NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has upgraded the SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2004-B (SLM 2004-B) class C notes to 'BBBsf' from 'BBsf' and revised the Rating Outlook on the notes to Stable from Positive. Fitch affirmed the class A and B at 'AAsf' and 'Asf', respectively. The Outlook remains Stable for the class A and B notes.
A detailed list of rating actions follows at the end of this press release.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
Collateral Quality: The trust is collateralized by approximately $526.7 million of private student loans for 2004-B trust. The loans were originated by Navient Corp (fka SLM Corp) under the Signature Education Loan Program, LAWLOANS program, MBA Loans program, and MEDLOANS program. The projected remaining defaults are expected to range between 6%-8%. A recovery rate of 11% was applied, which was determined to be appropriate based on data provided by the issuer.
Credit Enhancement (CE): Transaction credit enhancement is sufficient to provide loss coverage for the Class A, B, and C notes at each respective rating category. CE is provided by a combination of overcollateralization (the excess of the trust's asset balance over the bond balance), excess spread, and subordination. The total parity ratio as of the December 2015 distribution is 106.75%.
Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account sized at approximately $3.21 million.
Servicing Capabilities: Day-to-day servicing is provided by Navient Solutions Inc., which has demonstrated satisfactory servicing capabilities
RATING SENSITIVITIES
As Fitch's base case default proxy is derived primarily from historical collateral performance, actual performance may differ from the expected performance, resulting in higher loss levels than the base case. This will result in a decline in CE and remaining loss coverage levels available to the notes and may make certain note ratings susceptible to potential negative rating actions, depending on the extent of the decline in coverage. Fitch will continue to monitor the performance of the trust
DUE DILIGENCE USAGE
No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.
Fitch the following classes:
SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2004-B:
--Class A-2 at 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class A-3 at 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class A-4 at 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B at 'Asf'; Outlook Stable.
Fitch upgrades the following class:
SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2004-B:
--Class C upgraded to 'BBBsf' from 'BBsf'; Outlook revised to Stable from Positive.
Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Applicable Criteria
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 14 May 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds: Derivative Addendum (pub. 14 May 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744175
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952
U.S. Private Student Loan ABS Criteria (pub. 31 Jul 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=868836
Additional Disclosures
Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=998340
Solicitation Status
https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=998340
Endorsement Policy
https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31
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