Document:

EXHIBIT 10.1

                    AMENDMENT TO THE FINLAY ENTERPRISES, INC.

                          1997 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

     Effective on and after May 8, 2006, subject to approval of the stockholders
of Finlay Enterprises, Inc. (the "Corporation") as provided under any applicable
law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan, as
amended (the "1997 Plan"), of the Corporation is further amended pursuant to
Section 9.5 thereof in the following respect:

     1. The first sentence of Section 5.1 of the 1997 Plan is hereby deleted and
the following sentence is hereby substituted therefor:

     "Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof, the total number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for delivery to participants in connection with
Awards under the Plan shall be 2,125,000".

     2. Except as amended hereby, the 1997 Plan shall remain in full force and
effect, without change or modification.

                                       BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                       OF FINLAY ENTERPRISES, INC.exv4w3

 

Exhibit 4.3

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN CORPORATION II,

as Depositor,

HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION,

as Servicer,

[               ],

as Administrator,

and

[               ],

as Trustee

 

POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT

Dated as of [               ], 200[ ]

 

[               ] Home Equity Loan Asset Backed Certificates,

Series 200[ ]-[ ]

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE I	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	DEFINITIONS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 1.01.

	 	Definitions
	 	 	2	 
	Section 1.02.

	 	Interest Calculations
	 	 	23	 
	Section 1.03.

	 	Usage of Terms
	 	 	23	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CONVEYANCE OF HOME EQUITY LOANS; ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES; TAX TREATMENT	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 2.01.

	 	Acknowledgment; Conveyance of Home Equity Loans; Custody of Mortgage Files
	 	 	24	 
	Section 2.02.

	 	Acceptance by Trustee; Repurchase of Home Equity Loans; Conveyance of Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans
	 	 	27	 
	Section 2.03.

	 	Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer
	 	 	29	 
	Section 2.04.

	 	Representations and Warranties of the Depositor Regarding this Agreement and the Home Equity Loans; Repurchases and Substitutions

	 	 	30	 
	Section 2.05.

	 	Execution and Authentication of Certificates
	 	 	35	 
	Section 2.06.

	 	Delivery of Opinion of Counsel in Connection with Substitutions
	 	 	35	 
	Section 2.07.

	 	REMIC Matters
	 	 	35	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF HOME EQUITY LOANS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 3.01.

	 	The Servicer
	 	 	36	 
	Section 3.02.

	 	Collection of Certain Home Equity Loan Payments
	 	 	38	 
	Section 3.03.

	 	Withdrawals from the Collection Account
	 	 	40	 
	Section 3.04.

	 	Maintenance of Hazard Insurance; Property Protection Expenses
	 	 	41	 
	Section 3.05.

	 	Assumption and Modification Agreements
	 	 	42	 
	Section 3.06.

	 	Realization Upon Defaulted Home Equity Loans
	 	 	43	 
	Section 3.07.

	 	[Reserved]
	 	 	44	 
	Section 3.08.

	 	Trustee to Cooperate	 	 	44	 
	Section 3.09.

	 	Servicing Compensation; Payment of Certain Expenses by Servicer
	 	 	45	 
	Section 3.10.

	 	Annual Statement as to Compliance
	 	 	45	 
	Section 3.11.

	 	Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding the Home Equity Loans
	 	 	47	 
	Section 3.12.

	 	Maintenance of Certain Servicing Insurance Policies
	 	 	47	 
	Section 3.13.

	 	[Reserved]
	 	 	47	 
	Section 3.14.

	 	Information Required by the Internal Revenue Service Generally and Reports of Foreclosures and Abandonments of Mortgaged Property

	 	 	48	 
	Section 3.15.

	  	Additional Covenants of HSBC Finance
	 	 	48	 

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	 	 	 	 	Page
	Section 3.16.

	 	Servicing Certificate
	 	 	49	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	[THE CERTIFICATE INSURANCE POLICY]	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 4.01.

	 	The Certificate Insurance Policy
	 	 	52	 
	Section 4.02.

	 	[Reserved]
	 	 	52	 
	Section 4.03.

	 	Claims Upon the Certificate Insurance Policy
	 	 	52	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	DISTRIBUTIONS AND STATEMENTS TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS; RIGHTS OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 5.01.

	 	Distributions
	 	 	54	 
	Section 5.02.

	 	Statements to Certificateholders
	 	 	56	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	THE CERTIFICATES	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 6.01.

	 	The Certificates
	 	 	60	 
	Section 6.02.

	 	Certificate Register; Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certificates
	 	 	60	 
	Section 6.03.

	 	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
	 	 	64	 
	Section 6.04.

	 	Persons Deemed Owners
	 	 	64	 
	Section 6.05.

	 	Appointment of Paying Agent
	 	 	64	 
	Section 6.06.

	 	Actions of Certificateholders
	 	 	65	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VII	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	THE SERVICER AND THE DEPOSITOR	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 7.01.

	 	Liability of the Servicer and the Depositor
	 	 	66	 
	Section 7.02.

	 	Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Servicer or the Depositor
	 	 	66	 
	Section 7.03.

	 	Limitation on Liability of the Servicer, the Depositor and Others
	 	 	66	 
	Section 7.04.

	 	Servicer Not to Resign
	 	 	67	 
	Section 7.05.

	 	Delegation of Duties
	 	 	68	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VIII	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SERVICER TERMINATION EVENTS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 8.01.

	 	Servicer Termination Events
	 	 	69	 
	Section 8.02.

	 	Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor	 	 	70	 
	Section 8.03.

	  	Notification to Certificateholders
	 	 	71	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IX	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	THE TRUSTEE AND THE ADMINISTRATOR	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 9.01.

	 	Duties of Trustee
	 	 	73	 

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	 	 	 	 	Page
	Section 9.02.

	 	Certain Matters Affecting the Trustee
	 	 	74	 
	Section 9.03.

	 	Trustee Not Liable for Certificates or Home Equity Loans
	 	 	75	 
	Section 9.04.

	 	Trustee May Own Certificates
	 	 	76	 
	Section 9.05.

	 	Servicer to Pay Trustee’s Fees and Expenses
	 	 	76	 
	Section 9.06.

	 	Eligibility Requirements for Trustee
	 	 	76	 
	Section 9.07.

	 	Resignation or Removal of Trustee
	 	 	77	 
	Section 9.08.

	 	Successor Trustee
	 	 	77	 
	Section 9.09.

	 	Merger or Consolidation of Trustee
	 	 	78	 
	Section 9.10.

	 	Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee
	 	 	78	 
	Section 9.11.

	 	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Certificates
	 	 	80	 
	Section 9.12.

	 	Inspection of Mortgage Files
	 	 	80	 
	Section 9.13.

	 	Duties of Administrator
	 	 	80	 
	Section 9.14.

	 	Certain Matters Affecting the Administrator
	 	 	81	 
	Section 9.15.

	 	Administrator May Own Certificates
	 	 	81	 
	Section 9.16.

	 	Servicer to Pay Administrator’s Fees and Expenses
	 	 	81	 
	Section 9.17.

	 	Eligibility Requirements for Administrator
	 	 	82	 
	Section 9.18.

	 	Resignation or Removal of Administrator
	 	 	82	 
	Section 9.19.

	 	Successor Administrator
	 	 	83	 
	Section 9.20.

	 	Merger or Consolidation of Administrator
	 	 	83	 
	Section 9.21.

	 	Tax Matters
	 	 	84	 
	Section 9.22.

	 	[Rights of the Certificate Insurer to Exercise Rights of Class [A] Certificateholders]
	 	 	86	 
	Section 9.23.

	 	[Trustee to Act Solely with Consent of the Certificate Insurer.]
	 	 	87	 
	Section 9.24.

	 	[Home Equity Loans, Trust and Accounts Held for Benefit of the Certificate Insurer.]
	 	 	87	 
	Section 9.25.

	  	[Certificate Insurer Default.]
	 	 	87	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE X	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	TERMINATION	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 10.01.

	 	Termination
	 	 	89	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE XI	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 11.01.

	 	Amendment
	 	 	93	 
	Section 11.02.

	 	Recordation of Agreement
	 	 	95	 
	Section 11.03.

	 	Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders
	 	 	95	 
	Section 11.04.

	 	Governing Law
	 	 	96	 
	Section 11.05.

	 	Notices
	 	 	96	 
	Section 11.06.

	 	Severability of Provisions
	 	 	96	 
	Section 11.07.

	 	Assignment
	 	 	96	 
	Section 11.08.

	 	Certificates Nonassessable and Fully Paid
	 	 	97	 
	Section 11.09.

	 	Third-Party Beneficiaries
	 	 	97	 
	Section 11.10.

	 	Counterparts
	 	 	97	 
	Section 11.11.

	 	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
	 	 	97	 
	Section 11.12.

	 	Limitation on Voting of Preferred Stock
	 	 	97	 

-iii-

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	Section 11.13.

	  	Perfection Representations
	 	 	97	 
	Section 11.14.

	 	No Petition
	 	 	97	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE XII	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section 12.01.

	 	Regulation AB
	 	 	98	 
	Section 12.02.

	 	Information to Be Provided by the Trustee and the Administrator
	 	 	98	 
	EXHIBITS

	 
	Schedule 1

	 	Perfection Representations, Warranties and Covenants
	 
	Exhibit A-1

	 	Form of Class [A] Certificate
	Exhibit A-2

	 	Form of Class [IO] Certificate
	Exhibit B

	 	Form of Class R Certificate
	Exhibit C

	 	Class [IO] Notional Amount
	Exhibit D

	 	Home Equity Loan Schedule
	Exhibit E

	 	Form of Transfer Affidavit
	[Exhibit F

	 	Form of Certificate Insurance Policy]

-iv-

 

     This Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of [                    ], 200[     ], among HSBC HOME
EQUITY LOAN CORPORATION II, as Depositor, HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION, as Servicer, [                    ], as Administrator, and [                    ], as Trustee,

WITNESSETH THAT:

     In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

          The Depositor is the owner of the Trust Fund that is hereby conveyed to the Trustee in return
for the Certificates. The Trust Fund for federal income tax purposes will consist of three REMICs
(“REMIC 1,” “REMIC 2” and the “Master REMIC”). Each Certificate, other than the Class A-R
Certificate, will represent ownership of one or more regular interests in the Master REMIC for
purposes of the REMIC Provisions. The Class R Certificate represents ownership of the sole class of
residual interest in REMIC 1, REMIC 2 and the Master REMIC. The Master REMIC will hold as assets
the several classes of uncertificated REMIC 2 Interests (other than the R-2-R Interest). Each REMIC
2 Interest (other than the R-2-R Interest) is hereby designated as a regular interest in REMIC 2.
REMIC 2 will hold as assets the several classes of REMIC 1 Interests (other than the R-1-R
Interest). Each REMIC 1 Interest (other than the R-1-R Interest) is hereby designated as a regular
interest in REMIC 1. REMIC 1 will hold as assets all property of the Trust Fund. The latest
possible maturity date of all REMIC regular interests created in this Agreement shall be the Latest
Possible Maturity Date.

     REMIC 1:

          The REMIC 1 Interests will have the principal balances and pass-through rates as set forth
below.

	 	 	 
	[Insert chart and footnotes]

     On each Distribution Date, the Interest Collections and the Principal Distribution Amount
shall be distributed with respect to the REMIC 1 Interests in the following manner:

     (1) Interest. Interest is to be distributed with respect to each REMIC 1 Interest at
the rate, or according to the formulas, described above.

     (2) Principal. For any Distribution Date, the Principal Distribution Amount with
respect to all Home Equity Loans shall be allocated in proportion to its corresponding REMIC 1
Interests.

-1-

 

     REMIC 2:

               The REMIC 2 Interests will have the principal balances and pass-through rates as set forth
below.

	 	 	 
	[Insert chart and footnotes]

          On each Distribution Date, the Interest Collections and the Principal Distribution Amount
payable with respect to the REMIC 1 Interests shall be payable with respect to the REMIC 2
Interests in the following manner:

     (1) Interest. Interest is to be distributed with respect to each REMIC 2 Interest at
the rate, or according to the formulas, described above.

     (2) Principal. Principal Distribution Amount shall be allocated among the REMIC 2
Interests as described above.

     Master REMIC:

          The following table specifies the class designation, interest rate, and principal amount for
each class of Master REMIC Interest:

	 	 	 
	[Insert chart and footnotes]

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and
phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the meanings specified in this Article.

     Accrual Period: As to the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates, for each
Distribution Date is the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which the Distribution
Date occurs.

     Additional Principal Distribution Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the
outstanding Pool Balance as of the first day of the related Collection Period less the sum of (x)
the outstanding Pool Balance as of the last day of the related Collection Period and (y) the
Principal Collections for such Distribution Date.

     Administrator: [                    ], or any successor Administrator appointed in accordance
with this Agreement that has accepted such appointment in accordance with this Agreement.

     Affiliate: As to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under
common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” means the power to
direct

-2-

 

the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.

     Agreement: This Pooling and Servicing Agreement and all amendments hereof and
supplements hereto.

     Appraised Value: As to any Home Equity Loan, the appraised value of the related
Mortgaged Property based upon the appraisal used by the applicable Seller at the time of
origination of such Home Equity Loan (or any mortgage loan made by the Seller on the Mortgaged
Property that the Home Equity Loan replaced); provided that if the Home Equity Loan was originated
simultaneously with or not more than 12 months after another mortgage was placed on the related
Mortgaged Property, the lesser of the Appraised Value at origination of the other mortgage and the
sales price, if any, of the related Mortgaged Property.

     Available Distribution Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the sum of (A) the sum,
without duplication, of all amounts described in clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Section
3.02(b) received by the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period and deposited in the
Collection Account, and (B) Insured Payments, if any.

     Available Funds Cap: With respect to any Distribution Date, a per annum rate equal to
the excess of (i) the weighted average of the Net Loan Rates of each Home Equity Loan, in each case
outstanding as of the first day of the related Collection Period over (ii) the Pass-Through Rate of
the Class [IO] Certificates for such Distribution Date times a fraction, the numerator of which is
the Notional Amount of the Class [IO] Certificates immediately prior to such Distribution Date and
the denominator of which is the outstanding Pool Balance as of the last day of the related
Collection Period.

     BIF: The Bank Insurance Fund, as from time to time constituted, created under the
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enhancement Act of 1989 or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument the Bank Insurance Fund is not existing and performing duties now
assigned to it, the body performing such duties on such date.

     Book-Entry Certificate: Any Class [A] or Class [IO] Certificate registered in the
name of the Depository or its nominee, ownership of which is reflected on the books of the
Depository or on the books of a person maintaining an account with such Depository (directly or as
an indirect participant in accordance with the rules of such Depository).

     Business Day: Any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday or (ii) a day on which
banking institutions in the State of New York or Illinois are required or authorized by law to be
closed.

     Certificate: A [Class A,] Class [IO] or Class R Certificate.

     [Certificate Insurance Policy: The Certificate Guaranty Insurance Policy (No. [                    ]) with respect to the Class [A] Certificates and all endorsements thereto dated the Closing
Date, issued by the Certificate Insurer to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of each Class
of Class [A] Certificates, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit F.]

-3-

 

     [Certificate Insurer: [                                        ], a stock insurance company organized
and created under the laws of the State of [                    ], or any successor thereto.]

     [Certificate Insurer Default: (i) Any failure of the Certificate Insurer to make a
payment required under the Certificate Insurance Policy in accordance with its terms; (ii) the
entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect
of the Certificate Insurer in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable United States
federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, rehabilitation, reorganization or other similar law or (B)
a decree or order adjudging the Certificate Insurer as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, rehabilitation, arrangement, adjustment or
composition of or in respect of the Certificate Insurer under any applicable United States federal
or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, rehabilitator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Certificate Insurer or of any substantial part of its
property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such
decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in each case in effect
for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the commencement by the Certificate Insurer of a
voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable United States federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be
adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Certificate Insurer to the entry of a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Certificate Insurer in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or
proceeding against the Certificate Insurer, or the filing by the Certificate Insurer of a petition
or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable United States federal or
state law, or the consent by the Certificate Insurer to the filing of such petition or to the
appointment of or the taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Certificate Insurer or of any substantial part of its
property, or the making by the Certificate Insurer of an assignment for the benefit of its
creditors, or the failure by the Certificate Insurer to pay debts generally as they become due, or
the admission by the Certificate Insurer in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as
they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Certificate Insurer in furtherance of any
such action.]

     Certificate Owner: The Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry
Certificate.

     Certificate Principal Balance: As to any Class [A] or Class R Certificate and any
Distribution Date, the Original Class Certificate Principal Balance thereof reduced by all amounts
previously distributed to the holders of such Class and allocable to principal. The Class IO
Certificates have no Certificate Principal Balance.

     Certificate Register and Certificate Registrar: The register maintained and
the registrar appointed pursuant to Section 6.02.

     Certificateholder or Holder: The Person in whose name a Certificate is
registered in the Certificate Register, except that, solely for the purpose of giving any consent,
direction, waiver or request pursuant to this Agreement, (i) any Certificate registered in the name
of the Depositor (unless to the knowledge of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee the Depositor is
acting as trustee or nominee for a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Depositor and who makes
the

-4-

 

voting decision with respect to such Certificate) or the Servicer or any Person known to a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee to be an Affiliate of either the Depositor or the Servicer and
(ii) any Certificate for which the Depositor (unless to the knowledge of a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee (A) the Depositor is acting as trustee or nominee for a Person who is not an Affiliate
of the Depositor and who makes the voting decision with respect to such Certificate or (B) the
Depositor is the owner of all the Certificates) or the Servicer or any Person known to a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee to be an Affiliate (other than an Affiliate that has purchased
any Certificate on the Closing Date) of either the Depositor or the Servicer is the Certificate
Owner shall be deemed not to be outstanding and the Percentage Interest evidenced thereby shall not
be taken into account in determining whether the requisite amount of Percentage Interests necessary
to effect any such consent, direction, waiver or request has been obtained.

     Charge Off Amount: As to any Charged Off Home Equity Loan and Collection Period, an
amount equal to the amount of the Principal Balance that the Servicer has charged off on its
servicing records during such Collection Period.

     Charged Off Home Equity Loan: A defaulted Home Equity Loan that is not a Liquidated
Home Equity Loan and as to which (i) collection procedures are ongoing and (ii) the Servicer has
charged off all or a portion of the related Principal Balance.

     Class: Any of the Class [A], Class [IO] or [Class R] Certificates.

     Class [A] Certificate: A Class [A-1] or Class [A-2] Certificate.

     Class [A] Certificateholder: A Holder of a Class [A] Certificate.

     Class [A-1] Certificate: Any Certificate designated as a Class [A-1] Certificate on
the face thereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto.

     Class [A-1] Certificateholder: A Holder of a Class [A-1] Certificate.

     Class [A-2] Certificate: Any Certificate designated as a Class [A-2] Certificate on
the face thereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto.

     Class [A-2] Certificateholder: A Holder of a Class [A-2] Certificate.

     Class [IO] Certificate: Any Certificate designated as a Class [IO] Certificate on the
face thereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto.

     Class [IO] Certificateholder: A Holder of a Class [IO] Certificate.

     Class R Certificate: Any Certificate designated as a Class R Certificate on the face
thereof, in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

     Class R Certificateholder: A Holder of a Class R Certificate.

     Closing Date: [                             ].

-5-

 

     Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended from time to time
(or any successor statute thereto).

     Collection Account: The custodial account or accounts created and maintained for the
benefit of the Certificateholders pursuant to Section 3.02(b). The Collection Account shall be an
Eligible Account.

     Collection Period: As to any Distribution Date and Home Equity Loan, the calendar
month immediately preceding the month in which such Distribution Date occurs, except that with
respect to the initial Distribution Date, the Collection Period is the period from the Cut-Off Date
to [                                        ].

     Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio or CLTV: As to each Home Equity Loan, a ratio, expressed
as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of (a) the original Principal Balance of the
Home Equity Loan and (b) the aggregate unpaid principal balance, at the time of origination of the
Home Equity Loan, of all other mortgage loans, if any, secured by liens senior to that Home Equity
Loan on the related Mortgaged Property, and the denominator of which is the Appraised Value of the
Mortgaged Property.

     Corporate Trust Office: With respect to the Trustee, the principal office of the
Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which
office on the Closing Date is located at the address therefor set forth in Section 11.05; and with
respect to the Administrator, the principal office of the Administrator at which at any particular
time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office on the Closing Date is
located at the address thereabove set forth in Section 11.05.

     Cumulative Loss Percentage: As to any Distribution Date on or after the Stepdown
Date, the fraction (expressed as a percentage) obtained by dividing (i) the Cumulative Realized
Losses for the related Collection Period, by (ii) the Cut-Off Date Pool Balance.

     Cumulative Loss Percentage Trigger: As to any Distribution Date on or after the
Stepdown Date, means (i) for the [                    ] Distribution Date through the [                    ]
Distribution Date, ___%; (ii) for the [                    ] Distribution Date through the [                    ]
Distribution Date, ___%; (iii) for the [                    ] Distribution Date through the [                    ]
Distribution Date, ___%; and for the [                    ] Distribution Date and each Distribution Date
thereafter, ___%.

     Cumulative Realized Losses: With respect to the Home Equity Loans and any Collection
Period, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of the aggregate Realized Losses on
the Home Equity Loans from the Cut-Off Date through the last day of such Collection Period over (b)
the sum of any Recovered Charge Off Amounts on the Home Equity Loans from the Cut-Off Date through
the last day of such Collection Period.

     Current Interest: As to the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates and any
Distribution Date, the interest accrued at the applicable Pass-Through Rate during the Accrual
Period on the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance or Notional Amount, as the case may be, of
such Class of Certificates.

-6-

 

     Cut-Off Date: As to each Home Equity Loan, the close of business on [                         ].

     Cut-Off Date Pool Balance: The aggregate of the Cut-Off Date Principal Balances of
the Home Equity Loans.

     Cut-Off Date Principal Balance: As to any Home Equity Loan, the unpaid principal
balance thereof as of the Cut-Off Date or, as to any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan, as of
the date of substitution of such Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan.

     Defective Home Equity Loan: A Home Equity Loan subject to repurchase or substitution
pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.04.

     [Deficiency Amount: As defined in the Certificate Insurance Policy.]

     Definitive Certificates: As defined in Section 6.02(f).

     Deposit Date: As to any Distribution Date, the Business Day immediately preceding
such Distribution Date.

     Deposit Event: The lowering of the Servicer’s short-term debt rating below “[P-1]” by
Moody’s, “[A-1]” by Standard & Poor’s or “[F1]” by Fitch or any time in which HSBC Finance shall
cease to be the Servicer.

     Depositor: HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II, a Delaware corporation, and its
successors in interest.

     Depository: The initial Depository shall be The Depository Trust Company, the nominee
of which is Cede & Co., as the registered Holder of each Class of Book-Entry Certificates. The
Depository shall at all times be a “clearing corporation” as defined in Section 8-102(3) of the UCC
of the State of New York.

     Depository Participant: A broker, dealer, bank or other financial institution or
other Person for whom from time to time the Depository effects book-entry transfers and pledges of
securities deposited with the Depository.

     Determination Date: As to any Distribution Date, the second Business Day prior to
such Distribution Date.

     Distribution Date: The [                         ] day of each month (or if such [                         ] day is not a
Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), commencing [                                                  ].

     EDGAR: The SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.

     Electronic Ledger: The electronic master record of home equity loans (including the
Home Equity Loans) maintained by the Servicer.

     Eligible Account: An account that is either (i) maintained with a depository
institution whose short-term debt obligations at the time of any deposit therein are rated in the
highest short-

-7-

 

term debt rating category by the Rating Agencies, (ii) an account or accounts maintained with
a depository institution with a long-term unsecured debt rating by each Rating Agency that is at
least investment grade, provided that the deposits in such account or accounts are fully insured by
either the BIF or the SAIF, (iii) a segregated trust account maintained on the corporate trust side
with the Administrator in its fiduciary capacity, or (iv) an account otherwise acceptable to each
Rating Agency, as evidenced by a letter to such effect from each such Rating Agency to the
Administrator, without reduction or withdrawal of the then-current ratings of the Class [A] or
Class [IO] Certificates.

     Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan: A Home Equity Loan substituted by the
Depositor or the Servicer for a Defective Home Equity Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(a) or 2.04, which on the date of such substitution must

     (i) have a Principal Balance not substantially greater or less than the Principal
Balance of such Defective Home Equity Loan;

     (ii) have a current Loan Rate of not less than the Loan Rate of the Defective Home
Equity Loan and not more than 500 basis points in
excess thereof;

     (iii) have a remaining term to maturity not more than six months earlier or later than
the remaining term to maturity of the Defective Home Equity Loan;

     (iv) comply with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.04(b), to
the extent such representations and warranties do not pertain exclusively to the Home Equity
Loans transferred on the Closing Date;

     (v) have a Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio that is not greater than the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio of the Defective Home Equity Loan as of the date of origination of such Defective Home Equity Loan;

     (vi) have a lien position at least equal to the lien position of the Mortgage relating
to the Defective Home Equity Loan; and

     (vii) be the obligation of a Mortgagor whose credit profile is substantially similar to
that of the Mortgagor under the Defective Home Equity Loan,

provided, however, that with respect to (i) through (vii) above, a home equity loan may qualify as
an Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan if each of the Rating Agencies consents to such
substitution.

-8-

 

     Enhancement Percentage: As to any Distribution Date, the percentage obtained by
dividing (x) the Interim Overcollateralization Amount by (y) the Pool Balance as of the last day of
the related Collection Period.

     ERISA-Restricted Certificate: The [Class R] Certificates.

     Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     Extra Principal Distribution Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the lesser of (x)
the Monthly Excess Cashflow and (y) the Interim Overcollateralization Deficiency.

     Fannie Mae: Fannie Mae, formerly known as The Federal National Mortgage Association,
or any successor thereto.

     FDIC: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto.

     Final Scheduled Distribution Date: With respect to the Class [A] Certificates, the
Distribution Date occurring in [  ].

     [Fiscal Agent: As defined in the Certificate Insurance Policy.]

     Fitch: Fitch Ratings, or its successor in interest.

     Foreclosure Profit: As to any Liquidated Home Equity Loan, the amount, if any, by
which Net Liquidation Proceeds exceeds the sum of (i) the Principal Balance thereof immediately
prior to the final recovery of its Liquidation Proceeds, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest
(including imputed interest on REO) at the applicable Loan Rate from the date interest was last
paid through the date of receipt of the final Liquidation Proceeds and (iii) the sum of all related
Charge Off Amounts.

     Form 8-K: A current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     Formula Rate: With respect to the Class [A-1] Certificates and any Accrual Period,
___% per annum, and with respect to the Class [A-2] Certificates and any Accrual Period, ___% per annum.

     Freddie Mac: Freddie Mac, formerly known as The Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation, or any successor thereto.

     HSBC Finance: HSBC Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

     Home Equity Loan: Such of the home equity loans (together with the related Mortgage
Notes and Mortgages) transferred and assigned to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.01 and pursuant
to the Transfer Agreement together with the Related Documents, as from time to time are held as a
part of the Trust, the home equity loans originally so held being identified in the Home Equity
Loan Schedule delivered on the Closing Date. As applicable, the term Home

-9-

 

Equity Loan shall be deemed to refer to the Mortgaged Property that has been converted to
ownership by the Servicer prior to the final recovery of related Liquidation Proceeds.

     Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement: The home equity loan purchase agreement dated as
of [  ], between the Depositor and the Sellers pursuant to which the Sellers
convey to the Depositor all of their right, title and interest in and to the unpaid Principal
Balance of the Home Equity Loans, including all interest and principal payments in respect thereof
received on or after the Cut-Off Date, and certain other rights with respect to the collateral
supporting the Home Equity Loans.

     Home Equity Loan Schedule: As to any date, the schedule of Home Equity Loans,
including any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans, included in the Trust on such date. The
initial Home Equity Loan Schedule is the schedule delivered by the Depositor to the Trustee and the
Administrator on the Closing Date and delivered as Exhibit D hereto, which schedule may be in the
form of a computer file or an electronic or magnetic tape and sets forth as to each Home Equity
Loan (i) the account number, (ii) the Cut-Off Date Principal Balance, (iii) the Loan Rate, (iv) the
lien position of the related Mortgage and (v) the CLTV. The Home Equity Loan Schedule will be
amended from time to time to reflect the removal of Home Equity Loans and the addition of any
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans to the Trust, and when so amended shall include the
information set forth above with respect to each Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan as of its
related date of substitution.

     HSBC Finance: HSBC Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

     [Insurance Agreement: The Insurance Agreement dated as of [ ] among the Depositor,
the Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer and the Certificate Insurer, including any amendments
and supplements thereto.]

     Insurance Proceeds: Proceeds paid by any insurer [(other than the Certificate
Insurer)] pursuant to any insurance policy covering a Home Equity Loan, or by the Servicer pursuant
to the last sentence of Section 3.04, net of any component thereof covering any expenses incurred
by or on behalf of the Servicer in connection with obtaining such Insurance Proceeds and exclusive
of any portion thereof that is applied to the restoration or repair of the related Mortgaged
Property, released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the Servicer’s normal servicing procedures
or required to be paid to any holder of a mortgage senior to such Home Equity Loan.

     [Insured Payment: With respect to any Distribution Date, the sum of (i) any
Deficiency Amount and (ii) any Preference Amount.]

     Interest Carry Forward Amount: As to the Class [A] or Class [IO] Certificates and any
Distribution Date, the sum of (x) the amount, if any, by which (i) the sum of the Current Interest
and all prior unpaid Interest Carry Forward Amounts for such Class as of the immediately preceding
Distribution Date exceeded (ii) the amount of the actual distribution with respect to interest made
to such Class on such Distribution Date plus (y) with respect to the Class [A] Certificates only,
interest on such amount calculated for the related Accrual Period at the related Pass-Through Rate
in effect with respect to such Class.

-10-

 

     Interest Collections: As to any Distribution Date, the sum, without duplication, of:

     (i) the portion allocable to interest of all scheduled monthly payments on the Home
Equity Loans received during the related Collection Period;

     (ii) all Net Liquidation Proceeds actually collected by the Servicer during the related
Collection Period (to the extent such Net Liquidation Proceeds relate to interest);

     (iii) the interest portion of the Purchase Price for any Home Equity Loan repurchased
from the Trust pursuant to the terms of this Agreement during the related Collection Period;

     (iv) the interest portion of all Substitution Adjustment Amounts with respect to the
related Collection Period;

     (v) the interest portion of all other unscheduled collections on the Home Equity Loans
received by the Servicer during the related Collection Period, to the extent not previously
distributed; and

     (vi) the interest portion of all Insurance Proceeds on any Home Equity Loan collected
by the Servicer during the related Collection Period.

     Interim Overcollateralization Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the excess, if
any, of (x) the Pool Balance as of the last day of the preceding Collection Period over (y) (i) the
aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of all Class [A] Certificates (before taking into account
any distributions of principal on such Distribution Date) less (ii) the Principal Collections for
such Distribution Date.

     Interim Overcollateralization Deficiency: As to any Distribution Date, the excess, if
any, of (x) the Targeted Overcollateralization Amount over (y) the Interim Overcollateralization
Amount.

     [Late Payment Rate: As defined in the Insurance Agreement.]

     Latest Possible Maturity Date: The Distribution Date following the third anniversary
of the scheduled maturity date of the Mortgage Loan having the latest scheduled maturity date as of
the Cut-Off Date.

     Lien: Any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, conveyance, hypothecation, assignment,
participation, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), preference, priority
right or interest or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing or the
filing of any financing statement under the UCC (other than any such financing statement filed for
informational purposes only) or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence any of the
foregoing.

-11-

 

     Liquidated Home Equity Loan: As to any Distribution Date, any Home Equity Loan in
respect of which the Servicer has determined as of the end of the related Collection Period that
all Liquidation Proceeds which it expects to recover on such Home Equity Loan have been recovered
(exclusive of any possibility of a deficiency judgment).

     Liquidation Expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses (exclusive of overhead) that are
incurred by the Servicer in connection with the liquidation of any Home Equity Loan and not
recovered under any insurance policy, such expenses including, without limitation, reasonable legal
fees and expenses, any unreimbursed amount expended pursuant to Section 3.06 (including, without
limitation, amounts advanced to correct defaults on any mortgage loan that is senior to such Home
Equity Loan and amounts advanced to keep current or pay off a mortgage loan that is senior to such
Home Equity Loan) with respect to the related Home Equity Loan and any related and unreimbursed
expenditures for real estate property taxes, mechanics liens, title perfection, property management
or for property restoration, preservation or insurance against casualty loss or damage.

     Liquidation Proceeds: Proceeds (including Insurance Proceeds) received in connection
with the liquidation of any Home Equity Loan, whether through trustee’s sale, foreclosure sale or
otherwise.

     Loan Rate: As to any Home Equity Loan and day, the per annum rate of interest
applicable under the related Mortgage Note to the calculation of interest for such day on the
Principal Balance.

     Lockout Percentage: With respect to any Distribution Date, the product of (x) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the Certificate Principal Balance of the Class [A-2]
Certificates immediately prior to such Distribution Date and the denominator of which is the
aggregate Certificates Principal Balance of the Class [A] Certificates immediately prior to such
Distribution Date and (y) the percentage shown for that Distribution Date in the following table:

	 	 	 
	Distribution Date
	 	Percentage
	 
	 	 
	___20___through ___20___
	 	0%
	___20___through ___20___
	 	45%
	___20___through ___20___
	 	80%
	___20___through ___20___
	 	100%
	___20___through ___20___
	 	300%

     Master REMIC: As described in the Preliminary Statement.

     Monthly Excess Cashflow: As to any Distribution Date, the excess, if any, of (i) the
excess, if any, of (x) Interest Collections (for clarity purposes only, net of any Servicing Fee)
over (y) the Current Interest plus the Interest Carry Forward Amount, if any, of all Class [A] and
Class [IO] Certificates (after taking into account all distributions of interest on such
Distribution Date) over (ii) the Additional Principal Distribution Amount.

-12-

 

     Monthly Report: The monthly statement to Certificateholders described in Section 5.02
hereof.

     Moody’s: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or its successor in interest.

     Mortgage: The mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument creating a first, second or
third lien on an estate in fee simple interest in real property securing a Home Equity Loan.

     Mortgage File: The mortgage documents (including without limitation the related
Mortgage Note) listed in Section 2.01 pertaining to a particular Home Equity Loan and any
additional documents required to be added to the Mortgage File pursuant to this Agreement, which
documents may be physical documents or, pursuant to the terms of Section 2.01, may be optical
images or other representations thereof.

     Mortgage Note: As to a Home Equity Loan, the mortgage note or other evidence of
indebtedness under which the related Mortgagor agrees to pay the indebtedness evidenced thereby and
secured by the related Mortgage.

     Mortgaged Property: The underlying property securing a Home Equity Loan.

     Mortgagor: The obligor or obligors under a Mortgage.

     Net Interest Collections: As to any Distribution Date:

     (i) Interest Collections received during the related Collection Period; less

     (ii) the Servicing Fee for the related Collection Period; plus

     (iii) Recovered Charge Off Amounts actually collected by the Servicer during the related
Collection Period; plus

     (iv) to the extent advanced by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.01(f) and not previously
distributed, the amount of any Skip-A-Pay Advance deposited by the Servicer into the Collection
Account with respect to such Distribution Date; less

     (v) the amount of any Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount withdrawn by the Servicer from the
Collection Account with respect to such Distribution Date.

     Net Liquidation Proceeds: As to any Liquidated Home Equity Loan, Liquidation Proceeds
less Liquidation Expenses.

     Net Loan Rate: As to any Home Equity Loan, the Loan Rate less the Servicing Fee Rate.

     Notional Amount: As to any Class [IO] Certificate and any Distribution Date, the
notional amount shown on Exhibit C hereto.

     Officer’s Certificate: A certificate signed by the President, a Senior Vice
President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Controller or Assistant Controller
of the

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Depositor or the Servicer, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee and/or the
Administrator.

     Opinion of Counsel: A written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
and/or the Administrator, who may be internal counsel for the Servicer or the Depositor; provided,
however, that with respect to the interpretation or application of the REMIC Provisions, such
counsel must (i) in fact be independent of the Seller, the Depositor and the Servicer, (ii) not
have any direct financial interest in the Seller, the Depositor or the Servicer or in any affiliate
thereof, and (iii) not be connected with the Seller, the Depositor or the Servicer as an officer,
employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions.

     Original Class Certificate Principal Balance: With respect to the Class [A-1] and
Class [A-2] Certificates, the amount set forth below:

	 	 	 
	Class
	 	Original Class Certificate Principal Balance
	 
	 	 
	[A-1]
	 	$[                                                  ]
	[A-2]
	 	$[                                                  ]

     Overcollateralization Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the excess, if any, of (x)
the Pool Balance as of the last day of the preceding Collection Period over (y) the aggregate
Certificate Principal Balance of all Class [A] Certificates calculated after taking into account
all distributions in respect of principal on such Distribution Date.

     Overcollateralization Release Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the amount (but
not in excess of the Principal Collections for such Distribution Date) equal to the excess, if any,
of (i) the Interim Overcollateralization Amount over (ii) the Targeted Overcollateralization
Amount.

     Ownership Interest: As to any Certificate, any ownership or security interest in such
Certificate, including any interest in such Certificate as the Holder thereof and any other
interest therein, whether direct or indirect, legal or beneficial, as owner or as pledgee.

     Pass-Through Rate: With respect to [either Class of Class A Certificates] and any
Accrual Period, the lesser of (i) the applicable Formula Rate for such Class and Accrual Period and
(ii) the Available Funds Cap for the related Distribution Date. With respect to the Class [IO]
Certificates and (i) any Accrual Period relating to any Distribution Date on or prior to the [
] Distribution Date, a per annum rate equal to [                         ]%, and (ii) any Accrual Period relating
to any Distribution Date after the [                         ] Distribution Date, 0.00%.

     Paying Agent: Any Person appointed as paying agent pursuant to Section 6.05.

     Percentage Interest: For purposes of making distributions among Certificates of the
Class [A-1], Class [A-2] or Class [IO] Certificates, the percentage obtained by dividing the
principal or notional denomination, as applicable, of such Certificate by the aggregate of the
principal or

-14-

 

notional denominations, as applicable, of all Certificates of such Class. In the case of any
Class R Certificate, the percentage interest set forth on the face of such Certificate.

     Perfection Representations: The representations, warranties and covenants set forth
in Schedule 1 attached hereto.

     Permitted Investments: One or more of the following (excluding any callable
investments purchased at a premium):

     (i) direct obligations of, or obligations fully guaranteed as to timely payment of
principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof,
provided that such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States;

     (ii) repurchase agreements on obligations specified in clause (i) maturing not more
than three months from the date of acquisition thereof, provided that the short-term
unsecured debt obligations of the party agreeing to repurchase such obligations are at the
date of acquisition rated by each Rating Agency in its highest short-term rating category
(which is “F1” for Fitch, “A-1+” for Standard & Poor’s and “P-1” for Moody’s);

     (iii) certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances (which, if
Moody’s is a Rating Agency, shall each have an original maturity of not more than 90 days
and, in the case of bankers’ acceptances, shall in no event have an original maturity of
more than 365 days) of any U.S. depository institution or trust company incorporated under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof and subject to supervision and
examination by federal and/or state banking authorities, provided that the unsecured
short-term debt obligations of such depository institution or trust company at the date of
acquisition thereof have been rated by each of Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch in its
highest unsecured short-term debt rating category;

     (iv) commercial paper (having original maturities of not more than 270 days) of any
corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or any state thereof which on
the date of acquisition has been rated by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s in their
highest short-term rating categories;

     (v) short term investment funds sponsored by any trust company or national banking
association incorporated under the laws of the United States or any state thereof which on
the date of acquisition has been rated by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s in their
respective highest rating category for long-term unsecured debt, or any other short-term
investment fund the funds in which are invested in securities rated in the highest rating
category by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s and which mature on demand or prior to the
next Distribution Date;

     (vi) interests in any money market fund which at the date of acquisition has a rating
of “Aaa” by Moody’s and “AAA” by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s or such lower rating as will
not result in the qualification, downgrading or withdrawal of the then

-15-

 

current ratings assigned to the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates by each Rating
Agency; and

     (vii) other obligations or securities that are indebtedness in registered form for U.S.
federal income tax purposes and that are acceptable to each Rating Agency [and the
Certificate Insurer] as a Permitted Investment hereunder and will not result in a reduction
in the then-current ratings of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates, as evidenced by a
confirmation or letter to such effect from such Rating Agency [and the Certificate Insurer];

provided that no instrument described hereunder shall evidence either the right to receive (a) only
interest with respect to the obligations underlying such instrument or (b) both principal and
interest payments derived from obligations underlying such instrument if such interest and
principal payments provide a yield to maturity at par greater than 120% of the yield to maturity at
par of the underlying obligations; and provided, further, that no instrument described hereunder
may be purchased at a price greater than par if such instrument may be prepaid or called at a price
less than its purchase price prior to its stated maturity.

     Permitted Transferee: Any person other than (i) the United States, any State or
political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, (ii) a
foreign government, International Organization or any agency or instrumentality of either of the
foregoing, (iii) an organization (except certain farmers’ cooperatives described in Section 521 of
the Code) which is exempt from tax imposed by Chapter 1 of the Code (including the tax imposed by
Section 511 of the Code on unrelated business taxable income) on any excess inclusions (as defined
in Section 860E(c)(1) of the Code) with respect to any Residual Certificate, (iv) rural electric
and telephone cooperatives described in Section 1381(a)(2)(C) of the Code, (v) an “electing large
partnership” as defined in Section 775 of the Code, (vi) a Person that is not a citizen or resident
of the United States, a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or an estate or trust
whose income from sources without the United States is includible in gross income for United States
federal income tax purposes regardless of its connection with the conduct of a trade or business
within the United States or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust unless such Person has furnished the
transferor and the Administrator with a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or any
applicable successor form, and (vii) any other Person so designated by the Depositor based upon an
Opinion of Counsel that the Transfer of an Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate to such
Person may cause any REMIC created under this Agreement to fail to qualify as a REMIC at any time
that the Certificates are outstanding. The terms “United States,” “State” and “International
Organization” shall have the meanings set forth in Section 7701 of the Code or successor
provisions. A corporation will not be treated as an instrumentality of the United States or of any
State or political subdivision thereof for these purposes if all of its activities are subject to
tax and, with the exception of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a majority of its board
of directors is not selected by such government unit.

-16-

 

     Person: Any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited
liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.

     Pool Balance: As to any date, the aggregate of the outstanding Principal Balances of
all Home Equity Loans as of such date.

     Pool Factor: As to any Distribution Date, the percentage, carried to seven places,
obtained by dividing the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the Class [A] Certificates for
such Distribution Date by the aggregate Original Class Certificate Principal Balance of the Class
[A] Certificates.

     [Preference Amount: As defined in the Certificate Insurance Policy.]

     Preferred Stock: As defined in Section 11.12.

     [Premium Amount: As to any Distribution Date, the product of the Premium Percentage
and the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance after giving effect to distributions to be made on
such Distribution Date.]

     [Premium Percentage: As defined in the Insurance Agreement.]

     Principal Balance: As to any Home Equity Loan (other than a Liquidated Home Equity
Loan) and date, the related Cut-Off Date Principal Balance, minus the sum of (x) all collections
credited against the principal balance of such Home Equity Loan in accordance with the terms of the
related Mortgage Note and (y) any related Charge Off Amounts credited against the principal balance
of such Home Equity Loan prior to such date. For purposes of this definition, a Liquidated Home
Equity Loan shall be deemed to have a Principal Balance equal to the Principal Balance of the
related Home Equity Loan immediately prior to the final recovery of related Liquidation Proceeds
and a Principal Balance of zero thereafter.

     Principal Collections: As to any Distribution Date, the sum, without duplication, of:

     (i) the principal portion of all scheduled monthly payments on the Home Equity Loans
received by the Servicer during the related Collection Period;

     (ii) the principal portion of the Purchase Price for any Home Equity Loan repurchased
from the Trust pursuant to the terms of this Agreement during the related Collection Period;

     (iii) the principal portion of all Substitution Adjustment Amounts with respect to the
related Collection Period;

     (iv) all Net Liquidation Proceeds allocable to principal (excluding Foreclosure Profits
and Recovered Charge Off Amounts) actually received by the Servicer during the related
Collection Period;

-17-

 

     (v) the principal portion of all other unscheduled collections on the Home Equity Loans
received by the Servicer during the related Collection Period (including, without
limitation, full and partial prepayments of principal made by the Mortgagors), to the extent
not previously distributed; and

     (vi) the principal portion of all Insurance Proceeds on any Home Equity Loan collected
by the Servicer during the related Collection Period.

     Principal Distribution Amount: As to any Distribution Date, (i) the Principal
Collections minus (ii) for Distribution Dates occurring on and after the Stepdown Date and for
which a Trigger Event is not in effect, the Overcollateralization Release Amount, if any.

     Purchase Price: As to any Home Equity Loan purchased from the Trust on any date
pursuant to Section 2.02, 2.04, 3.01 or 10.01, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Principal
Balance thereof plus any related Charge Off Amount as of the end of the related Collection Period
preceding the date of repurchase, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest as of the end of such
Collection Period and (iii) any costs and damages incurred by the Trust with respect to such Home
Equity Loan in connection with any violation by such Home Equity Loan of any “predatory” or
“abusive” lending laws.

     Rating Agencies: Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. If such agency or a successor
is no longer in existence, “Rating Agency” shall be such nationally recognized statistical credit
rating agency, or other comparable Person, designated by the Depositor [and acceptable to the
Certificate Insurer], notice of which designation shall be given to the Trustee and the
Administrator. References herein to the highest short term unsecured rating category of a Rating
Agency shall mean “P-1” or better in the case of Moody’s, “A-1+” or better in the case of Standard
& Poor’s and “F1” in the case of Fitch and in the case of any other Rating Agency shall mean such
equivalent ratings. References herein to the highest long-term rating category of a Rating Agency
shall mean “AAA” in the case of Fitch and Standard & Poor’s and “Aaa” in the case of Moody’s and in
the case of any other Rating Agency, such equivalent rating.

     Realized Loss: With respect to any (i) Charged Off Home Equity Loan and any
Collection Period (other than the Collection Period in which all or a portion of such Charged Off
Home Equity Loan becomes a Liquidated Home Equity Loan), the related Charge Off Amount and (ii)
Liquidated Home Equity Loan, the excess of the related Principal Balance at the end of the related
Collection Period in which such Home Equity Loan became a Liquidated Home Equity Loan over the
related Net Liquidation Proceeds.

     Record Date: As to any Distribution Date, the last Business Day of the month
immediately preceding the month in which the related Distribution Date occurs.

     Recovered Charge Off Amount: As to any Home Equity Loan that became a Liquidated Home
Equity Loan in a Collection Period, the amount, if any, by which (i) its Net Liquidation Proceeds
that are allocable to principal in accordance with the related Mortgage Note exceeds (ii) its
Principal Balance immediately prior to foreclosure up to an amount of all related Charge Off
Amounts, but in no event less than zero.

-18-

 

     Regulation AB: Subpart 229.1100 — Asset-Backed Securities (Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R.
§§229.1100 — 229.1123, as such may be amended from time to time, and subject to such clarification
and interpretation as have been provided by the SEC in the adopting release (Asset-Backed
Securities, Securities Act Release No. 33-8518, 70 Fed. Reg. 1,506, 1,531 (Jan. 7, 2005)) or by the
staff of the SEC, or as may be provided by the SEC or its staff from time to time.

     [Reimbursement Amount: As of any Distribution Date, the sum of (x)(i) Insured
Payments previously received by the Administrator and not previously re-paid to the Certificate
Insurer pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(vi) plus (ii) interest accrued on such Insured Payment not
previously repaid, calculated at the Late Payment Rate from the date the Administrator received
such Insured Payment and (y)(i) the amount of any Premium Amount not paid on the date due plus (ii)
interest on such amount at the Late Payment Rate from the date such premium was due.]

     Related Documents: As such term is defined in Section 2.01.

     Remittance Report: As such term is defined in Section 3.11(b).

     REO: A Mortgaged Property that is acquired by the Trust in a foreclosure or by grant
of deed in lieu of foreclosure.

     Required Excess Cashflow: As to any Distribution Date, means [2.50]%, divided by 12,
multiplied by the Pool Balance as of the first day of the related Collection Period.

     Residual Certificates: The Class R Certificates.

     Responsible Officer: When used with respect to the Trustee or the Administrator, any
officer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Administrator, as applicable, with
direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement, and any officer of the Trustee or
the Administrator, as applicable, to whom matters under this Agreement may be referred.

     SAIF: The Savings Association Insurance Fund, as from time to time constituted,
created under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enhancement Act of 1989, or if at any
time after the execution of this instrument the Savings Association Insurance Fund is not existing
and performing duties now assigned to it, the body performing such duties on such date.

     SEC: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Sellers:
[            ].

     Servicer: HSBC Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or its successor in
interest, or any successor servicer appointed as herein provided.

     Servicer Termination Events: As defined in Section 8.01.

     Servicing Certificate: A certificate completed by and executed on behalf of the
Servicer in accordance with Section 3.10.

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     Servicing Criteria: The “servicing criteria” set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation
AB, as the same may be from time to time amended.

     Servicing Fee: The fee payable to the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.09, equal to
1/12th of the Servicing Fee Rate for each Home Equity Loan in the Home Equity Loan Schedule
multiplied by the outstanding Principal Balance of such Home Equity Loan as of the first day of the
related Collection Period.

     Servicing Fee Rate: A rate equal to [0.50]% per annum.

     Servicing Officer: Any officer of the Servicer or other individual designated by an
officer of the Servicer involved in, or responsible for, the administration and servicing of the
Home Equity Loans, whose name and specimen signature appear on a list of servicing officers
furnished to the Trustee [(with a copy to the Certificate Insurer)] on the Closing Date by the
Servicer, as such list may be amended from time to time.

     60 Day Delinquency Percentage: As to any Collection Period, (a) the aggregate of the
Principal Balances of all Home Equity Loans that are 60 or more days contractually delinquent, in
bankruptcy, in foreclosure and REO, over (b) the Pool Balance as of the end of such Collection
Period.

     60 Day+ Rolling Average: As to any Distribution Date, the average of the 60 Day
Delinquency Percentage for each of the three (3) immediately preceding Collection Periods.

     Skip-A-Pay Advance: For any Collection Period, means the positive result, if any, of
the Required Excess Cashflow on the related Distribution Date, minus the Monthly Excess Cashflow on
the related Distribution Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the result of the foregoing
calculation is not a positive number, the Skip-A-Pay Advance for the related Collection Period
shall be zero.

     Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount: As of any Distribution Date means, the positive
result, if any, of the Monthly Excess Cashflow on such Distribution Date, minus the Required Excess
Cashflow on such Distribution Date.

     Standard & Poor’s: Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,
or its successor in interest.

     Statistical
Cut-Off Date: The close of business on
[            ].

     Stepdown
Date: The later to occur of (a) the Distribution Date in
[           ] and
(b) the first Distribution Date on which the Pool Balance has been reduced to 50.00% of the Cut-Off
Date Pool Balance.

     Subsequent Cut-Off Date: As to each Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan, the close
of business on the day designated as the “Subsequent Cut-Off Date” with respect to the Eligible
Substitute Home Equity Loan.

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     Subservicer: As to each Home Equity Loan, the related Seller that sold such Home
Equity Loan to the Depositor pursuant to the Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement.

     Substitution Adjustment Amount: As to any Defective Home Equity Loan and the date on
which a substitution thereof occurs pursuant to Sections 2.02 or 2.04, the sum of:

     (i) the excess, if any, of (a) the Principal Balance of such Defective Home Equity Loan
plus any related Charge Off Amount as of the end of the
related Collection Period preceding the date of substitution (after the application of any
principal payments received on such Defective Home Equity Loan on or before the date of the substitution of the applicable Eligible Substitute Home
Equity Loan or Loans) over (b) the aggregate Principal Balance of the applicable Eligible
Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans, plus

     (ii) accrued and unpaid interest to the end of such Collection Period computed on a
daily basis at the Net Loan Rate on the Principal Balance of such Defective Home Equity Loan
outstanding from time to time.

     Supplemental Interest Amount: With respect to [either Class of Class A] Certificates
and any Distribution Date, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of (a) interest accrued on such Class
of Certificates at the applicable Formula Rate for such Class for the related Accrual Period over
(b) interest accrued on such Class of Certificates at the applicable Pass-Through Rate for the
related Accrual Period, (ii) any Supplemental Interest Amount for such Class remaining unpaid from
prior Distribution Dates and (iii) interest on the amount in clause (ii) at the applicable Formula
Rate for such Class and such Distribution Date.

     Targeted Overcollateralization Amount: As to any Distribution Date, (x) prior to the
Stepdown Date, [ ]% of the Cut-Off Date Pool Balance, and (y) on and after the Stepdown Date and
assuming a Trigger Event is not in effect, the greater of (i) [ ]% of the Pool Balance as of
the last day of the related Collection Period and (ii) [ ]% of the Cut-Off Date Pool Balance.
If a Trigger Event is in effect on and after the Stepdown Date, the Targeted Overcollateralization
Amount shall be equal to the Targeted Overcollateralization Amount for the immediately preceding
Distribution Date.

     Tax Matters Person Certificate: With respect to REMIC 1 and REMIC 2, the Class R
Certificate with a percentage interest of [ ]% issued to the Administrator.

     Transaction Documents: This Agreement, the Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement, [the
Certificate Insurance Policy] and any other document or agreement entered into in connection with
the Trust, the Certificates or the Home Equity Loans.

     Transfer: Any direct or indirect transfer, sale, pledge, hypothecation or other form
of assignment of any Ownership Interest in a Certificate.

     Transfer
Agreement: The transfer agreement dated as of
[            ],
between the Trustee and each Seller pursuant to which the Sellers will assign to the Trust all of
their right,

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title and interest in and on the Transferred Assets not otherwise transferred pursuant to the
Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement.

     Transfer Date: As to any Home Equity Loan transferred to or retransferred from the
Trust hereunder, the date on which such transfer or retransfer is made under the terms hereof,
which date shall be (i) in the case of the Home Equity Loans originally listed on the Home Equity
Loan Schedule, the Closing Date, and (ii) in the case of any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan,
the date on which such Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan is conveyed to the Trust under the
terms hereof.

     Transferred Assets: All aspects, rights, title or interests of, in, to or under the
Home Equity Loans that are not otherwise conveyed hereunder pursuant to Section 2.01, including,
without limitation, all agreements, instruments and other documents evidencing or governing the
Mortgagor’s obligations under the Home Equity Loans or otherwise related thereto or establishing or
setting forth the terms and conditions thereof, and any amendments or modifications thereto, and
all property and collateral securing the borrowers obligations thereunder.

     Trigger Event: Will be in effect on any Distribution Date on or after the Stepdown
Date on which either (i) the Two Payment-Plus Rolling Average for such Distribution Date equals or
exceeds [ ]%, or (ii) the Cumulative Loss Percentage for such Distribution Date exceeds the
Cumulative Loss Percentage Trigger for such Distribution Date.

     Trust: The trust created by this Agreement and designated “HSBC Home Equity Loan
Trust (USA) 200[ ]-[ ]”, the corpus of which consists of the Trust Fund.

     Trust Fund: Consists of the Home Equity Loans, such assets as shall from time to time
be identified as deposited in the Collection Account (exclusive of net earnings thereon), the
Mortgage Notes and other Mortgage File documents for the Home Equity Loans, any property that
secured a Home Equity Loan and that has become REO, the interest of the Depositor in certain hazard
insurance policies maintained by the Mortgagors or the Servicer in respect of the Home Equity
Loans, the Collection Account, the proceeds of each of the foregoing and one share of Preferred
Stock of the Depositor.

     Trustee: [          ], or any successor Trustee appointed in
accordance with this Agreement that has accepted such appointment in accordance with this
Agreement.

     Two Payment-Plus Delinquency Percentage: As to any Collection Period, (a) the
aggregate of the Principal Balances of all Mortgage Loans that are two (2) or more payments
contractually delinquent, including those Mortgage Loans in bankruptcy, foreclosure and REO as of
the end of such Collection Period, over (b) the Pool Balance as of the end of such Collection
Period.

     Two Payment-Plus Rolling Average: As to any Distribution Date, the average of the Two
Payment-Plus Delinquency Percentage for each of the three (3) immediately preceding Collection
Periods.

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     UCC: The Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time in any specified
jurisdiction.

     Section 1.02. Interest Calculations. All calculations of interest hereunder that are
made in respect of the Principal Balance of a Home Equity Loan shall be made based on the number of
days elapsed between the date that interest was last paid on such Home Equity Loan and the date of
receipt of the related Mortgagor’s most current payment. All calculations of interest on the Class
[A] and Class [IO] Certificates shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months.

     Section 1.03. Usage of Terms. As to all terms in this Agreement the singular includes
the plural and the plural the singular; words importing any gender include the other gender;
references to “writing” include printing, typing, lithography, optical imaging, and other means of
reproducing words in a visible form; references to agreements and other contractual instruments
include all subsequent amendments thereto or changes therein entered into in accordance with their
respective terms and not prohibited by this Agreement; references to Persons include their
permitted successors and assigns; and the term “including” means “including without limitation.”
The term “related Collection Period” as used herein with respect to any Distribution Date shall
mean the Collection Period immediately preceding such Distribution Date and the term “preceding
Collection Period” as used herein with respect to any Distribution Date shall mean the Collection
Period preceding the related Collection Period for such Distribution Date.

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ARTICLE II

Conveyance of Home Equity Loans; Original Issuance of Certificates; Tax Treatment

     Section 2.01. Acknowledgment; Conveyance of Home Equity Loans; Custody of Mortgage
Files.

     (a) The Depositor, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, does hereby
irrevocably transfer, assign, sell, set over and otherwise convey to the Trustee for the benefit of
the Certificateholders without recourse (subject to Sections 2.02 and 2.04) (i) all of its right,
title and interest in and to the unpaid principal balance of each Home Equity Loan and each
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan, including all Interest Collections and Principal Collections
in respect of any such Home Equity Loan received after the Cut-Off Date with respect to each
Initial Home Equity Loan and after the Subsequent Cut-Off Date with respect to each Eligible
Substitute Home Equity Loan pursuant to the Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement; (ii) property
which secured such Home Equity Loan and which has been acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of
foreclosure; (iii) its interest in any insurance policies in respect of the Home Equity Loans; (iv)
all proceeds of any of the foregoing; and (v) one share of the Depositor’s Preferred Stock. [In
addition, on or prior to the Closing Date, the Depositor shall cause the Certificate Insurer to
deliver the Certificate Insurance Policy to the Trustee.]

     (b) The Depositor agrees to take, or to cause to be taken, such actions and to execute such
documents (including without limitation the filing of all necessary continuation statements for the
UCC-1 financing statement filed in the State of Illinois and the State of Delaware, as applicable
(which shall have been filed as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 10 days
following the effective date of this Agreement), describing the Home Equity Loans and naming the
Depositor as seller and the Trustee as buyer, and any amendments or other filings to the UCC-1
financing statement required to reflect a change in the applicable UCC, or a change of the name or
corporate structure of the Depositor, or the filing of any additional UCC-1 financing statement due
to any change in the principal office of the Depositor) as are necessary to perfect and protect the
Certificateholders’ interests in the Trust created hereunder, including each Home Equity Loan and
the proceeds thereof (other than delivering to the Trustee possession of the Mortgage Files, which
possession will, subject to the terms hereof, be maintained by the Subservicers on behalf of the
Servicer as custodian and bailee for the Trustee). The parties hereto intend that the transactions
set forth herein constitute a sale and not a pledge by the Depositor to the Trust of all the
Depositor’s right, title and interest in and to the Home Equity Loans and other Trust property as
and to the extent described above. In the event the transactions set forth herein are
characterized as a pledge and not a sale, the Depositor hereby grants to the Trustee a security
interest in all of the Depositor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Home Equity Loans
and such other Trust property, to secure all of the Depositor’s obligations hereunder, and this
Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law. With respect to the Home
Equity Loans sold by each Seller to the Depositor, the Servicer shall cause such Seller to file as
promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ten days following the effective date of this
Agreement, in the appropriate public filing office or offices UCC-1 financing statements and
continuation statements describing such Home Equity Loans and naming such Seller as seller and the
Depositor as buyer, to file appropriate continuation statements thereto, to file amendments thereto
in the case of a change in the applicable UCC,

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name change or change in corporate structure and to file appropriate additional UCC-1
financing statements, if any, if such Seller changes its jurisdiction of incorporation.

     (c) In connection with such transfer and assignment by the Depositor and the Servicer, acting
through the Subservicers, the Trustee and the Servicer hereby acknowledge that the Subservicers are
holding, with respect to the Home Equity Loans transferred on the Closing Date, and will hold, with
respect to each Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan, on and from the applicable Transfer Date, as
custodian and bailee for the Trustee, the following documents or instruments with respect to each
such Home Equity Loan (the “Related Documents”):

     (i) the original Mortgage Note with all intervening endorsements showing a complete
chain of title from the originator of such Home Equity Loan to the Seller or a copy of such
original Mortgage Note with an accompanying lost note affidavit;

     (ii) the original Mortgage, with evidence of recording thereon, provided that if the
original Mortgage has been delivered for recording to the appropriate public recording
office of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located but has not yet been
returned to the Seller by such recording office, the Seller may hold a copy of such original
Mortgage; and

     (iii) originals of any amendments to the Mortgage Note or Mortgage, any modification or
assumption agreements and any previous assignments of such Home Equity Loan;

provided, however, that as to any Home Equity Loan, if, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel
delivered to and in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, (x) an optical image or other
electronic representation of the related documents specified in clauses (i) through (iii) above are
enforceable in the relevant jurisdictions to the same extent as the original of such document and
(y) such optical image or other representation does not impair the ability of an owner of such Home
Equity Loan to transfer its interest in such Home Equity Loan, such optical image or other
representation may be held by the Servicer, acting through the Subservicers, as custodian and
bailee for the Trustee, in lieu of the physical documents specified above.

     (d) Except as hereinafter provided, the Servicer, acting through the Subservicers, shall be
entitled to maintain possession of all of the foregoing documents and instruments, shall not be
required to deliver any of them to the Trustee and shall not be required to record an assignment of
Mortgage in favor of the Trustee with respect to any Home Equity Loan. In the event, however, that
possession of any of such documents or instruments is required by any Person (including the
Trustee) acting as successor servicer pursuant to Section 7.04 or 8.02 in order to carry out the
duties of Servicer hereunder, then such successor shall be entitled to request delivery, at the
expense of the Servicer, of such documents or instruments by the Servicer and to retain such
documents or instruments for servicing purposes; provided that the Trustee or such servicers shall
maintain such documents at such offices as may be required by any regulatory body having
jurisdiction over such Home Equity Loans.

     (e) The Servicer’s right to maintain possession, directly or through the Subservicers, of the
documents enumerated above shall continue so long as (i) at least two of Moody’s,

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Standard & Poor’s and Fitch assign a long-term senior unsecured debt rating to HSBC Finance of
at least “Baa3”, in the case of Moody’s, “BBB”, in the case of Fitch, and “BBB-”, in the case of
Standard & Poor’s, or such lower ratings as shall be acceptable to the Rating Agencies in order to
maintain their current ratings of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates, and (ii) each of the
Subservicers remains an Affiliate of HSBC Finance. At such time as either of the conditions
specified in the preceding sentence is not satisfied, as promptly as practicable, but in no event
more than 90 days thereafter in the case of clause (i) below and 60 days in the case of clause (ii)
below, the Servicer shall cause each Subservicer, at such Subservicer’s expense or, at the
Servicer’s discretion, the Servicer’s expense, to (i) either (x) record an assignment of Mortgage
in favor of the Trustee (which may be a blanket assignment if permitted by applicable law) with
respect to each of the Home Equity Loans being serviced by such Subservicer in the appropriate real
property or other records or (y) deliver to the Trustee the assignment of such Mortgage in favor of
the Trustee in form for recordation, together with an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Trustee
to the effect that recording is not required to protect the Trustee’s right, title and interest in
and to the related Home Equity Loan or to perfect a first priority security interest in favor of
the Trustee in the related Home Equity Loan, which Opinion of Counsel also shall be reasonably
acceptable to each of the Rating Agencies [and the Certificate Insurer] (as evidenced in writing),
and (ii) unless an Opinion of Counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and the Rating Agencies
[and the Certificate Insurer] (as evidenced in writing), is delivered to the Trustee to the effect
that delivery of the Mortgage Files is not necessary to protect the Trustee’s right, title and
interest in and to the related Home Equity Loans or to perfect a first priority security interest
in favor of the Trustee in the related Home Equity Loans, deliver the related Mortgage Files to the
Trustee to be held by the Trustee in trust, upon the terms herein set forth, for the use and
benefit of all present and future Certificateholders, and the Trustee shall retain possession
thereof except to the extent the Servicer or Subservicers require any Mortgage Files for normal
servicing as contemplated by Section 3.08. The Servicer shall cause the Subservicers to appoint
the Trustee their attorney-in-fact to prepare, execute and record any assignments of Mortgages
required under this Section 2.01 in the event that the Subservicers or the Servicer should fail to
do so on a timely basis.

     (f) Within 90 days following delivery, if any, of the Mortgage Files to the Trustee pursuant
to the preceding subsection, the Trustee shall review each such Mortgage File to ascertain that all
required documents set forth in this Section 2.01 have been executed and received and that such
documents relate to the Home Equity Loans identified on the Home Equity Loan Schedule, and in so
doing the Trustee may rely on the purported due execution and genuineness of any signature thereon.
If within such 90-day period the Trustee finds any document constituting a part of a Mortgage File
not to have been executed or received or to be unrelated to the Home Equity Loans identified in
said Home Equity Loan Schedule or, if in the course of its review, the Trustee determines that such
Mortgage File is otherwise defective in any material respect, the Trustee shall promptly upon the
conclusion of its review notify the Depositor and the Servicer, and the Depositor and the Servicer
shall have a period of 90 days after such notice within which to correct or cure any such defect;
provided, however, that if such defect shall not have been corrected or cured within such 90-day
period due to the failure of the related office of real property or other records to return any
document constituting a part of a Mortgage File, the Depositor or the Servicer shall so notify the
Trustee and the period during which such defect may be corrected or cured shall be extended for one
additional 90-day period.

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     (g) The Trustee shall have no responsibility for reviewing any Mortgage File except as
expressly provided in this Section 2.01. In reviewing any Mortgage File pursuant to this Section
2.01, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining whether any document is valid and
binding, whether the text of any assignment or endorsement is in proper or recordable form (except,
if applicable, to determine if the Trustee is the assignee or endorsee), whether any document has
been recorded in accordance with the requirements of any applicable jurisdiction, or whether a
blanket assignment is permitted in any applicable jurisdiction, whether any Person executing any
document is authorized to do so or whether any signature thereon is genuine, but shall only be
required to determine whether a document has been executed, that it appears to be what it purports
to be and, where applicable, that it purports to be recorded.

     (h) The Servicer hereby confirms to the Trustee that on or prior to the Closing Date and on or
prior to the applicable Transfer Date with respect to any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan, the
portions of the Electronic Ledger relating to such Home Equity Loans have been or will have been
clearly and unambiguously marked, and the appropriate entries have been or will have been made in
its general accounting records, to indicate that such Home Equity Loans have been transferred to
the Trustee and constitute part of the Trust in accordance with the terms hereof.

     Section 2.02. Acceptance by Trustee; Repurchase of Home Equity Loans; Conveyance of
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans.

     (a) The Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of all the right, title and interest of the
Depositor in and to the assets described Section 2.01(a)(i) through (v), and all of the right,
title and interest of the Sellers in and to the Transferred Assets pursuant to the Transfer
Agreement, including but not limited to the transfer and assignment of the Mortgage Notes and the
Mortgages, and declares that it holds and will hold such documents and interests and all amounts
received by it in trust, upon the terms herein set forth, for the use and benefit of all present
and future Certificateholders. If the time to cure any defect of which the Trustee has notified
the Depositor and the Servicer following the Trustee’s review of the Home Equity Loan Files
pursuant to Section 2.01 has expired or if any loss is suffered by the Trustee, on behalf of the
Certificateholders, in respect of any Home Equity Loan as a result of (i) a defect in any document
constituting a part of a Mortgage File or (ii) the related Seller’s retention of such Mortgage File
or an assignment of Mortgage not having been recorded, the Depositor shall, in the case of a defect
in such document, or the Servicer shall, in the case of a loss resulting from such Seller’s
retention of a Mortgage File or assignment of Mortgage not having been recorded, on the Business
Day next preceding the Distribution Date in the month following the end of the Collection Period in
which the time to cure such defect expired or such loss occurred, either (i) repurchase the related
Home Equity Loan (a “Defective Home Equity Loan”) (including any property acquired in respect
thereof and any insurance policy or insurance proceeds with respect thereto) from the Trust at a
price equal to the Purchase Price which shall be accomplished by deposit by the Depositor or the
Servicer, as applicable, in the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.02 on such next preceding
Business Day, or (ii) if such next preceding Business Day occurs prior to the second anniversary of
the Closing Date, remove such Defective Home Equity Loan from the Trust and substitute in its place
an Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans; provided, however, that any such substitution
pursuant to clause (ii) above shall not be effected prior to the delivery to the Trustee of the
Opinion of Counsel required by Section 2.06.

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     (b) [RESERVED]

     (c) As to any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans, the Servicer shall cause the
related Seller to deliver to the Trustee with respect to such Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan
or Loans an acknowledgment that the related Seller is holding as custodian for the Trustee such
documents and agreements, if any, as are permitted to be held by the related Seller in accordance
with Section 2.01. An assignment of the Mortgage in favor of the Trustee with respect to such
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans shall be required to be recorded in the appropriate
real property or other records or delivered to the Trustee with the Opinion of Counsel referred to
in Section 2.01 under the same circumstances that all other assignments of Mortgage are required to
be recorded hereunder. For any Collection Period during which the Depositor or the Servicer
substitutes one or more Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans, the Servicer shall determine the
Substitution Adjustment Amount. The Depositor or the Servicer, as applicable, shall deposit the
Substitution Adjustment Amount in the Collection Account no later than the Business Day next
preceding the Distribution Date in the month following the end of the Collection Period in which
such substitution occurs. The Servicer shall amend the Home Equity Loan Schedule to reflect the
removal of the Defective Home Equity Loan from the terms of this Agreement and the
substitution of the Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans. Upon such substitution, the
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement in
all respects, and the Depositor shall be deemed to have made with respect to such Eligible
Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans, as of the date of substitution, the covenants,
representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.04(b). The Trustee shall upon satisfaction
of the conditions in this subsection immediately take any action requested by the Depositor, if
any, to effect the reconveyance of such Defective Home Equity Loan so removed from the Trust to the Depositor or
the Servicer, as applicable. The procedures applied by the Depositor or the Servicer in selecting
each Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan shall not be adverse to the interests of the
Certificateholders and shall be comparable to the selection procedures applicable to the Home
Equity Loans originally conveyed hereunder.

     (d) Upon receipt by the Trustee of (i) in the case of a repurchase, a Servicing Certificate to
the effect that the Purchase Price for any such Defective Home Equity Loan has been so deposited in the Collection
Account or (ii) in the case of a substitution, (A) a Servicing Certificate to the effect that the
Substitution Adjustment Amount, if any, has been so deposited in the Collection Account and (B) an
Officer’s Certificate reciting the transfer and assignment of the Eligible Substitute Home Equity
Loan(s) to the Trustee and, if required at such time, that the related Mortgage File(s) for such
Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan(s) have been delivered to the Trustee and the assignment(s) of
Mortgage have been recorded, the Trustee shall execute and deliver such instrument of transfer or
assignment presented to it by the Servicer, in each case without recourse, as shall be necessary to
vest in the Depositor or the Servicer, as applicable, legal and beneficial ownership of such
Defective Home Equity Loan

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for which the Servicer has made a substitution election (including any property acquired in
respect thereof or proceeds of any insurance policy with respect thereto). It is understood and
agreed that the obligation of the Depositor or the Servicer to repurchase or substitute for (to the
extent permitted herein) any Defective Home Equity Loan shall constitute the sole remedy respecting
such defect available to Certificateholders or the Trustee against the Depositor or the Servicer,
and such obligation on the part of the Servicer shall survive any resignation or termination of the
Servicer hereunder.

     Section 2.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Servicer. The
Servicer represents, warrants and covenants that as of the Closing Date:

     (a) The Servicer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power to own its assets and to transact the
business in which it is currently engaged. The Servicer is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
business transacted by it or properties owned or leased by it require such qualification and in
which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties,
assets, or condition (financial or other) of the Servicer;

     (b) The Servicer has the power and authority to make, execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to perform its obligations with respect to all of the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of its obligations under this Agreement. When
executed and delivered, this Agreement will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Servicer enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of such terms may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and by the availability of equitable remedies (whether in a proceeding at law or in
equity);

     (c) The Servicer is not required to obtain the consent of any other Person or any consent,
license, approval or authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any governmental
authority, bureau or agency in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, except for such consents, licenses, approvals or authorizations,
or registrations or declarations, as shall have been obtained or filed, as the case may be;

     (d) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions
contemplated hereby by the Servicer will not violate any provision of any existing law or
regulation or any order or decree of any court applicable to the Servicer or any provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Servicer, or constitute a material breach of any
mortgage, indenture, contract or other agreement to which the Servicer is a party or by which the
Servicer may be bound; and

     (e) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or before any court, tribunal or
governmental body is currently pending, or to the knowledge of the Servicer threatened, against the
Servicer or any of its properties or with respect to this Agreement or the Certificates which in

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the opinion of the Servicer has a reasonable likelihood of resulting in a material adverse
effect on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.03 shall survive the sale and
assignment of the Home Equity Loans to the Trust. Upon discovery of a breach of any
representations and warranties which materially and adversely affects the interests of the
Certificateholders, the Person discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the
other parties. Within 60 days (or such longer period as permitted by prior written consent of a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee) of its discovery or its receipt of notice of such breach, the
Servicer shall cure such breach in all material respects.

     Section 2.04. Representations and Warranties of the Depositor Regarding this Agreement and
the Home Equity Loans; Repurchases and Substitutions.

     (a) The Depositor represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date:

     (i) The Depositor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power to own its
assets and to transact the business in which it is currently engaged. The Depositor is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the character of the business transacted by it or properties owned or
leased by it require such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would have a
material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets or condition (financial or
other) of the Depositor;

     (ii) The Depositor has the power and authority to make, execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under this Agreement and to perform its obligations with respect to all of
the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate
action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of its obligations under this
Agreement. When executed and delivered, this Agreement will constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Depositor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by the availability of equitable remedies
(whether in a proceeding at law or in equity);

     (iii) The Depositor is not required to obtain the consent of any other Person or any
consent, license, approval or authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any
governmental authority, bureau or agency in connection with the execution, delivery,
performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, except for such consents,
licenses, approvals or authorizations, or registrations or declarations, as shall have been
obtained or filed, as the case may be;

     (iv) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of the
transactions contemplated hereby by the Depositor will not violate any provision of any
existing law or regulation or any order or decree of any court applicable to the Depositor
or any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Depositor, or

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constitute a material breach of any mortgage, indenture, contract or other agreement to
which the Depositor is a party or by which the Depositor may be bound; and

     (v) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or before any court, tribunal or
governmental body is currently pending, or to the knowledge of the Depositor threatened,
against the Depositor or any of its properties or with respect to this Agreement or the
Certificates which in the opinion of the Depositor has a reasonable likelihood of resulting
in a material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b) The Depositor represents and warrants with respect to each Home Equity Loan that as of the
Closing Date with respect to the Initial Home Equity Loans and the applicable Transfer Date with
respect to any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loans (or to the extent expressly stated herein as
of such other time):

     (i) This Agreement and the Transfer Agreement constitute a valid transfer and
assignment to the Trustee of all right, title and interest of the Depositor and the Sellers,
respectively, in and to the Home Equity Loans, all monies due or to become due with respect
thereto, all proceeds thereof, such funds as are from time to time deposited in the
Collection Account (excluding any investment earnings thereon) and all other property
specified in the definition of “Trust” as being part of the corpus of the Trust conveyed to
the Trust by the Depositor;

     (ii) The information set forth in the Home Equity Loan Schedule with respect to such
Home Equity Loan is true and correct in all material respects;

     (iii) Immediately prior to the transfer and assignment by the related Seller to the
Depositor and the Trustee pursuant to the Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement and the
Transfer Agreement, the Home Equity Loan has not been assigned or pledged, and the related
Seller has good and marketable title thereto, and the related Seller is the sole owner and
holder of such Home Equity Loan free and clear of any and all liens, claims, encumbrances,
participation interests, equities, pledges, charges or security interests of any nature, and
has full right and authority, under all governmental and regulatory bodies having
jurisdiction over the ownership of such Home Equity Loan, to transfer and assign the same
pursuant to the Home Equity Loan Purchase Agreement and the Transfer Agreement;

     (iv) Immediately prior to the transfer and assignment by the Depositor to the Trustee
pursuant to this Agreement, the Home Equity Loan has not been assigned or pledged, and the
Depositor has good and marketable title thereto, and the Depositor is the sole owner and
holder of such Home Equity Loan free and clear of any and all liens, claims, encumbrances,
participation interests, equities, pledges, charges or security interests of any nature, and
has full right and authority, under all governmental and regulatory bodies having
jurisdiction over the ownership of such Home Equity Loan, to transfer and assign the same
pursuant to this Agreement;

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     (v) The related Mortgage is a valid and subsisting first or second lien, as set
forth on the Home Equity Loan Schedule with respect to such Home Equity Loan, on the
property therein described, and the related Mortgaged Property is free and clear of all
encumbrances and liens having priority over the first or second lien, as applicable, of such
Mortgage except for liens for (a) real estate taxes and special assessments not yet
delinquent; (b) any first and, if applicable, second mortgage loan secured by such Mortgaged
Property and specified on the Home Equity Loan Schedule; (c) covenants, conditions and
restrictions, rights of way, easements and other matters of public record as of the date of
recording that are acceptable to mortgage lending institutions generally; and (d) other
matters to which like properties are commonly subject which do not materially interfere with
the benefits of the security intended to be provided by such Mortgage;

     (vi) To the best knowledge of the Depositor, there is no valid offset, defense or
counterclaim of any obligor under the Mortgage;

     (vii) To the best knowledge of the Depositor, there is no delinquent recording or other
tax or fee or assessment lien against the related Mortgaged Property;

     (viii) To the best knowledge of the Depositor, there is no proceeding pending or
threatened for the total or partial condemnation of the related Mortgaged Property, and such
property is free of material damage and is in good repair;

     (ix) There are no mechanics’ or similar liens or claims which have been filed for work,
labor or material affecting the related Mortgaged Property which are, or may be, liens prior
or equal to the lien of the related Mortgage, except (a) liens which are fully insured
against by the title insurance policy referred to in clause (xiii) or (b) liens which do not
materially interfere with the collection of the Home Equity Loan upon foreclosure or
otherwise;

     (x) As of the Cut-Off Date for the Initial Home Equity Loans (or as of the applicable
Transfer Date for any Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan), no scheduled monthly payment is
more than 29 days delinquent (measured on a contractual basis);

     (xi) The related Mortgage File contains each of the documents and instruments specified
to be included therein (including, if applicable, an appraisal (which may be an appraisal
prepared using a statistical data base));

     (xii) The related Mortgage Note and the related Mortgage at the time they were made
complied in all material respects with applicable state and federal laws, including, without
limitation, usury, truth-in-lending, real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit
protection, equal credit opportunity or disclosure laws applicable to the Home Equity Loan;

     (xiii) A lender’s title insurance policy or binder was issued on the date of
origination of each Home Equity Loan for home equity loans in excess of $50,000 (in
excess of $75,000 in Oklahoma), and each such policy is valid and remains in full force
and effect, and a title search or other assurance of title customary in the relevant

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jurisdiction was obtained with respect to each Home Equity Loan as to which no title
insurance policy or binder was issued;

     (xiv) The related Mortgaged Property is not a mobile home or a manufactured housing
unit that is not permanently attached to its foundation;

     (xv) As of the Statistical Cut-Off Date for the Initial Home Equity Loans, no more than
[     ]% of such Home Equity Loans (by Pool Balance as of the Statistical Cut-Off Date) are
secured by Mortgaged Properties located in one United States postal zip code;

     (xvi) As of the Statistical Cut-Off Date, the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio for each
Initial Home Equity Loan was not in excess of [     ]%;

     (xvii) No selection procedure reasonably believed by the Depositor to be adverse to the
interests of the Certificateholders [or the Certificate Insurer] was utilized in selecting
the Home Equity Loan;

     (xviii) The Depositor has not transferred the Home Equity Loans to the Trust with any
intent to hinder, delay or defraud any of its creditors;

     (xix) Each Mortgage Note and each Mortgage is in substantially the form previously
provided to the Trustee by the Depositor and each Home Equity Loan is an enforceable
obligation of the related Mortgagor;

     (xx) The Depositor has not received a notice of default of any senior mortgage loan
with respect to the related Mortgaged Property that has not been cured by a party other than
the related Subservicer;

     (xxi) The Initial Home Equity Loan does not have an original term to maturity in excess
of [      ] months; and as of the Statistical Cut-Off Date for the Initial Home Equity Loans,
the weighted average remaining term to maturity of the Initial Home Equity Loans on a
contractual basis is approximately [     ] months.

     (xxii) The related Mortgaged Property consists of a single parcel of real property with
a one-to-four unit single family residence erected thereon, or an individual condominium
unit, planned unit development unit or townhouse;

     (xxiii) As of the Cut-Off Date, the average Principal Balance of the Initial Home
Equity Loans was $[           ]; and

     (xxiv) As of the Statistical Cut-Off Date, approximately [      ]% (by Pool Balance as
of the Statistical Cut-Off Date) and [     ]% (by Pool Balance as of the Statistical
Cut-Off Date) of the Initial Home Equity Loans are first and second liens, respectively.

     (c) It is understood and agreed that the representations and warranties set forth in this
Section 2.04 shall survive the transfer and assignment of the Home Equity Loans to the Trustee.

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Upon discovery by the Depositor, the Servicer [, the Certificate Insurer] or the Trustee of a
breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.04, without regard
to any limitation set forth in such representation or warranty concerning the knowledge of the
Depositor as to the facts stated therein, which materially and adversely affects the interests of
the Certificateholders [or the Certificate Insurer] in the related Home Equity Loan, the person
discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other parties [, the Certificate
Insurer] and each Rating Agency. Within 60 days of its discovery or its receipt of notice of such
breach, or, with the prior written consent of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, such longer
period not to exceed 90 days specified in such consent, the Depositor or, as necessary, the
Servicer shall cure such breach in all material respects. With regard to any such breach of the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.04(b), unless, at the expiration of such 60
day or longer period, such breach has been cured in all material respects or otherwise does not
exist or continue to exist, the Depositor or the Servicer shall, not later than the Business Day
next preceding the Distribution Date in the month following the end of the Collection Period in
which any such cure period expired, either (i) repurchase such Defective Home Equity Loan
(including any property acquired in respect thereof and any insurance policy or insurance proceeds
with respect thereto) or (ii) if such next preceding Business Day occurs prior to the second
anniversary of the Closing Date, remove such Home Equity Loan from the Trust and substitute in its
place an Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan or Loans, in the same manner and subject to the same
conditions as set forth in Section 2.02. Upon making any such repurchase or substitution the
Depositor or the Servicer, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive an instrument of assignment
or transfer from the Trustee to the same extent as set forth in Section 2.02 with respect to the
repurchase or replacement of Home Equity Loans under that Section. Subject to Section 2.04(d), it
is understood and agreed that the obligation of the Depositor or the Servicer to purchase or
substitute for any such Defective Home Equity Loan (or property acquired in respect thereof) shall
constitute the sole remedy against the Depositor or the Servicer respecting such breach of the
foregoing representations or warranties available to Certificateholders [, the Certificate Insurer]
or the Trustee against the Depositor or the Servicer, and such obligation on the part of the
Servicer shall survive any resignation or termination of the Servicer hereunder.

     (d) The Depositor and the Servicer, jointly and not severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Trust against any and all out-of-pocket financial losses, claims, expenses, damages or
liabilities to which the Trust may become subject, insofar as such out-of-pocket financial losses,
claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any representation or warranty made by the Depositor in this Section 2.04 on which the Trust
has relied, being, or alleged to be, untrue or incorrect in any material respect. This indemnity
will be in addition to any liability which the Depositor or the Servicer may otherwise have.

     (e) Promptly after receipt by the Trust of notice of the commencement of any action or
proceeding in any way relating to or arising from this Agreement, the Trustee will notify the
Depositor [, the Certificate Insurer] and the Servicer of the commencement thereof, but the
omission so to notify the party from whom indemnification is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) will
not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which it may have to the party seeking
indemnification (the “Indemnified Party”) except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is
adversely affected by the lack of notice. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Party, and it notifies the Indemnifying Party of the commencement thereof, the

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Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate in the defense (with the consent of the
Indemnified Party which shall not be unreasonably withheld) of such action at the Indemnifying
Party’s expense.

     Section 2.05. Execution and Authentication of Certificates. The Trustee on behalf of
the Trust shall execute, and the Administrator shall authenticate and deliver on the Closing Date
to or upon the order of the Depositor, in exchange for the Home Equity Loans, concurrently with the
assignment and conveyance to the Trustee of the Home Equity Loans, the Class [A] and Class [IO]
Certificates in authorized denominations and the Residual Certificates, together evidencing the
ownership of the entire Trust.

     Section 2.06. Delivery of Opinion of Counsel in Connection with Substitutions.

     (a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, no substitution pursuant to
Section 2.02 or Section 2.04 shall be made more than 90 days after the Closing Date unless the
Depositor or the Servicer, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee and the Administrator an
Opinion of Counsel, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be at the expense of the Trustee, the
Administrator or the Trust Fund, addressed to the Trustee and the Administrator, to the effect that
such substitution will not (i) result in the imposition of the tax on “prohibited transactions” on
the Trust Fund or contributions after the Startup Date, as defined in Sections 860F(a)(2) and
860G(d) of the Code, respectively, or (ii) cause any REMIC created under this Agreement to fail to
qualify as a REMIC at any time that any Certificates are outstanding.

     (b) Upon discovery by the Depositor, the Servicer, or the Trustee that any Home Equity Loan
does not constitute a “qualified mortgage” within the meaning of Section 860G(a)(3) of the Code,
the party discovering such fact shall promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days of
discovery) give written notice thereof to the other parties. In connection therewith, the Trustee
shall require at its option, to either (i) substitute, if the conditions in Section 2.03(c) with
respect to substitutions are satisfied, an Eligible Substitute Home Equity Loan for the affected
Home Equity Loan, or (ii) repurchase the affected Home Equity Loan within 90 days of such discovery
in the same manner as it would a Home Equity Loan for a breach of representation or warranty made
pursuant to Section 2.04. The Trustee shall reconvey to the Depositor or the Servicer, as the case
may be, the Home Equity Loan to be released pursuant to this Section in the same manner, and on the
same terms and conditions, as it would a Home Equity Loan repurchased for breach of a
representation or warranty contained in Section 2.04.

     Section 2.07. REMIC Matters. The Preliminary Statement sets forth the designations
and “latest possible maturity date” for federal income tax purposes of all interests created
hereby. The “Startup Day” for purposes of the REMIC Provisions shall be the Closing Date. The
“tax matters person” with respect to each REMIC hereunder shall be the Administrator and the
Administrator shall hold the Tax Matters Person Certificate. Each REMIC’s fiscal year shall be the
calendar year.

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ARTICLE III

Administration and Servicing of Home Equity Loans

     Section 3.01. The Servicer.

     (a) The Servicer shall, or shall cause the Subservicers to, service and administer the Home
Equity Loans in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and with general industry
practice and shall have full power and authority, acting alone or through the Subservicers, to do
any and all things in connection with such servicing and administration which it may deem necessary
or desirable, it being understood, however, that the Servicer shall at all times remain responsible
to the Trustee, the Administrator and the Certificateholders for the performance of its duties and
obligations hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof. Any amounts received by the related
Subservicer in respect of a Home Equity Loan shall be deemed to have been received by the Servicer
whether or not actually received by it. The Servicer shall represent and protect the interests of
the Trust Fund in the same manner as it protects its own interests in mortgage loans in its own
portfolio in any claim, proceeding or litigation regarding a Mortgage Loan, and shall not make or
permit any modification, waiver or amendment of any Mortgage Loan which would cause any REMIC
created under this Agreement to fail to qualify as a REMIC or result in the imposition of any tax
under section 860F(a) or section 860G(d) of the Code.

     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Servicer shall continue, and is hereby
authorized and empowered by the Trustee, to execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the
Certificateholders and the Trustee or any of them, any and all instruments of satisfaction or
cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge and all other comparable instruments, with
respect to the Home Equity Loans and with respect to the Mortgaged Properties. Upon the written
request of the Servicer, the Depositor and the Trustee shall furnish the Servicer with any powers
of attorney and other documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its
servicing and administrative duties hereunder. The Servicer in such capacity may also consent to
the placing of a proposed lien senior to that of the Mortgage on the related Mortgaged Property,
provided that such proposed lien is not secured by a note providing for negative amortization and:

     (x) (i) the Mortgage relating to the Home Equity Loan was in a first lien position as
of the Cut-Off Date and was in a first lien position immediately prior to the placement of
the proposed senior lien, and (ii) the ratio of (a) the sum of the Principal Balance of the
Home Equity Loan and the principal balance of the mortgage loan to be secured by the
proposed senior lien to (b) the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property at the time the
Home Equity Loan was originated is not greater than (1) with respect to Home Equity Loans
with an original CLTV of 85% or less, 85%, (2) with respect to Home Equity Loans with an
original CLTV in excess of 85% and not greater than 95%, 95% and (3) with respect to Home
Equity Loans with an original CLTV in excess of 95% and not greater than 115%, 115%;

     (y) (i) the Mortgage relating to the Home Equity Loan was in a first or second lien
position at the time the related Home Equity Loan was conveyed to the Trust and,

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immediately following the placement of such proposed senior lien, such Mortgage will be
in a second or, if such Mortgage was in a second lien position at the time the related Home
Equity Loan was conveyed to the Trust, a third lien position and (ii) the principal balance
of the mortgage loan to be secured by the proposed senior lien and the rate at which
interest accrues thereon are no greater than those of the related Home Equity Loan as of the
date it was first conveyed to the Trust; or

     (z) the Mortgage relating to the Home Equity Loan was in a second lien position as of
the Cut-Off Date and the proposed senior lien secures a mortgage loan that refinances an
existing first mortgage loan and the outstanding principal amount of such mortgage loan
immediately following such refinancing and the rate at which interest accrues thereon are
not greater than that of such existing first mortgage loan at the date the mortgage loan was
originated.

     (b) If (i) foreclosure proceedings are commenced with respect to any Home Equity Loan with
respect to which the Servicer has consented to the placing of a subsequent senior lien pursuant to
clause (x) in Section 3.01(a), or (ii) any loss is suffered by the Trustee on behalf of the
Certificateholders in respect of any Home Equity Loan as a result of (x) a failure to file on or
within ten days following the effective date of this Agreement the UCC-l financing statements
referred to in Section 2.01 or (y) a failure to publish on or prior to the Closing Date such
notices reflecting the sale of the Home Equity Loans as are described in Section 3440.1(h) of the
California Civil Code, then the Servicer shall repurchase or substitute for any adversely affected
Home Equity Loan on the Business Day preceding the next Distribution Date following the end of the
Collection Period during which such foreclosure proceedings were commenced or such losses were
suffered. Such repurchase or substitution shall be accomplished in the same manner and subject to
the same conditions as set forth in Section 2.02. Upon making any such repurchase or substitution
the Servicer shall be entitled to receive an instrument of assignment or transfer from the Trustee
to the same extent as set forth in Section 2.02.

     (c) Upon the request of a Mortgagor or at the Servicer’s own initiative, the Servicer (or the
related Subservicer on behalf of the Servicer) may waive, modify or vary any term of any Home
Equity Loan or consent to the postponement of strict compliance with any such term or in any manner
grant indulgence to any Mortgagor if:

     (i) in the Servicer’s (or such Subservicer’s) good faith determination such waiver,
modification, postponement or indulgence will enhance recovery with respect to such Home
Equity Loan; and

     (ii) the Mortgagor is in default with respect to the Home Equity Loan, or such default
is, in the judgment of the Servicer (or such Subservicer) imminent.

     (d) Subject to subparagraph (e) below, in addition to the circumstances described under
Section 3.01(c), the Servicer (or the related Subservicer on behalf of the Servicer) may waive,
modify or vary any term of any Home Equity Loan, if the purpose of such action is to reduce the
likelihood of prepayment or of default of such Home Equity Loan, to increase the likelihood of
repayment or repayment upon default of such Home Equity Loan, to increase the

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likelihood of repayment in full of or recoveries under such Home Equity Loan, or to otherwise
benefit the Certificateholders, all in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer.

     (e) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Servicer may not
defer the scheduled monthly interest and principal payment on any Home Equity Loan that is not in
default or (in the judgment of the Servicer (or the related Subservicer on behalf of the Servicer))
for which default is not imminent unless (i) the Servicer elects to make a Skip-A-Pay Advance
pursuant to subparagraph (f) below or (ii) each Rating Agency advises in writing that as a result
of such deferment the then current ratings of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates will not be
withdrawn, suspended or reduced; provided, however, that the Servicer may not defer the scheduled
monthly payment on any Home Equity Loan in reliance on clause (i) above unless the Servicer
determines, in its good faith judgment, that such Skip-A-Pay Advance will be recoverable from
future payments on the Home Equity Loans.

     (f) If during any Collection Period the Servicer deferred the scheduled monthly payment on any
Home Equity Loan that was not in default or for which default was not imminent in reliance on
clause (i) of subparagraph (e) above, no later than 12:00 noon Chicago time on each Deposit Date,
the Servicer shall deposit into the Collection Account an amount equal to the Skip-A-Pay Advance
for such Collection Period. On each Distribution Date, the Servicer shall be entitled to reimburse
itself for all previously unreimbursed Skip-A-Pay Advances from funds on deposit in the Collection
Account, before making any distributions to Certificateholders pursuant to Section 5.01, up to an
amount equal to the Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount on such Distribution Date; provided, however,
that the Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount that the Servicer is entitled to receive on such
Distribution Date shall be reduced by the portion of such amount, if any, that was applied to
reduce the amount of funds that the Servicer was required to deposit or to cause to be deposited
into the Collection Account on the preceding Deposit Date pursuant to Section 3.02(b).

     (g) The relationship of the Servicer (and of any successor to the Servicer as servicer under
this Agreement) to each of the Trustee and the Administrator under this Agreement is intended by
the parties to be that of an independent contractor and not that of a joint venturer, partner or
agent.

     (h) In the event that the rights, duties and obligations of the Servicer are terminated
hereunder, any successor to the Servicer in its sole discretion may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, terminate the existing subservicer arrangements with any Subservicer or assume the
terminated Servicer’s rights under such subservicing arrangements which termination or assumption
will not violate the terms of such arrangements.

     Section 3.02. Collection of Certain Home Equity Loan Payments.

     (a) The Servicer shall make reasonable efforts to collect all payments called for under the
terms and provisions of the Home Equity Loans, and shall, to the extent such procedures shall be
consistent with this Agreement, follow such collection procedures as it follows with respect to
home equity loans in its servicing portfolio comparable to the Home Equity Loans. Consistent with,
and without limiting the generality of, the foregoing, the Servicer may in its discretion (i) waive
any late payment charge or any assumption fees or other fees that may be

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collected in the ordinary course of servicing the Home Equity Loans, (ii) arrange with a
Mortgagor a schedule for the payment of delinquent amounts, so long as such arrangement is
consistent with the Servicer’s policies with respect to the home equity loans it owns or services,
(iii) sell the Home Equity Loan at its fair market value to a third party for collection activity
or (iv) treat a Home Equity Loan as current if the Mortgagor has made one scheduled payment (which,
for the purposes of this Section 3.02(a)(iii) only, is in accordance with the Servicer’s customary
servicing practices and may be less than 100% of the scheduled payment) to cure the delinquency
status of such Home Equity Loan.

     (b) The Servicer shall establish and maintain with the Administrator a separate trust account
(the “Collection Account”) titled “[                ], as Administrator, on behalf of the
Trustee, in trust for the registered holders of [          ] Home Equity Loan Asset Backed
Certificates, Series 200[ ]-[ ]”. In the event that a successor Administrator is appointed as
provided in Section 9.19, a new Collection Account shall be promptly established at and maintained
by such successor Administrator, and the title of the new Collection Account shall be “[Successor
Administrator], as Administrator, on behalf of the Trustee, in trust for the registered holders of
[                ] Home Equity Loan Asset Backed Certificates, Series 200[ ]-[ ]”, and any
amounts in the old Collection Account shall be transferred to the new Collection Account. The
Collection Account shall be an Eligible Account. No later than 12:00 noon Chicago time on each
Deposit Date (or, if a Deposit Event has occurred and the Servicer has not provided credit
enhancement acceptable to each of the Rating Agencies, within two (2) Business Days following
receipt thereof), the Servicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited into the Collection Account
the following payments and collections received or made by it with respect to the Home Equity Loans
(without duplication):

     (i) Interest Collections (net of any Servicing Fee) on the Home Equity Loans;

     (ii) Principal Collections on the Home Equity Loans;

     (iii) Insurance Proceeds (including, for this purpose, any amount required to be paid
by the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.04 and excluding any portion thereof constituting
Principal Collections); and

     (iv) amounts required to be paid by the Servicer in connection with the termination of
the Trust pursuant to Section 10.01;

provided, however, that so long as a Deposit Event has not occurred (unless the Servicer has
provided credit enhancement acceptable to each of the Rating Agencies [and the Certificate
Insurer]), the amount of funds that the Servicer is required to deposit or to cause to be deposited
into the Collection Account on or before such Deposit Date shall be reduced by the Skip-A-Pay
Reimbursement Amount the Servicer is entitled to receive on the next Distribution Date.

The foregoing requirements respecting deposits to the Collection Account are exclusive, it being
understood that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, fees (including annual fees) or
late charge penalties payable by Mortgagors, prepayment penalties, or amounts received by the
Servicer or a Subservicer for the accounts of Mortgagors for application towards the payment of

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taxes, insurance premiums, assessments and similar items for the account of the related
Subservicer, if any, need not be deposited in the Collection Account.

     (c) The Administrator shall hold amounts deposited in the Collection Account on behalf of the
Trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders [and the Certificate Insurer]. In addition, the
Servicer shall notify the Administrator in writing on each Determination Date of the amount of
payments and collections to be deposited in the Collection Account with respect to the related
Distribution Date.

     (d) The Servicer may cause the institution maintaining the Collection Account to invest any
funds in the Collection Account in Permitted Investments (including obligations of the Servicer or
of any of its affiliates, if such obligations otherwise qualify as Permitted Investments), which
shall mature or otherwise be available not later than the Business Day next preceding the
Distribution Date or on the Distribution Date next following the date of such investment as long as
such action does not result in a withdrawal or downgrading of the then current ratings on the Class
[A] and Class [IO] Certificates by the Rating Agencies (except that any investment in an obligation
of the institution with which the Collection Account is maintained may mature on or before 12:00
noon, Chicago time, on such Distribution Date) and shall not be sold or disposed of prior to its
maturity. In the event the Administrator is at any time maintaining the Collection Account, any
request by the Servicer to invest funds on deposit in the Collection Account shall be in writing,
shall be delivered to the Administrator at or before 10:30 A.M., Chicago time, if such investment
is to be made on such day, and shall certify that the requested investment is a Permitted
Investment that matures at or prior to the time required hereby. Any such investment shall be
registered in the name of or controlled by the Administrator on behalf of the Trustee or in the
name of its nominee and to the extent such investments are certificated they shall be maintained in
the possession or control of the Administrator on behalf of the Trustee in the state of the
Administrator’s Corporate Trust Office. Except as provided above, all income and gain realized
from any such investment shall be for the benefit of the Servicer and shall be subject to its
withdrawal or order from time to time. The amount of any losses incurred in respect of the
principal amount of any such investments shall be deposited in the Collection Account by the
Servicer out of its own funds immediately as realized.

     (e) The Administrator is hereby authorized to execute purchases and sales of Permitted
Investments as directed by the Servicer through the facilities of its own trading or capital
markets operations. The Administrator shall send to the Servicer statements reflecting the monthly
activity for each such purchase and sale made for the preceding month. Although the Servicer
recognizes that it may obtain a broker confirmation or written monthly statement containing
comparable information at no additional cost, the Servicer hereby agrees that confirmations of
investments are not required to be issued by the Trustee for each month in which a monthly
statement is rendered. No statement need be rendered pursuant to the provision of this subsection
if no activity occurred in the account for such month.

     Section 3.03. Withdrawals from the Collection Account.

     (a) The Administrator shall withdraw or cause to be withdrawn funds from the Collection
Account for the following purposes:

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     (i) On each Distribution Date, to make distributions and payments to [the Certificate
Insurer and] Certificateholders pursuant to Section 5.01;

     (ii) From time to time, to make investments in Permitted Investments and to pay to the
Servicer all income and gain earned in respect of Permitted Investments or on funds
deposited in the Collection Account;

     (iii) To reimburse the Depositor or the Servicer to the extent permitted by Section
7.03;

     (iv) To withdraw any funds deposited in the Collection Account that were not required
to be deposited therein or were deposited therein in error and to pay such funds to the
appropriate Person;

     (v) To pay to the party legally entitled by a final order of a court of competent
jurisdiction in an insolvency proceeding an amount equal to any preference claim made with
respect to amounts paid with respect to the Home Equity Loans; provided that, if any such
amount is later determined not to be a preference by such court of competent jurisdiction
and is returned to the Servicer or any Subservicer, such amount shall be redeposited into
the Collection Account by the Servicer;

     (vi) to clear and terminate the Collection Account upon the termination of this
Agreement and to pay any amounts remaining therein to the Class R Certificateholder; and

     (vii) to reimburse the Servicer for Skip-A-Pay Advances to the extent permitted by
Section 3.01(f).

     (b) If the Servicer deposits in the Collection Account any amount not required to be deposited
therein or credited thereto or any amount in respect of payments by Mortgagors made by checks
subsequently returned for insufficient funds or other reason for non-payment, it may at any time
withdraw such amount from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.03(a)(iv), and any such
amounts shall not be included in Interest Collections and Principal Collections, any provision
herein to the contrary notwithstanding. Any withdrawal or debit permitted by Section 3.03(a) may
be accomplished by delivering an Officer’s Certificate to the Administrator which describes the
purpose of such withdrawal (including, without limitation, that any such amount was deposited in
the Collection Account in error or, in the case of returned checks, that such amounts were properly
debited, respectively). Upon receipt of any such Officer’s Certificate, the Administrator shall
withdraw such amount for the account of the Servicer. All funds deposited by the Servicer in the
Collection Account shall be held by the Administrator on behalf of the Trustee in trust for the
Certificateholders, until disbursed in accordance with Section 5.01 or withdrawn or debited in
accordance with this Section.

     Section 3.04. Maintenance of Hazard Insurance; Property Protection Expenses. Each
Home Equity Loan requires that the borrower thereunder maintain hazard insurance naming the
Servicer or the related Subservicer as loss payee providing extended coverage in an amount which is
at least equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the Mortgaged Property or (ii)
the combined principal balance owing on such Home Equity Loan and any

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mortgage loan senior to such Home Equity Loan from time to time. The Servicer represents and
warrants that it or the applicable Seller verified the existence of such hazard insurance at the
origination of the Home Equity Loan. The Servicer shall also maintain on property acquired upon
foreclosure, or by grant of deed in lieu of foreclosure, hazard insurance with extended coverage in
an amount which is at least equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the Mortgaged
Property or (ii) the combined unpaid principal balance owing on such Home Equity Loan and any
mortgage loans senior to such Home Equity Loans at the time of such foreclosure or grant of deed in
lieu of foreclosure plus accrued interest thereon. Amounts collected by the Servicer under any
such policies shall be deposited in the Collection Account to the extent called for by Section
3.02. In cases in which any Mortgaged Property is located in a federally designated flood area,
the hazard insurance to be maintained for the related Home Equity Loan shall include flood
insurance. All such flood insurance shall be in such amounts as are required under applicable
guidelines of Fannie Mae. The Servicer shall be under no obligation to require that any Mortgagor
maintain earthquake or other additional insurance and shall be under no obligation itself to
maintain any such additional insurance on property acquired in respect of a Home Equity Loan, other
than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as shall at any time be in force and as shall
require such additional insurance. As to Mortgaged Properties acquired by the Servicer as provided
herein, the Servicer may satisfy its obligation set forth in the first sentence of this Section
3.04 by self insuring Mortgaged Properties for which the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the
related Home Equity Loans plus the outstanding balance of any mortgage loans senior to such
Home Equity Loans at the time title was acquired, plus accrued interest (the “Combined
Exposure”), was less than $500,000 (or such other amount as the Servicer may in good faith
determine from time to time) and by causing hazard policies to be maintained with respect to
Mortgaged Properties for which the Combined Exposure equals or exceeds the self insurance threshold
established from time to time by the Servicer by maintaining a blanket policy consistent with
prudent industry standards insuring against hazard losses on the Mortgaged Properties. Such policy
may contain a deductible clause, in which case the Servicer shall, in the event that there shall
not have been maintained on the related Mortgaged Property a policy complying with the first
sentence of this Section 3.04, and there shall have been a loss which would have been covered by
such policy, deposit in the Collection Account the amount not otherwise payable under the blanket
policy because of such deductible clause.

     Section 3.05. Assumption and Modification Agreements. In any case in which a
Mortgaged Property has been or is about to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the Servicer shall
exercise or refrain from exercising its right to accelerate the maturity of such Home Equity Loan
consistent with the then-current practice of the Servicer and without regard to the inclusion of
such Home Equity Loan in the Trust and not in the Servicer’s portfolio. If it elects not to
enforce its right to accelerate or if it is prevented from doing so by applicable law, the Servicer
(so long as such action conforms with the Servicer’s underwriting standards at the time for new
originations) is authorized to take or enter into an assumption and modification agreement from or
with the Person to whom such Mortgaged Property has been or is about to be conveyed, pursuant to
which such Person becomes liable under the Mortgage Note and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Mortgagor remains liable thereon. The Servicer shall notify the Trustee that any
assumption and modification agreement has been completed by delivering to the Trustee [(with a copy
to the Certificate Insurer)] an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such agreement is in
compliance with this Section and by forwarding to the applicable Subservicer on behalf of the
Depositor or the Trustee, as applicable, the original copy of such assumption and

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modification agreement. Any such assumption and modification agreement shall, for all
purposes, be considered a part of the related Mortgage File to the same extent as all other
documents and instruments constituting a part thereof. No change in the terms of the related
Mortgage Note may be made by the Servicer in connection with any such assumption to the extent that
such change would not be permitted to be made in respect of the original Mortgage Note pursuant to
Section 3.01 unless the conditions specified in Section 3.01 are satisfied. Any fee collected by
the Servicer for entering into any such agreement will be retained by the Servicer as additional
servicing compensation.

     Section 3.06. Realization Upon Defaulted Home Equity Loans.

     (a) The Servicer (or the Servicer together with the related Seller as called for by the Home
Equity Loan Purchase Agreement) shall foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert to ownership
Mortgaged Properties securing such of the Home Equity Loans as come into and continue in default
when, in the opinion of the Servicer based upon the practices and procedures referred to in the
following sentence, no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments
pursuant to Section 3.02; provided that if the Servicer has actual knowledge or reasonably believes
that any Mortgaged Property is affected by hazardous or toxic wastes or substances and that the
acquisition of such Mortgaged Property would not be commercially reasonable, then the Servicer will
not cause the Trust to acquire title to such Mortgaged Property in a foreclosure or similar
proceeding. Subject to (c) below, in connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the
Servicer shall follow such practices (including, in the case of any default on a related senior
mortgage loan, the advancing of funds to correct such default) and procedures as it shall deem
necessary or advisable and as shall be normal and usual in its general mortgage servicing
activities. The foregoing is subject to the proviso that the Servicer shall not be required to
expend its own funds in connection with any foreclosure or towards the correction of any default on
a related senior mortgage loan or restoration of any property unless it shall determine that such
expenditure will increase Net Liquidation Proceeds. The Servicer will be reimbursed out of
Liquidation Proceeds for advances of its own funds to pay Liquidation Expenses before any Net
Liquidation Proceeds are deposited in the Collection Account.

     (b) In the event that title to any Mortgaged Property is acquired in foreclosure or by deed in
lieu of foreclosure, the deed or certificate of sale shall (i) so long as at least two of Moody’s,
Standard & Poor’s and Fitch assign a long-term unsecured debt rating to the Servicer of at least
“Baa3”, in the case of Moody’s, “BBB”, in the case of Fitch, and “BBB-” in the case of Standard &
Poor’s, be issued in the name of the related Subservicer or (ii) if the rating requirements in
clause (i) are not satisfied, be issued to the Trustee, or to its nominee on behalf of
Certificateholders.

     (c) Pursuant to its efforts to sell REO, the Servicer shall either itself or through an agent
selected by the Servicer protect and conserve such REO in the same manner and to such extent as is
customary in the locality where such REO is located and may, incident to its conservation and
protection of the interests of the Certificateholders, rent the same, or any part thereof, as the
Servicer deems to be in the best interest of the Certificateholders for the period prior to the
sale of such REO. The Servicer shall prepare for and deliver to the Administrator a statement with
respect to each REO that has been rented showing the aggregate rental income received and all
expenses incurred in connection with the maintenance of such REO at such

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times as is necessary to enable the Administrator to comply with the reporting requirements of
the REMIC Provisions. The net monthly rental income, if any, from such REO shall be deposited in
the Certificate Account no later than the close of business on each Determination Date. The
Servicer shall perform the tax reporting and withholding required by Sections 1445 and 6050J of the
Code with respect to foreclosures and abandonments, the tax reporting required by Section 6050H of
the Code with respect to the receipt of mortgage interest from individuals and any tax reporting
required by Section 6050P of the Code with respect to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain
financial entities, by preparing such tax and information returns as may be required, in the form
required, and delivering the same to the Administrator for filing.

     In the event that the Trust Fund acquires any Mortgaged Property as aforesaid or otherwise in
connection with a default or imminent default on a Home Equity Loan, the Servicer shall dispose of
such Mortgaged Property as soon as practicable in a manner that maximizes the Liquidation Proceeds
thereof, but in no event later than three years after its acquisition by the Trust Fund. In that
event, the Administrator shall have been supplied with an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
holding by the Trust Fund of such Mortgaged Property subsequent to a three-year period, if
applicable, will not result in the imposition of taxes on “prohibited transactions” of any REMIC
hereunder as defined in Section 860F of the Code or cause any REMIC hereunder to fail to qualify as
a REMIC at any time that any Certificates are outstanding, and that the Trust Fund may continue to
hold such Mortgaged Property (subject to any conditions contained in such Opinion of Counsel) after
the expiration of such three-year period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
no Mortgaged Property acquired by the Trust Fund shall be rented (or allowed to continue to be
rented) or otherwise used for the production of income by or on behalf of the Trust Fund in such a
manner or pursuant to any terms that would (i) cause such Mortgaged Property to fail to qualify as
“foreclosure property” within the meaning of Section 860G(a)(8) of the Code or (ii) subject any
REMIC hereunder to the imposition of any federal, state or local income taxes on the income earned
from such Mortgaged Property under Section 860G(c) of the Code or otherwise, unless the Servicer
has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust Fund with respect to the imposition of any such
taxes.

     (d) In the event of a default on a Mortgage Loan one or more of whose obligor is not a United
States Person, as that term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, in connection with any
foreclosure or acquisition of a deed in lieu of foreclosure (together, “foreclosure”) in respect of
such Mortgage Loan, the Servicer will cause compliance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1445-2(d)(3) (or any successor thereto) necessary to assure that no withholding tax
obligation arises with respect to the proceeds of such foreclosure except to the extent, if any,
that proceeds of such foreclosure are required to be remitted to the obligors on such Home Equity
Loan.

     Section 3.07. [Reserved].

     Section 3.08. Trustee to Cooperate.

     (a) Upon any payment in full of the Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan, the Servicer is
authorized to execute, pursuant to the authorization contained in Section 3.01, if the assignments
of Mortgage have been recorded as required hereunder, an instrument of satisfaction

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regarding the
related Mortgage, which instrument of satisfaction shall be recorded by the Servicer if required by
applicable law and be delivered to the Person entitled thereto. It is understood and agreed that
no expenses incurred in connection with such instrument of satisfaction or transfer shall be
reimbursed from amounts deposited in the Collection Account. If the Trustee is holding the
Mortgage Files, from time to time and as appropriate for the servicing or foreclosure of any Home
Equity Loan, the Trustee shall, upon request of the Servicer and delivery to the Trustee of a trust
receipt signed by a Servicing Officer, release the related Mortgage File to the Servicer, and the
Trustee shall execute such documents as shall be necessary to the prosecution of any such
proceedings or the taking of other servicing actions. Such trust receipt shall obligate the
Servicer to return the Mortgage File to the Trustee when the need therefor by the Servicer no longer exists unless the Home Equity Loan shall be
liquidated, in which case, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate of the Servicer, the trust
receipt shall be released by the Trustee to the Servicer.

     (b) In order to facilitate the foreclosure of the Mortgage securing any Home Equity Loan that
is in default following recordation of the assignments of Mortgage in accordance with the
provisions hereof, the Trustee shall, if the Servicer so requests in writing and supplies the
Trustee with appropriate forms therefor, assign such Home Equity Loan for the purpose of collection
to the Servicer or to the related Subservicer (any such assignment shall unambiguously indicate
that the assignment is for the purpose of collection only), and, upon such assignment, such
assignee for collection will thereupon bring all required actions in its own name and otherwise
enforce the terms of the Home Equity Loan and deposit or credit the Net Liquidation Proceeds
received with respect thereto in the Collection Account. In the event that all delinquent payments
due under any such Home Equity Loan are paid by the Mortgagor and any other defaults are cured then
the assignee for collection shall promptly reassign such Home Equity Loan to the Trustee and return
it to the place where the related Mortgage File was being maintained.

     Section 3.09. Servicing Compensation; Payment of Certain Expenses by Servicer. The
Servicer shall be entitled to receive the Servicing Fee as compensation for its services in
connection with servicing the Home Equity Loans. The Servicing Fee for each Collection Period
shall be paid to the Servicer out of Interest Collections prior to their deposit in the Collection
Account and shall not be the responsibility or liability of the Trust, the Trustee, the
Administrator or the Class [A] or Class [IO] Certificateholders. Additional servicing compensation
in the form of late payment charges or other receipts not required to be deposited in the
Collection Account shall be retained by the Servicer. The Servicer shall be required to pay all
expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities hereunder (including payment of Trustee
fees, Administrator fees and all other fees and expenses not expressly stated hereunder to be for
the account of the Certificateholders) and shall not be entitled to reimbursement therefor except
as specifically provided herein.

     Section 3.10. Annual Statement as to Compliance.

     (a) The Servicer shall deliver, and, to the extent required by Section 1123 of Regulation AB,
shall cause each Subservicer to deliver, to the Depositor, the Trustee and the Administrator an
Officer’s Certificate satisfying the requirements of Section 1123 of Regulation AB signed by a
responsible officer of the Servicer or such Subservicer, as applicable, for the year

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ended December
31 (or other applicable date) of the immediately preceding year, and stating that (i) a review of
the activities of the Servicer or such Subservicer, as applicable, during the preceding 12-month
period (or such shorter or longer, as applicable, period since the Closing Date) and of its
performance under this Agreement has been made under such officer’s supervision, and (ii) to such
officer’s knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer or such Subservicer, as applicable, has
fulfilled in all material respects all of its obligations under this Agreement throughout such
period, or, if there has been a failure to fulfill any such obligation in any material respect,
specifying each such failure known to such officer and the nature and status thereof.

     (b) The Officer’s Certificates referred to in Section 3.10(a) will be delivered on or
before March 15 of each calendar year, beginning March 15, 200[ ], unless the Depositor is not
required to file periodic reports with respect to the Trust under the Exchange Act, in which case
the certificates may be delivered within 90 days after the end of each calendar year.

     (c) The
Servicer shall deliver to the Trustee, with a copy to each of the Rating Agencies,
promptly after having obtained knowledge thereof, but in no event later than five Business Days
thereafter, written notice by means of an Officer’s Certificate of any event which with the giving
of notice or the lapse of time or both, would become a Servicer Termination Event.

     (d) The Servicer shall, and, to the extent required by Section 1122 of Regulation AB, shall
cause each Subservicer to:

     (i) deliver to the Trustee and the Administrator, a report, for the year ended December
31 of the preceding calendar year, on its assessment of compliance during the preceding
calendar year with the Servicing Criteria applicable to it, including disclosure of any
material instance of non-compliance identified by the Servicer or such Subservicer, as
applicable, that satisfies the requirements of Rule 13a-18 and 15d-18 under the Exchange Act
and Item 1122 of Regulation AB under the Securities Act; and

     (ii) cause an independent registered public accounting firm that is qualified and
independent within the meaning of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act to
deliver to the Trustee and the Administrator an attestation report that satisfies the
requirements of Rule 13a-18 or Rule 15d-18 under the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of
Regulation AB, with respect to each assessment of compliance with Servicing Criteria
delivered pursuant to clause (i) above. Such attestation report will be addressed to the
board of directors of the Servicer or such Subservicer, as applicable, and to the Trustee
and the Administrator and will be in accordance with Rules 1-02(a)(3) and 2-02(g) of
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. The firm may render other services to the
Servicer, such Subservicer or the Seller, but the firm must indicate in each attestation
report that it is qualified and independent within the meaning of Rule 2-01 of Regulation
S-X under the Securities Act.

     (e) The
reports referred to in Section 3.10(d) will be delivered on or before March 15 of
each calendar year, beginning March 15, 200[ ], unless the Depositor is not required

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to file
periodic reports with respect to the Trust under the Exchange Act, in which case the reports may be
delivered within 90 days after the end of each calendar year.

     (f) If directed by the Depositor, the Servicer will prepare, execute, file and deliver all
reports, statements, information, certificates or other documentation required to be delivered by
the Depositor with respect to the Trust pursuant to the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 and the rules thereunder.

     Section 3.11. Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding the Home Equity
Loans.

     (a) The Servicer and the Subservicers shall provide to the Trustee, the Administrator, [the
Certificate Insurer,] Class [A] or Class [IO] Certificateholders that are federally insured savings
and loan associations, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the successor to the Federal Home Loan
Bank Board, the FDIC and the supervisory agents and examiners of the Office of Thrift Supervision
access to the documentation regarding the Home Equity Loans required by applicable regulations of
the Office of Thrift Supervision and the FDIC (acting as operator of the SAIF or the BIF), such
access being afforded without charge but only upon reasonable request and during normal business
hours at the offices of the Servicer or the Subservicers. Nothing in this Section shall derogate
from the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law prohibiting disclosure of
information regarding the Mortgagors, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access as provided
in this Section as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section.

     (b) No later than the Determination Date preceding the related Distribution Date, the Servicer
shall supply information (each, a “Remittance Report”) in such form as the Administrator shall
reasonably request to the Administrator and the Paying Agent as is required in the Administrator’s
reasonable judgment to enable the Paying Agent or the Administrator, as the case may be, to make
the required distributions and to furnish the required reports to Certificateholders on such
Distribution Date.

     Section 3.12. Maintenance of Certain Servicing Insurance Policies. The Servicer
shall during the term of its service as servicer maintain in force (i) a policy or policies of
insurance covering errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as servicer hereunder
and (ii) a fidelity bond in respect of its officers, employees or agents. Each such policy or
policies and bond shall, together, comply with the requirements from time to time of Fannie Mae for
Persons performing servicing for mortgage loans purchased by such association.

     Section 3.13. [Reserved].

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     Section 3.14. Information Required by the Internal Revenue Service Generally and Reports
of Foreclosures and Abandonments of Mortgaged Property. The Servicer shall prepare and
deliver, or cause to be prepared, mailed and filed all federal and state information reports for
the Home Equity Loans when and as required by all applicable state and federal income tax laws
including, to the extent applicable, returns reporting a cancellation of indebtedness as prescribed
by Section 6050P of the Code. In particular, with respect to the requirement under Section 6050J
of the Code, to the effect that a lender shall be required to report foreclosures and abandonments
of any mortgaged property for each year beginning in 200[ ], the Servicer shall prepare, mail and
file in a timely fashion each year as required by law information statements in accordance with the
reporting requirements imposed by Section 6050J with respect to each instance occurring during the
previous calendar year in which the Servicer or any Subservicer (i) on behalf of the Trustee
acquired an interest in any Mortgaged Property through foreclosure or other comparable conversion
in full or partial satisfaction of a Home Equity Loan or (ii) knew or had reason to know that any
Mortgaged Property has been abandoned. The information statements from the Servicer shall be in
form and substance sufficient to meet the reporting requirements imposed by Section 6050J of the
Code.

     Section 3.15. Additional Covenants of HSBC Finance. HSBC Finance hereby agrees that:

     (a) it will maintain its books and records to clearly note the separate corporate existence of
the Depositor, each Subservicer and the Servicer;

     (b) the Depositor, the Subservicers and HSBC Finance will share certain overhead expenses,
although the amount the Depositor will be charged for such use will be based on actual use to the
extent practicable and, to the extent such allocation is not practicable, on a basis reasonably
related to use;

     (c) separate financial records will be maintained to reflect the assets and liabilities of the
Depositor, HSBC Finance and each Subservicer, which financial records are and will be subject to
audit by independent public accountants at the reasonable request of the Board of Directors of the
Depositor, HSBC Finance or such Subservicer, as the case may be;

     (d) except as permitted hereunder, there will be no commingling of the assets of the Depositor
with the assets of HSBC Finance or any Subservicer. All demand deposit accounts and other bank
accounts of the Depositor will be maintained separately from those of HSBC Finance and the
Subservicers. Monetary transactions between the Depositor and HSBC Finance or any Subservicer are
and will continue to be properly reflected in their respective financial records;

     (e) HSBC Finance at all times will recognize, and will take all steps within its power to
maintain, the corporate existence of the Depositor and Subservicers as being separate and apart
from its own corporate existence and will not refer to the Depositor or any Subservicer as a
department or division of HSBC Finance; and

     (f) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Depositor and HSBC Finance will not
guaranty or advance the proceeds for payment of any obligations of the Trust.

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     Section 3.16. Servicing Certificate. Not later than each Determination Date, the
Servicer shall deliver to the Administrator, the Paying Agent [, the Certificate Insurer] and each
Rating Agency a Servicing Certificate (in written form or the form of computer readable media or
such other form as may be agreed to by the Administrator and the Servicer), together with an
Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Servicing Certificate is true and correct in all
material respects, stating the related Collection Period, Distribution Date, the series number of
the Certificates, the date of this Agreement, and:

          (i) the Available Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, separately stating
the amount of Interest Collections and Principal Collections;

          (ii) the amount of the payments due to Holders of the each Class of Certificates for
such Distribution Date, separately stating the portions thereof allocable to interest and
allocable to principal;

          (iii) the amount of any Interest Carry Forward Amount and Supplemental Interest Amount
for each Class of Certificates paid on such Distribution Date and the amount of any Interest
Carry Forward Amount or Supplemental Interest Amount for each Class of Certificates
remaining after giving effect to the payments on such Distribution Date;

          (iv) the amount of any Additional Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution
Date, including the amounts payable in respect thereof to each Class of Class [A]
Certificates on such Distribution Date;

          (v) the amount of any Extra Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date,
including the amounts payable in respect thereof to each Class of Class [A] Certificates on
such Distribution Date;

          (vi) the Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, separately stating
the components thereof, including in each case the amounts payable in respect thereof to
each Class of Class [A] Certificates on such Distribution Date;

          (vii) the Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Class [A] Certificates, the
Pool Balance as reported in the prior Monthly Report or, in the case of the first
Determination Date, the Original Class Certificate Principal Balance for each Class of Class
[A] Certificates and the Cut-Off Date Pool Balance;

          (viii) the Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Class [A] Certificates after
giving effect to the distribution on such Distribution Date;

          (ix) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 2.02;

          (x) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 2.04;

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          (xi) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 3.01;

          (xii) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan that the
Servicer has consented to the placement of a senior lien during the related Collection
Period pursuant to Section 3.01(a);

          (xiii) the amount of any Substitution Adjustment Amounts for such Distribution Date;

          (xiv) the amount, if any, to be distributed to the Holders of the Class R Certificates
on such Distribution Date;

          (xv) the Servicing Fee for such Collection Period and any accrued amounts thereof that
remain unpaid for previous Collection Periods;

          (xvi) the amount of all payments or reimbursements to the Servicer pursuant to the
terms hereof during the related Collection Period, excluding earnings on investments;

          (xvii) the Overcollateralization Amount, the Interim Overcollateralization Amount, the
Interim Overcollateralization Deficiency, the Overcollateralization Release Amount, the
Targeted Overcollateralization Amount and the Monthly Excess Cashflow for such Distribution
Date;

          (xviii) the number of Home Equity Loans outstanding at the beginning and end of such
Collection Period;

          (xix) the Pool Balance as of the end of such Collection Period;

          (xx) the number and aggregate Principal Balances of Home Equity Loans (x) as to which
the scheduled monthly payment is contractually delinquent for 30-59 days, 60-89 days and 90
or more days, respectively and (y) that have become REO, in each case as of the end of such
Collection Period;

          (xxi) the Cumulative Realized Losses on the Home Equity Loans as of the end of the
related Collection Period;

          (xxii) the Two Payment-Plus Delinquency Percentage for the related Collection Period;

          (xxiii) the Two Payment-Plus Rolling Average for such Distribution Date;

          (xxiv) whether a Servicer Termination Event has occurred since the prior Determination
Date, specifying each Servicer Termination Event if one has occurred;

          (xxv) whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

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          (xxvi) the Formula Rate for each Class of Class [A] Certificates for such Distribution
Date and the Pass-Through Rate for each Class of Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates for
such Distribution Date;

          (xxvii) the amount of any Skip-A-Pay Advances for the related Collection Period;

          (xxviii) the Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount for such Distribution Date;

          (xxix) the Cumulative Loss Percentage for the related Collection Period;

          (xxx) whether a Trigger Event has occurred or is continuing;

          (xxxi) [the Premium Amount for such Distribution Date and any Reimbursement Amount paid
to the Certificate Insurer for such Distribution Date;]

          (xxxii) [the amount of any draw on the Certificate Insurance Policy for such
Distribution Date;] and

          (xxxiii) such other information as is required by the Code and regulations thereunder
to be made available to Holders of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates.

     The Administrator shall conclusively rely upon the information contained in a Servicing
Certificate for purposes of making distributions pursuant to Section 5.01, shall have no duty to
inquire into such information and shall have no liability in so relying. The format and content of
the Servicing Certificate may be modified by the mutual agreement of the Servicer and the
Administrator or as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Servicer shall give notice of any such change to the Rating Agencies [and the
Certificate Insurer].

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ARTICLE IV

[The Certificate Insurance Policy]

     Section 4.01. The Certificate Insurance Policy. As soon as possible, and in no event
later than 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the third Business Day immediately preceding each
Distribution Date, the Administrator shall determine the Available Distribution Amount (net of any
Insured Payments) for such Distribution Date minus the amount of any Premium Amount to be paid on
such Distribution Date.

     If for any Distribution Date a Deficiency Amount exists, the Administrator shall complete a
notice in the form set forth as Exhibit A to the Certificate Insurance Policy (the
“Notice”) and shall submit such Notice to the Fiscal Agent no later than 12:00 noon, New
York time, on the second Business Day preceding such Distribution Date. The Notice shall
constitute a claim for an Insured Payment pursuant to the Certificate Insurance Policy for an
amount equal to the Deficiency Amount. Upon receipt of the Insured Payment, at or prior to the
latest time payments of the Insured Payment are to be made by the Certificate Insurer pursuant to
the Certificate Insurance Policy, on behalf of the Class [A] Certificateholders, the Administrator
shall deposit such Insured Payments in the Distribution Account and shall distribute such Insured
Payments only in accordance with Section 5.01(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).

     The Administrator shall receive, as attorney-in-fact of each Holder of a Class [A]
Certificate, any Insured Payment from the Certificate Insurer and disburse the same to each Holder
of a Class [A] Certificate in accordance with the provisions of Article V. Insured Payments
disbursed by the Administrator from proceeds of the Certificate Insurance Policy shall not be
considered payment by the Trust nor shall such payments discharge the obligation of the Trust with
respect to such Class [A] Certificate, and the Certificate Insurer shall become the owner of such
unpaid amounts due from the Trust in respect of such Insured Payments as the deemed assignee of
such Holder and shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefore in accordance with Section 5.01. The
Administrator hereby agrees on behalf of each Holder of a Class [A] Certificate for the benefit of
the Certificate Insurer that it and they recognize that to the extent the Certificate Insurer makes
Insured Payments, either directly or indirectly (as by paying through the Trustee), to the Class
[A] Certificateholders, the Certificate Insurer will be entitled to be reimbursed therefore in
accordance with Section 5.01.

     Section 4.02. [Reserved]

     Section 4.03. Claims Upon the Certificate Insurance Policy. The Administrator shall
comply with the provisions of the Certificate Insurance Policy with respect to claims upon the
Certificate Insurance Policy.

     The Administrator shall keep a complete and accurate record of the amount of interest and
principal paid in respect of any Class [A] Certificate from moneys received under the Certificate
Insurance Policy. The Certificate Insurer shall have the right to inspect such records at
reasonable times during normal business hours upon one Business Day’s prior written notice to the
Administrator.

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     The Trustee and the Administrator shall promptly notify the Certificate Insurer of any
proceeding or the institution of any action, of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the
Administrator , as the case may be, has actual knowledge, seeking the avoidance as a preferential
transfer under the Bankruptcy Code (a “Preference Claim”) of any distribution made with
respect to the Class [A] Certificates. Each Certificateholder of Class [A] Certificates, by its
purchase of Class [A] Certificates, the Servicer, the Administrator and the Trustee hereby agree
that the Certificate Insurer (so long as no Certificate Insurer Default exists) may at any time
during the continuation of any proceeding relating to a Preference Claim direct all matters
relating to such Preference Claim, including, without limitation, (i) the direction of any appeal
of any order relating to such Preference Claim and (ii) the posting of any surety, supersedeas or
performance bond pending any such appeal.]

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ARTICLE V

Distributions and Statements to Certificateholders; Rights of Certificateholders

     Section 5.01. Distributions. (a) On each Distribution Date, the Administrator shall
withdraw an amount equal to the Available Distribution Amount from the Collection Account and make
distributions thereof as described below (to the extent of the Available Distribution Amount) to
Holders of the Certificates in the following order of priority:

    (i) to the Class [A-1], Class [A-2] and Class [IO] Certificates, the Current Interest
plus the Interest Carry Forward Amount for such Class and such Distribution Date, pro rata
on the basis of their respective entitlements pursuant to this clause (i);

    (ii) to the Class [A] Certificates, in the amounts and order of priority specified in
Section 5.01(b), the Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, until the
Certificate Principal Balance of such Class [A] Certificates has been reduced to zero;

    (iii) to the Class [A] Certificates, in the amounts and order of priority specified in
Section 5.01(b), the Additional Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date,
until the Certificate Principal Balance of such Class [A] Certificates has been reduced to
zero;

    (iv) to the Class [A] Certificates, in the amounts and order of priority specified in
Section 5.01(b), the Extra Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, until
the Certificate Principal Balance of such Class [A] Certificates has been reduced to zero;

    (v) [to the Certificate Insurer, the Premium Amount owing to the Certificate Insurer
under the Insurance Agreement;]

    (vi) [to the Certificate Insurer, the Reimbursement Amount owing to the Certificate
Insurer hereunder;]

    (vii) concurrently, to each Class of Class [A] Certificates, any unpaid Supplemental
Interest Amounts for such Classes and such Distribution Date, pro rata on the basis of their
respective entitlements pursuant to this clause (vii);

    (viii) to the Class R Certificates, any remaining Available Distribution Amount;
provided, however, that on any Distribution Date after the date on which the first auction
conducted by the [Trustee] pursuant to Section 10.01(c) does not produce any bid at least
equal to the Termination Price, any remaining amount available for distribution pursuant to
this Section 5.01(a)(viii) shall instead be distributed to the Class A Certificates in the
amounts and order of priority specified in Section 5.01(b), until the Certificate Principal
Balance of such Class [A] Certificates has been reduced to zero.

     (b) Any amount distributed as principal on the Class [A] Certificates pursuant to Section
5.01(a) and any amount drawn on the Certificate Insurance Policy relating to principal
distributable to the Class [A] Certificates shall be distributed as follows:

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    (i) first, to the Class [A-2] Certificates, an amount equal to the Lockout Percentage
of the subject distribution of principal, until its Certificate Principal Balance has been
reduced to zero;

    (ii) second, to the Class [A-1] Certificates, until its Certificate Principal Balance
has been reduced to zero; and

    (iii) third, to the Class [A-2] Certificates, until its Certificate Principal Balance
has been reduced to zero.

     (c) Method of Distribution. The Administrator shall make distributions in respect of
a Distribution Date to each Certificateholder of record on the related Record Date (other than as
provided in Section 10.01 respecting the final distribution) by check or money order mailed to such
Certificateholder at the address appearing in the Certificate Register, or upon written request by
a Certificateholder delivered to the Administrator at least five Business Days prior to such Record
Date, by wire transfer (but only if such Certificateholder is the Depository or such
Certificateholder owns of record one or more Class of Certificates having principal denominations
aggregating at least $[ ]), or by such other means of payment as such
Certificateholder and the Administrator shall agree. Distributions among Certificateholders shall
be made in proportion to the Percentage Interests evidenced by the Certificates held by such
Certificateholders.

     (d) Distributions on Book-Entry Certificates. Each distribution with respect to a
Book-Entry Certificate shall be paid to the Depository, which shall credit the amount of such
distribution to the accounts of its Depository Participants in accordance with its normal
procedures. Each Depository Participant shall be responsible for disbursing such distribution to
the Certificate Owners that it represents and to each indirect participating brokerage firm (a
“brokerage firm” or “indirect participating firm”) for which it acts as agent. Each brokerage firm
shall be responsible for disbursing funds to the Certificate Owners that it represents. All such
credits and disbursements with respect to a Book-Entry Certificate are to be made by the Depository
and the Depository Participants in accordance with the provisions of the Class [A] Certificates.
None of the Trustee, the Administrator, the Paying Agent, the Certificate Registrar, the Depositor
[, the Certificate Insurer] or the Servicer shall have any responsibility therefor except as
otherwise provided by applicable law.

     (e) Distribution of Insured Payments. [With respect to any Distribution Date, in the
event of an Insured Payment, the Administrator shall make such payments from the amount drawn under
the Certificate Insurance Policy pursuant to Section 4.01 for such Distribution Date in accordance
with Section 5.01(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). The Certificate Insurer shall be deemed to be the
assignee of the Holders of the Class [A] Certificates to the extent of any amount of Insured
Payments disbursed by the Administrator from proceeds of the Certificate Insurance Policy and to
such extent, shall be the subrogee of each such Holder of the Class [A] Certificates; provided,
however, that any such right of subrogation inuring to the Certificate Insurer hereunder or
otherwise shall be and is subordinated to the rights under this Agreement of the Holders of the
Class [A] Certificates and in accordance with Section 5.01(a).]

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Section 5.02. Statements to Certificateholders. (a) On each Determination Date, the
Servicer shall provide the Administrator [, the Certificate Insurer] and the Paying Agent access to
a statement in order to make available to each Certificateholder, and concurrently with each
distribution to Certificateholders the Administrator shall make available to them such statement
with respect to their distribution setting forth:

    (i) the Available Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, separately stating
the amount of Interest Collections and Principal Collections;

    (ii) the amount of the payments due to Holders of the each Class of Certificates for
such Distribution Date, separately stating the portions thereof allocable to interest and
allocable to principal;

    (iii) the amount of any Interest Carry Forward Amount and Supplemental Interest Amount
for each Class of Certificates paid on such Distribution Date and the amount of any Interest
Carry Forward Amount or Supplemental Interest Amount for each Class of Certificates
remaining after giving effect to the payments on such Distribution Date;

    (iv) the amount of any Additional Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution
Date, including the amounts payable in respect thereof to each Class of Class [A]
Certificates on such Distribution Date;

    (v) the amount of any Extra Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date,
including the amounts payable in respect thereof to each Class of Class [A] Certificates on
such Distribution Date;

    (vi) the Principal Distribution Amount for such Distribution Date, separately stating
the components thereof, including in each case the amounts payable in respect thereof to
each Class of Class [A] Certificates on such Distribution Date;

    (vii) the Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Class [A] Certificates, the
Pool Balance as reported in the prior Monthly Report or, in the case of the first
Determination Date, the Original Class Certificate Principal Balance for each Class of Class
[A] Certificates and the Cut-Off Date Pool Balance;

    (viii) the Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Class [A] Certificates after
giving effect to the distribution on such Distribution Date;

    (ix) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 2.02;

    (x) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 2.04;

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    (xi) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan purchased or
substituted by the Depositor or the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period
pursuant to Section 3.01;

    (xii) the number and aggregate Principal Balance of any Home Equity Loan that the
Servicer has consented to the placement of a senior lien during the related Collection
Period pursuant to Section 3.01(a);

    (xiii) the amount of any Substitution Adjustment Amounts for such Distribution Date;

    (xiv) the amount, if any, to be distributed to the Holders of the Class R Certificates
on such Distribution Date;

    (xv) the Servicing Fee for such Collection Period and any accrued amounts thereof that
remain unpaid for previous Collection Periods;

    (xvi) the amount of all payments or reimbursements to the Servicer pursuant to the
terms hereof during the related Collection Period, excluding earnings on investments;

    (xvii) the Overcollateralization Amount, the Interim Overcollateralization Amount, the
Interim Overcollateralization Deficiency, the Overcollateralization Release Amount, the
Targeted Overcollateralization Amount and the Monthly Excess Cashflow for such Distribution
Date;

    (xviii) the number of Home Equity Loans outstanding at the beginning and end of such
Collection Period;

    (xix) the Pool Balance as of the end of such Collection Period;

    (xx) the number and aggregate Principal Balances of Home Equity Loans (x) as to which
the scheduled monthly payment is contractually delinquent for 30-59 days, 60-89 days and 90
or more days, respectively and (y) that have become REO, in each case as of the end of such
Collection Period;

    (xxi) the Cumulative Realized Losses on the Home Equity Loans as of the end of the
related Collection Period;

    (xxii) the Two Payment-Plus Delinquency Percentage for the related Collection Period;

    (xxiii) the Two Payment-Plus Rolling Average for such Distribution Date;

    (xxiv) whether a Servicer Termination Event has occurred since the prior Determination
Date, specifying each Servicer Termination Event if one has occurred;

    (xxv) whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

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    (xxvi) the Formula Rate for each Class of Class [A] Certificates for such Distribution
Date and the Pass-Through Rate for each Class of Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates for
such Distribution Date;

    (xxvii) the amount of any Skip-A-Pay Advances for the related Collection Period;

    (xxviii) the Skip-A-Pay Reimbursement Amount for such Distribution Date;

    (xxix) the Cumulative Loss Percentage for the related Collection Period;

    (xxx) whether a Trigger Event has occurred or is continuing;

    (xxxi) [the Premium Amount for such Distribution Date and any Reimbursement Amount paid
to the Certificate Insurer for such Distribution Date;]

    (xxxii) [the amount of any draw on the Certificate Insurance Policy for such
Distribution Date;] and

    (xxxiii) such other information as is required by the Code and regulations thereunder
to be made available to Holders of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates.

     (b) In the case of information furnished pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above, the amounts
shall be expressed as a dollar amount per Class [A] Certificate or Class [IO] Certificate, as
applicable, with a $1,000 denomination.

     The Administrator will make the reports referred to in this section (and, at its option, any
additional files containing the same information in an alternative format) available each month to
Certificateholders and other parties to this Agreement via the Administrator’s website, which is
presently located at [ ]. Persons that are unable to use the above website are
entitled to have a paper copy mailed to them via first class mail by calling the Administrator at [
]. The Administrator shall have the right to change the way the reports referred
to in this section are distributed in order to make such distribution more convenient and/or more
accessible to the above parties and to the Certificateholders. The Administrator shall provide
timely and adequate notification to all above parties and to the Certificateholders regarding any
such change.

     (c) The Servicer shall also give access to such statement to each Rating Agency at the time it
gives access to such statement to the Administrator and the Paying Agent.

     (d) Within 60 days after the end of each calendar year, the Servicer shall prepare or cause to
be prepared and shall forward or give access to the Administrator the information set forth in
clauses (i) and (ii) above aggregated for such calendar year. Such obligation of the Servicer
shall be deemed to have been satisfied to the extent that substantially comparable information
shall be provided by the Servicer pursuant to any requirements of the Code.

     (e) On each Distribution Date, the Servicer shall forward or give access to the Administrator,
in electronic or written form as may be agreed upon by the Servicer and the Administrator, for
making available to the Holders of the Residual Certificates a copy of the

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report forwarded to the Holders of Class [A] Certificates and Class [IO] Certificates on such
Distribution Date. The Servicer shall also forward or give access to the Administrator, in
electronic or written form as may be agreed upon by the Servicer and the Administrator, for making
available to the Holders of the Residual Certificates a statement setting forth the amount of the
distribution to the Holders of the Residual Certificates, together with such other information as
the Servicer deems necessary or appropriate.

     (f) Within 90 days after the end of each calendar year, the Servicer shall forward or give
access to the Administrator for mailing to each Person who at any time during the calendar year was
a Holder of a Residual Certificate a statement containing the applicable distribution information
provided pursuant to this Section aggregated for such calendar year or applicable portion thereof
during which such Person was a Holder of a Residual Certificate together with any other information
relating to the Trust reasonably required in order to enable a Holder of a Residual Certificate to
timely prepare and file its U.S. federal income tax returns and reports. Such obligation of the
Servicer shall be deemed to have been satisfied to the extent that substantially comparable
information shall be provided by the Servicer to the Administrator pursuant to any requirements of
the Code.

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ARTICLE VI

The Certificates

     Section 6.01. The Certificates.

     (a) The Class [A], Class [IO] and Class R Certificates shall be substantially in the forms set
forth in Exhibits A-1, A-2 and B, respectively, and shall, on original issue, be executed by the
Trustee on behalf of the Trust, and authenticated and delivered by the Administrator to or upon the
order of the Depositor concurrently with the sale and assignment to the Trustee of the Trust. The
Class [A-1], Class [A-2] and Class [IO] Certificates shall each be initially evidenced by one or
more certificates representing the entire Original Class Certificate Principal Balance or Notional
Amount, as the case may be, and shall be held in minimum dollar denominations of $[ ] and
multiples of $[ ] in excess thereof (except that one Certificate of the Class [A-1], Class
[A-2] and Class [IO] Certificates may be in a different denomination).

     (b) The Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature
of any officer of the Trustee duly authorized to execute such Certificates on behalf of the Trust.
Certificates 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 Trustee shall bind the Trustee,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to be so authorized prior to the
authentication and delivery of such Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of such
Certificate. No Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement, or be valid for
any purpose, unless such Certificate shall have been manually authenticated by the Administrator
substantially in the form provided for herein, and such authentication upon any Certificate shall
be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Certificate has been duly authenticated
and delivered hereunder. All Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication.
Subject to Section 6.02, the Class [A-1], Class [A-2] and Class [IO] Certificates shall be
Book-Entry Certificates. The Class R Certificates shall issued in fully registered certificated
form only in minimum percentage interests of [ ]%, except that the Tax Matters Person
Certificate shall be issued in a percentage interest of [ ]%.

     Section 6.02. Certificate Register; Registration of Transfer and Exchange of
Certificates.

     (a) The Certificate Registrar shall cause to be kept at its corporate trust office (which
shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Administrator if the Administrator is the Certificate
Registrar) a Certificate Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Certificate Registrar shall provide for the registration of the Certificates and of
transfers and exchanges of the Certificates as herein provided. The Administrator shall initially
serve as Certificate Registrar for the purpose of registering the Certificates and transfers and
exchanges of Certificates as herein provided.

     (b) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate at any office or agency of
the Certificate Registrar maintained for such purpose pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, and in
the case of the Residual Certificates, upon satisfaction of the conditions applicable to such
Certificates set forth below, the Trustee shall execute on behalf of the Trust, and the
Administrator shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee or

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transferees, one or more new Certificates of a like Class and of the same aggregate Percentage
Interest dated the date of authentication by the Administrator.

     (c) At the option of the Certificateholders, Certificates may be exchanged for other
Certificates, but solely for Certificates of like Class, in authorized denominations and the same
aggregate Percentage Interests, upon surrender of the Certificates to be exchanged at any such
office or agency. Whenever any Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Trustee shall
execute on behalf of the Trust, and the Administrator shall authenticate and deliver, the
Certificates of such Class which the Certificateholder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Every Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so
required by the Trustee, the Administrator or the Certificate Registrar) be duly endorsed by, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrator and the
Certificate Registrar duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly
authorized in writing.

     (d) Except as provided in Section 6.02(f), the Book-Entry Certificates shall at all times
remain registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee and at all times: (i) transfers of
the Book-Entry Certificates may not be registered by the Administrator except to another
Depository; (ii) the Depository shall maintain book-entry records with respect to the Certificate
Owners and with respect to ownership and registration of transfers of such Certificates; (iii)
ownership and registration of transfers of the Book-Entry Certificates on the books of the
Depository shall be governed by applicable rules established by the Depository; (iv) the Depository
may collect its usual and customary fees, charges and expenses from its Depository Participants;
(v) the Administrator shall deal with the Depository as representative of the Certificate Owners of
the Book-Entry Certificates for purposes of exercising the rights of Holders under this Agreement,
and requests and directions for and votes of such representative shall not be deemed to be
inconsistent if they are made with respect to different Certificate Owners; and (vi) the
Administrator may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the
Depository with respect to its Depository Participants and furnished by the Depository Participants
with respect to indirect participating firms and Persons shown on the books of such indirect
participating firms as direct or indirect Certificate Owners.

     (e) All transfers by Certificate Owners of Book-Entry Certificates shall be made in accordance
with the procedures established by the Depository Participant or brokerage firm representing such
Certificate Owners. Each Depository Participant shall only transfer ownership interests
represented by Book-Entry Certificates of Certificate Owners that it represents or of brokerage
firms for which it acts as agent in accordance with the Depository’s normal procedures. The parties
hereto are hereby authorized to execute a letter of representations with the Depository or take
such other action as may be necessary or desirable to register a Book-Entry Certificate to the
Depository. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any such Letter of Representation
and this Agreement the terms of this Agreement shall control.

     (f) If (i) (x) the Depository or the Depositor advises the Trustee and the Administrator in
writing that the Depository is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities
as Depository and (y) the Administrator or the Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor,
(ii) the Depositor, at its sole option, with the consent of the Trustee and the Administrator,
elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depository or (iii) after the

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occurrence of a Servicer Termination Event, the Certificate Owners of the Class [A] and Class
[IO] Certificates representing Percentage Interests aggregating not less than 51% of the Voting
Rights advises the Trustee, the Administrator and Depository through the Financial Intermediaries
and the Depository Participants in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the
Depository to the exclusion of definitive, fully registered certificates (the “Definitive
Certificates”) to Certificate Owners is no longer in the best interests of the Certificate
Owners, upon surrender to the Certificate Registrar of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates by
the Depository, accompanied by registration instructions from the Depository for registration, the
Trustee shall, at the Servicer’s expense, execute on behalf of the Trust, and the Administrator
shall authenticate, the Definitive Certificates. None of the Depositor, the Servicer, the
Administrator or the Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may
conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance
of Definitive Certificates, all references herein to obligations imposed upon or to be performed by
the Depository shall be deemed to be imposed upon and performed by the Administrator, to the extent
applicable with respect to such Definitive Certificates, and the Trustee, the Administrator, the
Certificate Registrar, the Servicer and the Depositor shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive
Certificates as Certificateholders hereunder.

     (g) No service charge shall be made for any Transfer or exchange of Certificates of any Class,
but the Administrator 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 Certificates.

     (h) All Certificates surrendered for Transfer and exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently
disposed of by the Certificate Registrar.

     (i) Each Person who has or who acquires any Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate shall
be deemed by the acceptance or acquisition of such Ownership Interest to have agreed to be bound by
the following provisions, and the rights of each Person acquiring any Ownership Interest in a
Residual Certificate are expressly subject to the following provisions:

    (i) Each Person holding or acquiring any Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate
shall be a Permitted Transferee and shall promptly notify the Administrator of any change or
impending change in its status as a Permitted Transferee.

    (ii) Except in connection with (x) the registration of the Tax Matters Person
Certificate in the name of the Administrator or (y) any registration in the name of, or
transfer of a Residual Certificate to, an affiliate of the Depositor (either directly or
through a nominee) in connection with the initial issuance of the Certificates, no Ownership
Interest in a Residual Certificate may be registered on the Closing Date or thereafter
transferred, and the Administrator shall not register the Transfer of any Residual
Certificate unless the Administrator shall have been furnished with an affidavit (a
“Transfer Affidavit”) of the initial owner or the proposed transferee in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit E.

    (iii) Each Person holding or acquiring any Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate
shall agree (A) to obtain a Transfer Affidavit from any other Person to whom

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such Person attempts to Transfer its Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate, (B)
to obtain a Transfer Affidavit from any Person for whom such Person is acting as nominee,
trustee or agent in connection with any Transfer of a Residual Certificate and (C) not to
Transfer its Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate or to cause the Transfer of an
Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate to any other Person if it has actual knowledge
that such Person is not a Permitted Transferee.

    (iv) Any attempted or purported Transfer of any Ownership Interest in a Residual
Certificate in violation of the provisions of this Section 6.02(i) shall be absolutely null
and void and shall vest no rights in the purported Transferee. If any purported transferee
shall become a Holder of a Residual Certificate in violation of the provisions of this
Section 6.02(i), then the last preceding Permitted Transferee shall be restored to all
rights as Holder thereof retroactive to the date of registration of Transfer of such
Residual Certificate. The Administrator shall be under no liability to any Person for any
registration of Transfer of a Residual Certificate that is in fact not this Section 6.02(i)
or for making any payments due on such Certificate to the Holder thereof or taking any other
action with respect to such Holder under the provisions of this Agreement so long as the
Transfer was registered after receipt of the related Transfer Affidavit and Transferor
Certificate. The Administrator shall be entitled but not obligated to recover from any
Holder of a Residual Certificate that was in fact not a Permitted Transferee at the time it
became a Holder or, at such subsequent time as it became other than a Permitted Transferee,
all payments made on such Residual Certificate at and after either such time. Any such
payments so recovered by the Administrator shall be paid and delivered by the Administrator
to the last preceding Permitted Transferee of such Certificate.

    (v) The Depositor shall use its best efforts to make available, upon receipt of written
request from the Administrator, all information necessary to compute any tax imposed under
Section 860E(e) of the Code as a result of a Transfer of an Ownership Interest in a Residual
Certificate to any Holder who is not a Permitted Transferee.

     The restrictions on Transfers of a Residual Certificate set forth in this Section 6.02(i)
shall cease to apply (and the applicable portions of the legend on a Residual Certificate may be
deleted) with respect to Transfers occurring after delivery to the Administrator of an Opinion of
Counsel, which Opinion of Counsel shall not be an expense of the Trust Fund, the Trustee, the
Servicer or the Administrator, to the effect that the elimination of such restrictions will not
cause any REMIC hereunder to fail to qualify as a REMIC at any time that the Certificates are
outstanding or result in the imposition of any tax on the Trust Fund, a Certificateholder or
another Person. Each Person holding or acquiring any Ownership Interest in a Residual Certificate
hereby consents to any amendment of this Agreement which, based on an Opinion of Counsel furnished
to the Administrator, is reasonably necessary (x) to ensure that the record ownership of, or any
beneficial interest in, a Residual Certificate is not transferred, directly or indirectly, to a
Person that is not a Permitted Transferee and (y) to provide for a means to compel the Transfer of
a Residual Certificate which is held by a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee to a Holder
that is a Permitted Transferee.

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     Section 6.03. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. If (i) any mutilated
Certificate is surrendered to the Certificate Registrar or the Certificate Registrar receives
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate, and (ii) there
is delivered to the Trustee, the Administrator, the Servicer and the Certificate Registrar such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the
absence of notice to the Trustee or the Certificate Registrar that such Certificate has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Trustee shall execute on behalf of the Trust, and the
Administrator shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like Class, tenor and Percentage
Interest. Upon the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section, the Trustee, the
Administrator or the Certificate Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses
(including the fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Administrator and the Certificate Registrar)
connected therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute
complete and indefeasible evidence of ownership in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or
not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.

     Section 6.04. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentation of a Certificate for
registration of transfer, the Servicer, the Depositor, the Trustee, the Administrator, [the
Certificate Insurer,] the Certificate Registrar and any agent of the Servicer, the Depositor, the
Trustee, the Administrator [, the Certificate Insurer] or the Certificate Registrar may treat the
Person in whose name any Certificate is registered as the owner of such Certificate for the purpose
of receiving distributions pursuant to Section 5.01 and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none
of the Servicer, the Depositor, the Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or any agent of any of them
shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     Section 6.05. Appointment of Paying Agent.

     (a) The Paying Agent shall make distributions to Certificateholders from the Collection
Account pursuant to Section 5.01 and shall report the amounts of such distributions to the
Administrator. The duties of the Paying Agent may include the obligation (i) to withdraw funds
from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.03 for the purpose of making the distributions
referred to above and (ii) to distribute statements and provide information to Certificateholders
as required hereunder. The Paying Agent hereunder shall at all times be a corporation duly
incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state
thereof, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision
or examination by federal or state authorities. The Paying Agent shall initially be the
Administrator. The Administrator may appoint a successor to act as Paying Agent, which appointment
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor [and the Certificate Insurer].

     (b) The Administrator shall cause the Paying Agent (if other than the Administrator) to
execute and deliver to the Administrator an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with
the Administrator that such Paying Agent shall hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the
Certificateholders in trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders entitled thereto until such
sums shall be paid to such Certificateholders and shall agree that it shall comply with all
requirements of the Code regarding the withholding of payments in respect of federal income

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taxes due from Certificate Owners and otherwise comply with the provisions of this Agreement
applicable to it.

     Section 6.06. Actions of Certificateholders.

     (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action
provided by this Agreement to be given or taken by Certificateholders may be embodied in and
evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such
Certificateholders in person or by their agents duly appointed in writing; and except as herein
otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, when required, to the Administrator, the Depositor or
the Servicer. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent
shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Agreement and conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the
Administrator, the Depositor and the Servicer, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

     (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Certificateholder of any such instrument or
writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee or the Administrator, as the case
may be, deems sufficient.

     (c) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act by a
Certificateholder shall bind every Holder of every Certificate issued upon the registration of
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done, or
omitted to be done, by the Trustee, the Depositor or the Servicer in reliance therein, whether or
not notation of such action is made upon such Certificate.

     (d) The Trustee and the Administrator, as the case may be, may require such additional proof
of any matter referred to in this Section 6.06 as it shall deem necessary.

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ARTICLE VII

The Servicer and the Depositor

     Section 7.01. Liability of the Servicer and the Depositor. The Servicer shall be
liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and
undertaken by the Servicer herein. The Depositor shall be liable in accordance herewith only to
the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the Depositor herein.

     Section 7.02. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the
Servicer or the Depositor. Any corporation into which the Servicer or Depositor may be merged
or consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
the Servicer or the Depositor shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the business of
the Servicer or the Depositor, shall be the successor of the Servicer or the Depositor, as the case
may be, hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that
in the case of a merger, conversion or consolidation of the Servicer, the Servicer shall provide to
the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date of such merger, conversion or
consolidation, written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor,
containing all information reasonably required by the Depositor in order for the Depositor to
comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with respect to a replacement
servicer.

     Section 7.03. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer, the Depositor and Others.
None of the Servicer, the Depositor, or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Servicer or
the Depositor shall be under any liability to the Trust or the Certificateholders for any action
taken or for refraining from the taking of any action by the Servicer or the Depositor, as
applicable, in good faith pursuant to this Agreement, or for errors in judgment; provided, however,
that this provision shall not protect the Servicer, the Depositor or any such person against any
liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and
duties hereunder, and that this provision shall not be construed to entitle the Servicer to
indemnity in the event that amounts advanced by the Servicer to retire any senior Lien exceed Net
Liquidation Proceeds realized with respect to the related Home Equity Loan. The Servicer, the
Depositor and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Servicer or the Depositor may rely in
good faith on any document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person
respecting any matters arising hereunder. The Servicer, the Depositor and any director, officer,
employee or agent of the Servicer or the Depositor shall be indemnified by the Trust and held
harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with any legal action
relating to this Agreement or the Certificates, other than any loss, liability or expense related
to any specific Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Loans (except as any such loss, liability or
expense shall be otherwise reimbursable pursuant to this Agreement) and any loss, liability or
expense incurred by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance
of duties hereunder or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties hereunder.
Neither the Servicer nor the Depositor shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or
defend any legal action which is not incidental to its respective duties under this Agreement, and
which in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability; provided,

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however, that the Servicer or the Depositor may, in its sole discretion, undertake any such
action which it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement and the rights and
duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Certificateholders hereunder. In such event,
the reasonable legal expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom and
any claims by the Servicer or the Depositor hereunder for indemnification shall be expenses, costs
and liabilities of the Trust, and the Servicer or the Depositor, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to be reimbursed therefor and indemnified pursuant to the terms hereof from amounts
deposited in the Collection Account as provided by Section 3.03. The Servicer’s and the
Depositor’s right to indemnity or reimbursement pursuant to this Section shall survive any
resignation or termination of the Servicer pursuant to Section 7.04 or 8.01 with respect to any
losses, expenses, costs or liabilities arising prior to such resignation or termination (or arising
from events that occurred prior to such resignation or termination). The Servicer shall have no
claim (whether by subrogation or otherwise) or other action against any Certificateholder for any
amounts paid by the Servicer pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

     Section 7.04. Servicer Not to Resign. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.02, the
Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except (i) upon
determination that the performance of its obligations or duties hereunder are no longer permissible
under applicable law or are in material conflict by reason of applicable law with any other
activities carried on by it or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, the other activities of the Servicer
so causing such a conflict being of a type and nature carried on by the Servicer or its
subsidiaries or Affiliates at the date of this Agreement or (ii) upon satisfaction of the following
conditions: (a) the Servicer has proposed a successor servicer to the Trustee in writing and such
proposed successor servicer is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee [and the Certificate Insurer];
(b) each Rating Agency shall have confirmed to the Trustee that the appointment of such proposed
successor servicer as Servicer hereunder will not result in the reduction or withdrawal of the
then-current ratings of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates; and (c) such proposed successor
servicer has agreed in writing to assume the obligations of Servicer hereunder and the Servicer has
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent to the
resignation of the Servicer and the appointment of and acceptance by the proposed successor
servicer have been satisfied; provided, however, that in the case of clause (i) above no such
resignation by the Servicer shall become effective until (x) the Trustee shall have assumed the
Servicer’s responsibilities and obligations hereunder or the Trustee shall have designated a
successor servicer in accordance with Section 8.02 and (y) the Depositor shall have received the
information described in the following sentence. As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of
any such resignation of the Servicer, the Servicer shall provide the Depositor, at least 15
calendar days prior to the effective date of such resignation, written notice of any successor
servicer pursuant to this Section, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor,
containing all information reasonably requested by the Depositor in order for the Depositor to
comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with respect to the resignation of
the Servicer.

     Any such resignation shall not relieve the Servicer of responsibility for any of the
obligations specified in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 as obligations that survive the resignation or
termination of the Servicer. Any such determination permitting the resignation of the Servicer
pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding paragraph shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to
such effect delivered to the Trustee [and the Certificate Insurer].

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     Section 7.05. Delegation of Duties. In the ordinary course of business, the Servicer
at any time may delegate any of its duties hereunder to any Person, including any of its
Affiliates, who agrees to conduct such duties in accordance with standards comparable to those with
which the Servicer complies pursuant to Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not relieve the
Servicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with respect to such duties and shall not
constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section 7.04. The Servicer shall provide each
Rating Agency [, the Certificate Insurer] , the Administrator and the Trustee with written notice
prior to the delegation of any of its duties to any Person other than any of the Servicer’s
Affiliates or their respective successors and assigns.

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ARTICLE VIII

Servicer Termination Events

     Section 8.01. Servicer Termination Events. If any one of the following events
(“Servicer Termination Events”) shall occur and be continuing:

     (a) Any failure by the Servicer to deposit in the Collection Account any deposit required to
be made under the terms of this Agreement which continues unremedied for a period of five (5)
Business Days after the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the
Servicer by the Trustee or the Depositor, or to the Servicer, the Depositor and the Trustee by [the
Certificate Insurer or] Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the Voting Rights;
or

     (b) Any failure on the part of the Servicer duly to observe or perform in any material respect
any other covenants or agreements of the Servicer set forth in the Certificates or in this
Agreement, which failure (A) materially and adversely affects the interests of Certificateholders
and (B) continues unremedied for a period of sixty (60) days after the date on which written notice
of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the
Trustee or the Depositor, or to the Servicer, the Depositor and the Trustee by [the Certificate
Insurer or] Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the Voting Rights; or

     (c) The entry against the Servicer of a decree or order by a court or agency or supervisory
authority having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a trustee, conservator,
receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship, receivership, readjustment of debt,
marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding up or liquidation
of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period
of 60 consecutive days; or

     (d) The consent by the Servicer to the appointment of a trustee, conservator, receiver or
liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship, receivership, readjustment of debt, marshalling of
assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to the Servicer or of or relating to
substantially all of its property; or the Servicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency
or reorganization statute, make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or voluntarily
suspend payment of its obligations;

then, and in each and every case, so long as a Servicer Termination Event shall not have been
remedied by the Servicer, any of the Trustee , the Administrator[, the Certificate Insurer] or the
Depositor may, and at the direction of Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the
Voting Rights [(with the consent of the Certificate Insurer so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists)], the Trustee shall, by notice then given in writing to the Servicer, the
Depositor, the Administrator [, the Certificate Insurer] and the Trustee, as applicable, terminate
all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer as servicer under this Agreement; provided,
however, that in the case of a Servicer Termination Event related to a failure to comply with
Section 3.10, termination of the Servicer as servicer under this Agreement shall only be at the
direction of the

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Depositor; and provided, further, that the responsibilities and duties of the initial Servicer with
respect to the purchase of Home Equity Loans pursuant to Sections 2.04(c) and 3.01 shall not
terminate. Any such notice to the Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency. On or after
the receipt by the Servicer of such written notice, all authority and power of, and all benefits
accruing to, the Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Certificates or the
Home Equity Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Trustee or, if a successor
Servicer has been appointed under Section 8.02, such successor Servicer pursuant to and under this
Section 8.01; and, without limitation, the Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute
and deliver, on behalf of the Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and
other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to
effect the purposes of such notice of termination, whether to complete the transfer and endorsement
of each Home Equity Loan and related documents, or otherwise. The Servicer agrees to cooperate
with the Trustee in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Servicer
hereunder, including, without limitation, the transfer to the Trustee for the administration by it
of all cash amounts that shall at the time be held by the terminated Servicer and to be deposited
by it in the Collection Account, or that have been deposited by the terminated Servicer in the
Collection Account or thereafter received by the terminated Servicer with respect to the Home
Equity Loans.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, a delay in or failure of performance under Section 8.01(a) for
a period of five (5) Business Days or under Section 8.01(b) for a period of sixty (60) days, shall
not constitute a Servicer Termination Event if such delay or failure could not be prevented by the
exercise of reasonable diligence by the Servicer and such delay or failure was caused by an act of
God, acts of declared or undeclared war, public disorder, terrorism, rebellion or sabotage,
epidemics, landslides, lightning, fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or similar causes. The
preceding sentence shall not relieve the Servicer from using its best efforts to perform its
obligations in a timely manner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the Servicer
shall provide the Trustee, the Administrator, the Depositor [, the Certificate Insurer] and the
Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificateholders with an Officer’s Certificate giving prompt notice of
such failure or delay by it, together with a description of its efforts to so perform its
obligations. The Servicer shall immediately notify the Trustee, the Administrator [, the
Certificate Insurer] and each Rating Agency in writing of any Servicer Termination Events.

     [The Depositor shall not be entitled to terminate the rights and obligations of the Servicer
pursuant to subparagraph (b) above if a failure of the Servicer to identify a Subcontractor
“participating in a servicing function” within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB was
attributable solely to the role or functions of such Subcontractor with respect to home equity
loans other than the Home Equity Loans.]

     Section 8.02. Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor.

     (a) On and after the time the Servicer receives a notice of resignation or termination
pursuant to Section 7.04 or 8.01, the Trustee shall be the successor in all respects to the
Servicer in its capacity as servicer under this Agreement and the transactions set forth or
provided for herein and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities
relating thereto placed on the Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof; provided, however, that
the responsibilities and duties of HSBC Finance as Servicer with respect to the purchase of the
Home Equity Loans

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pursuant to Sections 2.04(c) and 3.01 shall not terminate. As compensation therefor, the
Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Servicer would have been entitled to
hereunder if no such notice of termination had been given. Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the
Trustee is unwilling to act as successor Servicer, or (ii) if the Trustee is legally unable so to
act, the Trustee may (in the situation described in clause (i)) or shall (in the situation
described in clause (ii)) appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, any
housing and home finance institution or other mortgage loan or home equity loan servicer having all
licenses and permits required in order to perform its obligations hereunder and a net worth of not
less than $50,000,000 as the successor to the Servicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any
part of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the Servicer hereunder; provided that [any
such successor Subservicer shall be acceptable to the Certificate Insurer, as evidenced by the
Certificate Insurer’s prior written consent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and
provided further that] that the appointment of any such successor Servicer will not result in the
qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the then-current ratings assigned to the Class [A] and
Class [IO] Certificates by the Rating Agencies, as evidenced by a writing to such effect delivered
to the Trustee[, the Certificate Insurer] and the Administrator. Pending appointment of a
successor to the Servicer hereunder, unless the Trustee is prohibited by law from so acting, the
Trustee shall act in such capacity as hereinabove provided. In connection with such appointment
and assumption, the successor shall be entitled to receive compensation out of payments on Home
Equity Loans in an amount equal to the compensation which the Servicer would otherwise have
received pursuant to Section 3.09 (or such lesser compensation as the Trustee and such successor
shall agree). The Trustee and such successor shall take such action, consistent with this
Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession.

     (b) In addition, no succession (including by the Trustee) to the Servicer as servicer under
this Agreement shall be effective unless the Trustee or such other successor servicer shall have
provided to the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date of such
succession, written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor,
containing all information reasonably requested by the Depositor in order for the Depositor to
comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with respect to a replacement
servicer.

     (c) Any successor, including the Trustee, to the Servicer as servicer shall during the term of
its service as servicer (i) continue to service and administer the Home Equity Loans for the
benefit of Certificateholders and (ii) maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance covering
errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as Servicer hereunder and a fidelity
bond in respect of its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the Servicer is so
required pursuant to Section 3.12. The appointment of a successor Servicer shall not affect any
liability of the predecessor Servicer which may have arisen under this Agreement prior to its
termination as Servicer (including, without limitation, any deductible under an insurance policy
pursuant to Section 3.04), nor shall any successor Servicer be liable for any acts or omissions of
the predecessor Servicer or for any breach by such Servicer or the Depositor of any of their
representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document or agreement.

     Section 8.03. Notification to Certificateholders. Upon any termination or appointment
of a successor to the Servicer pursuant to this Article VIII, the Trustee shall give prompt written

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notice thereof to the Administrator, [the Certificate Insurer,] the Certificateholders at
their respective addresses appearing in the Certificate Register and each Rating Agency.

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ARTICLE IX

The Trustee and the Administrator

     Section 9.01. Duties of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Servicer
Termination Events and after the curing of all Servicer Termination Events which may have occurred,
undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Agreement. If a Servicer Termination Event of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall
have actual knowledge has occurred (which has not been cured), the Trustee shall exercise such
rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his own affairs.

     The Trustee, upon receipt of all resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, reports,
documents, orders or other instruments furnished to the Trustee which are specifically required to
be furnished pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, shall examine them to determine whether
they conform to the requirements of this Agreement.

     No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own misconduct; provided,
however, that:

     (a) prior to the occurrence of an Servicer Termination Event of which a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee shall have actual knowledge, and after the curing of all such Servicer Termination
Events which may have occurred, the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined
solely by the express provisions of this Agreement, the Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Trustee and, in the
absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth
of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Agreement;

     (b) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by
a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in
performing its duties in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

     (c) the Trustee shall not be personally liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the consent or in accordance with the
direction of the Holders of Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of
the Voting Rights [(with the consent of the Certificate Insurer, so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists (a copy of which consent shall be delivered to the Trustee))] relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Agreement; and

     (d) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any failure by the Servicer to comply
with the obligations of the Servicer referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 8.01

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unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such failure or the
Trustee receives written notice of such failure from the Servicer [, the Certificate Insurer] or
the Holders of Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the Voting
Rights.

     The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it, and none of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall in any event require the Trustee to perform, or be
responsible for the manner of performance of, any of the obligations of the Servicer under this
Agreement, except during such time, if any, as the Trustee shall be the successor to, and be vested
with the rights, duties, powers and privileges of, the Servicer in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.

     Section 9.02. Certain Matters Affecting the Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 9.01:

     (a) the Trustee may request and rely upon, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon, any resolution, Officer’s Certificate, Servicing Certificate, certificate of auditors
or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order,
appraisal, bond or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

     (b) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any written advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be
full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or
omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

     (c) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
it by this Agreement, or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation hereunder or in relation
hereto, at the request, order or direction of [the Certificate Insurer or] any of the
Certificateholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless [the Certificate Insurer
or] such Certificateholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing
contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligations, upon the occurrence of a
Servicer Termination Event of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge
(which has not been cured), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Agreement, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;

     (d) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers
conferred upon it by this Agreement;

     (e) prior to the occurrence of a Servicer Termination Event of which a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee has actual knowledge and after the curing of all Servicer Termination

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Events which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other paper or documents, unless requested in
writing to do so by Holders of Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates evidencing not less than 51%
of the Voting Rights [(with the consent of the Certificate Insurer, so long as no Certificate
Insurer Default exists (a copy of which consent shall be delivered to the Trustee))]; provided,
however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of
the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of
this Agreement, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such cost, expense or
liability as a condition to such proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination
shall be paid by the Servicer or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be reimbursed by the Servicer upon
demand. Nothing in this clause (e) shall derogate from the obligation of the Servicer to observe
any applicable law prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Mortgagors; and

     (f) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys or a custodian (except that the
Trustee shall not be responsible for selecting the Servicer as custodian and bailee).

     Section 9.03. Trustee Not Liable for Certificates or Home Equity Loans. The recitals
contained herein and in the Certificates (other than the authentication of the Trustee on the
Certificates) shall be taken as the statements of the Servicer, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or of the Certificates (other than the signature and
authentication of the Trustee on the Certificates) or of any Home Equity Loan or related document.
The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Servicer of any of the
Certificates or of the proceeds of such Certificates, or for the use or application of any funds
paid to the Depositor or the Servicer in respect of the Home Equity Loans or deposited in or
withdrawn from the Collection Account by the Servicer. The Trustee shall at no time have any
responsibility or liability for or with respect to the legality, validity and enforceability of any
Mortgage or any Home Equity Loan, or the perfection and priority of any Mortgage or the maintenance
of any such perfection and priority, or for or with respect to the sufficiency of the Trust or its
ability to generate the payments to be distributed to Certificateholders under this Agreement,
including, without limitation: the existence, condition and ownership of any Mortgaged Property;
the existence and enforceability of any hazard insurance thereon (other than if the Trustee shall
assume the duties of the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02); the existence and contents of any Home
Equity Loan on any computer or other record thereof (other than if the Trustee shall assume the
duties of the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02); the validity of the assignment of any Home Equity
Loan to the Trust or of any intervening assignment; the completeness of any Home Equity Loan; the
performance or enforcement of any Home Equity Loan (other than if the Trustee shall assume the
duties of the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02); the compliance by the Depositor or the Servicer
with any warranty or representation made under this Agreement or in any related document or the
accuracy of any such warranty or representation prior to the Trustee’s receipt of notice or other
discovery of any non-compliance therewith or any breach thereof; any investment of monies by or at
the direction of the Servicer or any loss resulting therefrom, it being understood that the Trustee
shall remain responsible for any Trust property that it may hold in its individual capacity; the
acts or omissions of the

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Depositor, the Servicer (other than if the Trustee shall assume the duties of the Servicer
pursuant to Section 8.02), any Subservicer (other than if the Trustee shall assume the duties of
the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02 and shall engage such Subservicer as its subservicer) or any
Mortgagor; any action of the Servicer (other than if the Trustee shall assume the duties of the
Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02), or any Subservicer (other than if the Trustee shall assume the
duties of the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02 and shall engage such Subservicer as its
subservicer) taken in the name of the Trustee; or any action by the Trustee taken at the
instruction of the Servicer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (other than if the
Trustee shall assume the duties of the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.02); provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not relieve the Trustee of its obligation to perform its duties under this
Agreement. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for filing any financing or continuation
statement in any public office at any time or to otherwise perfect or maintain the perfection of
any security interest or lien granted to it hereunder (unless the Trustee shall have become the
successor Servicer) or to prepare or file any Securities and Exchange Commission filing for the
Trust or to record this Agreement.

     Section 9.04. Trustee May Own Certificates. The Trustee in its individual or any
other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Certificates and may transact business with the
Depositor, the Servicer [, the Certificate Insurer] and their Affiliates with the same rights as it
would have if it were not Trustee.

     Section 9.05. Servicer to Pay Trustee’s Fees and Expenses. The Servicer covenants and
agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable
compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby
created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the
Trustee, and the Servicer will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the
provisions of this Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. In addition, the
Servicer and the Depositor, jointly and severally, covenant and agree to indemnify the Trustee
from, and hold it harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses
other than those resulting from the Trustee’s willful malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or
by reason of the Trustee’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.

     Section 9.06. Eligibility Requirements for Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at
all times be a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. The principal office of the Trustee (other than the initial
Trustee) shall be in a state with respect to which an Opinion of Counsel has been delivered to such
Trustee at the time such Trustee is appointed Trustee to the effect that the Trust will not be

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a taxable entity under the laws of such state. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to
be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.07.

     Section 9.07. Resignation or Removal of Trustee. The Trustee may at any time resign
and be discharged from the trusts hereby created by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor,
the Servicer [, the Certificate Insurer] and each Rating Agency. Upon receiving such notice of
resignation, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in
duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to
the successor Trustee; provided, however, that any such successor Trustee shall be subject to the
prior written approval of the Servicer. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and
have accepted appointment within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.

     As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such resignation, the Trustee shall
provide to the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date of such
resignation, written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor,
containing all information reasonably requested by the Depositor in order for the Depositor to
comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with respect to the resignation of
the Trustee.

     If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.06 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Depositor [with the
consent of the Certificate Insurer (so long as no Certificate Insurer Default exists) or the
Certificate Insurer], or if at any time the Trustee shall be legally unable to act, or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or
affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then the Depositor [or the
Certificate Insurer] may remove the Trustee. If the Depositor [or the Certificate Insurer] removes
the Trustee under the authority of the immediately preceding sentence, the Depositor shall promptly
appoint a successor Trustee [(approved in writing by the Certificate Insurer, so long as such
approval is not unreasonably withheld)] by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which
instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee.

     Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to
any of the provisions of this Section shall not become effective until acceptance of appointment by
the successor Trustee as provided in Section 9.08.

     [Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists, the Trustee may not be removed by the Depositor or the Certificateholders without
the prior written consent of the Certificate Insurer, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.]

     Section 9.08. Successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in
Section 9.07 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Depositor, [the Certificate Insurer,]
the Administrator and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment

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hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become
effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with
like effect as if originally named as Trustee. The Depositor, the Servicer [, the Certificate
Insurer] and the predecessor 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 Trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations.

     No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time
of such acceptance (i) such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section
9.06, (ii) the unsecured long-term debt of such successor Trustee is rated at least “A3” by Moody’s
or (iii) the Rating Agencies have confirmed that such successor Trustee will not result in a
withdrawal or a downgrading of the then current ratings on the Class [A] and Class [IO]
Certificates. The predecessor Trustee shall notify the Rating Agency of the appointment of any
successor Trustee.

     Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section, the
Servicer shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to all Holders of
Certificates at their addresses as shown in the Certificate Register and to each Rating Agency. If
the Servicer fails to mail such notice within 30 days after acceptance of appointment by the
successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the
Servicer.

     [Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists, the appointment of any successor Trustee pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement will be subject to the prior written consent of the Certificate Insurer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.]

     Section 9.09. Merger or Consolidation of Trustee.

     Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such
corporation shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 9.06, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding.

     As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such merger or consolidation, the Trustee
shall provide to the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date of such
merger or consolidation of the Trustee, written notice, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Depositor, containing all information reasonably requested by the Depositor in
order for the Depositor to comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with
respect to a replacement trustee.

     Section 9.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Agreement, at any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal

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requirements of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust or any Mortgaged Property may
at the time be located, the Depositor and the Trustee acting jointly shall have the power and shall
execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one or more Persons approved by them to act as
co-trustee or co-trustees, jointly with the Trustee, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of
all or any part of the Trust, and to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the
benefit of the Certificateholders, such title to the Trust, or any part thereof, and, subject to
the other provisions of this Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the
Servicer and the Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. Any such co-trustee or separate
trustee shall be subject to the written approval of the Servicer [and the Certificate Insurer,
whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld]. If the Servicer shall not have joined in such
appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in the case an
Servicer Termination Events shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee alone shall have the
power to make such appointment. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to
meet the terms of eligibility as a successor Trustee under Section 9.06 and no notice to
Certificateholders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required under
Section 9.08.

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

     (a) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be
conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the 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 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 (whether as Trustee
hereunder or as successor to the Servicer hereunder), the Trustee shall be incompetent or
unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations
(including the holding of title to the Trust or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall
be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the
direction of the Trustee;

     (b) no trustee hereunder shall be held personally liable by reason of any act or omission of
any other trustee hereunder; and

     (c) the Servicer and the Trustee acting jointly may at any time accept the resignation of or
remove any separate trustee or co-trustee, except that following the occurrence of a Servicer
Termination Event which has not been cured, the Trustee acting alone may accept the resignation of
or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.

     Any notice, request or other writing given to the 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 IX. 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 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

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Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee and a copy thereof given to
the Depositor and the Servicer.

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

     Section 9.11. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Certificates. All
rights of action and claims under this Agreement or the Certificates may be prosecuted and enforced
by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Certificates or the production thereof in any
proceeding relating thereto. Any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its
own name or in its capacity as Trustee. Any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the
payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its
agents and counsel, be for the benefit of the Certificateholders [and the Certificate Insurer].

     Section 9.12. Inspection of Mortgage Files. Following the time that the Mortgage
Files have been delivered to the Trustee upon reasonable prior notice and during regular business
hours, the Trustee shall permit representatives of applicable state regulatory agencies to inspect
the Mortgage Files on the Trustee’s premises or shall provide such documents at such places
required by state regulations, including the offices of the Subservicers. Any loss incurred by the
Trustee in fulfilling such obligations shall be paid by the Servicer.

     Section 9.13. Duties of Administrator. The Administrator undertakes to perform such
duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement.

     No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Administrator from liability
for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own misconduct; provided,
however, that:

     (a) the duties and obligations of the Administrator shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Agreement, the Administrator shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Trustee and, in the absence of bad
faith on the part of the Administrator, the Administrator may conclusively rely, as to the truth of
the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Administrator and conforming to the requirements of this Agreement; and

     (b) the Administrator shall not be personally liable for an error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer of the Administrator, unless it shall be proved that the
Administrator was negligent in performing its duties in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

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     The Administrator shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds
or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it, and none of
the provisions contained in this Agreement shall in any event require the Administrator to perform,
or be responsible for the manner of performance of, any of the obligations of the Servicer under
this Agreement.

     Section 9.14. Certain Matters Affecting the Administrator. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 9.13:

     (a) the Administrator may request and rely upon, and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon, any resolution, Officer’s Certificate, Servicing Certificate,
certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

     (b) the Administrator may consult with counsel and any written advice or Opinion of Counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered
or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
and

     (c) the Administrator shall not be personally liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Agreement.

     Section 9.15. Administrator May Own Certificates. The Administrator in its individual
or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Certificates and may transact business
with the Depositor, the Servicer, the Trustee [, the Certificate Insurer] and their Affiliates with
the same rights as it would have if it were not Administrator.

     Section 9.16. Servicer to Pay Administrator’s Fees and Expenses. The Servicer
covenants and agrees to pay to the Administrator from time to time, and the Administrator shall be
entitled to, reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard
to the compensation of a Administrator of an express trust) for all services rendered by it in the
execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and
duties hereunder of the Administrator, and the Servicer will pay or reimburse the Administrator
upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the
Administrator in accordance with any of the provisions of this Agreement (including the reasonable
compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in
its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or
bad faith. In addition, the Servicer and the Depositor, jointly and severally, covenant and agree
to indemnify the Administrator from, and hold it harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities,
damages, claims or expenses other than those resulting from the Administrator’s willful
malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or by reason of the Administrator’s reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties hereunder.

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     Section 9.17. Eligibility Requirements for Administrator. The Administrator hereunder
shall at all times be a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the
United States of America or any state thereof, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of
such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Administrator shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Administrator shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 9.18.

     Section 9.18. Resignation or Removal of Administrator. The Administrator may at any
time resign and be discharged from the trusts hereby created by giving written notice thereof to
the Depositor, the Servicer, the Trustee [, the Certificate Insurer] and each Rating Agency. Upon
receiving such notice of resignation, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor
Administrator by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered
to the resigning Administrator and one copy to the successor Administrator; provided, however, that
any such successor Administrator shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Servicer.
If no successor Administrator shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Administrator may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Administrator.

     As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such resignation, the Administrator shall
provide to the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date of such
resignation, written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor,
containing all information reasonably requested by the Depositor in order for the Depositor to
comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of Form 8-K with respect to the resignation of
the Administrator.

     If at any time the Administrator shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9.17 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Depositor [with the
consent of the Certificate Insurer (so long as no Certificate Insurer Default exists) or the
Certificate Insurer], or if at any time the Administrator shall be legally unable to act, or shall
be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Administrator or of its property shall be
appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Administrator or of its
property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then the
Depositor [or the Certificate Insurer] may remove the Administrator. If the Depositor [or the
Certificate Insurer] removes the Administrator under the authority of the immediately preceding
sentence, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor Administrator [(approved in writing by
the Certificate Insurer, so long as such approval is not unreasonably withheld)] by written
instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Administrator so
removed and one copy to the successor Administrator.

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     Any resignation or removal of the Administrator and appointment of a successor Administrator
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall not become effective until acceptance of
appointment by the successor Administrator as provided in Section 9.19.

     [Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists, the Administrator may not be removed by the Depositor or the Certificateholders
without the prior written consent of the Certificate Insurer, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.]

     Section 9.19. Successor Administrator. Any successor Administrator appointed as
provided in Section 9.18 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Depositor, the Trustee [,
the Certificate Insurer] and to its predecessor Administrator an instrument accepting such
appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Administrator
shall become effective and such successor Administrator, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Administrator. The Depositor,
the Servicer, the Trustee [, the Certificate Insurer] and the predecessor Administrator 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 Administrator all such rights, powers,
duties and obligations.

     No successor Administrator shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the
time of such acceptance (i) such successor Administrator shall be eligible under the provisions of
Section 9.17, (ii) the unsecured long-term debt of such successor Administrator is rated at least
“A3” by Moody’s or (iii) the Rating Agencies have confirmed that such successor Administrator will
not result in a withdrawal or a downgrading of the then current ratings on the Class [A] and Class
[IO] Certificates. The predecessor Administrator shall notify the Rating Agency of the appointment
of any successor Administrator.

     Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Administrator as provided in this Section, the
Servicer shall mail notice of the succession of such Administrator hereunder to the Trustee, all
Holders of Certificates at their addresses as shown in the Certificate Register and to each Rating
Agency. If the Servicer fails to mail such notice within 30 days after acceptance of appointment
by the successor Administrator, the successor Administrator shall cause such notice to be mailed at
the expense of the Servicer.

     [Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as no Certificate Insurer
Default exists, the appointment of any successor Administrator pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement will be subject to the prior written consent of the Certificate Insurer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.]

     Section 9.20. Merger or Consolidation of Administrator.

     Any corporation into which the Administrator may be merged or converted or with which it may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
the Administrator shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the business of the Administrator, shall be the successor of the Administrator

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hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be eligible under the provisions of Section
9.17, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

     As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such merger or consolidation, the
Administrator shall provide to the Depositor, at least 15 calendar days prior to the effective date
of such merger or consolidation of the Administrator, written notice, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor, containing all information reasonably requested by the
Depositor in order for the Depositor to comply with its reporting obligation under Item 6.02 of
Form 8-K with respect to a replacement administrator.

     Section 9.21. Tax Matters.

     It is intended that the assets with respect to which any REMIC election is to be made, as set
forth in the Preliminary Statement, shall constitute, and that the conduct of matters relating to
such assets shall be such as to qualify such assets as, a “real estate mortgage investment conduit”
as defined in and in accordance with the REMIC Provisions. In furtherance of such intention, the
Administrator covenants and agrees that it shall act as agent (and the Administrator is hereby
appointed to act as agent) on behalf of any such REMIC and that in such capacity it shall:

	 	(i)	 	prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, in a timely manner, a U.S.
Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Income Tax Return (Form 1066 or any successor
form adopted by the Internal Revenue Service) and prepare and file or cause to be
prepared and filed with the Internal Revenue Service and applicable state or local tax
authorities income tax or information returns for each taxable year with respect to any
such REMIC, containing such information and at the times and in the manner as may be
required by the Code or state or local tax laws, regulations, or rules, and furnish or
cause to be furnished to Certificateholders the schedules, statements or information at
such times and in such manner as may be required thereby;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	within 30 days after the Closing Date, furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Internal Revenue Service, on Forms 8811 or as otherwise may be required by the Code,
the name, title, address, and telephone number of the person that the holders of the
Certificates may contact for tax information relating thereto, together with such
additional information as may be required by such Form, and update such information at
the time or times in the manner required by the Code;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	make or cause to be made elections that such assets be treated as a REMIC on
the federal tax return for its first taxable year (and, if necessary, under applicable
state law);
	 
	 	(iv)	 	prepare and forward, or cause to be prepared and forwarded, to the
Certificateholders and to the Internal Revenue Service and, if necessary, state tax
authorities, all information returns and reports as and when required to be provided to
them in accordance with the REMIC Provisions, including without

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	 	 	 	limitation, the calculation of any original issue discount using the Prepayment
Assumption;
	 
	 	(v)	 	provide information necessary for the computation of tax imposed on the
transfer of a Residual Certificate to a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee, or
an agent (including a broker, nominee or other middleman) of a Non-Permitted
Transferee, or a pass-through entity in which a Non-Permitted Transferee is the record
holder of an interest (the reasonable cost of computing and furnishing such information
may be charged to the Person liable for such tax);
	 
	 	(vi)	 	to the extent that they are under its control conduct matters relating to such
assets at all times that any Certificates are outstanding so as to maintain the status
as a REMIC under the REMIC Provisions;
	 
	 	(vii)	 	not knowingly or intentionally take any action or omit to take any action that
would cause the termination of the tax status of any REMIC;
	 
	 	(viii)	 	pay, from the sources specified in the last paragraph of this Section 9.21, the
amount of any federal or state tax, including prohibited transaction taxes as described
below, imposed on any such REMIC prior to its termination when and as the same shall be
due and payable (but such obligation shall not prevent the Administrator or any other
appropriate Person from contesting any such tax in appropriate proceedings and shall
not prevent the Administrator from withholding payment of such tax, if permitted by
law, pending the outcome of such proceedings);
	 
	 	(ix)	 	ensure that federal, state or local income tax or information returns shall be
signed by the Trustee or such other person as may be required to sign such returns by
the Code or state or local laws, regulations or rules;
	 
	 	(x)	 	maintain records relating to any such REMIC, including but not limited to the
income, expenses, assets and liabilities thereof and the fair market value and adjusted
basis of the assets determined at such intervals as may be required by the Code, as may
be necessary to prepare the foregoing returns, schedules, statements or information;
and
	 
	 	(xi)	 	as and when necessary and appropriate, represent any such REMIC in any
administrative or judicial proceedings relating to an examination or audit by any
governmental taxing authority, request an administrative adjustment as to any taxable
year of any such REMIC, enter into settlement agreements with any governmental taxing
agency, extend any statute of limitations relating to any tax item of any such REMIC,
and otherwise act on behalf of any such REMIC in relation to any tax matter or
controversy involving it.

     In order to enable the Administrator to perform its duties as set forth in this Agreement, the
Depositor shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Administrator within ten (10) days after
the Closing Date all information or data that the Administrator requests in writing and determines
to be relevant for tax purposes to the valuations and offering prices of the

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Certificates, including, without limitation, the price, yield, prepayment assumption and
projected cash flows of the Certificates and the Home Equity Loans. Thereafter, the Depositor
shall provide to the Administrator promptly upon written request therefor, any such additional
information or data that the Administrator may, from time to time, reasonably request in order to
enable the Administrator to perform its duties as set forth in this Agreement. The Depositor
hereby indemnifies the Administrator for any losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses of
the Administrator arising from any errors or miscalculations of the Administrator that result from
any failure of the Depositor to provide, or to cause to be provided, accurate information or data
to the Administrator on a timely basis.

     In the event that any tax is imposed on “prohibited transactions” of any REMIC hereunder as
defined in Section 860F(a)(2) of the Code, on the “net income from foreclosure property” of such
REMIC as defined in Section 860G(c) of the Code, on any contribution to any REMIC hereunder after
the Startup Day pursuant to Section 860G(d) of the Code, or any other tax is imposed, including,
without limitation, any minimum tax imposed upon any REMIC hereunder pursuant to Sections 23153 and
24874 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, if not paid as otherwise provided for herein,
such tax shall be paid by (i) the Administrator, if any such other tax arises out of or results
from a breach by the Administrator of any of its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the
Servicer, in the case of any such minimum tax, or if such tax arises out of or results from a
breach by the Servicer or the Depositor of any of their obligations under this Agreement or (iii)
in all other cases, or in the event that the Administrator, the Servicer or the Depositor fails to
honor its obligations under the preceding clause (i) or (ii), any such tax will be paid with
amounts otherwise to be distributed to the Certificateholders.

     Section 9.22. [Rights of the Certificate Insurer to Exercise Rights of Class [A]
Certificateholders].

     [By accepting its Certificate, each Holder of a Class [A] Certificate agrees that unless a
Certificate Insurer Default exists, the Certificate Insurer shall be deemed to be the
Certificateholders for all purposes (other than with respect to payment on the Certificates) and
shall have the right to exercise all rights of the Class [A] Certificateholders under this
Agreement and under each Class of Class [A] Certificates without any further consent of the Class
[A] Certificateholders, including, without limitation:

     (i) the right to require the Depositor or the Servicer to repurchase Home Equity Loans
pursuant to Section 2.04;

     (ii) the right to give notices of breach or to terminate the rights and obligations of
the Servicer as servicer pursuant to Section 8.01;

     (iii) the right to direct actions of the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01;

     (iv) [Reserved]

     (v) the right to direct the Trustee to investigate certain matters pursuant to Section
9.02;

     (vi) the right to remove the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.07;

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     (vii) the right to remove the Administrator pursuant to Section 9.18;

     (viii) the right to direct foreclosures upon the failure of the Servicer to do so in
accordance with this Agreement; and

     (ix) any rights or remedies expressly given the Majority Certificateholders.

In addition, each Certificateholder agrees that unless a Certificate Insurer Default exists, the
rights specifically enumerated in this Agreement may be exercised by the Certificateholders only
with the prior written consent of the Certificate Insurer.]

     Section 9.23. [Trustee to Act Solely with Consent of the Certificate Insurer.]

     [Unless a Certificate Insurer Default exists, the Trustee shall not, without the Certificate
Insurer’s consent or unless directed by the Certificate Insurer:

     (i) terminate the rights and obligations of the Servicer as Servicer pursuant to
Section 8.01;

     (ii) agree to any amendment pursuant to Article XI, provided, however,
that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; or

     (iii) undertake any litigation.

     The Certificate Insurer may, in writing delivered to the Trustee and in its sole discretion
renounce all or any of its rights under Section 9.23, 9.24 or 9.25 or any requirement for the
Certificate Insurer’s consent for any period of time.]

     Section 9.24. [Home Equity Loans, Trust and Accounts Held for Benefit of the Certificate
Insurer.]

     [The Trustee shall hold the Trust (as set forth in Section 2.01), for the benefit of the
Certificateholders and the Certificate Insurer and all references in this Agreement and in the
Certificates to the benefit of Holders of the Certificates shall be deemed to include the
Certificate Insurer. The Trustee shall cooperate in all reasonable respects with any reasonable
request by the Certificate Insurer for action to preserve or enforce the Certificate Insurer’s
rights or interests under this Agreement and the Certificates unless, as stated in an Opinion of
Counsel addressed to the Trustee and the Certificate Insurer, such action is adverse to the
interests of the Certificateholders or diminishes the rights of the Certificateholders or imposes
additional burdens or restrictions on the Certificateholders.

     The Servicer hereby acknowledges and agrees that it shall service the Mortgage Loans for the
benefit of the Certificateholders and for the benefit of the Certificate Insurer, and all
references in this Agreement to the benefit of or actions on behalf of the Certificateholders shall
be deemed to include the Certificate Insurer.]

     Section 9.25. [Certificate Insurer Default.]

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     [Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Certificates to the contrary,
if a Certificate Insurer Default exists, or if and to the extent the Certificate Insurer has
delivered its written renunciation of its rights, the provisions of this Article IX and all other
provisions of this Agreement which (a) permit the Certificate Insurer to exercise rights of the
Certificateholders, (b) restrict the ability of the Certificateholders, the Servicer, the
Administrator or the Trustee to act without the consent or approval of the Certificate Insurer, (c)
provide that a particular act or thing must be acceptable to the Certificate Insurer, (d) permit
the Certificate Insurer to direct (or otherwise to require) the actions of the Trustee, the
Administrator, the Servicer or the Certificateholders, (e) provide that any action or omission
taken with the consent, approval or authorization of the Certificate Insurer shall be authorized
hereunder or shall not subject the party taking or omitting to take such action to any liability
hereunder or (f) which have a similar effect, shall be of no further force and effect and the
Trustee shall administer the Trust and perform its obligations hereunder solely for the benefit of
the Holders of the Certificates. Nothing in the foregoing sentence, nor any action taken pursuant
thereto or in compliance therewith, shall be deemed to have released the Certificate Insurer from
any obligation or liability it may have to any party or to the Certificateholders hereunder, under
any other agreement, instrument or document (including, without limitation, the Certificate
Insurance Policy) or under applicable law.]

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ARTICLE X

Termination

     Section 10.01. Termination.

     (a) The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Servicer, the Depositor, the
Trustee, the Administrator and the Trust created hereby (other than the obligation of the
Administrator to make certain payments to Certificateholders after the final Distribution Date, the
obligations of the Depositor and the Servicer under Section 9.05 and the obligation of the Servicer
to send certain notices as hereinafter set forth) shall terminate upon the last action required to
be taken by the Administrator pursuant to this Article X on the [later of (1) the payment in full
of all amounts owing to the Certificate Insurer, unless the Certificate Insurer shall otherwise
consent and (2) the] earliest of (i) the repurchase by the Servicer of all Home Equity Loans and
all property acquired in respect of any Home Equity Loan remaining in the Trust at a price (the
“Termination Price”) equal to the greater of (A) the sum of (i) the aggregate Purchase
Price for the Home Equity Loans (as determined by the Servicer as of the close of business on the
last day of the prior Collection Period) and (ii) the fair market value of the REO properties in
the Trust (as reflected on the books and records of the Servicer as of the close of business on the
last day of the prior Collection Period) and (B) the sum of the Certificate Principal Balance of
the Class [A] Certificates, together with any unpaid Interest Carry Forward Amounts and
Supplemental Interest Amounts allocable to such Classes, plus one month’s interest on such
Certificate Principal Balance and any unpaid Interest Carry Forward Amounts and Supplemental
Interest Amounts at the related Pass-Through Rates, [plus all amounts due and owing to the
Certificate Insurer,] or (ii) the final payment or other liquidation of the Principal Balance of
the last Home Equity Loan remaining in the Trust or the disposition of all property acquired upon
foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of any Home Equity Loan or (iii) the Distribution Date
in [          ]; provided that in no event shall the Trust created hereby continue beyond
the expiration of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of the descendants of Joseph P.
Kennedy, the late Ambassador of the United States to the Court of St. James’s, living on the date
hereof. Upon termination in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 10.01, the
Trustee shall execute such documents and instruments of transfer, in each case without recourse,
representation or warranty, presented by the Depositor and take such other actions as the Depositor
may reasonably request to effect the retransfer of the Home Equity Loans to the Depositor. [The
Certificate Insurer may exercise the Servicer’s right to terminate the Agreement and purchase the
outstanding Home Equity Loans at the Termination Price if the Servicer opts not to exercise such
right.]

     (b) The right of the Servicer to repurchase all Home Equity Loans pursuant to clause (i) of
Section 10.01(a) above is conditioned upon the aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the Class
[A] Certificates being less than [          ] percent ([ ]%) of the initial aggregate
Certificate Principal Balance of the Class [A] Certificates. The Servicer may exercise such right
on any Distribution Date after the first Distribution Date on which the aggregate Certificate
Principal Balance of the Class [A] Certificates was reduced to less than [          ] percent ([
]%) of the initial aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the Class [A] Certificates and with
respect to which the conditions specified in the preceding sentence are satisfied unless the
Trustee has accepted a qualifying bid for the Home Equity Loans pursuant to subsection (c)

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below. If such right is exercised, the Trustee shall, promptly following payment of the
repurchase price, execute proper instruments acknowledging termination and discharge of this
Agreement.

     (c) If the Servicer does not repurchase all of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section
10.01(b) above within three (3) months of the first Distribution Date upon which such repurchase
option may occur, then promptly on the following Distribution Date the Trustee shall, on its own
behalf or through the use of an agent, and in either case at the expense of the Servicer, begin a
process for soliciting bids in connection with an auction of the Home Equity Loans for an auction
to occur on or before the next succeeding Distribution Date (the “First Auction Date”) and,
if necessary, any date after the First Auction Date (the “Subsequent Auction Date” and
together with the First Auction Date, the “Auction Date”). The Trustee shall provide the
Servicer written notice of such auctions at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the applicable
Auction Date. The auctions shall be conducted at the expense of the Servicer and as follows:

     (i) If at least two bids are received, the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, shall
solicit and resolicit new bids from all participating bidders until only one bid remains or
the remaining bidders decline to resubmit bids. The Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee,
shall accept the highest of such remaining bids if it is equal to or in excess of the
Termination Price. If less than two bids are received or the highest bid after the
resolicitation process is completed is not equal to or in excess of the Termination Price,
the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, shall not consummate such sale. If a bid equaling
the Termination Price is received, then the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, may, and if
so requested by the Servicer shall, consult with a financial advisor (at the expense of the
Servicer), which may be an underwriter of the Certificates, to determine if the fair market
value of the Home Equity Loans and related property has been offered.

     (ii) If the first auction conducted by the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, does
not produce any bid at least equal to the Termination Price, then the Trustee, or an agent
of the Trustee, shall, beginning on the Distribution Date occurring approximately three
months after the Auction Date for the failed first auction, commence another auction in
accordance with the requirements of this subsection (c). If such second auction does not
produce any bid at least equal to the Termination Price, then the Trustee, or an agent of
the Trustee, shall, beginning on the Distribution Date occurring approximately three months
after the Auction Date for the failed second auction, commence another auction in accordance
with the requirements of this subsection (c), and shall continue to conduct similar auctions
approximately every three months thereafter until the earliest of (i) delivery by the
Servicer of notice of exercise of its repurchase option pursuant to Section 10.01(b) above,
(ii) receipt by the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, of a bid meeting the conditions
specified in the preceding paragraph, or (iii) the Distribution Date on which the Principal
Balance of all the Home Equity Loans is reduced to zero.

     (d) If the Trustee, or an agent of the Trustee, receives a bid meeting the conditions
specified in subsection (c), then the Trustee shall release, or cause to be released, to the
winning bidder, upon payment of the bid purchase price and satisfaction of any other terms and
conditions of the auction sale, the Mortgage Files pertaining to the Home Equity Loans being

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purchased and the Trustee shall take such other actions as the winning bidder may reasonably
request to effect the transfer of the Home Equity Loans by the Trustee to the winning bidder.]]

     (e) [Reserved].

     (f) Notice of any termination, specifying the Distribution Date (which shall be a date that
would otherwise be a Distribution Date) upon which the Certificateholders may surrender their
Certificates to the Administrator for payment of the final distribution and cancellation, shall be
given promptly by the Administrator (upon receipt of written directions from the Servicer, if the
Depositor is exercising its right to retransfer the Home Equity Loans) [to the Certificate Insurer
and] by letter to Certificateholders mailed not earlier than the [15th] day and not later than the
[25th] day of the month next preceding the month of such final distribution specifying (i) the
Distribution Date upon which final distribution of the Certificates will be made upon presentation
and surrender of the Certificates at the office or agency of the Administrator therein designated,
(ii) the amount of any such final distribution and (iii) that the Record Date otherwise applicable
to such Distribution Date is not applicable, distributions being made only upon presentation and
surrender of the Certificates at the office or agency of the Administrator therein specified. In
the event written directions are delivered by the Servicer to the Administrator as described in the
preceding sentence, the Depositor shall deposit in the Collection Account on or before the
Distribution Date for such final distribution in immediately available funds an amount which, when
added to the funds on deposit in the Collection Account that are payable to the related
Certificateholders, will be equal to the purchase price for the assets of the Trust computed as
above provided.

     (g) Upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates, the Administrator shall cause to be
distributed to the Certificateholders on the Distribution Date for such final distribution, in
proportion to their respective Percentage Interests, an amount equal to (i) as to [each Class of
Class A] Certificates, such Class’ appropriate share of the Principal Distribution Amount, any
Interest Carry Forward Amounts and one month’s interest at the related Pass-Through Rate on such
Certificate Principal Balance and (ii) as to the Class R Certificates the amount which remains on
deposit in the Collection Account (other than the amounts retained to meet claims) after
application pursuant to clause (i) above. The distribution on such final Distribution Date shall
be in lieu of the distribution otherwise required to be made on such Distribution Date in respect
of each Class of Certificates. [On the final Distribution Date, the Administrator will withdraw
from the Collection Account and remit to the Certificate Insurer the lesser of (x) the amount
available for distribution on such final Distribution Date, net of any portion thereof necessary to
pay Holders of Class [A] Certificates pursuant to this Section 10.01 and any amounts owing to the
Administrator in respect of the Administrator Fee, to the Trustee in respect of the Trustee Fee and
due and unpaid Skip-A-Pay Advances and Servicing Fees, and (y) the unpaid amounts due and owing to
the Certificate Insurer pursuant to Section 5.01(a).]

     (h) In the event that all of the Certificateholders shall not surrender their Certificates for
final payment and cancellation on or before such final Distribution Date, the Administrator shall
on such date cause all funds in the Collection Account not distributed in final distribution to
Certificateholders to be withdrawn therefrom and credited to the remaining Certificateholders by
depositing such funds in a separate escrow account for the benefit of such Certificateholders and
the Depositor (if the Depositor has exercised its right to retransfer the Home Equity Loans) or the

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Administrator, on behalf of the Trustee (in any other case), shall give a second written
notice to the remaining Certificateholders to surrender their Certificates for cancellation and
receive the final distribution with respect thereto. If within one year after the second notice
all the Certificates shall not have been surrendered for cancellation, any funds deposited in such
escrow account and remaining unclaimed shall be paid by the Administrator to the Servicer and
thereafter Certificateholders shall look only to the Servicer with respect to any claims in respect
of such funds.

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ARTICLE XI

Miscellaneous Provisions

     Section 11.01. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Servicer, the Depositor, the Administrator and the Trustee, in each case without the consent of any
of the Certificateholders [but only with the consent of the Certificate Insurer (a copy of which
shall be delivered to the Trustee)], (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any
provisions herein that may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or to correct any
error, (iii) to add to the duties of the Depositor, the Administrator, the Trustee or the Servicer,
(iv) to add, amend or modify any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Agreement [or the Certificate Insurance Policy], which shall not be inconsistent with
this Agreement, (v) to add or amend any provisions of this Agreement as required by any Rating
Agency or any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency in order to maintain or improve
any rating of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates (it being understood that, after obtaining
the ratings in effect on the Closing Date, none of the Trustee, the Administrator , the Depositor
nor the Servicer is obligated to obtain, maintain or improve any such rating), (vi) to comply with
any requirement imposed by changes in accounting policies that do not materially impact the Class
[A] and Class [IO] Certificates, (vii) to comply with any requirements imposed by the Code, (viii)
to modify, alter, amend, add to or rescind any of the terms or provisions contained in this
Agreement to comply with any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC from time to time;
provided, however, that as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel (copies of which shall be delivered
to the Trustee and the Administrator) (at the expense of the requesting party), in each case (other
than a case arising under clause (vi), (vii) or (viii)) such action shall not materially and
adversely affect the interests of any Class [A] or Class [IO] Certificateholder; and provided,
further, that the amendment shall not be deemed to adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificateholders and no Opinion of Counsel to that
effect shall be required if the Person requesting the amendment receives a confirmation from each
Rating Agency stating that the amendment would not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the
respective ratings then assigned to the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates.

     In addition, the Servicer, the Depositor, the Administrator and the Trustee also may at any
time and from time to time amend this Agreement without the consent of the Certificateholders to
modify, eliminate or add to any of its provisions to such extent as shall be necessary or helpful
to (I) maintain the qualification of any REMIC as a REMIC under the Code, (II) avoid or minimize
the risk of the imposition of any tax on any REMIC pursuant to the Code that would be a claim at
any time prior to the final redemption of the Certificates or (III) comply with any other
requirements of the Code, provided that the Trustee and the Administrator have been provided an
Opinion of Counsel, which opinion shall be an expense of the party requesting such opinion but in
any case shall not be an expense of the Trustee, the Administrator or the Trust Fund, to the effect
that such action is necessary or helpful to, as applicable, (I) maintain such qualification, (II)
avoid or minimize the risk of the imposition of such a tax or (III) comply with any such
requirements of the Code.

     Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, the Trustee and the Administrator
shall not consent to any amendment to this Agreement unless it shall have first

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received an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion shall not be an expense of the Trustee, the
Administrator or the Trust Fund, to the effect that such amendment will not cause the imposition of
any tax on any REMIC or the Certificateholders or cause any REMIC to fail to qualify as a REMIC at
any time that any Certificates are outstanding.

     Each party to this Agreement hereby agrees that it will cooperate with each other party to
effect any amendment to this Agreement pursuant to clause (viii) of the first paragraph of this
Section 11.01 or pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section 11.01.

     This Agreement also may be amended from time to time by the Servicer, the Depositor, the
Administrator and the Trustee, in each case with the consent of the Holders of the Class [A] and
Class [IO] Certificates which is affected by such amendment, evidencing Percentage Interests
aggregating not less than 51% in Percentage Interests of such Class or in the case of an amendment
which affects all classes, evidencing Percentage Interests aggregating not less than 51% of all
Classes [with the consent of the Certificate Insurer (a copy of which shall be delivered to the
Trustee)], for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Certificateholders; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (i) reduce in any manner the
amount of, or delay the timing of, collections of payments on Home Equity Loans, (ii) reduce in any
manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, payments on the Certificates [or distributions or
payments under the Certificate Insurance Policy] which are required to be made on any Certificate
without the consent of the Holder of such Certificate, (iii) impair the right of any
Certificateholder to institute suit for the enforcement of the provisions of the Agreement, (iv)
reduce the aforesaid percentage required to consent to any such amendment, (v) create a material
risk of the Trust incurring taxes imposed under the Code or of the Class [A] Certificates or Class
[IO] Certificates not being treated as indebtedness under the Code, or (vi) result in a downgrading
of the ratings of the Class [A] and Class [IO] Certificates without, in each case, the consent of
the Holders of all Classes of Certificates then outstanding or each Class of Certificates affected
thereby.

     Prior to the solicitation of consent of Certificateholders in connection with any such
amendment, the party seeking such amendment shall furnish the Trustee and the Administrator with an
Opinion of Counsel stating whether such amendment would create a material risk of the Trust
incurring taxes imposed under the Code and notice of the conclusion expressed in such Opinion of
Counsel shall be included with any such solicitation. An amendment made with the consent of all
Certificateholders and executed in accordance with this Section shall be permitted or authorized by
this Agreement notwithstanding that such Opinion of Counsel may conclude that such amendment would
create a material risk of the Trust incurring taxes imposed under the Code.

     Prior to the execution of any such amendment made with the consent of Certificateholders, the
Servicer shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment to each Rating
Agency. In addition, promptly after the execution of any such amendment made with the consent of
the Certificateholders, the Administrator shall furnish written notification of the substance of
such amendment to each Certificateholder [and the fully executed original counterparts of the
instruments effecting such amendment to the Certificate Insurer].

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     It shall not be necessary for the consent of Certificateholders under 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 of
evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Certificateholders shall be subject to
such reasonable requirements as the Administrator may prescribe.

     Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, each of the Trustee and the
Administrator 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. The Trustee and the
Administrator may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects the
Trustee’s or the Administrator’s, as the case may be, own rights, duties or immunities under this
Agreement.

     Section 11.02. Recordation of Agreement. This Agreement is subject to recordation in
all appropriate public offices for real property records in all the counties or other comparable
jurisdictions in which any or all of the Mortgaged Properties are situated, and in any other
appropriate public recording office or elsewhere, such recordation to be effected by the Servicer
and at its expense on direction by the Trustee (which shall not have any duty to determine whether
such recordation should be made), but only upon direction of the Trustee or the Servicer
accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such recordation materially and
beneficially affects the interests of Certificateholders [or the Certificate Insurer].

     For the purpose of facilitating the recordation of this Agreement as herein provided and for
other purposes, this Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each
of which counterparts shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall constitute but
one and the same instrument.

     Section 11.03. Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders. The death or incapacity
of any Certificateholder shall not operate to terminate this Agreement or the Trust, nor entitle
such Certificateholder’s legal representatives or heirs to claim an accounting or to take any
action or commence any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the Trust, nor
otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.

     No Certificateholder shall have any right to vote (except as provided in Section 11.01) or in
any manner otherwise control the operation and management of the Trust, or the obligations of the
parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Certificates,
be construed so as to constitute the Certificateholders from time to time as partners or members of
an association; nor shall any Certificateholder be under any liability to any third person by
reason of any action taken by the parties to this Agreement pursuant to any provision hereof.

     No Certificateholder shall have any right by virtue or by availing itself of any provisions of
this Agreement to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or
with respect to this Agreement, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee a
written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also
the Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the Voting Rights shall have made
written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name

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as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may
require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the
Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have
neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; it being understood and
intended, and being expressly covenanted by each Certificateholder with every other
Certificateholder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Certificates shall have any right
in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing itself or themselves of any provisions of this
Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the Holders of any other of the
Certificates, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder,
or to enforce any right under this Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the
equal, ratable and common benefit of all Certificateholders. For the protection and enforcement of
the provisions of this Section, each and every Certificateholder and the Trustee shall be entitled
to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

     Section 11.04. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

     Section 11.05. Notices. All demands, notices (whether or not any notice is referred
to herein as a notice, a written notice or a notice in writing) and communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered at or mailed by
certified mail, return receipt requested, or telecopied to (a) in the case of the Depositor or the
Servicer, 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070, Attention: Treasurer, (b) in the
case of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office, [          ], Attention: [          ], (c)
in the case of the Administrator, at the Corporate Trust Office, [          ],
Attention: [          ], (d) in the case of Moody’s, ABS Monitoring Department, 99 Church Street,
New York, New York 10007, (e) in the case of Standard & Poor’s, 55 Water Street, 40th Floor, New
York, New York 10041, Attention: Structured Finance Surveillance and (f) in the case of Fitch, One
State Street Plaza, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attention: RMBS Surveillance Department
[and (g) in the case of the Certificate Insurer, [          ]], or, as to each party, at such
other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. Any
notice required or permitted to be mailed to a Certificateholder shall be given by first class
mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Holder as shown in the Certificate Register. Any
notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given, whether or not the Certificateholder receives such notice.

     Section 11.06. Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants,
agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid,
then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining
covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the
validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement or of the Certificates or the
rights of the Holders thereof.

     Section 11.07. Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, except as provided in Sections 7.02 and 7.04, this Agreement may not be assigned by the
Depositor or the Servicer without the prior written consent of [the Certificate Insurer and]

-96-

 

Holders of Certificates of each Class, voting as a Class, evidencing, as to each such Class,
Percentage Interests aggregating not less than 66-2/3%.

     Section 11.08. Certificates Nonassessable and Fully Paid. The parties agree that the
Certificateholders shall not be personally liable for obligations of the Trust, that the beneficial
ownership interests represented by the Certificates shall be nonassessable for any losses or
expenses of the Trust or for any reason whatsoever, and that the Certificates upon execution by the
Trustee on behalf of the Trust and the authentication and delivery thereof by the Trustee pursuant
to Sections 2.05 or 6.01 are and shall be deemed fully paid.

     Section 11.09. Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement will inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties hereto, [the Certificate Insurer,] the Certificateholders and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

     Section 11.10. Counterparts. This instrument may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

     Section 11.11. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section
headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.

     Section 11.12. Limitation on Voting of Preferred Stock. The Trustee shall hold all
of the preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”) of the Depositor in trust, for the benefit of the
Certificateholders [and the Certificate Insurer], and, during the continuance of a Servicer
Termination Event, shall vote such stock only pursuant to the written instructions of [the
Certificate Insurer and] Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than 51% of the Voting Rights.
The Trustee shall not permit a transfer of any of the Preferred Stock to HSBC Finance or any of
its Affiliates. Concurrently with any retransfer of the Home Equity Loans to the Servicer pursuant
to Section 10.01, the Trustee shall transfer to the Depositor for cancellation all shares of
Preferred Stock held by the Trustee.

     Section 11.13. Perfection Representations. The Perfection Representations shall be a
part of this Agreement for all purposes.

     Section 11.14. No Petition. The Trustee, the Administrator and the
Certificateholders agree that they shall not institute against the Depositor, or cooperate with or
encourage others to institute against the Depositor, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency, or liquidation proceedings under United States federal or state bankruptcy laws in
connection with any obligations relating to the Certificates or this Agreement.

-97-

 

ARTICLE XII

EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING

     Section 12.01. Regulation AB.

          The Depositor, the Servicer, the Trustee and the Administrator acknowledge and agree that the
purpose of this Section 12.01 is to facilitate compliance by the Depositor with the provisions of
Regulation AB and related rules and regulations of the Commission. The Depositor shall not 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 under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The
Servicer, the Trustee and the Administrator acknowledge that
interpretations of the Commission or its staff of the requirements of
Regulation AB may change over time, and accordingly, each agrees to comply with requests made by the Depositor or the Servicer in
good faith for delivery of information under these provisions on the basis of evolving
interpretations of Regulation AB. The Servicer, the Trustee and the Administrator shall cooperate
fully with the Depositor and the Issuer to deliver to the Depositor and the Issuer (including the
Servicer and any other assignees or designees) any and all statements, reports, certifications,
records and any other information necessary in the good faith determination of the Depositor or the
Servicer to permit the Depositor to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB, together with such
disclosures relating to the Servicer, the Subservicer, the Trustee, the Administrator and the Home
Equity Loans, or the servicing of the Home Equity Loans, reasonably believed by the Depositor or
the Servicer to be necessary in order to effect such compliance.

     Section 12.02. Information to Be Provided by the Trustee and the Administrator. 

          For so long as the Depositor is required to report with respect to the Trust under the
Exchange Act, each of the Trustee and the Administrator shall (i) on or before the fifth Business
Day of each month, provide to the Servicer, in writing, such information regarding the Trustee or
the Administrator, as applicable, as is requested by the Servicer for the purpose of compliance
with Items 1117 and 1119 of Regulation AB; provided, however, that neither the Trustee nor the
Administrator shall be required to provide such information in the event that there has been no
change to the information previously provided by the Trustee or the Administrator, as applicable,
to the Servicer, and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Administrator, as applicable, of any changes to such
information, provide to the Servicer, in writing, such updated information.

-98-

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Depositor, the Servicer, the Trustee and the Administrator have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers all as of the day and year
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN CORPORATION II,

  as Depositor

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION,

  as Servicer

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	[                      ],

   as Trustee

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	[                      ],

  as Administrator

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 

S-1

 

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	State of Illinois

	 	}	 	 
	 

	 	}
	 	ss.:
	County of Cook

	 	}	 	 

          On this                 day of                     , 200[ ] before me, a notary public in and for the State of
Illinois, personally appeared                                         , known to me who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he resides at                                                             ; that he is the
                                                                                of HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II, a Delaware
corporation, one of the parties that executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of
said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so
affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto
by like order.

	 	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	Notary Public

[Seal]

	 	 	 	 	 
	State of Illinois

	 	}	 	 
	 

	 	}
	 	ss.:
	County of Cook

	 	}	 	 

          On this                 day of                     , 200[ ] before me, a notary public in and for the State of
Illinois, personally appeared                                         , known to me who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he resides at                                                                    ; that he is the
                                                                                 of
HSBC Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation, one of the
parties that executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that
the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the
Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

	 	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	Notary Public

[Seal]

S-2

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	State of [            ]

	 	}	 	 
	 

	 	}
	 	ss.:
	County of [         ]

	 	}	 	 

          On this                day of                     , 200[ ] before me, a notary public in and for the State of
Illinois, personally appeared                                         , known to me who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he resides at                                                             ; that he is the
                                                             of                     
                                         of                     , a
                                        , one of the parties that executed the foregoing instrument; and that he signed
his name thereto by order of the Board of Directors of said association.

	 	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	Notary Public

[Seal]

	 	 	 	 	 
	State of [            ]

	 	}	 	 
	 

	 	}
	 	ss.:
	County of [         ]

	 	}	 	 

     On this                 day of                     , 200[ ] before me, a notary public in and for the State of
Illinois, personally appeared                                         , known to me who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he resides at                                                             ; that he is the
                                                             of                     
                                         of                     , a
                                        , one of the parties that executed the foregoing instrument; and that he signed
his name thereto by order of the Board of Directors of said association.

	 	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	Notary Public

[Seal]

S-3

 

Schedule 1

PERFECTION REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

The Depositor hereby represents, warrants, and covenants to the Trustee as to itself and the
Sellers as follows on the Closing Date and on each Distribution Date thereafter:

General

1. This Agreement creates a valid and continuing security interest (as defined in the applicable
UCC) in the Home Equity Loans in favor of the Trustee, which security interest is prior to all
other Liens, and is enforceable as such as against creditors of and purchasers from the Depositor.

2. The Home Equity Loans constitute “general intangibles” or “instruments” within the meaning of
the applicable UCC.

3. The Collection Account and all subaccounts thereof constitute either a deposit account or a
securities account.

4. To the extent that payments and collections received or made with respect to the Home Equity
Loans constitute securities entitlements, such payments and collections have been and will have
been credited to the Collection Account. The securities intermediary for the Collection Account
has agreed to treat all assets credited to the Collection Account as “financial assets” within the
meaning of the applicable UCC.

Creation

5. The Depositor owns and has good and marketable title to the Home Equity Loans free and clear of
any Lien, claim or encumbrance of any Person, excepting only liens for taxes, assessments or
similar governmental charges or levies incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet
due and payable or as to which any applicable grace period shall not have expired, or that are
being contested in good faith by proper proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
established, but only so long as foreclosure with respect to such a lien is not imminent and the
use and value of the property to which the Lien attaches is not impaired during the pendency of
such proceeding.

6. The Depositor has received all consents and approvals to the sale of the Home Equity Loans
hereunder to the Trustee required by the terms of the Home Equity Loans that constitute
instruments.

7. To the extent the Collection Account or subaccounts thereof constitute securities entitlements,
certificated securities or uncertificated securities, the Depositor has received all consents and
approvals required to transfer to the Trustee its interest and rights in the Collection Account
hereunder.

 

 

Perfection

8. The Depositor has caused or will have caused, within ten days after the effective date of this
Agreement, the filing of all appropriate financing statements in the proper filing office in the
appropriate jurisdictions under applicable law in order to perfect the sale of the Home Equity
Loans from the Depositor to the Trustee, and the security interest in the Home Equity Loans granted
to the Trustee hereunder.

9. With respect to the Collection Account and all subaccounts that constitute deposit accounts,
either:

(i) the Depositor has delivered to the Trustee a fully-executed agreement pursuant
to which the bank maintaining the deposit accounts has agreed to comply with all
instructions originated by the Trustee directing disposition of the funds in the
Collection Account without further consent by the Depositor; or

(ii) the Depositor has taken all steps necessary to cause the Trustee to become the
account holder of the Collection Account.

10. With respect to the Collection Account or subaccounts thereof that constitute securities
accounts or securities entitlements, either:

(i) the Depositor has caused or will have caused, within ten days after the
effective date of this Agreement, the filing of all appropriate financing statements
in the proper filing office in the appropriate jurisdictions under applicable law in
order to perfect the security interest granted in the Collection Account to the
Trustee; or

(ii) the Depositor has delivered to the Trustee a fully-executed agreement pursuant
to which the securities intermediary has agreed to comply with all instructions
originated by the Trustee relating to the Collection Account without further consent
by the Depositor; or

(iii) the Depositor has taken all steps necessary to cause the securities
intermediary to identify in its records the Trustee as the person having a security
entitlement against the securities intermediary in the Collection Account.

Priority

11. Other than the transfer of the Home Equity Loans to the Trustee under the Transfer Agreement,
and the security interest granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, neither the Depositor
nor the Sellers have pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed
any of the Home Equity Loans. Neither the Depositor nor the Sellers have authorized the filing of,
or are aware of any financing statements against the Depositor or any of the Sellers that include a
description of collateral covering the Home Equity Loans other than any financing statement
relating to the security interest granted to the Trustee hereunder or that has been terminated.

 

 

12. The Depositor is not aware of any judgment, ERISA or tax lien filings against either the
Depositor or any of the Sellers.

13. To the Depositor’s knowledge, none of the instruments that constitute or evidence the Home
Equity Loans has any marks or notations indicating that they have been pledged, assigned or
otherwise conveyed to any Person other than the Trustee.

14. Neither the Collection Account nor any subaccount thereof is in the name of any person other
than the Depositor or the Trustee as trustee hereunder or in the name of its nominee. The
Depositor has not consented for the securities intermediary of the Collection Account to comply
with entitlement orders of any person other than the Trustee.

15. Survival of Perfection Representations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement or any other transaction document, the Perfection Representations contained in this
Schedule shall be continuing, and remain in full force and effect (notwithstanding any replacement
of the Servicer or termination of the Servicer’s rights to act as such) until such time as all
obligations under this Agreement have been finally and fully paid and performed.

16. No Waiver. The parties to this Agreement (i) shall not, without obtaining a
confirmation of the then-current rating of the Certificates, waive any of the Perfection
Representations, and (ii) shall provide the Rating Agencies with prompt written notice of any
breach of the Perfection Representations, and shall not, without obtaining a confirmation of the
then-current rating of the Certificates (as determined after any adjustment or withdrawal of the
ratings following notice of such breach) waive a breach of any of the Perfection Representations.

17. Servicer to Maintain Perfection and Priority. The Servicer covenants that, in order to
evidence the interests of the Depositor and the Trustee under this Agreement, the Servicer shall
take such action, or execute and deliver such instruments (other than effecting a Filing (as
defined below), unless such Filing is effected in accordance with this paragraph) as may be
necessary or advisable (including, without limitation, such actions as are requested by the
Trustee) to maintain and perfect, as a first priority interest, the Trustee’s security interest in
the Home Equity Loans. The Servicer shall, from time to time and within the time limits
established by law, prepare and present to the Trustee for the Trustee to authorize (based in
reliance on the Opinion of Counsel hereinafter provided for) the Servicer to file, all financing
statements, amendments, continuations, initial financing statements in lieu of a continuation
statement, terminations, partial terminations, releases or partial releases, or any other filings
necessary or advisable to continue, maintain and perfect the Trustee’s security interest in the
Home Equity Loans as a first-priority interest (each a “Filing”). The Servicer shall present each
such Filing to the Trustee together with (x) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such Filing
is (i) consistent with grant of the security interest to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.01 of
this Agreement, (ii) satisfies all requirements and conditions to such Filing in this Agreement and
(iii) satisfies the requirements for a Filing of such type under the Uniform Commercial Code in the
applicable jurisdiction (or if the Uniform Commercial Code does not apply, the applicable statute
governing the perfection of security interests), and (y) a form of authorization for the Trustee’s
signature. Upon receipt of such Opinion of Counsel and form of authorization, the Trustee shall
promptly authorize in writing the Servicer to, and the Servicer shall, effect such Filing under the
Uniform Commercial Code without the signature of the Depositor or the Trustee where allowed by

 

 

applicable law. Notwithstanding anything else in the transaction documents to the contrary, the
Servicer shall not have any authority to effect a Filing without obtaining written authorization
from the Trustee.

 

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF CLASS [A-1][A-2] CERTIFICATE

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO.
OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC),
ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL
INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS CERTIFICATE IS A “REGULAR INTEREST” IN A “REAL
ESTATE MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CONDUIT,” AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED, RESPECTIVELY, IN SECTIONS 860G AND
860D OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”).

A-1-1

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Certificate No.

	 	:	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Cut-Off Date

	 	:
	[	      ], 200[ ]	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	First Distribution Date

	 	:
	[	      ], 200[ ]	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Final Scheduled Distribution Date

	 	:
	[	      ], 20[ ]	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Original Certificate Principal
Balance of this Certificate
(“Denomination”)

	 	:
	$		 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Original Class Certificate Principal
Balance of this Class

	 	:
	$		 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Pass-Through Rate

	 	:
	[	                    ]%1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	CUSIP

	 	:	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Class

	 	:
	[	
A-1][A-2]	 

 

			
	1	 	Subject to the Available Funds Cap.

A-1-2

 

 

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[ ]-[ ]

[      ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[ ]-[ ]

Class [A-1[A-2]

evidencing a percentage interest in the distributions allocable to the Certificates
of the above-referenced Class with respect to a Trust consisting of [     ] fixed- or declining-rate home equity loans (the “Home Equity Loans”).

HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II, as Depositor

     Principal in respect of this Certificate is distributable monthly as set forth herein.
Accordingly, the Certificate Principal Balance of this Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate at any time may
be less than the Original Class Certificate Principal Balance set forth on the face hereof, as
described herein. This Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate does not evidence an obligation of, or an
interest in, and is not guaranteed by the Depositor, the Sellers, the Servicer, the Administrator
or the Trustee referred to below or any of their respective affiliates. Neither this Class
[A-1][A-2] Certificate nor the Home Equity Loans are guaranteed or insured by any governmental
agency or instrumentality.

     This certifies that CEDE & CO. is the registered owner of the Percentage Interest evidenced by
this Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate (obtained by dividing the principal denomination of this Class
[A-1][A-2] Certificate by the aggregate of the principal denominations of all Certificates of this
Class) in certain monthly distributions with respect to a Trust consisting primarily of the Home
Equity Loans deposited by HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II (the “Depositor”). The Trust was
created pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of [      ], 200[ ] (the
“Agreement”) among the Depositor, HSBC Finance Corporation, as Servicer (the “Servicer”), [      ], as Administrator (the “Administrator”), and [           ], as
Trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent not defined herein, the capitalized terms used herein have
the meanings assigned in the Agreement. This Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate is issued under and is
subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Agreement, to which Agreement the
Certificateholder of this Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents
and by which such Certificateholder is bound.

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as if set forth at this place.

     This Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Agreement or
be valid for any purpose unless manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the
Administrator.

A-1-3

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee has caused this Certificate to be duly executed.

Dated: [      ], 200[ ]

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	[                                 ]	 	 
	 	 	not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

This is one of the Class [A-1][A-2] Certificates

referenced in the above-mentioned Agreement

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	 	 	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	     Authorized Signatory of	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	     [                     ],	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	     as Administrator	 	 	 	 

A-1-4

 

 

[Reverse of Class [A-1][A-2] Certificate]

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[ ]-[ ]

[          ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[ ]-[ ]

     This Certificate is one of a duly authorized issue of Certificates designated as HSBC Home
Equity Loan Trust (USA) 200[ ]-[ ], [          ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,
Series 200[ ]-[ ] (herein collectively called the “Certificates”), and representing a beneficial
ownership interest in the Trust created by the Agreement.

     The Certificateholder, by its acceptance of this Certificate, agrees that it will look solely
to the funds on deposit in the Collection Account for payment hereunder and that neither the
Trustee nor the Administrator is liable to the Certificateholders for any amount payable under this
Certificate or the Agreement or, except as expressly provided in the Agreement, subject to any
liability under the Agreement.

     This Certificate does not purport to summarize the Agreement and reference is made to the
Agreement for the interests, rights and limitations of rights, benefits, obligations and duties
evidenced thereby, and the rights, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Administrator.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, a distribution will be made on the [ ]th day of each
month or, if such [ ]th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (the
“Distribution Date”), commencing on the first Distribution Date specified on the face hereof, to
the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the applicable
Record Date in an amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest evidenced by this
Certificate and the amount required to be distributed to Certificateholders of Certificates of the
Class to which this Certificate belongs on such Distribution Date pursuant to the Agreement. The
Record Date applicable to each Distribution Date is the last Business Day of the month preceding
the month in which such Distribution Date occurs.

     Distributions on this Certificate shall be made by check or money order mailed to the address
of the person entitled thereto as it appears on the Certificate Register or, upon the written
request by a Certificateholder owning Certificates having the requisite aggregate denominations or
Percentage Interests specified in the Agreement, by wire transfer or otherwise, as set forth in the
Agreement. The final distribution on each Certificate will be made in like manner, but only upon
presentment and surrender of such Certificate at the office or agency of the Administrator
specified in the notice to Certificateholders of such final distribution.

     The Agreement permits, with certain exceptions therein provided, the amendment thereof and the
modification of the rights and obligations of the Trustee and the Administrator and the rights of
the Certificateholders under the Agreement at any time by the Servicer, the Depositor, the
Administrator and the Trustee, in each case with the consent of the [Certificate Insurer and the]
Certificateholders of the requisite percentage of the Percentage Interests of each Class of

A-1-5

 

 

Certificates affected by such amendment or all classes in the case of amendments or
modifications which affect all classes, as specified in the Agreement. Any such consent by the
holder of this Certificate shall be conclusive and binding to such holder and upon all future
holders of this Certificate and of any Certificate issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent is made upon this Certificate.
The Agreement also permits the amendment thereof, in certain limited circumstances, without the
consent of the Holders of any of the Certificates.

     As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the
transfer of this Certificate is registrable in the Certificate Register of the Certificate
Registrar upon surrender of this Certificate for registration of transfer at the office or agency
maintained by the Certificate Registrar (which shall be the Corporate Trust Office if the
Administrator is the Certificate Registrar as provided in the Agreement). Every Certificate
presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the
Administrator or the Certificate Registrar) be duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrator and the Certificate Registrar duly
executed by, the Certificateholder hereof or such Certificateholder’s attorney duly authorized in
writing. Upon satisfaction of the foregoing, one or more new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest in the Trust will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Certificates are issuable only as registered Certificates without coupons in denominations
specified in the Agreement. As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Certificates are exchangeable for new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest, as requested by the
Holder surrendering the same.

     No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Administrator may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.

     The Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate Insurer,] the Administrator and the
Trustee and any agent of the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor [, the Certificate Insurer], the
Administrator or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered as
the owner hereof for all purposes, and the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate
Insurer,] the Administrator or the Trustee or any such agent shall not be affected by any notice to
the contrary.

     On any Distribution Date following the date at which the aggregate Certificate Principal
Balance is less than [ ]% of the initial aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the
Certificates, the Servicer will have the option to purchase, in whole, from the Trust the Home
Equity Loans at a purchase price determined as provided in the Agreement provided, however, if the
Servicer does not purchase all of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(a)(i) of the
Agreement within three months of the first Distribution Date upon which such purchase option

A-1-6

 

 

may occur, then the Trustee shall begin a process for soliciting bids in connection with an
auction of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(c) of the Agreement. In the event that
no such optional termination occurs, the obligations and responsibilities created by the Agreement
will terminate upon the earliest of (i) the final payment or other liquidation of the Principal
Balance of the last Home Equity Loan remaining in the Trust or the disposition of all property
acquired upon foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of any Home Equity Loan and (ii) the
Distribution Date in [          ] 20[ ]. In no event, however, will the trust created by the
Agreement continue beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of the
descendants living at the date of the Agreement of a certain person named in the Agreement.

     Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement and nothing herein shall be deemed inconsistent with that
meaning.

A-1-7

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

the Percentage Interest evidenced by the within Certificate and hereby authorizes the transfer of
the registration of such Percentage Interest to assignee on the Certificate Register of the Trust.

     I (We) further direct the Administrator to issue a new Certificate of a like denomination and
Class, to the above-named assignee and deliver such Certificate to the following address:

 

	 	  	 	 	 
	Dated:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Signature by or on behalf of assignor	 	 

A-1-8

 

 

DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS

The assignee should include the following for purposes of distribution:

Distributions shall be made, by wire transfer or otherwise, in immediately available funds to

                    ,

                    ,

                    ,

for the account of                     ,

Account number                                         , or, if mailed by check, to ___

                    .

Applicable statements should be mailed to ___

                    

                    

                    .

          This information is provided by                     ,

the assignee named above, or ,

as its agent.

A-1-9

 

 

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF CLASS [IO] CERTIFICATE

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO.
OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC),
ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL
INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS CERTIFICATE IS A “REGULAR INTEREST” IN A “REAL
ESTATE MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CONDUIT,” AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED, RESPECTIVELY, IN SECTIONS 860G AND
860D OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”).

THIS CERTIFICATE DOES NOT HAVE A CERTIFICATE PRINCIPAL BALANCE AND IS ONLY ENTITLED TO RECEIVE
CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS IN RESPECT OF INTEREST AS DESCRIBED IN THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO HEREIN.

A-2-1

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Certificate No.

	 	:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Cut-Off Date

	 	:
	 	[
	 	], 200[ ]
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	First Distribution Date

	 	:
	 	[
	 	], 200[ ]
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Final Scheduled Distribution Date

	 	:
	 	[
	 	], 20[ ]
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Original Notional Amount
of this Certificate(“Denomination”)

	 	:
	 	$	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Original Notional Amount
Balance of this Class

	 	:
	 	$	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Pass-Through Rate

	 	:
	 	[___]%	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CUSIP

	 	:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Class

	 	:
	 	[IO]	 	 

A-2-2

 

 

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[ ]-[ ]

[      ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[ ]-[ ]

Class [IO]

evidencing a percentage interest in the distributions allocable to the Certificates
of the above-referenced Class with respect to a Trust consisting of [           ] fixed- or declining-rate home equity loans (the “Home Equity Loans”)

HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II, as Depositor

     This Certificate does not have a Certificate Principal Balance and is only entitled to receive
certain distributions in respect of interest as described in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
referred to herein. This Class [IO] Certificate does not evidence an obligation of, or an interest
in, and is not guaranteed by the Depositor, the Sellers, the Servicer, the Administrator or the
Trustee referred to below or any of their respective affiliates. Neither this Class [IO]
Certificate nor the Home Equity Loans are guaranteed or insured by any governmental agency or
instrumentality.

     This certifies that CEDE & CO. is the registered owner of the Percentage Interest evidenced by
this Class [IO] Certificate (obtained by dividing the [notional amount] of this Class [IO]
Certificate by the aggregate of the notional amounts of all Certificates of this Class) in certain
monthly distributions with respect to a Trust consisting primarily of the Home Equity Loans
deposited by HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II (the “Depositor”). The Trust was created
pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of [     ], 200[ ] (the “Agreement”)
among the Depositor, HSBC Finance Corporation, as Servicer (the “Servicer”), [          ], as Administrator, and [          ], as Trustee (the “Trustee”). To the
extent not defined herein, the capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned in the
Agreement. This Class [IO] Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Agreement, to which Agreement the Certificateholder of this Class [IO]
Certificate by virtue of the acceptance hereof assents and by which such Certificateholder is
bound.

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Class [IO] Certificate set forth on
the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set
forth at this place.

     This Class [IO] Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Agreement or be
valid for any purpose unless manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the
Administrator.

A-2-3

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee has caused this Certificate to be duly executed.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated: [      ], 200[ ]
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	[
	 	          ]	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	     not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	  

	 	 	 	 	 
	This is one of the Class [IO] Certificates
referenced in the above-mentioned Agreement	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Authorized Signatory of	 	 
	 

	 	[          ],	 	 
	 

	 	as Administrator	 	 

A-2-4

 

 

[Reverse of Class [IO] Certificate]

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[ ]-[ ]

[      ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[ ]-[ ]

     This Certificate is one of a duly authorized issue of Certificates designated as HSBC Home
Equity Loan Trust (USA) 200[ ]-[ ], [      ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,
Series 200[ ]-[ ] (herein collectively called the “Certificates”), and representing a beneficial
ownership interest in the Trust created by the Agreement.

     The Certificateholder, by its acceptance of this Certificate, agrees that it will look solely
to the funds on deposit in the Collection Account for payment hereunder and that neither the
Trustee nor the Administrator is liable to the Certificateholders for any amount payable under this
Certificate or the Agreement or, except as expressly provided in the Agreement, subject to any
liability under the Agreement.

     This Certificate does not purport to summarize the Agreement and reference is made to the
Agreement for the interests, rights and limitations of rights, benefits, obligations and duties
evidenced thereby, and the rights, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Administrator.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, a distribution will be made on the [ ]th day of each
month or, if such [ ]th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (the
“Distribution Date”), commencing on the first Distribution Date specified on the face hereof, to
the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the applicable
Record Date in an amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest evidenced by this
Certificate and the amount required to be distributed to Certificateholders of Certificates of the
Class to which this Certificate belongs on such Distribution Date pursuant to the Agreement. The
Record Date applicable to each Distribution Date is the last Business Day of the month preceding
the month in which such Distribution Date occurs.

     Distributions on this Certificate shall be made by check or money order mailed to the address
of the person entitled thereto as it appears on the Certificate Register or, upon the written
request by a Certificateholder owning Certificates having the requisite aggregate denominations or
Percentage Interests specified in the Agreement, by wire transfer or otherwise, as set forth in the
Agreement. The final distribution on each Certificate will be made in like manner, but only upon
presentment and surrender of such Certificate at the office or agency of the Trustee specified in
the notice to Certificateholders of such final distribution.

     The Agreement permits, with certain exceptions therein provided, the amendment thereof and the
modification of the rights and obligations of the Trustee and the rights of the Certificateholders
under the Agreement at any time by the Servicer, the Depositor, the Administrator and the Trustee,
in each case with the consent of the [Certificate Insurer and the] Certificateholders of the
requisite percentage of the Percentage Interests of each Class of

A-2-5

 

 

Certificates affected by such amendment or all classes in the case of amendments or
modifications which affect all classes, as specified in the Agreement. Any such consent by the
holder of this Certificate shall be conclusive and binding to such holder and upon all future
holders of this Certificate and of any Certificate issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent is made upon this Certificate.
The Agreement also permits the amendment thereof, in certain limited circumstances, without the
consent of the Holders of any of the Certificates.

     As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the
transfer of this Certificate is registrable in the Certificate Register of the Certificate
Registrar upon surrender of this Certificate for registration of transfer at the office or agency
maintained by the Certificate Registrar (which shall be the Corporate Trust Office if the
Administrator is the Certificate Registrar as provided in the Agreement). Every Certificate
presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the
Administrator or the Certificate Registrar) be duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrator and the Certificate Registrar duly
executed by, the Certificateholder hereof or such Certificateholder’s attorney duly authorized in
writing. Upon satisfaction of the foregoing, one or more new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest in the Trust will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Certificates are issuable only as registered Certificates without coupons in denominations
specified in the Agreement. As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Certificates are exchangeable for new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest, as requested by the
Holder surrendering the same.

     No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Administrator may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.

     The Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate Insurer,] the Administrator and the
Trustee and any agent of the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor [, the Certificate Insurer], the
Administrator or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered as
the owner hereof for all purposes, and the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate
Insurer], the Administrator or the Trustee or any such agent shall not be affected by any notice to
the contrary.

     On any Distribution Date following the date at which the aggregate Certificate Principal
Balance is less than [ ]% of the initial aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the
Certificates, the Servicer will have the option to purchase, in whole, from the Trust the Home
Equity Loans at a purchase price determined as provided in the Agreement provided, however, if the
Servicer does not purchase all of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(a)(i) of the

A-2-6

 

 

Agreement within three months of the first Distribution Date upon which such purchase option
may occur, then the Trustee shall begin a process for soliciting bids in connection with an auction
of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(c) of the Agreement. In the event that no such
optional termination occurs, the obligations and responsibilities created by the Agreement will
terminate upon the earliest of (i) the final payment or other liquidation of the Principal Balance
of the last Home Equity Loan remaining in the Trust or the disposition of all property acquired
upon foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of any Home Equity Loan and (ii) the Distribution
Date in [      ] 20[ ]. In no event, however, will the trust created by the Agreement
continue beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of the descendants
living at the date of the Agreement of a certain person named in the Agreement.

     Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement and nothing herein shall be deemed inconsistent with that
meaning.

A-2-7

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

the Percentage Interest evidenced by the within Certificate and hereby authorizes the transfer of
the registration of such Percentage Interest to assignee on the Certificate Register of the Trust.

     I (We) further direct the Administrator to issue a new Certificate of a like denomination and
Class, to the above-named assignee and deliver such Certificate to the following address:

 

Dated:                                        

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Signature by or on behalf of assignor
	 	 

A-2-8

 

 

DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS

The assignee should include the following for purposes of distribution:

Distributions shall be made, by wire transfer or otherwise, in immediately available funds to

                    ,

                    ,

                    ,

for the account of                     ,

Account number                                         , or, if mailed by check, to ___

                    .

Applicable statements should be mailed to ___

                    

                    

                    .

     This information is provided by ___,
 the assignee named above, or ,
 as its agent.

A-2-9

 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CLASS R CERTIFICATE

SOLELY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS CERTIFICATE IS A “RESIDUAL INTEREST” IN A “REAL
ESTATE MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CONDUIT,” AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED, RESPECTIVELY, IN SECTIONS 860G AND
860D OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”).

[NEITHER THIS CERTIFICATE NOR ANY INTEREST HEREIN MAY BE TRANSFERRED UNLESS THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE
DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A TRANSFER AFFIDAVIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE POOLING AND
SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN.]

[NEITHER THIS CERTIFICATE NOR ANY INTEREST HEREIN MAY BE TRANSFERRED UNLESS THE TRANSFEREE DELIVERS
TO THE TRUSTEE EITHER (A) A REPRESENTATION LETTER TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFEREE IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED
(“ERISA”), OR A PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE NOR A PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH
PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT OR USING THE ASSETS OF ANY SUCH PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT TO EFFECT THAT TRANSFER, OR
(B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING ELSE TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO
OR ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO ERISA OR A PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE
CODE WITHOUT THE OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE TRUSTEE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE SHALL BE VOID
AND OF NO EFFECT.]

[THIS CERTIFICATE REPRESENTS THE “TAX MATTERS PERSON CERTIFICATE” ISSUED UNDER THE POOLING AND
SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON EXCEPT IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ASSUMPTION BY THE TRANSFEREE OF THE DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE UNDER SUCH
AGREEMENT.]

B-1

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	Certificate No.

	 	:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Cut-Off Date

	 	:
	 	[                     ], 200[ ]
	 
	 	 	 	 
	First Distribution Date

	 	:
	 	[                    ], 200[ ]
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Final Scheduled Distribution Date

	 	:
	 	[                     ], 20[  ]
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Original Percentage Interest of this Certificate
(“Denomination”)

	 	:
	 	$
	 
	 	 	 	 
	CUSIP

	 	:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Class

	 	:
	 	R

B-2

 

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[  ]-[  ]

[   ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[  ]-[  ]

Class R

evidencing a percentage interest in the distributions allocable to the Certificates of
the above-referenced Class with respect to a Trust consisting of [ ] fixed
or declining-rate home equity loans (the “Home Equity Loans”).

HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II, as Depositor

     This Certificate does not have a Certificate Principal Balance and is only entitled to receive
certain distributions as described in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to herein. This
Class R Certificate does not evidence an obligation of, or an interest in, and is not guaranteed by
the Depositor, the Sellers, the Servicer, the Administrator or the Trustee referred to below or any
of their respective affiliates. Neither this Class R Certificate nor the Home Equity Loans are
guaranteed or insured by any governmental agency or instrumentality.

     This certifies that [___] is the registered owner of the Percentage Interest evidenced
by this Class R Certificate in certain monthly distributions with respect to a Trust consisting
primarily of the Home Equity Loans deposited by HSBC Home Equity Loan Corporation II (the
“Depositor”). The Trust was created pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of [      ], 200[ ] (the “Agreement”) among the Depositor, HSBC Finance Corporation, as Servicer
(the “Servicer”), [            ], as Administrator (the “Administrator”), and [       ], as Trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent not defined herein, the
capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned in the Agreement. This Class R
Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the
Agreement, to which Agreement the Certificateholder of this Class R Certificate by virtue of the
acceptance hereof assents and by which such Certificateholder is bound.

     Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Class R Certificate set forth on
the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set
forth at this place.

     This Class R Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Agreement or be valid
for any purpose unless manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Administrator.

B-3

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee has caused this Certificate to be duly executed.

Dated: [          ], 200[  ]

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	[                                         ]
	 	 	not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	This is one of the Class R Certificates
referenced in the above-mentioned Agreement	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	          Authorized Signatory of	 	 
	 

	 	          [                               ],	 	 
	 

	 	          as Administrator	 	 

B-4

 

[Reverse of Class R Certificate]

HSBC HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST (USA) 200[  ]-[  ]

[      ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,

Series 200[  ]-[  ]

     This Certificate is one of a duly authorized issue of Certificates designated as HSBC Home
Equity Loan Trust (USA) 200[ ]-[ ], [       ] Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,
Series 200[ ]-[ ] (herein collectively called the “Certificates”), and representing a beneficial
ownership interest in the Trust created by the Agreement.

     The Certificateholder, by its acceptance of this Certificate, agrees that it will look solely
to the funds on deposit in the Collection Account for payment hereunder and that neither the
Trustee nor the Administrator is liable to the Certificateholders for any amount payable under this
Certificate or the Agreement or, except as expressly provided in the Agreement, subject to any
liability under the Agreement.

     This Certificate does not purport to summarize the Agreement and reference is made to the
Agreement for the interests, rights and limitations of rights, benefits, obligations and duties
evidenced thereby, and the rights, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Administrator.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, a distribution will be made on the [ ]th day of each
month or, if such [ ]th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (the
“Distribution Date”), commencing on the first Distribution Date specified on the face hereof, to
the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the applicable
Record Date in an amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest evidenced by this
Certificate and the amount required to be distributed to Certificateholders of Certificates of the
Class to which this Certificate belongs on such Distribution Date pursuant to the Agreement. The
Record Date applicable to each Distribution Date is the last Business Day of the month preceding
the month in which such Distribution Date occurs.

     Distributions on this Certificate shall be made by check or money order mailed to the address
of the person entitled thereto as it appears on the Certificate Register or, upon the written
request by a Certificateholder owning Certificates having the requisite aggregate denominations or
Percentage Interests specified in the Agreement, by wire transfer or otherwise, as set forth in the
Agreement. The final distribution on each Certificate will be made in like manner, but only upon
presentment and surrender of such Certificate at the office or agency of the Administrator
specified in the notice to Certificateholders of such final distribution.

     The Agreement permits, with certain exceptions therein provided, the amendment thereof and the
modification of the rights and obligations of the Trustee and the Administrator and the rights of
the Certificateholders under the Agreement at any time by the Servicer, the Depositor, the
Administrator and the Trustee, in each case with the consent of the [Certificate Insurer and the]
Certificateholders of the requisite percentage of the Percentage Interests of each Class of

B-5

 

Certificates affected by such amendment or all classes in the case of amendments or
modifications which affect all classes, as specified in the Agreement. Any such consent by the
holder of this Certificate shall be conclusive and binding to such holder and upon all future
holders of this Certificate and of any Certificate issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent is made upon this Certificate.
The Agreement also permits the amendment thereof, in certain limited circumstances, without the
consent of the Holders of any of the Certificates.

     As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the
transfer of this Certificate is registrable in the Certificate Register of the Certificate
Registrar upon surrender of this Certificate for registration of transfer at the office or agency
maintained by the Certificate Registrar (which shall be the Corporate Trust Office if the
Administrator is the Certificate Registrar as provided in the Agreement). Every Certificate
presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the
Administrator or the Certificate Registrar) be duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrator and the Certificate Registrar duly
executed by, the Certificateholder hereof or such Certificateholder’s attorney duly authorized in
writing. Upon satisfaction of the foregoing, one or more new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest in the Trust will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

     The Certificates are issuable only as registered Certificates without coupons in denominations
specified in the Agreement. As provided in the Agreement and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Certificates are exchangeable for new Certificates of the same Class in
authorized denominations and evidencing the same aggregate Percentage Interest, as requested by the
Holder surrendering the same.

     No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Administrator may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.

     The Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate Insurer,] the Administrator and the
Trustee and any agent of the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor [, the Certificate Insurer], the
Administrator or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Certificate is registered as
the owner hereof for all purposes, and the Sellers, the Servicer, the Depositor, [the Certificate
Insurer,] the Administrator or the Trustee or any such agent shall not be affected by any notice to
the contrary.

     On any Distribution Date following the date at which the aggregate Certificate Principal
Balance is less than [ ]% of the initial aggregate Certificate Principal Balance of the
Certificates, the Servicer will have the option to purchase, in whole, from the Trust the Home
Equity Loans at a purchase price determined as provided in the Agreement provided, however, if the
Servicer does not purchase all of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(a)(i) of the

B-6

 

Agreement within three months of the first Distribution Date upon which such purchase option
may occur, then the Trustee shall begin a process for soliciting bids in connection with an auction
of the Home Equity Loans pursuant to Section 10.01(c) of the Agreement. In the event that no such
optional termination occurs, the obligations and responsibilities created by the Agreement will
terminate upon the earliest of (i) the final payment or other liquidation of the Principal Balance
of the last Home Equity Loan remaining in the Trust or the disposition of all property acquired
upon foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of any Home Equity Loan and (ii) the Distribution
Date in [       ] 20[ ]. In no event, however, will the trust created by the Agreement continue
beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of the descendants living at
the date of the Agreement of a certain person named in the Agreement.

     Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Agreement shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement and nothing herein shall be deemed inconsistent with that
meaning.

B-7

 

ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

	 	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 
	 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

the Percentage Interest evidenced by the within Certificate and hereby authorizes the transfer of
the registration of such Percentage Interest to assignee on the Certificate Register of the Trust.

     I (We) further direct the Administrator to issue a new Certificate of a like denomination and
Class, to the above-named assignee and deliver such Certificate to the following address:

	 	 
	 

Dated:                    

	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Signature by or on behalf of assignor

B-8

 

DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS

The assignee should include the following for purposes of distribution:

Distributions shall be made, by wire transfer or otherwise, in immediately available funds to

                    ,

                    ,

                    ,

for the account of                     ,

Account number                                         , or, if mailed by check, to ___

                    .

Applicable statements should be mailed to ___

                    

                    

                    .

     This information is provided by                     ,

the assignee named above, or ,
as its agent.

B-9

 

EXHIBIT C

CLASS [IO] NOTIONAL AMOUNT

	 	 	 
	Distribution Date	 	Notional Amount
	 

	 	 
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    
	                     20___

	 	$                    

C-1

 

EXHIBIT D

HOME EQUITY LOAN SCHEDULE

D-1

 

EXHIBIT E

FORM OF TRANSFER AFFIDAVIT

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	STATE OF

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	)	 	 	ss.:	 	 
	COUNTY OF

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

     The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and says as follows:

     1. The undersigned is an officer of                     , the proposed transferee of an ownership
interest in a Class R Certificate (the “Certificate”) issued pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement dated as of                     , 20___(the “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”) among HSBC Home Equity
Loan Corporation II, as Depositor, HSBC Finance Corporation, as Servicer,                     , as
Administrator, and                     , as Trustee. Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement. The transferee has authorized the
undersigned to make this affidavit on behalf of the transferee.

     2. The transferee is not an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of ERISA or to
section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, nor is it acting on behalf of or with plan
assets of any such plan. The transferee is, as of the date hereof, and will be, as of the date of
the transfer, a Permitted Transferee. The transferee will endeavor to remain a Permitted
Transferee for so long as it retains its ownership interest in the Certificate. The transferee is
acquiring its ownership interest in the Certificate for its own account.

     3. The transferee has been advised of, and understands that (i) a tax will be imposed on
Transfers of the Certificate to Persons that are not Permitted Transferees; (ii) such tax will be
imposed on the transferor, or, if such transfer is through an agent (which includes a broker,
nominee or middleman) for a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee, on the agent; and (iii) the
Person otherwise liable for the tax shall be relieved of liability for the tax if the subsequent
transferee furnished to such Person an affidavit that such subsequent transferee is a Permitted
Transferee and, at the time of transfer, such Person does not have actual knowledge that the
affidavit is false.

     4. The transferee has been advised of, and understands that a tax will be imposed on a
“pass-through entity” holding the Certificate if at any time during the taxable year of the
pass-through entity a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee is the record holder of an interest
in such entity. The transferee understands that such tax will not be imposed for any period with
respect to which the record holder furnishes to the pass-through entity an affidavit that such
record holder is a Permitted Transferee and the pass-through entity does not have actual knowledge
that such affidavit is false. (For this purpose, a “pass-through entity” includes a regulated
investment company, a real estate investment trust or common trust fund, a

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partnership, trust or estate, and certain cooperatives and, except as may be provided in
Treasury Regulations, persons holding interests in pass-through entities as a nominee for another
Person.)

     5. The transferee has reviewed the provisions of Section 6.02(i) of the Agreement
(incorporated herein by reference) and understands the legal consequences of the acquisition of an
ownership interest in the Certificate including, without limitation, the restrictions on subsequent
transfers and the provisions regarding voiding the transfer and mandatory sales. The transferee
expressly agrees to be bound by and to abide by the provisions of Section 6.02(i) of the Agreement
and the restrictions noted on the face of the Certificate. The transferee understands and agrees
that any breach of any of the representations included herein shall render the transfer to the
transferee contemplated hereby null and void.

     6. The transferee agrees to require a Transfer Affidavit from any Person to whom the
transferee attempts to transfer its ownership interest in the Certificate, and in connection with
any transfer by a Person for whom the transferee is acting as nominee, trustee or agent, and the
transferee will not transfer its ownership interest or cause any ownership interest to be
Transferred to any Person that the transferee knows is not a Permitted transferee. In connection
with any such transfer by the transferee, the transferee agrees to deliver to the Trustee a
certificate to the effect that such transferee has no actual knowledge that the Person to which the
transfer is to be made is not a Permitted Transferee.

     7. The transferee does not have the intention to impede the assessment or collection of any
tax legally required to be paid with respect to the Class R Certificates.

     8. The transferee’s taxpayer identification number is                     .

     9. The transferee is a U.S. Person as defined in Code section 7701(a)(30).

     10. [The transferee is aware that the Class R Certificates may be “noneconomic residual
interests” within the meaning of proposed Treasury regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code and
that the transferor of a noneconomic residual interest will remain liable for any taxes due with
respect to the income on such residual interest, unless no significant purpose of the transfer was
to impede the assessment or collection of tax. In addition, as the holder of a noneconomic
residual interest, the transferee may incur tax liabilities in excess of any cash flows generated
by the interest and the transferee hereby represents that it intends to pay taxes associated with
holding the residual interest as they become due.]

     11. The transferee has provided financial statements or other financial information requested
by the transferor in connection with the transfer of the Class R Certificates to permit the
transferor to assess the financial capability of the transferee to pay such taxes.

* * *

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the transferee has caused this instrument to be executed on its behalf,
pursuant to authority of its Board of Directors, by its duly authorized officer and its corporate
seal to be hereunto affixed, duly attested, this ___day of ___, 20___.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	[NAME OF TRANSFEREE]

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

[Corporate Seal]

ATTEST:

_________________________

[Assistant] Secretary

     Personally appeared before me the above-named                     , known or proved to me to be the
same person who executed the foregoing instrument and to be the                      of the transferee, and
acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed and the free act and deed of the
transferee.

     Subscribed and sworn before me this ___day of                     , 20___.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	NOTARY PUBLIC	 	 
	 

	 	My Commission expires the ___day of	 	 
	 

	 	, 20___.	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

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[EXHIBIT F

FORM OF CERTIFICATE INSURANCE POLICY]

F-1

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