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Fitch Affirms Minnesota Office of Higher Education 2008 Series A & BNEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Fitch Ratings has affirmed the long- and short-term ratings of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education's supplemental student loan program revenue bonds, 2008 series A (taxable) and B (tax-exempt). The ratings will expire on the earliest to occur of: (1) October 1, 2014, which is the stated expiration date of the letter of credit, unless such date is extended; (2) any prior termination of the letter of credit; or (3) defeasance of the bonds. KEY RATING DRIVERS The ratings are based on the support provided by a direct-pay letter of credit (LOC) issued by U.S. Bank, N.A. (U.S. Bank), providing full support to the bonds. U.S. Bank is obligated to make payments of principal and interest on the bonds upon maturity, acceleration and redemption, as well as the purchase price for tendered bonds. The current Fitch rating for U.S. Bank, N.A. is 'AA-/F1+' with a Stable Outlook. RATING SENSITIVITIES The rating of the bonds is exclusively tied to the long- and short-term ratings that Fitch maintains on the bank providing the LOC and will reflect all changes to the bank's ratings. Fitch has affirmed the following: Minnesota Office of Higher Education 2008 --2008A (Taxable) bonds at 'AA-/F1+'; Outlook Stable; --2008B (Tax Exempt) bonds at 'AA-/F1+'; Outlook Stable. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Applicable Criteria and Related Research: --'Rating Guidelines for Letter of Credit-Supported Bonds' (June 2, 2014). Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Rating Guidelines for Letter of Credit-Supported Bonds and Commercial Paper http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=749431 Additional Disclosure Solicitation Status http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=847194 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. |
