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Fitch Takes Various Actions on Brazos Education Loan Authority, Inc. Indenture 2012-1NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Fitch Ratings affirms the senior notes at 'AAAsf' and upgrades the subordinate notes to 'AAsf' from 'Asf', issued by Brazos Education Loan Authority, Inc. Indenture 2012-1. The Rating Outlook on all notes, which is tied to the sovereign rating of the U.S. government, is 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. Fitch currently rates the U.S. 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook. Sufficient Credit Enhancement (CE): CE is provided by excess spread and overcollateralization. Additionally, the class A notes benefit from subordination provided by the class B notes. Parity levels continue to increase as cash cannot be released until all the bonds are paid-in-full. As of March 2014, the total and senior parity levels were at 103.77% and 107.27%, respectively. Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account. The reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the current pool balance and 0.15% of the initial pool balance. The balance of the reserve account as of April 2014 was $236,892.45. Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Xerox Education Services, Inc., American Education Services, Navient Solutions, Inc. (fka Sallie Mae, Inc.), Great Lakes and Brazos Loan Servicing, Inc. are responsible for the day to day servicing of the student loans. Fitch believes these servicers to be acceptable servicers 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 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. Fitch has taken the following rating actions: Brazos Education Loan Authority, Inc. Indenture Series 2012-1: --Class A affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable; --Class B upgraded to 'AAsf' from 'Asf'; Outlook Stable. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Applicable Criteria and Related Research: --'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' dated May 20, 2014; --'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria' dated June 23, 2014; --'Brazos Education Loan Authority Series 2012-1', New Issue dated June 13, 2014. A comparison of the transaction's RW&Es to those of typical RW&Es for student loans is available by accessing the reports and links below: --'Brazos Education Loan Authority Series 2012-1', New Issue Appendix dated June 13, 2014; 'Representations, Warranties, and Enforcement Mechanisms in Global Structured Finance Transactions -- Amended', dated April 17, 2012. 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 Brazos Education Loan Authority Series 2012-1 http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=749440 Brazos Education Loan Authority Series 2012-1 -- Appendix http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=749930 Representations, Warranties, and Enforcement Mechanisms in Global Structured Finance Transactions http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=676496 Additional Disclosure Solicitation Status http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=837904 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. |
