ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549


FORM 10-K


(Mark One)


xAnnual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

2017 or


¨Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the transition period from                    to

to_________


Commission File Number of issuing entity: 333-166301-10


Central Index Key of issuing entity: 0001559856


SLM STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2012-7

(Exact name of issuing entity as specified in its charter)


Commission File Number of depositor: 333-166301

Central Index Key of depositor: 0000949114


NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC

(Exact name of depositor as specified in its charter)


Central Index Key of sponsor: 0001601725


NAVIENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

LLC

(Exact name of sponsor as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE 

04-3480392

04-3480392

54-1843973

(State (State or other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. (I.R.S. Employer

Identification Nos.)


c/o Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

Mailstop NYC 60-2720

New York, New York 10005

(Address of principal executive offices of issuing entity)


(703) 984-5858

984-6890

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


Indicate by check mark if registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes ¨ No x


Indicate by check mark if registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ¨ No x


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No ¨


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x No ¨


Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “smaller reporting“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

Act:
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Large Accelerated Filer¨Accelerated Filer¨
Non-Accelerated Filerx  (Do(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller Reporting Companyreporting company
¨Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ No x


State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.


Not applicable.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

Not applicable.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s class of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Not applicable.

List hereunder the



PART I

The following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g. Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g. annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).

Not applicable.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) is filedItems have been omitted in accordance with respect to SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7 (the “Issuing Entity”). Certain information requested by this Report is omitted pursuant to Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101) and SEC Releases 33-8518; 34-50905; December 24, 2004 (“Regulation AB”) and General Instruction J to Form 10-K.


PART I

10–K:

Item 1. Business

Omitted.

Item 1.Business

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Omitted.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not Applicable.

Item 1A.Risk Factors

Item 2.Properties

Item 2. Properties

Omitted.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Omitted.

Item 3.Legal Proceedings

Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.


Not Applicable.

2


PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Omitted.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Omitted.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

Omitted.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Omitted.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Omitted.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Omitted.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Omitted.

Item 9B. Other Information

Nothing to report.

3


PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Omitted.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Omitted.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Omitted.

Item 13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Omitted.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Omitted.


The following information is substitute information provided in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:


Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB. Significant Obligor Financial Information


No single obligor represents more than 10% of the pool assets held by the Issuing Entity.


Items 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB. Credit Enhancement and Other Support, Except for Certain Derivatives


No entity or group of affiliated entities provides external credit enhancement or other support with respect to payments on the notes issued by the Issuing Entity.


Items 1115(b) of Regulation AB. Credit Derivatives Instruments


No entity or group of affiliated entities provides derivative instruments with respect to payments on the notes issued by the Issuing Entity.


Item 1117 of Regulation AB. Legal Proceedings


Other than as stated in the following paragraph,paragraphs, no legal proceedings are pending against the Issuing Entity, Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as the Sponsor, the Servicer and the Administrator, Navient Funding, LLC, as the Depositor (the “Depositor”) and registrant under Registration Statement Number 333-166301 (the “Registrant”) or to the Registrant’s knowledge, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as the Indenture Trustee that are or would be material to the holders of the notes issued by the Issuing Entity, nor does the Registrant know of any such proceeding contemplated by any governmental authorities.

2

The following four paragraphs are disclosure received from Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), the servicer for this transaction.
On January 18, 2017, the CFPB and Attorneys General for the State of Illinois and the State of Washington (collectively the “Attorneys General”) initiated civil actions naming Navient Corporation and several of its subsidiaries as defendants alleging violations of Federal and State consumer protection statutes, including the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and various state consumer protection laws. These civil actions are related to the aforementioned CIDs and the NORA letter that were previously issued by the CFPB and the Attorneys General. In addition to these matters, a number of lawsuits have been filed by nongovernmental parties or may be filed by additional governmental or nongovernmental parties, including other state attorneys general or private litigants, seeking damages or other remedies related to similar issues raised by the CFPB and the Attorneys General.  One such lawsuit was filed on October 5, 2017 by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, naming Navient Corporation and Navient Solutions, LLC as defendants alleging claims and seeking legal and equitable relief that are substantially similar to claims made and relief by the CFPB and other Attorneys General.  The Company filed its Motion to Dismiss on March 20, 2017 with respect to the Attorneys General actions and on March 24, 2017 with respect to the CFPB action.  In April 2017, the CFPB filed their response to our Motion to Dismiss and in May 2017, we filed our response.  A hearing on our Motion to Dismiss was held on June 27, 2017 and the Court denied our motion on August 4, 2017.  On May 24, 2017, the WA AG filed their response to our Motion to Dismiss and on July 5, 2017, we filed our response.  The Motion to Dismiss was denied on July 10, 2017, after a hearing.  On May 24, 2017, the IL AG filed their response to our Motion to Dismiss and on June 30, 2017, we filed our response. A hearing on our Motion to Dismiss was held on July 18, 2017 and as of March 29, 2018, the Court has not ruled on the motion.   In relation to the Pennsylvania Attorney General lawsuit, the Company filed its Motion to Dismiss on December 22, 2017.  The motion has not been heard by the court.  As the Company has previously stated, we believe the suits improperly seek to impose penalties on Navient based on new servicing standards applied retroactively and applied only against one servicer and that the allegations are false. We intend to vigorously defend against the allegations included in these lawsuits and any subsequent lawsuits that may be filed by governmental or nongovernmental parties, including other state attorneys general or private litigants, seeking similar damages and remedies. At this point in time, the Company is unable to anticipate the timing of a resolution or the ultimate impact that these legal proceedings may have on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operation or cash flows. As a result, it is not possible at this time to estimate a range of potential exposure, if any, for amounts that may be payable in connection with these matters and reserves have not been established. It is possible that an adverse ruling or rulings may have a material adverse impact on the Company.
During the first quarter of 2016, Navient Corporation, certain Navient officers and directors, and the underwriters of certain Navient securities offerings were sued in three putative securities class action lawsuits filed on behalf of certain investors in Navient stock or Navient unsecured debt. These three cases, which were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, were consolidated by the District Court, with Lord Abbett Funds appointed as Lead Plaintiff. The caption of the consolidated case is Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc., et al. v. Navient Corporation, et al. The plaintiffs filed their amended and consolidated complaint in September 2016. The Court ruled on our Motion to Dismiss on September 6, 2017 and dismissed the complaint in its entirety without prejudice. The plaintiffs filed a further amended and restated complaint on November 17, 2017.  The Navient defendants intend to vigorously defend against the allegations.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, Navient Corporation and certain Navient officers were named in two putative class action lawsuits filed on behalf of certain investors in Navient stock entitled Pope v. Navient Corporation, et al and Gross v. Navient Corporation, et al.  These cases have been consolidated.  The Navient defendants intend to vigorously defend against these allegations.
At this stage in the proceedings, we are unable to anticipate the timing of resolution or the ultimate impact, if any, that the legal proceedings may have on the consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash-flows of Navient and its affiliates. As a result, it is not possible at this time to estimate a range of potential exposure, if any, for amounts that may be payable in connection with these matters and reserves have not been established. It is possible that an adverse ruling or rulings may have a material adverse impact on the Company.

The following eight paragraphs are disclosure received from Deutsche Bank National Trust Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (“DBNTC”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DBTCA”) have been sued by investors in civil litigation concerning their role as trustees of certain residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) trusts.
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On June 18, 2014, a group of investors, including funds managed by Blackrock Advisors, LLC, PIMCO-Advisors, L.P., and others, filed a derivative action against Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DBTCA”)DBNTC and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (“DBNTC”)DBTCA in New York State Supreme Court purportedly on behalf of and for the benefit of 544 private-label RMBS trusts asserting claims for alleged violations of the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (TIA)(“TIA”), breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence based on DBNTC and DBTCA’s alleged failure to perform their duties as trustees for the trusts. Plaintiffs subsequently dismissed their state court complaint and filed a derivative and class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of and for the benefit of 564 private-label RMBS trusts, which substantially overlapped with the trusts at issue in the state court action. The complaint alleges that the trusts at issue have suffered total realized collateral losses of U.S. $89.4 billion, but the complaint does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain. DBNTC and DBTCA filed a motion to dismiss, and on January 19, 2016, the court partially granted the motion on procedural grounds: as to the 500 trusts that are governed by Poolingpooling and Servicing Agreements,servicing agreements, the court declined to exercise jurisdiction. The court did not rule on substantive defenses asserted in the motion to dismiss as to the 64 trusts formed under indentures for which it retained jurisdiction. Instead, the court ordered plaintiffs to file an amended complaint as to those indenture trusts.dismiss.  On February 23,March 22, 2016, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint as toin federal court.  In the amended complaint, in connection with 62 trusts governed by indenture agreements, plaintiffs assert claims for breach of contract, violation of the 64 indentureTIA, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of duty to avoid conflicts of interest.   The amended complaint alleges that the trusts includedat issue have suffered total realized collateral losses of U.S. $9.8 billion, but the complaint does not include a demand for money damages in the original U.S. District Court complaint.a sum certain.  On July 15, 2016, DBNTC and DBTCA will have an opportunityfiled a motion to file new defensive motionsdismiss the amended complaint.  On January 23, 2017, the court granted in part and denied in part DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion to dismiss.  The court granted the motion to dismiss with respect to thisplaintiffs’ conflict-of-interest claim, thereby dismissing it, and denied the motion to dismiss with respect to plaintiffs’ breach of contract claim (except as noted below) and claim for violation of the TIA, thereby allowing those claims to proceed.  On January 26, 2017, the parties filed a joint stipulation and proposed order dismissing plaintiffs’ claim for breach of fiduciary duty.  On January 27, 2017, the court entered the parties’ joint stipulation and ordered that plaintiffs’ claim for breach of fiduciary duty be dismissed.  On February 3, 2017, following a hearing concerning DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion to dismiss on February 2, 2017, the court issued a short form order dismissing (i) plaintiffs’ representation and warranty claims as to 21 trusts whose originators and/or sponsors had entered bankruptcy and the deadline for asserting claims against such originators and/or sponsors had passed as of 2009 and (ii) plaintiffs’ claims to the extent they were premised upon any alleged pre-Event of Default duty to terminate servicers.  On March 27, 2017, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the amended complaint.  ItOn January 26, 2018, Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification.  The motion is anticipated thatbeing briefed by the parties.  Discovery is ongoing.

On March 25, 2016, the BlackRock plaintiffs will,filed a state court action against DBTCA in the near future, fileSuperior Court of California, Orange County with respect to 513 trusts.  On May 18, 2016, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint with respect to 465 trusts, and included DBNTC as an additional defendant.  The amended complaint asserts three causes of action:  breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; and breach of the duty to avoid conflicts of interest.  Plaintiffs purport to bring the action on behalf of themselves and all other current owners of certificates in the 465 trusts.  The amended complaint alleges that the trusts at issue have suffered total realized collateral losses of U.S. $75.7 billion, but does not include a new state court complaintdemand for money damages in a sum certain.  On August 22, 2016, DBNTC and DBTCA filed a demurrer as to some or allPlaintiffs’ breach of fiduciary duty cause of action and breach of the 500duty to avoid conflicts of interest cause of action and motion to strike as to Plaintiffs’ breach of contract cause of action.  On October 18, 2016, the court granted DBNTC and DBTCA’s demurrer, providing Plaintiffs with thirty days’ leave to amend, and denied DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion to strike.  Plaintiffs did not further amend their complaint and, on December 19, 2016, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the amended complaint.  On January 17, 2018, Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification.  The motion is being briefed by the parties.  Discovery is ongoing.

On June 18, 2014, Royal Park Investments SA/NV filed a class and derivative action complaint on behalf of investors in ten RMBS trusts governed by Pooling and Servicing Agreements which were dismissed fromagainst DBNTC in the U.S. District Court action. for the Southern District of New York asserting claims for alleged violations of the TIA, breach of contract and breach of trust based on DBNTC’s alleged failure to perform its duties as trustee for the trusts. Royal Park’s complaint alleges that the total realized losses of the ten trusts amount to over U.S. $3.1 billion, but does not allege damages in a sum certain. On February 3, 2016, the court granted in part and dismissed in part plaintiffs’ claims: the court dismissed plaintiff’s TIA claim and its derivative theory and denied DBNTC’s motion to dismiss the breach of contract and breach of trust claims. On March 18, 2016 DBNTC filed an answer to the complaint. On May 26, 2016, Royal Park filed a motion for class certification. On March 21, 2017, the court denied Royal Park’s motion for class certification, but granted Royal Park leave to renew its motion to propose a redefined class.  On May 1, 2017, Royal Park filed a renewed motion for class certification.  As of May 30, 2017, Royal Park’s renewed motion for class certification has been briefed and is awaiting decision by the court.  Discovery is ongoing.  On August 4, 2017, Royal Park filed a separate, additional class action complaint against DBNTC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asserting claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, conversion, breach of trust, equitable accounting and declaratory and injunctive relief arising out of the payment from trust funds of DBNTC’s legal fees and expenses in the other, ongoing Royal Park litigation.  On October 10, 2017, DBNTC filed a motion to dismiss Royal Park’s separate, additional complaint.  As of November 30, 2017, DBNTC’s motion to dismiss has been briefed and is awaiting decision by the court.
4

On December 23, 2014, certain special purpose entities including Phoenix Light SF Limited that held RMBS certificates issued by 21 RMBS trusts filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against DBNTC as trustee of the trusts, asserting claims for violation of the TIA and the Streit Act, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, gross negligence, and negligent misrepresentation, based on DBNTC’s alleged failure to perform its duties as trustee for the trusts.  On April 10, 2015, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint relating to an additional 34 trusts (for a total of 55 trusts) and amended their complaint for a second time on July 15, 2015 to include additional allegations and to drop their claim for negligent misrepresentation.  In that complaint, plaintiffs alleged damages of over U.S. $527 million.  On February 2, 2016, the court entered a stipulation signed by the parties to dismiss with prejudice claims relating to four of the 55 trusts, leaving 51 trusts at issue.  DBNTC filed a motion to dismiss.  On March 29, 2016, the court granted in part and denied in part DBNTC’s motion to dismiss.  The court allowed the majority of plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims to proceed.  The court denied DBNTC’s motion to dismiss breach of fiduciary duty claims.  The court granted the motion to dismiss to the extent that negligence claims were duplicative of breach of contract claims but denied the motion to dismiss to the extent plaintiffs alleged DBNTC violated extra-contractual duties.  In addition, the court dismissed breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claims.  The court also denied the motion to dismiss claims for alleged violations of Sections 315(b) and 315(c) of the TIA, but dismissed claims under 316(b).  Finally, the court dismissed plaintiffs’ Streit Act claim.  Following the court’s decision on the motion to dismiss, 46 trusts remained at issue.  On May 13, 2016, DBNTC filed an answer to the amended complaint.  On December 20, 2016, the court ordered the parties’ stipulation dismissing plaintiffs’ claims relating to three trusts, leaving 43 trusts at issue.  On September 27, 2017, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint that names DBTCA as a defendant in addition to DBNTC.  DBTCA serves as trustee for one of the 43 trusts at issue.  DBNTC serves as trustee for the other 42 trusts at issue.  Plaintiffs’ third amended complaint brings claims for violation of the TIA; breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence and gross negligence; violation of the Streit Act; and breach of the covenant of good faith.  However, in the third amended complaint, plaintiffs acknowledge that the court previously dismissed plaintiffs’ TIA Act claims, negligence and gross negligence claims, Streit Act claims, claims for breach of the covenant of good faith, and certain theories of plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims, and plaintiffs only include these claims to preserve any rights on appeal.  Plaintiffs allege damages of “hundreds of millions of dollars.”  On November 13, 2017, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the third amended complaint.  Discovery is ongoing.

On March 24, 2015, the Western and Southern Life Insurance Company and five related entities (collectively “Western & Southern”), as investors in 18 RMBS trusts, filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, Ohio, against DBNTC as trustee for 12 of those trusts, asserting claims for violation of the TIA and the Streit Act, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, based on DBNTC’s alleged failure to perform its duties as trustee for the trusts. DBNTC filed a motion to dismiss based upon lack of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens; a motion to stay the case pending the resolution of similar actions in New York against DBNTC; and a motion to sever the claims against DBNTC from those against its co-defendant.  On November 5, 2015, the court denied DBNTC’s motion to dismiss and motion to stay the case but granted DBNTC’s motion to sever.  After DBNTC’s first motion to dismiss was decided, DBNTC filed another motion to dismiss, this time for failure to state a claim.  On June 24, 2016, the court granted in part and denied in part DBNTC’s motion to dismiss.  The court allowed the majority of plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims to proceed.  The court granted the motion to dismiss most negligence claims as duplicative breach of contract claims, but denied the motion to dismiss negligence/breach of fiduciary duty claims insofar as those claims relate to alleged conflicts of interest.   In addition, the court dismissed claims alleging: (a) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (b) negligent misrepresentation, (c) breach of the TIA, (d) any breach of alleged duties relating to the misconduct of IndyMac Bank fsb, the sponsor of 9 of the 12 trusts at issue, (e) any breaches relating to one resecuritization trust at issue, as to which the court found plaintiffs had alleged no breaches by DBNTC, and (f) breach of the Streit Act.  On July 25, 2016, DBNTC filed an answer to the complaint.  On October 14, 2016, Western & Southern filed an amended complaint, asserting claims for violation of the TIA and the Streit Act, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  In the amended complaint, Western & Southern alleges that it purchased certificates of the trusts with a face value of more than U.S.$168 million and that the trusts at issue have suffered total realized collateral losses of U.S.$ 1 billion, but the amended complaint does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain.  On November 18, 2016, DBNTC filed an answer to the amended complaint.  On September 28, 2017, Western & Southern voluntarily dismissed its case without prejudice.
5

On December 23, 2015, Commerzbank AG (“Commerzbank”), as an investor in 50 RMBS trusts, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against DBNTC as trustee of the trusts, asserting claims for violations of the TIA and New York’s Streit Act, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and breach of the covenant of good faith, based on DBNTC’s alleged failure to perform its duties as trustee for the trusts. Commerzbank alleges that DBNTC caused it to suffer “hundreds of millions of dollars in losses,” but the complaint does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain.  On April 29, 2016, Commerzbank filed an amended complaint.  The amended complaint asserts the same claims as did the original complaint, and, like the original complaint, alleges that DBNTC caused Commerzbank to suffer “hundreds of millions of dollars in losses,” but does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain.  On May 27, 2016, DBNTC filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint.  On February 10, 2017, the court granted in part and denied in part DBNTC’s motion to dismiss.  The court granted the motion to dismiss with respect to Commerzbank’s claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and claim under the Streit Act, dismissing those claims with prejudice.  The court also granted the motion to dismiss with respect to Commerzbank’s claim under the TIA as to the 46 trusts at issue governed by pooling and servicing agreements, dismissing that claim with prejudice as to those 46 trusts.  The court also granted the motion to dismiss, without prejudice, with respect to Commerzbank’s breach of contract claim as to ten trusts whose governing agreements limit the right to file suit under the governing agreements to certain specified parties, including the registered holder of a certificate issued by the trust.  The court held that, although Commerzbank has not received authorization from the registered holder of the certificates at issue to file suit, it may still obtain that authorization from the registered holder.  The court denied the remainder of the motion to dismiss.  Therefore, with the exception of the claims relating to the ten trusts for which Commerzbank has not received authorization to file suit, Commerzbank’s claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence will proceed.  Commerzbank’s claim under the TIA as to the four trusts governed by agreements other than pooling and servicing agreements will also proceed.  On May 1, 2017, DBNTC filed an answer to the amended complaint.  On November 30, 2017, Commerzbank filed a second amended complaint that names DBTCA as a defendant in addition to DBNTC.  DBTCA serves as trustee for 1 of the 50 trusts at issue.  DBNTC serves as trustee for the other 49 trusts at issue.  Commerzbank’s second amended complaint brings claims for violation of the TIA; breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence; violation of the Streit Act; and breach of the covenant of good faith.  However, in the second amended complaint, Commerzbank acknowledges that the court previously dismissed its TIA claims for the trusts governed by pooling and servicing agreements, as well as its Streit Act claims and claims for breach of the covenant of good faith, and Commerzbank only includes these claims to preserve any rights on appeal.  The second amended complaint alleges that DBNTC and DBTCA caused Commerzbank to suffer “hundreds of millions of dollars in losses,” but the complaint does not include a demand for money damages in a sum certain.  On January 29, 2018, DBNTC and DBTCA filed an answer to the second amended complaint.  Discovery is ongoing.

On December 30, 2015, IKB International, S.A. in Liquidation and IKB Deutsche Industriebank A.G. (collectively, “IKB”), as an investor in 37 RMBS trusts, filed a Summons With Noticesummons with notice in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, state court naming as defendantsNew York County, against DBNTC and DBTCA as trustees of 37 RMBS trusts (the “IKB Action”). Thethe trusts.  On May 27, 2016, IKB served its complaint asserting claims in the IKB Action appearfor breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty to be substantively similar to the SDNY Action. The IKB Action is not styled as a putative class action, but may attempt to bring derivative claims on behalfavoid conflicts of interest, violation of New York’s Streit Act, violation of the named RMBS Trusts.Trust Indenture Act, violation of Regulation AB, and violation of Section 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.  IKB alleges that DBNTC and DBTCA intendsare liable for over U.S. $268 million in damages.  On October 5, 2016, DBNTC and DBTCA, together with several other trustees defending lawsuits by IKB, filed a joint motion to

4


vigorously defend dismiss.  On January 6, 2017, IKB filed a notice of discontinuance, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to three trusts.  As of January 17, 2017, DBNTC and DBTCA’s motion to dismiss has been briefed and is awaiting decision by the IKB Action. DBTCA hascourt.  On June 20, 2017, the parties filed a stipulation, voluntarily dismissing with prejudice all claims as to four additional trusts.  Certain limited discovery is permitted to go forward while the motion to dismiss is pending.


It is DBTCA’s and DBNTC’s belief that they have no pending legal proceedings (including, based on DBTCA’s presentand DBNTC’s current evaluation, the litigation disclosed in this paragraph)the immediately preceding seven paragraphs that would materially affect itstheir ability to perform itstheir duties as trustee on behalf ofunder the trust identified on the cover ofIndenture for this transaction.
6

PART II

The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K. Such trust10–K:

Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Item 6.Selected Financial Data

Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.Other Information

Nothing to report.
7

PART III

The following Items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:

Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Item 11.Executive Compensation

Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.Certain Relationships, Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14.Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following information is not a partysubstitute information provided in accordance with General Instruction J to this litigation.

Form 10-K:


Item 1119 of Regulation AB. Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions


Pursuant to the Instruction to Item 1119 of Regulation AB, information required by Item 1119 has been omitted from this Report because substantially the same information related to affiliates of the Issuing Entity and certain relationships and related transactions is provided in the section titled “The Sponsor, Servicer and Administrator” of the base prospectus, previously filed with the SEC on May 22, 2014November 6, 2012 pursuant to Securities Act Rule 424, file number 333-190926.

333-166301.


Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria


Navient Solutions, Inc.,LLC, as the Servicer, Navient Solutions, Inc.,LLC, as the Administrator and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as the Indenture Trustee (collectively, the “Servicing Parties”) have each been identified by the Depositor as parties participating in the servicing function with respect to the asset pool held by the Issuing Entity. Each of the Servicing Parties has completed a report on assessment of compliance with the servicing criteria applicable to it (each a “Servicing Report”), which Servicing Reports are attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K. Each of the Servicing Parties have provided an attestation report (each an “Attestation Report”) by one or more public accounting firms, which reports are also attached as exhibits to this Report. None of the Servicing Reports or Attestation Reports has identified any material instance of noncompliance with the servicing criteria as applicable to the respective Servicing Party. There have been no material instances of noncompliance with the servicing criteria for the period of this Report.


Item 1123 of Regulation AB. Servicer Compliance Statement


A Servicer Compliance Statement for each of Navient Solutions, Inc.,LLC, as Servicer, and Navient Solutions, Inc.,LLC, as Administrator, is included as an exhibit to this Report.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules


Item 15.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)List of Documents Filed as Part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K


(1)Not applicable.


(2)Not applicable.


(3)See Item 15 (b) below.


(b)Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K


EXHIBIT

 

DESCRIPTION

 
4.1 Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.1 Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.2 Servicing Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, and Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.8 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.3Administration Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, Navient Funding, LLC, as depositor, and Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
31.1*Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) Certification. (Section 302 Certification).
33.1*Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.
33.2*Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.
34.1*Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.
34.2*Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.
35.1*Statement of Compliance of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator for the year ended December 31, 2017.
* Filed herewith.

(c)Not Applicable.
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed, on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 30, 2018NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC,
the Depositor for itself as Registrant and on behalf of SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7
By:/s/ CHRISTIAN LOWN
Name:Christian Lown
Title:President and Chief Financial Officer
(Senior Securitization Officer)

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT.

No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material has been sent to holders of the notes issued by the Issuing Entity during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Registrant does not intend to furnish such materials subsequent to the filing of the report.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
Servicing Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, and Navient Solutions, Inc., as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.8 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.3 
Administration Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, Navient Funding, LLC, as depositor, and Navient Solutions, Inc., as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
31.1 Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) Certification. (Section 302 Certification).
33.1 Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017.
33.2 Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017.
34.1 Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017.
34.2 Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017.
35.1 Statement of Compliance of Navient Solutions, LLC (formerly, Navient Solutions, Inc.), as Servicer and Administrator for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017.

 (c)Not Applicable.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed, on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 30, 2016 

NAVIENT FUNDING, LLC,

the Depositor for itself as Registrant and on behalf of SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7

By:

/s/ SOMSAK CHIVAVIBUL

Name:Somsak Chivavibul
Title:

President and Chief Financial Officer

(Senior Securitization Officer)

* Filed herewith.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT.

No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material has been sent to holders of the notes issued by the Issuing Entity during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Registrant does not intend to furnish such materials subsequent to the filing of the report.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number

Exhibit

  4.1Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.1Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.2Servicing Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, and Navient Solutions, Inc., as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.8 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
10.3Administration Agreement dated as of November 8, 2012 among SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-7, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as indenture trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as eligible lender trustee, Navient Funding, LLC, as depositor, and Navient Solutions, Inc., as servicer and as administrator, which is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.7 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant, as filed with the Commission on November 8, 2012, with a file number of 333-166301-10.
31.1Rule 13a-14(d)/15d-14(d) Certification. (Section 302 Certification).
33.1Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, Inc., as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.
33.2Report on Assessment of Compliance with Servicing Criteria concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.
34.1Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Navient Solutions, Inc., as Servicer and Administrator, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.
34.2Independent Accountants’ Attestation Report concerning servicing activities of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.
35.1Statement of Compliance of Navient Solutions, Inc., as Servicer and Administrator for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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