Approximately $131.2 Million of Structured Securities Affected
New York, May 01, 2013 -- Moody's has affirmed four and downgraded two classes of Notes issued by
ARCap 2003-1 Resecuritzation Trust due to an increase in the defaulted
and non-performing collateral and associated increase in interest
shortfalls reducing the effectiveness of the par value triggers to cure.
The affirmations are due to performance of the transaction within the
current ratings on the affirmed classes of Notes. The rating action
is the result of Moody's on-going surveillance of commercial
real estate collateralized debt obligation (CRE CDO and Re-Remic)
transactions.
Moody's rating action is as follows:
Cl. A, Affirmed Baa1 (sf); previously on Jun 3,
2011 Downgraded to Baa1 (sf)
Cl. B, Affirmed B1 (sf); previously on May 9,
2012 Downgraded to B1 (sf)
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa2 (sf); previously on May 9,
2012 Downgraded to Caa1 (sf)
Cl. D, Affirmed Caa3 (sf); previously on May 9,
2012 Downgraded to Caa3 (sf)
Cl. E, Downgraded to C (sf); previously on May 9,
2012 Downgraded to Ca (sf)
Cl. F, Affirmed C (sf); previously on May 9, 2012
Downgraded to C (sf)
RATINGS RATIONALE
ARCap 2003-1 Resecuritzation Trust is a static transaction backed
by a portfolio of commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) (100%
of the pool balance) with the collateral issued between 1999 and 2003.
As of the March 20, 2013 Trustee report, the aggregate Note
balance of the transaction has decreased to $369.8 million
from $414.4 million at issuance, with the paydown
directed to the senior class certificates. The paydown is due to
two factors: i) defaulted securities interest being re-classified
as principal proceeds; and ii) the re-classification of interest
proceeds as principal due to the failure of certain par value tests.
The current collateral par amount is $144.5 million,
a decrease of $269.9 million since securitization.
Moody's has identified the following parameters as key indicators of the
expected loss within CRE CDO transactions: weighted average rating
factor (WARF), weighted average life (WAL), weighted average
recovery rate (WARR), and Moody's asset correlation (MAC).
These parameters are typically modeled as actual parameters for static
deals and as covenants for managed deals.
WARF is a primary measure of the credit quality of a CRE CDO pool.
We have completed updated credit assessments for the non-Moody's
rated collateral. The bottom-dollar WARF is a measure of
the default probability within a collateral pool. Moody's
modeled a bottom-dollar WARF of 6,519 compared to 7,250
at last review. The distribution of current ratings and credit
assessments is as follows: Aaa-Aa3 (2.1% compared
to 2.4% at last review), A1-A3 (1.9%
compared to 0%), Baa1-Baa3 (4.1% compared
to 0%), Ba1-Ba3 (2.7% compared to 11.6%),
B1-B3 (31.0% compared to 16.5%),
and Caa1-C (58.2% compared to 69.5%).
WAL acts to adjust the probability of default of the collateral in the
pool for time. Moody's modeled to a WAL of 3.1 compared
to 3.2 at last review. The current WAL is based on assumptions
about extensions on the underlying collateral.
WARR is the par-weighted average of the mean recovery values for
the collateral assets in the pool. Moody's modeled a fixed
3.5% WARR compared to 3.1% at last review.
MAC is a single factor that describes the pair-wise asset correlation
to the default distribution among the instruments within the collateral
pool (i.e. the measure of diversity). Moody's
modeled a MAC of 100.0%, the same as at last review.
Moody's review incorporated CDOROM® v2.8, one of Moody's
CDO rating models, which was released on March 25, 2013.
The cash flow model, CDOEdge® v3.2.1.2,
was used to analyze the cash flow waterfall and its effect on the capital
structure of the deal.
Moody's analysis encompasses the assessment of stress scenarios.
Changes in any one or combination of the key parameters may have rating
implications on certain classes of rated notes. However,
in many instances, a change in key parameter assumptions in certain
stress scenarios may be offset by a change in one or more of the other
key parameters. Rated notes are particularly sensitive to changes
in recovery rate assumptions. Holding all other key parameters
static, changing the recovery rate assumption down from 3.5%
to 0.0% or up to 8.5% would result in a modeled
rating movement on the rated tranches 0 to 1 notches downward and 0 to
7 notches upward, respectively.
The performance expectations for a given variable indicate Moody's forward-looking
view of the likely range of performance over the medium term. From
time to time, Moody's may, if warranted, change these
expectations. Performance that falls outside the given range may
indicate that the collateral's credit quality is stronger or weaker than
Moody's had anticipated when the related securities ratings were issued.
Even so, a deviation from the expected range will not necessarily
result in a rating action nor does performance within expectations preclude
such actions. The decision to take (or not take) a rating action
is dependent on an assessment of a range of factors including, but
not exclusively, the performance metrics.
Primary sources of assumption uncertainty are the extent of growth in
the current macroeconomic environment given the weak pace of recovery
and commercial real estate property markets. Commercial real estate
property values are continuing to move in a modestly positive direction
along with a rise in investment activity and stabilization in core property
type performance. Limited new construction and moderate job growth
have aided this improvement. However, a consistent upward
trend will not be evident until the volume of investment activity steadily
increases for a significant period, non-performing properties
are cleared from the pipeline, and fears of a Euro area recession
are abated.
The hotel sector is performing strongly with nine straight quarters of
growth and the multifamily sector continues to show increases in demand
with a growing renter base and declining home ownership. Recovery
in the office sector continues at a measured pace with minimal additions
to supply. However, office demand is closely tied to employment,
where growth remains slow and employers are considering decreases in the
leased space per employee. Also, primary urban markets are
outperforming secondary suburban markets. Performance in the retail
sector continues to be mixed with retail rents declining for the past
four years, weak demand for new space and lackluster sales driven
by internet sales growth. Across all property sectors, the
availability of debt capital continues to improve with robust securitization
activity of commercial real estate loans supported by a monetary policy
of low interest rates.
Moody's central global macroeconomic scenario calls for US GDP growth
for 2013 that is likely to remain close to 2% as the greater impetus
from the US private sector is likely to broadly offset the drag on activity
from more restrictive fiscal policy. Thereafter, we expect
the US economy to expand at a somewhat faster pace than is likely this
year, closer to its long-run average pace of growth.
Risks to our forecasts remain skewed to the downside despite recent positive
developments. Moody's believes that the three most immediate
risks are: i) the risk of a deeper than currently expected recession
in the euro area accompanied by deeper credit contraction, potentially
triggered by a further intensification of the sovereign debt crisis;
ii) slower-than-expected recovery in major emerging markets
following the recent slowdown; and iii) an escalation of geopolitical
tensions, resulting in adverse economic developments.
The methodologies used in this rating were "Moody's Approach to Rating
SF CDOs" published in May 2012, and "Moody's Approach to Rating
Commercial Real Estate CDOs" published in July 2011. Please see
the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these
methodologies.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
Moody's did not receive or take into account a third-party
assessment on the due diligence performed regarding the underlying assets
or financial instruments related to the monitoring of this transaction
in the past six months.
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating. For further information please see the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this rating action, the
associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
David Fackler
Associate Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Michael Gerdes
MD - Structured Finance
Structured Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's Affirms Four and Downgrades Two Classes of Notes issued by ARCap 2003-1 Resecuritization Trust