The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today published An Update on the Single Security Initiative (SSI) and the Common Securitization Platform (CSP) detailing activity and progress on the development of the CSP and toward the launch of a single, common security called the Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security (UMBS).
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and their joint venture, Common Securitization Solutions (CSS), will implement the SSI and issue the first UMBS on June 3, 2019. Today’s update focuses on outreach by the Enterprises and FHFA to inform and prepare market participants for the SSI implementation.
“Since our last update, significant steps have been taken to ensure regulatory clarity, promote aligned investor cash flows on the UMBS, and test the new securitization infrastructure in preparation to launch the UMBS,” said FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt. “We are on track, and I urge industry participants to continue to prepare for the transition.”
The Update describes recent developments, including activities responding to input from market participants, to facilitate a smooth transition to the UMBS. These include:
- Extensive testing of Release 2 of the CSP by the Enterprises and Common Securitization Solutions;
- Regulatory clarity on tax and accounting issues from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service; and
- Steps taken to maintain the alignment of prepayment speeds across corresponding cohorts of the Enterprises’ TBA-eligible securities, including FHFA’s proposed rule to require the Enterprises to align certain programs, policies, and practices that could affect cash flows to investors from UMBS, and quarterly Prepayment Monitoring Reports.
The Update also provides information about the extensive outreach activities of the Enterprises to obtain stakeholder input and ensure successful implementation of the SSI including conferences, webinars, tabletop exercises, and surveys to gauge readiness and provide helpful information and resources.
FHFA also continues to update the SSI/CSP timeline of key achievements on this project as milestones are reached.
FHFA welcomes public input on this Update from interested parties. Feedback can be submitted electronically via FHFA.gov, or to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Strategic Initiatives, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20219. All pertinent submissions received will be made public and posted without redaction to FHFA’s website.
Link:
An Update on the Single Security Initiative and the Common Securitization Platform