Approximately $98.0 Million Notional Balance of Structured Securities Affected
New York, August 23, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) affirmed the ratings of three notional
classes of Merrill Lynch Floating Trust Commercial Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 2006-1 as follows:
Cl. X-1B, Affirmed at Caa1 (sf); previously on
Feb 22, 2012 Downgraded to Caa1 (sf)
Cl. X-3B, Affirmed at Caa3 (sf); previously on
Feb 22, 2012 Downgraded to Caa3 (sf)
Cl. X-3C, Affirmed at Caa3 (sf); previously on
Feb 22, 2012 Downgraded to Caa3 (sf)
RATINGS RATIONALE
The affirmations are based on Moody's credit assessments for non-rated
certificate Classes K, L and M that have remained unchanged from
Moody's last review. The certificates are collateralized by mortgages
on the two remaining loans in the trust, the Royal Holiday Portfolio
loan and the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Antonio loan. Class A1 through
Class J have paid off in full.
Moody's analysis reflects a forward-looking view of the likely
range of collateral performance over the medium term. From time
to time, Moody's may, if warranted, change these expectations.
Performance that falls outside an acceptable range of the key parameters
may indicate that the collateral's credit quality is stronger or weaker
than Moody's had anticipated during the current review. Even so,
deviation from the expected range will not necessarily result in a rating
action. There may be mitigating or offsetting factors to an improvement
or decline in collateral performance, such as increased subordination
levels due to amortization and loan payoffs or a decline in subordination
due to realized losses.
Primary sources of assumption uncertainty are the extent of growth in
the current macroeconomic environment and commercial real estate property
markets. While commercial real estate property values are beginning
to move in a positive direction along with a rise in investment activity
and stabilization in core property type performance, a consistent
upward trend will not be evident until the volume of investment activity
steadily increases, distressed properties are cleared from the pipeline,
and job creation rebounds. The hotel sector is performing strongly
and the multifamily sector continues to show increases in demand.
Moderate improvements in the office sector continue with minimal additions
to supply. However, office demand is closely tied to employment,
where growth remains slow. Performance in the retail sector has
been mixed with lackluster sales driven by discounting and promotions.
However, rising wages and reduced unemployment, along with
increased consumer confidence, is helping to spur consumer spending.
Across all property sectors, the availability of debt capital continues
to improve with increased securitization activity of commercial real estate
loans supported by a monetary policy of low interest rates. Moody's
central global macroeconomic scenario reflects healthier growth in the
US and US growth decoupling from the recessionary trend in the euro zone,
while a mild recession is expected in 2012. Downside risks remain
significant, although they have moderated compared to earlier this
year. Major downside risks include an increase in the potential
magnitude of the euro area recession, the risk of an oil supply
shock weighing negatively on consumer purchasing power and home prices,
ongoing and policy-induced banking sector deleveraging leading
to a tightening of bank lending standards and credit contraction,
financial market turmoil continuing to negatively impact consumer and
business confidence, persistently high unemployment levels,
and weak housing markets, any or all of which will continue to constrain
growth.
The methodologies used in this rating were "Moody's Approach to Rating
CMBS Large Loan/Single Borrower Transactions" published in July 2000,
and "Moody's Approach to Rating Structured Finance Interest-Only
Securities" published in February 2012. Please see the Credit Policy
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Moody's review incorporated the use of the excel-based Large Loan
Model v 8.4. The large loan model derives credit enhancement
levels based on an aggregation of adjusted loan level proceeds derived
from Moody's loan level LTV ratios. Major adjustments to determining
proceeds include leverage, loan structure, property type,
and sponsorship. These aggregated proceeds are then further adjusted
for any pooling benefits associated with loan level diversity, other
concentrations and correlations. The model includes the CMBS IO
calculator ver1.0, which uses the following inputs to calculate
the proposed IO rating based on the published methodology: original
and current bond ratings and assessments; original and current bond
balances grossed up for losses for all bonds the IO(s) reference(s) within
the transaction; and IO type corresponding to an IO type as defined
in the published methodology. The calculator then returns a calculated
IO rating based on both a target and mid-point. For example,
a target rating basis for a Baa3 (sf) rating is a 610 rating factor.
The midpoint rating basis for a Baa3 (sf) rating is 775 (i.e.
the simple average of a Baa3 (sf) rating factor of 610 and a Ba1 (sf)
rating factor of 940). If the calculated IO rating factor is 700,
the CMBS IO calculator ver1.0 would provide both a Baa3 (sf) and
Ba1 (sf) IO indication for consideration by the rating committee.
Moody's ratings are determined by a committee process that considers both
quantitative and qualitative factors. Therefore, the rating
outcome may differ from the model output.
The rating action is a result of Moody's on-going surveillance
of commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) transactions. Moody's
monitors transactions on a monthly basis through a review utilizing MOST®
(Moody's Surveillance Trends) Reports and Remittance Statements.
On a periodic basis, Moody's also performs a full transaction review
that involves a rating committee and a press release. Moody's prior
transaction review is summarized in a press release dated October 27,
2011. Please see the ratings tab on the issuer / entity page on
moodys.com for the last rating action and the ratings history.
DEAL PERFORMANCE
As of the August 15, 2012 Payment Date, the transaction's
certificate balance has decreased by 96% to $98.0
million from $2.6 billion at securitization due to the pay
off of 13 loans originally in the pool.
Two specially serviced loans remain in the pool. The larger loan
is the Royal Holiday Portfolio Loan ($65 million -- 66%).
The loan is secured by six hotels located in Mexico with a total of 1,501
rooms. Two of the hotels are located in Cancun, and the other
four are located in Cozumel, Ixtapa, Acapulco and San Jose
del Cabo. The loan was transferred to special servicing in February
2010 and is a non-performing matured loan. The borrower
filed a Mexican bankruptcy petition for the Cozumel Caribe Hotel in May
2010. The bankruptcy court terminated the flow of funds into the
lender's cash management system. The borrower has not made debt
service payments since May 2010, nor has the borrower provided financials
for the hotels. Currently $3.9 million in interest
advances are outstanding. The $103.0 million whole
loan includes $38.0 million in non-trust subordinate
debt. The servicer is defending and pursuing multiple legal actions
and foresees lengthy litigation. Moody's loan to value (LTV) ratio
for the loan is in excess of 100%. Moody's current credit
estimate is C, the same as last review.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel San Antonio loan ($33 million -- 34%)
is secured by a full-service hotel with 410-rooms located
in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The loan was transferred
to special servicing in February 2012 for technical default due to failing
a performance test and for facing imminent maturity default, which
occurred on June 11, 2012. Counsel has been engaged and demand
had been made. The $59.0 million whole loan includes
$26.0 million in non-trust subordinate debt.
Property performance improved in the first half of 2012, with revenue
per available room (RevPAR) increasing 12% over the prior year.
Moody's LTV is 95% and Moody's current credit assessment
is Caa1, the same as last review.
The pool has experienced a loss of $878 and interest shortfalls
total $836,503 affecting Class M. Interest shortfalls
are caused by special servicing fees, including workout and liquidation
fees, appraisal subordinate entitlement reductions (ASERs) and extraordinary
trust expenses.
REGULATORY DISLOSURES
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that has issued a particular Credit Rating is available on www.moodys.com.
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides relevant 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 relevant 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 relevant 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.
Moody's considers the quality of information available on the rated
entity, obligation or credit satisfactory for the purposes of issuing
a rating.
Moody's adopts all necessary measures so that the information it
uses in assigning a rating is of sufficient quality and from sources Moody's
considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent
third-party sources. However, Moody's is not
an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate
information received in the rating process.
Please see Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions on the Rating
Process page on www.moodys.com for further information on
the meaning of each rating category and the definition of default and
recovery.
Please see ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for the last rating action and the rating history. The date on
which some ratings were first released goes back to a time before Moody's
ratings were fully digitized and accurate data may not be available.
Consequently, Moody's provides a date that it believes is
the most reliable and accurate based on the information that is available
to it. Please see the ratings disclosure page on our website www.moodys.com
for further information.
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.
Jay Rosen
Vice President - Senior 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 Three CMBS Classes of Merrill Lynch Floating Trust 2006-1