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, 20202021
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: 333-172366-09
Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity: 0001585067
WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2013-C16
(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: 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: 0001555501
Liberty Island Group I LLC
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
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: 0001541214
C-III Commercial Mortgage LLC
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001542105
Basis Real Estate Capital II, LLC
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001577313
National Cooperative Bank, N.A.
(exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter)
(formerly known as NCB, FSB)
New York the issuing entity) | 38-3913770 38-3913771 38-3913772 38-7109044 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Numbers) |
c/o 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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).
Not applicable.
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
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
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 Westfield Mission Valley Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 9.6% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date, is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the Westfield Mission Valley Mortgage Loan and one other pari passu loan, which is not an asset of the issuing entity. This loan combination, including the Westfield Mission Valley Mortgage Loan, is being serviced and administered pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 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 Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 5.7% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date. The Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that includes the Augusta Mall 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 2013-C15 transaction, Commission File Number 333-177891-05 (the “WFRBS 2013-C15 Transaction”). This loan combination, including the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan, is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2013-C15 Transaction, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 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 general master servicer (except with respect to those mortgage loans for which PGIM Real Estate Loan Services, Inc. (formerly known as Prudential Asset Resources, Inc.) is the primary servicer) and the certificate administrator of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the primary servicer of the Augusta 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.
National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), NCB master servicer and NCB co-op special servicer is also a sponsor. Therefore, the Depositor included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K a servicer compliance statement for National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB) pursuant to Item 1123. Because National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB) is servicing less than 5% of the pool assets, an assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and an accountants’ attestation report pursuant to Item 1122 of Regulation AB are not required by Regulation AB. As the attestation made in the servicer compliance statement required by Item 1123 relates to a review of the servicing activities of National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB) under the applicable servicing agreement, and that review was conducted in conjunction with the servicer’s preparation of its assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, that assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and the accompanying accountants’ attestation report are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the sake of completeness.
U.S. Bank National Association acts as trustee of the mortgage loans serviced under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan. Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2013-C15 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 and the Augusta Mall 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 Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc. and National Tax Search,Solutions, LLC. These entities wereThis entity was engaged by the general master servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement (except with respect to those mortgage loans for which PGIM Real Estate Loan Services, Inc. (formerly known as Prudential Asset Resources, Inc.) is the primary servicer), the primary servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement (solely with respect to National Tax Search, LLC) and the primary servicer of the Augusta 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. With respect to the reports provided as servicing function participant on behalf of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 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. With respect to the reports provided as servicing function participant on behalf of PGIM Real Estate Loan Services, Inc. (formerly known as Prudential Asset Resources, Inc.), these servicing functions are included within the servicing criteria set forth in Items 1122(d)(2)(ii), 1122(d)(2)(vi), 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, these vendors are “servicers”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 assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria, accountants’ attestation report and servicer compliance statement of the certificate administrator of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan is 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 it is 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 combination that includes the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan, the servicer compliance statement of CWCapital Asset Management LLC as special servicer of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan, listed on the Exhibit Index is omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K as it is not required by Item 1123 of Regulation AB to be included on this Annual Report on Form 10-K because it is 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. Selected Financial Data.
Omitted.
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.
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 Accounting Fees and Services.
Omitted.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE ITEMS FOR REGULATION AB
Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB, Significant Obligor Financial Information.
No single obligor represents 10% or more of the pool assets held by the issuing entity.
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 CWCapital Asset Management LLC, as Special Servicer, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as certificate administratorCertificate Administrator and as custodian,Custodian.
From time to time, CWCapital Asset Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CWCAM”), is a party to lawsuits and other legal proceedings as part of its duties as a special servicer (e.g., enforcement of loan obligations) and/or arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than as set forth in the following paragraphs, there are currently no legal proceedings pending, and no legal proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities, against CWCAM or of which any of its property is the subject, that are material to the certificateholders.
On December 17, 2015, U.S. Bank National Association, the trustee under five pooling and servicing agreements for (i) Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C30, (ii) COBALT CMBS Commercial Trust 2007-C2, (iii) Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C31, (iv) ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-5 and (v) ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-6 commenced a proceeding with the Second Judicial District Court of Ramsey County, Minnesota (the “State Court”) for a declaratory judgment as trustee.
Beginningto the proper allocation of certain proceeds (“Disputed Proceeds”) received by CWCAM in connection with the sale of the Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town property in New York, New York securing loans held by those trusts. CWCAM was the special servicer of such property. The petition requests the State Court to instruct the trustee, the trust beneficiaries, and any other interested parties as to the amount of the Disputed Proceeds, if any, that constitute penalty interest and/or the amount of the Disputed Proceeds, if any, that constitute gain-on-sale proceeds, with respect to each trust. On February 24, 2016, CWCAM made a limited appearance with the State Court to file a motion to dismiss this proceeding based on lack of jurisdiction, mootness, standing and forum non conveniens. On July 19, 2016, the State Court denied CWCAM’s motion to dismiss. On July 22, 2016, the action was removed to federal court in Minnesota (“Federal Court”). On October 21, 2016, the Federal Court held a hearing on the motion to transfer the action to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY Court”), a motion to remand to state court and a motion to hear CWCAM’s request for reconsideration of the motion to dismiss. On March 14, 2017, the Federal Court reserved the determination on the motion to hear CWCAM’s request for reconsideration of the motion to dismiss, denied the motion to remand the matter to state court and granted the motion to transfer the proceeding to the SDNY Court. Cross motions for judgment on the pleadings were filed but the SDNY Court was unable to decide the case based on the pleadings and the SDNY Court ordered discovery. All fact discovery was completed in December, 2018 and expert discovery was completed on March 15, 2019. The parties submitted cross motions for summary judgment, and on March 19, 2020, the SDNY Court entered an opinion and order in which it granted summary judgment in CWCAM’s favor and held that CWCAM was entitled to the entire amount of penalty interest and that CWCAM’s determination of Yield Maintenance was correct. In the 127-page opinion, the SDNY Court found for CWCAM on every issue presented by the trustee’s petition, namely, that the funds in dispute constitute penalty interest and yield maintenance, not gain-on-sale proceeds, and that the amount of penalty interest and yield maintenance was correctly calculated. An appeal of the SDNY Court’s decision was taken on April 29, 2020. Oral argument on the appeal occurred on June 18, 2014,21, 2021. The parties await the decision of the appeals court.
On December 1, 2017, a groupcomplaint against CWCAM and others was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of institutional investorsNew York styled as CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. v. CWCapital Investments LLC, No. 17-cv-9463 (the “Original Complaint”). The gravamen of the Original Complaint alleged breaches of a contract and fiduciary duties by CWCAM’s affiliate, CWCapital Investments LLC, in its capacity as collateral manager for the collateralized debt obligation transaction involving CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. In total, there are fourteen counts pled in the Original Complaint. Of those fourteen, five claims were asserted against CWCAM for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment. On May 23, 2018, the Original Complaint was dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. On June 28, 2018, CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. filed civil complaintsa substantially similar complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York styled as CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. v. CWCapital Investments LLC, Index No. 653277/2018 (the “New Complaint”). The gravamen of the New Complaint is the same as the previous complaint filed in the United State District Court for the Southern District of New York. In total, there are sixteen counts pled in the New Complaint. Of those sixteen counts, five claims were asserted against CWCAM for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment, one count seeks a declaratory judgment that the plaintiff has the right to enforce the contracts in question and one count seeks an injunction requiring the defendants to recognize the plaintiff as the directing holder for the trusts in question. On January 11, 2019, the plaintiff dismissed with prejudice the declaratory judgment and injunction counts. The New Complaint and related summons were not served on the defendants until July 13, 2018 and July 16, 2018. The plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction was denied by the court on July 31, 2018. On August 3, 2018, the defendants, including CWCAM, filed a motion to dismiss the New Complaint in its entirety. On August 20, 2019, the court entered an order granting defendants’ motion almost in its entirety, dismissing eleven of the sixteen counts and partially dismissing two additional counts. Of the remaining counts, two are asserted against CWCAM for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. On September 19, 2019, CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. filed a notice of appeal relating to the August 20, 2019 dismissal order and on September 26, 2019, filed an amended complaint against CWCI and CWCAM attempting to address deficiencies relating to certain of the claims dismissed by the August 20, 2019 order. CWCI and CWCAM filed their Motion to Dismiss the amended complaint on October 28, 2019. The court heard argument on the Motion to Dismiss the amended complaint on January 22, 2020 and on October 23, 2020, the court granted the motion dismissing the amended claims. On November 30, 2020, CWCapital Cobalt Vr Ltd. filed a notice of appeal relating to the October 23, 2020 dismissal order. On April 27, 2021, the First Department affirmed the dismissal as to claims against CWCAM that were part of the August 20, 2019 dismissal, but reversed the dismissal of two counts for breach of the Collateral Management Agreement against CWCI. CWCI has sought leave to file an appeal of the decision. Both requests for leave were denied by the First Department. The plaintiff has also sought leave to appeal the dismissal of the claims against CWCAM. CWCAM believes that it has performed its obligations under the related pooling and servicing agreements in good faith and the remaining allegations in the New Complaint are without merit.
On January 24, 2016 PSW NYC LLC commenced a complaint (the “PSW Complaint”) with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “PSW Court”) against Bank of America, N.A. as trustee under the pooling and servicing agreements for Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C30 and COBALT CMBS Commercial Trust 2007-C2, U.S. Bank National Association as trustee under the pooling and servicing agreements for Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C31, ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-5 and ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-6 (collectively, the “PSW Trusts”), PCV-M Holdings LLC and CWCapital Asset Management LLC, individually and as special servicer for the PSW Trusts (collectively, the “Defendants”), seeking either (a) damages in an amount to be determined by the PSW Court but alleged by the plaintiffs to be approximately $500,000,000, such amount being the amount PSW NYC LLC alleges would have been recovered on certain mezzanine loans (the “PCVST Mezzanine Loans”) related to the Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town property (the “PCVST Property”) in New York City which PSW NYC LLC sold to an entity related to the Defendants pursuant to a settlement agreement related to certain prior litigation (the “2010 Settlement Agreement”) or (b) the rescission of the 2010 Settlement Agreement which would result in, among other things, the rescission of the sale of the PCVST Mezzanine Loans and a claim for certain proceeds from the sale of the PCVST Property. PSW NYC LLC alleges that the Defendants procured the 2010 Settlement Agreement by fraud and further that the terms of the 2010 Settlement Agreement were breached by the Defendants. On February 26, 2016, CWCAM on behalf of itself and the other Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the PSW Complaint (the “CWCAM Motion to Dismiss”). On April 11, 2016, PSW NYC LLC opposed the CWCAM Motion to Dismiss and cross-moved for a partial summary judgment on liability regarding allegations of breach of the 2010 Settlement Agreement (the “PSW Cross-Motion”). On May 5, 2016, the Defendants subsequently filed their reply and opposition to the PSW Cross-Motion. On August 23, 2016, oral arguments were provided to the PSW Court regarding the PSW Complaint, the CWCAM Motion to Dismiss and the PSW Cross-Motion and the PSW Court took such arguments under advisement. On October 31, 2016, the PSW Court issued an order granting the CWCAM Motion to Dismiss, denying the PSW Cross-Motion and dismissing the PSW Complaint with prejudice. Subsequently, PSW NYC LLC filed a notice of appeal relating to such order. On February 21, 2017, PSW NYC LLC filed its appeal and supporting brief arguing that the PSW Court erred by finding no breach of the assignment agreement and no fraudulent inducement. Oral argument was heard on May 4, 2017 at which point the court took the arguments under advisement. On May 25, 2017, the New York First Department appellate court affirmed the dismissal of all PSW claims and denied a request for leave to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals on September 12, 2017.
On March 31, 2016, RAIT Preferred Funding II, Ltd. (“RAIT Preferred Funding”) commenced a complaint (“RAIT Complaint”) with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “RAIT Court”), claiming it owns $18,500,000 of a mortgage loan secured by the development of the One Congress Street Property in Boston, Massachusetts (the “Loan”) and seeking (a) a declaratory judgment stating that RAIT Preferred Funding is the directing lender under a co-lender agreement dated March 28, 2007 and a pooling and servicing agreement dated March 1, 2007 (collectively, the “Operative Agreements”) and was the directing lender at the time of the improper modification of the Loan, (b) a declaratory judgment stating that RAIT Preferred Funding has the right to terminate the special servicer, (c) monetary damages for the value of the bonds and fees paid to CWCAM as the special servicer of the Loan and (d) other things. On May 17, 2016, CWCAM filed a motion to dismiss the RAIT Complaint (“Motion to Dismiss”) stating that the RAIT Complaint did not state a claim and the essential facts of the RAIT Complaint are negated by affidavits and evidentiary materials submitted with the RAIT Complaint. On June 14, 2016, RAIT Preferred Funding filed a Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss (“Opposition”) stating that the claims in the RAIT Complaint were properly stated. On June 30, 2016, CWCAM filed a reply in support of the Motion to Dismiss and in response to the Opposition, stating that each of CWCAM’s arguments is supported by the express language of the agreements between the parties, the documentary evidence and New York case law. On September 30, 2016, RAIT Preferred Funding and CWCAM entered into a confidential Settlement Agreement (the “2016 Settlement”), which provides for a stay of the RAIT Preferred Funding litigation (the “Litigation Stay”) through August 25, 2017. Pursuant to the terms of the 2016 Settlement, upon satisfaction of a term of the 2016 Settlement by August 25, 2017 (or such later date agreed to by the parties), the RAIT Preferred Funding litigation will be dismissed with prejudice. On May 19, 2017 the Borrower repaid the Loan in accordance with the terms of the notes and satisfied the condition to dismissal with prejudice. RAIT has refused to dismiss the case and is claiming that the B Note should be paid in full. CWCAM believes that it has performed its obligations under the Operative Agreements in good faith, and that the action should be dismissed with prejudice. On August 29, 2017, the RAIT Court granted leave to RAIT Preferred Funding to amend its complaint. On September 20, 2017, RAIT Preferred Funding filed an Amended Complaint (the “RAIT Amended Complaint”), which omits its original claims, adds Wells Fargo Bank as a defendant, and seeks (a) specific performance requiring repayment of the $18,500,000 principal amount of the B Note or, in the alternative, monetary damages, including the $18,500,000 principal amount of the B Note, in an amount to be determined at trial, (b) monetary damages on any fees paid to CWCAM as special servicer or Wells Fargo Bank as master servicer in connection with the borrower’s repayment of the Loan, (c) a declaratory judgment that RAIT Preferred Funding is entitled to recover the full $18,500,000 principal amount of the B Note, (d) punitive damages against CWCAM, and (e) other things. On October 11, 2017, CWCAM filed a motion to dismiss the RAIT Amended Complaint (“CWCAM Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint”) stating that the RAIT Amended Complaint did not state a claim and the essential facts of the RAIT Amended Complaint are negated by the Operative Agreements and other admissible evidentiary materials. On November 13, 2017, Wells Fargo Bank filed a motion to dismiss the RAIT Amended Complaint (the “Wells Fargo Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint”) and joined the CWCAM Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint. On January 29, 2018, the court dismissed all claims but for breach of contract and discovery commenced. CWCAM filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on March 18, 2019. This matter was settled and the case dismissed on May 15, 2019.
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 National Collegiate Student Loan Master Trust I v. U.S. Bank National Ass’n, 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 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, which remains pending.
U.S. Bank denies liability in the NCMSLT Action and believes 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 and that it has meritorious defenses. It has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously.
In December 2014, Phoenix Light SF Limited and certain related entities and the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”) filed complaints in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., (“alleging claims against Wells Fargo Bank”)Bank in its capacity as trustee for certaina number of residential mortgage backedmortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) trusts. The complaints againstComplaints 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, alleged that theas trustee, caused losses to investors, and assertedplaintiffs assert causes of action based upon, among other things, the trustee'strustee’s alleged failure to: (i)to notify and enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for purported breaches of representations and warranties, (ii) notify investors of alleged events of default, and (iii) abide by appropriate standards of care following alleged events of default. Relief sought included money damages in an unspecified amount, reimbursement of expenses, and equitable relief. In November 2018, Wells Fargo Bank reached an agreement,previously settled two class action lawsuits with similar allegations that were filed in which it denied any wrongdoing, to resolve such claims on a classwide basis forNovember 2014 and December 2016 by institutional investors in the 271 RMBS trusts at issue. On May 6, 2019, theSouthern District of New York and New York state court, entered an order approving the settlement agreement. Separate lawsuits againstrespectively. In addition, Park Royal I LLC and Park Royal II LLC have filed complaints in New York state court alleging Wells Fargo Bank, making similar allegationsN.A., as trustee, failed to take appropriate actions upon learning of defective mortgage loan documentation. In March 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to resolve the case filed by certain other institutional investors concerning several RMBS trusts in New York federal and state court are not covered by the settlement agreement. NCUA.
In addition to the foregoing cases, in August 2014 and August 2015 Nomura Credit & Capital Inc. (“Nomura”Nomura”) and Natixis Real Estate Holdings, LLC (“Natixis”Natixis”) filed a total of seven third-party complaints against Wells Fargo Bank in New York state court. In the underlying first-party actions, Nomura and Natixis have been sued for alleged breaches of representations and warranties made in connection with residential mortgage-backed securities sponsored by them. In the third-party actions, Nomura and Natixis allege that Wells Fargo Bank, as master servicer, primary servicer or securities administrator, failed to notify Nomura and Natixis of their own breaches, failed to properly oversee the primary servicers, and failed to adhere to accepted servicing practices. Natixis additionally alleges that Wells Fargo Bank failed to perform default oversight duties. Wells Fargo Bank has asserted counterclaims alleging that Nomura and Natixis failed to provide Wells Fargo Bank notice of their representation and warranty breaches.
With respect to each of the foregoing litigations, Wells Fargo Bank believes plaintiffs'plaintiffs’ claims are without merit and intends to contest the claims vigorously, but there can be no assurances as to the outcome of the litigations or the possible impact of the litigations on Wells Fargo Bank or the related RMBS trusts.
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. U.S. Bank intends to continue to defend the NCMSLT Action vigorously.
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 September 27, 2013 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 Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan, which is being serviced and administered pursuant to the pooling and servicing agreement for the WFRBS 2013-C15 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 2013-C15 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 WFRBS 2013-C15 Transaction responsible for each applicable servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d).
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. Exhibits, 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 General Master Servicer
33.2 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Master Servicer
33.3 Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as General Special Servicer
33.4 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Co-op Special Servicer (see Exhibit 33.2)
33.5 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.6 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
33.7 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian
33.8 Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as Trust Advisor
33.9 CoreLogic Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc.,Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
33.10National Tax Search, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
33.1533.16 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the Westfield Mission Valley Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
33.2133.22 CWCapital Asset Management LLC, as Special Servicer of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan
33.2233.23 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan (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 General Master Servicer
34.2 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Master Servicer
34.3 Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as General Special Servicer
34.4 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Co-op Special Servicer (see Exhibit 34.2)
34.5 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.6 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
34.7 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Custodian
34.8 Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as Trust Advisor
34.9 CoreLogic Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc.,Solutions, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
34.10National Tax Search, LLC, as Servicing Function Participant
34.1534.16 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the Westfield Mission Valley Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
34.2134.22 CWCapital Asset Management LLC, as Special Servicer of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan
34.2234.23 U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee of the Augusta Mall Mortgage Loan (Omitted. See Explanatory Notes.)
35 Servicer compliance statements.
35.1 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as General Master Servicer
35.2 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Master Servicer
35.3 Rialto Capital Advisors, LLC, as General Special Servicer
35.4 National Cooperative Bank, N.A. (f/k/a NCB, FSB), as NCB Co-op Special Servicer (see Exhibit 35.2)
35.5 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Certificate Administrator
35.1035.11 CWCapital Asset Management LLC, as Special Servicer of the Augusta 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 16, 20219, 2022