OREANDA-NEWS. July 27, 2015. Fitch Ratings has upgraded Credit Management & Investor Solutions B.V.'s (CMIS or specifically Adaxio, the servicing entity) Dutch Residential Primary Servicer Rating to 'RPS2' from 'RPS2-'. The agency has affirmed the Dutch Residential Master and Special Servicer Ratings at 'RMS2' and 'RSS2' respectively.

The upgrade reflects the completed integration of the Welke Group entities, acquired in 2013, into CMIS. All primary servicing functions have been centralised into Adaxio. New, focused teams have been set up to allow specialisation and to remove any duplication of activity across the group. All policies and procedures have been reviewed and standardised where appropriate to ensure a streamlined approach.

In addition, the upgrade takes into account the enhancement of early arrears management since our last review, with a risk-grading system now fully implemented. All new loans entering arrears are given a risk grade, which then drives the workflow system, prioritising asset manager activity. Fitch views this tool positively. Arrears teams have also been restructured to focus on arrears stages, allowing specialisation.

The ratings reflect Adaxio's robust special and master servicing performance, with a reduction in overall arrears across the five ELQ Hypotheken B.V. originated portfolios absorbed in 2013. The restructuring of the arrears teams provides focus on rehabilitation or resolution of late arrears cases. Adaxio continues to look at ways of innovating and enhancing the servicing process.

During 2014, the proprietary ProMMiSe system continued to be developed, improving automation and control of the master servicing processes. Adaxio continues to work with third parties to standardise and further streamline this. All investor reports are now in line with the Dutch Securitisation Association format.

Despite this period of significant change within the business, CMIS continued to develop an already robust training programme; with the implementation of a new online tool in 2014 to facilitate regulatory-based training. Training hours delivered remain well above the average across peers, with over one-third of employees holding lean six sigma certification. A new incentive scheme for special servicing teams is focused on team targets and includes individual quality objectives.

The ratings also take into account the challenges that CMIS has faced with the integration of the Welke Group entities. The centralisation and standardisation of activities resulted in a significant amount of team restructures and role changes. In addition, all staff are being relocated to a new central office by end-2015 from their previous two separate locations. These activities have contributed to a significant increase in staff turnover in 2014, with the annualised rate high when compared with peers. Fitch recognises that much of this is a result of the integration, but a consequence is that average company tenure for operational staff is relatively low. However, Fitch notes that call performance statistics remain in line with peers and loan performance is stable overall.

Fitch used its servicer rating criteria to analyse the servicer's operations and financial condition, including a comparison against similar Dutch servicers as part of the review process. The analysis is based on information provided to Fitch by CMIS.

At end December 2014, Adaxio's Dutch servicing portfolio totalled EUR5.7bn (2013: EUR6.2bn) and comprised 32,955 loans (2013: 35,657 loans). RMBS represents 97% of the total by value, with Adaxio acting as special and master servicer across all 21 securitised deals. Adaxio also carries out the majority of primary servicing activities on a significant portion of the portfolio. Adaxio also acts as master servicer on four German-originated RMBS transactions.