OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings expects to rate Michigan Finance Authority asset-backed notes, series 2015-1 (series 2015-1) as follows:

--\$302,600,000 floating rate class A notes 'AAAsf(EXP)'; Outlook Stable;
--\$9,000,000 floating rate class B notes 'A+sf(EXP)'; Outlook Stable.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

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

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Cash flow scenarios for the series 2015-1 notes were satisfactory under Fitch's 'AAAsf' and 'A+sf' stress. Total credit enhancement (CE) is provided by overcollateralization and excess spread. At closing, senior and total parity is expected to be 103.29% and 100.30% respectively. No excess cash will be released from the trust until all notes are paid in full.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support for the series 2015-1 notes is provided by a debt service reserve fund sized at \$771,954, which will be funded at closing with note proceeds. The debt service reserve fund has a specified reserve requirement amount defined as a minimum of 0.25% of the ending pool balance as of the current collection period and 0.15% of the original pool balance (\$463,172).

Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: The series 2015-1 portfolio will be serviced by Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (Great Lakes), Nelnet Servicing, LLC (Nelnet), and Navient Solutions, Inc. (Navient). Fitch deems Great Lakes, Nelnet, and Navient to be adequate servicers of FFELP 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 CE driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.