In addition to repaying a portion of the outstanding principal of a $115 million ABS deal completed last year, proceeds may be used for future acquisitions. Kroll Bond Rating Agency gives Driven Brands Funding LLC a BBB rating, noting that high unemployment and work-from-home protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic may reduce vehicle usage and the need for automotive services, although the company's stores have been deemed "essential services" in most states and Canada and have remained open. "Furthermore, while the Driven Brands system has experience sales declines in the past several months related to COVID-19, recent sales trends have improved significantly and trending towards comparable levels from a year ago," Kroll says in its presale report, adding that the transaction also benefits from geographic diversity. Long-term trends also favor Driven Brands, the largest automotive services company in North America.