KBRA Assigns a Preliminary Rating to Driven Brands Funding, LLC Series 2021-1 Senior Secured Notes

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary rating to a note class of Driven Brands Funding, LLC, (the “Issuer”) a whole business securitization.

Driven Brands, Inc. completed its first whole business securitization in July 2015. The transaction structure is a master trust, and the Series 2021-1, Class A-2 Notes (the “Series 2021-1 Notes”) represent the Company’s ninth securitization within the trust. Driven Brands Funding, LLC and Driven Brands Canada Funding Corporation are expected to issue $450 million of Series 2021-1 Notes which will be pari passu with Notes from the prior five Series of Class A-2 Notes (the “Outstanding Notes” and together with the Series 2021-1, Class A 2 Notes, the “Notes”). The Canadian Co-Issuer is a co-issuer for the Outstanding Notes and will be a co-issuer for the Series 2021-1 Notes.

In conjunction with the issuance of the Series 2021-1 Notes, KBRA anticipates affirming the ratings on the Issuer’s outstanding Series 2018-1, Series 2019-1, Series 2019-2, Series 2019-3, Series 2020-1, and Series 2020-2 Notes. The ratings are consistent with the results of our cash flow scenarios following the addition of the Series 2021-1 Notes.

Driven Brands is the largest automotive services company in North America. The Company’s platform fulfills a large range of core consumer and commercial automotive needs, including maintenance; paint, collision and glass; and platform services. As of June 26, 2021 (“Q2 2021"), the portfolio included 3,331 locations, including 529 company-operated locations across 49 US states and all 10 Canadian provinces.

Click here to view the report. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

Related Publications

• Whole Business Securitization (WBS) ABS Global Rating Methodology
• ESG Global Rating Methodology
• Global Structured Finance Counterparty 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.