Uncategorized

MBS: Issuers start to address negative convexity in non-QM

admin | May 24, 2019

This document is intended for institutional investors and is not subject to all of the independence and disclosure standards applicable to debt research reports prepared for retail investors.

Along with the usual prepayment and credit risks in private non-QM securitizations, many also allow the issuer to call the deal and collapse it after a certain amount of time. Investors need compensation for selling the embedded call to the issuer and taking on the negative convexity. With the call, deal classes should not trade much above par and could trade well below if interest rates rise. Issuers have started to address the negative convexity by adding step-up coupons to non-QM deals.

In Invictus’ recent VERUS 2019-2, for example, the structure includes coupons on classes A1 through A3 that step up by 100 bp after three years. This is also the same date when the issuer can call the deal. For the VERSUS shelf, this is a departure since earlier deals did not include a step-up. The S&P presale report on VERUS 2019-2 notes “the step-up feature may motivate the sponsor to exercise its option to clean up the transaction.”

The step-up addresses the deal’s negative convexity by reducing the likelihood the issuer will leave the deal outstanding as rates rise. If market rates on new non-QM securitizations rise by less than 100 bp, the issuer will still have incentive to collapse the deal. This should keep the price of the step-up classes close to par even as rates rise. The call still means the issuer will likely collapse the deal if interest rates fall, however, so callable classes should not trade above par as the call date approaches.

The impact of the step-up on the VERSUS ‘AAA’ execution is clear from a simple comparison. On February 22, VERSUS 2019-1 ‘AAA’ class with no step-up came at a spread of 115 bp over interpolated swaps. On that same day, the non-QM ARRW 2019-1 priced its ‘AAA’ class with no step-up at a spread of 120 over interpolated swaps. In April, VERUS 2019-2 priced its ‘AAA’ class with a step-up at a spread of 85 bp over interpolated swaps. In May, ARRW 2019-2 priced its ‘AAA’ again with no step-up at a spread of interpolated swaps 110 bp. Using ARRW to control for the general level of spreads, the VERSUS step-up improved the ‘AAA’ execution by 20 bp.

A side-by-side comparison of the major structural and collateral attributes of the four transactions shows that the relationship between the two shelves did not change in any meaningful way between the 2019-1 and 2019-2 deals. Or said another way, the major material difference between the 2019-1 and 2019-2 transactions was that the later VERUS deal had a step-up and the ARRW did not. Comparing the two VERUS deals, the 2019-2 deal had a modestly higher WAC and slightly longer WAM than the earlier deal. While average FICO scores, CLTVs and DTIs were almost identical across the two deals. There was also very little drift in collateral attributes between the two ARRW deals. The collateral backing the 2019-1 deal was a year more seasoned at 28 WALA versus 16 WALA on the subsequent transaction. All other major average collateral attributes were virtually identical across the two ARRW deals. The WAL differential between the earlier and later deals widened to some extent. The incremental 20 bp spread differential between the earlier and later deals is the fact that the VERUS 2019-2 ‘AAA’ may potentially be a significantly shorter bond than the ARRW one due to the combined effect of the shorter WAL and step-up feature. This spread disparity was also reflected further down the pro-rata stack as well. The VERUS 2019-2 ‘AA’ and ‘A’ rated bonds priced 10 bp tighter than their comparable ARRW bond. (Exhibit 1)

Exhibit 1: A side-by-side comparison of non-QM ‘AAA’s

Source: S&PCapital IQ, APS

The step-up coupon improves issuer execution by effectively selling a put to the investor, or, more precisely, a put corridor. Under the simplifying assumption of a perfectly flat yield curve, the investor effectively puts the bond to the issuer for any shift in the curve higher of up to 100 bp. Beyond 100 bp, the bond remains outstanding. The investor owns a put struck at par, and sells a put struck 100 bp higher in yield. The tighter spread on classes with step-up coupons reflects the proceeds from selling the corridor.

The value of non-QM issuer calls and the new implicit investor put is still hard to pin down, so fair value for these options remains elusive. Among other things, prepayment rates vary with interest rates, changing the outstanding balance on the call or put dates. Valuing options on prepayable balances has always been more art than science, but the market is clearly trying its best.

admin
jkillian@apsec.com
john.killian@santander.us 1 (646) 776-7714

This material is intended only for institutional investors and does not carry all of the independence and disclosure standards of retail debt research reports. In the preparation of this material, the author may have consulted or otherwise discussed the matters referenced herein with one or more of SCM’s trading desks, any of which may have accumulated or otherwise taken a position, long or short, in any of the financial instruments discussed in or related to this material. Further, SCM may act as a market maker or principal dealer and may have proprietary interests that differ or conflict with the recipient hereof, in connection with any financial instrument discussed in or related to this material.

This message, including any attachments or links contained herein, is subject to important disclaimers, conditions, and disclosures regarding Electronic Communications, which you can find at https://portfolio-strategy.apsec.com/sancap-disclaimers-and-disclosures.

Important Disclaimers

Copyright © 2024 Santander US Capital Markets LLC and its affiliates (“SCM”). All rights reserved. SCM is a member of FINRA and SIPC. This material is intended for limited distribution to institutions only and is not publicly available. Any unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited.

In making this material available, SCM (i) is not providing any advice to the recipient, including, without limitation, any advice as to investment, legal, accounting, tax and financial matters, (ii) is not acting as an advisor or fiduciary in respect of the recipient, (iii) is not making any predictions or projections and (iv) intends that any recipient to which SCM has provided this material is an “institutional investor” (as defined under applicable law and regulation, including FINRA Rule 4512 and that this material will not be disseminated, in whole or part, to any third party by the recipient.

The author of this material is an economist, desk strategist or trader. In the preparation of this material, the author may have consulted or otherwise discussed the matters referenced herein with one or more of SCM’s trading desks, any of which may have accumulated or otherwise taken a position, long or short, in any of the financial instruments discussed in or related to this material. Further, SCM or any of its affiliates may act as a market maker or principal dealer and may have proprietary interests that differ or conflict with the recipient hereof, in connection with any financial instrument discussed in or related to this material.

This material (i) has been prepared for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities, related investments or other financial instruments, (ii) is neither research, a “research report” as commonly understood under the securities laws and regulations promulgated thereunder nor the product of a research department, (iii) or parts thereof may have been obtained from various sources, the reliability of which has not been verified and cannot be guaranteed by SCM, (iv) should not be reproduced or disclosed to any other person, without SCM’s prior consent and (v) is not intended for distribution in any jurisdiction in which its distribution would be prohibited.

In connection with this material, SCM (i) makes no representation or warranties as to the appropriateness or reliance for use in any transaction or as to the permissibility or legality of any financial instrument in any jurisdiction, (ii) believes the information in this material to be reliable, has not independently verified such information and makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy or completeness of such information, (iii) accepts no responsibility or liability as to any reliance placed, or investment decision made, on the basis of such information by the recipient and (iv) does not undertake, and disclaims any duty to undertake, to update or to revise the information contained in this material.

Unless otherwise stated, the views, opinions, forecasts, valuations, or estimates contained in this material are those solely of the author, as of the date of publication of this material, and are subject to change without notice. The recipient of this material should make an independent evaluation of this information and make such other investigations as the recipient considers necessary (including obtaining independent financial advice), before transacting in any financial market or instrument discussed in or related to this material.