Morningstar DBRS Finalizes Provisional Credit Ratings on PRPM 2024-NQM1 Trust

DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) finalized its provisional credit ratings on the following Mortgage-Backed Certificates, Series 2024-NQM1 (the Certificates) issued by PRPM 2024-NQM1 Trust (the Issuer):

-- $216.8 million Class A-1 at AAA (sf)
-- $32.9 million Class A-2 at AA (high) (sf)
-- $26.5 million Class A-3 at A (high) (sf)
-- $15.0 million Class M-1 at BBB (high) (sf)
-- $21.2 million Class B-1 at BB (sf)
-- $9.7 million Class B-2 at B (low) (sf)

The AAA (sf) credit rating on the Class A-1 certificates reflects 34.05% of credit enhancement provided by subordinated certificates. The AA (high) (sf), A (high) (sf), BBB (high) (sf), BB (sf), and B (low) (sf) credit ratings reflect 24.05%, 16.00%, 11.45%, 5.00%, and 2.05% of credit enhancement, respectively.

Other than the specified classes above, Morningstar DBRS does not rate any other classes in this transaction.

This transaction is a securitization of a portfolio of fixed- and adjustable-rate expanded prime and nonprime first-lien residential mortgages funded by the issuance of the Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2024-NQM1 (the Certificates). The Certificates are backed by 876 mortgage loans with a total principal balance of $328,667,780 as of the Cut-Off Date (January 31, 2024).

PRPM 2024-NQM1 represents the fifth securitization issued from the PRPM NQM shelf, which is backed by both nonqualified mortgages (non-QM) and business-purpose investment property loans underwritten using debt service coverage ratios (DSCR). PRP-LB VI AIV, LLC, a fund owned by the aggregator, Balbec Capital LP & PRP Advisors, LLC (PRP), serves as the Sponsor of this transaction.

Kiavi Funding, Inc. (Kiavi; 14.4%), FlexPoint, Inc (FlexPoint; 10.4%) and Movement Mortgage, LLC (Movement; 10.3%) are the three largest originators of the mortgage loans. The remaining originators each comprise less than 10.0% of the mortgage loans. Fay Servicing, LLC (Fay; 69.4%) and Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing (Shellpoint; 30.6%) are the Servicers of the loans in this transaction. PRP will act as Servicing Administrator. U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (rated AA (high) with a Negative trend by Morningstar DBRS) will act as Trustee and Securities Administrator. U.S. Bank National Association will act as Custodian.

For 35.0% of the pool, the mortgage loans were underwritten to program guidelines for business-purpose loans that are designed to rely on property value, the mortgagor’s credit profile, and DSCR, where applicable. In addition, 11.2% of the pool comprises investment-property loans underwritten using debt-to-income ratios (DTI). Because these loans were made to borrowers for business purposes, they are exempt from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Ability-to-Repay (ATR) rules and TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule.

For 49.6% of the pool, the mortgage loans were originated to CFPB’s ATR rules, but were made to borrowers who generally do not qualify for agency, government, or private-label nonagency prime jumbo products for various reasons. In accordance with the QM/ATR rules, these loans are designated as non-QM. Remaining loans subject to the ATR rules are designated as QM Safe Harbor (3.9%), and QM Rebuttable Presumption (1.5%) by UPB.

The Depositor, a majority-owned affiliate of the Sponsor, will retain the Class B-2, B-3 and XS Certificates, representing an eligible horizontal interest of at least 5% of the aggregate fair value of the Certificates to satisfy the credit risk-retention requirements under Section 15G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Such retention aligns Sponsor and investor interest in the capital structure.

On or after the earlier of (1) the distribution date in March 2027 or (2) the date when the aggregate unpaid principal balance (UPB) of the mortgage loans is reduced to 30% of the Cut-Off Date balance, the Depositor, at its option, may redeem all of the outstanding Certificates at a price equal to the class balances of the related Certificates plus accrued and unpaid interest, including any Cap Carryover Amounts; any post-closing deferred amounts; and other fees, expenses, indemnification, and reimbursement amounts described in the transaction documents (Optional Redemption). An Optional Redemption will be followed by a qualified liquidation.

The Sponsor will have the option, but not the obligation, to repurchase any mortgage loan that becomes 60 or more days delinquent under the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) method at the Repurchase Price (par plus interest), provided that such repurchases in aggregate do not exceed 10% of the total principal balance as of the Cut-Off Date.

For this transaction, the Servicers will not fund advances of delinquent principal and interest (P&I) on any mortgage. However, the Servicers are obligated to make advances in respect of taxes, insurance premiums, and reasonable costs incurred in the course of servicing and disposing of properties (servicing advances).

The transaction employs a sequential-pay cash flow structure with a pro rata principal distribution among the senior classes (Class A-1, A-2, and A-3), subject to certain performance triggers related to cumulative losses or delinquencies exceeding a specified threshold (Trigger Event). After a Trigger Event, principal proceeds can be used to cover interest shortfalls on Class A-1 and then A-2 before being applied sequentially to amortize the balances of the certificates (IIPP). For all other classes, principal proceeds can be used to cover interest shortfalls after the more senior classes are paid in full (IPIP).

Monthly Excess Cashflow can be used to cover realized losses before being allocated to unpaid Cap Carryover Amounts due to Class A-1, A-2, A-3, and M-1. For this transaction, the Class A-1, A-2, and A-3 fixed rates step up by 100 basis points on and after the payment date in April 2028. On or after April 2028, interest and principal otherwise payable to the Class B-3 may also be used to pay any Class A Cap Carryover Amounts.

The credit ratings reflect transactional strengths that include the following:
-- Robust pool composition;
-- Certain loan attributes;
-- Improved underwriting standards;
-- Satisfactory third-party due-diligence review; and
-- Compliance with the ATR rules.

The transaction also includes the following challenges:
-- Investor DSCR loans;
-- Nonprime, non-QM, and investor loans;
-- No servicer advances of delinquent principal and interest; and
-- Representations and warranties framework.

The full description of the strengths, challenges, and mitigating factors is detailed in the related presale report.

Morningstar DBRS’s credit rating on the Certificates addresses the credit risk associated with the identified financial obligations in accordance with the relevant transaction documents. The associated financial obligations are listed at the end of this press release. The associated financial obligations for each of the rated Certificates are the related interest distribution amount, any interest carryforward amount, and the related class balances.

Morningstar DBRS’s credit ratings on Classes A-1, A-2, and A-3 also address the credit risk associated with the increased rate of interest applicable to these Certificates if they remain outstanding on the step-up date (April 2028) in accordance with the applicable transaction documents.

Morningstar DBRS’s credit rating does not address nonpayment risk associated with contractual payment obligations contemplated in the applicable transaction document(s) that are not financial obligations. For example, in this transaction, Morningstar DBRS's ratings do not address the payment of any cap carryover amounts.

Morningstar DBRS’s long-term credit ratings provide opinions on risk of default. Morningstar DBRS considers risk of default to be the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy the financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which a long-term obligation has been issued. The Morningstar DBRS short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Environmental (E) Factors
There were no Environmental factor(s) that had a relevant or significant effect on the credit analysis.

Social (S) Factors
There were no Social factor(s) that had a relevant or significant effect on the credit analysis.

Governance (G) Factors
There were no Governance factor(s) that had a relevant or significant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings (January 23, 2024) .https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/427030.

Notes:
All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology applicable to the credit ratings is RMBS Insight 1.3: U.S. Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Model and Rating Methodology (August 31, 2023) https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/420108/rmbs-insight-1.3:-u.s.-residential-mortgage-backed-securities-model-and-rating-methodology.

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

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.

Morningstar DBRS 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.

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

DBRS, Inc.
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New York, NY 10005 USA
Tel. +1 212 806-3277

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

-- Assessing U.S. RMBS Pools Under the Ability-to-Repay Rules (April 28, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/413297

-- Interest Rate Stresses for U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (February 26, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/428623

-- Third-Party Due-Diligence Criteria for U.S. RMBS Transactions (September 8, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/420333

-- Representations and Warranties Criteria for U.S. RMBS Transactions (May 16, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/414076

-- Legal Criteria for U.S. Structured Finance (December 7, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/425081

-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. RMBS Originators (August 31, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/420106

-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. RMBS Servicers (August 31, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/420107

A description of how Morningstar DBRS analyses structured finance transactions and how the methodologies are collectively applied can be found at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/417279.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit dbrs.morningstar.com or contact us at info-DBRS@morningstar.com.