08.11.2012 23:49:00
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Moody's Upgrades Two and Affirms Three CMBS Classes of LBUBS 2000-C3
New York, November 08, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) upgraded the ratings of two classes and affirmed three classes of LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2000-C3, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2000-C3 as follows:
Cl. H, Upgraded to Ba1 (sf); previously on Jan 6, 2012 Upgraded to B1 (sf)
Cl. J, Upgraded to B3 (sf); previously on May 12, 2010 Downgraded to Caa3 (sf)
Cl. K, Affirmed at C (sf); previously on May 12, 2010 Downgraded to C (sf)
Cl. L, Affirmed at C (sf); previously on May 12, 2010 Downgraded to C (sf)
Cl. X, Affirmed at Caa3 (sf); previously on Feb 22, 2012 Downgraded to Caa3 (sf)
RATINGS RATIONALE
The upgrades are due to defeasance, increased credit subordination due to loan payoffs, and amortization. The pool has paid down by 66% since Moody's last full review.
The affirmations are due to key parameters, including Moody's LTV ratio, Moody's stressed debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) and the Herfindahl Index (Herf), remaining within acceptable ranges. Based on our current base expected loss, the credit enhancement levels for the affirmed classes are sufficient to maintain their current ratings. The rating of the IO Class is consistent with the performance of its referenced classes and is thus affirmed.
Moody's rating action reflects a cumulative base expected loss of $9.1 million or 28% of the current balance. At last review, Moody's cumulative base expected loss was $19.6 million or 20% of the current balance. Moody's provides a current list of base losses for conduit and fusion CMBS transactions on moodys.com at http://v3.moodys.com/viewresearchdoc.aspx?docid=PBS_SF215255. Depending on the timing of loan payoffs and the severity and timing of losses from specially serviced loans, the credit enhancement level for investment grade classes could decline below the current levels. If future performance materially declines, the expected level of credit enhancement and the priority in the cash flow waterfall may be insufficient for the current ratings of these classes.
Primary sources of assumption uncertainty are the extent of growth in the current macroeconomic environment and commercial real estate property markets. Commercial real estate property values are continuing to move in a 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 eight straight quarters of growth and the multifamily sector continues to show increases in demand with a growing renter base and declining home ownership. Slow recovery in the office sector continues 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 discounting and promotions. However, rising wages and reduced unemployment, along with increased consumer confidence, is helping to spur consumer spending resulting in increased sales. 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 maintains its forecast of relatively robust growth in the US and an expectation of a mild recession in the euro area for 2012. Downside risks remain significant, and elevated downside risks and their materialization could pose a serious threat to the outlook. Major downside risks include: a deeper than expected recession in the euro area; the potential for a hard landing in major emerging markets; an oil supply shock; and material fiscal tightening in the US given recent political gridlock. Healthy but below-trend growth in GDP is expected through the rest of this year and next with risks trending to the downside.
The methodologies used in this rating were "Moody's Approach to Rating U.S. CMBS Conduit Transactions" published in September 2000, "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.
In rating this transaction, Moody's also used its credit-tenant lease (CTL) financing methodology approach (CTL approach) . Under Moody's CTL approach, the rating of the CTL component is primarily based on the senior unsecured debt rating (or the corporate family rating) of the tenant, usually an investment grade rated company, leasing the real estate collateral supporting the bonds. This tenant's credit rating is the key factor in determining the probability of default on the underlying lease. The lease generally is "bondable", which means it is an absolute net lease, yielding fixed rent paid to the trust through a lock-box, sufficient under all circumstances to pay in full all interest and principal of the loan. The leased property should be owned by a bankruptcy-remote, special purpose borrower, which grants a first lien mortgage and assignment of rents to the securitization trust. The dark value of the collateral, which assumes the property is vacant or "dark", is then examined to determine a recovery rate upon a loan's default. Moody's also considers the overall structure and legal integrity of the transaction. For deals that include a pool of credit tenant loans, Moody's currently uses a Gaussian copula model, incorporated in its public CDO rating model CDOROMv2.8-8 to generate a portfolio loss distribution to assess the ratings.
Moody's review incorporated the use of the excel-based CMBS Conduit Model v 2.61 which is used for both conduit and fusion transactions. Conduit model results at the Aa2 (sf) level are driven by property type, Moody's actual and stressed DSCR, and Moody's property quality grade (which reflects the capitalization rate used by Moody's to estimate Moody's value). Conduit model results at the B2 (sf) level are driven by a paydown analysis based on the individual loan level Moody's LTV ratio. Moody's Herfindahl score (Herf), a measure of loan level diversity, is a primary determinant of pool level diversity and has a greater impact on senior certificates. Other concentrations and correlations may be considered in our analysis. Based on the model pooled credit enhancement levels at Aa2 (sf) and B2 (sf), the remaining conduit classes are either interpolated between these two data points or determined based on a multiple or ratio of either of these two data points. For fusion deals, the credit enhancement for loans with investment-grade credit assessments is melded with the conduit model credit enhancement into an overall model result. Fusion loan credit enhancement is based on the credit assessment of the loan which corresponds to a range of credit enhancement levels. Actual fusion credit enhancement levels are selected based on loan level diversity, pool leverage and other concentrations and correlations within the pool. Negative pooling, or adding credit enhancement at the credit assessment level, is incorporated for loans with similar credit assessments in the same transaction.
Moody's review also incorporated the CMBS IO calculator ver1.1 which uses the following inputs to calculate the proposed IO rating based on the published methodology: original and current bond ratings and credit 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 ver1.1 would provide both a Baa3 (sf) and Ba1 (sf) IO indication for consideration by the rating committee.
Moody's uses a variation of 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 risk of multiple notch downgrades under adverse circumstances. The credit neutral Herf score is 40. The pool has a Herf of 4 compared to 8 at Moody's prior review.
In cases where the Herf falls below 20, Moody's also employs the large loan/single borrower methodology. This methodology uses the excel-based Large Loan Model v 8.5 and then reconciles and weights the results from the two models in formulating a rating recommendation. 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.
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 two sets of quantitative tools -- MOST® (Moody's Surveillance Trends) and CMM (Commercial Mortgage Metrics) on Trepp -- and on a periodic basis through a comprehensive review. Moody's prior full review is summarized in a press release dated January 6, 2012. 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 October 17, 2012 distribution date, the transaction's aggregate certificate balance has decreased by 98% to $32.8 million from $1.3 billion at securitization. The Certificates are collateralized by 9 mortgage loans ranging in size from roughly 4% to 25% of the pool. The pool consists of three defeased loans representing 33% of the pool, a credit tenant lease component representing 14% of the pool, and three specially serviced loans representing 53% of the pool.
Currently no loans are on the master servicer's watchlist. The watchlist includes loans which meet certain portfolio review guidelines established as part of the CRE Finance Council's (CREFC) 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.
Thirty-one loans have been liquidated from the pool, resulting in a realized loss of $37.6 million (28% loss severity).
The largest specially-serviced loan is Peacock Center ($7.3 million -- 22.2% of the pool), which is secured by a 73,000 square-foot neighborhood retail center in Mount Airy, Maryland. The largest tenant, Super Fresh (A&P), with 76% of the net rentable area (NRA), rejected its lease in June 2011, reducing occupancy to 14%. The property is currently real estate owned ("REO").
The second-largest specially-serviced loan is Ballenger Creek Plaza ($7.2 million -- 21.8% share of the pool), which is secured by a 76,000 square-foot neighborhood retail center in Frederick, Maryland. As with Peacock Center, the largest tenant, Super Fresh (A&P), with 54% of NRA, rejected its lease in June 2011, reducing occupancy to 29% as of September 2012.
The third-largest specially-serviced loan is Mid America Business Park II ($2.8 million -- 8.7% share of the pool), which is secured by a 120,000 square-foot industrial property in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Foreclosure has been filed. Moody's assumed an aggregate $9.1 million estimated loss (52% expected loss overall) for the specially serviced loans.
The CTL component consists of three loans secured by bondable leases. The corporate credits are CVS Caremark Corp. (Moody's senior unsecured rating Baa2, Outlook - Positive) and Walgreen Co. (Moody's senior unsecured rating Baa1, Outlook - Negative).
Moody's was provided with full year 2011 or partial year 2012 operating results for 100% of the pool.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
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.
Information sources used to prepare the rating are the following: parties involved in the ratings, parties not involved in the ratings, public information, confidential and proprietary Moody's Investors Service information, and confidential and proprietary Moody's Analytics information.
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.
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 the ratings disclosure page on www.moodys.com for general disclosure on potential conflicts of interests.
Please see the ratings disclosure page on www.moodys.com for information on (A) MCO's major shareholders (above 5%) and for (B) further information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO and rated entities as well as (C) the names of entities that hold ratings from MIS that have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%. A member of the board of directors of this rated entity may also be a member of the board of directors of a shareholder of Moody's Corporation; however, Moody's has not independently verified this matter.
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.
Kimberly Brown Associate Analyst Structured Finance Group Moody'sInvestors Service, Inc.250 Greenwich StreetNew York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653Keith Banhazl Vice President - Senior Analyst Structured Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc.250 Greenwich StreetNew York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653(C) 2012 Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and/or its licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.
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