Morningstar DBRS Confirms Credit Ratings on Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2012-4

DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) confirmed the credit ratings on both classes of securities issued by Nelnet Student Loan Trust 2012-4.

The credit rating confirmations are based on the following analytical considerations:

-- The transaction assumptions consider Morningstar DBRS’ baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereign economies, available in its commentary “Baseline Macroeconomic Scenarios For Rated Sovereigns: December 2023 Update,” published on December 19, 2023. These baseline macroeconomic scenarios replace Morningstar DBRS’ moderate and adverse COVID-19 pandemic scenarios, which were first published in April 2020.

-- Transaction capital structure, current credit ratings, and sufficient credit enhancement levels.

-- Credit enhancement is in the form of overcollateralization, reserve account, and excess spread with senior notes benefiting from subordination of junior notes.

-- Credit enhancement levels are sufficient to support the Morningstar DBRS-expected default and loss severity assumptions under various stress scenarios.

-- Collateral performance is within expectations, and cumulative net losses remain low. Forbearance, deferment, and delinquency levels remain relatively stable as Federal Family Education Loan Program student loans benefit from guarantees provided by the U.S. Department of Education for at least 97% of principal and accrued interest of defaulted student loans.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no environmental, social, or governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings (January 23, 2024) at https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/427030.

Notes:
The principal methodology applicable to the credit ratings is Morningstar DBRS Master U.S. ABS Surveillance (February 22, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/428506.

Other methodologies referenced in this transaction are listed at the end of this press release.

The credit rating was initiated at the request of the rated entity.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the rating process for this credit rating action.

Morningstar DBRS had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

This is a solicited credit rating.

Please see the related appendix for additional information regarding the sensitivity of assumptions used in the credit rating process.

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The credit rating methodologies used in the analysis of this transaction can be found at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/about/methodologies.

-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Servicers (March 21, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/430003
-- Operational Risk Assessment for U.S. ABS Originators (March 21, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/430004
-- Interest Rate Stresses for U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (February 26, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/428623
-- Legal Criteria for U.S. Structured Finance (December 7, 2023),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/425081
-- Rating U.S. Structured Finance Transactions (February 22, 2024),
https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/428503
-- Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Securitizations (January 13, 2023), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/408396

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit dbrs.morningstar.com or contact us at [email protected].