e8vk
 

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 24, 2007
SLM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
DELAWARE   File No. 001-13251   52-2013874
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
of incorporation)       Identification No.)
12061 Bluemont Way, Reston, Virginia 20190
(Address if principal executive offices)(zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 810-3000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 


 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition
     On April 24, 2007, SLM Corporation issued a press release with respect to its earnings for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007, which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Additional information for the quarter, which is available on the Registrant’s website at http://www2.salliemae.com/investors/stockholderinfo/earningsinfo, is furnished as Exhibit 99.2.

2


 

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.
         
  SLM CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ C. E. ANDREWS    
    Name:   C.E. Andrews   
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer   
 
Dated: April 24, 2007

3


 

SLM CORPORATION
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit    
No.   Description
99.1
  Press Release dated April 24, 2007
99.2
  Additional Information Available on the Registrant’s Website

4

exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

         
(SALLIEMAE LOGO)   N E W S R E L E A S E
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  Media Contacts:   Investor Contacts:
 
  Tom Joyce   Steve McGarry
 
  703/984-5610   703/984-6746
 
  Martha Holler   Joe Fisher
 
  703/984-5178   703/984-5755
SLM CORPORATION’S PORTFOLIO OF MANAGED LOANS
GROWS 18 PERCENT IN FIRST-QUARTER 2007
Loan Purchases Up 45 Percent
Internal Lending Brand Originations Increase 35 Percent
Direct-to-Consumer Private Education Loans Increase 64 Percent
RESTON, Va., April 24, 2007 — SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, today reported first-quarter 2007 earnings and performance results that include an 18-percent increase in the managed student loan portfolio to $150 billion from the year-ago quarter’s $127 billion. Also during the quarter, the company originated $4.8 billion through its internal lending brands, a 35-percent increase over the year-ago period.
     “Our recent acquisition announcement reaffirms and strengthens our commitment to invest in the next generation of America’s students,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, chief executive officer. “We remain focused on doing what we do best: providing access to education savings and low-cost financing together with the best information resources to help students pay for college.”
     The company purchased $11.6 billion in education loans during the first-quarter 2007, a 45-percent increase from the year-ago period. Also during the 2007 first quarter, the company originated $8.0 billion in preferred-channel loans. Approximately 60 percent of all preferred-channel loans originated in the first quarter 2007 were originated by the company’s internal lending brands, compared to 47 percent in the year ago period. Preferred-channel loan originations include loans originated by the company’s internal lending brands and external lending partners.
     Private education loan originations, a segment of preferred-channel originations, were $2.4 billion, and included more than $241 million of direct-to-consumer loans, a 64-percent increase from $147 million of private education loans originated through this channel in the year-ago quarter.
     Sallie Mae reports financial results on a GAAP basis and also presents certain non-GAAP or “core earnings” performance measures. The company’s management, equity investors, credit rating agencies and debt capital providers use these “core earnings” measures to monitor the company’s business performance.
     Sallie Mae reported first-quarter 2007 GAAP net income of $116 million, or $.26 per diluted share, compared to $152 million, or $.34 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Included in these GAAP results are pre-tax losses on derivative and hedging activities of $(357) million, compared to
                         
                         
 
Sallie Mae     12061 Bluemont Way     Reston, Va 20190     www.salliemae.com

 


 

$(87) million in the year-ago quarter, servicing and securitization revenue of $252 million, compared to $99 million in the year-ago period, and a provision for losses of $150 million, compared to $60 million in the year-ago period.
     “Core earnings” net income for the quarter was $251 million, or $.57 per diluted share, compared to $287 million, or $.65 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter. These results include a provision for losses of $199 million in the first-quarter 2007, compared to $75 million in the first-quarter 2006. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average private education loans in repayment were 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2007, compared to 1.3 percent in the year-ago period.
     “Core earnings” net interest income was $644 million for the quarter, up from the year-ago quarter’s $596 million. “Core earnings” other income, which consists primarily of fees earned from guarantor servicing and collection activity, was $288 million for the 2007 first quarter, a 17-percent increase from $246 million in the year-ago quarter. “Core earnings” operating expenses were $332 million in the first-quarter 2007, compared to $309 million in the same quarter last year.
     Both a description of the “core earnings” treatment and a full reconciliation to the GAAP income statement can be found at: http://www2.salliemae.com/investors/stockholderinfo/earningsinfo, click on the First Quarter 2007 Supplemental Earnings Disclosure.
     Total equity for the company at March 31, 2007, was $4.4 billion, up from $3.8 billion a year ago. The company’s tangible capital at March 31, 2007, was 1.75 percent of managed assets, compared to 1.86 percent at the same time last year. The “core earnings” student loan spread was 1.82 percent in the first-quarter 2007.
***
Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this document. When used in this release, the words “should” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, among others, changes in the terms of student loans and the educational credit marketplace arising from the implementation of applicable laws and regulations, and from changes in such laws and regulations, changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of educational institutions, students and their families, contractual risks including termination of credit facilities in accordance with their terms, changes in the company’s portfolio mix, changes in investor’s demand for the company’s or affiliate’s securities, changes in prepayment rates and credit spreads, changes in the asset backed or securities markets in general, changes in debt securities ratings, and changes in the general interest rate environment. For more information, see the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGER WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC:
In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without
                         
                         
 
Sallie Mae     12061 Bluemont Way     Reston, Va 20190     www.salliemae.com

 


 

charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a request by mail or telephone to Investor Relations, SLM Corporation, 12061 Bluemont Way, Reston, Va. 20190, telephone (703) 984-6746, or from the Company’s Web site, http://www.salliemae.com.
The Company and its directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s shareholders with respect to the Merger. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Company’s common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 9, 2007. Shareholders and investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the Company and its directors and executive officers in the Merger, which may be different than those of the Company’s shareholders generally, by reading the proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the Merger, which will be filed with the SEC.
***
SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, is the nation’s leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs. The company manages $150 billion in education loans and serves nearly 10 million student and parent customers. Through its Upromise affiliates, the company also manages $17 billion in 529 college-savings plans, and over 7.5 million members have joined Upromise to help save for college with rewards on purchases at nearly 70,000 places. Sallie Mae and its subsidiaries offer debt management services as well as business and technical products to a range of business clients, including higher education institutions, student loan guarantors and state and federal agencies. More information is available at www.salliemae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
###
                         
                         
 
Sallie Mae     12061 Bluemont Way     Reston, Va 20190     www.salliemae.com

 


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
Supplemental Earnings Disclosure
 
March 31, 2007
 
(Dollars in millions, except earnings per share)
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RATIOS
                       
GAAP Basis
                       
Net income
  $ 116     $ 18     $ 152  
Diluted earnings per common share(1)
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .34  
Return on assets
    .43 %     .07 %     .68 %
“Core Earnings” Basis(2)
                       
“Core Earnings” net income
  $ 251     $ 326     $ 287  
“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share(1)
  $ .57     $ .74     $ .65  
“Core Earnings” return on assets
    .64 %     .84 %     .85 %
OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS
                       
Average on-balance sheet student loans
  $ 101,499     $ 91,522     $ 82,850  
Average off-balance sheet student loans
    44,663       47,252       42,069  
                         
Average Managed student loans
  $ 146,162     $ 138,774     $ 124,919  
                         
Ending on-balance sheet student loans, net
  $ 104,581     $ 95,920     $ 81,645  
Ending off-balance sheet student loans, net
    45,380       46,172       45,225  
                         
Ending Managed student loans, net
  $ 149,961     $ 142,092     $ 126,870  
                         
Ending Managed FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans, net
  $ 41,832     $ 39,869     $ 42,340  
Ending Managed FFELP Consolidation Loans, net
    83,928       79,635       66,662  
Ending Managed Private Education Loans, net
    24,201       22,588       17,868  
                         
Ending Managed student loans, net
  $ 149,961     $ 142,092     $ 126,870  
                         
 
 
(1) In December 2004, the Company adopted the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share,” as it relates to the Company’s $2 billion in contingently convertible debt instruments (“Co-Cos”) issued in May 2003. EITF No. 04-8 requires the shares underlying Co-Cos to be included in diluted earnings per common share computations regardless of whether the market price trigger or the conversion price has been met, using the “if-converted” method. The impact of Co-Cos to diluted earnings per common share is as follows:
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
 
Impact of Co-Cos on GAAP diluted earnings per common share(A)
  $     $     $  
Impact of Co-Cos on “Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share
  $     $ (.01 )   $ (.01 )
 
 
(A) There is no impact on diluted earnings per common share because the effect of the assumed conversion is antidilutive.
 
(2) See explanation of “Core Earnings” performance measures under “Reconciliation of ‘Core Earnings’ Net Income to GAAP Net Income.”


1


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)           (unaudited)  
 
Assets
                       
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans (net of allowance for losses of $10,192; $8,701; and $5,547, respectively)
  $ 28,561,670     $ 24,840,464     $ 18,882,890  
FFELP Consolidation Loans (net of allowance for losses of $12,087; $11,614; and $9,983 respectively)
    66,170,098       61,324,008       53,450,647  
Private Education Loans (net of allowance for losses of $369,072; $308,346; and $232,147, respectively)
    9,849,481       9,755,289       9,311,164  
Other loans (net of allowance for losses of $19,803; $20,394; and $15,081, respectively)
    1,350,416       1,308,832       1,114,200  
Cash and investments
    6,116,168       5,184,673       4,349,669  
Restricted cash and investments
    3,719,020       3,423,326       3,065,148  
Retained Interest in off-balance sheet securitized loans
    3,643,322       3,341,591       2,487,117  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net
    1,364,016       1,371,606       1,091,301  
Other assets
    6,102,275       5,585,943       4,013,450  
                         
Total assets
  $ 126,876,466     $ 116,135,732     $ 97,765,586  
                         
                         
Liabilities
                       
Short-term borrowings
  $ 4,428,980     $ 3,528,263     $ 3,362,548  
Long-term borrowings
    114,070,797       104,558,531       87,083,110  
Other liabilities
    3,990,878       3,679,781       3,555,318  
                         
Total liabilities
    122,490,655       111,766,575       94,000,976  
                         
Commitments and contingencies
                       
Minority interest in subsidiaries
    9,029       9,115       9,682  
Stockholders’ equity
                       
Preferred stock, par value $.20 per share, 20,000 shares authorized; Series A: 3,300; 3,300; and 3,300 shares, respectively, issued at stated value of $50 per share; Series B: 4,000; 4,000; and 4,000 shares, respectively, issued at stated value of $100 per share
    565,000       565,000       565,000  
Common stock, par value $.20 per share, 1,125,000 shares authorized: 434,587; 433,113; and 429,329 shares, respectively, issued
    86,918       86,623       85,866  
Additional paid-in capital
    2,638,334       2,565,211       2,364,252  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    300,884       349,111       328,496  
Retained earnings
    1,833,359       1,834,718       1,163,570  
                         
Stockholders’ equity before treasury stock
    5,424,495       5,400,663       4,507,184  
Common stock held in treasury: 22,650; 22,496; and 16,599 shares, respectively
    1,047,713       1,040,621       752,256  
                         
Total stockholders’ equity
    4,376,782       4,360,042       3,754,928  
                         
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 126,876,466     $ 116,135,732     $ 97,765,586  
                         


2


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
 
Interest income:
                       
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 450,762     $ 408,727     $ 298,500  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,014,846       966,840       821,335  
Private Education Loans
    338,421       291,425       241,353  
Other loans
    27,973       26,556       23,307  
Cash and investments
    113,904       141,155       95,810  
                         
Total interest income
    1,945,906       1,834,703       1,480,305  
Total interest expense
    1,532,090       1,462,733       1,092,784  
                         
Net interest income
    413,816       371,970       387,521  
Less: provisions for losses
    150,330       92,005       60,319  
                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    263,486       279,965       327,202  
                         
Other income:
                       
Gains on student loan securitizations
    367,300             30,023  
Servicing and securitization revenue
    251,938       184,686       98,931  
Losses on securities, net
    (30,967 )     (24,458 )     (2,948 )
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (356,969 )     (244,521 )     (86,739 )
Guarantor servicing fees
    39,241       33,089       26,907  
Debt management fees
    87,322       92,501       91,612  
Collections revenue
    65,562       57,878       56,681  
Other
    96,433       103,927       71,376  
                         
Total other income
    519,860       203,102       285,843  
Operating expenses
    356,174       352,747       323,309  
                         
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    427,172       130,320       289,736  
Income taxes
    310,014       111,752       137,045  
                         
Income before minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    117,158       18,568       152,691  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    1,005       463       1,090  
                         
Net income
    116,153       18,105       151,601  
Preferred stock dividends
    9,093       9,258       8,301  
                         
Net income attributable to common stock
  $ 107,060     $ 8,847     $ 143,300  
                         
Basic earnings per common share
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .35  
                         
Average common shares outstanding
    411,040       409,597       412,675  
                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .34  
                         
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
    418,449       418,357       422,974  
                         
Dividends per common share
  $ .25     $ .25     $ .22  
                         


3


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
Segment and “Core Earnings”
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
(In thousands)
 
                                                 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
                Corporate
    Total “Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments     GAAP  
    (unaudited)  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 695,353     $     $     $ 695,353     $ (244,591 )   $ 450,762  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,331,235                   1,331,235       (316,389 )     1,014,846  
Private Education Loans
    657,584                   657,584       (319,163 )     338,421  
Other loans
    27,973                   27,973             27,973  
Cash and investments
    161,677             2,135       163,812       (49,908 )     113,904  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,873,822             2,135       2,875,957       (930,051 )     1,945,906  
Total interest expense
    2,220,136       6,687       5,568       2,232,391       (700,301 )     1,532,090  
                                                 
Net interest income
    653,686       (6,687 )     (3,433 )     643,566       (229,750 )     413,816  
Less: provisions for losses
    197,930             606       198,536       (48,206 )     150,330  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    455,756       (6,687 )     (4,039 )     445,030       (181,544 )     263,486  
Fee income
          87,326       39,241       126,567       (4 )     126,563  
Collections revenue
          65,322             65,322       240       65,562  
Other income
    44,418             51,317       95,735       232,000       327,735  
                                                 
Total other income
    44,418       152,648       90,558       287,624       232,236       519,860  
Operating expenses(1)
    171,563       93,248       67,505       332,316       23,858       356,174  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    328,611       52,713       19,014       400,338       26,834       427,172  
Income tax expense(2)
    121,586       19,504       7,035       148,125       161,889       310,014  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
          1,005             1,005             1,005  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 207,025     $ 32,204     $ 11,979     $ 251,208     $ (135,055 )   $ 116,153  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $9 million, $3 million, and $4 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


4


 

                                                 
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
                Corporate
    Total “Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments     GAAP  
    (unaudited)  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 700,961     $     $     $ 700,961     $ (292,234 )   $ 408,727  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,305,744                   1,305,744       (338,904 )     966,840  
Private Education Loans
    620,092                   620,092       (328,667 )     291,425  
Other loans
    26,556                   26,556             26,556  
Cash and investments
    197,161             2,225       199,386       (58,231 )     141,155  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,850,514             2,225       2,852,739       (1,018,036 )     1,834,703  
Total interest expense
    2,189,781       6,440       5,630       2,201,851       (739,118 )     1,462,733  
                                                 
Net interest income
    660,733       (6,440 )     (3,405 )     650,888       (278,918 )     371,970  
Less: provisions for losses
    87,895             298       88,193       3,812       92,005  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    572,838       (6,440 )     (3,703 )     562,695       (282,730 )     279,965  
Fee income
          92,501       33,089       125,590             125,590  
Collections revenue
          57,473             57,473       405       57,878  
Other income
    40,034             59,690       99,724       (80,090 )     19,634  
                                                 
Total other income
    40,034       149,974       92,779       282,787       (79,685 )     203,102  
Operating expenses(1)
    164,289       91,833       71,567       327,689       25,058       352,747  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    448,583       51,701       17,509       517,793       (387,473 )     130,320  
Income tax expense(2)
    165,976       19,178       6,429       191,583       (79,831 )     111,752  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
          463             463             463  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 282,607     $ 32,060     $ 11,080     $ 325,747     $ (307,642 )   $ 18,105  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $8 million, $3 million, and $3 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


5


 

                                                 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
                Corporate
    Total “Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments     GAAP  
    (unaudited)  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 649,751     $     $     $ 649,751     $ (351,251 )   $ 298,500  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,027,962                   1,027,962       (206,627 )     821,335  
Private Education Loans
    428,760                   428,760       (187,407 )     241,353  
Other loans
    23,307                   23,307             23,307  
Cash and investments
    130,461             1,323       131,784       (35,974 )     95,810  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,260,241             1,323       2,261,564       (781,259 )     1,480,305  
Total interest expense
    1,659,372       5,156       1,278       1,665,806       (573,022 )     1,092,784  
                                                 
Net interest income
    600,869       (5,156 )     45       595,758       (208,237 )     387,521  
Less: provisions for losses
    74,820             19       74,839       (14,520 )     60,319  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    526,049       (5,156 )     26       520,919       (193,717 )     327,202  
Fee income
          91,612       26,907       118,519             118,519  
Collections revenue
          56,540             56,540       141       56,681  
Other income
    40,572             30,009       70,581       40,062       110,643  
                                                 
Total other income
    40,572       148,152       56,916       245,640       40,203       285,843  
Operating expenses(1)
    161,438       89,513       58,512       309,463       13,846       323,309  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    405,183       53,483       (1,570 )     457,096       (167,360 )     289,736  
Income tax expense(2)
    149,917       19,789       (581 )     169,125       (32,080 )     137,045  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
          1,090             1,090             1,090  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 255,266     $ 32,604     $ (989 )   $ 286,881     $ (135,280 )   $ 151,601  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $10 million, $3 million, and $5 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


6


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
Reconciliation of “Core Earnings” Net Income to GAAP Net Income
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
 
“Core Earnings” net income(A)
  $ 251,208     $ 325,747     $ 286,881  
“Core Earnings” adjustments:
                       
Net impact of securitization accounting
    421,485       (67,984 )     (62,061 )
Net impact of derivative accounting
    (331,724 )     (242,614 )     (38,817 )
Net impact of Floor Income
    (39,021 )     (51,762 )     (52,569 )
Net impact of acquired intangibles(B)
    (23,906 )     (25,113 )     (13,913 )
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    26,834       (387,473 )     (167,360 )
Net tax effect(C)
    (161,889 )     79,831       32,080  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments before minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    (135,055 )     (307,642 )     (135,280 )
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
                 
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments
    (135,055 )     (307,642 )     (135,280 )
                         
GAAP net income
  $ 116,153     $ 18,105     $ 151,601  
                         
GAAP diluted earnings per common share
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .34  
                         
                         
                       
(A)  “Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share
  $ .57     $ .74     $ .65  
                         
 
(B) Represents goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles.
 
(C) Such tax effect is based upon the Company’s “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year. The net tax effect results primarily from the exclusion of the permanent income tax impact of the equity forward contracts.
 
“Core Earnings”
 
In accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In addition to evaluating the Company’s GAAP-based financial information, management evaluates the Company’s business segments on a basis that, as allowed under SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” differs from GAAP. We refer to management’s basis of evaluating our segment results as “Core Earnings” presentations for each business segment and we refer to this information in our presentations with credit rating agencies and lenders. While “Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, we rely on “Core Earnings” to manage each operating segment because we believe these measures provide additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management.
 
Our “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. “Core Earnings” net income reflects only current period adjustments to GAAP net income as described below. Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting and as a result, our management reporting 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


7


 

changes in reported segment financial information. A more detailed discussion of the differences between GAAP and “Core Earnings” follows.
 
Limitations of “Core Earnings”
 
While GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting, for the reasons described above, management believes that “Core Earnings” are an important additional tool for providing a more complete understanding of the Company’s results of operations. Nevertheless, “Core Earnings” are subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. For example, as stated above, unlike financial accounting, 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. Unlike GAAP, “Core Earnings” reflect only current period adjustments to GAAP. Accordingly, the Company’s “Core Earnings” presentation does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. Investors, therefore, may not compare our Company’s 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, the Company’s board of directors, rating agencies and lenders to assess performance.
 
Other limitations arise from the specific adjustments that management makes to GAAP results to derive “Core Earnings” results. For example, in reversing the unrealized gains and losses that result from SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” on derivatives that do not qualify for “hedge treatment,” as well as on derivatives that do qualify but are in part ineffective because they are not perfect hedges, we focus on the long-term economic effectiveness of those instruments relative to the underlying hedged item and isolate the effects of interest rate volatility, changing credit spreads and changes in our stock price on the fair value of such instruments during the period. Under GAAP, the effects of these factors on the fair value of the derivative instruments (but not on the underlying hedged item) tend to show more volatility in the short term. While our presentation of our results on a “Core Earnings” basis provides important information regarding the performance of our Managed portfolio, a limitation of this presentation is that we are presenting the ongoing spread income on loans that have been sold to a trust managed by us. While we believe that our “Core Earnings” presentation presents the economic substance of our Managed loan portfolio, it understates earnings volatility from securitization gains. Our “Core Earnings” results exclude certain Floor Income, which is real cash income, from our reported results and therefore may understate earnings in certain periods. Management’s financial planning and valuation of operating results, however, does not take into account Floor Income because of its inherent uncertainty, except when it is economically hedged through Floor Income Contracts.
 
Pre-Tax Differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP
 
Our “Core Earnings” are the primary financial performance measures used by management to evaluate performance and to allocate resources. Accordingly, financial information is reported to management on a “Core Earnings” basis by reportable segment, as these are the measures used regularly by our chief operating decision maker. Our “Core Earnings” are used in developing our financial plans and tracking results, and also in establishing corporate performance targets and determining incentive compensation. Management believes this information provides additional insight into the financial performance of the Company’s core business activities. “Core Earnings” net income reflects only current period adjustments to GAAP net income, as described in the more detailed discussion of the differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP that follows, which includes further detail on each specific adjustment required to reconcile our “Core Earnings” segment presentation to our GAAP earnings.
 
  1)  Securitization Accounting: Under GAAP, certain securitization transactions in our Lending operating segment are accounted for as sales of assets. Under “Core Earnings” for the Lending operating segment, we present all securitization transactions on a “Core Earnings” basis as long-term non-recourse financings. The upfront “gains” on sale from securitization transactions as well as ongoing “servicing and securitization revenue” presented in accordance with GAAP are excluded from “Core


8


 

  Earnings” and are replaced by the interest income, provisions for loan losses, and interest expense as they are earned or incurred on the securitization loans. We also exclude transactions with our off-balance sheet trusts from “Core Earnings” as they are considered intercompany transactions on a “Core Earnings” basis.
 
  2)  Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses arising primarily in our Lending operating segment, and to a lesser degree in our Corporate and Other reportable segment, that are caused primarily by the one-sided mark-to-market derivative valuations prescribed by SFAS No. 133 on derivatives that do not qualify for “hedge treatment” under GAAP. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life. “Core Earnings” also exclude the gain or loss on equity forward contracts that under SFAS No. 133, are required to be accounted for as derivatives and are marked-to-market through earnings.
 
  3)  Floor Income: The timing and amount (if any) of Floor Income earned in our Lending operating segment is uncertain and in excess of expected spreads. Therefore, we exclude such income from “Core Earnings” when it is not economically hedged. We employ derivatives, primarily Floor Income Contracts and futures, to economically hedge Floor Income. As discussed above in “Derivative Accounting,” these derivatives do not qualify as effective accounting hedges, and therefore, under GAAP, they are marked-to-market through the “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” line on the income statement with no offsetting gain or loss recorded for the economically hedged items. For “Core Earnings,” we reverse the fair value adjustments on the Floor Income Contracts and futures economically hedging Floor Income and include the amortization of net premiums received in income.
 
  4)  Acquired Intangibles: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles.


9

exv99w2
 

EXHIBIT 99.2
 
SLM CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FIRST QUARTER 2007
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts, unless otherwise stated)
 
The following supplemental information should be read in connection with SLM Corporation’s (the “Company’s”) press release of first quarter 2007 earnings, dated April 24, 2007.
 
This Supplemental Financial Information release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this document. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend” and “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, changes in the terms of student loans and the educational credit marketplace arising from the implementation of applicable laws and regulations and from changes in these laws and regulations, which may reduce the volume, average term and yields on student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”) or result in loans being originated or refinanced under non-FFELP programs or may affect the terms upon which banks and others agree to sell FFELP loans to SLM Corporation, more commonly known as Sallie Mae, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “the Company”). In addition, a larger than expected increase in third party consolidations of our FFELP loans could materially adversely affect our results of operations. The Company could also be affected by changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of lenders, educational institutions, students and their families; incorrect estimates or assumptions by management in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements; changes in the composition of our Managed FFELP and Private Education Loan portfolios; a significant decrease in our common stock price, which may result in counterparties terminating equity forward positions with us, which, in turn, could have a materially dilutive effect on our common stock; changes in the general interest rate environment and in the securitization markets for education loans, which may increase the costs or limit the availability of financings necessary to initiate, purchase or carry education loans; losses from loan defaults; changes in prepayment rates and credit spreads; and changes in the demand for debt management services and new laws or changes in existing laws that govern debt management services.
 
Definitions for capitalized terms in this document can be found in the Company’s 2006 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2007.
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the quarters ended December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2006, to be consistent with classifications adopted for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.


 

 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following table presents the statements of income for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
Statements of Income
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
 
Interest income:
                       
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 451     $ 409     $ 299  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,015       967       821  
Private Education Loans
    338       291       241  
Other loans
    28       27       23  
Cash and investments
    114       141       96  
                         
Total interest income
    1,946       1,835       1,480  
Total interest expense
    1,532       1,463       1,093  
                         
Net interest income
    414       372       387  
Less: provisions for losses
    150       92       60  
                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    264       280       327  
                         
Other income:
                       
Gains on student loan securitizations
    367             30  
Servicing and securitization revenue
    252       185       99  
Losses on securities, net
    (31 )     (25 )      
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (357 )     (245 )     (87 )
Guarantor servicing fees
    39       33       27  
Debt management fees
    87       93       92  
Collections revenue
    66       58       56  
Other
    96       104       69  
                         
Total other income
    519       203       286  
Operating expenses
    356       353       323  
                         
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    427       130       290  
Income taxes(1)
    310       112       137  
                         
Income before minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    117       18       153  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    1             1  
                         
Net income
    116       18       152  
Preferred stock dividends
    9       9       9  
                         
Net income attributable to common stock
  $ 107     $ 9     $ 143  
                         
Diluted earnings per common share(2)
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .34  
                         
 
 
(1)   Income tax expense includes the permanent tax impact of excluding gains and losses from equity forward contracts from taxable income.
 
                         
(2)  Impact of Co-Cos on GAAP diluted earnings per common share(A)
  $     —     $     —     $     —  
                         
 
 
  (A)   There is no impact on diluted earnings per common share because the effect of the assumed conversion is antidilutive.


2


 

 
Earnings Release Summary
 
The following table summarizes GAAP income statement items disclosed separately in the Company’s press releases of earnings or the Company’s quarterly earnings conference calls for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
(in thousands)
  2007     2006     2006  
 
Reported net income
  $ 116,153     $ 18,105     $ 151,601  
Preferred stock dividends
    (9,093 )     (9,258 )     (8,301 )
                         
Reported net income attributable to common stock
    107,060       8,847       143,300  
(Income) expense items disclosed separately (tax effected):
                       
Update of Borrower Benefits estimates
                (6,610 )
                         
Net income attributable to common stock excluding the impact of items disclosed separately
    107,060       8,847       136,690  
Adjusted for debt expense of Co-Cos, net of tax(1)
                 
                         
Net income attributable to common stock, adjusted
  $ 107,060     $ 8,847     $ 136,690  
                         
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(1)(2)
    418,449       418,357       422,974  
                         
 
 
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, there is no impact from Co-Cos on diluted earnings per common share because the effect of the assumed conversion is antidilutive.
 
(2) The difference in common stock equivalent shares outstanding between GAAP and “Core Earnings” is caused by the effect of unrealized gains and losses on equity forward contracts on the GAAP calculation. These unrealized gains and losses are excluded from “Core Earnings.”
 
The following table summarizes “Core Earnings” income statement items disclosed separately in the Company’s press releases of earnings or the Company’s quarterly earnings conference calls for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006. See “BUSINESS SEGMENTS” for a discussion of “Core Earnings” and a reconciliation of “Core Earnings” net income to GAAP net income.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
(in thousands)
  2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” net income
  $ 251,208     $ 325,747     $ 286,881  
Preferred stock dividends
    (9,093 )     (9,258 )     (8,301 )
                         
“Core Earnings” net income attributable to common stock
    242,115       316,489       278,580  
(Income) expense items disclosed separately (tax effected):
                       
Update of Borrower Benefits estimates
                (9,339 )
                         
“Core Earnings” net income attributable to common stock excluding the impact of items disclosed separately
    242,115       316,489       269,241  
Adjusted for debt expense of Co-Cos, net of tax
    17,510       18,035       14,817  
                         
“Core Earnings” net income attributable to common stock, adjusted
  $ 259,625     $ 334,524     $ 284,058  
                         
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(1)
    458,739       452,758       453,286  
                         
 
 
(1) As noted above, for the three months ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, there is no impact from Co-Cos on GAAP diluted earnings per common share because the effect of assumed conversion is antidilutive. The difference in common stock equivalent shares outstanding between GAAP and “Core Earnings” is also caused by the effect of unrealized gains and losses on equity forward contracts on the GAAP calculation. These unrealized gains and losses are excluded from “Core Earnings.”


3


 

 
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Consolidated Earnings Summary
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2006
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, net income was $116 million ($.26 diluted earnings per share), an increase of $98 million from the $18 million in net income ($.02 diluted earnings per share) for the three months ended December 30, 2006. On a pre-tax basis, first-quarter 2007 net income of $427 million was a $297 million increase over the $130 million in pre-tax income earned in the fourth quarter of 2006. The larger percentage increase in quarter-over-quarter, after-tax net income versus pre-tax net income is driven by the permanent impact of excluding non-taxable gains and losses on equity forward contracts in the Company’s stock from taxable income. Under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” we are required to mark the equity forward contracts to market each quarter and recognize the change in their value in income. Conversely, these gains and losses are not recognized on a tax basis. In the first quarter of 2007, a reduction in the Company’s stock price resulted in an unrealized loss on our outstanding equity forward contracts of $412 million, a $234 million increase over the unrealized loss of $178 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. Excluding these losses from taxable income decreased the effective tax rate from 86 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 73 percent in the first quarter of 2007.
 
When comparing the pre-tax results of the first quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2006, there were several factors contributing to the $297 million increase, the two largest of which were an increase in securitization gains of $367 million offset by an increase in the net losses on derivative and hedging activities of $112 million. In the first quarter of 2007, we recognized a pre-tax securitization gain of $367 million from one Private Education Loan securitization, compared to no such gains in the fourth quarter, as we had no off-balance sheet securitizations during that period. The increase in net losses on derivative and hedging activities primarily relates to the unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on our derivatives that do not receive hedge accounting treatment. In the first quarter, the $112 million increase in losses on derivative and hedging activities is primarily due to the $234 million increase in the unrealized losses on our equity forward contracts discussed above. This was partially offset by a $60 million unrealized gain on our basis swaps in the first quarter of 2007 versus an $88 million unrealized loss in the fourth quarter of 2006, for a net quarter-over-quarter change in net income of $148 million.
 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses decreased by $16 million versus the fourth quarter. The decrease is due to the quarter-over-quarter increase in the provision for Private Education Loan losses of $58 million, which offset the $42 million increase in net interest income. The increase in the provision reflects a further seasoning of the portfolio and an increase in delinquencies and charge-offs related to lower collections caused by operational challenges related to a call center move in the third quarter of 2006. The increase in net interest income is due to a 6 basis point increase in the net interest margin and to an $8.6 billion increase in the average balance of on-balance sheet interest earning assets. The increase in the net interest margin can be attributed to a more favorable mix of interest earning assets.
 
In the first quarter of 2007, our Managed student loan portfolio grew by $7.9 billion or 6 percent over the fourth quarter and totaled $150.0 billion at March 31, 2007. During the first quarter we acquired $12.5 billion in student loans, including $2.4 billion in Private Education Loans. In the fourth quarter of 2006, we acquired $9.6 billion in student loans; $2.0 billion were Private Education Loans. In the first quarter of 2007, we originated $8.0 billion of student loans through our Preferred Channel compared to $4.8 billion originated in the fourth quarter of 2006. Within our first quarter Preferred Channel Originations, $4.8 billion or 60 percent were originated under Sallie Mae owned brands, compared to 66 percent in the prior quarter. The quarter-over-quarter increase in acquisitions and Preferred Channel Originations was due to the seasonality of student lending.


4


 

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, net income of $116 million ($.26 diluted earnings per share) was a decrease of 24 percent from net income of $152 million ($.34 diluted earnings per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2006. First quarter 2007 pre-tax income of $427 million was a 47 percent increase from $290 million earned in the first quarter of 2006. The decrease in current quarter over year-ago quarter, after-tax net income versus the increase in pre-tax net income is driven by fluctuations in the unrealized gains and losses on equity forward contracts as described above. Excluding the unrealized loss on equity forward contracts of $412 million in the first quarter of 2007 and $122 million in the first quarter of 2006, taxable income increased the effective tax rate from 47 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 73 percent in the first quarter of 2007.
 
The increase in the pre-tax results of the first quarter of 2007 versus the year-ago quarter was primarily due to an increase in securitization gains of $337 million, partially offset by an increase in the net losses on derivative and hedging activities of $270 million. In the first quarter of 2007, we recognized a pre-tax securitization gain of $367 million from one Private Education Loan securitization compared to pre-tax securitization gains of $30 million in the first quarter of 2006, as the result of two FFELP Stafford securitizations and one FFELP Consolidation Loan securitization. The year-over-year increase in net losses on derivative and hedging activities is primarily due to the $290 million increase in the unrealized loss on equity forward contracts as discussed above and to a decrease of $139 million in the unrealized gains on our Floor Income Contracts. The negative impact on pre-tax income from these items is partially offset by positive impact from basis swaps which swung from an unrealized loss of $82 million in the first quarter of 2006 to an unrealized gain of $60 million in the first quarter of 2007.
 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses decreased by $63 million versus the first quarter of 2006. The decrease is due to the year-over-year increase in the provision for Private Education Loan losses of $90 million, which offset the year-over-year $27 million increase net interest income. The increase in the provision reflects a further seasoning of the portfolio and an increase in delinquencies and charge-offs related to lower collections caused by operational challenges encountered from a call center move. The increase in net interest income is due to a $19.8 billion increase in the average balance of on-balance sheet interest earning assets, which was partially offset by a 22 basis point decrease in the net interest margin. The decrease in the net interest margin can primarily be attributed to the decrease in the student loan spread.
 
In the first quarter of 2007, servicing and securitization income was $252 million, a $153 million increase over the year-ago quarter. This increase can primarily be attributed to $41 million less impairments to our Retained Interests. The prior year impairments were primarily caused by the effect of higher than expected FFELP Consolidation Loan activity on our off-balance sheet FFELP Stafford securitizations. The remaining increase in securitization revenue is due to the increase of higher yielding Private Education Loan Residual Interests, and the adoption of SFAS No. 155 “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” in the first quarter of 2007. SFAS No. 155 results in the Company recognizing the unrealized fair value adjustment to our Residual Interests in earnings. For securitizations closed prior to December 31, 2006, this adjustment was recorded in other comprehensive income.
 
The $26 million, or 7 percent, year-over-year increase in net interest income is primarily due to a $19.8 billion increase in average interest earning assets, offset by a 22 basis point decrease in the net interest margin. The year-over-year decrease in the net interest margin is due to higher average interest rates which reduced Floor Income by $10 million, the continued shift in the mix of FFELP student loans from Stafford to Consolidation Loans and to the increase in the average balance of cash and investments.
 
In the first quarter of 2007, fee and other income and collections revenue totaled $289 million, an increase of 17 percent over the year-ago quarter. This increase was primarily driven by revenue from Upromise, acquired in August 2006 and to higher guarantor servicing fees.
 
Our Managed student loan portfolio grew by $23.1 billion (or 18 percent), from $126.9 billion at March 31, 2006 to $150.0 billion at March 31, 2007. In the first quarter of 2007, we acquired $12.5 billion of student loans, a 46 percent increase over the $8.6 billion acquired in the year-ago period. The first quarter


5


 

2007 acquisitions included $2.4 billion in Private Education Loans, a 24 percent increase over the $2.0 billion acquired in the year-ago period. In the quarter ended March 31, 2007, we originated $8.0 billion of student loans through our Preferred Channel, an increase of 5 percent over the $7.6 billion originated in the year-ago quarter.
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
 
Average Balance Sheets
 
The following table reflects the rates earned on interest earning assets and paid on interest bearing liabilities for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                                                 
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
 
Average Assets
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 26,885       6.80 %   $ 23,287       6.96 %   $ 19,522       6.20 %
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    63,260       6.51       58,946       6.51       54,312       6.13  
Private Education Loans
    11,354       12.09       9,289       12.45       9,016       10.86  
Other loans
    1,365       8.31       1,225       8.62       1,172       8.14  
Cash and investments
    7,958       5.81       9,433       6.02       7,042       5.52  
                                                 
Total interest earning assets
    110,822       7.12 %     102,180       7.13 %     91,064       6.59 %
                                                 
Non-interest earning assets
    9,095               8,870               7,963          
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 119,917             $ 111,050             $ 99,027          
                                                 
Average Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
                                               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 3,220       5.89 %   $ 3,057       5.96 %   $ 4,174       4.78 %
Long-term borrowings
    107,950       5.58       99,349       5.66       87,327       4.85  
                                                 
Total interest bearing liabilities
    111,170       5.59 %     102,406       5.67 %     91,501       4.84 %
                                                 
Non-interest bearing liabilities
    4,483               4,329               3,703          
Stockholders’ equity
    4,264               4,315               3,823          
                                                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 119,917             $ 111,050             $ 99,027          
                                                 
Net interest margin
            1.51 %             1.45 %             1.73 %
                                                 
 
The decrease and the increase in the net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus the year-ago quarter and the preceding quarter, respectively, was primarily due to fluctuations in the student loan spread as discussed under “Student Loans — Student Loan Spread — Student Loan Spread Analysis — On-Balance Sheet.” When compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, the net interest margin benefited by the decrease in lower yielding cash and investments primarily being held as collateral for on-balance sheet securitization trusts.
 
Student Loans
 
For both federally insured and Private Education Loans, we account for premiums paid, discounts received and certain origination costs incurred on the origination and acquisition of student loans in accordance with SFAS No. 91, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases.” The unamortized portion of the premiums and discounts is included in the carrying value of the student loan on the consolidated balance sheet. We recognize income on our student loan portfolio based on the expected yield of the student loan after giving effect to the amortization of purchase premiums and the accretion of student loan discounts, as well as interest rate


6


 

reductions and rebates expected to be earned through Borrower Benefits programs. Discounts on Private Education Loans are deferred and accreted to income over the lives of the student loans. In the table below, this accretion of discounts is netted with the amortization of the premiums.
 
Student Loan Spread
 
An important performance measure closely monitored by management is the student loan spread. The student loan spread is the difference between the income earned on the student loan assets and the interest paid on the debt funding those assets. A number of factors can affect the overall student loan spread such as:
 
  •  the mix of student loans in the portfolio, with FFELP Consolidation Loans having the lowest spread and Private Education Loans having the highest spread;
 
  •  the premiums paid, borrower fees charged and capitalized costs incurred to acquire student loans which impact the spread through subsequent amortization;
 
  •  the type and level of Borrower Benefits programs for which the student loans are eligible;
 
  •  the level of Floor Income and, when considering the “Core Earnings” spread, the amount of Floor Income-eligible loans that have been hedged through Floor Income Contracts; and
 
  •  funding and hedging costs.
 
Wholesale Consolidations Loan
 
During 2006, we implemented a new loan acquisition strategy under which we began purchasing FFELP Consolidation Loans outside of our normal origination channels, primarily via the spot market. We refer to this new loan acquisition strategy as our Wholesale Consolidation Channel. FFELP Consolidation Loans acquired through this channel are considered incremental volume to our core acquisition channels, which are focused on the retail marketplace with an emphasis on our internal brand strategy. Wholesale Consolidation Loans generally command significantly higher premiums than our originated FFELP Consolidation Loans, and as a result, Wholesale Consolidation Loans have lower spreads. Since Wholesale Consolidation Loans are acquired outside of our core loan acquisition channels and have different yields and return expectations than the rest of our FFELP Consolidation Loan portfolio, we have excluded the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan volume from the student loan spread analysis to provide more meaningful period-over-period comparisons on the performance of our student loan portfolio. We will therefore discuss the volume and its effect on the spread of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio separately.
 
The student loan spread is highly susceptible to liquidity, funding and interest rate risk. These risks are discussed separately in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K at “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES” and in the “RISK FACTORS” discussion.


7


 

 
Student Loan Spread Analysis — On-Balance Sheet
 
The following table analyzes the reported earnings from student loans on-balance sheet. For an analysis of our student loan spread for the entire portfolio of Managed student loans on a similar basis to the on-balance sheet analysis, see “LENDING BUSINESS SEGMENT — Student Loan Spread Analysis — ‘Core Earnings’ Basis.”
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
On-Balance Sheet
                       
Student loan yield, before Floor Income
    8.17 %     8.15 %     7.51 %
Gross Floor Income
    .02       .02       .07  
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees
    (.63 )     (.65 )     (.68 )
Borrower Benefits
    (.13 )     (.12 )     (.11 )
Premium and discount amortization
    (.15 )     (.14 )     (.12 )
                         
Student loan net yield
    7.28       7.26       6.67  
Student loan cost of funds
    (5.57 )     (5.65 )     (4.84 )
                         
Student loan spread(1)
    1.71 %     1.61 %     1.83 %
                         
Average Balances
                       
On-balance sheet student loans(1)
  $ 96,866     $ 89,143     $ 82,850  
                         
 
 
(1) Excludes the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio on the student loan spread and average balances for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
 
Discussion of Student Loan Spread — Effects of Floor Income and Derivative Accounting
 
In low interest rate environments, one of the primary drivers of fluctuations in our on-balance sheet student loan spread is the level of gross Floor Income (Floor Income earned before payments on Floor Income Contracts) earned in the period. Short-term interest rates have increased to a level that significantly reduced the level of gross Floor Income earned in the periods presented. We believe that we have economically hedged most of the Floor Income through the sale of Floor Income Contracts, under which we receive an upfront fee and agree to pay the counterparty the Floor Income earned on a notional amount of student loans. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and as a result the payments on the Floor Income Contracts are included on the income statement with “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” rather than in student loan interest income.
 
In addition to Floor Income Contracts, we also extensively use basis swaps to manage our basis risk associated with interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities. These swaps generally do not qualify as accounting hedges and are likewise required to be accounted for in the “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” line on the income statement. As a result, they are not considered in the calculation of the cost of funds in the above table.
 
Discussion of Student Loan Spread — Other Quarter-over-Quarter Fluctuations
 
As discussed above, the on-balance sheet student loan spread above excludes the impact of our Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio whose average balances were $4.6 billion and $2.4 billion for the first quarter of 2007 and the fourth quarter of 2006, respectively. Had the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan volume been included in the on-balance sheet student loan spread it would have reduced the spread by approximately 7 basis points and 3 basis points for the first quarter of 2007 and the fourth quarter of 2006, respectively. As of March 31, 2007, Wholesale Consolidation Loans totaled $6.7 billion, or 10 percent, of our total on-balance sheet FFELP Consolidation Loan portfolio.


8


 

 
For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the on-balance sheet student loan spread benefited by 2 basis points to account for the cumulative effect of an update in our prepayment estimate, which impacted student loan premium and discount amortization.
 
In the first quarter of 2006, we changed our policy related to Borrower Benefit qualification requirements and updated our assumptions to reflect this policy. These changes resulted in a reduction of our liability for Borrower Benefits of $10 million or 5 basis points.
 
SECURITIZATION PROGRAM
 
Securitization Activity
 
The following table summarizes our securitization activity for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                                                                                                 
    Quarters ended  
    March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006     March 31, 2006  
    No. of
    Amount
    Pre-Tax
    Gain
    No. of
    Amount
    Pre-Tax
    Gain
    No. of
    Amount
    Pre-Tax
    Gain
 
(Dollars in millions)
  Transactions     Securitized     Gain     %     Transactions     Securitized     Gain     %     Transactions     Securitized     Gain     %  
 
Securitizations — sales:
                                                                                               
FFELP Stafford/PLUS loans
        $     $       %         $     $       %     2     $ 5,004     $ 17       .3 %
FFELP Consolidation Loans
                                                    1       3,002       13       .4  
Private Education Loans
    1       2,000       367       18.4                                                  
                                                                                                 
Total securitizations — sales
    1       2,000     $ 367       18.4 %               $       %     3       8,006     $ 30       .4 %
                                                                                                 
Securitizations — financings:
                                                                                               
FFELP Stafford/PLUS loans(1)
    2       7,004                                                                          
FFELP Consolidation Loans(1)
    1       4,002                       2       6,504                                              
                                                                                                 
Total securitizations — financings
    3       11,006                       2       6,504                                              
                                                                                                 
Total securitizations
    4     $ 13,006                       2     $ 6,504                       3     $ 8,006                  
                                                                                                 
 
 
(1) In certain securitizations there are terms within the deal structure that result in such securitizations not qualifying for sale treatment and accordingly, they are accounted for on-balance sheet as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). Terms that prevent sale treatment include: (1) allowing us to hold certain rights that can affect the remarketing of certain bonds, (2) allowing the trust to enter into interest rate cap agreements after the initial settlement of the securitization, which do not relate to the reissuance of third party beneficial interests or (3) allowing us to hold an unconditional call option related to a certain percentage of the securitized assets.
 
Key economic assumptions used in estimating the fair value of Residual Interests at the date of securitization resulting from the student loan securitization sale transactions completed during the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006 were as follows:
 
                                                                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006     March 31, 2006  
          FFELP
    Private
          FFELP
    Private
          FFELP
    Private
 
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Education
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Education
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Education
 
    Stafford(1)     Loans(1)     Loans     Stafford(1)     Loans(1)     Loans(1)     Stafford     Loans     Loans(1)  
 
Prepayment speed (annual rate)(2)
                                        *     6 %      
Interim status
                0 %                                    
Repayment status
                4-7 %                                    
Life of loan — repayment status
                6 %                                    
Weighted average life
                9.4                         3.7       8.3        
Expected credit losses (% of principal securitized)
                4.69 %                       .15 %     .27 %      
Residual cash flows discounted at (weighted average)
                12.5 %                       12.4 %     10.5 %      
 
 
(1) No securitizations qualified for sale treatment in the period.
 
(2) Effective December 31, 2006, we implemented Constant Prepayment Rates (“CPR”) curves for Residual Interest valuations that are based on the number of months since entering repayment that better reflect the CPR as the loan seasons. Under this methodology, a different CPR is applied to each year of a loan’s seasoning. Previously, we applied a CPR that was based on a static life of loan assumption, irrespective of seasoning, or, in the case of FFELP Stafford and PLUS loans, we used a vector approach in applying the CPR. The repayment status CPR depends on the number of months since first entering repayment or as the loans seasons through the portfolio. Life of loan CPR is related to repayment status only and does not include the impact of the loan while in interim status. The CPR assumption used for all periods includes the impact of projected defaults.
 
* CPR of 20 percent in 2006, 15 percent for 2007 and 10 percent thereafter.


9


 

 
Retained Interest in Securitized Receivables
 
The following tables summarize the fair value of the Company’s Residual Interests, included in the Company’s Retained Interest (and the assumptions used to value such Residual Interests), along with the underlying off-balance sheet student loans that relate to those securitizations in transactions that were treated as sales as of March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                                 
    As of March 31, 2007  
          FFELP
             
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Private
       
    Stafford and
    Loan
    Education
       
    PLUS     Trusts(1)     Loan Trusts     Total  
 
Fair value of Residual Interests(2)
  $ 637     $ 671     $ 2,336     $ 3,644  
Underlying securitized loan balance(3)
    13,057       17,269       14,807       45,133  
Weighted average life
    2.8 yrs.       7.2 yrs.       7.4 yrs.          
Prepayment speed (annual rate)(4)
                               
Interim status
    0 %           0 %        
Repayment status
    0-43 %     3-9 %     4-7 %        
Life of loan — repayment status
    24 %     6 %     6 %        
Expected credit losses (% of student loan principal)
    .07 %     .06 %     4.39 %        
Residual cash flows discount rate
    12.4 %     10.5 %     12.5 %        
 
                                 
    As of December 31, 2006  
          FFELP
             
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Private
       
    Stafford and
    Loan
    Education
       
    PLUS     Trusts(1)     Loan Trusts     Total  
 
Fair value of Residual Interests(2)
  $ 701     $ 676     $ 1,965     $ 3,342  
Underlying securitized loan balance(3)
    14,794       17,817       13,222       45,833  
Weighted average life
    2.9 yrs.       7.3 yrs.       7.2 yrs.          
Prepayment speed (annual rate)(4)
                               
Interim status
    0 %           0 %        
Repayment status
    0-43 %     3-9 %     4-7 %        
Life of loan — repayment status
    24 %     6 %     6 %        
Expected credit losses (% of student loan principal)
    .06 %     .07 %     4.36 %        
Residual cash flows discount rate
    12.6 %     10.5 %     12.6 %        
 
                                 
    As of March 31, 2006  
          FFELP
             
    FFELP
    Consolidation
    Private
       
    Stafford and
    Loan
    Education
       
    PLUS     Trusts(1)     Loan Trusts     Total  
 
Fair value of Residual Interests(2)
  $ 864     $ 499     $ 1,124     $ 2,487  
Underlying securitized loan balance(3)
    23,104       12,857       8,836       44,797  
Weighted average life
    3.5 yrs.       7.9 yrs.       7.7 yrs.          
Prepayment speed (annual rate)(4)
    10%-20 %(5)     6 %     4 %        
Expected credit losses (% of student loan principal)
    .18 %     .22 %     4.92 %        
Residual cash flows discount rate
    12.7 %     10.7 %     12.8 %        
 
 
(1) Includes $147 million, $151 million and $160 million related to the fair value of the Embedded Floor Income as of March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, respectively. Changes in the fair value of the Embedded Floor Income are primarily due to changes in the interest rates and the paydown of the underlying loans.
 
(2) At March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, we had unrealized gains (pre-tax) in accumulated other comprehensive income of $332 million, $389 million and $323 million, respectively, that related to the Retained Interests.
 
(3) In addition to student loans in off-balance sheet trusts, we had $58.2 billion, $48.6 billion and $39.9 billion of securitized student loans outstanding (face amount) as of March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, respectively, in on-balance sheet FFELP Consolidation Loan securitization trusts.
 
(4) Effective December 31, 2006, we implemented CPR curves for Residual Interest valuations that are based on seasoning (the number of months since entering repayment). Under this methodology, a different CPR is applied to each year of a loan’s seasoning. Previously, we applied a CPR that was based on a static life of loan assumption, and, in the case of FFELP Stafford and PLUS loans, we applied a vector approach, irrespective of seasoning. Repayment status CPR used is based on the number of months since first entering repayment (seasoning). Life of loan CPR is related to repayment status only and does not include the impact of the loan while in interim status. The CPR assumption used for all periods includes the impact of projected defaults.
 
(5) CPR of 20 percent in 2006, 15 percent in 2007 and 10 percent thereafter.


10


 

 
Servicing and Securitization Revenue
 
Servicing and securitization revenue, the ongoing revenue from securitized loan pools accounted for off-balance sheet as qualifying special purpose entities (“QSPEs”), includes the interest earned on the Residual Interest and the revenue we receive for servicing the loans in the securitization trusts. Interest income recognized on the Residual Interest is based on our anticipated yield determined by estimating future cash flows each quarter.
 
The following table summarizes the components of servicing and securitization revenue for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Servicing revenue
  $ 77     $ 82     $ 79  
Securitization revenue, before net Embedded Floor Income and impairment
    106       112       69  
                         
Servicing and securitization revenue, before net Embedded Floor Income and impairment
    183       194       148  
Embedded Floor Income
    2       2       7  
Less: Floor Income previously recognized in gain calculation
    (1 )     (1 )     (4 )
                         
Net Embedded Floor Income
    1       1       3  
                         
Servicing and securitization revenue, before impairment and unrealized fair value adjustment
    184       195       151  
Unrealized fair value adjustment(1)
    79              
Retained Interest impairment
    (11 )     (10 )     (52 )
                         
Total servicing and securitization revenue
  $ 252     $ 185     $ 99  
                         
Average off-balance sheet student loans
  $ 44,663     $ 47,252     $ 42,069  
                         
Average balance of Retained Interest
  $ 3,442     $ 3,502     $ 2,501  
                         
Servicing and securitization revenue as a percentage of the average balance of off-balance sheet student loans (annualized)
    2.29 %     1.55 %     .95 %
                         
 
 
(1) The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007. For the Private Education Loan securitization which settled in the first quarter of 2007, the Company identified embedded derivatives which were required to be bifurcated from the Residual Interest. SFAS No. 155 allows the Company to make an election to carry the entire Residual Interest at fair value through earnings rather than bifurcate such embedded derivatives. The Company has elected this option to carry the Residual Interest recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2007 at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings (as opposed to other comprehensive income as done for securitizations settling prior to January 1, 2007).
 
Servicing and securitization revenue is primarily driven by the average balance of off-balance sheet student loans, the amount of and the difference in the timing of Embedded Floor Income recognition on off-balance sheet student loans, Retained Interest impairments, and the fair value adjustment related to those Residual Interests where the Company has elected to carry such Residual Interests at fair value through earnings under SFAS No. 155 as discussed in the above table.
 
Servicing and securitization revenue can be negatively impacted by impairments of the value of our Retained Interest, caused primarily by the effect of higher than expected FFELP Consolidation Loan activity on FFELP Stafford/PLUS student loan securitizations and the effect of market interest rates on the Embedded Floor Income included in the Retained Interest. The majority of the consolidations bring the loans back on-balance sheet, so for those loans, we retain the value of the asset on-balance sheet versus in the trust. For the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, we recorded impairments to the Retained Interests of $11 million, $10 million and $52 million, respectively. The impairment charges were primarily the result of FFELP loans prepaying faster than projected through loan consolidations ($11 million, $10 million and $24 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2006, respectively). The impairment for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 also related to the Floor Income


11


 

component of the Company’s Retained Interest due to increases in interest rates during the period ($28 million). The unrealized fair value adjustment recorded relates to the difference between recording the Residual Interest at its allocated cost basis as part of the gain on sale calculation and the Residual Interest’s fair value.
 
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
The results of operations of the Company’s Lending and Debt Management Operations (“DMO”) operating segments are presented below. These defined business segments operate in distinct business environments and are considered reportable segments under SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” based on quantitative thresholds applied to the Company’s financial statements. In addition, we provide other complementary products and services, including guarantor and student loan servicing, through smaller operating segments that do not meet such thresholds and are aggregated in the Corporate and Other reportable segment for financial reporting purposes.
 
The management reporting process measures the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on the management structure of the Company as well as the methodology used by management to evaluate performance and allocate resources. In accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the SEC, we prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. In addition to evaluating the Company’s GAAP-based financial information, management, including the Company’s chief operating decision maker, evaluates the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on their profitability on a basis that, as allowed under SFAS No. 131, differs from GAAP. We refer to management’s basis of evaluating our segment results as “Core Earnings” presentations for each business segment and we refer to these performance measures in our presentations with credit rating agencies and lenders. Accordingly, information regarding the Company’s reportable segments is provided herein based on “Core Earnings,” which are discussed in detail below.
 
Our “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. “Core Earnings” net income reflects only current period adjustments to GAAP net income as described below. Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting and as a result, our management reporting is not necessarily comparable with similar information for any other financial institution. The Company’s 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.
 
“Core Earnings” are the primary financial performance measures used by management to develop the Company’s financial plans, track results, and establish corporate performance targets and incentive compensation. While “Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, the Company relies on “Core Earnings” in operating its business because “Core Earnings” permit management to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management. Management believes this information provides additional insight into the financial performance of the core business activities of our operating segments. Accordingly, the tables presented below reflect “Core Earnings,” which is reviewed and utilized by management to manage the business for each of the Company’s reportable segments. A further discussion regarding “Core Earnings” is included under “Limitations of ‘Core Earnings’” and “Pre-tax Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP.”
 
The Lending operating segment includes all discussion of income and related expenses associated with the net interest margin, the student loan spread and its components, the provisions for loan losses, and other fees earned on our Managed portfolio of student loans. The DMO operating segment reflects the fees earned and expenses incurred in providing accounts receivable management and collection services. Our Corporate


12


 

and Other reportable segment includes our remaining fee businesses and other corporate expenses that do not pertain directly to the primary segments identified above.
 
                                                 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
                Corporate
    Total “Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments(3)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 695     $     $     $ 695     $ (244 )   $ 451  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,331                   1,331       (316 )     1,015  
Private Education Loans
    658                   658       (320 )     338  
Other loans
    28                   28             28  
Cash and investments
    162             2       164       (50 )     114  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,874             2       2,876       (930 )     1,946  
Total interest expense
    2,220       7       5       2,232       (700 )     1,532  
                                                 
Net interest income
    654       (7 )     (3 )     644       (230 )     414  
Less: provisions for losses
    198             1       199       (49 )     150  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    456       (7 )     (4 )     445       (181 )     264  
Fee income
          87       39       126             126  
Collections revenue
          65             65       1       66  
Other income
    44             52       96       231       327  
                                                 
Total other income
    44       152       91       287       232       519  
Operating expenses(1)
    171       93       68       332       24       356  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    329       52       19       400       27       427  
                                                 
Income tax expense(2)
    122       19       7       148       162       310  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
          1             1             1  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 207     $ 32     $ 12     $ 251     $ (135 )   $ 116  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $9 million, $3 million, and $4 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense due to the implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) in the first quarter of 2006.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
 
(3) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
                                         
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
    Net impact of
    Net impact of
          Net impact
       
    securitization
    derivative
    Net impact of
    of acquired
       
    accounting     accounting     Floor Income     intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income
  $ (216 )   $ 25     $ (39 )   $     $ (230 )
Less: provisions for losses
    (49 )                       (49 )
                                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    (167 )     25       (39 )           (181 )
Fee income
                             
Collections revenue
    1                         1  
Other income
    588       (357 )                 231  
                                         
Total other income
    589       (357 )                 232  
Operating expenses
                      24       24  
                                         
Total pre-tax “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ 422     $ (332 )   $ (39 )   $ (24 )     27  
                                         
Income tax expense
                                    162  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
                                     
                                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
                                  $ (135 )
                                         
 


13


 

                                                 
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
                Corporate
    Total “Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments(3)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 701     $     $     $ 701     $ (292 )   $ 409  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,306                   1,306       (339 )     967  
Private Education Loans
    620                   620       (329 )     291  
Other loans
    27                   27             27  
Cash and investments
    197             2       199       (58 )     141  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,851             2       2,853       (1,018 )     1,835  
Total interest expense
    2,190       6       6       2,202       (739 )     1,463  
                                                 
Net interest income
    661       (6 )     (4 )     651       (279 )     372  
Less: provisions for losses
    88                   88       4       92  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    573       (6 )     (4 )     563       (283 )     280  
Fee income
          93       33       126             126  
Collections revenue
          58             58             58  
Other income
    40             59       99       (80 )     19  
                                                 
Total other income
    40       151       92       283       (80 )     203  
Operating expenses(1)
    164       93       71       328       25       353  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    449       52       17       518       (388 )     130  
Income tax expense(2)
    166       20       6       192       (80 )     112  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 283     $ 32     $ 11     $ 326     $ (308 )   $ 18  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $8 million, $3 million, and $4 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense due to the implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) in the first quarter of 2006.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
 
(3) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
                                         
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
    Net impact of
    Net impact of
          Net impact
       
    securitization
    derivative
    Net impact of
    of acquired
       
    accounting     accounting     Floor Income     intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income
  $ (229 )   $ 2     $ (52 )   $     $ (279 )
Less: provisions for losses
    4                         4  
                                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    (233 )     2       (52 )           (283 )
Fee income
                             
Collections revenue
                             
Other income
    165       (245 )                 (80 )
                                         
Total other income
    165       (245 )                 (80 )
Operating expenses
                      25       25  
                                         
Total pre-tax “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ (68 )   $ (243 )   $ (52 )   $ (25 )     (388 )
                                         
Income tax expense
                                    (80 )
                                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
                                  $ (308 )
                                         
 

14


 

                                                 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
                Corporate
    Total ‘‘Core
          Total
 
    Lending     DMO     and Other     Earnings”     Adjustments(3)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 650     $     $     $ 650     $ (351 )   $ 299  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,028                   1,028       (207 )     821  
Private Education Loans
    429                   429       (188 )     241  
Other loans
    23                   23             23  
Cash and investments
    131             1       132       (36 )     96  
                                                 
Total interest income
    2,261             1       2,262       (782 )     1,480  
Total interest expense
    1,660       5       1       1,666       (573 )     1,093  
                                                 
Net interest income
    601       (5 )           596       (209 )     387  
Less: provisions for losses
    75                   75       (15 )     60  
                                                 
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    526       (5 )           521       (194 )     327  
Fee income
          92       27       119             119  
Collections revenue
          56             56             56  
Other income
    40             30       70       41       111  
                                                 
Total other income
    40       148       57       245       41       286  
Operating expenses(1)
    161       89       59       309       14       323  
                                                 
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    405       54       (2 )     457       (167 )     290  
Income tax expense(2)
    150       20       (1 )     169       (32 )     137  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
          1             1             1  
                                                 
Net income
  $ 255     $ 33     $ (1 )   $ 287     $ (135 )   $ 152  
                                                 
 
 
(1) Operating expenses for the Lending, DMO, and Corporate and Other business segments include $10 million, $3 million, and $5 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense due to the implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) in the first quarter of 2006.
 
(2) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
 
(3) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
                                         
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
    Net impact of
    Net impact of
          Net impact
       
    securitization
    derivative
    Net impact of
    of acquired
       
    accounting     accounting     Floor Income     intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income
  $ (205 )   $ 48     $ (52 )   $     $ (209 )
Less: provisions for losses
    (15 )                       (15 )
                                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    (190 )     48       (52 )           (194 )
Fee income
                             
Collections revenue
                             
Other income
    128       (87 )                 41  
                                         
Total other income
    128       (87 )                 41  
Operating expenses
                      14       14  
                                         
Total pre-tax “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ (62 )   $ (39 )   $ (52 )   $ (14 )     (167 )
                                         
Income tax expense
                                    (32 )
                                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
                                  $ (135 )
                                         

15


 

Reconciliation of “Core Earnings” Net Income to GAAP Net Income
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” net income(1)
  $ 251     $ 326     $ 287  
“Core Earnings” adjustments:
                       
Net impact of securitization accounting
    422       (68 )     (62 )
Net impact of derivative accounting
    (332 )     (243 )     (39 )
Net impact of Floor Income
    (39 )     (52 )     (52 )
Net impact of acquired intangibles(2)
    (24 )     (25 )     (14 )
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments before income taxes
    27       (388 )     (167 )
Net tax effect(3)
    (162 )     80       32  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments
    (135 )     (308 )     (135 )
                         
GAAP net income
  $ 116     $ 18     $ 152  
                         
GAAP diluted earnings per common share
  $ .26     $ .02     $ .34  
                         
(1) “Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share
  $ .57     $ .74     $ .65  
                         
 
(2) Represents goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles.
 
(3) Such tax effect is based upon the Company’s “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year. The net tax effect results primarily from the exclusion of the permanent income tax impact of the equity forward contracts.
 
Limitations of “Core Earnings”
 
While GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting, for the reasons described above, management believes that “Core Earnings” are an important additional tool for providing a more complete understanding of the Company’s results of operations. Nevertheless, “Core Earnings” are subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. For example, as stated above, unlike financial accounting, 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. Unlike GAAP, “Core Earnings” reflect only current period adjustments to GAAP. Accordingly, the Company’s “Core Earnings” presentation does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. Investors, therefore, may not compare our Company’s 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, the Company’s board of directors, rating agencies and lenders to assess performance.
 
Other limitations arise from the specific adjustments that management makes to GAAP results to derive “Core Earnings” results. For example, in reversing the unrealized gains and losses that result from SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” on derivatives that do not qualify for “hedge treatment,” as well as on derivatives that do qualify but are in part ineffective because they are not perfect hedges, we focus on the long-term economic effectiveness of those instruments relative to the underlying hedged item and isolate the effects of interest rate volatility, changing credit spreads and changes in our stock price on the fair value of such instruments during the period. Under GAAP, the effects of these factors on the fair value of the derivative instruments (but not on the underlying hedged item) tend to show more volatility in the short term. While our presentation of our results on a “Core Earnings” basis provides important information regarding the performance of our Managed portfolio, a limitation of this presentation is that we are presenting the ongoing spread income on loans that have been sold to a trust managed by us. While we believe that our “Core Earnings” presentation presents the economic substance of our Managed loan portfolio, it understates earnings volatility from securitization gains. Our “Core Earnings” results exclude certain Floor Income, which is real cash income, from our reported results and therefore may understate


16


 

earnings in certain periods. Management’s financial planning and valuation of operating results, however, does not take into account Floor Income because of its inherent uncertainty, except when it is economically hedged through Floor Income Contracts.
 
Pre-tax Differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP
 
Our “Core Earnings” are the primary financial performance measures used by management to evaluate performance and to allocate resources. Accordingly, financial information is reported to management on a “Core Earnings” basis by reportable segment, as these are the measures used regularly by our chief operating decision maker. Our “Core Earnings” are used in developing our financial plans and tracking results, and also in establishing corporate performance targets and determining incentive compensation. Management believes this information provides additional insight into the financial performance of the Company’s core business activities. “Core Earnings” net income reflects only current period adjustments to GAAP net income, as described in the more detailed discussion of the differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP that follows, which includes further detail on each specific adjustment required to reconcile our “Core Earnings” segment presentation to our GAAP earnings.
 
1) Securitization: Under GAAP, certain securitization transactions in our Lending operating segment are accounted for as sales of assets. Under “Core Earnings” for the Lending operating segment, we present all securitization transactions on a “Core Earnings” basis as long-term non-recourse financings. The upfront “gains” on sale from securitization transactions as well as ongoing “servicing and securitization revenue” presented in accordance with GAAP are excluded from “Core Earnings” and are replaced by the interest income, provisions for loan losses, and interest expense as they are earned or incurred on the securitization loans. We also exclude transactions with our off-balance sheet trusts from “Core Earnings” as they are considered intercompany transactions on a “Core Earnings” basis.
 
The following table summarizes the securitization adjustments in our Lending business segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” securitization adjustments:
                       
Net interest income on securitized loans, after provisions for losses
  $ (167 )   $ (233 )   $ (189 )
Gains on student loan securitizations
    367             30  
Servicing and securitization revenue
    252       185       99  
Intercompany transactions with off-balance sheet trusts
    (30 )     (20 )     (2 )
                         
Total “Core Earnings” securitization adjustments
  $ 422     $ (68 )   $ (62 )
                         
 
2) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses arising primarily in our Lending operating segment, and to a lesser degree in our Corporate and Other reportable segment, that are caused primarily by the one-sided mark-to-market derivative valuations prescribed by SFAS No. 133 on derivatives that do not qualify for “hedge treatment” under GAAP. Under “Core Earnings,” we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life. “Core Earnings” also exclude the gain or loss on equity forward contracts that under SFAS No. 133, are required to be accounted for as derivatives and are marked-to-market through earnings.
 
SFAS No. 133 requires that changes in the fair value of derivative instruments be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria, as specified by SFAS No. 133, are met. We believe that our derivatives are effective economic hedges, and as such, are a critical element of our interest rate risk management strategy. However, some of our derivatives, primarily Floor Income Contracts, certain basis swaps and equity forward contracts (discussed in detail below), do not qualify for “hedge treatment” as defined by SFAS No. 133, 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. The gains and losses described in


17


 

“Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” are primarily caused by interest rate volatility, changing credit spreads and changes in our stock price during the period as well as the volume and term of derivatives not receiving hedge treatment.
 
Our Floor Income Contracts are written options that must meet more stringent requirements than other hedging relationships to achieve hedge effectiveness under SFAS No. 133. Specifically, our Floor Income Contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment because the paydown 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. Under SFAS No. 133, 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, including our Retained Interests, earning Floor Income but that offsetting change in value is not recognized under SFAS No. 133. 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. Prior to SFAS No. 133, we accounted for Floor Income Contracts as hedges and amortized the upfront cash compensation ratably over the lives of the contracts.
 
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 change the index of our floating rate debt to better match the cash flows of our student loan assets that are primarily indexed to a commercial paper, Prime or Treasury bill index. SFAS No. 133 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 most of our FFELP student loans can earn at either a variable or a fixed interest rate depending on market interest rates. We also have basis swaps that do not meet the SFAS No. 133 effectiveness test that economically hedge off-balance sheet instruments. As a result, under GAAP these swaps are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value reflected currently in the income statement.
 
Generally, a decrease in current interest rates and the respective forward interest rate curves results in an unrealized loss related to our written Floor Income Contracts which is offset by an increase in the value of the economically hedged student loans. This increase is not recognized in income. We will experience unrealized gains/losses related to our basis swaps if the two underlying indices (and related forward curve) do not move in parallel.
 
Under SFAS No. 150, equity forward contracts that allow a net settlement option either in cash or the Company’s stock are required to be accounted for as derivatives in accordance with SFAS No. 133. As a result, we account for our equity forward contracts as derivatives in accordance with SFAS No. 133 and mark them to market through earnings. These contracts do not qualify as effective SFAS No. 133 hedges, because a requirement to achieve hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133 is the hedged item must impact net income and transactions related to our own stock are accounted for in equity, not net income.
 
The table below quantifies the adjustments for derivative accounting under SFAS No. 133 on our net income for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, when compared with the accounting principles employed in all years prior to the SFAS No. 133 implementation.
 


18


 

                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” derivative adjustments:
                       
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net, included in other income(1)
  $ (357 )   $ (245 )   $ (87 )
Less: Realized losses on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
    25       2       48  
                         
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (332 )     (243 )     (39 )
Other pre-SFAS No. 133 accounting adjustments
                 
                         
Total net impact of SFAS No. 133 derivative accounting
  $ (332 )   $ (243 )   $ (39 )
                         
 
 
(1) 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.
 
Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities
 
SFAS No. 133 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 under SFAS No. 133 to be recorded in a separate income statement line item below net interest income. The table below summarizes the realized losses on derivative and hedging activities, and the associated reclassification on a “Core Earnings” basis for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Reclassification of realized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities:
                       
Net settlement expense on Floor Income Contracts reclassified to net interest income
  $ (7 )   $ (8 )   $ (21 )
Net settlement expense on interest rate swaps reclassified to net interest income
    (18 )     6       (27 )
Net realized losses on terminated derivative contracts reclassified to other income
                 
                         
Total reclassifications of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities
    (25 )     (2 )     (48 )
Add: Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
    (332 )     (243 )     (39 )
                         
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ (357 )   $ (245 )   $ (87 )
                         
 
 
(1) “Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” is comprised of the following unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses):
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Floor Income Contracts
  $ 5     $ 34     $ 144  
Equity forward contracts
    (412 )     (178 )     (122 )
Basis swaps
    60       (88 )     (82 )
Other
    15       (11 )     21  
                         
Total unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ (332 )   $ (243 )   $ (39 )
                         

19


 

Unrealized gains and losses on Floor Income Contracts are primarily caused by changes in interest rates. In general, an increase in interest rates results in an unrealized gain and vice versa. Unrealized gains and losses on Equity Forward Contracts fluctuate with changes in the Company’s stock price. Unrealized gains and losses on basis swaps result from changes in the spread between indices, primarily as it relates to Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) swaps economically hedging debt issuances indexed to CPI.
 
3) Floor Income: The timing and amount (if any) of Floor Income earned in our Lending operating segment is uncertain and in excess of expected spreads. Therefore, we exclude such income from “Core Earnings” when it is not economically hedged. We employ derivatives, primarily Floor Income Contracts and futures, to economically hedge Floor Income. As discussed above in “Derivative Accounting,” these derivatives do not qualify as effective accounting hedges, and therefore, under GAAP, they are marked-to-market through the “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” line on the income statement with no offsetting gain or loss recorded for the economically hedged items. For “Core Earnings,” we reverse the fair value adjustments on the Floor Income Contracts and futures economically hedging Floor Income and include the amortization of net premiums received in income.
 
The following table summarizes the Floor Income adjustments in our Lending business segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” Floor Income adjustments:
                       
Floor Income earned on Managed loans, net of payments on Floor Income Contracts
  $     $     $  
Amortization of net premiums on Floor Income Contracts and futures in net interest income
    (39 )     (52 )     (52 )
                         
Total “Core Earnings” Floor Income adjustments
  $ (39 )   $ (52 )   $ (52 )
                         
 
4) Acquired Intangibles: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles. For the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles totaled $24 million, $25 million, and $14 million, respectively.


20


 

 
LENDING BUSINESS SEGMENT
 
In our Lending business segment, we originate and acquire federally guaranteed student loans, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”), and Private Education Loans, which are not federally guaranteed. The majority of our Private Education Loans is made in conjunction with a FFELP Stafford loan and as a result is marketed through the same marketing channels as FFELP Stafford loans. While FFELP student loans and Private Education Loans have different overall risk profiles due to the federal guarantee of the FFELP student loans, they share many of the same characteristics such as similar repayment terms, the same marketing channel and sales force, and are originated and serviced on the same servicing platform. Finally, where possible, the borrower receives a single bill for both the federally guaranteed and privately underwritten loans.
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our Lending business segment.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” interest income:
                       
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 695     $ 701     $ 650  
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1,331       1,306       1,028  
Private Education Loans
    658       620       429  
Other loans
    28       27       23  
Cash and investments
    162       197       131  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” interest income
    2,874       2,851       2,261  
Total “Core Earnings” interest expense
    2,220       2,190       1,660  
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income
    654       661       601  
Less: provisions for losses
    198       88       75  
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income after provisions for losses
    456       573       526  
Other income
    44       40       40  
Operating expenses
    171       164       161  
                         
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    329       449       405  
Income taxes
    122       166       150  
                         
“Core Earnings” net income
  $ 207     $ 283     $ 255  
                         


21


 

Summary of our Managed Student Loan Portfolio
 
The following tables summarize the components of our Managed student loan portfolio and show the changing composition of our portfolio.
 
Ending Balances (net of allowance for loan losses):
 
                                         
    March 31, 2007  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
  $ 11,682     $     $ 11,682     $ 4,379     $ 16,061  
Grace and repayment
    16,201       64,994       81,195       6,202       87,397  
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, gross
    27,883       64,994       92,877       10,581       103,458  
On-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    689       1,188       1,877       (363 )     1,514  
On-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (10 )     (12 )     (22 )     (369 )     (391 )
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, net
    28,562       66,170       94,732       9,849       104,581  
                                         
Off-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
    1,824             1,824       4,978       6,802  
Grace and repayment
    11,233       17,269       28,502       9,829       38,331  
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, gross
    13,057       17,269       30,326       14,807       45,133  
Off-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    221       492       713       (339 )     374  
Off-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (8 )     (3 )     (11 )     (116 )     (127 )
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, net
    13,270       17,758       31,028       14,352       45,380  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 41,832     $ 83,928     $ 125,760     $ 24,201     $ 149,961  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    30 %     70 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    33 %     67 %     100 %                
% of total
    28 %     56 %     84 %     16 %     100 %
 
                                         
    December 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
  $ 9,745     $     $ 9,745     $ 4,353     $ 14,098  
Grace and repayment
    14,530       60,348       74,878       6,075       80,953  
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, gross
    24,275       60,348       84,623       10,428       95,051  
On-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    575       988       1,563       (365 )     1,198  
On-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (9 )     (12 )     (21 )     (308 )     (329 )
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, net
    24,841       61,324       86,165       9,755       95,920  
                                         
Off-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
    2,047             2,047       3,892       5,939  
Grace and repayment
    12,747       17,817       30,564       9,330       39,894  
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, gross
    14,794       17,817       32,611       13,222       45,833  
Off-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    244       497       741       (303 )     438  
Off-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (10 )     (3 )     (13 )     (86 )     (99 )
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, net
    15,028       18,311       33,339       12,833       46,172  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 39,869     $ 79,635     $ 119,504     $ 22,588     $ 142,092  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    29 %     71 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    33 %     67 %     100 %                
% of total
    28 %     56 %     84 %     16 %     100 %
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes federally insured PLUS and HEAL loans.


22


 

 
Ending Balances (net of allowance for loan losses):
 
                                         
    March 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
  $ 7,518     $     $ 7,518     $ 4,713     $ 12,231  
Grace and repayment
    11,015       52,654       63,669       5,170       68,839  
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, gross
    18,533       52,654       71,187       9,883       81,070  
On-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    356       807       1,163       (340 )     823  
On-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (6 )     (10 )     (16 )     (232 )     (248 )
                                         
Total on-balance sheet, net
    18,883       53,451       72,334       9,311       81,645  
                                         
Off-balance sheet:
                                       
In-school
    4,631             4,631       2,342       6,973  
Grace and repayment
    18,473       12,857       31,330       6,494       37,824  
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, gross
    23,104       12,857       35,961       8,836       44,797  
Off-balance sheet unamortized premium/(discount)
    364       357       721       (188 )     533  
Off-balance sheet allowance for losses
    (11 )     (3 )     (14 )     (91 )     (105 )
                                         
Total off-balance sheet, net
    23,457       13,211       36,668       8,557       45,225  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 42,340     $ 66,662     $ 109,002     $ 17,868     $ 126,870  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    26 %     74 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    39 %     61 %     100 %                
% of total
    33 %     53 %     86 %     14 %     100 %
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes federally insured PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
Average Balances:
 
                                         
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
          FFELP
          Private
       
    FFELP Stafford
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    and Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet
  $ 26,885     $ 63,260     $ 90,145     $ 11,354     $ 101,499  
Off-balance sheet
    13,920       18,022       31,942       12,721       44,663  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 40,805     $ 81,282     $ 122,087     $ 24,075     $ 146,162  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    30 %     70 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    33 %     67 %     100 %                
% of Total
    28 %     56 %     84 %     16 %     100 %
 
                                         
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
          FFELP
          Private
       
    FFELP Stafford
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    and Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet
  $ 23,287     $ 58,946     $ 82,233     $ 9,289     $ 91,522  
Off-balance sheet
    15,850       18,458       34,308       12,944       47,252  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 39,137     $ 77,404     $ 116,541     $ 22,233     $ 138,774  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    28 %     72 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    34 %     66 %     100 %                
% of Total
    28 %     56 %     84 %     16 %     100 %
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes federally insured PLUS and HEAL loans.


23


 

 
Average Balances:
 
                                         
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
          FFELP
          Private
       
    FFELP Stafford
    Consolidation
          Education
       
    and Other(1)     Loans     Total FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
On-balance sheet
  $ 19,522     $ 54,312     $ 73,834     $ 9,016     $ 82,850  
Off-balance sheet
    21,784       11,636       33,420       8,649       42,069  
                                         
Total Managed
  $ 41,306     $ 65,948     $ 107,254     $ 17,665     $ 124,919  
                                         
% of on-balance sheet FFELP
    26 %     74 %     100 %                
% of Managed FFELP
    39 %     61 %     100 %                
% of Total
    33 %     53 %     86 %     14 %     100 %
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes federally insured PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
Student Loan Spread Analysis — “Core Earnings” Basis
 
The following table analyzes the earnings from our portfolio of Managed student loans on a “Core Earnings” basis (see “BUSINESS SEGMENTS — Pre-tax Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP”). The “Core Earnings” Basis Student Loan Spread Analysis presentation and certain components used in the calculation differ from the On-Balance Sheet Student Loan Spread Analysis presentation. The “Core Earnings” basis presentation, when compared to our on-balance sheet presentation, is different in that it:
 
  •  includes the net interest margin related to our off-balance sheet student loan securitization trusts. This includes any related fees or costs such as the Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees, premium/discount amortization and Borrower Benefits yield adjustments;
 
  •  includes the reclassification of certain derivative net settlement amounts. The net settlements on certain derivatives that do not qualify as SFAS No. 133 hedges are recorded as part of the “gain (loss) on derivative and hedging activities, net” line item on the income statement and are therefore not recognized in the student loan spread. Under this presentation, these gains and losses are reclassified to the income statement line item of the economically hedged item. For our “Core Earnings” basis student loan spread, this would primarily include: (a) reclassifying the net settlement amounts related to our written 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;
 
  •  excludes unhedged Floor Income earned on the Managed student loan portfolio; and
 
  •  includes the amortization of upfront payments on Floor Income Contracts in student loan income that we believe are economically hedging the Floor Income.
 
As discussed above, these differences result in the “Core Earnings” basis student loan spread not being a GAAP-basis presentation. Management relies on this measure to manage our Lending business segment. Specifically, management uses the “Core Earnings” basis student loan spread to evaluate the overall economic effect that certain factors have on our student loans either on- or off-balance sheet. These factors include the overall mix of student loans in our portfolio, acquisition costs, Borrower Benefits program costs, Floor Income and funding and hedging costs. Management believes that it is important to evaluate all of these factors on a Managed Basis to gain additional information about the economic effect of these factors on our student loans under management. Management believes that this additional information assists us in making strategic decisions about the Company’s business model for the Lending business segment, including among other factors, how we acquire or originate student loans, how we fund acquisitions and originations, what Borrower Benefits we offer and what type of loans we purchase or originate. While management believes that the “Core Earnings” basis student loan spread is an important tool for evaluating the Company’s performance for the reasons described above, it is subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. See “BUSINESS SEGMENTS — Limitations of ‘Core Earnings.’” One specific limitation is that the “Core Earnings” basis student loan spread includes the spread on loans that we have sold to securitization trusts.


24


 

 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
“Core Earnings” basis student loan yield
    8.33 %     8.35 %     7.60 %
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees
    (.56 )     (.56 )     (.55 )
Borrower Benefits
    (.11 )     (.10 )     (.07 )
Premium and discount amortization
    (.16 )     (.15 )     (.14 )
                         
“Core Earnings” basis student loan net yield
    7.50       7.54       6.84  
“Core Earnings” basis student loan cost of funds
    (5.68 )     (5.68 )     (4.97 )
                         
“Core Earnings” basis student loan spread(1)
    1.82 %     1.86 %     1.87 %
                         
Average Balances
                       
On-balance sheet student loans(1)
  $ 96,866     $ 89,143     $ 82,850  
Off-balance sheet student loans
    44,663       47,252       42,069  
                         
Managed student loans
  $ 141,529     $ 136,395     $ 124,919  
                         
 
 
(1) Excludes the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio on the student loan spread and average balances for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
 
Discussion of “Core Earnings” Basis Student Loan Spread — Other Quarter-over-Quarter Fluctuations
 
As discussed under “Student Loans — Student Loan Spread,” the student loan spread analysis above also excludes the impact of our Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio whose average balances were $4.6 billion and $2.4 billion for the first quarter of 2007 and the fourth quarter of 2006, respectively. Had the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan volume been included in the “Core Earnings” Basis Student Loan Spread Analysis, it would have reduced the spread by approximately 5 basis points and 3 basis points for the first quarter of 2007 and the fourth quarter of 2006, respectively. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, Wholesale Consolidation Loans totaled $6.7 billion, or 8.0 percent and $3.6 billion, or 4.5 percent, respectively, of our total Managed Consolidation Loan portfolio.
 
For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the student loan spread benefited by 2 basis points to account for the cumulative effect of a refinement in our prepayment estimate impacting student loan premium amortization.
 
“Core Earnings” Basis Student Loan Spreads by Loan Type
 
The student loan spread continues to reflect the changing mix of loans in our portfolio, specifically the shift from FFELP Stafford loans to Consolidation Loans and the higher overall growth rate in Private Education Loans as a percentage of the total portfolio. (See “LENDING BUSINESS SEGMENT — Summary of our Managed Student Loan Portfolio — Average Balances.”)


25


 

 
The following table reflects the “Core Earnings” basis student loan spreads by product, excluding both the impact of the Wholesale Consolidation Loan portfolio as discussed above and the impact of items disclosed separately (see “RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Earnings Release Summary”), for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
FFELP Loan Spreads (“Core Earnings” Basis):
                       
Stafford
    1.24 %     1.38 %     1.41 %
Consolidation
    1.04       1.10       1.25  
                         
FFELP Loan Spread (“Core Earnings” Basis)
    1.11       1.20       1.32  
Private Education Loan Spreads (“Core Earnings” Basis):
                       
Before provision
    5.28 %     5.28 %     4.87 %
After provision
    2.10       3.87       3.32  
 
The decrease in the FFELP Stafford spread is partially due to the Company’s decision to voluntary forgo claims of 9.5 percent SAP as of October 1, 2006. The first quarter included a reversal of 9.5 percent SAP earned in the fourth quarter of 2006. The decrease in the FFELP Consolidation Loan spread was primarily due to lower amortization of Floor Income contract premiums. The change in the Private Education Loan spread from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the first quarter of 2007 was flat due to the rise in loan spread being offset by an increase of 17 basis points in our estimate of uncollectible accrued interest in connection with our increase in our provision for Private Education Loans (see “Private Education Loans — Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses”).
 
Private Education Loans
 
All Private Education Loans are initially acquired on-balance sheet. In securitizations of Private Education Loans that are treated as sales, the loans are no longer owned by us, and they are accounted for off-balance sheet. For our Managed Basis presentation in the table below, when Private Education Loans are sold to securitization trusts, we reduce the on-balance sheet allowance for loan losses for amounts previously provided and then re-establish the allowance for these loans in the off-balance sheet section. The total allowance of both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet loan losses results in the Managed Basis allowance for loan losses. The off-balance sheet allowance is lower than the on-balance sheet allowance when measured as a percentage of ending loans in repayment because of the different mix of loans on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet.
 
When Private Education Loans in our securitized trusts settling before September 30, 2005, become 180 days delinquent, we typically exercise our contingent call option to repurchase these loans at par value out of the trust and record a loss for the difference in the par value paid and the fair market value of the loan at the time of purchase. If these loans reach the 212-day delinquency, a charge-off for the remaining balance of the loan is triggered. On a Managed Basis, the losses recorded under GAAP for loans repurchased at day 180 are reversed and the full amount is charged off in the month in which the loan is 212 days delinquent. We do not hold the contingent call option for all trusts settled after September 30, 2005.


26


 

 
Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses
 
The following tables summarize changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan losses for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                                                                         
    Activity in Allowance for Private Education Loans  
    On-Balance Sheet     Off-Balance Sheet     Managed Basis  
    Quarters ended     Quarters ended     Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006     2007     2006     2006     2007     2006     2006  
 
Allowance at beginning of period
  $ 308     $ 275     $ 204     $ 86     $ 100     $ 78     $ 394     $ 375     $ 282  
Provision for Private Education Loan losses
    142       83       54       47       (4 )     14       189       79       68  
Charge-offs
    (82 )     (54 )     (32 )     (23 )     (10 )     (1 )     (105 )     (64 )     (33 )
Recoveries
    7       4       6                         7       4       6  
                                                                         
Net charge-offs
    (75 )     (50 )     (26 )     (23 )     (10 )     (1 )     (98 )     (60 )     (27 )
                                                                         
Balance before securitization of Private Education Loans
    375       308       232       110       86       91       485       394       323  
Reduction for securitization of Private Education Loans
    (6 )                 6                                
                                                                         
Allowance at end of period
  $ 369     $ 308     $ 232     $ 116     $ 86     $ 91     $ 485     $ 394     $ 323  
                                                                         
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    6.27 %     4.45 %     2.83 %     1.35 %     .70 %     .01 %     3.40 %     2.26 %     1.27 %
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
    3.61 %     3.06 %     2.43 %     .80 %     .66 %     1.06 %     1.96 %     1.71 %     1.78 %
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment
    7.58 %     6.36 %     5.96 %     1.70 %     1.26 %     1.99 %     4.14 %     3.38 %     3.81 %
Average coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)
    1.21       1.57       2.17       1.25       1.98       326.22       1.22       1.64       3.02  
Average total loans
  $ 11,354     $ 9,289     $ 9,016     $ 12,721     $ 12,944     $ 8,649     $ 24,075     $ 22,233     $ 17,665  
Ending total loans
  $ 10,218     $ 10,063     $ 9,543     $ 14,468     $ 12,919     $ 8,648     $ 24,686     $ 22,982     $ 18,191  
Average loans in repayment
  $ 4,859     $ 4,416     $ 3,780     $ 6,815     $ 6,196     $ 4,624     $ 11,674     $ 10,612     $ 8,404  
Ending loans in repayment
  $ 4,867     $ 4,851     $ 3,898     $ 6,839     $ 6,792     $ 4,596     $ 11,706     $ 11,643     $ 8,494  
 
Toward the end of 2006 and in early 2007, we experienced lower collections resulting in increased levels of charge-off activity in our Private Education Loan portfolio. As the portfolio seasons, we expect charge-off rates to increase from the historically low levels experienced in the prior periods. However, the large increase in the first quarter of 2007 is caused by factors beyond the portfolio seasoning. In the third and fourth quarters of 2006, we encountered a number of operational challenges at our DMO in performing pre-default collections on the Company’s Private Education Loan portfolio that contributed to the increase in charge-offs in the first quarter of 2007. In August 2006, we announced that we intended to relocate responsibility for certain Private Education Loan collections from our Nevada call center to a new call center in Indiana. This transfer presented us with unexpected operational challenges that resulted in lower collections that have negatively impacted the Private Education Loan portfolio. Management has taken several remedial actions, including transferring experienced collection personnel to the new call center. In addition, the DMO also revised certain procedures, including its use of forbearance, to better optimize our long-term collection strategies. These developments resulted in increased later stage delinquency levels and associated higher charge-offs in the first quarter of 2007, and are expected to affect second quarter delinquency and charge-off levels as well. The increase in the provision was also due to further seasoning of the portfolio.


27


 

 
Delinquencies
 
The tables below present our Private Education Loan delinquency trends as of March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006. Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact earnings through increased servicing and collection costs in the event the delinquent accounts charge off.
 
                                                 
    On-Balance Sheet Private Education
 
    Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    Balance     %     Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 5,220             $ 5,218             $ 5,573          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    494               359               412          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                                               
Loans current
    4,260       87.5 %     4,214       86.9 %     3,487       89.4 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    184       3.8       250       5.1       170       4.4  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    131       2.7       132       2.7       106       2.7  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    292       6.0       255       5.3       135       3.5  
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans in repayment
    4,867       100 %     4,851       100 %     3,898       100 %
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans, gross
    10,581               10,428               9,883          
Private Education Loan unamortized discount
    (363 )             (365 )             (340 )        
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans
    10,218               10,063               9,543          
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
    (369 )             (308 )             (232 )        
                                                 
Private Education Loans, net
  $ 9,849             $ 9,755             $ 9,311          
                                                 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    46.0 %             46.5 %             39.4 %        
                                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    12.5 %             13.1 %             10.6 %        
                                                 
 
                                                 
    Off-Balance Sheet Private Education
 
    Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    Balance     %     Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 6,821             $ 5,608             $ 3,456          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    1,147               822               784          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                                               
Loans current
    6,475       94.7 %     6,419       94.5 %     4,389       95.5 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    145       2.1       222       3.3       106       2.3  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    88       1.3       60       .9       46       1.0  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    131       1.9       91       1.3       55       1.2  
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans in repayment
    6,839       100 %     6,792       100 %     4,596       100 %
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans, gross
    14,807               13,222               8,836          
Private Education Loan unamortized discount
    (339 )             (303 )             (188 )        
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans
    14,468               12,919               8,648          
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
    (116 )             (86 )             (91 )        
                                                 
Private Education Loans, net
  $ 14,352             $ 12,833             $ 8,557          
                                                 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    46.2 %             51.4 %             52.0 %        
                                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    5.3 %             5.5 %             4.5 %        
                                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who still may 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.
(2) 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 the established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.


28


 

 
                                                 
    Managed Basis Private Education
 
    Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    Balance     %     Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 12,041             $ 10,826             $ 9,029          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    1,641               1,181               1,196          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                                               
Loans current
    10,735       91.7 %     10,633       91.3 %     7,876       92.7 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    329       2.8       472       4.0       276       3.3  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    219       1.9       192       1.7       152       1.8  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    423       3.6       346       3.0       190       2.2  
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans in repayment
    11,706       100 %     11,643       100 %     8,494       100 %
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans, gross
    25,388               23,650               18,719          
Private Education Loan unamortized discount
    (702 )             (668 )             (528 )        
                                                 
Total Private Education Loans
    24,686               22,982               18,191          
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
    (485 )             (394 )             (323 )        
                                                 
Private Education Loans, net
  $ 24,201             $ 22,588             $ 17,868          
                                                 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    46.1 %             49.2 %             45.4 %        
                                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    8.3 %             8.7 %             7.3 %        
                                                 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who still may 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.
(2) 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 the established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
 
Forbearance — Managed Basis Private Education Loans
 
Private Education Loans are made to parent and student borrowers in accordance with our underwriting policies. These loans generally supplement federally guaranteed student loans, which are subject to federal lending caps. Private Education Loans are not federally guaranteed nor insured against any loss of principal or interest. Traditional student borrowers use the proceeds of these loans to obtain higher education, which increases the likelihood of obtaining employment at higher income levels than would be available without the additional education. As a result, the borrowers’ repayment capability improves between the time the loan is made and the time they enter the post-education work force. We generally allow the loan repayment period on traditional higher education Private Education Loans to begin six months after the borrower leaves school (consistent with our federally regulated FFELP loans). This provides the borrower time after graduation to obtain a job to service the debt. For borrowers that need more time or experience other hardships, we permit additional delays in payment or partial payments (both referred to as forbearances) when we believe additional time will improve the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. Forbearance is also granted to borrowers who may experience temporary hardship after entering repayment, when we believe that it will increase the likelihood of ultimate collection of the loan. Such forbearance is granted within established policies that include limits on the number of forbearance months granted consecutively and limits on the total number of forbearance months granted over the life of the loan. In some instances of forbearance, we require good-faith payments or continuing partial payments. Exceptions to forbearance policies are permitted in limited circumstances and only when such exceptions are judged to increase the likelihood of ultimate collection of the loan.
 
Forbearance does not grant any reduction in the total repayment obligation (principal or interest) but does allow for the temporary cessation of borrower payments (on a prospective and/or retroactive basis) or a reduction in monthly payments for an agreed period of time. The forbearance period extends the original term of the loan. While the loan is in forbearance, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized as principal upon


29


 

the loan re-entering repayment status. Loans exiting forbearance into repayment status are considered current regardless of their previous delinquency status.
 
Forbearance is used most heavily immediately after the loan enters repayment. As a result, forbearance levels are impacted by the timing of loans entering repayment and are generally at higher levels in the first quarter. As indicated in the tables below that show the composition and status of the Managed Private Education Loan portfolio by number of months aged from the first date of repayment, the percentage of loans in forbearance decreases the longer the loans have been in repayment. At March 31, 2007, loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance are 16.4 percent for loans that have been in repayment one to twenty-four months. The percentage drops to 3.8 percent for loans that have been in repayment more than 48 months. Approximately 80 percent of our Managed Private Education Loans in forbearance have been in repayment less than 24 months. These borrowers are essentially extending their grace period as they transition to the workforce. Forbearance continues to be a positive collection tool for the Private Education Loans as we believe it can provide the borrower with sufficient time to obtain employment and income to support his or her obligation. We consider the potential impact of forbearance in the determination of the loan loss reserves.
 
The tables below show the composition and status of the Private Education Loan portfolio by number of months aged from the first date of repayment:
                                         
    Months since entering repayment  
                      After
       
    1 to 24
    25 to 48
    More than
    Mar. 31,
       
March 31, 2007
  months     months     48 months     2007(1)     Total  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
  $     $     $     $ 12,041     $ 12,041  
Loans in forbearance
    1,314       242       85             1,641  
Loans in repayment — current
    6,154       2,614       1,967             10,735  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
    193       81       55             329  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
    144       47       28             219  
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
    212       130       81             423  
                                         
Total
  $ 8,017     $ 3,114     $ 2,216     $ 12,041     $ 25,388  
                                         
Unamortized discount
                                    (702 )
Allowance for loan losses
                                    (485 )
                                         
Total Managed Private Education Loans, net
                                  $ 24,201  
                                         
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    16.4 %     7.8 %     3.8 %     %     12.3 %
                                         
(1) Includes all loans in-school/grace/deferment.
                                         
    Months since entering repayment  
                      After
       
    1 to 24
    25 to 48
    More than
    Dec. 31,
       
December 31, 2006
  months     months     48 months     2006(1)     Total  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
  $     $     $     $ 10,826     $ 10,826  
Loans in forbearance
    898       209       74             1,181  
Loans in repayment — current
    6,273       2,477       1,883             10,633  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
    271       119       82             472  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
    109       49       34             192  
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
    157       117       72             346  
                                         
Total
  $ 7,708     $ 2,971     $ 2,145     $ 10,826     $ 23,650  
                                         
Unamortized discount
                                    (668 )
Allowance for loan losses
                                    (394 )
                                         
Total Managed Private Education Loans, net
                                  $ 22,588  
                                         
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    11.7 %     7.1 %     3.4 %     %     9.2 %
                                         
(1) Includes all loans in-school/grace/deferment.


30


 

 
                                         
    Months since entering repayment  
                      After
       
    1 to 24
    25 to 48
    More than
    Mar. 31,
       
March 31, 2006
  months     months     48 months     2006(1)     Total  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
  $     $     $     $ 9,029     $ 9,029  
Loans in forbearance
    940       180       76             1,196  
Loans in repayment — current
    4,535       1,845       1,496             7,876  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
    153       70       53             276  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
    94       35       23             152  
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
    109       51       30             190  
                                         
Total
  $ 5,831     $ 2,181     $ 1,678     $ 9,029     $ 18,719  
                                         
Unamortized discount
                                    (528 )
Allowance for loan losses
                                    (323 )
                                         
Total Managed Private Education Loans, net
                                  $ 17,868  
                                         
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    16.1 %     8.3 %     4.5 %     %     12.3 %
                                         
 
 
(1) Includes all loans in-school/grace/deferment.
 
There were $1.6 billion of loans in forbearance status at March 31, 2007, or 12.3 percent of loans in repayment and forbearance versus 9.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2006 and 12.3 percent for the year-ago fourth quarter. This is consistent with our expectation of higher forbearances in the first quarter based on the large increase in the number of loans entering repayment in the fourth quarter. Student loan borrowers have typically used forbearance shortly after entering repayment to extend their grace periods as they establish themselves in the workforce.
 
The table below stratifies the portfolio of 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, 3 percent of loans currently in forbearance have deferred their loan repayment more than 24 months, which is 1 percent lower versus the prior quarter and 3 percent lower versus the year-ago quarter.
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006     March 31, 2006  
    Forbearance
    % of
    Forbearance
    % of
    Forbearance
    % of
 
    Balance     Total     Balance     Total     Balance     Total  
 
Cumulative number of months borrower has used forbearance
                                               
Up to 12 months
  $ 1,219       74 %   $ 870       74 %   $ 901       76 %
13 to 24 months
    374       23       262       22       220       18  
25 to 36 months
    37       2       36       3       51       4  
More than 36 months
    11       1       13       1       24       2  
                                                 
Total
  $ 1,641       100 %   $ 1,181       100 %   $ 1,196       100 %
                                                 


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Total Loan Net Charge-offs
 
The following tables summarize the total loan net charge-offs on both an on-balance sheet basis and a Managed Basis for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2006.
 
Total on-balance sheet loan net charge-offs
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Private Education Loans
  $ 75     $ 50     $ 26  
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
    4       3       1  
Mortgage and consumer loans
    2       1       1  
                         
Total on-balance sheet loan net charge-offs
  $ 81     $ 54     $ 28  
                         
 
Total Managed loan net charge-offs
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Private Education Loans
  $ 98     $ 60     $ 27  
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
    8       5       1  
Mortgage and consumer loans
    2       1       1  
                         
Total Managed loan net charge-offs
  $ 108     $ 66     $ 29  
                         
 
The increase in net charge-offs on FFELP Stafford and Other student loans from the year-ago quarter is the result of the legislative changes which lower the federal guaranty on claims filed after July 1, 2006 to 97 percent from 98 percent (or 99 percent from 100 percent for lenders and servicers with the Exceptional Performer designation). Additionally, first quarter net charge-offs on FFELP loans are historically higher than other periods as a result of the timing of the claim filing process, following the seasonal wave of borrowers entering repayment status. (See “Private Education Loans—Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses” for a discussion of net charge-offs related to our Private Education Loans.)
 
Student Loan Premiums Paid as a Percentage of Principal
 
The following table presents student loan premiums paid as a percentage of the principal balance of student loans acquired for the respective periods.
                                                 
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    Volume     Rate     Volume     Rate     Volume     Rate  
 
Student loan premiums paid:
                                               
Sallie Mae brands
  $ 4,598       1.41 %   $ 2,902       1.37 %   $ 3,304       .50 %
Lender partners
    2,377       2.89       1,561       2.99       3,592       2.00  
                                                 
Total Preferred Channel
    6,975       1.92       4,463       1.94       6,896       1.28  
Other purchases(1)
    3,874       5.46       3,377       4.75       175       1.97  
                                                 
Subtotal base purchases
    10,849       3.18       7,840       3.15       7,071       1.30  
Consolidations originations
    702       2.28       756       3.00       897       1.98  
                                                 
Total
  $ 11,551       3.13 %   $ 8,596       3.14 %   $ 7,968       1.37 %
                                                 
 
 
(1) Primarily includes spot purchases (including Wholesale Consolidation Loans), other commitment clients, and subsidiary acquisitions.
 
The increase in premiums paid as a percentage of principal balance for Sallie Mae brands over the prior year is primarily due to the increase in loans where we pay the origination fee and/or federal guaranty fee on behalf of borrowers, a practice we call zero-fee lending. Premiums paid on lender partners volume were


32


 

similarly impacted by zero-fee lending. The borrower origination fee will be gradually phased out by the Reconciliation Legislation from 2007 to 2010.
 
The “Other purchases” category includes the acquisition of Wholesale Consolidation Loans which totaled $3.1 billion at a rate of 6.28 percent and $1.9 billion at a rate of 5.72 percent for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, Wholesale Consolidation Loans totaled $6.7 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively.
 
We include in consolidation originations premiums the 50 basis point consolidation origination fee paid on each FFELP Stafford loan that we consolidate, including loans that are already in our portfolio. The consolidation originations premium paid percentage is calculated on only consolidation volume that is incremental to our portfolio. This percentage is largely driven by the mix of FFELP Stafford loans consolidated in this quarter.
 
Preferred Channel Originations
 
We originated $8.0 billion in student loan volume through our Preferred Channel in the quarter ended March 31, 2007 versus $4.8 billion in the quarter ended December 31, 2006 and $7.6 billion in the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
 
For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, our internal lending brands grew 35 percent over the year-ago quarter, and comprised 60 percent of our Preferred Channel Originations, up from 47 percent in the year-ago quarter. Our internal lending brands combined with our other lender partners comprised 88 percent of our Preferred Channel Originations for the current quarter, versus 78 percent for the year-ago quarter; together these two segments of our Preferred Channel grew 19 percent over the year-ago quarter.
 
Our Managed loan acquisitions for the current quarter totaled $12.5 billion, an increase of 46 percent over the year-ago quarter. The following tables further break down our Preferred Channel Originations by type of loan and source.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Preferred Channel Originations — Type of Loan
                       
Stafford
  $ 4,601     $ 2,624     $ 4,426  
PLUS
    920       454       1,002  
GradPLUS
    128       101        
                         
Total FFELP
    5,649       3,179       5,428  
Private Education Loans
    2,362       1,582       2,185  
                         
Total
  $ 8,011     $ 4,761     $ 7,613  
                         
 
                                                                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
    FFELP     Private     Total     FFELP     Private     Total     FFELP     Private     Total  
 
Preferred Channel Originations — Source
                                                                       
Internal lending brands
  $ 2,719     $ 2,082     $ 4,801     $ 1,682     $ 1,449     $ 3,131     $ 1,955     $ 1,600     $ 3,555  
Other lender partners
    2,050       208       2,258       1,084       97       1,181       2,024       338       2,362  
                                                                         
Total before JPMorgan Chase
    4,769       2,290       7,059       2,766       1,546       4,312       3,979       1,938       5,917  
JPMorgan Chase
    880       72       952       413       36       449       1,449       247       1,696  
                                                                         
Total
  $ 5,649     $ 2,362     $ 8,011     $ 3,179     $ 1,582     $ 4,761     $ 5,428     $ 2,185     $ 7,613  
                                                                         


33


 

Student Loan Activity
 
The following tables summarize the activity in our on-balance sheet, off-balance sheet and Managed portfolios of FFELP student loans and Private Education Loans and highlight the effects of Consolidation Loan activity on our FFELP portfolios.
 
                                         
    On-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total On-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 24,841     $ 61,324     $ 86,165     $ 9,755     $ 95,920  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          649       649       53       702  
Consolidations to third parties
    (607 )     (233 )     (840 )     (9 )     (849 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (607 )     416       (191 )     44       (147 )
Acquisitions
    5,783       3,494       9,277       2,262       11,539  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    5,176       3,910       9,086       2,306       11,392  
                                         
Internal consolidations
    (975 )     1,755       780       149       929  
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                      (1,871 )     (1,871 )
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (480 )     (819 )     (1,299 )     (490 )     (1,789 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 28,562     $ 66,170     $ 94,732     $ 9,849     $ 104,581  
                                         
 
                                         
    Off-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total Off-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 15,028     $ 18,311     $ 33,339     $ 12,833     $ 46,172  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
                             
Consolidations to third parties
    (373 )     (71 )     (444 )     (19 )     (463 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (373 )     (71 )     (444 )     (19 )     (463 )
Acquisitions
    95       58       153       125       278  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    (278 )     (13 )     (291 )     106       (185 )
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (466 )     (314 )     (780 )     (149 )     (929 )
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                      1,871       1,871  
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (1,014 )     (226 )     (1,240 )     (309 )     (1,549 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 13,270     $ 17,758     $ 31,028     $ 14,352     $ 45,380  
                                         
 
                                         
    Managed Portfolio
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2007  
                            Total
 
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Managed
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Basis
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 39,869     $ 79,635     $ 119,504     $ 22,588     $ 142,092  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          649       649       53       702  
Consolidations to third parties
    (980 )     (304 )     (1,284 )     (28 )     (1,312 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (980 )     345       (635 )     25       (610 )
Acquisitions
    5,878       3,552       9,430       2,387       11,817  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    4,898       3,897       8,795       2,412       11,207  
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (1,441 )     1,441                    
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                             
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (1,494 )     (1,045 )     (2,539 )     (799 )     (3,338 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 41,832     $ 83,928     $ 125,760     $ 24,201     $ 149,961  
                                         
Total Managed Acquisitions(3)
  $ 5,878     $ 4,201     $ 10,079     $ 2,440     $ 12,519  
                                         
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
(2) Represents FFELP/Stafford loans that we either own on-balance sheet or in our off-balance sheet securitization trusts that we consolidate.
 
(3) The purchases line includes incremental consolidations from third parties and acquisitions.


34


 

 
                                         
    On-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total On-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 22,614     $ 57,202     $ 79,816     $ 8,222     $ 88,038  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          703       703       53       756  
Consolidations to third parties
    (779 )     (303 )     (1,082 )     (3 )     (1,085 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (779 )     400       (379 )     50       (329 )
Acquisitions
    4,471       2,296       6,767       1,691       8,458  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    3,692       2,696       6,388       1,741       8,129  
                                         
Internal consolidations
    (1,204 )     2,057       853       151       1,004  
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                             
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (261 )     (631 )     (892 )     (359 )     (1,251 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 24,841     $ 61,324     $ 86,165     $ 9,755     $ 95,920  
                                         
 
                                         
    Off-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total Off-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 17,173     $ 18,745     $ 35,918     $ 12,979     $ 48,897  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
                             
Consolidations to third parties
    (667 )     (98 )     (765 )     (11 )     (776 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (667 )     (98 )     (765 )     (11 )     (776 )
Acquisitions
    122       61       183       216       399  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    (545 )     (37 )     (582 )     205       (377 )
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (729 )     (124 )     (853 )     (151 )     (1,004 )
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                             
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (871 )     (273 )     (1,144 )     (200 )     (1,344 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 15,028     $ 18,311     $ 33,339     $ 12,833     $ 46,172  
                                         
 
                                         
    Managed Portfolio
 
    Quarter ended December 31, 2006  
                            Total
 
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Managed
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Basis
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 39,787     $ 75,947     $ 115,734     $ 21,201     $ 136,935  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          703       703       53       756  
Consolidations to third parties
    (1,446 )     (401 )     (1,847 )     (14 )     (1,861 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (1,446 )     302       (1,144 )     39       (1,105 )
Acquisitions
    4,593       2,357       6,950       1,907       8,857  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    3,147       2,659       5,806       1,946       7,752  
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (1,933 )     1,933                    
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                             
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (1,132 )     (904 )     (2,036 )     (559 )     (2,595 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 39,869     $ 79,635     $ 119,504     $ 22,588     $ 142,092  
                                         
Total Managed Acquisitions(3)
  $ 4,593     $ 3,060     $ 7,653     $ 1,960     $ 9,613  
                                         
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
(2) Represents FFELP/Stafford loans that we either own on-balance sheet or in our off-balance sheet securitization trusts that we consolidate.
 
(3) The purchases line includes incremental consolidations from third parties and acquisitions.
 


35


 

                                         
    On-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total On-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 19,988     $ 54,859     $ 74,847     $ 7,757     $ 82,604  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          896       896       1       897  
Consolidations to third parties
    (307 )     (572 )     (879 )     (4 )     (883 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (307 )     324       17       (3 )     14  
Acquisitions
    5,274       275       5,549       1,892       7,441  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    4,967       599       5,566       1,889       7,455  
                                         
Internal consolidations
    (784 )     1,623       839             839  
Off-balance sheet securitizations
    (5,034 )     (3,039 )     (8,073 )           (8,073 )
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (254 )     (591 )     (845 )     (335 )     (1,180 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 18,883     $ 53,451     $ 72,334     $ 9,311     $ 81,645  
                                         
 
                                         
    Off-Balance Sheet
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Total Off-
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Balance Sheet
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 20,670     $ 10,575     $ 31,245     $ 8,680     $ 39,925  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
                               
Consolidations to third parties
    (428 )     (178 )     (606 )     (5 )     (611 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (428 )     (178 )     (606 )     (5 )     (611 )
Acquisitions
    88       58       146       67       213  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    (340 )     (120 )     (460 )     62       (398 )
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (741 )     (98 )     (839 )           (839 )
Off-balance sheet securitizations
    5,034       3,039       8,073             8,073  
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (1,166 )     (185 )     (1,351 )     (185 )     (1,536 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 23,457     $ 13,211     $ 36,668     $ 8,557     $ 45,225  
                                         
 
                                         
    Managed Portfolio
 
    Quarter ended March 31, 2006  
                            Total
 
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
    Managed
 
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Basis
 
    Other(1)     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 40,658     $ 65,434     $ 106,092     $ 16,437     $ 122,529  
Net consolidations:
                                       
Incremental consolidations from third parties
          896       896       1       897  
Consolidations to third parties
    (735 )     (750 )     (1,485 )     (9 )     (1,494 )
                                         
Net consolidations
    (735 )     146       (589 )     (8 )     (597 )
Acquisitions
    5,362       333       5,695       1,959       7,654  
                                         
Net acquisitions
    4,627       479       5,106       1,951       7,057  
                                         
Internal consolidations(2)
    (1,525 )     1,525                    
Off-balance sheet securitizations
                             
Repayments/claims/resales/other
    (1,420 )     (776 )     (2,196 )     (520 )     (2,716 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 42,340     $ 66,662     $ 109,002     $ 17,868     $ 126,870  
                                         
Total Managed Acquisitions(3)
  $ 5,362     $ 1,229     $ 6,591     $ 1,960     $ 8,551  
                                         
 
 
(1) FFELP category is primarily Stafford loans and also includes PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
(2) Represents FFELP/Stafford loans that we either own on-balance sheet or in our off-balance sheet securitization trusts that we consolidate.
 
(3) The purchases line includes incremental consolidations from third parties and acquisitions.

36


 

 
The increase in consolidations to third parties in 2006 reflects FFELP lenders reconsolidating FFELP Consolidation Loans using the Direct Loan program as a pass-through entity, a practice which was restricted by The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, as of July 1, 2006. The increase also reflects the effect of the repeal of the single-holder rule, which was effective for applications received on or after June 15, 2006. The single-holder rule had previously required that when a lender held all of the FFELP Stafford loans of a particular borrower whose loans were held by a single lender, in most cases that borrower could only obtain a FFELP Consolidation Loan from that lender.
 
During 2006, Private Education Loan consolidations were introduced as a separate product line. In the first quarter of 2007, we added $25 million of net incremental volume on a Managed Basis through this new product line. We expect this product line to grow in the future and will aggressively protect our portfolio against third-party consolidation of Private Education Loans.
 
Other Income — Lending Business Segment
 
The following table summarizes the components of other income for our Lending business segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Late fees
  $ 35     $ 30     $ 25  
Gains on sales of mortgages and other loan fees
    3       3       3  
Other
    6       7       12  
                         
Total other income
  $ 44     $ 40     $ 40  
                         
 
The decrease in the “Other” category versus the prior year is due to the shift of origination volume to Sallie Mae Bank. Previously, we earned servicing fees for originated loans on behalf of originating with third party lenders prior to their eventual sale to us. This revenue stream has been more than offset by capturing the earning spread on the loans earlier.
 
Operating Expenses — Lending Business Segment
 
Operating expenses for our Lending business segment include costs incurred to service our Managed student loan portfolio and acquire student loans, as well as other general and administrative expenses. For the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006, operating expenses for the Lending business segment also include $9 million, $8 million, and $10 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense.


37


 

 
DEBT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS (“DMO”) BUSINESS SEGMENT
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our DMO business segment.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Fee income
  $ 87     $ 93     $ 92  
Collections revenue
    65       58       56  
                         
Total other income
    152       151       148  
Operating expenses
    93       93       89  
Net interest expense
    7       6       5  
                         
Income before income taxes and minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    52       52       54  
Income taxes
    19       20       20  
                         
Income before minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    33       32       34  
Minority interest in net earnings of subsidiaries
    1             1  
                         
“Core Earnings” net income
  $ 32     $ 32     $ 33  
                         
 
DMO Revenue by Product
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Purchased paper collections revenue
  $ 65     $ 58     $ 56  
Contingency:
                       
Student loans
    68       72       70  
Other
    6       7       10  
                         
Total contingency
    74       79       80  
Other
    13       14       12  
                         
Total
  $ 152     $ 151     $ 148  
                         
USA Funds(1)
  $ 44     $ 47     $ 46  
                         
% of total DMO revenue
    29 %     31 %     31 %
                         
 
 
(1)  United Student Aid Funds, Inc. (“USA Funds”)
 
The decrease in contingency fees versus the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter is primarily due to the shift in collection strategy from loan consolidation to rehabilitating student loans. This shift was in response to a legislative change which reduced the rate earned from consolidating loans. To qualify for a rehabilitation, borrowers must make nine consecutive payments. The first quarter of 2007 was also negatively impacted by lower performance in default prevention which lowered the portfolio management fee. The increase in purchased paper collections revenue primarily reflects the increase in the carrying value of purchases.


38


 

 
Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Face value of purchases for the period
  $ 1,076     $ 1,584     $ 530  
Purchase price for the period
    102       124       34  
% of face value purchased
    9.5 %     7.9 %     6.4 %
Gross Cash Collections (“GCC”)
  $ 115     $ 90     $ 89  
Collections revenue
    56       47       49  
% of GCC
    48 %     51 %     55 %
Carrying value of purchases
  $ 316     $ 274     $ 146  
 
The amount of face value of purchases in any quarter is a function of a combination of factors including the amount of receivables available for purchase in the marketplace, average age of each portfolio, the asset class of the receivables, and competition in the marketplace. As a result, the percentage of face value purchased will vary from quarter to quarter.
 
Purchased Paper — Mortgage/Properties
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Face value of purchases for the period
  $ 239     $ 93     $ 132  
Collections revenue
    10       11       8  
Collateral value of purchases
    248       97       151  
Purchase price for the period
    196       75       113  
% of collateral value
    79 %     77 %     75 %
Carrying value of purchases
  $ 649     $ 518     $ 355  
 
The purchase price for sub-performing and non-performing mortgage loans is generally determined as a percentage of the underlying collateral. Fluctuations in the purchase price as a percentage of collateral value can be caused by a number of factors including the percentage of second mortgages in the portfolio and the level of private mortgage insurance associated with particular assets. The increase in the collateral value of purchases and the carrying value of purchases reflects the increase in the amount of loans purchased in the quarter.
 
Contingency Inventory
 
The following table presents the outstanding inventory of receivables serviced through our DMO business.
 
                         
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Contingency:
                       
Contingency — Student loans
  $ 8,083     $ 6,971     $ 7,614  
Contingency — Other
    1,529       1,667       2,461  
                         
Total
  $ 9,612     $ 8,638     $ 10,075  
                         


39


 

CORPORATE AND OTHER BUSINESS SEGMENT
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our Corporate and Other business segment.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Total interest income
  $ 2     $ 2     $ 1  
Total interest expense
    5       6       1  
                         
Net interest income
    (3 )     (4 )      
Less: provisions for losses
    1              
                         
Net interest income after provisions for losses
    (4 )     (4 )      
Fee income
    39       33       27  
Other income
    52       59       30  
                         
Total other income
    91       92       57  
Operating expenses
    68       71       59  
                         
Income (loss) before income taxes
    19       17       (2 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    7       6       (1 )
                         
“Core Earnings” net income (loss)
  $ 12     $ 11     $ (1 )
                         
 
Fee and Other Income — Corporate and Other Business Segment
 
The following table summarizes the components of fee and other income for our Corporate and Other business segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
                         
    Quarters ended  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
 
    2007     2006     2006  
 
Guarantor servicing fees
  $ 39     $ 33     $ 27  
Loan servicing fees
    7       6       8  
Upromise
    25       31        
Other
    20       22       22  
                         
Total fee and other income
  $ 91     $ 92     $ 57  
                         
 
The increase in guarantor servicing fees versus the prior quarter is primarily due to seasonality. The increase in guarantor servicing fees versus the prior year is due to a cap on the payment of account maintenance fees imposed by ED in the fourth quarter of 2005. In the second quarter of 2006 we negotiated a settlement with USA Funds such that USA Funds was able to cover the previous shortfall caused by the cap on payments from ED to guarantors. This cap was removed by legislation reauthorizing the student loan programs of the Higher Education Act on October 1, 2006. The decline in Upromise revenues in the first quarter of 2007 reflects the seasonality of retail purchases that drive loyalty fees.
 
USA Funds, the nation’s largest guarantee agency, accounted for 87 percent, 86 percent and 87 percent, respectively, of guarantor servicing fees and 16 percent, 16 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of revenues associated with other products and services for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
 
Operating Expenses — Corporate and Other Business Segment
 
Operating expenses for our Corporate and Other business segment include direct costs incurred to service loans for unrelated third parties and to perform guarantor servicing on behalf of guarantor agencies, as well as information technology expenses related to these functions. Operating expenses in this segment for the quarters


40


 

ended March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, also include $21 million and $25 million, respectively, of expenses related to Upromise, which was acquired in the third quarter of 2006. Also included in the operating expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006, and March 31, 2006 was $4 million, $4 million and $5 million, respectively, of stock option compensation expense.
 
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
 
On April 16, 2007, the Company announced that an investor group led by J.C. Flowers & Co. signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Company for approximately $25 billon or $60.00 per share of common stock. When the transaction is complete, J.C. Flowers along with private-equity firm Friedman Fleischer & Lowe will invest $4.4 billion and own 50.2 percent, and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) each will invest $2.2 billion and each will own 24.9 percent. Sallie Mae’s independent board members unanimously approved the agreement and recommended that its shareholders approve the agreement. (See also the “Merger Agreement” filed with the SEC on the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 18, 2007.)
 
The transaction will require the approval of Sallie Mae’s stockholders, is subject to required regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in late 2007. Sallie Mae will not pay further dividends on its common stock prior to consummation of the proposed transaction. Following the closing, Sallie Mae will continue to have publicly traded debt securities and as a result will continue comprehensive financial reporting about its business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase are committed to provide debt financing for the transaction and to provide additional liquidity to Sallie Mae prior to the closing date, subject to customary terms and conditions. Sallie Mae’s existing unsecured Medium Term Notes will remain outstanding, and will not be equally and ratably secured with the new acquisition related debt. The acquisition financing will be structured to accommodate the repayment of all outstanding debt as it matures. In addition, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase have committed to make available a combination of facilities in order to support the ongoing liquidity needs of the Company. Sallie Mae expects this transaction to have no material impact on the outstanding asset-backed debt and to remain an active participant in the asset-backed securities markets.
 
The new owners have stated that they are committed to supporting Sallie Mae’s focus on transparency among lenders, schools and students and on corporate governance. Sallie Mae will be subject to oversight by Congress and the Department of Education, and will continue to be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, including the Higher Education Act.
 
Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase have stated that they will continue to operate their independent student lending businesses, providing students, families and schools the widest possible choices.
 
In connection with negotiations to purchase the Company, the Company’s preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2007 were shared with representatives of the investor group.
 
On April 16, 2007, after the Company announced the acquisition, Moody’s Investor Services, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings placed the long and short-term ratings on our senior unsecured debt under review for possible downgrade. In addition, following the announcement, secondary market credit spreads on our outstanding senior unsecured bonds widened significantly.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
We are withdrawing our 2007 guidance as a result of our execution of the definitive agreement providing for the sale of the Company and described under “SUBSEQUENT EVENT” above, including the uncertain impact on future 2007 quarters, of the transactions contemplated by this agreement.
 
State Attorney General Investigations
 
The Attorney General of the State of Ohio is conducting an inquiry into student loan marketing practices. On April 15, 2007, we received a demand that we preserve documents relating to our dealings with school


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financial aid offices. On April 23, 2007, the Attorney General of the State of Ohio served an investigative demand on the Company seeking information on the Company’s student loan marketing practices.
 
On April 11, 2007, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York under which we agreed to adopt the New York Attorney General’s Code of Conduct governing student lending and contribute $2 million to a national fund devoted to educating college bound students about their loan options. Under the agreement, the Company did not admit, and expressly denied, that our conduct constituted any violation of law. The Code of Conduct, among other things, precludes Sallie Mae from providing anything more than nominal value to any employees of an institution of higher education and requires additional disclosures to borrowers and schools under certain circumstances.
 
On March 28, 2007, the Attorney General of the State of Missouri served an investigative demand on the Company seeking information on the Company’s student loan marketing practices. We have contacted the Attorney General’s Office to discuss the investigative demand.
 
SEC, House and Senate
 
The Philadelphia office of the SEC is conducting an inquiry into the trading of SLM stock and securities relating to the Company’s announcement on April 16, 2007 that an investor group led by J.C. Flowers & Co. had signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Company for approximately $25 billon or $60.00 per share of common stock. The SEC requested documents and information from the Company by letter dated April 18, 2007. We are cooperating with the SEC in order to provide the requested information and documents.
 
The SEC is conducting an investigation into trading of SLM stock by certain directors of the Company. The SEC requested documents from the Company by letter dated February 16, 2007. On April 13, 2007, the Company received SEC subpoenas seeking the testimony of two officers and the production of documents from such officers and the Company. We are cooperating with the SEC in order to provide the requested information and documents.
 
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Labor submitted a request to the Company dated March 28, 2007 seeking information regarding our marketing practices in the student loan business. We are cooperating with committee counsel in order to provide the requested information.
 
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions submitted requests to the Company dated March 21, 2007 and April 13, 2007 seeking information regarding our marketing practices in the student loan business. We are cooperating with committee counsel in order to provide the requested information.
 
On March 2, 2007, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, submitted a request for information regarding certain SLM stock sales by SLM’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Albert L. Lord on February 1-2, 2007. We are cooperating with Senate Committee counsel in order to provide the requested information. A similar request was made by U.S. Representatives George Miller and Barney Frank, chairmen of the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor and Committee on Financial Services, respectively, by letter dated February 12, 2007. We are cooperating with the House Committee counsel in order to provide the requested information.
 
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for 2008
 
On March 29, 2007, the House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 99, its plan for the Fiscal 2008 budget. The House-passed budget resolution included a single reconciliation instruction to the House Education and Labor Committee which would require it to report legislation that would cut entitlement spending in its jurisdiction by $75 million. Although the savings amount is minimal, it was widely reported that the language was included to facilitate passage of student loan reform legislation.


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Senator Kennedy Proposal for Title IV Programs
 
It has been widely reported that Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has circulated his draft proposals for Title IV programs, including student loan programs and Pell Grants. The proposal, which has reportedly been provided to members of the HELP Committee, proposes to make several reductions in the student loan program: (1) reduce Special Allowance Payments on new loans by 0.60 percentage points; (2) reduce federal insurance on new loans to 85 percent and eliminate Exceptional Performer; (3) increase lender origination fee to 1 percent; (4) reduce guaranty agency collection fee to 16 percent; and (5) base the calculation of the guaranty agency account maintenance fee on number of borrowers rather than loan level.
 
The proposal would also change the delivery of PLUS loans to two different auction models: (1) a loan sale model, where the FDLP would originate the PLUS loans and then auction the loans when they entered repayment; and (2) a loan originations rights auction where the Department of Education would auction off the right to originate loans for each school that participated in the auction. The auction would be based on Special Allowance Payment rates.
 
The proposal would use the savings to pay for (1) a phased in increase in Pell Grants to $5,400 by fiscal 2010; (2) increase eligibility of families for maximum assistance; (3) phase in a reduction in the Stafford interest rate to 5.8 percent over five years; (4) introduce new type of income-contingent repayment plan, which would include FFELP borrowers; and (5) expand loan forgiveness in the FDLP.
 
Litigation
 
Chae, et. al. v. SLM Corporation et. al.
 
On April 14, 2007, the Company was served with a putative class action suit by several borrowers in federal court in California. The complaint alleges violations of California Business & Professions Code 17200, breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of consumer legal remedies act and unjust enrichment. The complaint challenges the Company’s FFELP billing practices as they relate to use of the simple daily interest method for calculating interest. The Company believes the complaint is without merit and it intends to vigorously defend this action.


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