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Fitch Affirms Multiple SLM Student Loan 2008 TrustsNEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Fitch Ratings has affirmed at 'AAAsf' the senior notes issued by SLM Student Loan Trust 2008-1, SLM Student Loan Trust 2008-2, and SLM Student Loan Trust 2008-5. In addition, Fitch affirms the subordinate notes for all three trusts. The Rating Outlooks for all three trusts remains Stable. KEY RATING DRIVERS High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral consists of 100% of 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 at 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook. Sufficient Credit Enhancement (CE): While both the senior and subordinate notes will benefit from excess spread, the senior notes also benefit from subordination provided by the class B note. As of April 2014, total parity is 100% and senior parity is 106% (5.66% CE) for SLM 2008-1; 100% and 105.78% (5.46% CE) for SLM 2008-2; 103.79% (3.65%) and 109.86% (8.98% CE) for SLM 2008-5. Cash is being released from the three trusts if the target parity or overcollateralization amount is maintained. For SLM 2008-1 and SLM 2008-2, the target is 100%; for SLM 2008-5, the target is 103.79%. Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account. The reserve for SLM 2008-1 is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance and $1,499,914; for SLM 2008-2, the reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance and $2,199,978; for SLM 2008-5, the reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance and $4,124,895. Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Navient Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as Sallie Mae, Inc.), as servicer, will be responsible for servicing all three 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 (News - Alert) 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 loantransactions. 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. Fitch has affirmed the following rating: SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2008-1: --Class A-2 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class A-3 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class A-4 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class B at 'Asf'; Outlook Stable. SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2008-2: --Class A-2 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class A-3 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class B at 'Asf'; Outlook Stable. SLM Student Loan Trust Series 2008-5: --Class A-3 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class A-4 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class B at 'AAAsf'; 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). Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=748821 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=840731 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 (News - Alert) 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. |
