Fitch Rates CIBC's CARDS II Trust, Series 2016-1

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)NEW YORK, July 27 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has assigned the following ratings to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's (CIBC) CARDS II Trust, series 2016-1 credit card receivables-backed USD floating-rate class A and CAD floating-rate class B notes:--USD750,000,000 class A notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;--CAD76,512,000 class B notes 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable.KEY RATING DRIVERSFitch's ratings are based on the underlying receivables pool, available credit enhancement, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's underwriting and servicing capabilities, and the transaction's legal and cash flow structures, which employ early amortization triggers.RATING SENSITIVITIESFitch models three different scenarios when evaluating the rating sensitivity compared to expected performance for credit card asset-backed securities transactions: 1) increased defaults; 2) a reduction in purchase rate, and 3) a combination stress of higher defaults and lower monthly payment rate (MPR). Increasing default rate alone has the least impact on rating migration even in the most severe scenario of a 75% increase in defaults. The rating sensitivity to a reduced purchase rate is more pronounced with a severe stress, of a 100% decrease, and leads to possible downgrades of the class A notes. The harshest scenario assumes both default and MPR stresses occur simultaneously. Similarly, the ratings would only be downgraded under the moderate stress of a 50% increase in defaults and 25% reduction in MPR; however, the severe stress could lead to more drastic downgrades to all classes. To date, the CARDS II Trust transactions have exhibited strong performance with all performance metrics within Fitch's initial expectations. For further discussion of Fitch's sensitivity analysis, please see the related presale report. For a discussion of the representations, warranties, and enforcement mechanisms available to investors in this transaction please see the related presale appendix.DUE DILIGENCE USAGE No third-party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.The presale report is available to all investors on Fitch's website at 'www.fitchratings.com'. For more information about Fitch's comprehensive subscription service FitchResearch, which includes all presale reports, surveillance, and credit reports on more than 20 asset classes, contact product sales at +1-212-908-0800 or at 'webmaster@fitchratings.com'.Contacts: John AlbericiAssociate Director+1-212-908-0370Fitch Ratings, Inc.33 Whitehall StreetNew York, NY 10004Secondary AnalystStephanie LobaccaroAnalyst+1-212-908-0769Committee ChairpersonHerman C. PoonSenior Director+1-212-908-0847Media Relations: Sandro Scenga, New York, Tel: +1 212-908-0278, Email: sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com.Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.Applicable Criteria Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 18 Jul 2016)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=884963Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds (pub. 17 May 2016)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=879815Criteria for Servicing Continuity Risk in Structured Finance (pub. 17 Dec 2015)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=875586Global Credit Card ABS Rating Criteria (pub. 21 Jul 2016)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=885146Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 27 Jun 2016)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=883130Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr _id=1009555Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1009555Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&det ail=31ALL 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.