OREANDA-NEWS. June 30, 2015. Fitch Ratings assigns the following ratings to Carlyle GMS Finance MM CLO 2015-1 LLC:

--\\$160,000,000 class A-1A notes 'AAAsf', Outlook Stable;
--\\$40,000,000 class A-1B notes 'AAAsf', Outlook Stable;
--\\$27,000,000 class A-1C notes 'AAAsf', Outlook Stable.

Fitch does not rate the class A-2 or preferred interests.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Carlyle GMS Finance MM CLO 2015-1 LLC (the issuer) is a middle-market (MM) collateralized loan obligation (CLO) that will be managed by Carlyle GMS Investment Management L.L.C. (CGMSIM). Net proceeds from the issuance of the secured notes and preferred interests will be used to purchase a portfolio of \\$400 million of MM loans. The CLO will have a four-year reinvestment period and a two-year noncall period.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement (CE) of 43.3% for class A-1A, A-1B and A-1C notes (collectively, class A-1) notes, in addition to excess spread, is sufficient to protect against portfolio default and recovery rate projections in a 'AAAsf' stress scenario. CE is significantly higher than the levels typically seen on broadly syndicated CLOs.

'B/B-' Asset Quality: Fitch Ratings expects the credit quality of the underlying obligors to primarily fall in the 'B/B-' range. Fitch's base case analysis centered on a portfolio with a weighted average rating factor (WARF) of 38, in accordance with the initial expected matrix point. The analysis on such portfolio, in addition to analysis on the other permitted matrix points, indicated the class A-1 notes demonstrate cash flow performance in line with other 'AAAsf' CLO notes. In the base case analysis, class A-1 notes are projected to withstand default rates of up to 72.1%.

Strong Recovery Expectations: The transaction requires a minimum of 90% of the portfolio to consist of senior secured loans, cash and eligible investments, while portfolio management is governed in part by a Fitch weighted average recovery rate (WARR) test. In its base case analysis of the class A-1 notes, Fitch modified the WARR of the portfolio to reach the base case minimum trigger of 63%, and further reduced recovery assumptions for higher rating stress scenarios. The base case analysis of class A-1 notes assumed a 30.2% recovery rate in Fitch's 'AAAsf' scenario.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Fitch evaluated the structure's sensitivity to the potential variability of key model assumptions, including decreases in recovery rates and increases in default rates or correlation. Fitch expects the class A-1A, A-1B and A-1C notes to remain investment grade even under the most extreme sensitivity scenarios. Results under these sensitivity scenarios ranged between 'A+sf' and 'AAAsf' for the class A-1A, A-1B and A-1C notes.

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

The publication of a RW&Es appendix is not required for this transaction.