10-K 1 ccc14c15_10k-2023.htm ccc14c15_10k-2023.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

or

o  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission file number of the issuing entity: 333-193376-01

Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity: 0001595726

COMM 2014-CCRE15 Mortgage Trust

(exact name of the issuing entity as specified in its charter)

 

Central Index Key Number of the depositor: 0001013454

Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation

(exact name of the depositor as specified in its charter)

 

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001541294

German American Capital Corporation

(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)

 

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001542256

Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC

(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)

 

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001555524

LoanCore Capital Markets LLC

(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)

(formerly known as Jefferies LoanCore LLC)

 

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001558761

Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, L.P.

(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)

 

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization of

the issuing entity)

38-3925059

38-3925060

38-7111563

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Numbers)


c/o Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as agent for

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

as Certificate Administrator

9062 Old Annapolis Road

Columbia, MD

(Address of principal executive offices of the issuing entity)

21045

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 250-2500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

None

 

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  o Yes No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  o Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Not applicable.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer        o                                                                                                        Accelerated filer                                      o

Non-accelerated filer                                                                                                                 Smaller reporting company                     o

                                                                                                                                                        Emerging growth company                     o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. o

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  o Yes No

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Not applicable.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.  o Yes o No

Not applicable.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Not applicable.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).

Not applicable.

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Exhibit Index describes exhibits provided by certain parties (in their capacities indicated on the Exhibit Index) with respect to the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 10.9% and 8.4%, respectively, of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date.  The Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan are each an asset of the issuing entity and are each part of a loan combination that includes (a) with respect to the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan, three other pari passu loans, which are not assets of the issuing entity or (b) with respect to the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan, one other pari passu loan, which is not an asset of the issuing entity. A pari passu portion of each loan combination was securitized in the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Mortgage Trust transaction, Commission File Number 333-184376-11 (the “COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction”). These loan combinations, including the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan, are being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The master servicer of a pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement also functions as the primary servicer of the related mortgage loans serviced and administered pursuant to such agreement unless a separate primary servicer is identified herein.  If this report does not identify a separate primary servicer, the servicer compliance statement provided by the master servicer under any such agreement also encompasses its responsibilities as primary servicer of the related mortgage loan or mortgage loans.

Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC is the special servicer of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan. As a result, Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC is a “servicer” as defined in Item 1108(a)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 10% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements delivered by Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the certificate administrator of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the primary servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan. As a result, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is a “servicer” as defined in Item 1108(a)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 10% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements delivered by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association acts as co-trustee (with Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB) of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan.  Pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction, the trustee is required to provide an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria solely with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB (regarding advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements). However, during the reporting period, the trustee did not perform any servicing function with respect to the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.  The master servicer or the special servicer, to the extent required, performed the servicing function identified with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, and each such party included Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountant’s attestation report for the subject transaction.  As a result, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria of the trustee. One or more other servicers of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan have delivered one or more assessments of compliance with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.

Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB acts as co-trustee (with U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association) of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan, the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan and (with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) the Winchester FEMA Mortgage Loan (performing all trustee functions except in circumstances in which the trustee is required to evaluate the actions of, or otherwise assess or interact with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association regarding its performance of any of its servicing functions).  Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction, the trustee is required to provide an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria solely with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB (regarding advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements). However, during the reporting period, the trustee did not perform any servicing function with respect to the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.  The master servicer or the special servicer, to the extent required, performed the servicing function identified with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, and each such party included Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountant’s attestation report for the subject transaction.  As a result, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria of the trustee. One or more other servicers of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan, the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan and the Winchester FEMA Mortgage Loan have delivered one or more assessments of compliance with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports from CoreLogic Solutions, LLC.  This entity was engaged by the primary servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan to remit tax payments received from the escrow accounts of borrowers to local taxing authorities, to report tax amounts due, to verify tax parcel information, and to verify non-escrow tax payments. These servicing functions are included within the servicing criteria set forth in Items 1122(d)(4)(xi) and 1122(d)(4)(xii) of Regulation AB.  Therefore, under the principles-based definition of “servicer” set forth in Item 1101(j) of Regulation AB that looks to the functions that an entity performs, this vendor is a “servicer” for the purposes of Item 1122 of Regulation AB.  See Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Section 301.01 (Item 1101(j)).

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation report and servicer compliance statement from Computershare Trust Company, National Association (“CTCNA”).  CTCNA was engaged by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), in its capacity as certificate administrator and custodian, to perform certain specified servicing functions identified in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports.  Wells Fargo engaged CTCNA in connection with the sale of Wells Fargo’s corporate trust services business to CTCNA and its affiliates.  Further, under the principles-based definition of “servicer” set forth in Item 1101(j) of Regulation AB that looks to the functions that an entity performs, this party is a “servicer” for the purposes of Item 1123 of Regulation AB.  See Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Section 301.01 (Item 1101(j)).

The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements of the certificate administrator of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the certificate administrator pursuant to the related pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement does not perform any activities that address servicing criteria with respect to the issuing entity and because they are each not a “servicer” that meets the criteria in Item 1108(a)(2)(i) through (iii) of Regulation AB.

PART I

Item 1.  Business.

Omitted.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

Omitted.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 1C.  Cybersecurity.

Omitted.

Item 2.  Properties.

Omitted.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

Omitted.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Omitted.

Item 6. 

[Reserved]

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Omitted.

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Omitted.

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Omitted.

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Omitted.

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures.

Omitted.

Item 9B.  Other Information.

None.

Item 9C.  Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

None.

PART III

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Omitted.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

Omitted.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Omitted.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Omitted.

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Omitted.

ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE ITEMS FOR REGULATION AB

Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB, Significant Obligor Financial Information.

 The Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan, which represented 10% or more of the pool assets held by the issuing entity as of its cut-off date, is no longer a pool asset.

Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB, Significant Enhancement Provider Financial Information.

No entity or group of affiliated entities provides any external credit enhancement or other support for the certificates within this transaction as described under Item 1114(a) of Regulation AB.

Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB, Certain Derivatives Instruments (Financial Information).

No entity or group of affiliated entities provides any derivative instruments or other support for the certificates within this transaction as described under Item 1115 of Regulation AB.

Item 1117 of Regulation AB, Legal Proceedings.

The registrant knows of no material pending legal proceeding involving the trust or any party related to the trust, other than routine litigation incidental to the duties of those respective parties, and the following, with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as certificate administrator and as custodian, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as certificate administrator and as custodian.

In December 2014, Phoenix Light SF Limited (Phoenix Light) and certain related entities filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging claims against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as trustee for a number of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trusts. Complaints raising similar allegations have been filed by Commerzbank AG in the Southern District of New York, IKB International and IKB Deutsche Industriebank (together, IKB) in New York state court, and Park Royal I LLC and Park Royal II LLC in New York state court. In each case, the plaintiffs allege that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, caused losses to investors, and plaintiffs assert causes of action based upon, among other things, the trustee’s alleged failure to notify and enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for purported breaches of representations and warranties, notify investors of alleged events of default, and abide by appropriate standards of care following alleged events of default. In July 2022, the district court dismissed Phoenix Light’s claims and certain of the claims asserted by Commerzbank AG, and subsequently entered judgment in each case in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In August 2022, Phoenix Light and Commerzbank AG each appealed the district court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Phoenix Light dismissed its appeal in May 2023, terminating its case. In November 2023, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. entered into an agreement with IKB to resolve IKB’s claims. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. previously settled two class actions filed by institutional investors and an action filed by the National Credit Union Administration with similar allegations.

U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) and other large financial institutions have been sued in their capacity as trustee or successor trustee for certain residential mortgage backed securities ("RMBS") trusts.  The complaints, primarily filed by investors or investor groups against U.S. Bank and similar institutions, allege the trustees caused losses to investors as a result of alleged failures by the sponsors, mortgage loan sellers and servicers to comply with the governing agreements for these RMBS trusts.  Plaintiffs generally assert causes of action based upon the trustees’ purported failures to enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for alleged breaches of representations and warranties, notify securityholders of purported events of default allegedly caused by breaches of servicing standards by mortgage loan servicers and abide by a heightened standard of care following alleged events of default. 

U.S. Bank denies liability and believes that it has performed its obligations under the RMBS trusts in good faith, that its actions were not the cause of losses to investors, that it has meritorious defenses, and it has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously.  However, U.S. Bank cannot assure you as to the outcome of any of the litigation, or the possible impact of these litigations on the trustee or the RMBS trusts. 

On March 9, 2018, a law firm purporting to represent fifteen Delaware statutory trusts (the “DSTs”) that issued securities backed by student loans (the “Student Loans”) filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery against U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) in its capacities as indenture trustee and successor special servicer, and three other institutions in their respective transaction capacities, with respect to the DSTs and the Student Loans.  This lawsuit is captioned The National Collegiate Student Loan Master Trust I, et al. v. U.S. Bank National Association, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0167-JRS (Del. Ch.) (the “NCMSLT Action”).  The complaint, as amended on June 15, 2018, alleged that the DSTs have been harmed as a result of purported misconduct or omissions by the defendants concerning administration of the trusts and special servicing of the Student Loans.  Since the filing of the NCMSLT Action, certain Student Loan borrowers have made assertions against U.S. Bank concerning special servicing that appear to be based on certain allegations made on behalf of the DSTs in the NCMSLT Action.

U.S. Bank has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the operative complaint in its entirety with prejudice pursuant to Chancery Court Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, a stay of the case while other prior filed disputes involving the DSTs and the Student Loans are litigated.  On November 7, 2018, the Court ruled that the case should be stayed in its entirety pending resolution of the first-filed cases.  On January 21, 2020, the Court entered an order consolidating for pretrial purposes the NCMSLT Action and three other lawsuits pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery concerning the DSTs and the Student Loans, which remains pending. 

U.S. Bank denies liability in the NCMSLT Action and believes it has performed its obligations as indenture trustee and special servicer in good faith and in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the agreements governing the DSTs and that it has meritorious defenses.  It has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously.


Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DBTCA”) and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (“DBNTC”) have been sued by investors in civil litigation concerning their role as trustees of certain residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) trusts.

 

On June 18, 2014, a group of investors, including funds managed by Blackrock Advisors, LLC, PIMCO-Advisors, L.P., and others, filed an action against DBNTC and DBTCA in New York State Supreme Court alleging that DBNTC and DBTCA failed to perform purported duties, as trustees for 544 private-label RMBS trusts, to enforce breaches of representations and warranties as to mortgage loans held by the trusts and to enforce breaches by servicers of their mortgage loan servicing obligations for the trusts.  During the course of the litigation, plaintiffs dismissed the case from New York State Supreme Court and refiled two separate cases, one in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “BlackRock SDNY Case”) and the other in the Superior Court of California, Orange County (the “BlackRock California Case”).  Pursuant to a settlement among the parties, the BlackRock SDNY Case was dismissed on December 6, 2018, and the BlackRock California Case was dismissed on January 11, 2019.

 

On September 27, 2017, DBTCA was added as a defendant to a case brought by certain special purpose entities including Phoenix Light SF Limited in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in which the plaintiffs previously alleged incorrectly that DBNTC served as trustee for all 43 of the trusts at issue.  On September 27, 2017, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint that names DBTCA as a defendant in addition to DBNTC.  DBTCA serves as trustee for one of the 43 trusts at issue.  DBNTC serves as trustee for the other 42 trusts at issue.  Plaintiffs’ third amended complaint brings claims for violation of the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“TIA”); breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence and gross negligence; violation of New York’s Streit Act; and breach of the covenant of good faith.  However, in the third amended complaint, plaintiffs acknowledge that, before DBTCA was added to the case, the court dismissed plaintiffs’ TIA Act claims, negligence and gross negligence claims, Streit Act claims, claims for breach of the covenant of good faith, and certain theories of plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims, and plaintiffs only include these claims to preserve any rights on appeal.  Plaintiffs allege damages of “hundreds of millions of dollars.”  On November 13, 2017, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the third amended complaint.  On December 7, 2018, DBNTC and DBTCA filed a motion for summary judgment.  Also on December 7, 2018, plaintiffs, jointly with Commerzbank AG (see description of Commerzbank case below), filed a motion for partial summary judgment.  On October 27, 2021, DBNTC and DBTCA filed a supplemental motion for summary judgment relating to plaintiffs’ standing.  On February 8, 2022, the court issued an order in which it granted DBNTC and DBTCA’s supplemental motion for summary judgment, granted in part DBNTC and DBTCA’s initial motion for summary judgment, and denied plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment.  As a result of that order, all of plaintiffs’ claims were dismissed with prejudice. On April 26, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the court’s summary judgment order.

 

On November 30, 2017, DBTCA was added as a defendant to a case brought by Commerzbank AG (“Commerzbank”) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in which Commerzbank previously alleged incorrectly that DBNTC served as trustee for all 50 of the trusts at issue.  On November 30, 2017, Commerzbank filed a second amended complaint that names DBTCA as a defendant in addition to DBNTC.  DBTCA serves as trustee for 1 of the 50 trusts at issue.  DBNTC serves as trustee for the other 49 trusts at issue.  Commerzbank’s second amended complaint brings claims for violation of the TIA; breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence; violation of the Streit Act; and breach of the covenant of good faith.  However, in the second amended complaint, Commerzbank acknowledges that, before DBTCA was added to the case, the court dismissed Commerzbank’s TIA claims for the trusts governed by pooling and servicing agreements, as well as its Streit Act claims and claims for breach of the covenant of good faith, and Commerzbank only includes these claims to preserve any rights on appeal.  The second amended complaint alleges that DBNTC and DBTCA caused Commerzbank to suffer “hundreds of millions of dollars in losses,” but the complaint does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain.  On January 29, 2018, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the second amended complaint.  On December 7, 2018, DBNTC and DBTCA filed a motion for summary judgment.  Also on December 7, 2018, Commerzbank, jointly with the Phoenix Light plaintiffs, filed a motion for partial summary judgment.  On February 8, 2022, the court issued an order in which it granted in part DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion for summary judgment and denied plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment.  As a result of that order, many of plaintiffs’ claims and theories were dismissed with prejudice.  Discovery is ongoing.

 

On December 30, 2015, IKB International, S.A. in Liquidation and IKB Deutsche Industriebank A.G. (collectively, “IKB”), as an investor in 37 RMBS trusts, filed a summons with notice in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, against DBNTC and DBTCA as trustees of the trusts.  On May 27, 2016, IKB served its complaint asserting claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty to avoid conflicts of interest, violation of the Streit Act, violation of the TIA, violation of Regulation AB, and violation of Section 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.  IKB alleges that DBNTC and DBTCA are liable for over U.S. $268 million in damages.  On October 5, 2016, DBNTC and DBTCA, together with several other trustees defending lawsuits by IKB, filed a joint motion to dismiss.  On January 6, 2017 and June 20, 2017, IKB voluntarily dismissed with prejudice all claims as to seven trusts.  On January 27, 2021, the court granted in part and denied in part DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion to dismiss.  The court granted the motion to dismiss with respect to IKB’s claims for violations of the Streit Act, Regulation AB, and Section 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as certain aspects of IKB’s claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of the TIA.  The court denied the remainder of the motion to dismiss.  IKB’s remaining claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty to avoid conflicts of interest, and violation of the TIA will proceed.  On May 10, 2021, DBNTC and DBTCA filed a notice of appeal with the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, regarding certain aspects of the court’s order on the motion to dismiss.  On May 20, 2021, IKB filed a notice of cross appeal with respect to other aspects of that order.  On August 30, 2022, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department affirmed in part and reversed in part the court’s order on the motion to dismiss.  After DBNTC and DBTCA appealed the First Department’s decision, on June 15, 2023, the New York Court of Appeals reversed the First Department’s decision in part, dismissing certain additional contract claims, as well as IKB’s claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of duty to avoid conflicts of interest.  On June 2, 2021, IKB filed a motion for re-argument regarding certain aspects of the court’s order on the motion to dismiss, which the court denied on August 3, 2021.  On May 13, 2021, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the complaint.  On October 28, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to seven additional trusts.  On December 29, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to one additional trust.  On April 22, 2022, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to 17 certificates at issue, including all claims as to 5 trusts.  On February 28, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to two trusts, leaving 15 trusts at issue.  On November 21, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to three trusts, leaving 12 trusts at issue.  Discovery is ongoing.

It is DBTCA’s belief that it has no pending legal proceedings (including, based on DBTCA’s present evaluation, the litigation disclosed in the foregoing paragraphs) that would materially affect its ability to perform its duties under the related servicing agreement for this transaction.

Item 1119 of Regulation AB, Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The information regarding this Item has been previously provided in a prospectus supplement of the Registrant relating to the issuing entity filed on February 19, 2014 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5).

Item 1122 of Regulation AB, Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria.

The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the mortgage loans are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule II to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).

The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan and the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan, which are being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction, are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule II to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the COMM 2014-CCRE14 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).

Item 1123 of Regulation AB, Servicer Compliance Statement.

The servicer compliance statements are attached as Exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following is a list of documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

(1) Not applicable

(2) Not applicable

(3) See below

4.1           Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2014, by and among Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, as Depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Special Servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator, Paying Agent and Custodian, and Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein).

4.2           Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2014, by and among Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, as Depositor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer, Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Certificate Administrator, Paying Agent and Custodian, and Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor (filed as Exhibit 99.6 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein).

31            Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) Certifications.

33            Reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities.

33.1         Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer

33.2         Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer

33.3         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Certificate Administrator

33.4         Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee with respect to the Winchester FEMA Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

33.5         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian

33.6         Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor

33.7         Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as Servicing Function Participant for the Certificate Administrator

33.8         Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as Servicing Function Participant for the Custodian

33.9         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

33.10       Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.2)

33.11       U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Co-Trustee of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

33.12       Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

33.13       Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Custodian of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

33.14       Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.6)

33.15       CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

33.16       Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.9)

33.17       Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.2)

33.18       U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Co-Trustee of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

33.19       Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

33.20       Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Custodian of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.13)

33.21       Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.6)

33.22       CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 33.15)

34            Attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities.

34.1         Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer

34.2         Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer

34.3         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Certificate Administrator

34.4         Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee with respect to the Winchester FEMA Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

34.5         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian

34.6         Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor

34.7         Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as Servicing Function Participant for the Certificate Administrator

34.8         Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as Servicing Function Participant for the Custodian

34.9         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

34.10       Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.2)

34.11       U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Co-Trustee of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

34.12       Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

34.13       Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Custodian of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

34.14       Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.6)

34.15       CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

34.16       Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.9)

34.17       Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.2)

34.18       U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Co-Trustee of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

34.19       Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Co-Trustee of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)

34.20       Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Custodian of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.13)

34.21       Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as Operating Advisor of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.6)

34.22       CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 34.15)

35            Servicer compliance statements.

35.1         Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer

35.2         Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer

35.3         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator

35.4         Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as Servicing Function Participant for the Certificate Administrator

35.5         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan

35.6         Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the Google and Amazon Office Portfolio Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 35.2)

35.7         Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Primary Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 35.5)

35.8         Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as Special Servicer of the 625 Madison Avenue Mortgage Loan (see Exhibit 35.2)

99.1         Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2014, between German American Capital Corporation and Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein)

99.2         Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2014, between Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC and Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation (filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein)

99.3         Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2014, between Jefferies LoanCore LLC and Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation (filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein)

99.4         Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2014, between Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, L.P. and Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein)

99.5         Subservicing Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2014, between Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (filed as Exhibit 99.5 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 3, 2014 under Commission File No. 333-193376-01 and incorporated by reference herein)

(b)  The exhibits required to be filed by the Registrant pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed above.

(c)    Not Applicable.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES                                         

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation
(Depositor)

/s/ Helaine M. Kaplan

Helaine M. Kaplan, President

(senior officer in charge of securitization of the depositor)

Date: March 14, 2024

/s/ Matt Smith

Matt Smith, Director

Date: March 14, 2024