MOODY'S RATES NORTHSTAR STUDENT LOAN DEAL Aaa AND A2
$1 Billion of Asset-Backed Securities Rated.
New York, April 12, 2004 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned ratings of Aaa to the Student Loan
Asset-Backed Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-1
through 2004-1A-8, and an A2 rating to the Student
Loan Asset-Backed Notes, Subordinate Series 2004-1B-1,
issued by NorthStar Education Finance, Inc. ("NorthStar").
The complete rating actions are as follows:
$100,000,000 Floating Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-1, rated Aaa
$225,000,000 Floating Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-2, rated Aaa
$200,000,000 Floating Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-3, rated Aaa
$225,000,000 Floating Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-4, rated Aaa
$66,000,000 Auction Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-5, rated Aaa
$66,000,000 Auction Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-6, rated Aaa
$44,000,000 Auction Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-7, rated Aaa
$44,000,000 Auction Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Senior Series 2004-1A-8, rated Aaa
$30,000,000 Auction Rate Student Loan Asset-Backed
Notes, Subordinate Series 2004-1B-1, rated A2
RATING RATIONALE
According to Yuval Lifshitz, an Associate analyst at Moody's,
the ratings are based on several factors: (I) the strong quality
of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) guaranteed student
loans underlying the transaction; (ii) a reserve fund equal to the
greater of 0.75% of the outstanding principal amount of
the notes or $1,000,000; (iii) a capitalized interest
fund, funded at $40,000,000 at closing,
which will be reduced to zero at fixed increments quarterly, starting
July 2004 and ending April 2008; (iv) the potential for the buildup
of additional equity over the life of the transaction from the accumulation
of excess spread that cannot be released from the trust unless certain
parity levels are maintained; and (iv) the approximately 5%
subordination provided by the subordinate bonds. Subordination
is expected to increase over time, as no subordinate notes may be
redeemed so long as there are any senior notes outstanding (unless a rating
agency confirmation is obtained).
THIRD ISSUANCE UNDER TRUST INDENTURE
The Senior Series 2004-1A-1, 2004-1A-2,
2004-1A-3, 2004-1A-4, 2004-1A-5,
2004-1A-6, 2004-1A-7 and 2004-1A-8
(collectively, the "Senior Series 2004-1A Notes") and the
Subordinate Series 2004-1B-1 (together with the Senior Series
2004-1A Notes, the "Series 2004-1 Notes") will be
issued under a sixth supplement dated as of March 1, 2004 to the
Trust Indenture originally dated as of November 1, 2000.
Other series of senior and subordinate notes have also been issued under
the Trust Indenture and are secured by the same collateral as the Series
2004-1 Notes. The Series 2004-1A-1,
2004-1A-2, 2004-1A-3 and 2004-1A-4
notes will bear interest based on three-month LIBOR plus a margin
("LIBOR Rate Notes"). The Series 2004-1A-5,
2004-1A-6, 2004-1A-7, 2004-1A-8
and 2004-1B-1 will bear interest based on auction rates
("Auction Rate Notes").
TARGETED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE FOR LIBOR RATE NOTES
The terms of the LIBOR Rate Notes include a targeted amortization schedule
(starting July 28, 2006) with quarterly payments of interest beginning
in July 28, 2004. If the amount available to distribute as
principal on any quarterly distribution date is less than the scheduled
principal amortization amount, it will not be considered an event
of default. Any shortfall between the scheduled principal amortization
amount and what is actually paid will be added to the principal amount
scheduled to be paid on the next quarterly distribution date. If
noteholders receive the targeted amortization amount on each scheduled
payment date, the Series 2004-1A-1 notes will be paid
in full by October 29, 2007, the Series 2004-1A-2
notes will be paid in full by April 28, 2010, the Series 2004-1A-3
notes will be paid in full by January 30, 2012 and the Series 2004-1A-4
notes will be paid in full by April 28, 2014. The LIBOR Rate
Notes can also be optionally redeemed in full on any quarterly distribution
date on or after the date on which the targeted balance on such series
is expected to be zero, at a price of par plus accrued interest.
AUCTION RATE NOTES CAPPED AT NET LOAN RATE
At each auction period, the interest rate for any series of the
Auction Rate Notes will be the least of: (a) the rate determined
pursuant to the auction procedures specified in the transaction documents,
(b) the Maximum Auction Rate, which is based on the 91-day
US Treasury Bill rate for one-year period plus a margin ranging
from 1.2% to 1.75% (based on a rating grid),
(c) the sum of one-month LIBOR and 1%, (d) the Maximum
Interest Rate, which is equal to the lesser of 18% and the
higher rate permitted by law or (e) the Net Loan Rate, during the
Net Loan Rate Period. Similar to the LIBOR Rate Notes, the
Auction Rate Notes may also be redeemed on any auction rate distribution
date, in whole or in part, at a price of par plus accrued
interest. However, no subordinate notes, including
the Series 2004-1B-1 Notes, may be redeemed so long
as there are any senior notes outstanding under the Trust Indenture unless
a rating agency confirmation is obtained.
STRONG UNDERLYING COLLATERAL
All of the student loans underlying the transaction are FFELP loans,
of which the U.S. government indirectly guarantees at least
98% of defaulted principal and accrued interest. Of the
loans in the portfolio as of January 31, 2004, about 60%
(by principal balance) were identified as loans to students at medical
schools, about 23% were identified as loans to students at
Law/MBA schools; and the rest (about 18%) were made to students
at other 4-year or graduate schools. Historically,
loans to students at four-year colleges and graduate schools have
had lower default rates than loans made to students attending two-year
and proprietary schools.
ISSUER AND SERVICER
NorthStar Education Finance, Inc. ("NorthStar") is a Delaware
non-stock nonprofit corporation incorporated in January 2000.
NorthStar is recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. NorthStar was formed to
carry on the student loan programs started by NorthStar Guarantee,
Inc. The student loans underlying this transaction are serviced
on behalf of NorthStar by Great Lakes Educational Loan Services,
Inc.
For further information visit www.moodys.com
New York
Michael Kanef
Managing Director
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
Yuval Lifshitz
Associate Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653