NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has affirmed at 'AAAsf' the senior notes issued by SLM Student Loan Trust 2007-7 and SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-2. In addition, Fitch affirms the subordinate notes for both trusts. The Rating Outlook remains Stable for both classes.
Under certain stress scenarios, SLM Student Loan Trust 2007-7's class A-3 note misses its legal final maturity on April 25, 2017 based on Fitch's cash flow runs. In such scenarios, this could result in a technical default where the note misses its maturity date although Fitch would expect ultimate repayment of full principal and interest shortly thereafter. Also, recent servicing agreement amendments dated Jan. 22, 2015 allow Navient Solutions (Navient) to make optional purchase up to 10% of the initial pool balance, which if exercised would help meet the maturity date.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral consists of 100% Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans. The credit quality of the trust collateral is high, in Fitch's opinion, based on the guarantees provided by the transaction's eligible guarantors and reinsurance provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for at least 97% of principal and accrued interest. The current U.S. sovereign rating is 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook.
Sufficient Credit Enhancement (CE): While both the senior and subordinate notes will benefit from overcollateralization (OC) and future excess spread, the senior notes also benefit from subordination provided by the class B note. As of December 2014, total parity is 100% and senior parity is 107.72% (7.16% CE) for SLM 2007-7; 101.01% (1% CE) and 104.15% (3.98% CE) for SLM 2014-2. Cash will be released from both trusts given that the specified OC amount is maintained. For SLM 2007-7, the target is 100% total parity; for SLM 2014-2 the target is the greater of 1% of the adjusted pool balance or $1.25 million.
Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support for the notes is provided by a reserve account. The reserve for SLM 2007-7 is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance and $1,951,617; for SLM 2014-2, the reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.50% of the pool balance and $995,345. On or after the April 2015 distribution date, the specified reserve requirement is reduced to 0.25% of the pool balance and $995,345.
Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Navient Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as Sallie Mae, Inc.), as servicer, will be responsible for servicing both trusts. Fitch has reviewed the servicing operations of Navient Solutions and believes it to be acceptable servicer of FFELP student loans.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
Since FFELP student loan ABS rely on the U.S. government to reimburse defaults, 'AAAsf' FFELP ABS ratings will likely move in tandem with the 'AAA' U.S. sovereign rating. Aside from the U.S. sovereign rating, defaults and basis risk account for the majority of the risk embedded in FFELP student loan transactions. Additional defaults and basis shock beyond Fitch's published stresses could result in future downgrades. Likewise, a buildup of credit enhancement driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.
A comparison of the transaction's representations, warranties, and enforcement mechanisms (RW&Es) to those of typical RW&Es for FFELP asset-backed securities is available in the presale appendix. This presale appendix and Fitch's special report on 'Representations, Warranties, and Enforcement Mechanisms on Global Structured Finance Transactions,' may be accessed via the links provided below.
Fitch has taken the following rating actions:
SLM Student Loan Trust 2007-7:
--Class A-3 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class A-4 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B affirmed at 'Asf'; Outlook Stable.
SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-2:
--Class A-1 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class A-2 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class A-3 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B affirmed at 'A+sf'; Outlook Stable.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (May 20, 2014);
--'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria' (June 23, 2014);
--'SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-2 -- Appendix' (Mar. 17, 2014);
--'Representations, Warranties, and Enforcement Mechanisms in Global Structured Finance Transactions' (October 31, 2014).
--'Fitch Comments on SLM Omnibus Amendment to Servicing Agreements' (Jan. 22, 2015).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Representations, Warranties and Enforcement Mechanisms in Global Structured Finance Transactions
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=799248
SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-2 -- Appendix
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=741220
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=754389
Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=750530
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=981234
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.