Fitch Assigns Final Ratings to Vertical Bridge Series 2016-1

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings assigns ratings and Rating Outlooks for VB-S1 Issuer, LLC's Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2016-1 as follows:

--$240,000,000 series 2016-1 class C 'Asf'; Outlook Stable;

--$29,000,000 series 2016-1 class D 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable;

--$52,000,000 series 2016-1 class F 'BB-sf'; Outlook Stable.

The transaction is an issuance of notes backed by mortgages representing approximately 90.2% of the annualized run rate net cash flow (ARRNCF) and guaranteed by the direct parent of the borrower. This guarantee is secured by a pledge and first-priority-perfected security interest in 100% of the equity interest of the issuer (a direct subsidiary of which owns or leases 1,529 wireless communication sites). The notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of the expected closing of the series 2016-1 transaction.

The ratings reflect a structured finance analysis of the cash flows from the ownership interest in cellular sites, not an assessment of the corporate default risk of the ultimate parent, Vertical Bridge.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Trust Leverage: Fitch's net cash flow (NCF) on the pool is $36.5 million, implying a Fitch stressed debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.23x. The debt multiple relative to Fitch's NCF is 8.8x, which equates to a debt yield of 11.4%.

Leases to Strong Tower Tenants: There are 2,378 wireless tenant leases. Telephony/Data tenants represent approximately 86% of the annualized run rate revenue (ARRR), and 47.4% of the ARRR is from investment-grade tenants. The tenant leases have weighted average annual escalators of approximately 3% and a weighted average final remaining term (including renewals) of 25.1 years. The largest tenant, AT&T (31.4% of ARRR) is rated investment grade by Fitch (long-term IDR of 'A-' with a Stable Outlook).

No Term Securitization History: This is the first term securitization completed by Vertical Bridge. VB's management team consists of the former team that managed Global Tower Partners (GTP) and from 2007-2013, GTP issued $2 billion of securitization notes. Additionally, the 2016-1 notes are structured with a more conservative cash trap trigger (1.60x) and early-amortization DSCR trigger (1.40x) than comparable transactions.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Fitch performed several stress scenarios in which Fitch's NCF was stressed. Fitch determined that a 63% reduction in Fitch's NCF would cause the notes to break even at 1.0x DSCR on an interest-only basis.

Fitch evaluated the sensitivity of the ratings for series 2016-1 class C, and an 8% decline in NCF would result in a one-category downgrade, while a 17% decline would result in a downgrade to below investment grade. The Rating Sensitivity section in the presale report includes a detailed explanation of additional stresses and sensitivities.

Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying presale report. The presale report is available to all investors on Fitch's web site 'www.fitchratings.com'

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE

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

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable Criteria

Criteria for Analyzing U.S. Wireless Tower Transactions (pub. 19 Nov 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=873961

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952

Related Research

Vertical Bridge Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2016-1 -- Appendix

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=882391

Additional Disclosures

Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=1006262

Solicitation Status

https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1006262

Endorsement Policy

https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160617005842/en/

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Adam J Ott
Director
+1-312-368-2094
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Secondary Analyst
David Klante
Associate Director
+1-312-368-3143
or
Committee Chairperson
Robert Vrchota
Managing Director
+1-312-368-3336
or
Media Relations
Sandro Scenga, +1 212-908-0278
[email protected]

Source: Fitch Ratings

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