NEW YORK, NY (February 2, 2012) - Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) extends public comment on its Auto Loan ABS Rating Methodology to February 15, 2012.  

NEW YORK, NY (January 27, 2012) –Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns final ratings to eight classes of mortgage pass-through certificates from Sequoia Mortgage Trust (SEMT) 2012-1, a jumbo prime RMBS transaction (see our ratings listed below). Concurrently we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on January 17, 2012.

NEW YORK, NY (January 19, 2012) - Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) announces the appointment of Kate Hackett to the role of Managing Director.  Hackett will help KBRA to continue its expansion into the state and local government areas, including general obligation, lease, excise tax and special district bonds.  She joins KBRA from Standard and Poor’s where she was a Director in the State and Local Government Group.

NEW YORK, NY (January 17, 2012) –Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to eight classes of mortgage pass-through certificates from Sequoia Mortgage Trust (SEMT) 2012-1, a jumbo prime RMBS transaction.

NEW YORK, NY (January 13, 2012) – Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) published a report today on the potential impact of shale gas development on municipal bond issuers. The goal of this preliminary report is to alert investors to a new dynamic in the market, the potential development of trillions of dollars of unanticipated, domestic shale gas reserves over the next few decades. While there are significant environmental challenges, particularly contamination of groundwater and aquifers, the focus of this report is the potential impact on municipal credit quality if these shale gas reserves are developed on a large-scale.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) published today its U.S. Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) rating methodology.  Two reports were published including an overview of KBRA's RMBS rating methodology as well as a description of KBRA's loan-level mortgage default and loss model.  Both reports were previously published in Request for Comment form.  The final reports reflect comments received.

On December 27th, 2011 Sears Holding Corporation, the parent company of the Sears and Kmart brands, indicated that 100 to 120 full line Kmart and Sears stores will be closed on a future date. The announcement was included in a performance update announced by the company.  Citing a decline in consumer electronic, apparel and layaway sales, Kmart stores reported a quarter-to-date sales decline of 4.4%. Additionally, Sears reported a 6% quarter-to-date, and 3.3% year to date, decline in comparable store sales resulting from decreased electronic and home appliance demand. As a result, the company is initiating a business plan to reduce on going expenses, which includes the store closings.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to six classes of COMM 2011-STRT, a $191.3 million CMBS Single Borrower transaction. Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on December 15, 2011. 

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to seven classes of JPMCC 2011-PLSD, a $374.6 million  CMBS Single Borrower transaction.  Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on November 29, 2011 (see our ratings listed below).

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to six classes of pass through certificates from COMM 2011-STRT, a CMBS Single Borrower transaction.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to seven classes of pass through certificates from JPMCC 2011-PLSD, a CMBS Single Borrower transaction (see ratings list below).

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) seeks public comment on its Auto Loan ABS Rating Methodology released today which provides detailed insight into the rating methodology of prime and subprime U.S. auto loan asset-backed securities (ABS). KBRA's rating of an auto loan ABS transaction addresses the quality and expected performance of the underlying collateral; the originator and servicer’s business model and operational strength; and the transaction terms including the capital structure, credit enhancement, and legal structure. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) has released a groundbreaking study of municipal bond defaults from the Great Depression to today that concludes that there will not be a material increase in municipal defaults over the medium term. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) today announced the appointment of Gary Krellenstein to the role of Managing Director. Krellenstein will help KBRA to continue its expansion into the public finance, infrastructure, utilities and energy finance fields. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to seven classes of COMM 2011-FL1, a $619.0 million large loan transaction. Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on September 30, 2011 (see our ratings listed below). Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to seven classes of commercial mortgage pass-through certificates from COMM 2011-FL1, a CMBS Large Loan Transaction. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to six classes of pass through certificates from DBUBS 2011-LC3 (see ratings list below). Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on August 9, 2011. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to nine classes of pass through certificates from WFDB Commercial Mortgage Trust 2011-BXR, a CMBS Single Borrower Transaction (see ratings list). Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on July 18, 2011. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) today announced the appointment of Thomas Randazzo to the role of Managing Director. Randazzo will help KBRA to continue its expansion into new sectors including public finance, infrastructure and financial guaranty. His in-depth market and credit knowledge will also allow KBRA to further express its opinions on the challenges facing the public finance industry. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), released its CMBS Single Borrower & Large Loan Rating Methodology on August 8, 2011. The publication provides detailed insight into the process that KBRA uses to rate Single Borrower & Large Loan deals. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to seven classes of pass through certificates from DBUBS 2011-LC3 (see ratings list below). The sole source of cash flow for the certificates is the Providence Place Mall Loan. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) seeks public comment on five publications released today supporting its residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) rating process. The reports provide an overview of KBRA's RMBS rating methodology and detailed descriptions of the processes that KBRA will use to evaluate originators, servicers, and results of third-party file reviews, as well as a description of KBRA's loan-level mortgage default and loss model. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to nine classes of pass through certificates from WFDB Commercial Mortgage Trust 2011-BXR, a CMBS Single Borrower Transaction (see ratings list).

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned its final ratings to five classes of pass through certificates from BAMLL Trust 2011-FSHN, a CMBS Single Borrower Transaction (see ratings list below). Concurrently, we have withdrawn our preliminary ratings on the certificates, which were assigned on June 20, 2011. Read More

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigned preliminary ratings to six securities from Prima Capital CRE Securitization 2011-1 (see ratings list).

Today, KBRA assigned the following preliminary ratings to BAMLL Trust 2011-FSHN.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), today released three Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) Criteria publications, which provide detailed insight into the process that KBRA uses to rate Single Borrower CMBS transactions and evaluate CMBS Servicers.

With the goal of bringing increased accuracy, accountability and trust to the financial markets, Kroll Bond Ratings (www.krollbondratings.com) today officially launched its credit rating agency...

Kroll Bond Ratings (www.krollbondratings.com) announced today the members of its senior management team, including experts from a range of financial disciplines. Kroll Bond Ratings will distinguish itself by performing the deep analysis that is synonymous with the firm that Jules Kroll created.