Storm Recovery Property Servicing Agreement between Cleco Securitization I LLC and Cleco Power LLC, as Servicer, to be dated as of June 22, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY SERVICING AGREEMENT dated as of June 22, 2022 (this “Agreement”) by and between CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (the “Issuer”), and CLECO POWER LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (“Cleco Power”), as the servicer of the Storm Recovery Property hereunder (together with each successor to Cleco Power in such capacity pursuant to Section 6.03 or 7.04, the “Servicer”), and acknowledged and accepted by THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Indenture Trustee.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Securitization Act and the Financing Order, Cleco Power, in its capacity as seller (the “Seller”), and the Issuer are concurrently entering into the Sale Agreement dated as of the date hereof pursuant to which the Seller is selling and the Issuer is purchasing the Storm Recovery Property created pursuant to the Securitization Act and the Financing Order described therein;

 

WHEREAS the Servicer is willing to service the Storm Recovery Property purchased from the Seller by the Issuer;

 

WHEREAS the Issuer, in connection with the ownership of the Storm Recovery Property and in order to collect the Storm Recovery Charges, desires to engage the Servicer to carry out the functions described herein and the Servicer desires to be so engaged;

 

WHEREAS, the Storm Recovery Charges will be itemized on Customers’ Bills and the SRC Collections initially will be commingled with other funds collected from Customers;

 

WHEREAS, the Financing Order calls for the Servicer to execute a servicing agreement with the Issuer pursuant to which the Servicer will be required, among other things, to impose and collect applicable Storm Recovery Charges for the benefit and account of the Issuer, to make periodic Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments required or allowed by the Financing Order, and to account for and remit the applicable Storm Recovery Charges to the Trustee on behalf and for the account of the Issuer in accordance with the remittance procedures contained hereunder without any deduction or surcharge of any kind; and

 

WHEREAS, the Financing Order provides that the LPSC will enforce the obligations imposed by the Financing Order, the LPSC’s applicable substantive rules, and applicable statutory provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

 

Section 1.01          DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the respective meanings set forth in Appendix A hereto.

 

Section 1.02          OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.

 

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

 

(b)          The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

 

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

 

 

 

Section 2.01          APPOINTMENT OF THE SERVICER; ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT.  The Issuer hereby appoints the Servicer, and the Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to perform the Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement on behalf of and for the benefit of the Issuer or any assignee thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and applicable law. This appointment and the Servicer’s acceptance thereof may not be revoked except in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.02          AUTHORIZATION.  With respect to all or any portion of the Storm Recovery Property, the Servicer shall be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered by the Issuer to:

 

(a)           execute and deliver, on behalf of itself or the Issuer, as the case may be, any and all instruments, documents or notices, and

 

(b)          on behalf of itself or the Issuer, as the case may be, make any filing and participate in Proceedings related to the duties of the Servicer hereunder with any governmental authorities, including with the LPSC.

 

The Issuer shall furnish the Servicer with all executed documents as have been prepared by the Servicer for execution by the Issuer, and with such other documents as may be in the Issuer’s possession, as necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its servicing and administrative duties hereunder. Upon the written request of the Servicer, the Issuer shall furnish the Servicer with any powers of attorney or other documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its duties hereunder.

 

Section 2.03          DOMINION AND CONTROL OVER STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the Servicer and the Issuer agree that the Issuer shall have dominion and control over the Storm Recovery Property, and the Servicer, in accordance with the terms hereof, is acting solely as the servicing agent of and custodian for the Issuer with respect to the Storm Recovery Property and Storm Recovery Property Documentation. The Servicer hereby agrees that it shall not take any action that is not authorized by this Agreement, the Securitization Act or the Financing Order, that is not consistent with its customary procedures and practices, or that shall impair the rights of the Issuer with respect to the Storm Recovery Property, in each case unless such action is required by law or court or regulatory order.

 

 

 

Section 3.01          DUTIES OF THE SERVICER. The Servicer, as agent for the Issuer (to the extent provided herein), shall have the following duties:

 

(a)          Duties of Servicer Generally. The Servicer shall manage, service, administer and make collections in respect of the Storm Recovery Property. The Servicer’s duties will include:

 

 (i)          calculating and billing the Storm Recovery Charges;

 

 (ii)         obtaining meter reads;

 

 (iii)        accounting for Storm Recovery Charges;

 

 (iv)        investigating and resolving delinquencies (and furnishing required reports with respect to such delinquencies to the Issuer);

 

 (v)         processing and depositing collections and making periodic remittances;

 

 (vi)        furnishing required periodic reports to the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC and the Rating Agencies;

 

 (vii)       monitoring Customer payments of Storm Recovery Charges;

 

 (viii)      notifying each Customer of any defaults in its payment obligations and other obligations (including its credit standards), and following such collection procedures as it follows with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself or others;

 

 (ix)        collecting payments of Storm Recovery Charges and payments with respect to Storm Recovery Property from all persons or entities responsible for paying Storm Recovery Charges and other payments with respect to Storm Recovery Property to the Servicer under the Financing Order, the Securitization Act, LPSC Regulations or applicable tariffs and remitting these collections to the Trustee;

 

 (x)         responding to inquiries by Customers, the LPSC or any other Governmental Authority with respect to the Storm Recovery Property and the Storm Recovery Charges;

 

 (xi)        making all required filings with the LPSC and taking such other action as may be necessary to perfect the Issuer’s ownership interests in and the Trustee’s first priority Lien on the Storm Recovery Property; making all filings and taking such other action as may be necessary to perfect and maintain the perfection and priority of and the other portions of the Trust Estate under the Indenture;

 

 (xii)       selling, as the agent for the Issuer, as its interest may appear, defaulted or written-off accounts in accordance with the Servicer’s usual and customary practices;

 

 (xiii)      taking action in connection with Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments and allocation of the charges among various classes of Customers as is set forth herein and pursuant to the Financing Order;

 

 (xiv)      any other duties specified for a servicer under the Financing Order or other applicable law.

 

 Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the duties of the Servicer set forth in this Agreement shall be qualified in their entirety by, and the Servicer shall at all times comply with, the Financing Order, the Securitization Act and any LPSC Regulations, and the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Regulation AB, as in effect at the time such duties are to be performed. Without limiting the generality of this Section 3.01(a), in furtherance of the foregoing, the Servicer hereby agrees that it shall also have, and shall comply with, the duties and responsibilities relating to data acquisition, usage and bill calculation, billing, customer service functions, collections, payment processing and remittance set forth in the Issuer Annex hereto, as it may be amended from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “usage” when used herein refers to both kilowatt hour consumption and kilowatt demand.

 

(b)          Reporting Functions.

 

 (i)          Monthly Servicer’s Certificate. On or before the last Servicer Business Day of each month, the Servicer shall prepare and deliver to the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC and the Rating Agencies a written report substantially in the form of Exhibit A (a “Monthly Servicer’s Certificate”) setting forth certain information relating to Storm Recovery Charge Payments in connection with the Storm Recovery Charges received by the Servicer during the Collection Period preceding such date; provided, however, that, for any month in which the Servicer is required to deliver a Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 4.01(g)(i), the Servicer shall prepare and deliver the Monthly Servicer’s Certificate no later than the date of delivery of such Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificate.

 

 (ii)         Notification of Laws and Regulations. The Servicer shall immediately notify the Issuer, the LPSC, the Trustee and each Rating Agency in writing when it becomes aware of any Requirement of Law or LPSC Regulations, orders or directions hereafter promulgated that have a material adverse effect on the Servicer’s ability to perform its duties under this Agreement.

 

 (iii)        Other Information. Upon the reasonable request of the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC or any Rating Agency, the Servicer shall provide to the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC or such Rating Agency, as the case may be, any public financial information in respect of the Servicer, or any material information regarding the Storm Recovery Property to the extent it is reasonably available to the Servicer, that may be reasonably necessary and permitted by law for the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC or such Rating Agency to monitor the performance by the Servicer hereunder; provided however, that any such request by the Trustee shall not create any obligation for the Trustee to monitor the performance of the Servicer. In addition, so long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are Outstanding, the Servicer shall provide to the Issuer, to the LPSC and to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, any information available to the Servicer or reasonably obtainable by it that is necessary to calculate the Storm Recovery Charges applicable to each Customer Class.

 

 (iv)        Preparation of Reports. The Servicer shall prepare and deliver such additional reports as required under this Agreement, including a copy of each Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificate described in Section 4.01(g)(i), the annual Servicer’s Compliance Certificate and Certificate of Compliance described in Section 3.03, and the Annual Accountant’s Report described in Section 3.04. In addition, the Servicer shall prepare, procure, deliver and/or file, or cause to be prepared, procured, delivered or filed, any reports, attestations, exhibits, certificates or other documents required to be delivered or filed with the SEC (and/or any other Governmental Authority) by the Issuer or the Sponsor under the federal securities or other applicable laws or in accordance with the Basic Documents, including, but without limiting the generality of foregoing, filing with the SEC, if applicable, a copy or copies of (A) the Monthly Servicer’s Certificates described in Section 3.01(b)(i) above (under Form 10-D or any other applicable form), (B) the Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificates described in Section 4.01(g)(i) (under Form 10-D or any other applicable form), (C) the annual statements of compliance, attestation reports and other certificates described in Section 3.03, and (D) the Annual Accountant’s Report (and any attestation required under Regulation AB) described in Section 3.04. In addition, the appropriate officer or officers of the Servicer shall (in its separate capacity as Servicer) sign the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K (and any other applicable SEC or other reports, attestations, certifications and other documents), to the extent that the Servicer’s signature is required by, and consistent with, the federal securities law and/or any other applicable law.

 

(c)          Opinions of Counsel.

 

The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, to the LPSC and to the Trustee:

 

 (i)          promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and of each amendment hereto, an Opinion of Counsel either:

 

(A)          all actions or filings (including filings with the Louisiana UCC Filing Officer in accordance with the rules prescribed under the Securitization Act and the UCC) necessary to perfect the Lien and security interest created by the Indenture have been taken or made, and reciting the details of such actions and filings, or

 

(B)          no such actions or filings are necessary to perfect such Lien and security interest.

 

 (ii)          on or before March 31 in each calendar year beginning with the first calendar year beginning more than three months after the Sale Date, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of a date during such calendar year, either:

 

(A)          all actions or filings (including filings and refilings with the Louisiana UCC Filing Officer in accordance with the rules prescribed under the Securitization Act and the UCC) necessary to maintain perfection of the Lien and security interest created by the Indenture have been taken or made, and reciting the details of such actions and filings, or

 

(B)          no such actions or filings are necessary to maintain the perfection of such Lien and security interest.

 

Each Opinion of Counsel referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above shall specify any action necessary (as of the date of such opinion) to be taken in the following year to preserve and protect such Lien and security interests.

 

Section 3.02          SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.  The Servicer shall, on behalf of the Issuer:

 

(a)          manage, service, administer and make collections in respect of the Storm Recovery Property with reasonable care and in material compliance with applicable law and regulations, including all applicable LPSC Regulations and guidelines, using the same degree of care and diligence that the Servicer exercises with respect to similar assets for its own account;

 

(b)          follow standards, policies and practices in performing its duties as Servicer that are customary in the electric transmission and distribution industry or that the LPSC has mandated and that are consistent with the terms and provisions of the Financing Order, tariffs and existing law;

 

(c)          use all reasonable efforts, consistent with the Servicer’s Policies and Practices, to enforce and maintain the Issuer’s and the Trustee’s rights in respect of the Storm Recovery Property;

 

(d)          calculate Storm Recovery Charges and the allocation of Storm Recovery Charges among Customer Classes in compliance with the Securitization Act, the Financing Order, any LPSC order related to the Storm Recovery Charge allocation and any applicable tariffs;

 

(e)           use all reasonable efforts consistent with the Servicer’s Policies and Practices to collect all amounts owed in respect of the Storm Recovery Property as they become due;

 

(f)           make all filings required under the Securitization Act or the applicable UCC to maintain the perfected security interest of the Trustee in the Storm Recovery Property and the other portions of the Trust Estate under the Indenture and use all reasonable efforts to otherwise enforce and maintain the Trustee’s rights in respect of the Storm Recovery Property and the other portions of the Trust Estate under the Indenture;

 

(g)          petition the LPSC for adjustments to the Storm Recovery Charges that the Servicer determines to be necessary in accordance with the Financing Order; and

 

(h)          keep on file, in accordance with customary procedures, all documents pertaining to the Storm Recovery Property and maintain accurate and complete accounts, records and computer systems pertaining to the related Storm Recovery Property

 

except where the failure to comply with any of the foregoing would not materially and adversely affect the Issuer’s or the Trustee’s respective interests in the Storm Recovery Property. The Servicer shall follow such customary and usual practices and procedures as it shall deem necessary or advisable in its servicing of all or any portion of the Storm Recovery Property, which, in the Servicer’s judgment, may include the taking of legal action pursuant to Section 5.02(d) hereof or otherwise.

 

Section 3.03          ANNUAL REPORTS ON COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION AB.

 

(a)          The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, the Trustee and the Rating Agencies, on or before the earlier of (i) March 31 of each year, beginning March 31, 2023, to and including the March 31 succeeding the retirement of all Storm Recovery Bonds or (ii) with respect to each calendar year during which Cleco Power’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the date on which the annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, certificates from a Responsible Officer of the Servicer (A) containing, and certifying as to, the statements of compliance required by Item 1123 (or any successor or similar items or rule) of Regulation AB, as then in effect (the “Annual Compliance Certificate”), and (B) containing, and certifying as to, the statements and assessment of compliance required by Item 1122(a) (or any successor or similar items or rule) of Regulation AB, as then in effect (the “Certificate of Compliance”). These certificates may be in the form of, or shall include the forms attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 and Exhibit C-2 hereto, with, in the case of Exhibit C-1, such changes as may be required to conform to applicable securities law.

 

(b)          The Servicer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each other party participating in the servicing function any additional certifications as to the statements and assessment required under Item 1122 or Item 1123 of Regulation AB to the extent required in connection with the filing of the annual report on Form 10-K referred to above; provided, however, that a failure to obtain such certifications shall not be a breach of the Servicer’s duties hereunder. The parties acknowledge that the Trustee’s certifications shall be limited to the Item 1122 certifications described in Exhibit A of the Indenture.

 

(c)          The initial Servicer, in its capacity as Sponsor, shall post on its or its parent company’s website and file with or furnish to the SEC, in periodic reports and other reports as are required from time to time under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the information described in Section 3.07(g) of the Indenture to the extent such information is reasonably available to the Sponsor.

 

Section 3.04          ANNUAL REGISTERED INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM REPORT.

 

(a)          The Servicer shall cause a registered independent public accounting firm (which may also provide other services to the Servicer or the Seller) to prepare annually, and the Servicer shall deliver annually to the Issuer, the LPSC, the Trustee and each Rating Agency, on or before the earlier of (a) March 31 of each year, beginning March 31, 2023, to and including the March 31 succeeding the retirement of all Storm Recovery Bonds or (b) with respect to each calendar year during which the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the date on which the annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, a report addressed to the Servicer (the “Annual Accountant’s Report”), which may be included as part of the Servicer’s assessment of compliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB during the immediately preceding calendar year ended December 31 (or, in the case of the first Annual Accountant’s Report, to be delivered on or before March 31, 2023, the period of time from the Sale Date through December 31, 2022), in accordance with paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB, identifying the results of such procedures and including any exceptions noted.  In the event such accounting firm requires the Trustee or the Issuer to agree or consent to the procedures performed by such firm, the Issuer shall direct the Trustee in writing to so agree; it being understood and agreed that the Trustee shall deliver such letter of agreement or consent in conclusive reliance upon the direction of the Issuer, and the Trustee shall not make any independent inquiry or investigation as to, and shall have no obligation or liability in respect of, the sufficiency, validity or correctness of such procedures.

 

(b)          The Annual Accountant’s Report shall also indicate that the accounting firm providing such report is independent of the Servicer in accordance with the Rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and shall include the attestation report required under Item 1122(b) of Regulation AB (or any successor or similar items or rule), as then in effect. The costs of the Annual Accountant’s Report shall be reimbursable as an Operating Expense under the Indenture and also indicate that the accounting firm providing such report is independent of the Servicer within the meaning of the Code of Professional Ethics of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Section 3.05          THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS.  So long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are Outstanding, the Servicer shall take reasonable efforts to assure that no Third-Party Supplier bills or collects Storm Recovery Charges on behalf of the Issuer unless permitted by applicable law or regulation and, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied. As long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are Outstanding, Servicer will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any Third-Party Supplier provide to the Issuer and to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, any information available to the Third-Party Supplier or reasonably obtainable by it that is necessary to calculate the Storm Recovery Charges.

 

 

 

Section 4.01          STORM RECOVERY CHARGE ADJUSTMENTS.  From time to time, but at least semi-annually, until the retirement of the Storm Recovery Bonds, the Servicer shall identify the need for Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments and shall take reasonable action to obtain and implement such Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments, all in accordance with the following:

 

(a)          Expected Amortization Schedule. The Expected Amortization Schedule for the Storm Recovery Bonds is provided in the Supplement.

 

(b)          Semi-Annual Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments. The Servicer will calculate and make semi-annual Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments as of each Adjustment Date commencing with the first Adjustment Date as follows:

 

 (i)          subtract the preceding period’s Storm Recovery Charge revenues collected and remitted from the preceding period’s Periodic Payment Requirement to calculate the under-collection or over-collection from the preceding period;

 

 (ii)         calculate the amount of the Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment, by (A) correcting any under-collection or over-collection calculated in step (i) over a period of up to 12 months covering the next two succeeding payment dates (in order to mitigate the size and impact of the adjustment), using the rules that (x) principal payments on the Storm Recovery Bonds will be brought on schedule over the next two succeeding Payment Dates, but (y) the resulting periodic billing requirement always must be sufficient to cover ongoing financing costs and interest on the Storm Recovery Bonds on a timely basis, (B) adding any amount carried forward from the previous Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment by the operation of step (A) above during the preceding Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment calculation;

 

(iii)         add the amount calculated in step (ii), without duplication, to the upcoming period’s trued-up Periodic Billing Requirement to determine an adjusted Periodic Billing Requirement for the upcoming period;

 

(iv)         add the amount, if a positive number, equal to the difference of the return to Cleco Power on Cleco Power’s invested capital in the Issuer for the preceding period minus the actual investment earnings thereon from the Trustee’s eligible investments for the preceding period, to the amount calculated in step (iii);

 

(v)          allocate the result from step (iv) using the allocation factors approved by the LPSC in the Financing Order and develop Customer Class-specific Storm Recovery Charge rates based on those allocated dollar amounts; and

 

(vi)         file those adjusted storm recovery charge rates with the LPSC not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the first billing cycle of the Cleco Power revenue month in which the revised Storm Recovery Charges will be in effect;

 

provided, however, that to the extent any Storm Recovery Bonds remain outstanding after the Scheduled Final Payment Date of the last tranche or class, Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments shall be made quarterly until the Storm Recovery Bonds and all associated financing costs are paid in full (and any under-collection shall be corrected for the next Payment Date instead of over a period covering the next two succeeding Payment Dates.

 

(c)          Interim Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment Request. The Servicer may also make interim Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments more frequently at any time during the term of the Storm Recovery Bonds: (i) if the Servicer forecasts that SRC Collections will be insufficient to make on a timely basis all scheduled payments of interest and other financing costs in respect of the Storm Recovery Bonds during the current or next succeeding payment period or bring all principal payments on schedule over the next two succeeding payment dates and/or (ii) to replenish any draws upon the capital subaccount. Such adjusted storm recovery charge rates shall be filed with the LPSC not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the first billing cycle of the Cleco Power revenue month in which the revised Storm Recovery Charges will be in effect.

 

(d)          Quarterly Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment Request. If required by the Rating Agencies to obtain the highest credit ratings, the Servicer may make quarterly Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments as and when so required. Such adjusted storm recovery charge rates shall be filed with the LPSC not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the first billing cycle of the Cleco Power revenue month in which the revised Storm Recovery Charges will be in effect.

 

(e)           Non-Standard Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment. The Servicer shall request LPSC approval of an amendment to the Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment mechanism to make a non-standard Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment (under such procedures as shall be proposed by the Servicer and approved by the LPSC at the time) that it deems necessary or appropriate to address any material deviations between SRC Collections and the periodic revenue requirement. No such change shall cause any of the then-current credit ratings of the Storm Recovery Bonds to be suspended, withdrawn or downgraded.

 

(f)           Notification of Adjustment Requests. Whenever the Servicer files a Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment request with the LPSC, the Servicer shall send a copy of such filing to the Issuer, each Trustee and the Rating Agencies concurrently therewith and such other persons as are entitled to notice under the Financing Order. If any Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment request does not become effective on the applicable date as provided in such filing and in accordance with the Financing Order, the Servicer shall notify the Issuer, each Trustee and the Rating Agencies by the end of the second Servicer Business Day after such applicable date.

 

(g)          Reports.

 

 (i)          Servicer’s Certificate. Not later than five (5) Servicer Business Days prior to each Payment Date or Special Payment Date, the Servicer shall deliver a written report substantially in the form of Exhibit B (the “Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificate”) to the Issuer, the LPSC, the Trustee and the Rating Agencies, which shall include all of the following information (to the extent applicable and including any other information so specified in the Series Supplement) as to the Storm Recovery Bonds with respect to such Payment Date or Special Payment Date or the period since the previous Payment Date, as applicable:

 

(A)          the Storm Recovery Bond Balance and the Projected Storm Recovery Bond Balance as of the immediately preceding Payment Date,

 

(B)          the amount on deposit in the Capital Subaccount and the Excess Funds Subaccount and the amount required to be on deposit in the Capital Subaccount as of the immediately preceding Payment Date,

 

(C)          the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to principal, if any,

 

(D)          the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to interest,

 

(E)          the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Storm Recovery Bonds, before and after giving effect to any payments allocated to principal reported under clause (C) above,

 

(F)          the difference, if any, between the amount specified in clause (E) above and the Outstanding Amount specified in the Expected Amortization Schedule,

 

(G)          any other transfers and payments to be made on such Payment Date or Special Payment Date, including amounts paid to the Trustee and to the Servicer, and

 

(H)          the Servicer’s projection of the amount on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount for the Payment Date immediately preceding the next succeeding Adjustment Date.

 

 (ii)         Reports to Customers.

 

(A)          After each revised Storm Recovery Charge has gone into effect pursuant to a Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment, the Servicer shall, to the extent and in the manner and time frame required by applicable LPSC Regulations, if any, cause to be prepared and delivered to Customers any required notices announcing such revised Storm Recovery Charges.

 

(B)          The Servicer shall comply with the requirements of the Financing Order and Rate Schedule with respect to the identification of Storm Recovery Charges on Bills. In addition, at least once each year, the Servicer shall notify such Customers, in effect, that the Storm Recovery Property and the Storm Recovery Charges are owned by the Issuer (or its assignee) and not the Seller and that the Servicer is merely the collection agent for the Issuer (or its assignee or pledgee). Such notification shall be delivered to such Customers either by annual Bill inserts with mailed Bills or by statements posted on the “my account” website pages of the Servicer’s internet website.

 

(C)          The Servicing Fee includes all costs of preparation and delivery incurred in connection with clauses (A) and (B) above, including printing and postage costs.

 

Section 4.02          LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

(a)          The Issuer and the Servicer expressly agree and acknowledge that:

 

 (i)          In connection with any Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment, the Servicer is acting solely in its capacity as the servicing agent of the Issuer hereunder.

 

 (ii)         Neither the Servicer nor the Issuer shall be responsible in any manner for, and shall have no liability whatsoever as a result of, any action, decision, ruling or other determination made or not made, or any delay (other than any delay resulting from the Servicer’s failure to file the requests required by Section 4.01 in a timely and correct manner or other breach by the Servicer of its duties under this Agreement that materially and adversely affects the Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments), by the LPSC in any way related to the Storm Recovery Property or in connection with any Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment.

 

 (iii)        Except only to the extent that the Servicer is liable under Section 6.02, (A) the Servicer shall have no liability whatsoever relating to the calculation of the Storm-Recovery Charges and the adjustments thereto, including as a result of any inaccuracy of any of the assumptions made in such calculation regarding expected electric energy or demand usage volumes, the rate of charge-offs and estimated expenses and fees of the Issuer, so long as the Servicer has not acted in bad faith or in a grossly negligent manner in connection therewith, and (B) the Servicer shall have no liability whatsoever as a result of any Person, including the Holders, not receiving any payment, amount or return anticipated or expected in respect of any Storm Recovery Bond generally.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.02 shall not relieve the Servicer of any liability under Section 6.02 for any misrepresentation by the Servicer under Section 6.01 or for any breach by the Servicer of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

Section 5.01          CUSTODY OF STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY RECORDS.  To assure uniform quality in servicing the Storm Recovery Property and to reduce administrative costs, the Issuer hereby revocably appoints the Servicer, and the Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to act as the agent of the Issuer as custodian of any and all documents and records relating to the Storm Recovery Property, which are hereby constructively delivered to the Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer, with respect to all Storm Recovery Property.

 

Section 5.02          DUTIES OF SERVICER AS CUSTODIAN.

 

(a)          Safekeeping. The Servicer shall hold the Storm Recovery Property Documentation on behalf of the Issuer and Trustee and maintain such accurate and complete accounts, records and computer systems pertaining to the Storm Recovery Property Documentation as shall enable the Issuer and the Trustee, as applicable, to comply with this Agreement, the Sale Agreement and the Indenture. In performing its duties as custodian, including documentation, record keeping, accounts and computer systems, the Servicer shall act with reasonable care, using that degree of care and diligence that the Servicer exercises with respect to comparable assets that the Servicer services for itself or, if applicable, for others. The Servicer shall promptly report to the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC and the Rating Agencies any material failure on its part to hold the Storm Recovery Property Documentation and maintain its accounts, records and computer systems as herein provided and promptly take appropriate action to remedy any such failure. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require an initial review or any periodic review by the Issuer or the Trustee of the Storm Recovery Property Documentation. The Servicer’s duties to hold the Storm Recovery Property Documentation set forth in this Section 5.02, to the extent such Storm Recovery Property Documentation has not been previously transferred to a successor Servicer, shall terminate one year and one day after the earlier of the date on which (i) the Servicer is succeeded by a successor pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement and (ii) no Storm Recovery Bonds are Outstanding.

 

(b)          Maintenance and Access to Records. The Servicer shall maintain the Storm Recovery Property Documentation at 2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, Louisiana or at such other office as shall be specified to the Issuer, to the LPSC and to the Trustee by written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in location. The Servicer shall make available, as is reasonably required for the Trustee to perform its duties and obligations under the Indenture and the other Basic Documents, for inspection, audit and copying to the Issuer and the Trustee or their respective duly authorized representatives, attorneys or auditors the Servicer’s records regarding the Storm Recovery Property, the Storm Recovery Charges and the Storm Recovery Property Documentation at such times during normal business hours as the Issuer or the Trustee shall reasonably request and which do not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations. Nothing in this Section 5.02(b) shall affect the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law (including any LPSC Regulation) prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Customers, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access to such information as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section 5.02(b).

 

(c)           Release of Documents. Upon instruction from the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, the Servicer shall release any Storm Recovery Property Documentation to the Trustee, the Trustee’s agent or the Trustee’s designee, as the case may be, at such place or places as the Trustee may designate, as soon as practicable.

 

(d)           Litigation to Defend Storm Recovery Property. The Servicer is required to institute any action or proceeding reasonably necessary to compel performance by the LPSC or the State of Louisiana of any of their respective obligations or duties under the Securitization Act or the Financing Order, as the case may be, with respect to the Storm Recovery Charge Adjustment, provided, however, that in circumstances in which the servicing procedures set out in Annex I apply, the provisions of this undertaking do not require the Servicer to act in a manner different from the manner that the servicing procedures require. In any proceedings related to the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any municipality to acquire a portion of Cleco Power’s electric distribution facilities, including upon the expiration of any franchise agreement, the Servicer shall assert that that the court ordering such condemnation must treat such municipality as a successor to Cleco Power under the Securitization Act and the Financing Order and that Customers in such municipalities remain responsible for payment of Storm Recovery Charges. The costs of any such actions or proceedings would be reimbursed by the Issuer to the Servicer from amounts on deposit in the Collection Account as an Operating Expense (and shall not be deemed to constitute a portion of the Servicing Fee) in accordance with the terms of Section 8.02(d) of the Indenture. The amount of any recoveries received by the Servicer as a result of any such action or procedures shall be forwarded to the Trustee for deposit in the Collection Account. The Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Section 5.02(d) survive and continue notwithstanding that the payment of Operating Expenses pursuant to the Indenture may be delayed.

 

Section 5.03          CUSTODIAN’S INDEMNIFICATION.  THE SERVICER AS CUSTODIAN SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER, THE INDEPENDENT MANAGERS AND THE TRUSTEE (FOR ITSELF AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS) AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PAYMENTS AND CLAIMS, AND REASONABLE COSTS OR EXPENSES, OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (COLLECTIVELY, “LOSSES”) THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST EACH SUCH PERSON AS THE RESULT OF ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THE MAINTENANCE AND CUSTODY BY THE SERVICER, AS CUSTODIAN, OF THE STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY DOCUMENTATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SERVICER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY PORTION OF ANY SUCH AMOUNT RESULTING FROM THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BAD FAITH OR NEGLIGENCE OF THE ISSUER, THE INDEPENDENT MANAGERS OR THE TRUSTEE, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

 

INDEMNIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION 5.03 SHALL SURVIVE RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY INDEPENDENT MANAGER AND SHALL INCLUDE REASONABLE OUT-OF-POCKET FEES AND EXPENSES OF INVESTIGATION AND LITIGATION (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES AND EXPENSES).

 

Section 5.04          EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION.  The Servicer’s appointment as custodian shall become effective as of the Sale Date and shall continue in full force and effect until terminated pursuant to this Section 5.04. If the Servicer shall resign as Servicer in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or if all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer shall have been terminated under Section 7.01, the appointment of the Servicer as custodian shall be terminated effective as of the date on which the termination or resignation of the Servicer is effective. Additionally, if not sooner terminated as provided above, the Servicer’s obligations as custodian shall terminate one year and one day after the date on which no Storm Recovery Bonds are Outstanding.

 

 

 

Section 6.01          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SERVICER.  The Servicer makes the following representations and warranties as of the Sale Date, and as of such other dates expressly provided in this Section 6.01, on which the Issuer has relied in acquiring the Storm Recovery Property. The representations and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the sale of any of the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer and the pledge thereof to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture.

 

(a)          Organization and Good Standing. The Servicer is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, with the limited liability company power and authority to own its properties, to conduct its business as such business is presently conducted and to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Agreement and had at all relevant times and has the requisite power, authority and legal right to service the Storm Recovery Property and to hold the Storm Recovery Property Documentation as custodian.

 

(b)          Due Qualification. The Servicer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which it is required to do so (except where the failure to so qualify would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Servicer’s business, operations, assets, revenues or properties or adversely affect the servicing of the Storm Recovery Property).

 

(c)           Power and Authority. The Servicer has the limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out the terms thereof; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Servicer by all necessary limited liability company action.

 

(d)          Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Servicer enforceable against the Servicer in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a Proceeding in equity or at law.

 

(e)           No Violation. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (to the extent applicable to the Servicer’s responsibilities thereunder) and the fulfillment of the terms will not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a material default under, the articles of organization, operating agreement or any material indenture or any material agreement to which the Servicer is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such agreement (other than any Lien that may be granted under the Basic Documents pursuant to Section 1231 of the Securitization Act); or violate any existing law or any existing order, rule or regulation applicable to the Servicer.

 

(f)           Approvals. No approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required under an applicable law, rule or regulation in connection with the execution and delivery by the Servicer of this Agreement, the performance by the Servicer of the transactions contemplated hereby or the fulfillment by the Servicer of the terms of the Agreement, except those that have been obtained or made or that are required by this Agreement to be made in the future by the Servicer, including the Issuance Advice Letter, filings with the LPSC for adjusting Storm Recovery Charges and allocation of storm recovery charge adjustments pursuant to Section 4.01 and filings with the Louisiana UCC Filing Officer under the Securitization Act and the UCC.

 

(g)          No Proceedings. Except as disclosed by the Servicer on Schedule A hereto, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the Servicer’s knowledge, threatened before any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Servicer or its properties involving or relating to the Servicer or the Issuer or, to the Servicer’s knowledge, any other Person:

 

(i)           asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents;

 

(ii)          seeking to prevent the issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents;

 

(iii)          seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability against the Servicer of, this Agreement, any of the other Basic Documents or the Storm Recovery Bonds;

 

(iv)          relating to the Servicer and which might materially and adversely affect the federal income tax or State income, gross receipts or franchise tax attributes of the Storm Recovery Bonds; or

 

(v)          seeking to prevent the issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents.

 

(h)          Reports and Certificates. Each report and certificate delivered in connection with any filing made to the LPSC by the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer with respect to Storm Recovery Charges, Storm Recovery Charge Adjustments or allocation of storm recovery charges among Customer Classes will be true and correct in all material respects; provided, however, that to the extent any such report or certificate is based in part upon or contains assumptions, forecasts or other predictions of future events, the representation and warranty of the Servicer with respect thereto will be limited to the representation and warranty that such assumptions, forecasts or other predictions of future events are reasonable based upon historical performance and the facts known to the Servicer on the date such report or certificate is delivered.

 

Section 6.02          INDEMNITIES OF THE SERVICER; RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

 

(a)          THE SERVICER SHALL BE LIABLE IN ACCORDANCE HEREWITH ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF THE OBLIGATIONS SPECIFICALLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE SERVICER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

(b)          THE SERVICER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE (FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS) AND THE INDEPENDENT MANAGER AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TRUSTEES, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL LOSSES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UPON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON AS A RESULT OF:

 

 (i)          THE SERVICER’S WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BAD FAITH OR NEGLIGENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES OR OBSERVANCE OF ITS COVENANTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SERVICER’S RECKLESS DISREGARD OF ITS OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT;

 

 (ii)         THE SERVICER’S BREACH OF ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT; OR

 

 (iii)        LITIGATION AND RELATED EXPENSES RELATING TO ITS STATUS AND OBLIGATIONS AS SERVICER (OTHER THAN ANY PROCEEDINGS THE SERVICER IS REQUIRED TO INSTITUTE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT);

 

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SERVICER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE BAD FAITH, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR NEGLIGENCE OF ANY PERSON INDEMNIFIED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION 6.02 (EACH, AN “INDEMNIFIED PERSON”) OR RESULTING FROM A BREACH OF A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY MADE BY SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON TO THE SERVICER IN ANY BASIC DOCUMENT THAT GIVES RISE TO THE SERVICER’S BREACH.

 

(c)           PROMPTLY AFTER RECEIPT BY AN INDEMNIFIED PERSON OF WRITTEN NOTICE OF ITS INVOLVEMENT IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION, SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON SHALL, IF A CLAIM FOR INDEMNIFICATION IN RESPECT THEREOF IS TO BE MADE AGAINST THE SERVICER UNDER THIS SECTION 6.02, NOTIFY THE SERVICER IN WRITING OF SUCH INVOLVEMENT. FAILURE BY AN INDEMNIFIED PERSON TO SO NOTIFY THE SERVICER SHALL RELIEVE THE SERVICER FROM THE OBLIGATION TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON UNDER THIS SECTION 6.02 ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SERVICER SUFFERS ACTUAL PREJUDICE AS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AS A RESULT OF SUCH FAILURE. WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY FOR WHICH INDEMNIFICATION MAY BE SOUGHT BY AN INDEMNIFIED PERSON UNDER THIS SECTION 6.02, THE SERVICER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ASSUME THE DEFENSE OF ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION UNLESS (X) SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION EXPOSES THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON TO A RISK OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY OR FORFEITURE, (Y) THE SERVICER AND SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEFENSES OF SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION OR (Z) THERE EXISTS AT THE TIME THE SERVICER WOULD ASSUME SUCH DEFENSE AN ONGOING SERVICER DEFAULT. UPON ASSUMPTION BY THE SERVICER OF THE DEFENSE OF ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION, THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND TO RETAIN ITS OWN COUNSEL (INCLUDING LOCAL COUNSEL), AND THE SERVICER SHALL BEAR THE REASONABLE FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH SEPARATE COUNSEL. THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON SHALL NOT SETTLE OR COMPROMISE OR CONSENT TO THE ENTRY OF ANY JUDGMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY PENDING OR THREATENED CLAIM, ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN RESPECT OF WHICH INDEMNIFICATION MAY BE SOUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION 6.02 (WHETHER OR NOT THE SERVICER IS AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL PARTY TO SUCH CLAIM OR ACTION) UNLESS THE SERVICER AGREES IN WRITING TO SUCH SETTLEMENT, COMPROMISE OR CONSENT AND SUCH SETTLEMENT, COMPROMISE OR CONSENT INCLUDES AN UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THE SERVICER FROM ALL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF SUCH CLAIM, ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING.

 

(d)           THE SERVICER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE TRUSTEE AND ITS RESPECTIVE TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL LOSSES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UPON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON AS A RESULT OF THE ACCEPTANCE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUSTS AND DUTIES CONTAINED HEREIN AND IN THE INDENTURE, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY SUCH LOSS (I) SHALL BE DUE TO THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BAD FAITH OR NEGLIGENCE OF THE TRUSTEE OR (II) SHALL ARISE FROM THE TRUSTEE’S BREACH OF ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY IS EXTENDED TO THE TRUSTEE SOLELY IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS OR ANY OTHER PERSON. SUCH AMOUNTS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRUSTEE SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE.

 

(e)           THE SERVICER’S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION 6.02(b) AND (d) FOR EVENTS OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE REMOVAL OR RESIGNATION OF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY INDEPENDENT MANAGER OR THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL SURVIVE THE RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF THE TRUSTEE, ANY INDEPENDENT MANAGER OR THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND SHALL INCLUDE REASONABLE COSTS, FEES AND EXPENSES OF INVESTIGATION AND LITIGATION (INCLUDING THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND EXPENSES). INDEMNIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION 6.02 SHALL SURVIVE ANY REPEAL OF, MODIFICATION OF, OR SUPPLEMENT TO, OR JUDICIAL INVALIDATION OF, THE SECURITIZATION ACT OR ANY FINANCING ORDER.

 

(f)           EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SALE AGREEMENT OR THE FORMATION DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING THE SERVICER’S CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICING FEES AND EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT AND THE SELLER’S CLAIM FOR PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY), THE SERVICER HEREBY RELEASES AND DISCHARGES THE ISSUER (INCLUDING ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS, IF ANY), THE INDEPENDENT MANAGER, AND THE TRUSTEE (INCLUDING ITS RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS) (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS WHATSOEVER, WHICH THE SERVICER, IN ITS CAPACITY AS SERVICER OR OTHERWISE, SHALL OR MAY HAVE AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON RELATING TO THE STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY OR THE SERVICER’S ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT THERETO OTHER THAN ANY ACTIONS, CLAIMS AND DEMANDS ARISING OUT OF THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, BAD FAITH OR NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES.

 

(g)          THE SERVICER AND THE ISSUER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE TRUSTEE IS A THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY OF THIS SECTION 6.02 AND IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE INDEMNITY FROM THE SERVICER CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO BRING ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE SUCH INDEMNIFICATION DIRECTLY AGAINST THE SERVICER.

 

(h)          THE SERVICER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE LPSC (FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS), THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE (FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS), AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TRUSTEES, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL LOSSES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UPON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON AS A RESULT OF ANY INCREASE IN THE SERVICING FEE THAT BECOMES PAYABLE PURSUANT TO SECTION 6.07(b) OF THIS AGREEMENT AS A RESULT OF A DEFAULT RESULTING FROM THE SERVICER’S MISCONDUCT, NEGLIGENCE IN PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES OR OBSERVANCE OF ITS COVENANTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OF CLECO POWER OR AN AFFILIATE SERVICER. THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION SET FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE LPSC BUT IS NOT ENFORCEABLE BY ANY THIRD-PARTY COLLECTOR OR ANY CUSTOMER. ANY INDEMNITY PAYMENTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS SHALL BE REMITTED TO THE TRUSTEE PROMPTLY FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT.

 

Section 6.03          MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF, OR ASSUMPTION OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF, THE SERVICER.  Any Person:

 

(a)           into which the Servicer may be merged, converted or consolidated and which succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the servicer (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the LPSC designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

 

(b)          which results from the division of the Servicer into two or more Persons and which succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Servicer (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the LPSC designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

 

(c)           which may result from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Servicer shall be a party and which succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Servicer (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the LPSC designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

 

(d)           which may purchase or otherwise succeed to the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as a whole and which purchases or otherwise succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Servicer (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the LPSC designates in connection with an order relating to such split), or

 

(e)           which may otherwise purchase or succeed to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Servicer (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the LPSC designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

 

which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement of assumption to perform every obligation of the Servicer under this Agreement and undertake to collect, account and remit amounts in respect of the Storm Recovery Charges from Customers for the benefit and account of the Issuer (or its financing party), shall be the successor to the Servicer under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any document or any further act by any of the parties to this Agreement; provided, however, that:

 

 (i)          immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the representations and warranties made pursuant to Section 6.01 shall be true and correct and no Servicer Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

 (ii)         the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer, the Rating Agencies, the LPSC and the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conversion, division or succession and such agreement of assumption comply with this Section 6.03 and that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been complied with;

 

 (iii)        the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer, the Rating Agencies, the LPSC and the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel either

 

(A)          stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings to be made by the Servicer, including filings with the LPSC pursuant to the Securitization Act and the UCC, that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the interests of each of the Issuer and the Trustee in the Storm Recovery Property have been executed and filed and are in full force and effect, and reciting the details of such filings, or

 

(B)          stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to preserve and protect such interests;

 

 (iv)        the Rating Agencies shall have received prior written notice of such transaction and, if such Person is not an Affiliate of Cleco Power, the Rating Agency Condition shall be satisfied; and

 

 (v)         the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer, the LPSC, the Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion of independent tax counsel (as selected by, and in form and substance satisfactory to, the Servicer, and which may be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service) to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes, such transaction will not result in a material adverse federal income tax consequence to the Issuer or the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

 

The Servicer shall not consummate any transaction referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above except upon execution of the above-described agreement of assumption and compliance with clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above. When any Person acquires the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as a whole or otherwise becomes the successor to the Servicer in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.03, then upon the satisfaction of all of the other conditions of this Section 6.03, the Servicer shall automatically and without further notice be released from its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 6.04          ASSIGNMENT OF THE SERVICER’S OBLIGATIONS.  The Servicer will not voluntarily assign or outsource its obligations hereunder except with the LPSC’s prior approval and upon a demonstration that the costs under an alternative arrangement will be no more than if the Servicer continued to perform such services itself, or the assignment or outsourcing is to another Affiliate that will provide such services at the same or lower cost than if the Servicer continued to perform such services itself, or the assignment or outsourcing is to a successor entity to the Servicer as the result of a merger or other restructuring that assumes the Servicer’s responsibilities as the servicer and administrator.

 

Section 6.05          LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE SERVICER AND OTHERS.  Neither the Servicer nor any of the managers, officers, employees or agents of the Servicer shall be liable to the Issuer, its managers, the Storm Recovery Bondholders, the Trustee or any other Person, except as provided under this Agreement, for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action pursuant to this Agreement or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Servicer against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Servicer and any manager or officer or employee or agent of the Servicer may rely in good faith on the advice of counsel or on any document of any kind, prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person respecting any matters arising under this Agreement.

 

Except as provided in this Agreement (including but not limited to Section 5.02(c) and 5.02(d) of this Agreement), the Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any Proceeding that is not directly related to one of the Servicer’s enumerated duties in this Agreement or related to its obligation to pay indemnification, and that in its reasonable opinion may cause it to incur any expense or liability; provided, however, that the Servicer may, in respect of any Proceeding, undertake any reasonable action that is not specifically identified in this Agreement as a duty of the Servicer but that the Servicer may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties to this Agreement and the interests of the Storm Recovery Bondholders under this Agreement. The Servicer’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with any such Proceeding shall be payable from the Collection Account as an Operating Expense (and shall not be deemed to constitute a portion of the Servicing Fee) in accordance with Section 8.02 of the Indenture. The Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Section 6.05 shall survive and continue notwithstanding the fact that the payment of Operating Expenses pursuant to the Indenture may be delayed (it being understood that the Servicer may be required initially to advance its own funds to satisfy its obligations hereunder).

 

Section 6.06          CLECO POWER NOT TO RESIGN AS SERVICER.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.03 and 6.04, Cleco Power shall not resign from the obligations and duties imposed on it as Servicer under this Agreement unless the Servicer delivers to the Issuer, the Trustee, the LPSC and each Rating Agency written notice of such resignation at the earliest practicable time and, concurrently therewith or promptly thereafter, an opinion of Independent legal counsel that the Servicer’s performance of its duties under this Agreement shall no longer be permissible under applicable law. No such resignation shall become effective until a Successor Servicer shall have assumed the servicing obligations and duties hereunder of the Servicer in accordance with Section 7.04.

 

Section 6.07          SERVICING FEE.

 

(a)          The Issuer agrees to pay the Servicer on each Payment Date, solely to the extent amounts are available therefor in accordance with the Indenture, the Servicing Fee with respect to the Storm Recovery Bonds. For so long as:

 

(i)           Cleco Power or one of its Affiliates is the Servicer,

 

(ii)          a successor to Cleco Power or one of its Affiliates is the Servicer due to the operation of the provisions of Section 6.03, or

 

(iii)         any Person is the Successor Servicer hereunder pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.03 if the predecessor Servicer was Cleco Power or one of its Affiliates,

 

the amount of the Servicing Fee paid to the Servicer annually shall equal 0.05 % of the Storm Recovery Bond Balance on the Issuance Date and shall be prorated based on the fraction of a calendar year during which the Servicer provides any of the services set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)          In the event that a Successor Servicer not an Affiliate of Cleco Power is appointed in accordance with Section 7.04, the amount of Servicing Fee paid to the Servicer annually shall be agreed upon by the Successor Servicer and the Trustee but shall in no event exceed 0.60% of the Storm Recovery Bond Balance on the Issuance Date without the consent of the LPSC and shall be prorated based on the fraction of a calendar year during which the Successor Servicer provides any of the services set forth in this Agreement. The foregoing fees set forth in Section 6.07(a) and this Section 6.07(b) constitute a fair and reasonable price for the obligations to be performed by the Servicer. The Servicer shall have indemnification obligations for an increased Servicing Fee under certain circumstances, in accordance with Section 6.02(h).

 

(c)          The Servicing Fee, together with any portion of the Servicing Fee that remains unpaid from prior Payment Dates, will be paid solely to the extent funds are available. The Servicing Fee will be paid prior to the payment of or provision for any amounts in respect of interest on and principal of the Storm Recovery Bonds.

 

Section 6.08          COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW.  The Servicer covenants and agrees, in servicing the Storm Recovery Property, to comply in all material respects with all laws applicable to, and binding upon, the Servicer and relating to such Storm Recovery Property the noncompliance with which would have a material adverse effect on the value of the Storm Recovery Property; provided, however, that the foregoing is not intended to, and shall not, impose any liability on the Servicer for noncompliance with any Requirement of Law that the Servicer is contesting in good faith in accordance with its customary standards and procedures.  It is expressly acknowledged that the payment of fees to the Rating Agencies shall be at the expense of the Issuer and that, if the Servicer advances such payments to the Rating Agencies, the Issuer shall reimburse the Servicer for any such advances.

 

Section 6.09          SERVICER EXPENSES.  Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the Servicer will not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities hereunder, including taxes imposed on the Servicer and expenses incurred in connection with reports to Storm Recovery Bondholders, and external information technology costs, bank wire fees and internal legal fees related to this Agreement. The Servicer is entitled to receive reimbursement for its out-of-pocket costs for external accounting and external legal services as well as for other items of costs that will be incurred annually to support and service the Storm Recovery Bonds after issuance, as provided in the Financing Order.

 

Section 6.10          APPOINTMENTS.  The Servicer may at any time appoint a subservicer or agent to perform all or any portion of its obligations as Servicer hereunder; provided, however, that unless such Person is an Affiliate of Cleco Power, the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied in connection therewith; provided further that the Servicer shall remain obligated and be liable to the Issuer for the servicing and administering of the Storm Recovery Property in accordance with the provisions hereof without diminution of such obligation and liability by virtue of the appointment of such subservicer or agent and to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the Servicer alone were servicing and administering the Storm Recovery Property. The fees and expenses of the subservicer or agent shall be as agreed between the Servicer and its subservicer or agent from time to time, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee or the Storm Recovery Bondholders shall have any responsibility therefor. Any such appointment shall not constitute a Servicer resignation under Section 6.06. In the event any subservicer participates in the “servicing function” within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB, the Servicer shall be responsible for obtaining from each subservicer and delivering to the Issuer any assessment of compliance and attestation required to be delivered by the Servicer under Section 3.03.

 

Section 6.11          NO SERVICER ADVANCES.  The Servicer shall not make any advances of interest on or principal of the Storm Recovery Bonds.

 

Section 6.12          REMITTANCES.  (a) The Servicer shall remit Storm Recovery Charges to the Trustee each Servicer Business Day, but in no event later than two Servicer Business Days following such Servicer Business Day, based on estimated daily collections using a weighted average balance of days outstanding on retail bills and prior year write-off experience (the “Daily Remittance”)in all respects as provided in Annex 1 and shall make such adjustments as are set out in Annex 1 to adjust for any estimates of actual Storm Recovery Charges actually remitted to the Trustee.  The Servicer will remit those Storm Recovery Charges for any Servicer Business Day  no  later than the second Servicer Business Day after that Servicer Business Day. Cleco Power will not be required to credit Customers or the Issuer with any earnings accruing to Cleco Power on transferred and untransferred daily collections of Storm Recovery Charges.

 

(a)  Prior to  (or concurrently with each remittance to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account pursuant to this Section 6.12, the Servicer shall provide written notice (which may be via electronic means, including electronic mail) to the Trustee and, upon request, to the Issuer of each such remittance (including the exact dollar amount to be remitted).  The Servicer shall also, promptly upon receipt, remit to the Collection Account any other proceeds of the Trust Estate that it may receive from time to time.  Reconciliations of bank statements shall be as set forth in Exhibit A.

 

(b) The Servicer agrees and acknowledges that it holds all Storm Recovery Charge payments collected by it and any other proceeds for the Trust Estate received by it for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders and that all such amounts will be remitted by the Servicer in accordance with this Section 6.12 without any surcharge, fee, offset, charge or other deduction.  The Servicer further agrees not to make any claim to reduce its obligation to remit all Storm Recovery Charge payments collected by it in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(c) Unless otherwise directed to do so by the Issuer, the Servicer shall be responsible for selecting Eligible Investments in which the funds in the Collection Account shall be invested pursuant to Section 8.03 of the Indenture.

 

Section 6.13          PROTECTION OF TITLE.  The Servicer shall execute and file all filings, including filings with the Louisiana UCC Filing Officer pursuant to the Securitization Act and the Louisiana UCC, and cause to be executed and filed all filings, all in such manner and in such places as may be required by law fully to preserve, maintain and protect the interests of the Issuer and the Trustee in the Storm Recovery Property, including all filings required under the Securitization Act and the Louisiana UCC relating to the transfer of the ownership or security interest in the Storm Recovery Property by the Seller to the Issuer or any security interest granted by the Issuer in the Storm Recovery Property. The Servicer shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Issuer, the LPSC and the Trustee file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document filed as provided above, as soon as available following such filing.

 

Section 6.14          MAINTENANCE OF OPERATIONS.  To the extent that any interest in the Storm Recovery Property is assigned, sold, or transferred to an assignee, Cleco Power shall enter into a contract with that assignee that requires Cleco Power to continue to operate its electric transmission and distribution system in order to provide electric services to Cleco Power’s Customers;  and, further, Cleco Power will undertake to collect, account for  and remit amounts in respect of the Storm Recovery Charges for the benefit of such assignee (or its financing party); provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit Cleco Power from selling, assigning, or otherwise divesting its electric transmission and distribution systems or any part thereof so long as the entity or entities acquiring such system agree to continue operating the facilities to provide electric service to Cleco Power’s LPSC’s jurisdictional Customers.

 

 

 

Section 7.01          SERVICER DEFAULT.  If any one of the following events (a “Servicer Default”) occurs and is continuing:

 

(a)          any failure by the Servicer to remit to the Collection Account, on behalf of the Issuer, any required remittance by the date that such remittance must be made that continues unremedied for a period of five Servicer Business Days after the date on which written notice thereof shall have been given to the Servicer and the LPSC by the Issuer or the Trustee;

 

(b)          any failure by the Servicer to duly observe or perform in any material respect any other covenant or agreement of the Servicer set forth in this Agreement (other than as provided in Section 7.01(a) or (c)) or any other Basic Document to which it is a party in such capacity, which failure

 

 (i)          materially and adversely affects the Storm Recovery Property or the timely collection of the Storm Recovery Charges or the rights of the Storm Recovery Bondholders, and

 

 (ii)          continues unremedied for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice thereof shall have been given to the Servicer by the Trustee, the LPSC (with a copy to the Trustee) or the Issuer or after discovery of such failure by an officer of the Servicer, as the case may be;

 

(c)          any failure by the Servicer duly to perform its obligations under Section 4.01(b) of this Agreement in the time and manner set forth therein, which failure continues unremedied for a period of five Servicer Business Days;

 

(d)          any representation or warranty made by the Servicer in this Agreement or any other Basic Document proves to have been incorrect when made, which has a material adverse effect on the Issuer or the Storm Recovery Bondholders, and which material adverse effect continues unremedied for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice thereof shall have been given to the Servicer by the Issuer (with a copy to the Trustee) or the Trustee or after discovery of such failure by an officer of the Servicer, as the case may be; or

 

(e)          an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Servicer;

 

then, so long as the Servicer Default shall not have been remedied, the Trustee shall upon the written instruction of the Majority Holders and with the Issuer’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), terminate all the rights and obligations (other than the indemnification obligations set forth in Section 6.02 hereof and the obligation under Section 7.04 to continue performing its functions as Servicer until a Successor Servicer is appointed) of the Servicer under this Agreement by notice then given in writing to the Servicer (a “Termination Notice”).

 

In addition, upon a Servicer Default, the Storm Recovery Bondholders and the Trustee shall be entitled to (i) apply to the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for sequestration and payment to the Trustee of revenues arising with respect to the Storm Recovery Property, (ii) foreclose on or otherwise enforce the Lien on and security interests in the Storm Recovery Property and (iii) apply to the LPSC for an order that amounts arising from the Storm Recovery Charges be transferred to a separate account for the benefit of the Storm Recovery Bondholders, in accordance with the Securitization Act.

 

On or after the receipt by the Servicer of a Termination Notice, all authority and power of the Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Storm Recovery Property, the related Storm Recovery Charges or otherwise, shall, upon appointment of a Successor Servicer pursuant to Section 7.04, without further action, pass to and be vested in such Successor Servicer and, without limitation, the Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the predecessor Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such Termination Notice, whether to complete the transfer of the Storm Recovery Property Documentation and related documents, or otherwise. The predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the Successor Servicer, the Trustee and the Issuer in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the predecessor Servicer under this Agreement, including the transfer to the Successor Servicer for administration by it of all cash amounts that shall at the time be held by the predecessor Servicer for remittance, or shall thereafter be received by it with respect to the Storm Recovery Property or the related Storm Recovery Charges. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Servicer of such Termination Notice, the Servicer shall deliver the Storm Recovery Property Documentation to the Successor Servicer. All reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with transferring the Storm Recovery Property Documentation to the Successor Servicer and amending this Agreement to reflect such succession as Servicer pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of documentation of such costs and expenses. All costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with transferring the Storm Recovery Property Documentation to the Successor Servicer and amending this Agreement to reflect the succession as Servicer other than pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses. Termination of Cleco Power’s rights as a Servicer shall not terminate Cleco Power’s rights or obligations in its individual capacity under the Sale Agreement (except rights thereunder deriving from its rights as the Servicer hereunder).

 

Section 7.02          NOTICE OF SERVICER DEFAULT.  The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, to the Trustee, to the LPSC, and to each Rating Agency promptly after having obtained actual knowledge thereof, but in no event later than two Servicer Business Days thereafter, written notice in an Officers’ Certificate of any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, would become a Servicer Default under Section 7.01.

 

Section 7.03          WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.  The Trustee, with the written consent of the Majority Holders, may waive in writing in whole or in part any default by the Servicer in the performance of its obligations hereunder and its consequences, except a default in making any required remittances to the Trustee of SRC Collections from Storm Recovery Property in accordance with Section 6.12 of this Agreement. Upon any such waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist, and any Servicer Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

Section 7.04          APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

 

(a)          Upon the Servicer’s receipt of a Termination Notice pursuant to Section 7.01 or the Servicer’s resignation or removal in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Servicer shall continue to perform its functions as Servicer under this Agreement and shall be entitled to receive the requisite portion of the Servicing Fee and expenses reimbursement, until a Successor Servicer shall have assumed in writing the obligations of the Servicer hereunder as described below. In the event of the Servicer’s removal or resignation hereunder, the Trustee at the written direction and with the consent of the Majority Holders shall appoint a Successor Servicer with the Issuer’s prior written consent thereto (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and the Successor Servicer shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in form acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee and provide prompt written notice of such assumption to the Rating Agencies. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for its appointment of a Successor Servicer appointed at the written direction of the Majority Holders. If, within 30 days after the delivery of the Termination Notice, a new Servicer shall not have been appointed and accepted such appointment, the Trustee may petition the LPSC or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a Successor Servicer under this Agreement. A Person shall qualify as a Successor Servicer only if:

 

 (i)          such Person is permitted under LPSC Regulations to perform the duties of the Servicer pursuant to the Securitization Act, the Financing Order and this Agreement,

 

 (ii)         either (A) the LPSC has approved the appointment of the Successor Servicer or (B) 45 days have lapsed since the LPSC received notice of appointment of the Successor Servicer and the LPSC has neither approved nor disapproved that appointment,

 

 (iii)        the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied, and

 

 (iv)        such Person enters into a servicing agreement with the Issuer having substantially the same provisions as this Agreement.

 

(b)          Upon appointment, the Successor Servicer shall be the successor in all respects to the predecessor Servicer under this Agreement and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities arising thereafter relating thereto placed on the predecessor Servicer and shall be entitled to the Servicing Fee and expenses reimbursement and all the rights granted to the predecessor Servicer by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)          The Successor Servicer may not resign unless it is prohibited from serving as Servicer pursuant to this Agreement by law.

 

Section 7.05          COOPERATION WITH SUCCESSOR.  The predecessor Servicer covenants and agrees with the Issuer that it will, on an ongoing basis, cooperate with the Issuer and Successor Servicer and provide whatever information is, and take whatever actions are, reasonably necessary to assist the Successor Servicer in performing its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 8.02         NOTICES.  All demands, notices and communications upon or to the Servicer, the Issuer, the LPSC, the Trustee or the Rating Agencies under this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered personally, via facsimile, by reputable overnight courier or by certified mail, return-receipt requested, and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt

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Section 8.03         ASSIGNMENT.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as provided in Sections 6.03 and 6.04 and as provided in the provisions of this Agreement concerning the resignation or termination of the Servicer, this Agreement may not be assigned by the Servicer. Any purported assignment not in compliance with this Agreement shall be void.

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“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or New Orleans, Louisiana, are, or The Depository Trust Company is, required or authorized by law or executive order to remain closed.

 

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