OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has assigned Babson Euro CLO 2016-1 B. V. notes final ratings, as follows:

EUR228m class A-1: 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR12m class A-2: 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR38.5m class B-1: 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR7.3m class B-2: 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR22m class C: 'Asf'; Outlook Stable

EUR20.5m class D: 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR27.3m class E: 'BBsf'; Outlook Stable

EUR12.8m class F: 'B-sf'; Outlook Stable

EUR41.6m subordinated notes: not rated

Babson Euro CLO 2016-1 B. V. is a cash flow collateralised loan obligation.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

'B'/'B-' Portfolio Credit Quality

The average credit quality of obligors is in the 'B' category. Fitch has credit opinions or public ratings on all assets in the identified portfolio. The weighted average rating factor (WARF) of the identified portfolio is 30.85, below the covenanted maximum Fitch WARF for assigning final ratings of 34.

High Recovery Expectations

At least 90% of the portfolio comprises senior secured obligations. Recovery prospects for these assets are typically more favourable than for second-lien, unsecured and mezzanine assets. Fitch has assigned Recovery Ratings to all the assets in the identified portfolio. The weighted average recovery rating (WARR) of the identified portfolio is 73.84%, above the covenanted minimum Fitch WARR for assigning final ratings of 67%.

Diversified Asset Portfolio

The transaction contains a covenant that limits the top 10 obligors in the portfolio to 20% of the portfolio balance. This ensures that the asset portfolio will not be exposed to excessive obligor concentration.

Limited Interest Rate Risk

No more than 15% of the portfolio may be invested in fixed-rate assets while fixed-rate liabilities account for 4.825% of the target par balance. Therefore, the transaction is partially hedged against rising interest rates.

Hedged Non-Euro Asset Exposure

The transaction is permitted to invest up to 20% of the portfolio in non-euro assets, provided perfect asset swaps can be entered into.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Net proceeds from the notes are being used to purchase a EUR400m portfolio of European leveraged loans and bonds. The portfolio is managed by Babson Capital Management (UK) Limited. The reinvestment period is scheduled to end in 2020.

The transaction documents may be amended, subject to rating agency confirmation or noteholder approval. Where rating agency confirmation relates to risk factors, Fitch will analyse the proposed change and may provide a rating action commentary if the change has a negative impact on the ratings. Such amendments may delay the repayment of the notes as long as Fitch's analysis confirms the expected repayment of principal at the legal final maturity.

If in the agency's opinion the amendment is risk-neutral from a rating perspective Fitch may decline to comment. Noteholders should be aware that confirmation is considered to be given if Fitch declines to comment.

Fitch's "Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds," dated May 2016, includes stresses to address the risk of negative interest rates in structured finance transactions. European CLOs are unlikely to be affected by negative interest rates due to the prevalence of Euribor floors in the European loan market. Therefore, we applied the standard (positive) interest rate downward stresses in our analysis.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

A 25% increase in the obligor default probability could lead to a downgrade of up to two notches for the rated notes while a 25% reduction in expected recovery rates could lead to a downgrade of up to four notches for the rated notes.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE

No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.

DATA ADEQUACY

The majority of the underlying assets have ratings or credit opinions from Fitch and/or other Nationally Recognised Statistical Rating Organisations and/or European Securities and Markets Authority registered rating agencies. Fitch has relied on the practices of the relevant Fitch groups and/or other rating agencies to assess the asset portfolio information.

Overall, Fitch's assessment of the asset pool information relied upon for the agency's rating analysis according to its applicable rating methodologies indicates that it is adequately reliable.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

A description of the transaction's Representations, Warranties and Enforcement Mechanisms (RW&Es) that are disclosed in the offering document and which relate to the underlying asset pool was not prepared for this transaction. Offering documents for EMEA leveraged finance collateralised loan obligations (CLOs) typically do not include RW&Es that are available to investors and that relate to the asset pool underlying the CLO. Therefore, Fitch credit reports for EMEA leveraged finance CLO offerings will not typically include descriptions of RW&Es.

Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying new issue report, which is available at www. fitchratings. com.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

The information below was used in the analysis.

- Loan-by-loan data provided by the arranger as at 3 June 2016

- Offering circular provided by the arranger as at 28 July 2016

- Transaction documents provided by the arranger as at 28 July 2016