KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to KKR CLO 39 Ltd.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#KBRA–Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to three classes of notes issued by KKR CLO 39 Ltd. (KKR CLO 39), a cash flow collateralized loan obligation (CLO) backed by a diversified portfolio of broadly syndicated corporate loans.

KKR CLO 39 is managed by KKR Financial Advisors II, LLC (“KKR” or the “collateral manager). The deal will have a five-year reinvestment period. The legal final maturity is on October 15, 2034. The ratings reflect initial credit enhancement levels, excess spread, and coverage tests including overcollateralization ratio and interest coverage tests.

The collateral in KKR CLO 39 will mainly consist of broadly syndicated leveraged loans issued by corporate obligors diversified across sectors. The total portfolio par amount is $525.0 million with exposure to 280 obligors. The obligors in the portfolio have a K-WARF of 2425, which represents a weighted average portfolio credit assessment of approximately B. KBRA has also considered the potential for near to medium term negative portfolio credit deterioration and the transactions sensitivity to macroeconomic shocks like that seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of June 30, 2021, KKR manages $170.1 billion across its leveraged credit, private credit and strategic investments strategies. The firm has 40 investment professionals in its leveraged credit platform and has issued approximately $36 billion of CLO new issuance since 2003, making it one of the largest CLO managers by principal liabilities.

The preliminary rating on the Class A Notes considers the timely payment of interest and ultimate payment of principal by the applicable stated maturity date, while the preliminary ratings on the Class D and E Notes consider the ultimate payment of interest and principal.

KBRA analyzed the transaction using the Structured Credit Global Rating Methodology, the Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology, and the ESG Global Rating Methodology.

Click here to view the report. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

Disclosures

Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above.

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider.

Contacts

Analytical Contacts

Jerry Jurcisin, Associate Director (Lead Analyst)

+1 (646) 731-2457

jerry.jurcisin@kbra.com

Sean Malone, CFA, Senior Director

+1 (646) 731-2436

sean.malone@kbra.com

Steven Zheng, Associate

+1 (646) 731-3379

steven.zheng@kbra.com

Eric Hudson, Senior Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)

+1 (646) 731-3320

eric.hudson@kbra.com

Business Development Contact

Jason Lilien, Managing Director

+1 (646) 731-2442

jason.lilien@kbra.com