Document:

Form of Master Repurchase Agreement

 Exhibit 10.7.1 
  
 Form of Master Repurchase Agreement 
  
 Dated as of
[                ], 200[  ] 
  
 AMONG: 
  
 [                                ], as buyer
(“Buyer”, which term shall include any “Principal” as defined and provided for in Annex I), or as agent pursuant hereto (“Agent”); 
  

NovaStar Mortgage, Inc. (“NMI”), as seller; and NovaStar Assets Corp. (“NAC”), as seller ( NMI and NAC, each a Seller and
collectively, jointly and severally, the “Sellers”). 
  

	1.	APPLICABILITY 

  
 Buyer shall, from time to time, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, agree to enter into transactions in which the related Seller transfers to
Buyer Eligible Assets against the transfer of funds by Buyer, with a simultaneous agreement by Buyer to transfer to the related Seller such Purchased Assets at a date certain, against the transfer of funds by the related Seller. Each such
transaction shall be referred to herein as a “Transaction”, and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, shall be governed by this Agreement. 
  

	2.	DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 

  
 a. Defined Terms. 
  
 “Additional Purchased Assets” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 6(a) hereof. 
  
 “Adjusted Tangible Net Worth” means shall mean at any date:

  
 (a) Book Net Worth, minus 
  
 (b) The sum of (1) all assets which would be classified as
intangible assets of NFI and its consolidated Subsidiaries under GAAP (except purchased and capitalized value of servicing rights), including, without limitation, goodwill (whether representing the excess cost over book value of assets acquired or
otherwise), patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, franchises and deferred charges (including, without limitation, unamortized debt discount and expense, organization costs and research and product development costs) plus (2) all receivables
from directors, officers and shareholders of NFI and its consolidated Subsidiaries, minus 
  
 (c) The amount of unrealized gains on debt securities (as defined in FASB 115) of NFI and any Subsidiaries of NFI Holding, plus

  

 (d) The amount of unrealized losses on debt securities (as defined in FASB 115) of NFI
and any Subsidiaries of NFI Holding. 
  
 Provided that in all
cases such amounts shall be determined by combining the relevant figures for NFI and for NFI Holding and its consolidated Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, as accounted for under the equity method. 
  
 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any
other Person controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting equity, by contract or otherwise. 
  
 “Agent” means
[                                ] or any successor. 
  
 “Agreement” means this Master Repurchase Agreement, as it
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. 
  
 “Asset-Backed Security” shall mean either (i) a certificate issued under a Trust Agreement representing 100% ownership of a Delaware business trust that has issued bonds secured by a pool of Mortgage Assets originated in
accordance with the Underwriting Standards of the applicable Affiliate of the related Seller or (ii) a subordinated bond issued by a Delaware business trust that has issued bonds under an Indenture secured by a pool of Mortgage Assets originated in
accordance with the Underwriting Standards of the applicable affiliate of the related Seller. 
  
 “Book Net Worth” shall mean the excess of total assets of NFI and its consolidated Subsidiaries over Total Liabilities of NFI and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP (or
such non-GAAP principles as may be disclosed to and approved by Buyer from time to time). 
  
 “Breakage Costs” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(c) herein. 
  
 “Business Day” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day upon which the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York is obligated by law or executive order to be closed. 
  
 “Buyer’s Margin Amount” means, with respect to any Transaction as of any date of determination, the amount obtained by application of Buyer’s Margin Percentage to the Repurchase Price for
such Transaction as of such date. 
  
 “Buyer’s Margin
Percentage” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Side Letter. 
  
 “Change in Control” shall mean the acquisition (excluding any conversion of convertible preferred stock to common stock) by any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of outstanding shares of voting stock of the Guarantor at any time if after giving effect to such acquisition such
Person or Persons owns fifty percent (50%) or more of such outstanding voting stock. 
  

 2 

 “Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of
this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by Buyer (or any Affiliate of Buyer) with any request,
guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement. 
  
 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
  
 “Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8 hereof. 
  
 “Combined Aggregate Purchase Price” means
$[                    ]. 
  
 “Confirmation” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4(b) hereof. 
  
 “Default” means any event that, with the giving of notice or
the passage of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default. 
  
 “Default Rate” means, as of any date of determination, the lesser of (i) the Pricing Rate plus 4% and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. 
  
 “Effective Date” shall mean the date set forth on the top of the first page of this Agreement. 

 
 “Eligible Asset” shall mean each Eligible Rated
Certificate, Eligible NIM Bond and each Eligible Residual with respect to which each of the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit C hereto is accurate and complete as of the date of the related Confirmation (and the related
Seller by including any security in any such Transaction shall be deemed to make such representations and warranties to Buyer at and as of the date of such Transaction). 
  
 “Eligible NIM Bond” shall mean a net interest margin security arising from future securitizations of the
related Seller’s NIM securities rated investment grade by at least two rating agencies; provided, however, that all rated securities registered for public sale shall not be deemed an Eligible NIM Bond until the expiration of any
applicable SEC-mandated “cooling off’ period. 
  
 “Eligible Rated Certificate” shall mean the AAA rated Class AIO and AAA rated P Certificates arising from future securitizations of the related Seller’s originated first-lien and second-lien home equity loans to
sub-prime borrowers deemed to be eligible by Buyer in its sole and absolute discretion or such other similar securities arising from future securitizations deemed to be eligible by Buyer in its sole and absolute discretion; provided,
however, that all rated securities registered for public sale shall not be deemed an Eligible Rated Certificate until the expiration of any applicable SEC-mandated “cooling off’ period. 
  
 “Eligible Residuals” shall mean residual certificates
arising from future securitizations of the related Seller’s originated first-lien and second-lien home equity loans to sub-prime borrowers, which residuals are actively being marketed for inclusion in a net interest margin security and which
residual certificates are deemed to be eligible by Buyer in its sole and absolute discretion; provided, however, that any residual certificate shall cease to be an Eligible Residual if the Purchase Price with respect to such residual
certificate, when added to the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to all 

  

 3 

 
residual certificates subject to Transactions, exceeds
$[                    ] of the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price; provided, further, that any residual certificate shall cease to be an
Eligible Residual if the such residual has been subject to Transactions for greater than 90 days. 
  
 “Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 18 hereof. 
  
 “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America in effect from time to time. 
  
 “Governing Agreement” shall mean with respect to any Purchased Asset, the pooling and servicing agreement, indenture or similar agreement. 
  
 “Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision
thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions over any Seller. 
  
 “Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other
Person or in any manner providing for the payment of any Indebtedness of any other Person. 
  
 “Guarantors” means NFI Holding Corp. and NFI. 
  
 “Guaranty” means the Guaranty of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, in favor of the Buyer, dated as of
[                ,         ]. 
  
 “Income” means, with respect to any Purchased Asset at any time, any principal thereof and all interest, dividends and other collections
and distributions thereon, but not including any commitment nor origination fees. 
  
 “Indebtedness” shall mean, for any Person: (a) all obligations for borrowed money; (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of Property or services, other than
trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable and paid within ninety (90) days of the date the respective goods
are delivered or the respective services are rendered; (c) indebtedness of others secured by a lien on the Property of such Person, whether or not the respective indebtedness so secured has been assumed by such Person; (d) obligations (contingent or
otherwise) of such Person in respect of letters of credit or similar instruments issued for account of such Person; (e) capital lease obligations of such Person; (f) obligations of such Person under repurchase agreements or like arrangements; (g)
indebtedness of others guaranteed on a recourse basis by such Person; (h) all obligations of such Person incurred in connection with the acquisition or carrying of fixed assets by such Person; (i) indebtedness of general partnerships of which such
Person is a general partner; and (j) any other contingent liabilities of such Person. 
  
 “Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, including all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
  

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 “LIBOR” shall mean, for each day of a Transaction, a rate based on the offered rates of
the Reference Banks for one-month U.S. dollar deposits, as determined by the Buyer for the related Purchase Date. 
  
 “Margin Call” As defined in Section 6(a). 
  
 “Margin Deficit” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 6(a) hereof. 
  
 “Market Value” means (i) with respect to any Purchased Asset
that is an Eligible Asset, as of any date of determination, the value ascribed to such asset by Buyer in its sole discretion, and (ii) with respect to a Purchased Asset that is not an Eligible Asset, zero. 
  
 “Master Security and Netting Agreement” means the Master
Security and Netting Agreement dated as of [                ,         ] among Buyer and certain Affiliates and the Guarantors and
certain Affiliates as it may be further amended from time to time. 
  
 “Material Adverse Change” means, with respect to a Person, any material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects taken as a whole or prospects of
such Person. 
  
 “Material Adverse Effect” means
(a) a Material Adverse Change with respect to a Guarantor or a Guarantor and its Affiliates that are party to any Program Document taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of a Guarantor or any Affiliate that is a party to any
Program Document to perform under any Program Document and to avoid any Event of Default; (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Program Document against a Guarantor or any Affiliate that
is a party to any Program Document; or (d) a material adverse effect upon the value or marketability of a material portion of the Purchased Assets. 
  
 “Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price” means as of any date of determination the difference between (a)
$[            ], minus (b) the positive difference (if any) of (i) $[            ] minus (ii) the aggregate outstanding purchase
price under the [        ] Master Repurchase Agreement. 
  
 “Mortgage Assets” shall mean home equity loans or mortgage loans originated by an affiliate of a Seller. 
  
 “Non-Seller Affiliate” means an Affiliate of any Seller or
Guarantor that is not, itself, a Seller or Guarantor. 
  
 “Notice Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4 hereof. 
  
 “NFI” means NovaStar Financial, Inc. and its permitted successors and assigns. 
  
 “NFI Holding” means NFI Holding Corp. and its permitted
successors and assigns. 
  
 “Obligations” means
(a) all of Sellers’ and Guarantors’ obligation to pay the Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Date, and other obligations and liabilities of Sellers and Guarantors, to Buyer or its Affiliates arising under, or in connection with, the
Program Documents or otherwise, 

  

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whether now existing or hereafter arising; (b) any and all sums paid by Buyer or on behalf of Buyer pursuant to the Program Documents in order to preserve
any Purchased Asset or its interest therein; (c) in the event of any proceeding for the collection or enforcement of any of Seller’s or Guarantors’ indebtedness, obligations or liabilities referred to in clause (a), the reasonable expenses
of retaking, holding, collecting, preparing for sale, selling or otherwise disposing of or realizing on any Purchased Asset, or of any exercise by Buyer or such Affiliate of its rights under the related agreements, including without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and court costs; and (d) all of Sellers’ and Guarantors’ obligations to Buyer or any other Person pursuant to the Program Documents. 
  
 “Person” shall mean any legal person, including any
individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or other entity of similar nature. 
  
 “Price Differential” means, with respect to each Transaction
as of any date, the aggregate amount obtained by daily application of the Pricing Rate for such Transaction to the Purchase Price on a 360-day-per-year basis for the actual number of days during the period commencing on (and including) the Purchase
Date and ending on (but excluding) the date of determination (reduced by any amount of such Price Differential in respect of such period previously paid by the related Seller to Buyer) with respect to such Transaction. 
  
 “Pricing Margin” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Side Letter. 
  
 “Pricing Rate” means the per
annum percentage rate for determination of the Price Differential as set forth in Section 3(b) hereof or as otherwise set forth in the Side Letter. 
  
 “Prime Rate” means the daily prime loan rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal or if more than one rate is published, the highest of
such rates. 
  
 “Principal” shall have the
meaning given to it in Annex I. 
  
 “Program
Documents” means this Agreement, the Master Security and Netting Agreement, the Guaranty, the Side Letter, the Swap Agreement and any other agreement entered into by any of the Sellers and/or a Guarantor, on the one hand, and Buyer or one
of its Affiliates on the other, in connection herewith or therewith. 
  
 “Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible. 
  
 “Purchase Date” means the date on which Purchased Assets are to be transferred by the related Seller to
Buyer. 
  
 ”Purchase Price” shall have the
meaning assigned thereto in the Side Letter. 
  
 “Purchase
Price Percentage” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Side Letter. 
  

 6 

 “Purchased Assets” means, with respect to a Transaction, the securities, together with
the related Records and other Collateral, and all instruments, chattel paper, and general intangibles comprising or relating to all of the foregoing. The term “Purchased Assets” with respect to any Transaction at any time also shall
include Additional Purchased Assets delivered pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof. 
  
 “Records” means all instruments, agreements and other books, records, and reports and data generated by other media for the storage of information maintained by the related Seller or any other person
or entity with respect to a Purchased Asset. Records shall include the certificates with respect to any Purchased Asset and any other instruments necessary to document or service a Purchased Asset. 
  
 “Reference Banks” mean any leading banks selected by the
Agent which are engaged in transactions in Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurocurrency market with an established place of business in London. 
  
 “REMIC” means a “real estate mortgage investment conduit” within the meaning of Section 860D of the Code. 
  
 “Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3(b) and shall also include the date determined by application of Section 19. 
  
 “Repurchase Price” means the price at which Purchased Assets are to be transferred from Buyer to the related Seller upon termination of a Transaction, which will be determined in each case (including
Transactions terminable upon demand) as the sum of the Purchase Price and the Price Differential as of the date of such determination. 
  
 “Required Equity” shall mean, with respect to the Guarantors (and its consolidated Subsidiaries) (together, the “Companies”),
the sum of the dollar amounts calculated after multiplying the amount determined by combining the relevant figures for the Guarantors and their consolidated Subsidiaries for each asset class set forth in the table below (or if such asset class is
owned by NFI or a consolidated Subsidiary but cannot be determined by combining the relevant figures for the Guarantors and their consolidated Subsidiaries, the fair market value thereof as calculated by the Companies subject, however, to the
approval of the Buyer which will not be unreasonably withheld) by the Percentage Multipliers set forth opposite such asset class in the table below: 
  

				
	 Asset Class

	  	Percentage
Multiplier

	 
	 Cash
	  	0	%
		
	 Performing Warehouse Mortgage Loans including Accrued Interest Receivable
	  	5	%
		
	 AAA-Rated I/O and Prepay (P) Certificates booked on-B/S
	  	25	%
		
	 Residuals from whole loan securitizations (including 1999-1)
	  	50	%

  

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	 Asset Class

	  	Percentage
Multiplier

	 
	 Residuals from NIM/CAPS
	  	100	%
		
	 Non-rated subordinate bonds (i.e. class O from 2002-2)
	  	100	%
		
	 BBB-Rated Mortgage-Backed Securities
	  	25	%
		
	 BB-Rated Mortgage-Backed Securities
	  	50	%
		
	 Agency Securities
	  	3	%
		
	 Servicing Agreements (Mortgage Servicing Rights)
	  	35	%
		
	 Servicing Advances
	  	15	%
		
	 REO + Non-performing (90+ & foreclosures from bond collateral calls)
	  	35	%
		
	 Other assets
 -        Hedging Agreements (Value of reserves that are not reflected in Marks to Market that impact equity)
 -        All Other Assets (all else remaining - including Other Receivables &
PP&E)
	  	100
35	%
%
		
	 Intangible Assets
	  	100	%

  
 “SEC”
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. 
  
 “Servicer” shall mean the designated servicer under each Servicing Agreement. 
  
 “Servicing Agreement” shall mean any servicing agreement pursuant to which any Mortgage Assets are serviced. 
  
 “Side Letter” means the Pricing Side Letter, dated as of
July             , 2003, among the Sellers, Guarantors and Buyer. 
  
 “Structuring Fee” shall be equal to (a) [  ] basis points
([            ]%), multiplied by (b) the Combined Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price and shall be payable pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Agreement. 
  
 “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, partnership or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions of such corporation, partnership or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time securities or other ownership interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership or other entity shall have or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any 

  

 8 

 
contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person. 
  
 “Substitute
Assets” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 16(a). 
  
 “Swap Agreement” means the swap agreement between
[                                ] and NovaStar Entities. 
  
 “Termination Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 27. 
  
 “Total Liabilities” shall mean
total liabilities of NFI and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP (or with such non-GAAP principles as may be disclosed to and approved by Buyer from time to time). 
  
 “Transaction” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.

  
 “Transaction Notice” means a written request
of the related Seller to enter into a Transaction, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B which is delivered to Buyer. 
  
 “Trust Agreement” shall mean each of the trust agreements pursuant to which an Asset-Backed Security has been issued. 
  
 “Trustee” shall mean, as applicable, the entity designated
as such pursuant to each Trust Agreement. 
  
 “Underwriting Standards” means NMI’s underwriting guidelines in effect as of the date of this Agreement as the same may be amended from time to time. 
  
 “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in the State of
New York or the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction. 
  
 “[        ] Master Repurchase Agreement” means that certain Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2001, among Buyer, NFI Repurchase Corporation,
and NMI Repurchase Corporation, [as amended from time to time]. 
  
 b. Interpretation. 
  
 Headings are for convenience only
and do not affect interpretation. The following rules of this subsection (b) apply unless the context requires otherwise. The singular includes the plural and conversely. A gender includes all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined, its other
grammatical forms have a corresponding meaning. A reference to a subsection, Section, Annex or Exhibit is, unless otherwise specified, a reference to a Section of, or annex or exhibit to, this Agreement. A reference to a party to this Agreement or
another agreement or document includes the party’s successors and permitted substitutes or assigns. A reference to an agreement or document is to the agreement or document as amended, modified, novated, supplemented or replaced, except to the
extent prohibited by any Program Document. A reference to legislation or to a provision of 

  

 9 

 
legislation includes a modification or re-enactment of it, a legislative provision substituted for it and a regulation or statutory instrument issued under
it. A reference to writing includes a facsimile transmission and any means of reproducing words in a tangible and permanently visible form. A reference to conduct includes, without limitation, an omission, statement or undertaking, whether or not in
writing. An Event of Default subsists until it has been waived in writing by the Buyer or has been timely cured. The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular provision of this Agreement. The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.” In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word
“from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and including.” This Agreement may use several
different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms. Unless the context otherwise clearly
requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed, and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. References herein to “fiscal year”
and “fiscal quarter” refer to such fiscal periods of the related Seller. Except where otherwise provided in this Agreement any determination, statement or certificate by the Buyer or an authorized officer of the Buyer provided for in this
Agreement is conclusive and binds the parties in the absence of manifest error. A reference to an agreement includes a security interest, guarantee, agreement or legally enforceable arrangement whether or not in writing. A reference to a document
includes an agreement (as so defined) in writing or a certificate, notice, instrument or document, or any information recorded in computer disk form. Where the related Seller or a Guarantor is required to provide any document to the Buyer under the
terms of this Agreement, the relevant document shall be provided in writing or printed form unless the Buyer requests otherwise. At the request of the Buyer, the document shall be provided in computer disk form or both printed and computer disk
form. This Agreement is the result of negotiations among and has been reviewed by counsel to the Buyer, Guarantors and the Sellers, and is the product of all parties. In the interpretation of this Agreement, no rule of construction shall apply to
disadvantage one party on the ground that such party proposed or was involved in the preparation of any particular provision of this Agreement or this Agreement itself. Except where otherwise expressly stated, the Buyer may give or withhold, or give
conditionally, approvals and consents, and may form opinions and make determinations at its absolute discretion. Any requirement of good faith, discretion or judgment by the Buyer shall not be construed to require Buyer to request or await receipt
of information or documentation not immediately available from or with respect to the related Seller, a Guarantor, a servicer of the Purchased Assets, any other Person or the Purchased Assets themselves. 
  

	3.	THE TRANSACTIONS 

  
 a. The related Seller shall repurchase Purchased Assets from Buyer on each related Repurchase Date. each obligation to repurchase subsists without regard
to any prior or intervening liquidation or foreclosure with respect to each Purchased Asset. The related Seller is obligated to obtain the Purchased Assets from Buyer or its designee at the related Seller’s expense on (or after) the related
Repurchase Date. 
  
 b. Provided that the applicable conditions in
Sections 9(a) and (b) have been satisfied, each Purchased Asset that is repurchased by the related Seller on the 25th day of each month (or, if 

  

 10 

 
such 25th day is not a Business Day, the immediately following Business Day) following the related initial Purchase Date (the day of the month so determined
for each month, or any other date designated by the related Seller to Buyer for such a repurchase on at least one Business Day’s prior notice to Buyer, a “Repurchase Date”, which term shall also include the date determined by
application of Section 19) shall automatically become subject to a new Transaction unless Buyer is notified by the related Seller at least one (1) Business Day prior to any Repurchase Date, provided that if the Repurchase Date so determined is later
than the Termination Date, the Repurchase Date for such Transaction shall automatically reset the Termination Date, and the provisions of this sentence as it might relate to a new Transaction shall expire on such date for each new Transaction,
unless otherwise agreed, (y) the accrued and unpaid Price Differential shall be settled in cash on each related Repurchase Date, and (z) the Pricing Rate shall be as set forth in the Side Letter. 
  
 c. If the related Seller repurchases Purchased Assets on any day which is not
a Repurchase Date for such Purchased Assets, the related Seller shall indemnify Buyer and hold Buyer harmless from any losses, costs and/or expenses which Buyer may sustain or incur arising from the reemployment of funds obtained by Buyer hereunder
or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained (“Breakage Costs”), in each case for the remainder of the applicable 30 day period. Buyer shall deliver to the related Seller a statement setting forth the
amount and basis of determination of any Breakage Costs in such detail as determined in good faith by Buyer to be adequate, it being agreed that such statement and the method of its calculation shall be adequate and shall be conclusive and binding
upon the related Seller, absent manifest error. This Section shall survive termination of this Agreement and the repurchase of all Purchased Assets subject to Transactions hereunder. 
  

	4.	ENTERING INTO TRANSACTIONS, TRANSACTION NOTICE CONFIRMATIONS 

  
 a. Under the terms and conditions of the Program Documents, Buyer hereby agrees to enter into Transactions with a Purchase Price up to the Maximum
Aggregate Purchase Price. Unless otherwise agreed, the related Seller shall give Buyer notice of any proposed Purchase Date prior to 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the preceding Business Day (the date on which such notice is so given, the
“Notice Date”). On the Notice Date, the related Seller or a Guarantor shall request that Buyer enter into a Transaction by furnishing to Buyer a Transaction Notice. 
  
 b. In the event that the parties hereto desire to enter into a Transaction on terms other than as set forth herein, the
parties shall execute a “Confirmation” specifying such terms prior to entering into such Transaction. Any such Confirmation and the related Transaction Notice, together with this Agreement, shall constitute conclusive evidence of the terms
agreed between Buyer and the related Seller with respect to the Transaction to which the Confirmation relates. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and a Confirmation, the terms of the Confirmation shall control with respect to the
related Transaction. 
  

	5.	PAYMENT AND TRANSFER 

  
 Unless otherwise agreed, all transfers of funds hereunder shall be in immediately available funds and all Purchased Assets transferred shall be
transferred to the Buyer. Any Repurchase Price or Price Differential received by Buyer after 12:00 noon New York City time shall be applied on the next succeeding Business Day. 
  

 11 

	6.	MARGIN MAINTENANCE 

  
 a. If at any time the aggregate Market Value of all Purchased Assets subject to all Transactions is less than the aggregate Buyer’s Margin Amount for
all such Transactions (a “Margin Deficit”), then Buyer may by notice to the related Seller require the related Seller in such Transactions to transfer to Buyer, either cash or additional Eligible Assets acceptable to Buyer in its sole
discretion (“Additional Purchased Assets”), so that the cash and aggregate Market Value of the Purchased Assets, including any such Additional Purchased Assets, will thereupon equal or exceed such aggregate Buyer’s Margin Amount (such
requirement, a “Margin Call”). 
  
 b. Notice required
pursuant to Section 6(a) may be given by any means provided in Section 35 hereof. Any notice given before 11:00 a.m. New York time on a Business Day shall be met, and the related Margin Call satisfied, no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on such
Business Day; notice given after 11:00 a.m. New York time on a Business Day shall be met, and the related Margin Call satisfied, no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on the following Business Day. The failure of Buyer, on any one or more occasions,
to exercise its rights hereunder, shall not change or alter the terms and conditions to which this Agreement is subject or limit the right of Buyer to do so at a later date. The related Seller, each Guarantor and Buyer each agree that a failure or
delay by Buyer to exercise its rights hereunder shall not limit or waive Buyer’s rights under this Agreement or otherwise existing by law or in any way create additional rights for the related Seller or any Guarantor. 
  

	7.	INCOME PAYMENTS 

  
 Where a particular term of a Transaction extends over the date on which Income is paid in respect of any Purchased Assets subject to that Transaction,
such Income shall be the property of Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer agrees that prior to the occurrence of a Default, the related Seller shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to all Income received, whether by the Guarantor,
Buyer or any servicer or any other Person, which is not otherwise received by the related Seller, in respect of the Purchased Assets; provided, however, that any income received by or on behalf of the related Seller while the related Transaction is
outstanding shall be deemed held by the related Seller solely in trust for Buyer pending the repurchase on the related Repurchase Date. 
  
 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, with respect to each NIM security that becomes subject to Transactions on any Purchase Date on
which the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price with respect to NIM securities (after giving effect to such Transaction) is greater than
$[                    ], all Income with respect to such NIM security shall be held by the Buyer. Any such Income received by the related Seller (or
its Affiliate) with respect to such NIM security shall be remitted by the related Seller to the Buyer within one (1) Business Day of receipt. All such Income received by the Buyer with respect to any such NIM security prior to a Repurchase Date
shall be applied on such Repurchase Date as follows: (i) first, to satisfy any fees or expenses owed to the Buyer under the Program Documents, (iii) second, to satisfy any accrued but unpaid Price Differential, (iii) third, to pay the Repurchase
Price owed to Buyer in connection with each Transaction terminating on such Repurchase Date (unless, and to the extent, such Transaction is automatically subject to a new Transaction pursuant to Section 3(b)), and (iv) fourth, to reduce the 

  

 12 

 
amount, if any, to be transferred to Buyer by the related Seller upon termination of all Transactions hereunder. 
  

	8.	SECURITY INTEREST 

  
 The related Seller and Buyer intend that the Transactions hereunder be sales to Buyer of the Purchased Assets and not loans from Buyer to the related
Seller secured by the Purchased Assets. However, in order to preserve Buyer’s rights under this Agreement in the event that a court or other forum recharacterizes the Transactions hereunder as other than sales, and as security for the related
Seller’s performance of all of its Obligations, the related Seller hereby grants Buyer a fully perfected first priority security interest in the following property, whether now existing or hereafter acquired: the Purchased Assets, the related
Records, the contractual right to receive payments, including the right to payments of principal and interest and the right to enforce such payments arising from or under any of the Purchased Assets, the contractual right to service or arrange for
the servicing of each Mortgage Asset to the extent, if any, the related Seller has such rights, any servicing agreements with respect to each Mortgage Asset, including the rights of the related Seller, if any, under any Servicing Agreements to the
extent such rights under the Servicing Agreements are assignable by the related Seller, and any proceeds and distributions with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively the “Collateral”). 
  

	9.	CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 

  
 a. As conditions precedent to the initial Transaction, Buyer shall have received on or before the day of such initial Transaction the following, in form
and substance satisfactory to Buyer and duly executed by each party thereto: 
  
 (i) The Program Documents duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto and being in full force and effect, free of any modification, breach or waiver; 
  
 (ii) Evidence that all other actions necessary or, in the
opinion of Buyer, desirable to perfect and protect Buyer’s interest in the Purchased Assets and other Collateral have been taken, including, without limitation, duly executed and filed Uniform Commercial Code financing statements on Form UCC-1;

  
 (iii) A certified copy of each Seller’s
and each Guarantor’s consents or corporate resolutions, as applicable, approving the Program Documents and Transactions thereunder (either specifically or by general resolution), and all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action or
governmental approvals as may be required in connection with the Program Documents; 
  
 (iv) An incumbency certificate of the secretaries of each Seller and each Guarantor certifying the names, true signatures and titles of
each Seller’s and each Guarantor’s representatives duly authorized to request Transactions hereunder and to execute the Program Documents and the other documents to be delivered thereunder; 
  

 13 

 (v) An opinion of each Seller’s and each Guarantor’s counsel as to such matters
as Buyer (including, without limitation, a security interest opinion), may reasonably request and in form and substance acceptable to Buyer, including ; 
  
 (vi) A copy of the Underwriting Standards certified by an officer of NMI; 
  
 (vii) The Guaranty; 
  
 (viii) All of the conditions precedent in the Guaranty shall have been satisfied; and 
  
 (ix) Any other documents reasonably requested by Buyer.

  
 b. The obligation of Buyer to enter into each Transaction
pursuant to this Agreement is subject to the following conditions precedent: 
  
 (i) Buyer or its designee shall have received on or before the day of a Transaction with respect to such Purchased Assets (unless otherwise specified in this Agreement) the following, in form and substance
satisfactory to Buyer and (if applicable) duly executed: 
  

	 	(A)	Transaction Notice delivered pursuant to Section 4(a); 

  

	 	(B)	the definitive certificate representing ownership of such Purchased Asset in the name of Buyer or, if such Purchased Asset is registered on DTC or similar depository, evidence
satisfactory to Buyer that the records of DTC or such depository show the Buyer as the beneficial ownership of such Purchased Asset; 

  

	 	(C)	each Governing Agreement with respect to each Purchased Asset; and 

  

	 	(D)	such certificates, customary opinions of counsel or other documents as Buyer may reasonably request, provided that such opinions of counsel shall not be required in connection with
each Transaction but shall only be required from time to time as deemed necessary by Buyer in its good faith. 

  
 (ii) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. 
  
 (iii) Buyer shall not have reasonably determined that a change in any requirement of law or in the
interpretation or administration of any requirement of law applicable to Buyer has made it unlawful, and no Governmental Authority shall have asserted that it is unlawful, for Buyer to enter into Transactions with a Pricing Rate based on LIBOR.

  
 (iv) All representations and warranties in
the Program Documents shall be true and correct on the date of such Transaction. 
  
 (v) The then aggregate outstanding Purchase Price for all Purchased Assets, when added to the Purchase Price for the requested
Transaction, shall not exceed the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price. 
  

 14 

 (vi) No event or events shall have been reasonably determined by Buyer to have occurred
and be continuing resulting in the effective absence of a whole loan or asset-backed securities market. 
  
 (vii) If requested, Buyer shall have received satisfactory information regarding the hedging strategy, arrangements and general policy of
the Guarantors with respect to hedge instruments. 
  
 (viii) Satisfaction of any conditions precedent to the initial Transaction as set forth in clause (a) of this Section 9 that were not satisfied prior to such initial Purchase Date. In no event shall Buyer be required to enter into more than
one Transaction in any Purchase Day. 
  
 (ix) The
Purchase Price for the requested Transaction shall not be less than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 thereafter. 
  
 (x) Buyer shall have determined that all actions necessary or, in the opinion of Buyer, desirable to maintain Buyer’s perfected
interest in the Purchased Assets and other Collateral have been taken, including, without limitation, duly executed and filed Uniform Commercial Code financing statements on Form UCC-1. 
  
 (xi) Buyer shall not be obligated to enter into more than one Transaction per month (excluding any automatic
Transaction pursuant to Section 3(b)). 
  
 (xii)
Any other documents reasonably requested by Buyer. 
  

	10.	RELEASE OF PURCHASED ASSETS 

  
 Upon timely payment in full of the Repurchase Price and all other Obligations owing with respect to a Purchased Asset, if no Default or Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, Buyer shall release such Purchased Asset unless such release would give rise to or perpetuate a Margin Deficit. Except as set forth in Sections 6(a) and 16, the related Seller shall give at least three (3) Business
Days’ prior written notice to Buyer if such repurchase shall occur on other than a Repurchase Date. 
  
 If such a Margin Deficit is applicable, Buyer shall notify the related Seller of the amount thereof and the related Seller may thereupon satisfy the
Margin Call in the manner specified in Section 6. 
  

	11.	RELIANCE 

  
 With respect to any Transaction, Buyer may conclusively rely upon, and shall incur no liability to the related Seller or the Guarantor in acting upon, any
request or other communication that Buyer reasonably believes to have been given or made by a person authorized to enter into a Transaction on the related Seller’s or the Guarantor’s behalf. 
  

 15 

	12.	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 

  
 Each Seller and each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants, and shall on and as of the Purchase Date for any Transaction and on and as of each date
thereafter through and including the related Repurchase Date be deemed to represent and warrant, that: 
  
 a. Due Organization and Qualification. Each Seller and each Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction under whose laws it is organized. Each Seller and each Guarantor is duly qualified to do business, is in good standing and has obtained all necessary licenses, permits, charters, registrations and approvals
necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and the performance of its obligations under the Program Documents or any failure to obtain such a license, permit, charter, registration or approval will not cause a Material Adverse
Effect or impair the enforceability of any Purchased Asset. 
  
 b. Power and Authority. Each Seller and each Guarantor has all necessary power and authority to conduct its business as currently conducted, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Program
Documents and to consummate the Transactions. 
  
 c. Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Program Documents by each Seller and each Guarantor have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not require any additional approvals or consents or
other action by or any notice to or filing with any Person other than any that have heretofore been obtained, given or made. 
  
 d. Noncontravention. None of the execution and delivery of the Program Documents by the related Seller or the related Guarantor or
the consummation of the Transactions and transactions thereunder: 
  
 i) conflicts with, breaches or violates any provision of the agreements of each Seller or the related Guarantor or any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award currently
in effect having applicability to the related Seller or the related Guarantor or its properties; 
  
 ii) constitutes a material default by the related Seller or the Guarantor under any loan or repurchase agreement, mortgage, indenture or
other agreement or instrument to which the related Seller or the related Guarantor is a party or by which it or any of its properties is or may be bound or affected; or 
  
 iii) results in or requires the creation of any lien upon or in respect of any of the assets of the related
Seller or the related Guarantor except the lien relating to the Program Documents. 
  
 e. Legal Proceeding. There is no action, proceeding or investigation by or before any court, governmental or administrative agency
or arbitrator affecting any of the Purchased Assets, any Seller, any Guarantor or any of their Affiliates, pending or threatened, which, if decided adversely, would have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  

 16 

 f. Valid and Binding Obligations. Each of the Program Documents to which Sellers
or any Guarantor is a party, when executed and delivered by Sellers or such Guarantor, as applicable, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the related Seller or such Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable against the related
Seller or such Guarantor, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally
and general equitable principles. 
  
 g.
Financial Statements. The financial statements of NFI, copies of which have been furnished to Buyer, (i) are, as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein, complete and correct in all material respects, (ii) present fairly the
financial condition and results of operations of NFI as of the dates and for the periods indicated and (iii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, except as noted therein (subject as to interim statements to normal
year-end adjustments). Since the date of the most recent financial statements, there has been no Material Adverse Change with respect to NFI. Except as disclosed in such financial statements, no Guarantor is subject to any contingent liabilities or
commitments that, individually or in the aggregate, have a material possibility of causing a Material Adverse Change with respect to such Guarantor. 
  
 h. Accuracy of Information. None of the documents or information prepared by or on behalf of Sellers or any Guarantor and provided
by Sellers or any Guarantor to Buyer relating to Sellers’ or the Guarantor’s financial condition contain any statement of a material fact with respect to Sellers or any Guarantor or the Transactions that was untrue or misleading in any
material respect when made. Since the furnishing of such documents or information, there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change known to Sellers or any Guarantor, that would render any of such documents or
information untrue or misleading in any material respect. 
  
 i. No Consents. No consent, license, approval or authorization from, or registration, filing or declaration with, any regulatory body, administrative agency, or other governmental, instrumentality, nor any
consent, approval, waiver or notification of any creditor, lessor or other non-governmental person, is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Sellers or any Guarantor of this Agreement or the consummation by Sellers
or any Guarantor of any other Program Document, other than any that have heretofore been obtained, given or made. 
  
 j. Compliance With Law. Etc. No practice, procedure or policy employed or proposed to be employed by Sellers or any Guarantor in
the conduct of its businesses violates any law, regulation, judgment, agreement, order or decree applicable to it which, if enforced, would result in either a Material Adverse Change with respect to Sellers or any Guarantor or a Material Adverse
Effect. 
  
 k. Solvency: Fraudulent
Conveyance. Each Seller and each Guarantor is solvent and will not be rendered insolvent by the Transaction and, after giving effect to such Transaction, neither Sellers nor any Guarantor will be left with an unreasonably small amount of capital
with which to engage in its business. Neither Sellers nor any Guarantor intends to incur, nor believes that it has incurred, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as 

  

 17 

 
they mature. Neither Sellers nor any Guarantor is contemplating the commencement of insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or consolidation proceedings or the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, conservator, trustee or similar official in respect of Sellers or any Guarantor or any of their assets. The amount of consideration being received by Sellers upon the sale of the Purchased Assets to Buyer
constitutes reasonably equivalent value and fair consideration for such Purchased Assets. Sellers are not transferring any Purchased Assets with any intent to hinder, delay or defraud any of its creditors. 
  
 l. Investment Company Act Compliance. Each Seller is
not required to be registered as an “investment company” as defined under the Investment Company Act nor as an entity under the control of an “investment company” as defined under the Investment Company Act. 
  
 m. Taxes. Each Seller and each Guarantor has filed
all federal and state tax returns which are required to be filed and paid all taxes, including any assessments received by it, to the extent that such taxes have become due (other than for taxes that are being contested in good faith or for which it
has established adequate reserves). Any taxes, fees and other governmental charges payable by the Sellers or any Guarantor in connection with a Transaction and the execution and delivery of the Program Documents have been paid. 
  
 n. Additional Representation. With respect to each
Purchased Asset, the related Seller hereby makes all of the applicable representations and warranties set forth in each Confirmation to which such Purchased Asset is or has been subject, in each case as of the related Purchase Date, and the related
Seller understands that if the substance of any such representation or warranty ceases to be true because of events occurring after such date, the Market Value could be adversely affected. 
  
 o. No Broker. Neither any Seller nor any Guarantor
has dealt with any broker, investment banker, agent, or other person, except for Buyer, who may be entitled to any commission or compensation in connection with the sale of Purchased Assets pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that if Sellers or
any Guarantor has dealt with any broker, investment banker, agent, or other person, except for Buyer, who may be entitled to any commission or compensation in connection with the sale of Purchased Assets pursuant to this Agreement, such commission
or compensation shall have been paid in full by the related Seller or such Guarantor, as applicable. 
  
 p. Corporate Separateness. 
  
 (i) The capital of Sellers and each Guarantor is adequate for the respective business and undertakings of Sellers and each Guarantor.

  
 (ii) Other than as provided in this Agreement
and the other Program Documents, Sellers are not engaged in any business transactions with any Guarantor or any of its Affiliates other than transactions in the ordinary course of its business on an “arms-length” basis. 
  

 18 

 (iii) The funds and assets of each Seller is not and will not be, commingled with the
funds of any other Person. 
  
 q. Hedging.
Each Seller has entered into the hedge instruments pursuant to its customary hedging procedures. 
  
 r. Governing Agreements. Each Governing Agreement is in full force and effect and has not been modified, amended or supplemented
except for any modifications, amendments and supplements approved by Buyer. 
  
 The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall survive transfer of the Purchased Assets to Buyer and shall continue for so long as the Purchased Assets are subject to this Agreement. 

 

	13.	COVENANTS OF SELLERS AND GUARANTOR 

  
 Each Seller and each Guarantor, as applicable, hereby covenants with Buyer as follows: 
  
 a. Defense of Title. Each Seller and each Guarantor warrants and will defend the right, title and
interest of Buyer in and to all Collateral against all adverse claims and demands. 
  
 b. No Amendment or Compromise. Without Buyer’s prior written consent, neither any Seller, any Guarantor nor those acting on
any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s behalf shall amend or modify, or waive any term or condition of, or settle or compromise any claim in respect of, any item of the Purchased Assets, any related rights or any of the Program Documents.

  
 c. No Assignment. Except as permitted
herein, neither any Seller nor any Guarantor shall sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, or pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in or lien on or otherwise encumber (except pursuant to the
Program Documents), any of the Purchased Assets or any interest therein, provided that this Section shall not prevent any transfer of Purchased Assets in accordance with the Program Documents. 
  
 d. Reserved. 
  
 e. Preservation of Collateral: Collateral Value. Each
Seller and each Guarantor shall do all things necessary to preserve the Collateral so that it remains subject to a first priority perfected security interest hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, each Seller and each Guarantor will comply with
all rules, regulations and other laws of any Governmental Authority and cause the Collateral to comply with all applicable rules, regulations and other laws. Neither any Seller nor any Guarantor will allow any default for which any Seller or any
Guarantor is responsible to occur under any Collateral or any Program Documents and each Seller and each Guarantor shall fully perform or cause to be performed when due all of its obligations under any Collateral or the Program Documents.

  

 19 

 f. Maintenance of Papers, Records and Files. Each Seller and each Guarantor shall
require, and each Seller or the Guarantors of the Purchased Assets shall build, maintain and have available, a complete file in accordance with lending industry custom and practice for each Purchased Asset. Each Seller or the Guarantors of the
Purchased Assets will maintain all such Records not in the possession of Buyer in good and complete condition in accordance with industry practices and preserve them against loss. 
  
 i) Each Seller and each Guarantor shall collect and maintain or cause to be collected and maintained all
Records relating to the Purchased Assets in accordance with industry custom and practice, including those maintained pursuant to the preceding subsection, and all such Records shall be in Buyer’s possession unless Buyer otherwise approves.

  
 ii) For so long as Buyer has an interest in
or lien on any Purchased Asset, each Seller and each Guarantor will hold or cause to be held all related Records in trust for Buyer. Each Seller or each Guarantor shall notify, or cause to be notified, every other party holding any such Records of
the interests and liens granted hereby. 
  
 iii)
Upon reasonable advance notice from Buyer, each Seller and each Guarantor shall (x) make any and all such Records available to Buyer to examine any such Records, either by its own officers or employees, or by agents or contractors, or both, and make
copies of all or any portion thereof, (y) permit Buyer or its authorized agents to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of each Seller or such Guarantor with its respective chief operating officer and chief financial officer and to discuss the
affairs, finances and accounts of each Seller or such Guarantor with its independent certified public accountants. 
  
 g. Financial Statements: Accountants’ Reports: Other Information. Each Seller and each Guarantor shall keep or cause to be
kept in reasonable detail books and records of account of its assets and business and shall clearly reflect therein the transfer of Purchased Assets to Buyer. Each Seller and NFI shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Buyer the following:

  
 i) Financial Statements. (x) As soon
as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the consolidated and consolidating, audited balance sheets of NFI as of the end of each fiscal year of NFI, and the audited financial statements of income and changes in
equity of NFI, and the audited statement of cash flows of NFI and each Seller, for such fiscal year and (y) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarter, the consolidated and consolidating, unaudited balance
sheets of NFI as of the end of each quarter, and the unaudited financial statements of income and changes in equity of NFI and the unaudited statement of cash flows of NFI for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, and (z) within 30 days after
the end of each month, monthly consolidated and consolidating and unaudited statements (excluding cash flow statements) and balance sheets as provided in clause (y), all of which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and certified by NFI’s
treasurer. 
  

 20 

 ii) Monthly Certification. Each Seller shall execute and deliver a monthly
certification substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and NFI shall execute and deliver a monthly certification substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto. 
  
 h. Notice of Material Events. Each Seller and each Guarantor shall promptly inform Buyer in writing
of any of the following: 
  
 i) any Default,
Event of Default or default or breach by any Seller or any Guarantor of any other material obligation under any Program Document, or the occurrence or existence of any event or circumstance that any Seller or such Guarantor reasonably expects will
with the passage of time become a Default, Event of Default or such a default or breach by any Seller or any Guarantor; 
  
 ii) any material change in the insurance coverage required of any Seller or any Guarantor or any other Person pursuant to any Program
Document, with copy of evidence of same attached; 
  
 iii) any material dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Seller or any Guarantor, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or any other Person; 
  
 iv) any material change in accounting policies or financial
reporting practices of any Seller or any Guarantor; 
  
 v) the occurrence of any material employment dispute and a description of the strategy for resolving it; and 
  
 vi) any event, circumstance or condition that has resulted, or has a possibility of resulting, in either a Material Adverse Change with
respect to any Seller or any Guarantor or a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 i. Maintenance of Licenses. Each Seller and each Guarantor shall maintain, all material licenses, permits or other approvals necessary for each Seller and each Guarantor to conduct its business and to perform
its obligations under the Program Documents, and each Seller and each Guarantor shall conduct its business in accordance with applicable law. 
  
 j. No Withholdings for Taxes. Any payments made by the related Seller to Buyer shall be free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for, any taxes; provided, however, that if the related Seller shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any taxes from any sums payable to Buyer, then the related Seller shall (A) make such deductions or withholdings and pay such
amounts to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law, (B) pay to Buyer the sum that would have been payable had such deduction or withholding not been made, and (C) at the time the Price Differential is paid, pay to Buyer all
additional amounts as specified by Buyer to preserve the after-tax yield Buyer would have received if such tax had not been imposed. This provision does not apply to income taxes payable by Buyer on its taxable income. 
  

 21 

 k. Change in Nature of Business. Neither any Seller nor any Guarantor shall make
any material adverse change in the nature of its business as a mortgage originator and servicer as such business is carried on at the date hereof. 
  
 l. Limitation on Distributions. If an Event of Default has occurred and is occurring, neither any Seller nor any Guarantor shall
pay any dividends or distributions with respect to any capital stock or other equity interests in any Seller or any Guarantor (except any dividends or distributions required by law in order for such party to maintain its status as a real estate
investment trust), whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Seller or any Guarantor. 
  
 m. Merger of Guarantor. No Guarantor shall at any
time, directly or indirectly, without Buyer’s prior consent (i) liquidate or dissolve or enter into any consolidation or merger or be subject to a Change in Control; (ii) form or enter into any partnership, joint venture, syndicate or other
combination which would have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) make any Material Adverse Change with respect to such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s Subsidiaries. 
  
 n. Insurance. Each Seller will obtain and maintain insurance with responsible companies in such
amounts and against such risks as are customarily carried by business entities engaged in similar businesses similarly situated, and will furnish Buyer on request full information as to all such insurance, and provide within (15) days after receipt
of such request the certificates or other documents evidencing renewal of each such policy. 
  
 o. Affiliate Transaction. Neither any Seller nor any Guarantor will at any time, directly or indirectly, sell, lease or otherwise
transfer any property or assets to, or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any transactions with, any of their Non-Seller Affiliates unless the terms thereof are no less favorable to the related Seller or such
Guarantor, as applicable, than those that could be obtained at the time of such transaction in an arm’s length transaction with a Person who is not an Affiliate. 
  
 p. Change of Fiscal Year. Neither any Seller nor any Guarantor will at any time, directly or
indirectly, except upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Buyer, change the date on which the related Seller’s or such Guarantor’s fiscal year begins from the related Seller’s or such Guarantor’s current fiscal year
beginning date. 
  
 q. Underwriting
Standards. NMI shall not permit any material modifications to be made to the Underwriting Standards without prior notice to the Buyer. 
  
 r. Structuring Fee. On each of the Effective Date and on the Repurchase Dates in September, December and March (each a
“Payment Date”), Sellers agree to pay to Buyer one-fourth of the Structuring Fee; provided, however, that in the event that the Termination Date occurs prior to any Payment Date, the entire unpaid portion of the Structuring
Fee shall become immediately due and payable on the Termination Date. Each such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds without deduction, set-off or 

  

 22 

 
counterclaim. The Buyer may, in its sole discretion, net any portion of the Structuring Fee that is due and payable from any Purchase Price paid to the
Sellers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of such Structure Fee due on any such Payment Date under this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount of any such fee received on such Payment Date under the
[            ] Master Repurchase Agreement. 
  

	14.	REPURCHASE DATE PAYMENTS/COLLECTIONS 

  
 On each Repurchase Date, the related Seller shall remit or shall cause to be remitted to Buyer the Repurchase Price. 
  

	15.	CHANGE OF LAW 

  
 a. If Buyer determines that the introduction of, any change in, or the interpretation or administration of any requirement of law has made it unlawful or
commercially impracticable to engage in any Transactions with a Pricing Rate based on LIBOR, then the related Seller (i) shall, upon its receipt of notice of such fact and demand from Buyer, repurchase the Purchased Assets subject to the Transaction
on the next succeeding Business Day and, at the related Seller’s election, concurrently enter into a new Transaction with Buyer with a Pricing Rate based on the Prime Rate plus the margin set forth in the Side Letter as part of the Pricing Rate
and (ii) may elect, by giving notice to Buyer, that all new Transactions shall have Pricing Rates based on the Prime Rate plus such margin. 
  
 b. If Buyer determines in its sole discretion that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of
return on Buyer’s capital or on the capital of any Affiliate of Buyer as a consequence of such Change in Law on this Agreement, then from time to time the related Seller will compensate Buyer or Buyer’s Affiliate, as applicable, for such
reduced rate of return suffered as a consequence of such Change in Law on terms similar to those imposed by Buyer on its other similarly affected customers. Buyer shall provide the related Seller with prompt notice as to any Change in Law.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, in the event of any such Change in Law, the related Seller will have the right to terminate all Transactions then outstanding without any prepayment penalty as of a date selected by the related
Seller, which date shall be prior to the then applicable Repurchase Date and which date shall thereafter for all purposes hereof be deemed to be the Repurchase Date. 
  

	16.	SUBSTITUTION 

  
 a. The related Seller may, subject to agreement with and acceptance by Buyer, substitute other assets which are substantially the same as the Purchased
Assets (the “Substitute Assets”) for any Purchased Assets. Such substitution shall be made by transfer to Buyer of such other Substitute Assets and transfer to the related Seller of such Purchased Assets. After substitution, the Substitute
Assets shall be deemed to be Purchased Assets. 
  
 b. In the case
of any Transaction for which the Repurchase Date is other than the Business Day immediately following the Purchase Date and with respect to which the related Seller does not have any existing right to Substitute Assets for the Purchased Assets, the
related Seller shall have the right, subject to the proviso to this sentence, upon notice to Buyer, which notice shall be 

  

 23 

 
given at or prior to 10 a.m. (New York City time) on the second preceding Business Day, to Substitute Assets for any Purchased Assets; provided, however,
that Buyer may elect, by the close of business on the Business Day following which such notice is received, or by the close of the next Business Day if notice is given after 10 a.m. (New York City time) on such day, not to accept such substitution.
In the event such substitution is accepted by Buyer, such substitution shall be made by the related Seller’s transfer to Buyer of such Substitute Assets and Buyer’s transfer to the related Seller of such Purchased Assets, and after such
substitution, the Substitute Assets shall be deemed to be Purchased Assets. In the event Buyer elects not to accept such substitution, Buyer shall offer the related Seller the right to terminate the Transaction. 
  
 c. In the event the related Seller exercises its right to substitute or
terminate under subsection (b), the related Seller shall be obligated to pay to Buyer, by the close of the Business Day of such substitution, as the case may be, an amount equal to (A) Buyer’s actual cost in bona fide third party transactions
(including all fees, expenses and commissions) of (i) entering into replacement transactions; (ii) entering into or terminating hedge transactions; and/or (iii) terminating transactions or substituting securities in like transactions with third
parties in connection with or as a result of such substitution or termination, and (B) to the extent Buyer determines not to enter into replacement transactions, the Breakage Costs incurred by Buyer directly arising or resulting from such
substitution or termination. 
  

	17.	REPURCHASE TRANSACTIONS 

  
 Buyer may, in its sole election, engage in repurchase transactions with the Purchased Assets or otherwise pledge, hypothecate, assign, transfer or
otherwise convey the Purchased Assets with a counterparty of Buyer’s choice, in all cases subject to Buyer’s obligation to reconvey the Purchased Assets (and not substitutes therefor) on the Repurchase Date. In the event Buyer engages in a
repurchase transaction with any of the Purchased Assets or otherwise pledges or hypothecates any of the Purchased Assets, Buyer shall have the right to assign to Buyer’s counterparty any of the applicable representations or warranties with
respect to the Purchased Assets hereunder and the remedies for breach thereof, as they relate to the Purchased Assets that are subject to such repurchase transaction. 
  

	18.	EVENTS OF DEFAULT 

  
 With respect to any Transactions covered by or related to this Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute an “Event of
Default”: 
  
 a. any Seller fails to transfer the Purchased
Assets to Buyer on the applicable Purchase Date (provided Buyer has tendered the related Purchase Price); 
  
 b. any Seller either fails to repurchase the Purchased Assets on the applicable Repurchase Date or fails to perform its obligations under Section 6;

  
 c. either any Seller or a Guarantor shall fail to perform,
observe or comply with any other material term, covenant or agreement contained in the Program Documents and such failure is not cured within the time period expressly provided or, if no such cure period is provided, within two (2) Business Days of
the earlier of (i) such party’s receipt of written notice from Buyer of such 

  

 24 

 
breach or (ii) the date on which such party obtains notice or knowledge of the facts giving rise to such breach; 
  
 d. any representation or warranty made by any Seller or a Guarantor (or any
of any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s officers) in the Program Documents or in any other document delivered in connection therewith shall have been incorrect or untrue in any material respect when made or repeated or to have been made or
repeated; 
  
 e. any Seller, any Guarantor, or any of any
Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any of any Seller’s, such Guarantor’s or any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness, or any interest or premium thereon when due (whether
by scheduled maturity, requirement prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), or shall fail to make any payment when due under any Seller’s, such Guarantor’s or any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ Guarantee
of another person’s Indebtedness for borrowed money, and such failure shall entitle any related counterparty to declare any such Indebtedness or Guarantee to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled
required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof; 
  
 f.
a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for any Seller, a Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, or of any of any Seller’s, a Guarantor’s or their
respective Property (as a debtor or creditor protection procedure), is appointed or takes possession of such property; or any Seller, a Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries generally fails to pay any
Seller’s, such Guarantor’s or any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ debts as they become due; or any Seller, a Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries is adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent; or an order for relief is entered under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or any successor or similar applicable statute, or any administrative insolvency scheme, against any Seller, a Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or a
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries; or any of any Seller’s, Guarantor’s or any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ Property is sequestered by court or administrative order; or a petition is filed against any Seller, a
Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution, moratorium, delinquency or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now or
subsequently in effect; 
  
 g. any Seller, a Guarantor or any of
any Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy seeks relief under any provision of any bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, delinquency, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or
liquidation law of any jurisdiction whether now or subsequently in effect; or consents to the filing of any petition against it under any such law; or consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, conservator,
trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official for any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, or of all or any part of any Seller’s, any Guarantor’s or any Seller’s or any
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ Property; or makes an assignment for the benefit of any Seller, any Guarantor or any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries’ creditors; 
  
 h. one or more judgements or decrees in an aggregate amount in excess of
$500,000 shall be entered against any Seller or Guarantor and all such judgements or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed, satisfied, bonded pending appeal, or fully or partially covered by insurance (evidence of such coverage,
satisfactory to Buyer, to be provided by the Sellers or 

  

 25 

 
Guarantors, provided, however, that in no event shall the uninsured portion of such judgement(s) or decree(s) exceed $500,000 in the
aggregate), in each case within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; 
  
 i. any Governmental Authority or any person, agency or entity acting or purporting to act under governmental authority shall have taken any action to condemn, seize or appropriate, or to assume custody or control of, all or any substantial
part of the Property of any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, or shall have taken any action to displace the management of any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries or to curtail its authority in the conduct of the business of any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, or takes any action in the nature of enforcement to remove, limit
or restrict the approval of any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s Subsidiaries as an issuer, buyer or a seller/servicer of the Purchased Assets or similar securities; 
  
 j. any Seller, any Guarantor or any of any Seller’s or any
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries shall default under, or fail to perform as requested under, or shall otherwise breach the material terms of any instrument, agreement or contract relating to Indebtedness, and such default, failure or breach shall
entitle any counterparty to declare such Indebtedness to be due and payable prior to the maturity thereof; 
  
 k. in the reasonable good faith judgment of Buyer any Material Adverse Change shall have occurred with respect to any Seller, a Guarantor or any of any
Seller’s or a Guarantor’s Subsidiaries taken as a whole; 
  
 l. any Seller or any Guarantor shall admit in writing its inability to, or intention not to, perform any of any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s respective material Obligations; 
  
 m. any Seller or any Guarantor dissolves, merges or consolidates with another
entity, or sells, transfers, or otherwise disposes of a material portion of any Seller’s or such Guarantor’s (as applicable) business or assets unless Buyer’s written consent is given; 
  
 n. this Agreement shall for any reason cease to create a valid, first
priority security interest or ownership interest upon transfer in any material portion of the Purchased Assets or Collateral purported to be covered hereby; 
  
 o. either any Seller’s or any Guarantor’s audited annual financial statements or the notes thereto or other opinions or conclusions stated
therein shall be qualified or limited by reference to the status of any Seller or such Guarantor as a “going concern” or a reference of similar import; 
  
 p. a Change in Control of any Guarantor shall have occurred which has not been approved by Buyer; 
  
 q. the ratio of NFI’s Adjusted Tangible Net Worth to Required Equity at
any date is less than 1.0:1.0; 
  
 r. the Adjusted Tangible Net
Worth of NFI is less than the sum of (i) $[                    ], plus (ii) eighty percent (80%) of all contributions to equity capital of NFI, its
consolidated 

  

 26 

 
Subsidiaries or its unconsolidated Affiliates (which contributions are made by Persons other than NFI, its consolidated Subsidiaries or its unconsolidated
Affiliates) after March 31, [            ]; 
  
 s. any (a) termination by any Seller of any Servicer or subservicer or the Mortgage Assets without the prior written consent of Buyer to the extent any
Seller’s consent is required for such termination or (b) amendment of any Servicing Agreement without the prior written consent of Buyer to the extent any Seller’s consent is required for such occurrences, (c) failure by any Seller (if it
is the Servicer) or any Servicer to service the Mortgage Assets in accordance with (i) industry standards for similar loans with third parties or (ii) the standards set forth in the Servicing Agreement; and 
  
 t. any event of default has occurred under any Servicing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Trust Agreement or the Guaranty. 
  
 u. the amount
of NFI’s liquidity (defined as the aggregate amount of NFI’s cash plus amount available under warehouse financing facility, but only to the extent that NFI has unencumbered assets to pledge thereunder and further adjusted by taking into
account any applicable haircuts) as of any date is less than $[            ]. 
  
 v. any event of default under [the Swap Agreement]. 
  

	19.	REMEDIES 

  
 Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Buyer, at its option (which option shall be seemed to have been exercised immediately upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default pursuant to Section 18(f) or (g) hereof), shall have any or all of the following rights and remedies, which may be exercised by Buyer: 
  
 a. The Repurchase Date for each Transaction hereunder shall be deemed immediately to occur. 
  
 b. The related Seller’s obligations hereunder to repurchase all Purchased Assets at the Repurchase Price therefor on
the Repurchase Date in such Transactions shall thereupon become immediately due and payable; all Income paid after such exercise or deemed exercise shall be retained by Buyer and applied to the aggregate Repurchase Prices and any other amounts owing
by the related Seller hereunder; the related Seller and each Guarantor shall immediately deliver to Buyer or its designee any and all original papers, records and files relating to the Purchased Assets subject to such Transaction then in any
Seller’s and any Guarantor’s possession and/or control; and all right, title and interest in and entitlement to such Purchased Assets thereon shall be deemed transferred to Buyer. 
  
 Buyer may (A) sell, on or following the Business Day following the date on
which the Repurchase Price became due and payable pursuant to Section 19(b) without notice or demand of any kind, at a public or private sale and at such price or prices as Buyer may reasonably deem satisfactory any or all Purchased Assets or (B) in
its sole discretion elect, in lieu of selling all or a portion of such Purchased Assets, to give the related Seller credit for such Purchased Assets in an amount equal to the Market Value of the Purchased Assets against the aggregate unpaid
Repurchase 

  

 27 

 
Price and any other amounts owing by the related Seller hereunder. The related Seller shall remain liable to the Buyer for any amounts that remain owing to
Buyer following a sale or credit under the preceding sentence. The proceeds of any disposition of Purchased Assets shall be applied first to the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with or as a result of an Event of
Default; second to Breakage Costs, costs of cover and/or related hedging transactions; third to the aggregate Repurchase Prices; and fourth to all other Obligations. 
  
 The parties recognize that it may not be possible to purchase or sell all of the Purchased Assets on a particular Business
Day, or in a transaction with the same purchaser, or in the same manner because the market for such Purchased Assets may not be liquid. In view of the nature of the Purchased Assets, the parties agree that liquidation of a Transaction or the
underlying Purchased Assets does not require a public purchase or sale and that a good faith private purchase or sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. Accordingly, Buyer may elect the time and manner of
liquidating any Purchased Asset and nothing contained herein shall obligate Buyer to liquidate any Purchased Asset on the occurrence of an Event of Default or to liquidate all Purchased Assets in the same manner or on the same Business Day or
constitute a waiver of any right or remedy of Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties to this Agreement agree that the Transactions have been entered into in consideration of and in reliance upon the fact that all Transactions hereunder
constitute a single business and contractual obligation and that each Transaction has been entered into in consideration of the other Transactions. 
  
 In addition to its rights hereunder, Buyer shall have the right to proceed against any of the related Seller’s assets which may be in the possession
of Buyer, any of Buyer’s Affiliates or its designee, including the right to liquidate such assets and to set-off the proceeds against monies owed by the related Seller to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement. Buyer may set off cash, the proceeds of
the liquidation of the Purchased Assets and Additional Purchased Assets, any other Collateral or its proceeds and all other sums or obligations owed by Buyer to the related Seller hereunder against all of the related Seller’s Obligations to
Buyer, whether under this Agreement, under a Transaction, or under any other agreement between the parties, or otherwise, whether or not such Obligations are then due, without prejudice to Buyer’s right to recover any deficiency. 
  
 Buyer may direct all Persons servicing the Purchased Assets to take such
action with respect to the Purchased Assets as Buyer determines appropriate. 
  
 The related Seller shall be liable to Buyer for the amount of all expenses (plus interest thereon at a rate equal to the Default Rate), and Breakage Costs and all costs and expenses incurred within 30 days of the
Event of Default in connection with hedging or covering transactions related to the Purchased Assets. 
  
 Each Seller and each Guarantor shall cause all sums received by it with respect to the Purchased Assets to be remitted to Buyer (or such other Person as
Buyer may direct) after receipt thereof. 
  
 Buyer shall without
regard to the adequacy of the security for the Obligations, be entitled to the appointment of a receiver by any court having jurisdiction, without notice, to take possession of and protect, collect, manage, liquidate, and sell the Purchased Assets
and any other Collateral or any portion thereof, collect the payments due with respect to the Purchased Assets and any other 

  

 28 

 
Collateral or any portion thereof, and do anything that Buyer is authorized hereunder to do. The related Seller shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by
Buyer in connection with the appointment and activities of such receiver. 
  
 Buyer may enforce its rights and remedies hereunder without prior judicial process or hearing, and the related Seller hereby expressly waives, to the extent permitted by law, any right the related Seller might
otherwise have to require Buyer to enforce its rights by judicial process. The related Seller also waives, to the extent permitted by law, any defense the related Seller might otherwise have to the Obligations, arising from use of nonjudicial
process, enforcement and sale of all or any portion of the Purchased Assets and any other Collateral or from any other election of remedies. The related Seller recognizes that nonjudicial remedies are consistent with the usages of the trade, are
responsive to commercial necessity and are the result of a bargain at arm’s length. 
  
 In addition to all the rights and remedies specifically provided herein, Buyer shall have all other rights and remedies provided by applicable federal, state, foreign, and local laws, whether existing at law, in
equity or by statute. 
  
 Upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, Buyer shall have, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the right to exercise any of its rights and/or remedies without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind other than as expressly set forth herein,
all of which are hereby expressly waived by the related Seller. 
  
 The related Seller hereby authorizes Buyer, at the related Seller’s expense, to file such financing statement or statements relating to the Purchased Assets and the Collateral without the related Seller’s signature thereon as
Buyer at its option may deem appropriate, and appoints Buyer as the related Seller’s attorney-in-fact to execute any such financing statement or statements in the related Seller’s name and to perform all other acts which Buyer deems
appropriate to perfect and continue the lien and security interest granted hereby and to protect, preserve and realize upon the Purchased Assets and the Collateral, including, but not limited to, the right to endorse notes, complete blanks in
documents and execute assignments on behalf of the related Seller as its attorney-in-fact. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable without Buyer’s consent. 
  

	20.	DELAY NOT WAIVER; REMEDIES ARE CUMULATIVE 

  
 No failure on the part of Buyer to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall
any single or partial exercise by Buyer of any right, power or remedy hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. All rights and remedies of Buyer provided for herein are cumulative
and in addition to any and all other rights and remedies provided by law, the Program Documents and the other instruments and agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, and are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by Buyer to exercise any
of its rights under any other related document. Buyer may exercise at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default one or more remedies, as it so desires, and may thereafter at any time and from time to time exercise any other remedy or
remedies. 
  

 29 

	21.	USE OF EMPLOYEE PLAN ASSETS 

  
 No assets of an employee benefit plan subject to any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)
shall be used by either party hereto in a Transaction. 
  

	22.	INDEMNITY 

  
 a. The related Seller agrees to pay on demand (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Buyer in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, modification and amendment of this Agreement (including, without limitation, (A) all collateral review and UCC search and filing fees and expenses and (B) the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Buyer with respect to advising Buyer
as to its rights and responsibilities, or the perfection, protection or preservation of rights or interests, under this Agreement, with respect to negotiations with the related Seller or with other creditors of the related Seller or any of its
Subsidiaries arising out of any-Default or any events or circumstances that may arise to a Default and with respect to presenting claims in or otherwise participating in or monitoring any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding involving
creditors’ rights generally and any proceeding ancillary thereto); provided, however that the related Seller shall not be required to reimburse the Buyer for any such expenses and attorneys’ fees in excess of
$[            ] in connection with the initial preparation and execution of the Program Documents; and (ii) all costs and expenses of Buyer in connection with the enforcement of this
Agreement, whether in any action, suit or litigation, any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Buyer) whether or
not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. 
  
 b.
The related Seller agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and each of its respective Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against (and will reimburse each
Indemnified Party as the same is incurred) any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) that may be incurred by or
asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not such
Indemnified Party is a party thereto) relating to, resulting from or arising out of any of the Program Documents and all other documents related thereto, any breach of a representation or warranty of any Seller or any Guarantor or any Seller’s
or any Guarantor’s officers in this Agreement or any other Program Document, and all actions taken pursuant thereto) (i) the Transactions, the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Transactions, this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, any acquisition or proposed acquisition or (ii) the actual or alleged presence of hazardous materials on any Property or any environmental action relating in any way to any Property, except to the
extent such claim, damage, class, liability or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or is the result of a
claim made by any Seller or any Guarantor against the Indemnified Party, and the related Seller or such Guarantor is ultimately the successful party in any resulting litigation or arbitration. The related Seller also agrees not to assert any claim
against Buyer or any of its Affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents, on any 

  

 30 

 
theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Facilities, the actual or proposed
use of the proceeds of the Transactions, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated thereby. THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY AND AGREEMENT NOT TO ASSERT CLAIMS EXPRESSLY APPLIES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO THE NEGLIGENCE (BUT NOT GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR
WILLFUL MISCONDUCT) OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES. 
  
 c. Without
limitation on the provisions of Section 4, if any payment of the Repurchase Price of any Transaction is made by the related Seller other than on the then scheduled Repurchase Date thereto as a result of an acceleration of the Repurchase Date
pursuant to Section 19 or for any other reason, the related Seller shall, except as otherwise provided in Sections 15 and 24, upon demand by Buyer, pay to Buyer any Breakage Costs incurred as of a result of such payment. 
  
 d. If the related Seller fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other
amounts payable by it under this Agreement, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and indemnities, such amount may be paid on behalf of the related Seller by Buyer, in its sole discretion. 
  
 e. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the related
Seller hereunder, the easements and obligations of the related Seller contained in this Section shall survive the payment in full of the Repurchase Price and all other amounts payable hereunder and delivery of the Purchased Assets by Buyer against
full payment therefor. 
  

	23.	WAIVER OF REDEMPTION AND DEFICIENCY RIGHTS 

  
 The related Seller hereby expressly waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, every statute of limitation on a deficiency judgment, any reduction in
the proceeds of any Purchased Assets as a result of restrictions upon Buyer contained in the Program Documents or any other instrument delivered in connection therewith, and any right that it may have to direct the order in which any of the
Purchased Assets shall be disposed of in the event of any disposition pursuant hereto. 
  

	24.	REIMBURSEMENT 

  
 All sums reasonably expended by Buyer in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy provided for herein shall be and remain the related
Seller’s obligation. The related Seller agrees to pay, with interest at the Default Rate to the extent that an Event of Default has occurred, the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by Buyer in
connection with the preparation, enforcement or administration of the Program Documents, the taking of any action, including legal action, required or permitted to be taken by Buyer (without duplication to Buyer) pursuant thereto, any “due
diligence” or loan agent reviews conducted by Buyer or on its behalf or by refinancing or restructuring in the nature of a “workout”; provided, however that the related Seller shall not be required to reimburse the Buyer
for any such expenses and attorneys’ fees in excess of [            ] in connection with the initial preparation and execution of the Program Documents. If Buyer determines that, due
to the introduction of, any change in, or the compliance by Buyer with (i) any eurocurrency reserve requirement or (ii) the interpretation of any law, regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority
(whether or not having the force of law), there shall be an increase in the cost to Buyer in engaging in the present or 

  

 31 

 
any future Transactions, then the related Seller agrees to pay to Buyer, from time to time, upon demand by Buyer the actual cost of additional amounts as
specified by Buyer to compensate Buyer for such increased costs. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, in the event of any such change in the eurocurrency reserve requirement or the interpretation of any law, regulation or any
guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority, the related Seller will have the right to terminate all Transactions then outstanding as of a date selected by the related Seller, which date shall be prior to the
applicable Repurchase Date and which date shall thereafter for all purposes hereof, be deemed to be the Repurchase Date. In addition, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller if any events in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 24 occur. 
  

	25.	FURTHER ASSURANCES 

  
 The Sellers and each Guarantor agree to do such further acts and things and to execute and deliver to Buyer such additional assignments, acknowledgments,
agreements, powers and instruments as are reasonably required by Buyer to carry into effect the intent and purposes of this Agreement, to perfect the interests of Buyer in the Purchased Assets or to better assure and confirm unto Buyer its rights,
powers and remedies hereunder. 
  

	26.	ENTIRE AGREEMENT; PRODUCT OF NEGOTIATION 

  
 This Agreement supersedes and integrates all previous negotiations, contracts, agreements and understandings between the parties relating to a sale and
repurchase of Purchased Assets and Additional Purchased Assets thereto, and it, together with the other Program Documents, and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, contains the entire final agreement of the parties. No prior
negotiation, agreement, understanding or prior contract shall have any validity therefor. 
  

	27.	TERMINATION 

  
 This Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i)
                    , 200[            ], or (ii) at Buyer’s option upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default (such date, the “Termination Date”). However, no such termination shall affect the related Seller’s outstanding obligations to Buyer at the time-of such termination. The related Seller’s
obligations to indemnify Buyer pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the termination hereof. 
  

	28.	ASSIGNMENT 

  
 The Program Documents are not assignable by the related Seller. Buyer may from time to time assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement and the Program Documents; provided, however, that Buyer shall maintain, for review by the related Seller upon written request, a register of assignees and a copy of an executed assignment and acceptance by Buyer and assignee
(“Assignment and Acceptance”), specifying the percentage or portion of such rights and obligations assigned. Upon such assignment, (a) such assignee shall be a party hereto and to each Program Document to the extent of the percentage or
portion set forth in the Assignment and Acceptance, and shall succeed to the applicable rights and obligations of Buyer hereunder, and (b) Buyer shall, to the extent that such rights and obligations have been so assigned by it to another Person
approved by the related Seller (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) which 

  

 32 

 
assumes the obligations of Buyer, be released from its obligations hereunder accruing thereafter and under the Program Documents. Unless otherwise stated in
the Assignment and Acceptance, the related Seller shall continue to take directions solely from Buyer unless otherwise notified by Buyer in writing. Buyer may distribute to any prospective assignee any document or other information delivered to
Buyer by the related Seller. Notwithstanding any assignment by Buyer pursuant to this Section 28, Buyer shall remain liable as to the Transactions. 
  

	29.	AMENDMENTS, ETC. 

  
 No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor any consent to any failure to comply herewith or therewith shall in any event be effective
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Sellers and Buyer, and then such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. 
  

	30.	SEVERABILITY 

  
 If any provision of any Program Document is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of the Program Documents, and each Program Document shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. 
  

	31.	BINDING EFFECT: GOVERNING LAW 

  
 This Agreement shall be binding and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that Sellers may not
assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any other Program Document without the prior written consent of Buyer. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 
  

	32.	CONSENT TO JURISDICTION 

  
 SELLERS HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY. SELLERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OR IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE PROGRAM DOCUMENTS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING. SELLERS HEREBY SUBMIT TO, AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION SELLERS MAY HAVE TO, NON-EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL
JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE PROGRAM DOCUMENTS. 
  

	33.	SINGLE AGREEMENT 

  
 Each Seller, each Guarantor and Buyer acknowledge that, and have entered hereinto and will enter into each Transaction hereunder in consideration of and
in reliance upon the fact that, all Transactions hereunder constitute a single business and contractual relationship and have been made 

  

 33 

 
in consideration of each other. Accordingly, each Seller, each Guarantor and Buyer each agree (i) to perform all of its obligations in respect of each
Transaction hereunder, and that a default in the performance of any such obligations shall constitute a default by it in respect of all Transactions hereunder, and (ii) that payments, deliveries and other transfers made by any of them in respect of
any Transaction shall be deemed to have been made in consideration of payments, deliveries and other transfer in respect of any other Transaction hereunder, and the obligations to make any such payments, deliveries and other transfers may be applied
against each other and netted. 
  

	34.	INTENT 

  
 Sellers and Buyer recognize that each Transaction is a “repurchase agreement” as that term is defined in Section 101 of Title 11 of the United
States Code, as amended (“USC”) (except insofar as the Purchased Assets subject to such Transaction or the term of such Transaction would render such definition inapplicable), a “forward contract” as that term is defined in
Section 101 of Title 11 of the USC, and a “securities contract” as that term is defined in Section 741 of Title 11 of the USC (except insofar as the Purchased Assets subject to such Transaction or the term of such Transaction would render
such definition inapplicable). 
  
 It is understood that
Buyer’s right to liquidate the Purchased Assets delivered to it in connection with the Transactions hereunder or to exercise any other remedies pursuant to Section 19 hereof is a contractual right to liquidate such Transaction as described in
Sections 555 and 559 of Title 11 of the USC. 
  

	35.	NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 

  
 Except as provided herein, any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective and deemed delivered only when
received by the party to which it is sent; provided, however, that a facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be received when transmitted so long as the transmitting machine has provided an electronic confirmation (without error message) of such
transmission. Any such notice shall be sent to a party at the address or facsimile transmission number set forth below: 
  
 if to NAC: 
  
 NovaStar Assets Corp. 
 1901 West 47th Place 
 Westwood, Kansas 66205 
 Attention:     Rodney Schwatken VP/Treasury 
 Telephone:   (913) 514-3525 
 Facsimile:    (913) 514-3515 
  
 if to NMI: 
  
 NovaStar Mortgage,
Inc. 
 1901 West 47th Place 
 Westwood, Kansas 66205 
 Attention:     Rodney Schwatken VP/Treasury

 Telephone:   (913) 514-3525 
 Facsimile:    (913) 514-3515 
  

 34 

 if to NFI: 
  
 NovaStar Financial, Inc. 
 1901 West 47th Place 
 Westwood, Kansas 66205 
 Attention:     Rodney Schwatken VP/Treasury 
 Telephone:   (913) 514-3525 
 Facsimile:    (913) 514-3515 
  
 if to NFI Holding: 
  
 NFI
Holding Corporation 
 1901 West 47th Place 
 Westwood, Kansas 66205 
 Attention:     Rodney Schwatken VP/Treasury 
 Telephone:  
(913) 514-3525 
 Facsimile:    (913) 514-3515 
  
 if to Buyer or Agent: 
  
 [Buyer’s Name and Address] 
 Attention: 
 Telephone: 
 Facsimile: 
  
 or, for Transaction Notices and related documents: 
 Attention: 
 Telephone: 
 Facsimile: (704) 374-2802 
  
 as such address or number may be changed by like notice. 
  

	36.	CONFIDENTIALITY 

  
 This Agreement and its terms, provisions, supplements and amendments, and transactions and notices hereunder, are proprietary to Buyer and Agent and shall
be held by Sellers (and Sellers shall cause each Guarantor to hold it in strict confidence and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the consent of Buyer except for (i) disclosure to each Seller’s direct and indirect parent
companies, attorneys, agents or accountants, provided that such attorneys or accountants likewise agree to be bound by this covenant of confidentiality or (ii) upon prior written notice to Buyer, disclosure required by law, rule, regulation or order
of a court or other regulatory body or (iii) with prior written notice to Buyer, any required Securities and Exchange Commission or state securities’ law disclosures or filings, which shall not include the Side Letter unless otherwise agreed by
Buyer in writing. 
  

 35 

	37.	JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY 

  
 The liability of the Sellers hereunder is joint and several. The Sellers hereby: (a) acknowledge and agree that the Buyer shall have no obligation to
proceed against one Seller before proceeding against the other Seller, (b) waive any defense to their obligations under this Agreement or any other Program Document based upon or arising out of the disability or other defense or cessation of
liability of one Seller versus the other or of any other Person, and (c) waive any right of subrogation or ability to proceed against any Person or to participate in any security for the Obligations until the Obligations have been paid and performed
in full. 
  
 [Signature Page Follows] 
  

 36 

  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sellers,
Guarantor and Buyer have caused their names to be signed to this Master Repurchase Agreement by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	NOVASTAR MORTGAGE, INC., as Seller
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 
	
	NOVASTAR ASSETS CORP., as Seller
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 
	
	 [                                ]
 as Buyer and Agent, as applicable

		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 

  

			
	Acknowledged and Agreed:
	
	NFI HOLDING CORPORATION, as Guarantor
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 
	
	NOVASTAR FINANCIAL, INC., as Guarantor
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 

  

 ANNEX I 
  
 BUYER ACTING AS AGENT 
  
 This Annex I forms a part of the Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of July         , 2003 (the
“Agreement”) among [                            ], NovaStar Assets Corp. and NovaStar Mortgage,
Inc.. This Annex I sets forth the terms and conditions governing all transactions in which a party selling assets or buying assets, as the case may be (“Agent”), in a Transaction is acting as agent for one or more third parties (each, a
“Principal”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Annex I shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement. 
  

	1.	Additional Representations. Agent hereby makes the following representations, which shall continue during the term of any Transaction: Principal has duly authorized Agent to
execute and deliver the Agreement on its behalf, has the power to so authorize Agent and to enter into the Transactions contemplated by the Agreement and to perform the obligations of the related Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, under such
Transactions, and has taken all necessary action to authorize such execution and delivery by Agent and such performance by it. 

  

	2.	Identification of Principals. Agent agrees (a) to provide the other party, prior to the date on which the parties agree to enter into any Transaction under the Agreement,
with a written list of Principals for which it intends to act as Agent (which list may be amended in writing from time to time with the consent of the other party) and (b) to provide the other party, before the close of business on the next business
day after orally agreeing to enter into a Transaction, with notice of the specific Principal or Principals for whom it is acting in connection with such transaction. If (i) Agent fails to identify such Principal or Principals prior to the close of
business on such next business day or (ii) the other party shall determine in its sole discretion any Principal or Principals identified by Agent are not acceptable to it, the other party may reject and rescind any Transaction with such Principal or
Principals, return to Agent any Purchased Assets or portion of the Purchase Price, as the case may be, previously transferred to the other party and refuse any further performance under such Transaction, and Agent shall immediately return to the
other party any portion of the Purchase Price or Purchased Assets, as the case may be, previously transferred to Agent in connection with such Transaction; provided, however, that (A) the other party shall promptly (and in any event within one
business day) notify Agent of its determination to reject and rescind such Transaction and (B) to the extent that any performance was rendered by any party under any Transaction rejected by the other party, such party shall remain entitled to any
Price Differential or other amounts that would have been payable to it with respect to such performance if such Transaction had not been rejected. The other party acknowledges that Agent shall not have any obligation to provide it with confidential
information regarding the financial status of its Principals; Agent agrees, however, that it will assist the other party in obtaining from Agent’s Principals such Information regarding the financial status of such Principals as the other party
may reasonably request. 

  

	3.	 Limitation of Agent’s Liability. The parties expressly acknowledge that if the representations of Agent under the Agreement, including this Annex I, are
true and correct in all material respects during the term of any Transaction and Agent otherwise complies with the 

  

	 	 
provisions of this Annex I, then (a) Agent’s obligations under the Agreement shall not include a guarantee of performance by its Principal or
Principals; provided that Agent shall remain liable for performance pursuant to Section 10 of the Agreement, and (b) the other party’s remedies shall not include a right of setoff in respect of rights or obligations, if any, of Agent arising in
other transactions in which Agent is acting as principal. 

  

	4.	Multiple Principals. 

  

	 	(a)	In the event that Agent proposes to act for more than one Principal hereunder, Agent and the other party shall elect whether (i) to treat Transactions under the Agreement as
transactions entered into on behalf of separate Principals or (ii) to aggregate such Transactions as if they were transactions by a single Principal. Failure to make such an election in writing shall be deemed an election to treat Transactions under
the Agreement as transactions on behalf of a single Principal. 

  

	 	(b)	In the event that Agent and the other party elect (or are deemed to elect) to treat Transactions under the Agreement as transactions on behalf of separate Principals, the parties
agree that (i) Agent will provide the other party, together with the notice described in Section 2(b) of this Annex I, notice specifying the portion of each Transaction allocable to the account of each of the Principals for which it is acting (to
the extent that any such Transaction is allocable to the account of more than one principal); (ii) the portion of any individual Transaction allocable to each Principal shall be deemed a separate Transaction under the Agreement; (iii) the margin
maintenance obligations of the related Seller under Section 6(a) of the Agreement shall be determined on a Transaction-by-Transaction basis (unless the parties agree to determine such obligations on a Principal-by-Principal basis); and (iv)
Buyer’s and the related Seller’s remedies under the Agreement upon the occurrence of an Event of Default Shall be determined as if Agent had entered into a separate Agreement with the other party on behalf of each of its Principals.

  

	 	(c)	In the event that Agent and the other party elect to treat Transactions under the Agreement as if they were transactions by a single Principal, the parties agree that (i)
Agent’s notice under Section 2(b) of this Annex I need only identify the names of its Principals but not the portion of each Transaction allocable to each Principal’s account; (ii) the margin maintenance obligations of the related Seller
under Section 6(a) of the Agreement shall, subject to any greater requirement imposed by applicable law, be determined on an aggregate basis for all Transactions entered into by Agent on behalf of any Principal; and (iii) Buyer’s and the
related Seller’s remedies upon the occurrence of an Event of Default shall be determined as if all Principals were a single Seller or Buyer, as the case may be. 

  

	 	(d)	Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement (including, without limitation, this Annex I), the parties agree that any Transactions by Agent on behalf of an employee benefit
plan under ERISA shall be treated as Transactions on behalf of separate Principals in accordance with Section 4(b) of this Annex I (and all margin maintenance obligations of the parties shall be determined on a Transaction-by-Transaction basis).

  

	5.	Interpretation of Terms. All references to “Seller” or “Buyer”, as the case may be, in the Agreement shall, subject to the provisions of this Annex I
(including, among other provisions, the limitations on Agent’s liability in Section 3 of this Annex 1), be construed to reflect that (i) each Principal shall have, in connection with any Transaction or Transactions entered into by Agent on its
behalf, the rights, responsibilities, privileges and obligations of a “Seller” or “Buyer”, as the case may be, directly entering into such Transaction or Transactions with the other party under the Agreement, and (ii)
Agent’s Principal or Principals have designated Agent as their sole agent for performance of the related Seller’s obligations to Buyer or Buyer’s obligations to the related Seller, as the case may be, and for receipt of performance by
Buyer of its obligations to the related Seller or the related Seller of its obligations to Buyer, as the case may be, in connection with any Transaction or Transactions under the Agreement (including, among other things, as Agent for each Principal
in connection with transfers of Assets, cash or other property and as agent for giving and receiving all notices under the Agreement). Both Agent and its Principal or Principals shall be deemed “parties” to the Agreement and all references
to a ‘ party” or “either party” in the Agreement shall be deemed revised accordingly. 

  

  
 EXHIBIT A-1 
  
 MONTHLY CERTIFICATION 
  
 I,
                                ,
                                 of NovaStar Mortgage, Inc., Inc./NovaStar Assets
Corp. (the “Company”), do hereby certify that the Company is in compliance with all provisions and terms of the Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of July         , 2003, by and between
[                                ], the Company and NovaStar Mortgage, Inc./NovaStar
Assets Corp. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this
certificate and affixed the seal of the Company 
 Date:
                        , 200     
  

	
	 Name:

	 Title:

  
 [SEAL] 
  
 I,
                                ,
                                 of the Company, do hereby certify that is the
duly elected or appointed, qualified and acting                                 
of the Company, and the signature set forth above is the genuine signature of such officer on the date hereof. 
  

	
	 Name:

	 Title:

  

  
 EXHIBIT A-2 
  
 MONTHLY CERTIFICATION 
  
 I,
                                ,
                                 of NovaStar Financial, Inc.’s (the
“Company”), do hereby certify that: 
  

	 	(i)	the Company is in compliance with all provisions and terms of the Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of July ___, 2003 (the “Repurchase Agreement”), by and between
[                     ] (the “Buyer”), NovaStar Financial, Inc., and NovaStar Assets Corp.; 

  

	 	(ii)	pursuant to Section 18(q) of the Repurchase Agreement, at no time during the previous month was the ratio of the Company’s Adjusted Tangible Net Worth to Required Equity less
than 1.0:1.0; 

  

	 	(iii)	pursuant to Section 18(r) of the Repurchase Agreement, at no time during the previous month was the Adjusted Tangible Net Worth of the Company less than the sum of (i)
$[                    ], plus (ii) eighty percent (80%) of all contributions to equity capital of the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries or its
unconsolidated Affiliates (which contributions are made by Persons other than the Company, its consolidated Subsidiaries or its unconsolidated Affiliates) after March 31, [            ];

  

	 	(iv)	Pursuant to Section 18(u) of the Repurchase Agreement, at no time during the previous month was the amount of NFI’s liquidity (defined as the aggregate amount of NFI’s
cash plus amount available under warehouse financing facility, but only to the extent that NFI has encumbered assets to pledge thereunder and further adjusted by taking into account any applicable haircuts) as of any date, less than
$[            ]. 

  

	 	(v)	there have not been any material modifications to the Underwriting Standards that have not been delivered to the Buyer; and 

  

	 	(vi)	all additional modifications to the Underwriting Standards since the date of the most recent disclosure to the Buyer of any modification to the Underwriting Standards are set forth
on the “grid-line” delivered in connection herewith. 

  
 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Repurchase Agreement. 
  

  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
signed this certificate and affixed the seal of the Company. 
  
 Date:
                    , 200     
  

	
	 Name:

	 Title:

  
 [SEAL] 
  
 I,
                                ,
                                 of the Company, do hereby certify that
                                 is the duly elected or appointed, qualified and
acting                                  of the Company, and the signature set
forth above is the genuine signature of such officer on the date hereof. 
  

	
	 Name:

	 Title:

  

  
 EXHIBIT B 
  
 FORM OF TRANSACTION NOTICE 
  
 [ Buyer’s Address ] 
  
 Ladies and Gentlemen: 
  
 The undersigned executes and delivers this notice (“Notice”) pursuant to the requirements of the Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of July
        , 2003 (the “Repurchase Agreement”), among
[                        ] (“Buyer”), NovaStar Mortgage, Inc. (“NMI”) and NovaStar Assets Corp.
(“NAC” and NMI each a “Seller” and collectively, jointly and severally the “Sellers”) in connection with the submission for sale thereunder on
                        , 200_ (the “Purchase Date”) of the Purchased Assets identified on the schedule each
delivered herewith. All capitalized terms used in this Notice without definition shall have the same meanings herein as they have in the Repurchase Agreement. 
  

The Sellers hereby represent and certify to Buyer as follows: 
  

1. As of this date, Sellers are in compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Repurchase Agreement. The Purchased Asset (is
being/has been) delivered to Buyer. 
  
 2. Except
as otherwise previously disclosed in writing to Buyer, Sellers’ representations and warranties set forth in the Repurchase Agreement and any other related document are true and accurate as of the date of this Notice. 
  
 3. The Purchased Assets, which are identified on the
schedule, satisfy the requirements of the eligibility set forth in the Repurchase Agreement and all related agreements among Buyer and Sellers. 
  
 4. Upon payment by Buyer of the Purchase Price in respect of the Transaction involving the Purchased Assets, all of the right (including
the power to convey title thereto), title and interest in and to the Purchased Asset and each document with respect thereto, shall be transferred, assigned, set over and otherwise conveyed to Buyer. 
  
 5. The general terms of the sale are: 
  
 A. Number of Purchased Assets: ___________ 
  
 B. Aggregate Outstanding Principal Amount of the Purchased
Assets as of the Purchase Date:                 
  
 C. Purchase Date:                 
  
 D. Characteristics of each Purchased
Asset:                 
  

  

			
	 NOVASTAR MORTGAGE, INC.,
 as
Seller

		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 
	
	 NOVASTAR ASSETS CORP.,
 as
Seller

		
	By:	 	 
	Name:	 	 
	Title:	 	 

  

  
 EXHIBIT C 
  
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING 
 TO ELIGIBLE ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 
  
 (a) The applicable Purchased Asset is a binding and valid obligation of the obligor thereon, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with
its terms except as the same may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity. 
  
 (b) The Purchased Asset is genuine in all respects as appearing on its face
and as represented in the books and records of the related Seller and all information set forth therein is true and correct. 
  
 (c) The Purchased Asset is free of any default of any party thereto counterclaims, offsets and defenses and from any rescission, cancellation or
avoidance, whether by operation of law or otherwise. 
  
 (d) The
Purchased Asset complies in all respects with and was issued in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the same, and all notices, disclosures and other statements or information required by law or regulation to be given, and
any other act required by law or regulation to be performed, in connection with such Purchased Asset have been given and performed as required. 
  
 (e) At all times the Purchased Asset will be free and clear of all liens.Employment Agreement with Michael J. Gast, M.D.

 EXHIBIT 10.42 
  
 CONFIDENTIAL 
  
 January 27, 2005 
  
 Michael J. Gast, MD, PhD 
 111 Augusta Drive 
 West Chester, PA 19382 
  
 Dear Michael: 
  
 I am pleased to offer you the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer with Genaera Corporation,
reporting to Roy C. Levitt, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer. Your base salary will be $25,000.00 per month ($300,000/year). 
  
 Contingent upon your acceptance of this offer, it is expected that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors will grant to you at its next
meeting options to purchase 100,000 shares of Genaera Common Stock, and a grant of 50,000 shares of restricted stock. The exercise price of your stock options will be set at the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the later of the
date of the Board of Directors grants the options (typically its next meeting) or your start date. These options will have a term of 10 years and vest at the rate of 25% per year. As with all Genaera options, the grant will be subject to execution
of a stock option agreement in the form specified by the Compensation Committee. 
  
 If Genaera terminates your employment without cause (“cause” is defined in Genaera’s 2004 Stock Based Incentive Compensation Plan, referred to as the “Plan”) after you are employed, you will
receive your monthly base salary for (6) six months following your termination date or until you secure full time employment elsewhere, whichever period is shorter. “Cause” pursuant to subsection (iv) of Section 2.4 of the Plan relating to
breach of an employment or consulting agreement shall be interpreted to constitute cause for purposes of this letter agreement only if the breach remains uncured after reasonable written notice to you of the breach or if the breach by its nature is
not curable, then no cure period shall be required. 
  
 In the
event Genaera terminates your employment without cause after the first (6) six months of your employment, you will receive your monthly salary for twelve (12) months following your termination date or until you have secured full-time employment
elsewhere, whichever period is shorter. As a condition of receiving the severance pay described in this paragraph, you will be required to execute a general release, including a non-disparagement clause, in a form acceptable to Genaera. 

 
 Upon the commencement of your employment with the Company, you will be
expected to execute the Company’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy, Proprietary Information Agreement, Policy Statement on Insider Information and Insider Trading, Sexual Harassment Policy, and Conflicts of Interest Policy, each in the form provided
in this packet. Genaera may have already provided you with certain of its confidential business or scientific information, which it expects you to keep confidential, and to use only to further Genaera’s legitimate business interests. Just as
Genaera expects you to keep confidential its business or scientific information, Genaera also expects you to honor your obligations to your former employers with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of their business or scientific information.
You have disclosed to Genaera that Wyeth, your prior employer, has asked you to write several scientific papers and attend certain meetings over the next several weeks. You also mentioned that communications related to completion of these matters
may continue on an occasional basis for a month or so thereafter. For the avoidance of doubt, Genaera acknowledges that these activities do not constitute a conflict of interest for purposes of Genaera’s policies and do not constitute an
inappropriate relationship with a competitor under Genaera’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. 
  
 You will be eligible for twenty-five (25) vacation days per year starting in 2005. Vacation accrues proportionate to months employed. Employees are
encouraged to take their vacations yearly. However, up to five (5) days of unused vacation time can be carried over into next year with supervisor approval. In addition, you will be eligible for the benefits package available to all employees.
Enclosed is a summary of benefits. We 

 Michael Gast 
 Page 2

  

 
understand that you have certain professional and personal commitments made prior to this offer of employment that require you to be absent from Genaera on a
number of days prior to February 28. Between your start date and February 28, 2005 you will only be available for specific agreed days and Genaera will pay you only for days actually worked at a prorated rate based on your agreed monthly
compensation. 
  
 You are being hired as a Section 16 Officer of
Genaera, and as such will be included in indemnification provided pursuant to the Corporation’s Bylaws and Certificate of Corporation. You will also be a covered person under Genaera’s Director and Officers insurance coverage. 

 
 All the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the respective heirs, representative heirs, representatives, successors (including any successor as a result of a merger or similar reorganization) and assigns of the parties hereto, except that your duties
and responsibilities hereunder are of a personal nature and shall not be assignable in whole or in part by you. 
  
 We look forward to your joining us at Genaera Corporation. Please indicate your acceptance of this offer, which is for at will employment, by your
signature below. We have agreed that your start date will be Monday, February 7, 2005 at 8:30 AM. Please do not hesitate to speak with me concerning any questions you may have. 
  

	
	 Sincerely,

	
	 /S/  ROY C. LEVITT

	

	 Roy C. Levitt

	 President & Chief Executive Officer

  

	
	 Accepted: /S/  MICHAEL J.
GAST            

	 Date:
2/3/05

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