QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024
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
84-0748903
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
121 South 13th Street, Suite 100
Lincoln,
Nebraska
68508
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(402) 458-2370
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per Share
NNI
New York Stock Exchange
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☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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☒ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ 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 ☒
As of July 31, 2024, there were 25,586,934 and 10,663,088 shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, respectively (excluding 11,305,731 shares of Class A Common Stock held by wholly owned subsidiaries).
Loans and accrued interest receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $96,764 and $104,643, respectively)
$
10,939,519
13,108,204
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party
33,000
34,912
Cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party
112,478
133,200
Total cash and cash equivalents
145,478
168,112
Investments and notes receivable (including investments at fair value of $948,792 and $988,841, respectively)
1,896,433
1,846,707
Restricted cash
538,446
488,723
Restricted cash - due to customers
259,479
368,656
Restricted investments
50,358
17,969
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,272 and $4,304, respectively)
159,836
196,200
Goodwill
158,029
158,029
Intangible assets, net
40,521
44,819
Property and equipment, net
131,666
127,008
Other assets
181,428
187,957
Total assets
$
14,501,193
16,712,384
Liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable
$
9,567,708
11,828,393
Accrued interest payable
27,141
35,391
Bank deposits
890,472
743,599
Other liabilities
406,974
479,387
Due to customers
388,876
425,507
Total liabilities
11,281,171
13,512,277
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 25,585,840
shares and 26,400,630 shares, respectively
256
264
Class B, convertible, $0.01 par value. Authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
10,663,088 shares
107
107
Additional paid-in capital
657
3,096
Retained earnings
3,295,301
3,270,403
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
(2,260)
(20,119)
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity
3,294,061
3,253,751
Noncontrolling interests
(74,039)
(53,644)
Total equity
3,220,022
3,200,107
Total liabilities and equity
$
14,501,193
16,712,384
Supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated education and other lending variable interest entities:
Loans and accrued interest receivable
$
10,276,743
12,676,932
Restricted cash
515,844
451,932
Bonds and notes payable
(9,822,767)
(12,006,170)
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
(102,370)
(135,748)
Net assets of consolidated education and other lending variable interest entities
$
867,450
986,946
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 ended
Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
202,129
243,045
418,853
468,288
Investment interest
40,737
40,982
92,814
81,707
Total interest income
242,866
284,027
511,667
549,995
Interest expense on bonds and notes payable and bank deposits
176,459
233,148
371,039
432,597
Net interest income
66,407
50,879
140,628
117,398
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
3,611
(11,380)
14,440
791
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
62,796
62,259
126,188
116,607
Other income (expense):
Loan servicing and systems revenue
109,052
122,020
236,252
261,247
Education technology services and payments revenue
116,909
109,858
260,449
243,462
Solar construction revenue
9,694
4,735
23,420
13,386
Other, net
28,871
(9,167)
45,734
(24,235)
Loss on sale of loans
(1,438)
(5,461)
(1,579)
(15,753)
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
(7,776)
—
(7,813)
—
Derivative market value adjustments and derivative settlements, net
3,182
2,070
12,903
(12,005)
Total other income (expense), net
258,494
224,055
569,366
466,102
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
40,222
40,407
88,832
88,110
Cost to provide solar construction services
8,072
9,122
22,300
17,422
Total cost of services
48,294
49,529
111,132
105,532
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
139,634
144,706
283,509
297,416
Depreciation and amortization
15,142
18,652
31,911
35,279
Other expenses
59,792
45,997
116,637
86,781
Total operating expenses
214,568
209,355
432,057
419,476
Income before income taxes
58,428
27,430
152,365
57,701
Income tax expense
14,753
10,187
37,936
18,273
Net income
43,675
17,243
114,429
39,428
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,416
10,183
4,069
13,957
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
45,091
27,426
118,498
53,385
Earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted
$
1.23
0.73
3.22
1.43
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
36,525,482
37,468,397
36,841,227
37,406,843
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income
$
43,675
17,243
114,429
39,428
Other comprehensive income:
Net changes related to foreign currency translation adjustments
$
(21)
—
(16)
(3)
Net changes related to available-for-sale debt securities:
Unrealized holding gains arising during period, net of losses
8,874
8,649
25,635
17,300
Reclassification of (gains) losses recognized in net income, net
(1,053)
(918)
(1,605)
4,064
Amortization of net unrealized loss on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity
51
70
122
70
Income tax effect
(1,890)
5,982
(1,872)
5,929
(5,797)
18,355
(5,144)
16,290
Net changes related to equity method investee's other comprehensive income:
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedge
335
(501)
(632)
(499)
Income tax effect
(80)
255
120
(381)
152
(480)
120
(379)
Other comprehensive income
6,216
5,548
17,859
15,908
Comprehensive income
49,891
22,791
132,288
55,336
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,416
10,183
4,069
13,957
Comprehensive income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
51,307
32,974
136,357
69,293
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
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
Class A
Class B
Balance as of March 31, 2023
—
26,623,662
10,668,460
$
—
266
107
4,639
3,243,985
(27,006)
(16,197)
3,205,794
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
11,703
11,703
Net income (loss)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
27,426
—
(10,183)
17,243
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
5,548
—
5,548
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(7,942)
(7,942)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.26 per share
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(9,694)
—
—
(9,694)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures
—
27,562
—
—
—
—
2,056
—
—
—
2,056
Compensation expense for stock based awards
—
—
—
—
—
—
3,884
—
—
—
3,884
Repurchase of common stock
—
(4,734)
—
—
—
—
(465)
—
—
—
(465)
Balance as of June 30, 2023
—
26,646,490
10,668,460
$
—
266
107
10,114
3,261,717
(21,458)
(22,619)
3,228,127
Balance as of March 31, 2024
—
26,055,314
10,663,088
$
—
261
107
1,101
3,304,197
(8,476)
(61,470)
3,235,720
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
6,618
6,618
Net income (loss)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
45,091
—
(1,416)
43,675
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
6,216
—
6,216
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(19,864)
(19,864)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.28 per share
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(10,158)
—
—
(10,158)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures
—
18,506
—
—
—
—
2,171
—
—
—
2,171
Compensation expense for stock based awards
—
—
—
—
—
—
2,733
—
—
—
2,733
Repurchase of common stock
—
(487,980)
—
—
(5)
—
(5,348)
(41,489)
—
—
(46,842)
Acquisition of remaining 20% of GRNE Solar, net of tax
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,340)
—
2,093
(247)
Balance as of June 30, 2024
—
25,585,840
10,663,088
$
—
256
107
657
3,295,301
(2,260)
(74,039)
3,220,022
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
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
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
Class A
Class B
Balance as of December 31, 2022
—
26,461,651
10,668,460
$
—
265
107
1,109
3,227,680
(37,366)
(8,596)
3,183,199
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
12,904
12,904
Net income (loss)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
53,385
—
(13,957)
39,428
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
15,908
—
15,908
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(12,970)
(12,970)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.52 per share
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(19,348)
—
—
(19,348)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures
—
226,086
—
—
1
—
5,119
—
—
—
5,120
Compensation expense for stock based awards
—
—
—
—
—
—
7,653
—
—
—
7,653
Repurchase of common stock
—
(41,247)
—
—
—
—
(3,767)
—
—
—
(3,767)
Balance as of June 30, 2023
—
26,646,490
10,668,460
$
—
266
107
10,114
3,261,717
(21,458)
(22,619)
3,228,127
Balance as of December 31, 2023
—
26,400,630
10,663,088
$
—
264
107
3,096
3,270,403
(20,119)
(53,644)
3,200,107
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
8,151
8,151
Net income (loss)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
118,498
—
(4,069)
114,429
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
17,859
—
17,859
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(26,570)
(26,570)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.56 per share
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(20,528)
—
—
(20,528)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures
—
69,914
—
—
1
—
3,297
—
—
—
3,298
Compensation expense for stock based awards
—
—
—
—
—
—
5,834
—
—
—
5,834
Repurchase of common stock
—
(884,704)
—
—
(9)
—
(11,570)
(70,732)
—
—
(82,311)
Acquisition of remaining 20% of GRNE Solar, net of tax
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,340)
—
2,093
(247)
Balance as of June 30, 2024
—
25,585,840
10,663,088
$
—
256
107
657
3,295,301
(2,260)
(74,039)
3,220,022
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
118,498
53,385
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4,069)
(13,957)
Net income
114,429
39,428
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and loan premiums and deferred origination costs
69,623
93,573
Loan discount and deferred lender fees accretion
(22,538)
(15,412)
Provision for loan losses
14,440
791
Derivative market value adjustments
(9,497)
35,407
Proceeds from termination of derivative instruments
—
164,079
Proceeds from (payments to) clearinghouse - initial and variation margin, net
5,716
(209,886)
Loss on sale of loans
1,579
15,753
Loss on investments, net
6,985
49,834
Deferred income tax benefit
(4,814)
(16,613)
Non-cash compensation expense
6,004
7,810
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
7,813
—
Decrease (increase) in loan and investment accrued interest receivable
150,907
(4,884)
Decrease in accounts receivable
36,329
59,142
Decrease (increase) in other assets, net
39,667
(11,480)
Decrease in the carrying amount of ROU asset, net
1,911
2,390
Decrease in accrued interest payable
(8,250)
(123)
Decrease in other liabilities
(62,638)
(8,916)
Decrease in the carrying amount of lease liability
(1,982)
(2,568)
Other
(365)
75
Net cash provided by operating activities
345,319
198,400
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases and originations of loans
(430,575)
(411,868)
Purchases of loans from a related party
—
(467,519)
Net proceeds from loan repayments, claims, and capitalized interest
2,125,052
1,348,827
Proceeds from sale of loans
311,010
290,957
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
(272,031)
(296,468)
Purchases of restricted available-for-sale securities
(23,288)
—
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
265,887
577,548
Proceeds from sales of restricted available-for-sale securities
660
—
Proceeds from beneficial interest in loan securitizations
19,513
13,237
Purchases of other investments and issuance of notes receivable
(197,440)
(140,129)
Proceeds from other investments and repayments of notes receivable
53,635
14,982
Purchases of held-to-maturity debt securities
—
(2,889)
Redemption of held-to-maturity debt securities
5,041
1,487
Purchases of property and equipment
(33,842)
(37,253)
Net cash provided by investing activities
$
1,823,622
890,912
7
NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on bonds and notes payable
$
(2,283,381)
(2,417,622)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable
37
806,148
Payments of debt issuance costs
(693)
(2,214)
Increase in bank deposits, net
146,873
39,724
Decrease in due to customers
(36,642)
(48,728)
Dividends paid
(20,528)
(19,348)
Repurchases of common stock
(82,311)
(3,767)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
967
890
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest
(325)
—
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
27,396
14,018
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
(2,335)
(1,920)
Net cash used in financing activities
(2,250,942)
(1,632,819)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
(87)
(84)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(82,088)
(543,591)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period
1,025,491
1,357,616
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period
$
943,403
814,025
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash disbursements made for interest
$
355,943
386,686
Cash disbursements made for income taxes, net of refunds and credits received (a)
$
11,932
43,510
Cash disbursements made for operating leases
$
2,451
3,476
Non-cash operating, investing, and financing activity:
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
$
49
18,485
Receipt of beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations as consideration from sale of loans
$
13,693
53,896
Receipt of asset-backed investment securities as consideration from sale of loans
$
—
58,182
Transfer of available-for-sale securities to restricted
$
8,262
—
Distribution to noncontrolling interests
$
24,235
11,050
Issuance of noncontrolling interests
$
19,245
1,114
(a) The Company utilized $20.3 million and $13.9 million of federal and state tax credits related primarily to renewable energy during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported in the consolidated balance sheets to the total of the amounts reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
As of
As of
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Total cash and cash equivalents
$
145,478
168,112
121,769
118,146
Restricted cash
538,446
488,723
484,223
945,159
Restricted cash - due to customers
259,479
368,656
208,033
294,311
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
943,403
1,025,491
814,025
1,357,616
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
8
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 June 30, 2024 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 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 (GAAP) 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 six months ended June 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2024. 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, 2023 (the "2023 Annual Report").
2. Reclassifications and Immaterial Error Corrections
During the second quarter of 2024, the Company identified certain immaterial errors in the previously issued consolidated financial statements that have been corrected to conform to the June 30, 2024 presentation.
Loan Sales
The Company determined the reversal of provision for loan losses resulting from the sale of loans should be presented as a reduction to the provision for loan losses rather than the historical presentation as a gain/(loss) on sale of loans included in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income. Prior period amounts have been corrected to conform to the current period presentation resulting in a reclassification of $21.0 million and $43.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. This correction had no impact on previously reported consolidated assets, liabilities, total equity, net income, and cash flows from operating activities.
Solar Tax Equity Investments
The Company relies on audited financial statements provided by third parties to record its share of earnings or losses on its solar tax equity investments. The Company determined that the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method of accounting was not consistently adopted by all third parties in such audited financial statements for those solar tax equity investments made under a lease pass-through structure. The adoption of the HLBV method of accounting accelerates accounting losses in the initial years of the investment but has no impact on the overall economics of the transaction. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company fully adopted HLBV accounting for these investments and prior period amounts have been corrected, resulting in an increase in solar investment losses included in "other, net" in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income of $2.2 million and $3.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, partially offset by an increase in "net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests" of $1.0 million and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The after-tax net income impact to Nelnet, Inc. was a reduction of $0.8 million and $1.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Consolidated "total equity" on the consolidated balance sheet was reduced $21.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and $16.7 million as of December 31, 2022, with the 2022 impact reflecting the cumulative impact of this correction through such date.
9
3. Loans and Accrued Interest Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses
Loans and accrued interest receivable consisted of the following:
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans:
Stafford and other
$
2,308,561
2,936,174
Consolidation
7,175,172
8,750,033
Total
9,483,733
11,686,207
Private education loans
247,437
277,320
Consumer and other loans
179,447
85,935
Non-Nelnet Bank loans
9,910,617
12,049,462
Nelnet Bank:
Private education loans
354,412
360,520
Consumer and other loans
187,939
72,352
Nelnet Bank loans
542,351
432,872
Accrued interest receivable
619,472
764,385
Loan discount and deferred lender fees, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs
(36,157)
(33,872)
Allowance for loan losses:
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
(54,180)
(68,453)
Private education loans
(13,065)
(15,750)
Consumer and other loans
(14,135)
(11,742)
Non-Nelnet Bank allowance for loan losses
(81,380)
(95,945)
Nelnet Bank:
Private education loans
(3,559)
(3,347)
Consumer and other loans
(11,825)
(5,351)
Nelnet Bank allowance for loan losses
(15,384)
(8,698)
$
10,939,519
13,108,204
The following table summarizes the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of the ending loan balance for each of the Company's loan portfolios.
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans (a)
0.57
%
0.59
%
Private education loans
5.28
%
5.68
%
Consumer and other loans (b)
7.88
%
13.66
%
Nelnet Bank:
Private education loans
1.00
%
0.93
%
Consumer and other loans
6.29
%
7.40
%
(a) As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the allowance for loan losses as a percent of the risk sharing component of federally insured student loans not covered by the federal guaranty was 20.9% and 21.8%, respectively.
(b) Decrease as of June 30, 2024 compared with December 31, 2023 is due to the change in the mix of loans outstanding at the end of each period reported.
Loan Sales
During the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company sold $133.8 million and $158.3 million, respectively, of consumer loans, and recognized losses from such sales of $1.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company sold $333.9 million and $420.2 million, respectively, of FFELP and consumer loans, and recognized losses from such sales of $1.6 million and $15.8 million, respectively. For certain of these loan sales, the Company has sold portfolios of loans to unrelated third parties who securitized such loans. As partial consideration received for the loans sold, the Company received residual interest in the loan securitizations and asset-backed investment securities that are included in "investments and notes receivable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
10
Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses
The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment.
Balance at beginning of period
Provision (negative provision) for loan losses (a)
Charge-offs
Recoveries
Balance at end of period
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
$
61,723
(1,970)
(5,573)
—
54,180
Private education loans
14,736
—
(1,827)
156
13,065
Consumer and other loans
18,761
(2,255)
(2,634)
263
14,135
Nelnet Bank:
Private education loans
3,660
255
(460)
104
3,559
Consumer and other loans
7,128
7,519
(2,837)
15
11,825
$
106,008
3,549
(13,331)
538
96,764
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
$
79,331
—
(5,270)
—
74,061
Private education loans
15,175
—
(1,069)
216
14,322
Consumer and other loans
35,317
(12,873)
(2,880)
441
20,005
Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
160
(4)
(2)
—
154
Private education loans
2,894
517
(506)
—
2,905
Consumer and other loans
1,827
989
—
—
2,816
$
134,704
(11,371)
(9,727)
657
114,263
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
$
68,453
(3,840)
(10,433)
—
54,180
Private education loans
15,750
(265)
(2,840)
420
13,065
Consumer and other loans
11,742
6,335
(4,586)
644
14,135
Nelnet Bank:
Private education loans
3,347
1,012
(906)
106
3,559
Consumer and other loans
5,351
11,236
(4,804)
42
11,825
$
104,643
14,478
(23,569)
1,212
96,764
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
$
83,593
2,411
(11,943)
—
74,061
Private education loans
15,411
240
(1,709)
380
14,322
Consumer and other loans
30,263
(5,770)
(5,149)
661
20,005
Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
170
(12)
(4)
—
154
Private education loans
2,390
1,129
(614)
—
2,905
Consumer and other loans
—
2,816
—
—
2,816
$
131,827
814
(19,419)
1,041
114,263
11
(a) The following table presents the reduction to provision for loan losses as a result of the loan sales described under "Loan Sales" above.
Provision for current period
Loan sale reduction to provision
Provision (negative provision) for loan losses
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Non-Nelnet Bank
Consumer and other loans
$
10,340
(12,595)
(2,255)
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank
Consumer and other loans
$
8,098
(20,971)
(12,873)
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Non-Nelnet Bank
Consumer and other loans
$
19,030
(12,695)
6,335
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Non-Nelnet Bank
Consumer and other loans
$
37,307
(43,077)
(5,770)
The following table summarizes annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans for each of the Company's loan portfolios.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
0.22
%
0.16
%
0.19
%
0.18
%
Private education loans
2.64
%
1.45
%
1.85
%
1.11
%
Consumer and other loans
4.62
%
4.07
%
4.98
%
3.22
%
Nelnet Bank:
Federally insured loans
—
0.01
%
—
0.01
%
Private education loans
0.40
%
0.57
%
0.44
%
0.35
%
Consumer and other loans
7.44
%
—
7.66
%
—
The primary items impacting provision for loan losses during the periods presented above were the establishment of an initial allowance for consumer and other loans originated and acquired and the reversal of provision for consumer and other loans sold.
The Company recorded a negative provision for loan losses for its federally insured loan portfolio in 2024 due to the amortization of this portfolio and an increase in prepayment assumptions.
Unfunded Loan Commitments
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Nelnet Bank had a liability of approximately $119,000 and $158,000, respectively, related to $11.5 million and $12.3 million, respectively, of unfunded private education, consumer, and other loan commitments. When a new loan commitment is made, the Company records an allowance that is included in "other liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheet by recording a provision for loan losses. When the loan is funded, the Company transfers the liability to the allowance for loan losses. Below is a reconciliation of the provision for loan losses reported in the consolidated statements of income.
Three months ended
Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Provision for loan losses from allowance activity table above
$
3,549
(11,371)
14,478
814
Provision (negative provision) for unfunded loan commitments
62
(9)
(38)
(23)
Provision (negative provision) for loan losses reported in consolidated statements of income
$
3,611
(11,380)
14,440
791
12
Key Credit Quality Indicators
Loan Status and Delinquencies
Key credit quality indicators for the Company’s federally insured, private education, consumer, and other loan portfolios are loan status, including delinquencies. The impact of changes in loan status is incorporated into the allowance for loan losses calculation. Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s earnings through increased servicing and collection costs and account charge-offs. The following table presents the Company’s loan status and delinquency amounts.
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
As of June 30, 2023
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank:
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
440,891
4.6
%
$
522,304
4.5
%
$
612,357
4.8
%
Loans in forbearance
702,539
7.4
979,588
8.4
930,629
7.3
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
7,012,655
84.1
%
8,416,624
82.6
%
9,609,634
85.2
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
339,262
4.1
377,108
3.7
496,953
4.4
Loans delinquent 61-90 days
234,746
2.8
254,553
2.5
360,728
3.2
Loans delinquent 91-120 days
151,447
1.8
187,145
1.9
157,685
1.4
Loans delinquent 121-270 days
377,660
4.5
685,829
6.7
457,100
4.1
Loans delinquent 271 days or greater
224,533
2.7
263,056
2.6
194,656
1.7
Total loans in repayment
8,340,303
88.0
100.0
%
10,184,315
87.1
100.0
%
11,276,756
87.9
100.0
%
Total federally insured loans
9,483,733
100.0
%
11,686,207
100.0
%
12,819,742
100.0
%
Accrued interest receivable
612,374
757,713
810,489
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs
(24,222)
(28,963)
(33,764)
Allowance for loan losses
(54,180)
(68,453)
(74,061)
Total federally insured loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
10,017,705
$
12,346,504
$
13,522,406
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank:
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
7,906
3.2
%
$
9,475
3.4
%
$
10,440
4.6
%
Loans in forbearance
2,248
0.9
2,529
0.9
1,874
0.8
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
230,512
97.1
%
257,639
97.1
%
212,522
97.6
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
2,814
1.2
3,395
1.3
1,643
0.7
Loans delinquent 61-90 days
1,395
0.6
1,855
0.7
1,253
0.6
Loans delinquent 91 days or greater
2,562
1.1
2,427
0.9
2,324
1.1
Total loans in repayment
237,283
95.9
100.0
%
265,316
95.7
100.0
%
217,742
94.6
100.0
%
Total private education loans
247,437
100.0
%
277,320
100.0
%
230,056
100.0
%
Accrued interest receivable
2,407
2,653
2,196
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums
(7,194)
(8,037)
183
Allowance for loan losses
(13,065)
(15,750)
(14,322)
Total private education loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
229,585
$
256,186
$
218,113
Consumer and other loans - Non-Nelnet Bank:
Loans in deferment
$
122
0.1
%
$
146
0.2
%
$
102
0.1
%
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
174,295
97.2
%
81,195
94.6
%
181,864
96.1
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
2,100
1.2
2,035
2.4
2,794
1.5
Loans delinquent 61-90 days
1,857
1.0
1,189
1.4
2,533
1.3
Loans delinquent 91 days or greater
1,073
0.6
1,370
1.6
2,034
1.1
Total loans in repayment
179,325
99.9
100.0
%
85,789
99.8
100.0
%
189,225
99.9
100.0
%
Total consumer and other loans
179,447
100.0
%
85,935
100.0
%
189,327
100.0
%
Accrued interest receivable
763
861
2,246
Loan discount and deferred lender fees, net of unamortized premiums
(9,205)
(2,474)
750
Allowance for loan losses
(14,135)
(11,742)
(20,005)
Total consumer and other loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
156,870
$
72,580
$
172,318
13
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
As of June 30, 2023
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank (a):
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
41,394
11.7
%
$
25,957
7.2
%
$
16,996
4.8
%
Loans in forbearance
1,985
0.6
1,285
0.4
1,797
0.5
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
308,591
99.2
%
331,580
99.4
%
332,205
99.6
%
Loans delinquent 30-59 days
934
0.3
839
0.3
691
0.2
Loans delinquent 60-89 days
444
0.2
253
0.1
241
0.1
Loans delinquent 90 days or greater
1,064
0.3
606
0.2
389
0.1
Total loans in repayment
311,033
87.7
100.0
%
333,278
92.4
100.0
%
333,526
94.7
100.0
%
Total private education loans
354,412
100.0
%
360,520
100.0
%
352,319
100.0
%
Accrued interest receivable
2,709
2,023
1,591
Deferred origination costs, net of unaccreted discount
5,501
5,608
5,366
Allowance for loan losses
(3,559)
(3,347)
(2,905)
Total private education loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
359,063
$
364,804
$
356,371
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank (a):
Loans in deferment
$
1,414
0.8
%
$
103
0.1
%
$
6
0.0
%
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
181,558
97.3
%
69,584
96.3
%
30,120
98.2
%
Loans delinquent 30-59 days
1,516
0.8
1,075
1.5
277
0.9
Loans delinquent 60-89 days
1,814
1.0
941
1.3
205
0.7
Loans delinquent 90 days or greater
1,637
0.9
649
0.9
60
0.2
Total loans in repayment
186,525
99.2
100.0
%
72,249
99.9
100.0
%
30,662
100.0
100.0
%
Total consumer and other loans
187,939
100.0
%
72,352
100.0
%
30,668
100.0
%
Accrued interest receivable
1,219
575
214
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums
(1,037)
(6)
—
Allowance for loan losses
(11,825)
(5,351)
(2,816)
Total consumer and other loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
176,296
$
67,570
$
28,066
(a) For the periods presented for Nelnet Bank, the delinquency bucket periods conform with the delinquency bucket periods reflected in Nelnet Bank's Call Reports filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
FICO Scores
An additional key credit quality indicator for Nelnet Bank private education and consumer loans is FICO scores at the time of origination. The following tables highlight the gross principal balance of Nelnet Bank's portfolios, by year of origination, stratified by FICO score at the time of origination.
Nelnet Bank Private Education Loans
Loan balance as of June 30, 2024
Six months ended June 30, 2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Total
FICO at origination:
Less than 705
$
451
3,957
5,200
4,413
374
14,395
705 - 734
950
9,658
20,984
8,167
513
40,272
735 - 764
1,149
9,307
31,511
13,673
1,318
56,958
765 - 794
860
6,543
49,268
25,720
1,286
83,677
Greater than 794
1,760
17,464
72,638
53,755
4,801
150,418
No FICO score available or required (a)
2,610
6,082
—
—
—
8,692
$
7,780
53,011
179,601
105,728
8,292
354,412
14
Loan balance as of December 31, 2023
2023
2022
2021
2020
Total
FICO at origination:
Less than 705
$
3,840
5,495
4,647
386
14,368
705 - 734
9,534
21,961
8,805
525
40,825
735 - 764
8,648
32,969
14,910
1,358
57,885
765 - 794
5,776
52,045
27,221
1,374
86,416
Greater than 794
15,057
77,996
58,695
5,226
156,974
No FICO score available or required (a)
4,052
—
—
—
4,052
$
46,907
190,466
114,278
8,869
360,520
Nelnet Bank Consumer and Other Loans
Loan balance as of June 30, 2024
Six months ended June 30, 2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Prior years
Total
FICO at origination:
Less than 720
$
13,041
17,016
—
1,360
1,625
1,800
34,842
720 - 769
41,116
30,354
25
6,888
5,793
3,464
87,640
Greater than 769
35,957
19,243
106
4,899
2,262
1,062
63,529
No FICO score available or required (a)
1,153
440
281
54
—
—
1,928
$
91,267
67,053
412
13,201
9,680
6,326
187,939
Loan balance as of December 31, 2023
2023
2022
2021
2020
Prior years
Total
FICO at origination:
Less than 720
$
21,412
—
—
—
—
21,412
720 - 769
33,571
51
—
—
—
33,622
Greater than 769
16,484
109
—
—
—
16,593
No FICO score available or required (a)
386
284
55
—
—
725
$
71,853
444
55
—
—
72,352
(a) Loans with no FICO score available or required refers to loans issued to borrowers for which the Company cannot obtain a FICO score or are not required to under a special purpose credit program. Management proactively assesses the risk and size of this loan category and, when necessary, takes actions to mitigate the credit risk.
Nonaccrual Status
The Company does not place federally insured loans on nonaccrual status due to the government guaranty. The amortized cost of private education, consumer, and other loans on nonaccrual status, as well as the allowance for loan losses related to such loans, as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, was not material.
15
Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
The following table presents the amortized cost of the Company's private education, consumer, and other loans by loan status and delinquency amount as of June 30, 2024 based on year of origination. Effective July 1, 2010, no new loan originations can be made under the FFEL Program and all new federal loan originations must be made under the Federal Direct Loan Program. As such, all the Company’s federally insured loans were originated prior to July 1, 2010.
Six months ended June 30, 2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Prior years
Total
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank:
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
—
—
657
3,325
713
3,211
7,906
Loans in forbearance
—
—
356
140
429
1,323
2,248
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
—
207
4,053
5,141
42,508
178,603
230,512
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
—
—
13
45
380
2,376
2,814
Loans delinquent 61-90 days
—
—
7
8
167
1,213
1,395
Loans delinquent 91 days or greater
—
—
—
7
115
2,440
2,562
Total loans in repayment
—
207
4,073
5,201
43,170
184,632
237,283
Total private education loans
$
—
207
5,086
8,666
44,312
189,166
247,437
Accrued interest receivable
2,407
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums
(7,194)
Allowance for loan losses
(13,065)
Total private education loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
229,585
Gross charge-offs - six months ended June 30, 2024
$
—
—
—
76
36
2,728
2,840
Consumer and other loans - Non-Nelnet Bank:
Loans in deferment
$
—
122
—
—
—
—
122
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
131,766
37,985
3,624
526
283
111
174,295
Loans delinquent 31-60 days
160
1,394
433
103
7
3
2,100
Loans delinquent 61-90 days
42
1,158
649
8
—
—
1,857
Loans delinquent 91 days or greater
14
852
176
14
17
—
1,073
Total loans in repayment
131,982
41,389
4,882
651
307
114
179,325
Total consumer and other loans
$
131,982
41,511
4,882
651
307
114
179,447
Accrued interest receivable
763
Loan discount and deferred lender fees, net of unamortized premiums
(9,205)
Allowance for loan losses
(14,135)
Total consumer and other loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
156,870
Gross charge-offs - six months ended June 30, 2024
$
—
2,611
1,678
213
23
61
4,586
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank (a):
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
$
5,107
25,688
8,993
674
932
—
41,394
Loans in forbearance
24
149
1,274
430
108
—
1,985
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
2,629
26,518
168,736
103,612
7,096
—
308,591
Loans delinquent 30-59 days
17
292
96
420
109
—
934
Loans delinquent 60-89 days
3
159
217
65
—
—
444
Loans delinquent 90 days or greater
—
205
285
527
47
—
1,064
Total loans in repayment
2,649
27,174
169,334
104,624
7,252
—
311,033
Total private education loans
$
7,780
53,011
179,601
105,728
8,292
—
354,412
Accrued interest receivable
2,709
Deferred origination costs, net of unaccreted discount
5,501
Allowance for loan losses
(3,559)
Total private education loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
359,063
Gross charge-offs - six months ended June 30, 2024
$
—
324
348
234
—
—
906
16
Six months ended June 30, 2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Prior years
Total
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank (a):
Loans in deferment
$
1,308
106
—
—
—
—
1,414
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current
89,467
62,838
412
12,980
9,656
6,205
181,558
Loans delinquent 30-59 days
146
1,247
—
57
6
60
1,516
Loans delinquent 60-89 days
223
1,459
—
92
—
40
1,814
Loans delinquent 90 days or greater
123
1,403
—
72
18
21
1,637
Total loans in repayment
89,959
66,947
412
13,201
9,680
6,326
186,525
Total consumer and other loans
$
91,267
67,053
412
13,201
9,680
6,326
187,939
Accrued interest receivable
1,219
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums
(1,037)
Allowance for loan losses
(11,825)
Total consumer and other loans and accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
$
176,296
Gross charge-offs - six months ended June 30, 2024
$
73
4,724
—
—
—
7
4,804
(a) For the periods presented for Nelnet Bank, the delinquency bucket periods conform with the delinquency bucket periods reflected in Nelnet Bank's Call Reports filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
17
4. Bonds and Notes Payable
The following tables summarize the Company’s outstanding debt obligations by type of instrument:
As of June 30, 2024
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
$
7,945,989
5.46% - 7.46%
8/26/30 - 9/25/69
Bonds and notes based on auction
75,735
0.00% - 6.45%
3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total FFELP variable-rate bonds and notes
8,021,724
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in FFELP loan asset-backed securitizations
389,462
1.42% - 3.45%
10/25/67 - 8/27/68
FFELP loan warehouse facilities
964,196
5.41% - 5.53%
7/15/25 / 4/1/26
Consumer loan warehouse facility
6,760
5.54%
11/14/25
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitizations
65,683
6.90% / 7.59%
6/25/49 / 11/25/53
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitizations
63,203
5.35% / 7.15%
12/28/43 / 11/25/53
Unsecured line of credit
—
—
9/22/26
Participation agreements
7,728
5.58% - 6.08%
5/4/25 / 1/30/33
Repurchase agreement
111,189
6.44% - 6.75%
11/27/24 / 12/20/24
Other - due to related party
4,856
5.00%
11/15/28 - 11/15/30
9,634,801
Discount on bonds and notes payable and debt issuance costs
(67,093)
Total
$
9,567,708
As of December 31, 2023
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
$
9,552,667
5.45% - 7.47%
8/26/30 - 9/25/69
Bonds and notes based on auction
87,360
0.00% - 6.45%
3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total FFELP variable-rate bonds and notes
9,640,027
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in FFELP loan asset-backed
securitizations
471,427
1.42% - 3.45%
10/25/67 - 8/27/68
FFELP loan warehouse facilities
1,398,485
5.41% - 5.70%
4/2/25 / 5/22/25
Consumer loan warehouse facility
23,691
5.70%
11/14/25
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitizations
80,393
6.90% / 7.57%
6/25/49 / 11/25/53
Fixed-rate bonds and notes issued in private education loan asset-backed securitizations
80,130
5.35% / 7.15%
12/28/43 / 11/25/53
Unsecured line of credit
—
—
9/22/26
Participation agreements
10,063
5.58% - 6.08%
3/12/24 / 5/4/24
Repurchase agreement
208,164
6.35% - 6.81%
1/22/24 - 12/20/24
Other - due to related party
5,778
5.00% - 6.05%
3/1/24 - 11/15/30
11,918,158
Discount on bonds and notes payable and debt issuance costs
(89,765)
Total
$
11,828,393
18
Warehouse Facilities
The Company funds a portion of its loan acquisitions using warehouse facilities. Loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements. The following table summarizes the Company's warehouse facilities as of June 30, 2024.
Type of loans
Maximum financing amount
Amount outstanding
Amount available
Expiration of liquidity provisions
Final maturity date
Advance rate
Advanced as equity support
FFELP (a)
$
875,000
643,034
231,966
7/15/2024
7/15/2025
note (b)
$
45,502
FFELP (c)
375,000
321,162
53,838
4/1/2025
4/1/2026
92
%
26,539
$
1,250,000
964,196
285,804
$
72,041
Consumer (d)
$
150,000
6,760
143,240
11/14/2024
11/14/2025
70
%
$
1,781
(a) Effective March 6, 2024, the maximum financing amount on this facility was reduced from $1.25 billion to $950 million. On May 17, 2024, this facility was amended to reduce the maximum financing amount from $950 million to $875 million, and to extend the expiration of liquidity provisions and final maturity date to July 15, 2024 and July 15, 2025, respectively. On July 15, 2024, this facility was amended to reduce the maximum financing amount from $875 million to $800 million, and to extend the expiration of liquidity provisions and final maturity date to January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2026, respectively.
(b) This facility has a static advance rate until the expiration date of the liquidity provisions. The maximum advance rates for this facility are 90% to 96%, and the minimum advance rates are 84% to 90%. In the event the liquidity provisions are not extended, the valuation agent has the right to perform a one-time mark to market on the underlying loans funded in this facility, subject to a floor. The loans would then be funded at this new advance rate until the final maturity date of the facility.
(c) On April 2, 2024, this facility was amended to reduce the maximum financing amount from $432 million to $375 million, and to extend the expiration of liquidity provisions and final maturity date to April 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026, respectively.
(d) On March 11, 2024, this facility was amended to reduce the maximum financing amount from $200 million to $150 million.
Unsecured Line of Credit
The Company has a $495.0 million unsecured line of credit that has a maturity date of September 22, 2026. As of June 30, 2024, no amount was outstanding on the line of credit and $495.0 million was available for future use.
Repurchase Agreement
The Company has a repurchase agreement with a non-affiliated third party, the proceeds of which are collateralized by certain private education loan asset-backed securities (bond investments). The outstanding balance under this agreement as of June 30, 2024 was $111.2 million. The agreement has various maturity dates through December 20, 2024 or earlier if either party provides 180 days’ prior written notice, and the Company is subject to margin deficit payment requirements if the fair value of the securities subject to the agreement is less than the original purchase price of such securities on any scheduled reset date. See note 6 for additional information about the private education loan asset-backed securities investments serving as collateral for this repurchase agreement.
Debt Repurchases
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 June 30, 2024, the Company holds $311.7 million (par value) of its own FFELP asset-backed securities.
In April 2023, the Company redeemed $188.6 million of FFELP loan asset-backed debt securities (bonds and notes payable) prior to their maturity. The remaining unamortized debt discount associated with these bonds at the time of redemption was written-off, resulting in a $25.9 million non-cash expense recognized in April 2023. This expense is included in "interest expense on bonds and notes payable and bank deposits" on the consolidated statements of income.
19
5. Derivative Financial Instruments
Non-Nelnet Bank Derivatives
The Company uses settled-to-market derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. Derivative instruments used as part of the Company's interest rate risk management strategy are further described in note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2023 Annual Report. A tabular presentation of such derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 is presented below.
Basis Swaps
The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding basis swaps, in which the Company receives and pays the term adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus the tenor spread adjustment to LIBOR. Prior to the discontinuation of LIBOR on June 30, 2023, the Company received three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and paid one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").
Maturity
Notional amount
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
2024
$
—
1,750,000
2026
1,150,000
1,150,000
2027
250,000
250,000
$
1,400,000
3,150,000
The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was the term adjusted SOFR (plus the tenor spread adjustment relating to LIBOR) plus 10.4 basis points and 10.1 basis points, respectively.
Interest Rate Swaps – Floor Income Hedges
The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments used by the Company as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.
Maturity
Notional amount
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2026
$
200,000
3.92
%
2028
50,000
3.56
2029 (b)
50,000
3.17
2030 (c)
100,000
3.63
$
400,000
3.71
%
(a) For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives payments based on SOFR, the majority of which reset quarterly.
(b) This $50 million notional amount derivative has a forward effective start date in January 2026.
(c) A $50 million notional amount derivative maturing in 2030 has a forward effective start date in November 2025.
During the first quarter of 2023, the Company received $183.2 million, which included $19.1 million related to 2023 settlements, to terminate $2.8 billion in notional amount of floor income interest rate swaps prior to their final maturity.
20
Nelnet Bank Derivatives
Interest Rate Swaps
The following table summarizes the outstanding non-centrally cleared derivative instruments used by Nelnet Bank as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows related to variable rate intercompany deposits.
Maturity
Notional amount
Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2028
$
40,000
3.33
%
2030 (b)
50,000
3.06
2032 (c)
25,000
4.03
2033 (d)
25,000
3.90
$
140,000
3.46
%
(a) For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives payments based on SOFR that reset monthly or quarterly.
(b) These $25 million notional amount derivatives have forward effective start dates in April 2026 and May 2026, respectively.
(c) This $25 million notional amount derivative has a forward effective start date in February 2027.
(d) This $25 million notional amount derivative has a forward effective start date in November 2025.
Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives
Balance Sheets
Unlike the Company's Non-Nelnet Bank derivatives, Nelnet Bank's derivatives are not cleared post-execution at a regulated clearinghouse. As such, the Company records these derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as either an asset (included in "other assets") or liability (included in "other liabilities") measured at fair value. The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company's Nelnet Bank derivatives as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets.
Fair value of asset derivatives
Fair value of liability derivatives
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
Interest rate swaps - Nelnet Bank
$
2,112
452
780
1,976
Statements of Income
The following table summarizes the components of "derivative market value adjustments and derivative settlements, net" included in the consolidated statements of income.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Settlements:
1:3 basis swaps
$
249
(65)
614
794
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
1,193
47
2,383
22,525
Interest rate swaps - Nelnet Bank
207
83
409
83
Total settlements - income
1,649
65
3,406
23,402
Change in fair value:
1:3 basis swaps
(232)
235
(586)
211
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges
1,168
662
7,228
(36,726)
Interest rate swaps - Nelnet Bank
597
1,108
2,855
1,108
Total change in fair value - income (expense)
1,533
2,005
9,497
(35,407)
Derivative market value adjustments and derivative settlements, net - income (expense)
$
3,182
2,070
12,903
(12,005)
21
6. Investments and Notes Receivable
"Restricted investments" and “investments and notes receivable” consisted of the following:
Other Investments and Notes Receivable (not measured at fair value):
Held-to-maturity investments
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Debt securities
3,500
4,700
Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan asset-backed securities (b)
217,283
149,938
Private education loan asset-backed securities
8,100
8,100
Total Nelnet Bank
225,383
158,038
Total held-to-maturity investments
228,883
162,738
Venture capital and funds:
Measurement alternative
196,803
194,084
Equity method
114,800
91,464
Total venture capital and funds
311,603
285,548
Real estate:
Equity method
125,989
103,811
Investment in ALLO:
Voting interest/equity method (c)
—
10,693
Preferred membership interest and accrued and unpaid preferred return (d)
176,092
155,047
Total investment in ALLO
176,092
165,740
Beneficial interest in loan securitizations (e):
Consumer loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $5,911 as of June 30, 2024
163,853
134,113
Private education loans
59,326
68,372
Federally insured student loans
20,790
22,594
Total beneficial interest in loan securitizations
243,969
225,079
Solar (f)
(176,105)
(146,040)
Notes receivable
28,565
53,747
Tax liens, affordable housing, and other
8,645
7,243
Total investments (not measured at fair value)
947,641
857,866
Total investments and notes receivable
$
1,896,433
$
1,846,707
22
(a) A portion of the private education loan asset-backed securities were subject to a repurchase agreement with a third party, as discussed in note 4 under "Repurchase Agreement." As of June 30, 2024, the par value and fair value of these securities was $148.1 million and $130.7 million, respectively.
(b) On May 22, 2024, securities at Nelnet Bank with a fair value of $70.6 million were transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity. The securities were reclassified at fair value at the time of the transfer, and such transfer represented a non-cash transaction. Accumulated other comprehensive income as of May 22, 2024 included pre-tax unrealized gains of $3.4 million related to the transfer. These unrealized gains will be amortized, consistent with the amortization of any premiums on such securities, over the remaining lives of the respective securities as an adjustment of yield.
(c) The Company accounts for its voting membership interests in ALLO under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method of accounting. Under the HLBV method of accounting on its ALLO voting membership interests investment, the Company recognized no losses and $12.2 million of losses during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and losses of $10.7 million and $32.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Losses from the Company's investment in ALLO are included in "other, net" in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income. Absent additional equity contributions with respect to ALLO's voting membership interests, the Company will not recognize additional losses for its voting membership interests in ALLO.
(d) As of June 30, 2024, the outstanding preferred membership interests and accrued and unpaid preferred return of ALLO held by the Company was $169.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The Company historically earned a preferred annual return of 6.25% that increased to 10.00% on April 1, 2024 for $155.0 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO held by the Company. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company purchased an additional $14.5 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO, which earn a preferred annual return of 20.0%. The Company recognized income on its ALLO preferred membership interests of $4.2 million and $2.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $6.6 million and $4.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This income is included in "other, net" in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income.
(e) The Company has partial ownership in certain consumer, private education, and federally insured student loan securitizations. As of the latest remittance reports filed by the various trusts prior to or as of June 30, 2024, the Company's ownership correlates to approximately $1.12 billion, $500 million, and $315 million of consumer, private education, and federally insured student loans, respectively, included in these securitizations.
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded a $5.9 million allowance for credit losses (and related provision expense) related to certain of the Company's beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's estimate of future cash flows from the beneficial interest in certain consumer loan securitizations was lower than previously anticipated due to increased consumer loan defaults within such securitizations.
(f) As of June 30, 2024, the Company has funded a total of $502.8 million in solar investments that remain outstanding, which includes $219.8 million funded by syndication partners. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in a solar project is reduced by tax credits earned when the solar project is placed-in-service. As of June 30, 2024, the Company has earned a total of $474.4 million of tax credits on those projects that remain outstanding, which includes $218.4 million earned by syndication partners. The solar investment negative carrying value on the consolidated balance sheet of $176.1 million as of June 30, 2024 represents the sum of total tax credits earned on solar projects placed-in-service through June 30, 2024 and the calculated HLBV cumulative net losses being larger than the total investment contributions made by the Company and its syndication partners on such projects. The solar investment negative carrying value as of June 30, 2024 excluding the portion owned by syndication partners, which is reflected as "noncontrolling interests" on the consolidated balance sheet, was $84.0 million.
The Company accounts for its solar investments using the HLBV method of accounting. For the majority of the Company’s solar investments, the HLBV method of accounting results in accelerated losses in the initial years of investment. The following table presents (i) the Company's recognized net (losses) gains, which include net losses attributable to third-party noncontrolling interest investors (syndication partners), included in “other, net” in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income, (ii) solar net gains (losses) attributed to noncontrolling interest investors included in “net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests” on the consolidated statements of income, and (iii) the Company's recognized net (losses) gains excluding net gains (losses) attributed to noncontrolling interest investors (such amount reflecting the before tax net income impact of such solar tax equity investments to the Company).
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net (losses) gains
$
(2,610)
(10,086)
170
(13,030)
Less: net gains (losses) attributed to noncontrolling interest investors (syndication partners)
8
(8,430)
(1,633)
(11,428)
Net (losses) gains, excluding activity attributed to noncontrolling interest investors
$
(2,618)
(1,656)
1,803
(1,602)
As of June 30, 2024, the Company is committed to fund an additional $125.7 million on solar investments, of which $83.0 million is expected to be provided by syndication partners.
23
The following table presents, by remaining contractual maturity, the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of June 30, 2024:
As of June 30, 2024
1 year or less
After 1 year through 5 years
After 5 years through 10 years
After 10 years
Total
Available-for-sale asset-backed securities
Restricted Investments:
FFELP loan and other debt securities
$
—
9,263
4,015
34,690
47,968
Fair value
—
9,295
4,049
37,014
50,358
Non-Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan
—
4,285
13,866
201,925
220,076
Private education loan
—
—
—
258,390
258,390
Other debt securities
—
100
4,000
29,573
33,673
Total Non-Nelnet Bank
—
4,385
17,866
489,888
512,139
Fair value
—
4,428
17,748
475,023
497,199
Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan
53,474
21,141
23,908
128,601
227,124
Other debt securities
—
33,107
16,374
109,128
158,609
Total Nelnet Bank
53,474
54,248
40,282
237,729
385,733
Fair value
54,336
54,254
40,457
242,925
391,972
Total available-for-sale asset-backed securities at amortized cost
$
53,474
67,896
62,163
762,307
945,840
Total available-for-sale asset-backed securities at fair value
$
54,336
67,977
62,254
754,962
939,529
Held-to-maturity investments
Non-Nelnet Bank:
Debt securities
$
3,500
—
—
—
3,500
Fair value
3,500
—
—
—
3,500
Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan asset-backed securities
—
3,041
1,278
212,964
217,283
Private education loan asset-backed securities
—
—
—
8,100
8,100
Total Nelnet Bank
—
3,041
1,278
221,064
225,383
Fair value
—
3,129
1,304
226,330
230,763
Total held-to-maturity investments at amortized cost
$
3,500
3,041
1,278
221,064
228,883
Total held-to-maturity investments at fair value
$
3,500
3,129
1,304
226,330
234,263
Beneficial interest in loan securitizations (a):
Amortized cost
$
—
—
—
—
243,969
Fair value
$
—
—
—
—
261,850
(a) The Company's beneficial interest in loan securitizations are not due at a single maturity date.
24
The following table summarizes the unrealized positions for held-to-maturity investments and the beneficial interest in loan securitizations as of June 30, 2024:
Carrying value
Gross unrealized gains
Gross unrealized losses (a)
Fair value
Asset-backed and other securities
$
228,883
5,380
—
234,263
Beneficial interest in loan securitizations
243,969
20,512
(2,631)
261,850
(a) None of the unrealized losses presented in the above table at June 30, 2024 were due to credit losses.
The following table presents securities classified as available-for-sale that have gross unrealized losses at June 30, 2024 and the fair value of such securities as of June 30, 2024. These securities are segregated between investments that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and twelve months or more, based on the point in time that the fair value declined below the amortized cost basis. All securities in the table below have been evaluated to determine if a credit loss exists. As part of that assessment, the Company concluded it currently has the intent and ability to retain these investments, and none of the unrealized losses were due to credit losses.
As of June 30, 2024
Unrealized loss position less than 12 months
Unrealized loss position 12 months or more
Total
Unrealized loss
Fair value
Unrealized loss
Fair value
Unrealized loss
Fair value
Available-for-sale asset-backed securities
Restricted Investments:
FFELP loan and other debt securities
$
(83)
8,167
—
—
(83)
8,167
Non-Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan
(7)
3,494
(1,443)
79,320
(1,450)
82,814
Private education loan
—
—
(22,442)
235,948
(22,442)
235,948
Total Non-Nelnet Bank
(7)
3,494
(23,885)
315,268
(23,892)
318,762
Nelnet Bank:
FFELP loan
(35)
9,694
(1,315)
34,871
(1,350)
44,565
Other debt securities
(42)
13,098
(1,376)
16,598
(1,418)
29,696
Total Nelnet Bank
(77)
22,792
(2,691)
51,469
(2,768)
74,261
Total available-for-sale asset-backed securities
$
(167)
34,453
(26,576)
366,737
(26,743)
401,190
The following table summarizes the gross proceeds received and gross realized gains and losses related to sales of available-for-sale asset-backed securities.
Three months ended
Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Gross proceeds from sales
$
113,173
85,375
266,547
577,548
Gross realized gains
$
1,516
920
2,571
2,194
Gross realized losses
(463)
(2)
(966)
(6,258)
Net gains (losses)
$
1,053
918
1,605
(4,064)
25
7. Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consisted of the following:
Weighted average remaining useful life as of
June 30, 2024 (months)
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Amortizable intangible assets, net:
Customer relationships (net of accumulated amortization of $50,661 and $46,573, respectively)
100
$
38,943
43,031
Trade names (net of accumulated amortization of $167 and $8,268, respectively)
94
603
642
Computer software (net of accumulated amortization of $745 and $574, respectively)
34
975
1,146
Total amortizable intangible assets, net
98
$
40,521
44,819
The Company recorded amortization expense on its intangible assets of $2.1 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $4.3 million and $6.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company will continue to amortize intangible assets over their remaining useful lives. As of June 30, 2024, the Company estimates it will record amortization expense as follows:
2024 (July 1 - December 31)
$
4,193
2025
6,099
2026
6,012
2027
5,714
2028
5,354
2029 and thereafter
13,149
$
40,521
8. Goodwill
The following table presents the carrying amount of goodwill as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 by reportable operating segment:
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Total
Total goodwill
$
23,639
92,507
41,883
—
—
—
158,029
26
9. Impairment Expense, Provision for Beneficial Interests, and Restructure Charges
Impairment Expense and Provision for Beneficial Interests
The following table presents the non-cash impairment charges by asset and reportable operating segment recognized by the Company during 2024. No impairment charges were recognized during the first six months of 2023. The Company’s impairment charges are included in “impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests” in the consolidated statements of income.
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Total
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Investments - beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations (a)
$
—
—
5,911
—
—
—
5,911
Property and equipment - solar facilities (b)
—
—
—
—
—
1,170
1,170
Other assets - solar inventory (b)
—
—
—
—
—
695
695
$
—
—
5,911
—
—
1,865
7,776
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Investments - beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations (a)
$
—
—
5,911
—
—
—
5,911
Investments - venture capital
—
—
—
—
—
37
37
Property and equipment - solar facilities (b)
—
—
—
—
—
1,170
1,170
Other assets - solar inventory (b)
—
—
—
—
—
695
695
$
—
—
5,911
—
—
1,902
7,813
(a) During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded an allowance for credit losses (and related provision expense) related to the Company's beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations. See note 6 for additional information.
(b) On April 12, 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. As a result, during the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized non-cash impairment charges on certain solar facilities and inventory related to the residential solar operations.
Restructure Charges
GRNE Solar
On April 12, 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar EPC operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. The restructuring plan included a reduction in headcount of approximately 40 associates. The Company incurred a restructure charge of $1.6 million related to these staff reductions and commissions paid for canceled contracts, which is included in "salaries and benefits" in the consolidated statements of income.
Loan Servicing and Systems (LSS)
In June 2024, the Company announced a reduction in headcount after the completion of the transfer of direct loan servicing volume to one platform and the required servicing platform enhancements for the Company's new student loan servicing contract with the Department of Education. Approximately 220 associates who work in LSS, including some in related shared services that support LSS, were notified their positions were being eliminated. The Company estimates incurring a charge of $7.1 million related to these staff reductions, of which $2.1 million was recognized in the second quarter of 2024, which is included in "salaries and benefits" in the consolidated statements of income. The remaining expense will be recognized during the third and fourth quarters of 2024.
27
10. Bank Deposits
The following table summarizes Nelnet Bank’s interest-bearing deposits, excluding intercompany deposits:
As of
As of
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Retail and other savings
$
622,080
520,017
Brokered CDs, net of brokered deposit fees
246,156
203,522
Retail and other CDs, net of issuance fees
22,236
20,060
Total interest-bearing deposits
$
890,472
743,599
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Nelnet Bank had intercompany deposits from Nelnet, Inc. and its subsidiaries totaling $143.0 million and $104.0 million, respectively, including a $40.0 million pledged deposit from Nelnet, Inc. as required under a Capital and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement with the FDIC. All intercompany deposits held at Nelnet Bank are eliminated for consolidated financial reporting purposes.
The following table presents certificates of deposit remaining maturities as of June 30, 2024:
One year or less
$
982
After one year to two years
149,045
After two years to three years
75,172
After three years to four years
348
After four years to five years
42,845
After five years
—
Total
$
268,392
Retail and other savings deposits include deposits from Educational 529 College Savings and Health Savings plans, Short Term Federal Investment Trust (STFIT), and consumer savings. These deposits are large interest-bearing omnibus accounts structured to allow FDIC insurance to flow through to underlying individual depositors. The deposits exceeding the FDIC insurance limits as of June 30, 2024, was $44.9 million, which includes a portion of the pledged deposit from Nelnet, Inc., and an earmarked deposit required for intercompany transactions.
28
11. Earnings per Common Share
The following table presents 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 June 30,
2024
2023
Common shareholders
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
Total
Common shareholders
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
Total
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
44,239
852
45,091
26,842
584
27,426
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
35,835,387
690,095
36,525,482
36,670,933
797,464
37,468,397
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
$
1.23
1.23
1.23
0.73
0.73
0.73
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
Common shareholders
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
Total
Common shareholders
Unvested restricted stock shareholders
Total
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
116,178
2,320
118,498
52,270
1,115
53,385
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
36,119,876
721,351
36,841,227
36,625,819
781,024
37,406,843
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
$
3.22
3.22
3.22
1.43
1.43
1.43
29
12. Segment Reporting
See note 16 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2023 Annual Report for a description of the Company's operating segments. The following tables present the results of each of the Company's reportable operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Eliminations
Total
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
—
—
193,707
8,422
—
—
—
202,129
Investment interest
1,258
5,715
13,709
10,811
15,880
2,646
(9,282)
40,737
Total interest income
1,258
5,715
207,416
19,233
15,880
2,646
(9,282)
242,866
Interest expense
—
—
171,632
10,769
2,606
733
(9,282)
176,459
Net interest income
1,258
5,715
35,784
8,464
13,274
1,913
—
66,407
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
—
—
(4,225)
7,836
—
—
—
3,611
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
1,258
5,715
40,009
628
13,274
1,913
—
62,796
Other income (expense):
Loan servicing and systems revenue
109,052
—
—
—
—
—
—
109,052
Intersegment revenue
6,106
56
—
—
—
—
(6,162)
—
Education technology services and payments revenue
—
116,909
—
—
—
—
—
116,909
Solar construction revenue
—
—
—
—
—
9,694
—
9,694
Other, net
685
—
1,337
775
15,702
10,372
—
28,871
Loss on sale of loans
—
—
(1,438)
—
—
—
—
(1,438)
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
—
—
(5,911)
—
—
(1,865)
—
(7,776)
Derivative settlements, net
—
—
1,442
207
—
—
—
1,649
Derivative market value adjustments, net
—
—
936
597
—
—
—
1,533
Total other income (expense), net
115,843
116,965
(3,634)
1,579
15,702
18,201
(6,162)
258,494
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
—
40,222
—
—
—
—
—
40,222
Cost to provide solar construction services
—
—
—
—
—
8,072
—
8,072
Total cost of services
—
40,222
—
—
—
8,072
—
48,294
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
70,631
40,736
1,113
2,798
374
24,786
(804)
139,634
Depreciation and amortization
5,342
2,712
—
341
—
6,748
—
15,142
Other expenses
20,661
8,600
3,793
2,067
11,829
12,842
—
59,792
Intersegment expenses, net
18,224
4,811
7,159
719
248
(25,803)
(5,358)
—
Total operating expenses
114,858
56,859
12,065
5,925
12,451
18,573
(6,162)
214,568
Income (loss) before income taxes
2,243
25,599
24,310
(3,718)
16,525
(6,531)
—
58,428
Income tax (expense) benefit
(538)
(6,150)
(5,835)
916
(3,935)
788
—
(14,753)
Net income (loss)
1,705
19,449
18,475
(2,802)
12,590
(5,743)
—
43,675
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—
29
—
—
(129)
1,516
—
1,416
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
1,705
19,478
18,475
(2,802)
12,461
(4,227)
—
45,091
Total assets as of June 30, 2024
$
264,381
478,077
11,315,210
1,185,302
1,038,068
778,549
(558,394)
14,501,193
30
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Eliminations
Total
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
—
—
237,906
5,139
—
—
—
243,045
Investment interest
1,058
5,268
15,857
8,522
22,800
3,055
(15,578)
40,982
Total interest income
1,058
5,268
253,763
13,661
22,800
3,055
(15,578)
284,027
Interest expense
—
—
232,313
8,171
7,371
871
(15,578)
233,148
Net interest income
1,058
5,268
21,450
5,490
15,429
2,184
—
50,879
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
—
—
(12,873)
1,493
—
—
—
(11,380)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
1,058
5,268
34,323
3,997
15,429
2,184
—
62,259
Other income (expense):
Loan servicing and systems revenue
122,020
—
—
—
—
—
—
122,020
Intersegment revenue
7,246
65
—
—
—
—
(7,311)
—
Education technology services and payments revenue
—
109,858
—
—
—
—
—
109,858
Solar construction revenue
—
—
—
—
—
4,735
—
4,735
Other, net
605
—
1,319
620
5,967
(17,677)
—
(9,167)
Loss on sale of loans
—
—
(5,461)
—
—
—
—
(5,461)
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Derivative settlements, net
—
—
(18)
83
—
—
—
65
Derivative market value adjustments, net
—
—
897
1,108
—
—
—
2,005
Total other income (expense), net
129,871
109,923
(3,263)
1,811
5,967
(12,942)
(7,311)
224,055
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
—
40,407
—
—
—
—
—
40,407
Cost to provide solar construction services
—
—
—
—
—
9,122
—
9,122
Total cost of services
—
40,407
—
—
—
9,122
—
49,529
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
76,141
38,351
1,096
2,297
210
26,756
(145)
144,706
Depreciation and amortization
4,863
2,815
—
51
—
10,923
—
18,652
Other expenses
13,818
9,692
4,115
1,624
4,134
12,613
—
45,997
Intersegment expenses, net
19,079
5,884
8,145
92
127
(26,161)
(7,166)
—
Total operating expenses
113,901
56,742
13,356
4,064
4,471
24,131
(7,311)
209,355
Income (loss) before income taxes
17,028
18,042
17,704
1,744
16,925
(44,011)
—
27,430
Income tax (expense) benefit
(4,086)
(4,327)
(4,249)
(396)
(4,031)
6,902
—
(10,187)
Net income (loss)
12,942
13,715
13,455
1,348
12,894
(37,109)
—
17,243
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—
(19)
—
—
(128)
10,330
—
10,183
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
12,942
13,696
13,455
1,348
12,766
(26,779)
—
27,426
Total assets as of June 30, 2023
$
173,926
482,922
14,667,357
1,005,043
1,099,212
970,987
(613,757)
17,785,690
31
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Eliminations
Total
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
—
—
403,335
15,518
—
—
—
418,853
Investment interest
3,152
13,580
35,544
20,779
31,495
6,461
(18,197)
92,814
Total interest income
3,152
13,580
438,879
36,297
31,495
6,461
(18,197)
511,667
Interest expense
—
—
362,537
20,266
5,024
1,409
(18,197)
371,039
Net interest income
3,152
13,580
76,342
16,031
26,471
5,052
—
140,628
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
—
—
2,230
12,210
—
—
—
14,440
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
3,152
13,580
74,112
3,821
26,471
5,052
—
126,188
Other income (expense):
Loan servicing and systems revenue
236,252
—
—
—
—
—
—
236,252
Intersegment revenue
12,991
106
—
—
—
—
(13,097)
—
Education technology services and payments revenue
—
260,449
—
—
—
—
—
260,449
Solar construction revenue
—
—
—
—
—
23,420
—
23,420
Other, net
1,395
—
6,321
1,150
28,644
8,224
—
45,734
Loss on sale of loans
—
—
(1,579)
—
—
—
—
(1,579)
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
—
—
(5,911)
—
—
(1,902)
—
(7,813)
Derivative settlements, net
—
—
2,997
409
—
—
—
3,406
Derivative market value adjustments, net
—
—
6,642
2,855
—
—
—
9,497
Total other income (expense), net
250,638
260,555
8,470
4,414
28,644
29,742
(13,097)
569,366
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
—
88,832
—
—
—
—
—
88,832
Cost to provide solar construction services
—
—
—
—
—
22,300
—
22,300
Total cost of services
—
88,832
—
—
—
22,300
—
111,132
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
147,353
80,903
2,308
5,518
732
48,307
(1,611)
283,509
Depreciation and amortization
10,450
5,395
—
601
—
15,464
—
31,911
Other expenses
40,198
16,158
7,210
3,194
23,632
26,243
—
116,637
Intersegment expenses, net
37,555
9,612
15,009
1,493
465
(52,648)
(11,486)
—
Total operating expenses
235,556
112,068
24,527
10,806
24,829
37,366
(13,097)
432,057
Income (loss) before income taxes
18,234
73,235
58,055
(2,571)
30,286
(24,872)
—
152,365
Income tax (expense) benefit
(4,376)
(17,585)
(13,933)
657
(7,209)
4,511
—
(37,936)
Net income (loss)
13,858
55,650
44,122
(1,914)
23,077
(20,361)
—
114,429
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—
46
—
—
(249)
4,272
—
4,069
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
13,858
55,696
44,122
(1,914)
22,828
(16,089)
—
118,498
Total assets as of June 30, 2024
$
264,381
478,077
11,315,210
1,185,302
1,038,068
778,549
(558,394)
14,501,193
32
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Nelnet Financial Services
Loan Servicing and Systems
Education Technology Services and Payments
Asset Generation and Management
Nelnet Bank
NFS Other Operating Segments
Corporate and Other Activities
Eliminations
Total
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
—
—
458,818
9,471
—
—
—
468,288
Investment interest
2,095
11,304
29,664
16,449
41,460
5,594
(24,860)
81,707
Total interest income
2,095
11,304
488,482
25,920
41,460
5,594
(24,860)
549,995
Interest expense
—
—
421,511
15,385
19,198
1,362
(24,860)
432,597
Net interest income
2,095
11,304
66,971
10,535
22,262
4,232
—
117,398
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
—
—
(3,119)
3,910
—
—
—
791
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
2,095
11,304
70,090
6,625
22,262
4,232
—
116,607
Other income (expense):
Loan servicing and systems revenue
261,247
—
—
—
—
—
—
261,247
Intersegment revenue
15,036
121
—
—
—
—
(15,157)
—
Education technology services and payments revenue
—
243,462
—
—
—
—
—
243,462
Solar construction revenue
—
—
—
—
—
13,386
—
13,386
Other, net
1,213
—
4,164
830
5,226
(35,667)
—
(24,235)
Loss on sale of loans
—
—
(15,753)
—
—
—
—
(15,753)
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Derivative settlements, net
—
—
23,319
83
—
—
—
23,402
Derivative market value adjustments, net
—
—
(36,515)
1,108
—
—
—
(35,407)
Total other income (expense), net
277,496
243,583
(24,785)
2,021
5,226
(22,281)
(15,157)
466,102
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
—
88,110
—
—
—
—
—
88,110
Cost to provide solar construction services
—
—
—
—
—
17,422
—
17,422
Total cost of services
—
88,110
—
—
—
17,422
—
105,532
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
160,701
76,264
1,851
4,361
429
53,955
(145)
297,416
Depreciation and amortization
9,377
5,393
—
56
—
20,454
—
35,279
Other expenses
27,131
17,755
9,131
2,406
4,701
25,657
—
86,781
Intersegment expenses, net
40,136
11,684
16,841
173
256
(54,078)
(15,012)
—
Total operating expenses
237,345
111,096
27,823
6,996
5,386
45,988
(15,157)
419,476
Income (loss) before income taxes
42,246
55,681
17,482
1,650
22,102
(81,459)
—
57,701
Income tax (expense) benefit
(10,139)
(13,393)
(4,196)
(362)
(5,240)
15,056
—
(18,273)
Net income (loss)
32,107
42,288
13,286
1,288
16,862
(66,403)
—
39,428
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—
119
—
—
(269)
14,107
—
13,957
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
32,107
42,407
13,286
1,288
16,593
(52,296)
—
53,385
Total assets as of June 30, 2023
$
173,926
482,922
14,667,357
1,005,043
1,099,212
970,987
(613,757)
17,785,690
33
13. Disaggregated Revenue
The following tables present disaggregated revenue by service offering or customer type for the Company's fee-based operating segments.
Loan Servicing and Systems
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Government loan servicing
$
87,014
95,736
192,490
204,618
Private education and consumer loan servicing
12,959
12,063
25,577
24,225
FFELP loan servicing
3,245
3,554
6,624
6,921
Software services
4,879
5,962
9,420
15,660
Outsourced services
955
4,705
2,141
9,823
Loan servicing and systems revenue
$
109,052
122,020
236,252
261,247
Education Technology Services and Payments
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Tuition payment plan services
$
34,164
30,825
73,043
65,012
Payment processing
34,326
31,827
82,113
75,868
Education technology services
47,205
46,216
103,227
101,004
Other
1,214
990
2,066
1,578
Education technology services and payments revenue
$
116,909
109,858
260,449
243,462
Solar Construction
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Commercial revenue
$
8,777
2,329
20,355
8,205
Residential revenue (a)
917
2,406
3,065
5,181
Solar construction revenue
$
9,694
4,735
23,420
13,386
(a) On April 12, 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar engineering, procurement, and construction operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. As a result, residential revenue will continue to decline from recent historical amounts as existing customer contracts are completed.
Other Income (Expense)
The following table presents the components of "other, net" in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income:
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Reinsurance premiums
$
14,851
3,816
27,631
4,351
ALLO preferred return
4,160
2,274
6,569
4,523
Borrower late fee income
2,584
2,168
5,718
4,414
Investment advisory services (WRCM)
1,524
1,639
3,033
3,251
Administration/sponsor fee income
1,482
1,697
3,028
3,468
Investment activity, net
217
(3,574)
(1,082)
(7,154)
Loss from ALLO voting membership interest investment
—
(12,169)
(10,693)
(32,382)
(Loss) gain from solar investments, net
(2,610)
(10,086)
170
(13,030)
Other
6,663
5,068
11,360
8,324
Other, net
$
28,871
(9,167)
45,734
(24,235)
34
14. Major Customer
Government Loan Servicing
Nelnet Servicing, a subsidiary of the Company, earns loan servicing revenue from a servicing contract with the Department of Education (the "Department"). Revenue earned by the Company related to this contract was $87.0 million and $95.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $192.5 million and $204.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Company's legacy student loan servicing contract with the Department was scheduled to expire on December 14, 2023. In April 2023, Nelnet Servicing received a contract award from the Department, pursuant to which it was selected to provide continued servicing capabilities for the Department's student aid recipients under a new Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS) contract (the "New Government Servicing Contract") which replaced the legacy Department student loan servicing contract.
The New Government Servicing Contract became effective April 24, 2023 and has a five year base period, with 2two-year and 1one-year possible extensions. The Department's total loan servicing volume of existing borrowers was allocated by the Department to Nelnet Servicing and four other third-party servicers that were awarded a USDS contract. Under the New Government Servicing Contract, Nelnet Servicing immediately began to make required servicing platform enhancements, for which it will be compensated from the Department on certain of these investments. Servicing under the New Government Servicing Contract went live on April 1, 2024 and the Company recognized revenue in accordance with this new contract beginning in the second quarter of 2024. The Company earned revenue for servicing borrowers under the legacy servicing contract with the Department through March 31, 2024.
The New Government Servicing Contract has multiple revenue components with tiered pricing based on borrower volume, while revenue earned under the legacy servicing contract was primarily based on borrower status. Assuming borrower volume remains consistent under the New Government Servicing Contract, the Company expects revenue earned on a per borrower blended basis will decrease under the New Government Servicing Contract versus the legacy contract. However, consistent with the legacy contract, the Company expects to earn additional revenue from the Department under the New Government Servicing Contract for change requests and other support services. In addition, the Company has executed an agreement with a third-party servicer awarded a USDS contract to license its servicing software to such entity. The Company began earning remote hosted servicing revenue from this new customer during the second quarter of 2024. The amount of revenue earned by the Company from this new customer will depend on the number of servicing borrowers allocated by the Department to this servicer.
15. Fair Value
The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Total
Level 1
Level 2
Total
Assets:
Investments:
Asset-backed debt securities - available-for-sale
$
100
939,429
939,529
99
955,804
955,903
Equity securities
187
—
187
73
—
73
Equity securities measured at net asset value (a)
59,434
50,834
Total investments
287
939,429
999,150
172
955,804
1,006,810
Derivative instruments
—
2,112
2,112
—
452
452
Total assets
$
287
941,541
1,001,262
172
956,256
1,007,262
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments
$
—
780
780
—
1,976
1,976
Total liabilities
$
—
780
780
—
1,976
1,976
(a) In accordance with the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
35
The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:
As of June 30, 2024
Fair value
Carrying value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Financial assets:
Loans receivable
$
10,902,478
10,320,047
—
—
10,902,478
Accrued loan interest receivable
619,472
619,472
—
619,472
—
Cash and cash equivalents
145,478
145,478
145,478
—
—
Investments (at fair value)
999,150
999,150
287
939,429
—
Investments - held-to-maturity
234,263
228,883
—
234,263
—
Notes receivable
28,565
28,565
—
28,565
—
Beneficial interest in loan securitizations
261,850
243,969
—
—
261,850
Restricted cash
538,446
538,446
538,446
—
—
Restricted cash – due to customers
259,479
259,479
259,479
—
—
Derivative instruments
2,112
2,112
—
2,112
—
Financial liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable
9,560,951
9,567,708
—
9,560,951
—
Accrued interest payable
27,141
27,141
—
27,141
—
Bank deposits
869,437
890,472
575,265
294,172
—
Due to customers
388,876
388,876
388,876
—
—
Derivative instruments
780
780
—
780
—
As of December 31, 2023
Fair value
Carrying value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Financial assets:
Loans receivable
$
12,800,638
12,343,819
—
—
12,800,638
Accrued loan interest receivable
764,385
764,385
—
764,385
—
Cash and cash equivalents
168,112
168,112
168,112
—
—
Investments (at fair value)
1,006,810
1,006,810
172
955,804
—
Investments - held-to-maturity
163,622
162,738
—
163,622
—
Notes receivable
53,747
53,747
—
53,747
—
Beneficial interest in loan securitizations
262,093
225,079
—
—
262,093
Restricted cash
488,723
488,723
488,723
—
—
Restricted cash – due to customers
368,656
368,656
368,656
—
—
Derivative instruments
452
452
—
452
—
Financial liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable
11,629,359
11,828,393
—
11,629,359
—
Accrued interest payable
35,391
35,391
—
35,391
—
Bank deposits
722,973
743,599
467,420
255,553
—
Due to customers
425,507
425,507
425,507
—
—
Derivative instruments
1,976
1,976
—
1,976
—
The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities are described in note 23 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2023 Annual Report.
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 six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. 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 2023 Annual Report.
36
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 “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “ensure,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “scheduled,” “should,” “will,” “would,” 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 2023 Annual Report and include such risks and uncertainties as:
•risks related to the ability to successfully maintain and increase allocated volumes of student loans serviced by the Company under existing and future servicing contracts with the Department, risks related to unfavorable contract modifications or interpretations, and risks related to the Company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program (the "FFEL Program" or FFELP), private education, and consumer loans;
•loan portfolio risks such as prepayment risk, credit risk, interest rate basis and repricing risk, 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, consumer, and other loans, or investment interests therein, and initiatives to purchase additional FFELP, private education, consumer, and other loans;
•financing and liquidity risks, including risks of changes in the interest rate environment;
•risks from changes in the terms of education loans and in the educational credit and services markets resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs and budgets;
•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 disclosure of confidential or personal information and/or damage to reputation resulting from cyber breaches;
•risks related to use of artificial intelligence;
•uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations;
•risks related to the ability of Nelnet Bank to achieve its business objectives and effectively deploy loan and deposit strategies and achieve expected market penetration;
•risks related to the expected benefits to the Company from its continuing investment in ALLO Holdings, LLC (referred to collectively with its subsidiary ALLO Communications LLC as "ALLO"), and risks related to investments in solar projects, including risks of not being able to realize tax credits which remain subject to recapture by taxing authorities and rising construction costs;
•risks and uncertainties related to other initiatives to pursue additional strategic investments (and anticipated income therefrom) including venture capital and real estate investments, reinsurance, acquisitions, and other activities (including risks associated with errors that occasionally occur in converting loan servicing portfolios to a new servicing platform), including activities that are intended to diversify the Company both within and outside of its historical core education-related businesses;
•risks and uncertainties associated with climate change; and
•risks and uncertainties associated with litigation matters and maintaining compliance with the extensive regulatory requirements applicable to the Company's businesses, and uncertainties inherent in the estimates and assumptions about future events that management is required to make in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
All forward-looking statements contained in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its prior forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, the Company disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by law.
37
OVERVIEW
The Company is a diversified hybrid holding company with primary businesses being consumer lending, loan servicing, payments, and technology - all with a large customer emphasis in the education space. The largest operating businesses engage in loan servicing and education technology services and payments. 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 both within and outside of its historical core education-related businesses including, but not limited to, investments in a fiber communications company (ALLO), early-stage and emerging growth companies (venture capital investments), real estate, reinsurance, and renewable energy (solar). The Company is also actively expanding its private education, consumer, and other loan portfolios, and in November 2020 launched Nelnet Bank.
Reclassifications and Immaterial Error Corrections
The accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations gives effect to the immaterial error corrections made to the previously reported consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. For additional information, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
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 Non-GAAP net income, excluding derivative market value adjustments, and a discussion of why the Company believes providing this additional information is useful to investors, is provided below.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
45,091
27,426
118,498
53,385
Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments (a)
(1,533)
(2,005)
(9,497)
35,407
Tax effect (b)
368
481
2,279
(8,498)
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc., excluding derivative market value adjustments
$
43,926
25,902
111,280
80,294
Earnings per share:
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
1.23
0.73
3.22
1.43
Realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments (a)
(0.04)
(0.05)
(0.26)
0.95
Tax effect (b)
0.01
0.01
0.06
(0.23)
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc., excluding derivative market value adjustments
$
1.20
0.69
3.02
2.15
(a) "Derivative market value adjustments" includes 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) 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. "Derivative market value 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 in the consolidated financial statements. 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.
The Company believes these point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to its derivative instruments that are subject to interest rate fluctuations are 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.
(b) The tax effects are calculated by multiplying the realized and unrealized derivative market value adjustments by the applicable statutory income tax rate.
38
Operating Segments
The Company's reportable operating segments are described in note 1 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2023 Annual Report. They include:
•Loan Servicing and Systems (LSS) - referred to as Nelnet Diversified Services (NDS)
•Education Technology Services and Payments (ETSP) - referred to as Nelnet Business Services (NBS)
•Asset Generation and Management (AGM), part of the Nelnet Financial Services (NFS) division
•Nelnet Bank, part of the NFS division
The Company earns fee-based revenue through its NDS and NBS reportable operating segments. The Company earns net interest income on its loan portfolio, consisting primarily of FFELP loans, through its AGM reportable operating segment. This segment is expected to generate significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes. The Company actively works to maximize the amount and timing of cash flows generated from its FFELP portfolio and seeks to acquire additional loan assets to leverage its servicing scale and expertise to generate incremental earnings and cash flow. Nelnet Bank operates as an internet industrial bank franchise focused on the private education and unsecured consumer loan markets, with a home office in Salt Lake City, Utah. Other operating segments included in the NFS division include the Company's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered investment advisor subsidiary, property and casualty reinsurance activities, investment activities in real estate, and investment debt securities (primarily student loan and other asset-backed securities) and interest expense incurred on debt used to finance such investments.
Other business activities and operating segments that are not reportable and not part of the NFS division are combined and included in Corporate and Other Activities ("Corporate"). Corporate also includes interest income earned on cash balances held at the corporate level and interest expense incurred on unsecured and secured corporate related debt transactions, certain investment activities including its investment in ALLO and early-stage and emerging growth companies (venture capital investments), and certain shared service activities that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services. In addition, Corporate includes corporate costs and overhead functions not allocated to operating segments, including executive management, investments in innovation, and other holding company organizational costs.
39
The information below presents the operating results (net income (loss) before taxes) for each of the Company's reportable and certain other operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. See "Results of Operations" for additional detail regarding each reportable operating segment, the NFS operating segments, and Corporate and Other Activities under this Item 2.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
Certain Items Impacting Comparability (All dollar amounts below are pre-tax)
2024
2023
2024
2023
NDS
$
2,243
17,028
18,234
42,246
•A decrease in before tax operating margin due primarily to a decrease in revenue while operating expenses remained relatively consistent period over period. The Company expects before tax operating margin to continue to be lower than historical prior year results for the remainder of 2024.
NBS
25,599
18,042
73,235
55,681
•An increase in before tax operating margin, excluding net interest income, due to increased revenue while maintaining a consistent cost structure.
Nelnet Financial Services division:
AGM
24,310
17,704
58,055
17,482
•The recognition of a $25.9 million non-cash expense in the second quarter of 2023 as the result of redeeming certain asset-backed debt securities prior to their maturity and writing off the remaining unamortized debt discount at the time of redemption.
•A decrease of $14.4 million and $49.5 million for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively, in net interest income due to a decrease in core loan spread and the average balance of loans compared with the same periods in 2023.
•A net gain of $6.6 million related to changes in the fair values of derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting in the first half of 2024 compared with a net loss of $36.5 million for the same period in 2023.
•The recognition of $1.6 million in losses from the sale of loans for the first half of 2024 compared with $15.8 million in the same period of 2023.
•The recognition of $5.9 million in provision for beneficial interest in consumer loan securitization investments in the second quarter of 2024.
Nelnet Bank
(3,718)
1,744
(2,571)
1,650
•The recognition of provision for loan losses of $7.8 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $12.2 million and $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The primary item impacting provision for loan losses was the establishment of an initial allowance for loans originated and acquired during the periods presented.
NFS other operating segments
16,525
16,925
30,286
22,102
Corporate:
Unallocated corporate costs
(9,056)
(14,084)
(19,101)
(27,072)
ALLO investment
3,940
(11,086)
(4,653)
(28,968)
•The recognition of no loss in the second quarter of 2024 compared with a loss of $12.2 million in the same period in 2023 and a loss of $10.7 million in the first half of 2024 compared with $32.4 million in the same period in 2023 from the ALLO voting membership interest investment. Absent additional equity contributions with respect to ALLO's voting membership interests, the Company will not recognize additional losses for its voting membership interests in ALLO.
Nelnet Renewable Energy
(7,332)
(19,111)
(9,054)
(26,808)
•The recognition of a loss in the solar construction business for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 of $4.8 million and $8.2 million, respectively, and $8.8 million and $11.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In April 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar construction operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company recognized non-cash impairment charges of $1.9 million on certain assets related to the residential operations and $1.6 million in severance costs and commissions paid for cancelled contracts.
•The recognition of net losses from tax solar investments of $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared with $10.1 million for the same period in 2023 and a net gain of $0.2 million in the first half of 2024 compared with a net loss of $13.0 million for the same period in 2023.
Other corporate activities
5,917
270
7,936
1,389
Net income before taxes
58,428
27,430
152,365
57,701
Income tax expense
(14,753)
(10,187)
(37,936)
(18,273)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,416
10,183
4,069
13,957
•The majority of noncontrolling interests represents losses attributed to noncontrolling membership interests in the Company’s Nelnet Renewable Energy operating segment.
Net income
$
45,091
27,426
118,498
53,385
40
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
An analysis of the Company's consolidated operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same periods in 2023 is provided below.
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 12 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.
Three months ended
Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Loan interest
$
202,129
243,045
418,853
468,288
Decrease was due to decreases in the average balance of loans partially offset by an increase in the gross yield earned on loans.
Investment interest
40,737
40,982
92,814
81,707
Includes income from unrestricted interest-earning deposits and investments, and restricted cash in asset-backed securitizations. Increase was due to an increase in the average balances and interest rates and, for the first half of 2024, an increase in interest earned on the Company's partial ownership in loan securitizations that are accounted for as held-to-maturity beneficial interest investments.
Total interest income
242,866
284,027
511,667
549,995
Interest expense
176,459
233,148
371,039
432,597
Decrease was due to a decrease in the average balance of debt outstanding partially offset by an increase in cost of funds. In addition, during the second quarter of 2023, the Company recognized a $25.9 million non-cash expense as the result of redeeming certain asset-backed debt securities prior to their maturity and writing off the remaining unamortized debt discount at the time of redemption.
Net interest income
66,407
50,879
140,628
117,398
Less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
3,611
(11,380)
14,440
791
Represents the current period provision (negative provision) to reflect the lifetime expected credit losses related to the Company's loan portfolio. See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for the factors impacting provision for loan losses for the periods presented.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
62,796
62,259
126,188
116,607
Other income (expense):
LSS revenue
109,052
122,020
236,252
261,247
See LSS operating segment - results of operations.
ETSP revenue
116,909
109,858
260,449
243,462
See ETSP operating segment - results of operations.
Solar construction revenue
9,694
4,735
23,420
13,386
Represents revenue earned from GRNE Solar providing solar construction services, including design and installations of residential and commercial solar systems. On April 12, 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar EPC operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. As a result, residential revenue will continue to decline in future periods as existing customer contracts are completed.
Other, net
28,871
(9,167)
45,734
(24,235)
See table below for the components of "other, net."
Loss on sale of loans
(1,438)
(5,461)
(1,579)
(15,753)
The Company recognized losses from selling portfolios of loans. See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.
Impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
(7,776)
—
(7,813)
—
Represents a provision of $5.9 million for beneficial interest in consumer loan securitization investments and a non-cash impairment charge of $1.9 million on certain solar facilities and inventory related to the discontinuation of residential solar operations. See note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.
Derivative settlements, net
1,649
65
3,406
23,402
The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility. Derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company's net interest income. The majority of derivative settlements received in the periods presented was from the Company's derivatives used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. To minimize the Company's exposure to market volatility and increase liquidity, the Company terminated this derivative portfolio ($2.8 billion notional amount) on March 15, 2023. Subsequent to terminating these derivatives, during the second and fourth quarters of 2023, the Company entered into a total of $400 million notional amount of derivatives to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income and other loans and investments in which the Company receives a fixed rate. See AGM operating segment - results of operations for additional information.
Derivative market value adjustments, net
1,533
2,005
9,497
(35,407)
Includes 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. The majority of the derivative market value adjustments during the periods presented related to the changes in fair value of the Company's floor income interest rate swaps. Such changes reflect that a decrease in the forward yield curve during a reporting period results in a decrease in the fair value of the Company's floor income interest rate swaps, and an increase in the forward yield curve during a reporting period results in an increase in the fair value of such swaps. To minimize the Company's exposure to market volatility and increase liquidity, the Company terminated this derivative portfolio ($2.8 billion notional amount) on March 15, 2023. As such, the Company expects the derivative market value adjustments in future periods will be less substantial.
Total other income (expense), net
258,494
224,055
569,366
466,102
41
Cost of services:
Cost to provide education technology services and payments
40,222
40,407
88,832
88,110
Represents direct costs to provide payment processing and instructional services in ETSP. See ETSP operating segment - results of operations.
Cost to provide solar construction services
8,072
9,122
22,300
17,422
Represents direct costs to provide solar construction services. Since the acquisition of GRNE Solar in July 2022, it has incurred low and, in some cases, negative margins on certain projects.
Total cost of services
48,294
49,529
111,132
105,532
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
139,634
144,706
283,509
297,416
Decrease was primarily due to staff reductions in LSS to manage expenses due to delays in the government's student debt relief and return to repayment programs and lower pricing and reduced servicing volume for LSS's Department servicing contract. This was partially offset by an increase in ETSP due to annual merit pay increases and an increase in headcount to support the growth of the customer base and the investment in the development of new technologies.
Depreciation and amortization
15,142
18,652
31,911
35,279
Includes depreciation of property and equipment and the amortization of intangibles from prior business acquisitions.
Other expenses
59,792
45,997
116,637
86,781
Represents expenses necessary for operations, such as postage and distribution, consulting and professional fees, occupancy, communications, reinsurance loss reserve and acquisitions costs, and certain information technology-related costs. Increase was driven by an increase in NFS due to reinsurance loss reserve and acquisition costs as a result of growth in reinsurance policies and in LSS due to additional postage and communication costs as a result of borrowers returning to repayment on September 1, 2023.
Total operating expenses
214,568
209,355
432,057
419,476
Income before income taxes
58,428
27,430
152,365
57,701
Income tax expense
14,753
10,187
37,936
18,273
The effective tax rate was 24.7% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with 27.1% for the same period in 2023 and 24.3% in the first half of 2024 compared with 25.5% for the same period in 2023.
Net income
43,675
17,243
114,429
39,428
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
1,416
10,183
4,069
13,957
Represents the net income/loss attributable to the holders of noncontrolling membership interests. The majority is attributed to noncontrolling membership interests in the Company's Nelnet Renewable Energy operating segment.
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
45,091
27,426
118,498
53,385
Additional information:
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 adjustments.
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.
$
45,091
27,426
118,498
53,385
Derivative market value adjustments, net
(1,533)
(2,005)
(9,497)
35,407
Tax effect
368
481
2,279
(8,498)
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc., excluding derivative market value adjustments
$
43,926
25,902
111,280
80,294
42
The following table summarizes the components of "other, net" in "other income (expense)" on the consolidated statements of income.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Reinsurance premiums
$
14,851
3,816
27,631
4,351
See NFS division - results of operations - NFS other operating segments.
ALLO preferred return
4,160
2,274
6,569
4,523
See Corporate - results of operations.
Borrower late fee income
2,584
2,168
5,718
4,414
See NFS division - results of operations - AGM operating segment.
Investment advisory services (WRCM)
1,524
1,639
3,033
3,251
See NFS division - results of operations - NFS other operating segments.
Administration/sponsor fee income
1,482
1,697
3,028
3,468
See NFS division - results of operations - AGM operating segment.
Investment activity, net
217
(3,574)
(1,082)
(7,154)
See note (a) below for additional information.
Loss from ALLO voting membership interest investment
—
(12,169)
(10,693)
(32,382)
See Corporate - results of operations.
(Loss) gain from solar investments, net
(2,610)
(10,086)
170
(13,030)
See Corporate - results of operations.
Other
6,663
5,068
11,360
8,324
Other, net
$
28,871
(9,167)
45,734
(24,235)
(a) The Company anticipates fluctuations in future periodic earnings resulting from investment sales and valuation adjustments. Investment activity by operating segment and investment type follows:
Real Estate
Venture Capital and Funds
Equity / Bonds
Total
Real Estate
Venture Capital and Funds
Equity / Bonds
Total
Three months ended June 30,
2024
2023
NFS - AGM
$
—
(2,700)
—
(2,700)
—
(2,545)
—
(2,545)
NFS - Nelnet Bank
—
(10)
756
746
—
(10)
621
611
NFS - Other Operating Segments
(1,842)
—
322
(1,520)
(720)
—
440
(280)
Corporate
—
3,691
—
3,691
—
(1,360)
—
(1,360)
$
(1,842)
981
1,078
217
(720)
(3,915)
1,061
(3,574)
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
NFS - AGM
$
—
(2,378)
—
(2,378)
—
(2,649)
(476)
(3,125)
NFS - Nelnet Bank
—
(189)
1,285
1,096
—
(272)
1,085
813
NFS - Other Operating Segments
(3,636)
—
534
(3,102)
428
—
(3,618)
(3,190)
Corporate
—
3,302
—
3,302
—
(1,652)
—
(1,652)
$
(3,636)
735
1,819
(1,082)
428
(4,573)
(3,009)
(7,154)
43
LOAN SERVICING AND SYSTEMS OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Loan Servicing Volumes
As of
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Servicing volume (dollars in millions):
Government
$
489,298
495,409
494,691
500,554
519,308
537,291
545,373
FFELP
14,576
15,783
17,462
18,400
19,021
19,815
20,226
Private and consumer
19,876
21,015
20,493
20,394
20,805
21,484
21,866
Total
$
523,750
532,207
532,646
539,348
559,134
578,590
587,465
Number of servicing borrowers:
Government
14,096,152
14,328,013
14,503,057
14,543,382
14,898,901
15,518,751
15,777,328
FFELP
610,745
656,814
725,866
764,660
788,686
819,791
829,939
Private and consumer
829,072
882,256
894,703
896,613
899,095
925,861
951,866
Total
15,535,969
15,867,083
16,123,626
16,204,655
16,586,682
17,264,403
17,559,133
Number of remote hosted borrowers:
133,681
65,295
70,580
103,396
716,908
5,048,324
6,135,760
Government Loan Servicing
Nelnet Servicing earns loan servicing revenue from a servicing contract with the Department. The Company's legacy student loan servicing contract with the Department was scheduled to expire on December 14, 2023. In April 2023, Nelnet Servicing received a contract award from the Department, pursuant to which it was selected to provide continued servicing capabilities for the Department's student aid recipients under a new Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS) contract (the "New Government Servicing Contract") which replaced the legacy Department student loan servicing contract.
The New Government Servicing Contract became effective April 24, 2023 and has a five year base period, with 2 two-year and 1 one-year possible extensions. The Department's total loan servicing volume of existing borrowers was allocated by the Department to Nelnet Servicing and four other third-party servicers that were awarded a USDS contract. Under the New Government Servicing Contract, Nelnet Servicing immediately began to make required servicing platform enhancements, for which it will be compensated from the Department on certain of these investments. Servicing under the New Government Servicing Contract went live on April 1, 2024 and the Company recognized revenue in accordance with this new contract beginning in the second quarter of 2024. The Company earned revenue for servicing borrowers under the legacy servicing contract with the Department through March 31, 2024.
The New Government Servicing Contract has multiple revenue components with tiered pricing based on borrower volume, while revenue earned under the legacy servicing contract was primarily based on borrower status. Assuming borrower volume remains consistent under the New Government Servicing Contract, the Company expects revenue earned on a per borrower blended basis will decrease under the New Government Servicing Contract versus the legacy contract. However, consistent with the legacy contract, the Company expects to earn additional revenue from the Department under the New Government Servicing Contract for change requests and other support services. In addition, the Company has executed an agreement with a third-party servicer awarded a USDS contract to license its servicing software to such entity. The Company began earning remote hosted servicing revenue from this new customer during the second quarter of 2024. The amount of revenue earned by the Company from this new customer will depend on the number of servicing borrowers allocated by the Department to this servicer.
Department of Education Debt Relief
In August 2022, the Department announced a broad-based student debt relief plan that would have provided up to $20,000 in one-time debt relief to income-qualified recipients with Department held student loans. On June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the Department was prohibited from implementing this plan. After the invalidation of this broad-based relief plan, the Department announced plans to enter into a negotiated rulemaking process to achieve debt relief for federal student loan borrowers using provisions of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Publicly available negotiated rulemaking sessions occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. The Department published draft regulations for public comment in April 2024, including regulations that would grant automatic discharge for all federal student loans older than 20 or 25 years. Final publication and effective date for all pending forgiveness regulations pursuant to the HEA are expected in Fall of 2024. The April 2024 draft publication did not include regulations to provide forgiveness for borrowers “experiencing financial hardship;”
44
however, publication and comment period for such regulations are expected in early 2025, depending on the results of the presidential election. The Company cannot predict the timing, nature, or ultimate outcome of any student debt relief program as a result of the negotiated rulemaking process. Revenue earned under the New Government Servicing Contract will decrease in future periods if the Department successfully implements its debt relief plan and/or if the Department initiates additional loan forgiveness or cancellation programs in the future.
Private Education Loan Servicing
On July 17, 2024, Discover Financial Services (Discover) announced the sale of its approximately $10 billion private education student loan portfolio, representing approximately 400,000 borrowers, to partnerships managed by two global investment firms, with Firstmark Services, a division of the Company, assuming responsibility for servicing the portfolio upon the sale. The conversion of these loans to the Company’s platform is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Net interest income
$
1,258
1,058
3,152
2,095
Increase was due to higher interest rates.
Loan servicing and systems revenue
109,052
122,020
236,252
261,247
See table below for additional information.
Intersegment servicing revenue
6,106
7,246
12,991
15,036
Represents revenue earned by LSS from servicing loans for AGM and Nelnet Bank. Decrease was due to the continued amortization of AGM's FFELP portfolio. FFELP intersegment servicing revenue will continue to decrease as AGM's FFELP portfolio pays off.
Other income
685
605
1,395
1,213
Represents revenue earned from providing administrative support services.
Total other income
115,843
129,871
250,638
277,496
Salaries and benefits
70,631
76,141
147,353
160,701
Decrease was due to the Company being fully staffed at the beginning of 2023 with contact center operations and support associates as the Company prepared for expiration of the federal student loan payment pause under the CARES Act. In the first half of 2023, the Company reduced staff to manage expenses due to delays in the government's student debt relief and return to repayment programs and lower pricing and reduced servicing volume for LSS's Department servicing contract. In June 2024, the Company announced a reduction in headcount after the completion of the transfer of direct loan servicing volume to one platform and the required servicing platform enhancements for the New Government Servicing Contract. Approximately 220 associates were notified their positions were being eliminated. The Company estimates incurring a charge of $7.1 million related to these staff reductions, of which $2.1 million was recognized in the second quarter of 2024. The remaining expense will be recognized during the third and fourth quarters of 2024.
Depreciation and amortization
5,342
4,863
10,450
9,377
Other expenses
20,661
13,818
40,198
27,131
Increase was due to additional postage and communication costs due to borrowers returning to repayment on September 1, 2023.
Intersegment expenses
18,224
19,079
37,555
40,136
Represents 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
114,858
113,901
235,556
237,345
Income before income taxes
2,243
17,028
18,234
42,246
Income tax expense
(538)
(4,086)
(4,376)
(10,139)
Represents income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 24%.
Net income
$
1,705
12,942
13,858
32,107
Before tax operating margin
1.9
%
13.1
%
7.3
%
15.2
%
Before tax operating margin represents before tax operating profitability as a percentage of revenue, and for LSS is calculated as income before income taxes divided by the total of loan servicing and systems revenue, intersegment servicing revenue, and other income. The Company uses this metric to monitor and assess the segment’s performance, manage operating costs, identify and evaluate business trends affecting the segment, and make strategic decisions, and believes that it provides additional information to facilitate an understanding of the operating performance of the segment and provides a meaningful comparison of the results of operations between periods.
Before tax operating margin decreased due primarily to a decrease in loan servicing and systems revenue as described in the table below, while operating expenses remained relatively consistent period over period. Operating expenses have been elevated due to costs incurred for the completion of the transfer of direct loan servicing volume to one platform, making platform enhancements for the new student loan servicing contact with the Department, and preparation of the conversion of the Discover portfolio. The Company expects before tax operating margin to continue to be lower than historical prior year results for the remainder of 2024 until the full cost savings from the June 2024 staff reductions are realized and revenue is generated from servicing the Discover portfolio.
45
Loan servicing and systems revenue
The following table presents disaggregated revenue by service offering for each reporting period.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Government loan servicing
$
87,014
95,736
192,490
204,618
Represents revenue from the Company's servicing contracts with the Department. The Company recognized revenue in accordance with the New Government Servicing Contract beginning April 1, 2024. Decrease in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 was due to lower revenue earned on a per borrower blended basis under the new contract and a decrease in the number of borrowers serviced. Decrease for the first half of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 was also due to the legacy servicing contract reduction of the monthly fee earned per borrower on certain borrower statuses by $0.19 effective April 1, 2023 and a decrease of borrowers serviced due to the Department transferring one million of the Company's existing borrowers to another third-party servicer during the second and third quarters of 2023. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in the average revenue earned on a per borrower blended basis as a result of borrowers moving to a repayment status on September 1, 2023.
Private education and consumer loan servicing
12,959
12,063
25,577
24,225
Increase was due to $0.5 million deconversion revenue recognized in the second quarter of 2024 and rate increases based on contractual consumer price index changes, partially offset by a decrease in the number of borrowers serviced.
FFELP loan servicing
3,245
3,554
6,624
6,921
Represents revenue from servicing third-party customers' FFELP portfolios. Over time, FFELP servicing revenue will decrease as third-party customers' FFELP portfolios pay off.
Software services
4,879
5,962
9,420
15,660
Represents revenue from providing remote hosted servicing software to certain Department and other servicers and providing diversified technology services. Decrease was primarily due to the transfer of all Department remote hosted borrowers to other third-party servicers throughout 2023 under the Department's legacy servicing contracts. This decrease was partially offset by the Company beginning to recognize revenue in the second quarter of 2024 from a new remote hosted servicing customer awarded a USDS contract.
Outsourced services
955
4,705
2,141
9,823
Represents revenue from providing contact center and back office operational outsourcing services. Decrease was due to the contracts for support provided to certain Department servicers expiring in July 2023.
Loan servicing and systems revenue
$
109,052
122,020
236,252
261,247
46
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND PAYMENTS OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
As discussed further in the Company's 2023 Annual Report, this segment of the Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations which correspond, or are related to, the traditional school year. Based on the timing of revenue recognition and when expenses are incurred, revenue and before tax operating margin are higher in the first quarter compared with the remainder of the year.
Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Net interest income
$
5,715
5,268
13,580
11,304
Represents interest income on tuition funds held in custody for schools. Increase was due to higher balances and interest rates.
Education technology services and payments revenue
116,909
109,858
260,449
243,462
See table below for additional information.
Intersegment revenue
56
65
106
121
Total other income
116,965
109,923
260,555
243,583
Cost of services
40,222
40,407
88,832
88,110
See table below for additional information.
Salaries and benefits
40,736
38,351
80,903
76,264
Increase was due to annual merit pay increases and an increase in headcount to support the growth of the customer base and the investment in the development of new technologies.
Depreciation and amortization
2,712
2,815
5,395
5,393
Other expenses
8,600
9,692
16,158
17,755
Decrease was due to a decrease in consulting and professional services resulting from reduced outsourced work. Decrease was partially offset by an increase in technology services.
Intersegment expenses, net
4,811
5,884
9,612
11,684
Represents 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
56,859
56,742
112,068
111,096
Income before income taxes
25,599
18,042
73,235
55,681
Income tax expense
(6,150)
(4,327)
(17,585)
(13,393)
Represents income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 24%.
Net income
19,449
13,715
55,650
42,288
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
29
(19)
46
119
Net income
$
19,478
13,696
55,696
42,407
47
Education technology services and payments revenue
The following table presents disaggregated revenue by service offering and before tax operating margin for each reporting period.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Tuition payment plan services
$
34,164
30,825
73,043
65,012
Increase was due to a higher number of payment plans in the K-12 and higher education markets for both new and existing customers.
Payment processing
34,326
31,827
82,113
75,868
Increase was due to increase in payment volumes for both the K-12 and higher education markets due to new customers and an increase in volume from existing customers.
Education technology services
47,205
46,216
103,227
101,004
Increase was due to an increase in revenue from the Company’s school information system software and application and enrollment services. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in FACTS learning management services revenue as a result of decrease in economic aid provided to private schools in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Learning management instructional services revenue provided to private schools has been funded by the CARES Act and the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) programs. The EANS I program funding ended on September 30, 2023 and EANS II program funding ends on September 30, 2024. As economic aid provided to schools under the EANS programs stopped on September 30, 2023 (EANS I) and winds down (EANS II), future instructional services revenue will decrease from recent historical periods. Revenue earned under the EANS programs was $9.6 million and $20.2 million for the three and six month ended June 30, 2024 compared with $17.1 million and $33.5 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The decrease in FACTS learning management services revenue as a result of the decrease in EANS revenue was partially offset by an increase in non-EANS professional development and instructional services provided to both new and existing customers.
Other
1,214
990
2,066
1,578
Education technology services and payments revenue
116,909
109,858
260,449
243,462
Cost of services
40,222
40,407
88,832
88,110
Represents direct costs to provide payment processing revenue and such costs decrease/increase in relationship to payment volumes. Costs to provide instructional services are also a component of this expense and decrease/increase in relationship to instructional services revenues.
Net revenue
$
76,687
69,451
171,617
155,352
GAAP before tax operating margin
33.4
%
26.0
%
42.7
%
35.8
%
Before tax operating margin, excluding net interest income, is a non-GAAP measure of before tax operating profitability as a percentage of revenue, and for the ETSP segment is calculated as income before income taxes less net interest income divided by net revenue. The Company uses this metric to monitor and assess the segment’s performance, manage operating costs, identify and evaluate business trends affecting the segment, and make strategic decisions, and believes that it facilitates an understanding of the operating performance of the segment and provides a meaningful comparison of the results of operations between periods.
Before tax operating margin, excluding net interest income, increased due to increased net revenue while maintaining a consistent cost structure.
Net interest income
(7.5)
(7.6)
(7.9)
(7.2)
Non-GAAP before tax operating margin, excluding net interest income
25.9
%
18.4
%
34.8
%
28.6
%
48
NELNET FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION - RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment
Loan Portfolio
As of June 30, 2024, the AGM operating segment had a $9.9 billion loan portfolio, consisting primarily of federally insured loans. For a summary of the Company’s loan portfolio as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, see note 3 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 in the AGM operating segment:
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Beginning balance
$
10,799,942
13,482,620
12,049,462
14,169,771
Loan acquisitions:
Federally insured student loans
—
512,611
—
515,591
Consumer and other loans
195,279
59,972
276,009
310,678
Total loan acquisitions
195,279
572,583
276,009
826,269
Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other, net
(375,982)
(443,068)
(726,478)
(853,307)
Loans lost to external parties
(574,834)
(214,734)
(1,354,489)
(483,430)
Loans sold
(133,788)
(158,276)
(333,887)
(420,178)
Ending balance
$
9,910,617
13,239,125
9,910,617
13,239,125
The Company has partial ownership in certain consumer, private education, and federally insured student loan securitizations that are accounted for as held-to-maturity beneficial interest investments and included in "investments and notes receivable" in the Company's consolidated financial statements. As of the latest remittance reports filed by the various trusts prior to or as of June 30, 2024, the Company’s ownership correlates to approximately $1.94 billion of loans included in these securitizations. The loans held in these securitizations are not included in the above table. Interest income earned by the Company from the beneficial interest in loan securitizations is included in "investment income" on the Company's consolidated statements of income and is not a component of the Company's loan interest income.
Since late 2021, the Company has experienced accelerated run-off of its FFELP portfolio due to FFELP borrowers consolidating their loans into Federal Direct Loan Program loans as a result of the continued extension of the CARES Act payment pause on Department held loans and the initiatives offered by the Department for FFELP borrowers to consolidate their loans to qualify for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other programs. After multiple extensions of the student loans payment pause under the CARES Act, the payment and interest accrual suspension ended August 31, 2023, and Federal Direct Loan Program borrowers returned to repayment on September 1, 2023.
In August 2022, the Department announced a broad-based student debt relief plan that would have provided up to $20,000 in one-time debt relief to income-qualified recipients with Department held student loans. On June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the Department was prohibited from implementing this plan. After the invalidation of this broad-based relief plan, the Department announced plans to enter into a negotiated rulemaking process to achieve debt relief for federal student loan borrowers using provisions of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The Department released proposed regulatory text prior to holding its statutorily-required negotiated rulemaking sessions. Notably, the Department proposed forgiveness for certain groups of borrowers with privately-held FFELP loans without consolidation into the Federal Direct Loan Program as a prerequisite requirement for such forgiveness. Publicly available negotiated rulemaking sessions occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. The Department published draft regulations for public comment in April 2024, including regulations that would grant automatic discharge for all federal student loans, including privately-held FFELP loans, older than 20 or 25 years. Final publication and effective date for all pending forgiveness regulations pursuant to the HEA are expected in Fall of 2024. The April 2024 draft publication did not include regulations to provide forgiveness for borrowers (including borrowers with privately-held FFELP loans) “experiencing financial hardship;” however, publication and comment period for such regulations are expected in early 2025, depending on the results of the presidential election.
In addition, during 2023, the Department issued final regulations on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. The SAVE plan makes significant changes to IDR to lower monthly payment amounts, subsidize interest, and accelerate time to forgiveness for some borrowers. FFELP borrowers can access the new income-driven repayment
49
changes by consolidating their loans into the Federal Direct Loan Program. The benefits of the SAVE plan are conferred not exclusively on a go-forward basis, as has been the case with previous IDR rulemaking, meaning borrowers who consolidate into the Federal Direct Loan Program receive credit toward forgiveness for months in repayment prior to consolidation. The new income-driven repayment regulations were effective July 1, 2024; however, the Biden-Harris Administration announced implementation for some features starting July 30, 2023 and SAVE forgiveness starting February 2024. Two groups of states sued to block implementation of the SAVE program. As of the date of this filing, SAVE is not operational due to a nationwide injunction ordered by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In response to the injunction, the Biden-Harris Administration placed approximately 8 million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE program into administrative forbearance. During the forbearance period, borrowers will not have to make student loan payments, and no interest will accrue.
The proposed forgiveness regulations and implementation of the SAVE IDR plan regulations have increased, and may continue to increase, consolidation and prepayment activity as FFELP borrowers (i) consolidate their loans into the Federal Direct Loan Program in order to be eligible for potential debt relief for Department borrowers and the SAVE plan and (ii) begin receiving automatic forgiveness for loans older than 20 or 25 years. Prepayments could significantly increase if the federal government and/or the Department initiate additional loan forgiveness or cancellation, other repayment options or plans, or consolidation loan programs.
Allowance for Loan Losses, Loan Delinquencies, and Loan Charge-offs
For a summary of the allowance as a percentage of the ending balance and loan status and delinquency amounts for each of AGM's loan portfolios as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; and the activity in AGM's allowance for loan losses and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, see note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Loan Spread Analysis
The following table analyzes the loan spread on AGM’s portfolio of loans, which represents the spread between the yield earned on 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 loan interest income, including settlements on derivatives" below, divided by the average balance of loans or debt outstanding.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Variable loan yield, gross
8.16
%
7.73
%
8.07
%
7.42
%
Consolidation rebate fees
(0.81)
(0.80)
(0.80)
(0.81)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization
0.07
0.06
0.07
0.05
Variable loan yield, net
7.42
6.99
7.34
6.66
Loan cost of funds - interest expense (a)
(6.50)
(5.94)
(6.50)
(5.73)
Loan cost of funds - derivative settlements (b) (c)
0.01
(0.00
)
0.01
0.01
Variable loan spread
0.93
1.05
0.85
0.94
Fixed rate floor income, gross
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.03
Fixed rate floor income - derivative settlements (b) (d)
0.04
0.00
0.04
0.34
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
0.05
0.01
0.05
0.37
Core loan spread
0.98
%
1.06
%
0.90
%
1.31
%
Average balance of AGM's loans
$
10,484,458
13,616,889
11,022,981
13,804,065
Average balance of AGM's debt outstanding
10,168,761
13,011,224
10,778,080
13,187,073
(a) In the second quarter of 2023, the Company redeemed certain asset-backed debt securities prior to their maturity, resulting in the recognition of $25.9 million in interest expense from the write-off of the remaining unamortized debt discount associated with these bonds at the time of redemption. This non-cash expense was excluded from the table above.
(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 (loan spread) as presented in this table. 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,
50
which is only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information that management utilizes to assess performance. See note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on the Company's Non-Nelnet Bank derivative instruments, including the net settlement activity recognized by the Company for each type of derivative for the 2024 and 2023 periods presented in the table under the caption "Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives - Statements of Income" in note 5 and in this table.
A reconciliation of core loan spread, which includes the impact of derivative settlements on loan spread, to loan spread without derivative settlements follows.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Core loan spread
0.98
%
1.06
%
0.90
%
1.31
%
Derivative settlements (1:3 basis swaps)
(0.01)
0.00
(0.01)
(0.01)
Derivative settlements (fixed rate floor income)
(0.04)
(0.00
)
(0.04)
(0.34)
Loan spread
0.93
%
1.06
%
0.85
%
0.96
%
(c) Derivative settlements consist of net settlements received (paid) related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps.
(d) Derivative settlements consist of net settlements received related to the Company’s floor income interest rate swaps.
The relationship between the indices in which AGM earns interest on its loans and funds such loans has a significant impact on loan spread. See Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk - AGM Operating Segment,” which provides additional detail on AGM’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets. In an increasing interest rate environment, student loan spread on FFELP loans increases in the short term because of the timing of interest rate resets on the Company's assets occurring daily in contrast to the timing of the interest rate resets on the Company's debt occurring either monthly or quarterly.
Variable loan spread was lower during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same periods in 2023 due to a significant increase in short-term rates during 2023 compared with an insignificant change in rates during 2024.
The difference between variable loan spread and core loan spread is fixed rate floor income earned on a portion of AGM's federally insured student loan portfolio. A summary of fixed rate floor income and its contribution to core loan spread follows:
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
159
456
338
1,567
Derivative settlements (a)
1,193
47
2,383
22,525
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
1,352
503
2,721
24,092
Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net
0.05
%
0.01
%
0.05
%
0.37
%
(a) Derivative settlements consist of net settlements received related to the Company's derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.
The decrease in gross fixed rate floor income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same periods in 2023 was due to higher interest rates in 2024 compared with 2023.
The Company had a significant portfolio of derivative instruments in which the Company paid a fixed rate and received a floating rate to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. On March 15, 2023, to minimize the Company's exposure to market volatility and increase liquidity, the Company terminated its derivative portfolio hedging loans earning fixed rate floor income ($2.8 billion in notional amount of derivatives). Through March 15, 2023, the Company had received cash or had a receivable from its clearinghouse related to variation margin equal to the fair value of the $2.8 billion notional amount of fixed rate floor derivatives as of March 15, 2023 of $183.2 million, which included $19.1 million related to current period settlements. Subsequent to terminating these derivatives, during the second and fourth quarters of 2023, the Company entered into a total of $400.0 million notional amount of derivatives to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income and other loans and investments in which the Company receives a fixed rate.
The increase in net derivative settlements received by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023, was due to an increase in the notional amount of derivatives outstanding. The decrease in net derivative settlements received by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023, was due to a decrease in the notional amount of derivatives outstanding and less favorable terms on the $400.0 million of notional derivatives entered into in 2023 compared with the $2.8 billion notional derivatives that were terminated due to an increase in interest rates from when the terminated derivatives were initially executed.
51
Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
193,707
237,906
403,335
458,818
See table below for additional analysis.
Investment interest
13,709
15,857
35,544
29,664
Decrease for the second quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 was due to a decrease of interest earned on the Company's partial ownership in loan securitizations that are accounted for as held-to-maturity beneficial interest investments, partially offset by an increase of interest earned on restricted cash due to higher balances and interest rates. Increase for the first half of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 was due to an increase of interest earned on the Company's beneficial interest investments and an increase of interest earned on restricted cash due to higher balances and interest rates.
Total interest income
207,416
253,763
438,879
488,482
Loan interest expense
164,315
218,602
348,460
400,665
See table below for additional analysis.
Intercompany interest expense
7,317
13,711
14,077
20,846
Represents interest paid by AGM to Nelnet, Inc. (parent company) related to (i) internal borrowings to fund equity advances on certain AGM debt facilities; and (ii) AGM issued bonds held by Nelnet, Inc. Decrease was due to a decrease in balances outstanding. Intercompany interest is eliminated for consolidated financial reporting purposes.
Net interest income
35,784
21,450
76,342
66,971
Less (negative provision) provision for loan losses
(4,225)
(12,873)
2,230
(3,119)
See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for factors impacting (negative provision) provision for loan losses for the periods presented.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
40,009
34,323
74,112
70,090
Other income, net
1,337
1,319
6,321
4,164
Represents primarily borrower late fees, income from providing administration activities for third parties, and income/losses from AGM's investment in joint ventures.
Loss on sale of loans
(1,438)
(5,461)
(1,579)
(15,753)
The Company recognized losses from selling portfolios of loans. See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information about losses on the sale of loans for the periods presented.
Provision for beneficial interests
(5,911)
—
(5,911)
—
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded an allowance for credit losses (and related provision expense) related to the Company's beneficial interest in consumer loan securitizations. See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.
Derivative settlements, net
1,442
(18)
2,997
23,319
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. The majority of derivative settlements received in the periods presented was from the Company's derivative portfolio used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. The decrease in net derivative settlements received by the Company for the first half of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 was due to the termination of the floor income interest rate swaps ($2.8 billion notional amount) in March 2023. See above under "Loan Spread Analysis" for further information.
Derivative market value adjustments, net
936
897
6,642
(36,515)
Includes 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. The majority of the derivative market value adjustments during the periods presented related to the changes in fair value of the Company's floor income interest rate swaps. Such changes reflect that a decrease in the forward yield curve during a reporting period results in a decrease in the fair value of the Company's floor income interest rate swaps, and an increase in the forward yield curve during a reporting period results in an increase in the fair value of such swaps. To minimize the Company's exposure to market volatility and increase liquidity, AGM terminated its portfolio of floor income interest rate swaps ($2.8 billion notional amount) in March 2023. As such, the Company expects the derivative market value adjustments in future periods will be less substantial. See above under "Loan Spread Analysis" for further information.
Total other income, net
(3,634)
(3,263)
8,470
(24,785)
Salaries and benefits
1,113
1,096
2,308
1,851
Increase was due to additional headcount as the Company actively expands into new asset loan classes.
Other expenses
3,793
4,115
7,210
9,131
Represents primarily servicing fees paid to third parties. Decrease in servicing fees was due to the amortization of the FFELP student loan portfolio.
Intersegment expenses
7,159
8,145
15,009
16,841
Represents fees paid to LSS for the servicing of the majority of AGM’s loans. These amounts exceed the actual cost of servicing the loans. Intersegment expenses also includes 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
12,065
13,356
24,527
27,823
52
Income before income taxes
24,310
17,704
58,055
17,482
Income tax expense
(5,835)
(4,249)
(13,933)
(4,196)
Represents income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 24%.
Net income
$
18,475
13,455
44,122
13,286
Additional information:
GAAP net income
$
18,475
13,455
44,122
13,286
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 adjustments.
Derivative market value adjustments, net
(936)
(897)
(6,642)
36,515
Tax effect
225
215
1,594
(8,764)
Non-GAAP net income, excluding derivative market value adjustments
$
17,764
12,773
39,074
41,037
Net loan interest income, including settlements on derivatives
The following table summarizes the components of "loan interest," "loan interest expense" and "derivative settlements, net."
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Variable interest income, gross
$
212,969
262,771
443,185
509,364
Decrease was due to a decrease in the average balance of loans partially offset by an increase in the gross yield earned on loans.
Consolidation rebate fees
(21,126)
(27,211)
(44,182)
(55,610)
Decrease was due to a decrease in the average consolidation loan balance.
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization
1,705
1,890
3,994
3,497
Net discount accretion is due to the Company's purchases of loans at a net discount over the last several years.
Variable interest income, net
193,548
237,450
402,997
457,251
Interest on bonds and notes payable
(164,315)
(218,602)
(348,460)
(400,665)
Decrease was due to a decrease in the average balance of debt outstanding, partially offset by an increase in cost of funds. In addition, during the second quarter of 2023, the Company redeemed certain asset-backed debt securities prior to their maturity, resulting in the recognition of a $25.9 million non-cash expense from the write-off of the remaining debt discount associated with these bonds at the time of redemption.
Derivative settlements, net (a)
249
(65)
614
794
Represents net derivative settlements received (paid) related to the Company’s 1:3 basis swaps.
Variable loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives
29,482
18,783
55,151
57,380
Fixed rate floor income, gross
159
456
338
1,567
Decrease was due to higher interest rates.
Derivative settlements, net (a)
1,193
47
2,383
22,525
Represents net derivative settlements received related to the Company's floor income interest rate swaps. The decrease in net derivative settlements received by the Company for the first half of 2024 was due to the termination of the floor income interest rate swaps in March 2023. See above under "Loan Spread Analysis" for further information.
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives
1,352
503
2,721
24,092
Net loan interest income, including derivative settlements (core loan interest income) (a)
$
30,834
19,286
57,872
81,472
(a) Net loan interest income, including derivative settlements (core loan interest income) is a non-GAAP financial measure. For an explanation of GAAP accounting for derivative settlements and the reasons why the Company reports these non-GAAP measures (and the limitations thereof), see footnote (b) to the table immediately under the caption “Loan Spread Analysis” above. See note 5 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 2024 and 2023 periods presented in the table under the caption "Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives - Statements of Income" in note 5 and in this table.
53
Nelnet Bank Operating Segment
Loan Portfolio
As of June 30, 2024, Nelnet Bank had a $542.4 million loan portfolio, consisting of $354.4 million of private education loans and $187.9 million of consumer and other loans. For a summary of the Company’s loan portfolio as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, see note 3 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 in the Nelnet Bank operating segment:
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Beginning balance
$
483,723
439,007
432,872
419,795
Loan acquisitions and originations:
Private education loans
1,390
7,359
18,106
21,585
Consumer and other loans
82,998
13,168
139,843
32,800
Total loan acquisitions and originations
84,388
20,527
157,949
54,385
Repayments
(25,760)
(15,046)
(48,470)
(29,575)
Loans sold to AGM
—
—
—
(117)
Ending balance
$
542,351
444,488
542,351
444,488
In July 2024, Nelnet Bank executed an agreement to purchase a residual trust with approximately $140 million of private education loans and $60 million of debt that finances the assets. Nelnet Bank will use deposits to fund the approximately $80 million acquisition price. The trust will be consolidated as part of the bank's financial statements. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2024.
Allowance for Loan Losses, Loan Delinquencies, and Loan Charge-offs
For a summary of the allowance as a percentage of the ending balance and loan status, delinquency amounts, and other key credit quality indicators for each of Nelnet Bank's loan portfolios as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; and the activity in Nelnet Bank's allowance for loan losses and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, see note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Deposits
As of June 30, 2024, Nelnet Bank had $1.03 billion of deposits. All of Nelnet Bank’s deposits are interest-bearing and primarily consist of brokered certificates of deposit (CDs), retail and other savings deposits and CDs, and intercompany deposits. Retail and other savings deposits and CDs include deposits from Educational 529 College Savings and Health Savings plans, Short Term Federal Investment Trust (STFIT), consumer savings, and commercial, institutional, and consumer CDs. Union Bank, a related party, is the program manager for the Educational 529 College Savings plans and trustee for the STFIT.
As of June 30, 2024, Nelnet Bank’s deposits included $143.0 million from Nelnet, Inc. (parent company) and its subsidiaries (intercompany), and thus have been eliminated for consolidated financial reporting purposes. The intercompany deposits include a pledged deposit of $40.0 million from Nelnet, Inc. as required under the Capital and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement with the FDIC, deposits required for intercompany transactions, operating deposits, and NBS custodial deposits consisting of tuition payments collected which are subsequently remitted to the appropriate school.
54
Average Balance Sheet
The following table reflects the rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
Three months ended June 30, (a)
Six months ended June 30, (a)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Balance
Rate
Balance
Rate
Balance
Rate
Balance
Rate
Average assets
Federally insured student loans
$
—
—
%
$
62,476
6.38
%
$
—
—
%
$
63,559
6.15
%
Private education loans
359,486
4.35
354,124
3.75
363,172
4.31
354,907
3.68
Consumer and other loans
152,232
11.97
25,530
13.11
124,684
12.46
16,469
12.93
Cash and investments
625,123
6.96
541,618
6.31
601,535
6.95
541,069
6.13
Total interest-earning assets
1,136,841
6.80
%
983,748
5.57
%
1,089,391
6.70
%
976,004
5.36
%
Non-interest-earning assets
17,857
7,992
15,312
8,654
Total assets
$
1,154,698
$
991,740
$
1,104,703
$
984,658
Average liabilities and equity
Brokered deposits
$
236,517
1.82
%
$
204,158
1.37
%
$
220,584
1.62
%
$
204,781
1.38
%
Intercompany deposits
146,788
4.82
149,120
4.80
153,568
4.86
168,388
4.71
Retail and other deposits
621,241
5.01
507,701
4.43
582,688
4.96
480,009
4.19
Total interest-bearing liabilities
1,004,546
4.23
%
860,979
3.77
%
956,840
4.17
%
853,178
3.62
%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
6,369
4,890
7,424
5,247
Equity
143,783
125,871
140,439
126,233
Total liabilities and equity
$
1,154,698
$
991,740
$
1,104,703
$
984,658
(a) Calculated using average daily balances.
55
Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Additional information
Interest income:
Loan interest
$
8,422
5,139
15,518
9,471
Represents interest earned on loans. Increase was due to an increase in the balance of loans and interest rates.
Investment interest
10,811
8,522
20,779
16,449
Represents interest earned on cash and investments. Increase was due to an increase of these balances and interest rates.
Total interest income
19,233
13,661
36,297
25,920
Interest expense
10,769
8,171
20,266
15,385
Represents interest expense on deposits. Increase was due to an increase of deposits and interest rates.
Net interest income
8,464
5,490
16,031
10,535
Provision for loan losses
7,836
1,493
12,210
3,910
Increase in provision for loan losses was due to the mix of loans and an increase in the notional amount of loans acquired and originated in 2024 compared with 2023. See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
628
3,997
3,821
6,625
Other income
775
620
1,150
830
Represents primarily net gains and income from investments.
Derivative settlements, net
207
83
409
83
During the second and third quarter of 2023, Nelnet Bank entered into derivatives to hedge its exposure related to variable rate intercompany deposits to minimize volatility from future changes in interest rates. Nelnet Bank has designated its derivative instruments as cash flow hedges; however, because the hedged items are intercompany deposits, the derivative instruments are not eligible for hedge accounting in the consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, all changes in fair value of such derivatives are recorded through earnings and presented as "derivative market value adjustments, net" in the statements of operations. For additional information on Nelnet Bank's derivative portfolio, see note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Derivative market value adjustments, net
597
1,108
2,855
1,108
Total other income, net
1,579
1,811
4,414
2,021
Salaries and benefits
2,798
2,297
5,518
4,361
Represents salaries and benefits of Nelnet Bank associates and third-party contract labor. Increase was due to the overall growth of Nelnet Bank activities.
Depreciation
341
51
601
56
Other expenses
2,067
1,624
3,194
2,406
Represents various expenses such as consulting and professional fees, Nelnet Bank director fees, occupancy, certain technology-related costs, insurance, and marketing. Increase was due to the overall growth of Nelnet Bank activities.
Intersegment expenses
719
92
1,493
173
Represents fees paid to LSS for servicing certain of Nelnet Bank's loans. Intersegment expenses also include costs for certain corporate activities and services that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services. The majority of shared service costs incurred by the Company to support Nelnet Bank were not allocated to Nelnet Bank through the bank’s de novo period which ended at the end of 2023. The shared service and support costs incurred by the Company related to Nelnet Bank and not allocated to Nelnet Bank were $1.8 million and $3.5 million for the second quarter and first half of 2023, respectively.
Total operating expenses
5,925
4,064
10,806
6,996
(Loss) income before income taxes
(3,718)
1,744
(2,571)
1,650
Income tax benefit (expense)
916
(396)
657
(362)
Represents income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 24.6% and 22.7% for the second quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 25.6% and 21.9% for the first half of 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Net (loss) income
$
(2,802)
1,348
(1,914)
1,288
Additional information:
Net (loss) income
$
(2,802)
1,348
(1,914)
1,288
See "Overview - GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Adjustments" above for additional details about non-GAAP net income, excluding derivative market value adjustments.
Derivative market value adjustments, net
(597)
(1,108)
(2,855)
(1,108)
Tax effect
143
266
685
266
Net (loss) income, excluding derivative market value adjustments
$
(3,256)
506
(4,084)
446
56
NFS Other Operating Segments
The following table summarizes the operating results of other operating segments included in NFS that are not reportable. Income taxes are allocated based on 24% of income (loss) before taxes for each activity.
Summary and Comparison of Operating Results
WRCM (a)
Nelnet Insurance Services (b)
Real estate investments (c)
Investment securities (d)
Total
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Interest income
$
4
1,521
145
14,210
15,880
Interest expense
—
(589)
—
(2,017)
(2,606)
Net interest income
4
932
145
12,193
13,274
Other income, net
1,531
15,911
(1,832)
92
15,702
Salaries and benefits
(52)
(123)
(199)
—
(374)
Other expenses
(71)
(11,707)
(50)
(1)
(11,829)
Intersegment expenses, net
(4)
(99)
(110)
(35)
(248)
Income (loss) before income taxes
1,408
4,914
(2,046)
12,249
16,525
Income tax (expense) benefit
(304)
(1,179)
488
(2,940)
(3,935)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(141)
—
12
—
(129)
Net income (loss)
$
963
3,735
(1,546)
9,309
12,461
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Interest income
$
3
363
141
22,293
22,800
Interest expense
—
—
—
(7,371)
(7,371)
Net interest income
3
363
141
14,922
15,429
Other income, net
1,645
4,621
(720)
421
5,967
Salaries and benefits
(53)
(90)
(67)
—
(210)
Other expenses
(82)
(4,019)
(31)
(2)
(4,134)
Intersegment expenses, net
(3)
(31)
(93)
—
(127)
Income (loss) before income taxes
1,510
844
(770)
15,341
16,925
Income tax (expense) benefit
(326)
(203)
179
(3,681)
(4,031)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(151)
—
23
—
(128)
Net income (loss)
$
1,033
641
(568)
11,660
12,766
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Interest income
$
7
2,339
286
28,863
31,495
Interest expense
—
(589)
—
(4,435)
(5,024)
Net interest income
7
1,750
286
24,428
26,471
Other income, net
3,009
28,977
(3,626)
284
28,644
Salaries and benefits
(107)
(237)
(388)
—
(732)
Other expenses
(145)
(23,364)
(120)
(3)
(23,632)
Intersegment expenses, net
(7)
(146)
(240)
(72)
(465)
Income (loss) before income taxes
2,757
6,980
(4,088)
24,637
30,286
Income tax (expense) benefit
(595)
(1,675)
975
(5,914)
(7,209)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(276)
—
27
—
(249)
Net income (loss)
$
1,886
5,305
(3,086)
18,723
22,828
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Interest income
$
5
690
282
40,483
41,460
Interest expense
—
—
—
(19,198)
(19,198)
Net interest income
5
690
282
21,285
22,262
Other income, net
3,242
5,312
428
(3,756)
5,226
Salaries and benefits
(109)
(184)
(136)
—
(429)
Other expenses
(163)
(4,488)
(47)
(3)
(4,701)
Intersegment expenses, net
(6)
(62)
(188)
—
(256)
Income (loss) before income taxes
2,969
1,268
339
17,526
22,102
Income tax (expense) benefit
(641)
(304)
(88)
(4,207)
(5,240)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(297)
—
28
—
(269)
Net income (loss)
$
2,031
964
279
13,319
16,593
57
(a) The Company provides investment advisory services through Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC (WRCM), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisor subsidiary, under various arrangements. WRCM earned management fees of $1.4 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $2.8 million and $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Fees earned by WRCM are included in "other income, net" in the table above.
(b) Represents the operating results of the Company’s reinsurance treaties on property and casualty policies and the Company’s Nebraska chartered life and health company, which is in run-off mode and reinsures a decreasing term life insurance product distributed to FACTS. The following table presents net premiums, which are included in "other income, net" in the table above, and net loss reserve, commissions, and broker fees, which are included in "other expenses" in the table above:
Three months ended
Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Reinsurance assumed
$
29,890
7,922
55,394
9,029
Reinsurance ceded
(15,039)
(4,107)
(27,762)
(4,678)
Net premiums
$
14,851
3,815
27,632
4,351
Reinsurance assumed
$
21,675
6,603
44,517
7,528
Reinsurance ceded
(10,687)
(3,380)
(22,212)
(3,844)
Net loss reserve, commissions, and broker fees
$
10,988
3,223
22,305
3,684
(c) Represents the operating results of the Company’s real estate investments and the administrative costs to manage this portfolio. The Company recognized net losses from its real estate investments of $1.8 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and net losses of $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with a gain of $0.4 million for the same period in 2023, which are included in "other income, net" in the table above. The net results recognized relates primarily to the Company's proportionate share of certain real estate investments accounted for under the equity method.
(d) Represents interest income earned on investment debt securities (primarily student loan and other asset-backed securities, including Nelnet-owned asset-backed securities which it has repurchased and are eliminated in consolidation), unrealized gains/losses on marketable equity securities, realized gains/losses on marketable equity securities and investment debt securities, and other costs to manage these investments. Also includes interest expense incurred on debt used to finance such investments. The decrease in interest income and interest expense in 2024 compared with 2023 was due to a decrease in the average balance of investments and debt outstanding, respectively. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate and Market Risk - Investments," which provides additional detail on the Company's investment portfolio and debt used to finance such investments. Included in first half of 2023 was $3.6 million of realized losses on sales of asset-backed and marketable securities, which are included in "other income, net" in the table above.
58
CORPORATE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Other business activities and operating segments that are not reportable and not part of the NFS division are combined and included in Corporate and Other Activities (“Corporate”). The following table summarizes the operating results of these activities.
Income taxes are allocated based on 24% of income (loss) before taxes for each activity. The difference between the Corporate income tax expense and the sum of taxes calculated for each activity is included in income taxes in “other” in the table below.
(a) Includes corporate activities related to internal audit, human resources, accounting, legal, enterprise risk management, information technology, occupancy, and marketing. These costs are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services. The amount allocated to operating segments is reflected as “intersegment expenses, net” in the table above. Also includes corporate costs and overhead functions not allocated to operating segments, including executive management, investments in innovation, and other holding company organizational costs.
(b) Nelnet Renewable Energy includes solar tax equity investments made by the Company, administrative and management services provided by the Company on tax equity investments made by third parties, and solar construction and development. As of June 30, 2024, the Company has invested a total of $502.8 million (which includes $219.8 million syndicated to third-party investors) in solar tax equity investments that remain outstanding. Due to the management and control of each of these investment partnerships, such partnerships that invest in tax equity investments are consolidated on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, with the co-investor’s portion being presented as noncontrolling interests.
Included in tax equity investments in the table above is the Company's share of income or loss from solar investments accounted for under the Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) method of accounting. For the majority of the Company's solar investments, the HLBV method of accounting results in accelerated losses in the initial years of investment. Nelnet Renewable Energy recognized net losses on its tax equity investments of $2.6 million and $10.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and net gains of $0.2 million in the first half of 2024 compared with net losses of $13.0 million for the same period in 2023. These income statement amounts, which include amounts attributable to third-party noncontrolling interest investors, are included in “other income, net” in the table above. There were minimal net losses attributable to third-party noncontrolling interest investors in the second quarter of 2024 compared with $8.4 million for the same period in 2023 and $1.6 million in the first half of 2024 compared with $11.4 million for the same period in 2023. Amounts applicable to noncontrolling interest investors are reflected in “net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests” in the table above.
60
Nelnet Renewable Energy syndicates tax equity investments to third parties and earns management and performance fees. Management fee income recognized by Nelnet Renewable Energy was $0.9 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $1.6 million and $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is included in "other income, net" in the table above.
In addition to solar tax equity investments, the Company has a solar construction company (GRNE Solar) that provides full-service engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to residential homes and commercial entities. Since the acquisition of 80% of GRNE Solar's ownership interests in 2022, it has incurred low and, in some cases, negative margins on certain projects. Due to the complexity and long-term nature of existing construction contracts, the Company may continue to incur low and/or negative margins to complete projects. In addition, higher interest rates reduced residential demand and made community solar projects more costly. On April 12, 2024, the Company announced a change in its solar EPC operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and will discontinue its residential solar operations. As a result, residential revenue will continue to decline from recent historical amounts as existing customer contracts are completed. Residential solar construction revenue was $0.9 million and $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $3.1 million and $5.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, during the second quarter of 2024, the Company recognized non-cash impairment charges of $1.9 million on certain solar facilities and inventory related to the residential solar operations, which is reflected in "impairment expense" in the table above, and $1.6 million in severance costs and commissions paid for cancelled projects, which is included in "salaries and benefits" in the table above. For additional information, see note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
On June 30, 2024, the Company acquired the remaining 20% of GRNE Solar for $0.3 million.
(c) Represents primarily the Company's share of loss on its voting membership interests and income on its preferred membership interest in ALLO.
The Company accounts for its approximately 45% voting membership interests in ALLO under the HLBV method of accounting. Under the HLBV method of accounting on its ALLO voting membership interests investment, the Company recognized no losses in the second quarter of 2024 compared with losses of $12.2 million for the same period in 2023 and losses of $10.7 million in the first half of 2024 compared with $32.4 million for the same period in 2023. These amounts are reflected in “other income, net” in the table above. Absent additional equity contributions with respect to ALLO's voting membership interests, the Company will not recognize additional losses for its voting membership interests in ALLO.
As of June 30, 2024, the outstanding preferred membership interests and accrued and unpaid preferred return of ALLO held by the Company was $169.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The Company historically earned a preferred annual return of 6.25% that increased to 10.00% on April 1, 2024 for $155.0 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO held by the Company. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company purchased an additional $14.5 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO, which earn a preferred annual return of 20.0%. The Company recognized income on its ALLO preferred membership interests of $4.2 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $6.6 million and $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These amounts are reflected in “other income, net” in the table above.
As part of the ALLO recapitalization transaction completed in 2020, the Company and SDC (a third-party global digital infrastructure investor and member of ALLO) entered into an agreement, in which the Company has a contingent payment obligation to pay SDC a contingent payment amount of up to $35.0 million in the event the Company disposes of its voting membership interests of ALLO that it holds and realizes from such disposition certain targeted return levels. The Company recognized an expense of $0.3 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.6 million and $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is included in “other expenses” in the table above.
(d) Represents the operating results of the Company’s venture capital investments, including Hudl which the Company accounts for using the measurement alternative method, and the administrative costs to manage this portfolio.
61
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s Loan Servicing and Systems, and Education Technology Services and Payments 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.
Nelnet Bank was funded by the Company with an initial capital contribution of $100.0 million in November 2020 and the Company has contributed an additional $40.0 million to Nelnet Bank since its inception. Based on Nelnet Bank's business plan for growth and current financial condition, the Company believes it will make additional capital contributions to the bank in future periods. Cash and investments held at Nelnet Bank are generally not available for Company activities outside of Nelnet Bank. See “Liquidity Impact Related to Nelnet Bank” included below for additional information.
Therefore, the 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 the Company's other initiatives to pursue additional strategic investments.
Sources of Liquidity
As of June 30, 2024, the Company's sources of liquidity included:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
145,478
Less: Cash and cash equivalents held at Nelnet Bank (a)
(12,784)
Net cash and cash equivalents
132,694
Available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities (investments) - at fair value
939,529
Less: AFS debt securities held at Nelnet Bank - at fair value (a)
(391,972)
AFS private education loan debt securities - held as risk retention - at fair value (b)
(235,948)
Restricted investments
(50,358)
Unencumbered AFS debt securities (investments) - at fair value
261,251
Unencumbered private, consumer, and other loans (Non-Nelnet Bank) - at par
194,095
Unencumbered repurchased Nelnet issued asset-backed debt securities - at par (not included on consolidated financial statements) (c)
311,739
Unused capacity on unsecured line of credit (d)
495,000
Sources of liquidity as of June 30, 2024
$
1,394,779
(a) Cash and investments held at Nelnet Bank are generally not available for Company activities outside of Nelnet Bank.
(b) The Company is sponsor for certain securitizations and as sponsor, is required to provide a certain level of risk retention. To satisfy this requirement, the Company has purchased bonds issued in the securitizations. The Company is required to retain these bonds as described under the caption “Repurchase Agreement” below.
(c) 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, redeem the notes at par as cash is generated by the trust estate, or pledge the securities as collateral on repurchase agreements. 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.
(d) The Company has a $495.0 million unsecured line of credit that matures on September 22, 2026. As of June 30, 2024, there was no amount outstanding on the unsecured line of credit and $495.0 million was available for future use.
The Company intends to use its liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP, private education, consumer, and other loan acquisitions (or investment interests therein); strategic acquisitions and investments; 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.
62
Cash Flows
The Company has historically generated positive cash flow from operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company generated $345.3 million and $198.4 million, respectively, in cash from operating activities. The increase in 2024 compared with 2023 was due to:
•An increase in net income;
•Proceeds of $5.7 million from the Company's clearinghouse for margin payments on derivatives during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with payments of $209.9 million for the same period in 2023;
•Adjustments to net income for the impact of provision for loan losses and the non-cash change in deferred income taxes; and
•The impact of changes to accrued interest receivable and other assets during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.
These factors were partially offset by:
•Adjustments to net income for the non-cash change in depreciation and amortization, derivative market value adjustments, and gain/loss on investments;
•No proceeds from the termination of derivative instruments during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with $164.1 million for the same period in 2023; and
•The impact of changes to accounts receivable and other liabilities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.
The primary items included in the statement of cash flows for investing activities are the purchase, origination, repayment, and sale of loans, the purchase and sale of available-for-sale securities, and the purchase of other investments (primarily solar investments). The primary items included in financing activities are proceeds from the issuance of and payments on bonds and notes payable, the change in deposits at Nelnet Bank used to fund loans and investment activity, and repurchases of common stock. Cash provided by investing activities and used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $1.8 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively. Cash provided by investing activities and used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $0.9 billion and $1.6 billion, 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 Loan Assets and Related Collateral
The following table shows AGM's debt obligations outstanding that are secured by loan assets and related collateral.
As of June 30, 2024
Carrying amount
Final maturity
Bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations
$
8,540,072
8/26/30 - 9/25/69
FFELP and consumer loan warehouse facilities
970,956
7/15/25 - 4/1/26
$
9,511,028
Bonds and Notes Issued in Asset-backed Securitizations
The majority of AGM’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 AGM receives on the loans and cost of financing within these transactions, and (ii) the servicing and administration fees AGM earns from these transactions, AGM has created a portfolio that will generate earnings and significant cash flow over the life of these transactions.
As of June 30, 2024, based on cash flow models developed to reflect management’s current estimate of, among other factors, prepayments, defaults, deferment, forbearance, and interest rates, AGM currently expects future undiscounted cash flows from its portfolio to be approximately $1.25 billion as detailed below. The actual timing of cash flows released from the securitizations could be impacted based on when and if the Company terminates a securitization by exercising clean-up calls on the underlying securities when the assets in such securitization reach a certain threshold.
The forecasted cash flow presented below includes loans funded in asset-backed securitizations as of June 30, 2024, the majority of which are federally insured student loans. As of June 30, 2024, AGM had $8.7 billion of loans included in asset-
63
backed securitizations, which represented 88.1% of its total 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, unencumbered private education, consumer, and other loans funded with operating cash, loans acquired subsequent to June 30, 2024, loans owned by Nelnet Bank, and cash flows relating to the Company's ownership of beneficial interest in loan securitizations (such beneficial interest investments are classified as "investments and notes receivable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets).
Asset-backed Securitization Cash Flow Forecast
$1.25 billion
(dollars in millions)
The forecasted future undiscounted cash flows of approximately $1.25 billion include approximately $0.75 billion (as of June 30, 2024) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations. These excess net asset positions are included in the consolidated balance sheets in the balances of "loans and accrued interest receivable, net" and "restricted cash." The difference between the total estimated future undiscounted cash flows and the overcollateralization of approximately $0.50 billion, or approximately $0.38 billion after income taxes based on the estimated effective tax rate, represents estimated future net interest income (earnings) from the portfolio and is expected to be accretive to the Company's balance of consolidated shareholders' equity from the June 30, 2024 balance.
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 of 6% for both federally insured consolidation and Stafford loans. Prepayment rates for private education loans range from 11% to 20%.
Since late 2021, the Company has experienced accelerated run-off (prepayments) of its FFELP portfolio due to FFELP borrowers consolidating their loans into Federal Direct Loan Program loans to qualify for loan forgiveness under various
64
initiatives and programs offered by the federal government and the Department. See "Nelnet Financial Services Division - Results of Operations - Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment - Loan Activity" included in this report's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information related to the federal government and the Department's initiatives for debt relief that has increased, and may continue to increase, prepayment activity. Prepayments could significantly increase if the federal government and the Department initiate additional loan forgiveness or cancellation, other repayment options or plans, or consolidation loan programs. In addition, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors - Loan Portfolio - Prepayments risk" in the Company's 2023 Annual Report for additional information related to risks associated with loan prepayments.
The following table summarizes the estimated impact to the above forecasted cash flows if prepayments were greater than the prepayment rate assumptions used to calculate the forecasted cash flows.
Increase in prepayment rate
Reduction in forecasted cash flow from table above
Forecasted cash flow using increased prepayment rate
2x
$0.11 billion
$1.14 billion
4x
$0.29 billion
$0.96 billion
10x
$0.49 billion
$0.76 billion
If the entire AGM student loan portfolio prepaid, the Company would receive the full amount of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations of approximately $0.75 billion (as of June 30, 2024); however, the Company would not receive the $0.50 billion ($0.38 billion after tax) of estimated future earnings from the portfolio.
Interest rates: The Company funds a portion of its student loans with floating rate securities that are indexed to 90-day SOFR. Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets is indexed primarily to the 30-day average SOFR in effect for each day in a calendar quarter. 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, for the life of the portfolio, a relationship between the various SOFR indices that is implied by the current forward SOFR curves. If the forecast is computed assuming a spread of an additional 12 basis points between Term SOFR and 30-day average SOFR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $5 million to $25 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. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk - AGM Operating Segment" for additional information about various interest rate risks which may impact future cash flows from AGM's loan assets.
Warehouse Facilities
Warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements. For a summary of the Company's warehouse facilities outstanding as of June 30, 2024, see note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report. The Company has been reducing its warehouse capacity based on its estimated future loan purchases and to save on unused facility costs.
On July 1, 2024, the Company obtained a consumer loan warehouse facility that has an aggregate maximum financing amount available of $125 million, an advance rate of 80%, liquidity provisions to January 1, 2026, and a final maturity date of August 1, 2026. On July 5, 2024, the Company advanced $76 million of debt in this facility and has $49 million available for future fundings.
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.
Asset-backed Securities Transactions
The Company, through its subsidiaries, has historically funded loans by completing asset-backed securitizations. Depending on market conditions, the Company anticipates continuing to access the asset-backed securitization market. Such asset-backed securitization transactions would be used to refinance loans included in its warehouse facilities and existing asset-backed securitizations and/or finance loans purchased from third parties and loans that are currently unencumbered.
There were no asset-backed securitization transactions completed during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
65
Other Uses of Liquidity
The Company no longer originates FFELP loans, but continues to acquire FFELP loan portfolios from third parties and believes additional loan purchase opportunities exist, including opportunities to purchase private education, consumer, and other loans (or investment interests therein).
The Company plans to fund additional loan acquisitions and related investments using current cash; cash provided by operating activities; proceeds from the sale of certain investments; its unsecured line of credit, its Union Bank student loan participation agreement, its Union Bank student loan asset-backed securities participation agreement, and its third-party repurchase agreement (each as described below), and/or establishing similar secured and unsecured borrowing facilities; using its existing warehouse facilities (as described above); increasing the capacity under existing and/or establishing new warehouse facilities; and continuing to access the asset-backed securities market.
Repurchase Agreement
In December 2020, Wells Fargo announced the sale of its approximately $10.0 billion portfolio of private education loans representing approximately 445,000 borrowers. The Company entered into a joint venture with other investors to acquire the loans, and under the joint venture, the Company had an approximately 8% interest in the loans and has a corresponding 8% interest in residual interests in the 2021 securitizations of the loans discussed below.
During 2021, the Company sponsored four asset-backed securitization transactions to permanently finance a total of $8.7 billion of private education loans sold by Wells Fargo (which represented the total remaining loans originally purchased from Wells Fargo, factoring in borrower payments from the date of purchase). As sponsor, the Company is required to provide a certain level of risk retention, and has purchased bonds issued in such securitizations to satisfy this requirement. The bonds purchased to satisfy the risk retention requirement are reflected on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as "investments and notes receivable" and as of June 30, 2024, the fair value of these bonds was $235.9 million. The Company must retain these investment securities until the latest of (i) the date the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the loans in the securitization is 33% or less of the initial loan balance and (ii) the date the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the bonds is 33% or less of the aggregate initial outstanding principal balance of the bonds, at which time the Company can sell its investment securities (bonds) to a third party.
The Company entered into a repurchase agreement with a third party, of which a portion of the proceeds from such agreement was used to purchase the asset-backed investments, and such investments serve as collateral on the repurchase obligations. As of June 30, 2024, $111.2 million was outstanding on the Company's repurchase agreement. As of August 8, 2024, the maturity dates on this facility vary from November 27, 2024 through December 20, 2024, and the facility is subject to early termination upon 180 days' prior written notice provided by the Company or the counterparty prior to the maturity dates. The Company is subject to cash margin deficit payment requirements in the event the fair value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the original purchase price of such securities.
Upon termination or maturity of the repurchase agreement, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain this or a similar agreement, or find alternative funding if necessary. If necessary, the Company would expect to use operating cash, consider the sale of unencumbered investments, or borrow on its unsecured line of credit to satisfy any remaining obligations.
Union Bank Participation Agreements
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 June 30, 2024, $440.4 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 $900.0 million or an amount in excess of $900.0 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.
The Company also has an agreement with Union Bank under which Union Bank has agreed to purchase from the Company participation interests in FFELP loan asset-backed securities (bond investments). The agreement automatically renews annually and is terminable by either party upon five business days' notice. On May 4, 2024, the agreement automatically renewed for another year through May 4, 2025. The Company can participate FFELP loan asset-backed securities to Union Bank to the extent of availability under the grantor trusts, up to $400.0 million or an amount in excess of $400.0 million if mutually agreed
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to by both parties. The Company maintains legal ownership of the FFELP loan asset-backed securities and, in its discretion, approves and accomplishes any sale, assignment, transfer, encumbrance, or other disposition of the securities. As such, the FFELP loan asset-backed securities subject to this agreement are included on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as "investments and notes receivable" and the participation interests outstanding have been accounted for by the Company as a secured borrowing. As of June 30, 2024, $0.1 million (par value) of FFELP loan asset-backed securities were subject to outstanding participation interests held by Union Bank, as trustee, under this agreement.
Liquidity Impact Related to Beneficial Interest in Loan Securitizations
The Company has partial ownership in consumer, private education, and federally insured student loan third-party securitizations that are classified as "beneficial interest in loan securitizations" and included in "investments and notes receivable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. These residual interests were acquired by the Company or have been received by the Company as consideration from selling portfolios of loans to unrelated third parties who securitized such loans. As of the latest remittance reports filed by the various trusts prior to or as of June 30, 2024, the Company's ownership correlates to approximately $1.94 billion of loans included in these securitizations. Interest income earned by the Company from the beneficial interest in loan securitizations is included in "investment income" on the Company's consolidated statements of income and is not a component of the Company's loan interest income.
As of June 30, 2024, the investment balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet of its beneficial interest in loan securitizations was $244.0 million. For a summary of this investment balance, see note6of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.
The Company's partial ownership percentage in each loan securitization grants the Company the right to receive the corresponding percentage of cash flows generated by the securitization. As of June 30, 2024, 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 partial ownership in these securitizations to be approximately $378.3 million. The vast majority of these cash flows are expected to be received over the next 5 years.
The difference between the total estimated future undiscounted cash flows from these residual interests ($378.3 million) and the investment carrying value ($244.0 million) of $134.3 million, or $102.1 million after income taxes based on the estimated effective tax rate, represents estimated future investment interest income (earnings) from these investments and is expected to be accretive to the Company's balance of consolidated shareholders' equity from the June 30, 2024 balance.
The undiscounted future cash flows from the consumer and private education loan securitizations are highly subject to credit risk (defaults). If defaults are higher than management's current estimate, the forecasted cash flows and estimated future investment interest income (earnings) from these securitizations would be adversely impacted.
Liquidity Impact Related to Nelnet Bank
Nelnet Bank launched operations in November 2020. Nelnet Bank was funded by the Company with an initial capital contribution of $100.0 million. In addition, the Company made a pledged deposit of $40.0 million with Nelnet Bank, as required under an agreement with the FDIC discussed below.
Prior to Nelnet Bank’s launch of operations, Nelnet Bank, Nelnet, Inc. (the parent), and Michael S. Dunlap (Nelnet, Inc.’s controlling shareholder) entered into a Capital and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement and a Parent Company Agreement with the FDIC in connection with Nelnet, Inc.’s role as a source of financial strength for Nelnet Bank. As part of the Capital and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement, Nelnet, Inc. is obligated to (i) contribute capital to Nelnet Bank for it to maintain capital levels that meet FDIC requirements for a “well capitalized” bank, including a leverage ratio of capital to total assets of at least 12%; (ii) provide and maintain an irrevocable asset liquidity takeout commitment for the benefit of Nelnet Bank in an amount equal to the greater of either 10% of Nelnet Bank’s total assets or such additional amount as agreed to by Nelnet Bank and Nelnet, Inc.; (iii) provide additional liquidity to Nelnet Bank in such amount and duration as may be necessary for Nelnet Bank to meet its ongoing liquidity obligations; and (iv) establish and maintain a pledged deposit of $40.0 million with Nelnet Bank.
Under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, Nelnet Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FDIC and the UDFI and must meet specific capital standards. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on Nelnet Bank’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. On January 1, 2020, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework, as issued jointly by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, and the FDIC, became effective. Any banking organization with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, limited amounts of certain types of assets and off-balance sheet exposures, and a community bank leverage ratio greater than 9% may opt into the CBLR framework quarterly. The CBLR framework allows banks to satisfy capital standards and be considered "well capitalized" under the prompt corrective action framework if their leverage ratio is
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greater than 9%, unless the banking organization's federal banking agency determines that the banking organization's risk profile warrants a more stringent leverage ratio. The FDIC has ordered Nelnet Bank to maintain at least a 12% leverage ratio. Nelnet Bank has opted into the CBLR framework for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 with a leverage ratio of 12.3%. Nelnet Bank intends to maintain at all times regulatory capital levels that meet both the minimum level necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action framework and the minimum level required by the FDIC.
Since inception, the Company has made additional contributions of $40 million to Nelnet Bank. Based on Nelnet Bank's business plan for growth and current financial condition, the Company believes it will make additional capital contributions to the bank in future periods.
Liquidity Impact Related to Nelnet Renewable Energy
The Company’s Nelnet Renewable Energy business makes solar tax equity investments in renewable energy solar partnerships. Through June 30, 2024, the Company has invested a total of $502.8 million (which includes $219.8 million syndicated to third-party investors) in tax equity investments that remain outstanding. These investments provide a federal income tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code, equaling 30% to 40% of the eligible project cost, with the tax credit available when the project is placed-in-service. The Company is allowed to reduce its tax estimates paid to the U.S. Treasury based on the credits earned. Based on the timing of when the Company funds a project and decreases its tax estimate to the U.S. Treasury due to earning of the tax credit, the amount of capital funded to solar tax equity investments at any point in time is not significant and has a minimal impact on the Company’s liquidity. As of June 30, 2024, the Company is committed to fund an additional $125.7 million on tax equity investments, of which $83.0 million is expected to be provided by syndication partners.
In addition to solar tax equity investments, the Company has a strategy to own solar energy project assets. The Company plans to fund a portion of its current growth plans in owning solar energy projects using third-party debt and third-party tax equity. The collateral on any third-party debt would be limited to the assets of the specific solar projects. Any capital requirements for the origination or purchase of solar projects not funded by third-party debt and third-party tax equity would be provided by the Company using operating cash, borrowings on its unsecured line of credit, and/or the sale of investments.
Liquidity Impact Related to ALLO
Upon the deconsolidation of ALLO on December 21, 2020, the Company recorded its 45% voting membership interests in ALLO at fair value, and accounts for such investment under the HLBV method of accounting. In addition, the Company recorded its remaining non-voting preferred membership units of ALLO at fair value, and accounts for such investment as a separate equity investment. The Company historically earned a preferred annual return of 6.25% that increased to 10.00% on April 1, 2024 for $155.0 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO. On January 1, 2025, the preferred annual return on the $155.0 million of preferred membership interests of ALLO will increase to 13.5%, commencing July 1, 2025, the return will increase to 15.0%, commencing January 1, 2026, the preferred return will increase to 17.5%, and beginning on January 1, 2027 and on each January 1 of each calendar year thereafter, the annual return will increase by an additional 2.5%. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company purchased an additional $14.5 million of preferred membership interests in ALLO, which earn a preferred annual return of 20.0%. Accrued and unpaid preferred returns are converted to additional preferred membership interests each December 31. As of June 30, 2024, the accrued and unpaid preferred return was $6.6 million.
If ALLO needs additional capital to support its growth in existing or new markets, the Company has the option to contribute additional capital to maintain its voting equity interest and/or may purchase additional preferred membership interests that include a preferred return. Based on ALLO's business plan for growth and current financial condition, the Company believes it will make additional capital contributions to ALLO in future periods.
In addition to equity contributions, ALLO has issued debt to fund its growth. As of June 30, 2024, ALLO has $912 million (par value) of debt outstanding.
As part of the ALLO recapitalization transaction in December 2020, the Company and SDC entered into an agreement, in which the Company has a contingent payment obligation to pay SDC a contingent payment amount of up to $35.0 million in the event the Company disposes of its voting membership interests of ALLO that it holds and realizes from such disposition certain targeted return levels. As of June 30, 2024, the estimated fair value of the contingent payment is $10.4 million.
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.
All Non-Nelnet Bank over-the-counter derivative contracts executed by the Company are cleared post-execution at a regulated clearinghouse. Clearing is a process by which a third party, the clearinghouse, steps in between the original counterparties and
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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.
Based on the derivative portfolio outstanding as of June 30, 2024, the Company does not 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 make variation margin payments to its third-party clearinghouse and/or payments to its counterparties for its non-centrally cleared derivatives.
Other Debt Facilities
As discussed above, the Company has a $495.0 million unsecured line of credit with a maturity date of September 22, 2026. As of June 30, 2024, the unsecured line of credit had no amount outstanding and $495.0 million was available for future use. Upon the maturity date of this facility, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain this line of credit, increase or maintain the amount outstanding under the line, or find alternative funding if necessary.
On December 21, 2023, the Company entered into a $10.0 million participation agreement with a third-party, the proceeds of which are collateralized by consumer loans. The third-party participant does not have the right to pledge, transfer, or otherwise dispose of their participation interest in all or any portion of the loans subject to this agreement. As such, the consumer loans subject to this agreement are included on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and the participation interests outstanding have been accounted for by the Company as a secured borrowing. This participation agreement will amortize as the consumer loans subject to the participation pay down. As of June 30, 2024, the outstanding balance on this participation agreement was $7.6 million.
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 8, 2025. As of June 30, 2024, 3,341,735 shares remained authorized for repurchase under the Company's stock repurchase program. Shares may be repurchased from time to time on the open market, in private transactions (including with related parties), or otherwise, depending on various factors, including share prices and other potential uses of liquidity.
Shares repurchased by the Company during the first half of 2024 are shown below. Certain of these repurchases were made pursuant to trading plans 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 second quarter of 2024, see "Stock Repurchases" under Part II, Item 2 of this report.
Total shares repurchased
Purchase price (in thousands)
Average price of shares repurchased (per share) (a)
Quarter ended March 31, 2024
396,724
$
35,469
89.41
Quarter ended June 30, 2024
487,980
46,842
95.99
Total
884,704
$
82,311
93.04
(a) The average price of shares repurchased for the three months ended June 30, 2024 includes excise taxes.
Dividends
On June 14, 2024, the Company paid a second quarter 2024 cash dividend on the Company's Class A and Class B common stock of $0.28 per share. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors has declared a third quarter 2024 cash dividend on the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock of $0.28 per share. The third quarter cash dividend will be paid on September 13, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 30, 2024.
The Company plans to continue making regular quarterly dividend payments, subject to future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under varying assumptions or
69
conditions. Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, particularly as they relate to accounting policies that management believes are most “critical” - that is, they are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and they require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management has identified the allowance for loan losses as a critical accounting policy and estimate, as discussed further under Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Allowance for Loan Losses” in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report. For additional information regarding changes in the Company’s allowance for loan losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, see the caption “Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses” in note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report. There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policy and estimate since December 31, 2023.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In November 2023, the FASB issued accounting guidance which improves reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit (referred to as the “significant expense principle”). This guidance will be effective for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2024 annual financial statements, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company intends to adopt the standard when it becomes effective for the year ending December 31, 2024 annual financial statements. While the Company is continuing to evaluate the impact this pronouncement will have on its ongoing financial reporting, it currently believes there will be limited impacts to the disclosures included in the notes to consolidated financial statements due to the segment expense detail already disclosed for each reportable segment.
In December 2023, the FASB issued accounting guidance to address investor requests for more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. This guidance will be effective for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2025 annual financial statements, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company intends to adopt the standard when it becomes effective for the year ending December 31, 2025. Management is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the disclosures included in the notes to consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
(All dollars are in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
Interest Rate Risk - AGM Operating Segment
AGM’s primary market risk exposure arises from fluctuations in its borrowing and lending rates, the spread between which could impact AGM due to shifts in market interest rates.
The following table sets forth AGM’s loan assets and debt instruments by rate characteristics:
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Fixed-rate loan assets
$
532,794
5.4
%
$
510,666
4.2
%
Variable-rate loan assets
9,377,823
94.6
11,538,796
95.8
Total
$
9,910,617
100.0
%
$
12,049,462
100.0
%
Fixed-rate debt instruments
$
460,293
4.8
%
$
561,557
4.8
%
Variable-rate debt instruments
9,058,363
95.2
11,142,596
95.2
Total
$
9,518,656
100.0
%
$
11,704,153
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 FFELP 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 FFELP 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.
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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.
Absent the use of derivative instruments, a rise in interest rates will reduce the amount of floor income received and has 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 SAP 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.
No variable-rate floor income was earned by the Company in 2024 or 2023.
A summary of fixed rate floor income earned by the AGM operating segment follows.
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Fixed rate floor income, gross
$
159
456
$
338
1,567
Derivative settlements (a)
1,193
47
2,383
22,525
Fixed rate floor income, net
$
1,352
503
$
2,721
24,092
(a) Derivative settlements consist of settlements received related to the Company's derivatives used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.
Gross fixed rate floor income decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared with the same periods in 2023 due to higher interest rates in 2024 compared with 2023.
The Company had a significant portfolio of derivative instruments in which the Company paid a fixed rate and received a floating rate to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. During the first quarter of 2023, to minimize the Company's exposure to market volatility and increase liquidity, the Company terminated its derivative portfolio hedging loans earning fixed rate floor income ($2.8 billion in notional amount of derivatives). Through March 15, 2023, the Company had received cash or had a receivable from its clearinghouse related to variation margin equal to the fair value of the $2.8 billion notional amount of fixed rate floor derivatives as of March 15, 2023 of $183.2 million, which included $19.1 million related to current period settlements. Subsequent to terminating these derivatives, during the second and fourth quarters of 2023, the Company entered into a total of $400.0 million notional amount of derivatives to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income and other loans and investments in which the Company receives a fixed rate.
The increase in net derivative settlements received by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023, was due to an increase in the notional amount of derivatives outstanding. The decrease in net derivative settlements received by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023, was due to a decrease in the notional amount of derivatives outstanding and less favorable terms on the $400.0 million of notional derivatives entered into in 2023 compared with the $2.8 billion notional derivatives that were terminated due to an increase in interest rates from when the terminated derivatives were initially executed.
For further details of the Company’s derivatives used to hedge fixed rate loans, see note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
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The following table shows AGM’s federally insured student loan assets that were earning fixed rate floor income as of June 30, 2024.
Fixed interest rate range
Borrower/lender weighted average yield
Estimated variable conversion rate (a)
Loan balance
8.0 - 8.99%
8.25%
5.61%
$
146,990
> 9.0%
9.06%
6.42%
97,129
$
244,119
(a) The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate. As of June 30, 2024, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 5.93% and the short-term interest rate was 556 basis points.
AGM is also exposed to interest rate risk in the form of repricing risk and basis risk because the interest rate characteristics of AGM’s assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets. The following table presents AGM’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets arranged by underlying indices as of June 30, 2024.
Index
Frequency of variable resets
Assets
Funding of student loan assets
30-day average SOFR (a)
Daily
$
8,890,701
—
3-month H15 financial commercial paper
Daily
300,782
—
3-month Treasury bill
Daily
292,250
—
30-day average SOFR / 1-month CME Term SOFR
Monthly
—
5,628,802
90-day average SOFR / 3-month CME Term SOFR (a)
Quarterly
—
2,317,187
Asset-backed commercial paper / SOFR (b)
Varies
—
964,196
Fixed rate
—
—
389,462
Auction-rate (c)
Varies
—
75,735
Other (d)
—
1,116,944
1,225,295
$
10,600,677
10,600,677
(a) The Company has certain basis swaps outstanding in which the Company receives and pays the term adjusted SOFR plus the tenor spread adjustment to LIBOR. Prior to the discontinuation of LIBOR on June 30, 2023, the Company received three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and paid 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 June 30, 2024.
Maturity
Notional amount (i)
2026
$
1,150,000
2027
250,000
$
1,400,000
(i) The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of June 30, 2024 was the term adjusted SOFR (plus the tenor spread adjustment relating to LIBOR) plus 10.4 basis points.
(b) The interest rate on the Company's FFELP warehouse facilities is indexed to asset-backed commercial paper rates and daily SOFR.
(c) As of June 30, 2024, the Company was sponsor for $75.7 million of outstanding asset-backed securities that were set and provide for interest rates to be periodically reset via a "dutch auction" (the “Auction Rate Securities”). Since the auction feature has essentially been inoperable for substantially all auction rate securities since 2008, 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 SOFR or Treasury Securities, or the Net Loan Rate as defined in the financing documents.
(d) Assets include accrued interest receivable and restricted cash. Funding represents overcollateralization (equity) and other liabilities included in FFELP loan asset-backed securitizations and warehouse facilities.
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Sensitivity Analysis
The following tables summarize the effect on the Company’s consolidated earnings, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed on AGM’s assets and liabilities assuming hypothetical increases and decreases 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 AGM’s variable rate assets (including loans earning fixed rate floor income) and liabilities.
Interest rates
Change from increase of 100 basis points
Change from increase of 300 basis points
Change from decrease of 100 basis points
Change from decrease of 300 basis points
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Effect on earnings:
Increase in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
862
1.5
%
$
2,910
5.0
%
$
1,479
2.5
%
$
6,858
11.7
%
Impact of derivative settlements
746
1.3
2,238
3.8
(746)
(1.3)
(2,238)
(3.8)
Increase in net income before taxes
$
1,608
2.8
%
$
5,148
8.8
%
$
733
1.2
%
$
4,620
7.9
%
Increase in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.03
$
0.11
$
0.02
$
0.10
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Effect on earnings:
Increase in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
712
2.4
%
$
3,029
10.2
%
$
314
1.1
%
$
3,762
12.7
%
Impact of derivative settlements (a)
33
0.1
99
0.3
(33)
(0.1)
(99)
(0.3)
Increase in net income before taxes
$
745
2.5
%
$
3,128
10.5
%
$
281
1.0
%
$
3,663
12.4
%
Increase in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.02
$
0.06
$
0.01
$
0.07
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Effect on earnings:
Increase in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
1,573
1.0
%
$
5,410
3.6
%
$
3,420
2.2
%
$
15,415
10.1
%
Impact of derivative settlements
1,492
1.0
4,476
2.9
(1,492)
(1.0)
(4,476)
(2.9)
Increase in net income before taxes
$
3,065
2.0
%
$
9,886
6.5
%
$
1,928
1.2
%
$
10,939
7.2
%
Increase in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.06
$
0.20
$
0.04
$
0.23
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Effect on earnings:
Increase in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
1,484
2.4
%
$
7,432
12.2
%
$
390
0.6
%
$
7,412
12.2
%
Impact of derivative settlements (a)
33
0.1
99
0.2
(33)
(0.1)
(99)
(0.2)
Increase in net income before taxes
$
1,517
2.5
%
$
7,531
12.4
%
$
357
0.5
%
$
7,313
12.0
%
Increase in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
0.03
$
0.15
$
0.01
$
0.15
(a)On March 15, 2023, the Company terminated its derivative portfolio hedging loans earning fixed rate floor income. The table above excludes the impact of these derivatives for the entire period.
73
Asset and funding index mismatches
Increase of 10 basis points
Increase of 30 basis points
Increase of 10 basis points
Increase of 30 basis points
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Three months ended June 30, 2024
Three months ended June 30, 2023
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(878)
(1.5)
%
$
(2,633)
(4.5)
%
$
(1,182)
(4.0)
%
$
(3,547)
(12.0)
%
Impact of derivative settlements
348
0.6
1,044
1.8
785
2.7
2,356
8.0
Decrease in net income before taxes
$
(530)
(0.9)
%
$
(1,589)
(2.7)
%
$
(397)
(1.3)
%
$
(1,191)
(4.0)
%
Decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
(0.01)
$
(0.03)
$
(0.01)
$
(0.02)
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements
$
(1,895)
(1.2)
%
$
(5,683)
(3.7)
%
$
(2,295)
(3.8)
%
$
(6,886)
(11.3)
%
Impact of derivative settlements
1,131
0.7
3,393
2.2
1,562
2.6
4,686
7.7
Decrease in net income before taxes
$
(764)
(0.5)
%
$
(2,290)
(1.5)
%
$
(733)
(1.2)
%
$
(2,200)
(3.6)
%
Decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
(0.02)
$
(0.05)
$
(0.01)
$
(0.04)
Interest Rate Risk - Nelnet Bank
To manage Nelnet Bank's risk from fluctuations in market interest rates, the Company actively monitors interest rates and other interest sensitive components to minimize the impact that changes in interest rates have on the fair value of assets, net income, and cash flow. To achieve this objective, the Company manages and mitigates Nelnet Bank’s exposure to fluctuations in market interest rates through several techniques, including managing the maturity, repricing, and mix of fixed and variable rate assets and liabilities and the use of derivative instruments.
The following table presents Nelnet Bank's loan assets, asset-backed security investments, and deposits by rate characteristics:
As of June 30, 2024
As of December 31, 2023
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Fixed-rate loan assets
$
534,988
$
424,284
Fixed-rate investments
72,195
34,644
Total fixed-rate assets
607,183
52.4
%
458,928
47.7
%
Variable-rate loan assets
7,363
8,588
Variable-rate investments
545,160
495,004
Total variable rate assets
552,523
47.6
503,592
52.3
Total assets
$
1,159,706
100.0
%
$
962,520
100.0
%
Fixed-rate deposits
$
323,857
31.3
%
$
280,736
33.1
%
Variable-rate deposits (a)
709,600
68.7
566,828
66.9
Total deposits
$
1,033,457
100.0
%
$
847,564
100.0
%
(a) Nelnet Bank uses derivative instruments to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows of variable rate deposits to minimize the exposure to volatility in cash flows from future changes in interest rates. The derivatives are not reflected in the above table. See note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for a summary of Nelnet Bank's derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2024.
74
Interest Rate and Market Risk - Investments
The following table presents the rates earned on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities (investments) and debt facilities used to fund a portion of such investments. The table below excludes securities (investments) held by Nelnet Bank.
(a) 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. The table above includes these repurchased bonds.
(b) The majority of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn floating rates with expected returns of approximately SOFR + 100 to 350 basis points to maturity. As of June 30, 2024, $206.5 million (par value) of the Company’s asset-backed securities earn a weighted average fixed rate of 3.22%.
(c) Interest incurred by the Company on amounts borrowed under the participation agreement is at a variable rate of SOFR + 62.5 basis points.
(d) Interest incurred by the Company on amounts borrowed under repurchase agreements is at a variable rate of SOFR + 100 to 140 basis points.
The Company’s portfolio of asset-backed investment securities has limited liquidity, and the Company could incur a significant loss if the investments were sold prior to maturity at an amount less than the original purchase price. As of June 30, 2024, the gross unrealized loss on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities was $26.7 million, and the aggregate fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses was $401.2 million. The Company currently has the intent and ability to retain these investments, and none of the unrealized losses were due to credit losses. See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company's principal executive and principal financial officers, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of June 30, 2024. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2024.
75
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are 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 referred to in the Legal Proceedings section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 under Part I, Item 3 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, 2023 in response to Part I, Item 1A of such Form 10-K.
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 second quarter of 2024 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 (b)
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (c)
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (c)
April 1 - April 30, 2024
353,408
$
94.26
353,408
3,471,359
May 1 - May 31, 2024
80,934
95.83
80,934
3,390,425
June 1 - June 30, 2024
53,638
99.50
48,690
3,341,735
Total
487,980
$
95.10
483,032
(a) The total number of shares includes: (i) shares repurchased pursuant to the stock repurchase program discussed in footnote (c) 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 4,948 shares in June 2024. 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) The average price of shares repurchased excludes excise taxes.
(c) On May 9, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors 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 8, 2025.
Working capital and dividend restrictions/limitations
The Company's $495.0 million unsecured line of credit, which is available through September 22, 2026, imposes restrictions on the payment of dividends through covenants requiring a minimum consolidated net worth and a minimum level of unencumbered cash, cash equivalent investments, and available borrowing capacity under the line of credit. In addition, trust indentures and other financing agreements governing debt issued by the Company's lending subsidiaries generally have limitations on the amounts of funds that can be transferred to the Company by its subsidiaries through cash dividends at certain times. Further, Nelnet Bank is subject to laws and regulations that restrict the ability of Nelnet Bank to pay dividends to the Company, and authorize regulatory authorities to prohibit or limit the payment of dividends by Nelnet Bank to the Company. These provisions do not currently materially limit the Company's ability to pay dividends, and, based on the Company's current financial condition and recent results of operations, the Company does not currently anticipate that these provisions will materially limit the future payment of dividends.
76
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
The following table describes contracts, instructions, or written plans for the purchase or sale of the Company's securities adopted by the Company's directors or executive officers during the second quarter of 2024, each of which is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c), referred to as Rule 10b5-1 trading plans.
Name and Title
Date of Adoption of Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan
Scheduled Expiration Date of Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan (a)
Aggregate Number of Securities to Be Purchased or Sold
William J. Munn
Corporate Secretary / Chief Governance Officer / General Counsel
5/16/2024
9/15/2024(b)
Gift transfer of 100 shares of Class A common stock
Michael S. Dunlap
Executive Chairman
5/29/2024
9/29/2024
Gift transfer of 35,000 shares of Class A common stock
(a) A trading plan may also expire on such earlier date as all transactions under the trading plan are completed.
(b) This trading plan was subsequently terminated on August 2, 2024, and no transfers were made pursuant to the plan.
On March 5, 2024, Kathleen A. Farrell, Director, terminated a trading arrangement she had previously adopted with respect to the sale of securities of the Company's Class A common stock. Ms. Farrell's Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan was adopted on June 16, 2023, had a term of one year, and provided for the sale of up to 1,000 shares of Class A common stock. As of the date of termination of this Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, Ms. Farrell had sold no shares of Class A common stock under its terms. Notice of this termination was inadvertently omitted from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
*
Filed herewith
**
Furnished herewith
#
Provided herewith for purposes of providing a complete set of all modifications to the Student Loan Servicing Contract between the United States Department of Education and Nelnet Servicing, LLC.
77
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:
August 8, 2024
By:
/s/ JEFFREY R. NOORDHOEK
Name:
Jeffrey R. Noordhoek
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Principal Executive Officer
Date:
August 8, 2024
By:
/s/ JAMES D. KRUGER
Name:
James D. Kruger
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer