Press Release

DBRS Morningstar Confirms Ratings on 14 HERO Funding Transactions

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
July 14, 2021

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) confirmed its ratings on all classes of securities included in 14 HERO Funding transactions.

The confirmations are based on the following analytical considerations:

-- The transaction assumptions consider DBRS Morningstar’s set of macroeconomic scenarios for select economies related to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, available in its commentary “Global Macroeconomic Scenarios - June 2021 Update,” published on June 18, 2021. DBRS Morningstar initially published macroeconomic scenarios on April 16, 2020, which have been regularly updated. The scenarios were last updated on June 18, 2021, and are reflected in DBRS Morningstar’s rating analysis.

-- The assumptions consider the moderate and adverse macroeconomic scenarios outlined in the commentary, with the moderate scenario serving as the primary anchor for the current ratings. The moderate scenario factors in continued success in containment during the second half of 2021, enabling the continued relaxation of restrictions.

-- The pandemic is expected to have limited impact on residential property assessed clean energy (R-PACE) transactions because R-PACE assessments are paid at the same priority as property taxes.

-- Legal considerations specific to PACE, including validity in all relevant jurisdictions. The obligation to pay the PACE assessments is transferable. When a property is sold, the new owner is responsible for any outstanding PACE assessments and payment penalties as part of the purchase of the property. Additionally, protections are afforded to special revenue collections under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and certain structural features, including a County Reserve Account, mitigate commingling risks associated with the servicing of PACE assessments by local county tax collection offices.

-- The transaction benefits from credit enhancement in the form of overcollateralization, a reserve account, and excess spread. The senior note also benefits from subordination from the lower class.

ESG CONSIDERATIONS
A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262.

Notes:
The principal methodology is DBRS Morningstar Master U.S. ABS Surveillance (May 26, 2021), which can be found on dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria.

For more information regarding rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/357883.

For more information regarding structured finance rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/358308.

For more information regarding the structured finance rating approach and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/359905.

The rated entity or its related entities did not participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

Please see the related appendix for additional information regarding the sensitivity of assumptions used in the rating process.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

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