Morningstar DBRS Confirms and Upgrades Ratings on Two Towd Point Asset Trust Student Loan Transactions

DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) confirmed two notes and upgraded 13 notes from Towd Point Asset Trust 2018-SL1 and Towd Point Asset Trust 2021-SL1.

The credit rating actions are based on the following analytical considerations:

-- The transaction assumptions consider Morningstar DBRS' baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereign economies, available in its commentary "Baseline Macroeconomic Scenarios For Rated Sovereigns: March 2024 Update," published on March 27, 2024. These baseline macroeconomic scenarios replace Morningstar DBRS' moderate and adverse COVID-19 pandemic scenarios, which were first published in April 2020.

-- The upgrades on six classes from Towd Point Asset Trust 2018-SL1 and on seven classes from Towd Point Asset Trust 2021-SL1 are due to increasing credit enhancement and strong multiples commensurate with the respective credit ratings.

-- Transaction capital structure, current credit ratings, and sufficient credit enhancement levels.

-- Credit enhancement is in the form of overcollateralization, reserve account, and excess spread with senior notes benefiting from subordination provided by the junior notes.

-- Credit enhancement levels are sufficient to support the Morningstar DBRS-expected default and loss severity assumptions under various stress scenarios.

-- The transactions parties' capabilities with regard to origination, underwriting, and servicing.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no environmental, social, or governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/427030 (January 23, 2024).

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

The principal methodology applicable to the credit ratings is Morningstar DBRS Master U.S. ABS Surveillance (08 May 2024) https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/432485/morningstar-dbrs-master-u.s.-abs-surveillance

Other methodologies referenced in these transactions are listed at the end of this press release.

The credit ratings were initiated at the request of the rated entity.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the credit rating process for these credit rating actions.

Morningstar DBRS had access to the accounts, management and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with these credit rating actions.

This is a solicited credit rating.

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

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

The credit rating methodologies used in the analysis of this transaction can be found at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/about/methodologies.

-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Servicers (March 21, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/430003
-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Originators (March 21, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/430004
-- Interest Rate Stresses for U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (February 26, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/428623
-- Legal Criteria for U.S. Structured Finance (April 15, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/431205
-- Rating U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (April 15, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/431204
-- Rating U.S. Private Student Loan Securitizations (October 25, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/422385

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit dbrs.morningstar.com or contact us at info-DBRS@morningstar.com.