Fitch Affirms Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Series 2013-2; Outlook Stable

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has affirmed the notes issued by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Series 2013-2 at 'AAAsf'. The Rating Outlook remains Stable.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral consists of 100% of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEP) loans. The credit quality of the trust collateral is high, in Fitch's opinion, based on the guarantees provided by the transaction's eligible guarantors and reinsurance provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for at least 97% of principal and accrued interest. Fitch currently rates the U.S. 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook.

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit Enhancement is provided by overcollateralization (OC; the excess of trust's asset balance over bond balance) and excess spread. As of May 2015, reported parity is 104.66%. Excess spread must build to 1.7% of the adjusted pool balance plus 1.9% of the initial adjusted pool balance before excess cash can be released.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account. The reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance, and $509,562.

Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: PHEAA is responsible for the day to day servicing of the trust. Fitch has reviewed the servicing operations of PHEAA and believes PHEAA to be an acceptable servicer of FFELP student loans.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Since the FFELP student loan ABS relies on the U.S. government to reimburse defaults, 'AAAsf' FFELP ABS ratings will likely move in tandem with the 'AAA' U.S. sovereign rating. Aside from the U.S. sovereign rating, defaults and basis risk account for the majority of the risk embedded in FFELP student loan transactions. Additional defaults and basis shock beyond Fitch's published stresses could result in future downgrades. Likewise, a build-up of credit enhancement driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE

No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.

Fitch has affirmed the following ratings:

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Series 2013-2

--2013-2 note at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable Criteria

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 31 Mar 2015)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=864268

Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria (pub. 23 Jun 2014)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=750530

Additional Disclosures

Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=987377

Solicitation Status

https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=987377

Endorsement Policy

https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150702005623/en/

Fitch Ratings
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or
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Source: Fitch Ratings

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