NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has assigned the following rating to the Collateralized Servicer Advance Receivables Trust, Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes (Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes or Term Notes):
--$100,000,000 Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes 'F1+sf'.
RATING RATIONALE
The rating is directly linked to the short-term rating of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (Wells Fargo), 'AA-'/Outlook Stable, 'F1+', as the purchaser of the Series 2013-MM1 Draw Notes (Draw Notes).
Under the Note Purchase Agreement, Wells Fargo's committed to purchase the Series 2013-MM1 Draw Notes, with the proceeds used solely to pay down the principal of the Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes. The principal payments to the Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes will be effected according to the amortization schedule with the final payment on Feb. 24, 2014.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
The Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes will be issued by Collateralized Servicer Advance Receivables Trust (Issuer) on Feb. 28, 2013 under the Indenture amended and restated on Feb. 22, 2013 (Base Indenture) and the Indenture Supplement expected to be dated March 5, 2013.
Under the Indenture Supplement the Issuer issues one class of Draw Notes and one class of Term Notes. The Draw Notes were issued on Feb. 22, 2013 in the amount of $100 million. A subsequent issuance of the Term Notes in the amount of $100 million is expected on March 5, 2013. The proceeds from the issuance of the Term Notes will be used solely to repay the principal balance of the Draw Notes.
The initial balance of the Term Notes will be repaid with the proceeds from the sale of the Draw Notes under a Note Purchase Agreement with Wells Fargo as the purchaser. The purchases will be conducted in 12 equal monthly installments (purchase dates), with the final payment on Feb. 24, 2014.
Fitch has not analyzed the underlying collateral, as its rating of the Term Notes addresses only the ability of Wells Fargo to meet its commitment under the Note Purchase Agreement, enforceability of this obligation and available remedies if Wells Fargo (or its potential transferee) fails to pay. Other aspects of Fitch's analysis are addressed below.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
RELIANCE ON WELLS FARGO COMMITMENT
Source of funds for principal repayment is proceeds received from the sale of the Draw Notes to Wells Fargo (or its transferee). The proceeds will be deposited in a segregated trust account with Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo, in its capacity as a Securities Administrator, will remit the amounts from the account to pay the holders of the Term Notes on each monthly payment date.
Term Notes accrue interest at the rate of one month LIBOR plus a margin that gradually steps up in the Full Amortization Period (see description below) and/or with the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default. The interest will be paid first from the Collection and Funding Account following the priority of payments under the Base Indenture, then, for any shortfall, from the Term Note General Reserve Account (see further detail below), with any remaining shortfall paid by the Draw Noteholders.
The Term Note General Reserve Account will be established at issuance for the benefit of the Term Notes. Funds will be withdrawn from the reserve for the sole purpose to pay interest due on the Term Notes if funds available in the Collection and Funding Account are insufficient.
The reserve required amount will be equal to the interest due for all remaining periods until stated maturity of the Term Notes based on one-month LIBOR as of the relevant determination date and the principal balance of the Term Notes according to the scheduled amortization. The Term Notes General Reserve Account will be fully funded initially and replenished on each funding or payment date up to the required amount from the Collection and Funding Account with the funds available after application of the relevant priority of payments specified in the Base Indenture.
While the availability of the reserve account enhances the Term Notes' ability to receive timely interest, ultimately any shortfalls will be backstopped by the Draw Noteholders, as described above. Therefore, Fitch's rating does not rely on analysis of the adequacy of the reserve required amount. Nor does Fitch's rating reflect any analysis of the ability of the underlying cash flows to provide for timely reserve replenishment from the Collection and Funding Account
ENFORCEABILITY AND REMEDIES IF WELLS FARGO FAILS TO PAY
A failure of Wells Fargo to provide for interest shortfalls, as described above, or purchase Draw Notes (Draw Note Default) constitutes an Event of Default under the Base Indenture which in turn triggers a Full Amortization Period. Following a Draw Note Default, the Term Notes will be paid according to the priority of payment applicable under a Full Amortization Period, as specified in the Indenture Supplement, and thereby have recourse to the underlying trust collateral. However, the adequacy of the recourse related to the underlying collateral is outside of the scope of Fitch's analysis for this rating.
Wells Fargo or its transferee's obligations to purchase the Draw Notes continue notwithstanding the commencement of the Full Amortization Period. In addition, the Term Noteholders will have the right to direct the trustee (U.S. Bank National Association) to institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the unpaid amounts.
TRANSFER CONDITIONS
Wells Fargo may transfer its commitment for future remaining purchases of the Draw Notes under certain restrictions that include, but not limited to, 100% consent of the Term Noteholders and the new investor having Fitch short term rating of 'F1+'. In the absence of the Term Notes consent, the Draw Noteholders have the right to redeem the entire remaining balance of the Term Notes and interest due thereon on the next purchase date.
REVIEW OF COUNTERPARTY EXPOSURE
Fitch reviewed definitions of Permitted Investments, Eligible Accounts and analyzed exposure to indirect counterparties and concluded that they meet Fitch's counterparty criteria.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Given that Fitch did not analyze the underlying collateral standard structured finance legal opinions were not reviewed by Fitch's counsel.
For this transaction Fitch did not receive an Enforceability Opinion with respect to Wells Fargo's commitments under the Note Purchase Agreement. Instead, Fitch relied on the corporate rating and reputation of Wells Fargo.
An assessment of the transaction's representations and warranties was also completed and found to be consistent with the ratings assigned to the Term Notes. For further information, see 'Collateralized Servicer Advance Receivables Trust, Series 2013-MM1 Term Notes Representations and Warranties Appendix', dated Feb. 26, 2012.
RATING SENSITIVITY
Fitch will rely on the issuer to provide it with relevant reporting to confirm the timely payment of interest due to and principal amortization of the Term Notes as provided for in the Indenture Supplement.
A default by Wells Fargo or any potential transferee to fulfill its commitments described above, whether waived or not by the Term Noteholders, may be considered a default from a rating perspective, or lead to a rating withdrawal.
Additionally, a downgrade to the short-term rating of Wells Fargo or its transferee by Fitch will lead to a downgrade of the Term Notes.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.
Applicable Criteria & Related Research:
--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (June 6, 2012);
--'Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance Transactions' (May 30, 2012).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=679923
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance Transactions
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=678938
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.