Morningstar DBRS Assigns Provisional Credit Ratings to VCL Multi-Compartment S.A., Acting for and on Behalf of its Compartment VCL 44

DBRS Ratings GmbH (Morningstar DBRS) assigned provisional credit ratings to the following classes of notes to be issued by VCL Multi-Compartment S.A., acting for and on behalf of its Compartment VCL 44 (the Issuer):

-- Class A Notes at (P) AAA (sf)
-- Class B Notes at (P) AA (low) (sf)

The provisional credit ratings on both the Class A Notes and Class B Notes (together, the Notes) address the timely payment of scheduled interest and the ultimate repayment of principal by the legal final maturity date.

CREDIT RATING RATIONALE
The transaction represents the issuance of the Notes, which are backed by a portfolio selected from a pool of approximately EUR [750] million in receivables related to auto leases granted by Volkswagen Leasing GmbH (VWL; the Seller and the Originator), a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, to lessees who reside or are incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany. The underlying motor vehicles related to the auto leases consist of both new and used passenger and light-commercial vehicles. VWL also services the receivables (the Servicer).

Morningstar DBRS based its provisional credit ratings on a review of the following analytical considerations:
-- The credit quality of VWL's provisional portfolio, the characteristics of the collateral, its historical performance, and Morningstar DBRS-projected behaviour under various stress scenarios;
-- VWL's capabilities with respect to originations, underwriting, and servicing and its position in the market and financial strength;
-- The operational risk review of VWL, which Morningstar DBRS deems to be an acceptable servicer;
-- The transaction parties' financial strength with regard to their respective roles;
-- The expected consistency of the transaction's structure with Morningstar DBRS' "Legal and Derivative Criteria for European Structured Finance Transactions";
-- Morningstar DBRS' sovereign credit rating on the Federal Republic of Germany of AAA with a Stable trend.

TRANSACTION STRUCTURE
The transaction incorporates a single waterfall that governs the allocation of the available distribution amount consisting of, among others, collections representing interest, principal, and recoveries. The transaction documents foresee a mixed sequential/pro rata amortisation structure; initially, all collections from the lease receivables will pay down the Class A Notes. Once the Class A overcollateralisation (OC) percentage reaches 12.25%, the Class B Notes will begin to amortise. Once the Class B OC percentage reaches 7.5%, principal payments on the Notes will be allocated on a pro rata basis, unless prespecified performance triggers on cumulative net loss (CNL) ratio are breached as outlined in the transaction documents.

The transaction benefits from liquidity support provided by a cash reserve with an initial balance of EUR [] million, which is equal to 1.2% of the initial outstanding discounted receivables balance. The target balance of the reserve on subsequent payment dates is the higher of 1.2% of the aggregate discounted receivables balance and the lower of (1) EUR [] million or (2) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes. The reserve is available to cover the payment of senior expenses, swap payments, and interest on the Notes. The reserve also provides credit enhancement to the Notes and is available to repay principal on the Notes when the portfolio's aggregate discounted receivables balance reaches zero.

All underlying contracts are fixed rate, while the Notes pay a floating rate. The Notes are indexed to one-month Euribor. Interest rate risk for the Notes should be mitigated through an interest rate swap with an eligible counterparty. The swap counterparty for the transaction will be confirmed prior to closing.

COUNTERPARTIES
Citibank Europe plc, Germany branch (Citibank) is expected to be appointed to act as the account bank for the transaction. Morningstar DBRS has a private credit rating on Citibank, which meets its criteria to act in such capacity. The transaction documents should contain downgrade provisions relating to the account bank that are consistent with Morningstar DBRS' criteria.

The hedging counterparty for the transaction will be confirmed prior to closing. Morningstar DBRS understands that the hedging counterparty will meet Morningstar DBRS' minimum criteria to act in such capacity. Morningstar DBRS expects the hedging documents to contain downgrade provisions consistent with its criteria.

Morningstar DBRS' credit ratings on the Notes address the credit risk associated with the identified financial obligations in accordance with the relevant transaction documents. For the Notes listed in the table, the associated financial obligations are the Class A Notes' interest rate, Class B Notes' interest rate, Class A Notes' principal payment amount, and Class B Notes' principal payment amount.

Morningstar DBRS' credit ratings do not address nonpayment risk associated with contractual payment obligations contemplated in the applicable transaction document(s) that are not financial obligations.

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, GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no Environmental/Social/Governance factors 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 at https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437781.

Morningstar DBRS analysed the transaction structure in Intex Dealmaker.

Notes:
All figures are in euros unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology applicable to the credit ratings is: Rating European Consumer and Commercial Asset-Backed Securitisations (18 September 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/439583.

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.

An asset and a cash flow analysis were both conducted.

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" (15 July 2024) at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/436000.

The sources of data and information used for these credit ratings include the Originator and its agents. Morningstar DBRS received:
-- Static CNL data going back to January 2014 and up to December 2023 provided on a total portfolio basis.
-- Total portfolio level delinquency data from January 2010 to December 2023.

Morningstar DBRS also received stratification tables in relation to the provisional portfolio as at 30 November 2024 as well as the related amortisation profile.

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

Morningstar DBRS was not 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.

A provisional credit rating is not a final credit rating with respect to the above-mentioned securities and may change or be different than the final credit rating assigned or may be discontinued. The assignment of the final credit ratings on the above-mentioned securities are subject to receipt by Morningstar DBRS of all data and/or information and final documentation that Morningstar DBRS deems necessary to finalise the credit ratings.

These credit ratings concern expected-to-be-issued new financial instruments. These are the first Morningstar DBRS credit ratings on these financial instruments.

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 ratings, Morningstar DBRS considered the following stress scenarios as compared with the parameters used to determine the credit ratings (the base case):

-- Expected probability of default (PD) rate: 1.1%
-- Expected recovery rate: 60.0%
-- Loss given default (LGD): 61.6% for the AAA (sf) scenario and 57.3% for the AA (low) (sf) scenario

Scenario 1: 25% increase in LGD
Scenario 2: 50% increase in LGD
Scenario 3: 25% increase in PD
Scenario 4: 50% increase in PD
Scenario 5: 25% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD
Scenario 6: 25% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD
Scenario 7: 50% increase in PD and 25% increase in LGD
Scenario 8: 50% increase in PD and 50% increase in LGD

Morningstar DBRS concludes that the expected credit ratings under the eight stress scenarios would be:
-- Class A Notes: AA (high) (sf), AA (high) (sf), AA (high) (sf), AA (high) (sf), AA (sf), AA (sf), AA (sf), and A (high) (sf)
-- Class B Notes: AA (low) (sf), A (high) (sf), AA (low) (sf), A (high) (sf), A (sf), A (sf), A (sf), and A (low) (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 Limited for use in the United Kingdom.

Lead Analyst: Sergio Rodas, Senior Analyst
Rating Committee Chair: Paolo Conti, Associate Managing Director
Initial Rating Date: 13 January 2025

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

-- Rating European Structured Finance Transactions Methodology (19 November 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443199
-- Legal and Derivative Criteria for European Structured Finance Transactions (19 November 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/443196
-- Operational Risk Assessment for European Structured Finance Originators and Servicers (18 September 2024),
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/439571
-- Interest Rate Stresses for European Structured Finance Transactions (24 September 2024),
https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/439913

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.