DBRS Morningstar Assigns Provisional Ratings to Lendmark Funding Trust 2021-2

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) assigned provisional ratings to the classes of notes (the Notes) to be issued by Lendmark Funding Trust 2021-2 (Lendmark 2021-2), as follows:

-- $283,160,000 Class A Notes at AA (sf)
-- $38,320,000 Class B Notes at A (high) (sf)
-- $32,000,000, Class C Notes at BBB (high) (sf)
-- $46,520,000 Class D Notes at BB (high) (sf)

DBRS Morningstar based the provisional ratings on the Notes on its review of the following considerations:
-- The transaction assumptions consider DBRS Morningstar’s baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereign economies, available in its commentary “Baseline Macroeconomic Scenarios For Rated Sovereigns,” published on September 8, 2021. These baseline macroeconomic scenarios replace DBRS Morningstar’s moderate and adverse Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic scenarios, which were first published in April 2020. The baseline macroeconomic scenarios reflect the view that, although coronavirus remains a risk to the outlook, uncertainty around the macroeconomic effects of the pandemic has gradually receded. Current median forecasts considered in the baseline macroeconomic scenarios incorporate some risks associated with further outbreaks but remain fairly positive on recovery prospects given expectations of continued fiscal and monetary policy support. The policy response to coronavirus may nonetheless bring other risks to the forefront in coming months and years.
-- The transaction’s form and sufficiency of available credit enhancement.
-- Overcollateralization, note subordination, reserve account amounts, and excess spread create credit enhancement levels that are commensurate with the proposed ratings.
-- The ability of the transaction to withstand stressed cash flow assumptions and repay investors according to the terms under which they have invested. For this transaction, the ratings address the timely payment of interest on a monthly basis and principal by the legal final maturity date.
-- Lendmark’s capabilities with regard to originations, underwriting, and servicing.
-- The credit quality and performance of the Lendmark’s consumer loan portfolio.
-- DBRS Morningstar has performed an operational review of Lendmark and considers the entity an acceptable originator and servicer of unsecured personal loans with an acceptable back-up servicer.
-- The legal structure and expected legal opinions that will address the true sale of the assets, the non-consolidation of the trust, that the trust has a valid first-priority security interest in the assets, and the consistency with DBRS Morningstar's “Legal Criteria for U.S. Structured Finance.”

ESG CONSIDERATIONS
A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found at 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 U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodologies are Rating U.S. Structured Finance Transactions - Appendix I: U.S. Consumer Loan ABS Transactions (November 6, 2020) and Rating U.S. Credit Card Asset-Backed Securities (August 9, 2021), 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/384482/baseline-macroeconomic-scenarios-application-to-credit-ratings

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.

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

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at [email protected].

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