DBRS Morningstar Finalizes Provisional Ratings on the Guarantee Linked Notes of Kawartha CAD Ltd., Boreal 2022-1

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) finalized the following provisional ratings to the Boreal Series 2022-1 Class B Notes (the Class B Notes), the Boreal Series 2022-1 Class C Notes (the Class C Notes), the Boreal Series 2022-1 Class D Notes (the Class D Notes), and the Boreal Series 2022-1 Class E Notes (the Class E Notes) (collectively, the Notes) issued by Kawartha CAD Ltd. (the Issuer) referencing the executed Junior Loan Portfolio Financial Guarantees (the Financial Guarantee), dated as of April 14, 2022, between the Issuer as Guarantor and the Bank of Montreal (BMO; rated AA with a Stable trend by DBRS Morningstar) as Beneficiary with respect to a portfolio of Canadian commercial real estate (CRE) secured loans originated or managed by BMO:

-- Class B Notes at AA (low) (sf)
-- Class C Notes at A (sf)
-- Class D Notes at BBB (low) (sf)
-- Class E Notes at BB (sf)

The ratings on the Notes address the timely payment of interest and ultimate payment of principal on or before the Scheduled Termination Date (as defined in the Financial Guarantee referenced above). The payment of the interest due to the Notes is subject to the Beneficiary’s ability to pay the Guarantee Fee Amount (as defined in the Financial Guarantee referenced above).

To assess portfolio credit quality, DBRS Morningstar may provide a credit estimate, internal assessment, or ratings mapping of BMO’s internal ratings model. Credit estimates, internal assessments, and ratings mappings are not ratings; rather, they represent an abbreviated analysis, including model-driven or statistical components of default probability for each obligor that is used in assigning a rating to a facility sufficient to assess portfolio credit quality.

The ratings reflect the following:

(1) The Financial Guarantee dated as of April 14, 2022.
(2) The integrity of the transaction structure.
(3) DBRS Morningstar’s assessment of the portfolio quality.
(4) Adequate credit enhancement to withstand projected collateral loss rates.

With regard to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the magnitude and extent of performance stress posed to global structured finance transactions remain highly uncertain. This considers the fiscal and monetary policy measures and statutory law changes that have already been implemented or will be implemented to soften the impact of the crisis on global economies. Some regions, jurisdictions, and asset classes are, however, affected more immediately. Accordingly, DBRS Morningstar may apply additional short-term stresses to its rating analysis by, for example, front-loading default expectations and/or assessing the liquidity position of a structured finance transaction with more stressful operational risk and/or cash flow timing considerations.

For more information regarding DBRS Morningstar’s additional adjustment for select industries related to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see its May 18, 2020, commentary, “CLO Risk Exposure to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)” at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/361112.

A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262.

Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodologies are the North American CMBS Multi-Borrower Rating Methodology (March 26, 2021), Rating CLOs and CDOs of Large Corporate Credit (January 26, 2022), and Cash Flow Assumptions for Corporate Credit Securitizations (January 26, 2022), which can be found on dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria.

The DBRS Morningstar Sovereign group releases baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereigns. DBRS Morningstar analysis considered impacts consistent with the baseline scenarios as set forth in the following report: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/384150.

DBRS Morningstar materially deviated from its principal methodologies when determining the ratings assigned to the Tranche Amounts. The loss given default (LGD) assumptions for the CRE Builder Developer portion of the guaranteed portfolio were derived via BMO’s historical realized LGDs, rather than as part of any primary or related methodologies. The material deviation is warranted given that no primary or related methodology governs the application of LGD assumptions for CRE Builder Developer loans.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

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