GCO Education Loan Funding Trust-I $1,142,600,000 GCO ELF Student Loan Asset Backed Notes Series 2006-1 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT January 13, 2006

EX-1.1 2 a06-2897_2ex1d1.htm UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

GCO Education Loan Funding Trust-I
$1,142,600,000
GCO ELF Student Loan Asset Backed Notes
Series 2006-1

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

 

January 13, 2006

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street, 35th Floor
New York, New York  10013

 

as the Representative

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

GCO ELF LLC (the “Depositor”) proposes to cause GCO Education Loan Funding Trust-I, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), to issue and sell to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the “Representative”) and the other underwriters listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each an Underwriter, and collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to the terms of this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”), the respective classes of the Trust’s GCO ELF Student Loan Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2006-1 (the “Notes”) in the classes and initial principal amounts set forth on Schedule A hereto.  Greystone & Co., Inc., a New York corporation (“Greystone Inc.”) is indirectly affiliated with the Depositor.  The Trust has been formed by the Depositor pursuant to a trust agreement, dated as of January 15, 2003, as amended and restated by an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2003 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”), between the Depositor and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”).  The assets of the Trust will include, among other things, a pool of student loans (the “Financed Student Loans”) and all amounts collected thereunder.  Such Financed Student Loans will be acquired by the Trust from the Depositor pursuant to a loan sale agreement, dated as of March 1, 2003 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Depositor Loan Purchase Agreement”), among the Trust as purchaser, the Depositor as seller, and Zions First National Bank as eligible lender trustee for both the Trust and the Depositor.  The Depositor shall acquire such Financed Student Loans from GCO-ELF Depositor, LLC (the “Warehouse”) pursuant to a loan sale agreement, dated as of March 1, 2005 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Warehouse Loan Purchase Agreement”, and together with the Depositor Loan Purchase Agreement, the “Loan Purchase Agreements”), among the Depositor as purchaser, the Warehouse as seller and Zions First National Bank as eligible lender trustee for both the Depositor and the Warehouse.  The Notes will be issued under an Indenture of Trust, dated as of March 1, 2003 (as previously amended and supplemented, the “Master Indenture”), between the Trust, Zions First National Bank, as eligible lender trustee (the “Eligible Lender Trustee”) and as indenture trustee (the “Trustee”), as further supplemented by the Series 2006-1 Supplemental Indenture of Trust to be dated as of January 1, 2006 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and collectively with the Master Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Trust and the Trustee.  Upon issuance, the Notes will be secured by, among other things,

 



 

Financed Student Loans pledged to the Trustee.  GCO Education Loan Funding Corp. (the “Servicing Contractor”) will cause the Financed Student Loans to be serviced pursuant to a servicing contractor agreement, dated as of March 1, 2003 (the “Trust Contractor Agreement”), between GMAC Commercial Holding Capital Corporation (“Capital Corp.”) and the Trust, as assigned to the Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc. (“GSC”) by the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2004 (the “GSC Assignment”), between GSC and Capital Corp. and as further assigned to the Servicing Contractor by the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006 (the “GCO ELF Assignment”) between the Servicing Contractor and GSC.  The Financed Student Loans will also be serviced pursuant to a servicing contractor agreement, dated as of January 28, 2003 (the “Depositor Contractor Agreement”, and together with the Trust Contractor Agreement, the “Contractor Agreements”), between the Depositor and Capital Corp., as assigned to the Servicing Contractor pursuant to the Greystone Assignment and the GCO ELF Assignment.  The Servicing Contractor is a party to a loan subservicing agreement with Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (“Great Lakes” or the “Great Lakes Subservicer”), dated as of January 28, 2003 (the “Great Lakes Subservicing Agreement”) a loan subservicing agreement with ACS Education Services, Inc. (“ACS” or the “ACS Subservicer”), dated as of April 1, 2003 (the “ACS Subservicing Agreement”), a loan origination and servicing agreement with CFS-SunTech Servicing LLC (“CFS or the “CFS Subservicer”), dated as of August 4, 2005 (the “CFS Subservicing Agreement”) and a loan subservicing agreement with Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (“PHEAA” or the “PHEAA Subservicer”), dated as of April 1, 2005 (the “PHEAA Subservicing Agreement”) (the Great Lakes Subservicer, the ACS Subservicer, the CFS Subservicer and the PHEAA Subservicer, each a “Subservicer” and collectively, the “Subservicers”) pursuant to which each Subservicer will service certain of the Financed Student Loans (the Great Lakes Subservicing Agreement, the ACS Subservicing Agreement, the CFS Subservicing Agreement and the PHEAA Subservicing Agreement each a “Subservicing Agreement” and collectively, the “Subservicing Agreements”).  The Trust, the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Trustee have entered into custodian agreements with each of Great Lakes and ACS, each dated as of September 1, 2003, and custodian agreements with each of CFS and PHEAA, each dated as of January 1, 2006 (collectively, the “Trust Custodian Agreements”).  The Depositor and Zions First National Bank, as eligible lender trustee for the Depositor entered into custodian agreements with ACS, Great Lakes, CFS and PHEAA dated February 1, 2003, January 28, 2003, January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively (collectively, the “Depositor Custodian Agreements”, and together with the Trust Custodian Agreements, the “Custodian Agreements”).  GCO Education Loan Funding Corp. (the “Administrator”) will perform certain administrative tasks on behalf of the Trust pursuant to an Administration Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2003 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Administration Agreement”), among the Trust, the Delaware Trustee, GMAC Commercial Holding Capital Corp. (in such capacity, the “GMAC Administrator”) and the Indenture Trustee, as assigned to the Administrator pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2004 (the “GCO Assignment”, and together with the GCS Assignment and GCO ELF Assignment, the “Assignments”), between the GMAC Administrator and the Administrator.  The Trust has previously entered into LIBOR derivative product agreements with Citibank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A. dated as of September 29, 2003 and November 1, 2005 (the “LIBOR Swap Agreements”), respectively.

 

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This Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Indenture, the Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreements, the LIBOR Swap Agreements, the Loan Purchase Agreements, the eligible lender trust agreement, dated as of January 28, 2003, between the Depositor and Zions First National Bank, as eligible lender trustee for the Depositor, the eligible lender trust agreement, dated as of March 1, 2003, between the Trust and the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Contractor Agreements, the Assignments and the Subservicing Agreements shall collectively hereinafter be referred to as the “Basic Documents.”

 

Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture or the Prospectus.

 

The Depositor and Greystone Inc. wish to confirm as follows this Agreement with the Underwriters in connection with the purchase and resale of the Notes.

 

1.                                       Agreements To Sell, Purchase and Resell.

 

(a)                                  The Depositor hereby agrees, subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to cause the Trust to sell to each of the Underwriters and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Depositor, the Servicing Contractor and Greystone Inc. herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, each of the Underwriters severally and not jointly agrees to purchase from the Trust, such principal amount of each Class of the Notes at such respective purchase prices as are set forth next to the name of each Underwriter on Schedules A and B hereto.

 

(b)                                 It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the Notes for sale to the public (which may include selected dealers) as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

2.                                       Delivery of the Notes and Payment Therefor.  Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment for the Notes shall be made at the office of Kutak Rock LLP, Denver, Colorado at 11:00 a.m., Denver time, on January 18, 2006 (the “Closing Date”).  The place of such closing and the Closing Date may be varied by agreement between the Representative and the Depositor.

 

On the Closing Date, the Notes will be delivered to the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor to the Trust in Federal Funds, by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representative, or such other form of payment as to which the parties may agree.

 

Unless otherwise agreed to by the Depositor and the Representative, each Class of Notes will be evidenced by a single global security in definitive form deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and/or by additional definitive securities, and will be registered, in the case of the global Notes, in the name of Cede & Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and in the other cases, in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters shall request prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, no later than the business day preceding the Closing Date.  The Notes to be delivered to the Underwriters shall be made available to the Underwriters in Denver, Colorado, for inspection and packaging not later than 9:30 a.m., Denver time, on the business day next preceding the Closing Date.

 

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3.                                       Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

3.1                                 The Depositor represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  A registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-102760), including a prospectus and such amendments thereto as may have been required to the date hereof, relating to the Notes and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) and such registration statement, as amended, has become effective; such registration statement, as amended, and the prospectus relating to the sale of the Notes offered thereby constituting a part thereof, as from time to time amended or supplemented (including the base prospectus, any prospectus supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, the information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A(b) under the Securities Act, and the information incorporated by reference therein) are respectively referred to herein as the “Registration Statement” and the “Prospectus” respectively; the conditions to the use of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to Form S-3, and the conditions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act, have been satisfied with respect to the Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                 On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the rules and regulations of the SEC (the “Rules and Regulations”) and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and, except with respect to information omitted pursuant to Rule 430A of the Securities Act, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or, in the case of the Registration Statement, omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, in the case of the Prospectus, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and on the date of this Agreement, at the “time of sale” (within the meaning of Rule 159 under the Securities Act, the “Time of Sale”) for the first sale of the Notes by the Underwriters and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package (as defined below) and the Prospectus will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act, and neither of such documents included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package, as applicable, based upon written information furnished to the Depositor by the Underwriters, specifically for use therein.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Disclosure Package” means, collectively, the preliminary prospectus dated December 23, 2005 relating to the Notes (the “Preliminary Prospectus”), and the Disclosure Supplement dated January 13, 2006 (the “Disclosure Supplement”).

 

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(c)                                  The Commission has not issued and, to the best knowledge of the Depositor, is not threatening to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement.

 

(d)                                 As of the Closing Date, each consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body which is required to be obtained or made by the Depositor or its affiliates for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained, except as otherwise provided in the Basic Documents.

 

(e)                                  The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the Trust and, upon its execution and delivery by the Trust and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Prospectus.  The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Notes.

 

(f)                                    The Notes have been duly authorized on behalf of the Trust and the Notes to be issued on the Closing Date, when executed on behalf of the Trust and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will have been validly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Trust entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and court decisions with respect thereto, and the Notes will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Prospectus.

 

(g)                                 The Depositor is a limited liability company organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and as conducted on the date hereof, and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register or qualify does not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations of the Depositor.

 

(h)                                 Other than as contemplated by this Agreement or as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Depositor or any of its affiliates any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(i)                                     There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened or, to the knowledge of the Depositor contemplated, against the Depositor, or to which the Depositor or any of its properties is subject, that are not disclosed in the Prospectus and

 

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which, if adversely decided, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Depositor, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Depositor to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Basic Documents or otherwise materially affect the issuance of the Notes or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Basic Documents.

 

(j)                                     Neither the offer, sale or delivery of the Notes by the Trust nor the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Basic Documents by the Depositor, nor the consummation by the Depositor of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) requires or will require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except for compliance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such other consents, approvals or authorizations as shall have been obtained prior to the Closing Date) or conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the organizational documents of the Depositor ; or (ii) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, in any material respect, any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Depositor is a party or by which the Depositor or any of their respective properties may be bound, or violates or will violate in any material respect any statute, law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Depositor or any of its properties, or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Depositor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties is subject other than as contemplated by the Basic Documents.

 

(k)                                  The Depositor has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which it is a party; the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Depositor of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which it is a party have been duly and validly authorized by the Depositor and this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which the Depositor is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Depositor and constitute the valid and legally binding agreements of the Depositor, enforceable against the Depositor in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforcement hereof and thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and court decisions with respect thereto and subject to the applicability of general principles of equity, and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder and thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or principles of public policy.

 

(l)                                     The assignment and delivery of Financed Student Loans by the eligible lender trustee for the Depositor on behalf of the Depositor to the Trust and the Eligible Lender Trustee, and the assignment of the Financed Student Loans by the Trust and the Eligible Lender Trustee to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture, will vest in the Trustee,

 

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for the benefit of the Noteholders, a first priority perfected security interest therein, subject to no prior lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, adverse claim, charge or other encumbrance.

 

(m)                               The Trust is not, nor as a result of the issuance and sale of the Notes as contemplated hereunder will it become, subject to registration as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(n)                                 The representations and warranties made by the Depositor and the Trust in any Basic Document to which the Depositor or the Trust is a party and made in any Officer’s Certificate of the Depositor will be true and correct at the time made and on and as of the Closing Date.

 

(o)                                 Since the date of the Prospectus, no material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in, or affecting particularly the business or properties of, the Depositor or the Trust has occurred.

 

(p)                                 The Trust is not an “ineligible issuer” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

(q)                                 The Trust filed its preliminary prospectus, dated December 23, 2005, relating to the Notes with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on December 28, 2005.

 

3.2                                 The Servicing Contractor represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  As of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Servicing Contractor in the Basic Documents to which it is a party will be true and correct in all material respects; provided, however, that any such representation and warranty that is made as of a specified date is only true and correct as of such specified date.

 

(b)                                 This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Servicing Contractor and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Underwriters, constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Servicing Contractor, enforceable against the Servicing Contractor in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and (iii) public policy considerations underlying the securities laws to the extent that such public policy considerations limit the enforceability of the provisions of this Agreement that purport to provide indemnification for securities laws liabilities.

 

3.3                                 Greystone Inc. represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Greystone Inc. and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Underwriters, constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of Greystone Inc.,

 

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enforceable against Greystone Inc. in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and (iii) public policy considerations underlying the securities laws to the extent that such public policy considerations limit the enforceability of the provisions of this Agreement that purport to provide indemnification for securities laws liabilities.

 

4.                                       Agreements of the Depositor.  The Depositor agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)                                  The Depositor will prepare a supplement to the Prospectus setting forth the amount of the Notes covered thereby and the terms thereof not otherwise specified in the Prospectus, the price at which the Notes are to be purchased by the Underwriters, either the initial public offering price or the method by which the price at which the Notes are to be sold will be determined, the selling concessions and reallowances, if any, and such other information as the Underwriters and the Depositor deem appropriate in connection with the offering of the Notes, and the Depositor will timely file such supplement to the Prospectus with the SEC, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, but the Depositor will not file any amendments to the Registration Statement as in effect with respect to the Notes or any amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or Disclosure Package, unless it shall first have delivered copies of such amendments or supplements to the Underwriters, with reasonable opportunity to comment on such proposed amendment or supplement or if the Underwriters shall have reasonably objected thereto promptly after receipt thereof; the Depositor will immediately advise the Underwriters or the Underwriters’ counsel (i) when notice is received from the SEC that any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement has become or will become effective; and (ii) of any order or communication suspending or preventing, or threatening to suspend or prevent, the offer and sale of the Notes or of any proceedings or examinations that may lead to such an order or communication, whether by or of the SEC or any authority administering any state securities or Blue Sky law, as soon as the Depositor is advised thereof, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order or communication and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

 

(b)                                 If, at any time when the Prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Depositor promptly will notify the Representative of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the SEC, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement to such Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or an amendment that will effect such compliance.  Neither the Representative’s consent to, nor the Representative’s delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6 hereof.

 

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(c)                                  The Depositor will immediately inform the Representative (i) of the receipt by the Depositor of any communication from the SEC or any state securities authority concerning the offering or sale of the Notes; and (ii) of the commencement of any lawsuit or proceeding to which the Depositor is a party relating to the offering or sale of the Notes.

 

(d)                                 The Depositor will furnish to the Representative, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement (including all documents and exhibits thereto or incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, and all amendments and supplements to such documents relating to the Notes, in each case in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

(e)                                  No amendment or supplement will be made to the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package or Prospectus which the Underwriters shall not previously have been advised or to which they shall reasonably object after being so advised.

 

(f)                                    The Depositor will cooperate with the Underwriters and with their counsel in connection with the qualification of, or procurement of exemptions with respect to, the Notes for offering and sale by the Underwriters and by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may designate and will file such consents to service of process or other documents necessary or appropriate in order to effect such qualification or exemptions; provided that in no event shall the Depositor be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Notes, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g)                                 The Depositor consents to the use, in accordance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions in which the Notes are offered by the Underwriters and by dealers, of the Prospectus furnished by the Depositor.

 

(h)                                 To the extent, if any, that the rating or ratings provided with respect to the Notes by the rating agency or agencies that initially rate the Notes is conditional upon the furnishing of documents or the taking of any other actions by the Depositor, the Depositor shall cause to be furnished such documents and such other actions to be taken.

 

(i)                                     So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Depositor will furnish to the Underwriters (i) as soon as available, a copy of each document relating to the Notes required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any order of the SEC thereunder; and (ii) such other information concerning the Depositor as the Underwriters may request from time to time.

 

(j)                                     If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after execution and delivery pursuant to any provisions hereof (otherwise than by notice given by the Representative terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10 hereof) or if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Representative because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Depositor to comply with the terms or fulfill any of the

 

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conditions of this Agreement, the Depositor agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out of pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by it in connection herewith, but without any further obligation on the part of the Depositor for loss of profits or otherwise.

 

(k)                                  The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be applied substantially in accordance with the description set forth in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Supplement.

 

(l)                                     Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus, the Depositor has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

 

(m)                               On or before the Closing Date, the Depositor shall mark its accounting and other records, if any, relating to the Financed Student Loans and shall cause each Servicer to mark their respective computer records relating to the Financed Student Loans to show the absolute ownership by the Eligible Lender Trustee, as eligible lender of, and the interest of the Depositor in, the Financed Student Loans, and the Depositor shall not take, or shall permit any other person to take, any action inconsistent with the ownership of, and the interest of the Depositor in, the Financed Student Loans, other than as permitted by the Basic Documents.

 

(n)                                 For the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending 90 days hereafter, none of the Depositor and any entity affiliated, directly or indirectly, with the Depositor will, without the prior written notice to the Underwriters, offer to sell or sell notes (other than the Notes) collateralized by Financed Student Loans.

 

(o)                                 If, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act, then, immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Depositor will prepare, and file or transmit for filing with the Commission in accordance with such Rule 430A and Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, copies of an amended Prospectus containing all information so omitted.

 

(p)                                 As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months after the date of this Agreement, the Depositor will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the later of (i) the effective date of the Registration Statement; (ii) the effective date of the most recent post effective amendment to the Registration Statement to become effective prior to the date of this Agreement; and (iii) the date of the Depositor’s most recent Annual Report or Form 10 K filed with the Commission prior to the date of this Agreement, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

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(q)                                 That it has caused the Trust to file with the Commission the following:

 

(i) The Disclosure Supplement, which constitutes an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act; and

 

(ii) Any other Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that the Trust provided, authorized or approved, and which the Representative shall not have disapproved other than Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed under Rule 433 of the Securities Act.

 

(r)                                    The Disclosure Supplement and any other Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Section 4(q) hereof by the Trust have been or shall be filed with the Commission not later than the applicable time specified in the Securities Act, if required, and will comply with all applicable requirements of the rules and regulations of the Commission with regard to Free Writing Prospectuses applicable to it.

 

(s)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4(q) and (r) hereof, the Trust shall not be required to file any Free Writing Prospectus that does not contain substantive changes from or additions to the Disclosure Package or any other Free Writing Prospectus previously filed with the Commission.

 

5.                                       Representations and Warranties of the Underwriters.  Each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to and agrees with the Depositor, severally and not jointly, that (A) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Notes to persons in the United Kingdom prior to the expiration of the period of six months from the issue date of the Notes except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1965, as amended; (B) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)), received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Notes in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Trust; and (C) it has complied, and will comply, in all material respects, with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.  The Depositor represents and agrees that it has been informed of the existence of the FSMA stabilizing guidance contained in Section MAR 2, Ann 2G of the FSMA Handbook (the Handbook of rules and guidance issued by the Financial Services Authority).

 

6.                                       Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)                                  The Depositor and Greystone Inc., jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the electronic “road show”

 

11



 

information (within the meaning of Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (the “Road Show Material”), or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission which has been made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) the information relating to an Underwriter furnished in writing to the Depositor by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 11 of this Agreement, (ii) calculations provided by the Underwriters in the “road show” information based upon data provided by the Depositor, which data does not contain an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission or (iii) information regarding third party servicer providers that was furnished by the Representative expressly for use therein (except to the extent that such information is contained in the Prospectus).  The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Depositor or Greystone Inc. may otherwise have.

 

(b)                                 If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against an Underwriter or any person controlling an Underwriter in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Depositor and/or Greystone Inc., such Underwriter or such controlling person shall promptly notify the parties against whom indemnification is being sought (the “indemnifying parties”), but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such omission.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party).  The applicable Underwriter or any such controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action, suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person unless (i) the indemnifying parties have agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying parties have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel; or (iii) the named parties to any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Underwriter or such controlling person and the indemnifying parties and the Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to the indemnifying parties and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for the Underwriter or such

 

12



 

controlling person to employ separate counsel (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of the Underwriter or such controlling person).  It is understood, however, that the indemnifying parties shall, in connection with any one such action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for each Underwriter and controlling persons not having actual or potential differing interests with such Underwriter or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by such Underwriter, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis as provided in paragraph (a) hereof.  An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, 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 or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (A) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding; and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

 

(c)                                  Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor and Greystone Inc. and its respective directors and officers, and any person who controls the Depositor and Greystone Inc. within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the indemnity from the Depositor and Greystone Inc. to the Underwriters set forth in paragraph (a) hereof, but only with respect to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Road Show Material or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus therein, it being understood that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 11 of this Agreement.  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against the Depositor and/or Greystone Inc., any of its respective directors or officers, or any such controlling person based on the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Road Show Material or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against an Underwriter pursuant to this paragraph (c), such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Depositor and Greystone Inc. by paragraph (b) above (except that if the Depositor and/or Greystone Inc. shall have assumed the defense thereof the Underwriter shall have the option to assume such defense but shall not be required to do so, but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such Underwriter’s expense), and the Depositor and Greystone Inc., its respective directors and officers, and any such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to the Underwriters by paragraph (b) above.  The foregoing indemnity

 

13



 

agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

 

(d)                                 If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable to an indemnified party under paragraph (a) or (c) hereof in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Depositor and Greystone Inc. on the one hand and the applicable Underwriter on the other hand from the offering of the Notes; or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Depositor and Greystone Inc. on the one hand and the applicable Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Depositor and Greystone Inc. on the one hand and an Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Depositor and Greystone Inc. bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter.  The relative fault of the Depositor and Greystone Inc. on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Depositor or Greystone Inc. on the one hand or by an Underwriter on the other hand and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)                                  The Depositor and Greystone Inc. and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section were determined by a pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit or proceeding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the Notes underwritten by such Underwriter exceed the sum of the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters’ obligations in this paragraph (e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations.

 

14



 

(f)                                    Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred.  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section and the representations and warranties of the Depositor and Greystone Inc. and the Underwriters set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Depositor, Greystone Inc. or any person controlling any of them or their respective directors or officers; (ii) acceptance of any Notes and payment therefor hereunder; and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.  A successor to the Underwriters, the Depositor, Greystone Inc. or any person controlling any of them or their respective directors or officers, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section.

 

7.                                       Conditions of the Underwriters’ Obligations.  The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Notes hereunder are subject to the following conditions precedent, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)                                  All actions required to be taken and all filings required to be made by the Depositor under the Securities Act prior to the sale of the Notes shall have been duly taken or made.  At and prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Depositor or the Underwriters, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

 

(b)                                 Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or other), business, properties, net worth, or results of operations of the Depositor, Trust, Servicing Contractor, Administrator, Greystone Inc., a Subservicer, or a Guarantee Agency described in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Information Relating to the Guarantee Agencies” not contemplated by the Registration Statement, which in the opinion of the Underwriters, would materially adversely affect the market for the Notes; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Depositor, Trust, Servicing Contractor, Administrator, Greystone Inc., a Subservicer, or a Guarantee Agency described in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Information Relating to the Guarantee Agencies” by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Depositor, Trust, Servicing Contractor, Administrator, Greystone Inc., a Subservicer, or a Guarantee Agency described in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Information Relating to the Guarantee Agencies” (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); or (iii) any event or development which makes any statement made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Disclosure Package untrue or which, in the opinion of the Depositor and its counsel or the Underwriters and their counsel, requires the filing of any amendment to or change in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Disclosure Package in order to state a material fact required by any law to be stated therein or necessary in

 

15



 

order to make the statements therein not misleading, if amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Disclosure Package to reflect such event or development would, in the opinion of the Underwriters, materially adversely affect the market for the Notes.

 

(c)                                  The Depositor shall have delivered to the Underwriters a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of an authorized officer of the Depositor to the effect that:

 

(i)                                     the representations and warranties of the Depositor in the Basic Documents to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects;

 

(ii)                                  the Depositor has, in all material respects, complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; and

 

(iii)                               the information regarding the Depositor contained in the Prospectus and Disclosure Package is fair and accurate in all material respects.

 

(d)                                 A certificate delivered to the Underwriters by an officer of Greystone Inc., dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has examined this Agreement and the Basic Documents and that, to the best of his or her knowledge after reasonable investigation, the representations and warranties of Greystone Inc. contained in this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which Greystone Inc. is a party are true and correct in all material respects.

 

(e)                                  A certificate delivered to the Underwriters by an officer of the Servicing Contractor, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has examined this Agreement and the Basic Documents and that, to the best of his or her knowledge after reasonable investigation, the representations and warranties of the Servicing Contractor contained in this Agreement and the other Basic Documents to which the Servicing Contractor is a party are true and correct in all material respects.

 

(f)                                    The Underwriters shall have received the opinions of Kutak Rock LLP, special counsel for the Trust, dated the Closing Date as to such matters reasonably requested by the Underwriters.

 

(g)                                 You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, in its capacity as counsel for Greystone Inc., the Servicing Contractor, the Administrator, the Depositor, the Warehouse, and the Trust, dated the Closing Date in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel with respect to the Prospectus, the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, certain matters arising under the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and such other matters as are reasonably requested by the Underwriters.

 

(h)                                 You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in its capacity as counsel for the Trust, in form and substance satisfactory

 

16



 

to you and your counsel, concerning “true sale,” “non-consolidation” and certain other issues with respect to the transfer of the Financed Eligible Loans from the Warehouse to the Depositor and from the Depositor to the Trust.

 

(i)                                     You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, in its capacity as Underwriter’s Counsel, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you.

 

(j)                                     You shall have received the opinions addressed to you of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., in its capacity as counsel to the Delaware Trustee and the Trust, dated the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel.

 

(k)                                  You shall have received an opinion addressed to you of counsel to the Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee, dated the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel.

 

(l)                                     You shall have received certificates addressed to you dated the Closing Date from each of the Subservicers, satisfactory to the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters, certifying as to certain matters regarding (i) the representations and warranties of such Subservicer contained in its Subservicing Agreement, (ii) the satisfaction by such Subservicer of all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, (iii) the accuracy of the information in the Prospectus regarding such Subservicers (other than CFS-SunTech), and (iv) that there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of such Subservicers.

 

(m)                               You shall have received evidence satisfactory to you that, on or before the Closing Date, UCC-1 financing statements have been or are being filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust and the Secretary of State of Utah with respect to the Eligible Lender Trustee reflecting the grant of the security interest by the Trust and the Eligible Lender Trustee in the Financed Student Loans and the proceeds thereof to the Trustee.

 

(n)                                 You shall have received a certificate addressed to you dated the Closing Date from a responsible officer acceptable to you of the Trustee in the form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel and to which shall be attached each Guarantee Agreement.

 

(o)                                 The Underwriters shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date from each of Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation d/b/a American Student Assistance and Pennsylvania Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, satisfactory to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, certifying as to certain information with respect to such Guarantee Agency contained in the Prospectus.

 

(p)                                 The Underwriters shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date from each of ACS, PHEAA and Great Lakes, satisfactory to the Underwriters and

 

17



 

counsel for the Underwriters, certifying as to certain information with respect to such Subservicer contained in the Prospectus.

 

(q)                                 The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that they have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit, with respect to certain information regarding the Financed Student Loans and setting forth the results of such specified procedures.

 

(r)                                    Each class of Notes representing Class A Notes shall be rated “AAA,” “AAA” and “Aaa,” respectively, by Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”), Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), and that none of Fitch, S&P or Moody’s have placed the Notes under surveillance or review with possible negative implications.

 

(s)                                  The issuance of the Notes and the amendments to the Indenture shall not have resulted in a reduction, suspension or withdrawal by Fitch, S&P or Moody’s of the current rating of any outstanding notes issued by the Trust pursuant to the Indenture.

 

(t)                                    You shall have received certificates addressed to you dated the Closing Date from officers of the Depositor and others, or legal opinions, addressing such additional matters as you may reasonably request in form and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel.

 

The Depositor will provide or cause to be provided to you such conformed copies of such of the foregoing opinions, notes, letters and documents as you reasonably request.

 

8.                                       Expenses.  The Depositor agrees to pay or to otherwise cause the payment of the following costs and expenses and all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by it of its obligations hereunder: (a) the preparation, printing or reproduction of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package and each amendment or supplement to any of them, this Agreement, and each other Basic Document; (b) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package and all amendments or supplements to, and preliminary versions of, any of them as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes; (c) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of definitive certificates for the Notes; (d) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Notes; (e) qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (f) the qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states as provided in Section 3(h) hereof (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel relating to the preparation, printing or reproduction, and delivery of the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and such qualification); (g) the fees and disbursements of (i) the Depositor’s and Trust’s counsel, (ii) the Trustee and its counsel, (iii) the Delaware Trustee and its counsel, (iv) the Depository Trust Company in connection with the book-entry registration of the Notes, (v) the SEC, (vi)

 

18



 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, accountants for the Trust and issuer of the agreed upon procedures letter and (vii) the Underwriters’ counsel; and (h) the fees charged by S&P, Fitch and Moody’s for rating the Notes.

 

9.                                       Effective Date of Agreement.  This Agreement shall be deemed effective as of the date first above written upon the execution and delivery hereof by all the parties hereto.  Until such time as this Agreement shall have become effective, it may be terminated by the Depositor, by notifying each of the Underwriters, or by the Underwriters, by notifying the Depositor.

 

Any notice under this Section may be given by facsimile or telephone but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

 

10.                                 Termination of Agreement.  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representative, without liability on the part of the Underwriters to the Depositor, by notice to the Depositor, if prior to the Closing Date (a) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended or materially limited; (b) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either federal or state authorities; or (c) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in political, financial or economic conditions, the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to commence or continue the offering of the Notes on the terms set forth in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, as applicable, or to enforce contracts for the resale of the Notes by the Underwriters.  Notice of such termination may be given to the Depositor by facsimile or telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

 

11.                                 Information Furnished by the Underwriters.  The statements set forth in the second, fourth, seventh and thirteenth paragraphs and the tables under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the supplement to the Prospectus relating to the Notes constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters as such information is referred to in Sections 3.1(b) and 6 hereof.

 

12.                                 Absence of Fiduciary RelationshipEach of the Depositor and Greystone Inc. acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  the Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of the Notes and agree with the Depositor and Greystone Inc. that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Depositor or Greystone Inc. and the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are advising the Depositor or Greystone Inc. on other matters;

 

(b)                                 the price of the Notes set forth in this Agreement was established by the Depositor and Greystone Inc. following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriters and the Depositor and Greystone Inc. are capable of evaluating and

 

19



 

understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)                                  the Depositor and Greystone Inc. have been advised that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Depositor or Greystone Inc. and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Depositor or Greystone Inc. by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

 

(d)                                 the Depositor and Greystone Inc. waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims they may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that the Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Depositor or Greystone Inc. in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Depositor or Greystone Inc., including members, employees or creditors of the Depositor or Greystone Inc..

 

13.                                 Default by One of the Underwriters.  If any of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date to purchase the Notes which it is obligated to purchase hereunder (the “Defaulted Notes”), the remaining Underwriter (the “Non Defaulting Underwriter”) shall have the right, but not the obligation, within one Business Day thereafter, to make arrangements to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Non Defaulting Underwriter shall have not completed such arrangements within such one Business Day period, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the Non Defaulting Underwriter.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

 

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Non Defaulting Underwriters or the Depositor shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.

 

14.                                 Survival of Representations and Warranties.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Depositor, Greystone Inc. or their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement or contained in notes of officers of the Depositor or Greystone Inc. submitted pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Depositor or Greystone Inc. or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes.

 

15.                                 Miscellaneous.  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9 and 10 hereof, notice given pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered (a) if to the Depositor, Servicing Contractor or Greystone Inc., at 152 West 57th Street-60th Floor,

 

20



 

New York, New York 10019, Attention: General Counsel; and (b) if to the Underwriters, to the address of the respective Underwriter set forth above with a copy to Richard L. Fried, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, New York  10038.

 

This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Depositor, Servicing Contractor and Greystone Inc., their respective directors, officers, managers, trustees and controlling persons referred to in Section 6(b) hereof and their respective successors and assigns, to the extent provided herein, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  Neither the term “successor” nor the term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall include a purchaser from an Underwriter of any of the Notes in his status as such purchaser.

 

16.                                 Applicable Law; Counterparts.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York without giving effect to the choice of laws or conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

The Depositor, Servicing Contractor and Greystone Inc. hereby submit to the non exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together constitute one and the same instrument.  If signed in counterparts, this Agreement shall not become effective unless at least one counterpart hereof or thereof shall have been executed and delivered on behalf of each party hereto.

 

21



 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the parties hereto.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

GCO ELF LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

 Name:

Kenneth C. Rogozinski

 

 

 Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

GREYSTONE & CO., INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

 Name:

Kenneth C. Rogozinski

 

 

 Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

GCO EDUCATION LOAN FUNDING CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

 Name:

Kenneth C. Rogozinski

 

 

 Title:

Vice President

 

 

Confirmed as of the date first
above mentioned.

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., acting on
behalf of itself and as Representative of the Underwriters

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

22



 

SCHEDULE A

 

Notes

 

Citigroup Global
Markets Inc.

 

ABN AMRO
Incorporated

 

Banc of
America
Securities LLC

 

RBC Capital
Markets*

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A-7L

 

$

56,250,000

 

$

4,500,000

 

$

11,250,000

 

$

18,000,000

 

$

90,000,000

 

Class A-8L

 

$

232,500,000

 

$

18,600,000

 

$

46,500,000

 

$

74,400,000

 

$

372,000,000

 

Class A-9L

 

$

89,375,000

 

$

7,150,000

 

$

17,875,000

 

$

28,600,000

 

$

143,000,000

 

Class A-10L

 

$

146,250,000

 

$

11,700,000

 

$

29,250,000

 

$

46,800,000

 

$

234,000,000

 

Class A-11L

 

$

189,750,000

 

$

15,180,000

 

$

37,950,000

 

$

60,720,000

 

$

303,600,000

 

Total:

 

$

714,125,000

 

$

57,130,000

 

$

142,825,000

 

$

228,520,000

 

$

1,142,600,000

 

 


*RBC Dain Rauscher d/b/a/ RBC Capital Markets. RBC Capital Markets is the trade name under which RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. will be performing underwriting services in connection with the Bonds.

 



 

SCHEDULE B

 

Terms of the Notes

 

Class

 

Interest Rate

 

Final Maturity
Date

 

Price to
Public

 

Underwriting
Discount

 

Proceeds to
Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A-7L

 

3-month LIBOR plus 0.03%

 

May 22, 2022

 

100

%

0.35

%

$

89,685,000

 

Class A-8L

 

3-month LIBOR plus 0.13%

 

May 25, 2025

 

100

%

0.35

%

$

370,698,000

 

Class A-9L

 

3-month LIBOR plus 0.16%

 

May 25, 2026

 

100

%

0.35

%

$

142,499.500

 

Class A-10L

 

3-month LIBOR plus 0.19%

 

February 27, 2028

 

100

%

0.35

%

$

233,181,000

 

Class A-11L

 

3-month LIBOR plus 0.23%

 

May 25, 2036

 

100

%

0.35

%

$

302,537,400

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,138,600,900