November 21, 2024

Moody’s Approach to Rating Commercial Real Estate Mezzanine Loans

In March, 2007, Moody’s released their rating methodology for Mezzanine Loans: Moody’s Approach to Rating Commercial Real Estate Mezzanine Loans.

This report outlines Moody’s view of a baseline, “credit neutral” mezzanine loan structure and how they apply that view in rating mezzanine loans.

Baseline Expectations:

  • Mezzanine Loan Agreement – comparable to CRE mortgage loan agreement.
  • Underwriting – same third party deliverables as a mortgage loan
  • SPE – Borrowers should be special purpose, bankruptcy remote entities. They should have independent directors and non-consolidation opinions at the same thresholds that apply to REMICs.
  • Pledge of 100% membership
  • Recourse Carve-out Guaranties
  • Cash Management – hard lockbox
  • Maturity – same date as mortgage loan
  • Certificated entities – opt-in to Article 8 of the UCC
  • Title Insurance – ALTA 16 Mezzanine financing endorsement
  • Intercreditor agreement – expects the 2002 CMSA form of agreement
  • Interest Rate Caps