OREANDA-NEWS. S&P Global Ratings today affirmed its ratings on the class A-1, A-2, B, C, and D notes from JFIN CLO 2013 Ltd., a U. S. collateralized loan obligation (CLO) transaction that closed in March 2013 and is managed by Apex Credit Partners LLC (see list).

Today's rating actions follow our review of the transaction's performance using data from the June 2016, trustee report. The transaction is scheduled to remain in its reinvestment period until January 2017, and we anticipate that the manager will continue to reinvest principal proceeds in line with the transaction documents.

Since the transaction's effective date, the trustee reported collateral portfolio's weighted average life has decreased to 4.29 years as the June 2016 trustee report from 5.50 years as reported in August 2013. Because time horizon weighs heavily into default probability, a shorter weighted average life positively affects the collateral pool's creditworthiness. In addition, the number of obligors in the portfolio has increased during this period, which contributed to the portfolio's increased diversification.

The transaction has experienced an increase in both defaults and assets rated 'CCC+' and below since the August 2013 effective date report. Specifically, the amount of defaulted assets increased to $11.65 million as of June 2016, from $0 as of August 2013. The level of assets rated in the 'CCC' range increased to $34.27 million from $10.02 million over the same period.

The increase in defaulted assets, as well as other factors, has affected the level of credit support available to all tranches, as seen by the decline in the overcollateralization (O/C) ratios:The class A O/C ratio was 139.04%, down from 142.05%.The class B O/C ratio was 124.86%, down from 127.56%. The class C O/C ratio was 116.14%, down from 118.65%.The class D O/C ratio was 108.96%, down from 111.32%.Even with the decline in credit support, all coverage tests are currently passing and are above the minimum requirements.

Overall, the increase in 'CCC+' and below rated assets has been largely offset by the decline in the weighted average life. However, any significant deterioration in these metrics could negatively affect the deal in the future, especially the junior tranches. As such, the affirmed ratings reflect our belief that the credit support available is commensurate with the current rating levels.

Although our cash flow analysis indicates higher ratings for the class A-2, B, C and D notes, our rating actions consider additional sensitivity runs that considered the exposure to specific distressed industries and allowed for volatility in the underlying portfolio given that the transaction is still in its reinvestment period.

Our review of the transaction relied, in part, upon a criteria interpretation with respect to our May 2014 criteria, "CDOs: Mapping A Third Party's Internal Credit Scoring System To Standard & Poor's Global Rating Scale," which allows us to use a limited number of public ratings from other Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) to assess the credit quality of assets not rated by S&P Global Ratings. The criteria provide specific guidance for the treatment of corporate assets not rated by S&P Global Ratings, while the interpretation outlines the treatment of securitized assets.

Our review of this transaction included a cash flow analysis, based on the portfolio and transaction as reflected in the aforementioned trustee report, to estimate future performance. In line with our criteria, our cash flow scenarios applied forward-looking assumptions on the expected timing and pattern of defaults, and recoveries upon default, under various interest rate and macroeconomic scenarios. In addition, our analysis considered the transaction's ability to pay timely interest and/or ultimate principal to each of the rated tranches. The results of the cash flow analysis demonstrated, in our view, that all of the rated outstanding classes have adequate credit enhancement available at the rating levels associated with these rating actions.

We will continue to review whether, in our view, the ratings assigned to the notes remain consistent with the credit enhancement available to support them, and will take rating actions as we deem necessary.