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EX-99.1 - EXHIBIT 99.1 - NELNET INCexhibit99111717earningsrel.htm
8-K - 8-K - NELNET INCa11717form8-k.htm


For Release: November 7, 2017
Investor Contact: Phil Morgan, 402.458.3038
Nelnet, Inc. supplemental financial information for the third quarter 2017
(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 2017 earnings, dated November 7, 2017, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.
Forward-looking and cautionary statements
This supplemental financial information 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,” “scheduled,” “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, 2016 (the "2016 Annual Report"), and include 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 purchased securitized and unsecuritized FFELP, private education, and consumer loans and initiatives to purchase additional FFELP, private education, and consumer 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, including adverse changes resulting from slower than expected payments on student loans in FFELP securitization trusts, 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 or legislative proposals to consolidate existing FFELP loans to the Federal Direct Loan Program or otherwise allow FFELP loans to be refinanced with Federal Direct Loan Program loans;
risks that the reported agreement to acquire Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. ("Great Lakes") may not be completed within the currently scheduled time frame or at all, the uncertain nature of the expected benefits from the acquisition and the ability to successfully integrate loan servicing operations and successfully maintain and increase allocated volumes of student loans serviced under existing and any future servicing contracts with the U.S. Department of Education (the "Department"), risks to the Company related to the Department's initiative to procure new contracts for federal student loan servicing, including the risk that the Company's joint venture with Great Lakes, or the Company on a post-Great Lakes acquisition basis, may not be awarded a contract, and risks related to the Company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of FFELP, Federal Direct Loan Program, and private education and consumer 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, including cybersecurity risks related to the potential disclosure of confidential student loan borrower and other customer information;
uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations;
the uncertain nature of the expected benefits from the acquisition of Allo Communications LLC on December 31, 2015 and the ability to integrate its communications operations and successfully expand its fiber network in existing service areas and additional communities and manage related construction risks;
risks and uncertainties related to initiatives to pursue additional strategic investments and acquisitions, including investments and acquisitions that are intended to diversify the Company both within and outside of its historical core education-related businesses; and
risks and uncertainties associated with litigation matters and with maintaining compliance with the extensive regulatory requirements applicable to the Company's businesses, reputational and other risks, including the risk of increased regulatory costs, resulting from the recent politicization of student loan servicing, 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 supplement are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its prior forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, the Company disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

1




Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2017
 
June 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
191,755

 
189,488

 
193,721

 
562,451

 
567,775

Investment interest
5,129

 
3,589

 
2,460

 
11,335

 
6,674

Total interest income
196,884

 
193,077

 
196,181

 
573,786

 
574,449

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
121,650

 
113,236

 
96,386

 
341,787

 
280,847

Net interest income
75,234

 
79,841

 
99,795

 
231,999

 
293,602

Less provision for loan losses
6,000

 
2,000

 
6,000

 
9,000

 
10,500

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
69,234

 
77,841

 
93,795

 
222,999

 
283,102

Other income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan systems and servicing revenue
55,950

 
56,899

 
54,350

 
167,079

 
161,082

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue
35,450

 
34,224

 
33,071

 
113,293

 
102,211

Communications revenue
6,751

 
5,719

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

Enrollment services revenue

 

 

 

 
4,326

Other income
19,756

 
12,485

 
15,150

 
44,874

 
38,711

Gain from debt repurchases
116

 
442

 
2,160

 
5,537

 
2,260

Derivative settlements, net
(573
)
 
(363
)
 
(6,261
)
 
(2,314
)
 
(18,292
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net
7,746

 
(27,547
)
 
42,262

 
(23,254
)
 
(15,099
)
Total other income
125,196

 
81,859

 
145,075

 
322,792

 
288,366

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
74,193

 
74,628

 
63,743

 
220,684

 
187,907

Depreciation and amortization
10,051

 
9,038

 
8,994

 
27,687

 
24,817

Loan servicing fees
7,939

 
5,620

 
5,880

 
19,584

 
20,024

Cost to provide communications services
2,632

 
2,203

 
1,784

 
6,789

 
5,169

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 

 

 
3,623

Other expenses
30,518

 
27,528

 
26,391

 
84,593

 
84,174

Total operating expenses
125,333

 
119,017


106,792

 
359,337

 
325,714

Income before income taxes
69,097

 
40,683


132,078

 
186,454

 
245,754

Income tax expense
25,562

 
16,032

 
47,715

 
70,349

 
87,184

Net income
43,535

 
24,651


84,363

 
116,105

 
158,570

Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
2,768

 
4,086

 
(69
)
 
8,960

 
(165
)
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,303

 
28,737


84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted
$
1.11

 
0.68

 
1.98

 
2.97

 
3.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
41,553,316

 
42,326,540

 
42,642,213

 
42,054,532

 
42,788,133



2



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable, net
$
22,528,845

 
24,903,724

 
25,615,434

Cash, cash equivalents, investments, and other receivables
530,927

 
323,798

 
324,682

Restricted cash
830,762

 
1,100,663

 
964,379

Goodwill and intangible assets, net
188,054

 
195,125

 
198,276

Other assets
690,122

 
656,798

 
566,840

Total assets
$
24,768,710

 
27,180,108

 
27,669,611

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
$
22,240,279

 
24,668,490

 
25,320,878

Other liabilities
397,991

 
440,693

 
367,637

Total liabilities
22,638,270

 
25,109,183

 
25,688,515

Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity
2,111,851

 
2,061,655

 
1,972,085

Noncontrolling interest
18,589

 
9,270

 
9,011

Total equity
2,130,440

 
2,070,925

 
1,981,096

Total liabilities and equity
$
24,768,710

 
27,180,108

 
27,669,611




3



Overview

The Company is a diverse company with a focus on delivering education-related products and services and student loan asset management. The largest operating businesses engage in student loan servicing, tuition payment processing and school information systems, and communications. A significant portion of the Company's revenue is net interest income earned on a portfolio of federally insured student loans. The Company also makes investments to further diversify the Company both within and outside of its historical core education-related businesses, including, but not limited to, investments in real estate and start-up ventures.

GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Adjustments

The Company prepares its financial statements and presents its financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, it also provides additional non-GAAP financial information related to specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its operating results and performance. A reconciliation of the Company's GAAP net income to net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, and a discussion of why the Company believes providing this additional
information is useful to investors, is provided below.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
June 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,303

 
28,737

 
84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments
(21,429
)
 
286

 
(47,093
)
 
(22,381
)
 
1,556

Unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments
13,683

 
27,261

 
4,831

 
45,635

 
13,543

Net tax effect (a)
2,943

 
(10,468
)
 
16,060

 
(8,837
)
 
(5,737
)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments (b)
$
41,500

 
45,816

 
58,092

 
139,482

 
167,767

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
1.11

 
0.68

 
1.98

 
2.97

 
3.70

Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments
(0.51
)
 
0.01

 
(1.10
)
 
(0.53
)
 
0.03

Unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments
0.33

 
0.64

 
0.11

 
1.09

 
0.32

Net tax effect (a)
0.07

 
(0.25
)
 
0.37

 
(0.21
)
 
(0.13
)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments (b)
$
1.00

 
1.08

 
1.36

 
3.32

 
3.92


(a)
The tax effects are calculated by multiplying the realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments and unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments by the applicable statutory income tax rate.

(b)
"Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments" include (i) both the realized portion of gains and losses (corresponding to variation margin received or paid on derivative instruments that are settled daily at a central clearinghouse under new rules effective January 3, 2017) and the unrealized portion of 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 unrealized foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.  "Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments" does not include "derivative settlements" that represent the cash paid or received during the current period to settle with derivative instrument counterparties the economic effect of the Company's derivative instruments based on their contractual terms.

The accounting for derivatives requires that changes in the fair value of derivative instruments be recognized currently in earnings, with no fair value adjustment of the hedged item, unless specific hedge accounting criteria is met.  Management has structured all of the Company’s derivative transactions with the intent that each is economically effective; however, the Company’s derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting.  As a result, the change in fair value of derivative instruments is reported in current period earnings with no consideration for the corresponding change in fair value of the hedged item.  Under GAAP, the cumulative net realized and unrealized gain or loss caused by changes in fair values of derivatives in which the Company plans to hold to maturity will equal zero over the life of the contract. However, the net realized and unrealized gain or loss during any given reporting period fluctuates significantly from period to period. In addition, the Company has incurred unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments for periodic fluctuations in currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Euro in connection with its student loan asset-backed Euro-denominated bonds with an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index. The principal and accrued interest on these bonds were remeasured at each reporting period and recorded in the Company's consolidated balance sheet in U.S. dollars based on the foreign currency exchange rate on that date.

The Company believes these point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to its derivative instruments and Euro-denominated bonds that are or were subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations are or were subject to volatility mostly due to timing and market factors beyond the control of management, and affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. Accordingly, the Company’s management utilizes operating results excluding these items for comparability purposes when making decisions regarding the Company’s performance and in presentations with credit rating agencies, lenders, and investors. Consequently, the Company reports this non-GAAP information because the Company believes that it provides additional information regarding operational and performance indicators that are closely assessed by management. There is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for the presentation of such non-GAAP information, which is only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information that management utilizes to assess performance.


4



On October 25, 2017, the Company completed a remarketing of the Company’s bonds that were prior to that date denominated in Euros, to denominate those bonds in U.S. dollars and reset the interest rate to be based on the 3-month LIBOR index. The Company also terminated a cross-currency interest rate swap associated with those bonds. As a result, foreign currency transaction adjustments will not be incurred with respect to those bonds after October 25, 2017.

The decrease in GAAP net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with the same period in 2016, was primarily due to a reduction in net gains related to changes in the fair values of derivative instruments and an increase in losses related to foreign currency transaction adjustments caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.

The decrease in GAAP net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with the same period in 2016, was primarily due to an increase in losses related to foreign currency transaction adjustments caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars, partially offset by an increase in net gains related to changes in the fair values of derivative instruments.

In addition, net interest income earned on the Company’s student loan portfolio decreased in 2017 compared to 2016 due to the
expected runoff of the portfolio and lower student loan spread.

Operating Results

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, 2017, the Company had a $22.5 billion student loan portfolio that management anticipates will amortize over the next approximately 25 years. The Company actively works to maximize the amount and timing of cash flows generated by its FFELP portfolio and 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:
 
Loan Systems and Servicing ("LSS") - referred to as Nelnet Diversified Solutions ("NDS")
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce ("TPP&CC") - referred to as Nelnet Business Solutions ("NBS")
Communications - referred to as Allo Communications ("Allo")

Other business activities and operating segments that are not reportable are combined and included in Corporate and Other Activities ("Corporate"). Corporate and Other Activities also includes income earned on certain investments and interest expense incurred on unsecured debt transactions.

5



The information below provides the operating results for each reportable operating segment and Corporate and Other Activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions).

segopresults2017q3a02.jpg

(a)    Revenue includes intersegment revenue earned by LSS 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. Net income excludes changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net of tax. For information regarding the exclusion of the impact from changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, see "GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Adjustments" above.

A summary of the results and financial highlights for each reportable operating segment and a summary of the Company's liquidity and capital resources follows.

Loan Systems and Servicing

As of September 30, 2017, the Company was servicing $207.8 billion in FFELP, government owned, and private education and consumer loans, as compared with $193.2 billion of loans as of September 30, 2016.

Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 due to growth in private education and consumer loan servicing volume from existing and new clients. In addition, revenue increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to an increase in revenue on the government servicing contract. The increase in revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was partially offset by the loss of guaranty servicing and collection revenue on June 30, 2016.

Revenue from the government servicing contract decreased to $38.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $40.2 million for the same period in 2016, and increased to $117.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $112.5 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was due to a decrease in application volume for the Company's administration of the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD) program during the third quarter of 2017. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was due to an increase in TPD and Direct Loan Consolidation program application volume, the transfer of borrowers to the Company from a not-for-profit servicer who exited the loan servicing business in August 2016, and the shift in the portfolio of loans serviced to a greater portion of loans in higher paying repayment statuses. As of September 30, 2017, the Company was servicing $171.6 billion of student loans for 5.9 million borrowers under this contract.

Revenue from private education and consumer loan servicing increased to $7.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2016, and increased to $20.5 million for the nine

6



months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $10.7 million for the same period in 2016. As of September 30, 2017, the Company was servicing $10.8 billion of private education and consumer loans for approximately 478,000 borrowers, as compared to $6.4 billion of private education and consumer loans for approximately 293,000 borrowers as of September 30, 2016.

The Company's remaining guaranty servicing and collection client exited the FFELP guaranty business at the end of their contract term on June 30, 2016. After this customer's exit from the FFELP guaranty business effective June 30, 2016, the Company has no remaining guaranty servicing and collection revenue. Guaranty servicing and collection revenue earned from this customer in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $9.6 million.

The Company's government servicing contract is currently set to expire on June 19, 2019. In April 2016, the Department announced a new contract procurement process for the Department to acquire a single servicing platform to manage all student loans owned by the Department.

In May, 2016, Nelnet Servicing, a subsidiary of the Company, and Great Lakes submitted a joint response to the procurement as part of a newly created joint venture to respond to the contract solicitation process and to provide services under a new contract in the event that the Department selects it for a contract award. The joint venture operates as a new legal entity called GreatNet. Nelnet Servicing and Great Lakes each own 50 percent of the ownership interests of GreatNet. In addition to Nelnet Servicing, Great Lakes is currently one of four private sector companies (referred to as Title IV Additional Servicers, or "TIVAS") that has a student loan servicing contract with the Department to provide servicing for loans owned by the Department. On May 19, 2017, the Department announced it had amended the contract procurement process, which required another response by the participants, and on July 7, 2017, GreatNet submitted its response to the Department.

On August, 1, 2017, the Department announced it was canceling the current procurement process for a single servicing platform and that it intends to develop a new contract procurement proposal. The Department indicated that its new approach is expected to require separate contract acquisitions for database housing, system processing, and customer account servicing.

For financial reporting purposes, the operating results of GreatNet are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The proportionate share of membership interest (equity) and net loss of GreatNet that is attributable to Great Lakes is reflected as noncontrolling interests. During the first and third quarters of 2017, Nelnet Servicing and Great Lakes each contributed capital to GreatNet and during the first quarter of 2017 GreatNet began to incur certain operating costs.

Before tax operating margin decreased in 2017 compared to 2016 due to operating expenses incurred related to GreatNet and an increase in personnel to support the increase in volume of loans serviced for the government entering repayment status.

On October 18, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Great Lakes for a purchase price of $150.0 million in cash. The transaction is scheduled to close on January 1, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.  After the transaction settles, Great Lakes and the Company will maintain their distinct brands, servicing operations, and operational teams, and each will continue to compete for new student loan volume under its respective existing contract with the Department. Over time, shared services teams will integrate and technology systems will be leveraged to support both the Great Lakes and the Company's servicing operations. The operating results of Great Lakes will be included in the Loan Systems and Servicing operating segment.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 due to increases in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customer transactions and payments volume, and new school customers.

Before tax operating margin for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 26.1 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 30.7 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively. 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.


7



Communications

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, Allo recorded net losses of $4.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 recorded net losses of $11.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively. The Company anticipates this operating segment will be dilutive to consolidated earnings over the next several years as it continues to build its network in Lincoln, Nebraska, due to large upfront capital expenditures and associated depreciation and upfront customer acquisition costs.

Revenue from Allo for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $6.8 million and $4.3 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 revenue was $17.6 million and $13.2 million, respectively. The increase in revenue was primarily due to additiional residential households served, which increased to 16,394 as of September 30, 2017 from 8,745 as of September 30, 2016.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Allo's capital expenditures were $29.4 million and $78.4 million, respectively. The Company anticipates total network capital expenditures of approximately $30.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 and approximately $100.0 million in 2018; however, such amounts could change based on customer demand for Allo's services. The number of residential households passed, which represents the estimated number of single residence homes, apartments, and condominiums that Allo already serves and those in which Allo has the capacity to connect to its network distribution system without further material extensions to the transmission lines (but have not been connected) increased to 54,815 as of September 30, 2017 as compared to 30,962 as of December 31, 2016. The total households in current markets that Allo plans to expand its network to make services available is 137,500.

Asset Generation and Management

During the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, the average balance of student loans decreased $3.2 billion, to $23.2 billion, due primarily to the amortization of the student loan portfolio, partially offset by limited portfolio acquisitions from third parties. The Company acquired $37.5 million and $142.4 million of student loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

Core student loan spread was 1.17% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 1.26% for the same period in 2016. The decrease in core student loan spread was primarily due to a decrease in fixed rate floor income and an increase in derivative settlements paid related to the Company's 1:3 basis swaps.

Due to historically low interest rates, the Company continues to earn significant fixed rate floor income. During the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company earned $24.6 million, $41.5 million, $84.4 million, and $131.7 million, respectively, of fixed rate floor income.

Provision for loan losses for federally insured loans was $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company determined an additional allowance was necessary related to a $1.6 billion (principal balance as of September 30, 2017) portfolio of federally insured loans that were purchased in 2014 and 2015, and recognized $5.0 million (pre-tax) in provision expense related to these loans.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company incurred $2.8 million (pre-tax) in expenses related to conversion fees to
transfer loans from a third-party servicer to the Company's servicing platform, which will decrease servicing costs over the remaining life of this portfolio.

Corporate and Other Activities

Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC, the Company's SEC-registered investment advisor subsidiary, recognized investment advisory revenue of $5.9 million, $1.5 million, $11.7 million, and $3.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These amounts include performance fees earned from the sale of managed securities or managed securities being called prior to the full contractual maturity.
 


8



Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $254.4 million. In addition, the Company had a portfolio of available-for-sale investments, consisting primarily of student loan asset-backed securities, with a fair value of $75.4 million as of September 30, 2017.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated $230.3 million in net cash from operating activities.

Forecasted undiscounted future cash flows from the Company's student loan portfolio financed in asset-backed securitization transactions are estimated to be approximately $1.93 billion as of September 30, 2017.

As of September 30, 2017, there was $210.0 million outstanding on the Company's $350.0 million unsecured line of credit and $140.0 million was available for future use. The unsecured line of credit has a maturity date of December 12, 2021.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company repurchased a total of 1,363,571 shares of Class A common stock for $63.3 million ($46.44 per share), including a total of 947,794 shares of Class A common stock repurchased for $45.1 million ($47.62 per share) during the three months ended September 30, 2017. Certain of these repurchases were made pursuant to a trading plan adopted by the Company in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company initiated a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding unsecured Hybrid Securities. The aggregate principal amount of notes tendered to the Company was $29.7 million. The Company paid $25.3 million to redeem these notes, and recognized a $4.4 million (pre-tax) gain. In addition, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company repurchased $14.7 million and $18.8 million of its own asset-backed debt securities and recognized gains of $0.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company paid cash dividends of $17.6 million ($0.42 per share), including $5.8 million ($0.14 per share) during the three months ended September 30, 2017. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors has declared a fourth quarter 2017 cash dividend on the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock of $0.16 per share. The fourth quarter cash dividend will be paid on December 15, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2017.

The Company intends to use its liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP and private education and consumer loan acquisitions; strategic acquisitions and investments; expansion of Allo's telecommunications network; and capital management initiatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions. The timing and size of these opportunities will vary and will have a direct impact on the Company's cash and investment balances.

9



Operating Segments

The Company has four reportable operating segments. The Company's reportable operating segments include:

Loan Systems and Servicing
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
Communications
Asset Generation and Management

The Company earns fee-based revenue through its Loan Systems and Servicing, Tuition Payment Processing, and Communications 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 2016 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. GAAP.  

Corporate and Other Activities

Other business activities and operating segments that are not reportable are combined and included in Corporate and Other Activities. Corporate and Other Activities includes the following items:

Income earned on certain investment activities
Interest expense incurred on unsecured debt transactions
Other product and service offerings that are not considered reportable operating segments including, but not limited to, Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC, the Company's SEC-registered investment advisor subsidiary

Corporate and Other Activities also include certain corporate activities and overhead functions related to executive management, human resources, accounting, legal, enterprise risk management, information technology, occupancy, and marketing. These costs are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.

10



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, 2017
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate and Other Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Total interest income
$
147

 
5

 
1

 
194,968

 
3,903

 
(2,139
)
 
196,884

Interest expense

 

 
1,551

 
121,074

 
1,165

 
(2,139
)
 
121,650

Net interest income
147

 
5

 
(1,550
)
 
73,894

 
2,738

 

 
75,234

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 
6,000

 

 

 
6,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
147

 
5

 
(1,550
)
 
67,894

 
2,738

 

 
69,234

Other income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan systems and servicing revenue
55,950

 

 

 

 

 

 
55,950

Intersegment servicing revenue
10,563

 

 

 

 

 
(10,563
)
 

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

 
35,450

 

 

 

 

 
35,450

Communications revenue

 

 
6,751

 

 

 

 
6,751

Other income

 

 

 
2,753

 
17,003

 

 
19,756

Gain from debt repurchases

 

 

 
116

 

 

 
116

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 
(382
)
 
(191
)
 

 
(573
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net

 

 

 
7,702

 
44

 

 
7,746

Total other income
66,513

 
35,450

 
6,751

 
10,189

 
16,856

 
(10,563
)
 
125,196

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Salaries and benefits
38,435

 
17,432

 
4,099

 
392

 
13,834

 

 
74,193

Depreciation and amortization
549

 
2,316

 
3,145

 

 
4,040

 

 
10,051

Loan servicing fees

 

 

 
7,939

 

 

 
7,939

Cost to provide communications services

 

 
2,632

 

 

 

 
2,632

Other expenses
10,317

 
4,224

 
2,278

 
1,451

 
12,248

 

 
30,518

Intersegment expenses, net
7,774

 
2,219

 
470

 
10,659

 
(10,559
)
 
(10,563
)
 

Total operating expenses
57,075

 
26,191

 
12,624

 
20,441

 
19,563

 
(10,563
)
 
125,333

Income (loss) before income taxes
9,585

 
9,264

 
(7,423
)
 
57,642

 
31

 

 
69,097

Income tax (expense) benefit
(4,937
)
 
(3,520
)
 
2,821

 
(21,904
)
 
1,978

 

 
(25,562
)
Net income (loss)
4,648

 
5,744

 
(4,602
)
 
35,738

 
2,009

 

 
43,535

  Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
3,408

 

 

 

 
(640
)
 

 
2,768

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
8,056

 
5,744

 
(4,602
)
 
35,738

 
1,369

 

 
46,303


11



 
Three months ended June 30, 2017
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate and Other Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Total interest income
$
120

 
3

 
1

 
191,367

 
3,362

 
(1,776
)
 
193,077

Interest expense

 

 
1,104

 
113,073

 
835

 
(1,776
)
 
113,236

Net interest income
120


3


(1,103
)

78,294


2,527



 
79,841

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 
2,000

 

 

 
2,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
120


3


(1,103
)

76,294


2,527



 
77,841

Other income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan systems and servicing revenue
56,899

 

 

 

 

 

 
56,899

Intersegment servicing revenue
9,952

 

 

 

 

 
(9,952
)
 

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

 
34,224

 

 

 

 

 
34,224

Communications revenue

 

 
5,719

 

 

 

 
5,719

Other income

 

 

 
3,057

 
9,429

 

 
12,485

Gain from debt repurchases

 

 

 
442

 

 

 
442

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 
(165
)
 
(198
)
 

 
(363
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net

 

 

 
(27,412
)
 
(135
)
 

 
(27,547
)
Total other income
66,851

 
34,224


5,719

 
(24,078
)
 
9,096

 
(9,952
)
 
81,859

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
40,506

 
16,901

 
3,411

 
363

 
13,447

 

 
74,628

Depreciation and amortization
546

 
2,346

 
2,600

 

 
3,547

 

 
9,038

Loan servicing fees

 

 

 
5,620

 

 

 
5,620

Cost to provide communications services

 

 
2,203

 

 

 

 
2,203

Other expenses
8,879

 
4,853

 
1,772

 
1,827

 
10,195

 

 
27,528

Intersegment expenses, net
8,324

 
2,136

 
496

 
10,043

 
(11,046
)
 
(9,952
)
 

Total operating expenses
58,255

 
26,236


10,482

 
17,853

 
16,143

 
(9,952
)
 
119,017

Income (loss) before income taxes
8,716

 
7,991


(5,866
)
 
34,363

 
(4,520
)
 

 
40,683

Income tax (expense) benefit
(4,918
)
 
(3,037
)
 
2,229

 
(13,057
)
 
2,751

 

 
(16,032
)
Net income (loss)
3,798

 
4,954


(3,637
)
 
21,306

 
(1,769
)
 

 
24,651

  Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
4,226

 

 

 

 
(141
)
 

 
4,086

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
8,024


4,954


(3,637
)

21,306


(1,910
)



28,737



12



 
Three months ended September 30, 2016
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate and Other
Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Total interest income
$
37

 
2

 

 
194,701

 
2,370

 
(930
)
 
196,181

Interest expense

 

 
318

 
95,383

 
1,615

 
(930
)
 
96,386

Net interest income
37

 
2

 
(318
)
 
99,318

 
755

 

 
99,795

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 
6,000

 

 

 
6,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
37

 
2

 
(318
)
 
93,318

 
755

 

 
93,795

Other income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan systems and servicing revenue
54,350

 

 

 

 

 

 
54,350

Intersegment servicing revenue
11,021

 

 

 

 

 
(11,021
)
 

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

 
33,071

 

 

 

 

 
33,071

Communications revenue

 

 
4,343

 

 

 

 
4,343

Enrollment services revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

 
4,265

 
10,886

 

 
15,150

Gain from debt repurchases

 

 

 
2,160

 

 

 
2,160

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 
(6,028
)
 
(233
)
 

 
(6,261
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net

 

 

 
42,546

 
(284
)
 

 
42,262

Total other income
65,371

 
33,071

 
4,343

 
42,943

 
10,369

 
(11,021
)
 
145,075

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and benefits
32,505

 
15,979

 
2,325

 
486

 
12,448

 

 
63,743

Depreciation and amortization
557

 
2,929

 
1,630

 

 
3,878

 

 
8,994

Loan servicing fees

 

 

 
5,880

 

 

 
5,880

Cost to provide communication services

 

 
1,784

 

 

 

 
1,784

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expenses
8,784

 
4,149

 
1,545

 
1,769

 
10,143

 

 
26,391

Intersegment expenses, net
5,825

 
1,616

 
279

 
11,146

 
(7,845
)
 
(11,021
)
 

Total operating expenses
47,671

 
24,673

 
7,563

 
19,281

 
18,624

 
(11,021
)
 
106,792

Income (loss) before income taxes
17,737

 
8,400

 
(3,538
)
 
116,980

 
(7,500
)
 

 
132,078

Income tax (expense) benefit
(6,740
)
 
(3,192
)
 
1,344

 
(44,571
)
 
5,443

 

 
(47,715
)
Net income (loss)
10,997

 
5,208

 
(2,194
)
 
72,409

 
(2,057
)
 

 
84,363

  Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 
(69
)
 

 
(69
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
10,997

 
5,208

 
(2,194
)
 
72,409

 
(2,126
)
 

 
84,294





13



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate and Other Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Total interest income
$
361

 
10

 
2

 
568,661

 
10,026

 
(5,274
)
 
573,786

Interest expense

 

 
3,367

 
340,898

 
2,794

 
(5,274
)
 
341,787

Net interest income
361

 
10

 
(3,365
)
 
227,763

 
7,232

 

 
231,999

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 
9,000

 

 

 
9,000

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
361

 
10

 
(3,365
)
 
218,763

 
7,232

 

 
222,999

Other income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan systems and servicing revenue
167,079

 

 

 

 

 

 
167,079

Intersegment servicing revenue
30,839

 

 

 

 

 
(30,839
)
 

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

 
113,293

 

 

 

 

 
113,293

Communications revenue

 

 
17,577

 

 

 

 
17,577

Other income

 

 

 
9,152

 
35,722

 

 
44,874

Gain from debt repurchases

 

 

 
1,097

 
4,440

 

 
5,537

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 
(1,721
)
 
(593
)
 

 
(2,314
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net

 

 

 
(23,121
)
 
(133
)
 

 
(23,254
)
Total other income
197,918

 
113,293

 
17,577

 
(14,593
)
 
39,436

 
(30,839
)
 
322,792

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Salaries and benefits
116,932

 
50,986

 
10,489

 
1,156

 
41,121

 

 
220,684

Depreciation and amortization
1,644

 
7,053

 
7,880

 

 
11,109

 

 
27,687

Loan servicing fees

 

 

 
19,584

 

 

 
19,584

Cost to provide communications services

 

 
6,789

 

 

 

 
6,789

Other expenses
28,333

 
14,072

 
5,422

 
4,269

 
32,497

 

 
84,593

Intersegment expenses, net
23,496

 
6,430

 
1,472

 
31,114

 
(31,673
)
 
(30,839
)
 

Total operating expenses
170,405

 
78,541

 
32,052

 
56,123

 
53,054

 
(30,839
)
 
359,337

Income (loss) before income taxes
27,874

 
34,762

 
(17,840
)
 
148,047

 
(6,386
)
 

 
186,454

Income tax (expense) benefit
(14,410
)
 
(13,210
)
 
6,779

 
(56,258
)
 
6,749

 

 
(70,349
)
Net income (loss)
13,464

 
21,552

 
(11,061
)
 
91,789

 
363

 

 
116,105

  Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
10,050

 

 

 

 
(1,090
)
 

 
8,960

Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
23,514

 
21,552

 
(11,061
)
 
91,789

 
(727
)
 

 
125,065



14



 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset
Generation and
Management
 
Corporate and Other Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Total interest income
$
80

 
7

 
1

 
570,390

 
6,527

 
(2,556
)
 
574,449

Interest expense

 

 
671

 
278,029

 
4,702

 
(2,556
)
 
280,847

Net interest income
80

 
7

 
(670
)
 
292,361

 
1,825

 

 
293,602

Less provision for loan losses

 

 

 
10,500

 

 

 
10,500

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
80

 
7

 
(670
)
 
281,861

 
1,825

 

 
283,102

Other income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan systems and servicing revenue
161,082

 

 

 

 

 

 
161,082

Intersegment servicing revenue
34,436

 

 

 

 

 
(34,436
)
 

Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue

 
102,211

 

 

 

 

 
102,211

Communications revenue

 

 
13,167

 

 

 

 
13,167

Enrollment services revenue

 

 

 

 
4,326

 

 
4,326

Other income

 

 

 
12,362

 
26,349

 

 
38,711

Gain from debt repurchases

 

 

 
2,260

 

 

 
2,260

Derivative settlements, net

 

 

 
(17,596
)
 
(696
)
 

 
(18,292
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net

 

 

 
(8,763
)
 
(6,336
)
 

 
(15,099
)
Total other income
195,518

 
102,211

 
13,167

 
(11,737
)
 
23,643

 
(34,436
)
 
288,366

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Salaries and benefits
96,851

 
45,859

 
4,792

 
1,504

 
38,902

 

 
187,907

Depreciation and amortization
1,440

 
7,711

 
4,137

 

 
11,528

 

 
24,817

Loan servicing fees

 

 

 
20,024

 

 

 
20,024

Cost to provide communications services

 

 
5,169

 

 

 

 
5,169

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 

 

 
3,623

 

 
3,623

Other expenses
31,635

 
13,122

 
3,110

 
4,766

 
31,540

 

 
84,174

Intersegment expenses, net
18,168

 
4,690

 
610

 
34,791

 
(23,823
)
 
(34,436
)
 

Total operating expenses
148,094

 
71,382

 
17,818

 
61,085

 
61,770

 
(34,436
)
 
325,714

Income (loss) before income taxes
47,504

 
30,836

 
(5,321
)
 
209,039

 
(36,302
)
 

 
245,754

Income tax (expense) benefit
(18,052
)
 
(11,718
)
 
2,022

 
(79,434
)
 
19,998

 

 
(87,184
)
Net income (loss)
29,452

 
19,118

 
(3,299
)
 
129,605

 
(16,304
)
 

 
158,570

  Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 
(165
)
 

 
(165
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
29,452

 
19,118

 
(3,299
)
 
129,605

 
(16,469
)
 

 
158,405



15




Net Interest Income, Net of Settlements on Derivatives
The following table summarizes the components of "net interest income" and "derivative settlements, net."

Derivative settlements represent the cash paid or received during the current period to settle with derivative instrument counterparties the economic effect of the Company's derivative instruments based on their contractual terms. Derivative accounting requires that net settlements with respect to derivatives that do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP be recorded in a separate income statement line item below net interest income.  The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility.  As such, management believes derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company’s net interest income as presented in the table below.  Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives) is a non-GAAP financial measure, and the Company reports this non-GAAP information because the Company believes that it provides additional information regarding operational and performance indicators that are closely assessed by management.  There is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for the presentation of such non-GAAP information, which is only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information that management utilizes to assess performance.  See "Derivative Settlements" included in this supplement for the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative for the periods presented in the table below.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
June 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
Variable student loan interest margin
$
46,683

 
49,425

 
57,442

 
139,082

 
159,932

Settlements on associated derivatives (a)
(4,265
)
 
(2,279
)
 
(871
)
 
(7,598
)
 
(2,355
)
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
42,418

 
47,146

 
56,571

 
131,484

 
157,577

Fixed rate floor income
24,586

 
27,664

 
41,509

 
84,382

 
131,720

Settlements on associated derivatives (b)
3,883

 
2,114

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

 
(15,241
)
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
28,469

 
29,778

 
36,352

 
90,259

 
116,479

Investment interest
5,129

 
3,589

 
2,460

 
11,335

 
6,674

Corporate debt interest expense
(1,164
)
 
(837
)
 
(1,616
)
 
(2,800
)
 
(4,724
)
Non-portfolio related derivative settlements (c)
(191
)
 
(198
)
 
(233
)
 
(593
)
 
(696
)
Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)
$
74,661

 
79,478

 
93,534

 
229,685

 
275,310


(a)
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps and cross-currency interest rate swap.

(b)
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s floor income interest rate swaps.

(c)
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s hybrid debt hedges.


16



Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)
lnservvol2017q3a01.jpg
Company owned
 
$19,742
 
$18,886
 
$18,433
 
$18,079
 
$17,429
 
$16,962
 
$16,352
 
$15,789
 
$18,403
% of total
 
12.2%
 
10.7%
 
10.1%
 
9.8%
 
9.0%
 
8.7%
 
8.2%
 
7.9%
 
8.9%
Number of servicing borrowers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government servicing:
 
5,915,449

 
5,842,163

 
5,786,545

 
5,726,828

 
6,009,433

 
5,972,619

 
5,924,099

 
5,849,283

 
5,906,404

FFELP servicing:
 
1,397,295

 
1,335,538

 
1,298,407

 
1,296,198

 
1,357,412

 
1,312,192

 
1,263,785

 
1,218,706

 
1,317,552

Private education and consumer loan servicing:
 
202,529

 
245,737

 
250,666

 
267,073

 
292,989

 
355,096

 
389,010

 
454,182

 
478,150

Total:
 
7,515,273

 
7,423,438

 
7,335,618

 
7,290,099

 
7,659,834

 
7,639,907

 
7,576,894

 
7,522,171

 
7,702,106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of remote hosted borrowers:
 
1,611,654

 
1,755,341

 
1,796,783

 
1,842,961

 
2,103,989

 
2,230,019

 
2,305,991

 
2,317,151

 
2,714,588



17



Communications Financial and Operating Data

Certain financial and operating data for Allo is summarized in the tables below.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
June 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
Residential revenue
$
4,691

 
3,740

 
2,643

 
11,862

 
7,695

Business revenue
2,003

 
1,695

 
1,565

 
5,514

 
4,777

Other revenue
57

 
284

 
135

 
201

 
695

Total revenue
$
6,751

 
5,719

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(4,602
)
 
(3,637
)
 
(2,194
)
 
(11,061
)
 
(3,299
)
EBITDA (a)
(2,728
)
 
(2,163
)
 
(1,590
)
 
(6,595
)
 
(514
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
29,417

 
32,344

 
12,610

 
78,430

 
24,647

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue contribution:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Internet
46.7
%
 
45.6
%
 
40.5
 %
 
44.6
%
 
38.5
%
Television
30.8

 
30.8

 
32.5

 
30.7

 
32.2

Telephone
20.6

 
23.4

 
27.2

 
22.5

 
27.1

Other
1.9

 
0.2

 
(0.2
)
 
2.2

 
2.2

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of
June 30, 2017
 
As of
March 31, 2017
 
As of
December 31, 2016
 
As of September 30, 2016
 
As of
June 30, 2016
 
As of
March 31, 2016
 
As of
December 31, 2015
Residential customer information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Households served
 
16,394

 
12,460

 
10,524

 
9,814

 
8,745

 
8,314

 
7,909

 
7,600

Households passed (b)
 
54,815

 
45,880

 
34,925

 
30,962

 
22,977

 
22,977

 
21,274

 
21,274

Total households in current markets (c)
 
137,500

 
137,500

 
137,500

 
137,500

 
137,500

 
137,500

 
137,500

 
28,874


(a)
Earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") is a supplemental non-GAAP performance measure that is frequently used in capital-intensive industries such as telecommunications. Allo's management uses EBITDA to compare Allo's performance to that of its competitors and to eliminate certain non-cash and non-operating items in order to consistently measure performance from period to period. EBITDA excludes interest and income taxes because these items are associated with a company's particular capitalization and tax structures. EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization expense because these non-cash expenses primarily reflect the impact of historical capital investments, as opposed to the cash impacts of capital expenditures made in recent periods, which may be evaluated through cash flow measures. The Company reports EBITDA for Allo because the Company believes that it provides useful additional information for investors regarding a key metric used by management to assess Allo's performance. There are limitations to using EBITDA as a performance measure, including the difficulty associated with comparing companies that use similar performance measures whose calculations may differ from Allo's calculations. In addition, EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for other measures of financial performance, such as net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of EBITDA from Allo's net loss under GAAP is presented in the table immediately below:


18



 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
June 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
Net loss
$
(4,602
)
 
(3,637
)
 
(2,194
)
 
(11,061
)
 
(3,299
)
Net interest expense
1,550

 
1,103

 
318

 
3,365

 
670

Income tax benefit
(2,821
)
 
(2,229
)
 
(1,344
)
 
(6,779
)
 
(2,022
)
Depreciation and amortization
3,145

 
2,600

 
1,630

 
7,880

 
4,137

Earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA)
$
(2,728
)
 
(2,163
)
 
(1,590
)
 
(6,595
)
 
(514
)
(b)
Represents the number of single residence homes, apartments, and condominiums that Allo already serves and those in which Allo has the capacity to connect to its network distribution system without further material extensions to the transmission lines, but have not been connected.
(c)
During the first quarter of 2016, Allo announced plans to expand its network to make services available to substantially all commercial and residential premises in Lincoln, Nebraska, and currently plans to expand to additional communities in Nebraska and surrounding states over the next several years.

Other Income

The following table summarizes the components of "other income."
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
June 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
Investment advisory fees
$
5,852

 
2,294

 
1,535

 
11,661

 
3,367

Peterson's revenue
3,402

 
3,043

 
4,128

 
9,282

 
10,655

Borrower late fee income
2,731

 
3,048

 
3,158

 
9,098

 
9,910

Realized and unrealized gains on investments classified as available-for-sale and trading, net
2,468

 
392

 
506

 
3,185

 
1,444

Other
5,303

 
3,708

 
5,823

 
11,648

 
13,335

Other income
$
19,756

 
12,485

 
15,150

 
44,874

 
38,711


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,
2017
 
June 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
1:3 basis swaps
$
(2,172
)
 
(362
)
 
523

 
(1,836
)
 
938

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
3,883

 
2,114

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

 
(15,241
)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges
(191
)
 
(198
)
 
(233
)
 
(593
)
 
(696
)
Cross-currency interest rate swap
(2,093
)
 
(1,917
)
 
(1,394
)
 
(5,762
)
 
(3,293
)
Total settlements - (expense) income
$
(573
)
 
(363
)
 
(6,261
)
 
(2,314
)
 
(18,292
)


19



Derivative Market Value and Foreign Currency Transaction Adjustments

"Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments" include (i) the realized and 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 transaction adjustments” included in the attached consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2017
 
June 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
September 30,
2016
Change in fair value of derivatives -
income (expense)
$
21,429

 
(286
)
 
47,093

 
22,381

 
(1,556
)
Foreign currency transaction adjustment - income (expense)
(13,683
)
 
(27,261
)
 
(4,831
)
 
(45,635
)
 
(13,543
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments - income (expense)
$
7,746

 
(27,547
)
 
42,262

 
(23,254
)
 
(15,099
)

Student Loans Receivable

Student loans receivable consisted of the following:
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
Federally insured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Stafford and other
$
4,534,588

 
5,186,047

 
5,353,052

Consolidation
17,952,696

 
19,643,937

 
20,189,881

Total
22,487,284

 
24,829,984

 
25,542,933

Private education loans
226,629

 
273,659

 
276,432

 
22,713,913

 
25,103,643

 
25,819,365

Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs
(119,572
)
 
(129,507
)
 
(131,601
)
Non-accretable discount
(13,532
)
 
(18,570
)
 
(20,760
)
Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans
(39,398
)
 
(37,268
)
 
(37,028
)
Allowance for loan losses – private education loans
(12,566
)
 
(14,574
)
 
(14,542
)
 
$
22,528,845

 
24,903,724

 
25,615,434


Loan Activity

The following table sets forth the activity of loans:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Beginning balance
$
23,390,300

 
26,754,560

 
25,103,643

 
28,555,749

Loan acquisitions
37,532

 
52,667

 
142,386

 
238,595

Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other
(446,588
)
 
(660,074
)
 
(1,643,049
)
 
(1,989,806
)
Consolidation loans lost to external parties
(267,331
)
 
(327,766
)
 
(889,067
)
 
(940,413
)
Loans sold

 
(22
)
 

 
(44,760
)
Ending balance
$
22,713,913

 
25,819,365

 
22,713,913

 
25,819,365



20



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 the assets.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Variable student loan yield, gross
3.62
 %
 
2.93
 %
 
3.44
 %
 
2.87
 %
Consolidation rebate fees
(0.85
)
 
(0.83
)
 
(0.84
)
 
(0.83
)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization (a)
0.07

 
0.06

 
0.07

 
0.06

Variable student loan yield, net
2.84

 
2.16

 
2.67

 
2.10

Student loan cost of funds - interest expense
(2.09
)
 
(1.44
)
 
(1.91
)
 
(1.36
)
Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements (b) (c)
(0.07
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.04
)
 
(0.01
)
Variable student loan spread
0.68

 
0.71

 
0.72

 
0.73

Fixed rate floor income, gross
0.42

 
0.63

 
0.47

 
0.64

Fixed rate floor income - derivative settlements (b) (d)
0.07

 
(0.08
)
 
0.03

 
(0.07
)
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
0.49

 
0.55

 
0.50

 
0.57

Core student loan spread
1.17
 %
 
1.26
 %
 
1.22
 %
 
1.30
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance of student loans
$
23,188,577

 
26,368,507

 
23,948,108

 
27,305,128

Average balance of debt outstanding
22,892,789

 
26,235,053

 
23,687,067

 
27,188,069


(a)
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company revised its policy to correct for an error in its method of applying the interest method used to amortize premiums and accrete discounts on its student loan portfolio. Under the Company's revised policy, as of September 30, 2016, the constant prepayment rate used by the Company to amortize/accrete student loan premiums/discounts was decreased. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an adjustment to reflect the net impact on prior periods for the correction of this error that resulted in an $8.2 million reduction to the Company's net loan discount balance and a corresponding increase in interest income. The impact of this adjustment was excluded from the above table.

(b)
Derivative settlements represent the cash paid or received during the current period to settle with derivative instrument counterparties the economic effect of the Company's derivative instruments based on their contractual terms. Derivative accounting requires that net settlements with respect to derivatives that do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP be recorded in a separate income statement line item below net interest income.  The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility.  As such, management believes derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company’s net interest income (student loan spread) as presented in this table.  The Company reports this non-GAAP information because it believes that it provides additional information regarding operational and performance indicators that are closely assessed by management.  There is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for the presentation of such non-GAAP information, which is only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information that management utilizes to assess performance.  See "Derivative Settlements" included in this supplement for the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative for the periods presented in this table.

(c)
Reflects the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps and cross-currency interest rate swap. 

(d)
Derivative settlements include the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s floor income interest rate swaps.


21



A trend analysis of the Company's core and variable student loan spreads is summarized below.
slsgraph2017q3a01.jpg

(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 a 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 September 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 due to an increase in derivative settlements paid related to the Company's 1:3 basis swaps.

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 September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
24,586

 
41,509

 
84,382

 
131,720

Derivative settlements (a)
3,883

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

 
(15,241
)
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
28,469

 
36,352

 
90,259

 
116,479

Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net
0.49
%
 
0.55
%
 
0.50
%
 
0.57
%

(a)
Includes settlement payments on derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.


22



Fixed Rate Floor Income

The following table shows the Company’s federally insured student loan assets that were earning fixed rate floor income as of September 30, 2017.
Fixed interest rate range
 
Borrower/lender weighted average yield
 
Estimated variable conversion rate (a)
 
Loan balance
3.5 - 3.99%
 
3.92
%
 
1.28
%
 
$
1,090

4.0 - 4.49%
 
4.20
%
 
1.56
%
 
1,408,663

4.5 - 4.99%
 
4.71
%
 
2.07
%
 
851,229

5.0 - 5.49%
 
5.22
%
 
2.58
%
 
539,482

5.5 - 5.99%
 
5.67
%
 
3.03
%
 
379,443

6.0 - 6.49%
 
6.19
%
 
3.55
%
 
437,761

6.5 - 6.99%
 
6.70
%
 
4.06
%
 
421,737

7.0 - 7.49%
 
7.17
%
 
4.53
%
 
150,722

7.5 - 7.99%
 
7.71
%
 
5.07
%
 
252,994

8.0 - 8.99%
 
8.18
%
 
5.54
%
 
584,749

> 9.0%
 
9.05
%
 
6.41
%
 
202,455

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
5,230,325


(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, 2017, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 3.11% and the short-term interest rate was 125 basis points.

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of September 30, 2017 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)
 
 
2018
 
$
1,350,000

 
1.07
%
2019
 
3,250,000

 
0.97

2020
 
1,500,000

 
1.01

2025
 
100,000

 
2.32

 
 
$
6,200,000

 
1.02
%
(a)
For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.

23