UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

or

For the transition period from to

333-228597-04

(Commission File Number of issuing entity)

0001793651

(Central Index Key Number of issuing entity)

Benchmark 2019-B15 Mortgage Trust

(Exact name of issuing entity as specified in its charter)

333-228597

(Commission File Number of depositor)

0001258361

(Central Index Key Number of depositor)

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc.

(Exact name of depositor as specified in its charter)

Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.

(Central Index Key Number: 0001701238)

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

(Central Index Key Number: 0000835271)

German American Capital Corporation

(Central Index Key Number: 0001541294)

(Exact name of sponsor as specified in its charter)

c/o Citibank, N.A.

388 Greenwich Street Trading, 4th Floor

New York, New York 10013

(Address of principal executive offices of issuing entity)

(212) 816-5614

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Not Applicable

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Not Applicable

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

Not Applicable

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Not Applicable

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).

Not Applicable

EXPLANATORY NOTES

1 Effective as of July 19, 2021, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association was terminated as the special servicer (other than with respect to the Austin Landing Mixed-Use loan combination) under the Benchmark 2019-B15 PSA and LNR Partners, LLC has been appointed to act as successor special servicer (other than with respect to the Austin Landing Mixed-Use loan combination) under the Benchmark 2019-B15 PSA, as disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant on July 19, 2021 under Commission File No. 333-228597-04.

2 The Century Plaza Towers mortgage loan, which represented approximately 7.4% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Century Plaza Towers mortgage loan and the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA.

3 The Harvey Building Products mortgage loan, which represented approximately 5.9% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Legends at Village West mortgage loan, which represented approximately 4.1% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Essex mortgage loan, which represented approximately 3.0% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza mortgage loan, which represented approximately 2.4% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The 8 West Centre mortgage loan, which represented approximately 2.1% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Harvey Building Products mortgage loan, the Legends at Village West mortgage loan, The Essex mortgage loan, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza mortgage loan, the 8 West Centre mortgage loan and each of the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA. Effective as of May 5, 2023, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association was terminated as the special servicer (except with respect to the 225 Bush mortgage loan and The Essex mortgage loan) under the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA and K-Star Asset Management LLC has been appointed to act as successor special servicer (except with respect to the 225 Bush whole loan and The Essex whole loan) under the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA, as disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant on May 5, 2023 under Commission File No. 333-228597-04.

4 The City Hyde Park mortgage loan, which represented approximately 5.6% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Sunset North mortgage loan, which represented approximately 2.4% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The City Hyde Park mortgage loan, the Sunset North mortgage loan and each of the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA. Effective as of June 24, 2022, CWCapital Asset Management LLC was terminated as the special servicer for the City Hyde Park mortgage loan and the Sunset North mortgage loan under the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA and LNR Partners, LLC has been appointed to act as successor special servicer for the City Hyde Park mortgage loan and the Sunset North mortgage loan under the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA, as disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant on June 24, 2022 under Commission File No. 333-228597-04.

5 The Tysons Tower mortgage loan, which represented approximately 4.1% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Tysons Tower mortgage loan and the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the BANK 2019-BNK21 PSA.

6 The Elston Retail Collection mortgage loan, which represented approximately 3.5% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Elston Retail Collection mortgage loan and the companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the COMM 2019-GC44 PSA.

7 The 600 & 620 National Avenue mortgage loan, which represented approximately 3.4% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The 600 & 620 National Avenue mortgage loan and the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the UBSCM 2019-C17 PSA.

8 The Osborn Triangle mortgage loan, which represented approximately 2.4% of the initial pool balance of the issuing entity, is part of a loan combination comprised of the subject mortgage loan included in the issuing entity and one or more companion loan(s) that are held outside the issuing entity. The Osborn Triangle mortgage loan and the related companion loan(s) are serviced pursuant to the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA.

9 Pursuant to Instruction 3 to Item 1122 of Regulation AB, the reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria and attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria of (i) KeyBank National Association, as servicer under the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA pursuant to which the Osborn Triangle mortgage loan is serviced and (ii) Situs Holdings, LLC, as special servicer under the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA pursuant to which the Osborn Triangle mortgage loan is serviced, are not included in this report on Form 10-K because each of KeyBank National Association and Situs Holdings, LLC performed activities that address the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB with respect to 5% or less of the pool assets of the issuing entity. This annual report on Form 10-K does not include the reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria and attestation reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as certificate administrator under the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA, the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA, the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA, the BANK 2019-BNK21 PSA, the COMM 2019-GC44 PSA, UBSCM 2019-C17 PSA and the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA, because the certificate administrator under each such pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement does not perform any activities that address the servicing criteria specified in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB with respect to the issuing entity. This annual report on Form 10-K does not include the report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria and attestation report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria of Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA, because there was no relevant servicing criteria applicable to Wilmington Trust, National Association as trustee under the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA during the year ended December 31, 2023 and, pursuant to the terms of the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA, the trustee is not required to provide assessment of compliance with applicable servicing criteria and attestation report on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria with respect to any period during which there was no applicable servicing criteria applicable to it.

10 This annual report on Form 10-K does not include the servicer compliance statements of (i) CWCapital Asset Management LLC, as special servicer under the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA pursuant to which the Century Plaza Towers mortgage loan is serviced, (ii) KeyBank National Association, as servicer under the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA pursuant to which the Osborn Triangle mortgage loan is serviced and (iii) Situs Holdings, LLC, as special servicer under the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA pursuant to which the Osborn Triangle mortgage loan is serviced, because each of CWCapital Asset Management LLC, KeyBank National Association and Situs Holdings, LLC is an unaffiliated party that services less than 10% of the pool assets of the issuing entity, and therefore is not a “servicer” that meets the criteria in Item 1108(a)(2)(i) through (iii) of Regulation AB. This annual report on Form 10-K does not include the servicer compliance statements of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as certificate administrator under the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA, the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA, the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA, the BANK 2019-BNK21 PSA, the COMM 2019-GC44 PSA, UBSCM 2019-C17 PSA and the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA, because the certificate administrator under each such pooling and servicing agreement or trust and servicing agreement is not a “servicer” that meets the criteria in Item 1108(a)(2)(i) through (iii) of Regulation AB with respect to the issuing entity.

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Omitted.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Omitted.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity.

Omitted.

Item 2. Properties.

Omitted.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Omitted.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Omitted.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Omitted.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Omitted.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Omitted.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Omitted.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Omitted.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Omitted.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Omitted.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Omitted.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Omitted.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Omitted.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Omitted.

ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE ITEMS REQUIRED BY GENERAL INSTRUCTION J(2)

Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB

No mortgage loan in the pool assets for Benchmark 2019-B15 Mortgage Trust constitutes a significant obligor within the meaning of Item 1101(k)(2) of Regulation AB.

Item 1114(b)(2) and Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB

No entity or group of affiliated entities provides any external credit enhancement, uses any derivative instruments or other support for the certificates within this transaction.

Item 1117 of Regulation AB

Disclosure from Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo Bank”), (i) as custodian the CPTS 2019-CPT TSA pursuant to which the Century Plaza Towers mortgage loan is serviced, (ii) as custodian and trustee under the Benchmark 2019-B14 PSA pursuant to which the Harvey Building Products mortgage loan, the Legends at Village West mortgage loan, The Essex mortgage loan, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza mortgage loan and the 8 West Centre mortgage loan are serviced, (iii) as custodian and trustee under the Benchmark 2019-B13 PSA pursuant to which the City Hyde Park mortgage loan and the Sunset North mortgage loan are serviced, (iv) as custodian under the BANK 2019-BNK21 PSA pursuant to which the Tysons Tower mortgage loan is serviced, (v) as custodian and trustee under the COMM 2019-GC44 PSA pursuant to which the Elston Retail Collection mortgage loan is serviced, (vi) as custodian under the UBSCM 2019-C17 PSA pursuant to which the 600 & 620 National Avenue mortgage loan is serviced and (vii) as custodian and trustee under the JPMCC 2019-OSB TSA pursuant to which the Osborn Triangle mortgage loan is serviced:

In December 2014, Phoenix Light SF Limited (Phoenix Light) and certain related entities filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging claims against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as trustee for a number of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trusts. Complaints raising similar allegations have been filed by Commerzbank AG in the Southern District of New York, IKB International and IKB Deutsche Industriebank (together, IKB) in New York state court, and Park Royal I LLC and Park Royal II LLC in New York state court. In each case, the plaintiffs allege that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, caused losses to investors, and plaintiffs assert causes of action based upon, among other things, the trustee’s alleged failure to notify and enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for purported breaches of representations and warranties, notify investors of alleged events of default, and abide by appropriate standards of care following alleged events of default. In July 2022, the district court dismissed Phoenix Light’s claims and certain of the claims asserted by Commerzbank AG, and subsequently entered judgment in each case in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In August 2022, Phoenix Light and Commerzbank AG each appealed the district court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Phoenix Light dismissed its appeal in May 2023, terminating its case. In November 2023, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. entered into an agreement with IKB to resolve IKB’s claims. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. previously settled two class actions filed by institutional investors and an action filed by the National Credit Union Administration with similar allegations.

Item 1119 of Regulation AB

Provided previously in the prospectus of the Registrant relating to the issuing entity and filed on December 18, 2019 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 1122 of Regulation AB

The reports on assessment of compliance with servicing criteria for asset-backed securities and related attestation reports are attached hereto under Item 15.

Item 1123 of Regulation AB

The servicer compliance statements are attached hereto under Item 15.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 28, 2024

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc.

(Depositor)

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EX-31

EX-33.1

EX-33.2

EX-33.4

EX-33.5

EX-33.6

EX-33.7

EX-33.8

EX-33.9

EX-33.11

EX-33.15

EX-33.24

EX-33.10A

EX-33.10B

EX-33.14B

EX-33.17A

EX-33.17B

EX-34.1

EX-34.2

EX-34.4

EX-34.5

EX-34.6

EX-34.7

EX-34.8

EX-34.9

EX-34.11

EX-34.15

EX-34.24

EX-34.10A

EX-34.10B

EX-34.14B

EX-34.17A

EX-34.17B

EX-35.1

EX-35.2

EX-35.4

EX-35.5

EX-35.12

EX-35.8B