Attached files

file filename
EX-99.1 - Q3 2011 EARNINGS RELEASE - NELNET INCnniq3earningsrelease.htm
8-K - FORM 8-K - NELNET INCnniform8-k.htm


For Release: November 8, 2011
Media Contact: Ben Kiser, 402.458.3024
Investor Contact: Phil Morgan, 402.458.3038

Nelnet, Inc. supplemental financial information for the third quarter 2011
(All dollars are in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)

The following information should be read in connection with Nelnet, Inc.'s (the “Company's”) press release for third quarter 2011 earnings, dated November 8, 2011, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

This earnings supplement contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's current expectations as of the date of this document.  Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's plans and expectations for future financial condition, results of operations or economic performance, or that address management's plans and objectives for future operations, and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “assume,” “forecast,” “will,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management in light of management's experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors that management believes are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties are described in the “Risk Factors” section included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and include such risks and uncertainties as:

risks related to the Company's student loan portfolio, such as interest rate basis and repricing risk resulting from the fact that the interest rate characteristics of the Company's student loan assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets, the risk of loss of floor income on certain student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (the “FFEL Program” or “FFELP”) of the U.S. Department of Education (the “Department”), risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, and potential losses from loan defaults, changes in prepayment rates, guaranty rates, loan floor rates, and credit spreads;

risks related to the Company's liquidity and funding requirements, including the Company's ability to maintain credit facilities or obtain new facilities, the ability of lenders under the Company's credit facilities to fulfill their lending commitments under these facilities, the Company's ability to satisfy debt obligations secured by student loan assets and related collateral, and changes in the general interest rate environment and in the securitization markets for education loans which may increase the costs or limit the availability of financings necessary to purchase, refinance, or continue to carry education loans;

risks from changes in the student loan and educational credit and services marketplace resulting from the implementation of, or changes in, applicable laws, regulations, and government programs, including the discontinuance of private sector student loan originations under the FFEL Program effective July 1, 2010, the uncertain nature of the potential impact of the Department's new loan consolidation program, and the Company's ability to maintain its loan servicing contract with the Department to service federally-owned student loans and to comply with servicing agreements with third party customers for the service of loans under the Federal Direct Loan and FFEL Programs;

risks from changes in the demand or preferences for educational financing and related services by educational institutions, students, and their families;

1




uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations;

risks associated with litigation, complex government regulations, changes in general economic conditions, which have recently led to higher rates of student loan defaults, changes in credit market conditions, and related party transactions; and

uncertainties inherent in the estimates and assumptions about future events that management is required to make in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this earnings supplement are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its prior forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, the Company disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts previously reported within operating expenses have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications include:

Reclassifying “professional and other services,” “occupancy and communications,” “postage and distribution,” “advertising and marketing,” and “trustee and other debt related fees” to “other” operating expenses.

Reclassifying student list amortization, which was previously included in “advertising and marketing,” to “depreciation and amortization.”

The reclassifications had no effect on consolidated net income or consolidated assets and liabilities.






2



Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Interest Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
158,809

 
146,827

 
171,208

 
452,983

 
490,158

Amortization/accretion of loan premiums and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
deferred origination costs, net
(1,854
)
 
(7,893
)
 
(11,921
)
 
(19,736
)
 
(40,551
)
Investment interest
672

 
856

 
1,169

 
2,254

 
3,474

Total interest income
157,627

 
139,790

 
160,456

 
435,501

 
453,081

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
60,866

 
51,054

 
68,243

 
164,227

 
178,345

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
96,761

 
88,736

 
92,213

 
271,274

 
274,736

Less provision for loan losses
5,250

 
5,250

 
5,500

 
14,250

 
16,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
91,511

 
83,486

 
86,713

 
257,024

 
258,036

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
37,927

 
37,389

 
33,464

 
110,952

 
106,510

Tuition payment processing and campus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 commerce revenue
16,774

 
14,761

 
14,527

 
50,904

 
44,704

Enrollment services revenue
35,505

 
32,315

 
36,439

 
101,688

 
105,113

Software services revenue
4,622

 
4,346

 
4,624

 
13,745

 
14,467

Other income
3,931

 
6,826

 
9,432

 
17,249

 
25,188

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 
9,885

 
8,307

 
28,821

Derivative market value and foreign currency
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
adjustments
(13,888
)
 
(16,813
)
 
(32,805
)
 
(29,585
)
 
(35,931
)
Derivative settlements, net
257

 
(3,522
)
 
(2,586
)
 
(7,417
)
 
(8,386
)
Total other income
85,128

 
75,302

 
72,980

 
265,843

 
280,486

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
44,132

 
42,881

 
41,085

 
130,925

 
122,691

Litigation settlement

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

Cost to provide enrollment services
23,825

 
22,140

 
23,709

 
68,804

 
69,845

Depreciation and amortization
7,917

 
6,769

 
9,025

 
21,462

 
29,536

Restructure expense

 

 
4,751

 

 
6,020

Other expenses
28,904

 
28,767

 
26,717

 
83,776

 
89,120

Total operating expenses
104,778

 
100,557

 
160,287

 
304,967

 
372,212

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes
71,861

 
58,231

 
(594
)
 
217,900

 
166,310

Income tax (expense) benefit
(24,410
)
 
(21,106
)
 
226

 
(78,444
)
 
(62,363
)
Net income (loss)
$
47,451

 
37,125

 
(368
)
 
139,456

 
103,947

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss) - basic
$
0.98

 
0.76

 
(0.01
)
 
2.88

 
2.09

Net earnings (loss) - diluted
$
0.98

 
0.76

 
(0.01
)
 
2.87

 
2.08

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
48,059,747

 
48,302,779

 
48,938,333

 
48,177,539

 
49,460,625

Diluted
48,253,888

 
48,488,046

 
48,938,333

 
48,367,923

 
49,663,505


3




Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
24,641,614

 
23,948,014

 
24,436,162

Student loans receivable - held for sale

 
84,987

 
2,109,440

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments (trading securities)
141,928

 
327,037

 
349,443

Restricted cash and investments
653,518

 
757,285

 
747,234

Goodwill
117,118

 
117,118

 
143,717

Intangible assets, net
33,074

 
38,712

 
43,352

Other assets
648,975

 
620,739

 
757,231

Total assets
26,236,227

 
25,893,892

 
28,586,579

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
24,926,512

 
24,672,472

 
27,391,188

Other liabilities
298,232

 
314,787

 
350,777

Total liabilities
25,224,744

 
24,987,259

 
27,741,965

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity
1,011,483

 
906,633

 
844,614

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
26,236,227

 
25,893,892

 
28,586,579





4



OVERVIEW

The Company is an innovative education services company focused primarily on providing fee-based processing services and quality education-related products and services in four core areas: loan financing, loan servicing, payment processing, and enrollment services (education planning). These products and services help students and families plan, prepare, and pay for their education and make the administrative and financial processes more efficient for schools and financial organizations. In addition, the Company earns net interest income on a portfolio of federally insured student loans.

The Company has certain business objectives in place that include:

Continue to grow and diversify fee-based revenue
Manage operating costs
Maximize the value of existing portfolio
Use liquidity to capitalize on market opportunities

Achieving these business objectives, as well as significant legislation changes in the student loan industry as discussed below, has impacted and will continue to impact the financial condition and operating results of the Company.

Legislative Impact on Operating Results

The Company has a portfolio of student loans in which it earns net interest income. These loans were originated and acquired by the Company under the FFEL Program.

On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Reconciliation Act of 2010.  Effective July 1, 2010, this law prohibits new loan originations under the FFEL Program and requires that all new federal loan originations be made through the Federal Direct Loan Program.  The new law does not alter or affect the terms and conditions of existing FFELP loans.

As a result of the Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective July 1, 2010, the Company no longer originates new FFELP loans. In addition, as a result of this legislation, net interest income on the Company’s existing FFELP loan portfolio, as well as fee-based revenue from guarantee and third party FFELP servicing, will decline over time as the Company’s customers’ FFELP loan portfolios are paid down.

Due to the legislative changes in the student loan industry, the Company believes there will be opportunities to purchase FFELP loan portfolios and/or expand its current level of guarantee and third party FFELP servicing volume on behalf of current FFELP participants looking to adjust their FFELP businesses.  For example, during the first nine months of 2011, the Company purchased $2.7 billion of FFELP student loans.

In addition, on October 25, 2011, The White House and the Department announced a short-term consolidation program to eligible student loan borrowers. The Department's program will allow student loan borrowers with at least one legacy FFELP loan and at least one federal student loan owned by the Department to convert those loans to Special Direct Consolidation Loans under the Federal Direct Loan Program. The Company currently owns approximately $3 billion of FFEL Program loans that the Company believes will be eligible for the new program. This program could reduce the Company's FFEL Program student loan portfolio and related net interest income.

Continue to Grow and Diversify Fee-Based Revenue

The Company has expanded products and services generated from businesses that are not dependent upon the FFEL Program, thereby reducing legislative and political risk related to the education lending industry. Revenues from these businesses are primarily generated from products and services offered in the Company’s Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce and Enrollment Services operating segments. In addition, in September 2009, the Company began servicing federally-owned student loans for the Department. The amount of federally-owned student loans originated through the Direct Loan Program is expected to increase substantially, which will lead to an increase in servicing volume and related revenue for the Company. Revenue earned from servicing federally-owned student loans is included in the Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment. A summary of revenue from the Company’s fee-based businesses is shown below.

5



 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing (a)
$
42,564

 
38,101

 
4,463

 
11.7
 %
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
16,785

 
14,539

 
2,246

 
15.4
 %
Enrollment Services (b)
35,505

 
36,439

 
(934
)
 
(2.6
)%
Total revenue from fee-based businesses
$
94,854

 
89,079

 
5,775

 
6.5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
 
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing (a)
$
124,739

 
121,793

 
2,946

 
2.4
 %
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
50,923

 
44,728

 
6,195

 
13.9
 %
Enrollment Services (b)
101,688

 
105,113

 
(3,425
)
 
(3.3
)%
Total revenue from fee-based businesses
$
277,350

 
271,634

 
5,716

 
2.1
 %

(a)
The Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment included $8.6 million and $5.3 million of revenue earned from rehabilitation collections on defaulted loans for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $24.2 million and $27.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(b)
Enrollment services revenue has been negatively affected by the current regulatory uncertainty in the for-profit college industry, which has caused schools to decrease spending on marketing efforts.

As shown below, the Company's revenue and income before taxes related to its fee-based operating segments continues to increase. The table below includes the consolidated operating results of the Company excluding the Asset Generation and Management Operating segment. Thus, the below table reflects the operating results of the Company as if it was not generating any earnings from its student loan portfolio.
 
Income (loss) before taxes (a)
($5 million)
 
$67 million
 
$80 million

(a)
Excludes restructure and impairment expenses and a litigation settlement charge recognized in 2010. See the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for additional information on total operating expenses by segment and these adjustments thereto.

The Company's revenue and income before taxes related to its fee-based operating segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $336 million and $61 million, respectively.


6



Hosted Servicing Software Revenue

The Company offers a hosted servicing software solution that can be used by third parties to service various types of student loans, including Federal Direct Loan Program and FFEL Program loans. Currently, including a contract with an incumbent Direct Loan Program service provider, the Company has agreements with third parties to add more than 12 million borrowers to its hosted servicing software solution. The Company does not provide servicing of loans as part of these agreements. In October 2011, the Company began hosting student loan servicing volume on its servicing software platforms. As of October 31, 2011, more than 9.5 million borrowers were hosted on these platforms. The Company will begin to recognize this additional software services revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Manage Operating Costs

Excluding a litigation settlement and restructuring charges recognized in 2010, operating expenses increased $4.2 million (4.2%) for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and decreased $6.2 million (2.0%) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010 as shown below.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Change
 
2011
 
2010
 
 $
 
%
Salaries and benefits
$
44,132

 
41,085

 
3,047

 
7.4
 %
Cost to provide enrollment services
23,825

 
23,709

 
116

 
0.5

Depreciation and amortization
7,917

 
9,025

 
(1,108
)
 
(12.3
)
Other expenses
28,904

 
26,717

 
2,187

 
8.2

Total operating expenses, excluding litigation settlement and restructure expense
104,778

 
100,536

 
$
4,242

 
4.2
 %
Litigation settlement

 
55,000

 
 
 
 
Restructure expense

 
4,751

 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses
$
104,778

 
160,287

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Change
 
2011
 
2010
 
 $
 
%
Salaries and benefits
$
130,925

 
122,691

 
8,234

 
6.7
 %
Cost to provide enrollment services
68,804

 
69,845

 
(1,041
)
 
(1.5
)
Depreciation and amortization
21,462

 
29,536

 
(8,074
)
 
(27.3
)
Other expenses
83,776

 
89,120

 
(5,344
)
 
(6.0
)
Total operating expenses, excluding litigation settlement and restructure expense
304,967

 
311,192

 
$
(6,225
)
 
(2.0
)%
Litigation settlement

 
55,000

 
 
 
 
Restructure expense

 
6,020

 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses
$
304,967

 
372,212

 
 
 
 

Maximize the Value of Existing Portfolio

Fixed rate floor income

Loans originated prior to April 1, 2006 generally earn interest at the higher of a floating rate based on the Special Allowance Payment or the SAP formula set by the Department and the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time.  The SAP formula is based on an applicable indice plus a fixed spread that is dependent upon when the loan was originated, the loan’s repayment status, and funding sources for the loan.  The Company generally finances its student loan portfolio with variable rate debt.  In low and/or declining interest rate environments, when the fixed borrower rate is higher than the rate produced by the SAP formula, the Company’s student loans earn at a fixed rate while the interest on the variable rate debt typically continues to decline.  In these interest rate environments, the Company earns additional spread income that it refers to as floor income.  For loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, the Company earns floor income for an extended period of time, which the Company refers to as fixed rate floor income.






7



A summary of fixed rate floor income is summarized below.
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
44,080

 
38,263

 
121,126

 
112,731

Derivative settlements (a)
(3,482
)
 
(4,040
)
 
(16,045
)
 
(12,183
)
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
40,598

 
34,223

 
105,081

 
100,548

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net
0.65
%
 
0.51
%
 
0.59
%
 
0.53
%
 
(a)
Includes settlement payments on derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.

The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned during 2011 and 2010 are due to historically low interest rates.  If interest rates remain low, the Company anticipates continuing to earn significant fixed rate floor income in future periods.

Future Cash Flow from Portfolio

The majority of the Company’s portfolio of student loans is funded in asset-backed securitizations that are structured to substantially match the maturity of the funded assets, thereby minimizing liquidity risk. In addition, due to (i) the difference between the yield the Company receives on the loans and cost of financing within these transactions, and (ii) the excess servicing and administration fees the Company earns from these transactions, the Company has created a portfolio that will generate earnings and significant cash flow over the life of these transactions.

As of September 30, 2011, based on cash flow models developed to reflect management’s current estimate of, among other factors, prepayments, defaults, deferment, forbearance, and interest rates, the Company currently expects future undiscounted cash flows from its portfolio to be approximately $1.83 billion as detailed below.  The $1.83 billion includes approximately $330 million (as of September 30, 2011) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations.  These excess net asset positions are reflected variously in the following balances on the consolidated balance sheet:  "student loans receivable," "restricted cash and investments," and "accrued interest receivable."

The forecasted cash flow presented below includes all loans currently funded in asset-backed securitizations.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $21.5 billion of loans included in asset-backed securitizations, which represented 87 percent of its total FFELP student loan portfolio. The forecasted cash flow does not include cash flows that the Company expects to receive related to loans funded through the Department of Education’s Conduit Program and other warehouse facilities or loans originated and/or acquired subsequent to September 30, 2011.
(a)
The Company uses various assumptions, including prepayments and future interest rates, when preparing its cash flow forecast.  These assumptions are further discussed below.



8



Prepayments:  The primary variable in establishing a life of loan estimate is the level and timing of prepayments. Prepayment rates equal the percentage of loans that prepay annually as a percentage of the beginning of period balance, net of scheduled principal payments.  A number of factors can affect estimated prepayment rates, including the level of consolidation activity and default rates.  Should any of these factors change, management may revise its assumptions, which in turn would impact the projected future cash flow. The Company’s cash flow forecast above assumes prepayment rates that are generally consistent with those utilized in the Company’s recent asset-backed securities transactions. If management used a prepayment rate assumption two times greater than what was used to forecast the cash flow, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $370 million to $430 million.

On October 25, 2011, The White House and the Department announced a short-term consolidation program to eligible student loan borrowers. The Department's program will allow student loan borrowers with at least one legacy FFELP loan and at least one federal student loan owned by the Department to convert those loans to Special Direct Consolidation Loans under the Federal Direct Loan Program. The Company currently owns approximately $3 billion of FFEL Program loans that the Company believes will be eligible for the new program, of which approximately $2 billion are permanently funded in asset-backed securitizations, and the forecased cash flows from these loans are included in the table above. This program could increase the prepayments on the loans eligible for this program and decrease the forecasted cash flows.

Interest rates:  The Company funds the majority of its student loans with three-month LIBOR (“LIBOR”) indexed floating rate securities.  Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets are indexed primarily to a commercial paper rate (“CP”).  The different interest rate characteristics of the Company’s loan assets and liabilities funding these assets result in basis risk.  The Company’s cash flow forecast assumes LIBOR will exceed CP by 12 basis points for the life of the portfolio, which approximates the historical relationship between these indices.  If the forecast is computed assuming a spread of 24 basis points between CP and LIBOR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $80 million to $120 million.

The Company uses the current forward interest rate yield curve to forecast cash flows.  A change in the forward interest rate curve would impact the future cash flows generated from the portfolio.  An increase in future interest rates will reduce the amount of fixed rate floor income the Company is currently receiving.  The Company attempts to mitigate the impact of a rise in short-term rates by hedging interest rate risks. As of September 30, 2011, the net fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income was a liability of $25.8 million.

Use Liquidity to Capitalize on Market Opportunities

The Company has used and will continue to use its improved liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP student loan acquisitions; strategic acquisitions and investments in its core business areas of loan financing, loan servicing, payment processing, and enrollment services (education planning); and capital management initatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions.

During 2011, the Company has used its improved liquidity to accomplish the following items:

FFELP Student Loan Acquisitions
-
Purchased $2.7 billion of FFELP student loans through September 30, 2011

Acquisitions and Investments in Core Business Areas
-
Purchased contracts with more than 370 K-12 schools to provide tuition payment plan services

Capital Management
-
Repurchased 1.1 million shares of common stock through September 30, 2011 for $21.1 million ($18.83 per share)
-
Repurchased $74.8 million notional amount of debt through September 30, 2011 recognizing a gain of $7.0 million
-
Raised the quarterly dividend paid on the Company’s common stock to $0.10 per share ($13.1 million of dividends paid through September 30, 2011)





9



Non-GAAP Performance Measures

In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company prepares financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In addition to evaluating the Company's GAAP-based financial information, management also evaluates the Company on a non-GAAP performance measure referred to as “base net income”. While “base net income” is not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, the Company provides “base net income” as additional information regarding its financial results.

“Base net income” is the primary financial performance measure used by management to develop financial plans, establish corporate performance targets, allocate resources, track results, evaluate performance, and determine incentive compensation. The Company's board of directors utilizes “base net income” to set performance targets and evaluate management's performance. The Company also believes analysts, rating agencies, and creditors use “base net income” in their evaluation of the Company's results of operations. While “base net income” is not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, the Company utilizes “base net income” in operating its business because “base net income” permits management to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons by eliminating the temporary volatility in the Company's performance that arises from certain items that are primarily affected by factors beyond the control of management. Management believes “base net income” provides additional insight into the financial performance of the core business activities of the Company's operations.

The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP net income to “base net income.”
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30, 2010
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
GAAP net income (loss)
$
47,451

 
37,125

 
(368
)
 
139,456

 
103,947

Base adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
13,888

 
16,813

 
32,805

 
29,585

 
35,931

Amortization of intangible assets
4,490

 
3,959

 
5,355

 
12,425

 
18,103

Total base adjustments before income taxes
18,378

 
20,772

 
38,160

 
42,010

 
54,034

Net tax effect
(6,984
)
 
(7,893
)
 
(14,501
)
 
(15,964
)
 
(20,533
)
Total base adjustments
11,394

 
12,879

 
23,659

 
26,046

 
33,501

Base net income
$
58,845

 
50,004

 
23,291

 
165,502

 
137,448

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income (loss)
$
0.98

 
0.76

 
(0.01
)
 
2.88

 
2.09

Total base adjustments before two-class method of computing earnings per share (a)

 

 

 
0.01

 
0.01

Total base adjustments
0.24

 
0.28

 
0.48

 
0.54

 
0.68

Base net income
$
1.22

 
1.04

 
0.47

 
3.43

 
2.78


(a)
The two-class method requires the calculation of separate earnings per share amounts for unvested share-based awards and for common stock. Unvested share-based awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are considered securities which participate in undistributed earnings with common stock. GAAP net earnings per share in the above table represents earnings per share attributable to common shareholders. The adjustment to base net income reflects the earnings allocated to holders of unvested restricted stock awards.


10



The following table summarizes the impact to “base net income” from a litigation settlement and restructure charges recognized by the Company in 2010.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
September 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
Base net income
$
58,845

 
50,004

 
23,291

 
165,502

 
137,448

Adjusted base adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Litigation settlement

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

Restructure expense

 

 
4,751

 

 
6,020

Adjusted base adjustments before income taxes

 

 
59,751

 

 
61,020

Net tax effect

 

 
(22,705
)
 

 
(23,187
)
Total adjusted base adjustments

 

 
37,046

 

 
37,833

Total base adjustments before settlement and restructure expense (net of tax)
$
58,845

 
50,004

 
60,337

 
165,502

 
175,281

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Base net income
$
1.22

 
1.04

 
0.47

 
3.43

 
2.78

Total adjusted base adjustments

 

 
0.76

 

 
0.76

Base net income, excluding litigation settlement and restructure expense (net of tax)
$
1.22

 
1.04

 
1.23

 
3.43

 
3.54


Limitations of Base Net Income

While GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting, for the reasons discussed above, management believes that “base net income” is an important additional tool for providing a more complete understanding of the Company's results of operations. Nevertheless, “base net income” is subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. For example, as stated above, unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. The Company's “base net income” is not a defined term within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Investors, therefore, may not be able to compare the Company's performance with that of other companies based upon “base net income.” “Base net income” results are only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely monitored and used by the Company's management and board of directors to assess performance and information which the Company believes is important to analysts, rating agencies, and creditors.

Other limitations of “base net income” arise from the specific adjustments that management makes to GAAP results to derive “base net income” results. These differences are described below.

Differences between GAAP and Base Net Income

Management's financial planning and evaluation of operating results does not take into account the following items because their volatility and/or inherent uncertainty affect the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results of operations. A more detailed discussion of the differences between GAAP and “base net income” follows.


11



Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

Base net income” excludes the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the change in fair value on derivatives used in the Company's risk management strategy in which the Company does not qualify for “hedge treatment” under GAAP. As such, the Company recognizes changes in fair value of derivative instruments currently in earnings. The Company maintains an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility. Derivative instruments primarily used by the Company to manage interest rate risks include interest rate swaps and basis swaps. Management has structured the majority of the Company's derivative transactions with the intent that each is economically effective. However, the Company does not qualify its derivatives for “hedge treatment,” and the stand-alone derivative must be marked-to-market in the income statement with no consideration for the corresponding change in fair value of the hedged item. The Company believes these point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values that are subject to interest rate fluctuations make it difficult to evaluate the ongoing results of operations against its business plan and affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. Included in “base net income” are the economic effects of the Company's derivative instruments, which includes any cash paid or received being recognized as an expense or revenue upon actual derivative settlements. These settlements are included in “derivative settlements, net” on the attached condensed consolidated statements of operations.

“Base net income” excludes the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars. In connection with the issuance of the Euro-denominated bonds, the Company has entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps. Under the terms of these agreements, the principal payments on the Euro-denominated notes will effectively be paid at the exchange rate in effect between the U.S. dollar and Euro at the issuance date of the bonds. The cross-currency interest rate swaps also convert the floating rate paid on the Euro-denominated bonds (EURIBOR index) to an index based on LIBOR. Included in “base net income” are the economic effects of any cash paid or received being recognized as an expense or revenue upon actual settlements of the cross-currency interest rate swaps. These settlements are included in “derivative settlements, net” on the attached condensed consolidated statements of income. However, the gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars and the change in market value of the cross-currency interest rate swaps are excluded from “base net income” as the Company believes the point-in-time estimates of value that are subject to currency rate fluctuations related to these financial instruments make it difficult to evaluate the ongoing results of operations against the Company's business plan and affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. The re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds generally correlates with the change in fair value of the cross-currency interest rate swaps. However, the Company will experience unrealized gains or losses related to the cross-currency interest rate swaps if the two underlying indices (and related forward curve) do not move in parallel.

The gains and/or losses included in “derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments” on the attached condensed consolidated statements of income are primarily caused by interest rate and currency volatility, as well as the volume and terms of derivatives not receiving hedge treatment. “Base net income” excludes these unrealized gains and losses and isolates the effect of interest rate and currency volatility related to the fair value of such instruments during the period. Under GAAP, the effects of these factors on the fair value of the derivative instruments (but not the underlying hedged item) tend to show more volatility in the short term.

Amortization of intangible assets

“Base net income” excludes the amortization of acquired intangibles, which arises primarily from the acquisition of definite life intangible assets in connection with the Company's business and asset acquisitions, since the Company feels that such charges do not drive the Company's operating performance on a long-term basis and can affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations.

Operating Segments

The Company earns fee-based revenue through its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing, Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce, and Enrollment Services operating segments. In addition, the Company earns net interest income on its student loan portfolio in its Asset Generation and Management operating segment. The Company’s operating segments are defined by the products and services they offer and the types of customers they serve, and they reflect the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by management.

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in note 2 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Intersegment revenues are charged by a segment to another segment that provides the product or service.  Intersegment revenues and expenses are included within each segment consistent with the income statement presentation provided to management.  Changes in management structure or allocation methodologies and procedures may result in changes in reported

12



segment financial information. The Company allocates certain corporate overhead expenses to the individual operating segments.  These expenses include certain corporate activities related to executive management, human resources, accounting, legal, occupancy, and marketing. These costs are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.

The management reporting process measures the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on the management structure of the Company as well as the methodology used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources.  Management, including the Company’s chief operating decision maker, evaluates the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on their profitability.  As discussed further below, management measures the profitability of the Company’s operating segments based on “base net income.”  Accordingly, information regarding the Company’s operating segments is provided based on “base net income.”  The Company’s “base net income” is not a defined term within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.  Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting.

Fee-Based Operating Segments

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

The following are the primary product and service offerings the Company offers as part of its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing segment:

Servicing of FFELP loans
Origination and servicing of non-federally insured student loans
Servicing federally-owned student loans for the Department of Education
Servicing and support outsourcing for guaranty agencies
Student loan servicing software and other information technology products and services

The Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment provides for the servicing of the Company’s student loan portfolios and the portfolios of third parties. The loan servicing activities include loan origination activities, loan conversion activities, application processing, borrower updates, payment processing, due diligence procedures, funds management reconciliations, and claim processing. These activities are performed internally for the Company’s portfolio in addition to generating external fee revenue when performed for third party clients.

In June 2009, the Department of Education named the Company as one of four private sector companies awarded a servicing contract to service federally-owned student loans. In September 2009, the Company began servicing loans under this contract. The contract spans five years with one five-year renewal at the option of the Department.

This operating segment also provides servicing activities for guarantee agencies. These activities include providing software and data center services, borrower and loan updates, default aversion tracking services, claim processing services, and post-default collection services.

This operating segment also develops student loan servicing software, which is used internally by the Company and also licensed to third party student loan holders and servicers. In addition, this operating segment provides information technology products and services with core areas of business in educational loan software solutions, technical consulting services, and Enterprise content management solutions.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

The Company’s Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce operating segment provides products and services to help students and families manage the payment of education costs at all levels (K-12 and higher education).  It also provides innovative education-focused technologies, services, and support solutions to help schools with the everyday challenges of collecting and processing commerce data.

In the K-12 market, the Company offers actively managed tuition payment plans as well as assistance with financial needs assessment, enrollment management, and donor management. The Company offers two principal products to the higher education market: actively managed tuition payment plans and campus commerce technologies and payment processing.


13



Enrollment Services

The Enrollment Services operating segment offers products and services that are focused on helping colleges recruit and retain students (interactive and list marketing services) and helping students plan and prepare for life after high school (publishing services and resource centers). Interactive marketing products and services include agency of record services, qualified inquiry generation, pay per click, and other marketing management, along with call center solutions. The majority of interactive marketing revenue is derived from fees which are earned through the delivery of qualified inquiries or clicks provided to colleges and universities. List marketing services include providing lists to help higher education institutions and businesses reach the middle school, high school, college bound high school, college, and young adult market places. Publishing services include test preparation study guides, school directories and databases, and career exploration guides.  Resource centers include online courses, scholarship search and selection data, career planning, and on-line information about colleges and universities.

Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment

The Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment includes the acquisition, management, and ownership of the Company’s student loan assets, which has historically been the Company’s largest product and service offering. The Company generates a substantial portion of its earnings from the spread, referred to as the Company’s student loan spread, between the yield it receives on its student loan portfolio and the associated costs to finance such portfolio. The student loan assets are held in a series of education lending subsidiaries designed specifically for this purpose. In addition to the student loan spread earned on its portfolio, all costs and activity associated with managing the portfolio, such as servicing of the assets and debt maintenance are included in this segment.

As a result of legislation (the Reconciliation Act of 2010), effective July 1, 2010, all new federal loan originations are made by the Department of Education through the Direct Loan Program and the Company no longer originates FFELP loans. This legislation does not alter or affect the terms and conditions of existing FFELP loans.

Corporate Activity and Overhead

Corporate Activity and Overhead includes the following items:

Income earned on certain investment activities
Interest expense incurred on unsecured debt transactions
Other products and service offerings that are not considered operating segments

Corporate Activities also includes certain corporate activities and overhead functions related to executive management, human resources, accounting and finance, legal, and marketing. Beginning in 2010, these costs were allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.

Segment Operating Results – “Base Net Income”

The tables below include the operating results of each of the Company’s operating segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, evaluates the Company on certain non-GAAP performance measures that the Company refers to as “base net income” for each operating segment. While “base net income” is not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, the Company relies on “base net income” to manage each operating segment because it believes this measure provides additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management.

“Base net income” is the primary financial performance measure used by management to develop the Company’s financial plans, track results, and establish corporate performance targets and incentive compensation. Management believes this information provides additional insight into the financial performance of the core business activities of the Company’s operating segments. Accordingly, the tables presented below reflect “base net income,” which is the operating measure reviewed and utilized by management to manage the business. Reconciliations of the segment totals to the Company’s operating results in accordance with GAAP are also included in the tables below.

Income Taxes

For segment reporting, income taxes are applied based on 38% of income (loss) before taxes for each individual operating segment. The difference between the consolidated income tax expense and the sum of taxes calculated for each operating segment is included in income taxes in Corporate Activity and Overhead.


14



Reclassifications

Certain amounts previously reported within operating expenses have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on any of the segments’ net income or assets and liabilities.

Segment Operating Results and Reconciliations to GAAP
 
Three months ended September 30, 2011
 
Fee-Based
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and
Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Total Fee-
Based
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Eliminations
 
Base Net
Income
 
Adjustments
to GAAP
Results
 
GAAP
Results of
Operations
Total interest income
$
15

 
11

 

 
26

 
157,071

 
1,285

 
(755
)
 
157,627

 

 
157,627

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
59,049

 
2,572

 
(755
)
 
60,866

 

 
60,866

Net interest income (loss)
15

 
11

 

 
26

 
98,022

 
(1,287
)
 

 
96,761

 

 
96,761

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,250

 

 

 
5,250

 

 
5,250

Net interest income (loss)after provision for loan losses
15

 
11

 

 
26

 
92,772

 
(1,287
)
 

 
91,511

 

 
91,511

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
37,927

 

 

 
37,927

 

 

 

 
37,927

 

 
37,927

Intersegment servicing revenue
16,622

 

 

 
16,622

 

 

 
(16,622
)
 

 

 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
16,774

 

 
16,774

 

 

 

 
16,774

 

 
16,774

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
35,505

 
35,505

 

 

 

 
35,505

 

 
35,505

Software services revenue
4,622

 

 

 
4,622

 

 

 

 
4,622

 

 
4,622

Other income

 

 

 

 
3,694

 
237

 

 
3,931

 

 
3,931

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(13,888
)
 
(13,888
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
507

 
(250
)
 

 
257

 

 
257

Total other income (expense)
59,171

 
16,774

 
35,505

 
111,450

 
4,201

 
(13
)
 
(16,622
)
 
99,016

 
(13,888
)
 
85,128

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
25,335

 
7,594

 
6,484

 
39,413

 
694

 
4,025

 

 
44,132

 

 
44,132

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
23,825

 
23,825

 

 

 

 
23,825

 

 
23,825

Depreciation and amortization
2,005

 
286

 
784

 
3,075

 

 
352

 

 
3,427

 
4,490

 
7,917

Restructure expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other
14,420

 
2,302

 
2,129

 
18,851

 
3,311

 
6,742

 

 
28,904

 

 
28,904

Intersegment expenses, net
1,291

 
1,166

 
783

 
3,240

 
16,865

 
(3,483
)
 
(16,622
)
 

 

 

Total operating expenses
43,051

 
11,348

 
34,005

 
88,404

 
20,870

 
7,636

 
(16,622
)
 
100,288

 
4,490

 
104,778

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
16,135

 
5,437

 
1,500

 
23,072

 
76,103

 
(8,936
)
 

 
90,239

 
(18,378
)
 
71,861

Corporate overhead allocation
(963
)
 
(321
)
 
(321
)
 
(1,605
)
 
(1,605
)
 
3,210

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
15,172

 
5,116

 
1,179

 
21,467

 
74,498

 
(5,726
)
 

 
90,239

 
(18,378
)
 
71,861

Income tax (expense) benefit
(5,765
)
 
(1,944
)
 
(448
)
 
(8,157
)
 
(27,902
)
 
4,665

 

 
(31,394
)
 
6,984

 
(24,410
)
Net income (loss)
$
9,407

 
3,172

 
731

 
13,310

 
46,596

 
(1,061
)
 

 
58,845

 
(11,394
)
 
47,451



15



 
Three months ended June 30, 2011
 
Fee-Based
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and
Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Total Fee-
Based
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Eliminations
 
Base Net
Income
 
Adjustments
to GAAP
Results
 
GAAP
Results of
Operations
Total interest income
$
12

 
2

 

 
14

 
139,284

 
1,147

 
(655
)
 
139,790

 

 
139,790

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
49,269

 
2,440

 
(655
)
 
51,054

 

 
51,054

Net interest income (loss)
12

 
2

 

 
14

 
90,015

 
(1,293
)
 

 
88,736

 

 
88,736

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,250

 

 

 
5,250

 

 
5,250

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
12

 
2

 

 
14

 
84,765

 
(1,293
)
 

 
83,486

 

 
83,486

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
37,389

 

 

 
37,389

 

 

 

 
37,389

 

 
37,389

Intersegment servicing revenue
16,793

 

 

 
16,793

 

 

 
(16,793
)
 

 

 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
14,761

 

 
14,761

 

 

 

 
14,761

 

 
14,761

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
32,315

 
32,315

 

 

 

 
32,315

 

 
32,315

Software services revenue
4,346

 

 

 
4,346

 

 

 

 
4,346

 

 
4,346

Other income

 

 

 

 
3,997

 
2,829

 

 
6,826

 

 
6,826

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(16,813
)
 
(16,813
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(3,274
)
 
(248
)
 

 
(3,522
)
 

 
(3,522
)
Total other income (expense)
58,528

 
14,761

 
32,315

 
105,604

 
723

 
2,581

 
(16,793
)
 
92,115

 
(16,813
)
 
75,302

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
24,731

 
7,249

 
5,931

 
37,911

 
709

 
4,261

 

 
42,881

 

 
42,881

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
22,140

 
22,140

 

 

 

 
22,140

 

 
22,140

Depreciation and amortization
1,336

 
345

 
780

 
2,461

 

 
349

 

 
2,810

 
3,959

 
6,769

Restructure expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other
14,605

 
2,327

 
2,442

 
19,374

 
5,139

 
4,254

 

 
28,767

 

 
28,767

Intersegment expenses, net
1,060

 
1,118

 
959

 
3,137

 
17,047

 
(3,391
)
 
(16,793
)
 

 

 

Total operating expenses
41,732

 
11,039

 
32,252

 
85,023

 
22,895

 
5,473

 
(16,793
)
 
96,598

 
3,959

 
100,557

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
16,808

 
3,724

 
63

 
20,595

 
62,593

 
(4,185
)
 

 
79,003

 
(20,772
)
 
58,231

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,233
)
 
(411
)
 
(411
)
 
(2,055
)
 
(2,054
)
 
4,109

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
15,575

 
3,313

 
(348
)
 
18,540

 
60,539

 
(76
)
 

 
79,003

 
(20,772
)
 
58,231

Income tax (expense) benefit
(5,917
)
 
(1,259
)
 
132

 
(7,044
)
 
(23,412
)
 
1,457

 

 
(28,999
)
 
7,893

 
(21,106
)
Net income (loss)
$
9,658

 
2,054

 
(216
)
 
11,496

 
37,127

 
1,381

 

 
50,004

 
(12,879
)
 
37,125



16



 
Three months ended September 30, 2010
 
Fee-Based
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and
Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Total Fee-Based
 
Asset
Generation
and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Eliminations
 
Base Net
Income
 
Adjustments
to GAAP
Results
 
GAAP
Results of
Operations
Total interest income
$
13

 
12

 

 
25

 
159,752

 
1,919

 
(1,240
)
 
160,456

 

 
160,456

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
64,302

 
5,181

 
(1,240
)
 
68,243

 

 
68,243

Net interest income (loss)
13

 
12

 

 
25

 
95,450

 
(3,262
)
 

 
92,213

 

 
92,213

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,500

 

 

 
5,500

 

 
5,500

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
13

 
12

 

 
25

 
89,950

 
(3,262
)
 

 
86,713

 

 
86,713

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
33,464

 

 

 
33,464

 

 

 

 
33,464

 

 
33,464

Intersegment servicing revenue
20,022

 

 

 
20,022

 

 

 
(20,022
)
 

 

 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
14,527

 

 
14,527

 

 

 

 
14,527

 

 
14,527

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
36,439

 
36,439

 

 

 

 
36,439

 

 
36,439

Software services revenue
4,624

 

 

 
4,624

 

 

 

 
4,624

 

 
4,624

Other income

 

 

 

 
4,710

 
4,722

 

 
9,432

 

 
9,432

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
4,963

 
4,922

 

 
9,885

 

 
9,885

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(32,805
)
 
(32,805
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(2,131
)
 
(455
)
 

 
(2,586
)
 

 
(2,586
)
Total other income (expense)
58,110

 
14,527

 
36,439

 
109,076

 
7,542

 
9,189

 
(20,022
)
 
105,785

 
(32,805
)
 
72,980

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
22,682

 
6,652

 
6,142

 
35,476

 
1,054

 
4,615

 
(60
)
 
41,085

 

 
41,085

Litigation settlement

 

 

 

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
23,709

 
23,709

 

 

 

 
23,709

 

 
23,709

Depreciation and amortization
1,362

 
330

 
1,624

 
3,316

 

 
354

 

 
3,670

 
5,355

 
9,025

Restructure expense
4,751

 

 

 
4,751

 

 

 

 
4,751

 

 
4,751

Other
12,470

 
2,053

 
2,556

 
17,079

 
2,937

 
6,701

 

 
26,717

 

 
26,717

Intersegment expenses, net
1,166

 
973

 
701

 
2,840

 
20,295

 
(3,173
)
 
(19,962
)
 

 

 

Total operating expenses
42,431

 
10,008

 
34,732

 
87,171

 
24,286

 
63,497

 
(20,022
)
 
154,932

 
5,355

 
160,287

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
15,692

 
4,531

 
1,707

 
21,930

 
73,206

 
(57,570
)
 

 
37,566

 
(38,160
)
 
(594
)
Corporate overhead allocation
(1,676
)
 
(559
)
 
(559
)
 
(2,794
)
 
(2,793
)
 
5,587

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
14,016

 
3,972

 
1,148

 
19,136

 
70,413

 
(51,983
)
 

 
37,566

 
(38,160
)
 
(594
)
Income tax (expense) benefit
(5,326
)
 
(1,510
)
 
(436
)
 
(7,272
)
 
(26,757
)
 
19,754

 

 
(14,275
)
 
14,501

 
226

Net income (loss)
$
8,690

 
2,462

 
712

 
11,864

 
43,656

 
(32,229
)
 

 
23,291

 
(23,659
)
 
(368
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional information:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
$
8,690

 
2,462

 
712

 
11,864

 
43,656

 
(32,229
)
 

 
23,291

 
 
 
 
Plus: Litigation settlement (a)

 

 

 

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

 
 
 
 
Plus: Restructure expense (b)
4,751

 

 

 
4,751

 

 

 

 
4,751

 
 
 
 
Less: Net tax effect
(1,805
)
 

 

 
(1,805
)
 

 
(20,900
)
 

 
(22,705
)
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss), excluding litigation settlement and restructure expense
$
11,636

 
2,462

 
712

 
14,810

 
43,656

 
1,871

 

 
60,337

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) During the third quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a $55.0 million litigation settlement charge.
(b) During 2010, the Company recorded restructuring charges associated with previously implemented restructuring plans.




17



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
Fee-Based
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and
Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Total Fee-
Based
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Eliminations
 
Base Net
Income
 
Adjustments
to GAAP
Results
 
GAAP
Results of
Operations
Total interest income
$
42

 
19

 

 
61

 
433,994

 
3,578

 
(2,132
)
 
435,501

 

 
435,501

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
158,034

 
8,325

 
(2,132
)
 
164,227

 

 
164,227

Net interest income (loss)
42

 
19

 

 
61

 
275,960

 
(4,747
)
 

 
271,274

 

 
271,274

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
14,250

 

 

 
14,250

 

 
14,250

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
42

 
19

 

 
61

 
261,710

 
(4,747
)
 

 
257,024

 

 
257,024

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
110,952

 

 

 
110,952

 

 

 

 
110,952

 

 
110,952

Intersegment servicing revenue
51,272

 

 

 
51,272

 

 

 
(51,272
)
 

 

 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
50,904

 

 
50,904

 

 

 

 
50,904

 

 
50,904

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
101,688

 
101,688

 

 

 

 
101,688

 

 
101,688

Software services revenue
13,745

 

 

 
13,745

 

 

 

 
13,745

 

 
13,745

Other income

 

 

 

 
11,827

 
5,422

 

 
17,249

 

 
17,249

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
1,400

 
6,907

 

 
8,307

 

 
8,307

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(29,585
)
 
(29,585
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(6,805
)
 
(612
)
 

 
(7,417
)
 

 
(7,417
)
Total other income (expense)
175,969

 
50,904

 
101,688

 
328,561

 
6,422

 
11,717

 
(51,272
)
 
295,428

 
(29,585
)
 
265,843

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
75,454

 
21,995

 
18,672

 
116,121

 
2,181

 
12,623

 

 
130,925

 

 
130,925

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
68,804

 
68,804

 

 

 

 
68,804

 

 
68,804

Depreciation and amortization
4,647

 
967

 
2,377

 
7,991

 

 
1,046

 

 
9,037

 
12,425

 
21,462

Restructure expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other
43,604

 
7,263

 
6,889

 
57,756

 
9,988

 
16,032

 

 
83,776

 

 
83,776

Intersegment expenses, net
3,720

 
3,377

 
2,560

 
9,657

 
52,059

 
(10,444
)
 
(51,272
)
 

 

 

Total operating expenses
127,425

 
33,602

 
99,302

 
260,329

 
64,228

 
19,257

 
(51,272
)
 
292,542

 
12,425

 
304,967

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
48,586

 
17,321

 
2,386

 
68,293

 
203,904

 
(12,287
)
 

 
259,910

 
(42,010
)
 
217,900

Corporate overhead allocation
(2,949
)
 
(983
)
 
(983
)
 
(4,915
)
 
(4,914
)
 
9,829

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
45,637

 
16,338

 
1,403

 
63,378

 
198,990

 
(2,458
)
 

 
259,910

 
(42,010
)
 
217,900

Income tax (expense) benefit
(17,340
)
 
(6,208
)
 
(533
)
 
(24,081
)
 
(75,616
)
 
5,289

 

 
(94,408
)
 
15,964

 
(78,444
)
Net income (loss)
$
28,297

 
10,130

 
870

 
39,297

 
123,374

 
2,831

 

 
165,502

 
(26,046
)
 
139,456













18



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2010
 
Fee-Based
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and
Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Total Fee-Based
 
Asset
Generation
and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Eliminations
 
Base Net
Income
 
Adjustments
to GAAP
Results
 
GAAP
Results of
Operations
Total interest income
$
43

 
24

 

 
67

 
450,715

 
5,439

 
(3,140
)
 
453,081

 

 
453,081

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
164,063

 
17,422

 
(3,140
)
 
178,345

 

 
178,345

Net interest income (loss)
43

 
24

 

 
67

 
286,652

 
(11,983
)
 

 
274,736

 

 
274,736

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
16,700

 

 

 
16,700

 

 
16,700

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
43

 
24

 

 
67

 
269,952

 
(11,983
)
 

 
258,036

 

 
258,036

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
106,764

 

 

 
106,764

 

 
(254
)
 

 
106,510

 

 
106,510

Intersegment servicing revenue
63,571

 

 

 
63,571

 

 

 
(63,571
)
 

 

 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
44,704

 

 
44,704

 

 

 

 
44,704

 

 
44,704

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
105,113

 
105,113

 

 

 

 
105,113

 

 
105,113

Software services revenue
14,467

 

 

 
14,467

 

 

 

 
14,467

 

 
14,467

Other income
519

 

 

 
519

 
14,114

 
10,555

 

 
25,188

 

 
25,188

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
23,899

 
4,922

 

 
28,821

 

 
28,821

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(35,931
)
 
(35,931
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(7,931
)
 
(455
)
 

 
(8,386
)
 

 
(8,386
)
Total other income (expense)
185,321

 
44,704

 
105,113

 
335,138

 
30,082

 
14,768

 
(63,571
)
 
316,417

 
(35,931
)
 
280,486

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
69,591

 
19,864

 
18,660

 
108,115

 
3,698

 
12,540

 
(1,662
)
 
122,691

 

 
122,691

Litigation settlement

 

 

 

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
69,845

 
69,845

 

 

 

 
69,845

 

 
69,845

Depreciation and amortization
3,538

 
1,002

 
5,744

 
10,284

 
3

 
1,146

 

 
11,433

 
18,103

 
29,536

Restructure expense
6,040

 

 

 
6,040

 

 
(20
)
 

 
6,020

 

 
6,020

Other
45,638

 
6,433

 
7,563

 
59,634

 
10,147

 
19,339

 

 
89,120

 

 
89,120

Intersegment expenses, net
4,158

 
2,626

 
1,775

 
8,559

 
63,011

 
(9,661
)
 
(61,909
)
 

 

 

Total operating expenses
128,965

 
29,925

 
103,587

 
262,477

 
76,859

 
78,344

 
(63,571
)
 
354,109

 
18,103

 
372,212

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
56,399

 
14,803

 
1,526

 
72,728

 
223,175

 
(75,559
)
 

 
220,344

 
(54,034
)
 
166,310

Corporate overhead allocation
(4,349
)
 
(1,450
)
 
(1,450
)
 
(7,249
)
 
(7,247
)
 
14,496

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
52,050

 
13,353

 
76

 
65,479

 
215,928

 
(61,063
)
 

 
220,344

 
(54,034
)
 
166,310

Income tax (expense) benefit
(19,779
)
 
(5,076
)
 
(28
)
 
(24,883
)
 
(82,053
)
 
24,040

 

 
(82,896
)
 
20,533

 
(62,363
)
Net income (loss)
$
32,271

 
8,277

 
48

 
40,596

 
133,875

 
(37,023
)
 

 
137,448

 
(33,501
)
 
103,947

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional information:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
$
32,271

 
8,277

 
48

 
40,596

 
133,875

 
(37,023
)
 

 
137,448

 
 
 
 
Plus: Litigation settlement (a)

 

 

 

 

 
55,000

 

 
55,000

 
 
 
 
Plus: Restructure expense (b)
6,040

 

 

 
6,040

 

 
(20
)
 

 
6,020

 
 
 
 
Less: Net tax effect
(2,295
)
 

 

 
(2,295
)
 

 
(20,892
)
 

 
(23,187
)
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss), excluding litigation settlement and restructure expense
$
36,016

 
8,277

 
48

 
44,341

 
133,875

 
(2,935
)
 

 
175,281

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) During the third quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a $55.0 million litigation settlement charge.
(b) During 2010, the Company recorded restructuring charges associated with previously implemented restructuring plans.

19



The adjustments required to reconcile from the Company's “base net income” measure to its GAAP results of operations relate to differing treatments for derivatives, foreign currency transaction adjustments, and amortization of intangible assets. These items are excluded from management's evaluation of the Company's operating results. The following tables reflect adjustments associated with these areas by operating segment and Corporate Activity and Overhead:
 
Student
Loan
and
Guaranty
Servicing
 
Tuition
Payment
Processing
and Campus
Commerce
 
Enrollment
Services
 
Asset
Generation
and
Management
 
Corporate
Activity
and
Overhead
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2011
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
$

 

 

 
(6,677
)
 
20,565

 
13,888

Amortization of intangible assets
2,099

 
1,513

 
878

 

 

 
4,490

Net tax effect (a)
(798
)
 
(575
)
 
(334
)
 
2,537

 
(7,814
)
 
(6,984
)
Total adjustments to GAAP
$
1,301

 
938

 
544

 
(4,140
)
 
12,751

 
11,394

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended June 30, 2011
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
$

 

 

 
12,531

 
4,282

 
16,813

Amortization of intangible assets
2,100

 
981

 
878

 

 

 
3,959

Net tax effect (a)
(798
)
 
(373
)
 
(334
)
 
(4,762
)
 
(1,626
)
 
(7,893
)
Total adjustments to GAAP
$
1,302

 
608

 
544

 
7,769

 
2,656

 
12,879

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2010
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
$

 

 

 
24,966

 
7,839

 
32,805

Amortization of intangible assets
2,112

 
1,120

 
2,123

 

 

 
5,355

Net tax effect (a)
(803
)
 
(426
)
 
(807
)
 
(9,487
)
 
(2,978
)
 
(14,501
)
Total adjustments to GAAP
$
1,309

 
694

 
1,316

 
15,479

 
4,861

 
23,659

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
$

 

 

 
6,443

 
23,142

 
29,585

Amortization of intangible assets
6,299

 
3,492

 
2,634

 

 

 
12,425

Net tax effect (a)
(2,394
)
 
(1,327
)
 
(1,001
)
 
(2,448
)
 
(8,794
)
 
(15,964
)
Total adjustments to GAAP
$
3,905

 
2,165

 
1,633

 
3,995

 
14,348

 
26,046

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2010
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
$

 

 

 
20,955

 
14,976

 
35,931

Amortization of intangible assets
6,462

 
4,636

 
7,005

 

 

 
18,103

Net tax effect (a)
(2,456
)
 
(1,763
)
 
(2,665
)
 
(7,963
)
 
(5,686
)
 
(20,533
)
Total adjustments to GAAP
$
4,006

 
2,873

 
4,340

 
12,992

 
9,290

 
33,501

(a) Income taxes are based on 38% for the individual operating segments.

Net interest income after provision for loan losses (net of settlements on derivatives)

The following table summarizes the components of “net interest income after provision for loan losses,” net of “derivative settlements, net” included in the attached condensed consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
$
58,320

 
53,997

 
59,416

 
164,847

 
179,750

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
40,598

 
32,801

 
34,223

 
105,081

 
100,548

Investment interest
672

 
856

 
1,169

 
2,254

 
3,474

Corporate debt interest expense
(2,572
)
 
(2,440
)
 
(5,181
)
 
(8,325
)
 
(17,422
)
Provision for loan losses
(5,250
)
 
(5,250
)
 
(5,500
)
 
(14,250
)
 
(16,700
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses (net of settlements on derivatives)
$
91,768

 
79.964

 
84,127

 
249,607

 
249,650


20




Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)
Company Owned
$23,139
$24,378
$26,351
$26,183
$23,727
$23,249
$22,757
$22,503
% of Total
61.6%
56.7%
55.3%
47.0%
38.6%
34.2%
33.0%
30.2%
Number of borrowers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government Servicing:
441,913
1,055,896
1,530,308
2,510,630
2,804,502
2,814,142
2,666,183
2,966,706
FFELP servicing:
2,311,558
2,327,016
2,329,150
2,227,288
1,912,748
1,870,538
1,837,272
1,812,582
Total:
2,753,471
3,382,912
3,859,458
4,737,918
4,717,250
4,684,680
4,503,455
4,779,288

Derivative Market Value and Foreign Currency Adjustments

The following table summarizes the components of “derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments” included in the attached condensed consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
September 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
Change in fair value of derivatives - income (expense)
$
(87,341
)
 
2,207

 
73,663

 
(18,683
)
 
(94,539
)
Foreign currency transaction adjustment - income (expense)
73,453

 
(19,020
)
 
(106,468
)
 
(10,902
)
 
58,608

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments - income (expense)
$
(13,888
)
 
(16,813
)
 
(32,805
)
 
(29,585
)
 
(35,931
)

Derivative Settlements, net

The following table summarizes the components of "derivative settlements, net" included in the attached condensed consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
September 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
Settlements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1:3 basis swaps
$
321

 
373

 
893

 
902

 
974

T-Bill/LIBOR basis swaps
(69
)
 
(64
)
 

 
(263
)
 

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
(3,482
)
 
(6,345
)
 
(4,040
)
 
(16,045
)
 
(12,183
)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges
(250
)
 
(248
)
 
(242
)
 
(744
)
 
(242
)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps
3,745

 
2,770

 
1,025

 
8,625

 
3,243

Other
(8
)
 
(8
)
 
(222
)
 
108

 
(178
)
Total settlements - (expense) income
$
257

 
(3,522
)
 
(2,586
)
 
(7,417
)
 
(8,386
)



21



Student Loans Receivable

The tables below outline the components of the Company’s student loan portfolio:
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Held for investment
 
Held for investment
 
Held for sale (a)
Federally insured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Stafford and other
$
7,573,717

 
7,927,525

 

Consolidation
17,081,935

 
15,830,174

 

Total
24,655,652

 
23,757,699

 

Non-federally insured loans
29,061

 
26,370

 
84,987

 
24,684,713

 
23,784,069

 
84,987

Unamortized loan discount/premiums and deferred origination costs, net
2,674

 
207,571

 

Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans
(35,190
)
 
(32,908
)
 

Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans
(10,583
)
 
(10,718
)
 

 
$
24,641,614

 
23,948,014

 
84,987

 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for federally insured loans as a percentage of such loans
0.14
%
 
0.14
%
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for non-federally insured loans as a percentage of such loans
36.42
%
 
40.64
%
 
 

 
(a)
On January 13, 2011, the Company sold a portfolio of non-federally insured loans for proceeds of $91.3 million (100% of par value).  The Company retained credit risk related to this portfolio and will pay cash to purchase back any loans which become 60 days delinquent.  As of December 31, 2010, the Company classified this portfolio as held-for-sale and the loans were carried at fair value.

Student Loan Spread

The following table analyzes the student loan spread on the Company’s portfolio of student loans and represents the spread on assets earned in conjunction with the liabilities and derivative instruments used to fund the assets.
 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2011
 
June 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
 
September 30,
2011
 
September 30,
2010
Variable student loan yield, gross
2.57
 %
 
2.57
 %
 
2.63
 %
 
2.58
 %
 
2.64
 %
Consolidation rebate fees
(0.73
)
 
(0.71
)
 
(0.64
)
 
(0.72
)
 
(0.68
)
Premium/discount and deferred origination costs amortization/accretion (a)
(0.03
)
 
(0.14
)
 
(0.18
)
 
(0.11
)
 
(0.21
)
Variable student loan yield, net
1.81

 
1.72

 
1.81

 
1.75

 
1.75

Student loan cost of funds - interest expense
(0.82
)
 
(0.83
)
 
(0.94
)
 
(0.83
)
 
(0.83
)
Student loan cost of funds - bonds and notes payable discount accretion (a)
(0.11
)
 

 

 
(0.04
)
 

Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements
0.06

 
0.05

 
0.03

 
0.05

 
0.02

Variable student loan spread
0.94

 
0.94

 
0.90

 
0.93

 
0.94

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
0.65

 
0.57

 
0.51

 
0.59

 
0.53

Core student loan spread
1.59
 %
 
1.51
 %
 
1.41
 %
 
1.52
 %
 
1.47
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of student loans
$
24,794,416

 
23,298,870

 
26,548,957

 
23,891,512

 
25,520,327

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of debt outstanding
24,979,332

 
23,510,072

 
26,636,184

 
24,118,465

 
25,661,594


(a)
On July 8, 2011, the Company purchased the residual interest in $1.9 billion of consolidation loans and recorded the loans and related debt at fair value resulting in the recognition of a significant student loan discount and bonds and notes payable discount. These discounts are being accreted using the effective interest method over the lives of the underlying assets/liabilities.




22



Fixed Rate Floor Income
The following table shows the Company’s student loan assets that are earning fixed rate floor income as of September 30, 2011:
 
 
Borrower/
 
Estimated
 
Balance of
Fixed
 
lender
 
variable
 
assets earning fixed-rate
interest
 
weighted
 
conversion
 
floor income as of
rate range
 
average yield
 
rate (a)
 
September 30, 2011
< 3.0%
 
2.88%
 
0.24%
 
$
1,748,492

 
3.0 - 3.49%
 
3.20%
 
0.56%
 
2,031,640

 
3.5 - 3.99%
 
3.65%
 
1.01%
 
1,993,143

 
4.0 - 4.49%
 
4.20%
 
1.56%
 
1,527,216

 
4.5 - 4.99%
 
4.72%
 
2.08%
 
866,947

 
5.0 - 5.49%
 
5.24%
 
2.60%
 
578,132

 
5.5 - 5.99%
 
5.67%
 
3.03%
 
351,143

 
6.0 - 6.49%
 
6.18%
 
3.54%
 
410,195

 
6.5 - 6.99%
 
6.70%
 
4.06%
 
365,508

 
7.0 - 7.49%
 
7.17%
 
4.53%
 
143,939

 
7.5 - 7.99%
 
7.70%
 
5.06%
 
241,515

 
8.0 - 8.99%
 
8.17%
 
5.53%
 
546,593

 
> 9.0%
 
9.04%
 
6.40%
 
258,840

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
11,063,303

 
 
(a)
The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate.  As of September 30, 2011, the short-term interest rate was 20 basis points.

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of September 30, 2011 used by the Company to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.
 
 
 
Notional
 
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
 
Maturity
 
amount
 
 
2013
 
$
2,150,000

 
0.85
%
 
2014
 
750,000

 
0.85

 
2015
 
100,000

 
2.26

 
2020
 
50,000

 
3.23

 
 
 
$
3,050,000

 
0.87
%

(a)
For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.




23