DBRS Morningstar Takes Rating Actions on Five FFELP Transactions

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) confirmed its ratings on 37 classes of six Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) transactions, and withdrew its rating on the Class A Notes of Blue Ridge Funding Trust.

The rating actions are based on the following analytical considerations:

-- The transaction assumptions consider DBRS Morningstar’s set of macroeconomic scenarios for select economies related to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), available in its commentary “Global Macroeconomic Scenarios: September Update,” published on September 10, 2020. The September 10, 2020, commentary updates DBRS Morningstar's macroeconomic scenarios initially published on April 16, 2020.
-- The assumptions consider the moderate macroeconomic scenario outlined in the commentary, with the moderate scenario serving as the primary anchor for current ratings. The moderate scenario remains predicated on a more rapid return of confidence and a steady recovery heading into 2021.
-- Transaction capital structure, current ratings, and form and sufficiency of available credit enhancement.
-- The transaction parties’ capabilities with regard to origination, underwriting, and servicing.
-- The credit quality of the collateral pool and historical performance as of September 2020.
-- Cash flow analysis was performed by DBRS Morningstar, taking into consideration certain transaction assumptions, which were adjusted to reflect heightened risk due to the coronavirus pandemic. Each class of notes was tested to observe if transaction cashflows were sufficient to pay timely interest and principal in full on or before its legal final maturity date.

ESG CONSIDERATIONS
A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework and its methodologies can be found at: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/357792.

Notes:
The principal methodology is DBRS Morningstar Master U.S. ABS Surveillance (May 27, 2020), which can be found on dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria.

For more information regarding rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/357883.

For more information regarding structured finance rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/358308.

For more information regarding the structured finance rating approach and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/359905.

The rated entity or its related entities did not participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

Please see the related appendix for additional information regarding the sensitivity of assumptions used in the rating process.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at [email protected].

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