Auto ABS

The best outcome for creditors and ABS noteholders with approximately $6 billion in outstanding bonds is likely to be through a renewal of Hertz’s operations, rather than liquidation, according to analysis from the ratings agency.

The Flagship Credit Auto Trust 2020-2 transaction is only the second subprime auto-loan ABS transaction in the last two months, following the pricing last week of an American Credit Acceptance-sponsored $209.3 million bond offering.

Falling used-car values, loan forbearance programs and economic uncertainty are weighing on the lower-end of the subprime auto finance sector.

The two companies are placing two deep-subprime securitizations of consumer loan and lease contracts issued prior to the coronavirus impact on originations.

Following four prior securitizations of prime auto-loan originations through its Carvana Auto Receivables Trust (CRVNA), the firm will sponsor its first pool of non-prime retail used auto loans underwritten via its e-commerce platform.

Veros Credit received an AA rating in its 2018-1 transaction, which featured lower loan-to-value ratios and average account balances in the pool.

Credit unions have seized share in auto lending. It may not be long before the same happens in auto ABS.

According to presale reports on Flagship’s $355 million auto-loan securitization, the subprime auto lender is removing the 2% collateral pool limit on loans over six years (72 months) that can be added during a three-month prefunding period for Flagship Auto Credit Trust 2020-1.

The lease deal – Santander’s sixth ABS of Chrysler Capital leases since 2017 – has a higher proportion of leases with original terms longer than 36 months (44.5%) than prior deals through the platform.

Toyota Motor Credit Co. is sponsoring a $1.25 billion loan-backed transaction (potentially upsized to $1.75 billion), while regional Toyota captive finance lender World Omni Finance Corp. is sponsoring an auto-lease deal at either $766.5 million or $962.9 million.