-

KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Willis Engine Structured Trust V

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to three series of notes (the “Notes”) issued by Willis Engine Structured Trust V (“WEST V” or the “Issuer”).

WEST V represents Willis Lease Finance Corporation’s (“Willis”, the “Servicer” or the “Company”) sixth securitization and the third rated by KBRA. KBRA notes that Willis will be retaining the equity in WEST V and have also retained the equity in its previous securitizations.

Proceeds from the Notes will be used to acquire 57 assets, including 54 engines and three airframes (the “Portfolio”). 53 of the 57 assets in the Portfolio are on lease to 24 lessees located in 17 countries, along with 4 engines currently not subject to a lease agreement. As of January 15, 2020, the Portfolio had a remaining lease term of approximately 2.0 years, with approximately 10.5% of the Portfolio initially not subject to a lease. The three airframes (A319-100), representing 3.2% of the Portfolio, is leased to easyJet Airlines based in the United Kingdom with an initial age ranging from 13.1 to 13.4 years and a remaining lease term of 2.3 to 2.9 years. The Portfolio has an initial value of approximately $420.9 million.

The transaction benefits from sufficient credit enhancement and liquidity, as well as a dynamic structure that accelerates principal payments on the Notes in the event of weak performance.

The preliminary ratings are based on information known to KBRA at the time of this publication. Information received subsequent to this release could result in the assignment of final ratings that differ from the preliminary ratings.

Notes

Preliminary Rating

Initial Note Amount

Series A Notes

A (sf)

$303,000,000

Series B Notes

BBB (sf)

$42,100,000

Series C Notes

BB (sf)

$21,100,000

To access ratings, reports and disclosures, click here.

Related Publications: (available at www.kbra.com)

CONNECT WITH KBRA

Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube

About KBRA and KBRA Europe

KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider, and is a certified Credit Rating Agency (CRA) by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered with ESMA as a CRA.

Contacts

Analytical Contacts:

Alan Greenblatt, Senior Director
(646) 731-2496
agreenblatt@kbra.com

Sandy Azer, Associate Director
(646) 731-1200
sazer@kbra.com

Preston Boutwell, Senior Analyst
(646) 731-2367
pboutwell@kbra.com

Business Development Contact:

Ted Burbage, Managing Director
(646) 731-3325
tburbage@kbra.com

Kroll Bond Rating Agency

Details
Headquarters: New York City, New York
CEO: Jim Nadler
Employees: 400+
Organization: PRI

Release Versions

Contacts

Analytical Contacts:

Alan Greenblatt, Senior Director
(646) 731-2496
agreenblatt@kbra.com

Sandy Azer, Associate Director
(646) 731-1200
sazer@kbra.com

Preston Boutwell, Senior Analyst
(646) 731-2367
pboutwell@kbra.com

Business Development Contact:

Ted Burbage, Managing Director
(646) 731-3325
tburbage@kbra.com

More News From Kroll Bond Rating Agency

KBRA Releases Research – Private Credit: Lessons From 2025's At-Risk Cohort

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA releases updated research on the 5% of 1,903 levered middle-market borrowers assessed in 2024 that were identified as being at an elevated risk of future payment default. While these borrowers were current at the time of assessment, KBRA continued to monitor them throughout 2025. Of the 79 subsequently reviewed, 56 (71%) exhibited further credit deterioration. Among those, 51 experienced liquidity strain significant enough to require lender or sponsor support to...

KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to BX 2026-XL6

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA announces the assignment of preliminary ratings to seven classes of BX 2026-XL6, a CMBS single-borrower securitization. The collateral for the transaction is a $1.2 billion floating rate, interest-only mortgage loan. The loan is expected to have an initial two-year term with three, one-year extension options and require monthly interest-only payments. The loan will be secured by the borrower’s fee simple interests in 56 industrial assets and five office assets. I...

KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to GCAT 2026-NQM1 Trust

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to 10 classes of mortgage pass-through certificates from GCAT 2026-NQM1 Trust, a $375.7 million non-prime RMBS transaction. The underlying collateral, comprising 668 residential mortgages, is characterized by a significant concentration of loans underwritten using alternative income documentation. Borrowers in the subject pool possess a non-zero WA original credit score of 751 and exhibit modest equity in each mortgaged property, with...
Back to Newsroom