DBRS Morningstar Finalizes Provisional Ratings to EDvestinU Private Education Loan Issue No. 3, LLC

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) finalized its provisional ratings on the following classes of notes issued by EDvestinU Private Education Loan Issue No. 3, LLC (NHHELCO 2021-A):

-- $223,600,000 Class A Notes rated AAA (sf)
-- $32,000,000 Class B Notes rated A (sf)

The ratings are based on DBRS Morningstar’s review of 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) pandemic, available in its commentary “Global Macroeconomic Scenarios: January Update,” published on January 28, 2021. DBRS Morningstar initially published macroeconomic scenarios on April 16, 2020, which have been regularly updated. The scenarios were last updated on January 28, 2021, and are reflected in DBRS Morningstar’s rating analysis.
-- 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 factors in increasing success in containment during the first half of 2021, enabling the continued relaxation of restrictions.
-- The transaction’s form and sufficiency of available credit enhancement. Overcollateralization, subordination, reserve fund amounts, and excess spread create credit enhancement levels and liquidity that are commensurate with the ratings.
-- Transaction cash flows are sufficient to repay investors under all AAA (sf) and A (sf) stress scenarios in accordance with the terms of the EDvestinU No. 3 transaction documents.
-- The sequential pay structure.
-- The quality and credit characteristics of the student loan borrowers.
-- The capabilities of New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation (NHHELCO) with regard to originations and underwriting.
-- The ability of NHHELCO, as servicer, to perform collections on the collateral pool and other required activities.
-- The legal structure and legal opinions that are consistent with DBRS Morningstar’s “Legal Criteria for U.S. Structured Finance.”

The collateral securing NHHELCO 2021-A consists of private in-school student loans and student loan refinancings originated pursuant to the New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation’s EDvestinU Loan Program. New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation acts as servicer for 100% of the student loans. Nelnet Servicing, LLC acts as backup servicer.

ESG CONSIDERATIONS
A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262.

Notes:
All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology is Rating U.S. Private Student Loan Securitizations (November 5, 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 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.

The full report providing additional analytical detail is available by clicking on the link under Related Documents below or by contacting us at [email protected].

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

DBRS, Inc.
140 Broadway, 43rd Floor
New York, NY 10005 USA
Tel. +1 212 806-3277