Fannie Unveils Benchmark REMICs

Fannie Mae has announced the introduction of Benchmark REMICs, a multiclass real estate mortgage investment conduit security with enhanced structural, price transparency, and liquidity features for fixed-income investors.The company said it expects to issue the first Benchmark REMIC in this quarter and up to two deals per quarter thereafter. Fannie said the securities will have four characteristics designed to improve liquidity and price transparency: syndicated dealer distribution; a large Guaranteed Maturity Class, with a stated final maturity; a minimum new-issue size of $1 billion for each GMC; and live price quotes on TradeWeb for the GMCs. The securities will generally be collateralized by pools of Fannie Mae fixed-rate, first-lien, single-family mortgages. Peter Niculescu, executive vice president for capital markets, said the move "should help us better serve our affordable housing mission by attracting more capital to the U.S. housing market through broadened distribution of Benchmark REMICs to a potentially more diverse mortgage investor base globally." Freddie Mac introduced a similar program, Reference REMICs, last year.