Fitch Ratings expects to assign the following ratings to Regatta V Funding Ltd./LLC (Regatta V):
--$322,500,000 class A-1 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable.
Fitch does not expect to rate the class A-2, B, C, D or subordinated notes.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Regatta V Funding Ltd. (the issuer) and Regatta V Funding LLC (the co-issuer) represent an arbitrage cash flow collateralized loan obligation (CLO) that will be managed by Napier Park Global Capital (U.S.) LP (Napier Park). Net proceeds from the issuance of notes will be used to purchase a portfolio of approximately $500 million of leveraged loans. The CLO will have a four-year reinvestment period.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement (CE) of 35.5% for class A-1 notes, in addition to excess spread, is sufficient to protect against portfolio default and recovery rate projections in the 'AAAsf' stress scenario. The level of CE for class A-1 notes is below the average for recent CLO issuances.
'B' Asset Quality: The average credit quality of the indicative portfolio is 'B', which is consistent with that of recent CLOs. Issuers rated in the 'B' rating category denote relatively weak credit quality; however, in Fitch Ratings' opinion, the class A-1 notes are unlikely to be affected by the foreseeable level of defaults. Class A-1 notes are robust against default rates of up to 58.7%.
Strong Recovery Expectations: The indicative portfolio consists of 95.8% first lien senior secured loans. Approximately 90% of the indicative portfolio has either strong recovery prospects or a Fitch-assigned recovery rating of 'RR2' or higher, resulting in a base case recovery assumption of 75.7%. In determining the class A-1 notes' rating, Fitch stressed the indicative portfolio by assuming a higher portfolio concentration of assets with lower recovery prospects and further reduced recovery assumptions for higher rating stress assumptions. The analysis of Regatta V, class A-1 notes, assumed a 35.3% recovery rate in Fitch's 'AAAsf' scenario.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
In addition to Fitch's stated criteria, the agency analyzed the structure's sensitivity to the potential variability of key model assumptions including decreases in weighted average spread or recovery rates and increases in default rates or correlation. Fitch expects the class A-1 notes to remain investment grade even under the most extreme sensitivity scenarios. Results under these sensitivity scenarios ranged between 'Asf' and 'AAAsf' for the class A-1 notes.
The expected ratings are based on information provided to Fitch as of September 30, 2014. Sources of information used to assess these ratings were provided by the arranger, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and the public domain. Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying presale report.
The presale report is available to investors on Fitch's web site at www.fitchratings.com. For more information about Fitch's comprehensive subscription service FitchResearch, which includes all presale reports, surveillance and credit reports on more than 20 asset classes, contact product sales at +1-212-908-0800 or at 'webmaster@fitchratings.com'.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria & Related Research:
--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (Aug. 4, 2014);
--'Global Rating Criteria for Corporate CDOs' (July 25, 2014);
--'Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds' (Jan. 23, 2014);
--'Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds' (May 14, 2014).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Regatta V Funding Ltd./LLC
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=782588
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=754389
Global Rating Criteria for Corporate CDOs
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=753057
Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=725537
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=886594
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Contacts:
Primary Analyst
Aaron Hughes, +1-312-368-2074
Director
Fitch
Ratings, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Secondary
Analyst
Cristina Feracota, +1-312-606-2300
Associate Director
or
Committee
Chairperson
Derek Miller, +1-312-368-2076
Senior Director
or
Media
Relations
Sandro Scenga, New York, +1-212-908-0278
sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com