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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the year ended: December 31, 2004
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-13251
SALLIE MAE 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
(formerly Sallie Mae Employees’ Thrift & Savings Plan)
(Full title of the Plan)
SLM CORPORATION
(Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan)
11600 Sallie Mae Drive
Reston, Virginia 20193
(address of principal executive office of the issuer)
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
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December 31, 2004 and 2003
| Page | ||
| 1 | ||
| Financial Statements |
||
| Statements of net assets available for benefits December 31, 2004 and 2003 |
2 | |
| Statement of changes in net assets available for benefits Year ended December 31, 2004 |
3 | |
| 4 | ||
| Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) |
11 | |
| 12 | ||
| Consent |
Exhibit 23 | |
| * | Other schedules required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA have been omitted because they were not applicable. |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Participants and Plan Administrator of the
Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
McLean, VA
June 28, 2005
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003
| 2004 |
2003 | |||||
| Assets |
||||||
| Interest in Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan Master Trust |
$ | 316,442,589 | $ | 264,286,698 | ||
| Employer Contributions Receivable |
194,199 | — | ||||
| Net assets available for benefits |
$ | 316,636,788 | $ | 264,286,698 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Year Ended December 31, 2004
| 2004 | |||
| Additions: |
|||
| Additions to net assets attributed to: |
|||
| Interest in Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan Master Trust investment income |
$ | 41,005,322 | |
| Contributions |
|||
| Employer |
18,736,284 | ||
| Participant |
15,304,715 | ||
| Rollover |
4,929,175 | ||
| 38,970,174 | |||
| Total additions |
79,975,496 | ||
| Deductions: |
|||
| Deduction from net assets attributed to: |
|||
| Benefits paid to participants |
24,884,921 | ||
| Transfer out (Note 1) |
6,752,434 | ||
| Total deductions, net |
31,637,355 | ||
| Net increase prior to plan merger |
48,338,141 | ||
| Plan mergers (Note 1) |
4,011,949 | ||
| Net increase |
52,350,090 | ||
| Net assets available for benefits |
|||
| Beginning of year |
$ | 264,286,698 | |
| End of year |
$ | 316,636,788 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
| 1. | Plan Description |
General
The Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is a defined contribution plan established for the benefit of eligible employees electing to participate in the Plan (the “Participants”). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
With the exception of employees who are eligible to participate in the Sallie Mae DMO 401(k) Savings Plan and the Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. 401(k) Plan, the Plan covers substantially all employees of SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Employer” and “Plan Administrator”). Eligible employees may enter the Plan after one month of service.
Contributions and Vesting
Participants are eligible to contribute from 1 to 25 percent of their compensation effective July 1, 2004, in increments of whole percentages, to the Plan under salary reduction agreements up to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) maximum of $13,000 in 2004. Prior to that time the maximum percentage was 10 percent. The Plan allows participants who have attained age 50 to make additional contributions up to the IRS maximum of $3,000 for 2004. Participants may also contribute amounts rolled over from qualified employer plans in which they had previously participated.
After one year of service, the Employer contributes a matching contribution equal to 100 percent of Participant contributions up to 6 percent of the participant’s eligible compensation, which results in immediate vesting. Additionally, active employees as of December 31 may receive an employer match true up contribution for any difference in the total of the bi-weekly employer match and the employer match based on the participant’s contributions for the year.
During 2004, employer contributions were reduced by $71,115 from forfeited non-vested accounts. The forfeitures balance is a result of forfeitures transferred from external plan mergers into the plan that had multiple year vesting schedules. Unused forfeitures at December 31, 2004 and 2003 totaled $4,225 and $62,440, respectively. Unused forfeitures will be used to offset future Employer contributions.
During 2004, the Employer provided a contribution to eligible employees who did not participate in any of the Employer’s various incentive plans. The award is discretionary and is determined by the Employer each year. In 2004 the award was based on 5% percent of base salary earned in 2003 which vested immediately. The amount contributed to the Plan, net of forfeitures, was $6,341,358.
In conjunction with the amendments to the Sallie Mae Cash Account Retirement Plan (“Pension Plan”), effective July 1, 2004, the Plan provides for a 2 percent core contribution to eligible participants who are no longer accruing benefits in the Pension Plan. The core contribution is fully vested after one year of service.
Participant loans
Participants may borrow up to 50 percent of their vested benefit to a maximum of $50,000. Participants may have no more than two loans outstanding at any time. The term of a loan shall equal three or five years, at the election of the Participant, except in the case of a loan that is used in regards to the Participant’s principal residence, which must be repaid over 20 years. Loans are
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
secured by the Participant’s account balance, bear interest rates equal to the prime rate established monthly by the Federal Reserve, and are repaid biweekly through automatic payroll deductions. In addition, Participants may repay all or a portion (in $500 increments) of such loans at any time. Active loans have interest rates ranging from 4% to 10.5% and with maturity dates ranging from 2005 through 2031.
Investment elections
Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Fidelity”) is the Plan Trustee and recordkeeper. Contributions are invested, based on Participants’ instructions, in any of the various investment options selected by the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan and Investment Committees. The Plan offers various mutual funds, an employer stock fund, a money market fund and a self-directed brokerage option. Under the self-directed brokerage option, Participants may direct investments in any security or other investments offered by Fidelity, regardless of whether they are included as investment options offered by the Plan. In order to participate in the self-directed brokerage option, Participants must have a minimum Plan balance of $10,000 and at least $500 must remain in the other available funds.
Participant accounts
Each Participant’s account is credited with the Participant’s and Employer’s contributions and their portion of the Plan’s earnings (losses) based on their accounts designated investments. Allocations are based on Participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a Participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the Participant’s vested account.
Payment of benefits
Participants may withdraw funds from their account upon retirement, disability, separation from employment, attainment of age 59 1/2 and certain other times as specified in the Plan Document. Distributions shall be made in a lump sum, reduced by the outstanding balance of any loan not repaid by the Participant. The Participant may have distributions paid in cash, SLM Corporation common stock or a combination thereof. Fractional shares of the common stock will be paid in cash.
Administrative expenses
Participants pay fees for loans and withdrawals, and terminated Participants pay annual maintenance fees. Additionally, Participants may pay for commissions associated with common stock purchases and sales and short term transaction fees in certain funds when Participants trade in and out of the fund within 90 days. The Participant costs are charged directly to the Participant’s account and are reflected in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits as an addition to net assets attributed to Interest in Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan Master Trust income. The Employer bears the remaining cost of Plan administration.
Plan administration
Members of the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan and Investment Committees and Trustees of the Plan are appointed by the Board of Directors of the Employer. Three officers of the Employer presently serve as Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan and Investment Committees members. The Plan pays no compensation for their services.
Transfers and Plan Mergers
In conjunction with SLM Corporation’s realignment on July 1, 2004 for its Debt Management Operations, plan assets in the Sallie Mae 401 (k) Savings Plan for employees of Education Debt Services, Inc., a division of Sallie Mae Inc., were transferred
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
to the Sallie Mae DMO 401(k) Savings Plan on January 30, 2004.
The net assets transferred amounted to $2,185,265. Plan assets in the amount of $3,845,851 for Student Assistance Corporation and Portfolio Management division participants were transferred in July from the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan to the Sallie Mae DMO 401(k) Savings Plan. Remaining transfers of $721,318 relate to employee transfers between companies.
Effective August 2, 2004, the Pioneer Mortgage, Inc. 401(k) Plan and the First Trust Financial 401(k) Savings Plan merged with and into the plan and $4,011,949 was transferred into the Plan.
| 2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of accounting
The Plan maintains its accounting records on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Investment valuation and income recognition
Investments held by the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan Master Trust (the “Master Trust”) consist of various mutual funds, an employer stock fund, a money market fund and a self-directed brokerage option. Money market funds are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Common stock, securities and brokerage account investments traded on national securities exchanges are carried at market value based on the closing price on the last business day of the year. The fair value of mutual funds is determined based on the net asset value for shares held by the Master Trust at year-end. Investments traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are valued at the average of the last reported bid and asked prices. Participants in the Sallie Mae Stock Fund hold units in the fund and not shares, the value of which was $39.15 per unit at December 31, 2003 vs. SLM Corporation common stock which was valued at $53.39 per share on December 31, 2004. Loans to Participants are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
The Master Trust information in Note 4 presents the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments, which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest earned on investments is recorded on the accrual basis. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on the trade date.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Such estimates include those regarding fair value. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and uncertainties
The Plan, through the Master Trust, provides for various investment options. Such investments are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the fair values of the investment securities and risks will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect Participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
Benefit payments
Benefits are recorded when paid.
| 3. | Investments |
The individual investment representing 5 percent or more of the fair value of net assets available for benefits is the interest in the Master Trust which was $316,442,589 and $264,286,698 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
| 4. | Investment in Master Trust |
At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Plan’s investment assets were held in a trust account with Fidelity and consist of a specific interest in the Master Trust. The Master Trust also includes the investment assets of the Sallie Mae DMO 401(k) Savings Plan and the Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. 401(k) Plan, both defined contribution retirement plans.
The Master Trust was composed of the following investments, at fair value, at December 31, 2004 and 2003:
| 2004 |
2003 | |||
| Mutual Funds |
226,188,976 | 182,545,084 | ||
| Sallie Mae Stock Fund |
65,451,833 | 48,959,428 | ||
| Money Market Funds |
29,803,674 | 28,319,447 | ||
| Common Stock/Preferred Stock |
3,534,654 | 4,571,061 | ||
| Corporate Bonds/Government Bonds |
942,951 | 469,875 | ||
| Participant Loans |
7,973,284 | 6,230,530 | ||
| Total Master Trust Assets |
333,895,372 | 271,095,425 | ||
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
The net investment income of the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2004 is summarized as follows:
| 2004 |
|||
| Dividends |
5,541,166 | ||
| Interest |
326,691 | ||
| Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments related to: |
|||
| Mutual Funds |
17,991,814 | ||
| Sallie Mae Stock Fund |
18,708,930 | ||
| Common Stock/Preferred Stock |
52,836 | ||
| Corporate Bonds/Government Bonds |
(32,814 | ) | |
| 42,588,623 | |||
The Plan’s specific interest in the Master Trust was approximately 95% and 97% at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Master Trust income is allocated based on each plan’s specific interest in the Master Trust.
| 5. | Plan Termination |
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Employer has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, Participants would immediately vest in their employer contributions.
| 6. | Related-Party Transactions |
At December 31, 2004, certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds or amounts of the Sallie Mae Stock Fund managed by Fidelity. Fidelity is the Trustee as defined by the Plan and therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest. Fees paid by the Plan for administrative services were $81,615 for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Additionally, the Plan has investments in the Sallie Mae Stock Fund which is comprised principally of SLM Corporation stock. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Plan held 1,626,932 and 1,752,996 units, respectively, valued at $63,694,394 and $48,680,713, respectively. During 2004, 355,737 units in the amount of $11,191,150 were purchased and 481,801 units in the amount of $14,456,770 were sold of the Sallie Mae Stock Fund. Such transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions, as SLM Corporation is the Plan’s sponsor.
| 7. | Income Tax Status |
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Plan by letter dated March 18, 1999, that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”). Although the Plan has been amended since the date of the letter, the Plan Administrator believes the amendments do not alter the tax status of the Plan and the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.
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Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003
| 8. | Subsequent Events |
Employees of Southwest Student Services Corporation became participants in the Plan as of April 1, 2005. Assets from the Southwest Student Services Corporation Employee Retirement Plan are expected to be transferred during 2005. As of December 31, 2004 the value of these assets are $4,361,205.
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| Identity of issuer, borrower of similar entity |
Description of Investment |
Cost** |
Current value | ||||
| Participant Loans: |
|||||||
| Plan participants * |
Loans allowable under the plan instrument, collateralized by participant account balances, due in varying installments from 2005 through 2031, with interest rates ranging from 4.0% to 10.5% | $ | 7,161,327 | ||||
| * | Denotes party-in-interest |
| ** | Not applicable |
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The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the Plan Administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| SALLIE MAE 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN | ||||||||
| (Full title of the Plan) | ||||||||
| Date: June 28, 2005 | By: | /s/ C.E. Andrews | ||||||
| C.E. Andrews | ||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Accounting and Risk Management | ||||||||
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Exhibit 23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-33577 and No. 333-109315) of SLM Corporation of our report dated June 28, 2005 relating to the financial statements of the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan, which appears in this Form 11-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
McLean, VA
June 28, 2005