MOODY'S ASSIGNS RATINGS TO 24 CLASSES OF CHL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH TRUST 2002-34
Approximately $400.0 Million of Asset-Backed Securities Rated.
New York, January 02, 2003 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a rating of Aaa to the senior certificates
in Countrywide Home Loan's 2002-34 securitization of prime-quality
mortgages. The 2002-34 certificates incorporates a "super
senior" structure where the senior Class A-16 certficates take
loss priority to their component senior Class A-4-1 and
A-4-2 certificates. The incremental risk posed by
an increase in severity to the Class A-16 certificates (due to
its small size) was a consideration in sizing the credit enhanmenment
for the Aaa rated certificates as a whole. As such, Class
A-16 has been rated Aa1.
According to Moody's analyst Marjan Riggi, the ratings are based
on the credit quality of the collateral pool, credit enhancement
provided by subordination, the legal structure of the transaction
and Countrywide's ability as the servicer of the loans.
The aggregate pool is comprised of 30-year fixed-rate loans
originated by Countrywide. Substantially all the loans were originated
under Countrywide's Standard Guidelines (for jumbo loans).
The pool benefits from the inclusion of strong jumbo loans (99%).
In general, such loans are less risky as they have lower average
LTVs and higher average FICOs than the Alt-A product. The
pool also has nearly 25% reduced documentation loans whose risks
are compensated by their higher FICOs. As is the case with most
prime pools, substantially all loans with LTVs greater than 80%
have borrower-paid mortgage insurance. In addition,
a majority of loans were made against properties which are occupied as
primary residences (at least 96%). Loans to owner-occupied
properties have lower default rates as owners have more incentive to remain
current on their payments.
Countrywide's previous pools have experienced low losses and delinquencies.
This is largely attributable to the company's business practices,
retail origination channels and appraisal quality.
The complete rating actions are as follows:
CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust 2002-34
$49,000,000 Class A-1 Certificates, rated
Aaa
Interest Only Class A-2 Certificates, rated Aaa
Interest Only Class A-3 Certificates, rated Aaa
$69,800,000 Class A-4 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$20,000,000 Class A-5 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$75,950,000 Class A-6 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$19,500,000 Class A-7 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$4,800,000 Class A-8 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$472,000 Class A-9 Certificates, rated Aaa
$50,000 Class A-10 Certificates, rated Aaa
$13,308,000 Class A-11 Certificates, rated
Aaa
Interest Only Class A-12 Certificates, rated Aaa
$1,350,000 Class A-13 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$50,000,000 Class A-14 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$82,500,000 Class A-15 Certificates, rated
Aaa
$1,000,000 Class A-16 Certificates, rated
Aa1
$269,083 Principal Only Class PO Certificates, rated
Aaa
$100 Class A-R Certificates, rated Aaa
Countrywide Home Loans Inc., the seller and master servicer
of the loans, is a highly capable servicer of mortgage loans and
has a substantial presence in the prime-quality mortgage sector.
Countrywide's long-term corporate debt obligations are rated A3
by Moody's.
Additional research is available on http://www.moodys.com.
New York
Pramila Gupta
Managing Director
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
Marjan Riggi
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653