hard · Asset-Backed Securities

An investor is evaluating a CMBS IO (Interest-Only) tranche from a pool with a $1B notional. The pool exhibits a high rate of defeasance (50% of the pool over 7 years).

How does this trend specifically affect the IO holder compared to a scenario with high voluntary prepayments?

  1. Defeasance is more favorable because the notional balance remains in the trust and credit risk is replaced by Treasury collateral.
  2. Defeasance is less favorable because the yield maintenance penalties are paid to principal bondholders, not the IO holder.
  3. Both scenarios are identical because the weighted average life (WAL) of the IO is shortened by any exit from the mortgage pool.
  4. The IO yield increases because the Treasury securities have higher coupons than the original commercial mortgages.

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