UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
or
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission file number of the issuing entity: 333-172366-14
Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity: 0001607641
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2014-LC16
(exact name of the issuing entity as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the depositor: 0000850779
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.
(exact name of the depositor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0000740906
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001541468
Ladder Capital Finance LLC
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0000729153
NatWest Markets Plc
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
(formerly known as The Royal Bank of Scotland plc)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001541615
RBS Financial Products Inc.
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001592182
LMF Commercial, LLC
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
(formerly known as Rialto Mortgage Finance, LLC)
New York the issuing entity) | 38-3926125 38-3926126 38-3926127 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Numbers) |
c/o Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as agent for
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
as Certificate Administrator
9062 Old Annapolis Road
Columbia, MD
(Address of principal executive offices of the issuing entity)
21045
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(704) 374-6161
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
None |
|
|
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes ⌧ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. o Yes ⌧ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ⌧ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Not applicable.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer ⌧ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. o
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). o Yes ⌧ No
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Not applicable.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. o Yes o No
Not applicable.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Not applicable.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
Not applicable.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
The Montgomery Mall Mortgage Loan, previously an asset of the issuing entity, was not an asset of the issuing entity during the reporting period and is omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K and will be omitted from subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K.
The Exhibit Index describes exhibits provided by certain parties (in their capacities indicated on the Exhibit Index) with respect to the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 2.3% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, one other pari passu loan and one subordinate companion loan, which are not assets of the issuing entity. The other pari passu portion of the loan combination was securitized in the COMM 2014-LC15 Mortgage Trust transaction, Commission File Number 333-193376-03 (the “COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction”). This loan combination, including the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Exhibit Index describes exhibits provided by certain parties (in their capacities indicated on the Exhibit Index) with respect to the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 12.3% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan and one other pari passu loan, which is not an asset of the issuing entity. The other pari passu portion of the loan combination was securitized in the WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2014-C20 transaction, Commission File Number 333-172366-13 (the “WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction”). This loan combination, including the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.3 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Exhibit Index describes exhibits provided by certain parties (in their capacities indicated on the Exhibit Index) with respect to the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 5.1% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and one other pari passu loan, which is not an asset of the issuing entity. This loan combination, including the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan, was serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for the issuing entity prior to the closing of the securitization of the other pari passu portion of the Pacific Design Center loan combination in the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Mortgage Trust transaction, Commission File Number 333-193376-07 (the “COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction”). After the closing of the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction on June 27, 2014, this loan combination, including the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan was, and will continue to be, serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement with respect to the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.4 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Exhibit Index describes exhibits provided by certain parties (in their capacities indicated on the Exhibit Index) with respect to the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 1.6% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan and one other pari passu loan, which is not an asset of the issuing entity. This loan combination, including the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan, was serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement for the issuing entity prior to the closing of the securitization of the other pari passu portion of the Oak Court Mall loan combination in the WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2014-C21 transaction, Commission File Number 333-177891-08 (the “WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction”). After the closing of the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction on August 12, 2014, this loan combination, including the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan was, and will continue to be, serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement with respect to the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The master servicer of a pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement also functions as the primary servicer of the related mortgage loans serviced and administered pursuant to such agreement unless a separate primary servicer is identified herein. If this report does not identify a separate primary servicer, the servicer compliance statement provided by the master servicer under any such agreement also encompasses its responsibilities as primary servicer of the related mortgage loan or mortgage loans.
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the master servicer and certificate administrator of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the primary servicer of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan. As a result, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is a “servicer” as defined in Item 1108(a)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 10% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements delivered by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the custodian of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan, the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan. As a result, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is a servicing function participant in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 5% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports delivered by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.
Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC is the special servicer of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan. As a result, Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC is a “servicer” as defined in Item 1108(a)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 10% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements delivered by Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.
Park Bridge Lender Services LLC is the operating advisor of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan. As a result, Park Bridge Lender Services LLC is a servicing function participant in the capacities described above, because it is servicing mortgage loans that constituted 5% or more of the assets of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports delivered by Park Bridge Lender Services LLC in the capacities described above are listed in the Exhibit Index.
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association acts as trustee of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan. Pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction, the trustee is required to provide an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria solely with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB (regarding advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements). However, during the reporting period, the trustee did not perform any servicing function with respect to the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB. The master servicer or the special servicer, to the extent required, performed the servicing function identified with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, and each such party included Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountant’s attestation report for the subject transaction. As a result, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria of the trustee. One or more other servicers of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan have delivered one or more assessments of compliance with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.
Wilmington Trust, National Association acts as trustee of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan. Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction and the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction, the trustee is required to provide an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria solely with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB (regarding advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements). However, during the reporting period, the trustee did not perform any servicing function with respect to the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB. The master servicer or the special servicer, to the extent required, performed the servicing function identified with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, and each such party included Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountant’s attestation report for the subject transaction. As a result, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria of the trustee. One or more other servicers of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan have delivered one or more assessments of compliance with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.
U.S. Bank National Association acts as trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan prior to October 17, 2022, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association acts as trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan on and after October 17, 2022. Pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction, the trustee is required to provide an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria solely with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB (regarding advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements). However, during the reporting period, the trustee did not perform any servicing function with respect to the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB. The master servicer or the special servicer, to the extent required, performed the servicing function identified with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB, and each such party included Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountant’s attestation report for the subject transaction. As a result, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria of the trustee. One or more other servicers of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan have delivered one or more assessments of compliance with respect to Item 1122(d)(2)(iii) of Regulation AB.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports from CoreLogic Solutions, LLC. This entity was engaged by the master servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the primary servicer of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan to remit tax payments received from the escrow accounts of borrowers to local taxing authorities, to report tax amounts due, to verify tax parcel information, and to verify non-escrow tax payments. These servicing functions are included within the servicing criteria set forth in Items 1122(d)(4)(xi) and 1122(d)(4)(xii) of Regulation AB. Therefore, under the principles-based definition of “servicer” set forth in Item 1101(j) of Regulation AB that looks to the functions that an entity performs, this vendor is a “servicer” for the purposes of Item 1122 of Regulation AB. See Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Section 301.01 (Item 1101(j)).
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation report and servicer compliance statement from Computershare Trust Company, National Association (“CTCNA”). CTCNA was engaged by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), in its capacity as certificate administrator and custodian, to perform certain specified servicing functions identified in the assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and accountants’ attestation reports. Wells Fargo engaged CTCNA in connection with the sale of Wells Fargo’s corporate trust services business to CTCNA and its affiliates. Further, under the principles-based definition of “servicer” set forth in Item 1101(j) of Regulation AB that looks to the functions that an entity performs, this party is a “servicer” for the purposes of Item 1123 of Regulation AB. See Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, Section 301.01 (Item 1101(j)).
The assessments of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation reports and servicer compliance statements of the certificate administrator of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the certificate administrator pursuant to the related pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement does not perform any activities that address servicing criteria with respect to the issuing entity and because they are each not a “servicer” that meets the criteria in Item 1108(a)(2)(i) through (iii) of Regulation AB.
With respect to the pari passu loan combinations that include the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan, (i) the reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria and attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria of Greystone Servicing Company LLC as special servicer of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan, Trimont Real Estate Advisors, LLC (f/k/a TriMont Real Estate Advisors, Inc.) as trust advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan prior to October 7, 2022 and BellOak, LLC as trust advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan on and after October 7, 2022 listed on the Exhibit Index are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K as they are not required to be included on this Annual Report on Form 10-K per Instruction 3 to Item 1122 of Regulation AB because they are parties performing activities that address servicing criteria relating to 5% or less of the assets of the issuing entity; and (ii) the servicer compliance statements of KeyBank National Association as primary servicer of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan and Greystone Servicing Company LLC as special servicer of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan listed on the Exhibit Index are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K as they are not required by Item 1123 of Regulation AB to be included on this Annual Report on Form 10-K because they are each an unaffiliated party that is not a “servicer” that meets the criteria in Item 1108(a)(2)(i) through (iii) of Regulation AB.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Omitted.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Omitted.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Omitted.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
Omitted.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Omitted.
Item 6.
[Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Omitted.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Omitted.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Omitted.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Omitted.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Omitted.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Omitted.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Omitted.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Omitted.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Omitted.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Omitted.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE ITEMS FOR REGULATION AB
Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB, Significant Obligor Financial Information.
The Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan (Mortgage Loan Number 1 on Annex A-1 of the prospectus supplement of the registrant relating to the issuing entity filed on June 11, 2014 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)) constitutes a significant obligor within the meaning of Item 1101(k)(2) of Regulation AB as disclosed in the prospectus supplement. In accordance with Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB, the most recent unaudited net operating income of the significant obligor was $7,563,741.31 for the twelve- month period ended December 31, 2022.
Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB, Significant Enhancement Provider Financial Information.
No entity or group of affiliated entities provides any external credit enhancement or other support for the certificates within this transaction as described under Item 1114(a) of Regulation AB.
Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB, Certain Derivatives Instruments (Financial Information).
No entity or group of affiliated entities provides any derivative instruments or other support for the certificates within this transaction as described under Item 1115 of Regulation AB.
Item 1117 of Regulation AB, Legal Proceedings.
The registrant knows of no material pending legal proceeding involving the trust or any party related to the trust, other than routine litigation incidental to the duties of those respective parties, and the following, with respect to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, certificate administrator and custodian.
In the last several years, U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) and other large financial institutions have been sued in their capacity as trustee or successor trustee for certain residential mortgage backed securities ("RMBS") trusts. The complaints, primarily filed by investors or investor groups against U.S. Bank and similar institutions, allege the trustees caused losses to investors as a result of alleged failures by the sponsors, mortgage loan sellers and servicers to comply with the governing agreements for these RMBS trusts. Plaintiffs generally assert causes of action based upon the trustees’ purported failures to enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for alleged breaches of representations and warranties, notify securityholders of purported events of default allegedly caused by breaches of servicing standards by mortgage loan servicers and abide by a heightened standard of care following alleged events of default.
U.S. Bank denies liability and believes that it has performed its obligations under the RMBS trusts in good faith, that its actions were not the cause of losses to investors, that it has meritorious defenses, and it has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously. However, U.S. Bank cannot assure you as to the outcome of any of the litigation, or the possible impact of these litigations on the trustee or the RMBS trusts.
On March 9, 2018, a law firm purporting to represent fifteen Delaware statutory trusts (the “DSTs”) that issued securities backed by student loans (the “Student Loans”) filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery against U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) in its capacities as indenture trustee and successor special servicer, and three other institutions in their respective transaction capacities, with respect to the DSTs and the Student Loans. This lawsuit is captioned The National Collegiate Student Loan Master Trust I, et al. v. U.S. Bank National Association, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0167-JRS (Del. Ch.) (the “NCMSLT Action”). The complaint, as amended on June 15, 2018, alleged that the DSTs have been harmed as a result of purported misconduct or omissions by the defendants concerning administration of the trusts and special servicing of the Student Loans. Since the filing of the NCMSLT Action, certain Student Loan borrowers have made assertions against U.S. Bank concerning special servicing that appear to be based on certain allegations made on behalf of the DSTs in the NCMSLT Action.
U.S. Bank believes that it has performed its obligations as indenture trustee and special servicer in good faith and in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the agreements governing the DSTs (the “Governing Agreements”), and accordingly that the claims against it in the NCMSLT Action are without merit.
U.S. Bank has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the operative complaint in its entirety with prejudice pursuant to Chancery Court Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, a stay of the case while other prior filed disputes involving the DSTs and the Student Loans are litigated. On November 7, 2018, the Court ruled that the case should be stayed in its entirety pending resolution of the first-filed cases. On January 21, 2020, the Court entered an order consolidating for pretrial purposes the NCMSLT Action and three other lawsuits pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery concerning the DSTs and the Student Loans (the “Consolidated Action”). U.S. Bank and other parties to the Consolidated Action have briefed and argued motions for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Chancery Court Rule 12(c) regarding disputed issues of contractual interpretation at issue in one or more of the cases comprising the Consolidated Action, including the NCMSLT Action. The Court has not yet ruled on these motions or on U.S. Bank’s dismissal motion in the NCMSLT Action.
In December 2014, Phoenix Light SF Limited (Phoenix Light) and certain related entities filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging claims against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as trustee for a number of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trusts. Complaints raising similar allegations have been filed by Commerzbank AG in the Southern District of New York and by IKB International and IKB Deutsche Industriebank in New York state court. In each case, the plaintiffs allege that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, caused losses to investors, and plaintiffs assert causes of action based upon, among other things, the trustee’s alleged failure to notify and enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for purported breaches of representations and warranties, notify investors of alleged events of default, and abide by appropriate standards of care following alleged events of default. In July 2022, the district court dismissed Phoenix Light’s claims and certain of the claims asserted by Commerzbank AG, and subsequently entered judgment in each case in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In August 2022, Phoenix Light and Commerzbank AG appealed the district court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Company previously settled two class actions filed by institutional investors and an action filed by the National Credit Union Administration with similar allegations. In addition, Park Royal I LLC and Park Royal II LLC have filed substantially similar lawsuits in New York state court alleging Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, failed to take appropriate actions upon learning of defective mortgage loan documentation.
Item 1119 of Regulation AB, Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
The information regarding this Item has been previously provided in a prospectus supplement of the Registrant relating to the issuing entity filed on June 11, 2014 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5).
Item 1122 of Regulation AB, Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria.
The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the mortgage loans are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule III to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan, which is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction, are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule II to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the COMM 2014-LC15 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan, which is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction, are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule III to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.3 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the WFRBS 2014-C20 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan, which is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction, are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule II to the pooling and servicing agreement for the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.4 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the COMM 2014-CCRE18 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
The reports on assessments of compliance with the servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports on such assessments of compliance with respect to the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan, which is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction, are attached hereto under Item 15 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Attached as Schedule III to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is a chart identifying the entities participating in a servicing function for the WFRBS 2014-C21 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
The report on assessment of compliance for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, furnished pursuant to Item 1122 of Regulation AB by KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”), as servicer, discloses that the following material instance of noncompliance occurred with respect to its platform:
The examination performed by Ernst & Young LLP identified an instance of material noncompliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d)(4)(ix) of Regulation AB applicable to KeyBank during the year ended December 31, 2022. During compliance testing, it was discovered, that not all FlexARM loan mortgagors were offered loan rates within 45-60 days before the rate change date, as required per the related pool asset documents. Per the related note, if the holder fails to offer a loan rate within 45-60 days of any change date a margin of 2.25% is to be used. Given the notification was not made to the borrowers, a 3% margin was incorrectly applied. The noncompliance in Item 1122 (d)(4)(ix) is related to a servicing portfolio which is wholly owned by the investor and is not held in a publicly traded security.
The following remediation procedures have been initiated by KeyBank: (i) the impacted mortgage loans are currently in the process of being identified, (ii) investor contact has been initiated, (iii) corrective actions are being considered and will be tracked and monitored by senior management, (iv) procedures will be reviewed and revised, if necessary, to include new tracking and action steps to prevent this situation from recurring in the future, and (v) training will be provided to the relevant staff members to prevent a recurrence.
Item 1123 of Regulation AB, Servicer Compliance Statement.
The servicer compliance statements are attached as Exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following is a list of documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1) Not applicable
(2) Not applicable
(3) See below
31 Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) Certifications.
33 Reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities.
33.1 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer
33.2 LNR Partners, LLC, as Special Servicer
33.3 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.4 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
33.5 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian
33.6 Situs Holdings, LLC, as Trust Advisor
33.7 CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
33.12 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan prior to October 17, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.13 U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan on and after October 17, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.20 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.22 Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as Trust Advisor of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan
33.25 KeyBank National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan
33.27 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.32 Greystone Servicing Company LLC, as Special Servicer of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.33 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.35 Trimont Real Estate Advisors, LLC (f/k/a TriMont Real Estate Advisors, Inc.), as Trust Advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan prior to October 7, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.36 BellOak, LLC, as Trust Advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan on and after October 7, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34 Attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities.
34.1 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer
34.2 LNR Partners, LLC, as Special Servicer
34.3 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.4 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
34.5 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian
34.6 Situs Holdings, LLC, as Trust Advisor
34.7 CoreLogic Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
34.12 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan prior to October 17, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.13 U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee of the JL Holdings-Burger King Portfolio-90 Mortgage Loan on and after October 17, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.20 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.22 Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as Trust Advisor of the Woodbridge Center Mortgage Loan
34.25 KeyBank National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan
34.27 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.32 Greystone Servicing Company LLC, as Special Servicer of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.33 Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.35 Trimont Real Estate Advisors, LLC (f/k/a TriMont Real Estate Advisors, Inc.), as Trust Advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan prior to October 7, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.36 BellOak, LLC, as Trust Advisor of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan on and after October 7, 2022 (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
35 Servicer compliance statements.
35.1 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Master Servicer
35.2 LNR Partners, LLC, as Special Servicer
35.3 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
35.9 KeyBank National Association, as Primary Servicer of the Pacific Design Center Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
35.12 Greystone Servicing Company LLC, as Special Servicer of the Oak Court Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
(b) The exhibits required to be filed by the Registrant pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed above.
(c) Not Applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.
(Depositor)
/s/ Anthony Sfarra
Anthony Sfarra, President
(senior officer in charge of securitization of the depositor)
Date: March 17, 2023