DBRS Morningstar Finalizes U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance Methodology Appendices

DBRS Morningstar finalized its Appendix XI: U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance of the “Rating U.S. Structured Finance Transactions” methodology. DBRS Morningstar also finalized its new exhibits in the “Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Originators” and “Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Servicers” methodologies for the U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance asset class and a new Appendix XXVI: U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance of the “DBRS Morningstar Master U.S. ABS Surveillance” methodology.

Publication of these methodologies follows the conclusion of the request for comment period that began on October 14, 2022. DBRS Morningstar received no comments during the request for comment period related to the U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance appendices. This “Rating U.S. Structured Finance Transactions” – Appendix XI: U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance appendix supersedes the “U.S. ABS General Ratings Methodology” (December 2018) and is effective as of November 8, 2022.

The “Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Originators” and the “Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Servicers” methodologies were each updated to include a new U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance Exhibit and supersede the “U.S. ABS General Ratings Methodology” (December 2018). The effective date of the two methodologies is November 8, 2022.

The Appendix XXVI: U.S. Consumer Litigation Finance, in the existing “DBRS Morningstar Master U.S. ABS Surveillance” methodology, supersedes the “U.S. ABS General Ratings Methodology” (December 2018) and is effective as of November 8, 2022.

As of November 8, 2022, the above-named methodologies will be used in connection with the assigning of new DBRS Morningstar credit ratings, and the monitoring of outstanding DBRS Morningstar credit ratings, in the U.S. Consumer Litigations Finance asset class.

All comments received during the request for comment period have been published to the DBRS Morningstar website, except in cases where confidentiality is requested by the respondent.

Notes:
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/402907.

DBRS Morningstar methodologies are publicly available on its website www.dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria.

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