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8-K - 8-K - NELNET INCnni93012form8-k.htm
EX-99.2 - EARNINGS SUPPLEMENT - NELNET INCnni-93012x10qxsupplement.htm


Nelnet Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results
Net income $1.12 per share for the quarter, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
Loan Servicing and Tuition Payment Processing revenue increased 20 percent
Department of Education servicing allocation almost doubles
Student loan acquisitions increase in the fourth quarter
Declares $1.10 per share dividend

LINCOLN, Neb., November 8, 2012-Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) today reported net income of $53.1 million, or $1.12 per share, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $56.1 million, or $1.16 per share, for the same period a year ago. The decrease in year-over-year net income was expected as the company's student loan portfolio runs off due to Congress' elimination of the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program in 2010. The decrease was partially offset by the growth of the company's fee-based businesses.
GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2012 was $36.8 million, or $0.78 per share, compared with GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2011, which was $47.5 million, or $0.98 per share. Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments were an expense of $16.3 million, or $0.34 per share after tax, for the third quarter of 2012, compared to an expense of $8.6 million, or $0.18 per share after tax, for the third quarter of 2011.      
"We are consistently delivering strong results and making progress toward key objectives: Growing our core businesses, driving diversification around our core, and improving our customer's experiences,” said Mike Dunlap, Nelnet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, about the third quarter of 2012. “More specifically, we are excited to be ranked as the top servicer for the Department of Education for the past twelve-month period, which will significantly increase our servicing volume, and to have opportunities to purchase additional student loans.”
Nelnet operates four primary business segments, earning interest income on student loans in its Asset Generation and Management operating segment, and fee-based revenue in its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing, Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce, and Enrollment Services operating segments. The company reported net interest income after provision for loan losses of $80.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared with $91.5 million for the same period a year ago. The company reported total revenue from its fee-based segments in the third quarters of 2012 and 2011 of $101.9 million and $94.8 million, respectively. Consolidated operating expenses for the third quarter of 2012 were $104.9 million, compared with $104.8 million for the third quarter of 2011.
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing
Revenue from the company's Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing segment increased 25 percent, or $10.7 million, to $53.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 from $42.6 million for the third quarter of 2011. The increase in revenue is primarily the result of growth in servicing volume under the company's contract with the Department of Education (Department), remote hosting fees, and fee revenue from rehabilitated loans.
As of September 30, 2012, the company was servicing $63.6 billion of loans for 3.6 million borrowers on behalf of the Department, compared to $44.6 billion of loans for 3.0 million borrowers as of September 30, 2011. Revenue from this contract increased to $19.1 million for the third quarter of 2012, up from $12.8 million for the same period a year ago.
The Department ranks the performance of its servicers quarterly based on five performance metrics to determine the loan servicing volume allocation each servicer will receive in the following contract year. Based on these performance metrics, the company achieved the first place ranking for the 2011-2012 contract year, which results in a larger allocation of loan volume to the company for the fourth year of the servicing contract (the period of August 15, 2012 through August 14, 2013). The company is allocated 30 percent of new loan volume originated by the Department during this current contract year, up from 16 percent the prior two years.
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
For the third quarter of 2012, revenue from the company's Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce segment was $17.9 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 7 percent, from the same period in 2011.
Asset Management
As of September 30, 2012, net student loan assets were $22.6 billion. Substantially all of Nelnet's federal student loans are financed for the life of the loan at rates the company currently believes will generate significant future cash flow of $1.88 billion.
On July 1, 2010, the company stopped originating federal student loans because legislation eliminated the FFEL Program. As a result, the company's student loan portfolio will run off over a period of several years. However, Nelnet continues to pursue opportunities to purchase student loans from third parties and has purchased $1.1 billion of FFEL Program loans since the end of the third quarter of 2012, and anticipates purchasing additional loans before the end of the year.





Historically low interest rates are continuing to provide an opportunity for the company to generate substantial near-term value and cash flow from its student loan portfolio. For the third quarter of 2012, Nelnet reported net interest income after provision for loan losses of $80.3 million, compared with $91.5 million for the same period a year ago.  Net interest income includes $34.7 million and $40.6 million of fixed rate floor income in the third quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively.   
Board of Directors Declares Dividend
Today, Nelnet's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on the company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock of $1.10 per share. The dividend consists of a regular quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share, and a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share.  Both dividends will be paid on November 27, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 19, 2012. Nelnet currently has 35.8 million shares of Class A common stock and 11.5 million shares of Class B common stock outstanding.
The company will continue to evaluate quarterly dividends based on future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors.
Non-GAAP Performance Measures
Information regarding the company's operating results has historically been provided using "base net income," which consisted of GAAP net income excluding the derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, amortization of intangible assets, compensation related to business combinations, and variable rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives.  Due to the decrease in the number and dollar amount of differences between "base net income" and GAAP net income, the company has discontinued utilizing "base net income" when evaluating the performance and profitability of the company and reporting its operating results.
The company will continue to provide additional information related to specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its financial position and performance, including specifically, but not limited to, the impact of unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP, and foreign currency transaction gains or losses resulting from the re-measurement of the company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.  The company believes these point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to these financial instruments that are subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations.
Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements  
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws.  These statements are based on management's current expectations as of the date of this release and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Such risks include, among others, risks related to the company's student loan portfolios such as interest rate basis and repricing risk and the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations; the company's funding requirements to satisfy asset financing needs; the company's ability to maintain and increase volumes under its loan servicing contract with the Department to service federally owned student loans; 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; changes in the demand or preferences for educational financing and related services by educational institutions, students, and their families; uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations; and changes in general economic and credit market conditions. For more information, see the "Risk Factors" sections and other cautionary discussions of risks and uncertainties included in documents filed or furnished by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the cautionary information about forward-looking statements contained in the company's supplemental financial information for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.  All information in this release is as of the date of this release. Although the company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its 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.















Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2012
 
June 30,
2012
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2011
Interest Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
150,528

 
150,988

 
156,955

 
454,574

 
433,247

Investment interest
1,140

 
1,055

 
672

 
3,290

 
2,254

Total interest income
151,668

 
152,043

 
157,627

 
457,864

 
435,501

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
66,402

 
67,476

 
60,866

 
203,175

 
164,227

Net interest income
85,266

 
84,567

 
96,761

 
254,689

 
271,274

Less provision for loan losses
5,000

 
7,000

 
5,250

 
18,000

 
14,250

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
80,266

 
77,567

 
91,511

 
236,689

 
257,024

Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
53,285

 
52,391

 
42,549

 
155,164

 
124,697

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue
17,928

 
16,834

 
16,774

 
56,675

 
50,904

Enrollment services revenue
30,661

 
29,710

 
35,505

 
92,035

 
101,688

Other income
12,699

 
8,800

 
3,931

 
32,453

 
17,249

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases
195

 
935

 

 
1,130

 
8,307

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net
(26,224
)
 
(19,532
)
 
(13,888
)
 
(61,163
)
 
(29,585
)
Derivative settlements, net
(5,051
)
 
(2,086
)
 
257

 
(6,910
)
 
(7,417
)
Total other income
83,493

 
87,052

 
85,128

 
269,384

 
265,843

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
46,395

 
48,703

 
44,132

 
144,193

 
130,925

Cost to provide enrollment services
20,151

 
20,374

 
23,825

 
62,203

 
68,804

Depreciation and amortization
8,402

 
8,226

 
7,917

 
24,764

 
21,462

Other
29,989

 
30,908

 
28,904

 
93,160

 
83,776

Total operating expenses
104,937

 
108,211

 
104,778

 
324,320

 
304,967

Income before income taxes
58,822

 
56,408

 
71,861

 
181,753

 
217,900

Income tax expense
(21,870
)
 
(14,878
)
 
(24,410
)
 
(59,978
)
 
(78,444
)
Net income
36,952

 
41,530

 
47,451

 
121,775

 
139,456

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
124

 
136

 

 
412

 

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
36,828

 
41,394

 
47,451

 
121,363

 
139,456

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic
$
0.78

 
0.87

 
0.98

 
2.56

 
2.88

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - diluted
$
0.77

 
0.87

 
0.98

 
2.55

 
2.87

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
47,086,098

 
47,049,055

 
48,059,747

 
47,042,035

 
48,177,539

Diluted
47,321,797

 
47,292,147

 
48,253,888

 
47,267,036

 
48,367,923







Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30, 2011
 
(unaudited)
 

 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
22,559,341

 
24,297,876

 
24,641,614

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments
186,534

 
93,350

 
141,928

Restricted cash and investments
1,003,888

 
724,131

 
653,518

Goodwill
117,118

 
117,118

 
117,118

Intangible assets, net
14,360

 
28,374

 
33,074

Other assets
527,603

 
591,368

 
648,975

Total assets
$
24,408,844

 
25,852,217

 
26,236,227

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
$
22,884,096

 
24,434,540

 
24,926,512

Other liabilities
348,510

 
351,472

 
298,232

Total liabilities
23,232,606

 
24,786,012

 
25,224,744

Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity
1,175,821

 
1,066,205

 
1,011,483

Noncontrolling interest
417

 

 

Total equity
1,176,238

 
1,066,205

 
1,011,483

Total liabilities and equity
$
24,408,844

 
25,852,217

 
26,236,227

Contacts:
Media, Ben Kiser, +1-402-458-3024, or Investors, Phil Morgan, +1-402-458-3038, both of Nelnet, Inc.