KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Upstart Securitization Trust 2021-4

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to three classes of notes issued by Upstart Securitization Trust 2021-4 (“UPST 2021-4”), a $493.456 million consumer loan ABS transaction. The preliminary ratings reflect initial credit enhancement level of 32.95% for the Class A notes, 18.29% for the Class B notes and 9.50% for the Class C notes. Credit enhancement consists of overcollateralization, excess spread, a non-declining cash reserve account and subordination (in the case of the Class A and Class B notes).

UPST 2021-4 represents the 28^th ABS securitization collateralized by unsecured consumer loans originated through the online platform operated by Upstart Network, Inc. (“Upstart” or the “Company”) and the fourteenth from the Upstart Securitization Trust (“UPST”) ABS program. Upstart was established in February 2012 and operates an online marketplace lending program (www.upstart.com) and a white label technology licensing service (collectively, the “Upstart Platform” or the “Platform”) that allows financial institutions and other potential partners to leverage Upstart’s online application flow, machine learning credit model, verification process and other technology to originate loans according to their own underwriting standards.

The loans in the collateral pool are originated by Cross River Bank, Customers Bank and FinWise Bank. As of the statistical cutoff date, borrowers in UPST 2021-4 have a weighted average interest rate and weighted average FICO score of 18.19% and 670, respectively. The collateral pool has a weighted average original term of 55 months and a weighted average seasoning of four months.

KBRA applied its Consumer Loan ABS Global Rating Methodology, as well as its Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology and ESG Global Rating Methodology as part of its analysis of the portfolio pool data, underlying collateral pool and capital structure. KBRA considered its operational reviews of Upstart, as well as periodic update calls with the Company. Operative agreements and legal opinions will be reviewed prior to closing.

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Related Publications

• Consumer Loan ABS Global Rating Methodology
• Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology
• ESG Global Rating Methodology

Disclosures

Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above.

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. 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.