Fitch Rates Wellfleet CLO 2015-1, Ltd./LLC

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has assigned the following ratings to Wellfleet CLO 2015-1, Ltd./LLC:

--$2,000,000 Class X Notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;

--$215,000,000 Class A-1 Notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;

--$9,000,000 Class A-2 Notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable.

Fitch does not rate the class B, C, D, E, F or subordinated notes.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Wellfleet CLO 2015-1, Ltd. and Wellfleet CLO 2015-1, LLC (together, Wellfleet CLO 2015-1) comprise an arbitrage cash flow collateralized loan obligation (CLO) managed by Wellfleet Credit Partners LLC (WCP). Net proceeds from the issuance of the secured and subordinated notes will be used to purchase a portfolio of $350 million of primarily senior secured leveraged loans. The CLO will have an approximately four-year reinvestment period and a two-year noncall period.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement (CE) of 36.0% for class A-1 and A-2 notes (together, the class A notes), in addition to excess spread, is sufficient to protect against portfolio default and recovery rate projections in a 'AAAsf' stress scenario. Class X notes are ultimately expected to be paid in full from the application of interest proceeds via the interest waterfall. The degree of CE available to class A notes is in line with average CE of recent CLO issuances.

'B+/B' Asset Quality: The average credit quality of the indicative portfolio is 'B+/B', which is in line with that of recent CLOs. Issuers rated in the 'B' rating category denote a highly speculative credit quality; however, class X and A notes are unlikely to be affected by the foreseeable level of defaults. Class X and A notes are projected to be able to withstand default rates of up to 76.3% and 63.3%, respectively.

Strong Recovery Expectations: The indicative portfolio consists of 96.2% first lien loans. Approximately 93.9% of the indicative portfolio has strong recovery prospects or a Fitch-assigned recovery rating of 'RR2' or higher and the base case recovery assumption of 76.6%. In determining the class X and A notes ratings, 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 stresses, resulting in a 37.8% recovery rate in Fitch's 'AAAsf' scenario.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Fitch evaluated the structure's sensitivity to the potential variability of key model assumptions, including decreases in recovery rates and increases in default rates or correlation. Fitch expects the class A-1 and A-2 notes to remain investment grade even under the most extreme sensitivity scenarios. Results under these sensitivity scenarios ranged between 'A+sf' and 'AAAsf' for the class A-1 and A-2 notes. The class X notes passed at the 'AAAsf' rating level in all tested sensitivity scenarios.

Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying new issue report, which will be available to investors on Fitch's website at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE

No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.

The publication of a RW&Es appendix is not required for this transaction.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Sources of Information:

Sources of information used to assess these ratings were provided by the arranger, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and the public domain.

Applicable Criteria

Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 14 May 2014)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158

Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds (pub. 19 Dec 2014)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=838868

Global Rating Criteria for CLOs and Corporate CDOs (pub. 30 Jul 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=868908

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952

Additional Disclosures

Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=991280

Solicitation Status

https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=991280

Endorsement Policy

https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150924006108/en/

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Aaron Hughes
Director
+1-312-368-2074
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Secondary Analyst
Cristina Feracota
Associate Director
+1-312-606-2300
or
Committee Chairperson
Derek Miller
Senior Director
+1-312-368-2076
or
Media Relations:
Sandro Scenga, +1 212-908-0278
[email protected]

Source: Fitch Ratings

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