Approximately $34.1 Million of Structured Securities Affected
New York, September 11, 2013 -- Moody's has upgraded the ratings of two classes of Notes issued by Crest
2003-1, Ltd., due to increased amortization
on the underlying collateral, which has resulted in higher than
expected paydown to the rated 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. C-1, Upgraded to B2 (sf); previously on Jan
24, 2013 Affirmed Caa2 (sf)
Cl. C-2, Upgraded to B2 (sf); previously on Jan
24, 2013 Affirmed Caa2 (sf)
RATINGS RATIONALE
Crest 2003-1, Ltd. is a static cash transaction backed
by a portfolio of commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) (100%
of the pool balance). As of the July 31, 2013 Trustee report,
the aggregate Note balance of the transaction, including preferred
shares was $291.9 million from $600 million at issuance,
with the paydown directed to the most senior outstanding class of notes,
as a result of regular amortization of the underlying collateral and recoveries
on the defaulted securities.
There are ten assets with a par balance of $31.9 million
(30.7% of the current pool balance) that are considered
defaulted securities as of the July 31, 2013 Trustee report.
While there have been limited realized losses to date, Moody's
expects moderate losses to occur once they are realized.
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 assessments for the non-Moody's rated
collateral. Moody's modeled a bottom-dollar WARF of
6,242 compared to 5,956 at last review. The current
distribution of Moody's rated collateral and assessments for non-Moody's
rated collateral is as follows: Aaa-Aa3 (0.1%
compared to 6.9% at last review), A1-A3 (0%
compared to 1.0% at last review), Baa1-Baa3
(0% compared to 4.1% at last review), Ba1-Ba3
(20.4% compared to 14.0% at last review),
B1-B3 (16.0% compared to 12.5% at last
review), and Caa1-C (63.6% compared to 61.6%
at last review).
Moody's modeled a WAL of 2.5 years compared to 2.4 years
at last review. The current WAL is based upon assumptions about
extensions on the underlying collateral.
Moody's modeled a fixed WARR of 2.9% compared to 6.4%
at last review.
Moody's modeled a MAC of 0.0% compared to 9.1%
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,
which was released on May 16, 2013, 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 2.9%
to 0% or up to 7.9% would result in a modeled rating
movement on the rated tranches of 0 notches downward and 1 notch 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
in the 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 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.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
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.
Matthew Heslin
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 Upgrades Two Classes of Crest 2003-1, Ltd.