UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2016
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2016-C34
(Exact name of Issuing Entity)
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC
Rialto Mortgage Finance, LLC
Silverpeak Real Estate Finance LLC
Basis Real Estate Capital II, LLC
(Exact Names of the Sponsors as Specified in their Charters)
North Carolina | 333-206677-05 | 56-1643598 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina | 28288-1066 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (ZIP Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (704) 374-6161
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any following provisions:
[ ] | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
[ ] | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
[ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
[ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On May 24, 2016, Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc. (the “Registrant”) caused the issuance, pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2016 (the “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”), between the Registrant, as depositor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as master servicer, LNR Partners, LLC, as special servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as certificate administrator, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as operating advisor and as asset representations reviewer, of the Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2016-C34, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2016-C34 (the “Certificates”). The Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class A-SB, Class A-S, Class X-A, Class X-B, Class B and Class C Certificates (collectively, the “Publicly Offered Certificates”) were sold to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Academy Securities, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Natixis Securities Americas LLC, as underwriters (collectively, in such capacities, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2016, between the Registrant, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and the Underwriters.
On May 24, 2016, the Class A-3FL, Class A-3FX, Class X-E, Class X-FG, Class X-H, Class D, Class E, Class F, Class G, Class H and Class R Certificates (collectively, the “Privately Offered Certificates”) were sold to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Academy Securities, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Natixis Securities Americas LLC, as initial purchasers (collectively, in such capacities, the “Initial Purchasers”), pursuant to a Certificate Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2016, between the Registrant, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and the Initial Purchasers. The Privately Offered Certificates were sold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Certificates represent, in the aggregate, the entire beneficial ownership in Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2016-C34, a common law trust fund formed on May 24, 2016 under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The Issuing Entity’s primary assets are sixty-eight (68) commercial, multifamily and manufactured housing community mortgage loans (the “Mortgage Loans”). The net proceeds of the sale of the Certificates were applied to the purchase of the Mortgage Loans by the Registrant from Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance, LLC, Silverpeak Real Estate Finance LLC and Basis Real Estate Capital II, LLC.
The Registrant sold all of the Publicly Offered Certificates, having an aggregate certificate balance of $575,004,000, on May 24, 2016. The net proceeds of the offering to the Registrant of the issuance of the Publicly Offered Certificates, after deducting expenses payable by the Registrant of $6,899,176, were approximately $659,192,015. Of the expenses paid by the Registrant, approximately $33,500 were paid directly to affiliates of the Registrant, $2,444,185 in the form of fees were paid to the Underwriters, $493,414 were paid to or for the Underwriters and $3,928,076 were other expenses. All of the foregoing expense amounts are the Registrant’s reasonable estimates of such expenses. No underwriting discounts and commissions or finder’s fees were paid by the Registrant; the Publicly Offered Certificates were offered by the Underwriters for sale to the public in negotiated transactions or otherwise at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The Registrant also sold to the Initial Purchasers on such date the Privately Offered Certificates, having an aggregate certificate balance of $127,783,500, in each case in private placement transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Act. Further information regarding such sales has been previously provided on the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 24, 2016 (including, as to the price per class of Publicly Offered Certificates, on Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement filed as an exhibit thereto) and in its Prospectus, dated May 12, 2016. The related registration statement (file no. 333-206677) was originally declared effective on November 23, 2015.
In connection with the issuance and sale to the Underwriters of the Publicly Offered Certificates, a legal opinion was rendered related to the validity of, and certain federal income tax considerations relating to, the Publicly Offered Certificates, which legal opinion is attached as an exhibit to this report.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits: |
5.1 | Legality Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, dated May 24, 2016. |
8.1 | Tax Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, dated May 24, 2016 (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). |
23.1 | Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WELLS FARGO COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE SECURITIES, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Anthony Sfarra | |
Name: Anthony Sfarra | ||
Title: President | ||
Dated: May 24, 2016 |
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. | Description |
5.1 | Legality Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, dated May 24, 2016. |
8.1 | Tax Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, dated May 24, 2016 (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). |
23.1 | Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). |
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SIDLEY AUSTIN llp 787 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10019 +1 212 839 5300 +1 212 839 5599 FAX |
BEIJING BOSTON BRUSSELS CENTURY CITY CHICAGO DALLAS GENEVA |
HONG KONG
HOUSTON LONDON LOS ANGELES MUNICH NEW YORK PALO ALTO |
SAN FRANCISCO SHANGHAI SINGAPORE SYDNEY TOKYO WASHINGTON, D.C. | |||
FOUNDED 1866 |
May 24, 2016
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.
375 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10152
Re: | Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 2016-C34 Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2016-C34 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Depositor”), in connection with the issuance of approximately $702,787,500 aggregate principal balance of Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2016-C34, Class A-1, Class A-2, Class A-3, Class A-4, Class A-SB, Class A-S, Class X-A, Class X-B, Class B and Class C Certificates (collectively, the “Registered Certificates”), Class A-3FL, Class A-3FX, Class X-E, Class X-FG, Class X-H, Class D, Class E, Class F, Class G, Class H and Class R Certificates, pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2016 (the “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”), between the Depositor, as depositor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as master servicer, LNR Partners, LLC, as special servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as certificate administrator, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as operating advisor and as asset representations reviewer.
For purposes of rendering this opinion letter, we have reviewed:
(i) the Registration Statement on Form SF-3 (Registration No. 333-206677) relating to the Registered Certificates (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on August 31, 2015;
(ii) the Prospectus, dated May 12, 2016 (the “Prospectus”), relating to the Registered Certificates;
(iii) the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2016 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Depositor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Academy Securities, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Natixis Securities Americas LLC (collectively, the “Underwriters”);
Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.
Wells Fargo Commercial mortgage trust 2016-C34 May 24, 2016 PAGE 2 |
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(iv) evidence satisfactory to us with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act; and
(v) the forms of the Registered Certificates attached as exhibits to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
In connection with the foregoing, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion letter. In our examination, we have assumed the following: (a) the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the legal capacity of natural persons; (c) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (d) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents; (e) the conformity of the text of each document filed with the Commission through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System to the printed documents reviewed by us; and (f) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates that we have reviewed. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that were not known to us, we have relied upon certificates, statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Depositor and others.
Our opinions set forth below are subject to: (1) general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the doctrine of estoppel; (2) the possible unavailability of specific performance and injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; (3) the effect of certain laws, rules, regulations and judicial and other decisions upon enforceability; (4) bankruptcy, insolvency, bail-in, receivership, reorganization, liquidation, voidable preference, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors or secured parties generally, in each case, whether by operation of law, contract, judicial or regulatory action or otherwise, and the effect of, to the extent applicable, the rights of creditors or of secured creditors of national banks or of “financial companies” (as defined in Section 201 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) or their affiliates; and (5) public policy considerations underlying the securities laws, to the extent that such public policy considerations limit the enforceability of any provision of any agreement that purports or is construed to provide indemnification with respect to securities law violations.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that—
A. The Registered Certificates, when duly and validly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, and when delivered and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and entitled to the benefits provided by the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
B. The description set forth under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus, although it does not discuss all federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to the individual circumstances of particular investors (some of which may be subject to special treatment under the Internal
Wells Fargo Commercial mortgage trust 2016-C34 May 24, 2016 PAGE 3 |
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Revenue Code of 1986), otherwise correctly describes, as of the date hereof, the material aspects of the federal income tax treatment of an investment in the Registered Certificates commonly applicable to investors that are U.S. Persons (as defined under the heading “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors” in the Prospectus) and, where expressly indicated therein, to investors that are not U.S. Persons. We also hereby confirm the opinion expressly set forth under such headings as our opinion.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the discussion of our opinions set forth in this opinion letter under the headings “Legal Matters” and “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not consider that we are “experts”, within the meaning of the term as used in the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion letter as an exhibit or otherwise.
We express no opinion as to any laws other than the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York. We do not express any opinion, either implicitly or otherwise, on any issue not expressly addressed above. We express no opinion with respect to any Series of Certificates for which we do not act as counsel to the Depositor.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP |