DBRS Morningstar Takes Rating Actions on 21 U.S. RMBS Transactions

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) reviewed 61 classes from 21 U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) transactions. The 21 transactions are generally classified as mortgage insurance linked-note transactions. Of the 61 classes reviewed, DBRS Morningstar upgraded 19 ratings, confirmed 29 ratings, and discontinued 13 ratings.

The rating upgrades reflect positive performance trends and increases in credit support sufficient to withstand stresses at their new rating levels. The rating confirmations reflect asset performance and credit-support levels that are consistent with the current ratings. The discontinued ratings reflect the full repayment of principal to bondholders.

The transaction assumptions consider DBRS Morningstar’s baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereign economies, available in its commentary “Baseline Macroeconomic Scenarios for Rated Sovereigns: December 2022 Update,” published on December 21, 2022 (https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/407678). 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 rating actions are the result of DBRS Morningstar’s application of its “U.S. RMBS Surveillance Methodology,” published on March 3, 2023.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE 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/396929 (May 17, 2022).

Notes:
The principal methodology applicable to the ratings is the U.S. RMBS Surveillance Methodology (March 3, 2023; https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/410498).

Other methodologies referenced in these transactions 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/384482.

The credit ratings assigned to Bellemeade Re 2020-2 Ltd., Mortgage Insurance-Linked Notes, Series 2020-2, Class M-2 and Bellemeade Re 2020-2 Ltd., Mortgage Insurance-Linked Notes, Series 2020-2, Class B-1 materially deviate from the ratings implied by the predictive model. DBRS Morningstar typically expects there to be a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor or other user of the credit ratings would consider a three-notch or more deviation from the credit rating stresses implied by the predictive model to be a significant factor in evaluating the credit ratings. The rationale for the material deviations is that the ratings on the subject securities reflect additional seasoning being warranted to substantiate a further upgrade.

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

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

This is a solicited credit rating.

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

RMBS Insight 1.3: U.S. Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Model and Rating Methodology (March 3, 2023)
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/410473

Interest Rate Stresses for U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (August 30, 2022)
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/402153

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