Fitch Affirms SLM Student Loan Trust 2003-7

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings affirms the SLM Student Loan Trust series 2003-7 senior notes at 'AAAsf' and the subordinate notes at 'BBBsf'. The Rating Outlook remains Stable for all the notes.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral consists of 100% of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) 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 at least 97% reinsurance of principal and accrued interest provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The current U.S. sovereign rating is 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook.

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Credit enhancement is provided by excess spread and overcollateralization. Additionally, the class A notes benefit from subordination provided by the class B notes. As of March 2015, total parity is 100.00% and senior parity is 105.25% (both percentages are excluding the reserve balance). Cash is being released from the trust since it has reached is release threshold of 100% total parity.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account. The reserve is sized equal to the greater of 0.25% of the current pool balance and $3,761,650 floor. The current reserve balance is at its floor.

Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Navient Solutions is the servicer of this trust. In Fitch's opinion, Navient is an acceptable servicer of FFELP student loans.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Since FFELP student loan ABS rely 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 buildup of credit enhancement driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.

Fitch has taken the following rating actions:

SLM Student Loan Trust 2003-7:

--Class A-5A affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;

--Class A-5B affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;

--Class B affirmed at 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' dated March 2015;

--'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria' dated June 2014.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria

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

Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria

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

Additional Disclosure

Solicitation Status

http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=985246

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150522005745/en/

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Emily Lee
Director
+1-212-908-0667
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
33 Whitehall Street
New York, NY 10004
or
Committee Chairperson
Kevin Corrigan
Senior Director
+1-212-908-9156
or
Media Relations:
Sandro Scenga, +1 212-908-0278
[email protected]

Source: Fitch Ratings

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