UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

ý	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

 

or

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from  to .

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-31924

NELNET, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

NEBRASKA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	84-0748903 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
121 SOUTH 13TH STREET SUITE 100 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA (Address of principal executive offices)	68508 (Zip Code)

 (402) 458-2370

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer [X]                                                  Accelerated filer [ ]

Non-accelerated filer [  ]                                                     Smaller reporting company [  ]

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

As of October 31, 2015, there were 33,385,821 and 11,476,932 shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, respectively (excluding 11,317,364 shares of Class A Common Stock held by wholly owned subsidiaries).  

 

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NELNET, INC.

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

September 30, 2015

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Financial Statements	2
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	47
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	51
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	51
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	51
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	52
	Item 5.	Other Information	53
	Item 6.	Exhibits	54
Signatures			55

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
		As of				As of
		September 30, 2015				December 31, 2014
Assets:
Student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $50,380 and $48,900, respectively)		$	28,954,280			28,005,195
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party		27,613				37,781
Cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party		86,885				92,700
Total cash and cash equivalents		114,498				130,481
Investments and notes receivable		236,010				235,709
Restricted cash and investments		895,271				850,440
Restricted cash - due to customers		100,089				118,488
Accrued interest receivable		380,441				351,588
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,062 and $1,656, respectively)		64,640				50,552
Goodwill		126,200				126,200
Intangible assets, net		35,386				42,582
Property and equipment, net		46,706				45,894
Other assets		76,133				76,622
Fair value of derivative instruments		15,741				64,392
Total assets		$	31,045,395			30,098,143
Liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable		$	28,827,603			28,027,350
Accrued interest payable		31,632				25,904
Other liabilities		170,611				167,881
Due to customers		100,089				118,488
Fair value of derivative instruments		80,061				32,842
Total liabilities		29,209,996				28,372,465
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 33,388,556 shares and 34,756,384 shares, respectively		334				348
Class B, convertible, $0.01 par value. Authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,476,932 shares and 11,486,932 shares, respectively		115				115
Additional paid-in capital		1,441				17,290
Retained earnings		1,830,387				1,702,560
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings		2,876				5,135
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity		1,835,153				1,725,448
Noncontrolling interest		246				230
Total equity		1,835,399				1,725,678
Total liabilities and equity		$	31,045,395			30,098,143
Supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities:
Student loans receivable		$	29,150,270			28,181,244
Restricted cash and investments		853,186				846,199
Other assets		381,698				351,934
Bonds and notes payable		(29,159,553		)		(28,391,530	)
Other liabilities		(391,535		)		(280,233	)
Fair value of derivative instruments, net		(53,866		)		(20,455	)
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities		$	780,200			687,159

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2

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NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
	Three months							Nine months
	ended September 30,							ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Interest income:
Loan interest	$	187,701			187,862			535,480			520,224
Investment interest	1,456				1,562			5,548			5,023
Total interest income	189,157				189,424			541,028			525,247
Interest expense:
Interest on bonds and notes payable	77,164				71,937			221,344			201,176
Net interest income	111,993				117,487			319,684			324,071
Less provision for loan losses	3,000				2,000			7,150			6,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	108,993				115,487			312,534			318,071
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	61,520				52,659			183,164			183,876
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	30,439				26,399			92,805			73,468
Enrollment services revenue	19,500				22,936			54,524			65,092
Other income	6,523				7,650			20,945			41,096
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	597				—			4,987			57
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net	(30,658		)		24,203			(27,234	)		21,508
Total other income	87,921				133,847			329,191			385,097
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	63,215				61,098			183,052			167,470
Cost to provide enrollment services	12,534				14,178			35,398			41,964
Loan servicing fees	7,793				7,077			22,829			19,798
Depreciation and amortization	6,977				5,493			19,140			15,490
Other	30,419				29,599			91,575			92,882
Total operating expenses	120,938				117,445			351,994			337,604
Income before income taxes	75,976				131,889			289,731			365,564
Income tax expense	26,999				46,513			104,985			130,202
Net income	48,977				85,376			184,746			235,362
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	22				157			117			1,363
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,955			85,219			184,629			233,999
Earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted	$	1.09			1.84			4.03			5.03
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	45,047,777				46,432,680			45,763,443			46,496,309

 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

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NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three months							Nine months
	ended September 30,							ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Net income	$	48,977			85,376			184,746			235,362
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net	(568		)		(738	)		(1,217	)		8,763
Less reclassification adjustment for gains recognized in net income, net of losses	(73		)		(8	)		(2,370	)		(8,319	)
Income tax effect	234				276			1,328			(164	)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(407		)		(470	)		(2,259	)		280
Comprehensive income	48,570				84,906			182,487			235,642
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	22				157			117			1,363
Comprehensive income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,548			84,749			182,370			234,279

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

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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 earnings			Noncontrolling interest			Total equity
				Class A			Class B
Balance as of June 30, 2014	—			34,859,786			11,491,932			$	—			349			115			20,721			1,552,988			5,569			386			1,580,128
Net income	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			85,219			—			157			85,376
Other comprehensive loss	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			(470	)		—			(470	)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			(275	)		(275	)
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.10 per share	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			(4,630	)		—			—			(4,630	)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	—			28,729			—			—				—			—			213			—			—			—			213
Compensation expense for stock based awards	—			—			—			—				—			—			1,248			—			—			—			1,248
Repurchase of common stock	—			(96,792	)		—			—				(1	)		—			(4,032	)		—			—			—			(4,033	)
Conversion of common stock	—			5,000			(5,000	)		—				—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance as of September 30, 2014	—			34,796,723			11,486,932			$	—			348			115			18,150			1,633,577			5,099			268			1,657,557
Balance as of June 30, 2015	—			33,724,471			11,486,932			$	—			337			115			—			1,801,457			3,283			300			1,805,492
Issuance of noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			4			4
Net income	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			48,955			—			22			48,977
Other comprehensive loss	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			(407	)		—			(407	)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			(80	)		(80	)
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.10 per share	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			(4,486	)		—			—			(4,486	)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	—			10,669			—			—				1			—			267			—			—			—			268
Compensation expense for stock based awards	—			—			—			—				—			—			1,246			—			—			—			1,246
Repurchase of common stock	—			(356,584	)		—			—				(4	)		—			(72	)		(15,539	)		—			—			(15,615	)
Conversion of common stock	—			10,000			(10,000	)		—				—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance as of September 30, 2015	—			33,388,556			11,476,932			$	—			334			115			1,441			1,830,387			2,876			246			1,835,399
Balance as of December 31, 2013	—			34,881,338			11,495,377			$	—			349			115			24,887			1,413,492			4,819			328			1,443,990
Issuance of noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			201			201
Net income	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			233,999			—			1,363			235,362
Other comprehensive income	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			280			—			280
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			(1,624	)		(1,624	)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.30 per share	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			(13,914	)		—			—			(13,914	)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	—			234,236			—			—				2			—			3,339			—			—			—			3,341
Compensation expense for stock based awards	—			—			—			—				—			—			3,258			—			—			—			3,258
Repurchase of common stock	—			(327,296	)		—			—				(3	)		—			(13,334	)		—			—			—			(13,337	)
Conversion of common stock	—			8,445			(8,445	)		—				—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance as of September 30, 2014	—			34,796,723			11,486,932			$	—			348			115			18,150			1,633,577			5,099			268			1,657,557
Balance as of December 31, 2014	—			34,756,384			11,486,932			$	—			348			115			17,290			1,702,560			5,135			230			1,725,678
Issuance of noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			23			23
Net income	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			184,629			—			117			184,746
Other comprehensive loss	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			(2,259	)		—			(2,259	)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			—			—			(124	)		(124	)
Cash dividends on Class A and Class B common stock - $0.30 per share	—			—			—			—				—			—			—			(13,659	)		—			—			(13,659	)
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	—			152,764			—			—				2			—			3,678			—			—			—			3,680
Compensation expense for stock based awards	—			—			—			—				—			—			3,957			—			—			—			3,957
Repurchase of common stock	—			(1,530,592	)		—			—				(16	)		—			(23,484	)		(43,143	)		—			—			(66,643	)
Conversion of common stock	—			10,000			(10,000	)		—				—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance as of September 30, 2015	—			33,388,556			11,476,932			$	—			334			115			1,441			1,830,387			2,876			246			1,835,399

 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

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NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Nine months
	ended September 30,
	2015				2014
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	184,629			233,999
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	117				1,363
Net income	184,746				235,362
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, net of acquisitions:
Depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and student loan premiums and deferred origination costs	91,045				78,318
Student loan discount accretion	(32,684		)		(32,393	)
Provision for loan losses	7,150				6,000
Derivative market value adjustment	43,179				431
Foreign currency transaction adjustment	(32,480		)		(39,216	)
Proceeds from termination of derivative instruments	55,627				—
Payment to enter into derivative instruments	(2,936		)		(9,087	)
Gain on sale of loans	(351		)		—
Gain from debt repurchases	(4,636		)		(57	)
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities, net	(2,370		)		(8,319	)
Payments for purchases of trading securities, net	(8,168		)		(3,380	)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(7,901		)		21,391
Non-cash compensation expense	4,120				3,364
Other	2,469				5,638
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable	(435		)		4,303
Increase in accounts receivable	(14,088		)		(1,884	)
Decrease in other assets	1,848				2,723
Increase in accrued interest payable	5,242				2,314
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	17,978				(2,441	)
Net cash provided by operating activities	307,355				263,067
Cash flows from investing activities, net of acquisitions:
Purchases of student loans and student loan residual interests	(1,994,416		)		(3,211,328	)
Net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other	2,843,119				2,721,886
Proceeds from sale of student loans	3,996				8
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(6,939		)		(143,695	)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	49,278				200,098
Purchases of investments and issuance of notes receivable	(65,548		)		(35,454	)
Proceeds from investments and notes receivable	27,773				11,006
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(12,756		)		(21,691	)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash and investments, net	3,611				(32,720	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—				(45,583	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	848,118				(557,473	)
Cash flows from financing activities, net of borrowings assumed:
Payments on bonds and notes payable	(3,483,804		)		(3,013,378	)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable	2,401,993				3,362,227
Payments of debt issuance costs	(9,859		)		(14,933	)
Dividends paid	(13,659		)		(13,914	)
Repurchases of common stock	(66,643		)		(13,337	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	617				476
Issuance of noncontrolling interest	23				201
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(124		)		(1,624	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,171,456		)		305,718
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(15,983		)		11,312
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	130,481				63,267
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	114,498			74,579
Cash disbursements made for:
Interest	$	165,885			155,962
Income taxes, net of refunds	$	104,403			118,866
Noncash activity:
Investing activity - student loans and other assets acquired	$	2,025,453			2,571,997
Financing activity - borrowings and other liabilities assumed in acquisition of student loans	$	1,885,453			2,444,874

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6

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NELNET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)

(unaudited)

1.    Basis of Financial Reporting

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nelnet, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2015 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 and, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for the interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2015. 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, 2014 (the "2014 Annual Report").

Reclassifications

Certain amounts previously reported within the Company's consolidated balance sheet and statements of income have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications include:

•	Reclassifying certain investments and notes receivable, which were previously included in "other assets" to "investments and notes receivable."

•	Reclassifying third-party loan servicing fees, which were previously included in "other" operating expenses to "loan servicing fees."

The reclassifications had no effect on consolidated net income or consolidated assets and liabilities.

2.    Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses

Student loans receivable consisted of the following:

	As of				As of
	September 30, 2015				December 31, 2014
Federally insured loans
Stafford and other	$	6,375,336			6,030,825
Consolidation	22,580,043				22,165,605
Total	28,955,379				28,196,430
Private education loans	232,824				27,478
	29,188,203				28,223,908
Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs (a)	(183,543		)		(169,813	)
Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans	(35,945		)		(39,170	)
Allowance for loan losses – private education loans	(14,435		)		(9,730	)
	$	28,954,280			28,005,195

(a)	As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, "loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs" included $35.4 million and $28.8 million, respectively, of non-accretable discount associated with purchased loans of $10.9 billion and $8.5 billion, respectively.

7

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Private Education Loans

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with CommonBond, Inc. ("CommonBond"), a student lending company that provides private education loans to graduate students, under which the Company committed to purchase private education loans for a period of 18 months, with the total purchase obligation limited to $150.0 million. On August 17, 2015, the Company amended the agreement with CommonBond to increase the maximum purchase obligation to $200.0 million. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had purchased $127.8 million in private education loans from CommonBond pursuant to this agreement.

Acquisition of Student Loan Residual Interests

On May 26, 2015, the Company acquired the ownership interest in a federally insured student loan securitization trust (the "May Trust"), giving the Company rights to the residual interest in $504.2 million of securitized federally insured loans. The trust includes loans funded to term with $448.9 million (par value) of bonds and notes payable.

On August 3, 2015, the Company acquired the ownership interest in two federally insured student loan securitization trusts (the "August Trusts"), giving the Company rights to the residual interest in $1.5 billion of securitized federally insured loans. The two trusts include loans funded to term with $1.5 billion (par value) of bonds and notes payable.

The Company has consolidated the May Trust and August Trusts on its consolidated balance sheet because management has determined the Company is the primary beneficiary of the trusts. Upon acquisition of the May Trust and August Trusts, the Company recorded all assets and liabilities of the trusts at fair value, resulting in the recognition of a student loan fair value discount of $20.7 million and $20.2 million, respectively, and a bonds and notes payable fair value premium of $2.2 million and a fair value discount of $86.7 million, respectively. The discounts/premium will be accreted/amortized using the effective interest method over the lives of the underlying assets and liabilities. All other assets acquired and liabilities assumed (restricted cash, accrued interest receivable/payable, and other assets/liabilities) were recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.

Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in the portfolio of student loans. Activity in the allowance for loan losses is shown below.

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Balance at beginning of period	$	50,024			52,467			48,900			55,122
Provision for loan losses:
Federally insured loans	2,000				2,000			6,000			7,000
Private education loans	1,000				—			1,150			(1,000	)
Total provision for loan losses	3,000				2,000			7,150			6,000
Charge-offs:
Federally insured loans	(2,817		)		(3,521	)		(9,225	)		(11,290	)
Private education loans	(357		)		(623	)		(1,479	)		(1,642	)
Total charge-offs	(3,174		)		(4,144	)		(10,704	)		(12,932	)
Recoveries - private education loans	250				279			742			989
Purchase (sale) of federally insured and private education loans, net	30				70			(200	)		320
Transfer from repurchase obligation related to private education loans repurchased	250				1,296			4,492			2,469
Balance at end of period	$	50,380			51,968			50,380			51,968
Allocation of the allowance for loan losses:
Federally insured loans	$	35,945			39,470			35,945			39,470
Private education loans	14,435				12,498			14,435			12,498
Total allowance for loan losses	$	50,380			51,968			50,380			51,968

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Repurchase Obligation

The Company has sold various portfolios of private education loans to third-parties. Per the terms of the servicing agreements, the Company’s servicing operations are obligated to repurchase loans subject to the sale agreements in the event such loans become 60 or 90 days delinquent. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the balance of loans subject to these repurchase obligations was $53.1 million and $155.3 million, respectively. The Company repurchased $94.1 million of private education loans during the first quarter of 2015. The Company's estimate related to its obligation to repurchase these loans is included in "other liabilities" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets and was $3.3 million and $11.8 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Student Loan Status and Delinquencies

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

	As of September 30, 2015							As of December 31, 2014							As of September 30, 2014
Federally insured loans:
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	2,638,639						$	2,805,228						$	3,072,318
Loans in forbearance	2,993,844							3,288,412							3,505,103
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current	19,681,517				84.4	%		18,460,279				83.5	%		18,672,178				83.8	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	1,021,515				4.4			1,043,119				4.8			990,696				4.5
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	638,037				2.7			588,777				2.7			569,879				2.6
Loans delinquent 91-120 days	465,261				2.0			404,905				1.8			452,463				2.0
Loans delinquent 121-270 days	1,139,864				4.9			1,204,405				5.4			1,183,616				5.3
Loans delinquent 271 days or greater	376,702				1.6			401,305				1.8			405,346				1.8
Total loans in repayment	23,322,896				100.0	%		22,102,790				100.0	%		22,274,178				100.0	%
Total federally insured loans	$	28,955,379						$	28,196,430						$	28,851,599
Private education loans:
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	7,724						$	905						$	2,958
Loans in forbearance	16							—							—
Loans in repayment status:
Loans current	216,502				96.2	%		18,390				69.2	%		65,560				87.8	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	1,999				0.9			1,078				4.1			1,340				1.8
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	1,206				0.5			1,035				3.9			1,516				2.0
Loans delinquent 91 days or greater	5,377				2.4			6,070				22.8			6,249				8.4
Total loans in repayment	225,084				100.0	%		26,573				100.0	%		74,665				100.0	%
Total non-federally insured loans	$	232,824						$	27,478						$	77,623

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3.    Bonds and Notes Payable

The following tables summarize the Company’s outstanding debt obligations by type of instrument:

	As of September 30, 2015
	Carrying amount				Interest rate range		Final maturity
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
Bonds and notes based on indices	$	26,346,635			0.08% - 6.90%		8/26/19 - 8/26/52
Bonds and notes based on auction	1,161,515				1.11% - 2.13%		3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total variable-rate bonds and notes	27,508,150
FFELP warehouse facilities	1,391,877				0.20% - 0.41%		12/17/17 - 7/9/18
Private education loan warehouse facility	170,081				0.42%		12/26/16
Unsecured line of credit	70,000				1.72%		6/30/19
Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	57,582				3.70%		9/15/61
Other borrowings	75,000				1.69%		10/31/16
	29,272,690
Discount on bonds and notes payable	(445,087		)
Total	$	28,827,603

	As of December 31, 2014
	Carrying amount				Interest rate range		Final maturity
Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
Bonds and notes based on indices	$	25,713,431			0.19% - 6.90%		5/25/18 - 8/26/52
Bonds and notes based on auction	1,311,669				0.47% - 2.17%		3/22/32 - 11/26/46
Total variable-rate bonds and notes	27,025,100
FFELP warehouse facilities	1,241,665				0.16% - 0.26%		1/17/16 - 6/11/17
Unsecured line of credit	—				—		6/30/19
Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	71,688				3.63%		9/15/61
Other borrowings	81,969				1.67% - 5.10%		11/11/15 - 12/31/18
	28,420,422
Discount on bonds and notes payable	(393,072		)
Total	$	28,027,350

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FFELP Warehouse Facilities

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

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities as summarized below.

		NHELP-II				NHELP-III			NFSLW-I (a)			Total
Maximum financing amount		$	500,000			750,000			875,000			2,125,000
Amount outstanding		446,624				395,631			549,622			1,391,877
Amount available		$	53,376			354,369			325,378			733,123
Expiration of liquidity provisions		December 17, 2015				April 29, 2016			July 8, 2016
Final maturity date		December 17, 2017				April 29, 2018			July 9, 2018
Maximum advance rates		91.0 - 97.0%				92.2 - 95.0%			92.0 - 98.0%
Minimum advance rates		91.0 - 97.0%				92.2 - 95.0%			84.0 - 90.0%
Advanced as equity support		$	24,538			22,427			26,124			73,089

(a)	On July 10, 2015, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility to temporarily increase the maximum financing amount to $875.0 million, extend the expiration of the liquidity provisions to July 8, 2016, and extend the maturity date to July 9, 2018. The maximum financing amount is scheduled to decrease by $125.0 million on March 31, 2016.

Asset-backed Securitizations

The following table summarizes the asset-backed securitization transactions completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

		2015-1				2015-2									2015-3												Total
						Class A-1 notes			Class A-2 notes			2015-2 total			Class A-1 notes			Class A-2 notes			Class A-3 notes			2015-3 total
Date securities issued		2/27/15				3/26/15			3/26/15			3/26/15			5/21/15			5/21/15			5/21/15			5/21/15
Total original principal amount		$	566,346			122,500			584,500			722,000			82,500			270,000			41,400			401,400			$	1,689,746
Class A senior notes:
Total original principal amount		$	553,232			122,500			584,500			707,000			82,500			270,000			41,400			393,900			1,654,132
Bond discount		—				—			—			—			—			(380	)		(1,095	)		(1,475	)		(1,475		)
Issue price		$	553,232			122,500			584,500			707,000			82,500			269,620			40,305			392,425			1,652,657
Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		0.59		%		0.27	%		0.60	%					0.30	%		0.60	%		0.90	%
Final maturity date		4/25/41				3/25/20			9/25/42						1/27/25			2/26/46			6/25/49
Class B subordinated notes:
Total original principal amount		$	13,114									15,000												7,500			35,614
Bond discount		(1,157		)								(1,793	)											(968	)		(3,918		)
Issue price		$	11,957									13,207												6,532			31,696
Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		1.50		%								1.50	%											1.50	%
Final maturity date		6/25/46										5/25/49												6/27/50

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Private Education Loan Warehouse Facility

On June 26, 2015, the Company entered into a $275.0 million private education loan warehouse facility. As of September 30, 2015, there was $170.1 million outstanding on the facility and $104.9 million was available for future use. The facility has a static advance rate that requires initial equity for loan funding, but does not require increased equity based on market movements. The maximum advance rate on the entire facility is 88 percent and minimum advance rates, depending on loan characteristics and program type, range from 64 percent to 99 percent. As of September 30, 2015, $23.7 million was advanced on the facility as equity support. The facility is supported by liquidity provisions, which have a defined expiration date of June 24, 2016. In the event the Company is unable to renew the liquidity provisions by such date, the facility would become a term facility at a stepped-up cost, with no additional student loans being eligible for financing, and the Company would be required to refinance the existing loans in the facility by the facility's final maturity date of December 26, 2016.

Unsecured Line of Credit

On October 30, 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement for its $350.0 million line of credit. Under the amended terms, the maturity date of the credit agreement was extended from June 30, 2019 to October 30, 2020.  In addition, the following revisions were made to certain covenants:

•	A provision was added to permit acquisitions of businesses, for consideration of up to $75.0 million per fiscal year, that are not in one of the Company's existing lines of business.

•	The cap for other non-specified permitted investments increased to 20 percent of the Company's consolidated net worth, with the cap excluding all existing investments at the time of the amendment.

•	The current cap related to the volume of private education loans that the Company may hold was reduced from $900.0 million to a revised level of $500.0 million.  All private education loans that are held within securitization vehicles are excluded from the $500.0 million threshold.

•	The minimum consolidated net worth threshold changed beginning as of September 30, 2015 to be not less than the sum of (i) $1.35 billion, plus, in each case for periods after September 30, 2015, (ii) 50 percent of consolidated net income; plus (iii) 100 percent of the increase to consolidated net worth from the issuance of capital stock.

The facility size of $350.0 million and cost of funds did not change as part of the amendment.  

As of September 30, 2015, the unsecured line of credit had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million and $280.0 million was available for future use.

Debt Repurchases

The following table summarizes the Company's repurchases of its own debt. Gains recorded by the Company from the repurchase of debt are included in "gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases" on the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

	Par value				Purchase price			Gain			Par value			Purchase price			Gain
	Three months ended
	September 30, 2015										September 30, 2014
Unsecured debt - Hybrid Securities	$	—			—			—			—			—			—
Asset-backed securities	9,650				9,053			597			2,500			2,500			—
	$	9,650			9,053			597			2,500			2,500			—
	Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015										September 30, 2014
Unsecured debt - Hybrid Securities	$	14,106			11,108			2,998			—			—			—
Asset-backed securities	31,800				30,162			1,638			4,000			3,943			57
	$	45,906			41,270			4,636			4,000			3,943			57

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4.   Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily to manage interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. Derivative instruments used as part of the Company's risk management strategy are further described in note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2014 Annual Report. A tabular presentation of such derivatives outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is presented below.

Basis Swaps

The following table summarizes the Company’s basis swaps outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").

 

			As of September 30,				As of December 31,
			2015				2014
Maturity			Notional amount				Notional amount
2016			$	5,500,000			$	—
2021			—				250,000
2022			450,000				1,900,000
2023			1,050,000				3,650,000
2024			—				250,000
2026			200,000				800,000
2028			—				100,000
2036			—				700,000
2039			—				150,000
			$	7,200,000			$	7,800,000

The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was one-month LIBOR plus 9.0 basis points and 3.5 basis points, respectively.

Interest Rate Swaps – Floor Income Hedges

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.

		As of September 30, 2015							As of December 31, 2014
Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)			Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2015		$	—			—	%		$	1,100,000			0.89	%
2016		1,000,000				0.76			750,000				0.85
2017		2,100,000				0.84			1,250,000				0.86
2018		1,350,000				1.11			—				—
2025		100,000				2.32			—				—
		$	4,550,000			0.93	%		$	3,100,000			0.87	%

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

On August 20, 2014, the Company paid $9.1 million for an interest rate swap option to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income. The interest rate swap option gives the Company the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a $250 million notional interest rate swap in which the Company would pay a fixed amount of 3.30% and receive discrete one-month LIBOR. If the interest rate swap option is exercised, the swap would become effective in 2019 and mature in 2024.

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Interest Rate Swaps – Unsecured Debt Hedges

The Company had the following derivatives outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 that are used to effectively convert the variable interest rate on a portion of the Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities to a fixed rate of 7.66%.

 

Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2036		$	25,000			4.28	%

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

Interest Rate Caps

In June 2015, in conjunction with the entry into the $275.0 million private education loan warehouse facility, the Company paid $2.9 million for two interest rate cap contracts with a total notional amount of $275.0 million. The first interest rate cap has a notional amount of $125.0 million and a one-month LIBOR strike rate of 2.50%, and the second interest rate cap has a notional amount of $150.0 million and a one-month LIBOR strike rate of 4.99%. In the event that the one-month LIBOR rate rises above the applicable strike rate, the Company would receive monthly payments related to the spread difference. Both interest rate cap contracts have a maturity date of July 15, 2020.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

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

The Company entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap in connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes. Under the terms of the cross-currency interest rate swap, the Company receives from the counterparty a spread to the EURIBOR index based on a notional amount of €352.7 million and pays a spread to the LIBOR index based on a notional amount of $450.0 million. In addition, under the terms of this agreement, all principal payments on the Euro Notes will effectively be paid at the exchange rate in effect between the U.S. dollar and Euro as of the issuance of the notes.

The following table shows the income statement impact as a result of the re-measurement of the Euro Notes and the change in the fair value of the related derivative instrument.

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Re-measurement of Euro Notes	$	(1,058	)		37,418			32,480			39,216
Change in fair value of cross-currency interest rate swap	666				(37,224	)		(35,207	)		(40,261	)
Total impact to consolidated statements of income - (expense) income (a)	$	(392	)		194			(2,727	)		(1,045	)

(a)	The financial statement impact of the above items is included in "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

The re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds generally correlates with the change in fair value of the corresponding cross-currency interest rate swap. However, the Company will experience unrealized gains or losses related to the cross-currency interest rate swap if the two underlying indices (and related forward curve) do not move in parallel.

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Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivatives as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets:

	Fair value of asset derivatives							Fair value of liability derivatives
	As of				As of			As of			As of
	September 30, 2015				December 31, 2014			September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
1:3 basis swaps	$	8,477			53,549			44			—
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	—				5,165			16,142			5,034
Interest rate swap option - floor income hedge	3,943				5,678			—			—
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	—				—			8,212			7,353
Interest rate caps	1,796				—			—			—
Cross-currency interest rate swap	—				—			55,663			20,455
Other	1,525				—			—			—
Total	$	15,741			64,392			80,061			32,842

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company terminated a total notional amount of $6.1 billion of 1:3 Basis Swaps for gross proceeds of $55.6 million. There were no derivative terminations during the first nine months of 2014.

Offsetting of Derivative Assets/Liabilities

The Company records derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Certain of the Company's derivative instruments are subject to right of offset provisions with counterparties. The following tables include the gross amounts related to the Company's derivative portfolio recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, reconciled to the net amount when excluding derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangements and cash collateral received/pledged:

						Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
Derivative assets		Gross amounts of recognized assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral pledged (received)			Net asset (liability)
Balance as of September 30, 2015		$	15,741			(8,620	)		—			7,121
Balance as of December 31, 2014		64,392				(12,387	)		—			52,005

						Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
Derivative liabilities		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral pledged (received)			Net asset (liability)
Balance as of September 30, 2015		$	(80,061	)		8,620			37,274			(34,167	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014		(32,842		)		12,387			(1,454	)		(21,909	)

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The following table summarizes the effect of derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income.

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Settlements:
1:3 basis swaps	$	179			808			568			2,547
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(5,456		)		(5,421	)		(15,490	)		(19,345	)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(255		)		(259	)		(760	)		(767	)
Cross-currency interest rate swap	(346		)		38			(853	)		288
Total settlements - expense	(5,878		)		(4,834	)		(16,535	)		(17,277	)
Change in fair value:
1:3 basis swaps	(1,886		)		19,455			10,513			32,475
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(18,935		)		10,628			(16,273	)		11,173
Interest rate swap option - floor income hedge	(2,205		)		(847	)		(1,736	)		(847	)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(1,948		)		(393	)		(861	)		(2,971	)
Interest rate caps	(939		)		—			(1,140	)		—
Cross-currency interest rate swap	666				(37,224	)		(35,207	)		(40,261	)
Other	1,525				—			1,525			—
Total change in fair value - expense	(23,722		)		(8,381	)		(43,179	)		(431	)
Re-measurement of Euro Notes (foreign currency transaction adjustment) - (expense) income	(1,058		)		37,418			32,480			39,216
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net - (expense) income	$	(30,658	)		24,203			(27,234	)		21,508

5.    Investments and Notes Receivable

A summary of the Company's investments and notes receivable follows:

	As of September 30, 2015														As of December 31, 2014
	Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses (a)			Fair value				Amortized cost			Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses			Fair value
Investments (at fair value):
Available-for-sale investments:
Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities (b)	$	92,327			3,797			(712	)		95,412				131,589			6,204			(236	)		137,557
Equity securities	846				1,579			(100	)		2,325				1,553			2,216			(33	)		3,736
Total available-for-sale investments	$	93,173			5,376			(812	)		97,737				133,142			8,420			(269	)		141,293
Trading investments:
Student loan asset-backed securities											6,146													7,830
Equity securities											9,852													—
Total trading investments											15,998													7,830
Total available-for-sale and trading investments											113,735													149,123
Other Investments and Notes Receivable (not measured at fair value):
Investments accounted for under the cost and equity methods											80,372													36,991
Notes receivable											30,964													30,643
Other											10,939													18,952
Total investments and notes receivable											$	236,010												235,709

    

(a)	As of September 30, 2015, the Company considered the decline in market value of its available-for-sale investments to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired.

(b)	As of September 30, 2015, the stated maturities of the majority of the Company's student loan asset-backed and other debt securities classified as available-for-sale were greater than 10 years.

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6. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets consist of the following:

	Weighted average remaining useful life as of September 30, 2015 (months)		As of September 30, 2015				As of December 31, 2014
Amortizable intangible assets:
Customer relationships (net of accumulated amortization of $21,736 and $17,361, respectively)	217		$	22,954			27,330
Trade names (net of accumulated amortization of $664 and $272, respectively)	224		5,758				6,150
Computer software (net of accumulated amortization of $3,624 and $1,896, respectively)	35		5,242				6,969
Content (net of accumulated amortization of $675 and $0, respectively)	15		1,125				1,800
Covenants not to compete (net of accumulated amortization of $47 and $21, respectively)	104		307				333
Total - amortizable intangible assets	184		$	35,386			42,582

The Company recorded amortization expense on its intangible assets of $2.4 million and $2.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $7.2 million and $4.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company will continue to amortize intangible assets over their remaining useful lives. As of September 30, 2015, the Company estimates it will record amortization expense as follows:

2015 (October 1 - December 31)	$	2,399
2016	6,249
2017	3,752
2018	3,533
2019	2,861
2020 and thereafter	16,592
	$	35,386

There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The carrying amount of goodwill by reportable operating segment as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is shown in the table below.

	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing				Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce			Asset Generation and Management			Corporate and Other Activities			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015	$	8,596			67,168			41,883			8,553			126,200

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7.   Earnings per Common Share

Presented below is a summary of the components used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share. The Company applies the two-class method in computing both basic and diluted earnings per share, which requires the calculation of separate earnings per share amounts for common stock and unvested share based awards. Unvested share-based awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are considered securities which participate in undistributed earnings with common stock.

	Three months ended September 30,
	2015										2014
	Common shareholders				Unvested restricted stock shareholders			Total			Common shareholders			Unvested restricted stock shareholders			Total
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,436			519			48,955			84,330			889			85,219
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	44,570,519				477,258			45,047,777			45,948,255			484,425			46,432,680
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	1.09			1.09			1.09			1.84			1.84			1.84
	Nine months ended September 30,
	2015										2014
	Common shareholders				Unvested restricted stock shareholders			Total			Common shareholders			Unvested restricted stock shareholders			Total
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	182,664			1,965			184,629			231,725			2,274			233,999
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	45,276,376				487,067			45,763,443			46,044,429			451,880			46,496,309
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	4.03			4.03			4.03			5.03			5.03			5.03

Unvested restricted stock awards are the Company's only potential common shares and, accordingly, there were no awards that were antidilutive and not included in average shares outstanding for the diluted earnings per share calculation.

18

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8.    Segment Reporting

See note 14 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2014 Annual Report for a description of the Company's operating segments. The following tables include the results of each of the Company's operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2015, internal reporting to executive management (the "chief operating decision maker") changed to reflect operational changes made within the organization. The operational and internal reporting changes included moving the majority of information technology infrastructure personnel and related functions to Corporate and Other Activities. The associated costs are allocated to the other operating segments based on those segments' actual use of information technology related products and services. Information technology infrastructure personnel and related functions were historically included within the Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment, and associated costs were allocated to the other operating segments based on those segments' actual use of the related products and services. Prior period segment operating results have been reclassified to reflect these changes; however, the reclassifications had no effect on any operating segment's net income.

	Three months ended September 30, 2015
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing				Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce			Asset Generation and Management			Corporate and Other Activities			Eliminations			Total
Total interest income	$	14			—			188,197			1,385			(439	)		189,157
Interest expense	—				—			76,040			1,563			(439	)		77,164
Net interest income	14				—			112,157			(178	)		—			111,993
Less provision for loan losses	—				—			3,000			—			—			3,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	14				—			109,157			(178	)		—			108,993
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	61,900				—			—			—			(380	)		61,520
Intersegment servicing revenue	12,027				—			—			—			(12,027	)		—
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	—				30,439			—			—			—			30,439
Enrollment services revenue	—				—			—			19,500			—			19,500
Other income	—				—			3,312			3,211			—			6,523
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—				—			608			(11	)		—			597
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—				—			(24,357	)		(423	)		—			(24,780	)
Derivative settlements, net	—				—			(5,623	)		(255	)		—			(5,878	)
Total other income	73,927				30,439			(26,060	)		22,022			(12,407	)		87,921
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	34,525				13,983			558			14,149			—			63,215
Cost to provide enrollment services	—				—			—			12,534			—			12,534
Loan servicing fees	—				—			7,793			—			—			7,793
Depreciation and amortization	484				2,202			—			4,291			—			6,977
Other	14,602				3,579			1,421			10,817			—			30,419
Intersegment expenses, net	10,886				2,872			12,578			(13,929	)		(12,407	)		—
Total operating expenses	60,497				22,636			22,350			27,862			(12,407	)		120,938
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	13,444				7,803			60,747			(6,018	)		—			75,976
Corporate overhead allocation	(2,351		)		(941	)		(1,176	)		4,468			—			—
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,093				6,862			59,571			(1,550	)		—			75,976
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4,215		)		(2,606	)		(22,639	)		2,461			—			(26,999	)
Net income	6,878				4,256			36,932			911			—			48,977
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5		)		—			—			27			—			22
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	6,883			4,256			36,932			884			—			48,955

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	Three months ended September 30, 2014
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing				Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce			Asset Generation and Management			Corporate and Other Activities			Eliminations			Total
Total interest income	$	5			2			187,949			1,814			(346	)		189,424
Interest expense	—				—			71,037			1,246			(346	)		71,937
Net interest income	5				2			116,912			568			—			117,487
Less provision for loan losses	—				—			2,000			—			—			2,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	5				2			114,912			568			—			115,487
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	52,659				—			—			—			—			52,659
Intersegment servicing revenue	13,432				—			—			—			(13,432	)		—
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	—				26,399			—			—			—			26,399
Enrollment services revenue	—				—			—			22,936			—			22,936
Other income	—				—			4,294			3,356			—			7,650
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—				—			—			—			—			—
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—				—			29,430			(393	)		—			29,037
Derivative settlements, net	—				—			(4,575	)		(259	)		—			(4,834	)
Total other income	66,091				26,399			29,149			25,640			(13,432	)		133,847
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	33,627				13,288			565			13,618			—			61,098
Cost to provide enrollment services	—				—			—			14,178			—			14,178
Loan servicing fees	—				—			7,077			—			—			7,077
Depreciation and amortization	441				2,396			—			2,656			—			5,493
Other	12,643				3,312			1,559			12,085			—			29,599
Intersegment expenses, net	8,843				1,481			13,611			(10,503	)		(13,432	)		—
Total operating expenses	55,554				20,477			22,812			32,034			(13,432	)		117,445
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	10,542				5,924			121,249			(5,826	)		—			131,889
Corporate overhead allocation	(2,567		)		(856	)		(1,026	)		4,449			—			—
Income (loss) before income taxes	7,975				5,068			120,223			(1,377	)		—			131,889
Income tax (expense) benefit	(3,030		)		(1,926	)		(45,684	)		4,127			—			(46,513	)
Net income	4,945				3,142			74,539			2,750			—			85,376
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—				—			—			157			—			157
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	4,945			3,142			74,539			2,593			—			85,219

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	Nine months ended September 30, 2015
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing				Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce			Asset Generation and Management			Corporate and Other Activities			Eliminations			Total
Total interest income	$	34			3			536,899			5,352			(1,260	)		541,028
Interest expense	—				—			218,021			4,583			(1,260	)		221,344
Net interest income	34				3			318,878			769			—			319,684
Less provision for loan losses	—				—			7,150			—			—			7,150
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	34				3			311,728			769			—			312,534
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	183,544				—			—			—			(380	)		183,164
Intersegment servicing revenue	37,121				—			—			—			(37,121	)		—
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	—				92,805			—			—			—			92,805
Enrollment services revenue	—				—			—			54,524			—			54,524
Other income	—				—			11,838			9,107			—			20,945
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—				—			2,000			2,987			—			4,987
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—				—			(11,363	)		664			—			(10,699	)
Derivative settlements, net	—				—			(15,775	)		(760	)		—			(16,535	)
Total other income	220,665				92,805			(13,300	)		66,522			(37,501	)		329,191
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	99,813				40,887			1,623			40,729			—			183,052
Cost to provide enrollment services	—				—			—			35,398			—			35,398
Loan servicing fees	—				—			22,829			—			—			22,829
Depreciation and amortization	1,457				6,592			—			11,091			—			19,140
Other	44,578				11,493			3,828			31,676			—			91,575
Intersegment expenses, net	32,152				8,271			38,016			(40,938	)		(37,501	)		—
Total operating expenses	178,000				67,243			66,296			77,956			(37,501	)		351,994
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	42,699				25,565			232,132			(10,665	)		—			289,731
Corporate overhead allocation	(6,798		)		(2,721	)		(3,401	)		12,920			—			—
Income before income taxes	35,901				22,844			228,731			2,255			—			289,731
Income tax (expense) benefit	(13,643		)		(8,680	)		(86,919	)		4,257			—			(104,985	)
Net income	22,258				14,164			141,812			6,512			—			184,746
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5		)		—			—			122			—			117
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	22,263			14,164			141,812			6,390			—			184,629

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	Nine months ended September 30, 2014
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing				Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce			Asset Generation and Management			Corporate and Other Activities			Eliminations			Total
Total interest income	$	25			5			520,514			6,508			(1,805	)		525,247
Interest expense	—				—			198,449			4,532			(1,805	)		201,176
Net interest income	25				5			322,065			1,976			—			324,071
Less provision for loan losses	—				—			6,000			—			—			6,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	25				5			316,065			1,976			—			318,071
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	183,876				—			—			—			—			183,876
Intersegment servicing revenue	41,453				—			—			—			(41,453	)		—
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	—				73,468			—			—			—			73,468
Enrollment services revenue	—				—			—			65,092			—			65,092
Other income	—				—			12,954			28,142			—			41,096
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—				—			57			—			—			57
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—				—			41,755			(2,970	)		—			38,785
Derivative settlements, net	—				—			(16,510	)		(767	)		—			(17,277	)
Total other income	225,329				73,468			38,256			89,497			(41,453	)		385,097
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	93,107				34,427			1,744			38,192			—			167,470
Cost to provide enrollment services	—				—			—			41,964			—			41,964
Loan servicing fees	—				—			19,798			—			—			19,798
Depreciation and amortization	1,298				5,669			—			8,523			—			15,490
Other	45,269				8,915			4,829			33,869			—			92,882
Intersegment expenses, net	27,362				4,305			41,950			(32,164	)		(41,453	)		—
Total operating expenses	167,036				53,316			68,321			90,384			(41,453	)		337,604
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	58,318				20,157			286,000			1,089			—			365,564
Corporate overhead allocation	(6,487		)		(2,163	)		(3,604	)		12,254			—			—
Income before income taxes	51,831				17,994			282,396			13,343			—			365,564
Income tax (expense) benefit	(19,695		)		(6,837	)		(107,309	)		3,639			—			(130,202	)
Net income	32,136				11,157			175,087			16,982			—			235,362
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—				—			—			1,363			—			1,363
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	32,136			11,157			175,087			15,619			—			233,999

9.    Major Customer

The Company earns loan servicing revenue from a servicing contract with the U.S. Department of Education that currently expires on June 16, 2019. Revenue earned by the Company's Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment related to this contract was $33.2 million and $31.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $99.3 million and $92.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

10. Related Parties

The Company has entered into certain contractual arrangements with related parties as described in note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2014 Annual Report.  The following provides an update for related party transactions that occurred during the first nine months of 2015.

On December 22, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with Union Bank and Trust Company ("Union Bank") in which the Company provides marketing, origination, and loan servicing services to Union Bank related to private education loans. The Company is committed to purchase, or arrange for a designee to purchase, all volume originated by Union Bank under this agreement. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company purchased $0.4 million (par value) of private education loans from Union Bank, pursuant to this agreement. As of September 30, 2015, the balance of private education loans held by Union Bank pursuant to this agreement was $8.5 million.

On March 17, 2015, the Company made a $40.5 million equity investment in Agile Sports Technologies, Inc. (doing business as "Hudl"). David Graff, who has served on the Company's Board of Directors since May 2014, is CEO, co-founder, and a director

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of Hudl. Prior to the 2015 investment, the Company and Michael Dunlap, the Company's Executive Chairman and a principal shareholder, made separate equity investments in Hudl. Subsequent to the Company's March 2015 investment, the Company and Mr. Dunlap hold combined direct and indirect equity ownership interests in Hudl of 18.7% and 2.8%, respectively. The Company's and Mr. Dunlap's direct and indirect equity ownership interests in Hudl consist of preferred stock with certain liquidation preferences that are considered substantive. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Company's and Mr. Dunlap's equity ownership interests are not considered in-substance common stock and the Company is accounting for its equity investment in Hudl under the cost method. The Company's investment in Hudl is included in "investments and notes receivable" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

On January 1, 2014, the Company subparticipated the Company's participation interest in a loan receivable from an unrelated third party to Union Bank. On May 22, 2015, the Company paid Union Bank $3.1 million to pay off the outstanding loan balance and terminated the subparticipation agreement.

11.   Fair Value

The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers into or out of level 1, level 2, or level 3 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

	As of September 30, 2015										As of December 31, 2014
	Level 1				Level 2			Total			Level 1			Level 2			Total
Assets:
Investments (available-for-sale and trading):
Student loan asset-backed securities	$	—			101,237			101,237			—			145,000			145,000
Equity securities	12,177				—			12,177			3,736			—			3,736
Debt securities	321				—			321			387			—			387
Total investments (available-for-sale and trading)	12,498				101,237			113,735			4,123			145,000			149,123
Fair value of derivative instruments	—				15,741			15,741			—			64,392			64,392
Total assets	$	12,498			116,978			129,476			4,123			209,392			213,515
Liabilities:
Fair value of derivative instruments	$	—			80,061			80,061			—			32,842			32,842
Total liabilities	$	—			80,061			80,061			—			32,842			32,842

The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:

	As of September 30, 2015
	Fair value				Carrying value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Financial assets:
Student loans receivable	$	29,390,728			28,954,280			—			—			29,390,728
Cash and cash equivalents	114,498				114,498			114,498			—			—
Investments (available-for-sale and trading)	113,735				113,735			12,498			101,237			—
Notes receivable	28,616				30,964			—			28,616			—
Restricted cash	886,974				886,974			886,974			—			—
Restricted cash – due to customers	100,089				100,089			100,089			—			—
Restricted investments	8,297				8,297			8,297			—			—
Accrued interest receivable	380,441				380,441			—			380,441			—
Derivative instruments	15,741				15,741			—			15,741			—
Financial liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable	28,103,296				28,827,603			—			28,103,296			—
Accrued interest payable	31,632				31,632			—			31,632			—
Due to customers	100,089				100,089			100,089			—			—
Derivative instruments	80,061				80,061			—			80,061			—

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	As of December 31, 2014
	Fair value				Carrying value			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Financial assets:
Student loans receivable	$	28,954,226			28,005,195			—			—			28,954,226
Cash and cash equivalents	130,481				130,481			130,481			—			—
Investments (available-for-sale and trading)	149,123				149,123			4,123			145,000			—
Notes receivable	28,832				30,643			—			28,832			—
Restricted cash	800,164				800,164			800,164			—			—
Restricted cash – due to customers	118,488				118,488			118,488			—			—
Restricted investments	50,276				50,276			50,276			—			—
Accrued interest receivable	351,588				351,588			—			351,588			—
Derivative instruments	64,392				64,392			—			64,392			—
Financial liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable	27,809,997				28,027,350			—			27,809,997			—
Accrued interest payable	25,904				25,904			—			25,904			—
Due to customers	118,488				118,488			118,488			—			—
Derivative instruments	32,842				32,842			—			32,842			—

 

The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities are described in note 21 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2014 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 nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. 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 2014 Annual Report.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

This report contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's current expectations as of the date of this document.  Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's plans and expectations for future financial condition, results of operations or economic performance, or that address management's plans and objectives for future operations, and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “assume,” “forecast,” “will,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management in light of management's experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors that management believes are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the 2014 Annual Report and elsewhere in this report, and include such risks and uncertainties as:

•

student loan portfolio risks such as interest rate basis and repricing risk resulting from the fact that the interest rate characteristics of the student loan assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets, the risk of loss of floor income on certain student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (the "FFEL Program" or "FFELP"), risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, uncertainties regarding the expected benefits from recently purchased securitized and unsecuritized FFELP and private education loans and initiatives to purchase additional FFELP and private education loans, and risks from changes in levels of student loan prepayment or default rates;

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

•

risks from changes in the educational credit and services markets resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs and budgets, such as the expected decline over time in FFELP loan interest income and fee-based revenues due to the discontinuation of new FFELP loan originations in 2010 and potential government initiatives or legislative proposals to consolidate existing FFELP loans to the Federal Direct Loan Program or otherwise allow FFELP loans to be refinanced with Federal Direct Loan Program loans, risks related to reduced government payments to guaranty agencies to rehabilitate defaulted FFELP loans and services in support of those activities, including potential adverse effects on the Company's guaranty servicing contracts, risks related to the Company's ability to maintain or increase volumes under the Company's loan servicing contract with the U.S. Department of Education (the "Department"), which accounted for approximately 10 percent of the Company's revenue in 2014 and for which the loan allocation metrics were modified effective September 1, 2014, and risks related to the Company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of FFELP, Federal Direct Loan Program, and private education loans;

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

•	uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets and related asset-backed securitizations; and

 

•	risks and uncertainties associated with litigation matters and with maintaining compliance with the extensive regulatory requirements applicable to the Company's businesses, and uncertainties inherent in the estimates and assumptions about future events that management is required to make in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update or revise its prior forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the Company's expectations, the Company disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

OVERVIEW

The Company provides educational products and services in loan servicing, payment processing, education planning, and asset management. These products and services help students and families plan, prepare, and pay for their education and make the administrative and financial processes more efficient for schools and financial organizations. In addition, the Company earns interest income on a portfolio of federally insured student loans.

A reconciliation of the Company's GAAP net income to net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, is provided below.

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,955			85,219			184,629			233,999
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax	15,364				(18,003	)		6,634			(24,047	)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)	$	64,319			67,216			191,263			209,952
Earnings per share:
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	1.09			1.84			4.03			5.03
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax	0.34				(0.39	)		0.15			(0.51	)
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)	$	1.43			1.45			4.18			4.52

(a)

The Company provides non-GAAP information that reflects specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its financial position and performance. "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments" include (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars. The Company believes these point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to these financial instruments that are subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. Accordingly, the Company provides operating results excluding these items for comparability purposes.

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The Company earns net interest income on its FFELP student loan portfolio in its Asset Generation and Management ("AGM") operating segment. This segment is expected to generate a stable net interest margin and significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had a $29.0 billion student loan portfolio that will amortize over the next approximately 25 years. The Company actively seeks to acquire additional FFELP loan portfolios to leverage its servicing scale and expertise to generate incremental earnings and cash flow.

In addition, the Company earns fee-based revenue through the following reportable operating segments:

 

•	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing ("LGS") - referred to as Nelnet Diversified Solutions ("NDS")

•	Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce ("TPP&CC") - referred to as Nelnet Business Solutions ("NBS")

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

The information below provides the operating results for each reportable operating segment and Corporate and Other Activities ("Corporate") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in millions).

(a)	Revenue includes intersegment revenue earned by LGS as a result of servicing loans for AGM.

(b)	Total revenue includes "net interest income after provision for loan losses" and "total other income" from the Company's segment statements of income, excluding the impact from changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments. Net income excludes changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net of tax.

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

Excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net income decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 due primarily to a decrease in earnings from the Company's FFELP student loan portfolio, partially offset by increases in earnings from the LGS and TPP&CC operating segments. Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 due primarily to decreases in earnings from the LGS segment and a decrease in investment advisory fees which are included in Corporate and Other Activities. A further description of these items is provided below.

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

•	As of September 30, 2015, the Company was servicing $175.3 billion in FFELP, private, and government owned student loans, as compared with $158.7 billion of loans as of September 30, 2014.

•

Revenue decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Federal budget provisions that became effective July 1, 2014 have reduced payments by the Department to guaranty agencies for assisting student loan borrowers with the rehabilitation of defaulted loans under FFELP, and as a result, rehabilitation revenue has been negatively affected. Rehabilitation collection revenue recognized by the Company was $28.2 million and $35.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. This decrease in revenue was offset by an increase in revenue from the Department servicing contract, which was $99.3 million for the nine months ended

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September 30, 2015 compared to $92.1 million for the same period in 2014. As of September 30, 2015, the Company was servicing $146.7 billion of loans for 5.9 million borrowers under this contract.

•

A significant amount of the Company's guaranty servicing revenue came from a single guaranty servicing client. The contract with this client expired on October 31, 2015. FFELP guaranty servicing and FFELP guaranty collection revenue recognized by the Company from this client for the year ended December 31, 2014 and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $48.5 million and $32.8 million, respectively.

•

Before tax operating margin was 16.3% and 23.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Operating margin decreased in 2015 compared to 2014 as a result of the implementation of federal budget reductions for guaranty agencies revenue. In addition, as the volume of loans serviced under the Department servicing contract continues to grow and loans serviced under the legacy commercial programs continue to run off, the Company expects operating margins to tighten accordingly. The Company also anticipates that margins will tighten as a result of the loss of the FFELP guaranty servicing and FFELP guaranty collection client as discussed above.

•

Revenue increased in the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 due primarily to an increase in FFELP guaranty collection and government servicing revenue. Rehabilitation collection revenue recognized by the Company was $9.4 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and revenue from the Department servicing contract increased to $33.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $31.2 million for the same period in 2014. The increase in guaranty collection revenue in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to the Company having higher than normal sales with guaranty agencies during the second quarter of 2014 in advance of legislative price reductions, which resulted in lower than normal sales during the third quarter of 2014.

•	Before tax operating margin was 15.0% and 12.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Operating margin increased as a result of the increase in FFELP guaranty collection revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 as discussed above.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

•	Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods in 2014 due to the acquisition of RenWeb on June 3, 2014 and due to increases in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customer transaction and payments volume, and new school customers.

•	Excluding the amortization of intangibles, before tax operating margin was 29.7% and 26.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 31.6% and 30.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in margin is attributable to increased operating leverage.

Asset Generation and Management

•	The Company acquired $3.8 billion of student loans during the first nine months of 2015, of which $1.8 billion were purchased in the third quarter. The average loan portfolio balance was $29.1 billion and $29.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $28.6 billion and $27.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

•	Core student loan spread was 1.45% for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to 1.53% for the same period in 2014. The year over year decrease was the result of an increase in the Company's cost of funds.

•

Due to historically low interest rates, the Company continues to earn significant fixed rate floor income. During the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company earned $48.2 million, $49.2 million, $139.5 million, and $130.7 million, respectively, of fixed rate floor income (net of $5.5 million, $5.4 million, $15.5 million, and $19.3 million of derivative settlements, respectively, used to hedge such loans).

Corporate and Other Activities

•

The Company recognized net gains from investment activity of $2.4 million and $9.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The majority of gains recognized in 2014 were from sales of student loan asset-backed security investments. The income statement impact related to investment activity was minimal during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

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•

Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary, recognized investment advisory revenue of $0.7 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $2.2 million and $14.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Due to improvements in the capital markets, the opportunities to earn performance fees on the sale of student loan asset-backed securities are becoming increasingly limited.

•

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized gains of $3.0 million from the repurchase of $14.1 million (par value) of its Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities unsecured debt and gains of $1.6 million from the repurchase of $31.8 million (par value) of its own asset-backed debt securities. The Company recognized minimal gains on repurchases of its own debt during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

•	As of September 30, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $114.5 million. In addition, the Company had a portfolio of available-for-sale and trading investments, consisting primarily of student loan asset-backed securities, with a fair value of $113.7 million as of September 30, 2015.

•	For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company generated $307.4 million in net cash provided by operating activities, including $55.6 million from the termination of certain derivative financial instruments.

•	Forecasted future cash flows from the Company's FFELP student loan portfolio financed in asset-backed securitization transactions are estimated to be approximately $2.46 billion as of September 30, 2015.

•	During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company repurchased a total of 1,530,592 shares of Class A common stock for $66.6 million ($43.54 per share), including 356,584 shares for $15.6 million ($43.79 per share) during the third quarter.

•	During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company paid cash dividends of $13.7 million ($0.30 per share), including $4.5 million ($0.10 per share) during the third quarter.

•

The Company intends to use its liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP and private education loan acquisitions; strategic acquisitions and investments; and capital management initiatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions. Dependent upon the timing and size of the opportunities, the Company's cash and investment balances may increase from their current levels.

Subsequent Events

•	On October 30, 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement for its $350.0 million line of credit. Under the amended terms, the maturity date of the credit agreement was extended from June 30, 2019 to October 30, 2020. In addition, the following revisions were made to certain covenants:

•	A provision was added to permit acquisitions of businesses, for consideration of up to $75.0 million per fiscal year, that are not in one of the Company’s existing lines of business.

•	The cap for other non-specified permitted investments increased to 20 percent of the Company’s consolidated net worth, with the cap excluding all existing investments at the time of the amendment.

•	The current cap related to the volume of private education loans that the Company may hold was reduced from $900.0 million to a revised level of $500.0 million.   All private education loans that are held within securitization vehicles are excluded from the $500.0 million threshold.

•	The minimum consolidated net worth threshold changed beginning as of September 30, 2015 to be not less than the sum of (i) $1.35 billion; plus, in each case for periods after September 30, 2015, (ii) 50 percent of consolidated net income;  plus (iii) 100 percent of the increase to consolidated net worth from the issuance of capital stock.

The facility size of $350.0 million and cost of funds did not change as part of the amendment.  

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As of September 30, 2015, the unsecured line of credit had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million and $280.0 million was available for future use.

•	The Company's Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter cash dividend on the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock of $0.12 per share. The fourth quarter dividend will be paid on December 15, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2015.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Analysis of the Company's operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same periods in 2014 is summarized below.

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

The Company operates in distinct operating segments as described previously. For a reconciliation of the segment operating results to the consolidated results of operations, see note 8 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 segment basis.

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	Three months							Nine months
	ended September 30,							ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014			Additional information
Loan interest	$	187,701			187,862			535,480			520,224			Year over year increase was due to an increase in the average student loan portfolio balance and gross fixed rate floor income, partially offset by an increase in consolidation rebate fees.
Investment interest	1,456				1,562			5,548			5,023			Includes income from unrestricted interest-earning deposits and investments and funds in asset-backed securitizations.
Total interest income	189,157				189,424			541,028			525,247
Interest expense	77,164				71,937			221,344			201,176			Year over year increase due to an increase in average debt outstanding and an increase in the Company's cost of funds. Quarter over quarter increase is due to an increase in the cost of funds.
Net interest income	111,993				117,487			319,684			324,071			See table below for additional analysis.
Less provision for loan losses	3,000				2,000			7,150			6,000			Represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance appropriate to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio of student loans. See AGM operating segment - results of operations.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	108,993				115,487			312,534			318,071
Other income:
LGS revenue	61,520				52,659			183,164			183,876			See LGS operating segment - results of operations.
TPP&CC revenue	30,439				26,399			92,805			73,468			See TPP&CC operating segment - results of operations.
NES revenue	19,500				22,936			54,524			65,092			See table below for additional analysis.
Other income	6,523				7,650			20,945			41,096			See table below for the components of "other income."
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	597				—			4,987			57			Gains are primarily from the Company repurchasing its own debt.
Derivative settlements, net	(5,878		)		(4,834	)		(16,535	)		(17,277	)		The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility. Derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company's net interest income. See table below for additional analysis.
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	(24,780		)		29,037			(10,699	)		38,785			Includes (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.
Total other income	87,921				133,847			329,191			385,097
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	63,215				61,098			183,052			167,470			Increase was due to additional personnel to support increased LGS servicing volume and TPP&CC revenue.
Cost to provide enrollment services	12,534				14,178			35,398			41,964			See table below for additional analysis.
Loan servicing fees	7,793				7,077			22,829			19,798			Increase was due to an increase in third party loan servicing fees incurred by AGM as volume at third parties has grown with recent loan purchases.
Depreciation and amortization	6,977				5,493			19,140			15,490			Increase was due to additional depreciation expense as a result of investment in technology infrastructure and additional expense from the amortization of intangible assets. Intangible amortization expense was $2.4 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $7.2 million and $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Other	30,419				29,599			91,575			92,882			The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due primarily to additional expense to support the increase in FFELP guaranty collection revenue during the quarter. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to a year-to-date decrease in collection costs directly related to the decrease in FFELP guaranty collection revenue, partially offset by an increase in other costs to support increased LGS servicing volume and TPP&CC revenue.
Total operating expenses	120,938				117,445			351,994			337,604
Income before income taxes	75,976				131,889			289,731			365,564
Income tax expense	26,999				46,513			104,985			130,202			The effective tax rate was 35.55% and 35.30% in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 36.25% and 35.75% in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Net income	48,977				85,376			184,746			235,362
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	22				157			117			1,363
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,955			85,219			184,629			233,999
Additional information:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	48,955			85,219			184,629			233,999			The Company provides non-GAAP information that reflects specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its operating results. The Company believes the point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to its derivatives and Euro-denominated bonds that are subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. These items are excluded here for comparability purposes.
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments	24,780				(29,037	)		10,699			(38,785	)
Tax effect	(9,416		)		11,034			(4,065	)		14,738
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc., excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments	$	64,319			67,216			191,263			209,952

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The following table summarizes the components of "net interest income" and "derivative settlements, net."

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014			Additional information
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives	$	58,250			63,390			163,404			176,413			Represents the yield the Company receives on its student loan portfolio less the cost of funding these loans. Variable student loan spread is also impacted by the amortization/accretion of loan premiums and discounts, the 1.05% per year consolidation loan rebate fee paid to the Department, and yield adjustments from borrower benefit programs. See AGM operating segment - results of operations.
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives	48,229				49,206			139,542			130,657			The Company has a portfolio of student loans that are earning interest at a fixed borrower rate which exceeds the statutorily defined variable lender rates, generating fixed rate floor income. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk" for additional information.
Investment interest	1,456				1,562			5,548			5,023
Non-portfolio related derivative settlements	(257		)		(259	)		(762	)		(767	)
Corporate debt interest expense	(1,563		)		(1,246	)		(4,583	)		(4,532	)		Includes interest expense on the Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities and unsecured and secured lines of credit.
Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)	$	106,115			112,653			303,149			306,794

The following table summarizes the components of "Enrollment services revenue" and "cost to provide enrollment services."

	Inquiry management (marketing) (a)				Inquiry management (software)			Inquiry generation (b)			Digital marketing			Content solutions (c)			Total
	Three months ended September 30, 2015
Enrollment services revenue	$	12,884			903			—			1,087			4,626			19,500
Cost to provide enrollment services	11,350				—			—			85			1,099			12,534
Gross profit	$	1,534			903			—			1,002			3,527			6,966
Gross profit %	11.9%
	Three months ended September 30, 2014
Enrollment services revenue	$	13,934			821			1,023			1,071			6,087			22,936
Cost to provide enrollment services	12,391				—			755			63			969			14,178
Gross profit	$	1,543			821			268			1,008			5,118			8,758
Gross profit %	11.1%
	Nine months ended September 30, 2015
Enrollment services revenue	$	36,844			2,950			—			3,391			11,339			54,524
Cost to provide enrollment services	32,543				—			—			274			2,581			35,398
Gross profit	$	4,301			2,950			—			3,117			8,758			19,126
Gross profit %	11.7%
	Nine months ended September 30, 2014
Enrollment services revenue	$	39,978			2,835			6,382			3,047			12,850			65,092
Cost to provide enrollment services	35,320				—			4,186			198			2,260			41,964
Gross profit	$	4,658			2,835			2,196			2,849			10,590			23,128
Gross profit %	11.7%

(a)	Inquiry management (marketing) revenue decreased $1.1 million (7.5%) and $3.1 million (7.8%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014 as a result of a decrease in spending on marketing efforts by school clients.

(b)	Effective August 29, 2014, the Company stopped providing inquiry generation services.

(c)	Content solutions revenue decreased $1.5 million (24.0%) and $1.5 million (11.8%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014 due to the recognition of a $1.1 million gain on the sale of an investment during the third quarter of 2014.

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The following table summarizes the components of "other income."

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Borrower late fee income	$	3,605			3,676			11,357			10,920
Investment advisory fees (a)	677				1,842			2,167			14,106
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments, net	5				(267	)		2,374			9,024
Other	2,236				2,399			5,047			7,046
Other income	$	6,523			7,650			20,945			41,096

(a)

Under certain investment management agreements, WRCM earns annual fees of up to 25 basis points on the outstanding balance of investments and up to 50 percent of the gains from the sale of securities for which it provides advisory services. Due to improvements in the capital markets, the opportunities to earn performance fees on the sale of student loan asset-backed securities are becoming increasingly limited. As of September 30, 2015, WRCM was managing an investment portfolio of $983.8 million for third-party entities.

STUDENT LOAN AND GUARANTY SERVICING OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)

Company owned		$22,650			$21,237			$21,397			$21,192			$21,110			$20,511			$19,742			$19,369			$18,934			$18,593
% of total		29.8%			21.8%			15.5%			14.3%			14.1%			12.9%			12.2%			11.5%			11.1%			10.6%
Number of servicing borrowers:
Government servicing:		3,036,534			3,892,929			5,305,498			5,438,933			5,465,395			5,824,743			5,915,449			5,882,446			5,817,078			5,886,266
FFELP servicing:		1,799,484			1,626,146			1,462,122			1,426,435			1,390,541			1,404,619			1,397,295			1,358,551			1,353,785			1,339,307
Private servicing:		164,554			173,948			195,580			191,606			186,863			200,095			202,529			205,926			209,854			230,403
Total:		5,000,572			5,693,023			6,963,200			7,056,974			7,042,799			7,429,457			7,515,273			7,446,923			7,380,717			7,455,976
Number of remote hosted borrowers:		9,566,296			6,912,204			1,915,203			1,796,287			1,735,594			1,677,547			1,611,654			1,592,813			1,559,573			1,710,577

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Summary and Comparison of Operating Results

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,						Additional information
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Net interest income	$	14			5			34			25
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	61,900				52,659			183,544			183,876			See table below for additional analysis.
Intersegment servicing revenue	12,027				13,432			37,121			41,453			Represents revenue earned by the LGS operating segment as a result of servicing loans for the AGM operating segment. Decrease was due to portfolio run-off.
Total other income	73,927				66,091			220,665			225,329
Salaries and benefits	34,525				33,627			99,813			93,107			Increase due to additional personnel to support the increase in volume under the Department servicing contract, the increase in volume of loans entering repayment status, and the increase in private loan servicing volume.
Depreciation and amortization	484				441			1,457			1,298
Other expenses	14,602				12,643			44,578			45,269			Increase for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to additional expenses to support the increase in guaranty collection revenue and to support increased servicing volume. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to a decrease in guaranty collection costs directly related to the year over year decrease in guaranty collection revenue, partially offset by increases to support the increased servicing volume. See table below for additional information regarding changes in guaranty collection revenue.
Intersegment expenses, net	10,886				8,843			32,152			27,362			Intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses	60,497				55,554			178,000			167,036
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	13,444				10,542			42,699			58,318
Corporate overhead allocation	(2,351		)		(2,567	)		(6,798	)		(6,487	)
Income before income taxes	11,093				7,975			35,901			51,831
Income tax expense	(4,215		)		(3,030	)		(13,643	)		(19,695	)
Net income	6,878				4,945			22,258			32,136
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	5				—			5			—
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	6,883			4,945			22,263			32,136
Before tax operating margin	15.0		%		12.1	%		16.3	%		23.0	%		Operating margin decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 as a result of the implementation of previously announced federal budget reductions for guaranty agencies revenue. In addition, as the volume of loans serviced under the Department servicing contract continues to grow and loans serviced under the legacy commercial programs continue to run off, the Company expects operating margins to decrease accordingly. The Company also anticipates that margins will decrease as a result of the loss of the FFELP guaranty servicing and FFELP guaranty collection client as discussed below. The increase in margin for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 is due primarily to the increase in guaranty collection revenue during the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 as discussed below.

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The following table summarizes the components of "Loan and guaranty servicing revenue."

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,						Additional information
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Government servicing	$	33,229			31,196			99,269			92,071			Increase due to an increase in the number of borrowers serviced under the Department servicing contract.
FFELP servicing	3,572				3,301			10,600			9,833			Increase due to an increase in third-party servicing volume as a result of conversions to the Company's servicing platform during the first nine months of 2015. Over time, FFELP servicing revenue will decrease as third-party customers' FFELP portfolios run off.
Private servicing	3,323				2,708			9,105			7,754			Increase due to an increase in private loan servicing volume.
FFELP guaranty servicing	2,663				2,745			7,561			8,804			Decrease will continue as FFELP portfolios run off and guaranty volume decreases. See additional information regarding guaranty servicing and guaranty collection revenue in the paragraph following this table.
FFELP guaranty collection	13,006				7,109			39,751			45,429			The Company earns revenue from rehabilitating defaulted FFELP loans on behalf of guaranty agencies. Over time, this FFELP-related revenue source will decrease as FFELP portfolios continue to run off. Also, federal budget provisions that became effective July 1, 2014 have reduced payments by the Department to guaranty agencies for assisting student loan borrowers with the rehabilitation of defaulted loans under FFELP. Rehabilitation collection revenue was $9.4 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $28.2 million and $35.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to the Company having higher than normal sales with guaranty agencies during the second quarter of 2014 in advance of legislative price reductions, which resulted in lower than normal sales during the third quarter of 2014. This revenue was otherwise negatively impacted subsequent to July 1, 2014 as a result of the federal budget provisions described above. The Company anticipates this revenue will continue to be negatively impacted as a result of these federal budget provisions. See additional information regarding guaranty servicing and guaranty collection revenue in the paragraph following this table.
Software services	4,995				4,750			14,501			17,494			During the first quarter of 2014, the Company settled a billing dispute related to a prior period and recognized revenue of $2.2 million. The increase in revenue quarter over quarter was due to an increase in the number of borrowers from remote hosted customers; however, year over year revenue decreased due to a lower number of borrowers from remote hosted customers on average during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
Other	1,112				850			2,757			2,491
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	$	61,900			52,659			183,544			183,876

FFELP Guaranty Servicing and FFELP Guaranty Collection Revenue

A significant amount of the Company's guaranty servicing revenue came from a single guaranty servicing client. During the second quarter of 2015, the client notified the Company of their intent to not renew this contract upon its expiration. The contract with this client expired on October 31, 2015. FFELP guaranty servicing and FFELP guaranty collection revenue recognized by the Company from this client for the year ended December 31, 2014 and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $48.5 million and $32.8 million, respectively. The Company incurred collection costs that were directly related to guaranty collection revenue earned on this contract.

 

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

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

On June 3, 2014, the Company purchased RenWeb. The results of operations of RenWeb are reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. RenWeb's revenue included in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $15.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively.

Summary and Comparison of Operating Results

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,						Additional information
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Net interest income	$	—			2			3			5
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue	30,439				26,399			92,805			73,468			In addition to the acquisition of RenWeb referred to above, the remaining increase was due to an increase in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customer transaction and payments volume, and new school customers.
Salaries and benefits	13,983				13,288			40,887			34,427			Increase due primarily to the acquisition of RenWeb referred to above and investments in new products and services.
Depreciation and amortization	2,202				2,396			6,592			5,669			Increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 was due to the additional amortization of intangibles from the acquisition of RenWeb referred to above. Amortization of intangible assets was $6.5 million and $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Other expenses	3,579				3,312			11,493			8,915			Increase due primarily to the acquisition of RenWeb referred to above and investments in new products and services.
Intersegment expenses, net	2,872				1,481			8,271			4,305			Intersegment expenses represent costs for certain corporate activities that are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.
Total operating expenses	22,636				20,477			67,243			53,316
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	7,803				5,924			25,565			20,157
Corporate overhead allocation	(941		)		(856	)		(2,721	)		(2,163	)
Income before income taxes	6,862				5,068			22,844			17,994
Income tax expense	(2,606		)		(1,926	)		(8,680	)		(6,837	)
Net income	$	4,256			3,142			14,164			11,157
Before tax operating margin	22.5		%		19.2	%		24.6	%		24.5	%		Excluding the amortization of intangibles, before tax operating margin was 29.7% and 26.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 31.6% and 30.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in margin is primarily due to operating leverage.

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ASSET GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT OPERATING SEGMENT – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Student Loan Portfolio

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had a $29.0 billion student loan portfolio that will amortize over the next approximately 25 years. For a summary of the Company’s student loan portfolio as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

Loan Activity

The following table sets forth the activity of loans:

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Beginning balance	$	28,313,850			29,579,785			28,223,908			26,121,306
Loan acquisitions	1,771,841				367,816			3,835,983			5,555,714
Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other	(581,321		)		(730,654	)		(1,900,237	)		(2,104,724	)
Consolidation loans lost to external parties	(316,167		)		(287,723	)		(967,455	)		(643,066	)
Loans sold	—				(2	)		(3,996	)		(8	)
Ending balance	$	29,188,203			28,929,222			29,188,203			28,929,222

 

Allowance for Loan Losses and Loan Delinquencies

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

For a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and a summary of the Company's student loan delinquency amounts as of September 30, 2015, December 31, 2014, and September 30, 2014, see note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

The Company's provision for loan losses and charge-offs of federally insured loans has decreased during the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. The Company’s primary driver for loan growth has been acquiring student loan portfolios.  The Company records loans acquired net of any credit exposure through a credit discount, separate from the allowance for loan losses. This credit discount is non-accretable to interest income.   The Company continues to evaluate credit losses associated with purchased loans based on current information and changes in expectations to determine the need for any additional allowance for loan losses.   The recent purchases of large loan portfolios have resulted in an increase in the non-accretable discount balance, but no additional allowance for loan losses associated with these recent loan portfolios has been necessary.   In addition, as the Company’s overall federally insured student loan portfolio continues to season with the length of time that loans are in active repayment, credit performance continues to improve.

The Company's provision for loan losses for private education loans has increased during the first nine months of 2015 compared to 2014 due to the increase in the private education loan balance.

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Student Loan Spread Analysis

The following table analyzes the student loan spread on the Company’s portfolio of student loans, which represents the spread between the yield earned on student loan assets and the costs of the liabilities and derivative instruments used to fund the assets.

	Three months ended										Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015				June 30, 2015			September 30, 2014			September 30, 2015			September 30, 2014
Variable student loan yield, gross	2.59		%		2.57	%		2.58	%		2.56	%		2.55	%
Consolidation rebate fees	(0.82		)		(0.83	)		(0.83	)		(0.83	)		(0.82	)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization	0.06				0.04			0.05			0.05			0.05
Variable student loan yield, net	1.83				1.78			1.80			1.78			1.78
Student loan cost of funds - interest expense	(1.04		)		(1.01	)		(0.95	)		(1.01	)		(0.94	)
Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements	—				—			0.01			—			0.01
Variable student loan spread	0.79				0.77			0.86			0.77			0.85
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives	0.66				0.64			0.67			0.66			0.63
Core student loan spread	1.45		%		1.41	%		1.53	%		1.43	%		1.48	%
Average balance of student loans	$	29,109,130			28,297,312			29,328,743			28,565,287			27,802,474
Average balance of debt outstanding	29,067,202				28,331,870			29,485,652			28,621,681			27,860,552

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

(a)

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

Variable student loan spread decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the same periods in 2014 as a result of an increase in the Company's cost of funds.

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The primary difference between variable student loan spread and core student loan spread is fixed rate floor income.  A summary of fixed rate floor income and its contribution to core student loan spread follows:

	Three months ended										Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015				June 30, 2015			September 30, 2014			September 30, 2015			September 30, 2014
Fixed rate floor income, gross	$	53,685			50,088			54,627			155,032			150,002
Derivative settlements (a)	(5,456		)		(5,019	)		(5,421	)		(15,490	)		(19,345	)
Fixed rate floor income, net	$	48,229			45,069			49,206			139,542			130,657
Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net	0.66		%		0.64	%		0.67	%		0.66	%		0.63	%

 

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

The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned during 2015 and 2014 are due to historically low interest rates.  If interest rates remain low, the Company anticipates continuing to earn significant fixed rate floor income in future periods.  See Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” which provides additional detail on the Company’s portfolio earning fixed rate floor income and the derivatives used by the Company to hedge these loans.

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Summary and Comparison of Operating Results

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,						Additional information
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	$	109,157			114,912			311,728			316,065			See table below for additional analysis.
Other income	3,312				4,294			11,838			12,954			The primary component of other income is borrower late fees, which were $3.6 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $11.4 million and $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	608				—			2,000			57			Gains were primarily from the Company repurchasing its own asset-backed debt securities.
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	(24,357		)		29,430			(11,363	)		41,755			Includes (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.
Derivative settlements, net	(5,623		)		(4,575	)		(15,775	)		(16,510	)		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.
Total other income	(26,060		)		29,149			(13,300	)		38,256
Salaries and benefits	558				565			1,623			1,744
Loan servicing fees	7,793				7,077			22,829			19,798			Third party servicing fees have increased due to recent purchases of a significant amount of loans serviced at third parties.
Other expenses	1,421				1,559			3,828			4,829
Intersegment expenses, net	12,578				13,611			38,016			41,950			Amounts include fees paid to the LGS operating segment for the servicing of the Company’s student loan portfolio. Decrease due to run off of the portfolio serviced by LGS.
Total operating expenses	22,350				22,812			66,296			68,321
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	60,747				121,249			232,132			286,000
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,176		)		(1,026	)		(3,401	)		(3,604	)
Income before income taxes	59,571				120,223			228,731			282,396
Income tax expense	(22,639		)		(45,684	)		(86,919	)		(107,309	)
Net income	$	36,932			74,539			141,812			175,087
Additional information:
Net income	$	36,932			74,539			141,812			175,087			The Company provides non-GAAP information that reflects specific items management believes to be important in the evaluation of its operating results. The Company believes the point-in-time estimates of asset and liability values related to its derivatives and Euro-denominated bonds that are subject to interest and currency rate fluctuations affect the period-to-period comparability of the results of operations. These items are excluded here for comparability purposes.
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	24,357				(29,430	)		11,363			(41,755	)
Tax effect	(9,256		)		11,183			(4,318	)		15,867
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments	$	52,033			56,292			148,857			149,199

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The following table summarizes the components of "net interest income after provision for loan losses" and "derivative settlements, net."

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,						Additional information
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Variable interest income, net of settlements on derivatives	$	189,652			191,717			546,998			532,260			Quarter over quarter decrease was due to a slight decrease in the average student loan portfolio. Year over year increase due primarily to an increase in the average student loan portfolio.
Consolidation rebate fees	(60,044		)		(61,293	)		(177,342	)		(170,487	)		Quarter over quarter decrease due to a decrease in the average consolidation loan portfolio for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Run-off of the consolidation loan portfolio was partially offset by a significant consolidation loan purchase in August 2015. Year over year increase due to an increase in the average consolidation loan balance as a result of significant consolidation loan purchases in April 2014 and August 2015.
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization	4,243				3,657			10,509			11,284			Quarter over quarter increase due to a significant loan purchase at a discount during August 2015. Year over year decrease due to the Company's recent purchases of loans at a net premium.
Interest on bonds and notes payable	(75,601		)		(70,691	)		(216,761	)		(196,644	)		Quarter over quarter increase due primarily to an increase in the Company's cost of funds for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, partially offset by a decrease in the average debt outstanding. Year over year increase due to an increase in cost of funds and an increase in the average debt outstanding.
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives	58,250				63,390			163,404			176,413
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives	48,229				49,206			139,542			130,657			The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned are due to historically low interest rates. Fixed rate floor income decreased quarter over quarter due to run-off of loans earning fixed rate floor income, partially offset by the Company's loan purchase in August 2015 which contained loans earning fixed rate floor income. Fixed rate floor income has increased year over year due to purchases of loans earning fixed rate floor income and a decrease in settlements related to derivative instruments used to hedge student loans earning fixed rate floor income.
Investment interest	494				87			1,417			290
Intercompany interest	(439		)		(346	)		(1,260	)		(1,805	)
Provision for loan losses - federally insured	(2,000		)		(2,000	)		(6,000	)		(7,000	)		See "Allowance for Loan Losses and Loan Delinquencies" included previously under "Asset Generation and Management Operating Segment - Results of Operations."
(Provision for) recovery of loan losses - private education loans	(1,000		)		—			(1,150	)		1,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses (net of settlements on derivatives)	$	103,534			110,337			295,953			299,555

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s fee generating businesses are non-capital intensive and all produce positive operating cash flows. As such, a minimal amount of debt and equity capital is allocated to the fee-based segments and any liquidity or capital needs are satisfied using cash flow from operations. 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.

Sources of Liquidity

The Company has historically generated positive cash flow from operations.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company's net cash provided by operating activities was $307.4 million and $357.4 million, respectively.

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As of September 30, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $114.5 million. The Company also had a portfolio of available-for-sale and trading investments, consisting primarily of student loan asset-backed securities, with a fair value of $113.7 million as of September 30, 2015.

In addition, the Company has a $350.0 million unsecured line of credit that matures on October 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2015, $70.0 million was outstanding on the unsecured line of credit and $280.0 million was available for future use.

As part of the Company’s issuance of asset-backed securitizations, the Company has purchased certain of the subordinated note tranches. In addition, the Company has repurchased certain of its own asset-backed securities (bonds and notes payable) in the secondary market.  For accounting purposes, these notes are effectively retired and are not included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  However, these securities are legally outstanding at the trust level and the Company could sell these notes to third parties or redeem the notes at par as cash is generated by the trust estate.  Upon a sale of these notes to third parties, the Company would obtain cash proceeds equal to the market value of the notes on the date of such sale. As of September 30, 2015, the Company holds $89.4 million (par value) of its own asset-backed securities that are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

The Company intends to use its liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP and private education loan acquisitions; strategic acquisitions and investments; and capital management initiatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions. Dependent upon the timing and size of the opportunities, the Company's cash and investment balances may increase from their current levels.

Cash Flows

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company generated $307.4 million from operating activities, compared to $263.1 million for the same period in 2014. The increase in cash provided by operating activities reflects changes in the adjustments to net income for non-cash depreciation and amortization, non-cash fair value adjustments for derivatives, proceeds from terminating certain derivative instrument contracts, and an increase in other liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. These factors were partially offset by the decrease in net income, deferred income taxes, and an increase in accounts receivable. Accrued interest on loans purchased is included in cash flows from operating activities in the respective period of the purchase.  Net purchased accrued interest was $70.6 million and $48.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The primary items included in the statement of cash flows for investing activities are the purchase and repayment of student loans. The primary items included in financing activities are the proceeds from the issuance of and payments on bonds and notes payable used to fund student loans. Cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.8 billion and cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.6 billion. Cash used in financing activities was $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0.3 billion. Investing and financing activities are further addressed in the discussion that follows.

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

The following table shows the Company's debt obligations outstanding that are secured by student loan assets and related collateral.

 

	As of September 30, 2015
	Carrying amount				Final maturity
Bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations	$	27,508,150			8/26/19 - 8/26/52
FFELP warehouse facilities	1,391,877				12/17/17 - 7/9/18
Private education loan warehouse facility	170,081				12/26/16
Other borrowings	75,000				10/31/16
	$	29,145,108

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Bonds and Notes Issued in Asset-backed Securitizations

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

As of September 30, 2015, based on cash flow models developed to reflect management’s current estimate of, among other factors, prepayments, defaults, deferment, forbearance, and interest rates, the Company currently expects future undiscounted cash flows from its portfolio to be approximately $2.46 billion as detailed below.  The $2.46 billion includes approximately $720.5 million (as of September 30, 2015) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations.  These excess net asset positions are reflected variously in the following balances in the consolidated balance sheet:  "student loans receivable," "restricted cash and investments," and "accrued interest receivable."

The forecasted cash flow presented below includes all loans funded in asset-backed securitizations as of September 30, 2015.  As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $27.5 billion of loans included in asset-backed securitizations, which represented 95.0 percent of its total FFELP student loan portfolio. The forecasted cash flow does not include cash flows that the Company expects to receive related to loans funded in its warehouse facilities as of September 30, 2015 or loans acquired subsequent to September 30, 2015.

FFELP Asset-backed Securitization Cash Flow Forecast

$2.46 billion

(dollars below in millions)

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

Prepayments:  The primary variable in establishing a life of loan estimate is the level and timing of prepayments. Prepayment rates equal the amount of loans that prepay annually as a percentage of the beginning of period balance, net of scheduled principal payments.  A number of factors can affect estimated prepayment rates, including the level of consolidation activity and default rates.  Should any of these factors change, management may revise its assumptions, which in turn would impact the projected future cash flow. The Company’s cash flow forecast above assumes prepayment rates that are generally consistent with those utilized in the Company’s recent asset-backed securitization transactions. If management used a prepayment rate assumption two times greater than what was used to forecast the cash flow, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $260 million to $320 million.

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Interest rates:  The Company funds a large portion of its student loans with three-month LIBOR indexed floating rate securities.  Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets is indexed primarily to a one-month LIBOR rate.  The different interest rate characteristics of the Company’s loan assets and liabilities funding these assets result in basis risk.  The Company’s cash flow forecast assumes three-month LIBOR will exceed one-month LIBOR by 12 basis points for the life of the portfolio, which approximates the historical relationship between these indices.  If the forecast is computed assuming a spread of 24 basis points between three-month and one-month LIBOR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $120 million to $160 million.

The Company uses the current forward interest rate yield curve to forecast cash flows.  A change in the forward interest rate curve would impact the future cash flows generated from the portfolio.  An increase in future interest rates will reduce the amount of fixed rate floor income the Company is currently receiving.  The Company attempts to mitigate the impact of a rise in short-term rates by hedging interest rate risks. As of September 30, 2015, the net fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income was a net liability of $16.1 million. See Item 3, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Interest Rate Risk."

FFELP Warehouse Facilities

The Company funds a portion of its FFELP loan acquisitions using its FFELP warehouse facilities. Student loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage student loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities with an aggregate maximum financing amount available of $2.1 billion, of which $1.4 billion was outstanding, and $0.7 billion was available for future use. Of the three facilities, one facility provides for formula-based advance rates, depending on FFELP loan type, up to a maximum of the principal and interest of loans financed. The advance rate for collateral may increase or decrease based on market conditions. The other two FFELP warehouse facilities have static advance rates that require initial equity for loan funding, but do not require increased equity based on market movements. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $73.1 million advanced as equity support on its FFELP warehouse facilities. For further discussion of the Company's FFELP warehouse facilities outstanding at September 30, 2015, see note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

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

Private Education Loan Warehouse Facility

On June 26, 2015, the Company entered into a $275.0 million private education loan warehouse facility. As of September 30, 2015, there was $170.1 million outstanding on the facility and $104.9 million was available for future use. The facility has a static advance rate that requires initial equity for loan funding, but does not require increased equity based on market movements. The maximum advance rate on the entire facility is 88 percent and minimum advance rates, depending on loan characteristics and program type, range from 64 percent to 99 percent. As of September 30, 2015, $23.7 million was advanced on the facility as equity support. The facility is supported by liquidity provisions, which have a defined expiration date of June 24, 2016. In the event the Company is unable to renew the liquidity provisions by such date, the facility would become a term facility at a stepped-up cost, with no additional student loans being eligible for financing, and the Company would be required to refinance the existing loans in the facility by the facility's final maturity date of December 26, 2016.

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

Other Borrowings

The Company has a $75.0 million line of credit, which is collateralized by asset-backed security investments, that expires October 31, 2016. The line of credit has covenants and cross default provisions similar to those under the Company's unsecured line of credit. As of September 30, 2015, $75.0 million was outstanding on this line of credit. Upon termination or expiration of this line of credit, the Company would obtain a replacement facility, use operating cash, consider the sale of assets, or transfer collateral to satisfy any remaining obligations.

Other Uses of Liquidity

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

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

In addition, the Company has entered into certain agreements in which it is committed to purchase private education loans.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with CommonBond, Inc. ("CommonBond"), a student lending company that provides private education loans to graduate students, under which the Company committed to purchase private education loans for a period of 18 months, with the total purchase obligation limited to $150.0 million. On August 17, 2015, the Company amended the agreement with CommonBond to increase the maximum purchase obligation to $200.0 million. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had purchased $127.8 million in private education loans from CommonBond pursuant to this agreement.

On December 22, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with Union Bank, in which the Company provides marketing, origination, and loan servicing services to Union Bank related to private education loans. The Company is committed to purchase, or arrange for a designee to purchase, all volume originated by Union Bank under this agreement. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company purchased $0.4 million (par value) of private education loans from Union Bank, pursuant to this agreement. As of September 30, 2015, the balance of private education loans held by Union Bank pursuant to this agreement was $8.5 million.

The Company has used operating cash, its unsecured line of credit, and its private education loan warehouse facility to initially fund its private education loan purchases from CommonBond and Union Bank.  The private education loan warehouse facility is intended to act as bridge financing to a term asset-backed securitization. The Company will continue to use operating cash, its unsecured line of credit, and/or its private education loan warehouse facility to fund additional private education loan purchases. If the Company is not successful in maintaining existing or establishing new financing facilities for private education loans, the Company's liquidity could be adversely affected and the Company's opportunities to purchase additional such loans could be limited.

Union Bank Participation Agreement

The Company maintains an agreement with Union Bank, as trustee for various grantor trusts, under which Union Bank has agreed to purchase from the Company participation interests in federally insured student loans. As of September 30, 2015, $549.1 million of federally insured 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 federally insured student loans, while providing liquidity to the Company.  The Company can participate federally insured student loans to Union Bank to the extent of availability under the grantor trusts, up to $750 million or an amount in excess of $750 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 in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Asset-backed Securitization Transactions

During the first nine months of 2015, the Company, through its subsidiaries, completed three asset-backed FFELP securitizations for $1.7 billion.  After those securitizations were completed, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service announced that they have placed numerous tranches of FFELP securitizations by various issuers, including certain tranches of prior FFELP securitizations issued by subsidiaries of the Company, on review for potential downgrade due to principal payments and prepayments on the underlying student loans coming in slower than initial expectations, and the resulting risk that certain principal maturities on those FFELP securitizations may not be met by the final maturity dates, which could result in an event of default under the underlying securitization agreements.  Such rating actions have caused the spreads on FFELP securitizations to widen and have reduced the liquidity in the secondary market for such FFELP securitizations.  The rating agencies may also modify their assumptions and methodologies used for rating future student loan securitizations.   Depending on future rating agency actions and market conditions, the Company anticipates continuing to access the asset-backed securitization market for both FFELP and private education loans.  Such asset-backed securitization transactions would be used to refinance student loans included in its warehouse facilities, student loans purchased from third parties, and/or student loans in its existing asset-backed securitizations.

 

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Liquidity Impact Related to Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage interest rate sensitivity. By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to market risk which could impact its liquidity. Based on the derivative portfolio outstanding as of September 30, 2015, the Company does not currently anticipate any movement in interest rates having a material impact on its capital or liquidity profile, nor does the Company expect that any movement in interest rates would have a material impact on its ability to meet potential collateral deposits with its counterparties. However, if interest rates move materially and negatively impact the fair value of the Company's derivative portfolio or if the Company enters into additional derivatives for which the fair value becomes negative, the Company could be required to deposit additional collateral with its derivative instrument counterparties and/or a third-party clearinghouse. The collateral deposits, if significant, could negatively impact the Company's liquidity and capital resources. As of September 30, 2015, the fair value of the Company's derivatives which were subject to collateral exposure with counterparties and/or a clearinghouse and had a negative fair value (a liability in the Company's balance sheet), was $24.4 million. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $37.3 million of collateral deposited with counterparties or a clearinghouse related to this derivative portfolio.

Other Debt Facilities

The Company has issued Hybrid Securities that have a final maturity of September 15, 2061. The Hybrid Securities are unsecured obligations of the Company. As of September 30, 2015, $57.6 million of Hybrid Securities were outstanding.

As previously discussed, the Company has a $350.0 million unsecured line of credit. On October 30, 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement for its line of credit.   Under the amended terms, the maturity date of the credit agreement was extended from June 30, 2019 to October 30, 2020.  In addition, the following revisions were made to certain covenants:

•	A provision was added to permit acquisitions of businesses, for consideration of up to $75.0 million per fiscal year, that are not in one of the Company’s existing lines of business.

•	The cap for other non-specified permitted investments increased to 20 percent of the Company’s consolidated net worth, with the cap excluding all existing investments at the time of the amendment.

•	The current cap related to the volume of private education loans that the Company may hold was reduced from $900.0 million to a revised level of $500.0 million.   All private education loans that are held within securitization vehicles are excluded from the $500.0 million threshold.

•	The minimum consolidated net worth threshold changed beginning as of September 30, 2015 to be not less than the sum of (i) $1.35 billion; plus, in each case for periods after September 30, 2015, (ii) 50 percent of consolidated net income;  plus (iii) 100 percent of the increase to consolidated net worth from the issuance of capital stock.

The facility size of $350.0 million and cost of funds did not change as part of the amendment. 

As of September 30, 2015, the unsecured line of credit had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million and $280.0 million was available for future use.

Debt Repurchases

Due to the Company's positive liquidity position and opportunities in the capital markets, the Company has repurchased its own debt over the last several years, and may continue to do so in the future. See note 3 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report for information on debt repurchased by the Company during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

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 24, 2018. Under the program, shares may be repurchased from time to time depending on various factors, including share prices and other potential uses of liquidity. Shares repurchased by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 are shown below. For additional information on stock repurchases during the third quarter of 2015, see "Stock Repurchases" under Part II, Item 2 of this report.

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	Total shares repurchased			Purchase price (in thousands)				Average price of shares repurchased (per share)
Quarter ended March 31, 2015	175,798			$	7,939			45.16
Quarter ended June 30, 2015	998,210			43,089				43.17
Quarter ended September 30, 2015	356,584			15,615				43.79
Total	1,530,592			$	66,643			43.54

As of September 30, 2015, 4,150,186 shares remain authorized for repurchase under this stock repurchase program.

Dividends

On September 15, 2015, the Company paid a third quarter 2015 cash dividend on the Company's Class A and Class B common stock of $0.10 per share. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors has declared a fourth quarter 2015 cash dividend on the Company's outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock of $0.12 per share. The fourth quarter cash dividend will be paid on December 15, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2015.

The Company currently plans to continue making regular quarterly dividend payments, subject to future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other factors.  In addition, the payment of dividends is subject to the terms of the Company’s outstanding Hybrid Securities, which generally provide that if the Company defers interest payments on those securities it cannot pay dividends on its capital stock.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

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

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance once it becomes effective on January 1, 2018. Early application is permitted beginning January 1, 2017, and the standard allows the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the impact this standard will have on its ongoing financial reporting, and has not yet selected a method of transition.

In February 2015, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding consolidation analysis, which amends current guidance and changes the way reporting entities evaluate whether (i) the entity should consolidate limited partnerships and similar entities, (ii) fees paid to a decision maker or service provider are variable interests in a variable interest entity ("VIE"), and (iii) variable interests in a VIE held by related parties of the reporting entity require the reporting entity to consolidate the VIE. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016; however, early adoption is permitted. This pronouncement will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In April 2015, the FASB issued accounting guidance regarding the presentation of debt issuance costs, which are currently recognized as a separate asset on the Company's balance sheet. The new guidance requires that entities present debt issuance costs related to a debt liability as a direct deduction from that liability on the balance sheet. This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016. Early adoption of the new standard is permitted for financial statements that have not yet been issued, and adoption should be applied retrospectively. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $69.6 million of debt issuance costs that is included in "other assets" on the consolidated balance sheet. This pronouncement will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

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ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

(All dollars are in thousands, except share amounts, unless otherwise noted)

Interest Rate Risk

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

The following table sets forth the Company’s loan assets and debt instruments by interest rate characteristics:

	As of September 30, 2015							As of December 31, 2014
	Dollars				Percent			Dollars				Percent
Fixed-rate loan assets	$	13,229,576			45.3	%		$	12,700,494			45.0	%
Variable-rate loan assets	15,958,627				54.7			15,523,414				55.0
Total	$	29,188,203			100.0	%		$	28,223,908			100.0	%
Fixed-rate debt instruments	$	—			—	%		$	—			—	%
Variable-rate debt instruments	29,272,690				100.0			28,420,422				100.0
Total	$	29,272,690			100.0	%		$	28,420,422			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 Payments ("SAP") formula set by the Department. The SAP rate is based on an applicable index plus a fixed spread that depends on loan type, origination date, and repayment status. The Company generally finances its student loan portfolio with variable rate debt. In low and/or certain declining interest rate environments, when the fixed borrower rate is higher than the SAP rate, these student loans earn at a fixed rate while the interest on the variable rate debt typically continues to reflect the low and/or declining interest rates. In these interest rate environments, the Company may earn additional spread income that it refers to as floor income.

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

No variable-rate floor income was earned by the Company during 2014 and 2015. A summary of fixed rate floor income earned by the Company follows.

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
	2015				2014			2015			2014
Fixed rate floor income, gross	$	53,685			54,627			155,032			150,002
Derivative settlements (a)	(5,456		)		(5,421	)		(15,490	)		(19,345	)
Fixed rate floor income, net	$	48,229			49,206			139,542			130,657

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

The high levels of fixed rate floor income earned during 2015 and 2014 are due to historically low interest rates.  If interest rates remain low, the Company anticipates continuing to earn significant fixed rate floor income in future periods.

Absent the use of derivative instruments, a rise in interest rates may reduce the amount of floor income received and this may have an impact on earnings due to interest margin compression caused by increasing financing costs, until such time as the federally insured loans earn interest at a variable rate in accordance with their 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.

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

The following table shows the Company’s federally insured student loan assets that were earning fixed rate floor income as of September 30, 2015.

		Borrower/		Estimated
Fixed		lender		variable
interest		weighted		conversion		Loan
rate range		average yield		rate (a)		balance
< 3.0%		2.88%		0.24%		$	1,731,271
3.0 - 3.49%		3.20%		0.56%		2,380,015
3.5 - 3.99%		3.65%		1.01%		2,379,962
4.0 - 4.49%		4.20%		1.56%		1,791,547
4.5 - 4.99%		4.72%		2.08%		1,088,807
5.0 - 5.49%		5.22%		2.58%		679,179
5.5 - 5.99%		5.67%		3.03%		475,295
6.0 - 6.49%		6.19%		3.55%		552,044
6.5 - 6.99%		6.70%		4.06%		543,383
7.0 - 7.49%		7.17%		4.53%		188,862
7.5 - 7.99%		7.71%		5.07%		320,001
8.0 - 8.99%		8.18%		5.54%		745,756
> 9.0%		9.04%		6.40%		256,357
						$	13,132,479

(a)	The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate. As of September 30, 2015, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 1.89% and the short-term interest rate was 20 basis points.

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of September 30, 2015 used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.

Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2016		$	1,000,000			0.76	%
2017		2,100,000				0.84
2018		1,350,000				1.11
2025		100,000				2.32
		$	4,550,000			0.93	%

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

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The Company is also exposed to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk because the interest rate characteristics of the Company’s assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets. The following table presents the Company’s FFELP student loan assets and related funding for those assets arranged by underlying indices as of September 30, 2015:

Index		Frequency of variable resets		Assets				Debt outstanding that funded student loan assets
1 month LIBOR (a)		Daily		$	26,648,016			—
3 month H15 financial commercial paper		Daily		1,460,640				—
3 month Treasury bill		Daily		846,723				—
3 month LIBOR (a) (b)		Quarterly		—				16,612,131
1 month LIBOR		Monthly		—				10,130,135
Auction-rate (c)		Varies		—				1,161,515
Asset-backed commercial paper (d)		Varies		—				996,246
Other (e)				19,648				75,000
				$	28,975,027			28,975,027

(a)

The Company has certain basis swaps outstanding in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps"). The Company entered into these derivative instruments to better match the interest rate characteristics on its student loan assets and the debt funding such assets. The following table summarizes these derivatives as of September 30, 2015:

 

Maturity			Notional amount
2016			$	5,500,000
2022			450,000
2023			1,050,000
2026			200,000
			$	7,200,000		(1)

(1)	The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of September 30, 2015 was one-month LIBOR plus 9.0 basis points.

(b)	The Company has Euro-denominated notes that reprice on the EURIBOR index. The Company has entered into a derivative instrument (cross-currency interest rate swap) that converts the EURIBOR index to three-month LIBOR. As a result, these notes are reflected in the three-month LIBOR category in the above table. See “Foreign Currency Exchange Risk.”

(c)

The interest rates on certain of the Company's asset-backed securities are set and periodically reset via a "dutch auction" (“Auction Rate Securities”). As of September 30, 2015, the Company was sponsor for $1.2 billion of Auction Rate Securities. Since February 2008, problems in the auction rate securities market as a whole have led to failures of the auctions pursuant to which the Company's Auction Rate Securities' interest rates are set. As a result, the Auction Rate Securities generally pay interest to the holder at a maximum rate as defined by the indenture. While these rates will vary, they will generally be based on a spread to LIBOR or Treasury Securities, or the Net Loan Rate as defined in the financing documents.

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

(e)	Assets include restricted cash and investments and other assets.  Debt outstanding includes other debt obligations secured by student loan assets and related collateral.

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Sensitivity Analysis

The following tables summarize the effect on the Company’s earnings, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by the Company assuming hypothetical increases in interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points while funding spreads remain constant. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the funding index increases 10 basis points and 30 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index. The sensitivity analysis was performed on the Company’s variable rate assets (including loans earning fixed rate floor income) and liabilities. The analysis includes the effects of the Company’s interest rate and basis swaps in existence during these periods.

	Interest rates														Asset and funding index mismatches
	Change from increase of 100 basis points							Change from increase of 300 basis points							Increase of 10 basis points							Increase of 30 basis points
	Dollars				Percent			Dollars				Percent			Dollars				Percent			Dollars				Percent
	Three months ended September 30, 2015
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements	$	(22,118	)		(23.0	)%		$	(41,518	)		(43.3	)%		$	(4,393	)		(4.5	)%		$	(13,180	)		(13.7	)%
Impact of derivative settlements	9,299				9.6			27,896				29.1			1,564				1.6			4,692				4.9
Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes	$	(12,819	)		(13.4	)%		$	(13,622	)		(14.2	)%		$	(2,829	)		(2.9	)%		$	(8,488	)		(8.8	)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(0.18	)					$	(0.19	)					$	(0.04	)					$	(0.12	)
	Three months ended September 30, 2014
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements	$	(22,349	)		(16.9	)%		$	(40,712	)		(30.9	)%		$	(4,448	)		(3.4	)%		$	(13,345	)		(10.1	)%
Impact of derivative settlements	8,669				6.5			26,009				19.8			1,928				1.5			5,785				4.4
Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes	$	(13,680	)		(10.4	)%		$	(14,703	)		(11.1	)%		$	(2,520	)		(1.9	)%		$	(7,560	)		(5.7	)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(0.18	)					$	(0.20	)					$	(0.03	)					$	(0.10	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2015
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements	$	(61,850	)		(21.3	)%		$	(111,123	)		(38.4	)%		$	(12,706	)		(4.4	)%		$	(38,118	)		(13.2	)%
Impact of derivative settlements	25,846				8.9			77,536				26.8			4,345				1.5			13,035				4.5
Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes	$	(36,004	)		(12.4	)%		$	(33,587	)		(11.6	)%		$	(8,361	)		(2.9	)%		$	(25,083	)		(8.7	)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(0.49	)					$	(0.45	)					$	(0.12	)					$	(0.35	)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2014
Effect on earnings:
Decrease in pre-tax net income before impact of derivative settlements	$	(59,536	)		(16.3	)%		$	(104,486	)		(28.6	)%		$	(12,904	)		(3.5	)%		$	(38,714	)		(10.6	)%
Impact of derivative settlements	32,453				8.9			97,360				26.7			5,721				1.5			17,166				4.7
Increase (decrease) in net income before taxes	$	(27,083	)		(7.4	)%		$	(7,126	)		(1.9	)%		$	(7,183	)		(2.0	)%		$	(21,548	)		(5.9	)%
Increase (decrease) in basic and diluted earnings per share	$	(0.36	)					$	(0.10	)					$	(0.09	)					$	(0.29	)

 

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Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

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

Financial Statement Impact – Derivatives and Foreign Currency Transaction Adjustments

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

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

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

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

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

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As previously reported in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, the legal proceeding captioned Grant Keating v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC et al was dismissed during the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

Except as disclosed in Part II, Item 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, 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, 2014 in response to Item 1A of Part I of such Form 10-K.

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

Stock Repurchases

The following table summarizes the repurchases of Class A common stock during the third quarter of 2015 by the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” of the Company, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain share repurchases included in the table below were made pursuant to a trading plan adopted by the Company in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Period		Total number of shares purchased (a)			Average price paid per share				Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs (b)			Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (b)
July 1 - July 31, 2015		354,574			$	43.83			354,164			4,150,186
August 1 - August 31, 2015		—			—				—			4,150,186
September 1 - September 30, 2015		2,010			36.59				—			4,150,186
Total		356,584			$	43.79			354,164

(a)

The total number of shares includes: (i) shares repurchased pursuant to the stock repurchase program discussed in footnote (b) below; and (ii) shares owned and tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted shares. Shares of Class A common stock tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations included 410 shares, 0 shares, and 2,010 shares in July, August, and September 2015, respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, shares owned and tendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations were purchased at the closing price of the Company’s shares on the date of vesting.

(b)	On May 7, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had 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 24, 2018.

Working capital and dividend restrictions/limitations

The Company’s credit facilities, including its revolving line of credit which is available through October 30, 2020, impose restrictions with respect to the Company’s minimum consolidated net worth, the ratio of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to corporate debt interest, the amount of recourse indebtedness, and the amount of private education loans held by the Company. In addition, trust indentures and other financing agreements governing debt issued by the Company's education lending subsidiaries may have general limitations on the amounts of funds that can be transferred to the Company by its subsidiaries through cash dividends.

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

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

•

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

The Company has elected to include the following information with respect to an event that occurred on October 30, 2015 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in lieu of reporting it in a separately filed Current Report on Form 8-K. This information would otherwise have been reported in a Form 8-K under the headings “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.” and “Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.”

On October 30, 2015, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) with respect to the previously reported Credit Agreement dated as of February 17, 2012, as previously amended, for the Company’s $350.0 million unsecured line of credit with U.S. Bank National Association, as agent for the lenders, and the lender parties thereto. The original Credit Agreement and certain amendments thereto were previously reported under Items 1.01 and 2.03 of Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company on February 24, 2012, April 2, 2013, and July 7, 2014.

Under the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, the maturity date of the credit agreement was extended from June 30, 2019 to October 30, 2020. In addition, the following revisions were made to certain covenants:

•	A provision was added to permit acquisitions of businesses, for consideration of up to $75.0 million per fiscal year, that are not in one of the Company’s existing lines of business.

•	The cap for other non-specified permitted investments increased to 20 percent of the Company’s consolidated net worth, with the cap excluding all existing investments at the time of the amendment.

•	The current cap related to the volume of private education loans that the Company may hold was reduced from $900.0 million to a revised level of $500.0 million.   All private education loans that are held within securitization vehicles are excluded from the $500.0 million threshold.

•	The minimum consolidated net worth threshold changed beginning as of September 30, 2015 to be not less than the sum of (i) $1.35 billion; plus, in each case for periods after September 30, 2015, (ii) 50 percent of consolidated net income;  plus (iii) 100 percent of the increase to consolidated net worth from the issuance of capital stock.

The facility size of $350.0 million and cost of funds did not change as part of the amendment.  

As of September 30, 2015, the unsecured line of credit had an outstanding balance of $70.0 million and $280.0 million was available for future use.

The description above is a summary of the amended terms for the line of credit under the Amended Credit Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of the Amended Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed with this report as Exhibit 10.1, and is incorporated by reference herein.

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ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

10.1*	Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 30, 2015, among Nelnet, Inc., U.S. Bank National Association, as Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Book Runner, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent, and Citibank, N.A. and Royal Bank of Canada, as Co-Documentation Agents, and various lender parties thereto.
10.2*	Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of October 30, 2015 by each of the subsidiaries of Nelnet, Inc. signatories thereto, in favor of U.S. Bank National Association, as Administrative Agent.
31.1*	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey R. Noordhoek.
31.2*	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Chief Financial Officer James D. Kruger.
32**	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS*	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*   Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

		NELNET, INC.
Date:	November 5, 2015	By:	/s/ JEFFREY R. NOORDHOEK
		Name:	Jeffrey R. Noordhoek
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer Principal Executive Officer

		By:	/s/ JAMES D. KRUGER
Date:	November 5, 2015	Name:	James D. Kruger
		Title:	Chief Financial Officer Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

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