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U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004.

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number: 000-29995

 


 

EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   33-0851387

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS employer

identification number)

 

12760 High Bluff Drive,

Suite 210, San Diego, California 92130

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(858) 617-6080

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

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 is an accelerated filer (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  x    NO  ¨

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date: Shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding at June 30, 2004: 16,619,629, including treasury shares.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

               Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   3
    

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

   3
         

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   3
         

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   4
         

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity/(Deficit)

   5
         

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   6
         

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   7
    

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   20
    

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Discussions about Market Risk

   32
    

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   33

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

   34
    

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   34
    

Item 2.

  

Changes In Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   34
    

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   34
    

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   34
    

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   34
    

Item 6.

  

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8–K

   35

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    

June 30,

2004


   

December 31,

2003


 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

                

Student loans, net of loan loss reserve

   $ 189,132,905     $ 540,561,502  

Student loans, net of loan loss reserve (securitized)

     3,565,004,063       2,750,239,082  

Student loans held for resale at the lower of cost or market

     68,478,116       75,441,990  

Restricted cash and investments

     179,271,741       141,846,261  

Cash and cash equivalents

     22,786,019       33,557,879  

Interest & other receivables

     35,020,963       28,191,861  

Property and equipment, net

     3,115,815       1,600,606  

Deferred financing costs

     15,179,923       12,268,239  

Other

     1,225,450       133,448  
    


 


Total Assets

   $ 4,079,214,995     $ 3,583,840,868  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY/(DEFICIT)

                

Accounts payable

   $ 2,518,951     $ 4,470,680  

Government payable

     5,842,656       7,917,689  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     6,927,219       8,217,111  

Education Loan Backed Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings

     3,775,408,222       2,905,121,844  

Warehouse loan facilities

     280,578,608       660,353,242  
    


 


Total Liabilities

     4,071,275,656       3,586,080,566  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

                

Preferred stock—$0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized

                

Common stock—$0.001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 16,619,629 and 15,917,705 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     16,620       15,918  

Additional paid in capital

     43,138,198       40,673,609  

Accumulated deficit

     (34,074,620 )     (41,548,168 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes of $0

     (1,140,859 )     (1,381,057 )
    


 


Total Stockholders’ Equity/(Deficit)

     7,939,339       (2,239,698 )
    


 


Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity/(Deficit)

   $ 4,079,214,995     $ 3,583,840,868  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,


   

Six Months Ended

June 30,


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 

Interest income:

                              

Student loans, net

   $ 32,146,320    $ 19,516,152     $ 62,282,179    $ 34,228,804  

Investments

     386,832      386,050       743,052      576,955  
    

  


 

  


       32,533,152      19,902,202       63,025,231      34,805,759  

Cost of interest income

                              

Interest-related expenses

     15,832,230      10,496,576       30,546,333      19,103,579  

Valuation of interest rate swap

     —        (308,160 )     —        604,542  

Loan servicing and other fees

     1,974,759      1,035,379       3,838,462      1,762,988  
    

  


 

  


Total cost of interest income

     17,806,989      11,223,795       34,384,795      21,471,109  
    

  


 

  


Net interest income

     14,726,163      8,678,407       28,640,436      13,334,650  

Less: provision for losses

     296,680      432,554       734,203      987,184  
    

  


 

  


Interest income after provision for losses

     14,429,483      8,245,853       27,906,233      12,347,466  

Other income

                              

Gain on sale of student loans

     1,682,295      2,360,474       4,108,841      10,101,892  

Other

     57,118      10,325       115,129      17,370  
    

  


 

  


Total other income

     1,739,413      2,370,799       4,223,970      10,119,262  

Operating expenses:

                              

General and administrative

     2,585,629      2,148,835       5,114,559      4,047,748  

Servicing

     465,510      —         629,613      —    

Sales & marketing

     8,487,590      10,229,691       18,680,448      21,739,642  
    

  


 

  


Total operating expenses

     11,538,729      12,378,526       24,424,620      25,787,390  
    

  


 

  


Income/(loss) before income tax provision

     4,630,167      (1,761,874 )     7,705,583      (3,320,662 )

Income tax provision

     127,082      1,200       232,035      37,256  
    

  


 

  


Net income/(loss)

   $ 4,503,085    $ (1,763,074 )   $ 7,473,548    $ (3,357,918 )
    

  


 

  


Net income/(loss) per share:

                              

Basic

   $ 0.27    $ (0.15 )   $ 0.46    $ (0.30 )

Diluted

   $ 0.24    $ (0.15 )   $ 0.40    $ (0.30 )

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                              

Basic

     16,520,361      11,433,758       16,249,899      11,372,803  

Diluted

     18,710,303      11,433,758       18,613,840      11,372,803  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY/(DEFICIT)

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

(Unaudited)

 

    Common Stock

    Number of
Shares


   Amount

   Additional
Paid in
Capital


    Accumulated
Deficit


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss


    Total

    Total
Comprehensive
Income


Balance, December 31, 2003

  15,917,705    $ 15,918    $ 40,673,609     $ (41,548,168 )   $ (1,381,057 )   $ (2,239,698 )      

Exercise of options and warrants

  701,924      702      1,486,206       —         —         1,486,908        

Performance-based option vesting

  —        —        983,422       —         —         983,422        

2003 secondary offering-additional issuance costs

  —        —        (5,039 )     —         —         (5,039 )      

Other comprehensive income related to interest rate swap

  —        —        —         —         240,198       240,198     $ 240,198

Net income

  —        —        —         7,473,548       —         7,473,548       7,473,548
   
  

  


 


 


 


 

Balance, June 30, 2004

  16,619,629    $ 16,620    $ 43,138,198     $ (34,074,620 )   $ (1,140,859 )   $ 7,939,339     $ 7,713,746
   
  

  


 


 


 


 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003

(Unaudited)

 

     2004

    2003

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                

Net income/(loss)

   $ 7,473,548     $ (3,357,918 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash used by operations:

                

Depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock-based compensation

     3,625,041       2,541,532  

Loan loss reserve

     734,203       987,184  

Valuation of interest rate swap

     —         604,542  

(Increase) decrease in assets:

                

Interest and other receivables

     (6,829,101 )     (8,538,463 )

Other assets

     (853,171 )     159,105  

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

     (1,951,729 )     623,732  

Government payable

     (2,075,033 )     (431,217 )

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (1,450,320 )     (2,536,092 )
    


 


Net cash used by operating activities

     (1,326,562 )     (9,947,595 )
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Purchase/origination of student loans

     (631,789,310 )     (1,128,375,499 )

Sales of student loans

     173,810,848       315,215,950  

Acquisition of property and equipment

     (1,950,267 )     (575,463 )

Acquisition of intangible assets

     (148,830 )     —    

Other investments

     (90,000 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (460,167,559 )     (813,735,012 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Net payments on credit facility

     (365,463,198 )     (89,927,948 )

Proceeds from Education Loan Backed

                

Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings

     948,263,083       963,735,429  

Payments on Education Loan Backed

                

Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings

     (129,713,622 )     (44,931,750 )

Costs related to securitizations

     (3,845,871 )     (4,599,902 )

Net proceeds from issuance of stock

     1,481,869       327,667  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     450,722,261       824,603,496  
    


 


Net increase/(decrease) in cash

     (10,771,860 )     920,889  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     33,557,879       2,042,527  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 22,786,019     $ 2,963,416  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Education Lending Group, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2004

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1—Summary of Organization

 

Organization—Education Lending Group, Inc., (“Education Lending Group,” “we,” “our Company,” “our” and “us”) was incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 1999. Our Company was formed to identify and acquire enterprises in the student loan business. Without consummating any acquisitions, in September 2001, through Education Lending Services, Inc. and Education Funding Resources, LLC, we began operations related to marketing, originating, and purchasing student loans. Through these subsidiaries, we originate or purchase Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loans that are eligible for guarantee from the Department of Education (DOE), federally sponsored consolidation loans and other eligible student loans. We have in place two warehouse loan facilities with financial institutions which we use to facilitate originating and purchasing student loans. On a periodic basis, we complete student loan securitizations to pay down the warehouse facility and finance our loans on a permanent basis.

 

Education Lending Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Company, was incorporated in Delaware on October 3, 2000. Currently, Education Lending Services, Inc.’s business is focused on the origination of consolidation loans and Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS).

 

Education Funding Resources, LLC was formed in Delaware on July 19, 2001. Education Lending Services, Inc. is the sole equity member of Education Funding Resources, LLC. Education Funding Resources, LLC is a special purpose bankruptcy remote entity that was formed in order to facilitate the student loan origination and funding process and the secondary market acquisitions of student loans.

 

Student Loan Xpress, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Company, was incorporated in Delaware on November 1, 2000 and began operations in November, 2001. Student Loan Xpress, Inc.’s business is primarily focused on development of the traditional school preferred lender-list channel for loan originations. Currently we sell the majority of the loans we generate through this channel.

 

Education Funding Capital I, LLC was formed in Delaware on April 22, 2002. Education Lending Services, Inc. is the sole equity member of Education Funding Capital I, LLC. Additionally, we have formed Education Funding Capital Trust I, Education Funding Capital Trust II, Education Funding Capital Trust III and Education Funding Capital Trust IV, all of which are Delaware statutory trusts and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Education Funding Capital I. These entities participate in the permanent financing securitizations of our student loan assets.

 

Education Loan Servicing Corporation was incorporated in Delaware on October 15, 2003 and is expected to begin servicing a portion of our loan portfolio during 2004.

 

Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation—The financial results included in this report are stated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and all normal recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods.

 

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Education Lending Group, Inc., Student Loan Xpress, Inc. (SLX), Education Loan Servicing Corporation (ELSC) and Education Lending Services, Inc. (ELS). SLX, ELSC and ELS are our wholly-owned subsidiaries. ELS consists of Education Funding Resources, LLC (EFR) and Education Funding Capital I, LLC (EFC I). (ELS is the sole member of EFR and EFC I). Additionally, we have formed Education Funding Capital Trust I, Education Funding Capital Trust II, Education Funding Capital Trust III and Education Funding Capital Trust IV, all of which are Delaware statutory trusts and wholly-owned subsidiaries of EFC I. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Student Loans—Student loans, consisting of student loans which are 98% guaranteed by the government and alternative supplemental loans (guaranteed by other third parties) are carried at their purchase price, including unamortized premiums and unamortized origination costs. Loan set-up fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred. Net deferred loan origination costs related to securitized loans are amortized into interest expense over the estimated life of the student loan using the effective interest method. Net deferred loan origination costs related to loans which have not been securitized are amortized into interest expense over the estimated life of the student loan using the straight-line method. The overall effect of this treatment is approximation of the effective interest method. The unamortized portion of deferred fees and costs associated with loans that have been repaid or sold are expensed in the income statement in the period of repayment.

 

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Student Loans Held for Resale—The majority of the student loans originated through the traditional school preferred lender-list channel are subsequently sold. Loans may be sold after initial or final disbursement. Deferred costs related to the origination of loans sold after initial disbursement are netted against gain on sale when the loans are sold rather than capitalized and amortized as discussed above. Interest on loans sold after final disbursement is earned for the period during which they are held on our balance sheet. Once the loan is sold, the gain on the sale is recorded as discussed in “Gain on Sale of Student Loans” below. Costs related to the origination of these loans are capitalized and netted against gain on sale once the loan is sold. Loans held for resale are reflected on our balance sheet at the lower of cost or market.

 

Student Loan Income and Net Interest Income—We recognize student loan income as earned, net of amortization of premiums. We amortize the premiums and deferred origination fees over the estimated life of the student loan. With the guarantee on the student loans applicable to both principal and interest, we recognize interest on student loans as earned regardless of delinquency status. If a student loan should lose its guaranteed status, interest would be recognized as received. To date, there are no student loans in our portfolio which have lost their guaranteed status. Net interest income is derived largely from our portfolio of student loans that remain on our balance sheet and is the spread between interest earned on student loans and our cost of generating that interest income. These costs include interest expense on the warehouse facility and permanent financings, amortization of deferred financing costs, fees paid to third-party servicers to service the loans, mark-to-market adjustments related to interest rate swaps that have not been designated as cash flow hedges, fees paid to the DOE, and amortization of premiums paid to acquire student loans. At June 30, 2004 all of our student loans were being serviced by third party servicers to whom we pay a fee.

 

Gain on Sale of Student Loans—We currently sell the majority of the Stafford and PLUS loans we originate. Additionally, from time to time, we may elect to sell consolidation loans. We book the sale in the period the loan is sold and record the transaction on the income statement as a gain on the sale of student loans. Sales of student loans are accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” (SFAS 140). Student loans are sold with the servicing rights released and without recourse. Gains or losses on sales of student loans are recognized based on the difference between the selling prices and the carrying values of the related student loans sold. Unamortized deferred origination fees and expenses are netted against gain on sale when the loans are sold. Loans may be sold subsequent to either the initial or final disbursement.

 

Allowance for Student Loan Losses—We have established an allowance for potential losses on our existing portfolio of student loans, both securitized and unsecuritized. These student loan assets are presented net of the respective allowances on our balance sheet. In evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for losses, we consider several factors, including trends in student loan claims rejected for payments by guarantors, default rates on alternative supplemental student loans, overall industry norms and experience related to defaults and the amount of FFELP loans held subject to two percent risk-sharing. The allowance is based on periodic evaluations of our loan portfolio, changes to federal student loan programs, current economic conditions and other relevant factors. We utilize these factors to estimate a projected default rate for our student loan portfolio. This estimate, along with the applicable risk-sharing percentage, is used to calculate the allowance for student loan losses. The allowance is maintained at a level that management believes is adequate to provide for probable credit losses. Currently, approximately 98% of our student loan portfolio is guaranteed. The allowance for student loan losses is calculated by multiplying the principal balance of the student loans we carry on our balance sheet by 2% (the uninsured portion of the federally sponsored student loans on our balance sheet) and then multiplying that amount by the projected default rate. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes.

 

Marketing Partner Fees—We have established relationships with various third-party marketing partners to market student loans on our behalf. These fees represent a significant cost to us. SFAS 91, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases,” (SFAS 91) establishes the accounting for nonrefundable fees and costs associated with lending, committing to lend, or purchasing a loan or group of loans. SFAS 91 specifies that costs incurred to identify and attract potential borrowers should be expensed as incurred. As such, fees we pay to our marketing partners are expensed during the period incurred. These fees are included in sales and marketing operating expenses on the income statement.

 

Additionally, some of these marketing partners have been awarded performance-based stock options, which vest in relation to certain performance criteria being met by the partner. These options are accounted for under SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (SFAS 123), Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments that Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services” and FASB Interpretation Number (FIN) 28, “Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Options or Award Plans” (FIN 28). Under the guidelines established by these pronouncements, in each quarter until performance under the marketing partner agreement is completed, we must record an expense related to the options that are vested as of the end of the quarter. This expense includes a charge equal to the fair

 

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market value of the options which vested during the quarter, and a mark-to-market adjustment for the options which vested in previous quarters. This non-cash charge is directly related to our stock price and the performance of our marketing partners, and will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on the performance of our stock and the number of options which vest during the quarter. This expense is a component of marketing partner fees which are a component of the sales and marketing expense line item on our income statement.

 

Restricted Cash and Investments—We periodically take draws against our warehouse loan facility to fund student loans and any premiums associated with them. The restricted cash and investments shown on the balance sheet reflects draws taken against the warehouse line which have not yet been used to fund student loans. These amounts are restricted and may be used only to fund student loans and any premiums associated with them as outlined in the indentures. Additionally, we are required to maintain certain cash levels in our securitizations. Restricted cash and investments shown on the balance sheet also include these cash balances and are restricted to use as outlined in the indentures. Substantially all these funds are invested in guaranteed investment contracts, which are all triple A rated. At June 30, 2004 there was approximately $22.0 million of restricted cash held in our warehouse line, and $157.3 million held in our securitizations.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Credit Risk—We consider all unrestricted highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We maintain a large balance in an investment fund that is rated triple A by three rating agencies. These funds are invested in domestic corporate money market securities including commercial paper, repurchase agreements, variable rate instruments and bank instruments. We consider the credit risk associated with our cash and cash investments to be minimal.

 

Interest and Other Receivables—Interest and other receivables consists of interest receivable on student loans, borrower payments received by third-party servicers not yet sent to us, DOE fees reimbursable on loans sold, and premiums due to us on loans we have sold.

 

Software and Web-Site Development Costs—We capitalize the costs of software developed for internal use in compliance with Statement of Position, (SOP), 98-1 “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use” and EITF Issue 00-2 “Accounting for Web-Site Development Costs.” Capitalization of software developed for internal use and web-site development costs begins at the application development phase of the project. Amortization of software developed for internal use and web-site development costs begins when the software is placed in productive use, and is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, which typically ranges from one to three years.

 

Property and Equipment, net—Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to seven years.

 

Deferred Financing Costs—Direct costs associated with obtaining financing are capitalized and amortized into interest expense over the term of the respective Education Loan Backed Notes or warehouse loan facility. The majority of the costs are related to our Education Loan Backed Notes, and are amortized, using the effective interest method, over the term of the securitization, typically 40 years. The costs related to the warehouse loan facility are amortized, using the straight-line method, over three years. The overall effect of this treatment is approximation of the effective interest method.

 

Derivatives and Hedging Activities—SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (SFAS 133) requires companies to recognize all derivative contracts as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and to measure them at fair value. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge under the provisions of SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS 137, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, Deferral of the Effective Date of SFAS 133,” SFAS 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities” and SFAS 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” During the fourth quarter of 2002, we entered into an interest rate swap that was not specifically designated as a hedge. As required by SFAS 133, the fair market value of the interest rate swap contract (mark-to-market) was recognized during the period as an additional liability and treated as additional expense/(income) on our income statement. During the second and fourth quarters of 2003 and during the second quarter of 2004 we entered into additional interest rate swap agreements, all of which were designated as and are effective as cash flow hedges. These swaps are also recorded in the accrued expenses and other liabilities section of our balance sheet. As these agreements qualify as cash flow hedges and are currently effective as such, changes in the agreements’ fair values (mark-to-market) are recorded in the other comprehensive loss section of the balance sheet rather than as an expense on the income statement. Accrued interest receivable or payable related to the interest rate swap agreements is recorded in interest expense.

 

Employee Stock Options—Employee stock options are accounted for under Accounting Principals Board (APB) Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25), using the intrinsic value method. Generally, as options granted to employees are fixed in nature, and the awards are made at fair market value on the date of grant, no expense is required to be recognized. However, in January 2003 certain employees were awarded performance-based options, which would vest over three years (with the

 

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first tranche vesting December 31, 2003, assuming the performance conditions were met). These criteria were met on December 31, 2003. Since performance-based options require variable plan accounting under the terms of APB 25, during 2003 these options were marked-to-market quarterly, until the performance criteria had or had not been met. Accordingly, we recorded this expense as a component of operating expenses on our income statement. As of December 31, 2003, we determined which performance criteria had been met, and correspondingly, which options would remain outstanding and continue vesting. The final mark-to-market adjustment was made as of December 31, 2003. As required by APB 25, and in accordance with the accelerated vesting schedule described in FIN 28 we will continue to expense these options throughout 2004 and 2005, until they are fully vested, at which time all related expense will have been recognized.

 

Education Loan Backed Notes—Our Education Loan Backed Notes, consisting of Series 2004 Notes, Series 2003 (October) Notes, Series 2003 (April) Notes and Series 2002 Notes, or securitized borrowings, are accounted for under SFAS 140. Under SFAS 140, securitizations that do not qualify for sales treatment are accounted for as secured borrowings. As we retain a call on redeeming any series of the notes under our securitized borrowings, the requirements of SFAS 140 have not been met. Therefore these transactions are accounted for as secured borrowings in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 140.

 

Government Payables—We are required to pay the DOE a one-time 50 basis point origination fee on consolidation, Stafford and PLUS loans and an annual 105 basis point consolidation loan rebate fee on all consolidation loans originated and held after October 1, 1993. Each fee is payable to the DOE. Fees due the DOE but not yet paid are shown as government payables.

 

Income Taxes—We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities for book purposes versus tax purposes, based on the enacted tax rates which are expected to be in effect when the underlying items of income and expense are expected to be realized. We file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return that includes our eligible subsidiaries.

 

Income/(Loss) Per Common Share—Basic income/(loss) per share is computed by dividing the income/(loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In periods during which we record a net profit, diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable on exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants, as determined by application of the treasury stock method. During the periods we reported a net loss, diluted loss per share in the periods presented is equal to basic loss per share since any potential additional dilutive common shares are considered antidilutive and are therefore not included in the computation.

 

The following table shows a reconciliation of our basic earnings per share to our diluted earnings per share for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004. It excludes 63,100 and 164,350 shares that were not included in the calculations for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively, as they would have been antidilutive. (There was no difference between our basic and diluted loss per share in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003.)

 

    

For the three
months ended

June 30,

2004


  

Earnings per

Share


Net income

   $ 4,503,085       
    

      

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     16,520,361    $ 0.27

Dilutive shares

     2,189,942       
    

      

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     18,710,303    $ 0.24
    

      
    

For the

six months ended

June 30,

2004


  

Earnings per

Share


Net income

   $ 7,473,548       
    

      

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     16,249,899    $ 0.46

Dilutive shares

     2,363,941       
    

      

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     18,613,840    $ 0.40
    

      

 

        Estimates—The process of preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates and assumptions regarding certain types of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Such estimates primarily relate to unsettled transactions and events as of the date of the financial statements. Accordingly, upon settlement, actual results may differ from estimated amounts.

 

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Reclassifications—Certain accounts in the prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to presentation in the current-year consolidated financial statements.

 

Disclosure of pro forma earnings in accordance with SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of SFAS 123”—In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of SFAS 123” (SFAS 148). SFAS 148 addresses transition provisions for a voluntary change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123. As we continue to account for our incentive-based compensation using the intrinsic value method under APB 25, SFAS 148 does not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements. Had compensation costs for our stock options been recognized based upon the estimated fair value on the grant date under the fair value methodology prescribed by SFAS 123 as amended by SFAS 148, our net earnings and earnings per share for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 would have been as follows:

 

    

For the three months

ended June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Net income/(loss), as reported

   $ 4,503,085     $ (1,763,074 )

Deduct, total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method, net of tax effects

     (667,818 )     (238,827 )
    


 


Pro forma net income/(loss)

   $ 3,835,267     $ (2,001,901 )
    


 


Income/(loss) per share:

                

Basic as reported

   $ 0.27     $ (0.15 )

Basic pro forma

   $ 0.23     $ (0.18 )

Diluted as reported

   $ 0.24     $ (0.15 )

Diluted pro forma

   $ 0.21     $ (0.18 )
     For the six months
ended June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Net income/(loss), as reported

   $ 7,473,548     $ (3,357,918 )

Deduct, total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method, net of tax effects

     (1,138,798 )     (446,575 )
    


 


Pro forma net income/(loss)

   $ 6,334,750     $ (3,804,493 )
    


 


Income/(loss) per share:

                

Basic as reported

   $ 0.46     $ (0.30 )

Basic pro forma

   $ 0.39     $ (0.33 )

Diluted as reported

   $ 0.40     $ (0.30 )

Diluted pro forma

   $ 0.34     $ (0.33 )

 

Proposed Accounting Pronouncements

 

Proposed FAS, Share-Based Payment-an amendment of FAS 123 and FAS 95, “Statement of Cash Flows”

 

The FASB is currently considering amending SFAS 123, APB Opinion No. 25 and FAS 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” The proposed standard will require us to record compensation expense for all share-based compensation plans. If adopted, this proposed standard would have a negative impact on our earnings in future periods as we would be required to record an expense on our income statement for all options granted.

 

Statement of Position (SOP) 03-3, “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer”

 

In December 2003 the Accounting Standards Executive Committee issued SOP 03-3, “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.” This SOP addresses accounting for differences between contractual cash flows and cash flows expected to be collected from an investor’s initial investment in loans or debt securities (loans) acquired in a transfer if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality. This SOP is effective for loans acquired in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004. We have determined that SOP 03-3 will not have an impact on our financial statements.

 

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Note 3—Student Loans

 

We originate student loans on our own behalf and we purchase student loans from originating lenders. Our portfolio consists principally of loans originated under FFELP, a federally sponsored program. We also purchase alternative supplemental education loans. There are three principal categories of FFELP loans: consolidation loans, Stafford loans and PLUS loans. The composition of the student loans held at June 30, 2004 was as follows:

 

     As of June 30, 2004

 
     Student Loans
(including held
for resale)


    Student Loans
(securitized)


    Total

 

FFELP Loans:

                        

Stafford

   $ 125,089,517     $ —       $ 125,089,517  

PLUS

     6,036,031       —         6,036,031  

Consolidation

     111,061,595       3,543,285,394       3,654,346,989  
    


 


 


FFELP sub-total

     242,187,143       3,543,285,394       3,785,472,537  

Alternative supplemental loans

     12,412,873       —         12,412,873  
    


 


 


Total student loans, gross

     254,600,016       3,543,285,394       3,797,885,410  

Deferred origination costs, net of amortization

     3,242,943       25,970,612       29,213,555  

Loan loss reserve

     (231,938 )     (4,251,943 )     (4,483,881 )
    


 


 


Total student loans, net

   $ 257,611,021     $ 3,565,004,063     $ 3,822,615,084  
    


 


 


 

The composition of the student loans held at December 31, 2003 was as follows:

 

     As of December 31, 2003

 
     Student Loans
(including held
for resale)


    Student Loans
(securitized)


    Total

 

FFELP Loans:

                        

Stafford

   $ 103,226,517     $ —       $ 103,226,517  

PLUS

     33,466,328       —         33,466,328  

Consolidation

     464,963,561       2,732,653,627       3,197,617,188  
    


 


 


FFELP sub-total

     601,656,406       2,732,653,627       3,334,310,033  

Alternative supplemental loans

     10,132,888       —         10,132,888  
    


 


 


Total student loans, gross

     611,789,294       2,732,653,627       3,344,442,921  

Deferred origination costs, net of amortization

     4,845,119       20,864,638       25,709,757  

Loan loss reserve

     (630,921 )     (3,279,183 )     (3,910,104 )
    


 


 


Total student loans, net

   $ 616,003,492     $ 2,750,239,082     $ 3,366,242,574  
    


 


 


 

The FFELP is subject to comprehensive reauthorization every five years and to frequent statutory and regulatory changes. The Higher Education Act is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2004, and reauthorization is currently under consideration by the United States Congress. Changes in the Higher Education Act made in the two most recent reauthorizations have included reductions in student loan yields paid to lenders, increased fees paid by lenders and a decreased level of guarantee.

 

Generally, Stafford and PLUS loans have repayment periods of between five and ten years. Consolidation loans have repayment periods of twelve to thirty years. FFELP loans obligate the borrower to pay interest at a stated fixed rate or an annually reset variable rate that has a cap. The interest rates are either fixed to term or reset annually on July 1st of each year depending on when the loan was originated. We earn interest at the greater of the borrower’s rate or a floating rate. If the floating rate exceeds the borrower rate, the DOE makes a payment directly to us based upon the Special Allowance Payment (SAP) formula. SAP is generally paid whenever the average of the applicable floating rate (91-day Treasury bill, commercial paper, 52-week Treasury bill, or the constant maturity Treasury rate) for a calendar quarter, plus a spread of between 1.74 and 3.50 percentage points depending on the loan status and origination date, exceeds the rate of interest which the borrower is obligated to pay. If the floating rate determined by the SAP

formula is less than the rate the borrower is obligated to pay, we simply earn interest at the borrower rate.

 

We purchase alternative supplemental loans. These loans are made to students whose loan eligibility under the FFELP program does not meet their total borrowing needs. Unlike FFELP loans, alternative supplemental loans are credit-based. Depending on the loan program, the credit requirements may be met by a co-borrower. Interest rates are reset quarterly and may be tied to prime or to commercial paper (CP) rates. Alternative supplemental loans may be guaranteed by a third-party guarantor. At June 30, 2004, all our alternative supplemental loans were 100% guaranteed by third-party guarantors.

 

Our portfolio of FFELP student loans generally earns interest at the higher of a floating rate based on the SAP formula set by the DOE or the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time. We generally finance our student loan portfolio with floating rate debt over all interest rate levels. In low interest rate environments, when student loans are earning at the fixed borrower rate and the interest on our floating rate debt is continuing to decline, we earn additional spread income and refer to it as floor income. Depending on the type of student loan and when it is originated, the borrower rate is either fixed to term (as is the case of consolidation loans) or is reset to a market rate each July 1st (as is the case for Stafford and PLUS loans). As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, we may earn floor income for an extended period of time, and for those loans where the borrower interest rate is reset annually July first, we may earn floor income until the next reset date.

 

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We are required to pay the DOE a one-time 50 basis point origination fee on Stafford, PLUS, and consolidation loans and an annual 105 basis point consolidation loan rebate fee on all consolidation loans originated and held after October 1, 1993. The unamortized portion of the origination fees are included in our balance sheet in student loans, net of loan loss reserve, student loans, net of loan loss reserve (securitized) and student loans held for resale at the lower of cost or market. Also, all loans acquired after October 1, 1993 are subject to risk-sharing on claim payments under which the loan is guaranteed for 98% of the outstanding balance plus accrued interest.

 

The activity relating to the student loan balances held during the period from December 31, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is as follows:

 

    

Student

Loans


    Student Loans
Securitized


    Total

 

Balance at 12/31/03

   $ 616,003,492     $ 2,750,239,082     $ 3,366,242,574  

Additions

                        

Originations and purchases

     776,508,855       —         776,508,855  

Capitalized interest

     740,448       10,586,307       11,326,755  

*Additions to capitalized costs

     4,048,438       6,303,295       10,351,733  

Deductions

                        

Borrower payments

     (26,376,194 )     (67,836,272 )     (94,212,466 )

Sales to third parties

     (173,810,848 )     —         (173,810,848 )

Refunds, cancellations and adjustments

     (15,738,173 )     (50,480,411 )     (66,218,584 )

Net additions to loan loss reserve

     362,166       (1,096,369 )     (734,203 )

*Reductions in capitalized costs

     (5,650,383 )     (1,197,553 )     (6,847,936 )

Other

                        

Transfer to securitizations

     (918,478,114 )     918,478,114       —    

Other

     1,334       7,870       9,204  
    


 


 


Balance at 6/30/04

   $ 257,611,021     $ 3,565,004,063     $ 3,822,615,084  
    


 


 



* Activity includes transfers between “Student Loans” and “Student Loans Securitized” columns due to securitization completed in May 2004.

 

Included in the above table is a line labeled “Refunds, cancellations and adjustments.” This line item relates to adjustments and receipts on student loans that are not part of payments directly from borrowers or claim payments from guarantee agencies. The primary components of this line item are cash refunds from schools and lenders related to disbursements on loan originations we have previously made, plus payments related to cancellations of existing loans as consolidation loans are processed on behalf of borrowers. (For example, a borrower has an existing consolidation loan and adds another loan to it. The existing loan is included above as a cancellation.)

 

Note 4—Student Loans—Loan Loss Reserve

 

The provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in our portfolio of student loans. We evaluate the adequacy of the provision for losses on our guaranteed student loan portfolio separately from our alternative supplemental loan portfolio. For our guaranteed student loan portfolio, we primarily consider trends in student loan claims rejected for payment by guarantors due to servicing defects as well as overall default rates on those FFELP student loans subject to the two percent risk-sharing, i.e., those loans that are insured as to 98% of principal and accrued interest. Loans are placed on non-accrual status and charged off at the point that a loan claim is rejected for payment by guarantors.

 

At June 30, 2004 all alternative supplemental loans were 100% guaranteed by third-party guarantors.

 

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The following table summarizes changes in the loan loss reserve for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2003:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,


   

Six Months Ended

June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 4,273,649     $ 2,140,931     $ 3,910,104     $ 1,592,669  

Provision

     296,680       432,554       734,203       987,184  

Charge-offs

     (86,449 )     (7,388 )     (160,427 )     (13,756 )
    


 


 


 


Balance at end of period

   $ 4,483,880     $ 2,566,097     $ 4,483,880     $ 2,566,097  
    


 


 


 


 

The additions to the loan loss reserve are expensed on the income statement during the period incurred. The balance at the end of the period is netted against student loans outstanding and included in “Student Loans, net of loan loss reserve” and “Student Loans, net of loan loss reserve (securitized)” on the balance sheet.

 

Note 5—Warehouse Loan Facilities and Securitizations

 

We have a $500 million warehouse loan facility (our Conduit Facility) and a $19 million warehouse loan facility that we use to fund the origination and purchase of student loans. Our $500 million loan facility was established in the fourth quarter of 2002. As of June 30, 2004, the Conduit Facility had been approved for advances of up to $500 million, however from time to time, as the need has arisen, the Conduit Facility has been approved for advances of up to $1.25 billion. Our Conduit Facility capacity allows us to fund and pool student loans until we aggregate sufficient volume to access the securitization markets for more cost-efficient financing. At June 30, 2004, the balance outstanding on the Conduit Facility was approximately $281 million.

 

This Conduit Facility is governed by an indenture and other program documents which were entered into as of October 18, 2002, with a financial institution. The term of the financing is three years. However, the financing is backed by a 364-day liquidity facility which must be renewed on an annual basis. Failure to renew the liquidity facility will result in early termination of the financing. The financing is secured by the assets of the indenture which primarily consist of cash, student loans, and their applicable accrued interest. Interest is calculated and paid on a monthly basis. The interest rate is based upon the CP rate (1.16% at June 30, 2004) of the financial institution providing the liquidity facility. In addition to interest charges, we also pay trustee fees as well as a commitment fee on the unused portion of the facility. The Conduit Facility includes a number of covenants and compliance features that we must meet to continue to make additional draws on the facility as well as to maintain the existing loan balances.

 

In May of 2004, we completed a $1 billion LIBOR/auction rate student loan securitization. This securitization has been accounted for as a securitized borrowing because the assets are merely a pledge of collateral, the secured party does not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral and we have not defaulted under the terms of the securitization. Therefore, the securitization is included as student loans (securitized) and Education Loan Backed Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings on the balance sheet. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture of trust and consist of senior (Class A) and subordinate (Class B) notes, the proceeds of which were used to pay down the warehouse loan and pre-fund a portfolio of student loans. The student loans are serviced by third-party servicers. Interest rates for certain notes are tied to three-month LIBOR plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.04% to 0.19%. Other notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction. All notes mature no later than June 15, 2043. The notes are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date with monies on deposit in the principal fund. Additionally, the notes are subject to optional redemption by us on any regularly scheduled interest payment date. At June 30, 2004 the notes’ principal amounts and interest rates were as follows:

 

$1,000,000,000 Education Loan Backed Notes Issued in May, 2004

 

     As of June 30, 2004

   

Initial

Auction Date


  

Maturity

Date


    

Principal

Amount


  

Interest

Rate


      

Series 2004A-1

   $ 170,000,000    1.38 %   n/a    12/17/2012

Series 2004A-2

     390,000,000    1.50     n/a    12/15/2022

Series 2004A-3

     100,000,000    1.53     n/a    12/16/2024

Series 2004A-4

     100,000,000    1.44     6/14/2004    6/15/2043

Series 2004A-5

     100,000,000    1.45     6/18/2004    6/15/2043

Series 2004A-6

     90,000,000    1.52     6/25/2004    6/15/2043

Series 2004B-1

     50,000,000    1.60     6/25/2004    6/15/2043
    

               

Total

   $ 1,000,000,000                
    

               

 

In October of 2003, we completed a $1 billion LIBOR/auction rate student loan securitization. This securitization has been accounted for as a securitized borrowing because the assets are merely a pledge of collateral, the secured party does not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral and we have not defaulted under the terms of the securitization. Therefore, the securitization is

 

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included as student loans (securitized) and Education Loan Backed Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings on the balance sheet. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture of trust and consist of senior (Class A) and subordinate (Class B) notes, the proceeds of which were used to pay down the warehouse loan and pre-fund a portfolio of student loans. The student loans are serviced by third-party servicers. Interest rates for certain notes are tied to three-month LIBOR plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.04% to 0.27%. Other notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction. All notes mature no later than December 15, 2042. The notes are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date with monies on deposit in the principal fund. Additionally, the notes are subject to optional redemption by us on any regularly scheduled interest payment date. At June 30, 2004 the notes’ principal amounts and interest rates were as follows:

 

$1,000,000,000 Education Loan Backed Notes Issued in October, 2003

 

     As of June 30, 2004

   

Initial

Auction Date


  

Maturity

Date


    

Principal

Amount


  

Interest

Rate


      

Series 2003A-1 (October)

   $ 45,928,062    1.56 %   n/a    9/15/2008

Series 2003A-2 (October)

     118,500,000    1.62     n/a    12/17/2012

Series 2003A-3 (October)

     319,000,000    1.79     n/a    3/16/2020

Series 2003A-4 (October)

     100,000,000    1.39     12/8/2003    12/15/2032

Series 2003A-5 (October)

     83,750,000    1.37     11/24/2003    12/15/2042

Series 2003A-6 (October)

     83,750,000    1.40     12/1/2003    12/15/2042

Series 2003A-7 (October)

     83,750,000    1.47     12/8/2003    12/15/2042

Series 2003A-8 (October)

     83,750,000    1.50     12/15/2003    12/15/2042

Series 2003B-1 (October)

     50,000,000    1.55     12/8/2003    12/15/2042
    

               

Total

   $ 968,428,062                
    

               

 

We also completed a $1 billion, LIBOR/auction rate student loan securitization in April 2003. This securitization has also been accounted for as a securitized borrowing because the assets are merely a pledge of collateral, the secured party does not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral and we have not defaulted under the terms of the securitization. Therefore, the securitization is included as student loans (securitized) and Education Loan Backed Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings on the balance sheet. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture of trust and consist of senior (Class A) and subordinate (Class B) notes, the proceeds of which were used to pay down the warehouse loan and pre-fund a portfolio of student loans. The student loans are serviced by third-party servicers. Interest rates for certain notes are tied to three-month LIBOR plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.30%. Other notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction. All notes mature no later than March 17, 2042. The notes are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date with monies on deposit in the principal fund. Additionally, the notes are subject to optional redemption by us on any regularly scheduled interest payment date. At June 30, 2004 the notes’ principal amounts and interest rates were as follows:

 

$1,000,000,000 Education Loan Backed Notes Issued in April, 2003

 

     As of June 30, 2004

   

Initial

Auction Date


  

Maturity

Date


    

Principal

Amount


   Interest
Rate


      

Series 2003A-1 (April)

   $ 16,480,160    1.57 %   n/a    3/15/2007

Series 2003A-2 (April)

     144,000,000    1.62     n/a    12/15/2011

Series 2003A-3 (April)

     276,000,000    1.82     n/a    12/15/2017

Series 2003A-4 (April)

     75,000,000    1.35     5/9/2003    3/15/2032

Series 2003A-5 (April)

     75,000,000    1.42     5/23/2003    3/15/2032

Series 2003A-6 (April)

     100,000,000    1.40     5/7/2003    3/17/2042

Series 2003A-7 (April)

     100,000,000    1.39     5/14/2003    3/17/2042

Series 2003A-8 (April)

     100,000,000    1.40     5/21/2003    3/17/2042

Series 2003B-1 (April)

     50,000,000    1.52     5/21/2003    3/17/2042
    

               

Total

   $ 936,480,160                
    

               

 

        In May and August of 2002, we completed $525 million and $500 million, respectively, auction rate student loan securitizations that have been accounted for as collateralized borrowings as the assets are merely a pledge of collateral and the secured party does not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral and we have not defaulted under the terms of the securitization. Therefore, the securitization is included as student loans (securitized) and Education Loan Backed Notes related to securitized student loans structured as collateralized borrowings on the balance sheet. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture of trust and consist of senior (Class A) and subordinate (Class B) notes, the proceeds of which were used to pay down the warehouse loan and pre-fund a portfolio of student loans. The student loans are sub-serviced by a third-party servicer. If certain parity percentages are not met, the

 

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Table of Contents

notes are subject to mandatory redemption. As long as the parity percentage is less than 100.5%, the notes are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, on any interest payment date with monies on deposit in the principal fund. Additionally, the notes are subject to optional redemption by us on any regularly scheduled interest payment date. The notes bear interest at a rate determined by a Dutch Auction and mature no later than June 1, 2042. At June 30, 2004, the notes’ principal amounts and interest rates were as follows:

 

$525,000,000 Auction Rate Education Loan Backed Notes Issued in May, 2002

 

     As of June 30, 2004

   

Initial

Auction Date


  

Maturity

Date


    

Principal

Amount


  

Interest

Rate


      

Series 2002A-1

   $ 75,000,000    1.30 %   2/11/2003    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-2

     50,650,000    1.38     5/13/2003    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-3

     75,000,000    1.40     5/20/2003    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-4

     67,800,000    1.45     8/19/2003    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-5

     61,500,000    1.40     6/13/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-6

     66,000,000    1.42     6/20/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-7

     66,000,000    1.52     6/27/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002B-1

     33,700,000    1.55     6/20/2002    6/1/2042
    

               

Total

   $ 495,650,000                
    

               

 

$500,000,000 Auction Rate Education Loan Backed Notes Issued in August, 2002

 

     As of June 30, 2004

    Initial
Auction Date


   Maturity
Date


     Principal
Amount


   Interest
Rate


      

Series 2002A-8

   $ 50,000,000    1.50 %   9/23/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-9

     65,000,000    1.40     10/24/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-10

     49,850,000    1.40     9/3/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-11

     52,000,000    1.44     9/9/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-12

     62,000,000    1.40     9/12/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002A-13

     64,000,000    1.47     9/16/2002    6/1/2042

Series 2002B-2

     32,000,000    1.63     9/18/2002    6/1/2042
    

               

Total

   $ 374,850,000                
    

               

 

On January 16, 2004 we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC. Our May 2004 securitization was issued under this registration statement. This registration statement will also allow us to issue additional Education Loan Backed Notes in the amount of $1 billion over the next 18 months.

 

As of June 30, 2004, we are in compliance with the debt covenants on both the warehouse loan facilities and the securitizations.

 

Note 6—Interest-Rate Swaps

 

To lock in portions of floor income associated with some of our loan assets or to minimize the basis risk associated with having out debt costs track off one index (i.e. LIBOR) and our student loan income track off another index (i.e. CP), from time to time we enter into interest-rate swap agreements on portions of our portfolio. These swaps were completed as requirements of the corresponding securitizations which are discussed in Note 5.

 

These swaps usually possess a term between one and three years. The specific terms and notional amounts of the swaps are determined based on costs to initiate swaps and the length of the agreements which may be entered into. Management expects our hedge program to be effective in offsetting changes in cash flows for the risk being hedged. They are discussed in more detail below.

 

In May of 2004 we entered into an interest-rate swap related to $950 million of our Education Loan Backed Notes (the notional amount). The notional amount of the swap will decline over the life of the swap to a minimum amount of $755 million in March 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, on each quarterly distribution date, commencing September 15, 2004 through the termination date of the agreement, the counterparty must pay us an amount equal to the product of:

 

  three-month LIBOR for the relevant period

 

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  the notional amount of the swap for the relevant period and

 

  the quotient of the actual number of days in that period divided by 360

 

In exchange for the above payments, on each quarterly distribution date, we must pay the counterparty an amount equal to the product of:

 

  the one month US dollar CP rate plus 11.5 basis points (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months) and

 

  the notional amount of the swap for the relevant period.

 

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, any payment amounts will be netted, so that only the net difference in the above amounts will actually be paid quarterly. The agreement is in effect until June 15, 2007. Since the underlying debt is tied to LIBOR, we expect this swap to limit our vulnerability to adverse swings in CP rates in relation to LIBOR rates, thus protecting our spread and corresponding cash flows.

 

This swap was designated as a cash flow hedge under SFAS 133 and as such under the requirements outlined in SFAS 133, we are required to mark-to-market the value of the swap at the end of the quarter. During the quarter ended June 30, 2004 we recorded a charge of $1.5 million to accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet, representing the effective portion of the hedge. There is no net tax impact related to this charge, as we have established a valuation allowance that fully offsets any deferred tax assets we have recorded. The fair market value of the interest-rate swap at June 30, 2004 was a liability of $1.5 million. Further, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we recorded a reduction in interest expense of $0.2 million related to the interest-rate swap, but not related to the mark-to-market adjustment, on our income statement.

 

In October of 2003 we entered into an interest-rate swap related to $485 million of our Education Loan Backed Notes (the notional amount). Under the terms of the agreement, on each quarterly distribution date, commencing December 15, 2003 through the termination date of the agreement, the counterparty must pay us an amount equal to the product of:

 

  three-month LIBOR for the relevant period

 

  the $485 million notional amount of the swap and

 

  the quotient of the actual number of days in that period divided by 360

 

In exchange for the above payments, on each quarterly distribution date, we must pay the counterparty an amount equal to the product of:

 

  1.53% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) and

 

  the $485 million notional amount of the swap for that period

 

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, any payment amounts will be netted, so that only the net difference in the above amounts will actually be paid quarterly. The agreement is in effect until November 2, 2004. Since the underlying debt is tied to LIBOR, we are effectively fixing the variable component of the cost related to the $485 million notional amount at 1.53% for the period.

 

This swap was designated as a cash flow hedge under SFAS 133 and as such under the requirements outlined in SFAS 133, we are required to mark-to-market the value of the swap at the end of the quarter. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 we recorded credit of $1.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet, representing the effective portion of the hedge. There is no net tax impact related to this charge, as we have established a valuation allowance that fully offsets any deferred tax assets we have recorded. The hedge will expire during 2004. Correspondingly, this amount will reverse out of other comprehensive loss and flow through the interest expense section of the income statement during the year. The fair market value of the interest-rate swap at June 30, 2004 was an asset of $0.3 million. Further, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we recorded additional interest expense of $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to the interest-rate swap, but not related to the mark-to-market adjustment, on our income statement.

 

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In April of 2003 we entered into an interest-rate swap related to $350 million of our Education Loan Backed Notes (the notional amount). Under the terms of the agreement, on each quarterly distribution date, commencing June 16, 2003 through the termination date of the agreement, the counterparty must pay us an amount equal to the product of:

 

  three-month LIBOR for the relevant period

 

  the $350 million notional amount of the swap and

 

  the quotient of the actual number of days in that period divided by 360

 

In exchange for the above payments, on each quarterly distribution date, we must pay the counterparty an amount equal to the product of:

 

  1.56% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) and

 

  the $350 million notional amount of the swap for that period

 

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, any payment amounts will be netted, so that only the net difference in the above amounts will actually be paid quarterly. The agreement is in effect until September 15, 2004. Since the underlying debt is tied to LIBOR, we are effectively paying 1.56% over LIBOR for the debt related to the $350 million of the portfolio, for the effective period of the swap.

 

This swap was designated as a cash flow hedge under SFAS 133 and as such under the requirements outlined in SFAS 133, we are required to mark-to-market the value of the swap at the end of the period. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we recorded zero, and a credit of $0.7 million, respectively, to accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet related to this swap. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003, there we charged zero and $1.5 million, respectively to accumulated other comprehensive loss on the balance sheet related to this swap. The hedge will expire during 2004. The fair market value of the interest-rate swap at June 30, 2004 was zero. Further, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we recorded additional interest expense of $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively, related to the interest-rate swap, but not related to the mark-to-market adjustment, on our income statement. For both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003, we recorded additional interest expense of $0.2 million related to the interest-rate swap, but not related to the mark-to-market adjustment, on our income statement.

 

In December of 2002 we entered into an interest-rate swap related to $700 million of our Education Loan Backed Notes. This swap was not designated as a hedge under SFAS 133. Under the requirements outlined in SFAS 133, we are required to mark-to-market the value of the swap at the end of the quarter. However, since this swap was not designated as a cash flow hedge, the mark-to-market adjustments were recorded to expense/(income) on the income statement. This swap expired December 31, 2003. Correspondingly, the fair market value of this interest-rate swap at December 31, 2003 was zero. We recorded a credit of $0.3 million and a charge of $0.6 million, respectively, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003 (the difference between the fair market value of the swap at December 31, 2002 and at June 30, 2003) as a mark-to-market adjustment. As the hedge expired in 2003, there was no corresponding charge during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004. We also recorded additional interest expense related to this interest-rate swap (but not related to the mark-to-market adjustment) of $0.4 million and $0.8 million during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.

 

Note 7—Sale of Common Stock

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2004 we received proceeds of $0.7 million and $1.5 million, for the issuance of 323,292 and 701,924, respectively, shares of common stock from the exercise of warrants and employee stock options.

 

Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies

 

In March 2004, we signed an operating lease for approximately 23,985 rentable square feet of office space in Cleveland, Ohio, to be used as the central location for our new loan servicing company, Education Loan Servicing Corporation. The lease term is for a period of ten years and is renewable for two five-year periods subsequent to the expiration of the initial lease term. At the commencement of the lease, the premises will be approximately 16,192 rentable square feet. Within the first 16 months of the commencement, the premises will increase in size to be approximately 20,102 rentable square feet. Within 25 months of the commencement, the premises will increase in size to be approximately 23,985 rentable square feet. Expected lease payments under this lease are as follows:

 

Year


  Amount

2004

  $ 125,490

2005

    261,080

2006

    341,676

2007

    371,772

2008

    371,772

thereafter

    2,164,626
   

Total

  $ 3,636,416
   

 

During the second quarter we also entered into an agreement to sell up to $100 million of loans over the next three years, based on pre-determined pricing related to the characteristics of the loans to be sold. We expect that most of these loans will be consolidation loans. In addition, we have entered into another agreement to sell other various loans throughout the coming years.

 

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The FFELP is subject to comprehensive reauthorization every five years and to frequent statutory and regulatory changes. The Higher Education Act is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2004, and reauthorization is currently under consideration by the United States Congress. Should Congress fail to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, our business would be significantly adversely impacted. Our business could also be significantly adversely impacted by a range of other changes in the Higher Education Act, or by other legislation that might be enacted.

 

Note 9—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, including our derivative instruments, as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

     As of June 30, 2004

   As of December 31, 2003

    

Fair

Value


   

Carrying

Value


    Difference

  

Fair

Value


   

Carrying

Value


    Difference

Earning assets

                                             

Student loans

   $ 3,971,411,476     $ 3,822,615,084     $ 148,796,392    $ 3,496,860,718     $ 3,366,242,574     $ 130,618,144

Cash and investments

     22,786,019       22,786,019       —        33,557,879       33,557,879       —  
    


 


 

  


 


 

Total earning assets

   $ 3,994,197,495     $ 3,845,401,103     $ 148,796,392    $ 3,530,418,597     $ 3,399,800,453     $ 130,618,144
    


 


 

  


 


 

Interest-bearing liabilities

                                             

Accounts payable

   $ 2,518,951     $ 2,518,951     $ —      $ 4,470,680     $ 4,470,680     $ —  

Government payable

     5,842,656       5,842,656       —        7,917,689       7,917,689       —  

Short-term borrowings

     280,578,608       280,578,608       —        660,353,242       660,353,242       —  

Long-term notes

     3,775,408,222       3,775,408,222       —        2,905,121,845       2,905,121,845       —  
    


 


 

  


 


 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 4,064,348,437     $ 4,064,348,437     $ —      $ 3,577,863,456     $ 3,577,863,456     $ —  
    


 


 

  


 


 

Derivative financial instruments

                                             

Interest rate swaps

   $ (1,140,859 )   $ (1,140,859 )   $ —      $ (1,381,057 )   $ (1,381,057 )   $ —  

Excess of fair value over carrying value

                   $ 148,796,392                    $ 130,618,144
                    

                  

 

Note 10—Provision for Income Taxes

 

Our effective income tax rate was 2.7% and 3.0% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively. In prior years, we had net operating losses for which we recorded no financial statement benefit when incurred due to the creation of a full valuation allowance. Utilization of net operating loss carryovers for the period ended June 30, 2004 has resulted in a reduction of the valuation allowance and a corresponding reduction in the provisional tax rate below the statutory rate. Our computed 2004 income tax liability is based on the alternative minimum tax computation and state franchise taxes.

 

Note 11—Subsequent Events

 

Education Funding Resources II, LLC was formed in Delaware on July 9, 2004. Education Lending Services, Inc. is the sole equity member of Education Funding Resources II, LLC. Education Funding Resources II, LLC is a special purpose bankruptcy remote entity that was formed in order to facilitate the student loan origination and funding process and the secondary market acquisitions of student loans.

 

        On July 27, 2004, Education Lending Services Corporation, our servicing entity, disbursed its first loans. These loans were marketed through our Consolidation Assistance Program. We intend to focus on servicing our consolidation loan portfolio as we solidify our plans to begin servicing Federal Stafford and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans.

 

In July of 2004 we reached an agreement to lease 4,728 additional square feet of office space in the same building as our current facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. This agreement was effective August 1, 2004. It provides for annual rent of approximately $58,000 throughout the lease term, which expires on March 31, 2007, concurrently with our existing lease agreement.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted (GAAP) in the United States of America. Preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related notes. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Refer to the 10-K we filed March 12, 2004 and to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q for our critical accounting policies. There have been no accounting changes during 2004.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included in this report. Historical operating results are not necessarily indicative of the trends in operating results for any future period. Please refer to our discussion of “Forward-Looking Statements and Other Risk Factors” below.

 

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

 

We are a specialty finance company principally engaged in providing student loan products, services and solutions to students, parents, schools and alumni associations. Our business is focused on originating and purchasing guaranteed student loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, known as FFELP, which includes consolidation loans, Stafford loans and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). We also offer and purchase alternative supplemental loans that may be guaranteed by a third-party guarantor. As of June 30, 2004, all of our alternative supplemental loans were guaranteed by a third-party guarantor. Currently, we sell the majority of Stafford and PLUS loans we originate in the secondary market. As of June 30, 2004 all of our student loans were serviced by third-party servicers.

 

We generate revenue primarily by earning interest income on our student loan portfolio. This financial model allows us to benefit from the predictable revenue stream of our portfolio, unlike specialty finance companies whose revenues are primarily derived from one-time gains upon the sale of their assets. When we do sell loans, we record a gain on the sale of the loans on our income statement. We have agreements with a number of third-party marketing partners who we engage to provide us with completed loan applications. In accordance with GAAP, we expense these marketing partner fees as they are incurred. These fees have historically represented more than 50% of our operating expenses. Accordingly, as a make-and-hold lender, we have historically recorded net losses. During the first quarter of 2004, our portfolio attained scale to generate net interest income sufficient to absorb our expenses, including these marketing partner fees, resulting in net income for the quarter, continuing in to the second quarter. This was partially due to marketing partner fees for the quarter being lower than those in previous quarters, reflecting a slowing in the generation of consolidation loans. Should the volume of loans generated by (and corresponding fees paid to) our marketing partners increase dramatically in a future period, we may record additional operating losses.

 

The low interest rate environment in the last two years has encouraged many borrowers to consolidate their variable rate student loans into one loan with a low, fixed interest rate. Since we began our student loan operations in September 2001, we have addressed this demand by offering a consolidation loan product through our multiple marketing channels. Our success in originating consolidation loans has allowed us to fund the further development of these channels for offering other student loan products, such as Stafford and PLUS loans. Our management team has developed important relationships in the student loan industry, and has extensive experience marketing loans directly to potential borrowers and in marketing and financing all types of student loans.

 

The quarter ended June 30, 2004 marks our second consecutive quarter of profitability. We recorded net income of $4.5 million, or $0.27 per share (basic) for the quarter, reflecting a 52% increase over our net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. For the six months ended June 30, 2004, we have recorded net income of $7.5 million, or $0.46 per share (basic.) As we expected, during the second quarter we continued to see decreased originations in consolidation loans, while our Stafford and PLUS business continued to experience aggressive growth, with Stafford and PLUS originations 84% higher in the second quarter of 2004 than in the comparable period of the prior year. During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, we originated approximately $292 million in loans, of which $61.7 million, or 21%, were Stafford and PLUS loans.

 

As illustrated below, from the quarter ended June 30, 2003 to the quarter ended June 30, 2004, Stafford and PLUS loans have increased significantly in terms of dollars and as a percentage of total originations for our portfolio, partially offsetting the decline in overall volume of consolidation loans generated during those same periods. We had anticipated this decline in consolidation loan volume. Over the past two years we have benefited from our ability to meet what we believe was a pent-up demand for consolidation loans. We believe that this demand has largely been met and that the number of loans eligible for consolidation has significantly diminished. We expect this trend will continue. The following table presents loan originations by type for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

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     For the three months ended June 30,

  

Change

($)


    Change
(%)


 

Loan Type


   2004

   2003

    

Consolidation

   $ 229,558,601    $ 443,761,840    $ (214,203,239 )   (48 )%

Stafford

     53,248,159      29,906,875      23,341,284     78  

PLUS

     8,450,356      3,647,532      4,802,824     132  

Alternative Supplemental

     756,881      2,608,785      (1,851,904 )   (71 )
    

  

  


 

Total

   $ 292,013,997    $ 479,925,032    $ (187,911,035 )   (39 )%
    

  

  


 

     For the six months ended June 30,

  

Change

($)


    Change
(%)


 

Loan Type


   2004

   2003

    

Consolidation

   $ 585,667,050    $ 1,108,664,294    $ (522,997,244 )   (47 )%

Stafford

     138,937,530      79,807,680      59,129,850     74  

PLUS

     49,663,448      13,155,680      36,507,768     277  

Alternative Supplemental

     2,240,827      5,438,449      (3,197,622 )   (59 )
    

  

  


 

Total

   $ 776,508,855    $ 1,207,066,103    $ (430,557,248 )   (36 )%
    

  

  


 

 

Company History and Structure

 

We were incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 1999. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation were initially owned by Whirlwind Ventures, Inc., a public company incorporated in Florida. Whirlwind Ventures never had any business operations. On May 24, 1999, Whirlwind Ventures was merged into us. We were the surviving corporation and assumed all obligations and obtained all rights of Whirlwind Ventures.

 

We have incorporated Education Lending Services, Inc. (ELS) and Student Loan Xpress, Inc. (SLX) as wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, our special purpose bankruptcy remote entity, Education Funding Resources, LLC (EFR) was formed by ELS, with ELS as its sole member, in order to facilitate the loan origination and funding process and secondary market acquisitions. We have also formed Education Funding Capital I, LLC (EFC I) to participate in the permanent financing securitization of our student loans assets. ELS is the sole member of EFC I. Additionally, we have formed Education Funding Capital Trust I, Education Funding Capital Trust II, Education Funding Capital Trust III and Education Funding Capital Trust IV, all of which are Delaware statutory trusts and wholly-owned subsidiaries of EFC I.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Earnings Summary.

 

     For the three months ended June 30,

 
     2004

   2003

 

Student loan income

   $ 32,146,320    $ 19,516,152  

Gain on sale of loans

     1,682,295      2,360,474  

Marketing partner fees and expenses

     3,502,345      7,144,998  

Employee compensation and benefits

     3,240,952      3,045,882  

Net income/(loss)

     4,503,085      (1,763,074 )

Income/(loss) per share, diluted

     0.24      (0.15 )
     For the six months ended June 30,

 
     2004

   2003

 

Student loan income

   $ 62,282,179    $ 34,228,804  

Gain on sale of loans

     4,108,841      10,101,892  

Marketing partner fees and expenses

     9,638,087      14,895,314  

Employee compensation and benefits

     6,111,981      5,630,178  

Net income/(loss)

     7,473,548      (3,357,918 )

Income/(loss) per share, diluted

     0.40      (0.30 )
     As of June 30,

 
     2004

   2003

 

Net student loans outstanding

   $ 3,822,615,084    $ 2,160,918,102  

 

For the quarter ended June 30, 2004, our net income calculated in accordance with GAAP was $4.5 million, or $0.27 per share (basic) and $0.24 per share (diluted), compared to a loss of $1.8 million, or $0.15 per share (basic and diluted) in the quarter ended June 30, 2003. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2004 was $7.5 million or $0.46 per share (basic) and $0.40 per share (diluted), compared to a loss of $3.4 million, or $0.30 per share (basic and diluted) in the six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

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Our net earnings are driven by several key components, the most significant of which is loan volume. As our loan volume increases (measured by the amount of loans held on our balance sheet), our student loan income and corresponding cost of student loan income increase accordingly. We have several marketing partners who advertise, identify and attract potential borrowers. We pay these marketing partners for each completed student loan application they provide to us. These fees are expensed during the period incurred. Therefore, as our loan origination volume increases, marketing partner fees increase. Since the interest we earn on the loan is spread over the loan’s life, the recording of the expense of the marketing partner fees at the loan’s inception caused operating losses until our balance sheet reached sufficient scale for the interest income related to existing loans to offset the marketing partner fees related to new loans. During the first quarter of 2004, the loans held on our balance sheet had attained a scale sufficient to generate income in excess of all our expenses, including our marketing partner fees, resulting in net income for that period, and for the second quarter. This was partially due to marketing partner fees for the quarter being lower than those in previous quarters, reflecting a slowing in the generation of consolidation loans. Should the volume of loans generated by (and corresponding fees paid to) our marketing partners increase dramatically in a future period, we may record additional operating losses.

 

Although we are primarily a make-and-hold lender, under certain circumstances, discussed more fully below, we sell some of our loans to third parties. When we sell loans, we record a gain on the sale of student loans on our income statement. Gains on sales of loans were $1.7 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2004, compared to $2.4 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2003, and were $4.1 million and $10.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Employee compensation is another significant component of our net earnings. Employee compensation increased from $3.0 million to $3.2 million from the quarter ended June 30, 2003 to the quarter ended June 30, 2004, and from $5.6 million to $6.1 million from the six months ended June 30, 2003 to the six months ended June 30, 2004, reflecting increased headcount between the periods. Our headcount increased from 99 at June 30, 2003 to 147 at June 30, 2004. The increase in expense related to the higher headcount at June 30, 2004 than at June 30, 2003 was partially offset by lower bonus accruals in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 than in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

Net Interest Income and Income after Provision for Loan Losses. Net interest income is derived largely from our portfolio of student loans that remains on our balance sheet. It represents the spread between interest earned on student loans and our cost of generating that interest income. The cost of interest income is composed of interest expense on the warehouse facility and the permanent financings we use to fund our loan portfolio, income or expense related to mark-to-market adjustments for interest rate swaps that are not designated as cash flow hedges as well as interest expense related to all our interest-rate swaps, costs paid to third-party servicers to service our loans, amortization of DOE fees and deferred financing costs, the provision for loan losses, and amortization of premiums paid to acquire loans. We are currently in the process of establishing our own servicing division, which we will use to service a portion of our student loan portfolio.

 

Following is a comparison of the components of net interest income for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

     Three months ended June 30,

    Increase (decrease)

 
     2004

   2003

    2004 vs. 2003

 

Interest income

                             

Student loans, net

   $ 32,146,320    $ 19,516,152     $ 12,630,168     65 %

Investments

     386,832      386,050       782     —    
    

  


 


     

Total interest income

     32,533,152      19,902,202       12,630,950     63  

Cost of interest income

                             

Interest related expenses

     15,832,230      10,496,576       5,335,654     51  

Valuation of interest-rate swap

     —        (308,160 )     308,160     (100 )

Loan servicing and other fees

     1,974,759      1,035,379       939,380     91  
    

  


 


     

Total cost of interest income

     17,806,989      11,223,795       6,583,194     59  

Net interest income

     14,726,163      8,678,407       6,047,756     70  

Less: provision for losses

     296,680      432,554       (135,874 )   (31 )
    

  


 


     

Net interest income after provision for losses

   $ 14,429,483    $ 8,245,853     $ 6,183,630     75 %
    

  


 


     
     Six months ended June 30,

    Increase (decrease)

 
     2004

   2003

    2004 vs. 2003

 

Interest income

                             

Student loans, net

   $ 62,282,179    $ 34,228,804     $ 28,053,375     82 %

Investments

     743,052      576,955       166,097     29  
    

  


 


     

Total interest income

     63,025,231      34,805,759       28,219,472     81  

Cost of interest income

                             

Interest related expenses

     30,546,333      19,103,579       11,442,754     60  

Valuation of interest-rate swap

     —        604,542       (604,542 )   (100 )

Loan servicing and other fees

     3,838,462      1,762,988       2,075,474     118  
    

  


 


     

Total cost of interest income

     34,384,795      21,471,109       12,913,686     60  

Net interest income

     28,640,436      13,334,650       15,305,786     115  

Less: provision for losses

     734,203      987,184       (252,981 )   (26 )
    

  


 


     

Net interest income after provision for losses

   $ 27,906,233    $ 12,347,466     $ 15,558,767     126 %
    

  


 


     

 

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Table of Contents

Our interest income and cost of interest income were higher in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the quarter and six months ending June 30, 2003, primarily due to the increase in our student loan portfolio. The increases in interest income and the cost of interest income due to increased loan volume from the 2003 quarter to the 2004 quarter were partially offset by lower interest rates related to both our earning assets and our borrowings. These changes are detailed in the following rate/volume analysis which shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes.

 

Analysis of change in net interest income for three month
period ended June 30, 2004

compared to the three month period ended June 30, 2003

   Interest
increase
(decrease)


  

Increase (decrease) attributable

to change in


      Rate

    Volume

Interest income

   $ 12,630,950    $ (5,038,702 )   $ 17,669,652

Cost of interest income

     6,583,194      (7,612,319 )     14,195,513
    

  


 

Net interest income before provision for losses

   $ 6,047,756    $ 2,573,617     $ 3,474,139
    

  


 

Analysis of change in net interest income for six month

period ended June 30, 2004

compared to the six month period ended June 30, 2003

   Interest
increase
(decrease)


  

Increase (decrease) attributable

to change in


      Rate

    Volume

Interest income

   $ 28,219,472    $ (8,879,662 )   $ 37,099,134

Cost of interest income

     12,913,686      (12,374,119 )     25,287,805
    

  


 

Net interest income before provision for losses

   $ 15,305,786    $ 3,494,457     $ 11,811,329
    

  


 

 

Our borrowings are generally variable rate and are indexed primarily to commercial paper, LIBOR and our auction rate securities. The following table summarizes the average balance of our debt by index and the corresponding average interest rate paid on the debt related to each index, respectively, for the quarter and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003. The table does not give effect to the impact of interest-rate swaps. We have no off-balance sheet debt or financing.

 

     Three months ended June 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Index


   Average Balance

   Average
Rate


    Average Balance

   Average
Rate


 

Commercial paper

   $ 636,043,956    1.48 %   $ 414,615,385    1.71 %

LIBOR

     1,315,074,046    1.44       416,522,239    1.47  

Auction rate securities

     2,057,532,967    1.49       1,414,544,665    1.75  
    

        

      

Total

   $ 4,008,650,969    1.47 %   $ 2,245,682,289    1.69 %
    

  

 

  

     Six months ended June 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Index


   Average Balance

   Average
Rate


    Average Balance

   Average
Rate


 

Commercial paper

   $ 759,917,582    1.50 %   $ 523,646,409    1.76 %

LIBOR

     1,148,334,870    1.41       209,411,733    1.47  

Auction rate securities

     1,984,016,484    1.46       1,219,190,964    1.89  
    

        

      

Total

   $ 3,892,268,936    1.45 %   $ 1,952,249,106    1.81 %
    

  

 

  

 

23


Table of Contents

We provide an allowance for potential loan losses on our balance sheet. The allowance is based on periodic evaluations of our loan portfolio, changes to federal student loan programs, current economic conditions and other relevant factors. We utilize these factors to estimate a projected default rate for our student loan portfolio. This estimate, along with the applicable risk-sharing percentage, is used to calculate the allowance for student loan losses. The allowance is maintained at a level that management believes is adequate to provide for probable credit losses. Currently, approximately 98% of our student loan portfolio is guaranteed. The allowance for student loan losses is calculated by multiplying the principal balance of the student loans we carry on our balance sheet by 2% (the uninsured portion of the federally sponsored student loans on our balance sheet) and then multiplying that amount by the projected default rate. We do not reserve for loan losses related to the alternative supplemental loan portion of our portfolio as currently these loans are 100% guaranteed by a third-party agency. Should this situation change, we would reserve for such potential losses as appropriate.

 

Although our FFELP loans are currently 98% guaranteed, we track delinquency trends related to these loans for informational purposes and as historical data should future loans not be guaranteed at this level and therefore require an additional loss reserve. The following table shows delinquency trends related to FFELP loans as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

     As of June 30, 2004

    As of December 31, 2003

 
     Balance

    %

    Balance

    %

 

FFELP Loans (Gross)

                            

Loans in school/grace/deferment

   $ 693,598,983           $ 543,959,548        

Loans in forbearance

     251,787,026             196,248,290        

Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:

                            

Loans current

     2,671,995,829     94 %     2,427,262,085     94 %

Loans delinquent 30-59 days

     82,213,812     3       76,823,113     3  

Loans delinquent 60-89 days

     33,620,069     1       37,586,386     1  

Loans delinquent 90 days or greater

     52,256,818     2       52,430,611     2  
    


 

 


 

Total loans in repayment

     2,840,086,528     100 %     2,594,102,195     100 %
    


 

 


 

Total FFELP student loans

   $ 3,785,472,537           $ 3,334,310,033        

FFELP student loan reserves

     (4,483,881 )           (3,910,104 )      
    


       


     

FFELP student loans, net

   $ 3,780,988,656           $ 3,330,399,929        
    


       


     

Percentage of FFELP student loans in repayment

           75 %           78 %
            

         

 

Gain on Sale of Student Loans. As market conditions have dictated, we currently sell the majority of loans we originate in the preferred lender-list marketing channel while retaining loans originated in the consolidation marketing channel. The preferred lender-list business is rather seasonal as the majority of the loans are originated in the August/September/October and January/February/March time frame which corresponds to the college disbursement calendar. From time to time, we may also elect to sell some portion of our consolidation loans to take advantage of a specific business opportunity or if required to generate cash for operations.

 

As mentioned above, from time to time we may choose to sell consolidation loans. Accordingly, in addition to the sale of loans generated in the school preferred lender-list channel, during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003 we chose to sell approximately $41.2 million and $247.0 million, respectively, of consolidation loans. This resulted in gain on sale of approximately $1.7 million and $8.5 million for the June 30, 2003 quarter and six months, respectively, compared to no sales from this source in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004. As a result, we had total gain on sale during the quarter ended June 30, 2004 of approximately $1.7 million compared to $2.4 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2003, and of $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, compared to $10.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

24


Table of Contents

The following tables show total loans sold, by type for the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, along with the gains on those sales and the corresponding premiums earned.

 

    

For the three months ended

June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Loans Sold

                

Consolidated

   $ —       $ 41,196,062  

Non-consolidated

     75,025,357       27,086,945  
    


 


Total

   $ 75,025,357     $ 68,283,007  
    


 


Gain on Sale

                

Consolidated

   $ —       $ 1,729,517  

Non-consolidated

     1,682,295       630,957  
    


 


Total

   $ 1,682,295     $ 2,360,474  
    


 


Net Premium

                

Consolidated

     —   %     4.20 %

Non-consolidated

     2.24       2.33  
    


 


Total

     2.24 %     3.46 %
    


 


    

For the six months ended

June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Loans Sold

                

Consolidated

   $ —       $ 247,010,949  

Non-consolidated

     173,810,848       68,205,001  
    


 


Total

   $ 173,810,848     $ 315,215,950  
    


 


Gain on Sale

                

Consolidated

   $ —       $ 8,532,268  

Non-consolidated

     4,108,841       1,569,624  
    


 


Total

   $ 4,108,841     $ 10,101,892  
    


 


Net Premium

                

Consolidated

     —   %     3.45 %

Non-consolidated

     2.36       2.30  
    


 


Total

     2.36 %     3.20 %
    


 


 

At June 30, 2004, total student loans on our balance sheet included approximately $68.5 million of loans held for sale.

 

Other income, net. Other income, net consists of late fees and was approximately $57,000 and $10,000 for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. It was approximately $115,000 and $17,000 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase in other income is due primarily to increased late fees received, which is directly related to the greater number of student loans held on the balance sheet at June 30, 2004 as compared to loans held at June 30, 2003.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.

 

    

For the three months ended

June 30,


   

Change

($)


   

Change

(%)


 
     2004

   2003

     

Total

   $ 2,585,629    $ 2,148,835     $ 436,794     20 %

Employee compensation and benefits

     1,541,984      1,610,176       (68,192 )   (4 )

Travel

     125,687      32,361       93,326     288  

Public administration

     76,895      (1,239 )     78,134     6,306  

Accounting and auditing

     95,150      26,700       68,450     256  

Trustee fees

     161,122      98,564       62,558     63  

Corporate insurance

     186,560      129,961       56,599     44  

Legal

     107,057      59,281       47,776     81  
    

For the six months ended

June 30,


   

Change

($)


    Change(%)

 
     2004

   2003

     

Total

   $ 5,114,559    $ 4,047,748     $ 1,066,811     26 %

Employee compensation and benefits

     2,791,319      2,904,934       (113,615 )   (4 )

Consulting

     362,219      163,489       198,730     122  

Travel

     239,590      74,851       164,739     220  

Accounting and auditing

     228,171      104,612       123,559     118  

Public administration

     134,134      39,005       95,129     244  

Trustee fees

     326,806      170,843       155,963     91  

Corporate insurance

     388,627      170,929       217,698     127  

Legal

     307,514      125,313       182,201     145  

 

25


Table of Contents

General and administrative expenses are those expenses associated with the infrastructure that supports our student loan operations, including but not limited to, salaries and benefits for our administrative and research and development employees, consulting, premiums paid for corporate insurance policies, rents, utilities, legal expenses and fees paid to our independent auditors.

 

General and administrative expenses increased from $2.1 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2003 to $2.6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2004, and from $4.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $5.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004. This increase was related to a number of factors, primarily a function of our growth. Components of the increase in general and administrative spending include travel expenses which increased primarily related to our efforts to launch our new servicing entity, as employees from our existing offices traveled to our new facility to assist in the design and implementation of new business systems and processes. Accounting expenses were higher than in the comparable periods of the previous year partially due to charges for consents required for various public filings, and due to increased costs for audit and review work of a more complex organization. Public administrative fees in the June 2004 quarter and six month period were higher than those in the June 2003 quarter and six month period as our annual stockholder meeting was held earlier in the year in 2004 than it had been in 2003, resulting in an acceleration of the related charges, in addition to higher costs related to filing our annual report on Form 10-K. Trustee fees (fees paid to the entities serving as trustees for our permanent financings) increased as we added two indentures to our debt structure since the June 2003 quarter. Premiums paid for our corporate insurances policies, including our corporate umbrella policy and director and officer liability policies, also increased from the June 2003 quarter and six months to the June 2004 quarter and six months, as did our fees paid to outside legal counsel.

 

Additionally, in the six months ended June 30, 2004, consulting expenses were higher than those in the six months ended June 30, 2003 primarily due to payments to consultants retained to assist us in our efforts to move towards compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

The increases described above were partially offset by lower employee compensation and benefit expense. Increased costs related to headcount additions (there were 48 administrative employees at June 30, 2003, as compared to 66 at June 30, 2004) were more than offset by lower bonus accruals in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 than in the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003. Included in compensation and benefit expense is a non-cash charge related to performance-based options that were granted in 2003 and are being expensed over their vesting period (2003-2005), as discussed in Note 2 of the Notes to the consolidated financial statements. This charge was $41,000 and $175,000 for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and $82,000 and $175,000 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, further contributing to the reduced expenses for salaries and benefits in 2004 as compared to 2003.

 

Servicing Expenses. We are in the process of establishing an organization that will service our loan portfolio. We have hired several key employees and leased office space for the new loan servicing company. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we incurred approximately $465,000 and $630,000 of costs, respectively, primarily related to employee compensation and benefits, depreciation expense and other costs associated with establishing the facility. There were no costs related to the servicing organization during the quarter or six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

Sales and Marketing Expenses.

 

    

For the three months ended

June 30,


  

Change

($)


    Change
(%)


 
     2004

   2003

    

Total

   $ 8,487,590    $ 10,229,691    $ (1,742,101 )   (17 )%

Marketing partner fees

     3,502,345      7,144,998      (3,642,653 )   (51 )

Direct marketing

     2,421,899      1,099,575      1,322,324     120  

Employee compensation and benefits

     1,698,968      1,435,706      263,262     18  
    

For the six months ended

June 30,


  

Change

($)


    Change
(%)


 
     2004

   2003

    

Total

   $ 18,680,448    $ 21,739,642    $ (3,059,194 )   (14 )%

Marketing partner fees

     9,638,087      14,895,314      (5,257,227 )   (35 )

Direct marketing

     3,460,711      2,686,875      773,836     29  

Employee compensation and benefits

     3,320,662      2,725,245      595,417     22  

 

Sales and marketing expenses include the fees we pay to various marketing partners to market loans on our behalf. This category also includes the salaries and benefits we pay to our internal sales force and Education Finance Loan CenterSM personnel, as

 

26


Table of Contents

well as associated expenses such as travel, telephone and meals and entertainment. The costs of marketing our products are also included in this category. These expenses include the printing of collateral material, direct mail campaigns and our attendance at various trade shows.

 

Total sales and marketing expenses decreased from $10.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2003 to $8.5 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2004, and from $21.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $18.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004, primarily due to a reduction in fees paid to our marketing partners. During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 we incurred $3.5 million and $9.6 million, respectively, in fees paid to marketing partners who market consolidation loans on our behalf, then provide us with completed applications, compared to compared to $7.1 million and $14.9 million of these fees for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, this amount includes approximately $47,000 and $0.8 million, respectively, in non-cash charges related to performance-based options granted to some of these partners. These non-cash charges were $1.5 million for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003. As discussed above, these fees are expensed as incurred and represent a significant portion of our expenses. Marketing partner fees declined from the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003 to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, reflecting the lower consolidation loan originations in the June 2004 quarter and six months. Despite the decline, these costs represent a significant component of our total sales and marketing expenses. Marketing partner fees represented 41% and 70% of sales and marketing expenses for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2003, respectively. They represented 30% and 58% of total operating expenses for those respective periods. For the six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 respectively, marketing partner fees represented 52% and 69% of sales and marketing expenses. They represented 39% and 58% of total operating expenses for those respective periods.

 

The decrease in marketing partner fees from the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003 to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 was partially offset by increased costs for employee compensation and benefits. The increase in employee compensation and benefits expense from the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2003 to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily reflects the increased headcount between the periods (51 employees at June 30, 2003 compared to 57 employees at June 30, 2004). Included in compensation and benefit expense is a non-cash charge related to performance-based options that were granted in 2003 and are being expensed over their vesting period (2003-2005), as discussed in Note 2 of the Notes to the consolidated financial statements. This charge was approximately $34,000 and $115,000 for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively and was approximately $70,000 and $115,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Also offsetting the decrease in marketing partner payments in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 as compared to June 30, 2003, are increased costs for direct marketing. As we have redirected our focus away from consolidation loans which are heavily reliant on our marketing partners, and towards the Stafford and PLUS business, we have significantly increased our spending on direct marketing of Stafford and PLUS loans in order to increase our market share in that area.

 

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

 

In addition to evaluating our GAAP-based data, management, credit rating agencies, and analysts also evaluate our performance in terms of certain non-financial (or non-GAAP) measures. These measures are discussed in the following sections.

 

Loan Originations. We analyze the ratio of loans generated internally versus those generated externally through our marketing partners. Following is a table which provides detail of loan originations for each of our origination channels for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

     For the three months ended June 30, 2004

     FFELP

   Alternative
Supplemental


   Total

Consolidations through internal sources

   $ 37,094,014    $ —      $ 37,094,014

Consolidations through marketing partners

     192,458,181      —        192,458,181

Consolidations through other sources

     6,406      —        6,406

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

     55,222,766      —        55,222,766

Other (internal sources)

     6,475,749      756,881      7,232,630
    

  

  

Total originations and purchases

     291,257,116      756,881      292,013,997
    

  

  

Capitalized interest and other

     5,721,553      25,606      5,747,159
    

  

  

Total student loan acquisitions

   $ 296,978,669    $ 782,487    $ 297,761,156
    

  

  

 

27


Table of Contents
     For the three months ended June 30, 2003

     FFELP

   Alternative
Supplemental


   Total

Consolidations through internal sources

   $ 122,403,841    $ —      $ 122,403,841

Consolidations through marketing partners

     321,311,205      —        321,311,205

Consolidations through other sources

     46,794      —        46,794

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

     29,377,094      —        29,377,094

Other (internal sources)

     4,177,313      2,608,785      6,786,098
    

  

  

Total originations and purchases

     477,316,247      2,608,785      479,925,032
    

  

  

Capitalized interest and other

     2,267,739      520      2,268,259
    

  

  

Total student loan acquisitions

   $ 479,583,986    $ 2,609,305    $ 482,193,291
    

  

  

     For the six months ended June 30, 2004

     FFELP

   Alternative
Supplemental


   Total

Consolidations through internal sources

   $ 90,317,932    $ —      $ 90,317,932

Consolidations through marketing partners

     495,342,945      —        495,342,945

Consolidations through other sources

     6,173      —        6,173

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

     175,904,630      —        175,904,630

Other (internal sources)

     12,696,348      2,240,827      14,937,175
    

  

  

Total originations and purchases

     774,268,028      2,240,827      776,508,855
    

  

  

Capitalized interest and other

     11,248,539      78,216      11,326,755
    

  

  

Total student loan acquisitions

   $ 785,516,567    $ 2,319,043    $ 787,835,610
    

  

  

     For the six months ended June 30, 2003

     FFELP

   Alternative
Supplemental


   Total

Consolidations through internal sources

   $ 363,847,320    $ —      $ 363,847,320

Consolidations through marketing partners

     744,642,173      —        744,642,173

Consolidations through other sources

     174,801      —        174,801

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

     73,489,076      —        73,489,076

Other (internal sources)

     19,474,284      5,438,449      24,912,733
    

  

  

Total originations and purchases

     1,201,627,654      5,438,449      1,207,066,103
    

  

  

Capitalized interest and other

     3,876,807      5,028      3,881,835
    

  

  

Total student loan acquisitions

   $ 1,205,504,461    $ 5,443,477    $ 1,210,947,938
    

  

  

 

The table below presents the above loan acquisition information as percentages of the total loans generated for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

     For the three months ended
June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Consolidations through internal sources

   13 %   26 %

Consolidations through marketing partners

   66     67  

Consolidations through other sources

   —       —    

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

   19     6  

Other (internal sources)

   2     1  
    

 

Total originations and purchases

   100 %   100 %
    

 

     For the six months ended
June 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Consolidations through internal sources

   12 %   30 %

Consolidations through marketing partners

   64     62  

Consolidations through other sources

   —       —    

Traditional school channel (internal sources)

   23     6  

Other (internal sources)

   1     2  
    

 

Total originations and purchases

   100 %   100 %
    

 

 

28


Table of Contents

Floor Income. Our portfolio of FFELP student loans generally earns interest at the higher of a floating rate based on the SAP formula set by the DOE and the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time. We generally finance our student loan portfolio with floating rate debt over all interest rate levels. In low interest rate environments, when student loans are earning at the fixed borrower rate and the interest on our floating rate debt is continuing to decline, we earn additional spread income and refer to it as floor income. Depending on the type of student loan and when it is originated, the borrower rate is either fixed to term (as is the case for consolidation loans) or is reset to a market rate each July 1st (as is the case for Stafford and PLUS loans). As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, we may earn floor income for an extended period of time, and for those loans where the borrower interest rate is reset annually July first, we may earn floor income to the next reset date. Floor income is included in student loan income. During the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 our floor income was $6.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively. For the six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, our floor income was $12.7 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

 

The following table details the volume of loans that were earning floor income during the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003. CP rate loans are based on the quarter-average CP rates of 1.23% and 1.17% for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

     For the three months ended June 30, 2004

     Fixed borrower
rate


   Annually reset
borrower rate


   Total

Student loans eligible to earn floor income:

                    

Student loans

   $ 108,843,060    $ 133,344,083    $ 242,187,143

Securitized student loans

     3,543,285,394      —        3,543,285,394
    

  

  

Total student loans eligible to earn floor income

   $ 3,652,128,454    $ 133,344,083    $ 3,785,472,537
    

  

  

Net managed student loans earning floor income

                    

Earning 1-25 bps floor income

   $ 223,831,337    $ —      $ 223,831,337

Earning 26-50 bps floor income

     541,981,172      192,471      542,173,643

Earning 51-75 bps floor income

     315,179,929      —        315,179,929

Earning 76-100 bps floor income

     229,090,320      —        229,090,320

Earning 101-200 bps floor income

     548,966,248      —        548,966,248

Earning 201+ bps floor income

     496,607,277      —        496,607,277
    

  

  

Total

   $ 2,355,656,283    $ 192,471    $ 2,355,848,754
    

  

  

     For the three months ended June 30, 2003

     Fixed borrower
rate


   Annually reset
borrower rate


   Total

Student Loans Eligible to earn floor income:

                    

Student loans

   $ 227,330,535    $ 50,484,110    $ 277,814,645

Securitized student loans

     1,860,107,241      —        1,860,107,241
    

  

  

Total student loans eligible to earn floor income

   $ 2,087,437,776    $ 50,484,110    $ 2,137,921,886
    

  

  

Net managed student loans earning floor income

                    

Earning 1-25 bps floor income

   $ 159,167,201    $ —      $ 159,167,201

Earning 26-50 bps floor income

     341,670,836      —        341,670,836

Earning 51-75 bps floor income

     316,279,664      48,132,600      364,412,264

Earning 76-100 bps floor income

     268,225,460      364,123      268,589,583

Earning 101-200 bps floor income

     402,705,496      1,128,821      403,834,317

Earning 201+ bps floor income

     401,216,003      —        401,216,003
    

  

  

Total

   $ 1,889,264,660    $ 49,625,544    $ 1,938,890,204
    

  

  

 

Net Interest Margin Analysis. We review our net interest margin on an ongoing basis in order to assess whether the earnings spread we actually received was in line with our expectations. Following is our net interest margin analysis for the quarter and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

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Table of Contents
     For the three months ended June 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
Student Loan Net Interest Margin Analysis                             

Student loan interest received

   $ 41,664,372     4.4741 %   $ 24,906,534     4.9093 %

Less:

                            

Consolidation loan rebate fee

     (9,518,052 )   (1.0221 )     (5,390,385 )   (1.0596 )

Cost of debt

     (14,764,612 )   (1.5855 )     (9,565,350 )   (1.8802 )

Premium amortization

     (51,469 )   (0.0055 )     (32,303 )   (0.0063 )

DOE fee amortization

     (490,739 )   (0.0527 )     (154,952 )   (0.0305 )

Loan loss reserve

     (296,680 )   (0.0319 )     (432,553 )   (0.0850 )

Loan servicing costs*

     (1,432,552 )   (0.1538 )     (848,124 )   (0.1668 )
    


 

 


 

Total Costs

     (26,554,104 )   (2.8515 )     (16,423,667 )   (3.2284 )

Student loan net interest margin with floor income

     15,110,268     1.6226       8,482,867     1.6809  

Additional interest expense to lock-in part of floor income

     532,315     0.0572       1,232,598     0.2423  

Floor income—revenue

     (5,997,811 )   (0.6441 )     (5,454,748 )   (1.0722 )
    


 

 


 

Student loan net interest margin before floor income

   $ 9,644,772     1.0357 %   $ 4,260,717     0.8510 %
    


 

 


 

Consolidated Company Net Interest Margin Analysis

                            

Student loan net interest margin before floor income

   $ 9,644,772     1.0357 %   $ 4,260,717     0.8510 %

Floor income after swap to lock-in part of floor income

     5,465,495     0.5869       4,222,150     0.8299  

Mark to market of interest rate swap

     —       —         308,160     0.0606  

Negative interest carry

     (680,784 )   (0.0731 )     (545,174 )   (0.1072 )
    


 

 


 

Net interest margin reported on financial statement

   $ 14,429,483     1.5495 %   $ 8,245,853     1.6343 %
    


 

 


 

     For the six months ended June 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Student loan interest received

   $ 80,794,330     4.4487 %   $ 43,795,916     4.9434 %

Less:

                            

Consolidation loan rebate fee

     (18,512,151 )   (1.0193 )     (9,567,113 )   (1.0710 )

Cost of debt

     (28,640,022 )   (1.5770 )     (17,562,417 )   (1.9660 )

Premium amortization

     (98,232 )   (0.0054 )     (59,483 )   (0.0067 )

DOE fee amortization

     (933,944 )   (0.0514 )     (262,287 )   (0.0294 )

Loan loss reserve

     (734,203 )   (0.0404 )     (987,184 )   (0.1105 )

Loan servicing costs*

     (2,806,287 )   (0.1545 )     (1,441,218 )   (0.1613 )
    


 

 


 

Total Costs

     (51,724,839 )   (2.8481 )     (29,879,702 )   (3.3449 )

Student loan net interest margin with floor income

     29,069,491     1.6006       13,916,214     1.5985  

Additional interest expense to lock-in part of floor income

     1,322,979     0.0728       2,608,519     0.2920  

Floor income—revenue

     (12,691,463 )   (0.6988 )     (9,652,330 )   (1.0805 )
    


 

 


 

Student loan net interest margin before floor income

   $ 17,701,007     0.9747 %   $ 6,872,403     0.8100 %
    


 

 


 

Consolidated Company Net Interest Margin Analysis

                            

Student loan net interest margin before floor income

   $ 17,701,007     0.9747 %   $ 6,872,403     0.8100 %

Floor income after swap to lock-in part of floor income

     11,368,484     0.6260       7,043,811     0.7885  

Mark to market of interest rate swap

     —       —         (604,542 )   (0.0677 )

Negative interest carry

     (1,163,258 )   (0.0641 )     (964,206 )   (0.1079 )
    


 

 


 

Net interest margin reported on financial statement

   $ 27,906,233     1.5366 %   $ 12,347,466     1.4229 %
    


 

 


 


* Includes monthly servicing fees, cancellations fees, and amortization of loan origination costs

 

Average student loan balances outstanding for the quarters ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were $3,735,200,669 and $2,034,923,908, respectively. Average student loan balances outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were $3,642,597,583 and $1,786,574,987, respectively.

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

At June 30, 2004, we had operating cash and cash equivalents of approximately $22.8 million (excluding restricted cash and investments). Since inception, we have financed our operations from debt and equity financings. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, we used cash of approximately $1.3 million to fund our operations, and we acquired property and equipment of approximately $1.9 million. At June 30, 2004, we had advances of approximately $281 million outstanding against our warehouse loan facilities and $3.8 billion of LIBOR/auction rate Education Loan Backed Notes were outstanding and included on our balance sheet. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, our gross recorded loans increased $453 million to $3.8 billion. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, we received proceeds of approximately $1.5 million for the issuance of 701,924 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants and employee stock options.

 

We have two warehouse loan facilities which we use to fund the origination and purchase of student loans. One of the facilities is a $19 million facility. The second facility (our Conduit Facility) was established in the fourth quarter of 2002 for $500 million and is renewable on a 364-day basis until expiration of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2005. On January 6, 2004 it was increased to $1.0 billion, and was then increased to $1.25 billion on March 1, 2004. Effective on May 12, 2004, it was reduced to $500 million in connection with the securitization we completed at that time. At June 30, 2004, the balance outstanding on the Conduit Facility was

 

30


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approximately $281 million. We must comply with certain covenants in the Conduit Facility agreements. These include, but are not limited to, financial covenants such as a required minimum spread, asset coverage ratio, net consolidation ratio and default ratio, limits on the concentration of certain types of student loans purchased with proceeds from the warehouse loan facility and maintaining the status of Education Funding Resources, LLC as a single purpose bankruptcy remote limited liability company.

 

We do not have any scheduled mandatory repayment obligations under the $500 million Conduit Facility. Upon notice from the lender, this facility can be terminated at the end of each 364-day period. If this notice were to be given, paydown of the Conduit Facility would be required in October 2004.

 

In May and August of 2002, we issued Series 2002 Notes of $525 million and $500 million, respectively, in order to provide permanent financing opportunities for our consolidation loan operations. In April 2003, we issued Series 2003 (April) Notes of $1 billion to provide additional permanent financings for our consolidation loan operations, as mentioned above. We issued Series 2003 (October) Notes in October 2003 and we issued Series 2004 Notes in May 2004. The interest rates for the Series 2002 Notes are determined by Dutch Auction. The interest rates of some of the Series 2003 (April) Notes are tied to the three-month LIBOR rate plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.05% to 0.30%, while the rates of other Series 2003 (April) Notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction. The interest rates of some of the Series 2003 (October) Notes are tied to the three-month LIBOR rate plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.04% to 0.27%, while the rates of other Series 2003 (October) Notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction. The interest rates of some of the Series 2004 Notes are tied to the three-month LIBOR rate plus an incremental amount ranging from 0.04% to 0.19%, while the rates of other Series 2004 Notes bear interest at a rate determined by Dutch Auction.

 

We do not have any scheduled mandatory repayment obligations under the Series 2002 Notes or the Series 2003 Notes. However, paydowns of the notes are required to be made on interest payment dates as principal payments on the underlying student loans are received. The Series 2002 Notes have a final maturity date of June 1, 2042. The Series 2003 (April) Notes have staggered final maturity dates as follows: $80 million at March 15, 2007, $144 million at December 15, 2011, $276 million at December 15, 2017, $150 million at March 15, 2032 and the remaining $350 million at March 17, 2042. The Series 2003 (October) Notes have staggered final maturity dates as follows: $77.5 million at September 15, 2008, $118.5 million at December 17, 2012, $319 million at March 16, 2020, $100 million at December 15, 2032 and $385 million at December 15, 2042. The Series 2004 Notes have staggered final maturity dates as follows: $170 million at December 17, 2012, $390 million at December 15, 2022, $100 million at December 16, 2024, and $340 million at June 15, 2043.

 

As of June 30, 2004, we are in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

 

Management believes that we have sufficient funds and access to financing to meet expenses in the foreseeable future. We are currently able to meet our operating cash requirements from cash held on our balance sheet, along with borrowing against the value of the student loans originated each month. Additionally, later this year we will achieve parity in our 2002 securitization and will be able to draw cash from that source. If necessary, working capital can be raised through the sale of a portion of our student loan portfolio.

 

We also have a $3 million line of credit available for working capital needs. No draws have been made on this line to date. This line of credit expires in June 2005.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER RISK FACTORS

 

Certain statements contained in this report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Our actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, which are typically identified by the words or phrases “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “may increase”, “may result in”, and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would” and “could”. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the following: the effects of legislative changes, including those affecting the interest rates borrowers pay on certain loans, the magnitude of certain loan subsidies and the related introduction of competitive loan programs by other lenders; the effects of changes in accounting standards; actual credit losses we experience in future periods compared to the estimates used in calculating reserves; fluctuations in the interest rates we pay for our funding and receive on our loan portfolio; our ability to service our loan portfolio in accordance with its contractual obligations (or our ability to continue to retain a third-party servicer); the actual cost of employee stock option awards and the effects of changes made to various stock-based compensation programs; the success of our hedging policies; our ability to acquire or originate loans in the amounts anticipated and with interest rates adequate to generate sufficient yields and margins; our success in expanding our guarantor relationships and products; whether risk-sharing expenses for defaults on new loan originations are offset by lower insurance premiums; our ability to utilize alternative sources of funding, including our ability to continue to securitize loan portfolios; our ability to derive incremental economic benefits from greater economies of scale as our portfolio grows; as well as general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and the implementation of regulatory changes. Risks related to our business are discussed in greater detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Discussions About Market Risk

 

Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in the market prices and/or interest rates related to our financial instruments. Our primary market risk is from changes in interest rates and interest spreads. Our loan portfolio has both fixed and variable rate components, while our financings are composed of multiple types of variable rate debt. Some of our debt is auction rate. This debt typically reprices every 28 days and is therefore particularly sensitive to fluctuations in the market.

 

We follow a policy to minimize our sensitivity to changing interest rates by generally funding our floating rate loan portfolio with floating rate debt. However, in the current low interest rate environment, our FFELP student loan portfolio is earning floor income due to the reduction in the variable rates on our debt while the rates on the majority of our student loans have remained at the fixed borrower rate. Therefore, absent other hedges, in a low interest rate environment a hypothetical rise in interest rates would have a greater adverse effect on earnings and fair values due to the reduction in potential floor income. Once rates have risen sufficiently to eliminate floor income, further increases have only minimal impact on earnings as both the interest rates earned on the student loan portfolio and the interest rates paid on the debt would rise together. We use derivative instruments to protect a portion of our floor income, but inherent in our hedging activities are risks that we are not hedging all potential interest rate exposures or that the hedges will not perform as designed.

 

During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, we earned $6.0 million and $12.7 million, respectively in floor income, representing over 40% of our net interest income after the provision for loan losses. An increase in interest rates to a level where we are no longer able to earn floor income would have a significant adverse affect on our net interest income after the provision for loan losses as well as overall net income or loss.

 

During 2003 and 2004, we had FFELP loans that were earning floor income. We entered into two interest rate swap contracts to lock-in a portion of that floor income. The result of these hedging transactions was to convert a portion of floating rate debt into fixed rate debt, matching the temporary fixed rate nature of the student loans and fixing the relative spread between the student loan asset rate and the converted fixed rate liability.

 

Additionally, our underlying debt is tied to LIBOR. Our revenues are partially dependent on the SAP made by the government. SAP calculations are based on CP rates. We have also entered into an additional swap in order to prevent the spread between debt costs and SAP from deteriorating to a point where our margins are significantly adversely affected. We expect this swap to limit our vulnerability to adverse swings in CP rates in relation to LIBOR rates, thus protecting our spread and corresponding cash flows.

 

In the following table, our variable rate assets and liabilities are categorized by the reset date of the underlying index. An interest rate gap is the difference between volumes of assets and liabilities maturing or repricing during specific future time intervals. The following gap analysis reflects rate-sensitive positions as of June 30, 2004 and is not necessarily reflective of positions that existed throughout the period, or that are expected to exist in the future.

 

    As of June 30, 2004

 
   

3 months or

less


    3 months to 6
months


   

6 months to

1 year


    1 to 2 years

    2 to 5 years

   

Over 5

years


 

Assets

                                               

Student loans

  $ 3,822,615,084     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Cash and investments

    202,057,760       —         —         —         —         —    

Interest and other receivables

    35,020,963       —         —         —         —         —    

Other assets

    —         —         —         —         —         19,521,188  
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total assets

  $ 4,059,693,807     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 19,521,188  
   


 


 


 


 


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                               

Long-term borrowings

  $ 4,055,986,830     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Other liabilities

    15,288,826       —         —         —         —         —    

Stockholders’ equity

    —         —         —         —         —         7,939,339  
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 4,071,275,656     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 7,939,339  
   


 


 


 


 


 


Period gap before adjustments

  $ (11,581,849 )   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —         11,581,849  

Interest rate derivatives

    (485,000,000 )     485,000,000       —         —         —         —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


Period gap

  $ (496,581,849 )   $ 485,000,000     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 11,581,849  
   


 


 


 


 


 


Cumulative gap

  $ (496,581,849 )   $ (11,581,849 )   $ (11,581,849 )   $ (11,581,849 )   $ (11,581,849 )   $ —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


Ratio of interest-sensitive assets to interest-sensitive liabilities

    100 %     n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a       246 %

Ratio of cumulative gap to total assets at June 30, 2004

    (12 )%     n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a  

 

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The following table reflects the average terms to maturity for our earning assets and liabilities, as of June 30, 2004.

 

     Years

Earning assets

    

Student loans

   21.33

Cash and investments

   0

Total earning assets

   20.25

Borrowings

    

Short-term borrowings

   0.28

Long-term borrowings

   27.69

Total borrowings

   25.80

 

The following table illustrates the impact interest rate increases of 100 basis points and 300 basis points would have on our net income/(loss) and our net income/(loss) per share for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

     Three months ended June 30, 2004

    Three months ended June 30, 2003

 
    

Change from

increase of 100

basis points


   

Change from

increase of 300

basis points


   

Change from

increase of 100

basis points


   

Change from

increase of

300 basis points


 

Increase/(decrease) in pre-tax net income/(loss) before SFAS 133

   $ (2,817,892 )   (61 )%   $ (610,490 )   (13 )%   $ (503,322 )   (29 )%   $ 3,226,937    183 %

Increase/(decrease) in basic income/(loss) per share (diluted) before SFAS 133

   $ (0.15 )   (61 )%   $ (0.03 )   (13 )%   $ (0.05 )   (29 )%   $ 0.28    183 %
     Six months ended June 30, 2004

    Six months ended June 30, 2003

 
    

Change from

increase of 100

basis points


   

Change from

increase of 300

basis points


   

Change from

increase of 100

basis points


   

Change from

increase of

300 basis points


 

Increase/(decrease) in pre-tax net income/(loss) before SFAS 133

   $ (4,549,032 )   (59 )%   $ (443,566 )   (6 )%   $ (309,970 )   (9 )%   $ 6,972,288    210 %

Increase/(decrease) in basic income/(loss) per share (diluted) before SFAS 133

   $ (0.24 )   (59 )%   $ (0.02 )   (6 )%   $ (0.02 )   (9 )%   $ 0.62    208 %

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Based on their most recent evaluation, which was completed as of the end of the reporting period of this Form 10-Q, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer believe our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) are effective.

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, we continued to implement procedural enhancements designed to facilitate the flow and accuracy of our reporting into our financial statements. These enhancements include additional levels of review of transactions, improvements in our system of controls and the development of detailed documentation of our procedures. During the quarter we hired a director of internal audit to establish an internal control department and to lead our efforts in monitoring and evaluating our internal control structure as we move towards compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have completed documenting our internal controls and are currently engaged in a process of evaluating and testing those controls in order to determine what additional changes would further enhance the integrity of our financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 2. Changes In Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, we received proceeds of $709,634 related to the issuance of 323,292 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants and employee options. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, we received proceeds of $1,486,908 related to the issuance of 701,924 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants and employee options.

 

During the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 we granted additional stock options under our Stock Option Plan. We granted incentive stock options (net of cancellations) during the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004 for the purchase of 56,351 shares and 131,417 shares, respectively, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value at date of grant. All employee stock options granted vest over three years and expire at the end of ten years. The exercise price was determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of the Stock Option Plan.

 

Our stock has been trading on the Nasdaq National Market System since September 18, 2003 under the symbol “EDLG.” From July 25, 2003 until September 18, 2003 our stock was listed on the Nasdaq Small Cap exchange. Prior to that time, our stock had been quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board system.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

At our 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 17, 2004, the stockholders elected the eight nominees for the Board of Directors nominated by the Board: Robert deRose, Michael H. Shaut, Samuel Belzberg, C. David Bushley, Richard J. Hughes, Leo Kornfeld, Jeffrey E. Stiefler and Robert V. Antonucci.

 

Voting for the election of directors was as follows:

 

     R. deRose

   M. Shaut

   S. Belzberg

  

C.D.

Bushley


   R.J.Hughes

   L.Kornfeld

   J. Stiefler

   R. Antonucci

For:

   13,151,980    13,134,647    13,151,980    13,150,880    13,152,980    13,149,871    13,152,880    13,146,213

Withheld:

   114,620    131,953    114,620    115,720    113,620    116,729    113,720    120,387

 

Additionally, at our 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders voted on the adoption of a new Long Term Incentive Plan. A summary of the voting was as follows:

 

For: 7,207,898 Against: 2,163,660

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

Not applicable.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this document.

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Description


3.1  

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1)

3.2   Bylaws of the Company (2)
10.1   Indenture of Trust dated as of May 1, 2004, among Education Funding Capital Trust - IV, U.S. Bank National Association as Indenture Trustee and Fifth Third Bank as Eligible Lender Trustee (3)
10.2   Remote Servicing Agreement between Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and Education Loan Servicing Corporation, dated March 5, 2004
31.1   CEO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 302)
31.2   CFO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 302)
32.1   CEO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 906)
32.2   CFO Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 906)

(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement filed April 15, 2002.
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Form 10-SB Registration Statement filed March 17, 2000.
(3) Incorporated by reference from Education Funding Capital Trust - IV’s Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed May 26, 2004

 

(b) Form 8-K.

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, we filed one Report on Form 8-K, dated May 6, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: August 9, 2004

 

EDUCATION LENDING GROUP, INC.

   

By:

 

/s/ James G. Clark


   

Name:

 

James G. Clark

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

36