10-Q 1 nni-93017x10q.htm 10-Q Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
 
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from  to .

 
Commission File Number: 001-31924

NELNET, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEBRASKA
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
84-0748903
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
121 SOUTH 13TH STREET
SUITE 100
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
68508
(Zip Code)
 (402) 458-2370
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X] No [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer [X]                                                              Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company [ ]
            Emerging growth company [ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes[  ] No[X]

As of October 31, 2017, there were 29,370,343 and 11,476,932 shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, respectively (excluding 11,317,364 shares of Class A Common Stock held by wholly owned subsidiaries).   




NELNET, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
September 30, 2017









PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of

As of
 
 
September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016
Assets:
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $51,964 and $51,842, respectively)
 
$
22,528,845

 
24,903,724

Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party
 
11,313

 
7,841

Cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party
 
243,078

 
61,813

Total cash and cash equivalents
 
254,391

 
69,654

Investments and other receivables
 
276,536

 
254,144

Restricted cash
 
725,463

 
980,961

Restricted cash - due to customers
 
105,299

 
119,702

Accrued interest receivable
 
396,827

 
391,264

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,905 and $1,549, respectively)
 
70,628

 
43,972

Goodwill
 
147,312

 
147,312

Intangible assets, net
 
40,742

 
47,813

Property and equipment, net
 
208,441

 
123,786

Other assets
 
13,230

 
10,245

Fair value of derivative instruments
 
996

 
87,531

Total assets
 
$
24,768,710

 
27,180,108

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Bonds and notes payable
 
$
22,240,279

 
24,668,490

Accrued interest payable
 
47,824

 
45,677

Other liabilities
 
214,763

 
197,488

Due to customers
 
105,299

 
119,702

Fair value of derivative instruments
 
30,105

 
77,826

Total liabilities
 
22,638,270

 
25,109,183

Commitments and contingencies
 


 


Equity:
 
 
 
 
  Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity:
 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding
 

 

Common stock:
 
 
 
 
Class A, $0.01 par value. Authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,436,022 shares and 30,628,112 shares, respectively
 
294

 
306

Class B, convertible, $0.01 par value. Authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,476,932 shares
 
115

 
115

Additional paid-in capital
 
360

 
420

Retained earnings
 
2,106,895

 
2,056,084

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
 
4,187

 
4,730

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

 
2,061,655

Noncontrolling interests
 
18,589

 
9,270

Total equity
 
2,130,440

 
2,070,925

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
24,768,710

 
27,180,108

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated education lending variable interest entities:
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable
 
$
22,704,085

 
25,090,530

Restricted cash
 
687,666

 
970,306

Accrued interest receivable and other assets
 
397,093

 
390,504

Bonds and notes payable
 
(22,459,091
)
 
(25,105,704
)
Other liabilities
 
(282,441
)
 
(290,996
)
Fair value of derivative instruments, net
 
(22,773
)
 
(66,453
)
Net assets of consolidated education lending variable interest entities
 
$
1,024,539

 
988,187

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2



NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
Three months
 
Nine months
 
ended September 30,
 
ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan interest
$
191,755

 
193,721

 
562,451

 
567,775

Investment interest
5,129

 
2,460

 
11,335

 
6,674

Total interest income
196,884

 
196,181

 
573,786

 
574,449

Interest expense:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
121,650

 
96,386

 
341,787

 
280,847

Net interest income
75,234

 
99,795

 
231,999

 
293,602

Less provision for loan losses
6,000

 
6,000

 
9,000

 
10,500

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
69,234

 
93,795

 
222,999

 
283,102

Other income:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Loan systems and servicing revenue
55,950

 
54,350

 
167,079

 
161,082

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

 
33,071

 
113,293

 
102,211

Communications revenue
6,751

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

Enrollment services revenue

 

 

 
4,326

Other income
19,756

 
15,150

 
44,874

 
38,711

Gain from debt repurchases
116

 
2,160

 
5,537

 
2,260

Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net
7,173

 
36,001

 
(25,568
)
 
(33,391
)
Total other income
125,196

 
145,075

 
322,792

 
288,366

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
74,193

 
63,743

 
220,684

 
187,907

Depreciation and amortization
10,051

 
8,994

 
27,687

 
24,817

Loan servicing fees
7,939

 
5,880

 
19,584

 
20,024

Cost to provide communications services
2,632

 
1,784

 
6,789

 
5,169

Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 

 
3,623

Other expenses
30,518

 
26,391

 
84,593

 
84,174

Total operating expenses
125,333

 
106,792

 
359,337

 
325,714

Income before income taxes
69,097

 
132,078

 
186,454

 
245,754

Income tax expense
25,562

 
47,715

 
70,349

 
87,184

Net income
43,535

 
84,363

 
116,105

 
158,570

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

 
(69
)
 
8,960

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

 
84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

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

 
1.98

 
2.97

 
3.70

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

 
42,642,213

 
42,054,532

 
42,788,133


 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3



NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Three months
 
Nine months
 
ended September 30,
 
ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net income
$
43,535

 
84,363

 
116,105

 
158,570

Other comprehensive (loss) income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period, net
405

 
3,431

 
383

 
(4,217
)
Reclassification adjustment for gains recognized in net income, net of losses
(504
)
 
(491
)
 
(1,244
)
 
(82
)
Income tax effect
35

 
(1,087
)
 
318

 
1,591

Total other comprehensive (loss) income
(64
)
 
1,853

 
(543
)
 
(2,708
)
Comprehensive income
43,471

 
86,216

 
115,562

 
155,862

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

 
(69
)
 
8,960

 
(165
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,239

 
86,147

 
124,522

 
155,697


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


4


NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
Nelnet, Inc. Shareholders
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock shares
 
Common stock shares
 
Preferred stock
 
Class A common stock
 
Class B common stock
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
 Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) earnings
 
Noncontrolling interests
 
Total equity
 
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of June 30, 2016

 
31,024,230

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
310

 
115

 
4,601

 
1,894,551

 
(2,277
)
 
8,916

 
1,906,216

Issuance of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
26

 
26

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
84,294

 

 
69

 
84,363

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,853

 

 
1,853

Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.12 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(5,101
)
 

 

 
(5,101
)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures

 
16,662

 

 

 

 

 
282

 

 

 

 
282

Compensation expense for stock based awards

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,132

 

 

 

 
1,132

Repurchase of common stock

 
(201,551
)
 

 

 
(2
)
 

 
(5,791
)
 
(1,882
)
 

 

 
(7,675
)
Balance as of September 30, 2016


30,839,341


11,476,932

 
$


308


115


224


1,971,862


(424
)

9,011

 
1,981,096

Balance as of June 30, 2017

 
30,373,691

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
304

 
115

 
366

 
2,110,158

 
4,251

 
15,215

 
2,130,409

Issuance of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
6,901

 
6,901

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
46,303

 

 
(2,768
)
 
43,535

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(64
)
 

 
(64
)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(759
)
 
(759
)
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.14 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(5,766
)
 

 

 
(5,766
)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures

 
10,125

 

 

 

 

 
278

 

 

 

 
278

Compensation expense for stock based awards

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,042

 

 

 

 
1,042

Repurchase of common stock

 
(947,794
)
 

 

 
(10
)
 

 
(1,326
)
 
(43,800
)
 

 

 
(45,136
)
Balance as of September 30, 2017

 
29,436,022

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
294

 
115

 
360

 
2,106,895

 
4,187

 
18,589

 
2,130,440

Balance as of December 31, 2015

 
32,476,528

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
325

 
115

 

 
1,881,708

 
2,284

 
7,726

 
1,892,158

Issuance of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,339

 
1,339

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
158,405

 

 
165

 
158,570

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,708
)
 

 
(2,708
)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(219
)
 
(219
)
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.36 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(15,293
)
 

 

 
(15,293
)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures

 
175,405

 

 

 
1

 

 
3,943

 

 

 

 
3,944

Compensation expense for stock based awards

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,448

 

 

 

 
3,448

Repurchase of common stock

 
(1,812,592
)
 

 

 
(18
)
 

 
(7,167
)
 
(52,958
)
 

 

 
(60,143
)
Balance as of September 30, 2016

 
30,839,341

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
308

 
115

 
224

 
1,971,862

 
(424
)
 
9,011

 
1,981,096

Balance as of December 31, 2016

 
30,628,112

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
306

 
115

 
420

 
2,056,084

 
4,730

 
9,270

 
2,070,925

Issuance of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
19,553

 
19,553

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
125,065

 

 
(8,960
)
 
116,105

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(543
)
 

 
(543
)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,274
)
 
(1,274
)
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.42 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(17,569
)
 

 

 
(17,569
)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures

 
171,481

 

 

 
2

 

 
3,359

 

 

 

 
3,361

Compensation expense for stock based awards

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,213

 

 

 

 
3,213

Repurchase of common stock

 
(1,363,571
)
 

 

 
(14
)
 

 
(6,632
)
 
(56,685
)
 

 

 
(63,331
)
Balance as of September 30, 2017

 
29,436,022

 
11,476,932

 
$

 
294

 
115

 
360

 
2,106,895

 
4,187

 
18,589

 
2,130,440

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5



NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Nine months
 
ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
125,065

 
158,405

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(8,960
)
 
165

Net income
116,105

 
158,570

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and student loan premiums and deferred origination costs
99,826

 
83,988

Student loan discount accretion
(32,820
)
 
(30,439
)
Provision for loan losses
9,000

 
10,500

Derivative market value adjustment
(22,381
)
 
1,556

Unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustment
45,635

 
13,543

Proceeds from termination of derivative instruments
3,013

 
2,830

Payments to enter into derivative instruments
(929
)
 

Proceeds from clearinghouse to settle variation margin, net
37,744

 

Gain from debt repurchases
(5,537
)
 
(2,260
)
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities, net of losses
(1,244
)
 
(82
)
Proceeds related to trading securities, net
23

 
1,192

Deferred income tax benefit
(15,012
)
 
(7,633
)
Non-cash compensation expense
3,370

 
3,563

Other
4,288

 
1,681

(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable
(5,572
)
 
2,021

Increase in accounts receivable
(26,656
)
 
(1,982
)
Increase in other assets
(1,213
)
 
(1,141
)
Increase in accrued interest payable
2,147

 
11,333

Increase in other liabilities
20,548

 
11,587

Net cash provided by operating activities
230,335

 
258,827

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Purchases of student loans
(137,158
)
 
(234,270
)
Net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other
2,515,850

 
2,908,738

Proceeds from sale of student loans

 
44,760

Purchases of available-for-sale securities
(109,666
)
 
(66,733
)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
141,206

 
100,423

Purchases of investments and loans receivable and issuance of notes receivable
(68,131
)
 
(14,912
)
Proceeds from investments and other receivables
10,521

 
12,169

Purchases of property and equipment
(106,656
)
 
(46,821
)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash, net
276,654

 
(39,400
)
Net cash provided by investing activities
2,522,620

 
2,663,954

Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Payments on bonds and notes payable
(3,679,592
)
 
(2,998,017
)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable
1,178,027

 
154,619

Payments of debt issuance costs
(4,411
)
 
(2,098
)
Dividends paid
(17,569
)
 
(15,293
)
Repurchases of common stock
(63,331
)
 
(60,143
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
457

 
656

Issuance of noncontrolling interests
19,475

 
1,339

Distribution to noncontrolling interests
(1,274
)
 
(219
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(2,568,218
)
 
(2,919,156
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
184,737

 
3,625

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
69,654

 
63,529

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
254,391

 
67,154

 
 
 
 
Cash disbursements made for:
 

 
 

Interest
$
287,265

 
219,672

Income taxes, net of refunds
$
71,431

 
87,633


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6



NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
(unaudited)

1.  Basis of Financial Reporting

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nelnet, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 and, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for the interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2017. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Annual Report").

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nelnet, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. In addition, the accounts of all variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary are included in the consolidated financial statements. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities
The following entities are VIEs of which the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
The Company's education lending subsidiaries are engaged in the securitization of education finance assets. These education lending subsidiaries hold beneficial interests in eligible loans, subject to creditors with specific interests. The liabilities of the Company's education lending subsidiaries are not the direct obligations of Nelnet, Inc. or any of its other subsidiaries. Each education lending subsidiary is structured to be bankruptcy remote, meaning that it should not be consolidated in the event of bankruptcy of the parent company or any other subsidiary. The Company is generally the administrator and master servicer of the securitized assets held in its education lending subsidiaries and owns the residual interest of the securitization trusts. As a result, for accounting purposes, the transfers of student loans to the securitization trusts do not qualify as sales. Accordingly, all the financial activities and related assets and liabilities, including debt, of the securitizations are reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements and are summarized as supplemental information on the balance sheet.
The Company owns 91.5 percent of the economic rights of Allo Communications LLC ("Allo") and has a disproportional 80 percent of the voting rights related to all operating decisions for Allo's business. Allo management, as current minority members, has the opportunity to earn an additional 11.5 percent of the total ownership interests based on the financial performance of Allo. In addition to the Company’s equity investment, Nelnet, Inc. (the parent) issued a $200.0 million line of credit to Allo on December 30, 2015. On September 30, 2017, the line of credit was increased by $70.0 million to a total of $270.0 million. As of September 30, 2017, the outstanding balance and accrued interest on the line of credit was $144.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively. Nelnet, Inc.’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with Allo is equal to its equity investment and the outstanding balance and accrued interest on the line of credit. The amounts owed by Allo to Nelnet, Inc., including the interest costs incurred by Allo and interest earnings recognized by Nelnet, Inc., are not reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as they were eliminated in consolidation. All of Allo’s financial activities and related assets and liabilities, excluding the line of credit, are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See note 10, "Segment Reporting," for disclosure of Allo's total assets and results of operations (included in the "Communications" operating segment), note 7, "Goodwill," for disclosure of Allo's goodwill, and note 8, “Property and Equipment,” for disclosure of Allo’s fixed assets. Allo's goodwill and property and equipment comprise the majority of its assets. The assets recognized as a result of consolidating Allo are the property of Allo and are not available for any other purpose, other than to Nelnet, Inc. as a secured lender under Allo's line of credit.

7



Noncontrolling Interest

Nelnet Servicing, LLC ("Nelnet Servicing"), a subsidiary of the Company, and Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. ("Great Lakes") created a joint venture to respond to the initiative announced by the U.S. Department of Education (the "Department") in April 2016 for the procurement of a contract for federal student loan servicing to acquire a single servicing platform to manage all loans owned by the Department.  The joint venture operates as a new legal entity called GreatNet Solutions, LLC (“GreatNet”).  Nelnet Servicing and Great Lakes each own 50 percent of the ownership interests in GreatNet.  See note 11 for additional information on the contract procurement process. 

During the first and third quarters of 2017, Nelnet Servicing and Great Lakes each contributed $12.6 million and $6.5 million, respectively, to GreatNet and during the first quarter of 2017 GreatNet began to incur certain operating costs. For financial reporting purposes, the balance sheet and operating results of GreatNet are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and presented in the Company’s Loan Systems and Servicing operating segment.  The proportionate share of membership interest (equity) and net loss of GreatNet that is attributable to Great Lakes is reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements.

On October 18, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Great Lakes. See note 14, "Subsequent Events" for additional information on this business acquisition agreement.

For a description of other entities in which the Company reflects noncontrolling interests in its consolidated financial statements, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report.

2.  Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses

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

 
 
5,186,047

Consolidation
17,952,696

 
 
19,643,937

Total
22,487,284

 
 
24,829,984

Private education loans
226,629

 
 
273,659

 
22,713,913


 
25,103,643

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

 
 
24,903,724


(a)
For loans purchased where there is evidence of credit deterioration since the origination of the loan, the Company records a credit discount, separate from the allowance for loan losses, which is non-accretable to interest income.

The Company recognizes student loan interest income as earned, net of amortization of loan premiums and deferred origination costs and the accretion of loan discounts. Loan interest income is recognized based upon the expected yield of the loan after giving effect to interest rate reductions resulting from borrower utilization of incentives such as timely payments ("borrower benefits") and other yield adjustments. Loan premiums or discounts, deferred origination costs, and borrower benefits are amortized/accreted over the estimated life of the loans, which includes an estimate of forecasted payments in excess of contractually required payments. The Company periodically evaluates the assumptions used to estimate the life of the loans and prepayment rates. In instances where there are changes to the assumptions, amortization/accretion is adjusted on a cumulative basis to reflect the change since the acquisition of the loan.
  
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 deferred origination costs and accrete discounts on its student loan portfolio. Previously, the Company amortized premiums and deferred origination costs and accreted discounts by including in its prepayment assumption

8



forecasted payments in excess of contractually required payments as well as forecasted defaults. The Company has determined that only payments in excess of contractually required payments (excluding forecasted defaults) should be included in the prepayment assumption. 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. The constant prepayment rates under the Company's revised policy are 5 percent for Stafford loans and 3 percent for Consolidation loans. The constant prepayment rates under the Company's prior policy in effect before this correction were 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an adjustment to reflect the cumulative 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 pre-tax increase to interest income. The Company concluded this error had an immaterial impact on 2016 results as well as the results for prior periods.

Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in the portfolio of student loans. Activity in the allowance for loan losses is shown below.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at beginning of period
$
49,708

 
48,753

 
51,842

 
50,498

Provision for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federally insured loans
7,000

 
7,000

 
11,000

 
11,000

Private education loans
(1,000
)
 
(1,000
)
 
(2,000
)
 
(500
)
Total provision for loan losses
6,000

 
6,000

 
9,000

 
10,500

Charge-offs:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Federally insured loans
(3,464
)
 
(3,196
)
 
(8,870
)
 
(9,462
)
Private education loans
(491
)
 
(320
)
 
(861
)
 
(1,235
)
Total charge-offs
(3,955
)
 
(3,516
)
 
(9,731
)
 
(10,697
)
Recoveries - private education loans
161

 
243

 
603

 
769

Purchase of private education loans

 
30

 

 
290

Transfer from repurchase obligation related to private education loans repurchased
50

 
60

 
250

 
210

Balance at end of period
$
51,964

 
51,570

 
51,964

 
$
51,570

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocation of the allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Federally insured loans
$
39,398

 
37,028

 
39,398

 
37,028

Private education loans
12,566

 
14,542

 
12,566

 
14,542

Total allowance for loan losses
$
51,964

 
51,570

 
51,964

 
51,570






9



Student Loan Status and Delinquencies

Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s earnings through increased servicing and collection costs and account charge-offs.  The table below shows the Company’s loan delinquency amounts.

 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
As of September 30, 2016
Federally insured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
1,448,172

 
 
 
$
1,606,468

 
 
 
$
1,864,323

 
 
Loans in forbearance
2,406,346

 
 
 
2,295,367

 
 
 
2,403,504

 
 
Loans in repayment status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans current
16,534,795

 
88.7
%
 
18,125,768

 
86.6
%
 
18,445,728

 
86.8
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
579,665

 
3.1

 
818,976

 
3.9

 
825,905

 
3.9

Loans delinquent 61-90 days
334,085

 
1.8

 
487,647

 
2.3

 
491,395

 
2.3

Loans delinquent 91-120 days
255,567

 
1.4

 
335,291

 
1.6

 
326,020

 
1.5

Loans delinquent 121-270 days
700,319

 
3.8

 
854,432

 
4.1

 
835,250

 
3.9

Loans delinquent 271 days or greater
228,335

 
1.2

 
306,035

 
1.5

 
350,808

 
1.6

Total loans in repayment
18,632,766

 
100.0
%
 
20,928,149

 
100.0
%
 
21,275,106

 
100.0
%
Total federally insured loans
$
22,487,284

 
 

 
$
24,829,984

 
 

 
$
25,542,933

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private education loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
27,188

 
 
 
$
35,146

 
 
 
$
51,042

 
 
Loans in forbearance
2,904

 
 
 
3,448

 
 
 
1,770

 
 
Loans in repayment status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans current
190,153

 
96.8
%
 
228,612

 
97.2
%
 
217,108

 
97.1
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
1,200

 
0.6

 
1,677

 
0.7

 
1,357

 
0.6

Loans delinquent 61-90 days
1,195

 
0.6

 
1,110

 
0.5

 
1,228

 
0.5

Loans delinquent 91 days or greater
3,989

 
2.0

 
3,666

 
1.6

 
3,927

 
1.8

Total loans in repayment
196,537

 
100.0
%
 
235,065

 
100.0
%
 
223,620

 
100.0
%
Total private education loans
$
226,629

 
 

 
$
273,659

 
 

 
$
276,432

 
 


10



3.  Bonds and Notes Payable

The following tables summarize the Company’s outstanding debt obligations by type of instrument:
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
Carrying
amount
 
Interest rate
range
 
Final maturity
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in FFELP loan asset-backed securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes based on indices
$
20,675,881

 
0.22% - 6.90%
 
8/25/21 - 9/25/65
Bonds and notes based on auction
781,276

 
1.97% - 2.61%
 
3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total FFELP variable-rate bonds and notes
21,457,157

 
 
 
 
FFELP warehouse facilities
745,107

 
1.23% - 1.37%
 
11/19/19 - 4/27/20
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitization
84,881

 
2.99%
 
12/26/40
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitization
90,896

 
3.60% / 5.35%
 
12/26/40 / 12/28/43
Unsecured line of credit
210,000

 
2.74%
 
12/12/21
Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities
20,526

 
4.71%
 
9/15/61
Other borrowings
18,355

 
3.38%
 
3/31/23 / 12/15/45
 
22,626,922

 
 
 
 
Discount on bonds and notes payable and debt issuance costs
(386,643
)
 
 
 
 
Total
$
22,240,279

 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Carrying
amount
 
Interest rate
range
 
Final maturity
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in FFELP loan asset-backed securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes based on indices
$
22,130,063

 
0.24% - 6.90%
 
6/25/21 - 9/25/65
Bonds and notes based on auction
998,415

 
1.61% - 2.28%
 
3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total FFELP variable-rate bonds and notes
23,128,478

 
 
 
 
FFELP warehouse facilities
1,677,443

 
0.63% - 1.09%
 
9/7/18 - 12/13/19
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitization
112,582

 
2.60%
 
12/26/40
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitization
113,378

 
3.60% / 5.35%
 
12/26/40 / 12/28/43
Unsecured line of credit

 
 
12/12/21
Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities
50,184

 
4.37%
 
9/15/61
Other borrowings
18,355

 
3.38%
 
3/31/23 / 12/15/45
 
25,100,420

 
 
 
 
Discount on bonds and notes payable and debt issuance costs
(431,930
)
 
 
 
 
Total
$
24,668,490

 
 
 
 



11



Asset-Backed Securitizations

The following table summarizes the asset-backed securitization transactions completed during the first nine months of 2017.
 
 
NSLT 2017-1
 
NSLT 2017-2
 
Total
Date securities issued
 
5/24/17
 
7/26/17
 
 
Total original principal amount
 
$
535,000

 
399,390

 
934,390

Bond discount
 

 
(2,002
)
 
(2,002
)
Issue price
 
$
535,000

 
397,388

 
932,388

Cost of funds
 
1-month LIBOR plus 0.78%
 
1-month LIBOR plus 0.77%
 
 
Final maturity date
 
6/25/65
 
9/25/65
 
 

FFELP Warehouse Facilities

The Company funds a portion of its FFELP loan acquisitions using its FFELP warehouse facilities. Student loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage student loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities as summarized below.
 
 
NFSLW-I (a)
 
NHELP-II
 
NHELP-III (b)
 
Total
Maximum financing amount
 
$
500,000

 
500,000

 
200,000

 
1,200,000

Amount outstanding
 
307,425

 
288,969

 
148,713

 
745,107

Amount available
 
$
192,575

 
211,031

 
51,287

 
454,893

Expiration of liquidity provisions
 
September 20, 2019

 
December 15, 2017

 
April 27, 2018

 
 
Final maturity date
 
November 19, 2019

 
December 13, 2019

 
April 27, 2020

 
 
Maximum advance rates
 
92.0 - 98.0%

 
85.0 - 95.0%

 
92.2 - 95.0%

 
 
Minimum advance rates
 
84.0 - 90.0%

 
85.0 - 95.0%

 
92.2 - 95.0%

 
 
Advanced as equity support
 
$
4,747

 
20,531

 
3,163

 
28,441


(a)
On May 25, 2017 and August 18, 2017, the Company decreased the maximum financing amount for this warehouse facility by $175.0 million and $200.0 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, the maximum financing amount for this warehouse facility was $500.0 million, as reflected in this table. On September 22, 2017, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility, which changed the expiration date for the liquidity provisions to September 20, 2019 and changed the final maturity date to November 19, 2019.

(b)
On April 3, 2017, the Company entered into a letter agreement for this warehouse facility to decrease the maximum financing amount from $750.0 million to $600.0 million. On April 28, 2017, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility, which changed the expiration date for the liquidity provisions to April 27, 2018 and changed the final maturity date to April 27, 2020. On May 5, 2017, May 25, 2017, and June 2, 2017, the Company decreased the maximum financing amount for this warehouse facility by $200.0 million, $100.0 million, and $100.0 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, the maximum financing amount for this warehouse facility was $200.0 million, as reflected in this table.

Unsecured Line of Credit

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

12



Debt Repurchases

The following table summarizes the Company's repurchases of its own debt. Gains recorded by the Company from the repurchase of debt are included in "gain from debt repurchases" on the Company's consolidated statements of income.
 
Par value
 
Purchase price
 
Gain
 
Par value
 
Purchase price
 
Gain
 
Three months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
   Asset-backed securities
$
14,702

 
14,586

 
116

 
10,965

 
8,805

 
2,160

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
Unsecured debt - Hybrid Securities (a)
$
29,658

 
25,241

 
4,417

 

 

 

   Asset-backed securities
18,790

 
17,670

 
1,120

 
11,362

 
9,102

 
2,260

 
$
48,448

 
42,911

 
5,537

 
11,362

 
9,102

 
2,260


(a)
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company initiated a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding Hybrid Securities, including a related consent solicitation to effect certain amendments to the indenture governing the notes to eliminate a provision requiring a minimum principal amount of the notes to remain outstanding after a partial redemption. After the completion of this tender offer, the Company has $20.5 million of Hybrid Securities that remain outstanding. In addition, the amendments described above have been made to the indenture.

4.  Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily to manage interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. Derivative instruments used as part of the Company's risk management strategy are further described in note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report. A tabular presentation of such derivatives outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is presented below.

Basis Swaps

The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding basis swaps in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").
 
 
 
As of September 30,
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Maturity
 
Notional amount
 
Notional amount
2018
 
$
4,000,000

 
$

2019
 
3,000,000

 

2024
 
250,000

 

2026
 
1,150,000

 
1,150,000

2027
 
375,000

 

2028
 
325,000

 
325,000

2029
 
100,000

 

2031
 
300,000

 
300,000

 
 
$
9,500,000

 
$
1,775,000

The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was one-month LIBOR plus 13.4 basis points and 10.1 basis points, respectively.

13



Interest Rate Swaps – Floor Income Hedges

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.
 
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
Maturity
 
Notional amount
 
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
 
Notional amount
 
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
 
 
 
 
2017
 
$

 
%
 
$
750,000

 
0.99
%
2018
 
1,350,000

 
1.07

 
1,350,000

 
1.07

2019
 
3,250,000

 
0.97

 
3,250,000

 
0.97

2020
 
1,500,000

 
1.01

 
1,500,000

 
1.01

2025
 
100,000

 
2.32

 
100,000

 
2.32

 
 
$
6,200,000

 
1.02
%
 
$
6,950,000

 
1.02
%

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

On August 20, 2014, the Company paid $9.1 million for an interest rate swap option to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. The interest rate swap option gives the Company the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a $250.0 million notional interest rate swap in which the Company would pay a fixed amount of 3.30% and receive discrete one-month LIBOR. If the interest rate swap option is exercised, the swap would become effective in 2019 and mature in 2024.

Interest Rate Caps

In June 2015, in conjunction with the entry into a $275.0 million private education loan warehouse facility, the Company paid $2.9 million for two interest rate cap contracts with a total notional amount of $275.0 million. The first interest rate cap had a notional amount of $125.0 million and a one-month LIBOR strike rate of 2.50%, and the second interest rate cap had a notional amount of $150.0 million and a one-month LIBOR strike rate of 4.99%. In the event that the one-month LIBOR rate rose above the applicable strike rate, the Company would receive monthly payments related to the spread difference. Both interest rate cap contracts had a maturity date of July 15, 2020. The private education loan warehouse facility was terminated by the Company on December 21, 2016. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company received $913,000 to terminate the interest rate cap contracts that were held in the private education loan warehouse legal entity and paid $929,000 to enter into new interest rate cap contracts with identical terms at Nelnet, Inc. (the parent company). The Company currently intends to keep these derivatives outstanding to partially mitigate a rise in interest rates and its impact on earnings related to its student loan portfolio earning a fixed rate.

Interest Rate Swaps – Unsecured Debt Hedges

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $20.5 million and $50.2 million, respectively, of unsecured Hybrid Securities outstanding. The interest rate on the Hybrid Securities through September 29, 2036 is equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.375%, payable quarterly. The Company had the following derivatives outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 that are used to effectively convert the variable interest rate on a designated notional amount with respect to the Hybrid Securities to a fixed rate of 7.66%.
 
Maturity
 
Notional amount
 
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2036
 
$
25,000

 
4.28
%
(a)
For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

In 2006, the Company issued €352.7 million of student loan asset-backed Euro Notes (the "Euro Notes") with an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index. As a result of the Euro Notes, the Company was exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Euro. The principal and accrued interest on these notes have been re-measured at each reporting period and recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in U.S. dollars based

14



on the foreign currency exchange rate on that date. Changes in the principal and accrued interest amounts as a result of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have been included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

The Company entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap in connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes. Under the terms of the cross-currency interest rate swap, the Company has received from the counterparty a spread to the EURIBOR index based on a notional amount of €352.7 million and has paid a spread to the LIBOR index based on a notional amount of $450.0 million.

The following table shows the unrealized income statement impact as a result of the re-measurement of the Euro Notes and the change in the fair value of the related derivative instrument.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Re-measurement of Euro Notes
$
(13,683
)
 
(4,831
)
 
(45,635
)
 
(13,543
)
Change in fair value of cross-currency interest rate swap
16,257

 
5,501

 
44,831

 
26,194

Total impact to consolidated statements of income - income (expense) (a)
$
2,574

 
670

 
(804
)
 
12,651

(a)
The financial statement impact of the above items is included in "Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income.
Management structured the cross-currency interest rate swap to economically hedge the Euro Notes to effectively convert the notes to U.S. dollars and pay a spread on these notes based on the LIBOR index. However, the cross-currency interest rate swap did not qualify for hedge accounting. The re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds generally correlated with the change in the fair value of the corresponding cross-currency interest rate swap. However, the Company experienced unrealized gains and losses between these financial instruments due to the principal and accrued interest on the Euro Notes being re-measured to U.S. dollars at each reporting date based on the foreign currency exchange rate on that date, while the cross-currency interest rate swap was measured at fair value at each reporting date with the change in fair value recognized in the current period earnings.
On October 25, 2017, the Company completed a remarketing of the Euro Notes which reset the principal amount outstanding on the Euro Notes to $450.0 million U.S. dollars, with an interest rate based on the 3-month LIBOR index, and resulted in the termination of the cross-currency interest rate swap. See note 14, “Subsequent Events” for additional information on this remarketing.

Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives

Effective June 10, 2013, all over-the-counter derivative contracts executed by the Company are cleared post-execution at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”), a regulated clearinghouse.  Clearing is a process by which a third-party, the clearinghouse, steps in between the original counterparties and guarantees the performance of both, by requiring that each post liquid collateral on an initial (initial margin) and mark-to-market (variation margin) basis to cover the clearinghouse’s potential future exposure in the event of default. 

Prior to January 3, 2017, the Company accounted for variation margin payments to the CME as collateral against its derivative position.  As such, these payments were treated as a separate unit of account from the derivative instrument and reported as a liability for cash collateral received and an asset (restricted cash) for cash collateral paid.  Effective January 3, 2017, the CME amended its rulebooks to legally characterize variation margin payments for over-the-counter derivatives they clear as settlements of the derivatives’ exposure rather than collateral against the exposure.  Based on these rulebook changes, for accounting and presentation purposes, the Company considers variation margin and the corresponding derivative instrument as a single unit of account.  As such, effective January 3, 2017, the variation margin received or paid is no longer accounted for separately as a liability or asset ("collateralized-to-market").  Instead, these payments are considered in determining the fair value of the centrally cleared derivative portfolio ("settled-to-market").  The principal difference for accounting and presentation purposes is that prior to January 3, 2017, the Company recorded the fair value of collateralized-to-market derivative contracts on its balance sheet as "fair value of derivative instruments" with an equal amount of variation margin collateral accounted for separately as an asset or liability. Subsequent to January 3, 2017, the Company records settled-to-market derivative contracts on its balance sheet with a fair value of zero and no collateral posted due to the payment or receipt of variation margin between the Company and the CME settling the outstanding mark-to-market exposure on such derivatives to a balance of zero on a daily basis, and records the underlying daily changes in the market value of such derivative contracts that result in such receipts or payments on its income statement as realized derivative market value adjustments in "Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net."

15




The new clearinghouse requirements did not alter or affect the accounting and presentation of the Company’s derivative instruments executed prior to June 10, 2013 and those derivatives that are not required to be cleared at a clearinghouse (non-centrally cleared derivatives). The Company records these derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Certain non-centrally cleared derivatives are subject to right of offset provisions with counterparties.  For these derivatives, the Company does not offset fair value amounts executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement. In addition, the Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments with respect to the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable).

Balance Sheet

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivatives as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets:
 
Fair value of asset derivatives
 
Fair value of liability derivatives
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
1:3 basis swaps
$

 

 

 
2,624

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges

 
81,159

 

 
256

Interest rate swap option - floor income hedge
765

 
2,977

 

 

Interest rate caps
231

 
1,152

 

 

Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges

 

 
7,332

 
7,341

Cross-currency interest rate swap



 
22,773

 
67,605

Other

 
2,243

 

 

Total
$
996

 
87,531

 
30,105

 
77,826


During the second quarter of 2017, the Company received proceeds of $2.1 million from the termination of derivatives that were included in "other" in the preceding table.

Offsetting of Derivative Assets/Liabilities

The following tables include the gross amounts related to the Company's derivative portfolio recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, reconciled to the net amount when excluding derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangements and cash collateral received/pledged.
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
 
 
Derivative assets
 
Gross amounts of recognized assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets
 
Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement
 
Cash collateral pledged
 
Net asset
Balance as of
September 30, 2017
 
$
996

 

 

 
996

Balance as of
December 31, 2016
 
87,531

 
(2,880
)
 
475

 
85,126

 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets
 
Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement
 
Cash collateral pledged
 
Net liability
Balance as of
September 30, 2017
 
$
(30,105
)
 

 
8,470

 
(21,635
)
Balance as of
December 31, 2016
 
(77,826
)
 
2,880

 
7,292

 
(67,654
)

16




Income Statement Impact

The following table summarizes the components of "derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net" included in the consolidated statements of income.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Settlements:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
1:3 basis swaps
$
(2,172
)
 
523

 
(1,836
)
 
938

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
3,883

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

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

 
 

 
 
 
 
1:3 basis swaps
5,916

 
140

 
(5,499
)
 
323

Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
(185
)
 
42,073

 
(13,670
)
 
(17,913
)
Interest rate swap option - floor income hedge
(500
)
 
(269
)
 
(2,212
)
 
(2,541
)
Interest rate caps
(103
)
 
(68
)
 
(936
)
 
(1,283
)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges
44

 
13

 
10

 
(4,000
)
Cross-currency interest rate swap
16,257

 
5,501

 
44,831

 
26,194

Other

 
(297
)
 
(143
)
 
(2,336
)
Total change in fair value - income (expense)
21,429

 
47,093

 
22,381

 
(1,556
)
Re-measurement of Euro Notes (foreign currency transaction adjustment) - (expense) income
(13,683
)
 
(4,831
)
 
(45,635
)
 
(13,543
)
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net - income (expense)
$
7,173

 
36,001

 
(25,568
)
 
(33,391
)

5.  Investments and Other Receivables

A summary of the Company's investments and other receivables follows:
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses (a)
 
Fair value
 
Amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments (at fair value):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities (b)
$
68,010

 
4,768

 
(240
)
 
72,538

 
98,260

 
6,280

 
(641
)
 
103,899

Equity securities
756

 
2,140

 
(21
)
 
2,875

 
720

 
1,930

 
(61
)
 
2,589

Total available-for-sale investments
$
68,766

 
6,908

 
(261
)
 
75,413

 
98,980

 
8,210

 
(702
)
 
106,488

Trading investments - equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
105

Total available-for-sale and trading investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
75,413

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
106,593

Other Investments and Other Receivables (not measured at fair value):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Venture capital and funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
84,903

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
69,789

Notes and loans receivable
 
 
 
 
 
 
56,732

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17,031

Real estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
49,567

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48,379

Tax liens and affordable housing
 
 
 
 
 
 
9,921

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12,352

Total investments and other receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
276,536

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
254,144

    
(a)
As of September 30, 2017, the aggregate fair value of available-for-sale investments with unrealized losses was $2.7 million, of which $0.4 million had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months. Because the Company currently has the intent and ability to retain these investments for an anticipated recovery in fair value, as of September 30, 2017, the Company considered the decline in market value of its available-for-sale investments to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired.


17



(b)
As of September 30, 2017, the stated maturities of substantially all of the Company's student loan asset-backed and other debt securities classified as available-for-sale were greater than 10 years.

6. Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets consist of the following:
 
 
Weighted average remaining useful life as of September 30, 2017 (months)
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
Amortizable intangible assets, net:
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships (net of accumulated amortization of $11,704 and $8,548, respectively)
162
 
$
25,179

 
28,335

 
Trade names (net of accumulated amortization of $2,287 and $1,653, respectively)
180
 
9,285

 
9,919

 
Computer software (net of accumulated amortization of $8,929 and $5,675, respectively)
17
 
6,042

 
9,296

 
Covenants not to compete (net of accumulated amortization of $118 and $91, respectively)
80
 
236

 
263

 
Total - amortizable intangible assets, net
144
 
$
40,742

 
47,813


The Company recorded amortization expense on its intangible assets of $2.3 million and $3.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7.1 million and $8.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company will continue to amortize intangible assets over their remaining useful lives. As of September 30, 2017, the Company estimates it will record amortization expense as follows:

2017 (October 1 - December 31)
$
2,315

2018
8,605

2019
5,147

2020
4,231

2021
3,480

2022 and thereafter
16,964

 
$
40,742


7. Goodwill

The carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2017 by reportable operating segment was as follows:
 
Loan Systems and Servicing
 
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce
 
Communications
 
Asset Generation and Management
 
Corporate and Other Activities
 
Total
Goodwill balance
$
8,596

 
67,168

 
21,112

 
41,883

 
8,553

 
147,312



18



8. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following:
 
 
 
As of
September 30, 2017
 
As of
December 31, 2016
 
Useful life
 
 
Non-communications:
 
 
 
 
 
Computer equipment and software
1-5 years
 
$
108,430

 
97,317

Building and building improvements
5-39 years
 
25,283

 
13,363

Office furniture and equipment
3-7 years
 
14,357

 
12,344

Leasehold improvements
5-20 years
 
6,496

 
3,579

Transportation equipment
4-10 years
 
3,813

 
3,809

Land
 
2,605

 
1,682

Construction in progress
 
14,025

 
16,346

 
 
 
175,009

 
148,440

Accumulated depreciation - non-communications
 
 
104,430

 
91,285

Non-communications, net property and equipment
 
 
70,579

 
57,155

 
 
 
 
 
 
Communications:
 
 
 
 
 
Network plant and fiber
5-15 years
 
83,870

 
40,844

Customer located property
5-10 years
 
10,987

 
5,138

Central office
5-15 years
 
8,476

 
6,448

Transportation equipment
4-10 years
 
5,011

 
2,966

Computer equipment and software
1-5 years
 
3,318

 
2,026

Other
1-39 years
 
2,285

 
1,268

Land
 
70

 
70

Construction in progress
 
35,709

 
12,537

 
 
 
149,726

 
71,297

Accumulated depreciation - communications
 
 
11,864

 
4,666

Communications, net property and equipment
 
 
137,862

 
66,631

Total property and equipment, net
 
 
$
208,441

 
123,786


The Company recorded depreciation expense on its property and equipment of $7.7 million and $5.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $20.6 million and $16.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

19




9.  Earnings per Common Share

Presented below is a summary of the components used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share. The Company applies the two-class method in computing both basic and diluted earnings per share, which requires the calculation of separate earnings per share amounts for common stock and unvested share-based awards. Unvested share-based awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are considered securities which participate in undistributed earnings with common stock.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
Common shareholders
 
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
 
Total
 
Common shareholders
 
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
 
Total
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
45,850

 
453

 
46,303

 
83,419

 
875

 
84,294

 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator:


 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
41,146,424

 
406,892

 
41,553,316

 
42,199,580

 
442,633

 
42,642,213

Earnings per share - basic and diluted
$
1.11

 
1.11

 
1.11

 
1.98

 
1.98

 
1.98


 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
Common shareholders
 
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
 
Total
 
Common shareholders
 
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
 
Total
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
123,816

 
1,249

 
125,065

 
156,749

 
1,656

 
158,405

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
41,634,578

 
419,954

 
42,054,532

 
42,340,867

 
447,266

 
42,788,133

Earnings per share - basic and diluted
$
2.97

 
2.97

 
2.97

 
3.70

 
3.70

 
3.70




20




10.  Segment Reporting

See note 14 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report for a description of the Company's operating segments. 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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets as of September 30, 2017
$
98,555

 
208,290

 
179,206

 
23,724,413

 
863,700

 
(305,454
)
 
24,768,710


21



 
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 communications 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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets as of September 30, 2016
$
79,418

 
190,682

 
90,361

 
26,888,950

 
687,347

 
(267,147
)
 
27,669,611


22





 
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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets as of September 30, 2017
$
98,555

 
208,290

 
179,206

 
23,724,413

 
863,700

 
(305,454
)
 
24,768,710


23





 
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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets as of September 30, 2016
$
79,418

 
190,682

 
90,361

 
26,888,950

 
687,347

 
(267,147
)
 
27,669,611




24


11.  Major Customer
The Company earns loan servicing revenue from a servicing contract with the Department that currently is set to expire on June 16, 2019. Revenue earned by the Company's Loan Systems and Servicing operating segment related to this contract was $38.6 million and $40.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $117.4 million and $112.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 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 large 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.

On October 18, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Great Lakes. See note 14, "Subsequent Events" for additional information on this business acquisition agreement.

12. Related Parties

The Company has entered into certain contractual arrangements with related parties as described in note 19 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report. The following provides an update for related party transactions that occurred during the first nine months of 2017.

Transactions with Union Bank and Trust Company

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company purchased $2.4 million (par value) and $7.3 million (par value), respectively, of consumer loans from Union Bank and Trust Company. The Company's investment in consumer loans is included in "investments and other receivables" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

Transactions with Agile Sports Technologies, Inc. (doing business as "Hudl")

David Graff, who currently serves as an independent director on the Company's Board of Directors, is CEO, co-founder, and a director of Hudl. On July 7, 2017, the Company made an additional $10.4 million preferred stock investment in Hudl as part of a significantly larger equity financing by Hudl. Prior to this investment, the Company and Michael Dunlap, the Company's Executive Chairman and a principal shareholder, made separate equity investments in Hudl. The additional preferred stock investment made by the Company in July 2017 slightly increased the Company's direct and indirect equity ownership in Hudl. The Company's and Mr. Dunlap's direct and indirect equity ownership interests in Hudl consist of preferred stock with certain liquidation preferences that are considered substantive. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Company's and Mr. Dunlap's equity ownership interests are not considered in-substance common stock and the Company is accounting for its equity investment in Hudl under the cost method. The Company's investment in Hudl is included in "investments and other receivables" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.


25



13.  Fair Value

The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers into or out of level 1, level 2, or level 3 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments (available-for-sale and trading):
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Student loan and other asset-backed securities
$

 
72,427

 
72,427

 

 
103,780

 
103,780

Equity securities
2,875

 

 
2,875

 
2,694

 

 
2,694

Debt securities
111

 

 
111

 
119

 

 
119

Total investments (available-for-sale and trading)
2,986

 
72,427

 
75,413

 
2,813

 
103,780

 
106,593

Derivative instruments

 
996

 
996

 

 
87,531

 
87,531

Total assets
$
2,986

 
73,423

 
76,409

 
2,813

 
191,311

 
194,124

Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$

 
30,105

 
30,105

 

 
77,826

 
77,826

Total liabilities
$

 
30,105

 
30,105

 

 
77,826

 
77,826


The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
Fair value
 
Carrying value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable
$
23,635,887

 
22,528,845

 

 

 
23,635,887

Cash and cash equivalents
254,391

 
254,391

 
254,391

 

 

Investments (available-for-sale)
75,413

 
75,413

 
2,986

 
72,427

 

Notes receivable
16,393

 
16,393

 

 
16,393

 

Loans receivable
42,006

 
40,339

 

 

 
42,006

Restricted cash
725,463

 
725,463

 
725,463

 

 

Restricted cash – due to customers
105,299

 
105,299

 
105,299

 

 

Accrued interest receivable
396,827

 
396,827

 

 
396,827

 

Derivative instruments
996

 
996

 

 
996

 

Financial liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
22,319,439

 
22,240,279

 

 
22,319,439

 

Accrued interest payable
47,824

 
47,824

 

 
47,824

 

Due to customers
105,299

 
105,299

 
105,299

 

 

Derivative instruments
30,105

 
30,105

 

 
30,105

 

 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Fair value
 
Carrying value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Student loans receivable
$
25,653,581

 
24,903,724

 

 

 
25,653,581

Cash and cash equivalents
69,654

 
69,654

 
69,654

 

 

Investments (available-for-sale and trading)
106,593

 
106,593

 
2,813

 
103,780

 

Notes receivable
17,031

 
17,031

 

 
17,031

 

Restricted cash
980,961

 
980,961

 
980,961

 

 

Restricted cash – due to customers
119,702

 
119,702

 
119,702

 

 

Accrued interest receivable
391,264

 
391,264

 

 
391,264

 

Derivative instruments
87,531

 
87,531

 

 
87,531

 

Financial liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Bonds and notes payable
24,220,996

 
24,668,490

 

 
24,220,996

 

Accrued interest payable
45,677

 
45,677

 

 
45,677

 

Due to customers
119,702

 
119,702

 
119,702

 

 

Derivative instruments
77,826

 
77,826

 

 
77,826

 

 
The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities are described in note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report.


26



14. Subsequent Events

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.

On October 25, 2017, the Company completed a remarketing of its Euro Notes which reset the principal amount outstanding on the Euro Notes from €352.7 million to $450.0 million U.S. dollars and reset the interest rate from an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index to an interest rate based on the 3-month LIBOR index. As a result of the remarketing, the Company terminated its cross-currency interest rate swap associated with the Euro Notes. The pre-tax GAAP income statement impact of this remarketing and swap termination was a non-cash expense of $10.6 million that will be included in “Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net” on the consolidated statements of income.    

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. All dollars are in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted.)

The following discussion and analysis provides information that the Company’s management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the consolidated results of operations and financial condition of the Company.  The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

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,” “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 2016 Annual Report and elsewhere in this 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;

27



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 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.

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.


28



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 September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,303

 
84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments
(21,429
)
 
(47,093
)
 
(22,381
)
 
1,556

Unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments
13,683

 
4,831

 
45,635

 
13,543

Net tax effect (a)
2,943

 
16,060

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

 
58,092

 
139,482

 
167,767

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

 
1.98

 
2.97

 
3.70

Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments
(0.51
)
 
(1.10
)
 
(0.53
)
 
0.03

Unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustments
0.33

 
0.11

 
1.09

 
0.32

Net tax effect (a)
0.07

 
0.37

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

 
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.

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, 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. 

29



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.

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).

segopresults2017q3a01.jpg

30



(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. See "Results of Operations" for each reportable operating segment and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" under this Item 2 for additional detail.

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 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 16, 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.


31



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.

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 additional 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.

32



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.

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.


33



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.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

An analysis of the Company's operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 is provided below.

The Company’s operating results are primarily driven by the performance of its existing portfolio and the revenues generated by its fee-based businesses and the costs to provide such services.  The performance of the Company’s portfolio is driven by net interest income (which includes financing costs) and losses related to credit quality of the assets, along with the cost to administer and service the assets and related debt.

The Company operates as distinct reportable operating segments as described above. For a reconciliation of the reportable segment operating results to the consolidated results of operations, see note 10 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report. Since the Company monitors and assesses its operations and results based on these segments, the discussion following the consolidated results of operations is presented on a reportable segment basis.

34



 
Three months
 
Nine months
 
 
 
ended September 30,
 
ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Loan interest
$
191,755

 
193,721

 
562,451

 
567,775

 
Decrease due to a decrease in the average balance of student loans, a decrease in gross fixed rate floor income, and an adjustment recorded during the third quarter of 2016 to reflect the net impact on prior periods for a correction of an error regarding the Company's method of applying the interest method to amortize premiums and accrete discounts on its student loan portfolio, partially offset by an increase in the gross yield earned on the student loan portfolio.
Investment interest
5,129

 
2,460

 
11,335

 
6,674

 
Includes income from unrestricted interest-earning deposits and investments and funds in asset-backed securitizations. The increase in 2017 compared to 2016 is due to an increase in interest-earning investments and an increase in interest rates.
Total interest income
196,884

 
196,181

 
573,786

 
574,449

 
 
Interest expense
121,650

 
96,386

 
341,787

 
280,847

 
Increase due primarily to an increase in the Company's cost of funds, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of debt outstanding.
Net interest income
75,234

 
99,795

 
231,999

 
293,602

 
See table below for additional analysis.
Less provision for loan losses
6,000

 
6,000

 
9,000

 
10,500

 
Represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance appropriate to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio of student loans. See AGM operating segment - results of operations.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
69,234

 
93,795

 
222,999

 
283,102

 
 
Other income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
LSS revenue
55,950

 
54,350

 
167,079

 
161,082

 
See LSS operating segment - results of operations.
TPP&CC revenue
35,450

 
33,071

 
113,293

 
102,211

 
See TPP&CC operating segment - results of operations.
Communications revenue
6,751

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

 
See Communications operating segment - results of operations.
Enrollment services revenue

 

 

 
4,326

 
On February 1, 2016, the Company sold Sparkroom LLC. After this sale, the Company no longer earns enrollment services revenue.
Other income
19,756

 
15,150

 
44,874

 
38,711

 
See table below for the components of "other income."
Gain from debt repurchases
116

 
2,160

 
5,537

 
2,260

 
Gains are from the Company repurchasing its own debt. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company initiated a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding Hybrid Securities. The Company paid $25.3 million to redeem $29.7 million of these notes and recognized a gain of $4.4 million. Other gains are from the repurchase of the Company's asset-backed debt securities.
Derivative settlements, net
(573
)
 
(6,261
)
 
(2,314
)
 
(18,292
)
 
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. See table below for additional analysis.
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net
7,746

 
42,262

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

 
145,075

 
322,792

 
288,366

 
 
Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Salaries and benefits
74,193

 
63,743

 
220,684

 
187,907

 
Increase was due to an (i) increase in contract programming related to the GreatNet joint venture and an increase in personnel to support the increase in volume of loans serviced for the government entering repayment status and the increase in private education and consumer loan servicing volume in the LSS operating segment; (ii) increase in personnel to support the growth in revenue in the TPP&CC operating segment; and (iii) increase in personnel at Allo to support the Lincoln, Nebraska network expansion. See each individual operating segment results of operations discussion for additional information.
Depreciation and amortization
10,051

 
8,994

 
27,687

 
24,817

 
Increase was due to additional depreciation expense at Allo. Since the acquisition of Allo on December 31, 2015, there has been a significant amount of property and equipment purchases to support the Lincoln, Nebraska network expansion.
Loan servicing fees
7,939

 
5,880

 
19,584

 
20,024

 
Increase for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to a payment of $2.8 million in conversion fees related to a transfer of loans in August 2017 from a third-party servicer to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform. Excluding the $2.8 million conversion fee paid in the third quarter of 2017, loan servicing fees paid to third-parties decreased $0.7 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 due to runoff of the Company's student loan portfolio and transfers of loans in August 2017 and June 2016 from third-party servicers to the LSS's servicing platform.
Cost to provide communication services
2,632

 
1,784

 
6,789

 
5,169

 
Represents costs of services and products primarily associated with television programming costs in the Communications operating segment.
Cost to provide enrollment services

 

 

 
3,623

 
On February 1, 2016, the Company sold Sparkroom LLC. After this sale, the Company no longer provides enrollment services.
Other expenses
30,518

 
26,391

 
84,593

 
84,174

 
Increase was a result of an increase in operating expenses due to GreatNet, additional costs to support the increase in payment plans and campus commerce activity, and an increase in operating expenses at Allo to support the Lincoln, Nebraska network expansion, partially offset by the elimination of FFELP guaranty collection costs. The Company's remaining guaranty collection client exited the FFELP guaranty business at the end of their contract term on June 30, 2016, and after this date the Company has no remaining guaranty collection revenue. Accordingly, there were no collection costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to no collection costs and $3.5 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
Total operating expenses
125,333

 
106,792

 
359,337

 
325,714

 
 

35



Income before income taxes
69,097

 
132,078

 
186,454

 
245,754

 
 
Income tax expense
25,562

 
47,715

 
70,349

 
87,184

 
The effective tax rate was 35.60% and 36.15% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 36.00% and 35.50% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was due to the resolution of certain tax positions during the first quarter of 2016.
Net income
43,535

 
84,363

 
116,105

 
158,570

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

 
(69
)
 
8,960

 
(165
)
 
In 2017, represents primarily the net loss of GreatNet attributable to Great Lakes. See "Noncontrolling Interest" in note 1 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,303

 
84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
46,303

 
84,294

 
125,065

 
158,405

 
See "Overview - GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Adjustments" above for additional information about non-GAAP net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments.
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net
(7,746
)
 
(42,262
)
 
23,254

 
15,099

 
Net tax effect
2,943

 
16,060

 
(8,837
)
 
(5,737
)
 
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc., excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments
$
41,500

 
58,092

 
139,482

 
167,767

 

36



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 note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on the Company's derivative instruments, including the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative for the periods presented in the table under the caption "Income Statement Impact" in note 4 and in the table below. 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Variable student loan interest margin
$
46,683

 
57,442

 
139,082

 
159,932

 
Represents the yield the Company receives on its student loan portfolio less the cost of funding these loans. Variable student loan spread is also impacted by the amortization/accretion of loan premiums and discounts and the 1.05% per year consolidation loan rebate fee paid to the Department. 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. 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. See AGM operating segment - results of operations.
Settlements on associated derivatives
(4,265
)
 
(871
)
 
(7,598
)
 
(2,355
)
 
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps and cross-currency interest rate swap.
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
42,418

 
56,571

 
131,484

 
157,577

 
 
Fixed rate floor income
24,586

 
41,509

 
84,382

 
131,720

 
The Company has a portfolio of student loans that are earning interest at a fixed borrower rate which exceeds the statutorily defined variable lender rates, generating fixed rate floor income. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk" for additional information.
Settlements on associated derivatives
3,883

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

 
(15,241
)
 
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s floor income interest rate swaps.
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
28,469

 
36,352

 
90,259

 
116,479

 
 
Investment interest
5,129

 
2,460

 
11,335

 
6,674

 
 
Corporate debt interest expense
(1,164
)
 
(1,616
)
 
(2,800
)
 
(4,724
)
 
Includes interest expense on the Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities and unsecured line of credit. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased $29.7 million of its Hybrid Securities. In addition, the weighted average balance outstanding under the Company's unsecured line of credit was lower during 2017 as compared to 2016. These factors resulted in less corporate debt interest expense in 2017 as compared to 2016.
Non-portfolio related derivative settlements
(191
)
 
(233
)
 
(593
)
 
(696
)
 
Includes the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s hybrid debt hedges.

Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)
$
74,661

 
93,534

 
229,685

 
275,310

 
 




37



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

 
1,535

 
11,661

 
3,367

Peterson's revenue
3,402

 
4,128

 
9,282

 
10,655

Borrower late fee income
2,731

 
3,158

 
9,098

 
9,910

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

 
506

 
3,185

 
1,444

Other
5,303

 
5,823

 
11,648

 
13,335

Other income
$
19,756

 
15,150

 
44,874

 
38,711




38



LOAN SYSTEMS AND SERVICING OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)
lnservvol2017q3a02.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








39



Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Net interest income
$
147

 
37

 
361

 
80

 

Loan systems and servicing revenue
55,950

 
54,350

 
167,079

 
161,082

 
See table below for additional analysis.
Intersegment servicing revenue
10,563

 
11,021

 
30,839

 
34,436

 
Represents revenue earned by the LSS operating segment as a result of servicing loans for the AGM operating segment. Decrease was due to a decrease in loans serviced for the AGM segment during the comparable periods due to portfolio run-off. In August 2017, the AGM operating segment converted $3.1 billion of loans from a third-party servicer to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform.
Total other income
66,513

 
65,371

 
197,918

 
195,518

 

Salaries and benefits
38,435

 
32,505

 
116,932

 
96,851

 
Increase due to contract programming related to GreatNet and an increase in personnel to support the increase in volume of loans serviced for the government entering repayment status and the increase in private education and consumer loan servicing volume.
Depreciation and amortization
549

 
557

 
1,644

 
1,440

 

Other expenses
10,317

 
8,784

 
28,333

 
31,635

 
Increase in the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to increase in operating expenses related to GreatNet. Decrease in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due primarily to the elimination of FFELP guaranty collection costs directly related to the loss of FFELP guaranty collection revenue. There were no collection costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and three months ended September 30, 2016, and $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Excluding collection costs, other expenses were $28.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. See additional information below regarding the loss of FFELP guaranty collection revenue.
Intersegment expenses, net
7,774

 
5,825

 
23,496

 
18,168

 
Intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities and services that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses
57,075

 
47,671

 
170,405

 
148,094

 

Income before income taxes
9,585

 
17,737

 
27,874

 
47,504

 

Income tax expense
(4,937
)
 
(6,740
)
 
(14,410
)
 
(18,052
)
 
Reflects income tax expense based on 38% of income before taxes and the net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.
Net income
4,648

 
10,997

 
13,464

 
29,452

 

  Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
3,408

 

 
10,050

 

 
Represents the net loss of GreatNet attributable to Great Lakes. See "Noncontrolling Interest" in note 1 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Net income attributable to
Nelnet, Inc.
$
8,056

 
10,997

 
23,514

 
29,452

 
 
Before tax operating margin
14.4
%
 
27.1
%
 
14.1
%
 
24.3
%
 
Decrease in margin due to increases in salaries and benefits and other operating expenses as described above (including costs incurred related to GreatNet) and the loss of the guaranty business which had higher margin than the remaining businesses. Before tax operating margin, excluding the net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (Great Lakes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 18.5% and 18.2%, respectively.


40



Loan systems and servicing revenue
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Government servicing
$
38,594

 
40,159

 
117,409

 
112,453

 
Increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to an increase in application volume for the Company's administration of the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD) and Direct Loan Consolidation programs, the transfer of borrowers 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. Decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to lower TPD application volume. On August 15, 2017, the Department provided an update on its Direct Loan servicing contract with performance metrics results for the period January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017 and new volume allocations for its student loan servicers based on these results. The new performance results had the Company ranked fourth among all TIVAS and NFP servicers, which resulted in the Company being allocated 11 percent of new student loan servicing volume for the period September 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018. The Company ranked second among the four large TIVAS, with Great Lakes ranking first.
FFELP servicing
3,979

 
4,541

 
11,693

 
11,864

 
Decrease due to conversion revenue recognized during the third quarter of 2016. Over time, FFELP servicing revenue will decrease as third-party customers' FFELP portfolios run off.
Private education and consumer loan servicing
7,596

 
4,142

 
20,535

 
10,715

 
Increase due to growth in loan servicing volume from existing and new clients.
FFELP guaranty servicing

 

 

 
2,349

 
The Company’s remaining guaranty servicing client exited the FFELP guaranty business at the end of their contract term on June 30, 2016, and after this date the Company has no remaining guaranty servicing revenue.
FFELP guaranty collection

 

 

 
7,211

 
The Company’s remaining guaranty collection client exited the FFELP guaranty business at the end of their contract term on June 30, 2016, and after this date the Company has no remaining guaranty collection revenue. The Company incurred collection costs that were directly related to guaranty collection revenue.
Software services
4,430

 
4,491

 
13,093

 
13,753

 
The majority of software services revenue relates to providing hosted student loan servicing. The decrease in 2017 as compared to 2016 was due to (i) a not-for-profit servicer exiting the loan servicing business in August 2016, resulting in a transfer of its servicing volume to the Company that is included in the Company's government servicing volume; (ii) a shift in the composition of loans serviced by remote hosted customers from borrowers in higher paying repayment status to in-school status; and (iii) a decrease in revenue from other software service products. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in the number of remote hosted borrowers.
 Other
1,351

 
1,017

 
4,349

 
2,737

 
Increase due to growth in contact center outsourcing activities.
Loan systems and servicing revenue
$
55,950

 
54,350

 
167,079

 
161,082

 
 

41



TUITION PAYMENT PROCESSING AND CAMPUS COMMERCE OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This segment of the Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations which correspond, or are related to, the traditional school year. Tuition management revenue is recognized over the course of the academic term, but the peak operational activities take place in summer and early fall. Higher amounts of revenue are typically recognized during the first quarter due to fees related to grant and aid applications as well as online applications and enrollment services.  The Company’s operating expenses do not follow the seasonality of the revenues. This is primarily due to generally fixed year-round personnel costs and seasonal marketing costs. Based on the timing of revenue recognition and when expenses are incurred, revenue and pre-tax operating margin are higher in the first quarter as compared to the remainder of the year.

Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Net interest income
$
5

 
2

 
10

 
7

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

 
33,071

 
113,293

 
102,211

 
Increase was due to an increase in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customer transactions and payments volume, and new school customers.
Salaries and benefits
17,432

 
15,979

 
50,986

 
45,859

 
Increase due to additional personnel to support the increase in payment plans and campus commerce activity and continued investments in and enhancements of payment plan and campus commerce systems and products.
Depreciation and amortization
2,316

 
2,929

 
7,053

 
7,711

 
 
Other expenses
4,224

 
4,149

 
14,072

 
13,122

 
Increase due to additional costs to support the increase in payment plans and campus commerce activity and continued investments in and enhancements of payment plan and campus commerce systems and products.
Intersegment expenses, net
2,219

 
1,616

 
6,430

 
4,690

 
Intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities and services that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses
26,191

 
24,673

 
78,541

 
71,382

 
 
Income before income taxes
9,264

 
8,400

 
34,762

 
30,836

 
 
Income tax expense
(3,520
)
 
(3,192
)
 
(13,210
)
 
(11,718
)
 
 
Net income
$
5,744

 
5,208

 
21,552

 
19,118

 
 
Before tax operating margin
26.1
%
 
25.4
%
 
30.7
%
 
30.2
%
 
 


42



COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Net interest income (expense)
$
(1,550
)
 
(318
)
 
(3,365
)
 
(670
)
 
Allo has a line of credit with Nelnet, Inc. (parent company). The interest expense incurred by Allo and related interest income earned by Nelnet, Inc. is eliminated for the Company's consolidated financial statements. The average outstanding balance on this line of credit for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $131.4 million and $35.7 million, respectively, and $98.3 million and $24.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The proceeds from debt were used by Allo for network capital expenditures and related expenses.
Communications revenue
6,751

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

 
Communications revenue is derived primarily from the sale of pure fiber optic services to residential and business customers in Nebraska, including internet, television, and telephone services. Increase was primarily due to additional residential households served. See additional financial and operating data for Allo in the tables below.
Salaries and benefits
4,099

 
2,325

 
10,489

 
4,792

 
Since the acquisition of Allo on December 31, 2015, there has been a significant increase in personnel to support the Lincoln, Nebraska network expansion. As of December 31, 2015, September 30, 2016, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2017, Allo had 97, 279, 318, and 464 employees, respectively, including part-time employees. Allo also uses temporary employees in the normal course of business. Certain costs qualify for capitalization as Allo builds its network.
Depreciation and amortization
3,145

 
1,630

 
7,880

 
4,137

 
Depreciation reflects the allocation of the costs of Allo's property and equipment over the period in which such assets are used. Since the acquisition of Allo on December 31, 2015, there has been a significant amount of property and equipment purchases to support the Lincoln, Nebraska network expansion. Amortization reflects the allocation of costs related to intangible assets recorded at fair value as of the date the Company acquired Allo over their estimated useful lives.
Cost to provide communications services
2,632

 
1,784

 
6,789

 
5,169

 
Cost of services and products primarily associated with television programming costs.
Other expenses
2,278

 
1,545

 
5,422

 
3,110

 
Other operating expenses includes selling, general, and administrative expenses necessary for operations, such as advertising, occupancy, professional services, construction materials, personal property taxes, and provision for losses on accounts receivable. Increase was due to expansion of the Lincoln, Nebraska network and number of households served.
Intersegment expenses, net
470

 
279

 
1,472

 
610

 
Intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities and services that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses
12,624

 
7,563

 
32,052

 
17,818

 
 
Loss before income taxes
(7,423
)
 
(3,538
)
 
(17,840
)
 
(5,321
)
 
 
Income tax benefit
2,821

 
1,344

 
6,779

 
2,022

 
 
Net loss
$
(4,602
)
 
(2,194
)
 
(11,061
)
 
(3,299
)
 
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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional Information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(4,602
)
 
(2,194
)
 
(11,061
)
 
(3,299
)
 
 
Net interest expense
1,550

 
318

 
3,365

 
670

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

 
1,630

 
7,880

 
4,137

 
 
Earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA)
$
(2,728
)
 
(1,590
)
 
(6,595
)
 
(514
)
 
For additional information regarding this non-GAAP measure, see the table below.


43



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

 
2,643

 
11,862

 
7,695

Business revenue
2,003

 
1,565

 
5,514

 
4,777

Other revenue
57

 
135

 
201

 
695

Total revenue
$
6,751

 
4,343

 
17,577

 
13,167

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

 
12,610

 
78,430

 
24,647

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

 
32.5

 
30.7

 
32.2

Telephone
20.6

 
27.2

 
22.5

 
27.1

Other
1.9

 
(0.2
)
 
2.2

 
2.2

 
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 net income (loss) under GAAP is presented under "Summary and Comparison of Operating Results" in the table above.
(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.

44



ASSET GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Student Loan Portfolio

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. For a summary of the Company’s student loan portfolio as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
 
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

 
Allowance for Loan Losses and Loan Delinquencies

The Company maintains an allowance that management believes is appropriate to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in the portfolio of student loans, which results in periodic expense provisions for loan losses. Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s earnings through increased servicing and collection costs and account charge-offs.  

For a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and a summary of the Company's student loan delinquency amounts as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2016, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

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.

Provision for loan losses for federally insured loans was also $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company determined an additional allowance was necessary related to a $1.2 billion (principal balance as of September 30, 2016) portfolio of federally insured rehabilitation loans that were purchased in 2012 and 2013, and recognized $5.0 million (pre-tax) in provision expense related to these loans.

For loans purchased where there is evidence of credit deterioration since the origination of the loan, the Company records a credit discount, separate from the allowance for loan losses, which is non-accretable to interest income.  Remaining discounts and premiums for purchased loans are recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated lives of the loans.  The Company continues to evaluate credit losses associated with purchased loans based on current information and changes in expectations to determine the need for any additional allowance for loan losses. 

The Company recorded a negative provision for private education loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 due to better than expected credit performance.




45



Student Loan Spread Analysis

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. The spread amounts included in the following table are calculated by using the notional dollar values found in the table under the caption "Net interest income, net of settlements on derivatives" below, divided by the average balance of student loans or debt outstanding.
 
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 note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on the Company's derivative instruments, including the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative for the periods presented in the table under the caption "Income Statement Impact" in note 4 and 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.

46



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. See Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk,” which provides additional detail on the Company’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets.

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.

The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned during 2017 and 2016 are due to historically low interest rates.  If interest rates remain low, the Company anticipates continuing to earn significant fixed rate floor income in future periods. The decrease in gross fixed rate floor income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 was due to an increase in interest rates. See Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk,” which provides additional detail on the Company’s portfolio earning fixed rate floor income and the derivatives used by the Company to hedge these loans.

47



Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
$
67,894

 
93,318

 
218,763

 
281,861

 
See table below for additional analysis.
Other income
2,753

 
4,265

 
9,152

 
12,362

 
The primary component of other income is borrower late fees, which were $2.7 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.1 million and $9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Gain from debt repurchases
116

 
2,160

 
1,097

 
2,260

 
Gains were from the Company repurchasing its own asset-backed debt securities.
Derivative settlements, net
(382
)
 
(6,028
)
 
(1,721
)
 
(17,596
)
 
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 as reflected in the table below.
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net
7,702

 
42,546

 
(23,121
)
 
(8,763
)
 
Includes (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 unrealized foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.
Total other income (expense)
10,189

 
42,943

 
(14,593
)
 
(11,737
)
 
 
Salaries and benefits
392

 
486

 
1,156

 
1,504

 
 
Loan servicing fees
7,939

 
5,880

 
19,584

 
20,024

 
Increase for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to a payment of $2.8 million in conversion fees related to a transfer of loans in August 2017 from a third-party servicer to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform. Excluding the $2.8 million conversion fee paid in the third quarter of 2017, loan servicing fees paid to third parties decreased $0.7 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 due to runoff of the Company's student loan portfolio and transfers of loans in August 2017 and June 2016 from third-party servicers to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform.
Other expenses
1,451

 
1,769

 
4,269

 
4,766

 
 
Intersegment expenses, net
10,659

 
11,146

 
31,114

 
34,791

 
Amounts include fees paid to the LSS operating segment for the servicing of the Company’s student loan portfolio. These amounts exceed the actual cost of servicing the loans. Decrease due to a decrease in loans serviced by the LSS operating segment during the comparable periods due to portfolio runoff. In addition, intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities and services that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses
20,441

 
19,281

 
56,123

 
61,085

 
Total operating expenses were 35 basis points and 29 basis points of the average balance of student loans for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 31 basis points and 30 basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. When excluding the $2.8 million conversion fees paid in August 2017 to a third-party to transfer loans to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform, total operating expenses were 30, 29, 30 and 30 basis points for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Income before income taxes
57,642

 
116,980

 
148,047

 
209,039

 
 
Income tax expense
(21,904
)
 
(44,571
)
 
(56,258
)
 
(79,434
)
 
 
Net income
$
35,738

 
72,409

 
91,789

 
129,605

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

48



Additional information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
35,738

 
72,409

 
91,789

 
129,605

 
 
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net
(7,702
)
 
(42,546
)
 
23,121

 
8,763

 
See "Overview - GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Adjustments" above for additional information about non-GAAP net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments. Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, decreased in 2017 as compared to 2016 due to (i) a decrease in the Company's student loan portfolio, (ii) a decrease in core student loan spread, (iii) a $2.8 million ($1.7 million after tax) expense related to conversion fees paid in August 2017 to a third-party to transfer loans to the LSS operating segment's servicing platform, and (iv) an increase in interest income of $8.2 million ($5.1 million after tax) recognized in the third quarter of 2016 related to a correction of an error as further described in note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Net tax effect
2,927

 
16,167

 
(8,786
)
 
(3,330
)
 
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments
$
30,963

 
46,030

 
106,124

 
135,038

 

49



Net interest income, net of settlements on derivatives

The following table summarizes the components of "net interest income after provision for loan losses" and "derivative settlements, net." 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Additional information
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Variable interest income, gross
$
211,785

 
194,877

 
616,474

 
585,299

 
Increase due to an increase in the gross yield earned on student loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of student loans.
Consolidation rebate fees
(48,986
)
 
(55,131
)
 
(151,469
)
 
(170,352
)
 
Decrease due to a decrease in the average consolidation loan balance.
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization
4,371

 
12,466

 
13,064

 
21,109

 
Net discount accretion is due to the Company's purchases of loans at a net discount over the last several years. 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.
Variable interest income, net
167,170

 
152,212

 
478,069

 
436,056

 
 
Interest on bonds and notes payable
(120,487
)
 
(94,770
)
 
(338,987
)
 
(276,124
)
 
Increase due to an increase in cost of funds, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of debt outstanding.
Derivative settlements, net (a)
(4,265
)
 
(871
)
 
(7,598
)
 
(2,355
)
 
Derivative settlements include the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps and cross-currency interest rate swap.
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives (a)
42,418

 
56,571

 
131,484

 
157,577

 
 
Fixed rate floor income, gross
24,586

 
41,509

 
84,382

 
131,720

 
The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned are due to historically low interest rates. Fixed rate floor income has decreased due to the rising interest rate environment. Derivative settlements include the net settlements paid/received related to the Company’s floor income interest rate swaps.
Derivative settlements, net (a)
3,883

 
(5,157
)
 
5,877

 
(15,241
)
 
Derivative settlements include the settlements paid/received related to the Company's floor income interest rate swaps.
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
28,469

 
36,352

 
90,259

 
116,479

 
 
Core student loan interest income
70,887

 
92,923

 
221,743

 
274,056

 
 
Investment interest
3,213

 
980

 
6,210

 
2,614

 
Increase due to a higher balance of interest-earning investments and an increase in interest rates.
Intercompany interest
(588
)
 
(613
)
 
(1,911
)
 
(1,905
)
 
 
Provision for loan losses - federally insured loans
(7,000
)
 
(7,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
See "Allowance for Loan Losses and Loan Delinquencies" included above under "Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment - Results of Operations."
Negative provision for loan losses - private education loans
1,000

 
1,000

 
2,000

 
500

 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses (net of settlements on derivatives) (a)
$
67,512

 
87,290

 
217,042

 
264,265

 
 

(a)
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 on 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 this table. Core student loan interest income and net interest income after provision for loan losses (net of settlements on derivatives) are non-GAAP financial measures, 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

50



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 note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on the Company's derivative instruments, including the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative referred to in the "Additional information" column of this table, for the periods presented in the table under the caption "Income Statement Impact" in note 4 and in this table.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s Loan Systems and Servicing and Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce operating segments are non-capital intensive and both produce positive operating cash flows. As such, a minimal amount of debt and equity capital is allocated to these segments and any liquidity or capital needs are satisfied using cash flow from operations. Therefore, the following Liquidity and Capital Resources discussion is concentrated on the Company’s liquidity and capital needs to meet existing debt obligations in the Asset Generation and Management operating segment and capital needs to expand Allo's communications network in the Company's Communications operating segment.

Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity

The Company has historically generated positive cash flow from operations.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company's net cash provided from operating activities was $230.3 million and $325.3 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $254.4 million. The Company also 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.

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

In addition, the Company has repurchased certain of its own asset-backed securities (bonds and notes payable) in the secondary market. For accounting purposes, these notes are eliminated in consolidation and are not included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. However, these securities remain legally outstanding at the trust level and the Company could sell these notes to third parties or redeem the notes at par as cash is generated by the trust estate.  Upon a sale of these notes to third parties, the Company would obtain cash proceeds equal to the market value of the notes on the date of such sale. As of September 30, 2017, the Company holds $81.1 million (par value) of its own asset-backed securities.

The Company intends to use its liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP, 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.

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. The Company plans to finance the acquisition with existing cash and by using its $350.0 million unsecured line of credit.


51



Cash Flows

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated $230.3 million from operating activities, compared to $258.8 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities reflects the decrease in net income, changes in the adjustments to net income from derivative market value adjustments and the impact of changes in accounts receivable and accrued interest payable during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016. These factors were partially offset by an increase in the adjustments to net income for depreciation and amortization, changes in adjustments for foreign currency transaction adjustments, the impact of changes in other liabilities, and net proceeds received in 2017 from the Company's clearinghouse to settle variation margin.

The primary items included in the statement of cash flows for investing activities are the purchase and repayment of student loans. The primary items included in financing activities are the proceeds from the issuance of and payments on bonds and notes payable used to fund student loans. Cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. Cash used in financing activities was $2.6 billion and $2.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Investing and financing activities are further addressed in the discussion that follows.

Liquidity Needs and Sources of Liquidity Available to Satisfy Debt Obligations Secured by Student Loan Assets and Related Collateral

The following table shows the Company's debt obligations outstanding that are secured by student loan assets and related collateral.
 
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
Carrying
amount
 
Final maturity
Bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations
$
21,632,934

 
8/25/21 - 9/25/65
FFELP warehouse facilities
745,107

 
11/19/19 - 4/27/20
 
$
22,378,041

 
 

Bonds and Notes Issued in Asset-backed Securitizations

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

As of September 30, 2017, based on cash flow models developed to reflect management’s current estimate of, among other factors, prepayments, defaults, deferment, forbearance, and interest rates, the Company currently expects future undiscounted cash flows from its portfolio to be approximately $1.93 billion as detailed below.  The $1.93 billion includes approximately $821.9 million (as of September 30, 2017) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations.  These excess net asset positions are reflected variously in the following balances in the consolidated balance sheet:  "student loans receivable," "restricted cash," and "accrued interest receivable."

The forecasted cash flow presented below includes all loans funded in asset-backed securitizations as of September 30, 2017.  As of September 30, 2017, the Company had $21.9 billion of loans included in asset-backed securitizations, which represented 96.5 percent of its total FFELP and private education student loan portfolio. The forecasted cash flow does not include cash flows that the Company expects to receive related to loans funded in its warehouse facilities as of September 30, 2017, private education loans funded with cash on the balance sheet, and loans acquired subsequent to September 30, 2017.








52



Asset-backed Securitization Cash Flow Forecast
$1.93 billion
(dollars in millions)
abscashflowfcst2017q3.jpg
The Company uses various assumptions, including prepayments and future interest rates, when preparing its cash flow forecast.  These assumptions are further discussed below.

Prepayments:  The primary variable in establishing a life of loan estimate is the level and timing of prepayments. Prepayment rates equal the amount of loans that prepay annually as a percentage of the beginning of period balance, net of scheduled principal payments.  A number of factors can affect estimated prepayment rates, including the level of consolidation activity, borrower default rates, and utilization of debt management options such as income-based repayment, deferments, and forbearance.  Should any of these factors change, management may revise its assumptions, which in turn would impact the projected future cash flow. The Company’s cash flow forecast above assumes prepayment rates that are generally consistent with those utilized in the Company’s recent asset-backed securitization transactions. If management used a prepayment rate assumption two times greater than what was used to forecast the cash flow, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $220 million to $250 million.

Interest rates:  The Company funds a majority of its student loans with three-month LIBOR indexed floating rate securities.  Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets is indexed primarily to a one-month LIBOR rate.  The different interest rate characteristics of the Company’s loan assets and liabilities funding these assets result in basis risk.  The Company’s cash flow forecast assumes three-month LIBOR will exceed one-month LIBOR by 12 basis points for the life of the portfolio, which approximates the historical relationship between these indices.  If the forecast is computed assuming a spread of 24 basis points between three-month and one-month LIBOR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $95 million to $115 million.

The Company uses the current forward interest rate yield curve to forecast cash flows.  A change in the forward interest rate curve would impact the future cash flows generated from the portfolio.  An increase in future interest rates will reduce the amount of fixed rate floor income the Company is currently receiving.  The Company attempts to mitigate the impact of a rise in short-term rates by hedging interest rate risks. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Interest Rate Risk."

FFELP Warehouse Facilities

The Company funds a portion of its FFELP loan acquisitions using its FFELP warehouse facilities. Student loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage student loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities with an aggregate maximum financing amount available

53



of $1.2 billion, of which $0.7 billion was outstanding, and $0.5 billion was available for additional funding. Of the three facilities, one facility provides for formula-based advance rates, depending on FFELP loan type, up to a maximum of the principal and interest of loans financed. The advance rates for collateral may increase or decrease based on market conditions. The other two FFELP warehouse facilities have static advance rates that require initial equity for loan funding, but do not require increased equity based on market movements. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had $28.4 million advanced as equity support on these facilities. For further discussion of the Company's FFELP warehouse facilities outstanding at September 30, 2017, see note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Upon termination or expiration of the warehouse facilities, the Company would expect to access the securitization market, obtain replacement warehouse facilities, use operating cash, consider the sale of assets, or transfer collateral to satisfy any remaining obligations.

Other Uses of Liquidity

Effective July 1, 2010, no new loan originations can be made under the FFEL Program and all new federal loan originations must be made through the Federal Direct Loan Program.  As a result, the Company no longer originates new FFELP loans, but continues to acquire FFELP loan portfolios from third parties and believes additional loan purchase opportunities exist.

The Company plans to fund additional FFELP student loan acquisitions using current cash and investments; using its Union Bank participation agreement (as described below); using its FFELP warehouse facilities (as described above); and continuing to access the asset-backed securities market.

Union Bank Participation Agreement

The Company maintains an agreement with Union Bank, a related party, as trustee for various grantor trusts, under which Union Bank has agreed to purchase from the Company participation interests in student loans. As of September 30, 2017, $461.3 million of loans were subject to outstanding participation interests held by Union Bank, as trustee, under this agreement. The agreement automatically renews annually and is terminable by either party upon five business days' notice. This agreement provides beneficiaries of Union Bank’s grantor trusts with access to investments in interests in student loans, while providing liquidity to the Company.  The Company can participate loans to Union Bank to the extent of availability under the grantor trusts, up to $750.0 million or an amount in excess of $750.0 million if mutually agreed to by both parties.  Loans participated under this agreement have been accounted for by the Company as loan sales.  Accordingly, the participation interests sold are not included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Asset-Backed Securities Transactions

On May 24, 2017 and July 26, 2017, the Company completed asset-backed securitizations totaling $535.0 million (par value) and $399.4 million (par value), respectively. The proceeds from these transactions were used primarily to refinance student loans included in the Company's FFELP warehouse facilities.

Depending on future rating agency actions and market conditions, the Company currently anticipates continuing to access the asset-backed securitization market. Such asset-backed securitization transactions would be used to refinance student loans included in its warehouse facilities, student loans purchased from third parties, and/or student loans in its existing asset-backed securitizations.

Liquidity Impact Related to Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage interest rate sensitivity. By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to market risk which could impact its liquidity. Based on the derivative portfolio outstanding as of September 30, 2017, the Company does not currently anticipate any movement in interest rates having a material impact on its capital or liquidity profile, nor does the Company expect that any movement in interest rates would have a material impact on its ability to meet potential collateral deposits with its counterparties and/or variation margin payments with its third-party clearinghouse. However, if interest rates move materially and negatively impact the fair value of the Company's derivative portfolio or if the Company enters into additional derivatives for which the fair value becomes negative, the Company could be required to deposit additional collateral with its derivative instrument counterparties and/or pay additional variation margin to a third-party clearinghouse. Derivative contracts executed through a clearinghouse require daily movement of variation margin to be exchanged based on the net fair value of the contracts. The collateral deposits or variation margin, if significant, could negatively impact the Company's liquidity and capital resources. See note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on the Company's derivative portfolio.

54



Liquidity Impact Related to the Communications Operating Segment

Allo has made significant investments in its communications network and currently provides fiber directly to homes and businesses in seven Nebraska communities. In the first quarter of 2016, Allo announced plans to expand its network to make its 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. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Allo's capital expenditures were $78.4 million. The Company anticipates total Allo 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. Allo had a $200.0 million line of credit with Nelnet, Inc. (parent company) that was increased on September 30, 2017 by $70.0 million to a total of $270.0 million, which Allo uses for its operating activities and capital expenditures. The outstanding amount owed by Allo to Nelnet, Inc. and the related interest expense incurred by Allo and the interest income recognized by Nelnet, Inc. under this line of credit is eliminated in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company currently plans to use cash from operating activities and its third-party unsecured line of credit to fund Allo's operating activities and capital expenditures.

Other Debt Facilities

As discussed above, the Company has a $350.0 million unsecured line of credit with a maturity date of December 12, 2021.  As of September 30, 2017, the unsecured line of credit had $210.0 million outstanding and $140.0 million was available for future use. Upon the maturity date in 2021, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain this line of credit, increase the amount outstanding under the line, or find alternative funding if necessary.

The Company has issued Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities (the "Hybrid Securities") that have a final maturity date of September 15, 2061. The Hybrid Securities are unsecured obligations of the Company. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company initiated a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding Hybrid Securities, including a related consent solicitation to effect certain amendments to the indenture governing the notes to eliminate a provision requiring a minimum principal amount of the notes to remain outstanding after a partial redemption. 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 the amendments described above were made to the indenture. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had $20.5 million of Hybrid Securities that remain outstanding.

The Company also has two notes payable, which were each issued by TDP Phase Three, LLC ("TDP") on December 30, 2015 in connection with the development of a commercial building in Lincoln, Nebraska that is to be the new corporate headquarters for Hudl, a related party. TDP is an entity established during 2015 for the sole purpose of developing and operating this building. The Company owns 25 percent of TDP. However, because the Company plans to be a tenant in this building once the development is complete, the operating results of TDP are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2017, one of the TDP notes has $12.0 million outstanding with a maturity date of March 31, 2023; the other TDP note has $6.4 million outstanding with a maturity date of December 15, 2045. Recourse to the Company on the outstanding balance of these notes is equal to its ownership percentage of TDP.

Debt Repurchases

Due to the Company's positive liquidity position and opportunities in the capital markets, the Company has repurchased its own debt over the last several years, and may continue to do so in the future. See note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2016 Annual Report for information on debt repurchased by the Company during the years 2014 through 2016 and note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for debt repurchased by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Stock Repurchases

The Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to a total of five million shares of the Company's Class A common stock during the three-year period ending May 25, 2019. Shares may be repurchased from time to time depending on various factors, including share prices and other potential uses of liquidity. Shares repurchased by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017 are shown below. 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. For additional information on stock repurchases during the third quarter of 2017, see "Stock Repurchases" under Part II, Item 2 of this report.

55



 
Total shares repurchased
 
Purchase price (in thousands)
 
Average price of shares repurchased (per share)
 
 
 
Quarter ended March 31, 2017
31,716

 
$
1,369

 
43.18

Quarter ended June 30, 2017
384,061

 
16,826

 
43.81

Quarter ended September 30, 2017
947,794

 
45,136

 
47.62

  Total
1,363,571

 
$
63,331

 
46.44


Subsequent to September 30, 2017, from October 1, 2017 through November 7, 2017, the Company has repurchased an additional 69,541 shares of Class A common stock for $3.5 million ($50.45 per share). These purchases were made pursuant to a trading plan adopted by the Company in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As of November 7, 2017, 3,179,339 shares remain authorized for repurchase under the Company's stock repurchase program.

Dividends

On September 15, 2017, the Company paid a third quarter 2017 cash dividend on the Company's Class A and Class B common stock of $0.14 per share. 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 currently plans to continue making regular quarterly dividend payments, subject to future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors.  In addition, the payment of dividends is subject to the terms of the Company’s outstanding Hybrid Securities, which generally provide that if the Company defers interest payments on those securities it cannot pay dividends on its capital stock.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources that are material to investors.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. A discussion of the Company's critical accounting policies, which include allowance for loan losses, revenue recognition, consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, income taxes, and accounting for derivatives can be found in the Company's 2016 Annual Report. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the first nine months of 2017.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance once it becomes effective on January 1, 2018 and the standard allows the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company currently plans to use the cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting. However, it does not currently believe the implementation will have a material impact to its financial statements. The majority of the Company's revenue earned in its Asset Generation and Management segment, including loan interest and derivative activity, is explicitly excluded from the scope of the new guidance. The Company continues to evaluate the impact to revenue earned from its fee-based operating segments and the presentation and disclosures. In regards to the Company's fee-based operating segments, the Company's implementation efforts to date include the identification of revenue and review of related contracts within these segments. Based upon this review, the Company has not yet identified nor does it anticipate material changes in the timing of revenue recognition. However, the Company's review is ongoing as it continues to evaluate both contract revenue and certain contract costs.


56



Classification and Measurement

In January 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities, which will change the income statement impact of equity investments, and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected.   The new guidance requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those equity investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee), and requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments.  This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and requires a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the reporting period of adoption. The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting. However, it does not currently believe the implementation will have a material impact to its financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the accounting for leases. The new standard will require the identification of arrangements that should be accounted for as leases by lessees and the disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. In general, lease arrangements exceeding a twelve-month term will be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet of the lessee. A right-of-use asset and lease obligation will be recorded for all leases, whether operating or financing, while the income statement will reflect lease expense for operating leases and amortization/interest expense for financing leases. The balance sheet amount recorded for existing leases at the date of adoption must be calculated using the applicable incremental borrowing rate at the date of adoption. The standard requires the use of the modified retrospective transition method, which will require adjustment to all comparative periods presented with certain practical expedients available. It will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The Company currently expects to adopt the new standard on its effective date and to elect all of the standard's available practical expedients on adoption. The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting.

Allowance for Loan Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which will change the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets by requiring immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the asset's remaining life. The Company currently uses an incurred loss model when calculating its allowance for loan losses. As a result, the Company expects the new guidance will increase the allowance for loan losses. This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. Early application is permitted beginning January 1, 2019. This standard represents a significant departure from existing GAAP, and may result in significant changes to the Company's accounting for the allowance for loan losses. The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows.  Among the cash flow matters addressed in the update are payments for costs related to debt prepayments or extinguishments, payments related to settlement of certain types of debt instruments, payments of contingent consideration made after a business combination, and distributions received from equity method investees, among others.  This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted.  The guidance will be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented, unless impracticable for specific cash flow matters, in which case the update would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable.  The Company believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance which provides amendments to current guidance to address the classifications and presentation of changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows.  This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted.  The amendments will be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented.  The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting. 





57



Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued accounting guidance which will eliminate the two-step process that requires identification of potential impairment and a separate measure of the actual impairment. The annual assessment of goodwill impairment will be determined by using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
(All dollars are in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted)

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s primary market risk exposure arises from fluctuations in its borrowing and lending rates, the spread between which could impact the Company due to shifts in market interest rates.

The following table sets forth the Company’s loan assets and debt instruments by rate characteristics:
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
Fixed-rate loan assets
$
5,334,565

 
23.5
%
 
$
8,585,283

 
34.2
%
Variable-rate loan assets
17,379,348

 
76.5

 
16,518,360

 
65.8

Total
$
22,713,913

 
100.0
%
 
$
25,103,643

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate debt instruments
$
109,251

 
0.5
%
 
$
131,733

 
0.5
%
Variable-rate debt instruments
22,517,671

 
99.5

 
24,968,687

 
99.5

Total
$
22,626,922

 
100.0
%
 
$
25,100,420

 
100.0
%

FFELP loans originated prior to April 1, 2006 generally earn interest at the higher of the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time, or a floating rate based on the special allowance payment ("SAP") formula set by the Department. The SAP rate is based on an applicable index plus a fixed spread that depends on loan type, origination date, and repayment status. The Company generally finances its student loan portfolio with variable rate debt. In low and/or declining interest rate environments, when the fixed borrower rate is higher than the SAP rate, the Company’s student loans earn at a fixed rate while the interest on the variable rate debt typically continues to reflect the low and/or declining interest rates. In these interest rate environments, the Company may earn additional spread income that it refers to as floor income.

Depending on the type of loan and when it was originated, the borrower rate is either fixed to term or is reset to an annual rate each July 1. As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, the Company may earn floor income for an extended period of time, which the Company refers to as fixed rate floor income, and for those loans where the borrower rate is reset annually on July 1, the Company may earn floor income to the next reset date, which the Company refers to as variable rate floor income. All FFELP loans first originated on or after April 1, 2006 effectively earn at the SAP rate, since lenders are required to rebate fixed rate floor income and variable rate floor income for those loans to the Department.

No variable-rate floor income was earned by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. A summary of fixed rate floor income earned by the Company 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


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




58



The high levels of gross fixed rate floor income earned during 2017 and 2016 are due to historically low interest rates.  If interest rates remain low, the Company anticipates continuing to earn significant fixed rate floor income in future periods. Gross fixed rate floor income decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the same periods in 2016 due to an increase in interest rates.

Absent the use of derivative instruments, a rise in interest rates may reduce the amount of floor income received and this may have an impact on earnings due to interest margin compression caused by increasing financing costs, until such time as the federally insured loans earn interest at a variable rate in accordance with their special allowance payment formulas. In higher interest rate environments, where the interest rate rises above the borrower rate and fixed rate loans effectively become variable rate loans, the impact of the rate fluctuations is reduced.

The following graph depicts fixed rate floor income for a borrower with a fixed rate of 6.75% and a SAP rate of 2.64%.
image37.jpgThe 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.


59



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.
In addition, on August 20, 2014, the Company paid $9.1 million for an interest rate swap option to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. The interest rate swap option gives the Company the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a $250.0 million notional interest rate swap in which the Company would pay a fixed amount of 3.30% and receive discrete one-month LIBOR. If the interest rate swap option is exercised, the swap would become effective in 2019 and mature in 2024.

The Company is also exposed to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk because the interest rate characteristics of the Company’s assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets. The following table presents the Company’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets arranged by underlying indices as of September 30, 2017.
Index
 
Frequency of variable resets
 
Assets
 
Funding of student loan assets
1 month LIBOR (a)
 
Daily
 
$
20,692,662

 

3 month H15 financial commercial paper
 
Daily
 
1,146,947

 

3 month Treasury bill
 
Daily
 
647,675

 

3 month LIBOR (a) (b)
 
Quarterly
 

 
12,274,155

1 month LIBOR
 
Monthly
 

 
8,550,438

Auction-rate (c)
 
Varies
 

 
781,276

Asset-backed commercial paper (d)
 
Varies
 

 
596,395

Other (e)
 
 
 
1,074,851

 
1,359,871

 
 
 
 
$
23,562,135

 
23,562,135


(a)
The Company has certain basis swaps outstanding in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps"). The Company entered into these derivative instruments to better match the interest rate characteristics on its student loan assets and the debt funding such assets. The following table summarizes the 1:3 Basis Swaps outstanding as of September 30, 2017.
Maturity
 
Notional amount
2018
 
$
4,000,000

2019
 
3,000,000

2024
 
250,000

2026
 
1,150,000

2027
 
375,000

2028
 
325,000

2029
 
100,000

2031
 
300,000

 
 
$
9,500,000

The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of September 30, 2017 was one-month LIBOR plus 13.4 basis points.


60



(b)
As of September 30, 2017, the Company had Euro-denominated notes that repriced on the EURIBOR index. The Company had entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap that converted the EURIBOR index to three-month LIBOR. As a result, these notes are reflected in the three-month LIBOR category in the above table. See “Foreign Currency Exchange Risk” below.

(c)
The interest rates on certain of the Company's asset-backed securities are set and periodically reset via a "dutch auction" (“Auction Rate Securities”). As of September 30, 2017, the Company was sponsor for $781.3 million of Auction Rate Securities. Since February 2008, problems in the auction rate securities market as a whole have led to failures of the auctions pursuant to which the Company's Auction Rate Securities' interest rates are set. As a result, the Auction Rate Securities generally pay interest to the holder at a maximum rate as defined by the indenture. While these rates will vary, they will generally be based on a spread to LIBOR or Treasury Securities, or the Net Loan Rate as defined in the financing documents.

(d)
The interest rates on certain of the Company's warehouse facilities are indexed to asset-backed commercial paper rates.

(e)
Assets include accrued interest receivable and restricted cash.  Funding represents overcollateralization (equity) and other liabilities included in FFELP asset-backed securitizations and warehouse facilities.

61



Sensitivity Analysis

The following tables summarize the effect on the Company’s earnings, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by the Company assuming hypothetical increases in interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points while funding spreads remain constant. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the funding index increases 10 basis points and 30 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index. The sensitivity analysis was performed on the Company’s variable rate assets (including loans earning fixed rate floor income) and liabilities. The analysis includes the effects of the Company’s interest rate and basis swaps in existence during these periods.
 
Interest rates
 
Asset and funding index mismatches
 
Change from increase of 100 basis points
 
Change from increase of 300 basis points
 
Increase of 10 basis points
 
Increase of 30 basis points
 
 
 
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
Effect on earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(9,044
)
 
(13.1
)%
 
$
(16,828
)
 
(24.4
)%
 
$
(3,296
)
 
(4.8
)%
 
$
(9,889
)
 
(14.3
)%
Impact of derivative settlements
14,179

 
20.5

 
42,534

 
61.6

 
1,890

 
2.7

 
5,671

 
8.2

Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes
$
5,135

 
7.4
 %
 
$
25,706

 
37.2
 %
 
$
(1,406
)
 
(2.1
)%
 
$
(4,218
)
 
(6.1
)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.08

 
 
 
$
0.38

 
 
 
$
(0.02
)
 
 
 
$
(0.06
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2016
Effect on earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(16,758
)
 
(12.6
)%
 
$
(31,121
)
 
(23.6
)%
 
$
(3,987
)
 
(3.0
)%
 
$
(11,960
)
 
(9.1
)%
Impact of derivative settlements
15,775

 
11.9

 
47,324

 
35.9

 
436

 
0.3

 
1,307

 
1.0

Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes
$
(983
)
 
(0.7
)%
 
$
16,203

 
12.3
 %
 
$
(3,551
)
 
(2.7
)%
 
$
(10,653
)
 
(8.1
)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
(0.01
)
 
 
 
$
0.24

 
 
 
$
(0.05
)
 
 
 
$
(0.15
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
Effect on earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(30,205
)
 
(16.2
)%
 
$
(54,221
)
 
(29.1
)%
 
$
(10,314
)
 
(5.5
)%
 
$
(30,943
)
 
(16.6
)%
Impact of derivative settlements
45,396

 
24.3

 
136,182

 
73.1

 
4,368

 
2.3

 
13,105

 
7.0

Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes
$
15,191

 
8.1
 %
 
$
81,961

 
44.0
 %
 
$
(5,946
)
 
(3.2
)%
 
$
(17,838
)
 
(9.6
)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.23

 
 
 
$
1.20

 
 
 
$
(0.08
)
 
 
 
$
(0.25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
Effect on earnings:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(52,798
)
 
(21.5
)%
 
$
(97,144
)
 
(39.4
)%
 
$
(12,235
)
 
(4.9
)%
 
$
(36,705
)
 
(14.9
)%
Impact of derivative settlements
45,025

 
18.3

 
135,074

 
55.0

 
2,776

 
1.1

 
8,327

 
3.4

Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes
$
(7,773
)
 
(3.2
)%

$
37,930

 
15.6
 %
 
$
(9,459
)
 
(3.8
)%
 
$
(28,378
)
 
(11.5
)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
(0.11
)
 
 
 
$
0.55

 
 
 
$
(0.14
)
 
 
 
$
(0.41
)
 
 
 

62



Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

In 2006, the Company issued €352.7 million of student loan asset-backed Euro Notes (the "Euro Notes") with an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index. As a result, the Company was exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Euro. The Company entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap in connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes. See note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information, including a summary of the terms of the cross-currency interest rate swap associated with the Euro Notes and the related financial statement impact.

On October 25, 2017, the Company completed a remarketing of the Euro Notes which reset the principal amount outstanding on the Euro Notes to $450.0 million U.S. dollars, with an interest rate based on the 3-month LIBOR index, and resulted in the termination of the cross-currency interest rate swap. See note 14 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on this remarketing.

Financial Statement Impact – Derivatives and Foreign Currency Transaction Adjustments

For a table summarizing the effect of derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income, including the components of "derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements, net" included in the consolidated statements of income, see note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under supervision and with the participation of certain members of the Company’s management, including the chief executive and chief financial officers, the Company completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in SEC Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the chief executive and chief financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There have been no material changes from the information set forth in the Legal Proceedings section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 under Item 3 of Part I of such Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 in response to Item 1A of Part I of such Form 10-K.

63




ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Stock Repurchases

The following table summarizes the repurchases of Class A common stock during the third quarter of 2017 by the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” of the Company, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain share repurchases included in the table below were made pursuant to a trading plan adopted by the Company in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Period
 
Total number of shares purchased (a)
 
Average price paid per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (b)
 
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (b)
July 1 - July 31, 2017
 
318,610

 
$
47.83

 
318,200

 
3,875,613

August 1 - August 31, 2017
 
325,983

 
46.84

 
325,983

 
3,549,630

September 1 - September 30, 2017
 
303,201

 
48.24

 
300,750

 
3,248,880

Total
 
947,794

 
$
47.62

 
944,933

 
 


(a)
The total number of shares includes: (i) shares repurchased pursuant to the stock repurchase program discussed in footnote (b) below; and (ii) shares owned and tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted shares. Shares of Class A common stock tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations included 410 shares, 0 shares, and 2,451 shares in July, August, and September, respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, shares owned and tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations were purchased at the closing price of the Company’s shares on the date of vesting.

(b)
On August 4, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program in May 2016 to repurchase up to a total of five million shares of the Company's Class A common stock during the three-year period ending May 25, 2019.

Working capital and dividend restrictions/limitations

The Company’s credit facilities, including its revolving line of credit which is available through December 12, 2021, impose restrictions with respect to the Company’s minimum consolidated net worth, the ratio of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to corporate debt interest, the amount of recourse indebtedness, the amount and nature of investments and business acquisitions, and the amount of private education loans held by the Company. In addition, trust indentures and other financing agreements governing debt issued by the Company's education lending subsidiaries may have general limitations on the amounts of funds that can be transferred to the Company by its subsidiaries through cash dividends.

The supplemental indenture for the Company’s Hybrid Securities issued in September 2006 provides that so long as any Hybrid Securities remain outstanding, if the Company gives notice of its election to defer interest payments but the related deferral period has not yet commenced or a deferral period is continuing, then the Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to:

declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment regarding, any of the Company’s capital stock.

except as required in connection with the repayment of principal, and except for any partial payments of deferred interest that may be made through the alternative payment mechanism described in the Hybrid Securities indenture, make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, repurchase, or redeem any of the Company’s debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Hybrid Securities.

make any guarantee payments regarding any guarantee by the Company of the subordinated debt securities of any of the Company’s subsidiaries if the guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Hybrid Securities.

In addition, if any deferral period lasts longer than one year, the limitation on the Company’s ability to redeem or repurchase any of its securities that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Hybrid Securities will continue until the first anniversary of the date on which all deferred interest has been paid or canceled.

64



If the Company is involved in a business combination where immediately after its consummation more than 50% of the surviving entity’s voting stock is owned by the shareholders of the other party to the business combination, then the immediately preceding sentence will not apply to any deferral period that is terminated on the next interest payment date following the date of consummation of the business combination.

However, at any time, including during a deferral period, the Company will be permitted to:

pay dividends or distributions in additional shares of the Company’s capital stock.

declare or pay a dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders’ rights plan, or issue stock under such a plan, or redeem or repurchase any rights distributed pursuant to such a plan.

purchase common stock for issuance pursuant to any employee benefit plans.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
31.1*
 
 
31.2*
 
 
32**
 
 
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
*   Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith

65



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
NELNET, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 7, 2017
By:
/s/ JEFFREY R. NOORDHOEK
 
 
 
Name:
Jeffrey R. Noordhoek
 
 
 
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Principal Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ JAMES D. KRUGER
 
Date:
November 7, 2017
Name:
James D. Kruger
 
 
 
Title: 
Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
 



66