424B2 1 n1421_424b2-x10.htm FINAL PROSPECTUS

    FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(2)
    REGISTRATION FILE NO.: 333-226943-01
     

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$989,471,000 (Approximate) 

Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust 

(Central Index Key Number 0001757018) 

Issuing Entity 

Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation 

(Central Index Key Number 0001013454) 

Depositor 

German American Capital Corporation 

(Central Index Key Number 0001541294) 

Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. 

(Central Index Key Number 0001701238) 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association 

(Central Index Key Number 0000835271) 

Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers 

Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2018-B7 

Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation is offering certain classes of the Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2018-B7 identified in the table below. The offered certificates (and the non-offered certificates identified under “Summary of Certificates”) will represent the ownership interests in the issuing entity, Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust, a New York common law trust. The assets of the issuing entity will primarily consist of a pool of fixed rate commercial mortgage loans, which are generally the sole source of payments on the certificates. Credit enhancement will be provided solely by certain classes of subordinate certificates that will be subordinate to certain classes of senior certificates as described under “Description of the Certificates—Subordination; Allocation of Realized Losses”. Each class of certificates will be entitled to receive monthly distributions of interest and/or principal on the 4th business day following the 11th day of each month (or if the 11th is not a business day, the next business day), commencing in December 2018. The rated final distribution date for each class of offered certificates is the distribution date in May 2053.

 

Class

 

Initial Class
Certificate
Balance or
Notional Amount(1)

 

Approx.
Initial
Pass-Through
Rate

 

Pass-Through
Rate
Description

 

Assumed
Final
Distribution
Date(2)

Class A-1  $20,240,000   3.436%  Fixed  July 2023
Class A-2  $211,980,000   4.377%  Fixed  October 2023
Class A-SB  $36,078,000   4.376%  WAC Cap(3)  June 2028
Class A-3  $203,000,000   4.241%  Fixed  October 2028
Class A-4  $320,279,000   4.510%  WAC Cap(3)  October 2028
Class X-A  $884,870,000(4)  0.450%  Variable(5)  November 2028
Class A-M  $93,293,000   4.741%  WAC Cap(3)  November 2028
Class B  $52,300,000   4.861%  WAC(6)  November 2028
Class C  $52,301,000   4.861%  WAC(6)  November 2028

 

(Footnotes on table on page 3)

  

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 53 of this prospectus.

 

Neither the certificates nor the mortgage loans are insured or guaranteed by any governmental agency, instrumentality or private issuer or any other person or entity.

 

The certificates will represent interests in the issuing entity only. They will not represent interests in or obligations of the sponsors, the depositor, any of their affiliates or any other entity.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators have not approved or disapproved of the offered certificates or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation will not list the offered certificates on any securities exchange or on any automated quotation system of any securities association.

 

The issuing entity will be relying on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), contained in Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act or Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the issuing entity. The issuing entity is being structured so as not to constitute a “covered fund” for purposes of the Volcker Rule under the Dodd-Frank Act (both as defined in this prospectus).

 

The underwriters, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Drexel Hamilton, LLC and Academy Securities, Inc. will purchase the offered certificates from Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation and will offer them to the public at negotiated prices, plus, in certain cases, accrued interest, determined at the time of sale. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are acting as co-lead managers and joint bookrunners in the following manner: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is acting as sole bookrunning manager with respect to approximately 26.3% of each class of offered certificates, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is acting as sole bookrunning manager with respect to approximately 41.8% of each class of offered certificates, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as sole bookrunning manager with respect to approximately 31.9% of each class of offered certificates. Drexel Hamilton, LLC and Academy Securities, Inc. are acting as co-managers.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the offered certificates to purchasers in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company in the United States and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme and Euroclear Bank, as operator of the Euroclear System, in Europe, against payment in New York, New York on or about November 28, 2018. Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation expects to receive from this offering approximately 105.379787092591% of the aggregate certificate balance of the offered certificates, plus accrued interest from November 1, 2018, before deducting expenses payable by the depositor.

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered

 

Amount to be registered

 

Proposed maximum
offering price per unit(1)

 

Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price(1)

 

Amount of registration

fee(2)(3)

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates  $989,471,000  100%  $989,471,000  $119,923.89

 

 
(1)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)Calculated according to Rule 457(s) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3)Payment of this registration fee was made in connection with the filing of the preliminary prospectus (accession number: 0001539497-18-001741).

 

Deutsche Bank Securities J.P. Morgan Citigroup
  Co-Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners  
Drexel Hamilton
Co-Manager
  Academy Securities
Co-Manager

 

November 9, 2018

 

 

 

 

[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] 

 

 

 

 

Summary of Certificates

 

Class  Initial Certificate Balance or Notional Amount(1)  Approx. Initial Credit Support(7)  Pass-Through Rate Description  Assumed
Final
Distribution
Date(2)
  Approx. Initial Pass-Through Rate  Weighted Average
Life (Yrs.)(8)
  Principal Window(8)
Offered Certificates                         
Class A-1  $ 20,240,000   30.000%  Fixed  July 2023  3.436%  2.74  1 – 56
Class A-2  $ 211,980,000   30.000%  Fixed  October 2023  4.377%  4.75  56 – 59
Class A-SB  $ 36,078,000   30.000%  WAC Cap(3)  June 2028  4.376%  7.36  59 – 115
Class A-3  $ 203,000,000   30.000%  Fixed  October 2028  4.241%  9.70  115 – 119
Class A-4  $ 320,279,000   30.000%  WAC Cap(3)  October 2028  4.510%  9.88  119 – 119
Class X-A  $ 884,870,000(4)  N/A     Variable(5)  November 2028  0.450%  N/A  N/A
Class A-M  $ 93,293,000   21.750%  WAC Cap(3)  November 2028  4.741%  9.91  119 – 120
Class B  $ 52,300,000   17.125%  WAC(6)  November 2028  4.861%  9.96  120 – 120
Class C  $ 52,301,000   12.500%  WAC(6)  November 2028  4.861%  9.96  120 – 120
Non-Offered Certificates(9)                         
Class X-B  $ 104,601,000(4)  N/A     Variable(5)  November 2028  0.000%  N/A  N/A
Class X-D  $ 56,541,000(4)  N/A     Variable(5)  November 2028  1.861%  N/A  N/A
Class X-F  $ 26,857,000(4)  N/A     Variable(5)  November 2028  1.250%  N/A  N/A
Class D  $ 32,511,000   9.625%  Fixed  November 2028  3.000%  9.96  120 – 120
Class E  $ 24,030,000   7.500%  Fixed  November 2028  3.000%  9.96  120 – 120
Class F  $ 26,857,000   5.125%  WAC – 1.250%(10)  November 2028  3.611%  9.96  120 – 120
Class G-RR  $ 11,309,000   4.125%  WAC(6)  November 2028  4.861%  9.96  120 – 120
Class H-RR  $ 11,308,000   3.125%  WAC(6)  November 2028  4.861%  9.96  120 – 120
Class J-RR  $ 35,338,680   0.000%  WAC(6)  November 2028  4.861%  9.96  120 – 120
Class S(11)    N/A         N/A     N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A
Class R(12)    N/A         N/A     N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A
VRR Interest(13)  $ 37,090,000.16   N/A     (14)  November 2028  4.861%  8.70  1 – 120

 

 
(1)Approximate, subject to a permitted variance of plus or minus 5%. The certificate balance of the VRR Interest is not included in the certificate balance or notional amount of any class of certificates set forth under “Offered Certificates” or “Non-Offered Certificates” in the table above, and the VRR Interest is not offered by this prospectus.
(2)The assumed final distribution dates set forth in this prospectus have been determined on the basis of the assumptions described in “Description of the Certificates—Assumed Final Distribution Date; Rated Final Distribution Date”.
(3)The pass-through rate for the Class A-SB certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.376%. The pass-through rate for the Class A-4 certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.510%. The pass-through rate for the Class A-M certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.741%.
(4)The notional amount of the Class X-A certificates will be equal to the aggregate certificate balance of the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4 and Class A-M certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-B certificates will be equal to the aggregate certificate balance of the Class B and Class C certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-D certificates will be equal to the aggregate certificate balance of the Class D and Class E certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-F certificates will be equal to the certificate balance of the Class F certificates. The Class X-A, Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates (referred to as the “Class X certificates”) will not be entitled to distributions of principal. See “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Pass-Through Rates”.
(5)Each class of Class X certificates will not be entitled to distributions of principal. Each class of Class X certificates will accrue interest on their respective notional amount and at their respective pass-through rate as described in “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Pass-Through Rates”.
(6)The pass-through rates for the Class B, Class C, Class G-RR, Class H-RR and Class J-RR certificates for any distribution date will equal a per annum rate equal to the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs.
(7)The approximate initial credit support percentages set forth for the certificates are approximate and, for the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3 and Class A-4 certificates, are represented in the aggregate. The approximate initial credit support percentages shown in the table above do not take into account the VRR Interest. However, losses incurred on the mortgage loans will be allocated between the VRR Interest, on the one hand, and the principal balance certificates, on the other hand, pro rata in accordance with their respective outstanding certificate balances. See “Credit Risk Retention” and “Description of the Certificates”.
(8)The weighted average life and principal window during which distributions of principal would be received as set forth in the foregoing table with respect to each class of principal balance certificates are based on the assumptions set forth under “Yield and Maturity Considerations—Weighted Average Life” and on the assumptions that there are no prepayments, modifications or losses in respect of the mortgage loans and that there are no extensions or forbearances of maturity dates or anticipated repayments dates of the mortgage loans.
(9)The classes of certificates set forth below “Non-Offered Certificates” in the table are not offered by this prospectus. Any information in this prospectus concerning the non-offered certificates is presented solely to enhance your understanding of the offered certificates.

 

3 

 

 

(10)The pass-through rate for the Class F certificates for any distribution date will equal a per annum rate equal to (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs, minus (ii) 1.250%, but in any case, not less than 0.000%.
(11)The Class S certificates will not have a certificate balance, notional amount, pass-through rate, assumed final distribution date or rating. Excess interest accruing after the related anticipated repayment date on any mortgage loan with an anticipated repayment date will, to the extent collected, be allocated to the Class S certificates and the VRR Interest. The Class S certificates will not be entitled to distributions in respect of principal or interest other than excess interest.
(12)The Class R certificates will not have a certificate balance, notional amount, pass-through rate, assumed final distribution date or rating. The Class R certificates will represent the residual interests in each Trust REMIC, as further described in this prospectus. The Class R certificates will not be entitled to distributions of principal or interest.
(13)German American Capital Corporation, as retaining sponsor, will acquire from the depositor, on the closing date, an “eligible vertical interest” (as defined in Regulation RR) in the form of a single vertical security with an expected aggregate initial certificate balance of approximately $37,090,000.16 (the “VRR Interest”), which represents approximately 3.18% of all classes of principal balance certificates and the VRR Interest. The VRR Interest will be retained by certain retaining parties in accordance with the credit risk retention rules applicable to this securitization transaction. See “Credit Risk Retention”. The VRR Interest is a class of certificates.
(14)Although it does not have a specified pass-through rate (other than for tax reporting purposes), the effective interest rate for the VRR Interest will be the WAC rate.

 

4 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Summary of Certificates   3
Important Notice Regarding the Offered Certificates   11
Important Notice About Information Presented in This Prospectus   11
Summary of Terms   19
Risk Factors   53
The Certificates May Not Be a Suitable Investment for You   53
Combination or “Layering” of Multiple Risks May Significantly Increase Risk of Loss   53
Risks Related to Market Conditions and Other External Factors   53
The Volatile Economy, Credit Crisis and Downturn in the Real Estate Market Have Adversely Affected and May Continue To Adversely Affect the Value of CMBS   53
Other Events May Affect the Value and Liquidity of Your Investment   53
Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans   54
Mortgage Loans Are Non-Recourse and Are Not Insured or Guaranteed   54
Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally   54
Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases   56
Office Properties Have Special Risks   59
Retail Properties Have Special Risks   60
Changes in the Retail Sector, Such as Online Shopping and Other Uses of Technology, Could Affect the Business Models and Viability of Retailers   61
The Performance of the Retail Properties is Subject to Conditions Affecting the Retail Sector   61
Some Retail Properties Depend on Anchor Stores or Major Tenants to Attract Shoppers and Could be Materially Adversely Affected by the Loss of, or a Store Closure by, One or More of These Anchor Stores or Major Tenants   62
Hospitality Properties Have Special Risks   62
Risks Relating to Affiliation with a Franchise or Hotel Management Company   64
Industrial Properties Have Special Risks   65
Multifamily Properties Have Special Risks   66
Self-Storage Properties Have Special Risks   68
Mixed Use Properties Have Special Risks   69
Condominium Ownership May Limit Use and Improvements   70
Shared Interest Structures   71
Operation of a Mortgaged Property Depends on the Property Manager’s Performance   71
Concentrations Based on Property Type, Geography, Related Borrowers and Other Factors May Disproportionately Increase Losses   72
Adverse Environmental Conditions at or Near Mortgaged Properties May Result in Losses   73
Risks Related to Redevelopment, Expansion and Renovation at Mortgaged Properties   74
Some Mortgaged Properties May Not Be Readily Convertible to Alternative Uses   75
Risks Related to Zoning Non-Compliance and Use Restrictions   77
Risks Relating to Inspections of Properties   78
Risks Relating to Costs of Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations   78
Insurance May Not Be Available or Adequate   78
Terrorism Insurance May Not Be Available for All Mortgaged Properties   81
Risks Associated with Blanket Insurance Policies or Self-Insurance   82
Limited Information Causes Uncertainty   82
Underwritten Net Cash Flow Could Be Based On Incorrect or Failed Assumptions   83
Frequent and Early Occurrence of Borrower Delinquencies and Defaults May Adversely Affect Your Investment   83
The Mortgage Loans Have Not Been Reviewed or Re-Underwritten by Us   84
Static Pool Data Would Not Be Indicative of the Performance of this Pool   85
Appraisals May Not Reflect Current or Future Market Value of Each Property   85
The Performance of a Mortgage Loan and Its Related Mortgaged Property  

 

5 

 

 

Depends in Part on Who Controls the Borrower and Mortgaged Property   86
The Borrower’s Form of Entity May Cause Special Risks   87
A Bankruptcy Proceeding May Result in Losses and Delays in Realizing on the Mortgage Loans   88
Litigation Regarding the Mortgaged Properties or Borrowers May Impair Your Distributions   89
Other Financings or Ability to Incur Other Indebtedness Entails Risk   90
Tenancies-in-Common May Hinder Recovery   91
Risks Relating to Enforceability of Yield Maintenance Charges, Prepayment Premiums or Defeasance Provisions   92
Risks Associated with One Action Rules   92
State Law Limitations on Assignments of Leases and Rents May Entail Risks   92
Various Other Laws Could Affect the Exercise of Lender’s Rights   92
Risks of Anticipated Repayment Date Loans   93
Borrower May Be Unable To Repay Remaining Principal Balance on Maturity Date or Anticipated Repayment Date; Longer Amortization Schedules and Interest-Only Provisions Increase Risk   93
Risks Related to Ground Leases and Other Leasehold Interests   95
Increases in Real Estate Taxes May Reduce Available Funds   96
State and Local Mortgage Recording Taxes May Apply Upon a Foreclosure or Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure and Reduce Net Proceeds   96
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest   96
Interests and Incentives of the Originators, the Sponsors and Their Affiliates May Not Be Aligned With Your Interests   96
The Servicing of the Servicing Shift Whole Loan Will Shift to Other Servicers   99
Interests and Incentives of the Underwriter Entities May Not Be Aligned With Your Interests   99
Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Master Servicer and the Special Servicer   100
Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Operating Advisor   102
Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Asset Representations Reviewer   103
Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Directing Holder and the Companion Loan Holders   103
Potential Conflicts of Interest in the Selection of the Underlying Mortgage Loans   106
Conflicts of Interest May Occur as a Result of the Rights of the Applicable Directing Holder To Terminate the Special Servicer of the Applicable Whole Loan   107
Other Potential Conflicts of Interest May Affect Your Investment   107
Other Risks Relating to the Certificates   108
The Certificates Are Limited Obligations   108
The Certificates May Have Limited Liquidity and the Market Value of the Certificates May Decline   108
Legal and Regulatory Provisions Affecting Investors Could Adversely Affect the Liquidity of the Certificates   108
Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations May Assign Different Ratings to the Certificates; Ratings of the Certificates Reflect Only the Views of the Applicable Rating Agencies as of the Dates Such Ratings Were Issued; Ratings May Affect ERISA Eligibility; Ratings May Be Downgraded   111
Your Yield May Be Affected by Defaults, Prepayments and Other Factors   113
Your Lack of Control Over the Issuing Entity and the Mortgage Loans Can Impact Your Investment   116
Risks Relating to Modifications of the Mortgage Loans   121
Sponsors May Not Make Required Repurchases or Substitutions of Defective Mortgage Loans or Pay Any Loss of Value Payment Sufficient to Cover All Losses on a Defective Mortgage Loan   122
Pro Rata Allocation of Principal Between and Among the Subordinate Companion Loans and the Related Mortgage Loan Prior to a Material Mortgage Loan Event Default   122
Payments Allocated to the VRR Interest Will Not Be Available to Make Payments on the Non-VRR Certificates, and Payments Allocated to the Non-VRR Certificates Will Not Be Available to Make Payments on the VRR Interest   123

 

6 

 

 

Risks Relating to Interest on Advances and Special Servicing Compensation   123
Bankruptcy of a Servicer May Adversely Affect Collections on the Mortgage Loans and the Ability to Replace the Servicer   123
The Sponsors, the Depositor and the Issuing Entity Are Subject to Bankruptcy or Insolvency Laws That May Affect the Issuing Entity’s Ownership of the Mortgage Loans   124
The Requirement of the Special Servicer to Obtain FIRREA-Compliant Appraisals May Result in an Increased Cost to the Issuing Entity   124
Tax Matters and Changes in Tax Law May Adversely Impact the Mortgage Loans or Your Investment   125
Description of the Mortgage Pool   126
General   126
Certain Calculations and Definitions   127
Definitions   128
Mortgage Pool Characteristics   135
Overview   135
Property Types   136
Mortgage Loan Concentrations   140
Multi-Property Mortgage Loans and Related Borrower Mortgage Loans   140
Geographic Concentrations   142
Mortgaged Properties With Limited Prior Operating History   142
Tenancies-in-Common   143
Condominium and Other Shared Interests   143
Fee & Leasehold Estates; Ground Leases   144
Environmental Considerations   145
Redevelopment, Renovation and Expansion   148
Assessment of Property Value and Condition   149
Litigation and Other Considerations   149
Loan Purpose; Default History, Bankruptcy Issues and Other Proceedings   151
Loan Purpose   151
Default History, Bankruptcy Issues and Other Proceedings   151
Tenant Issues   153
Tenant Concentrations   153
Lease Expirations and Terminations   153
Purchase Options and Rights of First Refusal   158
Affiliated Leases   159
Insurance Considerations   159
Use Restrictions   161
Appraised Value   162
Non-Recourse Carveout Limitations   163
Real Estate and Other Tax Considerations   164
Delinquency Information   166
Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans   166
Amortization of Principal   166
Due Dates; Mortgage Rates; Calculations of Interest   166
ARD Loan(s)   167
Prepayment Protections and Certain Involuntary Prepayments   167
“Due-On-Sale” and “Due-On-Encumbrance” Provisions   170
Defeasance; Collateral Substitution   171
Partial Releases   172
Escrows   178
Mortgaged Property Accounts   179
Exceptions to Underwriting Guidelines   179
Additional Indebtedness   180
General   180
Whole Loans   180
Mezzanine Indebtedness   180
Preferred Equity   183
Other Secured Indebtedness   183
Other Unsecured Indebtedness   184
The Whole Loans   184
General   184
The Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans   189
The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans   192
The AB Whole Loans   194
Additional Information   215
Transaction Parties   216
The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers   216
German American Capital Corporation   216
Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.   224
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association   233
The Depositor   241
The Issuing Entity   241
The Trustee and the Certificate Administrator   242
The Master Servicer   244
The Special Servicer   247
The Operating Advisor and Asset Representations Reviewer   251
Credit Risk Retention   252
Qualifying CRE Loans   253
The VRR Interest   254
Material Terms of the VRR Interest   254
HRR Certificates   256
General   256
Retaining Third-Party Purchasers   256
Material Terms of the HRR Certificates   257
Hedging, Transfer and Financing Restrictions   257
Operating Advisor   258
Representations and Warranties   258
Description of the Certificates   259
General   259
Distributions   262
Method, Timing and Amount   262

 

7 

 

 

Available Funds   262
Priority of Distributions   264
Pass-Through Rates   267
Interest Distribution Amount   269
Principal Distribution Amount   269
Certain Calculations with Respect to Individual Mortgage Loans   271
Excess Interest   272
Application Priority of Mortgage Loan Collections or Whole Loan Collections   272
Allocation of Yield Maintenance Charges and Prepayment Premiums   274
Assumed Final Distribution Date; Rated Final Distribution Date   276
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls   276
Subordination; Allocation of Realized Losses   278
Reports to Certificateholders; Certain Available Information   280
Certificate Administrator Reports   280
Information Available Electronically   285
Voting Rights   289
Delivery, Form, Transfer and Denomination   290
Denomination   290
Book-Entry Registration   290
Definitive Certificates   293
Certificateholder Communication   293
Access to Certificateholders’ Names and Addresses   293
Requests to Communicate   293
List of Certificateholders   294
Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements   294
General   294
Dispute Resolution Provisions   304
Asset Review Obligations   304
Pooling and Servicing Agreement   305
General   305
Assignment of the Mortgage Loans   306
Servicing Standard   306
Subservicing   308
Advances   308
P&I Advances   308
Servicing Advances   309
Nonrecoverable Advances   310
Recovery of Advances   311
Accounts   312
Withdrawals from the Collection Account   314
Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses   317
General   317
Master Servicing Compensation   321
Special Servicing Compensation   323
Disclosable Special Servicer Fees   327
Certificate Administrator and Trustee Compensation   328
Operating Advisor Compensation   328
Asset Representations Reviewer Compensation   329
CREFC® Intellectual Property Royalty License Fee   330
Appraisal Reduction Amounts   330
Maintenance of Insurance   336
Modifications, Waivers and Amendments   339
Mortgage Loans with “Due-on-Sale” and “Due-on-Encumbrance” Provisions   341
Inspections   343
Collection of Operating Information   344
Special Servicing Transfer Event   344
Asset Status Report   346
Realization Upon Mortgage Loans   349
Sale of Defaulted Loans and REO Properties   351
The Directing Holder   354
General   354
Major Decisions   356
Asset Status Report   359
Replacement of Special Servicer   359
Control Termination Event, Consultation Termination Event and Operating Advisor Consultation Event   360
Servicing Override   361
Rights of Holders of Companion Loans   362
Limitation on Liability of Directing Holder   362
The Operating Advisor   363
General   363
Duties of Operating Advisor at All Times   364
Annual Report   365
Additional Duties of the Operating Advisor While an Operating Advisor Consultation Event Has Occurred and Is Continuing   366
Recommendation of the Replacement of the Special Servicer   367
Eligibility of Operating Advisor   367
Other Obligations of Operating Advisor   368
Delegation of Operating Advisor’s Duties   368
Termination of the Operating Advisor With Cause   369
Rights Upon Operating Advisor Termination Event   369
Waiver of Operating Advisor Termination Event   370
Termination of the Operating Advisor Without Cause   370
Resignation of the Operating Advisor   370
Operating Advisor Compensation   371
The Asset Representations Reviewer   371
Asset Review   371
Eligibility of Asset Representations Reviewer   375
Other Obligations of Asset Representations Reviewer   376

 

8 

 

 

Delegation of Asset Representations Reviewer’s Duties   377
Assignment of Asset Representations Reviewer’s Rights and Obligations   377
Asset Representations Reviewer Termination Events   377
Rights Upon Asset Representations Reviewer Termination Event   378
Termination of the Asset Representations Reviewer Without Cause   378
Resignation of Asset Representations Reviewer   379
Asset Representations Reviewer Compensation   379
Limitation on Liability of the Risk Retention Consultation Parties   379
Replacement of Special Servicer Without Cause   380
Replacement of the Special Servicer After Operating Advisor Recommendation and Certificateholder Vote   382
Termination of Servicer and Special Servicer for Cause   383
Servicer Termination Events   383
Rights Upon Servicer Termination Event   385
Waiver of Servicer Termination Event   387
Resignation of the Master Servicer and Special Servicer   387
Resignation of Master Servicer, Trustee, Certificate Administrator, Operating Advisor or Asset Representations Reviewer Upon Prohibited Risk Retention Affiliation   388
Limitation on Liability; Indemnification   388
Enforcement of Mortgage Loan Seller’s Obligations Under the MLPA   390
Dispute Resolution Provisions   391
Certificateholder’s Rights When a Repurchase Request is Initially Delivered By a Certificateholder   391
Repurchase Request Delivered by a Party to the PSA   392
Resolution of a Repurchase Request   392
Mediation and Arbitration Provisions   395
Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans   396
General   396
Servicing of the Aventura Mall Mortgage Loan   399
Servicing of the 636 11th Avenue Mortgage Loan   399
Servicing of the Workspace Mortgage Loan   400
Servicing of the Aon Center Mortgage Loan   401
Servicing of the Servicing Shift Mortgage Loan   401
Rating Agency Confirmations   402
Evidence as to Compliance   403
Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders to Institute a Proceeding   405
Termination; Retirement of Certificates   405
Amendment   406
Resignation and Removal of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator   409
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; and Consent to Jurisdiction   410
Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans   410
General   411
Types of Mortgage Instruments   411
Leases and Rents   411
Personalty   412
Foreclosure   412
General   412
Foreclosure Procedures Vary from State to State   412
Judicial Foreclosure   412
Equitable and Other Limitations on Enforceability of Certain Provisions   413
Nonjudicial Foreclosure/Power of Sale   413
Public Sale   413
Rights of Redemption   414
Anti-Deficiency Legislation   415
Leasehold Considerations   415
Cooperative Shares   416
Bankruptcy Laws   416
Environmental Considerations   421
General   421
Superlien Laws   422
CERCLA   422
Certain Other Federal and State Laws   422
Additional Considerations   423
Due-on-Sale and Due-on-Encumbrance Provisions   423
Subordinate Financing   423
Default Interest and Limitations on Prepayments   424
Applicability of Usury Laws   424
Americans with Disabilities Act   424
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act   424
Anti-Money Laundering, Economic Sanctions and Bribery   425
Potential Forfeiture of Assets   425
Certain Affiliations, Relationships and Related Transactions Involving Transaction Parties   426
Pending Legal Proceedings Involving Transaction Parties   427
Use of Proceeds   427
Yield and Maturity Considerations   428

 

9 

 

 

Yield Considerations   428
General   428
Rate and Timing of Principal Payments   428
Losses and Shortfalls   429
Certain Relevant Factors Affecting Loan Payments and Defaults   430
Delay in Payment of Distributions   431
Yield on the Certificates with Notional Amounts   431
Weighted Average Life   431
Pre-Tax Yield to Maturity Tables   436
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations   439
General   439
Qualification as a REMIC   439
Status of Offered Certificates   441
Taxation of Regular Interests   442
General   442
Original Issue Discount   442
Acquisition Premium   444
Market Discount   444
Premium   445
Election To Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method   445
Treatment of Losses   446
Yield Maintenance Charges and Prepayment Provisions   446
Sale or Exchange of Regular Interests   447
Taxes That May Be Imposed on a REMIC   447
Prohibited Transactions   447
Contributions to a REMIC After the Startup Day   448
Net Income from Foreclosure Property   448
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015   448
Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors   449
FATCA   450
Backup Withholding   450
Information Reporting   450
3.8% Medicare Tax on “Net Investment Income”   450
Reporting Requirements   451
Certain State and Local Tax Considerations   451
Method of Distribution (Underwriter)   451
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference   453
Where You Can Find More Information   454
Financial Information   454
Certain ERISA Considerations   454
General   454
Plan Asset Regulations   455
Administrative Exemption   456
Insurance Company General Accounts   458
Legal Investment   458
Legal Matters   459
Ratings   459
Index of Defined Terms   461

 

ANNEX A-1 CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS AND MORTGAGED PROPERTIES
ANNEX A-2 CERTAIN POOL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MORTGAGE LOANS AND MORTGAGED PROPERTIES
ANNEX A-3 DESCRIPTION OF TOP FIFTEEN MORTGAGE LOANS AND ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE LOAN INFORMATION
ANNEX B FORM OF REPORT TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
ANNEX C FORM OF OPERATING ADVISOR ANNUAL REPORT
ANNEX D-1 GACC AND CREFI MORTGAGE LOAN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ANNEX D-2 EXCEPTIONS TO GACC MORTGAGE LOAN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ANNEX D-3 EXCEPTIONS TO CREFI MORTGAGE LOAN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ANNEX E-1 JPMCB MORTGAGE LOAN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ANNEX E-2 EXCEPTIONS TO JPMCB MORTGAGE LOAN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ANNEX F CLASS A-SB PLANNED PRINCIPAL BALANCE SCHEDULE
ANNEX G CASTLETON COMMONS & SQUARE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE

 

10 

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Offered Certificates

 

WE HAVE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, WITH RESPECT TO THE CERTIFICATES OFFERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. HOWEVER, THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN OUR REGISTRATION STATEMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS PROSPECTUS, YOU SHOULD REFER TO OUR REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE EXHIBITS TO IT. OUR REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE EXHIBITS TO IT CAN BE INSPECTED AND COPIED AT PRESCRIBED RATES AT THE PUBLIC REFERENCE FACILITIES MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT ITS PUBLIC REFERENCE ROOM, 100 F STREET, N.E., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549. YOU MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC REFERENCE ROOM BY CALLING THE SEC AT 1-800-SEC-0330. COPIES OF THESE MATERIALS CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE SEC’S INTERNET WEBSITE (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV).

 

THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

THE UNDERWRITERS DESCRIBED IN THESE MATERIALS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME PERFORM INVESTMENT BANKING SERVICES FOR, OR SOLICIT INVESTMENT BANKING BUSINESS FROM, ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THESE MATERIALS. THE UNDERWRITERS AND/OR THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME HAVE A LONG OR SHORT POSITION IN ANY CONTRACT OR CERTIFICATE DISCUSSED IN THESE MATERIALS.

 

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPERSEDES ANY PREVIOUS SUCH INFORMATION DELIVERED TO ANY PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR.

 

THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES DO NOT REPRESENT AN INTEREST IN OR OBLIGATION OF THE DEPOSITOR, THE SPONSORS, THE MORTGAGE LOAN SELLERS, THE MASTER SERVICER, THE SPECIAL SERVICER, THE TRUSTEE, THE OPERATING ADVISOR, THE ASSET REPRESENTATIONS REVIEWER, THE CERTIFICATE ADMINISTRATOR, THE DIRECTING HOLDER, THE RISK RETENTION CONSULTATION PARTIES, THE UNDERWRITERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES. NEITHER THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES NOR THE MORTGAGE LOANS ARE INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY OR PRIVATE INSURER.

 

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO SECONDARY MARKET FOR THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES. WE CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT A SECONDARY MARKET WILL DEVELOP OR, IF A SECONDARY MARKET DOES DEVELOP, THAT IT WILL PROVIDE HOLDERS OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES WITH LIQUIDITY OF INVESTMENT OR THAT IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE TERM OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES. THE UNDERWRITERS CURRENTLY INTEND TO MAKE A MARKET IN THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES BUT ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO. ACCORDINGLY, PURCHASERS MUST BE PREPARED TO BEAR THE RISKS OF THEIR INVESTMENTS FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD. SEE “RISK FACTORS—OTHER RISKS RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATES—THE CERTIFICATES MAY HAVE LIMITED LIQUIDITY AND THE MARKET VALUE OF THE CERTIFICATES MAY DECLINE” IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

Important Notice About Information Presented in This Prospectus

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus.

 

11 

 

 

This prospectus begins with several introductory sections describing the certificates and the issuing entity in abbreviated form:

 

Summary of Certificates, which sets forth important statistical information relating to the certificates;

 

Summary of Terms, which gives a brief introduction of the key features of the certificates and a description of the mortgage loans; and

 

Risk Factors, which describes risks that apply to the certificates.

 

This prospectus includes cross references to sections in this prospectus where you can find further related discussions. The table of contents in this prospectus identifies the pages where these sections are located.

 

Certain capitalized terms are defined and used in this prospectus to assist you in understanding the terms of the offered certificates and this offering. The capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined on the pages indicated under the caption “Index of Defined Terms”.

 

All annexes and schedules attached to this prospectus are a part of this prospectus.

 

In this prospectus:

 

the terms “depositor”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation.

 

references to “lender” or “mortgage lender” with respect to a mortgage loan generally should be construed to mean, from and after the date of initial issuance of the offered certificates, the trustee on behalf of the issuing entity as the holder of record title to the mortgage loans or the master servicer or special servicer, as applicable, with respect to the obligations and rights of the lender as described under “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”.

 

unless otherwise specified, (i) references to a mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) by name refer to such mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) so identified on Annex A-1, (ii) references to a mortgage loan by name refer to such mortgage loan secured by the related mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) so identified on Annex A-1, (iii) any parenthetical with a percent next to a mortgaged property name (or portfolio of mortgaged properties name) indicates the approximate percent (or approximate aggregate percent) that the outstanding principal balance of the related mortgage loan (or, if applicable, the allocated loan amount with respect to such mortgaged property) represents of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date for this securitization, and (iv) any parenthetical with a percent next to a mortgage loan name or a group of mortgage loans indicates the approximate percent (or approximate aggregate percent) that the outstanding principal balance of such mortgage loan or the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such group of mortgage loans, as applicable, represents of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date for this securitization.

 

This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted.

 

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS WITHIN EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

 

THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT A PROSPECTUS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (AS DEFINED BELOW).

 

THE CERTIFICATES ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO AND SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (“EEA”). FOR THESE PURPOSES, A RETAIL INVESTOR MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF: (I) A RETAIL CLIENT AS

 

12 

 

 

DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU (“MIFID II”); OR (II) A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2002/92/EC (THE INSURANCE MEDIATION DIRECTIVE), WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II; OR (III) NOT A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE.

 

CONSEQUENTLY NO KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY REGULATION (EU) NO 1286/2014 (THE “PRIIPS REGULATION”) FOR OFFERING OR SELLING THE CERTIFICATES OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO RETAIL INVESTORS IN THE EEA HAS BEEN PREPARED AND THEREFORE OFFERING OR SELLING THE CERTIFICATES OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA MAY BE UNLAWFUL UNDER THE PRIIPS REGULATION.

 

THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN PREPARED ON THE BASIS THAT ANY OFFER OF CERTIFICATES IN ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A “RELEVANT MEMBER STATE”) WILL ONLY BE MADE TO A LEGAL ENTITY WHICH IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR UNDER THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (“QUALIFIED INVESTORS”). ACCORDINGLY ANY PERSON MAKING OR INTENDING TO MAKE AN OFFER IN THAT RELEVANT MEMBER STATE OF CERTIFICATES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE OFFERING CONTEMPLATED IN THIS PROSPECTUS MAY ONLY DO SO WITH RESPECT TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS. NEITHER THE ISSUING ENTITY, THE DEPOSITOR OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS HAVE AUTHORISED, NOR DO THEY AUTHORISE, THE MAKING OF ANY OFFER OF CERTIFICATES OTHER THAN TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS. THE EXPRESSION “PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AS AMENDED, INCLUDING BY DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU), AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE.

 

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA SELLING RESTRICTIONS

 

EACH UNDERWRITER HAS REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT HAS NOT OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE AND WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE MAKE AVAILABLE ANY CERTIFICATES TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION:

 

THE EXPRESSION “RETAIL INVESTOR” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

(A)  A RETAIL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU (AS AMENDED, “MIFID II”);

 

(B)  A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2002/92/EC (THE INSURANCE MEDIATION DIRECTIVE) AS AMENDED, WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II; OR

 

(C)  NOT A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED IN DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE) AS AMENDED; AND

 

THE EXPRESSION “OFFER” INCLUDES THE COMMUNICATION IN ANY FORM AND BY ANY MEANS OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THE CERTIFICATES TO BE OFFERED SO AS TO ENABLE AN INVESTOR TO DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE THE CERTIFICATES.

 

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

 

THE ISSUING ENTITY MAY CONSTITUTE A “COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEME” AS DEFINED BY SECTION 235 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (“FSMA”) THAT IS NOT A “RECOGNIZED COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEME” FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FSMA AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED, REGULATED OR OTHERWISE RECOGNIZED

 

13 

 

 

OR APPROVED. AS AN UNREGULATED SCHEME, THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES CANNOT BE MARKETED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FSMA.

 

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS (A) IF MADE BY A PERSON WHO IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED PERSON UNDER THE FSMA, IS BEING MADE ONLY TO, OR DIRECTED ONLY AT, PERSONS WHO (I) ARE OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM, OR (II) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND QUALIFY AS INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE “FINANCIAL PROMOTION ORDER”), OR (III) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) THROUGH (D)(“HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC”.) OF THE FINANCIAL PROMOTION ORDER (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS “FPO PERSONS”); AND (B) IF MADE BY A PERSON WHO IS AN AUTHORIZED PERSON UNDER THE FSMA, IS BEING MADE ONLY TO, OR DIRECTED ONLY AT, PERSONS WHO (I) ARE OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM, OR (II) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND QUALIFY AS INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 14(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (PROMOTION OF COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES)(EXEMPTIONS) ORDER 2001 (THE “PROMOTION OF COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES EXEMPTIONS ORDER”), (III) ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 22(2)(A) THROUGH (D)(“HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC”.), OR (IV) PERSONS TO WHOM THE ISSUING ENTITY MAY LAWFULLY BE PROMOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 4.12 OF THE UK FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY’S CONDUCT OF BUSINESS SOURCEBOOK RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROMOTION OF NON-MAINSTREAM POOLED INVESTMENTS (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS “PCIS PERSONS” AND, TOGETHER WITH THE FPO PERSONS, THE “RELEVANT PERSONS”).

 

THIS PROSPECTUS MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS PROSPECTUS RELATES, INCLUDING THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES, IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY PERSONS OTHER THAN RELEVANT PERSONS SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE ADVISED THAT ALL, OR MOST, OF THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM REGULATORY SYSTEM WILL NOT APPLY TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES AND THAT COMPENSATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNDER THE UNITED KINGDOM FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPENSATION SCHEME.

 

UNITED KINGDOM SELLING RESTRICTIONS

 

EACH UNDERWRITER HAS REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT:

 

(A)  IT HAS ONLY COMMUNICATED OR CAUSED TO BE COMMUNICATED AND WILL ONLY COMMUNICATE OR CAUSE TO BE COMMUNICATED AN INVITATION OR INDUCEMENT TO ENGAGE IN INVESTMENT ACTIVITY (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 21 OF FSMA) RECEIVED BY IT IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OR SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SECTION 21(1) OF THE FSMA DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ISSUING ENTITY OR THE DEPOSITOR; AND

 

(B)  IT HAS COMPLIED AND WILL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE FSMA WITH RESPECT TO ANYTHING DONE BY IT IN RELATION TO THE CERTIFICATES IN, FROM OR OTHERWISE INVOLVING THE UNITED KINGDOM.

 

14 

 

 

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 

THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES WILL NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (EXCLUDING HONG KONG, MACAU AND TAIWAN, THE “PRC”) AS PART OF THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES BUT MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY INVESTORS RESIDENT IN THE PRC FROM OUTSIDE THE PRC.

 

THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN THE PRC TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE THE OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN THE PRC.

 

THE DEPOSITOR DOES NOT REPRESENT THAT THIS PROSPECTUS MAY BE LAWFULLY DISTRIBUTED, OR THAT ANY OFFERED CERTIFICATES MAY BE LAWFULLY OFFERED, IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE REGISTRATION OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS IN THE PRC, OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION AVAILABLE THEREUNDER, OR ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR FACILITATING ANY SUCH DISTRIBUTION OR OFFERING. IN PARTICULAR, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE DEPOSITOR WHICH WOULD PERMIT AN OFFERING OF ANY OFFERED CERTIFICATES OR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS IN THE PRC. ACCORDINGLY, THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES ARE NOT BEING OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE PRC BY MEANS OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT. NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY ADVERTISEMENT OR OTHER OFFERING MATERIAL MAY BE DISTRIBUTED OR PUBLISHED IN THE PRC, EXCEPT UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WILL RESULT IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

 

HONG KONG

 

THIS PROSPECTUS HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES IN HONG KONG AND THE CONTENTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR APPROVED BY ANY REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE NOR INTEND TO BE AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO THE PUBLIC IN HONG KONG TO ACQUIRE THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES.

 

Each UNDERWRITER has represented, warranted and agreed that: (1) It has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any OFFERED certificates (except for certificates which are a “structured product” as defined in the securities and futures ordinance (Cap. 571)(the “SFO”) of Hong Kong) Other than (A) to “Professional Investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules OR REGULATIONS made under the SFO; or (B) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “Prospectus” as defined in the companies (winding up and miscellaneous provisions) ordinance (CAP. 32)(The “C(WUMP)O”) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and (2) it has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the OFFERED certificates, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (Except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to certificates which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made under the SFO.

 

W A R N I N G

 

THE CONTENTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR APPROVED BY ANY REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG. YOU ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION IN RELATION TO THE OFFER. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT ANY OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS, YOU SHOULD OBTAIN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

 

15 

 

 

SINGAPORE

 

This memorandum or any other document related to the subscription of certificates has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the “MAS”) under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, as may be amended from time to time (the “SFA”). The MAS assumes no responsibility for the contents of this memorandum or any such document. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply.

 

No certificates may be offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor may this memorandum or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the certificates be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in section 4A(1)(c) of the SFA) pursuant to section 274 of the SFA (each an “Institutional Investor”), (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to section 275(1), or any person pursuant to section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in section 275 of the SFA, provided always that none of such person shall be an individual other than an individual who is an accredited investor (as defined in section 4A(1)(a) of the SFA) (each a “Relevant Investor”).

 

No certificates acquired by (i) an Institutional Investor; or (ii) a Relevant Investor in accordance with the conditions specified in section 275 of the SFA may be offered or sold, made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, or otherwise transferred, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore, other than to (i) an Institutional Investor; or (ii) a Relevant Investor in accordance with the conditions specified in section 275 of the SFA.

 

Unless otherwise permitted under the SFA, where the certificates are subscribed or purchased pursuant to section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Investor which is:

 

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an individual who is an accredited investor,
securities (as defined in section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interests (howsoever defined) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities under section 275 of the SFA except:
to an institutional investor or to a relevant person as defined in section 275(2) of the SFA or (in the case of such corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in section 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or (in the case of such trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;
where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;
where the transfer is by operation of law; or
pursuant to section 276(7) of the SFA or regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

16 

 

 

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

 

THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT, AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS TO BE CONSTRUED AS, A PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES IN KOREA. NEITHER THE ISSUER NOR ANY OF ITS AGENTS MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF ANY RECIPIENTS OF THIS PROSPECTUS TO ACQUIRE THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES UNDER THE LAWS OF KOREA, INCLUDING, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTION LAW AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (THE “FETL”). THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION OF KOREA FOR PUBLIC OFFERING IN KOREA, AND NONE OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR OFFERED OR SOLD TO ANY PERSON FOR RE-OFFERING OR RESALE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN KOREA OR TO ANY RESIDENT OF KOREA EXCEPT PURSUANT TO THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT SERVICES AND CAPITAL MARKETS ACT AND THE DECREES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (THE “FSCMA”), THE FETL AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND MINISTERIAL GUIDELINES IN KOREA. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE FOREGOING, THE NUMBER OF OFFERED CERTIFICATES OFFERED IN KOREA OR TO A RESIDENT OF KOREA SHALL BE LESS THAN FIFTY AND FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE ISSUE DATE OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES, NONE OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES MAY BE DIVIDED RESULTING IN AN INCREASED NUMBER OF OFFERED CERTIFICATES. FURTHERMORE, THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES MAY NOT BE RESOLD TO KOREAN RESIDENTS UNLESS THE PURCHASER OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, GOVERNMENT REPORTING APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE FETL AND ITS SUBORDINATE DECREES AND REGULATIONS) IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES.

 

JAPAN

 

THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND EXCHANGE LAW OF JAPAN, AS AMENDED (THE “FIEL”), AND DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FIEL HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH UNDERWRITER HAS REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT HAS NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OFFERED OR SOLD AND WILL NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OFFER OR SELL ANY OFFERED CERTIFICATES IN JAPAN OR TO, OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF, ANY RESIDENT OF JAPAN (WHICH TERM AS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS MEANS ANY PERSON RESIDENT IN JAPAN, INCLUDING ANY CORPORATION OR OTHER ENTITY ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN) OR TO OTHERS FOR REOFFERING OR RE-SALE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN JAPAN OR TO, OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF, ANY RESIDENT OF JAPAN EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF, AND OTHERWISE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, THE FIEL AND OTHER RELEVANT LAWS, REGULATIONS AND MINISTERIAL GUIDELINES OF JAPAN. AS PART OF THIS OFFERING OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OFFER THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES IN JAPAN TO UP TO 49 OFFEREES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE PROVISIONS.

 

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NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF CANADA

 

THE CERTIFICATES MAY BE SOLD ONLY TO PURCHASERS PURCHASING, OR DEEMED TO BE PURCHASING, AS PRINCIPAL THAT ARE ACCREDITED INVESTORS, AS DEFINED IN NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 45-106 PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS OR SUBSECTION 73.3(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT (ONTARIO), AND ARE PERMITTED CLIENTS, AS DEFINED IN NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 31-103 REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTIONS AND ONGOING REGISTRANT OBLIGATIONS. ANY RESALE OF THE OFFERED CERTIFICATES MUST BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

SECURITIES LEGISLATION IN CERTAIN PROVINCES OR TERRITORIES OF CANADA MAY PROVIDE A PURCHASER WITH REMEDIES FOR RESCISSION OR DAMAGES IF THIS PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENT THERETO) CONTAINS A MISREPRESENTATION, PROVIDED THAT THE REMEDIES FOR RESCISSION OR DAMAGES ARE EXERCISED BY THE PURCHASER WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF THE PURCHASER’S PROVINCE OR TERRITORY. THE PURCHASER SHOULD REFER TO ANY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF THE PURCHASER’S PROVINCE OR TERRITORY FOR PARTICULARS OF THESE RIGHTS OR CONSULT WITH A LEGAL ADVISOR.

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 3A.3 OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 33-105 UNDERWRITING CONFLICTS (“NI 33-105”), THE UNDERWRITERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF NI 33-105 REGARDING UNDERWRITER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING.

 

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Summary of Terms

 

This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus. It does not contain all of the information you need to consider in making your investment decision. To understand all of the terms of the offering of the offered certificates, read this entire document carefully.

 

Relevant Parties

 

Depositor   Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, a Delaware corporation. The depositor’s principal offices are located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, and its telephone number is (212) 250-2500. See “Transaction Parties—The Depositor”.

 

Issuing Entity   Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust, a New York common law trust. The issuing entity will be established on the closing date pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement that will be entered into between certain parties to this securitization transaction. See “Transaction Parties—The Issuing Entity”.

 

Sponsors   The sponsors of this transaction are:

 

German American Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation;

 

Citi Real Estate Funding Inc., a New York corporation; and

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America.

 

  The sponsors are sometimes also referred to in this prospectus as the “mortgage loan sellers”.

 

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  The sponsors originated or acquired and will transfer to the depositor the mortgage loans set forth in the following chart:

 

 

Mortgage Loan Seller

 

Number of
Mortgage
Loans

 

Aggregate
Cut-off Date
Principal
Balance of
Mortgage Loans

 

Approx. %
of Initial
Pool
Balance

  German American Capital Corporation(1)(2)(3)  16  $ 307,588,643  26.3 %
  Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.(4)(5)  23    488,170,037  41.8  
  JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association(6)(7) 

12

   

372,156,000

 

31.9

 
  Total 

51

  $

1,167,914,680

 

100.0

%

 

 
 

(1)Fourteen (14) mortgage loans (20.5%) were originated by Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its New York Branch (“DBNY”), an affiliate of German American Capital Corporation (“GACC”).

 

(2)The Moffett Towers – Buildings E,F,G mortgage loan (4.3%) is part of a whole loan that was co-originated by DBNY, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company.

 

(3)The Shelbourne Global Portfolio I mortgage loan (1.5%) is part of a whole loan that was originated by Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending, L.P. (“CCRE”) and subsequently acquired by GACC.

 

(4)The Shops at Solaris mortgage loan (4.3%) is part of a whole loan that was co-originated by Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. (“CREFI”) and CCRE.

 

(5)The Liberty Portfolio mortgage loan (4.3%) is part of a whole loan that was co-originated by CREFI, Barclays Bank PLC and CCRE.

 

(6)The Aventura Mall mortgage loan (4.3%) is part of a whole loan that was co-originated by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (“JPMCB”), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, DBNY and Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.

 

(7)The 636 11th Avenue mortgage loan (3.4%) is part of a whole loan that was co-originated by JPMCB and CREFI.

 

  See “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers”.

 

Master Servicer   KeyBank National Association, a national banking association, will be the master servicer and will be responsible for the master servicing and administration of the serviced mortgage loans and any related serviced companion loans pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement. The principal commercial mortgage master servicing offices of KeyBank National Association are located at 11501 Outlook Street, Suite 300, Overland Park, Kansas 66211. See “Transaction Parties—The Master Servicer” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”.

 

  Prior to the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan will be serviced by the master servicer under the pooling and servicing agreement. From and after the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan will be serviced under, and by the master servicer designated in, the servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement. See “Description of the Mortgage PoolThe Whole LoansThe Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans”, “—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans” and “Pooling and Servicing AgreementServicing of the Servicing Shift Mortgage Loan”.

 

 

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Special Servicer   LNR Partners, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, will be the special servicer with respect to the serviced mortgage loans (other than any excluded loan) and any related serviced companion loans. The special servicer will be primarily responsible for (i) making decisions and performing certain servicing functions with respect to such serviced mortgage loans and any related serviced companion loans as to which a special servicing transfer event (such as a default or an imminent default) has occurred and (ii) in certain circumstances, reviewing, evaluating, processing and providing or withholding consent as to certain major decisions and special servicer non-major decisions and other transactions and performing certain enforcement actions relating to such serviced mortgage loans and any related serviced companion loans for which a special servicing transfer event has not occurred, in each case pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement. The principal servicing offices of the special servicer are located at 1601 Washington Avenue, Suite 700, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. See “Transaction Parties—The Special Servicer” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”.

 

  If the special servicer obtains knowledge that it has become a borrower party with respect to any serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loan (referred to as an “excluded loan”), if any, the special servicer will be required to resign as special servicer of that excluded loan. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Termination of Servicer and Special Servicer for Cause”.

 

 

LNR Partners, LLC is expected to be appointed as the special servicer by Eightfold Real Estate Capital Fund V, L.P., or its affiliate, which will purchase approximately 75% of each of the Class X-F, Class F, Class G-RR, Class H-RR, Class J-RR and Class S certificates (and may purchase certain other classes of certificates) and, on the closing date, is expected to be the initial directing holder with respect to each serviced mortgage loan (other than, for so long as no control appraisal period under the related intercreditor agreement is continuing, any serviced AB whole loans, the servicing shift mortgage loan or any excluded loans) and any related serviced companion loans See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—The Directing Holder”.

 

  LNR Partners, LLC is an affiliate of LNR Securities Holdings, LLC, which will purchase approximately 25% of each of the Class X-F, Class F, Class G-RR, Class H-RR, Class J-RR and Class S certificates (and may purchase certain other classes of certificates).

 

 

LNR Partners, LLC, or its affiliate, assisted each of Eightfold Real Estate Capital Fund V, L.P. (or its affiliate) and LNR Securities Holdings, LLC (or its affiliate) with due diligence relating to the mortgage loans to be included in the mortgage pool.

 

  Prior to the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan, if necessary, will be specially serviced by the special servicer under the pooling and servicing agreement. From and

 

 

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after the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan will be specially serviced, if necessary, under, and by the special servicer designated in, the servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement. See “Description of the Mortgage PoolThe Whole LoansThe Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans”, “—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans” and “Pooling and Servicing AgreementServicing of the Servicing Shift Mortgage Loan”.

 

Trustee   Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, will be the trustee. The corporate trust office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee, is located at 9062 Old Annapolis Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045. Following the transfer of the mortgage loans to the issuing entity, the trustee, on behalf of the issuing entity, will become the mortgagee of record for each serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans. See “Transaction Parties—The Trustee and the Certificate Administrator” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”.

 

  The initial mortgagee of record with respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan will be the trustee under the pooling and servicing agreement. From and after the servicing shift securitization date, the mortgagee of record with respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan will be the trustee designated in the servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement.

 

Certificate Administrator   Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, will be certificate administrator. The certificate administrator will also be required to act as custodian, 17g-5 information provider, certificate registrar and authenticating agent. The corporate trust offices of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as certificate administrator, are located at 9062 Old Annapolis Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045, and for certificate transfer services, at 600 South 4th Street, 7th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479. See “Transaction Parties—The Trustee and the Certificate Administrator” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”.

 

  The custodian with respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan will be the certificate administrator, in its capacity as custodian under the pooling and servicing agreement. After the servicing shift securitization date, the custodian of the related mortgage file (other than the promissory note evidencing the servicing shift mortgage loan) will be the custodian under the servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement. See “Description of the Mortgage PoolThe Whole LoansThe Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans”, “—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans” and “Pooling and Servicing AgreementServicing of the Servicing Shift Mortgage Loan”.

 

Operating Advisor   Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, a New York limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Park Bridge Financial LLC, will be the operating advisor. The operating advisor will have certain review and reporting responsibilities with respect to the performance of the special servicer and, in certain circumstances may recommend to the certificateholders

 

 

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    that the special servicer be replaced. The operating advisor will generally have no obligations or consultation rights as operating advisor under the pooling and servicing agreement for this transaction with respect to any non-serviced mortgage loan or any related REO property. See “Transaction Parties—The Operating Advisor and Asset Representations Reviewer” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—The Operating Advisor”.

 

Asset Representations Reviewer   Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, a New York limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Park Bridge Financial LLC, will also be the asset representations reviewer. The asset representations reviewer will be required to review certain delinquent mortgage loans after a specified delinquency threshold has been exceeded and notification from the certificate administrator that the required percentage of certificateholders have voted to direct a review of such delinquent mortgage loans.

 

  See “Transaction Parties—The Operating Advisor and Asset Representations Reviewer” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—The Asset Representations Reviewer”.

 

Directing Holder   The directing holder will have certain consent and consultation rights in certain circumstances with respect to the serviced mortgage loans (other than the servicing shift mortgage loan or any excluded loans) and any related serviced companion loans, as further described in this prospectus. The directing holder (other than with respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan and, for so long as no control appraisal period under the related intercreditor agreement is continuing, any serviced AB whole loans) will generally be the controlling class certificateholder (or its representative) selected by more than a specified percentage of the controlling class certificateholders (by certificate balance, as certified by the certificate registrar from time to time as provided for in the pooling and servicing agreement). See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—The Directing Holder”. However, in certain circumstances there may be no directing holder even if there is a controlling class, and in other circumstances there will be no controlling class.

 

  With respect to the directing holder, an “excluded loan” is a mortgage loan or whole loan with respect to which the directing holder or the holder of the majority of the controlling class certificates (by certificate principal balance), is a borrower, a mortgagor, a manager of a mortgaged property, the holder of a mezzanine loan that has accelerated the related mezzanine loan or commenced foreclosure or enforcement proceedings against the equity collateral pledged to secure the related mezzanine loan, or any borrower party affiliate thereof.

 

  The controlling class will be the most subordinate class of the Class F, Class G-RR, Class H-RR and Class J-RR certificates then-outstanding that has an aggregate certificate balance, as notionally reduced by any cumulative appraisal reduction amounts allocable to such class, at least equal to 25% of the initial certificate balance of that class; provided, however, that during such time as the Class F certificates would be the controlling class, the holders of such certificates will have the

 

 

23 

 

 

 

    right to irrevocably waive their right to appoint a directing holder or to exercise any of the rights of the controlling class certificateholder. No class of certificates, other than as described above, will be eligible to act as the controlling class or appoint a directing holder.

 

  It is anticipated that Eightfold Real Estate Capital Fund V, L.P., or its affiliate, will purchase approximately 75% of each of the Class X-F, Class F, Class G-RR, Class H-RR, Class J-RR and Class S certificates (and may purchase certain other classes of certificates) and, on the closing date, is expected to be the initial directing holder with respect to each serviced mortgage loan (other than, for so long as no control appraisal period under the related intercreditor agreement is continuing, any serviced AB whole loans, the servicing shift mortgage loan or any excluded loans) and any related serviced companion loans. During the continuation of a control appraisal period under the related intercreditor agreement, the controlling class certificateholder will be the directing holder for the related serviced AB whole loan and will generally have the same consent and consultation rights with respect to the related serviced AB whole loan as it does for the other mortgage loans (other than any non-serviced mortgage loan, any applicable excluded loan or any servicing shift mortgage loan) in the pool.

 

  With respect to the servicing shift whole loan, the holder of the related controlling companion loan will be the related controlling noteholder, and will be entitled to certain consent and consultation rights with respect to the servicing shift whole loan under the related intercreditor agreement. From and after the servicing shift securitization date, the controlling noteholder of the servicing shift whole loan is expected to be the directing certificateholder under the servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement. The directing certificateholder of this securitization will only have limited consultation rights with respect to certain servicing matters or mortgage loan modifications affecting the servicing shift mortgage loan. See “Description of the Mortgage PoolThe Whole LoansThe Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans” and “—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans”.

 

Non-Serviced Mortgage Loan

Related Parties   With respect to each non-serviced mortgage loan, the entities acting or expected to act as of the date of this prospectus as master servicer, special servicer, trustee, custodian, directing certificateholder, operating advisor and asset representations reviewer (or, in each case, in similar capacities) are identified in the table titled “Non-Serviced Whole Loans” under “—Whole Loans” below in connection with the related securitization transactions. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans”.

 

Risk Retention

Consultation Party   The “risk retention consultation parties” will be (i) a party selected by Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its New York Branch, (ii) a party selected by Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. and

 

 

24 

 

 

 

    (iii) a party selected by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in each case, as a holder of the VRR interest. Each risk retention consultation party will have certain non-binding consultation rights in certain circumstances (i) for so long as no consultation termination event is continuing, with respect to any serviced mortgage loan (other than the servicing shift mortgage loan or any excluded loans) and any related serviced companion loans that is a specially serviced loan, and (ii) during the continuance of a consultation termination event, with respect to any serviced mortgage loan (other than the servicing shift mortgage loan or any excluded loans) and any related serviced companion, as further described in this prospectus. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the risk retention consultation parties will have any consultation rights with respect to any applicable excluded loan. Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its New York Branch, Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (or affiliates thereof) are expected to be appointed as the initial risk retention consultation parties.

 

  With respect to any risk retention consultation party, an “excluded loan” is a mortgage loan or whole loan with respect to which such risk retention consultation party or the person entitled to appoint such risk retention consultation party is a borrower, a mortgagor, a manager of a mortgaged property, the holder of a mezzanine loan that has accelerated the related mezzanine loan or commenced foreclosure or enforcement proceedings against the equity collateral pledged to secure the related mezzanine loan, or any borrower party affiliate thereof.

 

Certain Affiliations   The originators, the sponsors, the underwriters and parties to the pooling and servicing agreement have various roles in this transaction as well as certain relationships with parties to this transaction and certain of their affiliates. These roles and other potential relationships may give rise to conflicts of interest as further described in this prospectus under “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Affiliations, Relationships and Related Transactions Involving Transaction Parties”.

 

Relevant Dates and Periods

 

Cut-off Date   With respect to each mortgage loan, the later of the related due date of such mortgage loan in November 2018 (or, in the case of any mortgage loan that has its first due date after November 2018, the date that would have been its due date in November 2018 under the terms of that mortgage loan if a monthly payment were scheduled to be due in that month) and the date of origination of such mortgage loan.

 

Closing Date   On or about November 28, 2018.

 

Distribution Date   The 4th business day following each determination date. The first distribution date will be in December 2018.

 

Determination Date   The 11th day of each month or, if the 11th day is not a business day, then the business day immediately following such 11th day.

 

 

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Record Date   With respect to any distribution date, the last business day of the month preceding the month in which that distribution date occurs.

 

Interest Accrual Period   Interest will accrue on the offered certificates during the calendar month immediately preceding the related distribution date. Interest will be calculated on the offered certificates based on a 360-day year consisting of 30-day months, or a “30/360 basis”.

 

Collection Period   For any mortgage loan to be held by the issuing entity and any distribution date, the period commencing on the day immediately following the due date for such mortgage loan in the month preceding the month in which that distribution date occurs and ending on and including the due date for such mortgage loan occurring in the month in which that distribution date occurs. However, in the event that the last day of a collection period (or applicable grace period) is not a business day, any periodic payments received with respect to the mortgage loans relating to that collection period on the business day immediately following that last day will be deemed to have been received during that collection period and not during any other collection period.

 

Assumed Final Distribution
Date; Rated Final

Distribution Date   Each class of offered certificates will have the assumed final distribution dates set forth below and have been determined on the basis of the assumptions described in “Description of the Certificates—Assumed Final Distribution Date; Rated Final Distribution Date”:

 

  Class A-1 July 2023
  Class A-2 October 2023
  Class A-SB June 2028
  Class A-3 October 2028
  Class A-4 October 2028
  Class X-A November 2028
  Class A-M November 2028
  Class B November 2028
  Class C November 2028

 

  The rated final distribution date for each class of offered certificates will be the distribution date in May 2053.

 

 

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Transaction Overview

 

On the closing date, each sponsor will sell its respective mortgage loans to the depositor, which will in turn deposit the mortgage loans into the issuing entity, a common law trust created on the closing date. The issuing entity will be formed pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement.

 

The transfers of the mortgage loans from the sponsors to the depositor and from the depositor to the issuing entity in exchange for the offered certificates are illustrated below:

 

 

 

The foregoing illustration does not take into account the sale of any non-offered certificates, including the VRR Interest.

 

Offered Certificates

 

General   We are offering the following classes of Benchmark 2018-B7 Mortgage Trust Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2018-B7 set forth below (referred to as the “offered certificates”):

 

Class A-1

 

Class A-2

 

Class A-SB

 

Class A-3

 

Class A-4

 

Class X-A

 

 

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Class A-M

 

Class B

 

Class C

 

  The certificates will consist of the offered certificates and each class of non-offered certificates, which consists of the Class X-B, Class X-D, Class X-F, Class D, Class E, Class F, Class G-RR, Class H-RR, Class J-RR, Class S, Class R and VRR Interest. The certificates (other than the VRR Interest and the Class R certificates) are collectively referred to as the “non-VRR certificates.” The Class G-RR, Class H-RR and Class J-RR certificates are collectively referred to as the “HRR certificates”.

 

Certificate Balances and

Notional Amounts   Each class of offered certificates will have the approximate aggregate initial certificate balance or notional amount set forth below, subject to a variance of plus or minus 5%:

 

    

Initial Certificate
Balance or
Notional Amount

  Class A-1    $20,240,000 
  Class A-2    $211,980,000 
  Class A-SB(1)    $36,078,000 
  Class A-3    $203,000,000 
  Class A-4    $320,279,000 
  Class X-A    $884,870,000 
  Class A-M    $93,293,000 
  Class B    $52,300,000 
  Class C    $52,301,000 

 

       

 

(1)The Class A-SB certificates have certain priority with respect to reducing the principal balance of those certificates to their planned principal balance, as described in this prospectus.

 

Pass-Through Rates

 

A. Offered Certificates   Each class of offered certificates will accrue interest at an annual rate called a pass-through rate. The initial approximate pass-through rate for each class of offered certificates is set forth below:

 

  Class A-1 3.436%(1)
  Class A-2 4.377%(1)
  Class A-SB 4.376%(2)
  Class A-3 4.241%(1)
  Class A-4 4.510%(2)
  Class X-A 0.450%(3)
  Class A-M 4.741%(2)
  Class B 4.861%(4)
  Class C 4.861%(4)

 

       

 

(1)The pass through rates for the Class A-1, Class A-2 and Class A-3 certificates, in each case, will be equal to a fixed per annum rate.

 

(2)The pass-through rate for the Class A-SB certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.376%. The pass-through rate for the Class A-4 certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on

 

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the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.510%. The pass-through rate for the Class A-M certificates will be a per annum rate equal to the lesser of (i) the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which such distribution date occurs and (ii) 4.741%.

 

(3)The pass-through rate for the Class X-A certificates for any distribution date will equal the excess, if any, of (a) the WAC rate, over (b) the weighted average of the pass-through rates of the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4 and Class A-M certificates for that distribution date, weighted on the basis of their respective certificate balances immediately prior to that distribution date.

 

(4)The pass-through rate for the Class B and Class C certificates for any distribution date will equal the weighted average of the net mortgage rates on the mortgage loans (in each case, adjusted, if necessary, to accrue on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) as of their respective due dates in the month preceding the month in which the related distribution date occurs.

  

  See “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Pass-Through Rates” in this prospectus.

 

B. Interest Rate Calculation

Convention   Interest on the offered certificates at their applicable pass-through rates will be calculated based on a 30/360 basis.

 

  For purposes of calculating the pass-through rates on each class of Class X certificates and any other class of certificates that has a pass-through rate limited by, equal to or based on the weighted average net mortgage interest rate (which calculation does not include any companion loan interest rate), the mortgage loan interest rates will not reflect any default interest rate, any loan term modifications agreed to by the special servicer or any modifications resulting from a borrower’s bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

  For purposes of calculating the pass-through rates on the offered certificates, the interest rate for each mortgage loan that accrues interest based on the actual number of days in each month and assuming a 360-day year (“actual/360 basis”), will be recalculated, if necessary, so that the amount of interest that would accrue at that recalculated rate in the applicable month, calculated on a 30/360 basis, will equal the amount of interest that is required to be paid on that mortgage loan in that month, subject to certain adjustments as described in “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Pass-Through Rates” and “—Interest Distribution Amount”.

 

C. Servicing and

Administration Fees   The master servicer and special servicer will be entitled to a master servicing fee and a special servicing fee, respectively, from the payments on each mortgage loan (other than a non-serviced mortgage loan with respect to the special servicing fee only), any related serviced companion loans and any related REO loans and, with respect to the special servicing fees, if the related loan interest payments (or other collections in respect of the related mortgage loan or mortgaged property) are insufficient, then from general collections on all mortgage loans. The servicing fee for each distribution date, including the master servicing fee and the portion of the servicing fee payable to any

 

 

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    primary servicer or subservicer, is calculated on the stated principal amount of each mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans at the servicing fee rate equal to a per annum rate ranging from 0.00375% to 0.10250%.

 

  The principal compensation to be paid to the special servicer in respect of its special servicing activities will be the special servicing fee, the workout fee and the liquidation fee.

 

  The special servicing fee for each distribution date is calculated based on the stated principal amount of each serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans as to which a special servicing transfer event has occurred (including any REO loans), on a loan-by-loan basis at the special servicing fee rate equal to 0.25% per annum with a minimum monthly fee of $3,500. The special servicer will not be entitled to a special servicing fee with respect to any non-serviced mortgage loan.

 

  The workout fee will generally be payable with respect to each specially serviced loan and any related serviced companion loans which has become a “corrected loan” (which will occur (i) with respect to a specially serviced loan as to which there has been a payment default, when the borrower has brought the mortgage loan current and thereafter made three consecutive full and timely monthly payments, including pursuant to any workout and (ii) with respect to any other specially serviced loan, when the related default is cured or the other circumstances pursuant to which it became a specially serviced loan cease to exist in the commercially reasonable judgment of the special servicer). The workout fee will be payable out of each collection of interest and principal (including scheduled payments, prepayments, balloon payments, and payments at maturity) received on the related mortgage loan (or serviced whole loan, as applicable) for so long as it remains a corrected mortgage loan, in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) 1.0% of each such collection of interest and principal (or, if such rate would result in an aggregate workout fee of less than $25,000, then such higher rate as would result in an aggregate workout fee equal to $25,000) and (2) $1,000,000 in the aggregate with respect to any particular workout of a specially serviced loan.

 

  A liquidation fee will generally be payable with respect to each specially serviced loan (and any related serviced companion loans) and any related REO property, each mortgage loan repurchased by a mortgage loan seller or each defaulted mortgage loan that is a non-serviced mortgage loan sold by the special servicer, as to which the special servicer obtains a full, partial or discounted payoff from the related borrower, loan purchaser or which is repurchased by the related mortgage loan seller outside the applicable cure period and, except as otherwise described in this prospectus, with respect to any specially serviced loan or REO property as to which the special servicer receives any liquidation proceeds. The liquidation fee for each mortgage loan (and any related serviced companion loans) and REO property will be payable from the related payment or proceeds in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) 1.0% of such

 

 

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    payment or proceeds (or, if such rate would result in an aggregate liquidation fee of less than $25,000, then the liquidation fee rate will be equal to such higher rate as would result in an aggregate liquidation fee equal to $25,000) and (2) $1,000,000.

 

  Workout fees and liquidation fees paid by the issuing entity with respect to each serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans will be subject to an aggregate cap per serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans of $1,000,000 as described in “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses—Special Servicing Compensation”. Any workout fees or liquidation fees paid to a predecessor or successor special servicer will not be taken into account in determining the cap.

 

  Any primary servicing fees or sub-servicing fees with respect to each serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loan will be paid by the master servicer out of the fees described above.

 

  The master servicer and special servicer are also entitled to additional fees and amounts, including income on the amounts held in certain accounts and certain permitted investments. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses”.

 

  The certificate administrator fee for each distribution date is calculated on the stated principal amount of each serviced mortgage loan and REO loan at a per annum rate equal to 0.00640%. The trustee fee will be payable by the certificate administrator from the certificate administrator fee.

 

  The operating advisor will be entitled to a fee on each distribution date calculated on the stated principal amount of each mortgage loan and REO loan at a per annum rate equal to (i) 0.00164% with respect to each such mortgage loan (except the Dumbo Heights Portfolio, Shops at Solaris, Liberty Portfolio, 192 Lexington Avenue and Outlet Shoppes at El Paso mortgage loans), (ii) 0.00289% with respect to the Dumbo Heights Portfolio mortgage loan, (iii) 0.00364% with respect to the Shops at Solaris mortgage loan, (iv) 0.00364% with respect to the Liberty Portfolio mortgage loan, (v) 0.00381% with respect to the 192 Lexington Avenue mortgage loan and (vi) 0.00442% with respect to the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso mortgage loan.

 

  The asset representations reviewer will be entitled to a reasonable hourly fee (to be paid by the applicable mortgage loan seller except as described in “Pooling and Servicing AgreementServicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses”) upon the completion of the review it conducts with respect to certain delinquent mortgage loans, which will be subject to a cap as described in “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses—Asset Representations Reviewer Compensation”.

 

 

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  Each party to the pooling and servicing agreement will also be entitled to be reimbursed by the issuing entity for costs, expenses and liabilities borne by them in certain circumstances. Fees and expenses payable by the issuing entity to any party to the pooling and servicing agreement will be generally payable prior to any distributions to certificateholders.

 

  Additionally, with respect to each distribution date, an amount equal to the product of 0.00050% per annum multiplied by the stated principal amount of each mortgage loan and any REO loan will be payable to CRE Finance Council© as a license fee for use of its name and trademarks, including an investor reporting package. This fee will be payable prior to any distributions to certificateholders.

 

  Payment of the fees and reimbursement of the costs and expenses described above will generally have priority over the distribution of amounts payable to the certificateholders. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing and Other Compensation and Payment of Expenses” and “—Limitation on Liability; Indemnification”.

 

  With respect to each non-serviced mortgage loan set forth in the following table, the master servicer under the related pooling and servicing agreement governing the servicing of that loan will be entitled to a primary servicing fee (which includes any sub-servicing fee) at a rate equal to a per annum rate set forth in the following table, and the special servicer under the related pooling and servicing agreement will be entitled to a special servicing fee at a rate equal to the per annum rate set forth below. In addition, each party to the related pooling and servicing agreement governing the servicing of such non-serviced whole loan will be entitled to receive other fees and reimbursements with respect to the related non-serviced mortgage loan in amounts, from sources, and at frequencies, that are similar, but not necessarily identical, to those described above and, in certain cases (for example, with respect to unreimbursed special servicing fees and servicing advances with respect to the related non-serviced whole loan), such amounts will be reimbursable from general collections on the mortgage loans to the extent not recoverable from the related non-serviced whole loan and to the extent allocable to the related non-serviced mortgage loan pursuant to the related intercreditor agreement. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans”, “—The AB Whole Loans” and “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans”.

 

 

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Non-Serviced Whole Loans(1)

 

 

Non-Serviced Loan

 

Primary
Servicer Fee

 

Special
Servicer Fee

  Moffett Towers - Buildings E,F,G   0.00250%   0.25000%
  Aventura Mall   0.00125%   0.25000%
  Aon Center   0.00125%   0.25000%
  Workspace   0.00125%   0.25000%
  636 11th Avenue   0.00250%   0.25000%
  Outlet Shoppes at El Paso   0.00250%   0.25000%
  Overland Park Xchange   0.00125%   0.25000%
  Concord Plaza   0.00125%   0.25000%
  Shelbourne Global Portfolio I   0.00125%   0.25000%

 

       

 

(1)Does not reflect the Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes mortgage loan, a servicing shift mortgage loan. With respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan, after the securitization of the related controlling pari passu companion loan, such mortgage loan will be a non-serviced mortgage loan, and the related servicing shift master servicer and related servicing shift special servicer under the related servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement will be entitled to a primary servicing fee and special servicing fee, respectively, as will be set forth in such related servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement.

 

Distributions

 

A. Allocation Between VRR

Interest and Non-VRR

Certificates   The aggregate amount available for distribution to holders of the certificates (including the VRR Interest) on each distribution date will be: (i) the gross amount of interest, principal, yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums collected with respect to the mortgage loans in the applicable one-month collection period (other than any excess interest accrued after the related anticipated repayment date on any mortgage loan with an anticipated repayment date), net of specified expenses of the issuing entity, including fees payable therefrom to, and losses, liabilities, costs and expenses reimbursable or indemnifiable therefrom to, the master servicer, the special servicer, the certificate administrator, the trustee, the operating advisor, the asset representations reviewer and CREFC®; and (ii) allocated to amounts available for distribution to the holders of the VRR Interest, on the one hand, and amounts available for distribution to the holders of the non-VRR certificates, on the other hand. On each distribution date, the portion of such aggregate available funds allocable to: (a) the VRR Interest will be the product of such aggregate available funds multiplied by a fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the initial certificate balance of the VRR Interest, and the denominator of which is the aggregate initial certificate balance of all of the classes of principal balance certificates and the initial certificate balance of the VRR interest; and (b) the non-VRR certificates will at all times be the product of such aggregate available funds multiplied by the difference between 100% and the percentage referenced in clause (a). With respect to each of the VRR Interest and the non-VRR certificates, the percentage referred to in the preceding sentence is referred to in this prospectus as its “percentage allocation entitlement”.

 

 

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B. Amount and Order of 

Distributions   On each distribution date, funds available for distribution to the holders of the non-VRR certificates (other than the Class S certificates) (exclusive of any portion thereof that represents the related percentage allocation entitlement of any yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums) and the Class R certificates will be distributed in the following amounts and order of priority:

 

  First, to the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class X-A, Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates, in respect of interest, up to an amount equal to, and pro rata in accordance with, the interest entitlements for those classes;

 

  Second, to the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3 and Class A-4 certificates, in reduction of the certificate balances of those classes, in the following priority:

 

  First, to principal on the Class A-SB certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-SB certificates has been reduced to the planned principal balance for the related distribution date set forth in Annex F to this prospectus;

 

  Second, to principal on the Class A-1 certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-1 certificates has been reduced to zero;

 

  Third, to principal on the Class A-2 certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-2 certificates has been reduced to zero;

 

  Fourth, to principal on the Class A-3 certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-3 certificates has been reduced to zero;

 

  Fifth, to principal on the Class A-4 certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-4 certificates has been reduced to zero; and

 

  Sixth, to principal on the Class A-SB certificates, until the certificate balance of the Class A-SB certificates has been reduced to zero.

 

  However, if the certificate balances of each class of certificates, other than the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3 and Class A-4 certificates, having an initial principal balance have been reduced to zero, funds available for distributions of principal will be distributed to the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3 and Class A-4 certificates, pro rata, based on their respective certificate balances and without regard to the Class A-SB planned principal balance;

 

  Third, to the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3 and Class A-4 certificates, pro rata, based on the aggregate unreimbursed losses, for any previously unreimbursed losses on

 

 

34 

 

 

 

    the mortgage loans allocable to principal that were previously borne by those classes;

 

 

 

Fourth, to the Class A-M certificates, as follows: (a) to interest on the Class A-M certificates in the amount of its interest entitlement; (b) to the extent of funds allocable to principal remaining after distributions in respect of principal to each class with a higher priority (as set forth in prior enumerated clauses set forth above), to principal on the Class A-M certificates until its certificate balance has been reduced to zero; and (c) to reimburse the Class A-M certificates for any previously unreimbursed losses on the mortgage loans that were previously allocated to that class of certificates;

 

  Fifth, to the Class B certificates, as follows: (a) to interest on the Class B certificates in the amount of its interest entitlement; (b) to the extent of funds allocable to principal remaining after distributions in respect of principal to each class with a higher priority (as set forth in prior enumerated clauses set forth above), to principal on the Class B certificates until its certificate balance has been reduced to zero; and (c) to reimburse the Class B certificates for any previously unreimbursed losses on the mortgage loans that were previously allocated to that class of certificates;

 

  Sixth, to the Class C certificates, as follows: (a) to interest on the Class C certificates in the amount of its interest entitlement; (b) to the extent of funds allocable to principal remaining after distributions in respect of principal to each class with a higher priority (as set forth in prior enumerated clauses set forth above), to principal on the Class C certificates until its certificate balance has been reduced to zero; and (c) to reimburse the Class C certificates for any previously unreimbursed losses on the mortgage loans that were previously allocated to that class of certificates;

 

  Seventh, to the non-offered certificates (other than the Class X-B, Class X-D, Class X-F, Class S and Class R certificates), in the amounts and order of priority described in “Description of the Certificates—Distributions”; and

 

  Eighth, to the Class R certificates, any remaining amounts.

 

  For more detailed information regarding distributions on the certificates, see “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Priority of Distributions”.

 

C. Interest and Principal

Entitlements   A description of the interest entitlement of each class of certificates (other than the Class S and Class R certificates), including the VRR Interest, can be found in “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Interest Distribution Amount” and “Credit Risk Retention—The VRR Interest—Priority of Distributions on the VRR Interest”. As described in those sections, there are circumstances in which your interest entitlement for a distribution date could be less than one full

 

 

35 

 

 

 

    month’s interest at the pass-through rate on your certificate’s balance or notional amount.

 

  A description of the amount of principal required to be distributed to each class of certificates entitled to principal on a particular distribution date can be found in “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Principal Distribution Amount”.

 

D. Yield Maintenance Charges,

Prepayment Premiums   Yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums with respect to the mortgage loans will be allocated to the holders of the VRR Interest, on the one hand, and to the holders of certain of the non-VRR certificates, on the other hand, in accordance with their respective percentage allocation entitlement as described in “Description of the Certificates—Allocation of Yield Maintenance Charges and Prepayment Premiums”. Yield maintenance charges and prepayment premiums with respect to the mortgage loans that are allocated to the non-VRR certificates will be further allocated as described in “Description of the Certificates—Allocation of Yield Maintenance Charges and Prepayment Premiums”.

 

  For an explanation of the calculation of yield maintenance charges, see “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans”.

 

E. Subordination, Allocation of

Losses and Certain Expenses   The following chart generally sets forth the manner in which the payment rights of certain classes of non-VRR certificates will be senior or subordinate, as the case may be, to the payment rights of other classes of non-VRR certificates. On any distribution date, the aggregate amount available for distributions on the certificates will be allocated between the VRR Interest and the non-VRR certificates in accordance with their respective percentage allocation entitlement, and principal and interest (other than excess interest that accrues on a mortgage loan that has an anticipated repayment date (if any)) allocated to the non-VRR certificates will be further allocated to the specified classes of those certificates in descending order (beginning with the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class X-A, Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates), in each case as set forth in the following chart. Certain payment rights between the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class X-A, Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates are more particularly described under “Description of the Certificates—Distributions”.

 

 

36 

 

 

 

  On any distribution date, mortgage loan losses will be allocated between the VRR Interest and non-VRR certificates in accordance with their respective percentage allocation entitlement, and the mortgage loan losses allocated to the non-VRR certificates will be further allocated to the specified classes of those certificates in ascending order (beginning with certain non-VRR certificates that are not being offered by this prospectus), in each case as set forth in the chart below.

 

   

 

       

 

* The Class A-SB certificates have certain priority with respect to reducing the principal balance of those certificates to their planned principal balance as described in this prospectus.

 

** The Class X-A, Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates are interest-only certificates and the Class X-B, Class X-D and Class X-F certificates are not offered by this prospectus.

 

*** Other than the Class X-B, Class X-D, Class X-F, Class S and Class R certificates and the VRR Interest.

 

  The VRR percentage and the non-VRR percentage are subject to change as described in “Credit Risk Retention—The VRR Interest—Material Terms of the VRR Interest—Priority of Distributions on the VRR Interest”.

 

  Credit enhancement will be provided solely by certain classes of subordinate principal balance certificates that will be subordinate to certain classes of senior non-VRR certificates as described under “Description of the Certificates—Subordination; Allocation of Realized Losses”. No other form of credit enhancement will be available for the benefit of the holders of the offered certificates. The right to payment of holders of the VRR Interest will be pro rata and pari passu with the right to payment of holders of the non-VRR certificates (as a collective whole), and as described above any losses incurred on the mortgage loans will be allocated between the VRR Interest, on the one hand, and

 

 

37 

 

 

 

    the non-VRR certificates, on the other hand, pro rata in accordance with their respective percentage allocation entitlements.

 

 

The notional amount of the Class X-A certificates will be reduced by the aggregate amount of principal losses or principal payments, if any, allocated to the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4 and Class A-M certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-B certificates will be reduced by the aggregate amount of principal losses or principal payments, if any, allocated to the Class B and Class C certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-D certificates will be reduced by the aggregate amount of principal losses or principal payments, if any, allocated to the Class D and Class E certificates. The notional amount of the Class X-F certificates will be reduced by the amount of principal losses or principal payments, if any, allocated to the Class F certificates.

 

  To the extent funds are available on a subsequent distribution date for distribution on your offered certificates, you will be reimbursed for any losses allocated to your offered certificates in accordance with the distribution priorities.

 

  See “Description of the Certificates—Subordination; Allocation of Realized Losses” and “Credit Risk Retention—The VRR Interest—Allocation of VRR Realized Losses” for more detailed information regarding the subordination provisions applicable to the certificates and the allocation of losses to the certificates.

 

F. Shortfalls in Available Funds   The following types of shortfalls in available funds allocated to the non-VRR certificates will reduce distributions to the classes of non-VRR certificates with the lowest payment priorities:

 

shortfalls resulting from the payment of special servicing fees and other additional compensation that the special servicer is entitled to receive;

 

shortfalls resulting from interest on advances made by the master servicer, the special servicer or the trustee (to the extent not covered by late payment charges or default interest paid by the related borrower);

 

shortfalls resulting from the application of appraisal reductions to reduce interest advances;

 

shortfalls resulting from extraordinary expenses of the issuing entity including indemnification payments payable to the parties to the pooling and servicing agreement;

 

shortfalls resulting from a modification of a mortgage loan’s interest rate or principal balance; and

 

shortfalls resulting from other unanticipated or default-related expenses of the issuing entity.

 

  In addition, prepayment interest shortfalls on the mortgage loans that are not covered by certain compensating interest payments

 

 

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    made by the master servicer are required to be allocated between the VRR Interest, on the one hand, and the non-VRR certificates, on the other hand, in accordance with their respective percentage allocation entitlement. The prepayment interest shortfalls allocated to the non-VRR certificates (other than the Class S certificates) entitled to interest, on a pro rata basis, to reduce the amount of interest payable on each such class of certificates to the extent described in this prospectus. See “Description of the Certificates—Distributions—Priority of Distributions”.

 

  With respect to a whole loan that is comprised of a mortgage loan, one or more subordinate companion loans and, in some cases, one or more pari passu companion loans, shortfalls in available funds resulting from any of the foregoing will result first in a reduction in amounts distributable in accordance with the related intercreditor agreement in respect of the related subordinate companion loan(s), and then, result in a reduction in amounts distributable in accordance with the related intercreditor agreement in respect of the related mortgage loan (and any pari passu companion loans, on a pro rata basis), which allocations to the related mortgage loan will in turn reduce distributions in respect of the certificates as described above. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans” and “Yield and Maturity Considerations—Yield Considerations—Losses and Shortfalls”.

 

G. Excess Interest   On each distribution date, any excess interest in respect of the increase in the interest rate on any mortgage loan with an anticipated repayment date (which accrues after the related anticipated repayment date), to the extent actually collected and applied as interest during a collection period, will be allocated to the holders of the Class S certificates and the VRR Interest on the related distribution date. This excess interest will not be available to make distributions to any other class of certificates, to provide credit support for other classes of certificates, to offset any interest shortfalls or to pay any other amounts to any other party under the pooling and servicing agreement.

 

Advances

 

A. P&I Advances   The master servicer will be required to advance a delinquent periodic payment on each mortgage loan (unless the master servicer or the special servicer determines that the advance would be non-recoverable). Neither the master servicer nor the trustee will be required to advance balloon payments due at maturity in excess of the regular periodic payment, interest in excess of a mortgage loan’s regular interest rate, default interest, late payment charges, prepayment premiums or yield maintenance charges.

 

  The amount of the interest portion of any advance will be subject to reduction to the extent that an appraisal reduction of the related mortgage loan has occurred (and with respect to any mortgage loan that is part of a whole loan, to the extent such appraisal reduction amount is allocated to the related mortgage loan). There may be other circumstances in which the master

 

 

39 

 

 

 

    servicer will not be required to advance a full month of principal and/or interest. If the master servicer fails to make a required advance, the trustee will be required to make the advance, unless the trustee determines that the advance would be non-recoverable. If an interest advance is made by the master servicer, the master servicer will not advance the portion of interest that constitutes its servicing fee, but will advance the portion of interest that constitutes the regular monthly fees payable to the certificate administrator, the trustee, the operating advisor and the CREFC® license fee.

 

  Neither the master servicer nor the trustee will make, or be permitted to make, any principal or interest advance with respect to any companion loan that is not held by the issuing entity.

 

  None of the master servicer, special servicer or trustee will make, or be permitted to make, any advance in connection with the exercise of any cure rights or purchase rights granted to the holder of any subordinate companion loan under the related intercreditor agreement.

 

  See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Advances”.

 

B. Servicing Advances   The master servicer may be required to make advances with respect to serviced mortgage loans and any related serviced companion loans to pay delinquent real estate taxes, assessments and hazard insurance premiums and similar expenses necessary to:

 

protect and maintain (and in the case of REO properties, lease and manage) the related mortgaged property;

 

maintain the priority of the lien on the related mortgaged property; and/or

 

enforce the related mortgage loan documents.

 

  The special servicer will have no obligation to make any servicing advances but may in the special servicer’s discretion make such an advance on an urgent or emergency basis.

 

  If the master servicer fails to make a required advance of this type, the trustee will be required to make this advance. None of the master servicer, the special servicer or the trustee is required to advance amounts determined by such party to be non-recoverable.

 

  See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Advances”.

 

  With respect to any non-serviced mortgage loan, the master servicer and/or the special servicer (and the trustee, as applicable) under the related pooling and servicing agreement governing the servicing of the related non-serviced whole loan will be required to make similar advances with respect to delinquent real estate taxes, assessments and hazard insurance premiums as described above.

 

 

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C. Interest on Advances The master servicer, the special servicer and the trustee, as applicable, will be entitled to interest on the above described advances at the “Prime Rate” as published in The Wall Street Journal, as described in this prospectus. Interest accrued on outstanding advances may result in reductions in amounts otherwise payable on the certificates. Neither the master servicer nor the trustee will be entitled to interest on advances made with respect to principal and interest due on a mortgage loan until the related due date has passed and any grace period for late payments applicable to the mortgage loan has expired. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Advances”.

 

With respect to any non-serviced mortgage loan, the applicable makers of advances under the related pooling and servicing agreement governing the servicing of the related non-serviced whole loan will similarly be entitled to interest on advances, and any accrued and unpaid interest on servicing advances made in respect of the related non-serviced mortgage loan may be reimbursed from general collections on the other mortgage loans included in the issuing entity to the extent not recoverable from such non-serviced mortgage loan and to the extent allocable to the related non-serviced mortgage loan in accordance with the related intercreditor agreement.

 

The Mortgage Pool

 

The Mortgage Pool The issuing entity’s primary assets will be 51 fixed rate commercial mortgage loans, each evidenced by one or more promissory notes secured by first mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt or similar security instruments on the fee simple and/or leasehold estate of the related borrowers in 227 commercial or multifamily properties. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Indebtedness”.

 

The aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date will be approximately $1,167,914,680.

 

In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified, (i) references to a mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) by name refer to such mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) so identified on Annex A-1, (ii) references to a mortgage loan by name refer to such mortgage loan secured by the related mortgaged property (or portfolio of mortgaged properties) so identified on Annex A-1, (iii) any parenthetical with a percent next to a mortgaged property name (or portfolio of mortgaged properties name) indicates the approximate percent (or approximate aggregate percent) that the outstanding principal balance of the related mortgage loan (or, if applicable, the allocated loan amount with respect to such mortgaged property) represents of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date for this securitization, and (iv) any parenthetical with a percent next to a mortgage loan name or a group of mortgage loans indicates the approximate percent (or approximate aggregate percent) that the outstanding principal balance of such mortgage loan or the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such group of mortgage loans, as applicable, represents of the aggregate

 

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  outstanding principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date for this securitization.

 

Whole Loans

 

Unless otherwise expressly stated in this prospectus, the term “mortgage loan” refers to each of the 51 commercial mortgage loans to be held by the issuing entity. Of the mortgage loans, each of the mortgage loans in the following table is part of a larger whole loan, each of which is comprised of (i) the related mortgage loan, (ii) one or more loans that are pari passu in right of payment to the related mortgage loan (each referred to in this prospectus as a “pari passu companion loan”) and (iii) in the case of four of the mortgage loans in the following table, one or more loans that are subordinate in right of payment to the related mortgage loan and the related pari passu companion loans (each referred to in this prospectus as a “subordinate companion loan”). Each of the pari passu companion loans and the subordinate companion loans are referred to in this prospectus as a “companion loan”. The companion loans, together with their related mortgage loan, are each referred to in this prospectus as a “whole loan”.

 

Whole Loan Summary

 

Mortgage Loan Name

Mortgage Loan Cut-off Date Balance

% of Initial Pool Balance

Pari Passu Companion
Loan Cut-off
Date Balance

Subordinate Companion Loan Cut-off Date Balance

Mortgage Loan LTV Ratio(1)(3)(4)(5)

Mortgage Loan Underwritten
NCF
DSCR(1)

Mortgage Loan Underwritten NOI Debt
Yield(1)(4)

Whole
Loan
LTV
Ratio(2)(3)(5)

Whole Loan Underwritten NCF
DSCR(2)

Whole Loan Underwritten NOI Debt Yield(2)

DUMBO Heights Portfolio $80,000,000 6.8% $100,000,000 $145,000,000 28.1% 3.89x 16.6% 50.8% 1.87x 9.2%
Moffett Towers - Buildings E,F,G $50,400,000 4.3% $233,600,000 N/A 40.2% 2.97x 12.6% 40.2% 2.97x 12.6%
Aventura Mall $50,000,000 4.3% $1,356,700,000 $343,300,000 40.8% 2.58x 11.0% 50.7% 2.07x 8.8%
Shops at Solaris $50,000,000 4.3% $20,000,000 N/A 46.7% 2.46x 11.1% 46.7% 2.46x 11.1%
Liberty Portfolio $50,000,000 4.3% $115,700,000 N/A 64.6% 1.77x 9.1% 64.6% 1.77x 9.1%
192 Lexington Avenue $46,000,000 3.9% $14,000,000 N/A 59.4% 1.41x 7.3% 59.4% 1.41x 7.3%
Aon Center $43,000,000 3.7% $307,000,000 $186,000,000 40.3% 3.03x 15.5% 62.8% 1.98x 10.0%
Workspace $40,000,000 3.4% $539,000,000 $696,000,000 35.4% 3.60x 21.6% 78.0% 1.63x 9.8%
636 11th Avenue $40,000,000 3.4% $200,000,000 N/A 56.1% 2.39x 10.3% 56.1% 2.39x 10.3%
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso $35,957,562 3.1% $38,954,025 N/A 58.8% 1.51x 10.7% 58.8% 1.51x 10.7%
Overland Park Xchange $25,000,000 2.1% $53,000,000 N/A 65.2% 2.10x 10.9% 65.2% 2.10x 10.9%
Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes $24,974,116 2.1% $40,458,068 N/A 67.7% 1.67x 13.0% 67.7% 1.67x 13.0%
Concord Plaza $19,000,000 1.6% $20,000,000 N/A 74.1% 1.36x 10.2% 74.1% 1.36x 10.2%
Shelbourne Global Portfolio I $18,000,000 1.5% $75,000,000 N/A 65.1% 1.45x 9.1% 65.1% 1.45x 9.1%

 

 

(1)Calculated based on the balance of or debt service on, as applicable, the related whole loan excluding any related subordinate companion loans.

 

(2)Calculated based on the balance of or debt service on, as applicable, the related whole loan excluding any related mezzanine debt.

 

(3)Calculated based on other than the “as is” appraised value with respect to the Moffett Towers – Buildings E,F,G, the Aon Center, and the Overland Park Xchange whole loans. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Appraised Value” for more information.

 

(4)Calculated net of an $18.3 million performance reserve with respect to the Aon Center whole loan.

 

(5)With respect to the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso mortgage loan, the Mortgage Loan LTV Ratio and Whole Loan LTV Ratio have been adjusted to exclude the $3.8 million value for a release parcel, which was not accounted for in the underwriting. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans—Partial Releases.”

 

The DUMBO Heights, Liberty Portfolio, Shops at Solaris and Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes whole loans will be serviced by the master servicer and the special servicer pursuant

 

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  to the pooling and servicing agreement for this transaction and are each referred to in this prospectus as a “serviced whole loan”, the related companion loans are referred to in this prospectus as “serviced companion loans”, any related pari passu companion loan is referred to in this prospectus as a “serviced pari passu companion loan”.

 

The Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes whole loan, a “servicing shift whole loan”, will initially be serviced by the master servicer and the special servicer pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for this transaction. From and after the date on which the related controlling companion loan is securitized (the “servicing shift securitization date”), it is anticipated that the servicing shift whole loan will be serviced under, and by the master servicer designated in, the related pooling and servicing agreement entered into in connection with such securitization (the “servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement”). Prior to the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan will be a “serviced whole loan”. On and after the servicing shift securitization date, the servicing shift whole loan will be a “non-serviced whole loan”.

 

Each mortgage loan identified in the following table will not be serviced under the pooling and servicing agreement for this transaction and instead will be serviced under a separate pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement identified in the following table relating to the securitization of a related companion loan and is, together with the related companion loan(s), referred to in this prospectus as a “non-serviced whole loan”. Each related mortgage loan is referred to as a “non-serviced mortgage loan” and each of the related companion loans are referred to in this prospectus as a “non-serviced companion loan”. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans”.

 

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Non-Serviced Whole Loans(1)

 

Loan Name

Transaction/ Pooling and Servicing Agreement

% of Initial Pool Balance

Master Servicer

Special Servicer

Trustee

Certificate Administrator and
Custodian

Directing Certificate-holder(2)

Operating Advisor

Asset Representations Reviewer

Moffett Towers - Buildings E,F,G DBGS 2018-C1 4.3% Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC Wilmington Trust, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association RREF III-D AIV RR, LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC
Aventura Mall Aventura Mall Trust 2018-AVM 4.3% Wells Fargo Bank, National Association CWCapital Asset Management LLC Wilmington Trust, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BREDS HG SD (Delaware) L.P. Park Bridge Lender Services LLC N/A
Aon Center JPMCC 2018-AON 3.7% KeyBank National Association AEGON USA Realty Advisors LLC Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Prima Capital Advisors LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC N/A
Workspace JPMCC 2018-WPT 3.4% KeyBank National Association KeyBank National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association CRE Fund Investments LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC N/A
636 11th Avenue Benchmark 2018-B4 3.4% Wells Fargo Bank, National Association CWCapital Asset Management LLC Wilmington Trust, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Barings LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso DBGS 2018-C1 3.1% Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC Wilmington Trust, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association RREF III-D AIV RR, LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC
Overland Park Xchange Benchmark 2018-B6 2.1% KeyBank National Association Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association Wilmington Trust, National Association Citibank, N.A. KKR Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners Aggregator I L.P. Park Bridge Lender Services LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC
Concord Plaza Benchmark 2018-B6 1.6% KeyBank National Association Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association Wilmington Trust, National Association Citibank, N.A. KKR Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners Aggregator I L.P. Park Bridge Lender Services LLC Park Bridge Lender Services LLC
Shelbourne Global Portfolio I UBS 2018-C13 1.5% Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association Wells Fargo Bank, National Association KKR Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners Aggregator I L.P. Pentalpha Surveillance LLC Pentalpha Surveillance LLC

 

 

(1)Does not reflect the servicing shift mortgage loan. With respect to the servicing shift mortgage loan, after the securitization of the related controlling pari passu companion loan, the mortgage loan will be a non-serviced mortgage loan, and the related servicing shift master servicer and related servicing shift special servicer under the related servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement will be entitled to a primary servicing fee and special servicing fee, respectively, as will be set forth in such related servicing shift pooling and servicing agreement.

 

(2)The entity listed as the “Directing Certificateholder” reflects the party entitled to exercise control and consultation rights with respect to the related mortgage loan until such party’s rights are terminated pursuant to the related pooling and servicing agreement, trust and servicing agreement or intercreditor agreement, as applicable.

 

For further information regarding the whole loans, see “Description of the Mortgage PoolThe Whole Loans”, and for information regarding the servicing of the non-serviced whole loan, see “Pooling and Servicing AgreementServicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans”.

 

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Mortgage Loan Characteristics

 

The following table sets forth certain anticipated characteristics of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date (unless otherwise indicated). Except as specifically provided in this prospectus, various information presented in this prospectus (including loan-to-value ratios, debt service coverage ratios, debt yields and cut-off date balances per net rentable square foot, pad, room or unit, as applicable) with respect to any mortgage loan with one or more pari passu companion loans or subordinate companion loans is calculated including the principal balance and debt service payment of the related pari passu companion loan(s), but is calculated excluding any related subordinate companion loans, mezzanine debt or preferred equity. However, unless specifically indicated, for the purpose of numerical and statistical information with respect to the composition of the mortgage pool contained in this prospectus (including any tables, charts and information set forth on Annex A-1, A-2 and A-3), no subordinate companion loan is reflected in this prospectus.

 

The sum of the numerical data in any column may not equal the indicated total due to rounding. Unless otherwise indicated, all figures and percentages presented in this “Summary of Terms” are calculated as described under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Information” and, unless otherwise indicated, such figures and percentages are approximate and in each case, represent the indicated figure or percentage of the aggregate principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date. The principal balance of each mortgage loan as of the cut-off date assumes the timely receipt of principal scheduled to be paid on or before the cut-off date and no defaults, delinquencies or prepayments on, or modifications of, any mortgage loan on or prior to the cut-off date. Whenever percentages and other information in this prospectus are presented on the mortgaged property level rather than the mortgage loan level, the information for mortgage loans secured by more than one mortgaged property is based on allocated loan amounts as stated in Annex A-1.

 

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The mortgage loans will have the following approximate characteristics as of the cut-off date:

 

Cut-off Date Mortgage Loan Characteristics

 

   

All Mortgage Loans

  Initial Pool Balance(1) $1,167,914,680
  Number of mortgage loans 51
  Number of mortgaged properties 227
  Range of Cut-off Date Balances $2,600,000 to $80,000,000
  Average Cut-off Date Balance $22,900,288
  Range of Mortgage Rates 4.05000% to 5.85300%
  Weighted average Mortgage Rate 4.87752%
  Range of original terms to maturity(2) 60 months to 120 months
  Weighted average original term to maturity(2) 109 months
  Range of remaining terms to maturity(2) 56 months to 120 months
  Weighted average remaining term to maturity(2) 107 months
  Range of original amortization term(3) 360 months to 390 months
  Weighted average original amortization term(3) 362 months
  Range of remaining amortization terms(3) 359 months to 390 months
  Weighted average remaining amortization term(3) 361 months
  Range of LTV Ratios as of the Cut-off Date(4)(5)(7) 28.1% to 74.9%
  Weighted average LTV Ratio as of the Cut-off Date(4)(5)(7) 57.2%
  Range of LTV Ratios as of the maturity date(2)(4)(5)(7) 28.1% to 72.1%
  Weighted average LTV Ratio as of the maturity date(2)(4)(5)(7) 53.7%
  Range of UW NCF DSCR(5)(6) 1.19x to 3.89x
  Weighted average UW NCF DSCR(5)(6) 2.07x
  Range of UW NOI Debt Yield(5)(7) 7.1% to 21.6%
  Weighted average UW NOI Debt Yield(5)(7) 11.5%
  Percentage of Initial Pool Balance consisting of:  
  Interest Only 53.9%
  Interest Only, then Amortizing Balloon 23.9%
  Amortizing Balloon 18.8%
  Interest Only, ARD 3.4%

 

       

 

(1)Subject to a permitted variance of plus or minus 5%.

 

(2)With respect to any mortgage loan with an anticipated repayment date, calculated through or as of, as applicable, such anticipated repayment date.

 

(3)Does not include mortgage loans that pay interest-only until their maturity dates or anticipated repayment dates.

 

(4)Unless otherwise indicated under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Appraised Value”, the cut-off date loan-to-value ratio has been calculated using the “as-is” appraised value. However, with respect to seven (7) mortgage loans (19.7%), the related loan-to-value ratios have been calculated using “as-stabilized”, “hypothetical as-is” or similar hypothetical values. Such mortgage loans are identified under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Appraised Value.” For further information, see Annex A-1. See also “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans—Appraisals May Not Reflect Current or Future Market Value of Each Property” and “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Appraised Value.

 

(5)In the case of the fourteen (14) mortgage loans (49.0%), each of which has one or more pari passu companion loans and, in certain cases, one or more subordinate companion loans that are not included in the issuing entity, the debt service coverage ratios, loan-to-value ratios and debt yields have been calculated including the related pari passu companion loan(s), but excluding any related subordinate companion loan(s).

 

(6)Debt service coverage ratios are calculated using the average of the principal and interest payments for the first twelve payment periods of the mortgage loan following the cut-off date (but without regard to any leap year adjustments), provided that (i) in the case of a mortgage loan that provides for interest-only payments through maturity or its anticipated repayment date, as applicable, such items are calculated based on the interest payments scheduled to be due on the first due date following the cut-off date and the 11 due dates thereafter for such mortgage loan and (ii) in the case of a mortgage loan that provides for an initial interest-only period that ends prior to its maturity or its anticipated repayment date, as applicable, and provides for scheduled amortization payments thereafter, such items are calculated based on the monthly payment of principal and interest payable immediately following the expiration of the interest-only

 

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  period. With respect to the Castleton Commons & Square mortgage loan (3.0%), the mortgage loan will amortize based on the assumed principal payment schedule set forth on Annex G. The UW NCF DSCR of such mortgage loan is calculated based on the sum of the first 12 principal and interest payments after the cut-off date.

 

(7)In the case of each of the Aon Center mortgage loan (3.7%) and the CityLine XIV Portfolio mortgage loan (1.8%), the respective loan-to-value ratios and debt yields have been calculated net of an earnout or holdback reserve.

 

All of the mortgage loans accrue interest on an actual/360 basis, except for the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso mortgage loan, which accrues interest on a 30/360 basis.

 

For further information regarding the Mortgage Loans, see “Description of the Mortgage Pool”.

 

Modified and Refinanced Loans As of the cut-off date, none of the mortgage loans were modified due to a delinquency.

 

None of the mortgage loans (i) were refinancings in whole or in part of a prior loan secured by, or a mezzanine loan secured by interests in the owner of, the related mortgaged property, which prior loan was in default at the time of refinancing and/or otherwise involved a discounted pay-off, maturity extension, short sale or other restructuring, or (ii) provided acquisition financing for the related borrower’s purchase of the related mortgaged property at a foreclosure sale or after becoming an REO property.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool”.

 

Loans Underwritten Based on

Projections of Future Income Nine (9) of the mortgage loans (12.5%) are secured, in whole or in part, by mortgaged properties that (i) were constructed, in a lease-up period or the subject of a major renovation that was completed within 12 calendar months prior to the cut-off date and, therefore, the related mortgaged property has no or limited prior operating history or the mortgage loan seller did not take the operating history into account in the underwriting of the related mortgage loan, (ii) were acquired by the related borrower or an affiliate of the borrower within 12 calendar months prior to the cut-off date and such borrower or affiliate was unable to provide the related mortgage loan seller with historical financial information (or provided limited historical financial information) for such acquired mortgaged property, (iii) are subject to one or more double-net or triple-net leases with the related tenant(s) where the related borrower did not provide the related mortgage loan seller with historical financial information for the related mortgaged property or (iv) the related borrower was only able to provide limited operating histories for the related mortgaged property.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Mortgaged Properties With Limited Prior Operating History”.

 

Certain Variances from

Underwriting Standards Certain of the mortgage loans may vary from the underwriting guidelines described under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors

 

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  and Mortgage Loan Sellers” with respect to the related third party reports requirements. The mortgage loans to be contributed by German American Capital Corporation were originated in accordance with German American Capital Corporation’s underwriting standards, except with respect to the Courtyard at The Navy Yard (3.4%) and Nemours at Sonata West (0.3%) mortgage loans, as described under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—German American Capital Corporation—Exceptions”. The mortgage loans to be contributed by Citi Real Estate Funding Inc. were originated in accordance with Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.’s underwriting standards as described under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.—Exceptions”. The mortgage loans to be contributed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association were originated in accordance with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association’s underwriting standards as described under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association—JPMCB’s Underwriting Guidelines and Processes”.

 

Additional Aspects of Certificates

 

Denominations   The offered certificates with certificate balances will be issued, maintained and transferred only in minimum denominations of $10,000 and integral multiples of $1 in excess of $10,000. The offered certificates with notional amounts will be issued, maintained and transferred only in minimum denominations of authorized initial notional amounts of not less than $100,000 and in integral multiples of $1 in excess of $100,000.

 

Registration, Clearance and

SettlementEach class of offered certificates will initially be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC.

 

You may hold offered certificates through: (1) DTC in the United States; or (2) Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or Euroclear Bank, as operator of the Euroclear System. Transfers within DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or Euroclear Bank, as operator of the Euroclear System, will be made in accordance with the usual rules and operating procedures of those systems.

 

We may elect to terminate the book-entry system through DTC (with the consent of the DTC participants), Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or Euroclear Bank, as operator of the Euroclear System, with respect to all or any portion of any class of the offered certificates.

 

See “Description of the Certificates—Delivery, Form, Transfer and Denomination—Book-Entry Registration”.

 

Credit Risk Retention For a discussion of the manner by which German American Capital Corporation, as retaining sponsor, intends to satisfy the credit risk retention requirements of the credit risk retention rules, see “Credit Risk Retention”.

 

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Information Available to

CertificateholdersOn each distribution date, the certificate administrator will prepare and make available to each certificateholder a statement as to the distributions being made on that date. Additionally, under certain circumstances, certificateholders of record may be entitled to certain other information regarding the issuing entity. See “Description of the Certificates—Reports to Certificateholders; Certain Available Information”.

 

Deal Information/Analytics Certain information concerning the mortgage loans and the certificates may be available to subscribers through the following services:

 

BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., Moody’s Analytics, Bloomberg Financial Markets, RealINSIGHT, CMBS.com, Inc., L.P., Trepp, LLC, Intex Solutions, Inc., Interactive Data Corporation, Markit LLC and Thomson Reuters Corporation;

 

The certificate administrator’s website initially located at www.ctslink.com; and

 

The master servicer’s website initially located at www.keybank.com/key2cre.

 

Optional Termination

On any distribution date on which the aggregate principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans is less than the greater of (i) 1% of the aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date, or (ii) if the 636 11th Avenue mortgage loan is an asset of the trust fund, the product of (x) a percentage that is calculated by dividing (A) the sum of the outstanding principal balance of the 636 11th Avenue mortgage loan if it remains outstanding on such date of determination and 1% of the aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date by (B) the aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date and (y) the aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date, certain entities specified in this prospectus will have the option to purchase all of the remaining mortgage loans (and all property acquired through exercise of remedies in respect of any mortgage loan) at the price specified in this prospectus; provided, however, that this termination right will not be exercisable at the percentage threshold specified in clause (ii) above earlier than the distribution date in January 2029.

 

The issuing entity may also be terminated in connection with a voluntary exchange of all the then-outstanding certificates (other than the Class S and Class R certificates) for the mortgage loans held by the issuing entity, provided that (i) the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class A-M, Class B, Class C and Class D certificates are no longer outstanding and (ii) there is only one holder (or multiple holders acting unanimously) of the outstanding certificates (other than the Class S and Class R certificates).

 

See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Termination; Retirement of Certificates”.

 

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Required Repurchases or
Substitutions of Mortgage Loans;
Loss of Value

PaymentUnder certain circumstances, the related mortgage loan seller may be obligated to (i) repurchase (without payment of any yield maintenance charge or prepayment premium) or substitute for an affected mortgage loan from the issuing entity or (ii) make a cash payment that would be deemed sufficient to compensate the issuing entity in the event of a document defect or a breach of a representation and warranty made by the related mortgage loan seller with respect to the mortgage loan in the mortgage loan purchase agreement that materially and adversely affects the value of the mortgage loan, the value of the related mortgaged property or the interests of any certificateholders in the mortgage loan or mortgaged property or causes the mortgage loan to be other than a “qualified mortgage” within the meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(3)(but without regard to the rule of Treas. Reg. Section 1.860G-2(f)(2) that causes a defective loan to be treated as a “qualified mortgage”). See “Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements”.

 

Sale of Defaulted Loans Pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement, the special servicer is required to solicit offers for defaulted serviced mortgage loans and any related serviced companion loans and/or related REO properties and accept the first (and, if multiple offers are received, the highest) cash offer from any person that constitutes a fair price for such defaulted serviced mortgage loan and any related serviced companion loans or related REO property, determined as described in “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Realization Upon Mortgage Loans” and “—Sale of Defaulted Loans and REO Properties”, unless the special servicer determines, in accordance with the servicing standard, that rejection of such offer would be in the best interests of the certificateholders and the related pari passu companion loan holders (as a collective whole as if such certificateholders and such companion loan holders constituted a single lender).

 

If a non-serviced mortgage loan with a related pari passu companion loan becomes a defaulted mortgage loan and the special servicer under the related pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement for the related pari passu companion loan determines to sell such pari passu companion loan, then that special servicer will be required to sell such non-serviced mortgage loan together with the related pari passu companion loan and any related subordinate companion loans, in a manner similar to that described above. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans—The Non-Serviced Pari Passu Whole Loans” and “—The AB Whole Loans”.

 

Pursuant to each mezzanine loan intercreditor agreement with respect to the mortgage loans with mezzanine indebtedness, the holder of the related mezzanine loan has the right to purchase the related mortgage loan as described in “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Indebtedness”. Additionally, in the

 

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  case of mortgage loans that permit certain equity owners of the borrower to incur future mezzanine debt as described in “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Indebtedness”, the related mezzanine lender may have the option to purchase the related mortgage loan after certain defaults. See “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Realization Upon Mortgage Loans”, “—Sale of Defaulted Loans and REO Properties” and “Description of the Mortgage Pool—The Whole Loans”.

 

Tax Status Elections will be made to treat designated portions of the issuing entity (exclusive of interest that is deferred after the anticipated repayment date of each mortgage loan with an anticipated repayment date and the excess interest distribution account) as two separate REMICs (the “Lower-Tier REMIC” and the “Upper-Tier REMIC” and each, a “Trust REMIC”) for federal income tax purposes.

 

In addition, the portions of the issuing entity consisting of Excess Interest and the Excess Interest Distribution Account will be treated as a grantor trust (the “Grantor Trust”) for federal income tax purposes under subpart E, part I of the subchapter J of the Code and the Class S certificates and the VRR Interest will represent undivided beneficial interests in their respective allocable portions of the Grantor Trust described above.

 

Pertinent federal income tax consequences of an investment in the offered certificates include:

 

Each class of offered certificates will constitute REMIC “regular interests”.

 

The offered certificates will be treated as newly originated debt instruments for federal income tax purposes.

 

You will be required to report income on your offered certificates using the accrual method of accounting.

 

It is anticipated that the Class X-A certificates will be issued with original issue discount, that the Class C certificates will be issued with de minimis original issue discount and that the Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-SB, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class A-M and Class B certificates will be issued at a premium for federal income tax purposes.

 

See “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations”.

 

Certain ERISA Considerations Subject to important considerations described under “Certain ERISA Considerations”, the offered certificates are eligible for purchase by persons investing assets of employee benefit plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Legal Investment None of the certificates will constitute “mortgage related securities” for purposes of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984, as amended.

 

If your investment activities are subject to legal investment laws and regulations, regulatory capital requirements, or review by

 

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  regulatory authorities, then you may be subject to restrictions on investment in the certificates. You should consult your own legal advisors for assistance in determining the suitability of and consequences to you of the purchase, ownership, and sale of the certificates.

 

The issuing entity will not be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The issuing entity will be relying on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended contained in Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the issuing entity. The issuing entity is being structured so as not to constitute a “covered fund” for purposes of the Volcker Rule under the Dodd-Frank Act (both as defined in this prospectus).

 

See “Legal Investment”.

 

RatingsThe offered certificates will not be issued unless each of the offered classes receives a credit rating from one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations engaged by the depositor to rate the offered certificates. The decision not to engage one or more other rating agencies in the rating of certain classes of certificates to be issued in connection with this transaction may negatively impact the liquidity, market value and regulatory characteristics of those classes of certificates. Neither the depositor nor any other person or entity will have any duty to notify you if any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization issues, or delivers notice of its intention to issue, unsolicited ratings on one or more classes of certificates after the date of this prospectus.

 

See “Risk Factors—Other Risks Relating to the Certificates—Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations May Assign Different Ratings to the Certificates; Ratings of the Certificates Reflect Only the Views of the Applicable Rating Agencies as of the Dates Such Ratings Were Issued; Ratings May Affect ERISA Eligibility; Ratings May Be Downgraded” and “Ratings”.

 

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Risk Factors

 

You should carefully consider the following risks before making an investment decision. In particular, distributions on your certificates will depend on payments received on, and other recoveries with respect to the mortgage loans. Therefore, you should carefully consider the risk factors relating to the mortgage loans and the mortgaged properties.

 

If any of the following events or circumstances identified as risks actually occur or materialize, your investment could be materially and adversely affected. We note that additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us may also impair your investment.

 

This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The Certificates May Not Be a Suitable Investment for You

 

The certificates will not be suitable investments for all investors. In particular, you should not purchase any class of certificates unless you understand and are able to bear the risk that the yield to maturity and the aggregate amount and timing of distributions on the certificates will be subject to material variability from period to period and give rise to the potential for significant loss over the life of the certificates. The interaction of the foregoing factors and their effects are impossible to predict and are likely to change from time to time. As a result, an investment in the certificates involves substantial risks and uncertainties and should be considered only by sophisticated institutional investors with substantial investment experience with similar types of securities and who have conducted appropriate due diligence on the mortgage loans, the mortgaged properties and the certificates.

 

Combination or “Layering” of Multiple Risks May Significantly Increase Risk of Loss

 

Although the various risks discussed in this prospectus are generally described separately, you should consider the potential effects of the interplay of multiple risk factors. Where more than one significant risk factor is present, the risk of loss to an investor in the certificates may be significantly increased.

 

Risks Related to Market Conditions and Other External Factors

 

The Volatile Economy, Credit Crisis and Downturn in the Real Estate Market Have Adversely Affected and May Continue To Adversely Affect the Value of CMBS

 

In recent years, the real estate and securitization markets, including the market for commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), experienced significant dislocations, illiquidity and volatility. We cannot assure you that another dislocation in CMBS will not occur.

 

Any economic downturn may adversely affect the financial resources of borrowers under commercial mortgage loans and may result in their inability to make payments on, or refinance, their outstanding mortgage debt when due or to sell their mortgaged properties for an aggregate amount sufficient to pay off the outstanding debt when due. As a result, distributions of principal and interest on your certificates, and the value of your certificates, could be adversely affected.

 

Other Events May Affect the Value and Liquidity of Your Investment

 

Moreover, other types of events, domestic or international, may affect general economic conditions and financial markets:

 

Wars, revolts, terrorist attacks, armed conflicts, energy supply or price disruptions, political crises, natural disasters and man-made disasters may have an adverse effect on the mortgaged properties and/or your certificates; and

 

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Trading activity associated with indices of CMBS may drive spreads on those indices wider than spreads on CMBS, thereby resulting in a decrease in value of such CMBS, including your certificates, and spreads on those indices may be affected by a variety of factors, and may or may not be affected for reasons involving the commercial and multifamily real estate markets and may be affected for reasons that are unknown and cannot be discerned.

 

You should consider that the foregoing factors may adversely affect the performance of the mortgage loans and accordingly the performance of the offered certificates.

 

Risks Relating to the Mortgage Loans

 

Mortgage Loans Are Non-Recourse and Are Not Insured or Guaranteed

 

The mortgage loans are not insured or guaranteed by any person or entity, governmental or otherwise.

 

Investors should treat each mortgage loan as a non-recourse loan. If a default occurs, recourse generally may be had only against the specific mortgaged properties and other assets that have been pledged to secure the mortgage loan. Consequently, payment prior to maturity is dependent primarily on the sufficiency of the net operating income of the mortgaged property. Payment at maturity or anticipated repayment date is primarily dependent upon the market value of the mortgaged property or the borrower’s ability to refinance the mortgaged property.

 

Although the mortgage loans generally are non-recourse in nature, certain mortgage loans contain non-recourse carveouts for liabilities such as a result of fraud by the borrower, certain voluntary insolvency proceedings or other matters. Certain mortgage loans set forth under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Non-Recourse Carveout Limitations” either do not contain non-recourse carveouts or contain material limitations to non-recourse carveouts. Often these obligations are guaranteed by an affiliate of the related borrower, although liability under any such guaranty may be capped or otherwise limited in amount or scope. Furthermore, the guarantor’s net worth and liquidity may be less (and in some cases, materially less) than amounts due under the related mortgage loan or the guarantor’s sole asset may be its interest in the related borrower. Certain mortgage loans may have the benefit of a general payment guaranty of a portion of the indebtedness under the mortgage loan. In all cases, however, the mortgage loans should be considered to be non-recourse obligations because neither the depositor nor the sponsors make any representation or warranty as to the obligation or ability of any borrower or guarantor to pay any deficiencies between any foreclosure proceeds and the mortgage loan indebtedness. In addition, certain mortgage loans may provide for recourse to a guarantor for a portion of the indebtedness or for any loss or costs that may be incurred by the borrower or the lender with respect to certain borrower obligations under the related mortgage loan documents. In such cases, we cannot assure you any recovery from such guarantor will be made or that such guarantor will have assets sufficient to pay any otherwise recoverable claim under a guaranty.

 

Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally

 

The mortgage loans will be secured by various income producing commercial and multifamily properties. The repayment of a commercial or multifamily loan is typically dependent upon the ability of the related mortgaged property to produce cash flow through the collection of rents. Even the liquidation value of a commercial property is determined, in substantial part, by the capitalization of the property’s ability to produce cash flow. However, net operating income can be volatile and may be insufficient to cover debt service on the loan at any given time.

 

The net operating incomes and property values of the mortgaged properties may be adversely affected by a large number of factors. Some of these factors relate to the properties themselves, such as:

 

the age, design and construction quality of the properties;

 

perceptions regarding the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties;

 

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the characteristics and desirability of the area where the property is located;

 

the strength and nature of the local economy, including labor costs and quality, tax environment and quality of life for employees;

 

the proximity and attractiveness of competing properties;

 

the adequacy of the property’s management and maintenance;

 

increases in interest rates, real estate taxes and operating expenses at the property and in relation to competing properties;

 

an increase in the capital expenditures needed to maintain the properties or make improvements;

 

a decline in the businesses operated by tenants or in their financial condition;

 

an increase in vacancy rates; and

 

a decline in rental rates as leases are renewed or entered into with new tenants.

 

Other factors are more general in nature, such as:

 

national or regional economic conditions, including plant closings, military base closings, industry slowdowns and unemployment rates;

 

local real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of competing properties;

 

demographic factors;

 

consumer confidence;

 

consumer tastes and preferences;

 

retroactive changes in building codes;

 

changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments;

 

location of certain mortgaged properties in less densely populated or less affluent areas; and

 

the public perception of safety for customers and clients.

 

The volatility of net operating income will be influenced by many of the foregoing factors, as well as by:

 

the length of tenant leases (including that in certain cases, all or substantially all of the tenants, or one or more sole, anchor or other major tenants, at a particular mortgaged property may have leases that expire or permit the tenant(s) to terminate its lease during the term of the loan);

 

the quality and creditworthiness of tenants;

 

tenant defaults;

 

in the case of rental properties, the rate at which new rentals occur; and

 

the property’s “operating leverage”, which is generally the percentage of total property expenses in relation to revenue, the ratio of fixed operating expenses to those that vary with revenues, and the level of capital expenditures required to maintain the property and to retain or replace tenants.

 

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A decline in the real estate market or in the financial condition of a major tenant will tend to have a more immediate effect on the net operating income of properties with relatively higher operating leverage or short term revenue sources, such as short term or month to month leases, and may lead to higher rates of delinquency or defaults.

 

Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases

 

General. Any tenant may, from time to time, experience a downturn in its business, which may weaken its financial condition and result in a reduction or failure to make rental payments when due. If tenants’ sales were to decline, percentage rents may decline and, further, tenants may be unable to pay their base rent or other occupancy costs. If a tenant defaults in its obligations to a property owner, that property owner may experience delays in enforcing its rights as lessor and may incur substantial costs and experience significant delays associated with protecting its investment, including costs incurred in renovating and reletting the property.

 

Additionally, the income from, and market value of, the mortgaged properties leased to various tenants would be adversely affected if:

 

space in the mortgaged properties could not be leased or re-leased or substantial re-leasing costs were required and/or the cost of performing landlord obligations under existing leases materially increased;

 

leasing or re-leasing is restricted by exclusive rights of tenants to lease the mortgaged properties or other covenants not to lease space for certain uses or activities, or covenants limiting the types of tenants to which space may be leased;

 

a significant tenant were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case;

 

rental payments could not be collected for any other reason; or

 

a borrower fails to perform its obligations under a lease resulting in the related tenant having a right to terminate such lease.

 

There may be (and there may exist from time to time) pending or threatened legal proceedings against, or disputes with, certain tenants and/or their parent companies that may have a material adverse effect on the related tenant’s ability to pay rent or remain open for business. We cannot assure you that any such litigation or dispute will not result in a material decline in net operating income at the related mortgaged property.

 

Certain tenants currently may be in a rent abatement period. We cannot assure you that such tenants will be in a position to pay full rent when the abatement period expires. We cannot assure you that the net operating income contributed by the mortgaged properties will remain at its current or past levels. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Tenant Issues”.

 

A Tenant Concentration May Result in Increased Losses. Mortgaged properties that are owner-occupied or leased to a single tenant, or a tenant that makes up a significant portion of the rental income, also are more susceptible to interruptions of cash flow if that tenant’s business operations are negatively impacted or if such tenant fails to renew its lease. This is so because:

 

the financial effect of the absence of rental income may be severe;

 

more time may be required to re-lease the space; and

 

substantial capital costs may be incurred to make the space appropriate for replacement tenants.

 

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In the event of a default by that tenant, if the related lease expires prior to the mortgage loan maturity date and the related tenant fails to renew its lease or if such tenant exercises an early termination option, there would likely be an interruption of rental payments under the lease and, accordingly, insufficient funds available to the borrower to pay the debt service on the mortgage loan. In certain cases where the tenant owns the improvements on the mortgaged property, the related borrower may be required to purchase such improvements in connection with the exercise of its remedies.

 

With respect to certain of these mortgaged properties that are leased to a single tenant, the related leases may expire prior to, or soon after, the maturity dates of the mortgage loans or the related tenant may have the right to terminate the lease prior to the maturity date of the mortgage loan. If the current tenant does not renew its lease on comparable economic terms to the expired lease, if a single tenant terminates its lease or if a suitable replacement tenant does not enter into a new lease on similar economic terms, there could be a negative impact on the payments on the related mortgage loan.

 

A deterioration in the financial condition of a tenant, the failure of a tenant to renew its lease or the exercise by a tenant of an early termination right can be particularly significant if a mortgaged property is owner-occupied, leased to a single tenant, or if any tenant makes up a significant portion of the rental income at the mortgaged property.

 

Concentrations of particular tenants among the mortgaged properties or within a particular business or industry at one or multiple mortgaged properties increase the possibility that financial problems with such tenants or such business or industry sectors could affect the mortgage loans. In addition, the mortgage loans may be adversely affected if a tenant at the mortgaged property is highly specialized, or dependent on a single industry or only a few customers for its revenue. See “—Tenant Bankruptcy Could Result in a Rejection of the Related Lease” below and “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Tenant Issues—Tenant Concentrations” for information on tenant concentrations in the mortgage pool.

 

Mortgaged Properties Leased to Multiple Tenants Also Have Risks. If a mortgaged property has multiple tenants, re-leasing expenditures may be more frequent than in the case of mortgaged properties with fewer tenants, thereby reducing the cash flow available for payments on the related mortgage loan. Multi-tenant mortgaged properties also may experience higher continuing vacancy rates and greater volatility in rental income and expenses. See Annex A-1 for tenant lease expiration dates for the five largest tenants at each mortgaged property.

 

Mortgaged Properties Leased to Borrowers or Borrower Affiliated Entities Also Have Risks. If a mortgaged property is leased in whole or substantial part to the borrower under the mortgage loan or to an affiliate of the borrower, there may be conflicts. For instance, it is more likely a landlord will waive lease conditions for an affiliated tenant than it would for an unaffiliated tenant. We cannot assure you that the conflicts arising where a borrower is affiliated with a tenant at a mortgaged property will not adversely impact the value of the related mortgage loan.

 

In certain cases, an affiliated lessee may be a tenant under a master lease with the related borrower, under which the tenant is obligated to make rent payments but does not occupy any space at the mortgaged property. Master leases in these circumstances may be used to bring occupancy to a “stabilized” level with the intent of finding additional tenants to occupy some or all of the master leased space, but may not provide additional economic support for the mortgage loan. If a mortgaged property is leased in whole or substantial part to the borrower or to an affiliate of the borrower, a deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower or its affiliates could significantly affect the borrower’s ability to perform under the mortgage loan as it would directly interrupt the cash flow from the mortgaged property if the borrower’s or its affiliate’s financial condition worsens. We cannot assure you that any space leased by a borrower or an affiliate of the borrower will eventually be occupied by third party tenants.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Tenant Issues—Affiliated Leases” for information on properties leased in whole or in part to borrowers and their affiliates.

 

Tenant Bankruptcy Could Result in a Rejection of the Related Lease. The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a number of smaller tenants, such as in retail properties, may have an adverse impact

 

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on the mortgaged properties affected and the income produced by such mortgaged properties. Under the federal bankruptcy code, a tenant has the option of assuming or rejecting or, subject to certain conditions, assuming and assigning to a third party, any unexpired lease. If the tenant rejects the lease, the landlord’s claim for breach of the lease would (absent collateral securing the claim) be treated as a general unsecured claim against the tenant and a lessor’s damages for lease rejection are generally subject to certain limitations. We cannot assure you that tenants of the mortgaged properties will continue making payments under their leases or that tenants will not file for bankruptcy protection in the future or, if any tenants do file, that they will continue to make rental payments in a timely manner. See “Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans—Bankruptcy Laws”. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Loan Purpose; Default History, Bankruptcy Issues and Other Proceedings” for information regarding bankruptcy issues with respect to certain mortgage loans.

 

Leases That Are Not Subordinated to the Lien of the Mortgage or Do Not Contain Attornment Provisions May Have an Adverse Impact at Foreclosure. In certain jurisdictions, if tenant leases are subordinated to the liens created by the mortgage but do not contain attornment provisions that require the tenant to subordinate the lease if the mortgagee agrees to enter into a non-disturbance agreement, the tenants may terminate their leases upon the transfer of the property to a foreclosing lender or purchaser at foreclosure. Accordingly, if a mortgaged property is located in such a jurisdiction and is leased to one or more desirable tenants under leases that are subordinate to the mortgage and do not contain attornment provisions, such mortgaged property could experience a further decline in value if such tenants’ leases were terminated. This is particularly likely if those tenants were paying above-market rents or could not be replaced. If a lease is not subordinate to a mortgage, the issuing entity will not possess the right to dispossess the tenant upon foreclosure of the mortgaged property (unless otherwise agreed to with the tenant). Also, if the lease contains provisions inconsistent with the mortgage (e.g., provisions relating to application of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards) or which could affect the enforcement of the lender’s rights (e.g., a right of first refusal to purchase the property), the provisions of the lease will take precedence over the provisions of the mortgage. Not all leases were reviewed to ascertain the existence of attornment or subordination provisions.

 

With respect to certain of the mortgage loans, the related borrower may have given to certain tenants or others an option to purchase, a right of first refusal to purchase and/or a right of first offer to purchase all or a portion of the mortgaged property in the event a sale is contemplated, and such right may not be subordinate to the related mortgage. This may impede the mortgagee’s ability to sell the related mortgaged property at foreclosure, or, upon foreclosure, this may affect the value and/or marketability of the related mortgaged property. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Tenant Issues—Purchase Options and Rights of First Refusal” for information regarding material purchase options and/or rights of first refusal or first offer, if any, with respect to mortgaged properties securing certain mortgage loans.

 

Early Lease Termination Options May Reduce Cash Flow. Leases often give tenants the right to terminate the related lease, abate or reduce the related rent, and/or exercise certain remedies against the related borrower for various reasons or upon various conditions, including:

 

if the related borrower allows uses at the mortgaged property in violation of use restrictions in current tenant leases;

 

if the related borrower or any of its affiliates owns other properties within a certain radius of the mortgaged property and allows uses at those properties in violation of use restrictions;

 

if the related borrower fails to provide a designated number of parking spaces;

 

if there is construction at the related mortgaged property or an adjacent property (whether or not such adjacent property is owned or controlled by the borrower or any of its affiliates) that may interfere with visibility of, access to or a tenant’s use of the mortgaged property or otherwise violate the terms of a tenant’s lease;

 

upon casualty or condemnation with respect to all or a portion of the mortgaged property that renders such mortgaged property unsuitable for a tenant’s use or if the borrower fails to rebuild

 

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    such mortgaged property within a certain time or if the casualty or condemnation occurs within a specified period of the lease expiration date;

 

if a tenant’s use is not permitted by zoning or applicable law;

 

if the tenant is unable to exercise an expansion right;

 

if the landlord defaults on its obligations under the lease;

 

if a landlord leases space at the mortgaged property or within a certain radius of the mortgaged property to a competitor;

 

if the tenant fails to meet certain sales targets or other business objectives for a specified period of time;

 

if significant tenants at the subject property go dark or terminate their leases, or if a specified percentage of the mortgaged property is unoccupied;

 

if the landlord violates the tenant’s exclusive use rights for a specified period of time;

 

if the related borrower violates covenants under the related lease or if third parties take certain actions that adversely affect such tenants’ business or operations;

 

in the case of government sponsored tenants, any time or for lack of appropriations; or

 

if the related borrower violates covenants under the related lease or if third parties take certain actions that adversely affect such tenants’ business or operations.

 

In certain cases, compliance or satisfaction of landlord covenants may be the responsibility of a third party affiliated with the borrower or, in the event that partial releases of the applicable mortgaged property are permitted, an unaffiliated or affiliated third party.

 

Any exercise of a termination right by a tenant at a mortgaged property could result in vacant space at the related mortgaged property, renegotiation of the lease with the related tenant or re-letting of the space. Any such vacated space may not be re-let. Furthermore, such foregoing termination and/or abatement rights may arise in the future or materially adversely affect the related borrower’s ability to meet its obligations under the related loan documents. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Tenant Issues—Lease Expirations and Terminations” for information on material tenant lease expirations and early termination options.

 

Mortgaged Properties Leased to Not-for-Profit Tenants Also Have Risks. Certain mortgaged properties may have tenants that are charitable institutions that generally rely on contributions from individuals and government grants or other subsidies to pay rent on office space and other operating expenses. We cannot assure you that the rate, frequency and level of individual contributions or governmental grants and subsidies will continue with respect to any such institution. A reduction in contributions or grants may impact the ability of the related institution to pay rent, and we cannot assure you that the related borrower will be in a position to meet its obligations under the related mortgage loan documents if such tenant fails to pay its rent.

 

Office Properties Have Special Risks

 

In addition to the factors discussed in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” and “—Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases” above, other factors may adversely affect the financial performance and value of office properties, including:

 

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the physical attributes of the building in relation to competing buildings (e.g., age, condition, design, appearance, access to transportation and ability to offer certain amenities, such as sophisticated building systems and/or business wiring requirements);

 

the adaptability of the building to changes in the technological needs of the tenants;

 

an adverse change in population, patterns of telecommuting or sharing of office space, and employment growth (which creates demand for office space);

 

in the case of medical office properties, the performance of a medical office property may depend on (a) the proximity of such property to a hospital or other healthcare establishment, (b) reimbursements for patient fees from private or government sponsored insurers, (c) its ability to attract doctors and nurses to be on staff, and (d) its ability to afford and acquire the latest medical equipment. Issues related to reimbursement (ranging from nonpayment to delays in payment) from such insurers could adversely impact cash flow at such mortgaged property; and

 

office space used as lab and/or research and development may rely on funds for research and development from government and/or private sources of funding, which may become unavailable.

 

Moreover, the cost of refitting office space for a new tenant is often higher than the cost of refitting other types of properties for new tenants.

 

If one or more major tenants at a particular office property were to close or remain vacant, we cannot assure you that such tenants would be replaced in a timely manner or without incurring material additional costs to the related borrower and resulting in an adverse effect on the financial performance of the property.

 

Certain office tenants at the mortgaged properties may use their leased space to create shared workspaces that they lease to other businesses. Shared workspaces are rented by customers on a short term basis. Short term space users may be more impacted by economic fluctuations compared to traditional long term office leases, which has the potential to impact operating profitability of the company offering the shared space and, in turn, its ability to maintain its lease payments. This may subject the related mortgage loan to increased risk of default and loss.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Office Properties”.

 

Retail Properties Have Special Risks

 

Some of the mortgage loans are secured by retail properties. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Retail Properties.” The value of retail properties is significantly affected by the quality of the tenants as well as fundamental aspects of real estate, such as location and market demographics, as well as changes in shopping methods and choices. Some of the risks related to these matters are further described in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” and “—Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases” above, and “—Changes in the Retail Sector, Such as Online Shopping and Other Uses of Technology, Could Affect the Business Models and Viability of Retailers,” “—The Performance of the Retail Properties is Subject to Conditions Affecting the Retail Sector” and “Some Retail Properties Depend on Anchor Stores or Major Tenants to Attract Shoppers and Could be Materially Adversely Affected by the Loss of, or a Store Closure by, One or More of These Anchor Stores or Major Tenants” below.

 

Rental payments from tenants of retail properties typically comprise the largest portion of the net operating income of those mortgaged properties. The correlation between success of tenant business and a retail property’s value may be more direct with respect to retail properties than other types of commercial property because a component of the total rent paid by certain retail tenants is often tied to a percentage of gross sales. We cannot assure you that the net operating income contributed by the

 

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mortgaged retail properties or the rates of occupancy at the retail stores will remain at the levels specified in this prospectus or remain consistent with past performance. In addition, some or all of the rental payments from tenants may be tied to tenant’s gross sales. To the extent that a tenant changes the manner in which its gross sales are reported it could result in lower rent paid by that tenant. For example, if a tenant takes into account customer returns of merchandise purchased online and reduces the gross sales, this could result in lower gross sales relative to gross sales previously reported at that location even if the actual performance of the store remained unchanged.

 

Changes in the Retail Sector, Such as Online Shopping and Other Uses of Technology, Could Affect the Business Models and Viability of Retailers

 

Online shopping and the use of technology, such as smartphone shopping applications, to transact purchases or to aid purchasing decisions have increased in recent years and are expected to continue to increase in the future. This trend is affecting business models, sales and profitability of some retailers and could adversely affect the demand for retail real estate and occupancy at retail properties securing the mortgage loans. Any resulting decreases in rental revenue could have a material adverse effect on the value of retail properties securing the mortgage loans.

 

Some of these developments in the retail sector have led to retail companies, including several national retailers, filing for bankruptcy and/or voluntarily closing certain of their stores. Borrowers may be unable to re-lease such space or to re-lease it on comparable or more favorable terms. As a result, the bankruptcy or closure of a national tenant may adversely affect a retail borrower’s revenues. In addition, such closings may allow other tenants to modify their leases to terms that are less favorable for borrowers or to terminate their leases, also adversely impacting their revenues. See also “—Some Retail Properties Depend on Anchor Stores or Major Tenants to Attract Shoppers and Could be Materially Adversely Affected by the Loss of, or a Store Closure by, One or More of These Anchor Stores or Major Tenants” below.

 

In addition to competition from online shopping, retail properties face competition from sources outside a specific geographical real estate market. For example, all of the following compete with more traditional retail properties for consumer dollars: factory outlet centers, discount shopping centers and clubs, catalogue retailers, home shopping networks, and telemarketing. Continued growth of these alternative retail outlets (which often have lower operating costs) could adversely affect the rents collectible at the retail properties included in the pool of mortgage loans, as well as the income from, and market value of, the mortgaged properties and the related borrower’s ability to refinance such property. Moreover, additional competing retail properties may be built in the areas where the retail properties are located.

 

We cannot assure you that these developments in the retail sector will not adversely affect the performance of retail properties securing the mortgage loans.

 

The Performance of the Retail Properties is Subject to Conditions Affecting the Retail Sector

 

Retail properties are also subject to conditions that could negatively affect the retail sector, such as increased unemployment, increased federal income and payroll taxes, increased health care costs, increased state and local taxes, increased real estate taxes, industry slowdowns, lack of availability of consumer credit, weak income growth, increased levels of consumer debt, poor housing market conditions, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, plant closings, and other factors. Similarly, local real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of, or a reduction in demand for, retail space or retail goods, and the supply and creditworthiness of current and prospective tenants may negatively impact those retail properties.

 

In addition, the limited adaptability of certain shopping malls that have proven unprofitable may result in high (and possibly extremely high) loss severities on mortgage loans secured by those shopping malls. For example, it is possible that a significant amount of advances made by the applicable servicer(s) of a mortgage loan secured by a shopping mall property, combined with low liquidation proceeds in respect of

 

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that property, may result in a loss severity exceeding 100% of the outstanding principal balance of that mortgage loan.

 

Some Retail Properties Depend on Anchor Stores or Major Tenants to Attract Shoppers and Could be Materially Adversely Affected by the Loss of, or a Store Closure by, One or More of These Anchor Stores or Major Tenants

 

The presence or absence of an “anchor tenant” or a “shadow anchor tenant” in or near a retail property also can be important to the performance of a retail property because anchors play a key role in generating customer traffic and making a retail property desirable for other tenants. Retail properties may also have shadow anchor tenants. An “anchor tenant” is located on the related mortgaged property, usually proportionately larger in size than most or all other tenants in the mortgaged property and is vital in attracting customers to a retail property. A “shadow anchor tenant” is usually proportionally larger in size than most tenants in the mortgaged property, is important in attracting customers to a retail property and is located sufficiently close and convenient to the mortgaged property so as to influence and attract potential customers, but is not located on the mortgaged property.

 

If anchor stores in a mortgaged property were to close, the related borrower may be unable to replace those anchors in a timely manner or without suffering adverse economic consequences. In addition, anchor tenants and non-anchor tenants at anchored or shadowed anchored retail centers may have co-tenancy clauses and/or operating covenants in their leases or operating agreements that permit those tenants or anchor stores to cease operating, reduce rent or terminate their leases if the anchor or shadow anchor tenant goes dark or is otherwise no longer in occupancy, if the subject store is not meeting the minimum sales requirements under its lease or if a specified percentage of the related mortgaged property is vacant. Even if non-anchor tenants do not have termination or rent abatement rights, the loss of an anchor tenant or a shadow anchor tenant may have a material adverse impact on the non-anchor tenant’s ability to operate because the anchor or shadow anchor tenant plays a key role in generating customer traffic and making a center desirable for other tenants. This, in turn, may adversely impact the borrower’s ability to meet its obligations under the related loan. In addition, in the event that a “shadow anchor” fails to renew its lease, terminates its lease or otherwise ceases to conduct business within a close proximity to the mortgaged property, customer traffic at the mortgaged property may be substantially reduced. If an anchor tenant goes dark, generally the borrower’s only remedy may be to terminate that lease after the anchor tenant has been dark for a specified amount of time.

 

If anchor tenants or shadow anchor tenants at a particular mortgaged property were to close or otherwise become vacant or remain vacant, we cannot assure you that the related borrower’s ability to repay its mortgage loan would not be materially and adversely affected.

 

Certain tenant estoppels will have been obtained in connection with the origination of the mortgage loans. These estoppels may identify disputes between the related borrower and the applicable tenant, or alleged defaults or potential defaults by the applicable property owner under the lease or a reciprocal easement and/or operating agreement (each, an “REA”). Such disputes, defaults or potential defaults, could lead to a termination or attempted termination of the applicable lease or REA by the tenant or to the tenant withholding some or all of its rental payments or to litigation against the related borrower. We cannot assure you that the tenant estoppels obtained identify all potential disputes that may arise with the subject tenants or with respect to the mortgaged retail properties, or that anchor tenant or tenant disputes will not have a material adverse effect on the ability of borrowers to repay their mortgage loans.

 

Hospitality Properties Have Special Risks

 

In addition to the factors discussed in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” above, various other factors may adversely affect the financial performance and value of hospitality properties, including:

 

adverse economic and social conditions, either local, regional or national (which may limit the amount that can be charged for a room and reduce occupancy levels);

 

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continuing expenditures for modernizing, refurbishing and maintaining existing facilities prior to the expiration of their anticipated useful lives;

 

ability to convert to alternative uses which may not be readily made;

 

a deterioration in the financial strength or managerial capabilities of the owner or operator of a hospitality property;

 

changes in travel patterns caused by general adverse economic conditions, fear of terrorist attacks, adverse weather conditions and changes in access, energy prices, strikes, travel costs, relocation of highways, the construction of additional highways, concerns about travel safety or other factors; and

 

relative illiquidity of hospitality investments which limits the ability of the borrowers and property managers to respond to changes in economic or other conditions.

 

Because rooms are generally rented for short periods of time, the financial performance of hospitality properties tends to be affected by adverse economic conditions and competition more quickly than other commercial properties. Additionally, as a result of high operating costs, relatively small decreases in revenue can cause significant stress on a property’s cash flow.

 

Moreover, the hospitality and lodging industry is generally seasonal in nature and different seasons affect different hospitality properties differently depending on type and location. This seasonality can be expected to cause periodic fluctuations in a hospitality property’s room and restaurant revenues, occupancy levels, room rates and operating expenses. We cannot assure you that cash flow will be sufficient to offset any shortfalls that occur at the mortgaged property during slower periods or that the related mortgage loans provide for seasonality reserves, or if seasonality reserves are provided for, that such reserves will be funded or will be sufficient or available to fund such shortfalls.

 

In addition, some of the hospitality properties are limited-service, select service or extended stay hotels. Hospitality properties that are limited-service, select service or extended stay hotels may subject a lender to more risk than full-service hospitality properties as they generally require less capital for construction than full-service hospitality properties. In addition, as limited-service, select service or extended stay hotels generally offer fewer amenities than full-service hospitality properties, they are less distinguishable from each other. As a result, it is easier for limited-service, select service or extended stay hotels to experience increased or unforeseen competition.

 

In addition to hotel operations, some hospitality properties also operate entertainment complexes that include restaurants, lounges, nightclubs and/or banquet and meeting spaces and may derive a significant portion of the related property’s revenue from such operations. Consumer demand for entertainment resorts is particularly sensitive to downturns in the economy and the corresponding impact on discretionary spending on leisure activities. Changes in discretionary consumer spending or consumer preferences could be driven by factors such as perceived or actual general economic conditions, high energy, fuel and food costs, the increased cost of travel, the weakened job market, perceived or actual disposable consumer income and wealth, fears of recession and changes in consumer confidence in the economy, or fears of war and future acts of terrorism. These factors could reduce consumer demand for the leisure activities that the property offers, thus imposing practical limits on pricing and harming operations. Restaurants and nightclubs are particularly vulnerable to changes in consumer preferences. In addition, a nightclub’s, restaurant’s or bar’s revenue is extremely dependent on its popularity and perception. These characteristics are subject to change rapidly and we cannot assure you that any of a hospitality property’s nightclubs, restaurants or bars will maintain their current level of popularity or perception in the market. Any such change could have a material adverse effect on the net cash flow of the property.

 

Some of the hospitality properties have liquor licenses associated with the mortgaged property. The liquor licenses for these mortgaged properties are generally held by affiliates of the related borrowers, unaffiliated managers or operating lessees. The laws and regulations relating to liquor licenses generally

 

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prohibit the transfer of such licenses to any person, or condition such transfer on the prior approval of the governmental authority that issued the license. In the event of a foreclosure of a hospitality property that holds a liquor license, the special servicer on behalf of the issuing entity or a purchaser in a foreclosure sale would likely have to apply for a new license, which might not be granted or might be granted only after a delay that could be significant. We cannot assure you that a new license could be obtained promptly or at all. The lack of a liquor license in a hospitality property could have an adverse impact on the revenue from the related mortgaged property or on the hospitality property’s occupancy rate.

 

In addition, hospitality properties may be structured with a master lease (or operating lease) in order to minimize potential liabilities of the borrower. Under the master lease structure, an operating lessee (typically affiliated with the borrower) is also an obligor under the related mortgage loan and the operating lessee borrower pays rent to the fee owner borrower.

 

In addition, there may be risks associated with hospitality properties that have not entered into or become a party to any franchise agreement, license agreement or other “flag”. Hospitality properties often enter into these types of agreements in order to align the hospitality property with a certain public perception or to benefit from a centralized reservation system. We cannot assure you that hospitality properties that lack such benefits will be able to operate successfully on an independent basis.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Hospitality Properties”.

 

Risks Relating to Affiliation with a Franchise or Hotel Management Company

 

The performance of a hospitality property affiliated with a franchise or hotel management company depends in part on:

 

the continued existence and financial strength of the franchisor or hotel management company;

 

the public perception of the franchise or hotel chain service mark; and

 

the duration of the franchise licensing or management agreements.

 

The continuation of a franchise agreement, license agreement or hotel management agreement is subject to specified operating standards and other terms and conditions set forth in such agreements. The failure of a borrower to maintain such standards or adhere to other applicable terms and conditions, such as property improvement plans, could result in the loss or cancellation of their rights under the franchise, license or management agreement. We cannot assure you that a replacement franchise could be obtained in the event of termination. In addition, replacement franchises, licenses and/or hospitality property managers may require significantly higher fees as well as the investment of capital to bring the hospitality property into compliance with the requirements of the replacement franchisor, licensor and/or hospitality property manager. Any provision in a franchise agreement or management agreement providing for termination because of a bankruptcy of a franchisor or manager generally will not be enforceable.

 

The transferability of franchise agreements, license agreements and property management agreements may be restricted. In the event of a foreclosure, the lender may not have the right to use the franchise license without the franchisor’s consent or the manager might be able to terminate the management agreement. Conversely, in the case of certain mortgage loans, the lender may be unable to remove a franchisor/licensor or a hotel management company that it desires to replace following a foreclosure and, further, may be limited as regards the pool of potential transferees for a foreclosure, licensor or real estate owned property.

 

In some cases where a hospitality property is subject to a license or franchise agreement, the licensor or franchisor has required or may in the future require the completion of various repairs and/or renovations pursuant to a property improvement plan issued by the licensor or franchisor. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Redevelopment, Renovation and Expansion”. Failure to complete

 

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those repairs and/or renovations in accordance with the plan could result in the hospitality property losing its license or franchise. Annex A-1 and the related footnotes set forth the amount of reserves, if any, established under the related mortgage loans in connection with any of those repairs and/or renovations. We cannot assure you that any amounts reserved will be sufficient to complete the repairs and/or renovations required with respect to any affected hospitality property. In addition, in some cases, those reserves will be maintained by the franchisor or property manager. Furthermore, the lender may not require a reserve for repairs and/or renovations in all instances.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Hospitality Properties”.

 

Industrial Properties Have Special Risks

 

In addition to the factors discussed in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” and “—Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases” above, other factors may adversely affect the financial performance and value of industrial properties, including:

 

reduced demand for industrial space because of a decline in a particular industry segment;

 

the property becoming functionally obsolete;

 

building design and adaptability;

 

unavailability of labor sources;

 

changes in access, energy prices, strikes, relocation of highways, the construction of additional highways or other factors;

 

changes in proximity of supply sources;

 

the expenses of converting a previously adapted space to general use; and

 

the location of the property.

 

Industrial properties may be adversely affected by reduced demand for industrial space occasioned by a decline in a particular industry segment in which the related tenant(s) conduct their businesses (for example, a decline in consumer demand for products sold by a tenant using the property as a distribution center). In addition, a particular industrial or warehouse property that suited the needs of its original tenant may be difficult to relet to another tenant or may become functionally obsolete relative to newer properties. Furthermore, lease terms with respect to industrial properties are generally for shorter periods of time and may result in a substantial percentage of leases expiring in the same year at any particular industrial property. In addition, mortgaged properties used for many industrial purposes are more prone to environmental concerns than other property types.

 

Aspects of building site design and adaptability affect the value of an industrial property. Site characteristics that are generally desirable to a warehouse/industrial property include high clear ceiling heights, wide column spacing, a large number of bays (loading docks) and large bay depths, divisibility, a layout that can accommodate large truck minimum turning radii and overall functionality and accessibility.

 

In addition, because of unique construction requirements of many industrial properties, any vacant industrial property space may not be easily converted to other uses. Thus, if the operation of any of the industrial properties becomes unprofitable due to competition, age of the improvements or other factors such that the borrower becomes unable to meet its obligations on the related mortgage loan, the liquidation value of that industrial property may be substantially less, relative to the amount owing on the related mortgage loan, than would be the case if the industrial property were readily adaptable to other uses.

 

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Location is also important because an industrial property requires the availability of labor sources, proximity to supply sources and customers and accessibility to rail lines, major roadways and other distribution channels.

 

Further, certain of the industrial properties may have tenants that are subject to risks unique to their business, such as cold storage facilities. Cold storage facilities may have unique risks such as short lease terms due to seasonal use, making income potentially more volatile than for properties with longer term leases, and customized refrigeration design, rendering such facilities less readily convertible to alternative uses. Because of seasonal use, leases at such facilities are customarily for shorter terms, making income potentially more volatile than for properties with longer term leases. In addition, such facilities require customized refrigeration design, rendering them less readily convertible to alternative uses.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Industrial Properties”.

 

Multifamily Properties Have Special Risks

 

In addition to the factors discussed in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” above, other factors may adversely affect the financial performance and value of multifamily properties, including:

 

the quality of property management;

 

the ability of management to provide adequate maintenance and insurance;

 

the types of services or amenities that the property provides;

 

the property’s reputation;

 

the level of mortgage interest rates, which may encourage tenants to purchase rather than lease housing;

 

the generally short terms of residential leases and the need for continued reletting;

 

rent concessions and month-to-month leases, which may impact cash flow at the property;

 

the tenant mix, such as the tenant population being predominantly students or being heavily dependent on workers from a particular business or industry or personnel from or workers related to a local military base;

 

in the case of student housing facilities or properties leased primarily to students, which may be more susceptible to damage or wear and tear than other types of multifamily housing, the reliance on the financial well-being of the college or university to which it relates, competition from on campus housing units, which may adversely affect occupancy, the physical layout of the housing, which may not be readily convertible to traditional multifamily use, and that student tenants have a higher turnover rate than other types of multifamily tenants, which in certain cases is compounded by the fact that student leases are available for periods of less than 12 months;

 

certain multifamily properties may be considered to be “flexible apartment properties”. Such properties have a significant percentage of units leased to tenants under short-term leases (less than one year in term), which creates a higher turnover rate than for other types of multifamily properties;

 

restrictions on the age of tenants who may reside at the property;

 

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dependence upon governmental programs that provide rent subsidies to tenants pursuant to tenant voucher programs, which vouchers may be used at other properties and influence tenant mobility;

 

adverse local, regional or national economic conditions, which may limit the amount of rent that may be charged and may result in a reduction of timely rent payments or a reduction in occupancy levels;

 

state and local regulations, which may affect the building owner’s ability to increase rent to market rent for an equivalent apartment; and

 

the existence of government assistance/rent subsidy programs, and whether or not they continue and provide the same level of assistance or subsidies.

 

Certain states regulate the relationship of an owner and its tenants. Commonly, these laws require a written lease, good cause for eviction, disclosure of fees, and notification to residents of changed land use, while prohibiting unreasonable rules, retaliatory evictions, and restrictions on a resident’s choice of unit vendors. Apartment building owners have been the subject of suits under state “Unfair and Deceptive Practices Acts” and other general consumer protection statutes for coercive, abusive or unconscionable leasing and sales practices. A few states offer more significant protection. For example, there are provisions that limit the bases on which a landlord may terminate a tenancy or increase its rent or prohibit a landlord from terminating a tenancy solely by reason of the sale of the owner’s building.

 

In addition to state regulation of the landlord tenant relationship, numerous counties and municipalities impose rent control on apartment buildings. These ordinances may limit rent increases to fixed percentages, to percentages of increases in the consumer price index, to increases set or approved by a governmental agency, or to increases determined through mediation or binding arbitration. Any limitations on a borrower’s ability to raise property rents may impair such borrower’s ability to repay its multifamily loan from its net operating income or the proceeds of a sale or refinancing of the related multifamily property.

 

Certain of the mortgage loans may be secured in the future by mortgaged properties that are subject to certain affordable housing covenants and other covenants and restrictions with respect to various tax credit, city, state and federal housing subsidies, rent stabilization or similar programs, in respect of various units within the mortgaged properties. The limitations and restrictions imposed by these programs could result in losses on the mortgage loans. In addition, in the event that the program is cancelled, it could result in less income for the project. These programs may include, among others:

 

rent limitations that would adversely affect the ability of borrowers to increase rents to maintain the condition of their mortgaged properties and satisfy operating expense; and

 

tenant income restrictions that may reduce the number of eligible tenants in those mortgaged properties and result in a reduction in occupancy rates.

 

The difference in rents between subsidized or supported properties and other multifamily rental properties in the same area may not be a sufficient economic incentive for some eligible tenants to reside at a subsidized or supported property that may have fewer amenities or be less attractive as a residence. As a result, occupancy levels at a subsidized or supported property may decline, which may adversely affect the value and successful operation of such property.

 

Certain of the multifamily properties may be residential cooperative buildings where the land under the building is owned or leased by a non-profit residential cooperative corporation. The cooperative owns all the units in the building and all common areas. Its tenants own stock, shares or membership certificates in the corporation. This ownership entitles the tenant-stockholders to proprietary leases or occupancy agreements which confer exclusive rights to occupy specific units. Generally, the tenant-stockholders make monthly maintenance payments which represent their share of the cooperative corporation’s mortgage loan payments, real property taxes, reserve contributions and capital

 

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expenditures, maintenance and other expenses, less any income the corporation may receive. These payments are in addition to any payments of principal and interest the tenant-stockholder may be required to make on any loans secured by its shares in the cooperative.

 

A number of factors may adversely affect the value and successful operation of a residential cooperative property. Some of these factors include:

 

the primary dependence of a borrower upon maintenance payments and any rental income from units or commercial areas to meet debt service obligations;

 

the initial concentration of shares relating to occupied rental units of the sponsor, owner or investor after conversion from rental housing, which may result in an inability to meet debt service obligations on the residential cooperative corporation’s mortgage loan if the sponsor, owner or investor is unable to make the required maintenance payments;

 

the failure of a borrower to qualify for favorable tax treatment as a “cooperative housing corporation” each year, which may reduce the cash flow available to make payments on the related mortgage loan; and

 

that, upon foreclosure, in the event a cooperative property becomes a rental property, certain units could be subject to rent control, stabilization and tenants’ rights laws, at below market rents, which may affect rental income levels and the marketability and sale proceeds of the rental property as a whole.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Multifamily Properties”.

 

Self-Storage Properties Have Special Risks

 

In addition to the factors discussed in “—Risks of Commercial and Multifamily Lending Generally” above, other factors may adversely affect the financial performance and value of self-storage properties, including:

 

decreased demand;

 

lack of proximity to apartment complexes or commercial users;

 

apartment tenants moving to single family homes;

 

decline in services rendered, including security;

 

dependence on business activity ancillary to renting units;

 

security concerns;

 

age of improvements; or

 

competition or other factors.

 

Self-storage properties are considered vulnerable to competition, because both acquisition costs and break-even occupancy are relatively low. The conversion of self-storage facilities to alternative uses would generally require substantial capital expenditures. Thus, if the operation of any of the self-storage properties becomes unprofitable, the liquidation value of that self-storage mortgaged property may be substantially less, relative to the amount owing on the mortgage loan, than if the self-storage mortgaged property were readily adaptable to other uses.

 

Tenants at self-storage properties tend to require and receive privacy, anonymity and efficient access, each of which may heighten environmental and other risks related to such property as the

 

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borrower may be unaware of the contents in any self-storage unit. No environmental assessment of a self-storage mortgaged property included an inspection of the contents of the self-storage units at that mortgaged property, and there is no assurance that all of the units included in the self-storage mortgaged properties are free from hazardous substances or other pollutants or contaminants or will remain so in the future.

 

Certain mortgage loans secured by self-storage properties may be affiliated with a franchise company through a franchise agreement. The performance of a self-storage property affiliated with a franchise company may be affected by the continued existence and financial strength of the franchisor, the public perception of a service mark, and the duration of the franchise agreement. The transferability of franchise license agreements is restricted. In the event of a foreclosure, the lender or its agent would not have the right to use the franchise license without the franchisor’s consent. In addition, certain self-storage properties may derive a material portion of revenue from business activities ancillary to self-storage such as truck rentals, parking fees and similar activities which require special use permits or other discretionary zoning approvals.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Self-Storage Properties”.

 

Mixed Use Properties Have Special Risks

 

Certain properties are mixed use properties. Such mortgaged properties are subject to the risks relating to the property types described in “—Office Properties Have Special Risks”, “—Retail Properties Have Special Risks”, “—Multifamily Properties Have Special Risks” and/or “—Industrial Properties Have Special Risks”. See Annex A-1 for the 5 largest tenants (by net rentable area leased) at the mixed use property. A mixed use property may be subject to additional risks, including the property manager’s inexperience in managing the different property types that comprise such mixed use property.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types—Mixed Use Properties”.

 

Parking Properties Have Special Risks

 

Certain of the mortgaged properties are comprised in whole or in part of, or contain, a parking lot or parking garage. The primary source of income for parking lots and garages is the rental fees charged for parking spaces (or in the case of a parking lot or parking garage leased in whole or part to a parking garage or parking lot operator, rents from such operating lease). Factors affecting the success of a parking lot or garage include:

 

the number of rentable parking spaces and rates charged;

 

the location of the lot or garage and, in particular, its proximity to places where large numbers of people work, shop or live;

 

the amount of alternative parking spaces in the area;

 

the availability of mass transit; and

 

the perceptions of the safety, convenience and services of the lot or garage.

 

Aspects of building site design and adaptability affect the value of a parking garage facility. Site characteristics that are valuable to a parking garage facility include location, clear ceiling heights, column spacing, zoning restrictions, number of spaces and overall functionality and accessibility.

 

In addition, because of the unique construction requirements of many parking garages and because a parking lot is often vacant paved land without any structure, a vacant parking garage facility or parking lot may not be easily converted to other uses. See “—Some Mortgaged Properties May Not Be Readily Convertible to Alternative Uses”.

 

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With respect to parking properties leased to a parking garage, parking lot operator or single tenant user, such leases generally provide the parking operator the right to terminate such leases upon various contingencies, which may include if there are specified reductions in gross receipts, or specified income targets are not met, if certain subleases of such parking properties are terminated or reduced, or upon a specified amount of capital expenditures to such properties being required in order to comply with applicable law, or other adverse events. There can be no assurance that the operating lessee of a parking property will not terminate its lease upon such an event.

 

Condominium Ownership May Limit Use and Improvements

 

The management and operation of a condominium is generally controlled by a condominium board representing the owners of the individual condominium units, subject to the terms of the related condominium rules or by-laws. Generally, the consent of a majority of the board members is required for any actions of the condominium board and a unit owner’s ability to control decisions of the board are generally related to the number of units owned by such owner as a percentage of the total number of units in the condominium. In certain cases, the related borrower does not have a majority of votes on the condominium board, which result in the related borrower not having control of the related condominium or owners association.

 

The board of managers or directors of the related condominium generally has discretion to make decisions affecting the condominium, and we cannot assure you that the related borrower under a mortgage loan secured by one or more interests in that condominium will have any control over decisions made by the related board of managers or directors. Even if a borrower or its designated board members, either through control of the appointment and voting of sufficient members of the related condominium board or by virtue of other provisions in the related condominium documents, has consent rights over actions by the related condominium associations or owners, we cannot assure you that the related condominium board will not take actions that would materially adversely affect the related borrower’s unit. Thus, decisions made by that board of managers or directors, including regarding assessments to be paid by the unit owners, insurance to be maintained on the condominium and many other decisions affecting the maintenance of that condominium, may have a significant adverse impact on the related mortgage loans in the issuing entity that are secured by mortgaged properties consisting of such condominium interests. We cannot assure you that the related board of managers or directors will always act in the best interests of the related borrower under the related mortgage loans.

 

The condominium board is generally responsible for administration of the affairs of the condominium, including providing for maintenance and repair of common areas, adopting rules and regulations regarding common areas, and obtaining insurance and repairing and restoring the common areas of the property after a casualty. Notwithstanding the insurance and casualty provisions of the related mortgage loan documents, the condominium board may have the right to control the use of casualty proceeds.

 

In addition, the condominium board generally has the right to assess individual unit owners for their share of expenses related to the operation and maintenance of the common elements. In the event that an owner of another unit fails to pay its allocated assessments, the related borrower may be required to pay such assessments in order to properly maintain and operate the common elements of the property. Although the condominium board generally may obtain a lien against any unit owner for common expenses that are not paid, such lien generally is extinguished if a lender takes possession pursuant to a foreclosure. Each unit owner is responsible for maintenance of its respective unit and retains essential operational control over its unit.

 

In addition, due to the nature of condominiums, a default on the part of the borrower with respect to such mortgaged properties will not allow the special servicer the same flexibility in realizing on the collateral as is generally available with respect to commercial properties that are not condominium units. The rights of other unit or property owners, the documents governing the management of the condominium units and the state and local laws applicable to condominium units must be considered. In addition, in the event of a casualty with respect to a condominium, due to the possible existence of multiple loss payees on any insurance policy covering such property, there could be a delay in the

 

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allocation of related insurance proceeds, if any. Consequently, servicing and realizing upon the collateral described above could subject the certificateholders to a greater delay, expense and risk than with respect to a mortgage loan secured by a commercial property that is not a condominium unit.

 

Certain condominium declarations and/or local laws provide for the withdrawal of a property from a condominium structure under certain circumstances. For example, the New York Condominium Act provides for a withdrawal of the property from a condominium structure by vote of 80% of unit owners. If the condominium is terminated, the building will be subject to an action for partition by any unit owner or lienor as if owned in common. This could cause an early and unanticipated prepayment of the mortgage loan. We cannot assure you that the proceeds from partition would be sufficient to satisfy borrower’s obligations under the mortgage loan. See also “—Risks Related to Zoning Non-Compliance and Use Restrictions” for certain risks relating to use restrictions imposed pursuant to condominium declarations or other condominium especially in a situation where the mortgaged property does not represent the entire condominium building.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Condominium and Other Shared Interests”.

 

Shared Interest Structures

 

Vertical subdivisions and “fee above a plane” structures are property ownership structures in which owners have a fee simple interest in certain ground-level and above-ground parcels. A vertical subdivision or fee above a plane structure is generally governed by a declaration or similar agreement defining the respective owner’s fee estates and relationship; one or more owners typically relies on one or more other owners’ parcels for structural support, access or shared amenities. Each owner is responsible for maintenance of its respective parcel and retains essential operational control over its parcel. We cannot assure you that owners of parcels supporting collateral interests in vertical subdivision and fee above a plane parcels will perform any maintenance and repair obligations that may be required under the declaration with respect to the supporting parcel, or that proceeds following a casualty would be used to reconstruct a supporting parcel. Owners of interests in a vertical subdivision or fee above a plane structure may be required under the related declaration to pay certain assessments relating to any shared interests in the related property, and a lien may be attached for failure to pay such assessments.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Condominium and Other Shared Interests”.

 

Operation of a Mortgaged Property Depends on the Property Manager’s Performance

 

The successful operation of a real estate project depends upon the property manager’s performance and viability. The property manager is responsible for:

 

responding to changes in the local market;

 

planning and implementing the rental structure;

 

operating the property and providing building services;

 

managing operating expenses; and

 

assuring that maintenance and capital improvements are carried out in a timely fashion.

 

Properties deriving revenues primarily from short term sources, such as hotel guests or short term or month to month leases, are generally more management intensive than properties leased to creditworthy tenants under long term leases.

 

Certain of the mortgaged properties will be managed by affiliates of the related borrower. If a mortgage loan is in default or undergoing special servicing, such relationship could disrupt the

 

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management of the related mortgaged property, which may adversely affect cash flow. However, the related mortgage loans will generally permit, in the case of mortgaged properties managed by borrower affiliates, the lender to remove the related property manager upon the occurrence of an event of default under the related mortgage loan beyond applicable cure periods (or, in some cases, in the event of a foreclosure following such default), and in some cases a decline in cash flow below a specified level or the failure to satisfy some other specified performance trigger.

 

Concentrations Based on Property Type, Geography, Related Borrowers and Other Factors May Disproportionately Increase Losses

 

The effect of mortgage pool loan losses will be more severe if the losses relate to mortgage loans that account for a disproportionately large percentage of the pool’s aggregate principal balance. As mortgage loans pay down or properties are released, the remaining certificateholders may pose a higher risk with respect to the diversity of property types and property characteristics and with respect to the number of borrowers.

 

See the tables entitled “Stated Remaining Term (Mos.)” in Annex A-2 for a stratification of the remaining terms to maturity of the mortgage loans. Because principal on the certificates is payable in sequential order of payment priority, and a class receives principal only after the preceding class(es), if any, have been paid in full, classes that have a lower sequential priority are more likely to face these types of risk of concentration than classes with a higher sequential priority.

 

Several of the mortgage loans have cut-off date balances that are substantially higher than the average cut-off date balance. In general, concentrations in mortgage loans with larger-than-average balances can result in losses that are more severe, relative to the size of the mortgage loan pool, than would be the case if the aggregate balance of the mortgage loan pool were more evenly distributed.

 

A concentration of mortgage loans secured by the same mortgaged property types can increase the risk that a decline in a particular industry or business would have a disproportionately large impact on the pool of mortgage loans. Mortgaged property types representing 5.0% or more of the aggregate principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date (based on allocated loan amount) are office, retail, hospitality and industrial. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Property Types” for information on the types of mortgaged properties securing the mortgage loans in the mortgage pool.

 

Repayments by borrowers and the market value of the related mortgaged properties could be affected by economic conditions generally or specific to particular geographic areas or regions of the United States, and concentrations of mortgaged properties in particular geographic areas may increase the risk that conditions in the real estate market where the mortgaged property is located, or other adverse economic or other developments or natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods, forest fires, tornadoes or hurricanes or changes in governmental rules or fiscal policies) affecting a particular region of the country, could increase the frequency and severity of losses on mortgage loans secured by those mortgaged properties.

 

Mortgaged properties securing 5.0% or more of the aggregate principal balance of the pool of mortgage loans as of the cut-off date (based on allocated loan amount) are located in California, New York, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Delaware and Pennsylvania. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics—Geographic Concentrations”.

 

Some of the mortgaged properties are located in areas that, based on low population density, poor economic demographics (such as higher than average unemployment rates, lower than average annual household income and/or overall loss of jobs) and/or negative trends in such regards, would be considered secondary or tertiary markets.

 

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A concentration of mortgage loans with the same borrower or related borrowers also can pose increased risks:

 

if a borrower that owns or controls several mortgaged properties (whether or not all of them secure mortgage loans in the mortgage pool) experiences financial difficulty at one mortgaged property, it could defer maintenance at another mortgaged property in order to satisfy current expenses with respect to the first mortgaged property;

 

a borrower could also attempt to avert foreclosure by filing a bankruptcy petition that might have the effect of interrupting debt service payments on the mortgage loans in the mortgage pool secured by that borrower’s mortgaged properties (subject to the master servicer’s and the trustee’s obligation to make advances for monthly payments) for an indefinite period; and

 

mortgaged properties owned by the same borrower or related borrowers are likely to have common management, common general partners and/or common managing members increasing the risk that financial or other difficulties experienced by such related parties could have a greater impact on the pool of mortgage loans. See “—A Bankruptcy Proceeding May Result in Losses and Delays in Realizing on the Mortgage Loans” below.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Mortgage Pool Characteristics” for information on the composition of the mortgage pool by property type and geographic distribution and loan concentration.

 

Adverse Environmental Conditions at or Near Mortgaged Properties May Result in Losses

 

The issuing entity could become liable for a material adverse environmental condition at an underlying mortgaged property. Any such potential liability could reduce or delay payments on the offered certificates.

 

Each of the mortgaged properties was either (i) subject to environmental site assessments prior to the time of origination of the related mortgage loan including Phase I environmental site assessments or updates of previously performed Phase I environmental site assessments, or (ii) subject to a secured creditor environmental insurance policy or other environmental insurance policy. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Environmental Considerations”.

 

We cannot assure you that the environmental assessments revealed all existing or potential environmental risks or that all adverse environmental conditions have been or will be completely abated or remediated or that any reserves, insurance or operations and maintenance plans will be sufficient to remediate the environmental conditions. Moreover, we cannot assure you that:

 

future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability; or

 

the current environmental condition of the mortgaged properties will not be adversely affected by tenants or by the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of the mortgaged properties (such as underground storage tanks).

 

We cannot assure you that with respect to any mortgaged property, any remediation plan or any projected remedial costs or time is accurate or sufficient to complete the remediation objectives, or that no additional contamination requiring environmental investigation or remediation will be discovered on any mortgaged property. Likewise, all environmental policies naming the lender as named insured cover certain risks or events specifically identified in the policy, but the coverage is limited by its terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions, and does not purport to cover all environmental conditions whatsoever affecting the applicable mortgaged property, and we cannot assure you that any environmental conditions currently known, suspected, or unknown and discovered in the future will be covered by the terms of the policy.

 

Before the trustee, the special servicer or the master servicer, as applicable, acquires title to a mortgaged property on behalf of the issuing entity or assumes operation of the property, it will be required

 

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to obtain an environmental assessment of such mortgaged property, or rely on a recent environmental assessment. This requirement is intended to mitigate the risk that the issuing entity will become liable under any environmental law. There is accordingly some risk that the mortgaged property will decline in value while this assessment is being obtained or remedial action is being taken. Moreover, we cannot assure you that this requirement will effectively insulate the issuing entity from potential liability under environmental laws. Any such potential liability could reduce or delay distributions to certificateholders.

 

See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Environmental Considerations” for additional information on environmental conditions at mortgaged properties securing certain mortgage loans in the issuing entity. See also representation and warranty number 41 in Annex D-1, representation and warranty number 43 in Annex E-1, and the identified exceptions to those representations and warranties in Annex D-2, Annex D-3 or Annex E-2, as applicable.

 

See “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—German American Capital Corporation”, “—Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.”, “—JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association”, “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Realization Upon Mortgage Loans” and “Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans”.

 

See “Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans—Environmental Considerations”.

 

Risks Related to Redevelopment, Expansion and Renovation at Mortgaged Properties

 

Certain of the mortgaged properties are currently undergoing or, in the future, are expected to undergo redevelopment, expansion or renovation. In addition, the related borrower may be permitted under the related mortgage loan documents, at its option and cost but subject to certain conditions, to undergo future construction, renovation or alterations of the mortgaged property. To the extent applicable, we cannot assure you that any escrow or reserve collected, if any, will be sufficient to complete the current renovation or be otherwise sufficient to satisfy any tenant improvement expenses at a mortgaged property. Failure to complete those planned improvements may have a material adverse effect on the cash flow at the mortgaged property and the related borrower’s ability to meet its payment obligations under the mortgage loan documents. In addition, such renovations or expansions may be required under tenant leases and a failure to timely complete such renovations or expansions may result in a termination of such lease(s) and may have a material adverse effect on the cash flow at the mortgaged property and the related borrower’s ability to meet its payment obligations under the mortgage loan documents.

 

Certain of the hospitality properties securing the mortgage loans are currently undergoing or are scheduled to undergo renovations or property improvement plans (“PIPs”). In some circumstances, these renovations or PIPs may necessitate taking a portion of the available guest rooms temporarily offline, temporarily decreasing the number of available rooms and the revenue generating capacity of the related hospitality property. In other cases, these renovations may involve renovations of common spaces or external features of the related hospitality property, which may cause disruptions or otherwise decrease the attractiveness of the related hospitality property to potential guests. These PIPs may be required under the related franchise or management agreement and a failure to timely complete them may result in a termination or expiration of a franchise or management agreement and may be an event of default under the related mortgage loan.

 

We cannot assure you that current or planned redevelopment, expansion or renovation will be completed at all, that such redevelopment, expansion or renovation will be completed in the time frame contemplated, or that, when and if such redevelopment, expansion or renovation is completed, such redevelopment, expansion or renovation will improve the operations at, or increase the value of, the related mortgaged property. Failure of any of the foregoing to occur could have a material negative impact on the related mortgaged property, which could affect the ability of the related borrower to repay the related mortgage loan.

 

In the event the related borrower fails to pay the costs for work completed or material delivered in connection with such ongoing redevelopment, expansion or renovation, the portion of the mortgaged

 

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property on which there are renovations may be subject to mechanic’s or materialmen’s liens that may be senior to the lien of the related mortgage loan.

 

The existence of construction or renovation at a mortgaged property may take rental units or rooms or leasable space “off-line” or otherwise make space unavailable for rental, impair access or traffic at or near the mortgaged property, or, in general, make that mortgaged property less attractive to tenants or their customers, and accordingly could have a negative effect on net operating income. In addition, any such construction or renovation at a mortgaged property may temporarily interfere with the use and operation of any portion of such mortgaged property. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Redevelopment, Renovation and Expansion” for information regarding mortgaged properties which are currently undergoing or, in the future, are expected to undergo redevelopment, expansion or renovation. See also Annex A-3 for additional information on redevelopment, renovation and expansion at the mortgaged properties securing the 10 largest mortgage loans.

 

Some Mortgaged Properties May Not Be Readily Convertible to Alternative Uses

 

Certain mortgaged properties securing the mortgage loans may have specialty use tenants and may not be readily convertible (or convertible at all) to alternative uses if those properties were to become unprofitable for any reason.

 

For example, retail, mixed-use or office properties may have theater tenants. Properties with theater tenants are exposed to certain unique risks. Aspects of building site design and adaptability affect the value of a theater. In addition, decreasing attendance at a theater could adversely affect revenue of the theater, which may, in turn, cause the tenant to experience financial difficulties, resulting in downgrades in their credit ratings and, in certain cases, bankruptcy filings. In addition, because of unique construction requirements of theaters, any vacant theater space would not easily be converted to other uses.

 

Retail, mixed-use or office properties may also have health clubs as tenants. Several factors may adversely affect the value and successful operation of a health club, including:

 

the physical attributes of the health club (e.g., its age, appearance and layout);

 

the reputation, safety, convenience and attractiveness of the property to users;

 

management’s ability to control membership growth and attrition;

 

competition in the tenant’s marketplace from other health clubs and alternatives to health clubs; and

 

adverse changes in economic and social conditions and demographic changes (e.g., population decreases or changes in average age or income), which may result in decreased demand.

 

In addition, there may be significant costs associated with changing consumer preferences (e.g., multipurpose clubs from single-purpose clubs or varieties of equipment, classes, services and amenities). In addition, health clubs may not be readily convertible to alternative uses if those properties were to become unprofitable for any reason. The liquidation value of any such health club consequently may be less than would be the case if the property were readily adaptable to changing consumer preferences for other uses.

 

Certain retail, mixed use or office properties may be partially comprised of a parking garage. Parking garages and parking lots present risks not associated with other properties. The primary source of income for parking lots and garages is the rental fees charged for parking spaces.

 

Factors affecting the success of a parking lot or garage include:

 

the number of rentable parking spaces and rates charged;

 

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the location of the lot or garage and, in particular, its proximity to places where large numbers of people work, shop or live;

 

the amount of alternative parking spaces in the area;

 

the availability of mass transit; and

 

the perceptions of the safety, convenience and services of the lot or garage.

 

Aspects of building site design and adaptability affect the value of a parking garage facility. Site characteristics that are valuable to a parking garage facility include location, clear ceiling heights, column spacing, zoning restrictions, number of spaces and overall functionality and accessibility.

 

In addition, because of the unique construction requirements of many parking garages and because a parking lot is often vacant paved land without any structure, a vacant parking garage facility or parking lot may not be easily converted to other uses.

 

Mortgaged properties may have other specialty use tenants, such as medical and dental offices, fitness centers, lab space, gas stations, bank branches, data centers, urgent care facilities, schools, daycare centers and/or restaurants, as part of the mortgaged property.

 

In the case of specialty use tenants such as bank branches, restaurants and theaters, aspects of building site design and adaptability affect the value of such properties and other retailers at the mortgaged property. Decreasing patronage at such properties could adversely affect revenue of the property, which may, in turn, cause the tenants to experience financial difficulties, resulting in downgrades in their credit, lease defaults, ratings and, in certain cases, bankruptcy filings. See “—Performance of the Mortgage Loans Will Be Highly Dependent on the Performance of Tenants and Tenant Leases—Tenant Bankruptcy Could Result in a Rejection of the Related Lease” above. Additionally, receipts at such properties are also affected not only by objective factors but by subjective factors. For instance, restaurant receipts are affected by such varied influences as the current personal income levels in the community, an individual consumer’s preference for type of food, style of dining and restaurant atmosphere, the perceived popularity of the restaurant, food safety concerns related to personal health with the handling of food items at the restaurant or by food suppliers and the actions and/or behaviors of staff and management and level of service to the customers. In addition, because of unique construction requirements of such properties, any vacant space would not easily be converted to other uses.

 

Mortgaged properties with specialty use tenants may not be readily convertible (or convertible at all) to alternative uses if those properties were to become unprofitable, or the leased spaces were to become vacant, for any reason due to their unique construction requirements. In addition, converting commercial properties to alternate uses generally requires substantial capital expenditures and could result in a significant adverse effect on, or interruption of, the revenues generated by such properties.

 

In addition, a mortgaged property may not be readily convertible due to restrictive covenants related to such mortgaged property, including in the case of mortgaged properties that are subject to a condominium regime or subject to a ground lease, the use and other restrictions imposed by the condominium declaration and other related documents, especially in a situation where a mortgaged property does not represent the entire condominium regime. See “—Condominium Ownership May Limit Use and Improvements” above.

 

Some of the mortgaged properties may be part of tax-reduction programs that apply only if the mortgaged properties are used for certain purposes. Such properties may be restricted from being converted to alternative uses because of such restrictions.

 

Some of the mortgaged properties have government tenants or other tenants which may have space that was “built to suit” that particular tenant’s uses and needs. For example, a government tenant may require enhanced security features that required additional construction or renovation costs and for which the related tenant may pay above market rent. However, such enhanced features may not be necessary

 

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for a new tenant (and such new tenant may not be willing to pay the higher rent associated with such features). While a government office building or government leased space may be usable as a regular office building or tenant space, the rents that may be collected in the event the government tenant does not renew its lease may be significantly lower than the rent currently collected.

 

Additionally, zoning, historical preservation or other restrictions also may prevent alternative uses. See “—Risks Related to Zoning Non-Compliance and Use Restrictions” below.

 

Risks Related to Zoning Non-Compliance and Use Restrictions

 

Certain of the mortgaged properties may not comply with current zoning laws, including density, use, parking, height, landscaping, open space and set back requirements, due to changes in zoning requirements after such mortgaged properties were constructed. These properties, as well as those for which variances or special permits were issued or for which non-conformity with current zoning laws is otherwise permitted, are considered to be a “legal non-conforming use” and/or the improvements are considered to be “legal non-conforming structures”. This means that the borrower is not required to alter its structure to comply with the existing or new law; however, the borrower may not be able to rebuild the premises “as-is” in the event of a substantial casualty loss. This may adversely affect the cash flow of the property following the loss. If a substantial casualty were to occur, we cannot assure you that insurance proceeds would be available to pay the mortgage loan in full. In addition, if a non-conforming use were to be discontinued and/or the property were repaired or restored in conformity with the current law, the value of the property or the revenue-producing potential of the property may not be equal to that before the casualty.

 

In addition, certain of the mortgaged properties that do not conform to current zoning laws may not be “legal non-conforming uses” or “legal non-conforming structures”. The failure of a mortgaged property to comply with zoning laws or to be a “legal non-conforming use” or “legal non-conforming structure” may adversely affect market value of the mortgaged property or the borrower’s ability to continue to use it in the manner it is currently being used or may necessitate material additional expenditures to remedy non-conformities. In some cases, the related borrower has obtained law and ordinance insurance to cover additional costs that result from rebuilding the mortgaged property in accordance with current zoning requirements. However, if as a result of the applicable zoning laws the rebuilt improvements are smaller or less attractive to tenants than the original improvements, the resulting loss in income will generally not be covered by law and ordinance insurance. Zoning protection insurance will generally reimburse the lender for the difference between (i) the mortgage loan balance on the date of damage loss to the mortgaged property from an insured peril and (ii) the total insurance proceeds at the time of the damage to the mortgaged property if such mortgaged property cannot be rebuilt to its former use due to new zoning ordinances.

 

In addition, certain of the mortgaged properties may be subject to certain use restrictions and/or operational requirements imposed pursuant to development agreements, ground leases, restrictive covenants, reciprocal easement agreements or operating agreements or historical landmark designations or, in the case of those mortgaged properties that are condominiums, vertical subdivisions and related structures, the related declarations or other use restrictions or regulations, especially in a situation where the mortgaged property does not represent the entire building. Such use restrictions could include, for example, limitations on the character of the improvements or the properties, limitations affecting noise and parking requirements, among other things, and limitations on the borrowers’ right to operate certain types of facilities within a prescribed radius. These limitations impose upon the borrower stricter requirements with respect to repairs and alterations, including following a casualty loss. These limitations could adversely affect the ability of the related borrower to lease the mortgaged property on favorable terms, thus adversely affecting the borrower’s ability to fulfill its obligations under the related mortgage loan. In addition, any alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or new construction affecting a mortgaged property designated a historical landmark may require prior approval. Any such approval process, even if successful, could delay any redevelopment or alteration of a related property. The liquidation value of such property, to the extent subject to limitations of the kind described above or other limitations on convertibility of use, may be substantially less than would be the case if such property was readily

 

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adaptable to other uses or redevelopment. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Use Restrictions” for examples of mortgaged properties that are subject to restrictions relating to the use of the mortgaged properties.

 

Additionally, some of the mortgaged properties may have current or past tenants that handle or have handled hazardous materials and, in some cases, related contamination at some of the mortgaged properties was previously investigated and, as warranted, remediated with regulatory closure, the conditions of which in some cases may include restrictions against any future redevelopment for residential use or other land use restrictions. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Environmental Considerations” for additional information on environmental conditions at mortgaged properties securing certain mortgage loans in the issuing entity. See also representation and warranty number 40 in Annex D-1, representation and warranty number 43 in Annex E-1, and the identified exceptions to those representations and warranties in Annex D-2, Annex D-3 or Annex E-2, as applicable.

 

Risks Relating to Inspections of Properties

 

Licensed engineers or consultants inspected the mortgaged properties at or about the time of the origination of the mortgage loans to assess items such as structural integrity of the buildings and other improvements on the mortgaged property, including exterior walls, roofing, interior construction, mechanical and electrical systems and general condition of the site, buildings and other improvements. However, we cannot assure you that all conditions requiring repair or replacement were identified. No additional property inspections were conducted in connection with the issuance of the offered certificates.

 

Risks Relating to Costs of Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations

 

A borrower may be required to incur costs to comply with various existing and future federal, state or local laws and regulations applicable to the related mortgaged property, for example, zoning laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, which requires all public accommodations to meet certain federal requirements related to access and use by persons with disabilities. See “Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans—Americans with Disabilities Act”. The expenditure of these costs or the imposition of injunctive relief, penalties or fines in connection with the borrower’s noncompliance could negatively impact the borrower’s cash flow and, consequently, its ability to pay its mortgage loan.

 

Insurance May Not Be Available or Adequate

 

Although the mortgaged properties are required to be insured, or self-insured by a sole or major tenant of a related building or group of buildings, against certain risks, there is a possibility of casualty loss with respect to the mortgaged properties for which insurance proceeds may not be adequate or which may result from risks not covered by insurance.

 

Certain Risks Are Not Covered under Standard Insurance Policies. In general (other than where the mortgage loan documents permit the borrower to rely on a tenant (including a ground tenant) or other third party (such as a condominium association, if applicable) to obtain the insurance coverage, on self-insurance provided by a tenant or on a tenant’s agreement to rebuild or continue paying rent), the master servicer and special servicer will be required to cause the borrower on each mortgage loan to maintain such insurance coverage in respect of the related mortgaged property as is required under the related mortgage loan documents. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Insurance Considerations”. In general, the standard form of fire and extended coverage policy covers physical damage to or destruction of the improvements of a property by fire, lightning, explosion, smoke, windstorm and hail, and riot, strike and civil commotion, subject to the conditions and exclusions specified in each policy (windstorm is a common exclusion for properties located in certain locations). Most policies typically do not cover any physical damage resulting from, among other things:

 

war;

 

revolution;

 

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terrorism;

 

nuclear, biological or chemical materials;

 

governmental actions;

 

floods and other water related causes;

 

earth movement, including earthquakes, landslides and mudflows;

 

wet or dry rot;

 

vermin; and

 

domestic animals.

 

Unless the related mortgage loan documents specifically require the borrower to insure against physical damage arising from such causes, then, the resulting losses may be borne by you as a holder of certificates.

 

Standard Insurance May Be Inadequate Even for Types of Losses That Are Insured Against. Even if a type of loss is covered by the insurance policies required to be in place at the mortgaged properties, the mortgaged properties may suffer losses for which the insurance coverage is inadequate. For example:

 

in a case where terrorism coverage is included under a policy, if the terrorist attack is, for example, nuclear, biological or chemical in nature, the policy may include an exclusion that precludes coverage for such terrorist attack;

 

in certain cases, particularly where land values are high, the insurable value (at the time of origination of the mortgage loan) of the mortgaged property may be significantly lower than the principal balance of the mortgage loan;

 

with respect to mortgaged properties located in flood prone areas where flood insurance is required, the related mortgaged property may only have federal flood insurance (which only covers up to $500,000), not private flood insurance, and the related mortgaged property may suffer losses that exceed the amounts covered by the federal flood insurance;

 

the mortgage loan documents may limit the requirement to obtain related insurance to where the premium amounts are “commercially reasonable” or a similar limitation; and

 

if reconstruction or major repairs are required, changes in laws may materially affect the borrower’s ability to effect any reconstruction or major repairs and/or may materially increase the costs of the reconstruction or repairs and insurance may not cover or sufficiently compensate the insured.

 

There Is No Assurance That Required Insurance Will Be Maintained. There is no assurance that borrowers have maintained or will maintain the insurance required under the mortgage loan documents or that such insurance will be adequate.

 

Even if the mortgage loan documents specify that the related borrower must maintain standard extended coverage casualty insurance or other insurance that covers acts of terrorism, the borrower may fail to maintain such insurance and the master servicer or the special servicer may not enforce such default or cause the borrower to obtain such insurance if the special servicer has determined, in accordance with the servicing standard and subject to the discussion under “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—The Directing Holder” and “—The Operating Advisor”, that either (a) such insurance is not available at commercially reasonable rates and the subject hazards are not commonly insured against by prudent owners of similar real properties located in or near the geographic region in which the mortgaged

 

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property is located (but only by reference to such insurance that has been obtained by such owners at current market rates), or (b) such insurance is not available at any rate. Additionally, if the related borrower fails to maintain such terrorism insurance coverage, neither the master servicer nor the special servicer will be required to maintain such terrorism insurance coverage if the special servicer determines, in accordance with the servicing standard, that such terrorism insurance coverage is not available for the reasons set forth in the preceding sentence. Furthermore, at the time existing insurance policies are subject to renewal, there is no assurance that terrorism insurance coverage will be available and covered under the new policies or, if covered, whether such coverage will be adequate. Most insurance policies covering commercial real properties such as the mortgaged properties are subject to renewal on an annual basis. If this coverage is not currently in effect, is not adequate or is ultimately not continued with respect to some of the mortgaged properties and one of those properties suffers a casualty loss as a result of a terrorist act, then the resulting casualty loss could reduce the amount available to make distributions on your certificates.

 

In addition, certain types of mortgaged properties, such as manufactured housing and recreational vehicle communities, have few or no insurable buildings or improvements and thus do not have casualty insurance or low limits of casualty insurance in comparison with the related mortgage loan balances.

 

In addition, hazard insurance policies will typically contain co-insurance clauses that in effect require an insured at all times to carry insurance of a specified percentage, generally 80% to 90%, of the full replacement value of the improvements on the related mortgaged property in order to recover the full amount of any partial loss. As a result, even if insurance coverage is maintained, if the insured’s coverage falls below this specified percentage, those clauses generally provide that the insurer’s liability in the event of partial loss does not exceed the lesser of (1) the replacement cost of the improvements less physical depreciation and (2) that proportion of the loss as the amount of insurance carried bears to the specified percentage of the full replacement cost of those improvements.

 

Furthermore, with respect to certain mortgage loans, the insurable value of the related mortgaged property as of the origination date of the related mortgage loan was lower than the principal balance of the related mortgage loan. In the event of a casualty when a borrower is not required to rebuild or cannot rebuild, we cannot assure you that the insurance required with respect to the related mortgaged property will be sufficient to pay the related mortgage loan in full and there is no “gap” insurance required under such mortgage loan to cover any difference. In those circumstances, a casualty that occurs near the maturity date may result in an extension of the maturity date of the mortgage loan if the master servicer, in accordance with the servicing standard, determines that such extension was in the best interest of certificateholders.

 

The mortgage loans do not all require flood insurance on the related mortgaged properties unless they are in a flood zone and flood insurance is available and, in certain instances, even where the related mortgaged property was in a flood zone and flood insurance was available, flood insurance was not required.

 

The National Flood Insurance Program’s (“NFIP”) is scheduled to expire November 30, 2018. We cannot assure you if or when NFIP will be reauthorized. If NFIP is not reauthorized, it could have an adverse effect on the value of properties in flood zones or their ability to repair or rebuild after flood damage.

 

We cannot assure you that the borrowers will in the future be able to comply with requirements to maintain adequate insurance with respect to the mortgaged properties, and any uninsured loss could have a material adverse impact on the amount available to make payments on the related mortgage loan, and consequently, the offered certificates. As with all real estate, if reconstruction (for example, following fire or other casualty) or any major repair or improvement is required to the damaged property, changes in laws and governmental regulations may be applicable and may materially affect the cost to, or ability of, the borrowers to effect such reconstruction, major repair or improvement. As a result, the amount realized with respect to the mortgaged properties, and the amount available to make payments on the related mortgage loan, and consequently, the offered certificates, could be reduced. In addition, we cannot assure you that the amount of insurance required or provided would be sufficient to cover

 

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damages caused by any casualty, or that such insurance will be available in the future at commercially reasonable rates.

 

Terrorism Insurance May Not Be Available for All Mortgaged Properties

 

The occurrence or the possibility of terrorist attacks could (1) lead to damage to one or more of the mortgaged properties if any terrorist attacks occur or (2) result in higher costs for security and insurance premiums or diminish the availability of insurance coverage for losses related to terrorist attacks, particularly for large properties, which could adversely affect the cash flow at those mortgaged properties.

 

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and the Washington, D.C. area, all forms of insurance were impacted, particularly from a cost and availability perspective, including comprehensive general liability and business interruption or rent loss insurance policies required by typical mortgage loans. To give time for private markets to develop a pricing mechanism for terrorism risk and to build capacity to absorb future losses that may occur due to terrorism, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 was enacted on November 26, 2002, establishing the Terrorism Insurance Program. The Terrorism Insurance Program was extended through December 31, 2014 by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 and was subsequently reauthorized on January 12, 2015 for a period of six years through December 31, 2020 pursuant to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (“TRIPRA”).

 

The Terrorism Insurance Program requires insurance carriers to provide terrorism coverage in their basic “all-risk” policies. Any commercial property and casualty terrorism insurance exclusion that was in force on November 26, 2002 is automatically void to the extent that it excluded losses that would otherwise be insured losses. Any state approval of those types of exclusions in force on November 26, 2002 is also void.

 

Under the Terrorism Insurance Program, the federal government shares in the risk of losses occurring within the United States resulting from acts committed in an effort to influence or coerce United States civilians or the United States government. The federal share of compensation for insured losses of an insurer equals 82% in 2018 (subject to annual 1% decreases until such percentage equals 80%) of the portion of such insured losses that exceed a deductible equal to 20% of the value of the insurer’s direct earned premiums over the calendar year immediately preceding that program year. Federal compensation in any program year is capped at $100 billion (with insurers being liable for any amount that exceeds such cap), and no compensation is payable with respect to a terrorist act unless the aggregate industry losses relating to such act exceed $160 million in 2018 (subject to annual $20 million increases until such threshold equals $200 million). The Terrorism Insurance Program does not cover nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological attacks. Unless a borrower obtains separate coverage for events that do not meet the thresholds or other requirements above, such events will not be covered.

 

If the Terrorism Insurance Program is not reenacted after its expiration in 2020, premiums for terrorism insurance coverage will likely increase and the terms of such insurance policies may be materially amended to increase stated exclusions or to otherwise effectively decrease the scope of coverage available (perhaps to the point where it is effectively not available). In addition, to the extent that any insurance policies contain “sunset clauses” (i.e., clauses that void terrorism coverage if the federal insurance backstop program is not renewed), then such policies may cease to provide terrorism insurance upon the expiration of the Terrorism Insurance Program. We cannot assure you that the Terrorism Insurance Program or any successor program will create any long term changes in the availability and cost of such insurance. Moreover, future legislation, including regulations expected to be adopted by the Treasury Department pursuant to TRIPRA, may have a material effect on the availability of federal assistance in the terrorism insurance market. To the extent that uninsured or underinsured casualty losses occur with respect to the related mortgaged properties, losses on the mortgage loans may result. In addition, the failure to maintain such terrorism insurance may constitute a default under the related mortgage loan.

 

Some of the mortgage loans do not require the related borrower to maintain terrorism insurance. In addition, most of the mortgage loans contain limitations on the related borrower’s obligation to obtain

 

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terrorism insurance, such as (i) waiving the requirement that such borrower maintain terrorism insurance if such insurance is not available at commercially reasonable rates, (ii) providing that the related borrower is not required to spend in excess of a specified dollar amount (or in some cases, a specified multiple of what is spent on other insurance) in order to obtain such terrorism insurance, (iii) requiring coverage only for as long as the TRIPRA is in effect, or (iv) requiring coverage only for losses arising from domestic acts of terrorism or from terrorist acts certified by the federal government as “acts of terrorism” under the TRIPRA. See “Annex A-3—Description of Top Fifteen Mortgage Loans and Additional Mortgage Loan Information” for a summary of the terrorism insurance requirements under each of the ten largest mortgage loans.

 

We cannot assure you that all of the mortgaged properties will be insured against the risks of terrorism and similar acts. As a result of any of the foregoing, the amount available to make distributions on your certificates could be reduced.

 

Other mortgaged properties securing mortgage loans may also be insured under a blanket policy or self-insured or insured by a sole tenant. See “—Risks Associated with Blanket Insurance Policies or Self-Insurance” below.

 

Risks Associated with Blanket Insurance Policies or Self-Insurance

 

Certain of the mortgaged properties are covered by blanket insurance policies, which also cover other properties of the related borrower or its affiliates (including certain properties in close proximity to the mortgaged properties). In the event that such policies are drawn on to cover losses on such other properties, the amount of insurance coverage available under such policies would thereby be reduced and could be insufficient to cover each mortgaged property’s insurable risks. In addition, with respect to some of the mortgaged properties, a sole or significant tenant is allowed to provide self-insurance against risks.

 

Additionally, if the mortgage loans that allow coverage under blanket insurance policies are part of a group of mortgage loans with related borrowers, then all of the related mortgaged properties may be covered under the same blanket policy, which may also cover other properties owned by affiliates of such borrowers.

 

Certain mortgaged properties may also be insured or self-insured by a sole or significant tenant, as further described under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Insurance Considerations”.

 

Limited Information Causes Uncertainty

 

Historical Information. Some of the mortgage loans that we intend to include in the issuing entity are secured in whole or in part by mortgaged properties for which limited or no historical operating information is available. As a result, you may find it difficult to analyze the historical performance of those mortgaged properties.

 

A mortgaged property may lack prior operating history or historical financial information because it is newly constructed or renovated, it is a recent acquisition by the related borrower or it is a single-tenant property that is subject to a triple net lease. In addition, a tenant’s lease may contain confidentiality provisions that restrict the sponsors’ access to or disclosure of such tenant’s financial information. The underwritten net cash flows and underwritten net operating income for such mortgaged properties are derived principally from current rent rolls or tenant leases and historical expenses, adjusted to account for, among other things, inflation, significant occupancy increases and/or a market rate management fee. In some cases, underwritten net cash flows and underwritten net operating income for mortgaged properties are based all or in part on leases (or letters of intent) that are not yet in place (and may still be under negotiation) or on tenants that may have signed a lease (or letter of intent), or lease amendment expanding the leased space, but are not yet in occupancy and/or paying rent, which present certain risks described in “—Underwritten Net Cash Flow Could Be Based On Incorrect or Failed Assumptions” below.

 

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See Annex A-1 for certain historical financial information relating to the mortgaged properties, including net operating income for the most recent reporting period and prior three calendar years, to the extent available.

 

Ongoing Information. The primary source of ongoing information regarding the offered certificates, including information regarding the status of the related mortgage loans and any credit support for the offered certificates, will be the periodic reports delivered to you. See “Description of the Certificates—Reports to Certificateholders; Certain Available Information”. We cannot assure you that any additional ongoing information regarding the offered certificates will be available through any other source. The limited nature of the available information in respect of the offered certificates may adversely affect their liquidity, even if a secondary market for the offered certificates does develop.

 

We are not aware of any source through which pricing information regarding the offered certificates will be generally available on an ongoing basis or on any particular date.

 

Underwritten Net Cash Flow Could Be Based On Incorrect or Failed Assumptions

 

As described under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Information”, underwritten net cash flow generally includes cash flow (including any cash flow from master leases) adjusted based on a number of assumptions used by the sponsors. We make no representation that the underwritten net cash flow set forth in this prospectus as of the cut-off date or any other date represents actual future net cash flows. For example, with respect to certain mortgage loans included in the issuing entity, the occupancy of the related mortgaged property reflects tenants that (i) may not have yet actually executed leases (or letters of intent), (ii) have signed leases but have not yet taken occupancy and/or are not paying full contractual rent, (iii) are seeking or may in the future seek to sublet all or a portion of their respective spaces, (iv) are “dark” tenants but paying rent, or (v) are affiliates of the related borrower and are leasing space pursuant to a master lease or a space lease. Similarly, with respect to certain mortgage loans included in the issuing entity, the underwritten net cash flow may be based on certain tenants that have not yet executed leases or that have signed leases but are not yet in place and/or are not yet paying rent, or have a signed lease or lease amendment expanding the leased space, but are not yet in occupancy in all or a portion of their space and/or paying rent, or may assume that future contractual rent steps (during some or all of the remaining term of a lease) have occurred. In many cases, co-tenancy provisions were assumed to be satisfied and vacant space was assumed to be occupied and space that was due to expire was assumed to have been re-let, in each case at market rates that may have exceeded current rent. You should review these and other similar assumptions and make your own determination of the appropriate assumptions to be used in determining underwritten net cash flow.

 

In addition, underwritten or adjusted cash flows, by their nature, are speculative and are based upon certain assumptions and projections. The failure of these assumptions or projections in whole or in part could cause the underwritten net operating income (calculated as described in “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Information”) to vary substantially from the actual net operating income of a mortgaged property.

 

In the event of the inaccuracy of any assumptions or projections used in connection with the calculation of underwritten net cash flow, the actual net cash flow could be significantly different (and, in some cases, may be materially less) than the underwritten net cash flow presented in this prospectus, and this would change other numerical information presented in this prospectus based on or derived from the underwritten net cash flow, such as the debt service coverage ratios or debt yield presented in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that any such assumptions or projections made with respect to any mortgaged property will, in fact, be consistent with that mortgaged property’s actual performance.

 

Frequent and Early Occurrence of Borrower Delinquencies and Defaults May Adversely Affect Your Investment

 

If you calculate the anticipated yield of your offered certificates based on a rate of default or amount of losses lower than that actually experienced on the mortgage loans and those additional losses result in a reduction of the total distributions on, or the certificate balance of, your offered certificates, your actual

 

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yield to maturity will be lower than expected and could be negative under certain extreme scenarios. The timing of any loss on a liquidated mortgage loan that results in a reduction of the total distributions on or the certificate balance of your offered certificates will also affect the actual yield to maturity of your offered certificates, even if the rate of defaults and severity of losses are consistent with your expectations. In general, the earlier a loss is borne by you, the greater the effect on your yield to maturity.

 

Delinquencies on the mortgage loans, if the delinquent amounts are not advanced, may result in shortfalls in distributions of interest and/or principal to the holders of the offered certificates for the current month. Furthermore, no interest will accrue on this shortfall during the period of time that the payment is delinquent. Additionally, in instances where the principal portion of any balloon payment scheduled with respect to a mortgage loan is collected by the master servicer following the end of the related collection period, no portion of the principal received on such payment will be passed through for distribution to the certificateholders until the subsequent distribution date, which may result in shortfalls in distributions of interest to the holders of the offered certificates in the following month. Furthermore, in such instances no provision is made for the master servicer or any other party to cover any such interest shortfalls that may occur as a result. In addition, if interest and/or principal advances and/or servicing advances are made with respect to a mortgage loan after a default and the related mortgage loan is thereafter worked out under terms that do not provide for the repayment of those advances in full at the time of the workout, then any reimbursements of those advances prior to the actual collection of the amount for which the advance was made may also result in shortfalls in distributions of principal to the holders of the offered certificates with certificate balances for the current month. Even if losses on the mortgage loans are not allocated to a particular class of offered certificates with certificate balances, the losses may affect the weighted average life and yield to maturity of that class of offered certificates. In the case of any material monetary or material non-monetary default, the special servicer may accelerate the maturity of the related mortgage loan, which could result in an acceleration of principal distributions to the certificateholders. The special servicer may also extend or modify a mortgage loan, which could result in a substantial delay in principal distributions to the certificateholders. In addition, losses on the mortgage loans, even if not allocated to a class of offered certificates with certificate balances, may result in a higher percentage ownership interest evidenced by those offered certificates in the remaining mortgage loans than would otherwise have resulted absent the loss. The consequent effect on the weighted average life and yield to maturity of the offered certificates will depend upon the characteristics of those remaining mortgage loans in the issuing entity.

 

The Mortgage Loans Have Not Been Reviewed or Re-Underwritten by Us

 

Although the sponsors have conducted a review of the mortgage loans to be sold to us for this securitization transaction, we, as the depositor for this securitization transaction, have neither originated the mortgage loans nor conducted a review or re-underwriting of the mortgage loans. Instead, we have relied on the representations and warranties made by the applicable sponsors and the remedies for breach of a representation and warranty as described under “Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements” and the sponsor’s description of its underwriting criteria described under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—German American Capital Corporation—DBNY’s Underwriting Guidelines and Processes”, “—Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.—CREFI’s Underwriting Guidelines and Processes” and “—JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association—JPMCB’s Underwriting Guidelines and Processes”. A description of the review conducted by each sponsor for this securitization transaction is set forth under “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—German American Capital Corporation—Review of GACC Mortgage Loans”, “—Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.—Review of CREFI Mortgage Loans” and “—JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association—Review of JPMCB Mortgage Loans”. The representations and warranties made by the sponsors may not cover all of the matters that one would review in underwriting a mortgage loan and you should not view them as a substitute for re-underwriting the mortgage loans. Furthermore, these representations and warranties in some respects represent an allocation of risk rather than a confirmed description of the mortgage loans. If we had re-underwritten the mortgage loans, it is possible that the re-underwriting process may have revealed problems with a mortgage loan not covered by a representation or warranty or may have revealed inaccuracies in the representations and warranties. See “—Other Risks Relating to the Certificates—Sponsors May Not Make Required Repurchases or Substitutions of Defective Mortgage

 

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Loans or Pay Any Loss of Value Payment Sufficient to Cover All Losses on a Defective Mortgage Loan” below, and “Description of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreements”.

 

As a result of the foregoing, you are advised and encouraged to make your own investment decision based on a careful review of the information set forth in this prospectus and your own view of the mortgage pool.

 

Static Pool Data Would Not Be Indicative of the Performance of this Pool

 

As a result of the distinct nature of each pool of commercial mortgage loans, and the separate mortgage loans within the pool, this prospectus does not include disclosure concerning the delinquency and loss experience of static pools of periodic originations by any sponsor of assets of the type to be securitized (known as “static pool data”). In particular, static pool data showing a low level of delinquencies and defaults would not be indicative of the performance of this pool or any other pools of mortgage loans originated by the same sponsor or sponsors.

 

While there may be certain common factors affecting the performance and value of income-producing real properties in general, those factors do not apply equally to all income-producing real properties and, in many cases, there are unique factors that will affect the performance and/or value of a particular income-producing real property. Moreover, the effect of a given factor on a particular real property will depend on a number of variables, including but not limited to property type, geographic location, competition, sponsorship and other characteristics of the property and the related commercial mortgage loan. Each income-producing real property represents a separate and distinct business venture and, as a result, each of the mortgage loans requires a unique underwriting analysis. Furthermore, economic and other conditions affecting real properties, whether worldwide, national, regional or local, vary over time. The performance of a pool of mortgage loans originated and outstanding under a given set of economic conditions may vary significantly from the performance of an otherwise comparable mortgage pool originated and outstanding under a different set of economic conditions.

 

Therefore, you should evaluate this offering on the basis of the information set forth in this prospectus with respect to the mortgage loans, and not on the basis of the performance of other pools of securitized commercial mortgage loans.

 

Appraisals May Not Reflect Current or Future Market Value of Each Property

 

Appraisals were obtained with respect to each of the mortgaged properties at or about the time of origination of the applicable mortgage loan (or whole loan, if applicable). See Annex A-1 for the dates of the latest appraisals for the mortgaged properties. We have not obtained new appraisals of the mortgaged properties or assigned new valuations to the mortgage loans in connection with the offering of the offered certificates. The market values of the mortgaged properties could have declined since the origination of the related mortgage loans.

 

In general, appraisals represent the analysis and opinion of qualified appraisers and are not guarantees of present or future value. One appraiser may reach a different conclusion than that of a different appraiser with respect to the same property. The appraisals seek to establish the amount a typically motivated buyer would pay a typically motivated seller and, in certain cases, may have taken into consideration the purchase price paid by the borrower. The amount could be significantly higher than the amount obtained from the sale of a mortgaged property in a distress or liquidation sale.

 

Information regarding the appraised values of the mortgaged properties (including loan-to-value ratios) presented in this prospectus is not intended to be a representation as to the past, present or future market values of the mortgaged properties. For example, in some cases, a borrower or its affiliate may have acquired the related mortgaged property for a price or otherwise for consideration in an amount that is less than the related appraised value specified on Annex A-1, including at a foreclosure sale or through acceptance of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Historical operating results of the mortgaged properties used in these appraisals, as adjusted by various assumptions, estimates and subjective judgments on the part of the appraiser, may not be comparable to future operating results. In addition, certain appraisals may be

 

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based on extraordinary assumptions, including without limitation, that certain tenants are in-place and paying rent when such tenants have not yet taken occupancy or that certain renovations or property improvement plans have been completed. Additionally, certain appraisals with respect to mortgage loans secured by multiple mortgaged properties may have been conducted on a portfolio basis rather than on an individual property basis, and the sum of the values of the individual properties may be different from (and in some cases may be less than) the appraised value of the aggregate of such properties on a portfolio basis. In addition, other factors may impair the mortgaged properties’ value without affecting their current net operating income, including:

 

changes in governmental regulations, zoning or tax laws;

 

potential environmental or other legal liabilities;

 

the availability of refinancing; and

 

changes in interest rate levels.

 

In certain cases, appraisals may reflect the “as-is” value as well as an “as-stabilized” or “hypothetical as-is” value or similar hypothetical value. However, the appraised value reflected in this prospectus with respect to each mortgaged property reflects the “as-is” value, except as described under “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Certain Calculations and Definitions” and “—Appraised Value”, where, to the extent another value is used, such value and the satisfaction of the related conditions or assumptions are described, which may contain certain assumptions, such as future construction completion, projected re-tenanting or increased tenant occupancies. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool”.

 

Additionally, with respect to the appraisals setting forth assumptions, particularly those setting forth extraordinary assumptions, as to the “as-stabilized” or “hypothetical as-is” values or similar hypothetical values, we cannot assure you that those assumptions are or will be accurate or that such value will be the value of the related mortgaged property at the indicated stabilization or other relevant date or at maturity or anticipated repayment date. Any engineering report, site inspection or appraisal represents only the analysis of the individual consultant, engineer or inspector preparing such report at the time of such report, and may not reveal all necessary or desirable repairs, maintenance and capital improvement items. For additional information regarding the appraisals obtained by the sponsors or, in the case of any mortgage loan acquired by the related sponsor, appraisal(s) obtained by the related originator and relied upon by such sponsor, see “Transaction Parties—The Sponsors and Mortgage Loan Sellers—German American Capital Corporation”, —Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.” and “—JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association”. We cannot assure you that the information set forth in this prospectus regarding the appraised values or loan-to-value ratios accurately reflects past, present or future market values of the mortgaged properties or the amount that would be realized upon a sale of the related mortgaged property.

 

The Performance of a Mortgage Loan and Its Related Mortgaged Property Depends in Part on Who Controls the Borrower and Mortgaged Property

 

The operation and performance of a mortgage loan will depend in part on the identity of the persons or entities who control the borrower and the mortgaged property. The performance of a mortgage loan may be adversely affected if control of a borrower changes, which may occur, for example, by means of transfers of direct or indirect ownership interests in the borrower, or if the mortgage loan is assigned to and assumed by another person or entity along with a transfer of the property to that person or entity.

 

Many of the mortgage loans generally place certain restrictions on the transfer and/or pledging of general partnership and managing member equity interests in a borrower, such as specific percentage or control limitations, although some have current or permit future mezzanine or subordinate debt. We cannot assure you the ownership of any of the borrowers would not change during the term of the related mortgage loan and result in a material adverse effect on your certificates. See “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Additional Indebtedness” and “—Certain Terms of the Mortgage Loans—“Due-On-Sale” and “Due-On-Encumbrance” Provisions”.

 

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The Borrower’s Form of Entity May Cause Special Risks

 

The borrowers are legal entities rather than individuals. Mortgage loans made to legal entities may entail greater risks of loss than those associated with mortgage loans made to individuals. For example, a legal entity, as opposed to an individual, may be more inclined to seek legal protection from its creditors under the bankruptcy laws. Unlike individuals involved in bankruptcies, most entities generally, but not in all cases, do not have personal assets and creditworthiness at stake. The terms of certain of the mortgage loans require that the borrowers be single-purpose entities and, in most cases, such borrowers’ organizational documents or the terms of the mortgage loans limit their activities to the ownership of only the related mortgaged property or mortgaged properties and limit the borrowers’ ability to incur additional indebtedness. Such provisions are designed to mitigate the possibility that the borrower’s financial condition would be adversely impacted by factors unrelated to the related mortgaged property and mortgage loan. Such borrower may also have previously owned property other than the related mortgaged property or may be a so-called “recycled” single-purpose entity that previously had other business activities and liabilities. However, we cannot assure you that such borrowers have in the past complied, and will comply, with such requirements, and in some cases unsecured debt exists and/or is allowed in the future. Furthermore, in many cases such borrowers are not required to observe all covenants and conditions which typically are required in order for such borrowers to be viewed under standard rating agency criteria as “single purpose entities”.

 

Although a borrower may currently be a single purpose entity, in certain cases the borrowers were not originally formed as single purpose entities, but at origination of the related mortgage loan their organizational documents were amended. That borrower may have previously owned property other than the related mortgaged property and may not have observed all covenants that typically are required to consider a borrower a “single purpose entity” and thus may have liabilities arising from events prior to becoming a single purpose entity.

 

The organizational documents of a borrower or the direct or indirect managing partner or member of a borrower may also contain requirements that there be one or two independent directors, managers or trustees (depending on the entity form of such borrower) whose vote is required before the borrower files a voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition or otherwise institutes insolvency proceedings. Generally, but not always, the independent directors, managers or trustees may only be replaced with certain other independent successors. Although the requirement of having independent directors, managers or trustees is designed to mitigate the risk of a voluntary bankruptcy filing by a solvent borrower, a borrower could file for bankruptcy without obtaining the consent of its independent director(s)(and we cannot assure you that such bankruptcy would be dismissed as an unauthorized filing), and in any case the independent directors, managers or trustees may determine that a bankruptcy filing is an appropriate course of action to be taken by such borrower. Although the independent directors, managers or trustees generally owe no fiduciary duties to entities other than the borrower itself, such determination might take into account the interests and financial condition of such borrower’s parent entities and such parent entities’ other subsidiaries in addition to those of the borrower. Consequently, the financial distress of an affiliate of a borrower might increase the likelihood of a bankruptcy filing by a borrower.

 

The bankruptcy of a borrower, or a general partner or managing member of a borrower, may impair the ability of the lender to enforce its rights and remedies under the related mortgage. Certain of the mortgage loans have been made to single purpose limited partnerships that have a general partner or general partners that are not themselves single purpose entities. Such loans are subject to additional bankruptcy risk. The organizational documents of the general partner in such cases do not limit it to acting as the general partner of the partnership. Accordingly there is a greater risk that the general partner may become insolvent for reasons unrelated to the mortgaged property. The bankruptcy of a general partner may dissolve the partnership under applicable state law. In addition, even if the partnership itself is not insolvent, actions by the partnership and/or a bankrupt general partner that are outside the ordinary course of their business, such as refinancing the related mortgage loan, may require prior approval of the bankruptcy court in the general partner’s bankruptcy case. The proceedings required to resolve these issues may be costly and time-consuming.

 

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Any borrower, even an entity structured as a single purpose entity, as an owner of real estate, will be subject to certain potential liabilities and risks as an owner of real estate. We cannot assure you that any borrower will not file for bankruptcy protection or that creditors of a borrower or a corporate or individual general partner or managing member of a borrower will not initiate a bankruptcy or similar proceeding against such borrower or corporate or individual general partner or managing member.

 

Certain borrowers’ organizational documents or the terms of certain mortgage loans permit an affiliated property manager to maintain a custodial account on behalf of such borrower and certain affiliates of such borrower into which funds available to such borrower under the terms of the related mortgage loans and funds of such affiliates are held, but which funds are and will continue to be separately accounted for as to each item of income and expense for each related mortgaged property and each related borrower. A custodial account structure for affiliated entities, while common among certain real estate investment trusts, institutions or independent owners of multiple properties, presents a risk for consolidation of the assets of such affiliates as commingling of funds is a factor a court may consider in considering a request by other creditors for substantive consolidation. Substantive consolidation is an equitable remedy that could result in an otherwise solvent company becoming subject to the bankruptcy proceedings of an insolvent affiliate, making its assets available to repay the debts of affiliated companies. A court has the discretion to order substantive consolidation in whole or in part and may include non-debtor affiliates of the bankrupt entity in the proceedings. In particular, consolidation may be ordered when corporate funds are commingled and used for a principal’s personal purposes, inadequate records of transfers are made and corporate entities are deemed an alter ego of a principal. Strict adherence to maintaining separate books and records, avoiding commingling of assets and otherwise maintaining corporate policies designed to preserve the separateness of corporate assets and liabilities make it less likely that a court would order substantive consolidation, but we cannot assure you that the related borrowers, property managers or affiliates will comply with these requirements as set forth in the related mortgage loans.

 

Furthermore, with respect to any affiliated borrowers, creditors of a common parent in bankruptcy may seek to consolidate the assets of such borrowers with those of the parent. Consolidation of the assets of such borrowers would likely have an adverse effect on the funds available to make distributions on your certificates, and may lead to a downgrade, withdrawal or qualification of the ratings of your certificates.

 

See “Certain Legal Aspects of Mortgage Loans—Bankruptcy Laws”.

 

In addition, borrowers may own a mortgaged property as a Delaware statutory trust or as tenants-in-common. Delaware statutory trusts may be restricted in their ability to actively operate a property, and in the case of a mortgaged property that is owned by a Delaware statutory trust or by tenants-in-common, there is a risk that obtaining the consent of the holders of the beneficial interests in the Delaware statutory trust or the consent of the tenants-in-common will be time consuming and cause delays with respect to the taking of certain actions by or on behalf of the borrower, including with respect to the related mortgaged property. See “—Tenancies-in-Common May Hinder Recovery” below. See also “Description of the Mortgage Pool—Delaware Statutory Trusts”.

 

A Bankruptcy Proceeding May Result in Losses and Delays in Realizing on the Mortgage Lo