Fitch Affirms Distressed Ratings of RFC CDO 2007-1

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has affirmed all 12 remaining classes of RFC CDO 2007-1 (RFC 2007-1) at 'Csf'. A detailed list of rating actions follows at the end of this release.

Fitch is considering withdrawing the ratings on this transaction due to the lack of relevancy to the agency's coverage combined with commercial reasons. The notes are severely under collateralized. As reflected in the notes' current ratings at 'Csf', default is inevitable at legal maturity or earlier.

While Fitch believes that investors are no longer interested in the agency's coverage of this transaction, the agency will allow investors the opportunity to request the continuing coverage. Investors are encouraged to contact the analysts indicated at the bottom of this press release within 30 calendar days. At the end of that period, Fitch will evaluate any responses and will make a final determination with respect to the withdrawal.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

The CDO is significantly undercollateralized with liabilities exceeding collateral by approximately $400 million. All outstanding classes have negative credit enhancement. Fitch remains concerned over a default in the payment of timely interest given the significant hedge counterparty payments and the diminished amount of interest proceeds.

Over the past four years, interest proceeds have consistently been insufficient to pay the interest due on the timely classes and hedge counterparty payments. The asset manager has been liquidating assets to keep the CDO from defaulting. Since the last rating action, seven assets were liquidated. Part of the proceeds were applied to pay the classes A-1 and A-1R notes. Additionally, classes A-2 and A-2R have received 13.5% pay down.

As of the April 2015 trustee report, there were 16 assets remaining in the pool. Per Fitch categorizations, commercial real estate loans (CREL) comprise approximately 58.3% of the collateral pool, including one whole loan (7.5%) and four B-notes (50.8%). Two of the CRELs (20.4%) have defaulted; three have been identified as Fitch loans of concern. Commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) represents 41.7% of the total collateral.

Under Fitch's methodology, approximately 79.4% of the portfolio is modeled to default in the base case stress scenario, defined as the 'B' stress. Fitch estimates that average recoveries will be 6% reflecting the low recovery expectations upon default.

The transaction was analyzed according to the 'Surveillance Criteria for U.S. CREL CDOs', which applies stresses to property cash flows and debt service coverage ratio tests to project future default levels for the underlying CREL portfolio. Recoveries are based on stressed cash flows and Fitch's long-term capitalization rates. The rated securities (CUSIP) portion of the collateral was analyzed according to the 'Global Rating Criteria for Structured Finance CDOs', whereby the default and recovery rates are derived from Fitch's Structured Finance Portfolio Credit Model. Rating default rates and rating recovery rates from both the CREL and CUSIP portions of the collateral are then blended on a weighted average basis. The transaction was not cash flow modeled given the limited available interest received from the assets relative to the interest rate swap payments due; unpredictable timing and availability of principal proceeds; and distressed nature of the ratings.

All ratings are based on a deterministic analysis that considers Fitch's base case loss expectation for the pool and the current percentage of defaulted assets and Fitch Assets of Concern factoring in anticipated recoveries relative to each class' credit enhancement as well as consideration for the likelihood of the CDO to continue its ability to make timely payments on the senior classes.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

All classes are subject to downgrades to 'Dsf' should classes default at legal maturity or earlier.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE

No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.

Fitch has affirmed the following classes:

--$108,240,700 class A-2 at 'Csf'; RE 5%;

--$21,648,140 class A-2R at 'Csf'; RE 5%;

--$86,500,000 class B at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$50,852,882 class C at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$20,231,317 class D at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$16,012,521 class E at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$24,415,745 class F at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$16,363,676 class G at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$26,671,890 class H at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$20,130,182 class J at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$18,884,634 class K at 'Csf'; RE 0%;

--$12,015,407 class L at 'Csf'; RE 0%.

Classes A-1 and A-1R have paid in full. Fitch does not rate the preferred shares.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable Criteria

Global Rating Criteria for Structured Finance CDOs (pub. 16 Jul 2014)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=751136

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 31 Mar 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=864268

Surveillance Criteria for U.S. CREL CDOs (pub. 24 Nov 2014)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=811268

Additional Disclosures

Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=986982

Solicitation Status

https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=986982

Endorsement Policy

https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150625006180/en/

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Amy Gan
Director
+1-212-908-9143
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
33 Whitehall Street
New York, NY 10004
or
Committee Chairperson
Mary MacNeill
Managing Director
+1-212-908-0785
or
Media Relations:
Sandro Scenga, +1 212-908-0278
[email protected]

Source: Fitch Ratings

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Trade Desk shares sink on Q2 revenue miss and weak guidance
• DeFix Solutions Nears Completion of Round 1 in the First Seed Sale of GTX Token
• 2,000+ Robots Abroad. 60+ Nations on Board. EXEED AiMOGA Going Farther, Growing Faster