KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to U.S. Auto Funding Trust 2021-1

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to five classes of notes issued by U.S. Auto Funding Trust 2021-1 (“USAUT 2021-1”), a subprime auto loan ABS transaction.

USAUT 2021-1 will issue five classes of notes totaling $299.005 million that are collateralized by a pool of retail automobile contracts, made to subprime obligors and secured by used automobiles. Credit enhancement consists of excess spread, overcollateralization, subordination (except for the Class E Notes) and a reserve account funded at closing.

USAUT 2021-1 represents the first ABS securitization in 2021 for U.S. Auto Finance, Inc. (“U.S. Auto” or the “Company”) and their third rated term ABS securitization since inception. The Company also issued two unrated deals in September 2017 and October 2018. U.S. Auto will use the net proceeds from the issuance of the notes to pay down existing debt, fund the reserve account, and for general operating purposes.

U.S. Auto is a vehicle retailer and subprime finance company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Duluth, GA. U.S. Auto’s business model consists of vehicle acquisition, reconditioning, sales, underwriting, financing, loan servicing and after-sale support. The Company originates 100% of loans through its 34 company-owned dealerships located in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. The Company is majority owned by Milestone Partners, a private equity firm founded in June 2015.

KBRA applied its Auto 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 transaction’s underlying collateral pool, the proposed capital structure and U.S. Auto’s historical static pool data. KBRA considered its operational review of U.S. Auto, as well as periodic update calls with the Company. Operative agreements and legal opinions will be reviewed prior to closing.

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

Related Publications

• Auto 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.

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