Press Release

Morningstar DBRS Upgrades and Confirms Credit Ratings on Performer Funding 1 PLC

Consumer Loans & Credit Cards
December 13, 2024

DBRS Ratings Limited (Morningstar DBRS) took the following credit rating actions on the notes issued by Performer Funding 1 PLC (the Issuer):

-- Class A Notes confirmed at AAA (sf)
-- Class B Notes upgraded to AAA (sf) from AA (sf)
-- Class C Notes upgraded to AA (high) (sf) from A (sf)
-- Class D Notes upgraded to A (high) (sf) from BBB (sf)
-- Class E Notes upgraded to A (low) (sf) from BB (high) (sf)
-- Class F Notes upgraded to BBB (low) (sf) from B (sf)

The credit ratings on the Class A and Class B Notes address the timely payment of scheduled interest and ultimate repayment of principal by the legal final maturity date. The credit ratings on the Class C, Class D, Class E, and Class F Notes address the ultimate payment of scheduled interest while the class is subordinate and the timely payment of scheduled interest while the senior-most class outstanding as well as the ultimate repayment of principal by the legal final maturity date.

CREDIT RATING RATIONALE
The credit rating actions follow an annual review of the transaction and are based on the following analytical considerations:
-- Portfolio performance, in terms of delinquencies, and defaults, as of the November 2024 payment date;
-- Updated portfolio default rate (PD), loss given default (LGD), and expected loss assumptions on the outstanding collateral pool; and
-- The credit enhancement available to the rated notes to cover the expected losses at their respective credit rating levels.

The transaction is a securitisation of fixed-rate receivables related to unsecured consumer loans granted by Lloyds Bank plc (Lloyds) to private individuals residing in England and Wales. Lloyds also services the collateral portfolio and Intertrust Management Limited acts as the backup servicer facilitator.

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
As of the November 2024 payment date, loans two to three months in arrears represented 0.3% of the outstanding portfolio balance, and loans more than three months in arrears represented 0.6%. Cumulative defaults amounted to 2.1% of the original portfolio balance.

PORTFOLIO ASSUMPTIONS AND KEY DRIVERS
Morningstar DBRS conducted a loan-by-loan review of the remaining pool of receivables and maintained its base case PD and LGD assumptions at 5.0% and 85.0%, respectively.

CREDIT ENHANCEMENT
The subordination of the respective junior class of notes provides credit enhancement to the rated notes. As of the November 2024 payment date, credit enhancements to the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E and Class F Notes have increased to 51.3%, 39.6%, 29.1%, 22.2%, 14.0% and 8.2% from 25.0%, 17.5%, 12.3%, 8.8%, 7.3% and 5.0% at the closing date, respectively.

The transaction benefits from a Liquidity reserve, which is available to cover senior expenses, swap payments and interest on the Class A and Class B Notes. The reserve was funded at closing through the Class R Notes proceeds and have a target balance of 2% of the outstanding Class A and Class B Notes' balances, subject to a floor of 0.5% of the initial collateral balance. As of the November 2024 payment date, the reserve was at its target balance of GBP 25.6 million.

Following the full redemption of the Class B Notes and prior to the full redemption of the Class F Notes, a general reserve will be funded to a target of 0.2% of the initial collateral balance, which is available to cover senior expenses, senior swap payments and interest and principal deficiency ledger (PDL) credit of the Class C, Class D, Class E, and Class F Notes. As of the November 2024 payment date, the general reserve was not funded.

Lloyds Bank plc acts as the account bank for the transaction. Based on the account bank reference credit rating of AA on Lloyds Bank plc (one notch below the Morningstar DBRS public Long Term Critical Obligations Rating of AA (high)), the downgrade provisions outlined in the transaction documents, and other mitigating factors inherent in the transaction structure, Morningstar DBRS considers the risk arising from the exposure to the account bank to be consistent with the credit ratings assigned to the notes, as described in Morningstar DBRS' "Legal and Derivative Criteria for European Structured Finance Transactions" methodology.

Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc acts as the swap counterparty for the transaction. Morningstar DBRS' private credit rating on Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc is consistent with the first credit rating threshold as described in Morningstar DBRS' "Legal and Derivative Criteria for European Structured Finance Transactions" methodology.

Morningstar DBRS' credit ratings on the applicable classes address the credit risk associated with the identified financial obligations in accordance with the relevant transaction documents. Where applicable, a description of these financial obligations can be found in the transactions' respective press releases at issuance.

Morningstar DBRS' 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.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no Environmental/Social/Governance factor(s) that had a significant or relevant 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 Factors in Credit Ratings https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437781.

Morningstar DBRS analysed the transaction structure in Intex Dealmaker.

Notes:
All figures are in British pound sterling unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology applicable to the credit ratings is: "Master European Structured Finance Surveillance Methodology" (19 November 2024) https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443204.

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

Morningstar DBRS has applied the principal methodology consistently and conducted a review of the transaction in accordance with the principal methodology.

A review of the transaction legal documents was not conducted as the legal documents have remained unchanged since the most recent credit rating action.

For a more detailed discussion of the sovereign risk impact on Structured Finance credit ratings, please refer to "Appendix C: The Impact of Sovereign Credit Ratings on Other Morningstar DBRS Credit Ratings" of the "Global Methodology for Rating Sovereign Governments" at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/436000.

The sources of data and information used for these credit ratings includes investor reports and loan data tapes provided by Lloyds Bank Plc.

Morningstar DBRS did not rely upon third-party due diligence in order to conduct its analysis.

At the time of the initial credit rating, Morningstar DBRS was supplied with third-party assessments. However, this did not affect the credit rating analysis.

Morningstar DBRS considers the data and information available to it for the purposes of providing these credit ratings to be of satisfactory quality.

Morningstar DBRS does not audit or independently verify the data or information it receives in connection with the credit rating process.

The last credit rating action on this issuer took place on 28 October 2024, when Morningstar DBRS discontinued the credit rating on the Class X Notes following the redemption in full. Prior to that, on 14 December 2023, Morningstar DBRS finalised its provisional credit ratings on the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, Class F and Class X Notes.

The lead analyst responsibilities for this transaction have been transferred to Petter Wettestad.

Information regarding Morningstar DBRS credit ratings, including definitions, policies, and methodologies, is available on https://dbrs.morningstar.com.

Sensitivity Analysis: To assess the impact of changing the transaction parameters on the credit rating, Morningstar DBRS considered the following stress scenarios as compared with the parameters used to determine the credit rating (the base case):
-- Morningstar DBRS expected a lifetime base case PD and LGD for the pool based on a review of the current assets. Adverse changes to asset performance may cause stresses to base case assumptions and therefore have a negative effect on credit ratings.
-- The base case PD and LGD of the current pool of loans for the Issuer are 5.0% and 85.0%.
-- The risk sensitivity overview below illustrates the credit ratings expected if the PD and LGD increase by a certain percentage over the base case assumptions.

Class A Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)

Class B Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AAA (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of AA (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of AA (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (high) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (sf)

Class C Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of AA (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of A (high) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of AA (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (sf)

Class D Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (high) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of A (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of BBB (high) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (high) (sf)

Class E Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of A (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of BBB (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of BBB (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (low) (sf)

Class F Notes Risk Sensitivity:
-- 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (low) (sf)
-- 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BBB (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD, expected credit rating of BB (high) (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD, expected credit rating of BB (low) (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BB (sf)
-- 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of BB (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of B (sf)
-- 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD, expected credit rating of B (sf)

For further information on Morningstar DBRS historical default rates published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in a central repository, see: https://registers.esma.europa.eu/cerep-publication. For further information on Morningstar DBRS historical default rates published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in a central repository, see https://data.fca.org.uk/#/ceres/craStats.

These credit ratings are endorsed by DBRS Ratings GmbH for use in the European Union.

Lead Analyst: Petter Wettestad, Assistant Vice President
Rating Committee Chair: Alfonso Candelas, Associate Managing Director
Initial Rating Date: 11 December 2023

DBRS Ratings Limited
1 Oliver's Yard 55-71 City Road 2nd Floor,
London EC1Y 1HQ United Kingdom
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7855 6600
Registered and incorporated under the laws of England and Wales: Company No. 7139960

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

-- Legal and Derivative Criteria for European Structured Finance Transactions (19 November 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443196
-- Master European Structured Finance Surveillance Methodology (19 November 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443204
-- Operational Risk Assessment for European Structured Finance Originators and Servicers (18 September 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/439571
-- Rating European Consumer and Commercial Asset-Backed Securitisations (18 September 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/439583
-- Rating European Structured Finance Transactions Methodology (19 November 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443199
-- Interest Rate Stresses for European Structured Finance Transactions (24 September 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/439913
-- Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Ratings (13 August 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437781

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/439604.

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

Ratings

  • US = Lead Analyst based in USA
  • CA = Lead Analyst based in Canada
  • EU = Lead Analyst based in EU
  • UK = Lead Analyst based in UK
  • E = EU endorsed
  • U = UK endorsed
  • Unsolicited Participating With Access
  • Unsolicited Participating Without Access
  • Unsolicited Non-participating

ALL MORNINGSTAR DBRS RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCLAIMERS AND CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. PLEASE READ THESE DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MORNINGSTAR DBRS RATINGS, INCLUDING DEFINITIONS, POLICIES, RATING SCALES AND METHODOLOGIES.