MOODY'S RATES C-BASS' 2003-CB2 SUBPRIME RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE DEAL Aaa
$236 Million of Asset-Backed Securities Rated.
New York, June 25, 2003 -- Moody's Investors Services has assigned a rating of Aaa to the senior
certificates in C-BASS's 2003-CB2 securitization of subprime
residential mortgage loans, including FHA and VA loans. In
addition, Moody's assigned ratings ranging from Aa2 to Baa3 to the
mezzanine and subordinate certificates. Moody's said that the mortgage
pool backing the transaction, which is seasoned about one year,
is riskier than a typical subprime mortgage pool. The rating on
each class reflects the amount of credit support available from subordination,
overcollateralization and excess spread available to absorb losses.
George Arau, a Moody's analyst, noted that the loans,
59% of which are fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs), are
riskier than a typical subprime mortgage pool. The credit quality
of the pool is weaker than that of subprime mortgage pools primarily due
to a higher percentage of loans secured by second-lien mortgages
and a weaker distribution of loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.
According to Arau, second-lien mortgages comprise 5%
of the mortgage pool, which is somewhat higher than the typical
subprime mortgage pool. The weighted-average LTV ratio for
the second-liens is 91% and the senior-lien LTV ratio
averages 66%. Because these borrowers have very little equity,
Moody's expects the default frequency to be relatively high.
The credit quality of the remaining first-lien fixed and adjustable
rate mortgages is also weaker than that of the typical first-lien
subprime mortgage pool as a result of a relatively weak LTV distribution.
The weighted-average LTV ratio for the loans is 86% with
approximately 40% of the mortgages having an LTV ratio greater
than 90%. Generally, the percentage of loans with
LTV ratios that exceed 90% in subprime first-lien mortgage
pools is less than 10%.
C-BASS's strong collateral valuation process helps to reduce the
risk due to the pool's relatively weak LTV distribution. C-BASS'
appraisal review staff reviews all appraisals and obtains updated appraisals
and broker price opinions (BPOs) as necessary. C-BASS has
obtained BPOs on 68% of the mortgages in the pool.
Arau also noted that the strong servicing capabilities of the servicer,
C-BASS affiliate Litton Loan Servicing LP (Litton), will
help reduce losses on the underlying collateral pool. Moody's has
conferred upon Litton its highest servicer quality rating, SQ1,
for both special servicing and primary servicing for prime and subprime
quality mortgages. Litton has a strong and experienced management
team and specializes in the servicing of sub-performing mortgage
loans. Litton is located in Houston, Texas.
C-BASS (Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization)
is a mortgage investment company that focuses on purchasing, servicing,
and securitizing credit-sensitive residential mortgages,
such as scratch and dent, subprime, and sub- and non-performing
loans. C-BASS is also one of the top purchasers and special
servicers of rated and non-rated subordinate securities in both
the prime and subprime MBS markets.
The complete rating actions are as follows:
Depositor: Asset Backed Funding Corporation
Seller: Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC
Securities: C-BASS Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,
Series 2003-CB2
Servicer: Litton Loan Servicing LP
Class AF-1, $60,300,000, Variable,
rated Aaa
Class AF-2, $31,600,000, 3.134%,
rated Aaa
Class AF-3, $22,771,000, 5.201%,
rated Aaa
Class AV-1, $66,700,000, Variable,
rated Aaa
Class AV-2, $14,069,000, Variable,
rated Aaa
Class A-IO, Notional, 3.500%, rated
Aaa
Class M-1, $15,205,000, 5.052%,
rated Aa2
Class M-2, $12,286,000, 5.545%,
rated A2
Class B-1, $8,393,000, Variable,
rated A2
Class B-2, $4,258,000, Variable,
rated A2
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
George S. Arau
Associate Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653