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8-K - 8-K - NELNET INCnni11713form8-k.htm
EX-99.1 - EARNINGS RELEASE - NELNET INCexhibit99111713earningsrel.htm


For Release: November 7, 2013
Media Contact: Ben Kiser, 402.458.3024
Investor Contact: Phil Morgan, 402.458.3038

Nelnet, Inc. supplemental financial information for the third quarter 2013
(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 2013 earnings, dated November 7, 2013, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

This earnings supplement contains forward-looking statements, 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. 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. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the "2012 Annual Report"), in particular such risks and uncertainties as:

student loan portfolio risks such as interest rate basis and repricing risk resulting from the fact that the interest rate characteristics of the 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 FFEL Program, risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, and risks from changes in levels of student loan prepayment or default rates;

financing and liquidity risks, including risks of changes in the general interest rate environment and in the securitization and other financing markets for student loans, which may increase the costs or limit the availability of financings necessary to purchase, refinance, or continue to hold student loans;

risks from changes in the educational credit and services markets resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs, such as the expected decline over time in FFELP loan interest income and fee-based revenues due to the discontinuation of new FFELP loan originations in 2010 and potential government initiatives to consolidate existing FFELP loans to the Federal Direct Loan Program, risks related to the availability of government funds and actual extension of the Company's loan servicing contract with the Department for an additional five years, and the Company's ability to maintain or increase volumes under that contract, and the Company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of FFELP and Federal Direct Loan Program loans;

risks related to a breach of or failure in the Company's operational or information systems or infrastructure, or those of third-party vendors;

uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations; and
 
risks associated with litigation 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 its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.



1



Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
158,675

 
158,063

 
150,528

 
472,277

 
454,574

Investment interest
1,562

 
1,483

 
1,140

 
4,662

 
3,290

Total interest income
160,237

 
159,546

 
151,668

 
476,939

 
457,864

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
55,315

 
58,127

 
66,402

 
171,800

 
203,175

Net interest income
104,922

 
101,419

 
85,266

 
305,139

 
254,689

Less provision for loan losses
5,000

 
5,000

 
5,000

 
15,000

 
18,000

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
99,922

 
96,419

 
80,266

 
290,139

 
236,689

Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
64,582

 
60,078

 
53,285

 
180,261

 
155,164

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue
19,927

 
18,356

 
17,928

 
61,694

 
56,675

Enrollment services revenue
22,563

 
24,823

 
30,661

 
76,343

 
92,035

Other income
8,613

 
12,288

 
12,699

 
30,317

 
32,453

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases
2,138

 
7,355

 
195

 
10,900

 
1,130

Derivative settlements, net
(6,688
)
 
(8,357
)
 
(5,051
)
 
(23,229
)
 
(6,910
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net
(9,960
)
 
48,545

 
(26,224
)
 
47,841

 
(61,163
)
Total other income
101,175

 
163,088

 
83,493

 
384,127

 
269,384

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
48,712

 
47,432

 
46,395

 
144,049

 
144,193

Cost to provide enrollment services
14,668

 
16,787

 
20,151

 
51,097

 
62,203

Depreciation and amortization
4,340

 
4,320

 
8,402

 
13,037

 
24,764

Other
39,887

 
34,365

 
29,989

 
109,193

 
93,160

Total operating expenses
107,607

 
102,904

 
104,937

 
317,376

 
324,320

Income before income taxes
93,490

 
156,603

 
58,822

 
356,890

 
181,753

Income tax expense
30,444

 
54,746

 
21,870

 
123,637

 
59,978

Net income
63,046

 
101,857

 
36,952

 
233,253

 
121,775

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
216

 
614

 
124

 
1,101

 
412

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
62,830

 
101,243

 
36,828

 
232,152

 
121,363

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted
$
1.35

 
2.17

 
0.78

 
4.98

 
2.56

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
46,496,612

 
46,626,853

 
47,460,308

 
46,593,241

 
47,399,207

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
September 30, 2012
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
24,701,112

 
24,830,621

 
22,559,341

Non-federally insured student loans receivable - held for sale
28,480

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments
284,054

 
149,343

 
186,534

Restricted cash and investments
768,621

 
911,978

 
1,003,888

Goodwill and intangible assets, net
124,050

 
126,511

 
131,478

Other assets
630,611

 
589,442

 
527,603

Total assets
$
26,536,928

 
26,607,895

 
24,408,844

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
$
24,858,455

 
25,098,835

 
22,884,096

Other liabilities
300,560

 
343,847

 
348,510

Total liabilities
25,159,015

 
25,442,682

 
23,232,606

Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity
1,377,863

 
1,165,208

 
1,175,821

Noncontrolling interest
50

 
5

 
417

Total equity
1,377,913

 
1,165,213

 
1,176,238

Total liabilities and equity
$
26,536,928

 
26,607,895

 
24,408,844




2



Overview

The Company is an 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. 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.

A reconciliation of the Company's GAAP net income to net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, is provided below.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
62,830

 
101,243

 
36,828

 
232,152

 
121,363

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax
6,175

 
(30,098
)
 
16,259

 
(29,661
)
 
37,921

Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)
$
69,005

 
71,145

 
53,087

 
202,491

 
159,284

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
1.35

 
2.17

 
0.78

 
4.98

 
2.56

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax
0.13

 
(0.64
)
 
0.34

 
(0.63
)
 
0.80

Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)
$
1.48

 
1.53

 
1.12

 
4.35

 
3.36


(a)
The Company provides non-GAAP information that reflects specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its financial position and performance. "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments" include (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by 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. Accordingly, the Company provides operating results excluding these items for comparability purposes.

The increase in earnings for the 2013 periods compared to the 2012 periods was due to an increase in net interest income earned from the Company's student loan portfolio and an increase in revenue and operating margin from the Company's fee-based operating segments.

The Company earns net interest income on its FFELP student loan portfolio in its Asset Generation and Management ("AGM") operating segment. This segment is expected to generate a stable net interest margin and significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes. As of September 30, 2013, the Company had a $24.7 billion student loan portfolio that will amortize over the next approximately 20 years. The Company actively seeks to acquire additional FFELP loan portfolios to leverage its servicing scale and expertise to generate incremental earnings and cash flow.

In addition, the Company earns fee-based revenue through the following reportable operating segments:
 
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing ("LGS") - referred to as Nelnet Diversified Solutions ("NDS")
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce ("TPP&CC") - referred to as Nelnet Business Solutions ("NBS")
Enrollment Services - commonly called Nelnet Enrollment Solutions ("NES")


3



The information below provides the operating results for each reportable operating segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in millions).

(a)
Revenue includes intersegment revenue of $13.5 million and $15.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $42.4 million and $49.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, earned by LGS as a result of servicing loans for AGM.

(b)
Total revenue includes "net interest income after provision for loan losses" and "total other income" from the Company's segment statements of income, excluding the impact from changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, which was an expense of $12.7 million and $30.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and income of $35.7 million and an expense of $62.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net income excludes changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net of tax, which was an expense of $7.8 million and $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and income of $22.1 million and an expense of $38.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

(c)
Computed as income before income taxes divided by total revenue.

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

As of September 30, 2013, the Company was servicing $135.0 billion in FFELP, private, and government owned student loans, as compared with $92.5 billion of loans as of September 30, 2012.

Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to growth in servicing volume under the Company's contract with the Department and an increase in collection revenue from getting defaulted FFELP loan assets current on behalf of guaranty agencies. These increases were partially offset by decreases in traditional FFELP and guaranty servicing revenue.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company was servicing $106.9 billion of loans for 5.1 million borrowers on behalf of the Department, compared with $63.6 billion of loans for 3.6 million borrowers as of September 30, 2012. Revenue from this contract increased to $26.0 million and $68.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, up from $19.1 million and $50.1 million for the same respective periods in 2012. The servicing contract with the Department spans five years (through June 2014), with a five-year extension at the option of the Department. On October 25, 2013, the Company received a letter from the Department notifying the Company of the Department's intent to exercise its optional ordering period to extend the contract for an additional five years through June 16, 2019, with actual extension subject to the availability of government funds.

Before tax operating margin increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012. The Company made investments and incurred certain costs in 2012 to improve performance metrics under the government servicing contract and to implement and comply with the Department's special direct consolidation

4



loan initiative. In addition, intangible assets for this segment were fully amortized in 2012. Salaries and benefits and other expense increased in 2013 to support the increase in volume under the government servicing contract and due to an increase in costs related to getting defaulted FFELP loan assets current on behalf of guaranty agencies.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to an increase in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customers, and new school customers.

Before tax operating margin increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012. The increase was the result of efficiencies gained in the operations of the business and a decrease in amortization expense related to intangible assets. These decreases in expenses in 2013 compared to 2012 were partially offset by an increase in salaries and benefits due to adding personnel to support the increase in the number of tuition payment plans and campus commerce customers.

This segment is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Based on the timing of when revenue is recognized and when expenses are incurred, revenue and operating margin are higher in the first quarter as compared to the remainder of the year.

Enrollment Services

Revenue decreased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to a decrease in inquiry generation and management revenue as a result of the regulatory uncertainty regarding recruiting and marketing to potential students in the for-profit college industry, which has caused schools to decrease spending on marketing efforts. Additionally, clients are shifting marketing budgets to more efficient or lower cost channels, which has caused a reduction in volume.

The Company continues to focus on improving the profitability of this segment by reducing operating expenses in reaction to the ongoing decline in revenue and gross margin.

Asset Generation and Management

The Company acquired $2.2 billion of FFELP student loans during the first nine months of 2013, including $1.1 billion purchased during the third quarter. The average loan portfolio balance for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was $24.5 billion and $23.0 billion, respectively.

On October 31, 2013, the Company purchased a student loan securitization trust, giving the Company rights to the residual interest in $1.6 billion of FFELP student loans. The trust includes student loans funded to term with notes payable. The student loans and debt within the trust will be included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Core student loan spread increased to 1.57% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 1.44% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 1.53% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 1.43% for the same period in 2012. This increase was due to the improved corresponding relationship between the interest rate indices governing what the Company earns on its loans and what the Company pays to fund such loans.

Due to historically low interest rates, the Company continues to earn significant fixed rate floor income. During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company earned $37.8 million and $34.7 million, respectively, of fixed rate floor income (net of $7.2 million and $5.6 million of derivative settlements, respectively, used to hedge such loans), and $109.6 million and $109.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively (net of $24.0 million and $12.2 million of derivative settlements, respectively).

Corporate Activities

Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary, recognized investment advisory revenue of $2.4 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $11.5 million and $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts include performance fees earned from the sale of managed securities. As of September 30, 2013, WRCM was managing an investment portfolio of $942.8 million for third-party entities.



5



Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 32.6% and 37.2%, respectively, and was 34.8% and 33.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the third quarter of 2013, income tax expense was reduced by $4.1 million due to the resolution of various uncertain tax positions relating primarily to prior years resulting from examination closings and lapse of applicable statute of limitations. In addition, the Company reversed $1.3 million ($0.8 million after tax) of interest expense during the third quarter of 2013 related to the resolution of certain tax positions. The reversal of interest expense reduced "interest on bonds and notes payable" in the accompanying consolidated statement of income. During the second quarter of 2012, state income tax laws were enacted that reduced the Company's income tax expense during the second quarter by $4.6 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2013, the Company had cash and investments of $284.1 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company generated $202.6 million in net cash provided by operating activities.

Forecasted future cash flows from the Company's FFELP student loan portfolio financed in asset-backed securitization transactions are estimated to be approximately $2.10 billion as of September 30, 2013.

As of September 30, 2013, $75.0 million was outstanding on the Company's unsecured line of credit and $200.0 million was available for future use. The unsecured line of credit has a maturity date of March 28, 2018.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company repurchased $84.7 million (face amount) of its own asset-backed debt securities for a gain totaling $10.9 million, including $15.4 million (face amount) for a gain of $2.1 million during the third quarter.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company repurchased 390,376 shares of Class A common stock for $13.0 million ($33.34 per share), including 111,220 shares for $4.0 million ($36.19 per share) during the third quarter. Included in the shares purchased during the third quarter were 107,614 shares remaining in the Company's 401(k) plan. Pursuant to an amendment to the 401(k) plan effective January 1, 2013, shares of the Company's Class A common stock are no longer an eligible investment alternative for the Company's matching contributions under the plan, and after this purchase, no shares of the Company's Class A common stock are held in the Company's 401(k) plan.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company paid cash dividends of $13.9 million, including $4.6 million ($0.10 per share) during the third quarter.

The Company intends to use its strong 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; and capital management initiatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions.

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. See note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2012 Annual Report for a description of each operating segment, including the primary products and services offered.

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. Executive management (the "chief operating decision maker") evaluates the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on their financial results prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2012 Annual Report. Intersegment revenues are charged by the segment that

6



provides a product or service to another segment.  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 segment financial information. Income taxes are allocated 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.

Corporate Activity and Overhead

Corporate Activity and Overhead includes the following items:

The operating results of Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary
Income earned on certain investment activities
Interest expense incurred on unsecured debt transactions
Other product and service offerings that are not considered operating segments

Corporate Activity and Overhead also includes certain corporate activities and overhead functions 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.

7




Segment Results of Operations

The following tables include the results of each of the Company's operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.

 
Three months ended September 30, 2013
 
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
 
Total
Total interest income
$
10

 

 

 
10

 
158,793

 
2,201

 
(767
)
 
160,237

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
56,100

 
(18
)
 
(767
)
 
55,315

Net interest income (loss)
10

 

 

 
10

 
102,693

 
2,219

 

 
104,922

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,000

 

 

 
5,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
10

 

 

 
10

 
97,693

 
2,219

 

 
99,922

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
64,582

 

 

 
64,582

 

 

 

 
64,582

Intersegment servicing revenue
13,519

 

 

 
13,519

 

 

 
(13,519
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
19,927

 

 
19,927

 

 

 

 
19,927

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
22,563

 
22,563

 

 

 

 
22,563

Other income

 

 

 

 
3,981

 
4,632

 

 
8,613

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
2,138

 

 

 
2,138

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
(12,660
)
 
2,700

 

 
(9,960
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(6,432
)
 
(256
)
 

 
(6,688
)
Total other income (expense)
78,101

 
19,927

 
22,563

 
120,591

 
(12,973
)
 
7,076

 
(13,519
)
 
101,175

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
29,719

 
9,229

 
4,491

 
43,439

 
555

 
4,718

 

 
48,712

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
14,668

 
14,668

 

 

 

 
14,668

Depreciation and amortization
2,677

 
1,117

 
57

 
3,851

 

 
489

 

 
4,340

Other
19,752

 
1,908

 
1,556

 
23,216

 
7,939

 
8,732

 

 
39,887

Intersegment expenses, net
1,457

 
1,431

 
1,139

 
4,027

 
13,705

 
(4,213
)
 
(13,519
)
 

Total operating expenses
53,605

 
13,685

 
21,911

 
89,201

 
22,199

 
9,726

 
(13,519
)
 
107,607

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
24,506

 
6,242

 
652

 
31,400

 
62,521

 
(431
)
 

 
93,490

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,822
)
 
(607
)
 
(607
)
 
(3,036
)
 
(1,302
)
 
4,338

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
22,684

 
5,635

 
45

 
28,364

 
61,219

 
3,907

 

 
93,490

Income tax (expense) benefit
(8,620
)
 
(2,141
)
 
(17
)
 
(10,778
)
 
(23,263
)
 
3,597

 

 
(30,444
)
Net income (loss)
14,064

 
3,494

 
28

 
17,586

 
37,956

 
7,504

 

 
63,046

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
216

 

 
216

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
14,064

 
3,494

 
28

 
17,586

 
37,956

 
7,288

 

 
62,830

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8



 
Three months ended June 30, 2013
 
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
 
Total
Total interest income
$
9

 

 

 
9

 
158,175

 
2,196

 
(834
)
 
159,546

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
56,920

 
2,041

 
(834
)
 
58,127

Net interest income (loss)
9

 

 

 
9

 
101,255

 
155

 

 
101,419

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,000

 

 

 
5,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
9

 

 

 
9

 
96,255

 
155

 

 
96,419

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
60,078

 

 

 
60,078

 

 

 

 
60,078

Intersegment servicing revenue
13,903

 

 

 
13,903

 

 

 
(13,903
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
18,356

 

 
18,356

 

 

 

 
18,356

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
24,823

 
24,823

 

 

 

 
24,823

Other income

 

 

 

 
3,030

 
9,258

 

 
12,288

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
7,355

 

 

 
7,355

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 
43,096

 
5,449

 

 
48,545

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(7,845
)
 
(512
)
 

 
(8,357
)
Total other income (expense)
73,981

 
18,356

 
24,823

 
117,160

 
45,636

 
14,195

 
(13,903
)
 
163,088

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
28,091

 
9,427

 
4,809

 
42,327

 
592

 
4,513

 

 
47,432

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
16,787

 
16,787

 

 

 

 
16,787

Depreciation and amortization
2,731

 
1,132

 
61

 
3,924

 

 
396

 

 
4,320

Other
18,031

 
2,192

 
1,243

 
21,466

 
7,923

 
4,976

 

 
34,365

Intersegment expenses, net
851

 
1,494

 
1,130

 
3,475

 
14,108

 
(3,680
)
 
(13,903
)
 

Total operating expenses
49,704

 
14,245

 
24,030

 
87,979

 
22,623

 
6,205

 
(13,903
)
 
102,904

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
24,286

 
4,111

 
793

 
29,190

 
119,268

 
8,145

 

 
156,603

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,513
)
 
(504
)
 
(504
)
 
(2,521
)
 
(1,081
)
 
3,602

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
22,773

 
3,607

 
289

 
26,669

 
118,187

 
11,747

 

 
156,603

Income tax (expense) benefit
(8,655
)
 
(1,370
)
 
(109
)
 
(10,134
)
 
(44,911
)
 
299

 

 
(54,746
)
Net income (loss)
14,118

 
2,237

 
180

 
16,535

 
73,276

 
12,046

 

 
101,857

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
614

 

 
614

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
14,118

 
2,237

 
180

 
16,535

 
73,276

 
11,432

 

 
101,243

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9



 
Three months ended September 30, 2012
 
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
 
Total
Total interest income
$
12

 
3

 

 
15

 
150,661

 
1,891

 
(899
)
 
151,668

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
64,829

 
2,472

 
(899
)
 
66,402

Net interest income (loss)
12

 
3

 

 
15

 
85,832

 
(581
)
 

 
85,266

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,000

 

 

 
5,000

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

 
3

 

 
15

 
80,832

 
(581
)
 

 
80,266

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
53,285

 

 

 
53,285

 

 

 

 
53,285

Intersegment servicing revenue
15,855

 

 

 
15,855

 

 

 
(15,855
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
17,928

 

 
17,928

 

 

 

 
17,928

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
30,661

 
30,661

 

 

 

 
30,661

Other income

 

 

 

 
5,834

 
6,865

 

 
12,699

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
195

 

 

 
195

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
(30,694
)
 
4,470

 

 
(26,224
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(4,319
)
 
(732
)
 

 
(5,051
)
Total other income (expense)
69,140

 
17,928

 
30,661

 
117,729

 
(28,984
)
 
10,603

 
(15,855
)
 
83,493

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
27,716

 
8,578

 
5,147

 
41,441

 
462

 
4,492

 

 
46,395

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
20,151

 
20,151

 

 

 

 
20,151

Depreciation and amortization
4,691

 
1,703

 
1,633

 
8,027

 

 
375

 

 
8,402

Other
16,775

 
2,285

 
1,782

 
20,842

 
3,451

 
5,696

 

 
29,989

Intersegment expenses, net
1,262

 
1,379

 
1,000

 
3,641

 
16,064

 
(3,850
)
 
(15,855
)
 

Total operating expenses
50,444

 
13,945

 
29,713

 
94,102

 
19,977

 
6,713

 
(15,855
)
 
104,937

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
18,708

 
3,986

 
948

 
23,642

 
31,871

 
3,309

 

 
58,822

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,337
)
 
(446
)
 
(446
)
 
(2,229
)
 
(909
)
 
3,138

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
17,371

 
3,540

 
502

 
21,413

 
30,962

 
6,447

 

 
58,822

Income tax (expense) benefit
(6,601
)
 
(1,345
)
 
(191
)
 
(8,137
)
 
(11,765
)
 
(1,968
)
 

 
(21,870
)
Net income (loss)
10,770

 
2,195

 
311

 
13,276

 
19,197

 
4,479

 

 
36,952

  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
124

 

 
124

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
10,770

 
2,195

 
311

 
13,276

 
19,197

 
4,355

 

 
36,828

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2013
 
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
 
Total
Total interest income
$
29

 

 

 
29

 
472,622

 
6,708

 
(2,420
)
 
476,939

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
170,502

 
3,718

 
(2,420
)
 
171,800

Net interest income (loss)
29

 

 

 
29

 
302,120

 
2,990

 

 
305,139

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
15,000

 

 

 
15,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
29

 

 

 
29

 
287,120

 
2,990

 

 
290,139

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
180,261

 

 

 
180,261

 

 

 

 
180,261

Intersegment servicing revenue
42,375

 

 

 
42,375

 

 

 
(42,375
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
61,694

 

 
61,694

 

 

 

 
61,694

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
76,343

 
76,343

 

 

 

 
76,343

Other income

 

 

 

 
11,207

 
19,110

 

 
30,317

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
10,900

 

 

 
10,900

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
35,711

 
12,130

 

 
47,841

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(21,816
)
 
(1,413
)
 

 
(23,229
)
Total other income (expense)
222,636

 
61,694

 
76,343

 
360,673

 
36,002

 
29,827

 
(42,375
)
 
384,127

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
86,254

 
28,015

 
15,067

 
129,336

 
1,709

 
13,004

 

 
144,049

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
51,097

 
51,097

 

 

 

 
51,097

Depreciation and amortization
8,197

 
3,387

 
179

 
11,763

 

 
1,274

 

 
13,037

Other
56,173

 
6,387

 
4,450

 
67,010

 
23,375

 
18,808

 

 
109,193

Intersegment expenses, net
3,243

 
4,350

 
3,418

 
11,011

 
42,955

 
(11,591
)
 
(42,375
)
 

Total operating expenses
153,867

 
42,139

 
74,211

 
270,217

 
68,039

 
21,495

 
(42,375
)
 
317,376

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
68,798

 
19,555

 
2,132

 
90,485

 
255,083

 
11,322

 

 
356,890

Corporate overhead allocation
(4,332
)
 
(1,443
)
 
(1,443
)
 
(7,218
)
 
(3,095
)
 
10,313

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
64,466

 
18,112

 
689

 
83,267

 
251,988

 
21,635

 

 
356,890

Income tax (expense) benefit
(24,498
)
 
(6,882
)
 
(261
)
 
(31,641
)
 
(95,755
)
 
3,759

 

 
(123,637
)
Net income (loss)
39,968

 
11,230

 
428

 
51,626

 
156,233

 
25,394

 

 
233,253

  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
1,101

 

 
1,101

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
39,968

 
11,230

 
428

 
51,626

 
156,233

 
24,293

 

 
232,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

11



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2012
 
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
 
Total
Total interest income
$
44

 
8

 

 
52

 
455,413

 
5,226

 
(2,827
)
 
457,864

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
199,675

 
6,327

 
(2,827
)
 
203,175

Net interest income (loss)
44

 
8

 

 
52

 
255,738

 
(1,101
)
 

 
254,689

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
18,000

 

 

 
18,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
44

 
8

 

 
52

 
237,738

 
(1,101
)
 

 
236,689

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
155,164

 

 

 
155,164

 

 

 

 
155,164

Intersegment servicing revenue
49,210

 

 

 
49,210

 

 

 
(49,210
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
56,675

 

 
56,675

 

 

 

 
56,675

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
92,035

 
92,035

 

 

 

 
92,035

Other income

 

 

 

 
14,415

 
18,038

 

 
32,453

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
1,130

 

 

 
1,130

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
(62,351
)
 
1,188

 

 
(61,163
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(5,431
)
 
(1,479
)
 

 
(6,910
)
Total other income (expense)
204,374

 
56,675

 
92,035

 
353,084

 
(52,237
)
 
17,747

 
(49,210
)
 
269,384

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
85,663

 
25,771

 
17,587

 
129,021

 
1,723

 
13,449

 

 
144,193

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
62,203

 
62,203

 

 

 

 
62,203

Depreciation and amortization
13,629

 
5,174

 
4,867

 
23,670

 

 
1,094

 

 
24,764

Other
52,980

 
7,557

 
5,483

 
66,020

 
10,203

 
16,937

 

 
93,160

Intersegment expenses, net
3,832

 
4,042

 
2,824

 
10,698

 
49,842

 
(11,330
)
 
(49,210
)
 

Total operating expenses
156,104

 
42,544

 
92,964

 
291,612

 
61,768

 
20,150

 
(49,210
)
 
324,320

Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
48,314

 
14,139

 
(929
)
 
61,524

 
123,733

 
(3,504
)
 

 
181,753

Corporate overhead allocation
(4,115
)
 
(1,372
)
 
(1,372
)
 
(6,859
)
 
(3,701
)
 
10,560

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes
44,199

 
12,767

 
(2,301
)
 
54,665

 
120,032

 
7,056

 

 
181,753

Income tax (expense) benefit
(16,796
)
 
(4,851
)
 
874

 
(20,773
)
 
(45,610
)
 
6,405

 

 
(59,978
)
Net income (loss)
27,403

 
7,916

 
(1,427
)
 
33,892

 
74,422

 
13,461

 

 
121,775

  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
412

 

 
412

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
27,403

 
7,916

 
(1,427
)
 
33,892

 
74,422

 
13,049

 

 
121,363

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




12



Net Interest Income, Net of Settlements on Derivatives

The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility. Derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company's net interest income.

The following table summarizes the components of “net interest income” and “derivative settlements, net” included in the attached consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
June 30,
2013
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
$
59,100

 
58,076

 
47,543

 
172,797

 
142,484

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
37,810

 
36,056

 
34,736

 
109,582

 
109,812

Investment interest
1,562

 
1,483

 
1,140

 
4,662

 
3,290

Non-portfolio related derivative settlements
(256
)
 
(512
)
 
(732
)
 
(1,413
)
 
(1,480
)
Corporate debt interest expense (a)
18

 
(2,041
)
 
(2,472
)
 
(3,718
)
 
(6,327
)
Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)
$
98,234

 
93,062

 
80,215

 
281,910

 
247,779


(a)
During the third quarter of 2013, the Company reversed $1.3 million of interest expense related to the resolution of certain tax positions.

13




Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)
Company owned
 
$23,139
 
$23,727
 
$22,650
 
$22,277
 
$21,926
 
$21,504
 
$21,237
 
$20,820
 
$20,629
 
$20,715
% of total
 
61.6%
 
38.6%
 
29.8%
 
27.1%
 
25.6%
 
23.2%
 
21.8%
 
18.5%
 
17.7%
 
15.3%
Number of servicing borrowers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government servicing:
 
441,913

 
2,804,502

 
3,036,534

 
3,096,026

 
3,137,583

 
3,588,412

 
3,892,929

 
4,261,637

 
4,396,341

 
5,145,901

FFELP servicing:
 
2,311,558

 
1,912,748

 
1,799,484

 
1,779,245

 
1,724,087

 
1,659,020

 
1,626,146

 
1,586,312

 
1,529,203

 
1,507,452

Private servicing:
 
152,200

 
155,947

 
164,554

 
163,135

 
161,763

 
175,070

 
173,948

 
170,224

 
173,588

 
178,935

Total:
 
2,905,671
 
4,873,197

 
5,000,572

 
5,038,406

 
5,023,433

 
5,422,502

 
5,693,023

 
6,018,173

 
6,099,132

 
6,832,288

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of remote hosted borrowers:
 
684,996

 
545,456

 
9,566,296

 
8,645,463

 
7,909,300

 
7,505,693

 
6,912,204

 
5,001,695

 
3,218,896

 
1,986,866





14



Other Income

The following table summarizes the components of "other income" included in the attached consolidated statements of income.

 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2013
 
June 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
 
September 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
Borrower late fee income
$
2,927

 
3,233

 
3,586

 
9,665

 
10,665

Investment advisory fees
2,352

 
6,334

 
2,639

 
11,516

 
8,793

Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments, net
1,096

 
(214
)
 
3,993

 
2,002

 
5,830

Other
2,238

 
2,935

 
2,481

 
7,134

 
7,165

Other income
$
8,613

 
12,288

 
12,699

 
30,317

 
32,453


Derivative Settlements

The following table summarizes the components of "derivative settlements, net" included in the attached consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2013
 
June 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
 
September 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
Settlements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1:3 basis swaps
$
781

 
782

 
1,100

 
2,474

 
3,651

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
(7,178
)
 
(8,534
)
 
(5,595
)
 
(24,017
)
 
(12,237
)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges
(256
)
 
(512
)
 
(733
)
 
(1,413
)
 
(1,479
)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps
(35
)
 
(93
)
 
227

 
(273
)
 
3,390

Other

 

 
(50
)
 

 
(235
)
Total settlements - income (expense)
$
(6,688
)
 
(8,357
)
 
(5,051
)
 
(23,229
)
 
(6,910
)

Derivative Market Value and Foreign Currency Adjustments

"Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments" include (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.

The following table summarizes the components of “derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments” included in the attached consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2013
 
June 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
 
September 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
Change in fair value of derivatives - income (expense)
$
30,014

 
63,236

 
(5,425
)
 
73,743

 
(67,349
)
Foreign currency transaction adjustment - income (expense)
(39,974
)
 
(14,691
)
 
(20,799
)
 
(25,902
)
 
6,186

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments - income (expense)
$
(9,960
)
 
48,545

 
(26,224
)
 
47,841

 
(61,163
)




15



Student Loans Receivable

The table below outlines the components of the Company’s student loan portfolio:
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30,
2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
September 30, 2012
 
Held for investment
 
Held for sale
 
Held for investment
 
Held for investment
Federally insured loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stafford and other
$
6,884,348

 

 
7,261,114

 
6,652,639

Consolidation
17,908,229

 

 
17,708,732

 
15,962,969

Total
24,792,577

 

 
24,969,846

 
22,615,608

Non-federally insured loans
66,283

 
28,480

 
26,034

 
29,272

 
24,858,860

 
28,480

 
24,995,880

 
22,644,880

Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs
(103,551
)
 

 
(113,357
)
 
(37,330
)
Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans
(42,406
)
 

 
(40,120
)
 
(35,614
)
Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans
(11,791
)
 

 
(11,782
)
 
(12,595
)
 
$
24,701,112

 
28,480

 
24,830,621

 
22,559,341

 


 
 
 


 



Loan Activity

The following table sets forth the activity of loans:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Beginning balance
$
24,718,368

 
23,582,595

 
24,995,880

 
24,359,625

Loan acquisitions
1,053,972

 
152,016

 
2,200,756

 
898,606

Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other
(750,422
)
 
(466,355
)
 
(1,896,771
)
 
(1,345,883
)
Consolidation loans lost to external parties
(134,578
)
 
(590,148
)
 
(400,874
)
 
(1,172,316
)
Loans sold

 
(33,228
)
 
(11,651
)
 
(95,152
)
Ending balance
$
24,887,340

 
22,644,880

 
24,887,340

 
22,644,880




16



Student Loan Spread

The following table analyzes the student loan spread on the Company’s portfolio of student loans, which represents the spread between the yield earned on student loan assets and the costs of the liabilities and derivative instruments used to fund those assets.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2013
 
June 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
 
September 30,
2013
 
September 30,
2012
Variable student loan yield, gross
2.58
 %
 
2.58
 %
 
2.65
 %
 
2.57
 %
 
2.63
 %
Consolidation rebate fees
(0.76
)
 
(0.77
)
 
(0.75
)
 
(0.77
)
 
(0.75
)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization
0.02

 
0.03

 

 
0.03

 
(0.01
)
Variable student loan yield, net
1.84

 
1.84

 
1.90

 
1.83

 
1.87

Student loan cost of funds - interest expense
(0.89
)
 
(0.91
)
 
(1.08
)
 
(0.90
)
 
(1.10
)
Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements
0.01

 
0.01

 
0.02

 
0.01

 
0.04

Variable student loan spread
0.96

 
0.94

 
0.84

 
0.94

 
0.81

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
0.61

 
0.58

 
0.60

 
0.59

 
0.62

Core student loan spread
1.57
 %
 
1.52
 %
 
1.44
 %
 
1.53
 %
 
1.43
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of student loans
$
24,491,516

 
24,798,537

 
23,028,904

 
24,690,493

 
23,670,300

Average balance of debt outstanding
24,470,096

 
24,832,555

 
23,467,899

 
24,707,389

 
23,883,140


A trend analysis of the Company's core and variable student loan spreads is summarized below.

(a)
The interest earned on the majority of the Company's FFELP student loan assets is indexed to the one-month LIBOR rate.  The Company funds the majority of its assets with three-month LIBOR indexed floating rate securities.  The relationship between the indices in which the Company earns interest on its loans and funds such loans has a significant impact on student loan spread.  This table (the right axis) shows the difference between the Company's liability base rate and the one-month LIBOR rate by quarter.

17




Variable student loan spread increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 as a result of the tightening of the Asset/Liability Base Rate Spread as reflected in the previous table.

The primary difference between variable student loan spread and core student loan spread is fixed rate floor income.  A summary of fixed rate floor income and its contribution to core student loan spread follows:
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
June 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
44,988

 
44,590

 
40,331

 
133,599

 
122,049

Derivative settlements (a)
(7,178
)
 
(8,534
)
 
(5,595
)
 
(24,017
)
 
(12,237
)
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
37,810

 
36,056

 
34,736

 
109,582

 
109,812

Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net
0.61
%
 
0.58
%
 
0.60
%
 
0.59
%
 
0.62
%
 
(a)
Includes settlement payments on derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.

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, 2013:
 
 
Borrower/
 
Estimated
 
 
Fixed
 
lender
 
variable
 
 
interest
 
weighted
 
conversion
 
Loan
rate range
 
average yield
 
rate (a)
 
Balance
< 3.0%
 
2.87%
 
0.23%
 
$
1,772,119

3.0 - 3.49%
 
3.20%
 
0.56%
 
2,135,186

3.5 - 3.99%
 
3.65%
 
1.01%
 
1,944,371

4.0 - 4.49%
 
4.20%
 
1.56%
 
1,464,833

4.5 - 4.99%
 
4.72%
 
2.08%
 
842,142

5.0 - 5.49%
 
5.24%
 
2.60%
 
570,042

5.5 - 5.99%
 
5.67%
 
3.03%
 
346,790

6.0 - 6.49%
 
6.18%
 
3.54%
 
401,362

6.5 - 6.99%
 
6.70%
 
4.06%
 
365,898

7.0 - 7.49%
 
7.16%
 
4.52%
 
150,648

7.5 - 7.99%
 
7.71%
 
5.07%
 
256,097

8.0 - 8.99%
 
8.17%
 
5.53%
 
603,732

> 9.0%
 
9.04%
 
6.40%
 
301,635

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
11,154,855

 
(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, 2013, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 1.82% and the short-term interest rate was 19 basis points.


18



The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of September 30, 2013 used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.

Maturity
 
Notional amount
 
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
 
 
2014
 
$
1,750,000

 
0.71
%
2015
 
1,100,000

 
0.89

2016
 
750,000

 
0.85

2017
 
1,250,000

 
0.86

 
 
$
4,850,000

 
0.81
%
(a)
For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.

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 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, 2013, 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 $2.10 billion as detailed below.  The $2.10 billion includes approximately $495.2 million (as of September 30, 2013) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations.  These excess net asset positions are reflected variously in the following balances in the consolidated balance sheet:  "student loans receivable," "restricted cash and investments," and "accrued interest receivable."

The forecasted cash flow presented below includes all loans funded in asset-backed securitizations as of September 30, 2013.  As of September 30, 2013, the Company had $23.5 billion of loans included in asset-backed securitizations, which represented 94.7 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 currently funded in its warehouse facilities or loans acquired subsequent to September 30, 2013.


19



FFELP Asset-backed Securitization Cash Flow Forecast
$2.10 billion
(dollars in millions)

The Company uses various assumptions, including prepayments and future interest rates, when preparing its cash flow forecast.  These assumptions are further discussed below.

Prepayments:  The primary variable in establishing a life of loan estimate is the level and timing of prepayments. Prepayment rates equal the amount 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 securitization 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 $210 million to $270 million.

Interest rates:  The Company funds the majority of its student loans with three-month LIBOR indexed floating rate securities.  Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets is indexed primarily to a one-month LIBOR rate.  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 three-month LIBOR will exceed one-month LIBOR 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 three-month and one-month LIBOR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $110 million to $150 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, 2013, the net fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income was a net liability of $12.2 million.

20