UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013
or
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-13251
SLM Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
(302) 283-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 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. (Check one):
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 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 shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
Class
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
Common Stock, $0.20 par value
SLM CORPORATION
Table of Contents
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II. Other Information
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits
1
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Assets
FFELP Loans (net of allowance for losses of $130 and $159, respectively)
Private Education Loans (net of allowance for losses of $2,144 and $2,171 respectively)
Investments
Available-for-sale
Other
Total investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash and investments
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings
Long-term borrowings
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Series A: 3.3 million and 3.3 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $50 per share
Series B: 4 million and 4 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 544 million and 536 million shares issued, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(5) and $3, respectively)
Retained earnings
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 108 million and 83 million shares, respectively
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
Supplemental information — assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities:
FFELP Loans
Private Education Loans
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions, except per share amounts)
Interest income:
Other loans
Cash and investments
Total interest income
Total interest expense
Net interest income
Less: provisions for loan losses
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net
Servicing revenue
Contingency revenue
Gains on debt repurchases
Total other income (loss)
Expenses:
Salaries and benefits
Other operating expenses
Total operating expenses
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses
Total expenses
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
Income tax expense
Net income from continuing operations
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)
Net income
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation
Preferred stock dividends
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Total
Average common shares outstanding
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In millions)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives:
Unrealized hedging gains (losses) on derivatives
Reclassification adjustments for derivative losses included in net income (interest expense)
Total unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments
Income tax (expense) benefit
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Comprehensive income
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Total comprehensive income attributable to SLM Corporation
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts)
Balance at June 30, 2012
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total comprehensive income
Cash dividends:
Common stock ($.125 per share)
Preferred stock, series A ($.87 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($.57 per share)
Issuance of common shares
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans
Stock-based compensation expense
Common stock repurchased
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans
Balance at September 30, 2012
Balance at June 30, 2013
Common stock ($.15 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($.50 per share)
Balance at September 30, 2013
5
Balance at December 31, 2011
Common stock ($.375 per share)
Preferred stock, series A ($2.61 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($1.69 per share)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans
Balance at December 31, 2012
Common stock ($.45 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($1.51 per share)
6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in millions)
Operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative and hedging activities
Provisions for loan losses
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash — other
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable
Decrease in accrued interest payable
Decrease in other assets
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities
Cash provided by operating activities — continuing operations
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities — discontinued operations
Total net cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities
Student loans acquired and originated
Reduction of student loans:
Installment payments, claims and other
Proceeds from sales of student loans
Other investing activities, net
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities
Purchases of other securities
Proceeds from maturities of other securities
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash — variable interest entities
Total net cash provided by investing activities
Financing activities
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust — issued
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust — repaid
Asset-backed commercial paper conduits, net
ED Conduit Program facility, net
Other short-term borrowings issued
Other short-term borrowings repaid
Other long-term borrowings issued
Other long-term borrowings repaid
Other financing activities, net
Retail and other deposits, net
Common stock dividends paid
Preferred stock dividends paid
Net cash used in financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash disbursements made (refunds received) for:
Interest
Income taxes paid
Income taxes received
Noncash activity:
Investing activity — Student loans and other assets acquired
Student loans and other assets removed related to sale of Residual Interest in securitization
Financing activity — Borrowings assumed in acquisition of student loans and other assets
Borrowings removed related to sale of Residual Interest in securitization
7
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Information at September 30, 2013 and for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2013 and 2012 is unaudited)
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and those Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary, after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”). Definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the 2012 Form 10-K.
Consolidation
In the first six months of 2013, we sold Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to third parties. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. Prior to the sale of the Residual Interests, we had consolidated the trusts as VIEs because we had met the two criteria for consolidation. We had determined we were the primary beneficiary because (1) as servicer to the trust we had the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affected its economic performance and (2) as the residual holder of the trust, we had an obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the trust that could potentially be significant. Upon the sale of the Residual Interests we are no longer the residual holder, thus we determined we no longer met criterion (2) above and deconsolidated the trusts. As a result of these transactions, we removed securitization trust assets of $12.5 billion and the related liabilities of $12.1 billion from the balance sheet and recorded a $312 million gain as part of “gains on sales of loans and investments” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 to be consistent with classifications adopted for 2013, and had no effect on net income, total assets, or total liabilities.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
On January 1, 2013, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), “Reporting Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The objective of this new guidance is to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The impact of adopting this new guidance was immaterial and there was no impact on our results of operations.
8
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Our provisions for loan losses represent the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb incurred probable losses, net of expected recoveries, in the held-for-investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the provisions for loan losses is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe that the allowance for loan losses is appropriate to cover probable losses incurred in the loan portfolios. We segregate our Private Education Loan portfolio into two classes of loans — traditional and non-traditional. Non-traditional loans are loans to (i) customers attending for-profit schools with an original Fair Isaac and Company (“FICO”) score of less than 670 and (ii) customers attending not-for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 640. The FICO score used in determining whether a loan is non-traditional is the greater of the customer or cosigner FICO score at origination. Traditional loans are defined as all other Private Education Loans that are not classified as non-traditional.
Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance
Total provision
Charge-offs(1)
Reclassification of interest reserve(2)
Ending balance
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
Loans:
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
Ending total loans(3)
Average loans in repayment
Ending loans in repayment
Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
9
Student loan sales
10
11
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Key Credit Quality Indicators
FFELP Loans are substantially insured and guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default; therefore, the key credit quality indicator for this portfolio is loan status. The impact of changes in loan status is incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation.
For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are school type, FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status and loan seasoning. The school type/FICO score are assessed at origination and maintained through the traditional/non-traditional loan designation. The other Private Education Loan key quality indicators can change and are incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation. The following table highlights the principal balance (excluding the receivable for partially charged-off loans) of our Private Education Loan portfolio stratified by the key credit quality indicators.
Credit Quality Indicators
School Type/FICO Scores:
Traditional
Non-Traditional(1)
Cosigners:
With cosigner
Without cosigner
Seasoning(2):
1-12 payments
13-24 payments
25-36 payments
37-48 payments
More than 48 payments
Not yet in repayment
Defined as loans to customers attending for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 670 at origination) and customers attending not-for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 640 at origination).
Number of months in active repayment for which a scheduled payment was due.
Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
13
The following tables provide information regarding the loan status and aging of past due loans.
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
Loans in forbearance(2)
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
Total FFELP Loans in repayment
Total FFELP Loans, gross
FFELP Loan unamortized premium
Total FFELP Loans
FFELP Loan allowance for losses
FFELP Loans, net
Percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
Delinquencies as a percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
FFELP Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
Loans for customers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation, as well as loans for customers who have requested and qualify for other permitted program deferments such as military, unemployment, or economic hardships.
Loans for customers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors.
The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
14
Total traditional loans in repayment
Total traditional loans, gross
Traditional loans unamortized discount
Total traditional loans
Traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans
Traditional loans allowance for losses
Traditional loans, net
Percentage of traditional loans in repayment
Delinquencies as a percentage of traditional loans in repayment
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
15
Total non-traditional loans in repayment
Total non-traditional loans, gross
Non-traditional loans unamortized discount
Total non-traditional loans
Non-traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans
Non-traditional loans allowance for losses
Non-traditional loans, net
Percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment
Delinquencies as a percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment
Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans
At the end of each month, for loans that are 212 days past due, we charge off the estimated loss of a defaulted loan balance. Actual recoveries are applied against the remaining loan balance that was not charged off. We refer to this remaining loan balance as the “receivable for partially charged-off loans.” If actual periodic recoveries are less than expected, the difference is immediately charged off through the allowance for loan losses with an offsetting reduction in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans. If actual periodic recoveries are greater than expected, they will be reflected as a recovery through the allowance for Private Education Loan losses once the cumulative recovery amount exceeds the cumulative amount originally expected to be recovered. Private Education Loans which defaulted between 2008 and 2012 for which we have previously charged off estimated losses have, to varying degrees, not met our post-default recovery expectations to date and may continue not to do so. Our allowance for loan losses takes into account these potential recovery uncertainties. In the third quarter of
16
2013 we increased our allowance related to these potential recovery shortfalls by approximately $112 million. According to our policy, we have been charging off these periodic shortfalls in expected recoveries against our allowance for Private Education Loan losses and the related receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans and we will continue to do so. There was $329 million and $187 million in allowance for Private Education Loan losses at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, providing for possible additional future charge-offs related to the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
Receivable at beginning of period
Expected future recoveries of current period defaults(1)
Recoveries(2)
Charge-offs(3)
Receivable at end of period
Allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls(4)
Net receivable at end of period
Represents the difference between the loan balance and our estimate of the amount to be collected in the future.
Current period cash collections.
Represents the current period recovery shortfall — the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected. These amounts are included in the Private Education Loan total charge-offs as reported in the “Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics” tables.
The allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls of the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans is a component of the $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion overall allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”)
We modify the terms of loans for certain customers when we believe such modifications may increase the ability and willingness of a customer to make payments and thus increase the ultimate overall amount collected on a loan. These modifications generally take the form of a forbearance, a temporary interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan. For customers experiencing financial difficulty, certain Private Education Loans for which we have granted either cumulative forbearance of greater than three months, an interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan are classified as TDRs. Forbearance provides customers the ability to defer payments for a period of time, but does not result in the forgiveness of any principal or interest. While in forbearance status, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized to principal when the loan re-enters repayment status. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the percentage of loans granted forbearance that have migrated to a TDR classification due to the extension of the original forbearance period was 43 percent for each period. The unpaid principal balance of TDR loans that were in an interest rate reduction plan as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $1.5 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively.
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At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all of our TDR loans had a related allowance recorded. The following table provides the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance for our TDR loans.
September 30, 2013
Private Education Loans — Traditional
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional
December 31, 2012
The recorded investment is equal to the unpaid principal balance and accrued interest receivable net of unamortized deferred fees and costs.
The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our TDR loans.
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The following table provides information regarding the loan status and aging of TDR loans that are past due.
Loans in deferment(1)
Total TDR loans in repayment
Total TDR loans, gross
Deferment includes loans for customers who have returned to school and are not currently required to make payments on their loans.
The following table provides the amount of modified loans that resulted in a TDR in the periods presented. Additionally, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the TDR portfolio, as well as TDRs for which a payment default occurred in the current period within 12 months of the loan first being designated as a TDR. We define payment default as 60 days past due for this disclosure. The majority of our loans that are considered TDRs involve a temporary forbearance of payments and do not change the contractual interest rate of the loan.
Represents period ending balance of loans that have been modified during the period and resulted in a TDR.
Represents loans that charged off that were classified as TDRs.
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Accrued Interest Receivable
The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans greater than 90 days past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest. The allowance for uncollectible interest exceeds the amount of accrued interest on our 90 days past due portfolio for all periods presented.
The following table summarizes our borrowings.
Unsecured borrowings:
Senior unsecured debt
Bank deposits
Other(1)
Total unsecured borrowings
Secured borrowings:
FFELP Loan securitizations
Private Education Loan securitizations
FFELP Loans — other facilities
Private Education Loans — other facilities
Total secured borrowings
Total before hedge accounting adjustments
Hedge accounting adjustments
“Other” primarily consists of the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivative exposures.
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Secured Borrowings
The tables below summarize all of our financing entities that are VIEs which we consolidate as a result of being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As such, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings. We consolidate the following financing VIEs:
Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
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Securitizations
The following table summarizes the securitization transactions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
AAA-rated bonds
Issue
Weighted AverageInterest Rate
FFELP:
2012-1
2012-2
2012-3
2012-4
2011-3
2012-5
2012-6
2012-7
2012-8
Total bonds issued in 2012
Total loan amount securitized in 2012
2013-1
2013-2
2013-3
2013-4
2013-5
Total bonds issued in nine months ended September 30, 2013
Total loan amount securitized in nine months ended September 30, 2013
Private Education:
2012-A
2012-B
2012-C
2012-D
2012-E
2013-R1
2013-A
2013-B
2013-C
Total size excludes subordinated tranche that was retained at issuance totaling $45 million.
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2013 Sales of FFELP Securitization Trust Residual Interests
On February 13, 2013, we sold the Residual Interest in a FFELP Loan securitization trust to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trust under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $3.82 billion and related liabilities of $3.68 billion from our balance sheet.
On April 11, 2013, we sold the Residual Interest in a FFELP Loan securitization trust to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trust under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $2.03 billion and related liabilities of $1.99 billion from our balance sheet.
On June 13, 2013, we sold the three Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $6.60 billion and related liabilities of $6.42 billion from our balance sheet.
Additional, Recent Borrowing-Related Transactions
Senior Unsecured Debt
On January 28, 2013 and September 20, 2013, we issued $1.5 billion and $1.25 billion of senior unsecured bonds, respectively.
FFELP ABCP Facility
On June 10, 2013, we closed on a new $6.8 billion asset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”) credit facility that matures in June 2014 to facilitate the term securitization of FFELP Loans. The facility was used in June 2013 to refinance all of the FFELP Loans previously financed through the U.S. Department of Education’s (“ED”) Conduit Program. The facility cannot be used to borrow any additional amounts. As a result, we ended our participation in the ED Conduit Program.
The cost of borrowing under the facility is the yield rate (either 30-day LIBOR daily average or commercial paper issuance cost) plus 0.50 percent, excluding up-front-commitment fees. Failure to pay off the facility on the maturity date would result in a 90-day extension of the facility with the interest rate increasing from LIBOR plus 0.75 percent to LIBOR plus 1.50 percent over that period. If, at the end of that period the facility has not been repaid, a default rate of LIBOR plus 3.00 percent would be payable until either the notes are repaid in full or the collateral is foreclosed upon. This default rate would also be triggered by the occurrence of a termination event. The facility is subject to termination under certain circumstances. Our borrowings under the facility are non-recourse. As of September 30, 2013, there was $4.7 billion outstanding under the facility. The book basis of the assets securing the facility as of September 30, 2013 was $4.9 billion.
Private Education Loan Facility
On July 17, 2013, we closed on a $1.1 billion asset-backed borrowing facility that matures on August 15, 2015. The facility was used to fund the call and redemption of our SLM 2009-D Private Education Loan Trust ABS, which occurred on August 15, 2013. The cost of borrowing under the facility is commercial paper issuance cost plus 0.75 percent, excluding up-front commitment fees. If outstanding borrowings under the facility exceed $825 million after July 15, 2014 and $550 million after January 15, 2015, the cost of borrowing increases to commercial paper issuance cost plus 1.50 percent. Failure to pay off the facility on the maturity date would result in the interest rate increasing to LIBOR plus 3.00 percent until the notes are repaid in full or the collateral is foreclosed upon. Our borrowings under the facility are non-recourse. As of September 30, 2013, there was $878 million outstanding under the facility. The book basis of the assets securing the facility as of September 30, 2013 was $1.7 billion.
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Our risk management strategy and use of and accounting for derivatives have not materially changed from that discussed in our 2012 Form 10-K. Please refer to “Note 7 — Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2012 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact
The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and their impact on other comprehensive income and earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet
Fair Values(1)
Derivative Assets:
Interest rate swaps
Cross-currency interest rate swaps
Other(2)
Total derivative assets(3)
Derivative Liabilities:
Floor Income Contracts
Total derivative liabilities(3)
Net total derivatives
Fair values reported are exclusive of collateral held and pledged and accrued interest. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements, and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net receivable or payable position.
“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back-to-back private credit floors.
The following table reconciles gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
(Dollar in millions)
Gross position
Impact of master netting agreements
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)
Cash collateral (held) pledged
Net position
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The above fair values include adjustments for counterparty credit risk both for when we are exposed to the counterparty, net of collateral postings, and when the counterparty is exposed to us, net of collateral postings. The net adjustments decreased the overall net asset positions at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by $111 million and $111 million, respectively. In addition, the above fair values reflect adjustments for illiquid derivatives as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread in the interest rate indices to which the derivatives are indexed. These adjustments decreased the overall net asset positions at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by $89 million and $107 million, respectively.
(Dollars in billions)
Notional Values:
Total derivatives
“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt, as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back to back private credit floors.
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income
Fair Value Hedges:
Total fair value derivatives
Cash Flow Hedges:
Total cash flow derivatives
Trading:
Total trading derivatives
Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”
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Collateral
Collateral held and pledged related to derivative exposures between us and our derivative counterparties are detailed in the following table:
Collateral held:
Cash (obligation to return cash collateral is recorded in short-term borrowings)(1)
Securities at fair value — on-balance sheet securitization derivatives (not recorded in financial statements)(2)
Total collateral held
Derivative asset at fair value including accrued interest
Collateral pledged to others:
Cash (right to receive return of cash collateral is recorded in investments)
Total collateral pledged
Derivative liability at fair value including accrued interest and premium receivable
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $0 and $9 million, respectively, were held in restricted cash accounts.
The trusts do not have the ability to sell or re-pledge securities they hold as collateral.
Our corporate derivatives contain credit contingent features. At our current unsecured credit rating, we have fully collateralized our corporate derivative liability position (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $883 million with our counterparties. Further downgrades would not result in any additional
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collateral requirements, except to increase the frequency of collateral calls. Two counterparties have the right to terminate the contracts with further downgrades. We currently have a liability position with these derivative counterparties (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $203 million and have posted $196 million of collateral to these counterparties. If the credit contingent feature was triggered for these two counterparties and the counterparties exercised their right to terminate, we would be required to deliver additional assets of $7 million to settle the contracts. Trust related derivatives do not contain credit contingent features related to our or the trusts’ credit ratings.
The following table provides the detail of our other assets.
Accrued interest receivable, net
Derivatives at fair value
Income tax asset, net current and deferred
Accounts receivable
Benefit and insurance-related investments
Fixed assets, net
Other loans, net
The “Derivatives at fair value” line in the above table represents the fair value of our derivatives in a gain position by counterparty, exclusive of accrued interest and collateral. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, these balances included $1.8 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, of cross-currency interest rate swaps and interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges that were offset by an increase in interest-bearing liabilities related to the hedged debt. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the cumulative mark-to-market adjustment to the hedged debt was $(2.2) billion and $(2.8) billion, respectively.
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The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.
Common shares repurchased(1)
Average purchase price per share(2)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)
Average purchase price per share
Common shares issued(4)
Common shares purchased under our share repurchase program, of which $400 million remained available as of September 30, 2013.
Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs.
Comprises shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.
Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.
The closing price of our common stock on September 30, 2013 was $24.90.
Dividend and Share Repurchase Program
In the third quarter 2013, we paid a common stock dividend of $0.15 per common share.
In July 2013, the Company authorized $400 million to be utilized in a new common share repurchase program that does not have an expiration date. There were no share repurchases in the third-quarter 2013. We repurchased an aggregate of 19 million shares for $400 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, fully utilizing the Company’s February 2013 share repurchase program.
In 2012, we authorized the repurchase of up to $900 million of outstanding common stock in open market transactions and we repurchased 58 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $900 million.
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Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.
(In millions, except per share data)
Numerator:
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)(1)
Dilutive potential common shares(2)
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.
For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 3 million and 10 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 4 million and 13 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.
We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards in our financial statements.
We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Please refer to “Note 13 — Fair Value Measurements” in our 2012 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels, or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.
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The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-market on a recurring basis.
Available-for-sale investments:
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
Guaranteed investment contracts
Total available-for-sale investments
Derivative instruments:(1)
Liabilities(2)
Derivative instruments(1)
Fair value of derivative instruments excludes accrued interest and the value of collateral.
Borrowings which are the hedged items in a fair value hedge relationship and which are adjusted for changes in value due to benchmark interest rates only are not carried at full fair value and are not reflected in this table.
See “Note 4 — Derivative Financial Instruments” for a reconciliation of gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification.
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The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis.
Balance, beginning of period
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
Included in earnings(1)
Included in other comprehensive income
Settlements
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
Balance, end of period
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)
“Included in earnings” is comprised of the following amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:
Interest expense
Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
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The following table presents the significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets used in the recurring valuations of the level 3 financial instruments detailed above.
Derivatives
Consumer Price Index/LIBOR basis swaps
to discount rate
(0.05%)
Prime/LIBOR basisswaps
(0.08%)
Cross-currency interestrate swaps
The significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets related to our level 3 derivatives detailed in the table above would be expected to have the following impacts to the valuations:
Consumer Price Index/LIBOR basis swaps — These swaps do not actively trade in the markets as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread. A wider bid/ask spread will result in a decrease in the overall valuation.
Prime/LIBOR basis swaps — These swaps do not actively trade in the markets as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread. A wider bid/ask spread will result in a decrease in the overall valuation. In addition, the unobservable inputs include constant prepayment rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap which will increase the value for swaps in a gain position and decrease the value for swaps in a loss position, everything else equal. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.
Cross-currency interest rate swaps — The unobservable inputs used in these valuations are constant prepayment rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap. All else equal in a typical currency market, this will result in a decrease to the valuation due to the delay in the cash flows of the currency exchanges as well as diminished liquidity in the forward exchange markets as you increase the term. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.
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The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.
Earning assets
Cash and investments(1)
Total earning assets
Interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value
“Cash and investments” includes available-for-sale investments that consist of investments that are primarily agency securities whose cost basis is $94 million and $78 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, versus a fair value of $93 million and $81 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
The following includes a discussion of financial instruments whose fair value is included for disclosure purposes only in the table above along with their level in the fair value hierarchy.
Student Loans
Fair values for FFELP Loans were determined by modeling loan cash flows using stated terms of the loans and internally-developed assumptions. The significant assumptions used to determine fair value are prepayment speeds, default rates, cost of funds, capital levels, and expected Repayment Borrower Benefits to be earned. In addition, the Floor Income component of our FFELP Loan portfolio is valued with option models using both observable market inputs and internally developed inputs. A number of significant inputs into the models are internally derived and not observable to market participants. While the resulting fair value can be validated against market transactions where we are a participant, these markets are not considered active. As such, these are level 3 valuations.
Fair values for Private Education Loans were determined by modeling loan cash flows using stated terms of the loans and internally-developed assumptions. The significant assumptions used to determine fair value are prepayment speeds, default rates, recovery rates, cost of funds and capital levels. A number of significant inputs into the models are internally derived and not observable to market participants nor can the resulting fair values be validated against market transactions. As such, these are level 3 valuations.
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Cash and Investments (Including “Restricted Cash and Investments”)
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost. Carrying value approximated fair value. These are level 2 valuations.
Borrowings
The full fair value of all borrowings is disclosed. Fair value was determined through standard bond pricing models and option models (when applicable) using the stated terms of the borrowings, observable yield curves, foreign currency exchange rates, volatilities from active markets or from quotes from broker-dealers. Fair value adjustments for unsecured corporate debt are made based on indicative quotes from observable trades and spreads on credit default swaps specific to the Company. Fair value adjustments for secured borrowings are based on indicative quotes from broker-dealers. These fair value adjustments are based on inputs from inactive markets. As such, these are level 3 valuations.
At the time of this filing, Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”) remains subject to a cease and desist order originally issued in August 2008 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (“UDFI”). In July 2013, the FDIC notified the Bank that it plans to replace the existing cease and desist order with a new formal enforcement action that will more specifically address certain cited violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, including with respect to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”) and its implementing regulation, Regulation B, which will likely include civil money penalties and restitution. The Bank has been notified by the UDFI that it does not intend to join the FDIC in issuing the new enforcement action.
With respect to the alleged civil violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act relating to the SCRA, we are also in discussions with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), as the agency having primary authority for enforcement of SCRA matters, regarding settlement, remediation and a comprehensive restitution plan. In September 2013, we also received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) as part of its separate investigation regarding allegations relating to our existing payment allocation practices and procedures, the same as those previously raised by the FDIC.
We have made and continue to make changes to the Bank’s oversight of significant activities performed outside the Bank by Company affiliates and to our business practices in order to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the terms of any cease and desist orders, including in connection with our pursuit of a strategic plan to separate our existing organization into two publicly traded companies. We are cooperating fully with the FDIC, DOJ and CFPB in response to their investigations and requests for information and are in active discussions with each with respect to any potential actions to be taken against us. We could be required to, or otherwise determine to, make further changes to the business practices and products of the Bank and our other affiliates to respond to regulatory concerns. At the time of the filing, it is not possible to estimate a range of potential exposure, if any, to amounts that may be payable or costs that must be incurred to comply with the terms of any order.
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings may be based on alleged violations of consumer protection, securities,
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employment and other laws. In certain of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damage are asserted against us and our subsidiaries.
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, inquiries and investigations. In connection with formal and informal inquiries in these cases, we and our subsidiaries receive numerous requests, subpoenas and orders for documents, testimony and information in connection with various aspects of our regulated activities.
In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such litigation and regulatory matters, we cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing or the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties related to each pending matter may be.
We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.
Based on current knowledge, reserves have been established for certain litigation or regulatory matters where the loss is both probable and estimable. Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation or regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.
Consumer Lending Segment
In this segment, we originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The Private Education Loans we make are primarily to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, federal loans or customers’ resources. In this segment, we earn net interest income on the Private Education Loan portfolio (after provision for loan losses) as well as servicing fees, primarily consisting of late fees.
The following table includes asset information for our Consumer Lending segment.
Private Education Loans, net
Includes restricted cash and investments.
Business Services Segment
Our Business Services segment generates the majority of its revenue from servicing our FFELP Loan portfolio. We also provide servicing, loan default aversion and defaulted loan collection services for loans on behalf of Guarantors of FFELP Loans and other institutions, including ED. We also operate a consumer savings network that provides financial rewards on everyday purchases to help families save for college.
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On September 25, 2013, we announced the sale of our 529 college savings plan administration business. Upon the transaction’s closing, which is anticipated to occur in the fourth-quarter 2013, we will recognize a gain of approximately $0.14 per diluted share. Due to the pending sale, the results of this business were moved to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Business Services segment had total assets of $826 million and $867 million, respectively.
FFELP Loans Segment
Our FFELP Loans segment consists of our $106.3 billion FFELP Loan portfolio at September 30, 2013 and underlying debt and capital funding these loans. FFELP Loans are no longer originated but we continue to seek to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios to leverage our servicing scale to generate incremental earnings and cash flow. This segment is expected to generate significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes.
The following table includes asset information for our FFELP Loans segment.
Other Segment
Our Other segment primarily consists of activities of our holding company, including the repurchase of debt, the corporate liquidity portfolio and all overhead. We also include results from smaller wind-down and discontinued operations within this segment
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Other segment had total assets of $2.6 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively.
Measure of Profitability
The tables below include the condensed operating results for each of our reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision makers, evaluates the Company on certain performance measures that we refer to as “Core Earnings” performance measures for each operating segment. We use “Core Earnings” to manage each business segment because “Core Earnings” reflect adjustments to GAAP financial results for two items, discussed below, that create significant volatility mostly due to timing factors generally beyond the control of management. Accordingly, we believe that “Core Earnings” provide management with a useful basis from which to better evaluate results from ongoing operations against the business plan or against results from prior periods. Consequently, we disclose this information as we believe it provides investors with additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management.
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The two items adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are (1) our use of derivative instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The tables presented below reflect “Core Earnings” operating measures reviewed and utilized by management to manage the business. Reconciliation of the “Core Earnings” segment totals to our consolidated operating results in accordance with GAAP is also included in the tables below.
Our “Core Earnings” performance measures are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. The management reporting process measures the performance of the operating segments based on the management structure of the Company and is not necessarily comparable with similar information for any other financial institution. Our operating segments are defined by the products and services they offer or the types of customers they serve, and they reflect the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by management. Intersegment revenues and expenses are netted within the appropriate financial statement line items consistent with the income statement presentation provided to management. Changes in management structure or allocation methodologies and procedures may result in changes in reported segment financial information.
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Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP
Student loans
Net interest income (loss)
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
Other income (loss)
Direct operating expenses
Overhead expenses
Operating expenses
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation
The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
Total other loss
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
Income tax benefit
Net loss
Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
Represents a portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Represents the $62 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
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Represents a portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Represents the $(53) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
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Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit
Represents a portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Represents the $422 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
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Represents a portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Represents the $(52) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
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Summary of “Core Earnings” Adjustments to GAAP
The two adjustments required to reconcile from our “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations relate to differing treatments for: (1) our use of derivative instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The following table reflects aggregate adjustments associated with these areas.
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangibles assets(2)
Net tax effect(3)
Net effect from discontinued operations
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
Derivative accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our Consumer Lending, FFELP Loans and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for our derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible asset impairment and amortization of acquired intangible assets.
Net tax effect: Such tax effect is based upon our “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year.
In the second quarter of 2013, we sold our Campus Solutions business and recorded an after-tax gain of $38 million. This business provided processing capabilities to educational institutions. The Campus Solutions business comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished operationally and for financial reporting purposes from the rest of the Company and we will have no continuing involvement. As a result, our Campus Solutions business is presented in discontinued operations for the current and prior periods.
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The following table summarizes the discontinued operations.
Operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes
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The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the 2012 Form 10-K.
This report contains “forward-looking” statements and information based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this document. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs, opinions, or expectations and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our 2012 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); increases in financing costs; limits on liquidity; increases in costs associated with compliance with laws and regulations; changes in accounting standards and the impact of related changes in significant accounting estimates; any adverse outcomes in any significant litigation to which we are a party; credit risk associated with our exposure to third parties, including counterparties to our derivative transactions; and changes in the terms of student loans and the educational credit marketplace (including changes resulting from new laws and the implementation of existing laws). We could also be affected by, among other things: changes in our funding costs and availability; reductions to our credit ratings or the credit ratings of the United States of America; failures of our operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to our reputation; failures to successfully implement cost-cutting initiatives and adverse effects of such initiatives on our business; risks associated with restructuring initiatives, including our recently announced strategic plan to separate our existing operations into two, separate, publicly traded companies; changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of lenders, educational institutions, students and their families; changes in law and regulations with respect to the student lending business and financial institutions generally; increased competition from banks and other consumer lenders; the creditworthiness of our customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of our earning assets versus our funding arrangements; changes in general economic conditions; our ability to successfully effectuate any acquisitions and other strategic initiatives; and changes in the demand for debt management services. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements also requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions including estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates or assumptions may prove to be incorrect. 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. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations.
Definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the 2012 Form 10-K.
Through this discussion and analysis, we intend to provide the reader with some narrative context for how our management views our consolidated financial statements, additional context within which to assess our operating results, and information on the quality and variability of our earnings, liquidity and cash flows.
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Selected Financial Information and Ratios
GAAP Basis
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
Return on assets
“Core Earnings” Basis(1)
“Core Earnings” attributable to SLM Corporation
“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
“Core Earnings” return on assets
Other Operating Statistics
Ending FFELP Loans, net
Ending Private Education Loans, net
Ending total student loans, net
Average student loans
“Core Earnings” are non-GAAP financial measures and do not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. For a greater explanation of “Core Earnings,” see the section titled “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations” and subsequent sections.
Overview
Our primary business is to originate, service and collect loans we make to students and their families to finance the cost of education. The core of our marketing strategy is to generate student loan originations by promoting our products on campus through the financial aid office and through direct marketing to students and their families. We also provide servicing, loan default aversion and defaulted loan collection services for loans owned by other institutions, including ED, as well as a consumer savings network.
In addition we are the largest holder, servicer and collector of loans made under FFELP, a program that was discontinued in 2010.
We monitor and assess our ongoing operations and results based on the following four reportable segments:
(1) Consumer Lending, (2) Business Services, (3) FFELP Loans and (4) Other.
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Our Other segment primarily consists of activities of our holding company, including the repurchase of debt, the corporate liquidity portfolio and all overhead. We also include results from smaller wind-down and discontinued operations within this segment.
Recent Developments
Strategic Plan to Create Separate Education Loan Management and Consumer Banking Companies
On May 29, 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a plan to pursue the separation of the Company’s existing businesses into two, separate, publicly traded entities — an education loan management business and a consumer banking business.
The separation transaction will be effected as a pro-rata dividend of shares of the education loan management business to our shareholders. Upon consummation of the separation, the education loan management business will become a separate public company and will trade under a new stock ticker symbol. The consumer banking business will retain the stock ticker symbol “SLM” and will operate under the Sallie Mae brand.
The completion of the separation will be subject to certain customary conditions, including final approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, confirmation of the tax-free nature of the separation transaction and the effectiveness of a registration statement that will be filed with the SEC. The contemplated separation and distribution will not require a shareholder vote. Subject to the satisfaction of all necessary conditions, including the conditions described above, the separation is currently anticipated to occur in the first half of 2014; however, there can be no assurance that the separation and distribution will ultimately occur.
Sale of 529 College Savings Plan Administration Business
Key Financial Measures
Our operating results are primarily driven by net interest income from our student loan portfolios (which include financing costs), provision for loan losses, the revenues and expenses generated by our service businesses, and gains and losses on loan sales and debt repurchases. We manage and assess the performance of each business segment separately as each is focused on different customers and each derives its revenue from different activities and services. A brief summary of our key financial measures (net interest income; provisions
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for loan losses; charge-offs and delinquencies; servicing and contingency revenues; other income (loss); operating expenses; and “Core Earnings”) can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2012 Form 10-K.
Third-Quarter 2013 Summary of Results
We report financial results on a GAAP basis and also present certain “Core Earnings” performance measures. Our management, equity investors, credit rating agencies and debt capital providers use these “Core Earnings” measures to monitor our business performance. See “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations” for a further discussion and a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and “Core Earnings.”
Third-quarter 2013 GAAP net income was $260 million ($.57 diluted earnings per share), versus net income of $188 million ($0.39 diluted earnings per share) in the third-quarter 2012. The changes in GAAP net income are driven by the same types of “Core Earnings” items discussed below as well as changes in “mark-to-market” unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts and amortization and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets that are recognized in GAAP but not in “Core Earnings” results. Third-quarter 2013 results included $19 million of losses from derivative accounting treatment that are excluded from “Core Earnings” results, compared with losses of $140 million in the year-ago period.
“Core Earnings” for the quarter were $271 million ($.60 diluted earnings per share), compared with $277 million ($0.58 diluted earnings per share) in the year-ago period. The increase in third-quarter 2013 core diluted earnings per share was primarily the result of a $63 million decline in the provision for loan losses, a $31 million increase in servicing and contingency revenue, as well as fewer common shares outstanding. These items more than offset lower debt repurchase gains of $44 million, a decrease in net interest income before provision for loan losses of $30 million (primarily as a result of the sales of residual interests in FFELP loan securitization trusts), higher operating expenses of $37 million (in part due to higher servicing and contingency volumes) and higher restructuring and other reorganization expenses of $10 million.
During the first nine months of 2013, we:
issued $5.5 billion of FFELP asset-backed securities (“ABS”), $3.1 billion of Private Education Loan ABS and $2.8 billion of unsecured bonds;
closed on a new $6.8 billion credit facility that matures in June 2014, to facilitate the term securitization of FFELP Loans;
closed on a new $1.1 billion asset-backed borrowing facility that matures in August 2015, which was used to fund the call and redemption of our SLM 2009-D Private Education Loan Trust ABS.
repurchased $997 million of debt and realized “Core Earnings” gains of $48 million, compared with $520 million of debt repurchased and $102 million of gains in the first nine months of 2012;
repurchased 19 million common shares for $400 million on the open market, fully utilizing our February 2013 share repurchase program authorization;
authorized $400 million in July 2013 to be utilized in a new common share repurchase program; and
sold Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to third parties. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. The sales removed securitization trust assets of $12.5 billion and related liabilities of $12.1 billion from our balance sheet.
sold our Campus Solutions business for an after-tax gain of $38 million.
announced the pending sale of our 529 college savings plan administration business in September 2013; upon the transaction’s closing, which is anticipated to occur in the fourth-quarter 2013, we expect to recognize a gain of approximately $0.14 per diluted share.
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2013 Management Objectives
In 2013 we have set out five major goals to create shareholder value. They are: (1) prudently grow Consumer Lending segment assets and revenues; (2) maximize cash flows from FFELP Loans; (3) reduce operating expenses while improving efficiency and customer experience; (4) maintain our financial strength; and (5) expand the capabilities of the Bank. Here is how we plan to achieve these objectives and the progress we have made to date:
Prudently Grow Consumer Lending Segment Assets and Revenues
We will continue to pursue managed growth in our Private Education Loan portfolio in 2013 by leveraging our Sallie Mae and Upromise brand while sustaining the credit quality of, and percentage of cosigners for, new originations. We are currently targeting $3.8 billion in new loan originations for 2013, compared with $3.3 billion in 2012. We will also continue to help our customers manage their borrowings and succeed in its payoff, which we expect will result in lower charge-offs and provision for loan losses. Originations were 11 percent higher in the third quarter of 2013 compared with the year-ago quarter. Charge-offs were 2.6 percent in the current quarter, down from 3.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. Provision for Private Education Loan losses decreased $57 million from the year-ago quarter. Our quarterly charge-off rate in the third-quarter of 2013 was at the lowest level in five years.
Maximize Cash Flows from FFELP Loans
In 2013, we will continue to purchase additional FFELP Loan portfolios. Through September 30, 2013, we sold our ownership interest in five of our FFELP Loan securitization trusts ($12.5 billion of securitization trust assets and $12.1 billion of related liabilities). We will continue to explore alternative transactions and structures that can increase our ability to maximize the value of our ownership interests in these trusts and allow us to diversify our holdings while maintaining servicing fee income. We must also continue to reduce operating and overhead costs attributable to the maintenance and management of this segment. During the first nine months of 2013, we purchased $396 million of FFELP Loans.
Reduce Operating Expenses While Improving Efficiency and Customer Experience
For 2013, we will reduce unit costs, and balance our Private Education Loan growth and the challenge of increased regulatory oversight. We also plan to improve efficiency and customer experience by replacing certain of our legacy systems and making enhancements to our self-service platform and call centers (including improved call segmentation that routes an in-bound customer call directly to the appropriate agent who can answer the customer’s inquiry). Third-quarter 2013 operating expenses were $257 million compared with $220 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase is primarily the result of increases in our third-party servicing and collections activities, increased Private Education Loan marketing activities, continued investments in technology, and an increase in pending litigation settlement expense. An example of becoming more efficient can be seen in our Consumer Lending segment; direct operating expenses as a percentage of revenues (revenues calculated as net interest income after provision plus total other income) were 34 percent and 40 percent in the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 33 percent and 35 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Maintain Our Financial Strength
In February 2013, we announced an increase in our quarterly common stock dividend to $0.15 per share and a new $400 million common share repurchase program. It is management’s objective for 2013 to provide these shareholder distributions while ending 2013 with capital and reserve positions as strong as those with which we ended 2012. We repurchased an aggregate of 19 million shares for $400 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, fully utilizing the Company’s February 2013 share repurchase program authorization. On July 16, 2013, we authorized $400 million to be utilized in a new common share repurchase program that does not have an expiration date. There were no share repurchases during the third-quarter 2013. Additionally, on June 10, 2013,
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we closed on a new $6.8 billion credit facility that matures in June 2014, to facilitate the term securitization of FFELP Loans. The facility was used in June 2013 to refinance all of the FFELP Loans previously financed through the ED Conduit Program. As a result, we ended our participation in the ED Conduit Program. On July 17, 2013, we closed on a $1.1 billion asset-backed borrowing facility that matures on August 15, 2015. The facility was used to fund the call and redemption of our SLM 2009-D Private Education Loan Trust ABS, which occurred on August 15, 2013.
Expand Bank Capabilities
The Bank continues to fund our Private Education Loan originations in 2013. We are continuing to evolve the operational and enterprise risk oversight program at the Bank in preparation for expected growth and designation as a “large bank,” which will entail enhanced regulatory scrutiny. In addition, we plan to voluntarily make similar changes at SLM Corporation. See the 2012 10-K, Item 1 “Business — Supervision and Regulation — Regulatory Outlook — Evolving Regulation of the Bank” for additional information about the Bank’s regulatory environment once it becomes a “large bank.”
Results of Operations
We present the results of operations below first on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. Following our discussion of consolidated earnings results on a GAAP basis, we present our results on a segment basis. We have four business segments: FFELP Loans, Consumer Lending, Business Services and Other. Since these segments operate in distinct business environments and we manage and evaluate the financial performance of these segments using non-GAAP financial measures, these segments are presented on a “Core Earnings” basis (see “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations”).
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GAAP Statements of Income (Unaudited)
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Consolidated Earnings Summary — GAAP-basis
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
For the three months ended September 30, 2013, net income was $260 million, or $0.57 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income of $188 million, or $0.39 diluted earnings per common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The increase in net income was primarily due to a $106 million decrease in net losses on derivative and hedging activities, a $63 million decline in the provision for loan losses, and a $31 million increase in servicing and contingency revenue, which more than offset a $44 million decline in debt repurchase gains, higher operating expenses of $37 million, a $20 million decline in net interest income and higher restructuring and other reorganization expenses of $10 million.
The primary contributors to each of the identified drivers of changes in net income for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter are as follows:
Net interest income decreased by $20 million in the current quarter compared with the prior-year quarter primarily due to a reduction in FFELP net interest income from a $22 billion decline in average FFELP Loans outstanding in part due to the sale of Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts in the first half of 2013. There were approximately $12 billion of FFELP Loans in these trusts.
Provisions for loan losses declined $63 million compared with the year-ago quarter primarily as a result of the overall improvement in Private Education Loans’ credit quality, delinquency and charge-off trends leading to decreases in expected future charge-offs.
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net, resulted in a net loss of $127 million in the current quarter compared with a net loss of $233 million in the year-ago period. The primary factors affecting the change were interest rate and foreign currency fluctuations, which primarily affected the valuations of our Floor Income Contracts, basis swaps and foreign currency hedges during each period. Valuations of derivative instruments vary based upon many factors including changes in interest rates, credit risk, foreign currency fluctuations and other market factors. As a result, net gains and losses on derivative and hedging activities may continue to vary significantly in future periods.
Servicing and contingency revenue increased $31 million primarily from an increase in the number of accounts serviced and in collection volumes in third-quarter 2013.
Gains on debt repurchases decreased $44 million from third-quarter 2012 as we did not repurchase any debt in the current period. Debt repurchase activity will fluctuate based on market fundamentals and our liability management strategy.
Operating expenses increased $37 million primarily as a result of increases in our third-party servicing and collections activities, continued investments in technology, increased Private Education Loan marketing and an increase in pending litigation settlement expense.
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses were $12 million compared with $2 million in the year-ago quarter. For third-quarter 2013, these consisted of expenses primarily related to third-party costs incurred in connection with the Company’s previously announced plan to separate its existing organization into two, separate, publicly traded companies. The $2 million of expenses in third-quarter 2012 related to restructuring expenses.
There were no share repurchases during the third-quarter 2013. Primarily as a result of common share repurchases in previous quarters, our average outstanding diluted shares decreased by 26 million shares from the year-ago quarter.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net income was $1.1 billion, or $2.52 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income of $591 million, or $1.18 diluted earnings per common share, for the
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nine months ended September 30, 2012. The increase in net income was primarily due to a $460 million decrease in net losses on derivative and hedging activities, a $306 million increase in net gains on sales of loans and investments, a $117 million decrease in provisions for loan losses, a $49 million after-tax increase in income from discontinued operations and a $62 million increase in servicing and contingency revenue, which were partially offset by $60 million of lower gains on debt repurchases, higher operating expenses of $65 million and higher restructuring and other reorganization expenses of $37 million.
The primary contributors to each of the identified drivers of changes in net income for the current nine-month period compared with the year-ago nine-month period are as follows:
Net interest income increased by $2 million primarily due to a $50 million acceleration of non-cash premium expense recorded in the first half of 2012 related to ED’s consolidation of $5.2 billion of loans under the Special Direct Consolidation Loan (“SDCL”) initiative that ended June 30, 2012. Offsetting this increase was a $19.5 billion decline in average FFELP Loans outstanding in part due to the sale of Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts in the first half of 2013. There were approximately $12 billion of FFELP Loans in these trusts.
Provisions for loan losses declined $117 million primarily as a result of the overall improvement in Private Education Loans’ credit quality, delinquency and charge-off trends leading to decreases in expected future charge-offs.
Gains on sales of loans and investments increased by $306 million as a result of $312 million in gains on the sales of the Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts in 2013. See “Business Segment Earnings Summary —‘Core Earnings’ Basis — FFELP Loans Segment” for further discussion.
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net, resulted in a net loss of $140 million in the current nine-month period compared with a net loss of $600 million in the year-ago period. The primary factors affecting the change were interest rate and foreign currency fluctuations, which primarily affected the valuations of our Floor Income Contracts, basis swaps and foreign currency hedges during each period. Valuations of derivative instruments vary based upon many factors including changes in interest rates, credit risk, foreign currency fluctuations and other market factors. As a result, net gains and losses on derivative and hedging activities may continue to vary significantly in future periods.
Servicing and contingency revenue increased $62 million primarily from an increase in the number of accounts serviced and collection volumes in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the prior-year period.
Gains on debt repurchases decreased $60 million as we repurchased less debt in the current period. Debt repurchase activity will fluctuate based on market fundamentals and our liability management strategy.
Operating expenses increased $65 million primarily as a result of increases in our third-party servicing and collections activities, investments in technology, increased Private Education Loan marketing and an increase in pending litigation settlement expense.
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses were $46 million compared with $9 million in the year-ago period. For 2013, these consisted of $24 million primarily related to third-party costs incurred in connection with the Company’s previously announced plan to separate its existing organization into two, separate, publicly traded companies and $22 million related to severance. The $9 million of expenses in 2012 related to restructuring expenses.
Income from discontinued operations increased $49 million primarily as a result of the sale of our Campus Solutions business in the second quarter of 2013 which resulted in a $38 million after-tax gain.
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We repurchased 19 million shares of our common stock for $400 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as part of a common share repurchase program. Primarily as a result of these common share repurchases, our average outstanding diluted shares decreased by 40 million shares from the year-ago period.
“Core Earnings” — Definition and Limitations
We prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, we also evaluate our business segments on a basis that differs from GAAP. We refer to this different basis of presentation as “Core Earnings.” We provide this “Core Earnings” basis of presentation on a consolidated basis for each business segment because this is what we review internally when making management decisions regarding our performance and how we allocate resources. We also refer to this information in our presentations with credit rating agencies, lenders and investors. Because our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation corresponds to our segment financial presentations, we are required by GAAP to provide “Core Earnings” disclosure in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for our business segments. For additional information, see “Note 10 — Segment Reporting.”
“Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP. We use “Core Earnings” to manage each business segment because “Core Earnings” reflect adjustments to GAAP financial results for two items, discussed below, that create significant volatility mostly due to timing factors generally beyond the control of management. Accordingly, we believe that “Core Earnings” provide management with a useful basis from which to better evaluate results from ongoing operations against the business plan or against results from prior periods. Consequently, we disclose this information as we believe it provides investors with additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management. The two items for which we adjust our “Core Earnings” presentations are (1) our use of derivative instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
While GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting, for the reasons described above, our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation does not. “Core Earnings” are subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. For example, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. Our “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Accordingly, our “Core Earnings” presentation does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. Investors, therefore, may not be able to compare our performance with that of other financial services companies based upon “Core Earnings.” “Core Earnings” results are only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely used by management, our board of directors, rating agencies, lenders and investors to assess performance.
Specific adjustments that management makes to GAAP results to derive our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation are described in detail in the section titled “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP” of this Item 2.
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The following tables show “Core Earnings” for each business segment and our business as a whole along with the adjustments made to the income/expense items to reconcile the amounts to our reported GAAP results as required by GAAP and reported in “Note 10 — Segment Reporting.”
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Differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP
Net impact of derivative accounting
Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangible assets
Net income tax effect
1) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our Consumer Lending, FFELP Loans and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for our derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
The accounting for derivatives requires that changes in the fair value of derivative instruments be recognized currently in earnings, with no fair value adjustment of the hedged item, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. We believe that our derivatives are effective economic hedges, and as such, are a critical element of our interest rate and foreign currency risk management strategy. However, some of our derivatives, primarily Floor Income Contracts and certain basis swaps, do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and the stand-alone derivative must be marked-to-market in the income statement with no consideration for the corresponding change in fair value of the hedged item. These gains and losses recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” are primarily caused by interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate volatility and changing credit spreads during the period as well as the volume and term of derivatives not receiving hedge accounting treatment.
Our Floor Income Contracts are written options that must meet more stringent requirements than other hedging relationships to achieve hedge effectiveness. Specifically, our Floor Income Contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment because the pay down of principal of the student loans underlying the Floor Income embedded in those student loans does not exactly match the change in the notional amount of our written Floor Income Contracts. Additionally, the term, the interest rate index, and the interest rate index reset frequency of the Floor Income Contract can be different than that of the student loans. Under derivative accounting treatment, the upfront payment is deemed a liability and changes in fair value are recorded through income throughout the life of the contract. The change in the value of Floor Income Contracts is primarily caused by changing interest rates that cause the amount of Floor Income earned on the underlying student loans and paid to the counterparties to vary. This is economically offset by the change in value of the student loan portfolio earning Floor Income but that offsetting change in value is not recognized. We believe the Floor Income Contracts are economic hedges because they effectively fix the amount of Floor Income earned over the contract period, thus eliminating the timing and uncertainty that changes in interest rates can have on Floor Income for that period. Therefore, for
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purposes of “Core Earnings,” we have removed the unrealized gains and losses related to these contracts and added back the amortization of the net premiums received on the Floor Income Contracts. The amortization of the net premiums received on the Floor Income Contracts for “Core Earnings” is reflected in student loan interest income. Under GAAP accounting, the premiums received on the Floor Income Contracts are recorded as revenue in the “losses on derivative and hedging activities, net” line item by the end of the contracts’ lives.
Basis swaps are used to convert floating rate debt from one floating interest rate index to another to better match the interest rate characteristics of the assets financed by that debt. We primarily use basis swaps to hedge our student loan assets that are primarily indexed to LIBOR, Prime or Treasury bill index (for $128 billion of our FFELP assets as of April 1, 2012, we elected to change the index from commercial paper to LIBOR). In addition, we use basis swaps to convert debt indexed to the Consumer Price Index to three-month LIBOR debt. The accounting for derivatives requires that when using basis swaps, the change in the cash flows of the hedge effectively offset both the change in the cash flows of the asset and the change in the cash flows of the liability. Our basis swaps hedge variable interest rate risk; however, they generally do not meet this effectiveness test because the index of the swap does not exactly match the index of the hedged assets as required for hedge accounting treatment. Additionally, some of our FFELP Loans can earn at either a variable or a fixed interest rate depending on market interest rates and therefore swaps economically hedging these FFELP Loans do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting treatment. As a result, under GAAP, these swaps are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value reflected currently in the income statement.
The table below quantifies the adjustments for derivative accounting between GAAP and “Core Earnings” net income.
“Core Earnings” derivative adjustments:
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net, included in other income
Plus: Realized losses on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
Unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net(2)
Amortization of net premiums on Floor Income Contracts in net interest income for “Core Earnings”
Other derivative accounting adjustments(3)
Total net impact of derivative accounting(4)
See “Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities” below for a detailed breakdown of the components of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities.
“Unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” comprises the following unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses):
Basis swaps
Foreign currency hedges
Total unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net
Other derivative accounting adjustments consist of adjustments related to: (1) foreign currency denominated debt that is adjusted to spot foreign exchange rates for GAAP where such adjustment are reversed for “Core Earnings” and (2) certain terminated derivatives that did not receive hedge accounting treatment under GAAP but were economic hedges under “Core Earnings” and, as a result, such gains or losses amortized into “Core Earnings” over the life of the hedged item.
Negative amounts are subtracted from “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income and positive amounts are added to “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income.
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Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities
Derivative accounting requires net settlement income/expense on derivatives and realized gains/losses related to derivative dispositions (collectively referred to as “realized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities”) that do not qualify as hedges to be recorded in a separate income statement line item below net interest income. Under our “Core Earnings” presentation, these gains and losses are reclassified to the income statement line item of the economically hedged item. For our “Core Earnings” net interest margin, this would primarily include: (a) reclassifying the net settlement amounts related to our Floor Income Contracts to student loan interest income and (b) reclassifying the net settlement amounts related to certain of our basis swaps to debt interest expense. The table below summarizes the realized losses on derivative and hedging activities and the associated reclassification on a “Core Earnings” basis.
Reclassification of realized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities:
Net settlement expense on Floor Income Contracts reclassified to net interest income
Net settlement income on interest rate swaps reclassified to net interest income
Net realized gains on terminated derivative contracts reclassified to other income
Total reclassifications of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities
Cumulative Impact of Derivative Accounting under GAAP compared to “Core Earnings”
As of September 30, 2013, derivative accounting has reduced GAAP equity by approximately $936 million as a result of cumulative net unrealized losses (after tax) recognized under GAAP, but not in “Core Earnings.” The following table rolls forward the cumulative impact to GAAP equity due to these unrealized after tax net losses related to derivative accounting.
Beginning impact of derivative accounting on GAAP equity
Net impact of net unrealized gains (losses) under derivative accounting(1)
Ending impact of derivative accounting on GAAP equity
Net impact of net unrealized gains (losses) under derivative accounting is composed of the following:
Total pre-tax net impact of derivative accounting recognized in net income(a)
Tax impact of derivative accounting adjustments recognized in net income
Change in unrealized gain (losses) on derivatives, net of tax recognized in other comprehensive income
Net impact of net unrealized gains (losses) under derivative accounting
See “‘Core Earnings’ derivative adjustments” table above.
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Net Floor premiums received on Floor Income Contracts that have not been amortized into “Core Earnings” as of the respective year-ends are presented in the table below. These net premiums will be recognized in “Core Earnings” in future periods and are presented net of tax. As of September 30, 2013, the remaining amortization term of the net floor premiums was approximately 2.75 years for existing contracts. Historically, we have sold Floor Income Contracts on a periodic basis and depending upon market conditions and pricing, we may enter into additional Floor Income Contracts in the future. The balance of unamortized Floor Income Contracts will increase as we sell new contracts and decline due to the amortization of existing contracts.
Unamortized net Floor premiums (net of tax)
2) Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible asset impairment and the amortization of acquired intangible assets. The following table summarizes the goodwill and acquired intangible asset adjustments.
“Core Earnings” goodwill and acquired intangible asset adjustments(1)
Negative amounts are subtracted from “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income.
Business Segment Earnings Summary — “Core Earnings” Basis
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our Consumer Lending segment.
“Core Earnings” interest income:
Total “Core Earnings” interest income
Total “Core Earnings” interest expense
Net “Core Earnings” interest income
Less: provision for loan losses
Net “Core Earnings” interest income after provision for loan losses
“Core Earnings”
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Quarterly core earnings were $105 million, compared with $62 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase is primarily the result of a $57 million decrease in the provision for Private Education Loan losses.
Third-quarter 2013 Private Education Loan portfolio results vs. third-quarter 2012 included:
Loan originations of $1.5 billion, up 11 percent.
Delinquencies of 90 days or more of 3.8 percent of loans in repayment, down from 5.3 percent.
Loans in forbearance of 3.4 percent of loans in repayment and forbearance, up from 3.2 percent.
Annualized charge-off rate of 2.6 percent of average loans in repayment, down from 3.2 percent.
Provision for Private Education Loan losses of $195 million, down from $252 million.
Core net interest margin, before loan loss provision, of 4.24 percent, up from 4.05 percent.
The portfolio balance, net of loan loss allowance, totaled $37.8 billion, a $651 million increase over the year-ago quarter.
Consumer Lending Net Interest Margin
The following table shows the “Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin along with reconciliation to the GAAP-basis Consumer Lending net interest margin before provision for loan losses.
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan yield
Discount amortization
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan net yield
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan cost of funds
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan spread
“Core Earnings” basis other interest-earning asset spread impact
“Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
Adjustment for GAAP accounting treatment(2)
GAAP basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
The average balances of our Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
Other interest-earning assets
Total Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
Represents the reclassification of periodic interest accruals on derivative contracts from net interest income to other income and other derivative accounting adjustments. For further discussion of these adjustments, see section titled “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Difference between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP” above.
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Private Education Loan Provision for Loan Losses and Charge-Offs
The following table summarizes the total Private Education Loan provision for loan losses and charge-offs.
Private Education Loan provision for loan losses
Private Education Loan charge-offs
In establishing the allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2013, we considered several factors with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio. In particular, we continue to see improvement in credit quality and continuing positive delinquency and charge-off trends in connection with this portfolio. Improving credit quality is seen in higher FICO scores and cosigner rates as well as a more seasoned portfolio. Total loans delinquent (as a percentage of loans in repayment) have decreased to 8.8 percent from 10.0 percent in the year-ago quarter. Loans greater than 90 days delinquent (as a percentage of loans in repayment) have decreased to 3.8 percent from 5.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. The charge-off rate decreased to 2.6 percent from 3.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. Loans in forbearance (as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance) increased to 3.4 percent from 3.2 percent in the year-ago quarter.
Total loans delinquent, however, increased to 8.8 percent from 7.7 percent in the prior quarter. Our collections and servicing personnel invested significant time this quarter answering customer questions, routing payments and addressing other issues resulting from the transition of our Private Education Loan portfolio to a new loan servicing platform. We are increasing our communication efforts with our customers to ensure a smooth transition. Based on the information we have, we do not believe this increase is indicative of future performance trends of these loans.
Apart from these overall improvements in credit quality, delinquency trends and charge-off trends that had the effect of reducing the provision for loan loss in the third quarter of 2013, Private Education Loans that have defaulted between 2008 and 2012 for which we have previously charged off estimated losses have, to varying degrees, not met our post-default recovery expectations to date and may continue to not do so. Our allowance for loan losses takes into account these potential recovery uncertainties. In the third quarter of 2013 we increased our allowance related to these potential recovery shortfalls by approximately $112 million. See “Financial Condition — Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance — Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
The Private Education Loan provision for loan losses was $195 million in the third quarter of 2013, down $57 million from the third quarter of 2012, and $607 million for the first nine months of 2013, down $105 million from the year-ago period. The decline in both periods was a result of the overall improvement in credit quality and performance trends discussed above, leading to decreases in expected future charge-offs. This overall decrease in expected future charge-offs is the net effect of a decrease in expected future defaults less a smaller decrease in what we expect to recover on such defaults.
For a more detailed discussion of our policy for determining the collectability of Private Education Loans and maintaining our allowance for Private Education Loan losses, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Allowance for Loan Losses” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Operating Expenses — Consumer Lending Segment
Operating expenses for our Consumer Lending segment include costs incurred to originate Private Education Loans and to service and collect on our Private Education Loan portfolio. The increase in operating expenses in the quarter ended September 30, 2013 compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily the result of increased loan marketing activities and collection costs as well as continued investments in technology and an increase in pending
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litigation settlement expense. Direct operating expenses as a percentage of revenues (revenues calculated as net interest income after provision plus total other income) were 34 percent and 40 percent in the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 33 percent and 35 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our Business Services segment.
Servicing revenue:
Intercompany loan servicing
Third-party loan servicing
Guarantor servicing
Other servicing
Total servicing revenue
Other Business Services revenue
Total other income
“Core Earnings” were $124 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared with $133 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily the result of a lower outstanding principal balance in the underlying FFELP portfolio serviced.
Our Business Services segment includes intercompany loan servicing fees from servicing the FFELP Loans in our FFELP Loans segment. The average balance of this portfolio was $106 billion and $129 billion for the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $115 billion and $132 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The decline in average balance of FFELP loans outstanding along with the related intercompany loan servicing revenue from the year-ago period is primarily the result of normal amortization of the portfolio as well as the sale of approximately $12 billion of securitized FFELP loans in the first half of 2013.
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We are servicing approximately 5.7 million accounts under the ED Servicing Contract as of September 30, 2013, compared with 5.2 million and 4.1 million accounts serviced at June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Third-party loan servicing fees in the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 included $29 million and $23 million, respectively, of servicing revenue related to the ED Servicing Contract. The increase in ED loan servicing fees for both the quarter and nine-month periods was driven by the increase in the number of accounts serviced.
Third-party loan servicing income increased $14 million from the year-ago quarter and $27 million for the first nine months compared with the prior-year period primarily due to the increase in ED servicing revenue (discussed above) as well as a result of the sale of Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts in 2013. (See “FFELP Loans Segment” for further discussion.) When we sold the Residual Interests, we retained the right to service the loans in the trusts. As such, servicing income that had previously been recorded as intercompany loan servicing is now recognized as third-party loan servicing income.
At September 30, 2013, we serviced approximately $301 billion principal balance of student loans compared with approximately $252 billion serviced at December 31, 2012. The increase in the principal balance serviced in 2013 was primarily due to the growth in the ED serviced accounts discussed above.
Our contingency revenue consists of fees we receive for collections of delinquent debt on behalf of third-party clients performed on a contingent basis. Contingency revenue increased $19 million in the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter and $51 million for the first nine months of 2013 compared with the prior-year period as a result of the higher volume of collections.
The following table presents the outstanding inventory of contingent collections receivables that our Business Services segment will collect on behalf of others. We expect the inventory of contingent collections receivables to decline over time as a result of the elimination of FFELP.
Contingent collections receivables:
In the second quarter of 2013, we sold our Campus Solutions business and recorded an after-tax gain of $38 million. The results related to this business for all periods presented have been reclassified as discontinued operations and are shown on an after-tax basis. In addition, on September 25, 2013, we announced the sale of our 529 college savings plan administration business. This sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013, at which time we expect to recognize a gain of $0.14 per diluted share. As a result of this pending sale, the results of this business were moved to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Revenues related to services performed on FFELP Loans accounted for 76 percent and 82 percent, respectively, of total segment revenues for the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and 78 percent and 82 percent, respectively, of total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
Operating Expenses — Business Services Segment
Operating expenses for our Business Services segment primarily include costs incurred to service our FFELP Loan portfolio, third-party servicing and collection costs, and other operating costs. The increase in operating expenses in the quarter ended September 30, 2013 compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily the result of an increase in our third-party servicing and collection activities as well as continued investments in technology.
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The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our FFELP Loans segment.
“Core Earnings” from the FFELP Loans segment were $92 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared with $94 million in the year-ago quarter. Key financial measures include:
Net interest margin of .93 percent in the third quarter of 2013 compared with .92 percent in the year-ago quarter (see “FFELP Loan Net Interest Margin” for a further discussion of this increase).
The provision for loan losses of $12 million in the third quarter of 2013 decreased from $18 million in the year-ago quarter.
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FFELP Loan Net Interest Margin
The following table includes the “Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan net interest margin along with reconciliation to the GAAP-basis FFELP Loan net interest margin.
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan yield
Hedged Floor Income
Unhedged Floor Income
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees
Repayment Borrower Benefits
Premium amortization
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan net yield
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan cost of funds
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan spread
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loan net interest margin(1)
GAAP-basis FFELP Loan net interest margin(1)
The average balances of our FFELP “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
Total FFELP “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
Represents the reclassification of periodic interest accruals on derivative contracts from net interest income to other income, the reversal of the amortization of premiums received on Floor Income Contracts, and other derivative accounting adjustments. For further discussion of these adjustments, see section titled “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Difference between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP” above.
As of September 30, 2013, our FFELP Loan portfolio totaled approximately $106.3 billion, comprised of $40.8 billion of FFELP Stafford and $65.5 billion of FFELP Consolidation Loans. The weighted-average life of these portfolios is 4.9 years and 9.4 years, respectively, assuming a Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”) of 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
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Floor Income
The following table analyzes the ability of the FFELP Loans in our portfolio to earn Floor Income after September 30, 2013 and 2012, based on interest rates as of those dates.
Student loans eligible to earn Floor Income
Less: post-March 31, 2006 disbursed loans required to rebate Floor Income
Less: economically hedged Floor Income Contracts
Student loans earning Floor Income
We have sold Floor Income Contracts to hedge the potential Floor Income from specifically identified pools of FFELP Consolidation Loans that are eligible to earn Floor Income.
The following table presents a projection of the average balance of FFELP Consolidation Loans for which Fixed Rate Floor Income has been economically hedged through Floor Income Contracts for the period October 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016. The hedges related to these loans do not qualify as accounting hedges.
Average balance of FFELP Consolidation Loans whose Floor Income is economically hedged
FFELP Loan Provision for Loan Losses and Charge-Offs
The following table summarizes the total FFELP Loan provision for loan losses and charge-offs for the three and nine months September 30, 2013 and 2012.
FFELP Loan provision for loan losses
FFELP Loan charge-offs
Gains on Sales of Loans and Investments
The increase in gains on sales of loans and investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 from the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was the result of $312 million in gains from the sale of Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts in 2013.
We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts that were sold under existing agreements. The sales removed securitization trust assets of $12.5 billion and related liabilities of $12.1 billion from the balance sheet during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Operating Expenses — FFELP Loans
Operating expenses for our FFELP Loans segment primarily include the contractual rates we pay to service loans in term asset-backed securitization trusts or a similar rate if a loan is not in a term financing facility (which
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is presented as an intercompany charge from the Business Services segment who services the loans), the fees we pay for third-party loan servicing and costs incurred to acquire loans. The intercompany revenue charged by the Business Services segment and included in those amounts was $123 million and $164 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $409 million and $512 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts exceed the actual cost of servicing the loans. Operating expenses were 48 basis points and 53 basis points of average FFELP Loans in the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 50 basis points and 54 basis points of average FFELP Loans in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The decline in operating expenses from the prior-year quarter was primarily the result of the reduction in the average outstanding balance of our FFELP Loan portfolio.
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results of our Other segment.
Net interest loss after provision for loan losses
Overhead expenses:
Corporate overhead
Unallocated information technology costs
Total overhead expenses
Loss before income tax benefit
“Core Earnings” (loss)
Net Interest Loss after Provision for Loan Losses
Net interest loss after provision for loan losses includes net interest income related to our corporate liquidity portfolio as well as net interest income and provision expense related to our mortgage and consumer loan portfolios.
Gains on Debt Repurchases
We repurchased $0 and $230 million face amount of our debt for the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and $997 million and $520 million face amount of our debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Debt repurchase activity will fluctuate based on market fundamentals and our liability management strategy.
Overhead
Corporate overhead is comprised of costs related to executive management, the board of directors, accounting, finance, legal, human resources and stock-based compensation expense. Unallocated information
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technology costs are related to infrastructure and operations. The increase in overhead for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the year-ago period was primarily the result of a non-recurring $10 million pension termination gain in the first nine months of 2012.
Restructuring and Other Reorganization Expenses
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 were $12 million compared with $1 million in the year-ago quarter. For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, these consisted of expenses primarily related to third-party costs incurred in connection with the Company’s previously announced plan to separate its existing organization into two, separate, publicly traded companies.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, restructuring and other reorganization expenses were $43 million compared with $4 million in the year-ago period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, these consisted of $24 million of expenses related to third-party costs incurred in connection with the Company’s previously announced plan to separate its existing organization into two, separate publicly traded companies and $19 million related to severance. The $4 million of expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was related to restructuring expenses.
Financial Condition
This section provides additional information regarding the changes in our loan portfolio assets and related liabilities as well as credit quality and performance indicators related to our loan portfolio.
Average Balance Sheets — GAAP
The following table reflects the rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities and reflects our net interest margin on a consolidated basis.
Average Assets
Total interest-earning assets
Non-interest-earning assets
Average Liabilities and Equity
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
Net interest margin
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Rate/Volume Analysis — GAAP
The following rate/volume analysis shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 vs. 2012
Interest income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 vs. 2012
Changes in income and expense due to both rate and volume have been allocated in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each. The changes in income and expense are calculated independently for each line in the table. The totals for the rate and volume columns are not the sum of the individual lines.
Summary of our Student Loan Portfolio
Ending Student Loan Balances, net
Total student loan portfolio:
In-school(1)
Grace, repayment and other(2)
Total, gross
Unamortized premium/(discount)
Receivable for partially charged-off loans
Allowance for loan losses
Total student loan portfolio
% of total FFELP
% of total
Loans for customers still attending school and are not yet required to make payments on the loan.
Includes loans in deferment or forbearance.
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Average Student Loan Balances (net of unamortized premium/discount)
% of FFELP
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Student Loan Activity
Acquisitions and originations
Capitalized interest and premium/discount amortization
Consolidations to third parties
Sales
Repayments and other
Sales(1)
Includes $12.0 billion of student loans in connection with the sale of Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts.
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Student Loan Allowance for Loan Losses Activity
Less:
Plus:
Provision for loan losses
Troubled debt restructuring(3)
Represents the recorded investment of loans classified as troubled debt restructuring.
Private Education Loan Originations
The following table summarizes our Private Education Loan originations.
Smart Option — interest only(1)
Smart Option — fixed pay(1)
Smart Option — deferred(1)
Total Private Education Loan originations
Interest only, fixed pay and deferred describe the payment option while in school or in grace period. See “Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance — Private Education Loan Repayment Options” for further discussion.
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Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance
Private Education Loan Delinquencies and Forbearance
The table below presents our Private Education Loan delinquency trends.
Total Private Education Loans in repayment
Total Private Education Loans, gross
Private Education Loan unamortized discount
Total Private Education Loans
Private Education Loan receivable for partially charged-off loans
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
Loans in repayment greater than 12 months as a percentage of loans in repayment(4)
Based on number of months in an active repayment status for which a scheduled monthly payment was due.
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Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses
The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan losses.
Allowance at beginning of period
Provision for Private Education Loan losses
Allowance at end of period
Allowance as a percentage of ending total loans
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment
Average coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. The expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
Ending total loans represents gross Private Education Loans, plus the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
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The following table provides the detail for our traditional and non-traditional Private Education Loans for the quarters ended.
Ending total loans(1)
Allowance as a percentage of ending total loan balance
Delinquencies greater than 90 days as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
Loans that entered repayment during the period(2)
Percentage of Private Education Loans with a cosigner
Average FICO at origination
Ending total loans represent gross Private Education Loans, plus the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
Includes loans that are required to make a payment for the first time.
As part of concluding on the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, we review key allowance and loan metrics. The most significant of these metrics considered are the allowance coverage of charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of total loans and of loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages.
At the end of each month, for loans that are 212 days past due, we charge off the estimated loss of a defaulted loan balance. Actual recoveries are applied against the remaining loan balance that was not charged off. We refer to this remaining loan balance as the “receivable for partially charged-off loans.” If actual periodic recoveries are less than expected, the difference is immediately charged off through the allowance for loan losses with an offsetting reduction in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans. If actual periodic recoveries are greater than expected, they will be reflected as a recovery through the allowance for Private Education Loan losses once the cumulative recovery amount exceeds the cumulative amount originally expected to be recovered. Private Education Loans which defaulted between 2008 and 2012 for which we have previously charged off estimated losses have, to varying degrees, not met our post-default recovery expectations to date and may continue not to do so. According to our policy, we have been charging off these periodic shortfalls in expected recoveries against our allowance for Private Education Loan losses and the related receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans and we will continue to do so. There was $329 million and $187 million in allowance for Private Education Loan losses at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, providing for possible additional future charge-offs related to the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans (see “Consumer Lending Segment — Private Education Loan Provision for Loan Losses and Charge-Offs” for a further discussion).
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Represents the difference between the defaulted loan balance and our estimate of the amount to be collected in the future.
Represents the current period recovery shortfall — the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected. These amounts are included in total charge-offs as reported in the “Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses” table.
Use of Forbearance as a Private Education Loan Collection Tool
Forbearance involves granting the customer a temporary cessation of payments (or temporary acceptance of smaller than scheduled payments) for a specified period of time. Using forbearance extends the original term of the loan. Forbearance does not grant any reduction in the total repayment obligation (principal or interest). While in forbearance status, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized to principal when the loan re-enters repayment status. Our forbearance policies include limits on the number of forbearance months granted consecutively and the total number of forbearance months granted over the life of the loan. In some instances, we require good-faith payments before granting forbearance. Exceptions to forbearance policies are permitted when such exceptions are judged to increase the likelihood of collection of the loan. Forbearance as a collection tool is used most effectively when applied based on a customer’s unique situation, including historical information and judgments. We leverage updated customer information and other decision support tools to best determine who will be granted forbearance based on our expectations as to a customer’s ability and willingness to repay their obligation. This strategy is aimed at mitigating the overall risk of the portfolio as well as encouraging cash resolution of delinquent loans.
Forbearance may be granted to customers who are exiting their grace period to provide additional time to obtain employment and income to support their obligations, or to current customers who are faced with a hardship and request forbearance time to provide temporary payment relief. In these circumstances, a customer’s loan is placed into a forbearance status in limited monthly increments and is reflected in the forbearance status at month-end during this time. At the end of their granted forbearance period, the customer will enter repayment status as current and is expected to begin making their scheduled monthly payments on a go-forward basis.
Forbearance may also be granted to customers who are delinquent in their payments. In these circumstances, the forbearance cures the delinquency and the customer is returned to a current repayment status. In more limited instances, delinquent customers will also be granted additional forbearance time.
The table below reflects the historical effectiveness of using forbearance. Our experience has shown that three years after being granted forbearance for the first time, 66 percent of the loans are current, paid in full, or receiving an in-school grace or deferment, and 20 percent have defaulted. The default experience associated with loans which utilize forbearance is considered in our allowance for loan losses. The number of loans in a forbearance status as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance increased to 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2013 compared
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with 3.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. As of September 30, 2013, one percent of loans in current status were delinquent as of the end of the prior month, but were granted a forbearance that made them current as of September 30, 2013 (customers made payments on approximately 29 percent of these loans as a prerequisite to being granted forbearance).
Tracking by First Time in Forbearance Compared to All Loans Entering Repayment —
Portfolio data through September 30, 2013
In-school/grace/deferment
Current
Delinquent 31-60 days
Delinquent 61-90 days
Delinquent greater than 90 days
Forbearance
Defaulted
Paid
The tables below show the composition and status of the Private Education Loan portfolio aged by number of months in active repayment status (months for which a scheduled monthly payment was due). As indicated in the tables, the percentage of loans in forbearance status decreases the longer the loans have been in active repayment status. At September 30, 2013, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance were 6.2 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for less than 25 months. The percentage drops to 1.4 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for more than 48 months. Approximately 65 percent of our Private Education Loans in forbearance status has been in active repayment status less than 25 months.
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
Loans in forbearance
Loans in repayment — current
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
Unamortized discount
Total Private Education Loans, net
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September 30, 2012
The table below stratifies the portfolio of Private Education Loans in forbearance by the cumulative number of months the customer has used forbearance as of the dates indicated. As detailed in the table below, 6 percent of loans currently in forbearance have cumulative forbearance of more than 24 months.
Cumulative number of months customer has used forbearance
Up to 12 months
13 to 24 months
More than 24 months
Private Education Loan Repayment Options
Certain loan programs allow customers to select from a variety of repayment options depending on their loan type and their enrollment/loan status, which include the ability to extend their repayment term or change their monthly payment. The chart below provides the optional repayment offerings in addition to the standard level principal and interest payments as of September 30, 2013.
$ in repayment
$ in total
Payment method by enrollment status:
In-school/grace
interest-only or fixed$25/month
$25/month
Repayment
interest or graduated
interest
“Deferred” includes loans for which no payments are required and interest charges are capitalized into the loan balance.
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The graduated repayment program that is part of Signature and Other Loans includes an interest-only payment feature that may be selected at the option of the customer. Customers elect to participate in this program at the time they enter repayment following their grace period. This program is available to customers in repayment, after their grace period, who would like a temporary lower payment from the required principal and interest payment amount. Customers participating in this program pay monthly interest with no amortization of their principal balance for up to 48 payments after entering repayment (dependent on the loan product type). The maturity date of the loan is not extended when a customer participates in this program. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, customers in repayment owing approximately $5.0 billion (16 percent of loans in repayment) and $6.7 billion (22 percent of loans in repayment), respectively, were enrolled in the interest-only program. Of these amounts, 10 percent and 11 percent were non-traditional loans as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
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FFELP Loan Portfolio Performance
FFELP Loan Delinquencies and Forbearance
The table below presents our FFELP Loan delinquency trends.
Loans for customers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on the loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation, as well as loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making payments due to hardship or other factors.
Loans for customers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making payments due to hardship or other factors.
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Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses
The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for FFELP Loan losses.
Provision for FFELP Loan losses
Charge-offs
Allowance as a percentage of ending total loans, gross
Ending total loans, gross
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Funding and Liquidity Risk Management
The following “Liquidity and Capital Resources” discussion concentrates on our Consumer Lending and FFELP Loans segments. Our Business Services and Other segments require minimal capital and funding.
We define liquidity risk as the potential inability to meet our obligations when they become due without incurring unacceptable losses, such as the ability to fund liability maturities and deposit withdrawals, or invest in future asset growth and business operations at reasonable market rates, as well as the potential inability to fund Private Education Loan originations. Our three primary liquidity needs include our ongoing ability to meet our funding needs for our businesses throughout market cycles, including during periods of financial stress and to avoid any mismatch between the maturity of assets and liabilities, our ongoing ability to fund originations of Private Education Loans and servicing our indebtedness and bank deposits. To achieve these objectives we analyze and monitor our liquidity needs, maintain excess liquidity and access diverse funding sources including the issuance of unsecured debt, the issuance of secured debt primarily through asset-backed securitizations and/or other financing facilities and through deposits at the Bank.
We define liquidity as cash and high-quality liquid securities that we can use to meet our funding requirements. Our primary liquidity risk relates to our ability to fund new originations and raise replacement funding at a reasonable cost as our unsecured debt and bank deposits mature. In addition, we must continue to obtain funding at reasonable rates to meet our other business obligations and to continue to grow our business. Key risks associated with our liquidity relate to our ability to access the capital markets and bank deposits and access them at reasonable rates. This ability may be affected by our credit ratings, as well as the overall availability of funding sources in the marketplace. In addition, credit ratings may be important to customers or counterparties when we compete in certain markets and when we seek to engage in certain transactions, including over-the-counter derivatives.
Credit ratings and outlooks are opinions subject to ongoing review by the ratings agencies and may change from time to time based on our financial performance, industry dynamics and other factors. Other factors that influence our credit ratings include the ratings agencies’ assessment of the general operating environment, our
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relative positions in the markets in which we compete, reputation, liquidity position, the level and volatility of earnings, corporate governance and risk management policies, capital position and capital management practices. A negative change in our credit rating could have a negative effect on our liquidity because it would raise the cost and availability of funding and potentially require additional cash collateral or restrict cash currently held as collateral on existing borrowings or derivative collateral arrangements. It is our objective to improve our credit ratings so that we can continue to efficiently access the capital markets even in difficult economic and market conditions.
We expect to fund our ongoing liquidity needs, including the origination of new Private Education Loans and the repayment of $3.2 billion of senior unsecured notes that mature in the next twelve months, primarily through our current cash and investment portfolio, the issuance of additional bank deposits and unsecured debt, the predictable operating cash flows provided by earnings, the repayment of principal on unencumbered student loan assets and the distributions from our securitization trusts (including servicing fees which are priority payments within the trusts). We may also draw down on our secured FFELP facilities.
Currently, new Private Education Loan originations are initially funded through deposits and subsequently securitized to term. We have $1.2 billion of cash at the Bank as of September 30, 2013 available to fund future originations. We no longer originate FFELP Loans and therefore no longer have liquidity requirements for new FFELP Loan originations, but will continue to opportunistically purchase FFELP Loan portfolios from others.
Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity
Ending Balances
Sources of primary liquidity:
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries
Sallie Mae Bank(1)
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments
Unencumbered FFELP Loans
Average Balances
This amount will be used primarily to originate or acquire student loans at the Bank. See discussion below on restrictions on the Bank to pay dividends.
Liquidity may also be available under secured credit facilities to the extent we have eligible collateral and capacity available. Maximum borrowing capacity under the FFELP Loan — other facilities will vary and be subject to each agreement’s borrowing conditions, including, among others, facility size, current usage and availability of qualifying collateral from unencumbered FFELP Loans. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the maximum additional capacity under these facilities was $11.2 billion and $11.8 billion, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the average maximum additional
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capacity under these facilities was $11.4 billion and $11.1 billion, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the average maximum additional capacity under these facilities was $11.1 billion and $11.3 billion, respectively.
We also hold a number of other unencumbered assets, consisting primarily of Private Education Loans and other assets. Total unencumbered student loans, net, comprised $13.5 billion of our unencumbered assets of which $11.5 billion and $2.0 billion related to Private Education Loans, net and FFELP Loans, net, respectively. At September 30, 2013, we had a total of $22.8 billion of unencumbered assets inclusive of those described above as sources of primary liquidity and exclusive of goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. While applicable Utah and FDIC regulations differ in approach as to determinations of impairment of capital and surplus, neither method of determination has historically required the Bank to obtain consent to the payment of dividends. The Bank paid no dividends for the three months ended September 30, 2013. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Bank paid dividends of $75 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Bank paid dividends of $120 million and $345 million, respectively.
For further discussion of our various sources of liquidity, such as the FFELP Loan — other facilities, the Bank, our continued access to the ABS market, our Private Education Loans — other facilities and our issuance of unsecured debt, see “Note 6 — Borrowings” in our 2012 Form 10-K.
The following table reconciles encumbered and unencumbered assets and their net impact on total tangible equity.
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities (encumbered assets) — FFELP Loans
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities (encumbered assets) — Private Education Loans
Tangible unencumbered assets(1)
Unsecured borrowings
Mark-to-market on unsecured hedged debt(2)
Other liabilities, net
Total tangible equity
Excludes goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, of net gains on derivatives hedging this debt in unencumbered assets, which partially offset these losses.
Transactions during the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
The following financing transactions have taken place in the first nine months of 2013:
Unsecured Financings:
January 28, 2013 — issued $1.5 billion senior unsecured bonds.
September 20, 2013 — issued $1.25 billion senior unsecured bonds.
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FFELP ABS Financings:
February 14, 2013 — issued $1.2 billion FFELP ABS.
April 11, 2013 — issued $1.2 billion FFELP ABS.
June 20, 2013 — issued $1.2 billion FFELP ABS.
August 15, 2013 — issued $747 million FFELP ABS.
September 19, 2013 — issued $996 million FFELP ABS.
Private Education Loan ABS Financings:
January 31, 2013 — issued $0.3 billion Private Education Loan ABS funding a portfolio of previously issued auction rate securities that we had reacquired.
March 7, 2013 — issued $1.1 billion Private Education Loan ABS.
May 2, 2013 — issued $1.1 billion Private Education Loan ABS.
September 26, 2013 — issued $624 million Private Education Loan ABS.
On June 10, 2013, we closed on a new $6.8 billion credit facility that matures in June 2014 to facilitate the term securitization of FFELP Loans. The facility was used in June 2013 to refinance all of the FFELP Loans previously financed through the ED Conduit Program. As a result, we ended our participation in the ED Conduit Program.
On July 17, 2013, we closed on a $1.1 billion asset-backed borrowing facility that matures on August 15, 2015. The facility was used to fund the call and redemption of our SLM 2009-D Private Education Loan Trust ABS, which occurred on August 15, 2013.
Shareholder Distributions
In third-quarter 2013, we paid a common stock dividend of $0.15 per share.
In July 2013, we authorized $400 million to be utilized in a new common share repurchase program that does not have an expiration date. There were no share repurchases in the third-quarter 2013.
2013 Sales of FFELP Loan Securitization Trust Residual Interests
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Counterparty Exposure
Counterparty exposure related to financial instruments arises from the risk that a lending, investment or derivative counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to us. Risks associated with our lending portfolio are discussed in Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Condition — Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance” and “— FFELP Loan Portfolio Performance.”
Our investment portfolio is composed of very short-term securities issued by a diversified group of highly rated issuers, limiting our counterparty exposure. Additionally, our investing activity is governed by Board approved limits on the amount that is allowed to be invested with any one issuer based on the credit rating of the issuer, further minimizing our counterparty exposure. Counterparty credit risk is considered when valuing investments and considering impairment.
Related to derivative transactions, protection against counterparty risk is generally provided by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”). CSAs require a counterparty to post collateral if a potential default would expose the other party to a loss. All derivative contracts entered into by SLM Corporation and the Bank are covered under such agreements and require collateral to be exchanged based on the net fair value of derivatives with each counterparty. Our securitization trusts require collateral in all cases if the counterparty’s credit rating is withdrawn or downgraded below a certain level. Additionally, securitizations involving foreign currency notes issued after November 2005 also require the counterparty to post collateral to the trust based on the fair value of the derivative, regardless of credit rating. The trusts are not required to post collateral to the counterparties. In all cases, our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position net of any collateral we are holding. We consider counterparties’ credit risk when determining the fair value of derivative positions on our exposure net of collateral.
We have liquidity exposure related to collateral movements between us and our derivative counterparties. Movements in the value of the derivatives, which are primarily affected by changes in interest rate and foreign exchange rates, may require us to return cash collateral held or may require us to access primary liquidity to post collateral to counterparties. If our credit ratings are downgraded from current levels, we may be required to segregate additional unrestricted cash collateral into restricted accounts.
The table below highlights exposure related to our derivative counterparties at September 30, 2013.
Exposure, net of collateral(1)
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P AA- or Moody’s Aa3
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P A- or Moody’s A3
Recent turmoil in the European markets has led to increased disclosure of exposure to those markets. Our securitization trusts had total net exposure of $740 million related to financial institutions located in France; of this amount, $540 million carries a guaranty from the French government. The total exposure relates to $5.7 billion notional amount of cross-currency interest rate swaps held in our securitization trusts, of which $3.4 billion notional amount carries a guaranty from the French government. Counterparties to the cross currency interest rate swaps are required to post collateral when their credit rating is withdrawn or downgraded below a certain level. As of September 30, 2013, no collateral was required to be posted and we are not holding any collateral related to these contracts. Adjustments are made to our derivative valuations for counterparty credit risk. The adjustments made at September 30, 2013 related to derivatives with French financial institutions (including those that carry a guaranty from the French government) decreased the derivative asset value by $90 million. Credit risks for all derivative counterparties are assessed internally on a continual basis.
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“Core Earnings” Basis Borrowings
The following tables present the ending balances of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and average balances and average interest rates of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The average interest rates include derivatives that are economically hedging the underlying debt but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. (See “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP — Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities” of this Item 2).
FFELP Loan — other facilities
Private Education Loan — other facilities
Secured borrowings comprised 82 percent and 84 percent of our “Core Earnings” basis debt outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
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“Core Earnings” average balance and rate
Adjustment for GAAP accounting treatment
GAAP basis average balance and rate
“Other” primarily consists of the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivative exposure.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. A discussion of our critical accounting policies, which include allowance for loan losses, premium and discount amortization related to our loan portfolio, fair value measurement, transfers of financial assets and the VIE consolidation model, derivative accounting and goodwill and intangible assets can be found in our 2012 Form 10-K. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the first nine months of 2013.
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Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis
Our interest rate risk management seeks to limit the impact of short-term movements in interest rates on our results of operations and financial position. The following tables summarize the potential effect on earnings over the next 12 months and the potential effect on fair values of balance sheet assets and liabilities at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by management assuming a hypothetical increase in market interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points while funding spreads remain constant. Additionally, as it relates to the effect on earnings, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the funding index increases 25 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index. The earnings sensitivity is applied only to financial assets and liabilities, including hedging instruments that existed at the balance sheet date and does not take into account new assets, liabilities or hedging instruments that may arise over the ensuing twelve months.
(Dollars in millions, except
per share amounts)
Effect on Earnings:
Change in pre-tax net income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
Increase in net income before taxes
Increase in diluted earnings per common share
If an asset is not funded with the same index/frequency reset of the asset then it is assumed the funding index increases 25 basis points while holding the asset index constant.
Effect on Fair Values:
Other earning assets
Total assets gain/(loss)
Total liabilities (gain)/loss
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A primary objective in our funding is to minimize our sensitivity to changing interest rates by generally funding our floating rate student loan portfolio with floating rate debt. However, due to the ability of some FFELP loans to earn Floor Income, we can have a fixed versus floating mismatch in funding if the student loan earns at the fixed borrower rate and the funding remains floating. In addition, we can have a mismatch in the index (including the frequency of reset) of floating rate debt versus floating rate assets.
During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, certain FFELP Loans were earning Floor Income and we locked in a portion of that Floor Income through the use of Floor Income contracts. The result of these hedging transactions was to convert a portion of the fixed rate nature of student loans to variable rate, and to fix the relative spread between the student loan asset rate and the variable rate liability.
In the preceding tables, under the scenario where interest rates increase 100 and 300 basis points, the change in pre-tax net income before the unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities is primarily due to the impact of (i) our unhedged loans being in a fixed-rate mode due to Floor Income, while being funded with variable debt in low interest rate environments; and (ii) a portion of our variable assets being funded with fixed rate liabilities and equity. Item (i) will generally cause income to decrease when interest rates increase from a low interest rate environment, whereas item (ii) will generally offset this decrease.
Under the scenario in the tables above labeled “Impact on Annual Earnings If: Funding Indices Increase 25 Basis Points,” the main driver of the decrease in pre-tax income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities in both the September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 analyses is the result of one-month LIBOR-indexed FFELP Loans (loans formerly indexed to commercial paper) being funded with three-month LIBOR and other non-discrete indexed liabilities. See “Asset and Liability Funding Gap” of this Item 7A for a further discussion. Increasing the spread between indices will also impact the unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities as it relates to basis swaps that hedge the mismatch between the asset and funding indices.
In addition to interest rate risk addressed in the preceding tables, we are also exposed to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency exchange risk is primarily the result of foreign currency denominated debt issued by us. When we issue foreign denominated corporate unsecured and securitization debt, our policy is to use cross currency interest rate swaps to swap all foreign currency denominated debt payments (fixed and floating) to U.S. dollar LIBOR using a fixed exchange rate. In the tables above, there would be an immaterial impact on earnings if exchange rates were to decrease or increase, due to the terms of the hedging instrument and hedged items
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matching. The balance sheet interest bearing liabilities would be affected by a change in exchange rates; however, the change would be materially offset by the cross currency interest rate swaps in other assets or other liabilities. In the current economic environment, volatility in the spread between spot and forward foreign exchange rates has resulted in material mark-to-market impacts to current-period earnings which have not been factored into the above analysis. The earnings impact is noncash, and at maturity of the instruments the cumulative mark-to-market impact will be zero.
Asset and Liability Funding Gap
The tables below present our assets and liabilities (funding) arranged by underlying indices as of September 30, 2013. In the following GAAP presentation, the funding gap only includes derivatives that qualify as effective hedges (those derivatives which are reflected in net interest margin, as opposed to those reflected in the “gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” line on the consolidated statements of income). The difference between the asset and the funding is the funding gap for the specified index. This represents our exposure to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk, which is the risk that the different indices may reset at different frequencies or may not move in the same direction or at the same magnitude.
Management analyzes interest rate risk and in doing so includes all derivatives that are economically hedging our debt whether they qualify as effective hedges or not (“Core Earnings” basis). Accordingly, we are also presenting the asset and liability funding gap on a “Core Earnings” basis in the table that follows the GAAP presentation.
GAAP-Basis
Index
3-month Treasury bill
Prime
PLUS Index
3-month LIBOR
1-month LIBOR
1-month LIBOR daily
CMT/CPI Index
Non-Discrete reset(3)
Non-Discrete reset(4)
Fixed Rate(5)
FFELP Loans of $46.9 billion ($42.5 billion LIBOR index and $4.4 billion Treasury bill index) are currently earning a fixed rate of interest as a result of the low interest rate environment.
Funding (by index) includes all derivatives that qualify as hedges.
Funding consists of auction rate securities and FFELP Loan-other facilities.
Assets include restricted and unrestricted cash equivalents and other overnight type instruments. Funding includes retail and other deposits and the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivatives exposures.
Assets include receivables and other assets (including goodwill and acquired intangibles). Funding includes other liabilities and stockholders’ equity (excluding series B Preferred Stock).
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The “Funding Gaps” in the above table are primarily interest rate mismatches in short-term indices between our assets and liabilities. We address this issue typically through the use of basis swaps that typically convert quarterly reset three-month LIBOR to other indices that are more correlated to our asset indices. These basis swaps do not qualify as effective hedges and as a result the effect on the funding index is not included in our interest margin and is therefore excluded from the GAAP presentation.
“Core Earnings” Basis
FFELP Loans of $15.2 billion ($13.9 billion LIBOR index and $1.3 billion Treasury bill index) are currently earning a fixed rate of interest as a result of the low interest rate environment.
Funding (by index) includes all derivatives that management considers economic hedges of interest rate risk and reflects how we internally manage our interest rate exposure.
We use interest rate swaps and other derivatives to achieve our risk management objectives. Our asset liability management strategy is to match assets with debt (in combination with derivatives) that have the same underlying index and reset frequency or, when economical, have interest rate characteristics that we believe are highly correlated. The use of funding with index types and reset frequencies that are different from our assets exposes us to interest rate risk in the form of basis and repricing risk. This could result in our cost of funds not moving in the same direction or with the same magnitude as the yield on our assets. While we believe this risk is low, as all of these indices are short-term with rate movements that are highly correlated over a long period of time, market disruptions (which have occurred in recent years) can lead to a temporary divergence between indices resulting in a negative impact to our earnings.
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Weighted Average Life
The following table reflects the weighted average life of our earning assets and liabilities at September 30, 2013.
(Averages in Years)
Total borrowings
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief principal executive and principal financial officers, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2013. Based on this evaluation, our chief principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that, as of September 30, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief principal executive and principal financial officers as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
At the time of this filing, the Bank remains subject to a cease and desist order originally issued in August 2008 by the FDIC and the UDFI. In July 2013, the FDIC notified the Bank that it plans to replace the existing cease and desist order with a new formal enforcement action that will more specifically address certain cited violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, including with respect to the SCRA, and the ECOA and its implementing regulation, Regulation B, which will likely include civil money penalties and restitution. The Bank has been notified by the UDFI that it does not intend to join the FDIC in issuing the new enforcement action.
With respect to the alleged civil violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act relating to the SCRA, we are also in discussions with the DOJ, as the agency having primary authority for enforcement of SCRA matters, regarding settlement, remediation and a comprehensive restitution plan. In September 2013, we also received a Civil Investigative Demand from the CFPB as part of its separate investigation regarding allegations relating to our existing payment allocation practices and procedures, the same as those previously raised by the FDIC.
We and our subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to various claims, lawsuits and other actions that arise in the normal course of business. Most of these matters are claims by borrowers disputing the manner in which their loans have been processed or the accuracy of our reports to credit bureaus. In addition, our collections subsidiaries are routinely named in individual plaintiff or class action lawsuits in which the plaintiffs allege that those subsidiaries have violated a federal or state law in the process of collecting their accounts. We believe that these claims, lawsuits and other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Finally, from time to time, we and our subsidiaries and affiliates receive information and document requests from state attorneys general, legislative committees and administrative agencies concerning certain business practices. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and to be responsive to any such requests.
For a description of these items and other litigation to which we are a party, see our 2012 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC.
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Readers should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our 2012 Form 10-K.
Our businesses are regulated by various state and federal laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in significant costs, sanctions, litigation or the loss of insurance and guarantees on affected FFELP Loans.
The Bank is subject to state and FDIC regulation, oversight and regular examination, including by the CFPB. The FDIC and state regulators have the authority to impose fines, penalties or other limitations on the Bank’s operations should they conclude that its operations are not compliant with applicable laws and regulations. At the time of this filing, the Bank is subject to a 2008 cease and desist order issued jointly by the FDIC and the UDFI for weaknesses in its compliance function. Many of these weaknesses have previously been attributed to the Bank’s oversight of significant activities performed outside the Bank by Company affiliates.
We have made and continue to make changes to the Bank’s oversight of significant activities performed outside the Bank by Company affiliates and to our business practices in order to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the terms of any cease and desist orders, including in connection with our pursuit of a strategic plan to separate our existing organization into two publicly traded companies. We are cooperating fully with the FDIC, DOJ and CFPB in response to their investigations and requests for information and are in active discussions with each with respect to any potential actions to be taken against us. We could be required to, or otherwise determine to, make further changes to the business practices and products of the Bank and our other affiliates to respond to regulatory concerns. Such changes to the business practices and products of the Bank or our other affiliates in response to current or future regulatory concerns and enforcement, or other action by the above referenced or other regulators, which may include civil money penalties and require restitution to customers, could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The proposed separation of our current business into two, separate, publicly traded entities is contingent upon the satisfaction of a number of conditions, which may not be consummated on the terms or timeline currently contemplated or may not achieve the intended results. Though we are unaware of any applicable requirement that the FDIC, UDFI or CFPB approve of the proposed separation, we can give no assurances that they or other consumer or financial regulators will not affect the timing, manner or terms of the separation.
We are currently pursuing a strategic plan to separate our existing organization into two publicly traded companies, an education loan management company and a consumer banking company. It is expected the separation, if completed, will occur in the first half of 2014. Our ability to timely effect the separation is subject
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to several conditions, including, among others, the receipt of a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service and the SEC declaring effective a registration statement relating to the securities of the separated entity. We cannot assure that we will be able to complete the separation in a timely fashion, if at all. For these and other reasons, the separation may not be completed on the terms or timeline contemplated. Further, if the separation is completed, it may not achieve the intended results. Any such difficulties could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
The Bank is subject to state and FDIC regulation, oversight and regular examination and it remains subject to a cease and desist order originally issued in 2008 citing weaknesses in its compliance function. Many of these weaknesses have previously been attributed to the Bank’s oversight of significant activities performed outside the Bank by Company affiliates-a condition that we are seeking, in part, to eliminate through the separation of our current business into two companies. There can be no assurance the FDIC, UDFI and CFPB will approve of our efforts to operationalize the Bank and minimize the number of activities performed by Company affiliates or acknowledge these efforts under the existing cease and desist order. Our failure to comply with various laws and regulations or with the terms of the cease and desist order, or any assertion of any such failure that is raised by any regulator could result in litigation expenses, restitution, fines, business sanctions, and limitations on our ability to fund Private Education Loans, which are currently funded by deposits raised by the Bank, or restrictions on the operations of the Bank. Furthermore, the FDIC, UDFI or CFPB could require us to undertake significant changes to the manner in which we currently provide services to the Bank through our affiliates. If we are unable to demonstrate to the FDIC, UDFI and CFPB the benefits of the design and execution of the proposed separation, these changes could come at significant cost and impede or delay our ability to complete the separation of our business in the time or manner we currently estimate. The imposition of fines, penalties or other limitations on the Bank’s business or our ability to complete the separation could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our credit ratings are important to our liquidity. A reduction in our credit ratings could adversely affect our liquidity, increase our borrowing costs, limit our access to the markets or trigger obligations under certain provisions in collateralized agreements.
As a result of the proposed separation, the rating agencies have taken certain negative ratings actions with regard to the Company, including, in one instance, the lowering of the Company’s senior unsecured long-term credit rating to below investment grade level with negative implications and with respect to certain other rating agencies, placing the senior unsecured long-term credit ratings on negative watch. The Company’s senior unsecured long-term credit rating had already been rated below investment grade level by one agency. There can be no assurance that the Company’s credit ratings will not be reduced further or reduced by other rating agencies at the conclusion of their credit review. There can be no assurance as to the ratings, if any, of the new entities or holding companies if the separation occurs as currently contemplated.
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Share Repurchases
The following table provides information relating to our purchase of shares of our common stock in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Period:
July 1 — July 31, 2013
August 1 — August 31, 2013
September 1 — September 30, 2013
Total third-quarter 2013
The total number of shares purchased includes: (i) shares purchased under the stock repurchase program discussed below, and (ii) shares of our common stock tendered to us to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercise of stock options, and tax withholding obligations in connection with exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units.
In July 2013, our board of directors authorized us to purchase up to $400 million of shares of our common stock.
The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 30, 2013 was $24.90.
Nothing to report.
The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
XBRL Instance Document.
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ JOSEPH A. DEPAULO
Executive Vice President - Banking and Finance
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: October 28, 2013
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