CMBS

After a strong 2010 in Colombian structured finance — issuance grew more than 50% from 2009 — Fitch Ratings sees reasons for a repeat performance in 2011. Placements hit $7.8 billion last year, from a variety of companies in the corporate and financial sectors. The country’s Fannie Mae-esque Titularizadora Colombiana accounted for 28% of all issuance in 2010, turning out three peso-denominated RMBS and three inflation-indexed RMBS. The withdrawal of a tax credit for RMBS buyers should cut into volumes this year, but other asset classes are primed to pick up the slack, the agency said. Titularizadora itself may be involved in some of these as the agency has set up an offshoot to securitize non-housing ABS, such as auto loans, and expects to start issuing this year. Government-backed deals to fund infrastructure are also on the horizon, Fitch said.

In Brazil, talk of a more substantial RMBS market might be a step closer to reality, as banks will be able to use a portion of their securitized portfolios to meet a regulatory requirement that has been an impediment to RMBS issuance in the country, said Fitch Ratings in a report today. Under the rule, banks must keep 65% of savings deposits in real estate-related financings. With the change, “Fitch expects some large retail banks to debut new RMBS securitization platforms in 2011.”

A pickup in CMBS issuance is giving the market a much-needed liquidity boost, but underwriting standards are slipping as sponsors scramble to find enough collateral for deals, which are drawing investors looking for extra yields.

Deustche Bank filed an S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue a CMBS.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) appointed Scott Eichel has been appointed global head of securitized products and head of U.S. credit for its markets franchise within its global banking and markets unit.

A rising number of secondary assets are achieving lower loss severities upon dispositions of troubled loans, which could lead to a decline in overall REO loss severity by the end of 2011, a Barclays Capital report said.

The Royal Bank of Scotland and Wells Fargo have begun marketing a $1.3 billion CMBS expected to be placed via the 144A market.

CMBS can make a relative comeback this year, although issuance will likely still be a far cry from what it was at the height of this market.

A panel at ASF 2011, which is being held in Orlando this week, discussed the implications of the legislative mandate under 939A of the Dodd-Frank Act to reduce reliance on credit ratings. Panelists also explored potential alternatives to credit ratings.

ABS issuance will be slightly north of last year’s, according to panelists in today’s 2011 market outlook panel at ASF 2011. The conference is being held in Orlando this week.