Approximately $7.1 billion of asset-backed securities affected
New York, March 11, 2009 -- Moody's Investors Service downgraded the ratings on 67 classes of notes
in 12 First Marblehead student loan securitizations backed by private
student loans. The actions are prompted by worse than expected
collateral performance.
The ratings of the notes were placed under review for possible downgrade
on April 8th, 2008 due to uncertainties raised by the lack of an
executed back-up arrangement for collections on loans over 60 days
delinquent. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA),
the primary servicer of all the trusts, is responsible for performing
collection functions on loans up to 60 days delinquent. First Marblehead
Education Resources (FMER), a subsidiary of FMC, organizes
collection activities on loans that are over 60 days past due.
Following the April 8th, 2008 bankruptcy filing of The Education
Resources Institute (TERI), the guarantor of the underlying private
student loans, FMC, a non-rated entity, has voluntarily
covered the costs associated with the collection activities.
Prior to the issuance of this press release, First Marblehead Corporation
(FMC) has set in place a Special Servicing Agreement (Agreement) which
details the duties of the Special Servicer and establishes an agreement
with U.S. Bank as the Back-up Special Servicer with
respect to pre- and post-default collection activities.
Upon the execution of the Agreement, going forward, each trust
will pay for the expenses associated with pre- and post-default
collections.
Moody's rating actions to date are primarily the result of worse
than expected collateral performance, as indicated by the increase
in defaults, particularly for the direct-to-consumer
(DTC) loans in the portfolio. The more seasoned trusts have experienced
higher than expected gross defaults, while the pool factor is still
in the 70-80% range adjusted for capitalized interest.
The more recent trusts, on the other hand, have incurred less
cumulative defaults to date. However, 50% to 80%
(depending on the pool) of the loans are still "in school"
status. Moody's has revised the projected cumulative net
loss as a percentage of the original pool balance from 15-17%
to 21-27%.
The new ratings were based on the comparison between the required credit
enhancement and the available credit enhancement for each class of notes,
including overcollateralization, reserve fund, TERI pledge
fund, subordination and excess spread. The required credit
enhancement was determined based on Moody's revised expected pool
loss and the assumed loss volatility. Other qualitative factors
such as structural features were also reflected in the new ratings.
Significant structural features include note interest triggers,
floor level to the reserve fund and the change of cash flow allocations
among the senior classes under the occurrence of certain events.
Other methodologies and factors that may have been considered in the process
of rating this issue can also be found at www.moodys.com
in the Credit Policy & Methodologies directory.
The complete rating actions are as follows:
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2003-1 (The)
Cl. A-5, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-6, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-7, Downgraded to A1; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to Aa3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B-1, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B-2, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. IO, Downgraded to A1; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Aa3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2004-1
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to A2; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-IO-1, Downgraded to A2; previously
on 10/30/2008 Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-IO-2, Downgraded to A2; previously
on 10/30/2008 Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B-1, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B-2, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2004-2
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba3; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to A2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
NCF Grantor Trust 2004-2
Cl. A-5-1, Downgraded to A2; previously
on 10/30/2008 Downgraded to Aa3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-IO, Downgraded to A2; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to Aa3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2005-1
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2005-2
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to Aa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to Aa2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-5, Downgraded to Baa1; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-5-2, Downgraded to Baa1; previously
on 10/30/2008 Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-IO, Downgraded to Baa1; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to B1; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Baa2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2005-3
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to Aa3; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba3; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Ba2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-1
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba3; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Ba2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-2
Cl. A-1, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to A3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-IO, Downgraded to A3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba3; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Baa1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-3
Cl. A-1, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-4
Cl. A-1, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-4, Downgraded to A2; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba2; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to A3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to B1; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Ba2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. D, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl.A-IO, Downgraded to A2; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to A1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2007-1
Cl. A-1, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Ba1; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to Baa2 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. C, Downgraded to B2; previously on 10/30/2008 Downgraded
to B1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. D, Downgraded to Caa3; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to B3 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2007-2
Cl. A-1, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-2, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. A-3, Downgraded to Aa1; previously on 4/8/2008
Aaa Placed Under Review for Possible Downgrade
Cl. B, Downgraded to Baa2; previously on 10/30/2008
Downgraded to Baa1 and Remained on Review for Possible Downgrade
Please see www.moodys.com for more information.
New York
John Park
Managing Director
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
JingJing Dang
Associate Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's downgrades First Marblehead student loan notes