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8-K - 8-K - NELNET INCnni5814form8-k.htm
EX-99.1 - EXHIBIT - NELNET INCexhibit9915814earningsrele.htm


For Release: May 8, 2014
Media Contact: Ben Kiser, 402.458.3024
Investor Contact: Phil Morgan, 402.458.3038

Nelnet, Inc. supplemental financial information for the first quarter 2014
(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 first quarter 2014 earnings, dated May 8, 2014, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

This report 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 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, 2013 (the "2013 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 Federal Family Education Loan Program (the "FFEL Program" or "FFELP"), risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, uncertainties regarding the expected benefits from recently purchased securitized and unsecuritized FFELP student loans, 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 and budgets, 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 expected reduction in government payments to guaranty agencies to rehabilitate defaulted FFELP loans and services in support of those activities, risks related to the availability of government funds and actual extension of the Company's loan servicing contract with the Department, which accounted for 23 percent of the Company's fee-based revenue in 2013, 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 and uncertainties associated with litigation matters and with maintaining compliance with the extensive regulatory requirements applicable to the Company's businesses, 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 report 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.


1




Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)

 
Three months ended
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
March 31, 2013
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
156,896

 
165,865

 
155,539

Investment interest
1,979

 
2,006

 
1,617

Total interest income
158,875

 
167,871

 
157,156

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
60,004

 
59,135

 
58,358

Net interest income
98,871

 
108,736

 
98,798

Less provision for loan losses
2,500

 
3,500

 
5,000

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
96,371

 
105,236

 
93,798

Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
64,757

 
63,167

 
55,601

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue
25,235

 
18,988

 
23,411

Enrollment services revenue
22,011

 
21,735

 
28,957

Other income
18,131

 
15,981

 
9,416

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases
39

 
799

 
1,407

Derivative settlements, net
(6,229
)
 
(6,407
)
 
(8,184
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net
1,964

 
752

 
9,256

Total other income
125,908

 
115,015

 
119,864

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
52,484

 
52,120

 
47,905

Cost to provide enrollment services
14,475

 
13,864

 
19,642

Depreciation and amortization
4,783

 
5,274

 
4,377

Other
35,627

 
40,349

 
34,941

Total operating expenses
107,369

 
111,607

 
106,865

Income before income taxes
114,910

 
108,644

 
106,797

Income tax expense
40,611

 
37,556

 
38,447

Net income
74,299

 
71,088

 
68,350

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
513

 
568

 
271

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
73,786

 
70,520

 
68,079

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted
$
1.59

 
1.52

 
1.46

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
46,527,917

 
46,502,028

 
46,658,031


2



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)

 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
March 31, 2013
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
25,607,143

 
25,907,589

 
24,885,316

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments
273,303

 
255,307

 
209,564

Restricted cash and investments
886,358

 
902,699

 
862,212

Goodwill and intangible assets, net
126,207

 
123,250

 
125,674

Other assets
593,996

 
582,004

 
562,458

Total assets
$
27,487,007

 
27,770,849

 
26,645,224

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
$
25,589,287

 
25,955,289

 
25,125,177

Other liabilities
384,046

 
371,570

 
293,643

Total liabilities
25,973,333

 
26,326,859

 
25,418,820

Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity
1,512,919

 
1,443,662

 
1,226,123

Noncontrolling interest
755

 
328

 
281

Total equity
1,513,674

 
1,443,990

 
1,226,404

Total liabilities and equity
$
27,487,007

 
27,770,849

 
26,645,224




3



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: asset management and finance, 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 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
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
March 31, 2013
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
73,786

 
70,520

 
68,079

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax
(1,218
)
 
(466
)
 
(5,738
)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)
$
72,568

 
70,054

 
62,341

 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
1.59

 
1.52

 
1.46

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax
(0.03
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.12
)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)
$
1.56

 
1.51

 
1.34


(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 in the three months ended Mach 31, 2014 period compared to the same period in 2013 was due to an increase in net income from the Company's Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment, an increase in income from providing investment advisory services, and an increase in gains from investment activities.

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 March 31, 2014, the Company had a $25.6 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 April 2014, the Company purchased $3.6 billion of FFELP student loans and related assets.  As of April 30, 2014, subsequent to the closing of this transaction, the Company's student loan portfolio was over $29 billion.

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")


4



The information below provides the operating results for each reportable operating segment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions).

(a)
Revenue includes intersegment revenue of $14.2 million and $15.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, 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 income of $3.5 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net income excludes changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net of tax, which was income of $2.2 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

As of March 31, 2014, the Company was servicing $147.9 billion in FFELP, private, and government owned student loans, as compared with $112.8 billion of loans as of March 31, 2013.

Revenue increased in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due to growth in servicing volume under the Company's contract with the Department, offset partially by a decrease in traditional FFELP servicing revenue. Revenue from the Department servicing contract increased to $29.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $20.3 million for the same period in 2013. As of March 31, 2014, the Company was servicing $120.6 billion of loans for 5.4 million borrowers under this contract.

Before tax operating margin was 28.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2014. Excluding the settlement of a billing dispute related to a prior period which increased revenue by $2.2 million, the before tax operating margin in this segment was 25.7% during the first quarter of 2014, as compared to 26.9% in the same period of 2013. Operating margin in this segment will continue to decrease as loans serviced under the Department servicing contract increases as a percentage of overall volume serviced.

Recent federal budget provisions to become effective July 1, 2014 will reduce payments by the Department to guaranty agencies for assisting student loan borrowers with the rehabilitation of defaulted loans under FFELP. Rehabilitation collection revenue recognized by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $13.4 million and $12.1 million, respectively. The Company anticipates this revenue will be negatively impacted as a result of these federal budget provisions.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

Revenue increased in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due to increases in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customer transaction volume, and new school customers.


5



Before tax operating margin decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, due to an increase in expenses associated with continued system maintenance and enhancements.

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 months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 due to a decrease in inquiry management and generation 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.

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 $387.3 million of student loans during the first three months of 2014. The average loan portfolio balance for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $25.9 billion and $24.8 billion, respectively.

Forecasted future cash flows from the Company's FFELP student loan portfolio financed in asset-backed securitization transactions are estimated to be approximately $2.17 billion as of March 31, 2014.

Core student loan spread decreased to 1.44% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 1.56% and 1.50% for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively. This decrease was the result of recent consolidation loan acquisitions, which have lower margins but longer terms.

Due to historically low interest rates, the Company continues to earn significant fixed rate floor income. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company earned $37.8 million and $35.7 million, respectively, of fixed rate floor income (net of $7.0 million and $8.3 million of derivative settlements, respectively, used to hedge such loans).

Corporate Activities

Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary, recognized investment advisory revenue of $5.2 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts include performance fees earned from the sale of managed securities. As of March 31, 2014, WRCM was managing an investment portfolio of $752.5 million for third-party entities.

The Company had $7.2 million in gains on investments during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2013.

Subsequent Event

In April 2014, the Company purchased a total of $3.6 billion of FFELP student loans and related assets. The transaction included the purchase of residual interests in a total of $2.6 billion of securitized student loans and related assets under a stock purchase agreement, and the purchase of a total of approximately $950 million of unsecuritized student loans under three separate loan sale agreements. The aggregate cash purchase price for the assets acquired under the stock purchase agreement and the cash amount paid over the par value of the student loan portfolio and related accrued interest under the loan sale agreements was $139 million, and was funded from the Company’s operating cash and unsecured line of credit. All acquired student loan assets and related debt will be included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

6



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 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 consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 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.  

Intersegment revenues are charged by a segment that 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.  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 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 Activities 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 March 31, 2014
 
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
$
11

 

 

 
11

 
157,003

 
2,658

 
(797
)
 
158,875

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
59,476

 
1,325

 
(797
)
 
60,004

Net interest income
11

 

 

 
11

 
97,527

 
1,333

 

 
98,871

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
2,500

 

 

 
2,500

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
11

 

 

 
11

 
95,027

 
1,333

 

 
96,371

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
64,757

 

 

 
64,757

 

 

 

 
64,757

Intersegment servicing revenue
14,221

 

 

 
14,221

 

 

 
(14,221
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
25,235

 

 
25,235

 

 

 

 
25,235

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
22,011

 
22,011

 

 

 

 
22,011

Other income

 

 

 

 
4,164

 
13,967

 

 
18,131

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
39

 

 

 
39

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
3,477

 
(1,513
)
 

 
1,964

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(5,977
)
 
(252
)
 

 
(6,229
)
Total other income (expense)
78,978

 
25,235

 
22,011

 
126,224

 
1,703

 
12,202

 
(14,221
)
 
125,908

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
32,307

 
10,027

 
4,380

 
46,714

 
609

 
5,161

 

 
52,484

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
14,475

 
14,475

 

 

 

 
14,475

Depreciation and amortization
2,789

 
1,428

 
47

 
4,264

 

 
519

 

 
4,783

Other
18,452

 
2,647

 
1,449

 
22,548

 
7,146

 
5,933

 

 
35,627

Intersegment expenses, net
1,083

 
1,420

 
1,006

 
3,509

 
14,371

 
(3,659
)
 
(14,221
)
 

Total operating expenses
54,631

 
15,522

 
21,357

 
91,510

 
22,126

 
7,954

 
(14,221
)
 
107,369

Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
24,358

 
9,713

 
654

 
34,725

 
74,604

 
5,581

 

 
114,910

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,860
)
 
(620
)
 
(620
)
 
(3,100
)
 
(1,329
)
 
4,429

 

 

Income before income taxes
22,498

 
9,093

 
34

 
31,625

 
73,275

 
10,010

 

 
114,910

Income tax expense
(8,549
)
 
(3,455
)
 
(13
)
 
(12,017
)
 
(27,844
)
 
(750
)
 

 
(40,611
)
Net income
13,949

 
5,638

 
21

 
19,608

 
45,431

 
9,260

 

 
74,299

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
513

 

 
513

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
13,949

 
5,638

 
21

 
19,608

 
45,431

 
8,747

 

 
73,786

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8



 
Three months ended December 31, 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
$
11

 

 

 
11

 
165,982

 
2,725

 
(847
)
 
167,871

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
59,031

 
951

 
(847
)
 
59,135

Net interest income
11

 

 

 
11

 
106,951

 
1,774

 

 
108,736

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
3,500

 

 

 
3,500

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
11

 

 

 
11

 
103,451

 
1,774

 

 
105,236

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
63,167

 

 

 
63,167

 

 

 

 
63,167

Intersegment servicing revenue
14,369

 

 

 
14,369

 

 

 
(14,369
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
18,988

 

 
18,988

 

 

 

 
18,988

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
21,735

 
21,735

 

 

 

 
21,735

Other income

 

 

 

 
4,016

 
13,108

 
(1,143
)
 
15,981

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
104

 
695

 

 
799

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments

 

 

 

 
(6,150
)
 
(257
)
 

 
(6,407
)
Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(455
)
 
1,207

 

 
752

Total other income (expense)
77,536

 
18,988

 
21,735

 
118,259

 
(2,485
)
 
14,753

 
(15,512
)
 
115,015

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
32,838

 
9,560

 
4,229

 
46,627

 
583

 
4,910

 

 
52,120

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
13,864

 
13,864

 

 

 

 
13,864

Depreciation and amortization
3,222

 
1,131

 
53

 
4,406

 

 
868

 

 
5,274

Other
22,943

 
2,760

 
1,634

 
27,337

 
7,570

 
6,585

 
(1,143
)
 
40,349

Intersegment expenses, net
1,116

 
1,639

 
1,170

 
3,925

 
14,617

 
(4,173
)
 
(14,369
)
 

Total operating expenses
60,119

 
15,090

 
20,950

 
96,159

 
22,770

 
8,190

 
(15,512
)
 
111,607

Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
17,428

 
3,898

 
785

 
22,111

 
78,196

 
8,337

 

 
108,644

Corporate overhead allocation
(1,818
)
 
(514
)
 
(500
)
 
(2,832
)
 
(801
)
 
3,633

 

 

Income before income taxes
15,610

 
3,384

 
285

 
19,279

 
77,395

 
11,970

 

 
108,644

Income tax expense
(5,932
)
 
(1,286
)
 
(108
)
 
(7,326
)
 
(29,410
)
 
(820
)
 

 
(37,556
)
Net income
9,678

 
2,098

 
177

 
11,953

 
47,985

 
11,150

 

 
71,088

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
568

 

 
568

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
9,678

 
2,098

 
177

 
11,953

 
47,985

 
10,582

 

 
70,520

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9



 
Three months ended March 31, 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

 
155,654

 
2,311

 
(819
)
 
157,156

Interest expense

 

 

 

 
57,482

 
1,695

 
(819
)
 
58,358

Net interest income
10

 

 

 
10

 
98,172

 
616

 

 
98,798

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 
5,000

 

 

 
5,000

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
10

 

 

 
10

 
93,172

 
616

 

 
93,798

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan and guaranty servicing revenue
55,601

 

 

 
55,601

 

 

 

 
55,601

Intersegment servicing revenue
14,953

 

 

 
14,953

 

 

 
(14,953
)
 

Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue

 
23,411

 

 
23,411

 

 

 

 
23,411

Enrollment services revenue

 

 
28,957

 
28,957

 

 

 

 
28,957

Other income

 

 

 

 
4,196

 
5,220

 

 
9,416

Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases

 

 

 

 
1,407

 

 

 
1,407

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net

 

 

 

 
5,275

 
3,981

 

 
9,256

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 

 
(7,539
)
 
(645
)
 

 
(8,184
)
Total other income (expense)
70,554

 
23,411

 
28,957

 
122,922

 
3,339

 
8,556

 
(14,953
)
 
119,864

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
28,444

 
9,359

 
5,767

 
43,570

 
562

 
3,773

 

 
47,905

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 
19,642

 
19,642

 

 

 

 
19,642

Depreciation and amortization
2,789

 
1,138

 
61

 
3,988

 

 
389

 

 
4,377

Other
18,390

 
2,287

 
1,651

 
22,328

 
7,513

 
5,100

 

 
34,941

Intersegment expenses, net
935

 
1,425

 
1,149

 
3,509

 
15,142

 
(3,698
)
 
(14,953
)
 

Total operating expenses
50,558

 
14,209

 
28,270

 
93,037

 
23,217

 
5,564

 
(14,953
)
 
106,865

Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation
20,006

 
9,202

 
687

 
29,895

 
73,294

 
3,608

 

 
106,797

Corporate overhead allocation
(997
)
 
(332
)
 
(332
)
 
(1,661
)
 
(712
)
 
2,373

 

 

Income before income taxes
19,009

 
8,870

 
355

 
28,234

 
72,582

 
5,981

 

 
106,797

Income tax expense
(7,223
)
 
(3,371
)
 
(135
)
 
(10,729
)
 
(27,581
)
 
(137
)
 

 
(38,447
)
Net income
11,786

 
5,499

 
220

 
17,505

 
45,001

 
5,844

 

 
68,350

  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
271

 

 
271

Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
11,786

 
5,499

 
220

 
17,505

 
45,001

 
5,573

 

 
68,079

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


10



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
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31, 2013
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
$
54,396

 
62,683

 
55,621

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
37,844

 
38,849

 
35,716

Investment interest
1,979

 
2,006

 
1,617

Non-portfolio related derivative settlements
(252
)
 
(258
)
 
(645
)
Corporate debt interest expense
(1,325
)
 
(951
)
 
(1,695
)
Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)
$
92,642

 
102,329

 
90,614



Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)
Company owned
 
$23,727
 
$22,650
 
$21,237
 
$20,820
 
$20,629
 
$20,715
 
$21,397
 
$21,192
% of total
 
38.6%
 
29.8%
 
21.8%
 
18.5%
 
17.7%
 
15.3%
 
15.5%
 
14.3%
Number of servicing borrowers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government servicing:
 
2,804,502

 
3,036,534

 
3,892,929

 
4,261,637

 
4,396,341

 
5,145,901

 
5,305,498

 
5,438,933

FFELP servicing:
 
1,912,748

 
1,799,484

 
1,626,146

 
1,586,312

 
1,529,203

 
1,507,452

 
1,462,122

 
1,426,435

Private servicing:
 
155,947

 
164,554

 
173,948

 
170,224

 
173,588

 
178,935

 
195,580

 
191,606

Total:
 
4,873,197

 
5,000,572

 
5,693,023

 
6,018,173

 
6,099,132

 
6,832,288

 
6,963,200

 
7,056,974

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of remote hosted borrowers:
 
545,456

 
9,566,296

 
6,912,204

 
5,001,695

 
3,218,896

 
1,986,866

 
1,915,203

 
1,796,287



11



Other Income

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

 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2013
Borrower late fee income
$
3,673

 
3,021

 
3,505

Investment advisory fees
5,220

 
5,907

 
2,830

Investment gains, net
7,210

 
3,944

 
1,154

Other
2,028

 
3,109

 
1,927

Other income
$
18,131

 
15,981

 
9,416


Derivative Settlements

The following table summarizes the components of "derivative settlements, net" included in the attached consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2013
1:3 basis swaps
$
881

 
827

 
911

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
(6,950
)
 
(7,006
)
 
(8,304
)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges
(252
)
 
(256
)
 
(645
)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps
92

 
28

 
(146
)
Total settlements - expense
$
(6,229
)
 
(6,407
)
 
(8,184
)

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
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2013
Change in fair value of derivatives - income (expense)
$
2,916

 
10,135

 
(19,507
)
Foreign currency transaction adjustment - income (expense)
(952
)
 
(9,383
)
 
28,763

Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments - income (expense)
$
1,964

 
752

 
9,256





12



Student Loans Receivable

The table below outlines the components of the Company’s student loan portfolio:
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31, 2013
Federally insured loans
 
 
 
 
 
Stafford and other
$
6,606,814

 
6,686,626

 
7,145,693

Consolidation
19,138,841

 
19,363,577

 
17,852,598

Total
25,745,655

 
26,050,203

 
24,998,291

Non-federally insured loans
68,540

 
71,103

 
32,306

 
25,814,195

 
26,121,306

 
25,030,597

Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs
(152,424
)
 
(158,595
)
 
(95,872
)
Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans
(42,909
)
 
(43,440
)
 
(37,913
)
Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans
(11,719
)
 
(11,682
)
 
(11,496
)
 
$
25,607,143

 
25,907,589

 
24,885,316

 
 
 


 



Loan Activity

The following table sets forth the activity of loans:
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Beginning balance
$
26,121,306

 
24,995,880

Loan acquisitions
387,258

 
743,766

Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other
(548,705
)
 
(554,250
)
Consolidation loans lost to external parties
(145,664
)
 
(143,151
)
Loans sold

 
(11,648
)
Ending balance
$
25,814,195

 
25,030,597




13



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
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2013
Variable student loan yield, gross
2.50
 %
 
2.58
 %
 
2.57
 %
Consolidation rebate fees
(0.80
)
 
(0.78
)
 
(0.77
)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization
0.05

 
0.05

 
0.03

Variable student loan yield, net
1.75

 
1.85

 
1.83

Student loan cost of funds - interest expense
(0.92
)
 
(0.90
)
 
(0.93
)
Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements
0.02

 
0.01

 
0.01

Variable student loan spread
0.85

 
0.96

 
0.91

Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
0.59

 
0.60

 
0.59

Core student loan spread
1.44
 %
 
1.56
 %
 
1.50
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of student loans
$
25,915,053

 
25,770,607

 
24,781,426

Average balance of debt outstanding
25,826,656

 
25,687,958

 
24,823,397


A trend analysis of the Company's core and variable student loan spreads is summarized below.
(a)
The interest earned on a large portion 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.

Variable student loan spread decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2014 as a result of recent consolidation loan acquisitions, which have lower margins but longer terms.


14



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
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
March 31, 2013
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
44,794

 
45,854

 
44,020

Derivative settlements (a)
(6,950
)
 
(7,006
)
 
(8,304
)
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
37,844

 
38,848

 
35,716

Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net
0.59
%
 
0.60
%
 
0.59
%
 
(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 March 31, 2014:
Fixed interest rate range
 
Borrower/lender weighted average yield
 
Estimated variable conversion rate (a)
 
Loan balance
 
 
 
< 3.0%
 
2.87%
 
0.23%
 
$
1,726,929

3.0 - 3.49%
 
3.20%
 
0.56%
 
2,074,849

3.5 - 3.99%
 
3.65%
 
1.01%
 
1,897,192

4.0 - 4.49%
 
4.20%
 
1.56%
 
1,430,798

4.5 - 4.99%
 
4.72%
 
2.08%
 
836,949

5.0 - 5.49%
 
5.24%
 
2.60%
 
573,901

5.5 - 5.99%
 
5.67%
 
3.03%
 
345,903

6.0 - 6.49%
 
6.18%
 
3.54%
 
400,247

6.5 - 6.99%
 
6.70%
 
4.06%
 
365,058

7.0 - 7.49%
 
7.17%
 
4.53%
 
151,669

7.5 - 7.99%
 
7.71%
 
5.07%
 
257,631

8.0 - 8.99%
 
8.17%
 
5.53%
 
608,080

> 9.0%
 
9.04%
 
6.40%
 
294,733

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
10,963,939

 
(a)
The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate. As of March 31, 2014, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 1.84% and the short-term interest rate was 16 basis points.

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of March 31, 2014 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.



15