OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings says publicly rated Japanese structured finance (SF) remained stable, with 16 rating affirmations and one upgrade in 4Q15.

The class D notes of L-MAP One Funding Limited were upgraded to reflect growth in credit enhancement (CE). Fitch expects these notes to be repaid faster than the other rated notes, in accordance with the transaction agreements.

Of the 16 affirmations, 10 were from three CMBS transactions backed by fully amortising loans. These rating actions reflected available CE levels that Fitch considers to be sufficient to support the current ratings. The other six affirmations were from two RMBS transactions.

In December 2015, a major foreign bank that acts as an account bank for eight Japanese SF transactions, was downgraded.

Under Fitch's SF counterparty criteria, account banks rated below 'A' and 'F1' are deemed ineligible to support notes rated 'AAAsf'. Fitch understands from the relevant transaction parties that the process of replacing the downgraded account bank with another that is eligible to support 'AAAsf' ratings is underway.

The 'AAAsf' notes from the affected transactions are at risk of downgrade, unless remedial action is taken in a timely manner.