2008-07-16 23:57:11 -

- Fitch Ratings expects to assign the following ratings to Merrill Auto Trust Securitization 2008-1:

--$67,900,000 class A-1 'F1+';

--$82,200,000 class A-2 'AAA';

--$96,400,000 class A-3 'AAA';

--$62,880,000 class A-4 'AAA';

--$23,384,000 class B 'A+';

--$16,189,000 class C 'BBB'.

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Fitch Ratings, New York
David Petu, CFA, +1-212-908-0280
Ben Tano, +1-212-908-0871
Sandro Scenga, +1-212-908-0278 (Media Relations)