Finance

Auto loan securitization has been in overdrive this year, even if the global tussle over import tariffs is injecting a note of caution.

While banking regulators are currently looking the other way when corporate debt packages exceed 6.0 leverage, that could easily change under a new administration or Congress.

Moody's sees $10.7 billion of securitized commercial mortgages at risk, Morningstar just $1.49 billion; both say loans in Freddie Mac K-deals account for a significant portion of exposure.

A conflict between risk retention rules and prohibitions against self-dealing were limiting options for some lenders to hold skin in the game; a no-action letter issued to Golub Capital creates a "clear path" to compliance.

Tetragon Credit Income Partners is considering a move outside its niche CLO equity investment strategy in expanding its portfolio management team.

The report from an advocacy group that focuses on college affordability says that schools need to do a better job of educating students about their eligibility for federal loans, which typically carry lower interest rates than loans from banks and other private-sector lenders.

Approximately 81.5% of the borrowers in the latest deal have more than one mortgaged property; those with three or more mortgages (with a maximum of 10) represent 45.5% of the pool and generally show considerable income and liquid reserve.

The changes mandated by the recent regulatory relief law would narrow the definition of "high-volatility commercial real estate" exposures that get a higher risk weight.

The sponsor acquired all three, Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Ala., Columbiana Centre in Columbia, S.C.. and Apache Mall in Rochester, Minn., through its purchase of GGB Nimbus in August.

Progress 2018-SFR3 is backed by 3,459 single-family homes, of which 3,418 homes (98.8% by broker price opinion) were previously securitized in 2016. And 1,492 of those properties (44.4%) were first securitized in 2014.

The Boston-based firm has refinanced two existing deals within the last 10 months, but hasn't printed a new deal since October 2015, well before U.S. risk retention rules took effect.

The transaction was launched in early June, just as concerns about a trade war were starting to take a toll on commodities prices.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities delinquency rates are likely to continue to decrease for the rest of the year, as new issuances outpace maturing loans and precrisis loans continued to get resolved by special servicers, Fitch Ratings said.

The deal will be managed through its BDC, which formed a joint venture last December to fund PE-sponsored firms with unitranche corporate loans.

Apartment buildings account for 78.8% of the $341 million balance of the deal; that's up from 58% of a $304 million deal completed in March.

SoFi’s $577.5 million offering is the sponsor’s 23rd rated term student loan ABS transaction, while Massachusetts’ $164 million offering is only its second deal.

The captive-finance lenders will be the leading issuers of U.S. auto lease-backed securitizations in 2017 at the close of their latest deals launched this week.

The deal, which Fitch did not name in its report, appears to be VCO CLO 2018-1. The agency said the transaction might not even merit a single-A rating, given the high single-sector concentration.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency issued a proposal Wednesday that would require mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to align their policies on cash flows for current mortgage-backed securities, and eventually for a uniform security when it is implemented next year.

The credit quality of obligors is up from that of the sponsor's 2017 transaction, which could help offset a decline in performance seen in recent vintages.