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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 2po opinion ent 6-4-10 SECTION 108 -GUARANTEED LOANS: MODEL LEGAL, OPINION FOR SERIES 2010-A PUBLIC OFFERING [July 20101 [This model for use only by counsel to CDBG entitlement grantees NOT using a designated public agency to issue the guaranteed Note, and which are not participating in a CDBG States' Program for nonentitlement areas] [Please review instructions following opinion] Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20410 Dear Sir or Madam: The undersigned, being duly licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State [Commonwealth] of is legal counsel to the [City, County, etc.] of ("Borrower"). As such,. I [we] have represented the Borrower regarding that certain promissory note, referred to as Note No. [See , in the Aggregate Principal Amount of $ instruction 5 below] ("Note"), to be executed by the Borrower payable to the order of the Registered Holder thereof, and to be guaranteed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5308 ("Section 108"). The Note will be included in a trust created by HUD (together with other Section 108 Notes issued by other borrowers), and trust certificates based on the trust will be sold in the Series 2010-A public offering by underwriters selected by HUD. HUD's guarantee of the Note will be governed by the Contract for Loan Guarantee Assistance under Section 108 between the Borrower and HUD (the "Contract"), in which the Borrower pledges Community Development Block Grants pursuant to 24 CER 570.705(b)(2), as well as any other security specified in the Contract, as security for HUD's guarantee. In my jour] capacity as legal counsel, I [we] have made an examination and investigation of all such matters of.fact and questions of law as I [we] consider necessary or advisable to enable me [us] to render the opinion hereafter set forth. Specifically, and without _limiting the generality of the foregoing, I [we] have examined: 1. [Cite applicable provisions of the Constitution and/or Statutes of the State [Commonwealth]] [optional] [Cite applicable provisions of Charter and Ordinances of the Borrower] [optional] 3. A Resolution of the governing body of Borrower dated authorizing Borrower to enter into this transaction, and authorizing [Insert name or title of official authorized to execute Note and Contract]. to execute on behalf of Borrower all documents necessary or desirable to accomplish the transaction. 4. The Contract 5. The Note 6. The Amended and Restated Master Fiscal Agency Agreement dated as of May 17, 2000, the Trust Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995, and the form of Supplement to the Trust Agreement to be executed by the Secretary of HUD for the closing of the public offering. Based on the foregoing investigation and authorities, I am [we are] of the opinion that: 1. Borrower has authorized in accordance with [the cited] [applicable] State and local law, the transaction, including issuance of the Note, the pledge of grant funds, and the execution of all documents necessary or desirable to accomplish the transaction. 2. Borrower has authorized [Insert name of authorized Official(s) who executed Note and Contract] , in [his, her] capacity (ies) as [Insert title of authorized official(s)] , to execute the Contract, the Note and all other documents necessary or desirable to accomplish the transaction. 3. The Note and the Contract have been duly executed by the aforementioned authorized representatives] of the Borrower, and upon delivery thereof, due execution of the Contract and Guarantee on behalf of HUD, and receipt of the loan proceeds on behalf of the Borrower, the Note and Contract shall be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Borrower. 4. The pledge of present and future Community Development Block Grants by the Borrower pursuant to 24 CFR 570.705(b)(2) and the Contract is valid. S. There is no outstanding, or to my (our) knowledge threatened, action, suit, proceeding, investigation or litigation by or against the Borrower that will affect the validity of the Note or the security therefor. Sincerely, 2 po opinion ent 6-4-10 INSTRUCTIONS [The model opinion and instructions are available electronically from HUD. Contact your HUD program office representative in the Financial Management Division or one of the attorneys listed at the end of the instructions.] 1. Opinions must be signed by an attorney licensed to practice and in good standing in the applicable State or Commonwealth. The attorney shall issue the opinion on behalf of a private firm or local government legal officer or office that represented the CDBG grantee/section 108 Borrower in the transaction, and it must be on the firm or office's letterhead. If issued by a firm, the opinion must be signed on behalf of the firm by a partner or with the firm name as authorized by the firm. If issued by a government legal officer or office, the opinion must be signed by the officer, the head of the legal office, or by a senior lawyer with authority to bind the office. The appropriate plural [bracketed] pronouns in the attached model should be used for opinions signed on behalf of multi -lawyer firms or offices. 2. The language marked "optional" in paragraphs 1 and 2 at the bottom of page one of the attached model, including citations, is recommended to evidence 'thoroughness and to enhance the credibility of the opinion, but it can be omitted in the judgment of the attorney rendering the opinion. However, citing the applicable authorizing resolution of the local governing body is required. Of course, should facts or legal authorities come to HUD's attention that call an opinion into question, HUD reserves the right to reject, or require such revision to, any opinion, as HUD in its sole discretion may determine. 3. The local counsel's opinions are based upon the requirements of paragraph 4(b) of the Contract and are in support of a HUD opinion given at closing for the public offering, as required by the Underwriting Agreement between HUD and the underwriters. The use of the model opinion without substantial change is strongly encouraged to permit HUD staff to accept and rely on the opinion on its face, without time-consuming call-backs, investigation, and revision. Conditions and qualifying language in legal opinions require specific review JQy HUD legal staff, may tend to slow processing of the loan guarantee documentation, and are generally discouraged, unless they are essential in a particular case. However, qualifications which exclude the validity of, or the authority for, execution of the documents on behalf of the Borrower from the coverage of the opinion, assume the validity of such execution, or exempt the signatory attorney from knowledge of the validity of the execution, are not acceptable. HUD deals nationally with many cities, counties, and other public bodies, and cannot independently verify the authority of officials of those entities. Borrowers counsels' opinions covering proper execution serve as an important check on such validity. While not a cause for rejection of an opinion pe.r se, it is not necessary to qualify an opinion by stating that enforceability of the documents may be :Limited by bankruptcy, _insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, or similar general laws or equity principles relating to or affecting creditors' rights or providing .remedies for the relief of debtors, or that the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief in aid of enforcement of the documents may be limited by equitable rights and defenses. HUD is aware that there may be exceptions to the enforceability of its rights as a creditor based on generally applicable laws and equitable principles; that is why HUD regards the pledge of present and future CDBG grants, which are controlled by HUD, as the principal security for .repayment of the notes. The purpose of the legal opinions is not to get an attorney to act as insurer of the absolute enforceability of the documents but rather to require that there has been legal review adequate to assure proper authorization and execution of the Note and related documents by the proper parties under State and local law. 4. Separate models are available from HUD for transactions in which a CDBG grantee is using a designated public agency to issue the Note and receive the proceeds thereof on its behalf. Similarly, separate models are available for nonentitlement grantees and their States, where a State -administered CDBG nonentitlement recipient is issuing the section 108 -guaranteed Note. If you are involved in one of the foregoing transactions, please obtain the appropriate model from the program office (see paragraph 7 below). The Borrower is not required to execute the Trust Agreement or the Amended and Restated Master Fiscal Agency Agreement; those documents are incorporated by reference in the Contract and the Note, and the Borrower agrees to the terms of those documents by executing the Contract and the Note. Copies of the Amended and Restated Master Fiscal Agency Agreement, Trust Agreement, and the form of Supplement to the Trust Agreement to be executed on behalf of the Secretary at closing on the Public Offering Date should have been included in the package of documents transmitted to the Borrower by HUD. If they were not, and if you have not previously reviewed them, please contact the CPD Financial Management Division phone number at the end of these instructions for copies, if necessary. The Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Master_ Fiscal Agency Agreement have not changed since the last public offering, and no significant change is anticipated in the Supplement to the Trust Agreement except for dates and the schedules of the obligations covered by the Supplement. 5. The attorney should assure that the .legal name of the Borrower in the Note and the Contract is correct and should 2 notify HUD if it is not. The note number to be :inserted in the opinion in the first paragraph appears in the heading of the Note. The Aggregate Principal Amount to be inserted also appears in the heading of the Note and at the end of the Schedule P&I attached to the Note (these should agree). [Background - Unlike Section 108 =interim (variable-rate) financing, the entire Aggregate Principal Amount of the Note will be disbursed at closing on the Public Offering Date, as applicable: (i) to pay off interim financing (or a public offering note being refinanced, if applicable), (ii) for deposit in the Borrower's Guaranteed Loan Funds Account under paragraph 1 of the Contract, or (iii)(by deduction) to pay the fees referred to in paragraph 4 of the Contract if so requested by the Borrower. Also unlike interim financing, Principal Amounts due on particular Principal Due Dates on Schedule P&I cannot be amended (even with HUD approval) after closing of the public offering. Borrower's counsel should assure that the Borrower's financial officials are satisfied that Schedule P&I accurately states the .repayment schedule agreed to by the Borrower and HUD.] "Other Securitv" Opinions 6. If so provided in the Contract, an additional opinion or opinions may be requested of Borrower's counsel or other counsel with regard to "other security" as negotiated between HUD and the Borrower for a particular transaction. If such opinions have previously been furnished in connection with interim financing, the same opinions do not have to be submitted again. Generally, any additional opinions related to other security will be described in paragraph 15 of the Contract. The Contract may require such other security opinions to be delivered to HUD with the executed Note and Contract or at a later time, and the Contract may provide that they be delivered to a local custodian, rather than HUD. If so, it is recommended that such opinions be separate from the attached model opinion required with respect to execution and validity of the Note and Contract. However, if the Contract requires the "other security" opinion(s) to be submitted to HUD at the same time as the model opinion, they may be combined with the model opinion. Due to the variety of "other security" provisions, model language for the "other security" opinions cannot be furnished routinely. 7. If there are any questions, including specific questions about "other security" opinions, the local CDBG grantee program office may contact its representative in HUD's Office of Community Development, Financial Management Division, at 202-708- 1871. Local counsel may also directly call Evelyn Wrin or Carey Whitehead in HUD's Office of General Counsel at 202.402.5220 or 202.402.3106, respectively, or send an email to eve1yn.m.wrin@hud.g2v or carey.c.whitehead@hud.gov, with questions about the opinion. 3 WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMITTING PAYMENTS TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON ABA ROUTING: 021000018 FOR CREDIT TO: [IUD 108 Collection Account COLLECTIONS ACCOUNT #: 8900606738 TEXT: Indicate Community name BANK ADDRESS: 101 Barclay Street, 8th Floor East, New York, NY 10286 TELEPHONE: 877-870-7678 ATTENTION: Candi Mattocks SUPPLEMENT relating to $ Aggregate Original Principal Amount SECTION 108 GOVERNMENT GUARANTEED PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATES, SERIES HUD This SUPPLEMENT (the "Series Supplement"), is entered into by the SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (the "Secretary") and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK (formerly known as Chemical Bank or The Chase Manhattan Bank), as. trustee (the "Trustee") under the Trust Agreement, dated January 1, 1995, by and between the Trustee and the Secretary, as sponsor of a Trust created on behalf of certain units of general local govermnent and public agencies designated by such units of general local government (the "Agreement"). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement. WITNESSETH WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement, the Trustee is to hold in trust certain Notes guaranteed by the Secretary and to issue Certificates evidencing beneficial interests in a trust consisting of such Notes (the "Trust"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement, the Secretary and the Trustee are to enter into this Series Supplement whereby the Secretary delivers the Notes and related Guarantee to the Trustee and the Secretary directs the Trustee to issue the Certificates (the "Series Certificates"); NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises, the parties agree as follows: Delivery and Acknow led �t� nent. The Secretary hereby delivers to the Trustee (a) the Notes (together with any necessary endorsements thereon) listed on the attached Schedule 1, as identified by Borrower, Aggregate Principal Amounts, Principal Amounts, Principal Due Dates and interest rates and (b) the related Guarantee to hold in trust for the benefit of the Certificate holders. The Secretary acknowledges the terms and conditions of the Agreement and hereby agrees that the Trust shall be governed by the terms thereof as amended hereby. The term "Trust" as used herein shall refer to that Trust established as a result of the delivery to the Trustee of the Notes and related documents referred to herein. 2. Authority to Issue Certificates. The Secretary hereby directs the Trustee, as agent for the Secretary, to issue Series Certificates with respect to the Trust as follows: a. Name of Series. The designation of the Series authorized hereby shall be "Section 108 Government Guaranteed Participation Certificates, Series HUD , Guaranteed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development." b. Issuance of Certificates. Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Trust Agreement, the Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the Secretary, authenticate and deliver, on this date, in the naive of the Certificateholder, the Series Certificates specified on the attached Schedule 2 against receipt of the Notes, the related Guarantee and this Series Supplement. Acknowledgments and Certifications. a. The Secretary hereby certifies that it has satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied as a condition to the issuance of the foregoing Certificates. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.11 and Section 7.01 of the Agreement, the Secretary further certifies that the Trustee shall be paid, for services rendered in connection with the administration of the Trust assets listed on the attached. Schedule 1, and pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Agreement, a fee of $ b. The Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of the Trust assets listed on the attached Schedule 1. C. This Series Supplement shall constitute the Supplement referred to in Section 2.01 of the Agreement. 4. Modification and Ratification of the Agreement. a. Solely for purposes of this Series Supplement and the Series Certificates, the definition of "Optional Redemption" set forth in Article I of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows: "Optional Redem tp ion: The full or partial prepayment of a Principal Amount due on a Note by a Borrower in accordance with the optional redemption provisions (if any) of such Note, such optional redemption provisions to provide, among other things, that such an Optional Redemption (i) shall be made only as of any Interest Due Date occurring on or after the date specified in the related Note after which such Optional Redemptions are permitted, (ii) must be received in Rill by the Trustee by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Certificate Account on the related Note Payment Date, and (iii) must be accompanied by an identification of the Borrower by name, the HUD -assigned Note number and such other information as the Secretary or the Trustee may specify." b. Solely for purposes of this Series Supplement and the Series Certificates, the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 3.03 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows: "The Trustee shall apply any payments received in respect of permitted Optional Redemptions to the outstanding Principal Amounts of the related Note designated in the instructions of the related Borrower set forth in the above mentioned notice, in each case, as approved in writing by the Secretary." C. Solely for purposes of this Series Supplement and the Series Certificates, the first and second paragraphs of Section 3.07 of the Agreement are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced as follows: "Any Borrower may defease the unpaid aggregate Principal Amount of a Note, or the unpaid Principal Amount due on a Principal Due Date, in whole or in part, at any time, subject to the corresponding Contract and this Agreement. For each Note or Principal Amount (or portion thereof) that the related Borrower elects to defease, the Borrower shall establish and maintain with the Trustee a trust account (a "Defeasance Account"), separate and apart from all other accounts of such Borrower and the Trustee. The Borrower shall irrevocably deposit into such account either moneys or Government Obligations that, in the sole discretion of the Secretary, mature and bear interest at times and in amounts sufficient, together with the moneys already on deposit with the Trustee for such purpose, to pay when due the principal and interest to become clue with respect to the related Principal Amount (or portion thereof) that the Borrower elects to defease, in accordance with the notice of the Borrower as specified below. The Borrower's election to defense shall be evidenced by giving written notices to the Trustee and the Secretary, which notices shall authorize and direct the establishment of the related Defeasance Account, shall specify the money and Government Obligations to be deposited therein and shall specify the particular Principal Amounts (or portions thereof) being defeased and the related Principal Due Date(s) and Optional Redemption Date(s) (consistent with the related Note and Contract). For all purposes of this Agreement, to the extent that a Principal Amount (or portion thereof) is so specified for defeasance in accordance with the Contract, such specification shall constitute an election to redeem on the date specified in the foregoing notice for purposes of the related Note, subject to approval of the Secretary. Upon and in accordance with the Secretary's instructions pursuant to the corresponding Contract, the Trustee shall apply so much of the sums deposited into a Defeasance Account as shall be necessary to purchase the Government Obligations designated by the Secretary's instructions. If the funds deposited were insufficient, or there were excess funds deposited, the Trustee shall follow the Secretary's directions as to the disposition of such funds." d. The Agreement as modified and supplemented by this Series Supplement with respect to the Series Certificates (but which modification and supplement shall not apply to any other Series of Certificates unless otherwise specified in the related Supplement for such Series of Certificates) is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Agreement as so modified and supplemented by this Series Supplement shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Series Supplement to be executed as of the day of , 20 SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Signature Name: Title: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Trustee Signature Name: Title: SCHEDULE 1 TO SERIES SUPPLEMENT TO "TRUST AGREEMENT PRINCIPAL f1TIF nATR August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, August 1, TRUST ASSETS ASSIGNED TO TRUSTEE 7 INTEREST RATE Principal Amounts Due on August 1, Borrower Aggregate Principal Amounts Principal Amounts Due on August 1, Aggregate Borrower Principal Amounts SCHEDULE 2 TO SERIES SUPPLEMENT TO TRUST AGREEiVIENT CERTIFICATES TO BE ISSUED CUSIP Number Principal Amount Maturitv Date[ Interest Rate Principal amounts due on or after August 1, are subject to earlier payment upon an Optional Redemption or an Acceleration Event. 10