Holder and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Registered Holder or any of its affiliates.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 3.4 applies, the Registered Holder’s submission of an Election to Purchase shall be

 

6

 

deemed to be the Registered Holder’s determination of whether a Warrant is exercisable (in relation to any other securities owned by the Registered Holder together with any affiliates) and of which portion of a Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Maximum Percentage, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination.  In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of the Warrants, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Registered Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in the most recent of (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or its transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Registered Holder, the Company shall within three (3) trading days confirm to the Registered Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including any Warrant, by the Registered Holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.  By written notice to the Company, the Registered Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant and the provisions of this Section 3.4 shall continue to apply; provided that (i) any such increase will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company, and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to that Registered Holder.  For purposes of clarity, the Common Stock underlying any Warrant in excess of the Maximum Percentage for a Registered Holder shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by that Registered Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the Exchange Act.  The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 3.4 to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation.

 

4.                                      Adjustments.

 

4.1                               Stock Dividends.

 

4.1.1                     Split-Ups.  If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in Common Stock, or by a split-up of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of

 

7

 

such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock and the Exercise Price shall be proportionally decreased such that the aggregate Exercise Price, after such adjustments, remains the same for each Warrant.

 

4.1.2                     Dividends and Other Distributions.  If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction), except to the extent an adjustment was already made pursuant to Section 4.1.1 or 4.2 (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Company shall reserve and put aside the maximum Distribution amount the Holder would have been entitled to receive if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution.  Upon exercise of this Warrant, in whole or in part, the Company shall, contemporaneously with the delivery of the Warrant Shares, distribute to the Holder a pro rata portion of such Distribution based on the portion of the Warrant that has been exercised (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution at such time and to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution to be held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

4.2                               Aggregation of Shares.  If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5 hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of

 

8

 

Common Stock and the Exercise Price shall be proportionally increased such that the aggregate Exercise Price, after such adjustments, remains the same for each Warrant.

 

4.3                               Purchase Rights.  If at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any options, convertible securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right to be held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

4.4                               Fundamental Transactions.  If, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another person or group of persons whereby such other person or group acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other

 

9

 

person or other persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of a Warrant, the Registered Holder of each Warrant shall have the right to receive, for each share of Common Stock that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Registered Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 3.4 on the exercise of the Warrants), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 3.4 on the exercise of the Warrants).  For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration.  If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then each Registered Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration such Registered Holder receives upon any exercise of a Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company shall, at a Registered Holder’s option, exercisable at any time prior to the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, purchase such Registered Holder’s Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction from the Registered Holder by paying cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds in an amount equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of such Registered Holder’s Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of a Warrant based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Expiration Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the trading day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the sum of the price per share of Common Stock being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction (the “FMV”) and (D) a remaining option time

 

10

 

equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Expiration Date.  The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all obligations of the Company under each Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.3 pursuant to agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Registered Holders and approved by the Registered Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of each Registered Holder, deliver to such Registered Holder in exchange for such Registered Holder’s Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to such Registered Holder’s Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of such Warrant (without regard to the limitations on exercise set forth in Section 3.4) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the Exercise Price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of such Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Registered Holder.  Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Agreement and each Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and each Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.

 

4.5                               Calculations.  All calculations under this Section 4 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest whole share, as the case may be.  For purposes of this Section 4, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall not include treasury shares, if any.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, no adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price; provided however, that any adjustments which by reason of the immediately preceding sentence are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.  In any case in which this Section 4 shall require that an adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, if the Registered Holder exercises a Warrant after such record date, the Company may elect to defer, until the occurrence of such event, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock of the Company in excess of the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment;

 

11

 

provided, however, that in such case the Company or the Warrant Agent shall deliver to the Registered Holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing the Registered Holder’s right to receive such additional shares and/or other capital securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

 

4.6                               Notices of Changes in Warrant.  Upon every adjustment of the Exercise Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.  Upon occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each Warrant holder, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event.  Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

 

4.7                               No Fractional Shares.  Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants.  If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round to the nearest whole number, the number of the shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

4.8                               Form of Warrant.  The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4.9                               Other Events.  In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment.  The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.

 

12

 

5.                                      Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

 

5.1                               Registration of Transfer.  The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer.  Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent.  The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

5.2                               Procedure for Surrender of Warrants.  Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants.

 

5.3                               Fractional Warrants.  The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate for a fraction of a warrant.

 

5.4                               Warrant Execution and Countersignature.  The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.

 

6.                                      Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

6.1                               No Rights as Stockholder.  A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, except as otherwise set forth herein or in any Warrant, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

6.2                               Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants.  If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity bond or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.  Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

6.3                               Reservation of Common Stock.  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

13

 

6.4                               Registration of Common Stock.  The Company registered the Warrants and shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants in the Registration Statement.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and the current status of the Prospectus or to file and maintain the effectiveness of another registration statement and another current prospectus covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants at any time that the Warrants are exercisable.  In addition, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to register such shares of Common Stock under the blue sky laws of the states of residence of the exercising Warrant holders to the extent an exemption from such registration is not available.  If at any time, the Company does not have an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, and Rule 144 is not available to cover such shares of Common Stock due to the failure of the Company to be currently reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Public Information Failure”), then the Company shall pay in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount per month equal to 1% of the aggregate VWAP of the shares into which a Warrant is converted which are not able to be delivered without legend because of such Public Information Failure to the Holder thereof until such shares are able to be delivered without legend (to be pro-rated for any periods which are less than one month).

 

7.                                      Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

7.1                               Payment of Taxes.  The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

 

7.2                               Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

 

7.2.1                     Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent.  The Warrant Agent, or any successor hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company.  If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost.  Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation in good standing in the State of                        and having its principal office in the City of                       , and authorized

 

14

 

under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.  After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

7.2.2                     Notice of Successor Warrant Agent.  In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

7.2.3                     Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent.  Any company into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

7.3                               Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

7.3.1                     Remuneration.  The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and any transfer agent fees which are in addition thereto and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

7.3.2                     Further Assurances.  The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

7.4                               Liability of Warrant Agent.

 

7.4.1                     Reliance on Company Statement.  Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company

 

15

 

prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.  The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

7.4.2                     Indemnity.  The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.  The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

7.4.3                     Exclusions.  The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof).  The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant.  The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

7.5                               Acceptance of Agency.  The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

8.                                      Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

8.1                               Successors.  All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

8.2                               Notices.  Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given (i) when so delivered if by hand or

 

16

 

overnight delivery, (ii) when sent, if delivered by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party) or by electronic mail, or (iii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

 

OpGen, Inc.

708 Quince Orchard Road, Suite 160

Gaithersburg, MD 20878

 

By Telefax (which constitutes notice)

By Email (which constitutes notice):

 

with copies to:

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given (i) upon receipt if by hand or overnight delivery, (ii) when sent, if delivered by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party) or by electronic mail or (iii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

[                          ]

 

8.3                               Applicable Law.  The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.  The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Maryland or the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive.  The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

8.4                               Persons Having Rights under this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof.  All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

17

 

8.5                               Examination of the Warrant Agreement.  A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the City of [                              ], Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant.  The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.

 

8.6                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

8.7                               Effect of Headings.  The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

8.8                               Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders.  All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of the Company and the Registered Holders holding Warrants to purchase at least 65% of the shares of Common Stock underlying the then outstanding Warrants.  No consideration shall be offered by the Company to any Registered Holder in connection with a modification, amendment or waiver of this Warrant Agreement or any Warrant without also offering the same consideration to all Registered Holders.

 

8.9                               Severability.  This Warrant Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Warrant Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof.  Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Warrant Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

18

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
OPGEN, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
PHILADELPHIA   STOCK TRANSFER, INC., as Warrant Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

19

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

 

Number

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO 
 THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR 
 IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

OPGEN, INC.

 

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”), of OpGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).  Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement (as defined on the reverse hereof).

 

Each Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock.  The number of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $             per share.  The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.

 

A-1

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

	
 
    	
OPGEN, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
PHILADELPHIA   STOCK TRANSFER, INC.,
   as Warrant Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

A-2

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of [                            ], 2015 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to [                                  ], as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder) of the Warrants.  A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company.  Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in Section 3.3 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.  If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

A-3

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares to the order of OpGen, Inc. (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                      ] in accordance with the terms hereof.  The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares be registered in the name of [                  ], whose address is and that such shares be delivered to whose address is                           .  If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares be registered in the name of [                        ], whose address is [                                            ], and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                                                        ], whose address is [                                                        ].

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 3.3.2 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.3.2 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

	
            
    	
a   “Cash Exercise” with respect to                            Warrant Shares; and/or
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
          
    	
a   “Cashless Exercise” with respect to                          Warrant Shares, resulting in a delivery obligation by the Company to the   Holder of shares of Common Stock representing the applicable Net Number,   subject to adjustment.
    

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock.  If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares be registered in the name of [                          ], whose address is [                                          ], and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                                    ], whose address is [                              ].

 

A-4

 

	
Date:                 , 20   
    	
(Signature)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Address)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Tax Identification Number)
    

 

A-5ex4-1.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

among

NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC,

as Depositor

WELLS FARGO DELAWARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Owner Trustee

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

not in its individual capacity but solely

as Indenture Trustee

acting as

Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent and Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar

Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2

Dated as of April 23, 2015

 

 

 

  

  

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

	
ARTICLE I

 

	
DEFINITIONS

 

	
1

	
SECTION 1.1

 

	
Definitions and Usage

 

	
1

	
ARTICLE II

 

	
ORGANIZATION

 

	
1

	
SECTION 2.1

 

	
Creation of Trust; Name

 

	
1

	
SECTION 2.2

 

	
Office

 

	
2

	
SECTION 2.3

 

	
Purposes and Powers

 

	
2

	
SECTION 2.3A 

	                        Covenants of the Trust.	
2

 

	
SECTION 2.4

 

	
Appointment of Owner Trustee

 

	
3

	
SECTION 2.5

 

	
Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate

 

	
3

	
SECTION 2.6

 

	
Declaration of Trust

 

	
3

	
SECTION 2.7

 

	
Liability of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder

 

	
4

	
SECTION 2.8

 

	
Title to Trust Property

 

	
4

	
SECTION 2.9

 

	
Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Depositor

 

	
4

	
SECTION 2.10

 

	
[Reserved]

 

	
5

	
SECTION 2.11

 

	
Authorization of the Administrator

 

	
5

	
ARTICLE III

 

	
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP AND EXCESS DISTRIBUTION CERTIFICATE

 

	
5

	
SECTION 3.1

 

	
Initial Beneficial Ownership

 

	
5

	
SECTION 3.2

 

	
Corporate Trust Office

 

	
5

	
SECTION 3.3

 

	
The Excess Distribution Certificate

 

	
6

	
ARTICLE IV

 

	
ACTIONS BY OWNER TRUSTEE

 

	
11

	
SECTION 4.1

 

	
Prior Notice to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder With Respect to Certain Matters

 

	
11

	
SECTION 4.2

 

	
Action with Respect to Sale of the Trust Student Loans

 

	
11

	
SECTION 4.3

 

	
Action with Respect to Bankruptcy

 

	
11

	
SECTION 4.4

 

	
Restrictions

 

	
12

	
ARTICLE V

 

	
APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS; CERTAIN DUTIES

 

	
12

	
SECTION 5.1

 

	
Application of Trust Funds

 

	
12

	
SECTION 5.2

 

	
Method of Payment

 

	
12

	
SECTION 5.3

 

	
No Segregation of Moneys; No Interest

 

	
12

	
SECTION 5.4

 

	
Reports to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Internal Revenue Service and Others

 

	
12

 

 

 

  

i

  

	
ARTICLE VI

 

	
AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE

 

	
13

	
SECTION 6.1

 

	
General Authority

 

	
13

	
SECTION 6.2

 

	
General Duties

 

	
13

	
SECTION 6.3

 

	
Action Upon Instruction

 

	
13

	
SECTION 6.4

 

	
No Duties Except as Specified in this Agreement or in Instructions

 

	
14

	
SECTION 6.5

 

	
No Action Except Under Specified Documents or Instructions

 

	
15

	
SECTION 6.6

 

	
Restrictions

 

	
15

	
ARTICLE VII

 

	
CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE

 

	
15

	
SECTION 7.1

 

	
Acceptance of Trusts and Duties

 

	
15

	
SECTION 7.2

 

	
[Reserved]

 

	
17

	
SECTION 7.3

 

	
Representations and Warranties of the Owner Trustee

 

	
17

	
SECTION 7.4

 

	
Reliance; Advice of Counsel

 

	
17

	
SECTION 7.5

 

	
Not Acting in Individual Capacity

 

	
17

	
SECTION 7.6

 

	
Owner Trustee Not Liable for Excess Distribution Certificate or Trust Student Loans

 

	
18

	
SECTION 7.7

 

	
Owner Trustee May Own Notes

 

	
18

	
SECTION 7.8

 

	
Delaware Trustee Duties of the Owner Trustee

 

	
18

	
ARTICLE VIII

 

	
COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY OF THE OWNER TRUSTEE

 

	
19

	
SECTION 8.1

 

	
Owner Trustee’s Fees and Expenses

 

	
19

	
SECTION 8.2

 

	
Payments to the Owner Trustee

 

	
19

	
SECTION 8.3

 

	
Indemnity

 

	
19

	
ARTICLE IX

 

	
TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT

 

	
19

	
SECTION 9.1

 

	
Termination of Trust Agreement

 

	
19

	
ARTICLE X

 

	
SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES

 

	
20

	
SECTION 10.1

 

	
Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee

 

	
20

	
SECTION 10.2

 

	
Resignation or Removal of the Owner Trustee

 

	
20

	
SECTION 10.3

 

	
Successor Owner Trustee

 

	
21

	
SECTION 10.4

 

	
Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee

 

	
21

	
SECTION 10.5

 

	
Appointment of Co-Owner Trustee or Separate Owner Trustee

 

	
22

	
ARTICLE XI

 

	
MISCELLANEOUS

 

	
23

 

 

 

  

ii

  

	
SECTION 11.1

 

	
Supplements and Amendments

 

	
23

	
SECTION 11.2

 

	
No Legal Title to Trust Estate in the Excess Distribution Certificateholder

 

	
24

	
SECTION 11.3

 

	
Limitations on Rights of Others

 

	
24

	
SECTION 11.4

 

	
Notices

 

	
24

	
SECTION 11.5

 

	
Severability

 

	
24

	
SECTION 11.6

 

	
Separate Counterparts

 

	
24

	
SECTION 11.7

 

	
Successors and Assigns

 

	
25

	
SECTION 11.8

 

	
No Petition

 

	
25

	
SECTION 11.9

 

	
No Recourse

 

	
25

	
SECTION 11.10

 

	
Headings

 

	
25

	
SECTION 11.11

 

	
Governing Law

 

	
25

	
SECTION 11.12

 

	
Waiver of Jury Trial

 

	
26

	
ARTICLE XII

 

	
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION AB

 

	
26

	
SECTION 12.1

 

	
Intent of the Parties; Reasonableness

 

	
26

	
Exhibit A

	
Form of Excess Distribution Certificate

	  
	
Exhibit B

	
Form of Certificate of Trust

	  
	
Exhibit C

	
Form of Transferor Letter

	  
	
Exhibit D-1

	
Form of Transferee Letter (Non-Rule 144A)

	  
	
Exhibit D-2

	
Form of Transferee Letter (Rule 144A)

	  

  

iii

  

AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT dated as of April 23, 2015, among NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the Depositor, WELLS FARGO DELAWARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, as owner trustee (the “Owner Trustee”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely as the indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), acting as the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent and Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar hereunder.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Owner Trustee are parties to the trust agreement dated as of March 23, 2015 (the “Short-Form Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which a trust known as “Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2” was established on March 23, 2015; and

 

WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee desire to amend and restate the Short-Form Trust Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein as follows.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Depositor, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, acting as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent and the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.1      Definitions and Usage.  Except as otherwise specified herein or as the context may otherwise require, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated as of April 23, 2015 (the “Indenture”), among Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2 (the “Trust”), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity but solely as eligible lender trustee (the “Eligible Lender Trustee”), and the Indenture Trustee, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, which also contains rules as to usage that shall be applicable herein.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Organization

 

SECTION 2.1      Creation of Trust; Name.  There is hereby created a Trust which shall be located in the State of Delaware, and which shall be known as “Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2”, in which name the Owner Trustee may conduct the functions of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.  The Trust shall constitute a statutory trust within the meaning of Section 3801(a) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act for which the Owner Trustee has filed or has caused to be filed a certificate of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 3810(a) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

  

  

  

SECTION 2.2      Office.  The office of the Trust shall be in care of the Owner Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office referred to in Section 3.2 or at such other address as the Owner Trustee may designate by written notice to the Depositor.

 

SECTION 2.3      Purposes and Powers.  The purpose of the Trust is to engage in the following activities:

 

(i)           to issue the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the Excess Distribution Certificate pursuant to this Agreement and to sell the Notes in one or more transactions;

 

(ii)           with the proceeds received from the sale of the Notes, (A) to fund the Reserve Account pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Administration Agreement, (B) to fund the Supplemental Purchase Account pursuant to Section 2.10(d) of the Administration Agreement, to fund the Borrower Benefit Account, if any, pursuant to Section 2.10(f) of the Administration Agreement and to fund the Floor Income Rebate Account, if any, pursuant to Section 2.10(g) of the Administration Agreement, (C) to make the Collection Account Initial Deposit pursuant to Section 2.10(c) of the Administration Agreement and (D) to purchase (x) the Initial Trust Student Loans on the Closing Date and (y) any Additional Trust Student Loans during the Supplemental Purchase Period (with respect to which legal title will vest in the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust and beneficial ownership will be the property of the Trust);

 

(iii)           to Grant the Trust Estate to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture, and to hold, manage and distribute to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder pursuant to the terms of this Agreement any portion of the Trust Estate released from the Lien of, and remitted to the Trust pursuant to, the Indenture;

 

(iv)           to enter into and perform its obligations under the Basic Documents (including any agreements representing Eligible Repurchase Obligations) 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; and

 

(vi)           subject to compliance with the Basic Documents, to engage in such other activities as may be required in connection with conservation of the Trust Estate and the making of distributions to the Noteholders and the others specified in Sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the Administration Agreement.

 

The Trust 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 other Basic Documents.  The Trust is not intended to be a “business trust” for purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

 

SECTION 2.3A Covenants of the Trust.   The Trust covenants and agrees to the following:

 

  

-2-

  

 

(a)           To maintain books and records separate from any other person or entity;

(b)            To maintain its accounts separate from those of any other person or entity, except as permitted by the Trust Agreement or any other Basic Document;

(c)           Not to commingle assets with those of any other entity, except as permitted by the Trust Agreement or any other Basic Document;

(d)           To conduct its own functions in its own name;

(e)           To maintain separate financial statements or records;

(f)           To pay its own liabilities out of its own funds, except as permitted by the Trust Agreement or any other Basic Document;

(g)           To maintain an arm's-length relationship with its Affiliates;

(h)           To pay the salaries of its own employees and maintain a sufficient number of employees or adequate service providers in light of its contemplated business operations;

(i)           To allocate fairly and reasonably any overhead for shared office space;

(j)           To hold itself out as a separate entity; and

(k)           To correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity.

 

SECTION 2.4      Appointment of Owner Trustee.  The Depositor hereby affirms the appointment of the Owner Trustee as trustee of the Trust, effective as of the date of the Short-Form Trust Agreement.  The Owner Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties set forth herein, including for the purpose of satisfying Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, and the Owner Trustee hereby accepts such continued appointment.

 

SECTION 2.5      Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate. The Depositor contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and set over to the Owner Trustee, prior to the date hereof, the sum of $100.00. The Owner Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor of the foregoing contribution, which shall constitute the initial Trust Estate and shall be deposited in the Collection Account.  The Depositor shall pay the 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 2.6      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 Excess Distribution Certificateholder, subject to the obligations of the Trust under the other Basic Documents.  It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust constitute a statutory trust under Delaware law and that this Agreement constitute the governing instrument of such trust. Effective as of the date hereof, the Owner Trustee shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in the Delaware Statutory Trust Act with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust.

 

  

-3-

  

SECTION 2.7      Liability of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder.  No Excess Distribution Certificateholder (in such capacity) shall have any personal liability for any liability or obligation of the Trust.

 

SECTION 2.8      Title to Trust Property.  Legal title to all of the Trust Estate shall be vested at all times in the Trust as a separate legal entity except where applicable law in any jurisdiction requires title to any part of the Trust Estate to be vested in a trustee or trustees, in which case title shall be deemed to be vested in the Owner Trustee, a co-trustee and/or a separate trustee, as the case may be; provided that legal title to the Trust Student Loans shall be vested at all times in the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust.

 

SECTION 2.9      Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Depositor.  The Depositor hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee as follows:

 

(a)           The Depositor is duly organized and validly existing as a Delaware limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are currently owned and such business is presently conducted.

 

(b)           The Depositor has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its terms; the Depositor has the power and authority to sell and assign the property to be sold and assigned to and deposited with the Trust (or with the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust) and the Depositor has duly authorized such sale and assignment and deposit to the Trust (or to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust) by all necessary action; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Depositor by all necessary action.

 

(c)           This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Depositor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

(d)           The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, the Certificate of Formation or Operating Agreement of the Depositor, or any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Depositor is a party or by which it is bound; nor result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than pursuant to the Basic Documents); nor violate any law or, to the Depositor’s knowledge, any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Depositor of any court or of any federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Depositor or its properties.

 

(e)           The Depositor agrees, for the benefit of the Noteholders and the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, that it will comply with each of the requirements set forth in the Certificate of Formation and its Operating Agreement.

 

  

-4-

  

(f)           The Depositor shall make available to the Eligible Lender Trustee (i) as soon as possible, and in any event within the time period allowed by the Commission to file such financials after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor (or an affiliate), audited financials of the Depositor (or an affiliate) as at the end of and for such year and (ii) as soon as possible, and in any event within the time period allowed by the Commission to file such financials after the end of each quarterly accounting period of the Depositor (or an affiliate), unaudited financials of the Depositor (or an affiliate) as at the end of and for such period.

 

(g)           The Depositor shall make available to the Eligible Lender Trustee, as soon as possible after the delivery to the Department, a copy of the annual compliance audit of Navient Solutions, Inc. (or an affiliate), as required by Section 428(b)(1)(U) of the Higher Education Act.

 

(h)           The Depositor shall deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee, on an annual basis, promptly after receipt thereof, copies of a SAS 70 report for Navient Solutions, Inc.

 

(i)           The Depositor shall promptly deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee a copy of any program review audit that Navient Solutions, Inc. (or its affiliates) shall receive from the Department.

 

(j)           The Depositor shall deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee, on a quarterly basis, evidence of payment of any FFEL Lenders’ Interest & Special Allowance (LaRS) payments paid to the Department in connection with the Trust Student Loans.

 

SECTION 2.10      [Reserved].

 

SECTION 2.11      Authorization of the Administrator.  The Administrator is authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the Issuer, and, after execution, to file with the Commission, all documents and forms required to be filed in accordance with applicable law or the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Beneficial Ownership and

Excess Distribution Certificate

 

SECTION 3.1      Initial Beneficial Ownership.  Upon the formation of the Trust by the contribution by the Depositor described in Section 2.5 and until the issuance of the Excess Distribution Certificate, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.

 

SECTION 3.2      Corporate Trust Office. The Owner Trustee initially designates 919 North Market Street, Suite 1600, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 as its principal Corporate Trust Office, at which it shall act as trustee of the Trust.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar’s New York office and its authenticating agent’s office are located at:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

625 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Attention: Asset Backed Securities Department or

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Asset Backed Securities Department

c/o DTC New York Window

55 Water Street, 3rd Floor

New York, NY 10041

 

  

-5-

  

 

SECTION 3.3      The Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

(a)           General.  The Excess Distribution Certificate shall be issued in one or more registered, definitive physical certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, in minimum percentage interests of at least 10% and integral multiples of 10% in excess thereof.  The Excess Distribution Certificate shall receive payments as provided in Sections 2.8(k) and 2.9(f), as applicable, of the Administration Agreement.  The Excess Distribution Certificate shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of an Authorized Officer of the Owner Trustee.  An Excess Distribution Certificate bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures were affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be valid and binding obligations of the Trust, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Excess Distribution Certificate or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

(b)           Authentication.  As part of the consideration for the purchase of the Trust Student Loans pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Owner Trustee shall cause the Excess Distribution Certificate to be executed on behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor (in its capacity as “Seller” under the Sale Agreement), signed by its president or any vice president, without further action by the Depositor.  For all purposes hereunder, the Depositor shall be the initial Excess Distribution Certificateholder.  No Excess Distribution Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit under this Agreement, or shall be valid for any purpose, unless there shall appear on such Excess Distribution Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, executed by the Owner Trustee (or Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as the Owner Trustee’s authenticating agent) by manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Excess Distribution Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.  The Excess Distribution Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication.  No further Excess Distribution Certificates shall be issued except pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) below.

 

(c)           Registration of Transfer and Exchange.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to paragraph (f) below, the Excess Distribution Certificate Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar shall provide for the registration of the Excess Distribution Certificate and of transfers and exchanges of the Excess Distribution Certificate as herein provided. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall be the initial Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to paragraph (f) below, the Owner Trustee shall execute, authenticate and deliver (or shall cause Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as its authenticating agent to authenticate and deliver), in the name of the designated transferee, a new Excess Distribution

 

  

-6-

  

Certificate dated the date of authentication by the Owner Trustee or its authenticating agent.  At the option of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Excess Distribution Certificate may be exchanged for another Excess Distribution Certificate upon surrender of the Excess Distribution Certificate to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to paragraph (f) below.

 

An Excess Distribution Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Owner Trustee and the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar duly executed by the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, with such signature (other than for transfers or exchanges to or among any Affiliates of the Depositor) guaranteed by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or a commercial bank or trust company.  An Excess Distribution Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar in accordance with its customary practice.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Excess Distribution Certificate, but the Owner Trustee or the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of the Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

The preceding provisions of this Section notwithstanding, the Owner Trustee shall not be required to make and the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar need not register transfers or exchanges of the Excess Distribution Certificate for a period of 15 days preceding any Distribution Date with respect to the Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

The Excess Distribution Certificate (including any beneficial interest therein) may not be acquired by or for the account of (i) any Benefit Plan, (ii) any person who is not a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, or (iii) any “pass-thru entity” referred to in Section 1(h)(10)(D), (E) or (F) of the Code, the income of which pass-thru entity is includible directly or indirectly through one or more other such pass-thru entities by any person referred to in clause (ii) above.  By accepting and holding the Excess Distribution Certificate, the holder hereof shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that it is not acquiring the Excess Distribution Certificate by or for the account of any entity in violation of the above restrictions, and to have agreed that if such restrictions are violated, the holder will promptly dispose of the Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

(d)           Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Excess Distribution Certificate.  If (1) a mutilated Excess Distribution Certificate shall be surrendered to the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, or if the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the Excess Distribution Certificate, and (2) there shall be delivered to the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar and the Owner Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and the Trust harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Excess Distribution Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Owner Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and the Owner Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (or shall cause Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as its authenticating agent to authenticate and deliver), in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,

 

  

-7-

  

destroyed, lost or stolen Excess Distribution Certificate, a new Excess Distribution Certificate of like tenor.  In connection with the issuance of any new Excess Distribution Certificate under this Section, the Owner Trustee and the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.  Any duplicate Excess Distribution Certificate issued pursuant to this paragraph shall constitute conclusive evidence of ownership in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Excess Distribution Certificate shall be found at any time.

 

(e)           Persons Deemed Owners.  Prior to due presentation of the Excess Distribution Certificate for registration of transfer, the Owner Trustee and the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar and any agent of either of them may treat the Person in whose name the Excess Distribution Certificate shall be registered in the Excess Distribution Certificate Register as the owner of such Excess Distribution Certificate for the purpose of receiving distributions thereon and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar nor any agent thereof shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.

 

(f)           Maintenance of Office or Agency.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or offices or agency or agencies where the Excess Distribution Certificate may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar in respect of the Excess Distribution Certificate may be served.

 

(g)           Appointment of Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall make distributions to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder from the amounts received from the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Sections 2.8(k) and 2.9(f) of the Administration Agreement and shall report the amounts of such distributions to the Indenture Trustee (if the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent is not the Indenture Trustee).  Any Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to receive such funds from the Indenture Trustee for the purpose of making the distributions referred to above.  The Owner Trustee may revoke such power and remove the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent if the Owner Trustee determines in its sole discretion that the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall initially be the Indenture Trustee, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Owner Trustee and consented to by the Administrator (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  The Indenture Trustee shall be permitted to resign as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent upon 30 days’ written notice to the Owner Trustee.  In the event that the Indenture Trustee shall no longer be the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent, the Owner Trustee (at the written direction of the Administrator) shall appoint a successor to act as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company).  The Owner Trustee shall cause such successor Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent or any additional Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent appointed by the Owner Trustee to execute and deliver to the Owner Trustee an instrument in which such successor Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent or additional Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall agree with the Owner Trustee that as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent, such successor Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent or additional Excess Distribution

 

  

-8-

  

Certificate Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder in trust for the benefit of such holder until such sums shall be paid to such holder.  The Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Owner Trustee and upon removal of an Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent such Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Owner Trustee.  The provisions of Articles VI and VIII of the Indenture shall apply to the Indenture Trustee also in its role as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent, for so long as the Indenture Trustee shall act as Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder.  Any reference in this Agreement to the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.

 

(h)           Restrictions on Transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

(i)           The Excess Distribution Certificate may be transferred to any Affiliate of the Depositor, without any requirement to provide any officer’s certificates or legal opinions that would otherwise be required if such proposed transfer was being made to a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Depositor; provided that, after the date hereof, upon the request of the Administrator, any such proposed transferee of the Excess Distribution Certificate that is an Affiliate of the Depositor shall provide to the Administrator an opinion of counsel to the effect that if such Affiliate were to become a debtor in a case under the United States Bankruptcy Code, a federal court with jurisdiction over such bankruptcy case, exercising reasonable judgment after full consideration of all relevant factors, would not order the substantive consolidation of the assets and liabilities of the Trust with those of such Affiliate.

 

(ii)           Except as provided above, the Excess Distribution Certificate shall not be sold, pledged, transferred or assigned except as provided below:

 

(A)           The Excess Distribution Certificate has not been registered or qualified under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or any state securities law.  No transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition of the Excess Distribution Certificate or any interest therein shall be made unless such transfer is made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and effective registration or qualification under applicable state securities laws, or is made in a transaction which does not require such registration or qualification.  In the event that a transfer is to be made without registration or qualification, the Owner Trustee shall require, in order to assure compliance with such laws, that the prospective transferor and transferee each certify to the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor, in writing, the facts surrounding the transfer.  Such certifications shall be substantially in the forms of Exhibit C hereto and Exhibit D-1 or D-2 hereto, as applicable.  In the event that such a transfer is to be made within two years from the date of the initial issuance of the Excess Distribution Certificate pursuant hereto (other than a transfer as to which the proposed transferee has provided a certificate in the form of Exhibit D-2), the Owner Trustee in its sole discretion, may require that there shall also be delivered to the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, or, if it is not the proposed

 

  

-9-

  

transferor, the Depositor, at the expense of the transferor, an opinion of counsel that such transfer may be made pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act and such state securities laws.  Any such opinion of counsel shall not be an expense of the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor.  None of the Depositor, the Administrator, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar or the Owner Trustee is obligated to register or qualify the Excess Distribution Certificate under the Securities Act or any other securities law or to take any action not otherwise required under this Agreement to permit the transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate without registration or qualification.  Any such Excess Distribution Certificateholder desiring to effect such transfer shall, and does hereby agree to, indemnify the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor, against any liability that may result if the transfer is not so exempt or is made in accordance with such applicable federal and state laws.

 

(B)           No transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate will be registered by the Owner Trustee or the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar unless the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor receives a representation from the proposed transferee of the Excess Distribution Certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or D-2, as the case may be, that such transferee is not acquiring the Excess Distribution Certificate by or for the account of any entity in violation of the restrictions set forth in the final paragraph of Section 3.3(c) above.  If any proposed transferee shall become an Excess Distribution Certificateholder in violation of these provisions, then the last preceding permitted transferee shall be restored, to the extent permitted by law, to all rights as Excess Distribution Certificateholder, retroactive to the date of registration of such transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate.  Neither the Owner Trustee nor the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar shall have any liability to any person for any registration or transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate that is not permitted or for making any payments due on the Excess Distribution Certificate to the holder thereof or for taking any action with respect to such holder under this Agreement.  Any proposed transferee who becomes an Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall agree to indemnify the Owner Trustee, the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor, against any loss, damage or penalty incurred as a result of the transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate to such proposed transferee in violation of such restrictions.

 

(C)           The prospective transferee shall be aware that the Excess Distribution Certificate shall bear legends referring to the restrictions contained in sub-clauses (A) and (B) above and by its acceptance of an Excess Distribution Certificate agrees to abide by such restrictions.

 

(D)           The prospective transferee shall deliver an opinion of counsel addressed to the Owner Trustee, the Administrator, and, if it is not the proposed transferor, the Depositor, to the effect that, (1) as a matter of federal income tax law, such prospective transferee is permitted to accept the transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate, (2) such transfer or pledge would not jeopardize the tax treatment of the

 

  

-10-

  

Trust, (3) such transfer or pledge would not subject the Trust to any entity-level tax, (4) such transfer or pledge would not jeopardize the status of the Notes as debt for all purposes, and (5) such pledge or transfer would not cause the Trust to be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as an association or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation.

 

(E)           No pledge or transfer of the Excess Distribution Certificate shall be effective unless such purchase or transfer is to a single beneficial owner.

 

(iii)           Any Excess Distribution Certificateholder, as evidenced by its agreement to accept the rights conferred under the Excess Distribution Certificate, is hereby deemed to accept and succeed to all obligations of the Depositor under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Actions by Owner Trustee

 

SECTION 4.1      Prior Notice to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder With Respect to Certain Matters.  With respect to the following matters, the Owner Trustee shall not take action unless at least 30 days before the taking of such action, the Owner Trustee shall have notified the Excess Distribution Certificateholder and each of the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes in writing of the proposed action and the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall not have notified the Owner Trustee in writing prior to the 30th calendar day after such notice is given that it has withheld consent or provided alternative direction:

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
the initiation of any material claim or lawsuit by the Trust (except claims or lawsuits brought in connection with the collection of the Trust Student Loans) and the compromise of any material action, claim or lawsuit brought by or against the Trust (except with respect to the aforementioned claims or lawsuits for collection of Trust Student Loans);

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the consent of the Noteholders is required; or

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in circumstances where the consent of the Noteholders is not required and such amendment materially adversely affects the interests of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder.

 

SECTION 4.2      Action with Respect to Sale of the Trust Student Loans.  The Owner Trustee shall not have the power, except upon the written direction of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder and except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, to sell the Trust Student Loans after the payment in full of the Notes.

 

SECTION 4.3      Action with Respect to Bankruptcy. The Owner Trustee shall not have the power to commence a voluntary proceeding in bankruptcy relating to the Trust without the prior approval of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder and the delivery to the Owner Trustee by the Excess Distribution Certificateholder of a certificate certifying that the Excess Distribution Certificateholder reasonably believes that the Trust is insolvent; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Owner Trustee from filing a claim in, or otherwise participating in, any bankruptcy proceeding filed against the Trust.

 

  

-11-

  

SECTION 4.4      Restrictions.  Neither the Depositor nor the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall direct the Owner Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action if such action or inaction would be contrary to any obligation of the Trust or the Owner Trustee under this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents or would be contrary to Section 2.3 nor shall the Owner Trustee be permitted to follow any such direction, if given.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Application of Trust Funds; Certain Duties

 

SECTION 5.1      Application of Trust Funds.

 

(a)           On each Distribution Date, the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent shall distribute to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder any amounts payable in respect of the Excess Distribution Certificate in accordance with the Administration Agreement.

 

(b)           In the event that any withholding tax is imposed on the Trust’s payment to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, such tax shall reduce the amount otherwise distributable on the Excess Distribution Certificate.

 

SECTION 5.2      Method of Payment.  Distributions required to be made to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder on any Distribution Date shall be made to the holder of record on the preceding Record Date either by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to the account of such holder at a bank or other entity having appropriate facilities therefor, if such holder shall have provided to the Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar appropriate written instructions signed by two authorized officers, if any, at least five Business Days prior to such Distribution Date, or, if not, by check mailed to such holder at the address of such holder appearing in the Excess Distribution Certificate Register.

 

SECTION 5.3      No Segregation of Moneys; No Interest.  Subject to Section 5.1, moneys received by the Owner Trustee hereunder need not be segregated in any manner except to the extent required by law or the Administration Agreement and may be deposited under such general conditions as may be prescribed by law, and the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for any interest thereon.

 

SECTION 5.4      Reports to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Internal Revenue Service and Others.  The Owner Trustee shall provide (or cause to be provided) any reports or other information required to be provided to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder pursuant to the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder or other applicable law.  In addition, the Owner Trustee shall provide (or cause to be provided) any information concerning the Excess Distribution Certificate to the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority as required under the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder or other applicable law. The Owner Trustee shall be entitled to hire an independent accounting firm to perform the functions described in this Section 5.4, the reasonable fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Depositor.

 

  

-12-

  

ARTICLE VI

 

Authority and Duties of Owner Trustee

 

SECTION 6.1      General Authority.  The Owner Trustee is authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Basic Documents to which the Trust is to be a party and each certificate or other document attached as an exhibit to or contemplated by the Basic Documents to which the Trust is to be a party, in each case, in such form as the Depositor shall approve as evidenced conclusively by the Owner Trustee’s execution thereof, and, on behalf of the Trust, to direct the Indenture Trustee to authenticate and deliver Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $997,000,000.  The Eligible Lender Trustee is also authorized and directed on behalf of the Trust to acquire all Trust Student Loans to be sold by the Depositor, with beneficial ownership to be held by the Trust.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Owner Trustee is hereby authorized to take all actions required of the Trust pursuant to the Basic Documents.  The Owner Trustee is further authorized from time to time to take such action as the Administrator directs or instructs, in writing, with respect to the Basic Documents and is directed to take such action to the extent that the Administrator is expressly required pursuant to the Basic Documents to cause the Owner Trustee to act.

 

SECTION 6.2      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 Basic Documents to which the Trust is a party and to administer the Trust in the interest of the Noteholders and the Excess Distribution Certificateholder subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Basic Documents.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Owner Trustee shall on behalf of the Trust file and prove any claim or claims that may exist on behalf of the Trust against the Depositor in connection with any claims paying procedure as part of an insolvency or a receivership proceeding involving the Depositor.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Owner Trustee shall be deemed to have discharged its duties and responsibilities hereunder and under the other Basic Documents to the extent the Administrator has agreed in the Administration Agreement to perform any act or to discharge any duty of the Owner Trustee hereunder or under any other Basic Document, and the Owner Trustee shall not be held liable for the default or failure of the Administrator to carry out its obligations under the Administration Agreement.  Except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents, the Owner Trustee shall have no obligation to administer, service or collect the Trust Student Loans or to maintain, monitor or otherwise supervise the administration, servicing or collection of the Trust Student Loans, provided that in the event of an Administrator Default, the Owner Trustee shall be responsible to undertake the actions specifically required of the Owner Trustee pursuant to (i) Sections 5.1(d), 5.3, 6.1(c) and 8.5(d) of the Administration Agreement and (ii) Sections 3.5(A), 3.11(A), 5.1 and 6.1 of the Servicing Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.3      Action Upon Instruction.

 

  

-13-

  

(a)           [Reserved].

 

(b)           The Owner Trustee shall not be required to take any action hereunder or under any other Basic 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 hereof, any other Basic Document or is otherwise contrary to law.

 

(c)           Whenever the Owner Trustee is unable to determine the appropriate course of action between alternative courses and actions permitted or required by the terms of this Agreement or under any other Basic Document, the Owner Trustee shall promptly give notice (in such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the Depositor requiring 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 Depositor 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 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 inconsistent with this Agreement, the other Basic Documents, as it shall deem to be in the best interests of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, and shall have no liability to any Person for such action or inaction.

 

(d)           In the event that the Owner Trustee is unsure as to the application of any provision of this Agreement, any other Basic 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 Depositor requesting written instruction and, to the extent that the Owner Trustee acts or refrains from acting in good faith in accordance with any such written 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 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 inconsistent with this Agreement or the other Basic Documents, as it shall deem to be in the best interest of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, and shall have no liability to any Person for such action or inaction.

 

SECTION 6.4      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, service, dispose of or otherwise deal with the Trust Estate, or to otherwise take or refrain from taking any action under, or in connection with, any document contemplated hereby to which the Owner Trustee is a party, except as expressly provided by the terms of this Agreement or in any document or written instruction received by the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3; and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or any other Basic Document against the Owner Trustee. The Owner Trustee shall have no responsibility for filing any financing or continuation statement in any public office at any time or

 

  

-14-

  

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 this Agreement or any other Basic Document.  The Owner Trustee 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, Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A., in its individual capacity or as the Owner Trustee that are not related to the ownership or the administration of the Trust Estate.

 

SECTION 6.5      No Action Except Under Specified Documents or Instructions.  The Owner Trustee shall not otherwise deal with any part of the Trust Estate except (i) in accordance with the powers granted to and the authority conferred upon the Owner Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) in accordance with the other Basic Documents to which it is a party and (iii) in accordance with any document or instruction delivered to the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3.

 

SECTION 6.6      Restrictions.  The Owner Trustee shall not take any action (a) that is inconsistent with the purposes of the Trust set forth in Section 2.3 or (b) that, to the actual knowledge of the Owner Trustee, would result in the Trust’s becoming taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.  Neither the Depositor nor the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall direct the Owner Trustee to take action that would violate the provisions of this Section.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Concerning the Owner Trustee

 

SECTION 7.1      Acceptance of Trusts and Duties.  The Owner Trustee accepts the trusts hereby created and agrees to perform its duties hereunder with respect to such trusts but only upon the terms of this Agreement.  The Owner Trustee also agrees to disburse all moneys actually received by it constituting part of the Trust Estate upon the terms of this Agreement and the other Basic Documents.  The Owner Trustee shall not be answerable or accountable hereunder or under any other Basic 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 7.3 expressly made by the Owner Trustee.  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 liable for any error of judgment, except for such error resulting from willful misconduct or negligence as set forth in the preceding paragraph, made by an Authorized Officer of the Owner Trustee;

 

(b)           the Owner Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction or instructions of the Administrator, the Depositor or the Excess Distribution Certificateholder;

 

(c)           no provision of this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall require the Owner Trustee to expend or risk funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its rights or powers hereunder or under any other Basic 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;

 

  

-15-

  

(d)           under no circumstances shall the Owner Trustee be liable for indebtedness evidenced by or arising under any of the Basic 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 Depositor 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 Basic Documents, other than (in the case of the Owner Trustee) the certificate of authentication on the Excess Distribution Certificate, and the Owner Trustee shall not in any event assume or incur any liability, duty, or obligation to any Noteholder or the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, other than as expressly provided for herein and in the other Basic Documents;

 

(f)           the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for, and shall have no duty to supervise or monitor, the action or inaction, default or misconduct of the Administrator, the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer under any of the other Basic Documents or otherwise, and the Owner Trustee shall not have any obligation or liability to perform the obligations of the Trust under this Agreement or the other Basic Documents that are required to be performed by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement, the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture or the Servicer under the Servicing Agreement;

 

(g)           the Owner Trustee shall not be under any 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, any other Basic Document, at the request, order or direction of the Depositor or the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, unless the Depositor or such holder 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 in any other Basic 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;

 

(h)           in no event shall the Owner Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God; it being understood that the Owner Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance of their respective obligations as soon as practicable under the circumstances; and

 

(i)           in no event shall the Owner Trustee be responsible or liable for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever irrespective of whether the Owner Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

  

-16-

  

SECTION 7.2      [Reserved].

 

SECTION 7.3      Representations and Warranties of the Owner Trustee.  The Owner Trustee hereby represents and warrants to the Depositor, for the benefit of the Noteholders, and the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, that:

 

(a)           It is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its governing jurisdiction and has an office located within 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.

 

(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 state 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.

 

SECTION 7.4      Reliance; Advice of Counsel.

 

(a)           The Owner Trustee shall incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any signature, instrument, direction, notice, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, bond or other document or paper believed by it to be genuine and 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 trusts hereunder and in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement or the other Basic 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 and accountants 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 advice of any such counsel or accountants and not contrary to this Agreement or any other Basic Document.

 

SECTION 7.5      Not Acting in Individual Capacity.  Except as provided in this Article VII, in accepting the trusts hereby created, Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A. is acting 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 this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall look only to the Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof.

 

  

-17-

  

SECTION 7.6      Owner Trustee Not Liable for Excess Distribution Certificate or Trust Student Loans.  The recitals contained herein and in the Excess Distribution Certificate (other than the signature of and authentication by the Owner Trustee on the Excess Distribution Certificate) shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor 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, the Excess Distribution Certificate, or any other Basic Document (other than the signature of and authentication by the Owner Trustee on the Excess Distribution Certificate), or the Notes, or of any Trust Student Loan or related documents.  The Owner Trustee shall not at any time have any responsibility or liability for or with respect to the sufficiency of the Trust Estate or its ability to generate the payments to be distributed to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder under this Agreement or the Noteholders, under the Indenture, including the existence and contents of any computer or other record of any Trust Student Loan; the validity of the assignment of any Trust Student Loan to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust; the completeness of any Trust Student Loan; the performance or enforcement (except as expressly set forth in any Basic Document) of any Trust Student Loan; the compliance by the Depositor or the Servicer with any warranty or representation made under any Basic Document or in any related document or the accuracy of any such warranty or representation or any action or inaction of the Administrator, the Indenture Trustee or the Servicer or any subservicer taken in the name of the Owner Trustee.

 

SECTION 7.7      Owner Trustee May Own Notes.  The Owner Trustee, individually or in any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may deal with the Depositor, the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Administrator, the Indenture Trustee or the Servicer in banking transactions with the same rights as it would have if it were not the Owner Trustee.

 

SECTION 7.8      Delaware Trustee Duties of the Owner Trustee.   The Owner Trustee is appointed to serve as the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware for the purpose of satisfying the requirement of Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act that the Trust have at least one trustee with a principal place of business in Delaware.  The duties of the Owner Trustee shall include (a) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (b) the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware which the Owner Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Owner Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto with respect to the Trust, the beneficial owners thereof or any other person, it is hereby understood and agreed by the other parties hereto that such duties and liabilities will be replaced by the duties and liabilities of the Owner Trustee expressly set forth in this Section 7.8.

 

  

-18-

  

ARTICLE VIII

 

Compensation and Indemnity of the Owner Trustee

 

SECTION 8.1      Owner Trustee’s Fees and Expenses.  The Owner Trustee shall receive as compensation for its services hereunder such fees, if any, as have been separately agreed upon before the date hereof between the Depositor and the Owner Trustee, and the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Administrator, to the extent provided in such separate agreement, for their other reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and independent accountants) hereunder.

 

SECTION 8.2      Payments to the Owner Trustee.  Any amounts paid to the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof or pursuant to Section 9 of the Sale Agreement, Section 4.2 of the Administration Agreement or Section 4.2 of the Servicing Agreement shall be deemed not to be a part of the Trust Estate immediately after such payment.

 

SECTION 8.3      Indemnity.  The Depositor shall cause the Administrator to indemnify the Owner Trustee in its individual capacity and any of its officer, directors, employees and agents as and to the extent provided for in Section 4.2 of the Administration Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Termination of Trust Agreement

 

SECTION 9.1      Termination of Trust Agreement.

 

(a)           This Agreement (other than Article VIII) and the Trust shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon (1) the final distribution by the Excess Distribution Certificate Paying Agent of all moneys or other property or proceeds of the Trust Estate in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Administration Agreement and Article V hereof and (2) the filing of the certificate of cancellation by the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 9.1(c) below.  The bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, death or incapacity of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall not (x) operate to terminate this Agreement or the Trust, nor (y) entitle such holder’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 nor (z) otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto.

 

(b)           Except as provided in Section 9.1(a), none of the Depositor, any Noteholder or the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall be entitled to revoke or terminate the Trust.

 

(c)           Upon final distribution of any funds remaining in the Trust, the Owner Trustee shall execute and file a certificate of cancellation (to be prepared by the Administrator) of the Trust’s certificate of trust pursuant to Section 3810(c) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

  

-19-

  

ARTICLE X

 

Successor Owner Trustees and

Additional Owner Trustees

 

SECTION 10.1      Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee.  The Owner Trustee shall at all times be a corporation (i) having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities; (ii) having (or having a parent which has) a rating in respect of its long-term senior unsecured debt of at least “BBB-” (or the equivalent) by each of the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes (or which, if the long-term senior unsecured debt of such corporation or association is not rated by any Rating Agency then rating the Notes, shall have provided to the Indenture Trustee written confirmation from such Rating Agency that the appointment of such corporation or association to serve as Owner Trustee will not result in and of itself in a reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating of any of the Notes); and (iii) satisfying the provisions of Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.  If the Owner Trustee 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 the Owner Trustee 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 10.2.

 

SECTION 10.2      Resignation or Removal of the 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 Administrator.  Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Administrator shall promptly appoint a successor Owner Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements of Section 10.1 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; provided, however, that such right to appoint or to petition for the appointment of any such successor shall in no event relieve the resigning Owner Trustee from any obligations otherwise imposed on it under the Basic Documents until such successor has in fact assumed such appointment.

 

If at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be or shall be likely to cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Administrator, or if at any time an Insolvency Event with respect to the Owner Trustee shall have occurred and be continuing, then the Administrator may remove the Owner Trustee.  If the Administrator shall remove the Owner Trustee under the authority of the immediately preceding sentence, the Administrator shall promptly 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 payment of all fees owed to the outgoing Owner Trustee.

 

  

-20-

  

 

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 10.3, payment of all fees and expenses owed to the outgoing Owner Trustee and the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Trust’s certificate of trust pursuant to Section 3810(b) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.  The Administrator shall provide notice of such resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee to each of the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes.

 

SECTION 10.3      Successor Owner Trustee.  Any successor Owner Trustee appointed pursuant to Section 10.2 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Administrator 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, statements, moneys and properties held by it under this Agreement; and the Administrator 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 such appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Owner Trustee shall be eligible pursuant to Section 10.1.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Administrator shall mail notice of the successor of such Owner Trustee to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders and the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes.  If the Administrator shall fail to mail such notice within 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 Administrator.

 

SECTION 10.4      Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee.  Any corporation or association into which the Owner Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Owner Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or association succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Owner Trustee shall, without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, be the successor of the Owner Trustee hereunder; provided that such corporation or association shall be eligible pursuant to Section 10.1; and provided further that the Owner Trustee shall mail notice of such merger or consolidation to the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes not less than 15 days prior to the effective date thereof and the Owner Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust as required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

  

-21-

  

SECTION 10.5      Appointment of Co-Owner Trustee or Separate Owner 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 may at the time be located, the Administrator 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 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 Administrator and the Owner Trustee may consider necessary or desirable.  If the Administrator 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 clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) of Section 10.1 and no notice of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required pursuant to Section 10.3.

 

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, solely at the written 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 Administrator 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 Administrator.

 

  

-22-

  

 

Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Owner Trustee as 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 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.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 11.1      Supplements and Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended by the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, with prior written notice to the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes, without the consent of any of the Noteholders, (i) 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 in this Agreement or modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders; provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Noteholder whose consent has not been obtained, or (ii) to correct any manifest error in the terms of this Agreement as compared to the terms expressly set forth in the Prospectus.

 

This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, with prior written notice to the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes, with the consent of (i) the Class A Noteholders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Class A Notes and (ii) the Class B Noteholders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Class B Notes, 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 Class A Noteholders or Class B Noteholders, as the case may be; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (a) increase or reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the timing of, collections of payments on Trust Student Loans or distributions that shall be required to be made for the benefit of the Noteholders or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Outstanding Amount of any class of the Notes required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of all of the Noteholders representing 100% of the Outstanding Amount of such class of Notes.

 

Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, the Owner Trustee shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Indenture Trustee and each of the Rating Agencies then rating the Notes.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Noteholders or the Indenture Trustee 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 manner of obtaining such consents (and any other consents of provided for in this Agreement or in any other Basic Document) and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof shall be subject to such reasonable requirements as the Owner Trustee may prescribe.

 

  

-23-

  

 

Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and an Officer’s Certificate from the Depositor stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of such amendment have been met or otherwise 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 11.2      No Legal Title to Trust Estate in the Excess Distribution Certificateholder. The Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall not have legal title to any part of the Trust Estate. The Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall be entitled to receive distributions with respect to its undivided beneficial ownership interest therein only in accordance with Section 3.3 of this Agreement.  No transfer, by operation of law or otherwise, of any right, title, or interest of the Excess Distribution Certificateholder 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 11.3      Limitations on Rights of Others.  The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Depositor, the Excess Distribution Certificateholder, the Administrator 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 this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained herein.

 

SECTION 11.4      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 shall be deemed given only upon actual receipt by the Owner Trustee),

 

(a)           if to the Owner Trustee, addressed to its Corporate Trust Office;

 

(b)           if to the Depositor, addressed to Navient Funding, LLC, 2001 Edmund Halley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191; or

 

(c)           as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party.

 

SECTION 11.5      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 such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 11.6      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.

 

  

-24-

  

SECTION 11.7      Successors and Assigns.  All covenants and agreements contained herein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of, the Depositor and its successors, the Owner Trustee and its successors, each Excess Distribution Certificateholder and its successors and permitted assigns, all as herein provided.  Any request, notice, direction, consent, waiver or other instrument or action by a Noteholder or the Excess Distribution Certificateholder shall bind the successors and assigns of such holder.

 

SECTION 11.8      No Petition.

 

(a)           Neither the Depositor, nor any other Excess Distribution Certificateholder (as evidenced by acceptance of its Excess Distribution Certificate) will institute against the Trust, at any time, any bankruptcy proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the Excess Distribution Certificate, the Notes, this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents.  The foregoing shall not limit the rights of the Depositor, nor any Excess Distribution Certificateholder to file any claim in, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any insolvency proceeding that was instituted against the Trust by a Person other than the Depositor or such other Excess Distribution Certificateholder.

 

(b)           The Owner Trustee (not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee), by entering into this Agreement, the Excess Distribution Certificateholder by accepting the Excess Distribution Certificate, and the Indenture Trustee and each Noteholder by accepting the benefits of this Agreement, hereby covenant and agree that they will not at any time institute against the Depositor or the Trust, or join in any institution against the Depositor or the Trust of, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, receivership or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under any United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations relating to the Notes, this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents.  The foregoing shall not limit the rights of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, respectively, to file any claim in, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any insolvency proceeding that was instituted against the Issuer by a Person other than the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee, respectively.

 

SECTION 11.9      No Recourse.  Each Excess Distribution Certificateholder, by accepting its Excess Distribution Certificate, acknowledges that such holder’s certificate represents beneficial interests in the Trust only and do not represent interests in or obligations of the Depositor, the Servicer, the Administrator, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or any Affiliate thereof or any officer, director or employee of any thereof and no recourse may be had against such parties or their assets, except as may be expressly set forth or contemplated in this Agreement, the Excess Distribution Certificate or the other Basic Documents.

 

SECTION 11.10      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 11.11      Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and 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.

 

  

-25-

  

SECTION 11.12      Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Compliance with Regulation AB

 

SECTION 12.1      Intent of the Parties; Reasonableness.  The Depositor, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee acknowledge and agree that the purpose of Article XII of this Agreement is to facilitate compliance by the Depositor and the Issuer with the provisions of Regulation AB and related rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

None of the Depositor, the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee shall exercise its right to request delivery of information or other performance under these provisions other than in good faith, or for purposes other than compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (or the provision in a private offering of disclosure comparable to that required under the Securities Act).  The Indenture Trustee acknowledges that interpretations of the requirements of Regulation AB may change over time, whether due to interpretive guidance provided by the Commission or its staff, consensus among participants in the asset-backed securities markets, advice of counsel, or otherwise, and agrees to comply with requests made by the Depositor in good faith for delivery of information under these provisions on the basis of evolving interpretations of Regulation AB.  In connection therewith, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee shall cooperate fully with the Depositor to deliver to the Depositor (including any of its assignees or designees), any and all statements, reports, certifications, records, attestations, and any other information necessary in the good faith determination of the Depositor, to permit the Depositor to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, together with such disclosures relating to the Owner Trustee, Indenture Trustee or the servicing of the Trust Student Loans, reasonably believed by the Depositor to be necessary in order to effect such compliance.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

  

-26-

  

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

 

NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC,

as the Depositor

By: /s/ Mark D. Rein                                                                           

Name:    Mark D. Rein

Title:      Vice President

WELLS FARGO DELAWARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Owner Trustee

By: /s/ Rosemary Kennard                                                                

Name:   Rosemary Kennard

Title:     Vice President

  

-27-

  

Acknowledged and agreed as to

Section 3.3(c) and Section 3.3(g)

of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

 

not in its individual capacity but solely

as Indenture Trustee acting as the initial Excess Distribution

Certificate Paying Agent and Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar

 

By: /s/ Adam Holzemer                                                                

       Name:   Adam Holzemer

       Title:     Vice President

 

 

 

  

-28-

  

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF EXCESS DISTRIBUTION CERTIFICATE

[PLEASE SEE ATTACHED]

  

A-1

  

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

NAVIENT STUDENT LOAN

TRUST 2015-2

This Certificate of Trust of NAVIENT STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2015-2 (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed on behalf of the Trust by the undersigned, as trustee, to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) (the “Act”).

 

1.           Name.  The name of the statutory trust formed by this Certificate of Trust is NAVIENT STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2015-2.

 

2.           Owner Trustee.  The name and business address of the Owner Trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware are Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, National Association, 919 North Market Street, Suite 1600, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.

 

3.           Effective Date.  This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.

 

  

B-1

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.

 

                                           WELLS FARGO DELAWARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee

                                           By:  _______________________________

                                           Name:

                                           Title:

  

B-2

  

EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF TRANSFEROR LETTER]

[Date]

Navient Solutions, Inc.,

as Administrator

2001 Edmund Halley Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar

 

625 Marquette Avenue

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A.,

as Owner Trustee

919 North Market Street, Suite 1600

Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Re:           Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2,

Excess Distribution Certificate (the “Certificate”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our disposition of the above Certificate, we certify that (a) we understand that the Certificate has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and is being disposed by us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (b) we have not offered or sold the Certificate to, or solicited offers to buy the Certificate from, any person, or otherwise approached or negotiated with any person with respect thereto, in a manner that would be deemed, or taken any other action would result in, a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,

_________________________________________

[Print Name of Transferor]

By: ______________________________________

Authorized Officer

  

C-1

  

EXHIBIT D-1

[FORM OF TRANSFEREE LETTER (NON-RULE 144A)]

[Date]

Navient Solutions, Inc.,

as Administrator

2001 Edmund Halley Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar

 

625 Marquette Avenue

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A.,

as Owner Trustee

919 North Market Street, Suite 1600

Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Re:           Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2,

Excess Distribution Certificate (the “Certificate”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our acquisition of the above Certificate, we certify that (a) we understand that the Certificate is not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and is being transferred to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any such laws, (b) we are an institutional “accredited investor,” as defined in Rule 501 (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or an entity in which all of the equity owners come within such paragraphs, and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investments in the Certificate, (c) we have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Depositor concerning the purchase of the Certificate and all matters relating thereto or any additional information deemed necessary to our decision to purchase the Certificate, (d) we are not acquiring the Certificate for, by or for the account of (i) any Benefit Plan, (ii) any person who is not a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, or (iii) any “pass-thru entity” referred to in Section 1(h)(10)(D), (E) or (F) of the Code, the income of which pass-thru entity is includible directly or indirectly through one or more other such pass-thru entities by any person referred to in clause (ii) above, (e) we are acquiring the Certificate for investment for our own account and not with a view to any distribution of the Certificate (but without prejudice to our right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of the Certificate in accordance with clause (g) below), (f) we have not offered or sold the Certificate to, or solicited offers to buy the Certificate from, any person, or otherwise approached or negotiated with any

 

  

D-1-1

  

person with respect thereto, or taken any other action which would result in a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act, and (g) we will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Certificate unless (1) such sale, transfer or other disposition is made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or is exempt from such registration requirements, and if requested, we will at our expense provide an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the addressees of this Letter that such sale, transfer or other disposition may be made pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act, (2) the purchaser or transferee of such Certificate has executed and delivered to you a certificate to substantially the same effect as this certificate and (3) the purchaser or transferee has otherwise complied with any conditions for transfer set forth in the Trust Agreement relating to the Certificate.

 

Except as otherwise specified herein or as the context may otherwise require, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Indenture dated as of April 23, 2015, among Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Trust and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as the Indenture Trustee, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Very truly yours,

__________________________________

[Print Name of Transferee]

By:_______________________________

Authorized Officer

  

D-1-2

  

EXHIBIT D-2

[FORM OF TRANSFEREE LETTER (RULE 144A)]

[Date]

Navient Solutions, Inc.,

as Administrator

2001 Edmund Halley Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Excess Distribution Certificate Registrar

 

625 Marquette Avenue

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A.,

as Owner Trustee

919 North Market Street, Suite 1600

Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Re:           Navient Student Loan Trust 2015-2,

Excess Distribution Certificate (the “Certificate”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our acquisition of the above Certificate, we certify that (a) we understand that the Certificate is not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and is being transferred to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any such laws, (b) we have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investments in the Certificate, (c) we have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Depositor concerning the purchase of the Certificate and all matters relating thereto or any additional information deemed necessary to our decision to purchase the Certificate, (d) we are not acquiring the Certificate by or for the account of (i) any Benefit Plan, (ii) any person who is not a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, or (iii) any “pass-thru entity” referred to in Section 1(h)(10)(D), (E) or (F) of the Code, the income of which pass-thru entity is includible directly or indirectly through one or more other such pass-thru entities by any person referred to in clause (ii) above, (e) we have not, nor has anyone acting on our behalf offered, transferred, pledged, sold or otherwise disposed of the Certificate, any interest in the Certificate or any other similar security to, or solicited any offer to buy or accept a transfer, pledge or other disposition of the Certificate, any interest in the Certificate or any other similar security from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect to the Certificate, any interest in the Certificate or any other similar security with, any person in any manner, or made any general solicitation by means of general advertising or in any other manner, or taken any other action, that would constitute a

 

  

D-2-1

  

distribution of the Certificate under the Securities Act or that would render the disposition of the Certificate a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act or require registration pursuant thereto, nor will act, nor has authorized or will authorize any person to act, in such manner with respect to the Certificate, (f) we are a “qualified institutional buyer” as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and have completed either of the forms of certification to that effect attached hereto as Annex 1 or Annex 2.  We are aware that the sale to us is being made in reliance on Rule 144A.  We are acquiring the Certificate for our own account or for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and further understand that the Certificate may be resold, pledged or transferred only (1) to a person reasonably believed to be a qualified institutional buyer that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, or (ii) pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

Except as otherwise specified herein or as the context may otherwise require, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Indenture dated as of April 23, 2015, among Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Trust and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., not in its individual capacity, but solely as the Indenture Trustee, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Very truly yours,

__________________________________

[Print Name of Transferee]

By:_______________________________

Authorized Officer

  

D-2-2

  

ANNEX 1

QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS UNDER SEC RULE 144A

[For Transferees Other Than Registered Investment Companies]

The undersigned (the “Buyer”) hereby certifies as follows to the parties listed in the Rule 144A Transferee Letter to which this certification relates with respect to the Certificate described therein:

 

	
  

	
1.

	
As indicated below, the undersigned is the President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President or other executive officer of the Buyer.

 

	
  

	
2.

	
In connection with purchases by the Buyer, the Buyer is a “qualified institutional buyer” as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144A”) because (i) the Buyer owned and/or invested on a discretionary basis $____________1 in securities (except for the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer’s most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A) and (ii) the Buyer satisfies the criteria in the category marked below.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Corporation, etc.  The Buyer is a corporation (other than a bank, savings and loan association or similar institution), Massachusetts or similar business trust, partnership, or charitable organization described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Bank.  The Buyer (a) is a national bank or banking institution organized under the laws of any State, territory or the District of Columbia, the business of which is substantially confined to banking and is supervised by the State or territorial banking commission or similar official or is a foreign bank or equivalent institution, and (b) has an audited net worth of at least $25,000,000 as demonstrated in its latest annual financial statements, a copy of which is attached hereto.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Savings and Loan.  The Buyer (a) is a savings and loan association, building and loan association, cooperative bank, homestead association or similar institution, which is supervised and examined by a State or federal authority having supervision over any such institutions or is a foreign savings and loan association or equivalent institution and (b) has an audited net worth of at least $25,000,000 as demonstrated in its latest annual financial statements, a copy of which is attached hereto.

 

___________________________ 

	
1

	
Buyer must own and/or invest on a discretionary basis at least $100,000,000 in securities unless Buyer is a dealer, and, in that case, Buyer must own and/or invest on a discretionary basis at least $10,000,000 in securities.

  

Annex 1-1

  

 

	
  

	
___

	
Broker-dealer.  The Buyer is a dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Insurance Company.  The Buyer is an insurance company whose primary and predominant business activity is the writing of insurance or the reinsuring of risks underwritten by insurance companies and which is subject to supervision by the insurance commissioner or a similar official or agency of a State, territory or the District of Columbia.

 

	
  

	
___

	
State or Local Plan.  The Buyer is a plan established and maintained by a State, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of the State or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees.

 

	
  

	
___

	
ERISA Plan.  The Buyer is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Investment Advisor.  The Buyer is an investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Small Business Investment Company.  The Buyer is a small business investment company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Business Development Company.  The Buyer is a business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

 

	
  

	
___

	
Qualified Institutional Buyers.  The Buyer owned and/or invested on a discretionary basis less than $100,000,000, but it is an entity in which all of the equity owners are qualified institutional buyers.

 

	
  

	
3.

	
The term “securities” as used herein does not include (i) securities of issuers that are affiliated with the Buyer, (ii) securities that are part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by the Buyer, if the Buyer is a dealer, (iii) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. or any instrumentality thereof, (iv) bank deposit notes and certificates of deposit, (v) loan participations, (vi) repurchase agreements, (vii) securities owned but subject to a repurchase agreement and (viii) currency, interest rate and commodity swaps.

 

	
  

	
4.

	
For purposes of determining the aggregate amount of securities owned and/or invested on a discretionary basis by the Buyer, the Buyer used the cost of such securities to the Buyer and did not include any of the securities referred to in the preceding paragraph, except (i) where the Buyer reports its securities holdings in its financial statements on the basis of their market value, and (ii) no current information with respect to the cost of those securities has been published.  If clause (ii) in the preceding sentence applies, the securities may be valued at market.  Further, in determining such aggregate amount, the

 

  

Annex 1-2

  

Buyer may have included securities owned by subsidiaries of the Buyer, but only if such subsidiaries are consolidated with the Buyer in its financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and if the investments of such subsidiaries are managed under the Buyer’s direction.  However, such securities were not included if the Buyer is a majority-owned, consolidated subsidiary of another enterprise and the Buyer is not itself a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

	
  

	
5.

	
The Buyer acknowledges that it is familiar with Rule 144A and understands that the seller to it and other parties related to the Certificate are relying and will continue to rely on the statements made herein because one or more sales to the Buyer may be in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

	
  

	
6.

	
Until the date of purchase of the Rule 144A Securities, the Buyer will notify each of the parties to which this certification is made of any changes in the information and conclusions herein.  Until such notice is given, the Buyer’s purchase of the Certificate will constitute a reaffirmation of this certification as of the date of such purchase.  In addition, if the Buyer is a bank or savings and loan is provided above, the Buyer agrees that it will furnish to such parties updated annual financial statements promptly after they become available.

 

____________________________________

[Print Name of Transferee]

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

Date:______________________

  

Annex 1-3

  

ANNEX 2

QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS UNDER SEC RULE 144A

[For Transferees That are Registered Investment Companies]

The undersigned (the “Buyer”) hereby certifies as follows to the parties listed in the Rule 144A Transferee Letter to which this certification relates with respect to the Certificate described therein:

 

	
  

	
1.

	
As indicated below, the undersigned is the President, Chief Financial Officer or Senior Vice President of the Buyer or, if the Buyer is a “qualified institutional buyer” as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144A”) because Buyer is part of a Family of Investment Companies (as defined below), is such an officer of the Adviser.

 

	
  

	
2.

	
In connection with purchases by Buyer, the Buyer is a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in SEC Rule 144A because (i) the Buyer is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and (ii) as marked below, the Buyer alone, or the Buyer’s Family of Investment Companies, owned at least $100,000,000 in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer’s most recent fiscal year.  For purposes of determining the amount of securities owned by the Buyer or the Buyer’s Family of Investment Companies, the cost of such securities was used, except (i) where the Buyer or the Buyer’s Family of Investment Companies reports its securities holdings in its financial statements on the basis of their market value, and (ii) no current information with respect to the cost of those securities has been published.  If clause (ii) in the preceding sentence applies, the securities may be valued at market.

 

	
  

	
___

	
The Buyer owned $______________ in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer’s most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A).

 

	
  

	
___

	
The Buyer is part of a Family of Investment Companies which owned in the aggregate $_____________ in securities (other than the excluded securities referred to below) as of the end of the Buyer’s most recent fiscal year (such amount being calculated in accordance with Rule 144A).

 

	
  

	
3.

	
The term “Family of Investment Companies” as used herein means two or more registered investment companies (or series thereof) that have the same investment adviser or investment advisers that are affiliated (by virtue of being majority owned subsidiaries of the same parent or because one investment adviser is a majority owned subsidiary of the other).

 

  

Annex 2-1

  

 

	
  

	
4.

	
The term “securities” as used herein does not include (i) securities of issuers that are affiliated with the Buyer or are part of the Buyer’s Family of Investment Companies, (ii) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. or any instrumentality thereof, (iii) bank deposit notes and certificates of deposit, (iv) loan participations, (v) repurchase agreements, (vi) securities owned but subject to a repurchase agreement and (vii) currency, interest rate and commodity swaps.

 

	
  

	
5.

	
The Buyer is familiar with Rule 144A and understands that the parties listed in the Rule 144A Transferee Letter to which this certification relates are relying and will continue to rely on the statements made herein because one or more sales to the Buyer will be in reliance on Rule 144A.  In addition, the Buyer will only purchase for the Buyer’s own account.

 

	
  

	
6.

	
Until the date of purchase of the Certificate, the undersigned will notify the parties listed in the Rule 144A Transferee Letter to which this certification relates of any changes in the information and conclusions herein.  Until such notice is given, the Buyer’s purchase of the Certificate will constitute a reaffirmation of this certification by the undersigned as of the date of such purchase.

 

__________________________________

Print Name of Buyer or Adviser

By:_______________________________

Name:

Title:

[IF AN ADVISER:]

__________________________________

Print Name of Buyer

Date:______________________

 

 

 

Annex 2-2

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00243-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00243-of-00352.parquet"}]]