Fitch: Reg AB Compliance Tough for Servicers

Despite real efforts by servicers of U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities, complying with the minimum servicing requirements of Regulation AB will "remain a challenge" in the first year of the law, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.Each party in the servicing function is required to provide, by March 31, 2007, both an assessment report on its compliance with Reg AB and an attestation report from a public accounting firm to concur with the servicer's assessment. More parties are now subject to reporting on "previously untested" Reg AB servicing criteria, which could cause delays and restatement of noncompliant servicer reports, according to Thomas Crowe, a Fitch director. "Many servicers are still developing the attestation programs for themselves and other relevant parties, and determining additional reporting requirements," Mr. Crowe said, adding that many are still consulting with accounting and law firms on the requirements. Fitch can be found online at website at http://www.fitchratings.com.