UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
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 þ 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):
Non-accelerated filer
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 þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
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 April 30, 2012
Common stock, $.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 $180 and $187, respectively)
Private Education Loans (net of allowance for losses of $2,190 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 $.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 $.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 532 million and 529 million shares issued, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of $6 and $8, respectively)
Retained earnings
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 39 million and 20 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):
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 assets impairment and amortization expense
Restructuring expenses
Total expenses
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
Income tax expense
Net income from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 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
Other comprehensive income, 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 December 31, 2010
Comprehensive income:
Total comprehensive income
Cash dividends:
Preferred stock, series A ($.87 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($.32 per share)
Issuance of common shares
Retirement of common stock in treasury
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans
Stock-based compensation expense
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans
Balance at March 31, 2011
Balance at December 31, 2011
Net income (loss)
Common stock ($.125 per share)
Preferred stock, series B ($.57 per share)
Common stock repurchased
Balance at March 31, 2012
5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in millions)
Operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized losses on derivative and hedging activities
Provisions for loan losses
Decrease in restricted cash — other
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable
Increase in accrued interest payable
Decrease in other assets
Decrease in other liabilities
Total adjustments
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 held-to-maturity and other securities
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity and other securities
Increase in restricted cash — variable interest entities
Cash provided by investing activities — continuing operations
Cash provided by investing activities — discontinued operations
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 (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
Cash disbursements made (refunds received) for:
Interest
Income taxes paid
Income taxes received
Noncash activity:
Investing activity — Student loans and other assets acquired
Operating activity — Other assets acquired and other liabilities assumed, net
Financing activity — Borrowings assumed in acquisition of student loans and other assets
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Information at March 31, 2012 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2012 and 2011 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 months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2012 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, 2011 (the “2011 Form 10-K”).
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 to be consistent with classifications adopted for 2012, and had no effect on net income, total assets, or total liabilities.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Presentation of Comprehensive Income
On January 1, 2012, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” The objective of this new guidance is to improve the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. The new guidance requires all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Upon adoption we present comprehensive income and its components in a separate consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. There was no impact on our results of operations.
Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements
On January 1, 2012, we adopted ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” These amendments (1) clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements; and (2) change particular principles or requirements for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. This new guidance did not have a material impact on our fair value measurements in the first quarter of 2012.
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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) borrowers attending for-profit schools with an original Fair Isaac and Company (“FICO”) score of less than 670 and (ii) borrowers 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 borrower or cosigner FICO score at origination. Traditional loans are defined as all other Private Education Loans that are not classified as non-traditional.
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Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance
Total provision
Charge-offs
Student loan sales
Reclassification of interest reserve(1)
Ending Balance
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
Ending balance: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
Loans:
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (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(2)
Average loans in repayment
Ending loans in repayment
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.
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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 borrowers attending for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 670 at origination) and borrowers 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.
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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 borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not yet 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 borrowers who have requested and qualify for other permitted program deferments such as military, unemployment, or economic hardships.
Loans for borrowers 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.
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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
Loans in repayment greater than 12 months as a percentage of loans in repayment
Deferment includes borrowers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
Loans for borrowers 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.
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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.
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The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
Receivable at beginning of period
Expected future recoveries of current period defaults(1)
Recoveries(2)
Charge-offs(3)
Receivable at end of period
Remaining loan balance expected to be collected from contractual loan balances partially charged-off during the period. This is the difference between the defaulted loan balance and the amount of the defaulted loan balance that was charged off.
Current period cash collections.
Represents the current period recovery shortfall — the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
We modify the terms of loans for certain borrowers when we believe such modifications may increase the ability and willingness of a borrower 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 borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, certain Private Education Loans for which we have granted a forbearance of greater than three months, an interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan are classified as troubled debt restructurings. Forbearance provides borrowers 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. The recorded investment of loans granted a forbearance that was classified as a troubled debt restructuring was $5.3 billion and $4.5 billion at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The recorded investment for troubled debt restructurings from loans granted interest rate reductions or extended repayment plans was $0.7 billion and $0.7 billion at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of our troubled debt restructuring loans had a related allowance recorded. The following table provides the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance for our troubled debt restructuring loans.
March 31, 2012
Private Education Loans — Traditional
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional
December 31, 2011
The recorded investment is equal to the unpaid principal balance and accrued interest receivable net of unamortized deferred fees and costs.
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The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our troubled debt restructuring loans.
The following table provides the amount of modified loans that resulted in a troubled debt restructuring, as well as charge-offs occurring in the troubled debt restructuring portfolio. The majority of our loans that are considered troubled debt restructurings 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.
Represents loans that charge off during the period that are classified as troubled debt restructurings.
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.
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The following table summarizes our borrowings.
Unsecured borrowings:
Senior unsecured debt
Brokered deposits
Retail and other deposits
Other(1)
Total unsecured borrowings
Secured borrowings:
FFELP Loan securitizations
Private Education Loan securitizations
ED Conduit Program Facility
FFELP ABCP Facility
Private Education Loan ABCP Facility
Acquisition financing(2)
FHLB-DM Facility
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.
Relates to the acquisition of $25 billion of student loans at the end of 2010.
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Secured Borrowings
We currently consolidate all of our financing entities that are VIEs as a result of being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As a result, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings. We consolidate the following financing VIEs:
Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
Securitizations — FFELP Loans
Securitizations — Private Education Loans
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Securitizations
The following table summarizes the securitization transactions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2012.
AAA-rated bonds
Issue
Date Issued
Weighted Average
Interest Rate
FFELP:
2011-1
2011-2
2011-3
Total bonds issued in 2011
Total loan amount securitized in 2011
2012-1
2012-2
Total bonds issued in first-quarter 2012
Total loan amount securitized in first-quarter 2012
Private Education:
2011-A
2011-B
2011-C
2012-A
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Additional, Recent Borrowing-Related Transactions
On January 13, 2012, we amended the FFELP ABCP Facility increasing the amount available and extending the step-down dates on the amount available for borrowing and the final maturity date of the facility. The facility amount is now $7.5 billion, reflecting an increase of $2.5 billion. The scheduled maturity date of the facility is January 9, 2015. The usage fee for the facility remains unchanged at 0.50 percent over the applicable funding rate. The amended facility features two contractual step-down reductions on the amount available for borrowing. The first reduction is on January 11, 2013, to $6.5 billion. The second reduction is on January 10, 2014, to $5.5 billion.
Senior Unsecured Debt
On January 27, 2012, we issued an aggregate of $1.5 billion bonds, comprised of five-year and 10-year unsecured bonds. The 6.00 percent fixed rate five-year bond was issued for $750 million to yield 6.25 percent. The rate on the bond was swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate equal to an all-in cost of one-month LIBOR plus 5.2 percent. The 7.25 percent fixed rate 10-year bond was issued for $750 million to yield 7.50 percent. The rate on the bond was swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate equal to an all-in cost of one-month LIBOR plus 5.4 percent. The proceeds of these bonds were designated for general corporate purposes.
Our risk management strategy and use of and accounting for derivatives have not materially changed from that discussed in our 2011 Form 10-K. Please refer to “Note 7 — Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
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Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact
The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and their impact on other comprehensive income and earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet
Hedged Risk
Exposure
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 positive or negative position.
“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility.
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 for both 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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 by $174 million and $190 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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 by $111 million and $111 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.
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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Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (net of tax)
Total gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Realized (gains) losses reclassified to interest expense(1)(2)(3)
Hedge ineffectiveness reclassified to earnings(1)(4)
Total change in stockholders’ equity for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
Amounts included in “Realized gain (loss) on derivatives” in the “Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income” table above.
Includes net settlement income/expense.
We expect to reclassify $50 thousand of after-tax net losses from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months related to amortization of cash flow hedge that were hedging debt instruments that are outstanding as of the reporting date.
Recorded in “Gains (losses) derivatives and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $38 million and $26 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 $882 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 $269 million and have posted $262 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 totaling $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 detail on our other assets.
Accrued interest receivable
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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, these balances included $2.5 billion and $2.5 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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the cumulative mark-to-market adjustment to the hedged debt was $(3.0) billion and $(2.7) billion, respectively.
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 January 2012 $500 million share repurchase program, of which $232 million remains available as of March 31, 2012.
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.
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The closing price of our common stock on March 30, 2012 was $15.76.
Dividend and Share Repurchase Program
On January 26, 2012, we increased our regular quarterly common stock dividend to $.125 per share, up from $.10 per share in the prior quarter. We paid our quarterly dividend on March 16, 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, we repurchased 16.7 million shares of common stock at an aggregate price of $268 million. The shares were repurchased on the open market under our January 2012 share repurchase program that authorizes up to $500 million of share repurchases.
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
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 March 31, 2012 and 2011, stock options covering approximately 12 million and 16 million shares, respectively, and restricted stock/restricted stock units of 3 million and 2 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.
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The following table summarizes the restructuring expenses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 and cumulative restructuring expenses incurred through March 31, 2012 associated with our restructuring plans.
Severance costs
Lease and other contract termination costs
Exit and other costs
Total restructuring costs from continuing operations(1)
Total restructuring costs from discontinued operations
Aggregate restructuring expenses from continuing operations incurred across our reportable segments are disclosed in “Note 11 — Segment Reporting.”
Since the fourth quarter of 2007 through March 31, 2012, cumulative severance costs were incurred in conjunction with aggregate completed and planned position eliminations of approximately 5,500 positions. Position eliminations were across all of our reportable segments, ranging from senior executives to servicing center personnel. Lease and other contract termination costs and exit and other costs incurred during 2011 related primarily to terminated or abandoned facility leases and consulting costs incurred in conjunction with various cost reduction and exit strategies.
The following table summarizes changes in the restructuring liability balance, which is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Net accruals from continuing operations
Net accruals from discontinued operations
Cash paid
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. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels, or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments. Please refer to “Note 13 — Fair Value Measurements” in our 2011 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
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The following tables summarize 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)
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.
The following reconciles 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
0.03% — 0.14%(0.06%)
Prime/LIBOR basis swaps
Cross-currency interest rate 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 input 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
FFELP loans
Cash and investments(1)
Total earning assets
Interest-bearing liabilities
Total interest-bearing liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Floor Income/Cap contracts
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value
“Cash and investments” includes available-for-sale investments that consist of investments that are primarily U.S. agency securities whose cost basis is $87 million and $85 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, versus a fair value of $92 million and $90 million at March 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011, 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.
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, 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
We originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The portfolio totaled $36.7 billion at March 31, 2012. We also provide savings products, primarily in the form of retail deposits, to help customers save for a college education.
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The following table includes asset information for our Consumer Lending segment.
Private Education Loans, net
Includes restricted cash and investments.
Business Services Segment
This segment generates the vast majority of its revenue from servicing our FFELP Loan portfolio and from performing servicing, default aversion and contingency collections work on behalf of ED, Guarantors of FFELP Loans and other institutions. Through our Campus Solutions business we provide comprehensive financing and transaction processing solutions to college financial aid offices and students to streamline the financial aid process. Through Sallie Mae Insurance Services we offer directly to college students and higher education institutions tuition, renters and student health insurance. We also provide 529 college savings plan account asset servicing and other transaction processing activities.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Business Services segment had total assets of $866 million and $912 million, respectively.
FFELP Loans Segment
Our FFELP Loans segment consists of our $135.9 billion FFELP Loan portfolio as of March 31, 2012 and the underlying debt and capital funding the loans. We no longer originate FFELP Loans; however, we are actively seeking to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios.
The following table includes asset information for our FFELP Loans segment.
Other Segment
The Other segment consists primarily of the financial results related to 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. Overhead expenses include costs related to executive management, the board of directors, accounting, finance, legal, human resources, stock-based compensation expense and information technology costs related to infrastructure and operations.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Other segment had total assets of $2.2 billion and $823 million, respectively.
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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. The two items adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are (1) our use of derivatives 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
Other income (loss)
Direct operating expenses
Overhead expenses
Operating expenses
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets 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 taxes
Less: loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
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
Total “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.
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Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
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Summary of “Core Earnings” Adjustments to GAAP
The adjustments required to reconcile from our “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations relate to differing treatments for securitization transactions, derivatives, Floor Income, and certain other items that management does not consider in evaluating our operating results. The following table reflects aggregate adjustments associated with these areas.
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
Net impact of acquired intangibles(2)
Net tax effect(3)
Derivative accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused primarily by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP. To a lesser extent, these periodic unrealized gains and losses are also a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges. 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 Intangibles: We exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and amortization of acquired intangibles.
Net Tax Effect: Such tax effect is based upon our “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year.
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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.
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 the company’s beliefs 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 the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Form 10-K”) and subsequent filings with the 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 the company is a party; credit risk associated with the company’s exposure to third parties, including counterparties to the company’s 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). The company could also be affected by, among other things: changes in its funding costs and availability; reductions to its credit ratings or the credit ratings of the United States of America; failures of its operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to its reputation; failures to successfully implement cost-cutting and restructuring initiatives and adverse effects of such initiatives on its business; 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 its customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of its earning assets vs. its funding arrangements; changes in general economic conditions; and changes in the demand for debt management services. The preparation of the company’s 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. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform the statement to actual results or changes in its expectations.
Definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the 2011 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
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)
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/or their parents to finance the cost of their 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. We also provide processing capabilities to educational institutions, 529 college savings plan program management services and 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:
Consumer Lending Segment — In this segment, we originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The Private Education Loans we make are largely to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, federal loans or borrowers’ 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 late fees. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had $36.7 billion and $36.3 billion, respectively, of Private Education Loans outstanding.
Business Services Segment — In our Business Services segment, we provide loan servicing for our FFELP Loans, ED and other third parties. We provide default aversion and contingency collections work on behalf of ED, Guarantors of FFELP Loans, and other institutions. Our Campus Solutions business provides comprehensive transaction processing solutions and associated technology to college financial aid offices and students to streamline the financial aid process. We provide 529 college savings plan account asset servicing and other transaction processing activities. We offer tuition, renters and student health insurance to college students and higher education institutions.
FFELP Loans Segment — Our FFELP Loans segment consists of our $135.9 billion FFELP Loan portfolio at March 31, 2012 and the underlying debt and capital funding these loans. Because we no longer originate FFELP Loans, the portfolio is in runoff and is expected to amortize over approximately the next 20 years with a weighted average remaining life of 7.6 years.
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We actively seek to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios to leverage our servicing scale and expertise to generate incremental earnings and cash flow. Of our total FFELP Loan portfolio at March 31, 2012, 95 percent was funded with non-recourse, long-term debt; 77 percent of our FFELP Loan portfolio being funded to term by securitization trusts, 13 percent funded through the ED Conduit Program which terminates on January 19, 2014, and 5 percent funded in our multi-year ABCP facility. This segment is expected to generate a stable net interest margin and significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes.
Other — Our Other segment primarily consists of the financial results related to 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.
Many aspects of our businesses are subject to federal and state regulation and administrative oversight. This year, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) becomes fully operationalized and various other regulatory agencies continue developing new rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), the probability of new or additional regulatory requirements or oversight being applied to our various businesses (most notably, private student lending, default aversion and debt collection) or, generally, to large non-bank financial services companies will likely increase.
The CFPB and the Department of Education appear to be on track to release their report on the private education loan industry by July 2012. We provided requested information to them for this report in the first quarter of this year. Also, the CFPB’s Private Student Loan Ombudsman’s office is now operational and began accepting inquiries and complaints about private education loans through its online portal in March. Our own Office of the Consumer Advocate personnel are now actively involved in establishing working relationships with the CFPB’s staff and quickly responding to all inquiries and complaints that have been forwarded to us from the CFPB. For additional information about these and other legislation and regulations to which we are or may become subject, see “Recent Legislation,” “Other Significant Sources of Regulation” and “Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.
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 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 2011 Form 10-K.
First-Quarter 2012 Summary of Results
We continue to operate in a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by high unemployment and financial uncertainty which contributes added uncertainty to Private Education Loan repayment and default patterns. Our business has changed significantly over the past two years as we no longer originate FFELP Loans. A detailed discussion of these changes can be found in Item 1 “Business” and in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our 2011 Form 10-K.
Nonetheless, we were able to achieve significant accomplishments during the first quarter of 2012 as discussed below.
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.”
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First-quarter 2012 GAAP net income was $112 million ($.21 diluted earnings per share), versus net income of $175 million ($.32 diluted earnings per share) in the first-quarter 2011. 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. First-quarter 2012 results had a $131 million increase in unrealized, mark-to-market losses on derivative contracts compared with the year-ago period.
“Core Earnings” for the quarter were $284 million ($.55 diluted earnings per share), compared with $260 million ($.48 diluted earnings per share) in the year-ago period. The improvement in “Core Earnings” was primarily the result of a $50 million decline in loan loss provision and a $40 million decrease in expenses offset by a $40 million net interest income reduction and a $27 million decline in debt repurchase gains.
During the first quarter of 2012, we:
issued $1.6 billion of FFELP asset-backed securities (“ABS”), $547 million of Private Education Loan ABS and $1.5 billion of unsecured bonds;
repurchased $204 million of debt and realized “Core Earnings” gains of $37 million, compared with $825 million of debt repurchased and $64 million of gains in the first quarter of 2011;
amended our FFELP asset-backed commercial paper facility to increase the current amount available to $7.5 billion and extend the final maturity date by one year to January 9, 2015;
repurchased 16.7 million common shares for $268 million on the open market as part of our previously announced share repurchase program authorization of up to $500 million; and
increased our regular quarterly common stock dividend to $.125 per share, up from $.10 per share in the prior quarter. We paid our quarterly dividend on March 16, 2012.
2012 Management Objectives
In 2012 we have set out five major goals to create shareholder value. They are: (1) prudently grow Consumer Lending segment assets and revenue; (2) sustain Business Services segment revenue; (3) maximize cash flows from FFELP Loans; (4) reduce our operating expenses; and (5) improve our financial strength. 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 2012, currently targeting $3.2 billion in new originations for the year compared to $2.7 billion in 2011. We will also be increasing our efforts to improve our return on these assets projecting even lower charge-off rates and provision for loan losses, continuing to build on the improvements we have been demonstrating in these measures since 2009. Originations were 23 percent higher in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the year-ago quarter. Charge-offs decreased to 2.96 percent of loans in repayment from 3.94 percent in the year-ago quarter. This is the lowest charge-off rate on these loans since third-quarter 2008. Provisions for loans losses decreased to $235 million in the first quarter 2012 compared to $275 million in the first quarter 2011.
Sustain Business Services Segment Revenue
Our Business Services segment generates the vast majority of its revenue from servicing and collecting on our FFELP Loan portfolio and FFELP Loans for others. As a result of the elimination of FFELP in 2010, servicing and collection revenues derived from FFELP-related sources are in decline. In 2012 we will work to offset these declines through two primary means — pursuing additional growth and expansion of our non-FFELP- related servicing and collection businesses and seeking to increase the FFELP-related loan servicing and collection work we do for third parties. In 2012 we are targeting significant growth in the number of customers we service for ED under our ED servicing and collection contracts, as well as in the total assets under management in our 529 college savings plans. We will explore both complementary and diversified strategies to
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expand demand for our services in and beyond the student loan market. We will also more aggressively seek to leverage our existing FFELP servicing platforms to be able to provide lower cost FFELP servicing to others while increasing segment revenues from these sources.
Based on our performance in the most recently ended contract year, our allocation of new customer loans awarded for servicing under our ED Servicing Contract increased from 22 percent to 26 percent for the current contract year ending August 15, 2012. The increase was driven primarily by our top ranking for default prevention performance results. We are servicing approximately 3.7 million accounts under the ED Servicing Contract as of March 31, 2012 compared to 3.2 million accounts as of March 31, 2011.
Campus Solutions added 7 new refund disbursement clients in the first quarter of 2012.
Assets under management in 529 college savings plans totaled $41.3 billion at March 31, 2012 and grew 13 percent over the year-ago quarter.
Maximize Cash Flows from FFELP Loans
In 2012 we will continue to focus on opportunistically purchasing additional FFELP Loan portfolios from other lenders. As cash flows from our existing FFELP Loans decline over coming years, it also becomes increasingly important that we actively manage and continue to reduce operating and overhead costs attributable to the maintenance and management of this segment. Continuing to reduce these operating and overhead costs will also increase net income for our Business Services segment. During the first quarter of 2012, we purchased over $900 million of FFELP Loans. We expect to make additional purchases during 2012. Total estimated FFELP Loan portfolio acquisitions in the first half of the year are expected to be approximately $2 billion. We will continue to actively and aggressively seek to acquire additional portfolios.
Reduce Operating Expenses
We achieved our 2011 management objective of having a quarterly operating expense of $250 million or less in the fourth quarter of 2011. We will remain focused on reducing operating expenses in 2012 and expect to improve on the $1.1 billion of operating expenses incurred in 2011. First-quarter 2012 operating expenses were $262 million, down from $303 million in the year-ago quarter primarily due to the Company’s ongoing cost-cutting initiatives and lower servicing costs.
Improve Our Financial Strength
It is management’s objective for 2012 to provide increased shareholder distributions while at the same time ending 2012 with a balance sheet and capital position as strong as or stronger than those with which we ended in 2011. In January 2012 we increased our regular quarterly common stock dividend to $0.125 per share, up from $0.10 in the prior quarter. In addition, during the first quarter of 2012, we repurchased 16.7 million shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $268 million. The shares were repurchased under the company’s January 2012 $500 million share repurchase program.
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)
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Other income
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense
Consolidated Earnings Summary — GAAP-basis
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, net income was $112 million, or $.21 diluted earnings per common share, and $175 million, or $.32 diluted earnings per common share, respectively. The decrease in net income was primarily due to a $130 million increase in net losses on derivative and hedging activities and an $87 million decline in net interest income, which was partially offset by a $50 million decrease in provisions for loan losses and $41 million of lower expenses.
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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 declined by $87 million primarily due to the declining outstanding principal balance of our FFELP Loan portfolio and an increase in funding costs.
Provisions for loan losses decreased by $50 million as a result of overall improvements in credit quality and delinquency and charge-off trends.
Net losses on derivatives and hedging activities increased by $130 million. 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 the 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 derivatives and hedging activities may vary significantly in future periods.
Contingency revenue increased $12 million primarily as a result of an increase in collections on defaulted FFELP Loans.
Other income increased primarily as a result of a $19 million increase in foreign currency translation gains. The foreign currency translation gains relate to a portion of our foreign currency denominated debt that does not receive hedge accounting treatment. These gains were partially offset by losses on derivative and hedging activities related to the derivatives used to economically hedge these debt instruments.
Operating expenses decreased $41 million primarily due to our ongoing cost-cutting initiatives and lower servicing costs. In addition, first-quarter 2012 operating expenses were positively affected by an $8 million gain related to the final termination of our defined benefit pension plan. First-quarter 2011 operating expenses included $10 million in litigation contingency expense.
The effective tax rates for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 were 38 percent and 36 percent, respectively.
“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 internally review 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.
“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 adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are (1) our use of derivatives 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
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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” below.
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.
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Differences between “Core Earnings” and 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 derivatives 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
Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangibles
Net income tax effect
1) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused primarily by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP. To a lesser extent, these periodic unrealized gains and losses are also a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges. 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.
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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 and the interest rate index of the Floor Income Contract are different than that of the student loans. Under derivatives 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 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 premium received on the Floor Income Contracts is recorded as revenue in the “gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” line item by the end of the contracts’ life.
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 a commercial paper, Prime or Treasury bill index. 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 on our net income.
“Core Earnings” derivative adjustments:
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net, included in other income(1)
Plus: Realized losses on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
Amortization of net premiums on Floor Income Contracts in net interest income for “Core Earnings”
Other pre-change in derivatives accounting adjustments
Total net impact derivative accounting(2)
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.
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
Foreign exchange derivatives losses reclassified to other income
Net realized gains (losses) on terminated derivative contracts reclassified to other income
Total reclassifications of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities
Add: Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
“Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” comprises the following unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses):
Basis swaps
Foreign currency hedges
Total unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
Cumulative Impact of Derivative Accounting under GAAP compared to “Core Earnings”
As of March 31, 2012, derivative accounting has reduced GAAP equity by approximately $1.1 billion as a result of approximately $1.1 billion (after-tax) of cumulative net unrealized net losses recognized for GAAP, but not in “Core Earnings.” The following table rolls forward the cumulative impact to GAAP equity due to these unrealized net losses related to derivative accounting.
Beginning impact of derivative accounting of GAAP equity
Net impact of net unrealized gains (losses) under derivative accounting
Ending impact of derivative accounting of GAAP equity
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In addition, 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 below net of tax. As of March 31, 2012, the remaining amortization term of the net floor premiums was approximately 4.25 years.
Unamortized net Floor premiums (net of tax)
2) Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles. The following table summarizes the goodwill and acquired intangible adjustments.
“Core Earnings” goodwill and acquired intangibles adjustments(1):
Amortization of acquired intangibles from continuing operations
Total “Core Earnings” goodwill and acquired intangibles 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 shows “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
Net “Core Earnings” interest income after provisions for loan losses
Total other income
Income before income tax expense
“Core Earnings”
“Core Earnings” were $81 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with $44 million in the year-ago period. This improvement was primarily the result of reduced loan loss provision.
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Highlights compared to first-quarter 2011 included:
Loan originations increased to $1.2 billion, up 23 percent from $940 million.
The portfolio, net of loan loss allowance, totaled $36.7 billion at March 30, 2012, compared with $36.0 billion at March 31, 2011.
Net interest margin, before loan loss provision, improved to 4.26 percent, up from 4.11 percent.
Delinquencies of 90 days or more (as a percentage of loans in repayment) improved to 4.4 percent, compared with 5.1 percent.
The annual charge-off rate (as a percentage of loans in repayment) improved to 2.96 percent, compared with 3.94 percent.
Consumer Lending Net Interest Margin
The following table shows the Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” 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 Student 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 asset spread impact
“Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
Adjustment for GAAP accounting treatment
GAAP-basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
The average balances of our Consumer Lending interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
Other interest-earning assets
Total Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
The increase in the “Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin over the year-ago quarter was primarily the result of a benefit from the decline in the average balance of our other asset portfolio. The size of the other asset portfolio, which is primarily securitization trust restricted cash and cash held at Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”), has decreased significantly. This other asset portfolio earns a negative yield and as a result, when its relative weighting decreases compared to the Private Education Loan portfolio, the overall net interest margin increases.
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
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In establishing the allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of March 31, 2012, we considered several factors with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio. In particular, we continue to see improving 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 compared with the year-ago quarter. The overall delinquency rate has declined to 9.1 percent from 10.4 percent and the charge-off rate has declined to 2.96 percent from 3.94 percent compared with the year-ago quarter. Apart from these overall improvements, Private Education Loans that have defaulted between 2008 and 2011 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.
For a more detailed discussion of our policy for determining the collectability of Private Education Loan and maintaining our allowance for Private Education Loan losses, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Allowance for Loan Losses” in our 2011 Form 10-K.
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 decreases in operating expenses in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared with the quarter ended March 31, 2011 were primarily the result of our cost cutting initiatives. Operating expenses were 77 basis points and 90 basis points of average Private Education Loans in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
The following table shows “Core Earnings” results for our Business Services segment.
Net interest income after provision
Servicing revenue:
Intercompany loan servicing
Third-party loan servicing
Guarantor servicing
Other servicing
Total servicing revenue
Other Business Services revenue
“Core Earnings” were $139 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $132 million in the year-ago quarter. The improvement was primarily driven by the reduction in operating expenses.
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Our Business Services segment earns intercompany loan servicing fees from servicing the FFELP Loans in our FFELP Loans segment. The average balance of this portfolio was $135 billion and $144 billion for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The decline in intercompany loan servicing revenue from the year-ago period is primarily the result of a lower balance in the underlying portfolio.
We are servicing approximately 3.7 million accounts under the ED Servicing Contract as of March 31, 2012. Third-party loan servicing fees in the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011 included $17 million and $15 million, respectively, of servicing revenue related to the ED Servicing Contract. Our allocation of loans awarded for servicing under the ED contract increased from 22 percent to 26 percent for the contract year ending August 2012. The increase was driven primarily by our top ranking for default prevention performance results.
The increase in contingency revenue was primarily the result of an increase in collections on defaulted FFELP Loans.
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.
Other servicing revenue includes account asset servicing revenue and Campus Solutions revenue. Account asset servicing revenue represents fees earned on program management, transfer and servicing agent services and administration services for our various 529 college savings plans. Assets under administration in our 529 college savings plans totaled $41.3 billion as of March 31, 2012, a 13 percent increase from the year-ago quarter. Campus Solutions revenue is earned from our Campus Solutions business whose services include comprehensive financing and transaction processing solutions that we provide to college financial aid offices and students to streamline the financial aid process.
Other Business Services revenue is primarily transaction fees that are earned in conjunction with our rewards program from participating companies based on member purchase activity, either online or in stores, depending on the contractual arrangement with the participating company. Typically, a percentage of the purchase price of the consumer members’ eligible purchases with participating companies is set aside in an account maintained by us on behalf of our members.
Revenues related to services performed on FFELP Loans accounted for 76 percent and 77 percent of total segment revenues for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Operating Expenses — Business Services Segment
Operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 decreased from the quarter ended March 31, 2011, primarily as a result of our cost cutting initiatives.
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The following table shows “Core Earnings” results for our FFELP Loans segment.
“Core Earnings” from the FFELP Loans segment were $82 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with $109 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower net interest income resulting from the declining balance of the FFELP loan portfolio and an increase in funding costs. Key financial measures include:
Net interest margin of .85 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared with .98 percent in the year-ago quarter (see “FFELP Loans Net Interest Margin” for a further discussion of this decrease).
The provision for loan losses of $18 million in the first quarter of 2012 decreased from $23 million in the year-ago quarter.
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FFELP Loans Net Interest Margin
The following table shows the FFELP Loans “Core Earnings” net interest margin along with reconciliation to the GAAP-basis FFELP Loans net interest margin.
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan yield
Hedged Floor Income
Unhedged Floor Income
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees
Repayment Borrower Benefits
Premium amortization
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan net yield
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan cost of funds
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan spread
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP other asset spread impact
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loans net interest margin(1)
GAAP-basis FFELP Loans net interest margin(1)
The average balances of our FFELP interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
Total FFELP “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
The decrease in the “Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loans net interest margin of 13 basis points for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily the result of a widening of the CP/LIBOR spread resulting in a 6 basis point decline in net interest margin as well as a general increase in our funding costs related to unsecured and ABS debt issuances over the last year.
As of March 31, 2012, our FFELP Loan portfolio totaled approximately $135.9 billion, comprised of $49.5 billion of FFELP Stafford and $86.4 billion of FFELP Consolidation Loans. The weighted-average life of these portfolios is 5.0 years and 9.1 years, respectively, assuming a Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”) of 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
On December 23, 2011, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 into law. This law includes changes that permit FFELP lenders or beneficial holders to change the index on which the Special Allowance Payments (“SAP”) are calculated for FFELP Loans first disbursed on or after January 1, 2000. We elected to use the one-month LIBOR rate rather than the CP rate commencing on April 1, 2012 in connection with our entire $128 billion of CP indexed loans. This change will help us to better match lender payments with our financing costs.
During the fourth-quarter 2011, the Administration announced a Special Direct Consolidation Loan Initiative. The initiative provides an incentive to borrowers who have at least one student loan owned by the Department of Education and at least one held by a FFELP lender to consolidate the FFELP lender’s loans into the Direct Loan program by providing a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on the FFELP loans that are eligible for consolidation. The program is available from January 17, 2012 through June 30, 2012. We currently do not foresee the initiative having a significant impact on our FFELP Loans segment.
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Floor Income
The following table analyzes the ability of the FFELP Loans in our portfolio to earn Floor Income after March 31, 2012 and 2011, 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 April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2016. The hedges related to these loans do not qualify as effective hedges.
Average balance of FFELP Consolidation Loans whose Floor Income is economically hedged
FFELP Loans 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 months March 31, 2012 and 2011.
FFELP Loan provision for loan losses
FFELP Loan charge-offs
Operating Expenses — FFELP Loans Segment
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 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 from the Business Services segment and included in those amounts was $176 million and $189 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These amounts exceed the actual cost of servicing the loans. Operating expenses were 53 basis points and 54 basis points of average FFELP Loans in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decline in operating expenses from the prior year quarter was primarily the result of the $10.2 billion reduction in the average outstanding balance of our FFELP Loan portfolio.
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The following table shows “Core Earnings” results of our Other segment
Net interest loss after provision
Overhead expenses:
Corporate overhead
Unallocated information technology costs
Total overhead expenses
Loss from continuing operations, before income tax benefit
Net loss from continuing operations
“Core Earnings” (loss)
Net Interest Income (Loss) after Provision for Loan Losses
Net interest income (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. The $13 million improvement in the current quarter compared with the prior year quarter was primarily the result of our not recording any provision for loan losses related to our mortgage and consumer loan portfolios in the first quarter of 2012. Each quarter we perform an analysis regarding the adequacy of the loan loss allowance for these portfolios and we determined that at March 31, 2012 no additional allowance for loan losses was required related to this $168 million portfolio.
Gains on Debt Repurchases
We began repurchasing our outstanding debt in 2008. We repurchased $204 million and $825 million face amount of our debt for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
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 technology costs are related to infrastructure and operations.
The decrease in overhead for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared with the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was primarily the result of our cost-cutting initiatives as well as an $8 million gain related to the final termination of our defined benefit pension plan.
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Financial Condition
This section provides additional information regarding the changes related to 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
Rate/Volume Analysis — GAAP
The following rate/volume analysis shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 vs. 2011
Interest income
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.
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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 borrowers still attending school and are not yet required to make payments on the loan.
Includes loans in deferment or forbearance.
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/defaults/other
Ending balance
Private Education Loan Originations
Private Education Loan originations increased 23 percent from the year-ago quarter to $1.2 billion in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.
The following table summarizes our Private Education Loan originations.
Private Education Loan originations
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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 loans in repayment
Average coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
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.
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.
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The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
Remaining loan balance expected to be collected from contractual loan balances partially charged off during the period. This is the difference between the defaulted loan balance and the amount of the defaulted loan balance that was charged off.
Current period cash collections
Use of Forbearance as a Private Education Loan Collection Tool
Forbearance involves granting the borrower 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 borrower’s unique situation, including historical information and judgments. We leverage updated borrower information and other decision support tools to best determine who will be granted forbearance based on our expectations as to a borrower’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 borrowers who are exiting their grace period to provide additional time to obtain employment and income to support their obligations, or to current borrowers who are faced with a hardship and request forbearance time to provide temporary payment relief. In these circumstances, a borrower’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 borrower 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 borrowers who are delinquent in their payments. In these circumstances, the forbearance cures the delinquency and the borrower is returned to a current repayment status. In more limited instances, delinquent borrowers will also be granted additional forbearance time.
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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 monthly average number of loans granted forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance decreased to 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the year-ago quarter of 5.4 percent. As of March 31, 2012, 2.5 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 March 31, 2012 (borrowers made payments on approximately 24 percent of these loans immediately prior to being granted forbearance).
Tracking by First Time in Forbearance Compared to All Loans Entering Repayment
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 March 31, 2012, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance were 7.1 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for less than 25 months. The percentage drops to 1.3 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for more than 48 months. Approximately 79 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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March 31, 2011
The table below stratifies the portfolio of Private Education Loans in forbearance by the cumulative number of months the borrower has used forbearance as of the dates indicated. As detailed in the table below, 4 percent of loans currently in forbearance have cumulative forbearance of more than 24 months.
Cumulative number of months borrower has used forbearance
Up to 12 months
13 to 24 months
More than 24 months
Private Education Loan Repayment Options
Certain loan programs allow borrowers 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 March 31, 2012.
$ in Repayment
$ in Total
Payment method by enrollment status:
In-school/Grace
interest-only or
fixed $25/month
Repayment
“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 borrower. Borrowers elect to participate in this program at the time they enter repayment following their grace period. This program is available to borrowers in repayment, after their grace period, who would like a temporary lower payment from the required principal and interest payment amount. Borrowers 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 borrower participates in this program. As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, borrowers in repayment owing approximately $7.0 billion (23 percent of loans in repayment) and $7.3 billion (26 percent of loans in repayment), respectively, were enrolled in the interest-only program. Of these amounts, 11 percent and 12 percent were non-traditional loans as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
FFELP Loan Portfolio Performance
FFELP Loan Delinquencies and Forbearance
The table below presents our FFELP Loan delinquency trends.
Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not yet 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 borrowers 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 borrowers 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
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loans, gross
Ending total loans, gross
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We expect to fund our ongoing liquidity needs, including the origination of new Private Education Loans and the repayment of $2.2 billion of senior unsecured notes that mature in the next twelve months, primarily through our current cash and investment portfolio and the collection of additional bank deposits, the predictable operating cash flows provided by earnings and repayment of principal on unencumbered student loan assets, and distributions from our securitization trusts (including servicing fees which are priority payments within the trusts). We may also draw down on our FFELP ABCP Facilities and the facility with the Federal Home Loan Bank in Des Moines (the “FHLB-DM Facility”); and we may also issue term ABS and unsecured debt.
Currently, new Private Education Loan originations are initially funded through deposits and subsequently securitized to term on a programmatic basis. We have $670 million of cash at the Bank as of March 31, 2012 available to fund future originations. We no longer originate FFELP Loans and therefore no longer have liquidity requirements for new FFELP Loan originations.
The acquisition of loan portfolios may require incremental funding. Additionally, it is our intent to refinance, primarily through securitizations, the FFELP Loans that are currently in the ED Conduit Program by its January 2014 maturity date. We currently have $18.5 billion of collateral in the ED Conduit Program. While the assets in this facility can be put to ED at the conclusion of the program thus eliminating a call on our liquidity, we intend to refinance these assets. In addition, capacity is maintained in our FFELP ABCP Facility and our FHLB-DM Facility to finance a portion of this collateral should term financing not be achieved or available.
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Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity
Ending Balances
Sources of primary liquidity:
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries
SLM Bank(1)
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments
Unencumbered FFELP Loans
Average Balances
This cash will be used primarily to originate or acquire student loans at the Bank. Our ability to pay dividends from the Bank is subject to capital and liquidity requirements applicable to the Bank.
We may also have liquidity available under secured credit facilities to the extent we have eligible collateral and capacity available. Current borrowing capacity under the FFELP ABCP Facility and FHLB-DM Facility is determined based on each facility’s size, current usage and qualifying collateral from the unencumbered FFELP Loans reported as primary liquidity in the tables above. Additional borrowing capacity could be used to fund FFELP Loan portfolio acquisitions and to refinance FFELP Loans used as collateral in the ED Conduit Program Facility. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the maximum amount we could borrow under these facilities was $10.5 billion and $11.3 billion, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the average maximum amount we could borrow under these facilities was $12.1 billion and $12.0 billion, respectively. These maximum total amounts we can borrow are contingent upon obtaining eligible FFELP Loan collateral. If we use our unencumbered FFELP Loans as collateral to borrow against these facilities, the available capacity is reduced accordingly.
We also hold a number of other unencumbered assets, consisting primarily of Private Education Loans and other assets. At March 31, 2012, we had a total of $20.9 billion of unencumbered assets (which includes the assets that comprise our primary liquidity listed in the table above and are available to serve as collateral for our secured credit facilities discussed in the preceding paragraph), excluding goodwill and acquired intangibles. Total unencumbered student loans, net, comprised $12.5 billion of our unencumbered assets of which $11.4 billion and $1.1 billion related to Private Education Loans, net and FFELP Loans, net, respectively.
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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)
Tangible unencumbered assets(1)
Unsecured debt
Mark-to-market on unsecured hedged debt(2)
Other liabilities, net
Total tangible equity
Excludes goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, there were $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, of net gains on derivatives hedging this debt in unencumbered assets, which partially offset these losses.
Transactions during the First-Quarter 2012
The following financing transactions have taken place in the first quarter of 2012:
On January 13, 2012, the FFELP ABCP Facility was amended to increase the amount available to $7.5 billion, reflecting an increase of $2.5 billion over the previously scheduled facility reduction. In addition, the amendment extends the final maturity date by one year to January 9, 2015 and increases the amount available at future step-down dates.
On January 19, 2012, we issued $765 million of FFELP ABS.
On January 27, 2012, we issued a $1.5 billion senior unsecured bond, consisting of a $750 million five-year term bond and a $750 million ten-year term bond.
On February 9, 2012, we issued $547 million of Private Education Loan ABS.
On March 15, 2012, we issued $824 million of FFELP ABS.
In addition, on January 26, 2012, we increased our regular quarterly common stock dividend to $0.125 per share, up from $0.10 per share in the prior quarter. We paid our quarterly dividend on March 16, 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, we repurchased 16.7 million shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $268 million. The shares were repurchased on the open market under our January 2012 share repurchase program that authorizes up to $500 million of share repurchases.
Recent Second-Quarter 2012 Transactions
The following transactions have taken place in the second quarter of 2012:
On April 12, we issued $891 million of Private Education Loan ABS.
On April 24, we priced a $1.25 billion FFELP ABS.
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 7 “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.
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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 March 31, 2012.
Exposure, net of collateral
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
Current turmoil in the European markets has led to increased disclosure of exposure to those markets. Of the total net exposure, $796 million is related to financial institutions located in France; of this amount, $563 million carries a guarantee from the French government. All of the $796 million exposure relates to derivatives held at our securitization trusts. Counterparties to these derivatives are required to post collateral when their credit rating is withdrawn or downgraded below a certain level. As of March 31, 2012, no collateral was required to be posted. Adjustments are made to our derivative valuations for counterparty credit risk. The adjustments made at March 31, 2012 related to derivatives with French financial institutions (including those that carry a guarantee from the French government) decreased the derivative asset value by $163 million. Credit risks for all derivative counterparties are assessed internally on a continual basis.
“Core Earnings” Basis Borrowings
The following tables present the ending balances of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and average balances and average interest rates of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. 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.)
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“Other” primarily consists of the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivative exposure.
Secured borrowings comprised 86 percent and 87 percent of our “Core Earnings” basis debt outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
“Core Earnings” average balance and rate
GAAP-basis average balance and rate
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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 generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. 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 2011 Form 10-K. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the first quarter of 2012.
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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 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 in 2012.
(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.
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Effect on Fair Values
Other earning assets
Total assets gain/(loss)
Interest bearing liabilities
Total liabilities (gain)/loss
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 March 31, 2012 and 2011, 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
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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. The variance in the change in pre-tax income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives when comparing the 2012 analysis versus the 2011 analysis related to a higher balance of variable assets being funded with fixed rate liabilities at March 31, 2012 than at March 31, 2011. This resulted in a greater offset to the loss of floor income in the 2012 analysis. This factor also resulted in the positive impact to the net interest margin in the 300 basis point increase scenario for March 31, 2012.
Under the scenario in the tables above labeled “Asset and Funding Index Mismatches,” the main driver of the decrease in pre-tax income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities in the March 31, 2012 analysis is the result of one-month LIBOR indexed FFELP student loans (loans formerly indexed to commercial paper) being funded with three-month LIBOR and other non discrete indexed liabilities. In the March 31, 2011 analysis, it is the result of LIBOR-based debt funding commercial paper-indexed assets. See “Asset and Liability Funding Gap” of this Item 2 for a further discussion. Increasing the spread between indices will also impact the unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives 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 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 March 31, 2012. 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.
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GAAP-Basis
Index
3-month commercial paper(1)
3-month Treasury bill
Prime
PLUS Index
3-month LIBOR
1-month LIBOR
CMT/CPI Index
Non discrete reset(3)
Non discrete reset(4)
Fixed rate(5)
See Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Business Segment Earnings Summary — ‘Core Earnings’ Basis — FFELP Loans Segment — FFELP Loans Net Interest Margin” for discussion regarding Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 and the effect it will have on the FFELP student lender payment index in the second quarter of 2012.
Funding includes all derivatives that management considers economic hedges of interest rate risk and reflects how we internally manage our interest rate exposure.
Funding consists of auction rate securities, the ABCP Facilities, the ED Conduit Program facility and the FHLB-DM facility.
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).
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.
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“Core Earnings” Basis
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. For example, a large portion of our daily reset 3-month commercial paper indexed assets are funded with liabilities indexed to LIBOR. 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 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 for our earning assets and liabilities at March 31, 2012.
(Averages in Years)
Total borrowings
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 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 March 31, 2012. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, 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 Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer 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 March 31, 2012 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
We and our subsidiaries and affiliates also 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 2011 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Share Repurchases
The following table provides information relating to our purchase of shares of our common stock in the three months ended March 31, 2012.
Period:
January 1 — January 31, 2012
February 1 — February 29, 2012
March 1 — March 31, 2012
Total first-quarter 2012
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.
On January 26, 2012, our board of directors authorized us to purchase up to $500 million of shares of our common stock.
The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on March 30, 2012 was $15.76.
Nothing to report.
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The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:
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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)
/s/ JONATHAN C. CLARK
Jonathan C. Clark
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: May 4, 2012
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