OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings expects to assign the following ratings and Rating Outlooks to Wellfleet CLO 2016-1, Ltd./LLC:

-- $2,000,000 class X notes 'AAA(EXP)sf'; Outlook Stable;
-- $227,500,000 class A notes 'AAA(EXP)sf'; Outlook Stable.

Fitch does not expect to rate the class B, C, D, E or subordinated notes.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Wellfleet CLO 2016-1, Ltd. and Wellfleet CLO 2016-1, LLC (together, Wellfleet CLO 2016-1) comprise an arbitrage cash flow collateralized loan obligation (CLO) managed by Wellfleet Credit Partners LLC (WCP). Net proceeds from the issuance of the secured and subordinated notes will be used to purchase a portfolio of $350 million of primarily senior secured leveraged loans. The CLO will have an approximately four-year reinvestment period and a two-year non-call period.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement (CE) of 35.0% for class A notes, in addition to excess spread, is sufficient to protect against portfolio default and recovery rate projections in an 'AAAsf' stress scenario. Class X notes are ultimately expected to be paid in full from the application of interest proceeds via the interest waterfall. The degree of CE available to class A notes is lower than the average CE of recent CLO issuances; however, cash flow modeling indicates performance in line with recent 'AAAsf' CLO issuances.

'B+/B' Asset Quality: The average credit quality of the indicative portfolio is 'B+/B', which is slightly better than that of recent CLOs. Issuers rated in the 'B' rating category denote a highly speculative credit quality; however, class X and A notes are unlikely to be affected by the foreseeable level of defaults. Class X and A notes are projected to be able to withstand default rates of up to 88.3% and 63.5%, respectively.

Strong Recovery Expectations: The indicative portfolio consists of 97.9% first lien loans. Approximately 93.4% of the indicative portfolio has strong recovery prospects or a Fitch-assigned Recovery Rating of 'RR2' or higher and a base case recovery assumption of 78.8%. In determining the class X and A notes ratings, Fitch stressed the indicative portfolio by assuming a higher portfolio concentration of assets with lower recovery prospects and further reduced recovery assumptions for higher rating stresses, resulting in a 40% 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 X and A notes to remain investment grade even under the most extreme sensitivity scenarios. Results under these sensitivity scenarios were consistently 'AAAsf' for the class X notes and ranged between 'A+sf' and 'AAAsf' for the class A notes.

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

The publication of a representations, warranties and enforcement mechanisms appendix is not required for this transaction.