CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns the following rating and Rating Outlook to Monroe Capital BSL CLO 2015-1, Ltd./LLC (Monroe Capital 2015-1):
--$202,000,000 class A-1 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$50,000,000 class A-2 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable.
Fitch does not rate the class B, C-1, C-2, D, E, F or subordinated notes.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Monroe Capital BSL CLO 2015-1, Ltd. (the issuer) and Monroe Capital BSL CLO 2015-1, LLC (the co-issuer) represent an arbitrage cash flow collateralized loan obligation (CLO) that will be managed by Monroe Capital Management LLC (Monroe Capital). Net proceeds from the issuance of notes will be used to purchase a portfolio of approximately $400 million of leveraged loans. The CLO will have a four-year reinvestment period and two-year non-call period.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement (CE) of 37% for class A-1 and class A-2 (together, class A) 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 the class A notes is slightly above the average for recent CLO issuances.
'B+/B' Asset Quality: The average credit quality of the indicative portfolio is 'B+/B', which is slightly better than that of recent CLOs. Issuers rated in the 'B' rating category denote relatively weak credit quality; however, in Fitch's opinion, the class A notes are unlikely to be affected by the foreseeable level of defaults. The class A notes are robust against default rates of up to 62.5%.
Strong Recovery Expectations: The indicative portfolio consists of 97.5% first-lien senior secured loans. Approximately 95.9% 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 76.7%. In determining the rating of class A notes, 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 the class A notes assumed a 36.9% 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 weighted average spread or 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 both class A-1 and A-2 notes.
Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying new issue report, which is 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.
Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Sources of Information:
Sources of information used to assess these ratings were provided by the arranger, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., and the public domain.
Monroe Capital BSL CLO, Ltd./LLC
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=866425
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 Corporate CDOs (pub. 25 Jul 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=753057
Global Rating Criteria for Structured Finance CDOs (pub. 16 Jul 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=751136
Additional Disclosures
Solicitation Status
https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=985519
Endorsement Policy
https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31
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