8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 2009
FRANKLIN CREDIT HOLDING CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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0-17771
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26-3104776 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction
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(Commission
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(I.R.S. Employer |
of Incorporation)
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File Number)
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Identification No.) |
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101 Hudson Street |
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Jersey City, New Jersey
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07302 |
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (201) 604-4402
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General
Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On March 31, 2009, Franklin Credit Holding Corporation (Franklin Holding), and certain of
its wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries (together with Franklin Holding, the Company),
including Franklin Credit Management Corporation (FCMC) and Tribeca Lending Corp. (Tribeca),
entered into a series of agreements (collectively, the Restructuring Agreements) with The
Huntington National Bank (the Bank), successor by merger to Sky Bank, pursuant to which the
Companys loans, pledges and guarantees with the Bank and its participating banks were
substantially restructured, and approximately 83% of the Companys portfolio of sub-prime mortgages
was removed from the Companys balance sheet and transferred to the balance sheet of Huntington
Capital Financing, LLC (the REIT), a real estate investment trust wholly owned by the Bank (the
Restructuring). In connection with the Restructuring, the Company has engaged in a number of
cost savings measures, including across the board salary reductions and reductions in staff that
should result in improved financial performance of FCMC.
The Restructuring did not relate to approximately $41 million of the Companys indebtedness
under the Master Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of October 13, 2004, as amended, by and
among FCMC, certain subsidiaries of FCMC and the Bank (the Franklin Master Agreement). This
amount (the Unrestructured Debt) remains subject to the original terms specified in the
applicable agreements. All collections in respect of these loans will continue to be applied in
accordance with the Companys existing Forbearance Agreements, the maturity date of which the Bank
has committed to extend from May 15, 2009 to June 30, 2009, and under which the Bank has committed
that there will be no events of default should the collections in respect of these loans be
insufficient to make any minimum monthly payments otherwise required under the Franklin Master
Agreement until June 30, 2009. Upon expiration of the Forbearance Agreement with respect to the
Unrestructured Debt, the Bank, with notice, could call an event of default under the Licensing
Credit Agreement (as defined below) and the Legacy Credit Agreement (as defined below).
In conjunction with the Restructuring, and at the request of the Bank, effective March 31,
2009, the Company exercised its right to terminate two non-amortizing fixed-rate interest rate
swaps with the Bank, one with a notional amount of $150 million and the other with a notional
amount of $240 million. The total termination fee for cancellation of the swaps was $8.2 million,
which is payable only to the extent cash is available under the waterfall provisions of the Legacy
Credit Agreement, and only after the first $857 million of debt has been paid in full. The Company
has other non-amortizing fixed-rate interest
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rate swaps
with the Bank, which were not terminated.
Background. The severe deterioration in the U.S. housing market and the nearly complete
shutdown of the mortgage credit market for borrowers without excellent credit histories, and more
recently the severe economic slowdown and rapidly rising unemployment, severely degraded the value
of the portfolio of subprime 1-4 family mortgage loans and assets acquired and originated by the
Company (the Portfolio), particularly its second-lien mortgage loans, and resulted in increased
delinquencies, provisions for loan losses and operating losses, and decreased cash flows, during
the past two years. The impact on the Companys operations has been severe, and has included:
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A substantial and growing shortfall in cash collections from the Portfolio relative to
the Companys debt service obligations owed to the Bank; |
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a substantial and growing shortfall in the value of the Companys assets, relative to
the amounts owed to the Bank under the facility agreements for the Companys outstanding debt with
the Bank; |
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concern by potential servicing customers and other constituencies over the continued
viability of the Company in its current form, including the viability of FCMC, the Companys
servicing platform, which the Company believes as of December 31, 2008 to be financially sound on a
unpledged, stand alone basis; |
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concern that the Bank was increasingly likely to: |
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cease granting necessary waivers and forbearances with respect to
Company defaults under the Companys various credit facilities; and |
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declare a default with respect to the credit facilities and foreclose
on the assets of the Company, substantially all of which were pledged to the Bank,
especially in light of communications from the Bank indicating that it was seeking
greater and more direct control over the collection guidelines related to the
assets in the Portfolio and may have needed to foreclose on the Portfolio if it
were not able to consummate a transaction like the Restructuring in which it was
able to gain control over the Portfolio while keeping the credit facilities
outstanding. Such a foreclosure would have left no value for the Companys
stockholders. |
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In order to address these issues, accommodate the concerns of the Bank to take advantage of what
the Company believes is the best option to preserve value for its stockholders, the Company
negotiated and entered into the Restructuring, which has been approved by the Companys Board of
Directors.
Executive Summary. Key attributes of the Restructuring, as they relate to the Companys
legacy indebtedness to the Bank include:
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in exchange for the transfer of that part of the Portfolio underlying the Bank Trust
Certificates (as defined below), the Company received common membership interests and Class C
preferred membership interests in the REIT having in the aggregate a
value intended to approximate the fair market value of that portion of the Portfolio transferred to the Bank, which as of March 31,
2009 was approximately $481.5 million (the REIT Securities). The preferred membership interests
have a liquidation value of $100,000 per unit and an annual cumulative dividend rate of 9% of such
liquidation value. The REIT Securities replaced the above referenced loans on the Companys
balance sheet; |
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principal and interest payments in respect of the Legacy Credit Agreement are only due
and payable to the extent of cash flow of the Company, which cash flow would include dividends
declared and paid in respect of the REIT Securities, 70% of the amounts distributed by FCMC to the
Company or any other assets of the Company, other than the retained interest in FCMC (as discussed
below); and |
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the Banks recourse in respect of the Legacy Credit Agreement is limited to the assets
and stock of Franklin Holdings subsidiaries, excluding the assets of FCMC and a portion of FCMCs
stock, representing not less than twenty percent and not more than seventy percent of FCMCs common
equity, based on the amounts received by the Bank from the cash collections from FCMCs servicing
of the Portfolio as discussed in more detail below. The Bank, in regard to the payment of
principal and interest on its loan, also is entitled to receive seventy percent of the
distributions and dividends from FCMC, which percentage share may be reduced to twenty percent
based upon the Banks receipt of the agreed amounts of net remittances from the Portfolio
summarized below. |
From the perspective of the Company and its stockholders, the Restructuring accomplished a
number of overarching objectives, including:
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release of thirty percent of the equity in FCMC, which is wholly owned by the Company,
from the Companys pledges to the Bank in respect of its legacy credit agreement, with the
possibility of release of up to an additional fifty percent, based upon the Banks receipt of the
agreed amounts of net remittances from the Portfolio, summarized below (the Net Remittances),
from March 31, 2009, the |
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effective date of the Legacy Credit Agreement (the Legacy Effective Date), through the term
of the Legacy Credit Agreement; the Bank shall reduce its interest in the equity in FCMC, as
collateral, in accordance with the following collection levels: |
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Minimum Amount of Net |
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Remittances (Minimum Level |
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Release of Equity |
Level |
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Amount) |
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Time Period |
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Interests |
Level 1
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$225 million
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1 year from the
Legacy Effective
Date
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10% (70% reduces to
60%) |
Level 2
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$475 million
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3 years from the
Legacy Effective
Date
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10% (60% reduces
to 50%) |
Level 3
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$575 million
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No time period specified
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10% (50% reduces
to 40%) |
Level 4
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$650 million
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No time period specified
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10% (40 reduces
to 30%) |
Level 5
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$750 million
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No time period specified
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10% (30 reduces
to 20%) |
provided, however, (i) if Net Remittances do not reach the minimum Level 1 amount prior to the
first anniversary of the Legacy Effective Date, but reach the minimum Level 2 amount prior to the
third anniversary of the Legacy Effective Date, the Bank shall retain, as collateral, 55% of the
FCMC equity instead of 50%, as currently scheduled, and any subsequent reductions in the amount of
FCMC equity pledged to the Bank shall be 10% smaller than the reductions currently scheduled ; and
provided further that (ii) if Net Remittances do not reach the minimum Level 1 amount prior to the
first anniversary of the Legacy Effective Date and do not reach the minimum Level 2 amount prior to
the third anniversary of the Legacy Effective Date, then the schedule for release of the equity
interests in FCMC currently pledged to the Bank shall be as follows: (x) upon attaining the minimum
Level 3 amount, the pledged equity interests in FCMC shall reduce 25% (from 70% to 45%); (y) upon
attaining the minimum Level 4 amount, the pledged equity interests in FCMC shall reduce an
additional 10% (from 45% to 35%), and (z) upon attaining the minimum Level 5 amount, the pledged
equity interests in FCMC shall reduce an additional 10% (from 35% to 25%);
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entry into a servicing agreement enabling the Company to receive fee income in
respect of its continued servicing of the transferred Portfolio; and |
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entry into amended credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $13.5 million,
including a $5 million facility for working capital and to support various servicer licenses, a $2
million revolving facility and a $6.5 million letter of credit facility to support various servicer
licenses. |
Among the most significant costs of accomplishing these objectives were:
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the possible transfer of ownership of a portion of FCMC, including a minimum of twenty
percent and a maximum of seventy percent, to the Bank at maturity of the Companys Legacy Credit
Agreement with the Bank, unless further extended if the Company is not otherwise able to satisfy or
refinance the Legacy Credit Agreement prior to maturity; |
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the transfer of ten percent of ownership of FCMC to the Companys principal
stockholder as the cost of obtaining certain guarantees and pledges required by the Bank as a
condition of the restructuring, subject to increase to an additional ten percent should the pledge
of common shares of FCMC by Franklin Holding to the Bank be reduced upon the attainment by FCMC of
certain net collection targets set by the Bank with respect to the Portfolio; |
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entry into a service agreement with respect to FCMCs continued servicing of the
Portfolio that allows the Bank to terminate such servicing and, concomitantly, FCMCs fee income
from servicing the Portfolio; and |
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in part as a result of a tax basis transfer, the Company may
incur significant income tax
liabilities at termination of the Legacy Credit Agreement, liquidation of the Company or any of its
direct or indirect subsidiary companies, or certain other Company events such as a de facto
liquidation. The amount of any tax liability that the Company may incur is not certain since any
such calculations need to be performed on a company by company basis and are influenced by a number
of factors including, but not limited to, the ability to use prior year losses and future results
of operations. |
Restructuring Agreements. In connection with the Restructuring, the Company and its
subsidiaries have:
1. Transferred of substantially all of the Portfolio in exchange for the REIT Securities.
Pursuant to the terms of a Transfer and Assignment Agreement, certain subsidiaries of the
Company (the Franklin Transferring Entities) transferred approximately 83% of the Portfolio to a
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newly formed Delaware statutory trust (New Trust) in exchange for the following trust
certificates (collectively, the Trust Certificates):
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An undivided 100% interest of the Banks portion of consumer mortgage loans
(the Bank Consumer Loan Certificate); |
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b) |
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An undivided 100% interest in the Banks portion of consumer REO assets (the
Bank Consumer REO Certificate, and together with the Bank Consumer Loan Certificate,
the Bank Trust Certificates); |
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An undivided 100% interest in the portion of consumer mortgage loan assets
allocated to the M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank (M&I) and BOS (USA) Inc. (BOS) (M&I and
BOS collectively, the Participants) (the Participants Consumer Loan Certificate);
and |
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An undivided 100% interest in Participants portion of the consumer REO assets
(the Participants Consumer REO Certificate, and together with the Participants
Consumer Loan Certificate, the Participants Trust Certificates). |
The Bank Trust Certificates represent approximately 83.27961% of the assets transferred to New
Trust considered in the aggregate (such portion, the Bank Contributed Assets) and the
Participants Trust Certificates represent approximately 16.72039% of the assets transferred to New
Trust considered in the aggregate.
Pursuant to the Transfer and Assignment Agreement, the Franklin Transferring Entities made
certain representations, warranties and covenants to New Trust related to the Portfolio. To the
extent any Franklin Selling Entity breaches any such representations, warranties and covenants and
the Franklin Transferring Entities are unable to cure such breach, New Trust has recourse against
the Franklin Transferring Entities (provided that recourse to FCMC is limited solely to instances
whereby FCMC transferred REO property FCMC did not own) (the Reacquisition Parties). In such
instances, the Reacquisition Parties are obligated to repurchase any mortgage loan or REO property
and indemnify New Trust, the Bank, the Administrator (as defined below), the holders of the Trust
Certificates and the trustees to the trust agreement. The Franklin Transferring Entities provided
representations and warranties, including but not limited to correct information, loans have not
been modified, loans are in force, valid lien, compliance with laws, licensing, enforceability of
the mortgage loans, hazardous substances, fraud, and insurance coverage. In addition, the Franklin
Transferring Entities agreed to provide certain collateral documents for each mortgage loan and REO
property transferred (except to the
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extent any collateral deficiency was disclosed to New Trust). To the extent any collateral
deficiency exists with respect to such mortgage loan or REO property and the Franklin Transferring
Entities do not cure such deficiency, the Reacquisition Parties shall be obligated to repurchase
such mortgage loan. In connection with the reacquisition of any asset, the price to be paid by the
Reacquisition Parties for such asset (the Reacquisition Price) shall be as agreed upon by the
Administrator and the applicable Reacquisition Party; provided, however, should such parties not
promptly come to agreement, the Reacquisition Price shall be as determined by the Administrator in
good faith using its sole discretion.
The subsidiaries then transferred the Trust Certificates to a newly formed Delaware limited
liability company, Franklin Asset, LLC, in exchange for membership interests in Franklin Asset,
LLC. Franklin Asset, LLC then contributed the Bank Trust Certificates to a newly formed Delaware
limited liability company, Franklin Asset Merger Sub, LLC, in exchange for membership interests in
Franklin Asset Merger Sub, LLC (Franklin Asset, LLC retained the Participant Trust Certificates).
Franklin Merger Sub, LLC merged with and into a Huntington National Bank wholly-owned subsidiary of
the REIT (REIT Sub) and Franklin Asset, LLC received the REIT Securities having in the aggregate
a value equal to the estimated fair market value of the loans underlying the Bank Trust
Certificates, which as of March 31, 2009 was approximately $481.5 million, in exchange for its
membership interests in Franklin Asset Merger Sub, LLC. The preferred REIT Securities have a
liquidation value of $100,000 per unit and an annual cumulative dividend rate of 9% of such
liquidation value. If there is a reacquisition required to be made by the Reacquisition Parties
under the Transfer and Assignment Agreement, Franklin Asset, LLC will return such number of Class C
Preferred Shares of Huntington Capital Financing Stock that is equal in value to the Reacquisition
Price (as defined in the Transfer and Assignment Agreement).
2. Amended and restated substantially all of its outstanding debt.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Legacy) (the Legacy
Credit Agreement), the Company and its subsidiaries amended and restated substantially all of
their indebtedness currently subject to a certain First Amended and Restated Forbearance Agreement
and Amendment to Credit Agreements, dated December 19, 2008, and a certain First Amended and
Restated Tribeca Forbearance Agreement and Amendment to Credit Agreements, dated December 19, 2008
(the Forbearance Agreements). As more fully described below, pursuant to the terms of the Legacy
Credit Agreement, (1) the Participant Trust Certificates were collaterally assigned to the Bank as
collateral for
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the loans as modified pursuant to the terms of the Legacy Credit Agreement (the Restructured
Loans); (2) all net collections received by New Trust in connection with the portion of the
Portfolio represented by the Bank Trust Certificates will be paid to the REIT Sub or its
subsidiaries; (3) the REIT Securities were pledged to the Bank as collateral for the Restructured
Loans; (4) the Company pledged seventy percent (70%) of the common equity in FCMC to the Bank as
collateral for the Restructured Loans; and (5) Franklin Holding and FCMC were released from
existing guarantees of the Restructured Loans, including Franklin Holdings pledge of 100% of the
outstanding shares of FCMC, in exchange for providing certain limited recourse guarantees relating
to the Restructured Loans, wherein the Bank agreed to exercise only limited recourse against
property encumbered by the pledge agreement (the Pledged Collateral) made in connection with the
Legacy Credit Agreement, provided Franklin Holding and FCMC, respectively, any designee acting
under the authority thereof or any subsidiary of either Franklin Holding or FCMC did not (i)
commission any act fraud or material misrepresentation in respect of the Pledged Collateral; (ii)
divert, embezzle or misapply proceeds, funds or money and/or other property relating in any way
to the Pledged Collateral; (iii) breach any covenant under the Legacy Credit Agreement; or (iv)
conduct any business activities to perform diligence services, to service mortgage Loans or REO
Properties or any related activities, directly or indirectly, other than by FCMC and Franklin
Credit Loan Servicing, LLC.
The terms of the Legacy Credit Agreement vary according to the three tranches of loans covered
by the Legacy Credit Agreement. Tranche A includes outstanding debt in the approximate principal
sum of $857 million bearing interest at a per annum rate equal to one month LIBOR plus 2.25% per
annum, payable monthly in arrears on the outstanding principal balance of the related advances.
Tranche B includes outstanding debt in the approximate principal sum of $410 million bearing
interest at a per annum rate equal to one month LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum, payable monthly in
arrears on the outstanding principal balance of the related advances. Tranche C includes
outstanding debt in the approximate principal sum of $125 million bearing interest at a per annum
rate equal to 15%, payable monthly in arrears on the outstanding principal balance of the related
advances. In the event of a default, the applicable interest rate will increase to 5% over the
rate otherwise applicable to the respective tranche.
All cash available for each tranche shall be used to pay cash interest to the extent cash is
available, and any accrued interest for which cash is not available will be added
to the principal sum of such tranche. Cash payments on each tranche will be made from: (i) any
cash or other assets of the borrowers (Tribeca and certain subsidiaries of Tribeca and Franklin
Credit Asset
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Corporation, (ii) dividends and distributions on the REIT Securities, all of which shall be
applied as a non pro rata distribution solely to the Banks pro rata share of such tranche (until
paid in full), (iii) all distributions made by New Trust on the Participant Trust Certificates, all
of which shall be applied as a non pro rata distribution to the Participants pro rata shares of
such tranche (until paid in full), and (iv) from any proceeds received from any other collateral,
which will be applied pursuant to a waterfall provision described more fully in the Legacy Credit
Agreement. The borrowers will not be required to make scheduled principal payments, provided that
all amounts received by any borrower in excess of accrued interest, whether from collateral or
otherwise, shall be applied to reduce the principal sum. All remaining principal and interest will
be due and payable at maturity of the Legacy Credit Agreement on March 1, 2012. Based on the
current cash flows described above, it is not expected that that the Company will be able to repay
remaining principal and interest due on March 1, 2012. Under such circumstances, the Bank would
have all available rights and remedies under the Legacy Credit Agreement.
The Legacy Credit Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants and events of
default (The Legacy Credit Agreement Defaults) that are customary in transactions similar to the
restructuring. Some, but not all, of the Legacy Credit Agreement defaults will create an event of
default under the Licensing Credit Facility and the Servicing Agreement (as defined below). In
addition, the Company has agreed to seek shareholder approval to amend the Certificate of
Incorporation of FCMC to delete the provision, adopted pursuant to Section 251(g) of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware in connection with the Companys December 2008 corporate
reorganization, that requires the approval of the stockholders of Franklin Holding in addition to
the stockholders of FCMC for any action or transaction, other than the election or removal of
directors, that would require the approval of the stockholders of FCMC. If such amendment is not
passed on or prior to June 30, 2009, which will require approval by holders of at least two thirds
of the shares of the Company then entitled to vote at an election of directors, the failure to pass
such amendment shall constitute an event of default under the Legacy Credit Agreement. Under such
circumstances, the Bank would be entitled to foreclose on all of the assets of the Company,
including on Franklin Holdings pledge of 70% of the stock of FCMC.
The Legacy Credit Facility is secured by a first priority security interest in (i) the REIT
Shares; (ii) the Participant Trust Certificates; (iii) an undivided 16.72039% interest in the
consumer mortgage loans and REO properties transferred to New Trust; (iv) 70% of all equity
interests in FCMC, and 100% equity interests in all other direct and indirect subsidiaries of
Franklin Holding, pledged by Franklin Holding (subject to partial releases of such equity interests
under Cumulative Collective Targets under
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the terms relating to the Servicing Agreement); (v) all amounts owing pursuant to any deposit
account or securities account of any Company entities bound to the Legacy Credit Facility (other
than Franklin Holding), (vi) a first mortgage in real property interests at 6 Harrison Street, Unit
6, New York, New York; (vii) all monies owing to any borrower from any taxing authority; (viii) any
commercial tort or other claim currently pledge under the existing Forbearance Agreements,
including FCMCs right title and interest in claims and actions with respect to certain loan
purchase agreements and other interactions of FCMC with various entities engaged in the secondary
mortgage market; (ix) certain real property interests of FCMC in respect to the proprietary leases
under the existing Forbearance Agreements if not transferred to New Trust; (x) a second priority
lien on cash collateral held as security for the Licensing Facility to FCMC; and (xi) any monies,
funds or sums due or received by any Borrower in respect of any program sponsored by any
Governmental Authority, any federal program, federal agency or quasi-governmental agency, including
without limitation any fees received, directly or indirectly, under the U.S. Treasury Homeowners
Affordability and Stability Plan. Any security agreement, acknowledgement or other agreement in
respect of a lien or encumbrance on any asset of New Trust shall be non-recourse in nature and
shall permit New Trust to distribute, without qualification, 83.27961% of all net collections
received by New Trust to the REIT Sub and its subsidiaries irrespective of any event or condition
in respect of the Legacy Credit Agreement.
All collections received by New Trust, provided that an event of default has not occurred and
is continuing, shall go first to the payment of monthly servicing fees, which shall be paid one
month in advance, under the Servicing Agreement and then to (i) Administration Fees, expenses and
costs (if any), (ii) pro rata to the owner trustee, certificate trustee and each custodian for any
due and unpaid fees and expenses of such trustee and/or custodian, and (iii) to the pro-rata
ownership of the Trust Certificates. All amounts received pursuant to the Participants Trust
Certificates shall be distributed pursuant to the applicable Waterfall provisions.
3. Entered into an amended and restated credit agreement to fund FCMCs licensing obligations and
working capital.
Franklin Holding and FCMC have entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(Licensing) (the Licensing Credit Agreement) which includes a credit limit of $13,500,000,
composed of a secured (i) revolving line of credit (Revolving Facility) up to the principal
amount outstanding at any time of $2,000,000, (ii) up to the aggregate stated amount outstanding at
any time for letters of credit
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of $6,500,000, and (iii) a draw credit facility (Draw Facility) up to the principal amount
outstanding at any time of $5,000,000. The Revolving Facility and the letters of credit shall be
used to assure that all state licensing requirements of FCMC are met and to pay approved expenses
of the Company. The Draw Facility shall be used to provide for working capital of FCMC, and
amounts drawn and repaid under this facility cannot be reborrowed.
The principal sum shall be due and payable in full on the earlier of the date that the
Licensing Agreement is due and payable in full pursuant to the terms of this facility, whether by
acceleration or otherwise, or at maturity on March 29, 2010. Advances under the Revolving
Facility shall bear interest at the one-month reserve adjusted LIBOR Rate plus a margin of 8%.
Advances under the Draw Facility shall bear interest at the one-month reserve adjusted LIBOR Rate
plus a margin of 6%. Interest on both the Revolving Facility and the Draw Facility shall be paid
prior to any distributions pursuant to stock ownership or stock pledges of equity interests in
FCMC. After any default, all advances and letters of credit shall bear interest at 5% in excess of
the rate of interest then in effect.
The Licensing Credit Agreement contains warranties, representations, covenants and events of
default that are customary in transactions similar to the restructuring.
The Licensing Facility is secured by (i) a first priority security interest in FCMCs cash
equivalents in a controlled account maintained at the Bank in an amount satisfactory to the Bank,
but not less than $8,500,000, (ii) blanket existing lien on all personal property of FCMC, (iii) a
second mortgage in real property interests at 6 Harrison Street, Unit 6, New York, New York, (iv) a
first Mortgage in certain real property interests at 350 Albany St. New York, New York; and (v)
any monies or sums due FCMC in respect of any program sponsored by any Governmental Authority,
including without limitation any fees received, directly or indirectly, under the U.S. Treasury
Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan.
The Draw Facility is guaranteed by Thomas J. Axon, Chairman of the Board of Directors and a
principal stockholder of the Company. Mr. Axons Guaranty shall be secured by a first priority and
exclusive lien on commercial real estate, at a loan to value ratio satisfactory to the Bank. In
consideration for his guaranty, the Bank and the Companys Audit Committee each has consented to
the payment to Mr. Axon equal to 10% of FCMCs common shares, subject to a further payment of up to
an additional 10% in FCMCs common shares should the pledge of common shares of FCMC by Franklin
Holding to the
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Bank be reduced upon attainment by FCMC of certain net collection targets set by the Bank with
respect to the Portfolio.
4. Entered into a servicing agreement with the New Trust.
The servicing agreement (the Servicing Agreement) governs the servicing by FCMC, as the
servicer (the Servicer) of the Portfolio transferred to New Trust. New Trust and/or the Bank as
the administrator of New Trust (the Administrator) have significant control over all aspects of
the servicing of the Portfolio based on (i) a majority of the
Servicers actions or Servicers
utilization of any subservicer or subcontractor is contingent on the Servicer receiving explicit
instructions or consent from New Trust or Administrator, (ii) compliance with work rules and an
approval matrix provided by the Bank and (iii) monthly meetings between New Trust and the Servicer.
All collections by the Servicer are remitted to a collection account and controlled through
the Banks lockbox account. The Administrator shall transfer the collection amounts from the
lockbox account to a certificate account whereby the funds shall flow through the trust agreements
Waterfall as described above. The Servicers
servicing fees and servicing advance reimbursements
are paid in advance provided an event of default has not occurred. If an event of default has
occurred, the Servicers servicing fees and servicing advances are the third remittance in the
Waterfall, following remittances for payment of Administrator, custodian and trustee fees.
New Trusts indemnification obligation to the Servicer is limited to the collections from the
Portfolio. In addition, the Servicer will be indemnified by New Trust only for a breach of
corporate representations and warranties or if the Administrator forces the Servicer to take an
action that results in a loss to the Servicer.
The Servicer is required to maintain net worth of approximately $7.6 million and net income
before taxes of $800,000 for the most recent twelve month period or an event of default will be
deemed to have occurred. In addition to typical servicer events of default and the defaults listed
above, the Servicing Agreement contains the following events of default: (i) certain defaults under
the Legacy Loan Agreement would trigger an event of default under the Servicing Agreement, (ii)
failure to adopt a servicing action plan as directed by the Administrator would trigger an event of
default, (iii) any event of default under the Licensing Loan Agreement would trigger an event of
default under the Servicing Agreement, and (iv) failure of Servicer to satisfy certain gross
collection targets if determined to be the
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result of a failed servicing practice as determined by the Bank per a servicing audit would
trigger an event of default.
The Servicing Agreement shall have an initial term of three years which may be extended for
one or two additional one year periods at the sole discretion of New Trust. During the first year
of the agreement, Servicer shall receive a termination fee for each loan to the extent the
servicing is terminated by the Bank for any reason other than a default under the terms of the
servicing agreement. During the term of the servicing agreement, FCMC may not enter into any other
third-party servicing agreements to service any other assets that could likely impair its ability
to service the Portfolio without the consent of the Bank, which cannot be unreasonably withheld.
The foregoing summary of the Restructuring Agreements is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the complete copies of such documents, filed as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.14 to this
Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.1
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Trust Agreement by and among Franklin Credit Asset
Corporation, Franklin Credit Management Corporation, Tribeca
Lending Corp. and each of their respective subsidiaries, as
Depositors, and The Huntington National Bank, as Certificate
Trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee, dated
March 31, 2009 |
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10.2
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Transfer and Assignment Agreement by and among Franklin
Mortgage Asset Trust 2009-A, Franklin Credit Asset
Corporation, Franklin Credit Management Corporation, Tribeca
Lending Corp. and each of their respective subsidiaries dated
March 31, 2009 |
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10.3
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Contribution Agreement by and among Franklin Asset, LLC and
Franklin Asset Merger Sub, LLC dated March 31, 2009 |
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10.4
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Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Huntington Capital
Financing, LLC, HCFFL, LLC, Franklin Asset, LLC, Franklin
Credit Holding Corporation, Franklin Credit Asset Corporation,
Tribeca Lending Corp. and each of their respective
subsidiaries dated March 31, 2009 |
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10.5
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Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Legacy) by and among
Franklin Credit Asset Corporation, Tribeca Lending Corp. and
the Other Borrowers Party hereto as Borrowers, the Financial
Institutions Party hereto as Lenders, and the Huntington
National Bank, as Administrative Agent, dated March 31, 2009 |
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.6
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The Limited Recourse Guarantee, dated as of March 3, 2009,
made by Franklin Credit Holding Corporation in favor of The
Huntington National Bank. |
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10.7
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The Limited Recourse Guarantee, dated as of March 31, 2009,
made by Franklin Credit Management Corporation in favor The
Huntington National Bank. |
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10.8
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The Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of March
31, 2009, by and among the Borrowers and The Huntington
National Bank. |
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10.9
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The Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of March
31, 2009, by and between Franklin Credit Holding Corporation
and The Huntington National Bank. |
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10.10
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The Amended and Restated Pledge, Assignment and Security
Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2009, by and between Franklin
Credit Management Corporation and The Huntington National
Bank. |
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10.11
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The Investment Property Security Agreement, dated as of March
31, 2009, by and between Franklin Credit Management
Corporation and The Huntington National Bank. |
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10.12
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Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Licensing) by and among
Franklin Credit Management Corporation and Franklin Credit
Holding Corporation as Borrowers, the Financial Institutions
Party hereto as Lenders, and the Huntington National Bank, as
Administrative Agent, dated March 31, 2009 |
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10.13
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The Amended and Restated Security Agreement (Licensing), dated
as of March 31, 2009, by and between Franklin Credit
Management Corporation and The Huntington National Bank. |
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10.14
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Servicing Agreement by and among Franklin Mortgage Asset Trust
2009-A and Franklin Credit Management Corporation dated March
31, 2009 (confidential treatment requested for portions of
this exhibit) |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Franklin Credit Holding
Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
Date: April 6, 2009
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FRANKLIN CREDIT HOLDING CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ Kevin P. Gildea
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Name: |
Kevin P. Gildea |
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Title: |
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
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