NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings expects to assign the following ratings and Rating Outlooks to Freddie Mac's ninth risk-transfer transaction: Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes Series 2014-HQ3 (STACR 2014-HQ3):
--$133,000,000 class M-1 notes 'A-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$133,000,000 class M-1F exchangeable notes 'A-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$133,000,000 class M-1I notional exchangeable notes 'A-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$125,400,000 class M-2 notes 'BBB-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$125,400,000 class M-2F exchangeable notes 'BBB-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$125,400,000 class M-2I notional exchangeable notes 'BBB-sf'; Outlook Stable;
--$258,400,000 class M-12 exchangeable notes 'BBB-sf'; Outlook Stable.
The following classes will not be rated by Fitch:
--$7,480,570,675 class A-H reference tranche;
--$7,010,681 class M-1H reference tranche;
--$6,610,071 class M-2H reference tranche;
--$171,000,000 class M-3 notes;
--$171,000,000 class M-3F exchangeable notes;
--$171,000,000 class M-3I notional exchangeable notes;
--$9,013,733 class M-3H reference tranche;
--$68,005,188 class B-H reference tranche;
--$429,400,000 class MA exchangeable notes.
The 'A-sf' rating for the M-1 notes reflects the 4.75% subordination provided by the 1.65% class M-2 notes, the 2.25% class M-3 notes and the non-offered 0.85% B-H reference tranche. The 'BBB-sf' rating for the M-2 notes reflects the 3.10% subordination provided by the 2.25% class M-3 notes and the non-offered 0.85% B-H reference tranche. The notes are general unsecured obligations of Freddie Mac (rated 'AAA'/ Outlook Stable by Fitch) subject to the credit and principal payment risk of a pool of certain residential mortgage loans held in various Freddie Mac-guaranteed MBS.
STACR 2014-HQ3 is Freddie Mac's ninth risk-transfer transaction issued as part of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Conservatorship Strategic Plan for 2013 - 2017 for each of the government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to demonstrate the viability of multiple types of risk-transfer transactions involving single-family mortgages.
The objective of the transaction is to transfer credit risk from Freddie Mac to private investors with respect to an $8 billion pool of mortgage loans currently held in previously issued MBS guaranteed by Freddie Mac where principal repayment of the notes is subject to the performance of a reference pool of mortgage loans. As loans become 180-days delinquent or other credit events occur, the outstanding principal balance of the debt notes will be reduced by a pre-defined, tiered loss severity percentage related to those credit events.
While the transaction structure simulates the behavior and credit risk of traditional RMBS mezzanine and subordinate securities, Freddie Mac will be responsible for making monthly payments of interest and principal to investors. Because of the counterparty dependence on Freddie Mac, Fitch's expected rating on the M-1, M-1F, M-1I, M-2, M-2F, M-2I and M-12 notes will be based on the lower of: the quality of the mortgage loan reference pool and credit enhancement available through subordination; and Freddie Mac's issuer default rating. The M-1 and M-2 notes will be issued as uncapped LIBOR-based floaters and will carry a 10-year legal final maturity.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
High LTV Reference Pool: Similar to the 2014-HQ2 transaction which closed in August 2014, the HQ3 reference pool consists of loans with loan to value ratios (LTVs) greater than 80% but less than and equal to 95% acquired by Freddie Mac in 1Q'14. The higher LTV loans which are included in the reference pool are subject to the same underwriting, quality control (QC), and servicing practices as those with original LTVs below 80%. The transaction employs a fixed loss severity (LS) structure.
Prime Quality Mortgage Reference Pool: The reference mortgage loan pool consists of 36,226 prime-quality mortgages totaling $8 billion. The weighted average (WA) combined LTV (CLTV) ratio, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, and credit score are 92.3%, 35.0%, and 749, respectively. All loans were underwritten with full documentation. The reference pool also benefits from significant geographic diversity, with the largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) accounting for only 3.5%.
Special Hazard Risk Mitigated: Freddie Mac introduced an 18-month grace period for delinquent borrowers who experience a natural disaster and are placed in a forbearance plan by the servicer, starting with the STACR 2014-DN3 transaction. Fitch views this enhancement positively, as it reduces the risk of eroding credit protection for temporary borrower delinquencies arising from natural disasters that typically cure, but possibly after 180 days of delinquency.
Seller Insolvency Risk Addressed: Freddie Mac will conduct QC reviews on all loans that experience a credit event, irrespective of the seller's insolvency, as long as the rep and warranty period has not sunset. Effective June 2, 2014, all loans for which the rep and warranty is in effect will be subject to a review to determine whether an underwriting defect has taken place. Fitch believes that this provision more closely aligns the deal's rep enforcement mechanism with what it considers a full framework.
Market Value Decline Sensitivity: Fitch considered market value decline (MVD) sensitivities in addition to those generated by its sustainable home price (SHP) model. These scenarios aligned Fitch's 'Asf' sustainable MVD (sMVD) assumptions with peak-to-trough MVDs experienced during the housing crisis through 2009. The sensitivity analysis, which was factored into Fitch's loss expectations, resulted in applying an sMVD of approximately 11.7% down from 13.1%. Market value declines were based on 1Q'14 Case-Shiller home price data.
Solid Lender Review and Acquisition Processes: Fitch found that Freddie Mac has a well-established and disciplined process in place to purchase loans and views its lender approval and oversight processes for minimizing counterparty risk and ensuring sound loan quality acquisitions as positive. Loan QC review processes are thorough and indicate a tight control environment that limits origination risk. Fitch has determined Freddie Mac to be an above-average aggregator for its 2013 and later product. Fitch accounted for the lower risk by applying a lower default estimate for the reference pool.
Few Findings in Third-Party Diligence: While only 850 loans were selected for review by a third-party diligence provider, the results indicated limited findings or were deemed as nonmaterial by Fitch. The overall results reflect Freddie Mac's tight control over the documentation and loan-delivery process.
Eminent Domain Risk Mitigated: The STACR series 2014-HQ3 transaction includes a provision that protects investors against eminent domain risk. Loans will be removed from the reference pool if they are seized pursuant to any special eminent domain proceeding brought by any federal, state, or local government.
Fixed Loss Severity: The transaction's fixed LS schedule tied to cumulative net credit events is a positive feature, as it reduces uncertainty that may be driven by future changes in Freddie Mac's loss mitigation or loan modification policies and offers investors greater protection against natural disaster events where properties are severely damaged with limited or no recourse to insurance. If the actual loan LS is above the set schedule, Freddie Mac absorbs the higher losses.
Advantageous Payment Priority: The payment priority of the M-1 class will result in a shorter life and more stable CE than mezzanine classes in private-label (PL) RMBS, providing a relative credit advantage. Unlike PL mezzanine RMBS, which often do not receive a full pro rata share of the pool's unscheduled principal payment until year 10, the M-1 class can receive a full pro rata share of unscheduled principal immediately, as long as a minimum CE level is maintained and the net cumulative credit event is within a certain threshold. Additionally, unlike PL mezzanine classes, which lose subordination over time due to scheduled principal payments to more junior classes, the M-2, M-3, and B-H classes will not receive any scheduled or unscheduled principal allocations until the M-1 class is paid in full. The B-H class will not receive any scheduled or unscheduled principal allocations until the M-3 class is paid in full.
10-Year Hard Maturity: M-1, M-2, and M-3 notes benefit from a 10-year legal final maturity. As a result, any credit events on the reference pool that occur beyond year 10 are borne by Freddie Mac and do not affect the transaction. Fitch accounted for the 10-year hard maturity window in its default analysis and applied a 10% reduction to its lifetime default expectations.
Solid Alignment of Interests: While the transaction is designed to transfer credit risk to private investors, Fitch believes the transaction benefits from solid alignment of interests. Freddie Mac will retain credit risk in the transaction by holding the senior reference tranche A-H, which has 6.50% of loss protection, as well as the first-loss B-H reference tranche, sized at 85 bps. Initially, Freddie Mac will retain an approximately 5% vertical slice/interest in the M-1, M-2, and M-3 tranches.
Receivership Risk Considered: Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act, U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) must place Freddie Mac into receivership if it determines that Freddie Mac's assets are less than its obligations for longer than 60 days following its SEC filing deadline. As receiver, FHFA could repudiate any contract entered into by Freddie Mac if it is determined that such action would promote an orderly administration of Freddie Mac's affairs. Fitch believes that the U.S. government will continue to support Freddie Mac, which is reflected in its current rating of the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE). However, if at some point Fitch views the support as being reduced and receivership likely, the rating of Freddie Mac could be downgraded and ratings on M-1 and M-2 notes, along with their corresponding MAC notes, could be affected.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
Fitch's analysis incorporates sensitivity analyses to demonstrate how the ratings would react to steeper MVDs than assumed at both the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and national levels. The implied rating sensitivities are only an indication of some of the potential outcomes and do not consider other risk factors that the transaction may become exposed to or be considered in the surveillance of the transaction.
This defined stress sensitivity analysis demonstrates how the ratings would react to steeper MVDs at the national level. The analysis assumes market value declines of 10%, 20%, and 30%, in addition to the model-projected 33% at the 'A-sf' level and 20% at the 'BBB-sf' level. The analysis indicates that there is some potential rating migration with higher MVDs, compared to the model projection.
Fitch also conducted defined rating sensitivities which determine the stresses to MVDs that would reduce a rating by one full category, to non-investment grade, and to 'CCCsf'. For example, additional MVDs of 8%, 14% and 33% would potentially reduce the 'A-sf' rated class down one rating category, to non-investment grade, and to 'CCCsf', respectively.
Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further detailed in Fitch's accompanying presale report, available at 'www.fitchratings.com' or by clicking on the above link.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research
--'Global Rating Criteria for Single- and Multi-Name Credit-Linked Notes' (February 2014);
--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (May 2014);
--'Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds' (May 2014);
--'U.S. RMBS Master Rating Criteria' (July 2014);
--'U.S. RMBS Loan Loss Model Criteria' (December 2013);
--'U.S. RMBS Cash Flow Analysis Criteria' (April 2014);
--'Rating Criteria for U.S. Residential and Small Balance Commercial Mortgage Servicers' (January 2014);
--'U.S. RMBS Surveillance and Re-Remic Criteria' (June 2014);
--'Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2014-HQ3 Representations and Warranties Presale Appendix' (October 2014).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2014-HQ3 (US RMBS)
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=794029
U.S. RMBS Surveillance and Re-REMIC Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=750110
U.S. Residential and Small Balance Commercial Mortgage Servicer Rating Criteria -- Effective January 31, 2011 to January 30, 2014
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=600065
U.S. RMBS Cash Flow Analysis Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=746027
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=754389
Global Rating Criteria for Single- and Multi-Name Credit-Linked Notes
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=729785
U.S. RMBS Loan Loss Model Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=727095
EMEA RMBS Master Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=749271
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=901374
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