Fitch Takes Various Actions on Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2006-3

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has affirmed three tranches of notes for Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2006-3, and maintains the Rating Watch Negative on the A-6 note.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral is composed entirely of student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The credit quality of the trust 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. The Stable Outlook on the notes is consistent with Fitch's affirmation of the U.S. sovereign rating at 'AAA'/Outlook Stable.

Credit Enhancement: Credit Enhancement (CE) is provided by overcollateralization (OC), excess spread, and for the class A notes, subordination provided by the class B notes. As of November 2015, the senior and total parities are 105.20% and 100.46% respectively. Excess cash is currently released from the trust as long as the OC level is maintained.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account which is determined as the greater of 0.25% of the pool balance and $3,294,279.

Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Nelnet Inc. as the servicer is responsible for the day-to-day servicing of this trust. In Fitch's opinion, Nelnet is an acceptable servicer of FFELP student loans.

On Nov. 18, 2015, Fitch released its exposure draft which delineates revisions it plans to make to the 'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria', dated June 23, 2014. Fitch has reviewed this transaction under both the existing and proposed criteria, which has resulted in maintaining the Nelnet 2006-3 class A-6 note on Rating Watch Negative.

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, basis risk, and loan extension risk account for the majority of the risk embedded in FFELP student loan transactions. Additional defaults, basis shock beyond Fitch's published stresses, lower than expected payment speed, and other factors could result in future downgrades. Likewise, a buildup of CE 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 takes the following actions:

Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2006-3:--Class A-4 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;--Class A-5 affirmed at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;--Class A-6 'AAAsf'; Rating Watch Negative maintained;--Class B affirmed at 'A+sf'; Outlook Stable.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable CriteriaCounterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 14 May 2014)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds (pub. 19 Dec 2014)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=838868Exposure Draft: Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria (pub. 04 Dec 2015)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=874971Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015)https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952Rating 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 DisclosuresDodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Formhttps://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=997845Solicitation Statushttps://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=997845Endorsement Policyhttps://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160113006328/en/

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Harry Kohl
Associate Director
+1-212-908-0837
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
33 Whitehall Street
New York, NY 10004
or
Committee Chairperson
Michael Dean
Managing Director
+1-212-908-0556
or
Media Relations
Sandro Scenga, +1 212-908-0278
[email protected]

Source: Fitch Ratings

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