Approximately $905.2 Million of Structured Securities Affected
New York, July 16, 2009 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") affirmed the ratings
of 15 classes and downgraded five classes of LB-UBS Commercial
Mortgage Trust 2004-C2, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 2004-C2. The downgrades are due
to higher expected losses for the pool resulting from increased leverage
and anticipated losses from loans in special servicing. The rating
action is the result of Moody's on-going surveillance of
commercial mortgage backed securities ("CMBS") transactions.
As of the June 17, 2009 distribution date, the transaction's
aggregate certificate balance has decreased by approximately 26%
to $919.1 million from $1.2 billion at securitization.
The Certificates are collateralized by 74 loans ranging in size from less
than 1% to 16% of the pool, with the top 10 loans
representing 67% of the pool. Four loans, representing
39% of the pool, have investment grade underlying ratings.
Six loans, representing 4% of the pool, have defeased
and are collateralized with U.S. Government securities.
Nineteen loans, representing 17% of the pool, are on
the master servicer's watchlist. The watchlist includes loans
which meet certain portfolio review guidelines established as part of
the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association's monthly reporting
package. As part of our ongoing monitoring of a transaction,
Moody's reviews the watchlist to assess which loans have material
issues that could impact performance.
There have been no losses since securitization. There are four
loans, representing 7% of the pool, currently in special
servicing. The largest specially serviced loan is the Inland Center
Loan ($52.7 million -- 5.7%), which
is secured by the in-line portion of a 1.0 million square
foot regional mall located in San Bernardino, California.
The property's performance since securitization has been negatively
impacted by significant turnover among its anchor tenants. The
loan was transferred to special servicing in February 2009 due to a maturity
default. The borrower was granted a 24-month extension that
included providing additional collateral and payment of all servicer fees
and costs. Of the three remaining specially serviced loans,
two are performing maturity defaults while the fourth loan is 90+
days delinquent. Moody's is not estimating a loss for Inland
Center but estimates an aggregate $6.4 million loss for
the three remaining loans (43% loss severity on average).
Moody's was provided with full-year 2007 and 2008 operating results
for 98% and 80%, respectively, of the pool,
excluding defeased loans. Moody's weighted average loan to value
("LTV") ratio for the conduit component, excluding the
specially serviced loans, is 95% compared to 93% at
Moody's last review. Moody's stressed debt service
coverage ratio ("DSCR") is 1.1X, the same as
at last review. Moody's stressed DSCR is based on Moody's
net cash flow ("NCF") and a 9.25% stressed rate
applied to the loan balance.
Moody's uses a variation of the Herfindahl index ("Herf")
to measure diversity of loan size, where a higher number represents
greater diversity. Loan concentration has an important bearing
on potential rating volatility, including the risk of multiple-notch
downgrades under adverse circumstances, unless addressed by extra
credit enhancement. The credit neutral Herf score is 40.
The pool, excluding defeased loans and loans with underlying ratings,
has a Herf of 18 compared to 23 at last review.
The largest loan with an underlying rating is the GIC Office Portfolio
Loan ($149.3 million - 16.2%),
which is a pari passu interest in a $696.5 million first
mortgage loan. The loan is secured by 12 office properties totaling
6.4 million square feet and located in seven states. The
highest geographic concentrations are Chicago (39% of NRA),
suburban Philadelphia (17%), and San Francisco (12%).
As of December 2008, the portfolio was 92% occupied,
essentially the same as at last review. The Chicago concentration
is comprised of two buildings -- the AT&T Corporate
Center (1.5 million square feet; 24%) and the USG Building
(928,000 square feet; 14%). The performance of
these properties has declined significantly since the last review and
the lease of the portfolio's largest tenant, AT&T (10%),
expired on March 31, 2009. According to the most recent available
information, it appears that AT&T vacated their premises.
The portfolio's performance has declined since last review due to
decreased rental revenues and increased expenses. The loan sponsor
is Prime Plus Investments, Inc., a private REIT wholly
owned by the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (Realty) Pte
Ltd. The loan matures in January 2014. Moody's current underlying
rating is Baa2, compared to A1 at the last review of this loan.
Moody's stressed DSCR is 1.44X compared to 1.73X at
last review.
The second largest loan with an underlying rating is the Somerset Collection
Loan ($125.5 million -- 13.7%),
which is a 50% pari passu interest in a $251.0 million
first mortgage loan. The loan is secured by the borrower's interest
in a 1.4 million square foot regional mall located in Troy,
Michigan. The center is the dominant mall in its trade area and
is anchored by Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman
Marcus. As of December 2008, the property was 99%
occupied, essentially the same as at last review. The property
is also encumbered by a B-Note which is held outside the trust.
The loan is interest only for its entire 10-year term. Property
performance has been stable, but Moody's analysis incorporates
a stressed cash flow and higher cap rate to reflect our concerns about
the depressed Michigan economy and weak national retail environment,
particularly for higher end retailers. Moody's current underlying
rating is Baa2, compared to A1 at the last review of this loan.
Moody's stressed DSCR is 1.36X compared to 1.44X at
last review.
The third largest loan with an underlying rating is the Farmers Market
Loan ($41.3 million -- 4.5%), which
is secured by a 228,339 square foot mixed-use property (retail
& office) built in 1940 and renovated in 2002. As of December
2008, the property was 98% occupied, essentially the
same as at last review. The largest tenants include The Ant Farm,
LLC (13% NRA; lease expiration November 2014) and The Children's
Place (9% NRA; lease expiration December 2017). Performance
has improved due to increased base rents. Moody's current underlying
rating is A1 compared to A2 at last review. Moody's stressed
DSCR is 1.65X compared to 1.55X at last review.
The fourth largest loan with an underlying rating is the Ruppert Yorkville
Towers Loan ($41.3 million -- 4.5%),
which is secured by the borrower's interest in a high-rise 825
unit multifamily complex located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The complex was completed in 1975 and converted to a condominium structure
in 2003. The collateral for the loan includes 432 unsold residential
units, unsold storage units and 53,810 square feet of commercial
space. The unsold units are either vacant, occupied by market
rate tenants or occupied by pre-conversion tenants at below market
rental rates. The majority of tenants pay rents that are significantly
below market. However, rents have increased since securitization
as tenants renew or as units are converted to market rates. Net
operating income has improved by approximately 70% since securitization.
Moody's current underlying rating is Aaa, the same as at last review.
Moody's stressed DSCR is 1.47X compared to 1.34X at
last review.
The three largest performing conduit loans represent 16.5%
of the pool. The largest conduit loan is the Maritime Plaza I and
II Loan ($73.7 million -- 8.0%),
which is secured by two office buildings totaling 345,736 square
feet. Built in 2001 and renovated in 2003, the properties
are situated at the intersection of M Street and 12th Street in Washington,
DC. As of March 2009, the properties were 100% occupied
compared to 89% at last review. The largest tenant is Computer
Sciences Corporation (Moody's senior unsecured rating Baa1,
stable outlook; 37% of NRA, leases expire in 2013 and
2014). Financial performance has improved since the last review
due to increased occupancy. Moody's LTV is 85% compared
to 98% at the last review. Moody's stressed DSCR is
1.14X compared to 0.99X at last review.
The second largest conduit loan is the 280 Metro Center Loan ($44.3
million -- 4.8%), which is secured by
the borrower's interest in a 351,816 square foot (213,787
square feet of collateral) anchored retail center located ten miles south
of San Francisco in Colma, California. The property was 99%
occupied as of December 2008 compared to 100% at last review.
The property is anchored by Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack and Bed Bath
& Beyond. Net cash flow has increased due to increased base
rent. Moody's LTV is 89% compared to 95% at last
review. Moody's stressed DSCR is 1.10X compared to
0.97X at last review.
The third largest conduit loan is the Torrance Town Center Loan ($33.9
million -- 3.7%), which is secured by the borrower's
interest in a 259,476 square foot anchored retail center located
in Torrance, California. The center is anchored by Kohl's
and Smart & Final. Circuit City was the third anchor prior
to its liquidation in the first quarter of 2009. The property was
100% occupied as of January 2009. After adjusting for the
loss of Circuit City, occupancy drops to 87%. Moody's
LTV is 88% compared to 82% at last review. Moody's
stressed DSCR is 1.14X compared to 1.16X at last review.
Moody's rating action is as follows:
-Class A-2, $51,477,792,
affirmed at Aaa; previously affirmed at Aaa on 3/13/2007
-Class A-3, $144,000,000,
affirmed at Aaa; previously affirmed at Aaa on 3/13/2007
-Class A-4, $558,483,000,
affirmed at Aaa; previously affirmed at Aaa on 3/13/2007
-Class X-CL, Notional, affirmed at Aaa;
previously affirmed at Aaa on 3/13/2007
-Class X-CP, Notional, affirmed at Aaa;
previously affirmed at Aaa on 3/13/2007
-Class B, $15,433,000, affirmed
at Aaa; previously upgraded to Aaa from Aa1 on 3/13/2007
-Class C, $13,889,000, affirmed
at Aa1; previously upgraded to Aa1 from Aa2 on 3/13/2007
-Class D, $12,346,000, affirmed
at Aa2; previously upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3 on 3/13/2007
-Class E, $16,976,000, affirmed
at A1; previously affirmed at A1 on 3/13/2007
-Class F, $13,890,000, affirmed
at A2; previously affirmed at A2 on 3/13/2007
-Class G, $21,605,000, affirmed
at A3; previously affirmed at A3 on 3/13/2007
-Class H, $12,347,000, affirmed
at Baa1; previously affirmed at Baa1 on 3/13/2007
-Class J, $10,802,000, affirmed
at Baa2; previously affirmed at Baa2 on 3/13/2007
-Class K, $12,347,000, affirmed
at Baa3; previously affirmed at Baa3 on 3/13/2007
-Class L, $4,629,000, affirmed at
Ba1; previously affirmed at Ba1 on 3/13/2007
-Class M, $4,630,000, downgraded
to B1 from Ba2; previously affirmed at Ba2 on 3/13/2007
-Class N, $3,087,000, downgraded
to B2 from Ba3; previously affirmed at Ba3 on 3/13/2007
-Class P, $3,086,000, downgraded
to B3 from B1; previously affirmed at B1 on 3/13/2007
-Class Q, $3,087,000, downgraded
to Caa1 from B2; previously affirmed at B2 on 3/13/2007
-Class S, $3,086,000, downgraded
to Caa3 from B3; previously affirmed at B3 on 3/13/2007
Moody's monitors transactions on both a monthly basis through two
sets of quantitative tools: MOST® (Moody's Surveillance
Trends) and CMM on Trepp, and a periodic basis through a full review.
Moody's prior full review is summarized in a press release dated
March 13, 2007.
Due to the pool's low Herf score, two principal methodologies were
used in rating and monitoring this transaction: "CMBS: Moody's
Approach to Rating U.S. Fusion Transactions" dated April
19, 2005 and "CMBS: Moody's Approach to Rating Large
Loan/Single Borrower Transactions" dated July 7, 2000.
These methodologies can be found at www.moodys.com in the
Credit Policy & Methodologies directory, in the Ratings Methodologies
subdirectory. Other methodologies and factors that may have been
considered in the process of rating this issue can also be found in the
Credit Policy & Methodologies directory.
New York
Sandra Ruffin
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
Michael M. Gerdes
Senior Vice President
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's Affirms 15 and Downgrades 5 Classes of LB-UBS 2004-C2