EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1785844
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1785844_10-K_2021_0000894189-21-001914.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
PART II
Item 9B. Other Information.
Nothing to report.
The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(1) to Form 10-K:

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
PART III
The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(1) to Form 10-K:

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION J(2) THE FOLLOWING SUBSTITUTE INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-K:
Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB. Significant Obligors of Pool Assets - Financial Information.
Nothing to report.
Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB. Credit Enhancement and Other Support, Except for Certain Derivatives Instruments - Financial Information.
Nothing to report.
Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB. Certain Derivatives Instruments - Financial Information.
Nothing to report.
Item 1117 of Regulation AB. Legal Proceedings.
There are no legal proceedings pending, or any proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities, against the Sponsor, the Depositor, U.S. Bank National Association (the “Indenture Trustee”), Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Owner Trustee”), the Issuing Entity, or any property thereof, that are material to holders of the Asset Backed Notes issued by the Issuing Entity (the “Notes”), except to the extent set forth below with respect to the Indenture Trustee.
The Indenture Trustee has provided the information contained in the following five paragraphs for purposes of compliance with Regulation AB:
In the last several years, U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) and other large financial institutions have been sued in their capacity as trustee or successor trustee for certain residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) trusts. The complaints, primarily filed by investors or investor groups against U.S. Bank and similar institutions, allege the trustees caused losses to investors as a result of alleged failures by the sponsors, mortgage loan sellers and servicers to comply with the governing agreements for these RMBS trusts. Plaintiffs generally assert causes of action based upon the trustees’ purported failures to enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for alleged breaches of representations and warranties, notify securityholders of purported events of default allegedly caused by breaches of servicing standards by mortgage loan servicers and abide by a heightened standard of care following alleged events of default.
U.S. Bank denies liability and believes that it has performed its obligations under the RMBS trusts in good faith, that its actions were not the cause of losses to investors, that it has meritorious defenses, and it has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously. However, U.S. Bank cannot assure you as to the outcome of any of the litigation, or the possible impact of these litigations on the trustee or the RMBS trusts.
On March 9, 2018, a law firm purporting to represent fifteen Delaware statutory trusts (the “DSTs”) that issued securities backed by student loans (the “Student Loans”) filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery against U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) in its capacities as indenture trustee and successor special servicer, and three other institutions in their respective transaction capacities, with respect to the DSTs and the Student Loans. This lawsuit is captioned The National Collegiate Student Loan Master Trust I, et al. v. U.S. Bank National Association, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0167-JRS (Del. Ch.) (the “NCMSLT Action”). The complaint, as amended on June 15, 2018, alleged that the DSTs have been harmed as a result of purported misconduct or omissions by the defendants concerning administration of the trusts and special servicing of the Student Loans. Since the filing of the NCMSLT Action, certain Student Loan borrowers have made assertions against U.S. Bank concerning special servicing that appear to be based on certain allegations made on behalf of the DSTs in the NCMSLT Action.
U.S. Bank has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the operative complaint in its entirety with prejudice pursuant to Chancery Court Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, a stay of the case while other prior filed disputes involving the DSTs and the Student Loans are litigated. On November 7, 2018, the Court ruled that the case should be stayed in its entirety pending resolution of the first-filed cases. On January 21, 2020, the Court entered an order consolidating for pretrial purposes the NCMSLT Action and three other lawsuits pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery concerning the DSTs and the Student Loans, which remains pending.
U.S. Bank denies liability in the NCMSLT Action and believes it has performed its obligations as indenture trustee and special servicer in good faith and in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the agreements governing the DSTs and that it has meritorious defenses. It has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously.
Item 1119 of Regulation AB. Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
The Depositor is an affiliate of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC (“MBFS”), which acts as Sponsor, Servicer and Administrator, in that MBFS is the sole equity member of the Depositor.
The Sponsor acted as originator (as contemplated by Item 1110 of Regulation AB) of the receivables owned by the Issuing Entity and services the receivables. The Sponsor is the sole equity member of the Depositor. The Issuing Entity issued the Mercedes-Benz Auto Receivables Trust 2019-1 asset backed certificates to the Depositor and through this issuance, the Depositor has acquired a 100% ownership interest in the Issuing Entity; therefore, the Issuing Entity is an affiliated party of the Depositor and, indirectly, of the Sponsor.
There are no significant obligors, external enhancement or support providers, or other material parties related to the Notes.
In addition, there are no business relationships, agreements, arrangements, transactions or understandings outside the ordinary course of business or on terms other than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated party, apart from this asset-backed securities transaction involving the issuance of the Notes by the Issuing Entity, between the Sponsor, the Depositor or the Issuing Entity and any of the parties, or affiliates of such parties, mentioned in this Item.
Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria.
Each of the Sponsor, in its capacity as Servicer, and the Indenture Trustee (together with the Sponsor in its capacity as Servicer, each, a “Servicing Participant”) has been identified by the registrant as a party participating in the servicing function during the reporting period with respect to the pool assets held by the Issuing Entity. Each Servicing Participant has completed a report on an assessment of compliance with the servicing criteria applicable to such Servicing Participant (each, a “Report on Assessment”) as of December 31, 2020, and for the reporting period, which Reports on Assessment are attached as Exhibits 33.1 and 33.2 to this report on Form 10-K. In addition, each Servicing Participant has provided an attestation report (each, an “Attestation Report”) by a registered independent public accounting firm on its Report on Assessment. The Attestation Reports are attached as Exhibits 34.1 and 34.2 to this report on Form 10-K. The Report on Assessment prepared by the Indenture Trustee and the Attestation Report provided by the Indenture Trustee did not identify any material instance of noncompliance with the servicing criteria applicable to the Indenture Trustee. The Report on Assessment prepared by the Servicer and the Attestation Report provided by the Servicer did not identify any material instance of noncompliance with the servicing criteria applicable to the Servicer.
Item 1123 of Regulation AB. Servicing Compliance Statement.
The Servicer has completed a statement of compliance with its obligations under the applicable servicing agreement (a “Compliance Statement”) signed by an authorized officer of the Servicer. The Compliance Statement is attached as Exhibit 35.1 to this report on Form 10-K.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report
(1) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) See Item 15(b) below.
(b) Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K
Exhibit Number
Description
1.1
Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2019, among Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC and Mizuho Securities USA LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (included in Exhibit 1.1 to the Form 8-K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 20, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
3.1
Articles of Organization of Daimler Retail Receivables LLC (included in Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, No. 333-159281, as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference).
Exhibit Number
Description
3.2
Operating Agreement of Daimler Retail Receivables LLC (included in Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, No. 333-159281, as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference).
4.1
Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2019, between the Issuing Entity and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee (included in Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8 K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2019, between Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, as depositor, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as owner trustee (included in Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8 K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.1
Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2019, among the Issuing Entity, Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as seller and as servicer (included in Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.2
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2019, between Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as seller, and Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, as purchaser (included in Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8 K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.3
Administration Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2019, among the Issuing Entity, Daimler Retail Receivables LLC, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as administrator, and U.S. Bank National Association, as indenture trustee (included in Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
10.4
Asset Representations Review Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2019, among the Issuing Entity, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as administrator and servicer, and Clayton Fixed Income Services LLC, as asset representations reviewer (included in Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 8 K of the Issuing Entity, as filed with the SEC on September 27, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference).
31.1
Certification of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Servicer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) (Section 302 Certification).
33.1
Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Servicer.
33.2
Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria for U.S. Bank National Association, as Indenture Trustee.
34.1
Attestation Report of Grant Thornton LLP on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria relating to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Servicer.
34.2
Attestation Report of Ernst & Young LLP on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria relating to U.S. Bank National Association, as Indenture Trustee.
35.1
Servicer Compliance Statement of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Servicer.
(c) Not applicable.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT.
No annual report to security holders, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material has been sent to any security holders or is presently anticipated to be furnished to security holders subsequent to the filing of this annual report on Form 10-K.