The relationship between net asset value (NAV) and income from 12b-1 fees makes equity market volatility an important factor in 12b-1 fee asset securitizations, but it is not the only one, according to a
In particular, more recent 12b-1 fee securitization transactions have included hedging that functions as credit enhancement. "While the probability of default, or default frequency, does benefit from the embedded hedges, the principal goal of the addition of the hedge mechanism from an issuer standpoint was to lower the magnitude, or severity, of capital losses upon an occurrence of default," the report states.
When making a determination about credit rating transactions for 12b-1 fee securitizations, S&P looks at a number of factors beyond the overview statistics provided by the issuers. In particular, the study cited Monte Carlo simulations of default frequency as the most important of these.
The report concluded that the volatility of the markets has affected 12b-1 fee securitizations, but that effect varies according to a number of factors, including asset mix of the funds and fund families, hedging strategies and other factors.
