DBRS Morningstar Confirms Merit Trust’s Senior Short-Term Asset-Backed Notes at R-1 (high) (sf)

DBRS Limited (DBRS Morningstar) confirmed its rating of R-1 (high) (sf) on the Senior Short-Term Asset-Backed Notes (the Notes) issued by Merit Trust (the Trust) as part of its annual review of publicly rated asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) conduits. The confirmation is part of DBRS Morningstar’s continued effort to provide timely credit rating opinions and increased transparency to market participants.

The Trust is a multi-seller, multi-asset securitization program administered by TD Securities Inc. (TDSI). The Trust engages in traditional asset transactions. Assets and/or interests acquired by the Trust from sellers (the Assets) are subject to eligibility criteria and/or confirmation from DBRS Morningstar. As of September 30, 2023, the assets backing the Senior Short-Term Asset-Backed Notes consist of auto leases (28.7%), residential mortgages (27.0%), auto loans (23.9%), equipment finance (10.5%), and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) (10.%).

The rating confirmation is based on the following considerations:

(1) Credit enhancement levels are consistent with similarly rated programs in Canada. From inception, every transaction funded by the Notes has been independently structured to meet a AAA standard.

(2) The liquidity facilities meet DBRS Morningstar’s Global Liquidity Standard and are available to assist the Trust in repaying the Notes if the Trust is not able to issue new Notes to do so. The commitment amount equals at least the face value (including interest) of all outstanding Notes.

(3) Minimum credit ratings of A or R-1 (low) or their equivalent for liquidity providers, credit enhancers and hedge counterparties are required, unless they otherwise satisfy the Rating Agency Condition as defined in DBRS Morningstar’s “Legal Criteria for Canadian Structured Finance.”

(4) The Assets, through Securitization Agreements, are structured to be bankruptcy remote from the sellers and the bankruptcy remoteness is supported by legal opinions.

(5) DBRS Morningstar reviews all transactions prior to initial funding by the Trust.

(6) The performance of the underlying collateral is strong.

(7) TDSI has significant experience as a Financial Services Agent in structuring, administering, and managing multi-asset, multi-seller securitization programs. TDSI administers five multi-seller conduits in Canada, with an aggregate ABCP face amount of $14,132,409,496 as at September 30, 2023.

The performance characteristics of the conduits are available and updated each month in DBRS Morningstar’s Monthly Canadian ABCP Report, which can be found on www.dbrsmorningstar.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE (ESG) CONSIDERATIONS
There were no Environmental/Social/Governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

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/416784 (July 4, 2023).

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

The principal methodology applicable to the credit rating is the Master Canadian Structured Finance Surveillance Methodology (June 7, 2023; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/415503).

Other methodologies referenced in this transaction are listed at the end of this press release.

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/421227.

The related regulatory disclosures pursuant to the National Instrument 25-101 Designated Rating Organizations are hereby incorporated by reference and can be found by clicking on the link under Related Documents or by contacting us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

The credit rating was initiated at the request of the rated entity.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the credit rating process for this credit rating action.

DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts, management, and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this credit rating action.

This is a solicited credit rating.

The full report providing additional analytical detail is available by clicking on the link under Related Documents below or by contacting us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

Please see the related appendix for additional information regarding the sensitivity of assumptions used in the rating process.

DBRS Limited
DBRS Tower, 181 University Avenue, Suite 700
Toronto, ON M5H 3M7 Canada
Tel. +1 416 593-5577

The credit rating methodologies used in the analysis of this transaction can be found at:
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/about/methodologies.

Rating Canadian ABCP and Related Enhancement Features (March 3, 2023)
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/410528

Legal Criteria for Canadian Structured Finance (June 20, 2023)
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/416101

Derivatives Criteria for Canadian Structured Finance (June 16, 2023)
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/415974

A description of how DBRS Morningstar analyses structured finance transactions and how the methodologies are collectively applied can be found at: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/410863.

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