Nelnet (NNI) 8-K Nelnet Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

For Release:November 7, 2013

Media Contact: Ben Kiser, 402.458.3024

Investor Contact: Phil Morgan, 402.458.3038

Nelnet, Inc. supplemental financial information for the third quarter 2013

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

The following information should be read in connection with Nelnet, Inc.'s (the “Company's”) press release for third quarter 2013 earnings, dated November 7, 2013, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

This earnings supplement contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company's plans and expectations for future financial condition, results of operations, or economic performance, or that address management's plans and objectives for future operations, and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events. The words “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “assume,” “forecast,” “will,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the "2012 Annual Report"), in particular such risks and uncertainties as:

• student loan portfolio risks such as interest rate basis and repricing risk resulting from the fact that the interest rate characteristics of the student loan assets do not match the interest rate characteristics of the funding for those assets, the risk of loss of floor income on certain student loans originated under the FFEL Program, risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, and risks from changes in levels of student loan prepayment or default rates;

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

• risks from changes in the educational credit and services markets resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs, such as the expected decline over time in FFELP loan interest income and fee-based revenues due to the discontinuation of new FFELP loan originations in 2010 and potential government initiatives to consolidate existing FFELP loans to the Federal Direct Loan Program, risks related to the availability of government funds and actual extension of the Company's loan servicing contract with the Department for an additional five years, and the Company's ability to maintain or increase volumes under that contract, and the Company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of FFELP and Federal Direct Loan Program loans;

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

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

• risks associated with litigation and uncertainties inherent in the estimates and assumptions about future events that management is required to make in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this earnings supplement are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

1

Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Interest income:
Loan interest	$	158,675		158,063		150,528		472,277		454,574
Investment interest	1,562			1,483		1,140		4,662		3,290
Total interest income	160,237			159,546		151,668		476,939		457,864
Interest expense:
Interest on bonds and notes payable	55,315			58,127		66,402		171,800		203,175
Net interest income	104,922			101,419		85,266		305,139		254,689
Less provision for loan losses	5,000			5,000		5,000		15,000		18,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	99,922			96,419		80,266		290,139		236,689
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	64,582			60,078		53,285		180,261		155,164
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	19,927			18,356		17,928		61,694		56,675
Enrollment services revenue	22,563			24,823		30,661		76,343		92,035
Other income	8,613			12,288		12,699		30,317		32,453
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	2,138			7,355		195		10,900		1,130
Derivative settlements, net	(6,688		)	(8,357	)	(5,051	)	(23,229	)	(6,910	)
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	(9,960		)	48,545		(26,224	)	47,841		(61,163	)
Total other income	101,175			163,088		83,493		384,127		269,384
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	48,712			47,432		46,395		144,049		144,193
Cost to provide enrollment services	14,668			16,787		20,151		51,097		62,203
Depreciation and amortization	4,340			4,320		8,402		13,037		24,764
Other	39,887			34,365		29,989		109,193		93,160
Total operating expenses	107,607			102,904		104,937		317,376		324,320
Income before income taxes	93,490			156,603		58,822		356,890		181,753
Income tax expense	30,444			54,746		21,870		123,637		59,978
Net income	63,046			101,857		36,952		233,253		121,775
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	216			614		124		1,101		412
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	62,830		101,243		36,828		232,152		121,363
Earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted	$	1.35		2.17		0.78		4.98		2.56
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,496,612			46,626,853		47,460,308		46,593,241		47,399,207

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of		As of	As of
	September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012	September 30, 2012
	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Assets:
Student loans receivable, net	$	24,701,112	24,830,621	22,559,341
Non-federally insured student loans receivable - held for sale	28,480		—	—
Cash, cash equivalents, and investments	284,054		149,343	186,534
Restricted cash and investments	768,621		911,978	1,003,888
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	124,050		126,511	131,478
Other assets	630,611		589,442	527,603
Total assets	$	26,536,928	26,607,895	24,408,844
Liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable	$	24,858,455	25,098,835	22,884,096
Other liabilities	300,560		343,847	348,510
Total liabilities	25,159,015		25,442,682	23,232,606
Equity:
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,377,863		1,165,208	1,175,821
Noncontrolling interest	50		5	417
Total equity	1,377,913		1,165,213	1,176,238
Total liabilities and equity	$	26,536,928	26,607,895	24,408,844

2

Overview

The Company is an education services company focused primarily on providing fee-based processing services and quality education-related products and services in four core areas: loan financing, loan servicing, payment processing, and enrollment services. These products and services help students and families plan, prepare, and pay for their education and make the administrative and financial processes more efficient for schools and financial organizations. In addition, the Company earns net interest income on a portfolio of federally insured student loans.

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

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013		June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012	September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	62,830	101,243		36,828	232,152		121,363
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax	6,175		(30,098	)	16,259	(29,661	)	37,921
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)	$	69,005	71,145		53,087	202,491		159,284
Earnings per share:
GAAP net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	1.35	2.17		0.78	4.98		2.56
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net of tax	0.13		(0.64	)	0.34	(0.63	)	0.80
Net income, excluding derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments (a)	$	1.48	1.53		1.12	4.35		3.36

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

The increase in earnings for the 2013 periods compared to the 2012 periods was due to an increase in net interest income earned from the Company's student loan portfolio and an increase in revenue and operating margin from the Company's fee-based operating segments.

The Company earns net interest income on its FFELP student loan portfolio in its Asset Generation and Management ("AGM") operating segment. This segment is expected to generate a stable net interest margin and significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes. As of September 30, 2013, the Company had a $24.7 billion student loan portfolio that will amortize over the next approximately 20 years. The Company actively seeks to acquire additional FFELP loan portfolios to leverage its servicing scale and expertise to generate incremental earnings and cash flow.

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

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

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

• Enrollment Services - commonly called Nelnet Enrollment Solutions ("NES")

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The information below provides the operating results for each reportable operating segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in millions).

(a) Revenue includes intersegment revenue of $13.5 million and $15.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $42.4 million and $49.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, earned by LGS as a result of servicing loans for AGM.

(b) Total revenue includes "net interest income after provision for loan losses" and "total other income" from the Company's segment statements of income, excluding the impact from changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, which was an expense of $12.7 million and $30.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and income of $35.7 million and an expense of $62.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Net income excludes changes in fair values of derivatives and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net of tax, which was an expense of $7.8 million and $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and income of $22.1 million and an expense of $38.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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

Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing

• As of September 30, 2013, the Company was servicing $135.0 billion in FFELP, private, and government owned student loans, as compared with $92.5 billion of loans as of September 30, 2012.

• Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to growth in servicing volume under the Company's contract with the Department and an increase in collection revenue from getting defaulted FFELP loan assets current on behalf of guaranty agencies. These increases were partially offset by decreases in traditional FFELP and guaranty servicing revenue.

• As of September 30, 2013, the Company was servicing $106.9 billion of loans for 5.1 million borrowers on behalf of the Department, compared with $63.6 billion of loans for 3.6 million borrowers as of September 30, 2012. Revenue from this contract increased to $26.0 million and $68.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, up from $19.1 million and $50.1 million for the same respective periods in 2012. The servicing contract with the Department spans five years (through June 2014), with a five-year extension at the option of the Department. On October 25, 2013, the Company received a letter from the Department notifying the Company of the Department's intent to exercise its optional ordering period to extend the contract for an additional five years through June 16, 2019, with actual extension subject to the availability of government funds.

• Before tax operating margin increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012. The Company made investments and incurred certain costs in 2012 to improve performance metrics under the government servicing contract and to implement and comply with the Department's special direct consolidation

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loan initiative. In addition, intangible assets for this segment were fully amortized in 2012. Salaries and benefits and other expense increased in 2013 to support the increase in volume under the government servicing contract and due to an increase in costs related to getting defaulted FFELP loan assets current on behalf of guaranty agencies.

Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce

• Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to an increase in the number of managed tuition payment plans, campus commerce customers, and new school customers.

• Before tax operating margin increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012. The increase was the result of efficiencies gained in the operations of the business and a decrease in amortization expense related to intangible assets. These decreases in expenses in 2013 compared to 2012 were partially offset by an increase in salaries and benefits due to adding personnel to support the increase in the number of tuition payment plans and campus commerce customers.

• This segment is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Based on the timing of when revenue is recognized and when expenses are incurred, revenue and operating margin are higher in the first quarter as compared to the remainder of the year.

Enrollment Services

• Revenue decreased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 due to a decrease in inquiry generation and management revenue as a result of the regulatory uncertainty regarding recruiting and marketing to potential students in the for-profit college industry, which has caused schools to decrease spending on marketing efforts. Additionally, clients are shifting marketing budgets to more efficient or lower cost channels, which has caused a reduction in volume.

• The Company continues to focus on improving the profitability of this segment by reducing operating expenses in reaction to the ongoing decline in revenue and gross margin.

Asset Generation and Management

• The Company acquired $2.2 billion of FFELP student loans during the first nine months of 2013, including $1.1 billion purchased during the third quarter. The average loan portfolio balance for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was $24.5 billion and $23.0 billion, respectively.

• On October 31, 2013, the Company purchased a student loan securitization trust, giving the Company rights to the residual interest in $1.6 billion of FFELP student loans. The trust includes student loans funded to term with notes payable. The student loans and debt within the trust will be included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

• Core student loan spread increased to 1.57% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 1.44% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 1.53% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 1.43% for the same period in 2012. This increase was due to the improved corresponding relationship between the interest rate indices governing what the Company earns on its loans and what the Company pays to fund such loans.

• Due to historically low interest rates, the Company continues to earn significant fixed rate floor income. During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company earned $37.8 million and $34.7 million, respectively, of fixed rate floor income (net of $7.2 million and $5.6 million of derivative settlements, respectively, used to hedge such loans), and $109.6 million and $109.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively (net of $24.0 million and $12.2 million of derivative settlements, respectively).

Corporate Activities

• Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary, recognized investment advisory revenue of $2.4 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $11.5 million and $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts include performance fees earned from the sale of managed securities. As of September 30, 2013, WRCM was managing an investment portfolio of $942.8 million for third-party entities.

5

Income Taxes

• The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 32.6% and 37.2%, respectively, and was 34.8% and 33.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the third quarter of 2013, income tax expense was reduced by $4.1 million due to the resolution of various uncertain tax positions relating primarily to prior years resulting from examination closings and lapse of applicable statute of limitations. In addition, the Company reversed $1.3 million ($0.8 million after tax) of interest expense during the third quarter of 2013 related to the resolution of certain tax positions. The reversal of interest expense reduced "interest on bonds and notes payable" in the accompanying consolidated statement of income. During the second quarter of 2012, state income tax laws were enacted that reduced the Company's income tax expense during the second quarter by $4.6 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

• As of September 30, 2013, the Company had cash and investments of $284.1 million.

• For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company generated $202.6 million in net cash provided by operating activities.

• Forecasted future cash flows from the Company's FFELP student loan portfolio financed in asset-backed securitization transactions are estimated to be approximately $2.10 billion as of September 30, 2013.

• As of September 30, 2013, $75.0 million was outstanding on the Company's unsecured line of credit and $200.0 million was available for future use. The unsecured line of credit has a maturity date of March 28, 2018.

• During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company repurchased $84.7 million (face amount) of its own asset-backed debt securities for a gain totaling $10.9 million, including $15.4 million (face amount) for a gain of $2.1 million during the third quarter.

• During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company repurchased 390,376 shares of Class A common stock for $13.0 million ($33.34 per share), including 111,220 shares for $4.0 million ($36.19 per share) during the third quarter. Included in the shares purchased during the third quarter were 107,614 shares remaining in the Company's 401(k) plan. Pursuant to an amendment to the 401(k) plan effective January 1, 2013, shares of the Company's Class A common stock are no longer an eligible investment alternative for the Company's matching contributions under the plan, and after this purchase, no shares of the Company's Class A common stock are held in the Company's 401(k) plan.

• During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company paid cash dividends of $13.9 million, including $4.6 million ($0.10 per share) during the third quarter.

• The Company intends to use its strong liquidity position to capitalize on market opportunities, including FFELP student loan acquisitions; strategic acquisitions and investments in its core business areas of loan financing, loan servicing, payment processing, and enrollment services; and capital management initiatives, including stock repurchases, debt repurchases, and dividend distributions.

Operating Segments

The Company earns fee-based revenue through its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing, Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce, and Enrollment Services operating segments. In addition, the Company earns net interest income on its student loan portfolio in its Asset Generation and Management operating segment. The Company’s operating segments are defined by the products and services they offer and the types of customers they serve, and they reflect the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by management. See note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2012 Annual Report for a description of each operating segment, including the primary products and services offered.

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. Executive management (the "chief operating decision maker") evaluates the performance of the Company’s operating segments based on their financial results prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  

The accounting policies of the Company’s operating segments are the same as those described in note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the 2012 Annual Report. Intersegment revenues are charged by the segment that

6

provides a product or service to another segment.  Intersegment revenues and expenses are included within each segment 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. Income taxes are allocated based on 38% of income (loss) before taxes for each individual operating segment. The difference between the consolidated income tax expense and the sum of taxes calculated for each operating segment is included in income taxes in Corporate Activity and Overhead.

Corporate Activity and Overhead

Corporate Activity and Overhead includes the following items:

• The operating results of Whitetail Rock Capital Management, LLC ("WRCM"), the Company's SEC-registered investment advisory subsidiary

• Income earned on certain investment activities

• Interest expense incurred on unsecured debt transactions

• Other product and service offerings that are not considered operating segments

Corporate Activity and Overhead also includes certain corporate activities and overhead functions related to executive management, human resources, accounting, legal, occupancy, and marketing. These costs are allocated to each operating segment based on estimated use of such activities and services.

7

Segment Results of Operations

The following tables include the results of each of the Company's operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.

	Three months ended September 30, 2013
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment Services		Total Fee- Based		Asset Generation and Management		Corporate Activity and Overhead		Eliminations		Total
Total interest income	$	10		—		—		10		158,793		2,201		(767	)	160,237
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		56,100		(18	)	(767	)	55,315
Net interest income (loss)	10			—		—		10		102,693		2,219		—		104,922
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		5,000		—		—		5,000
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	10			—		—		10		97,693		2,219		—		99,922
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	64,582			—		—		64,582		—		—		—		64,582
Intersegment servicing revenue	13,519			—		—		13,519		—		—		(13,519	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			19,927		—		19,927		—		—		—		19,927
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		22,563		22,563		—		—		—		22,563
Other income	—			—		—		—		3,981		4,632		—		8,613
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		2,138		—		—		2,138
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		(12,660	)	2,700		—		(9,960	)
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(6,432	)	(256	)	—		(6,688	)
Total other income (expense)	78,101			19,927		22,563		120,591		(12,973	)	7,076		(13,519	)	101,175
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	29,719			9,229		4,491		43,439		555		4,718		—		48,712
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		14,668		14,668		—		—		—		14,668
Depreciation and amortization	2,677			1,117		57		3,851		—		489		—		4,340
Other	19,752			1,908		1,556		23,216		7,939		8,732		—		39,887
Intersegment expenses, net	1,457			1,431		1,139		4,027		13,705		(4,213	)	(13,519	)	—
Total operating expenses	53,605			13,685		21,911		89,201		22,199		9,726		(13,519	)	107,607
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	24,506			6,242		652		31,400		62,521		(431	)	—		93,490
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,822		)	(607	)	(607	)	(3,036	)	(1,302	)	4,338		—		—
Income (loss) before income taxes	22,684			5,635		45		28,364		61,219		3,907		—		93,490
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,620		)	(2,141	)	(17	)	(10,778	)	(23,263	)	3,597		—		(30,444	)
Net income (loss)	14,064			3,494		28		17,586		37,956		7,504		—		63,046
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		216		—		216
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	14,064		3,494		28		17,586		37,956		7,288		—		62,830

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	Three months ended June 30, 2013
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment Services		Total Fee- Based		Asset Generation and Management		Corporate Activity and Overhead		Eliminations		Total
Total interest income	$	9		—		—		9		158,175		2,196		(834	)	159,546
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		56,920		2,041		(834	)	58,127
Net interest income (loss)	9			—		—		9		101,255		155		—		101,419
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		5,000		—		—		5,000
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	9			—		—		9		96,255		155		—		96,419
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	60,078			—		—		60,078		—		—		—		60,078
Intersegment servicing revenue	13,903			—		—		13,903		—		—		(13,903	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			18,356		—		18,356		—		—		—		18,356
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		24,823		24,823		—		—		—		24,823
Other income	—			—		—		—		3,030		9,258		—		12,288
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		7,355		—		—		7,355
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments	—			—		—		—		43,096		5,449		—		48,545
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(7,845	)	(512	)	—		(8,357	)
Total other income (expense)	73,981			18,356		24,823		117,160		45,636		14,195		(13,903	)	163,088
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	28,091			9,427		4,809		42,327		592		4,513		—		47,432
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		16,787		16,787		—		—		—		16,787
Depreciation and amortization	2,731			1,132		61		3,924		—		396		—		4,320
Other	18,031			2,192		1,243		21,466		7,923		4,976		—		34,365
Intersegment expenses, net	851			1,494		1,130		3,475		14,108		(3,680	)	(13,903	)	—
Total operating expenses	49,704			14,245		24,030		87,979		22,623		6,205		(13,903	)	102,904
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	24,286			4,111		793		29,190		119,268		8,145		—		156,603
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,513		)	(504	)	(504	)	(2,521	)	(1,081	)	3,602		—		—
Income (loss) before income taxes	22,773			3,607		289		26,669		118,187		11,747		—		156,603
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,655		)	(1,370	)	(109	)	(10,134	)	(44,911	)	299		—		(54,746	)
Net income (loss)	14,118			2,237		180		16,535		73,276		12,046		—		101,857
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		614		—		614
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	14,118		2,237		180		16,535		73,276		11,432		—		101,243

9

	Three months ended September 30, 2012
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment Services		Total Fee- Based		Asset Generation and Management		Corporate Activity and Overhead		Eliminations		Total
Total interest income	$	12		3		—		15		150,661		1,891		(899	)	151,668
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		64,829		2,472		(899	)	66,402
Net interest income (loss)	12			3		—		15		85,832		(581	)	—		85,266
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		5,000		—		—		5,000
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	12			3		—		15		80,832		(581	)	—		80,266
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	53,285			—		—		53,285		—		—		—		53,285
Intersegment servicing revenue	15,855			—		—		15,855		—		—		(15,855	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			17,928		—		17,928		—		—		—		17,928
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		30,661		30,661		—		—		—		30,661
Other income	—			—		—		—		5,834		6,865		—		12,699
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		195		—		—		195
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		(30,694	)	4,470		—		(26,224	)
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(4,319	)	(732	)	—		(5,051	)
Total other income (expense)	69,140			17,928		30,661		117,729		(28,984	)	10,603		(15,855	)	83,493
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	27,716			8,578		5,147		41,441		462		4,492		—		46,395
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		20,151		20,151		—		—		—		20,151
Depreciation and amortization	4,691			1,703		1,633		8,027		—		375		—		8,402
Other	16,775			2,285		1,782		20,842		3,451		5,696		—		29,989
Intersegment expenses, net	1,262			1,379		1,000		3,641		16,064		(3,850	)	(15,855	)	—
Total operating expenses	50,444			13,945		29,713		94,102		19,977		6,713		(15,855	)	104,937
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	18,708			3,986		948		23,642		31,871		3,309		—		58,822
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,337		)	(446	)	(446	)	(2,229	)	(909	)	3,138		—		—
Income (loss) before income taxes	17,371			3,540		502		21,413		30,962		6,447		—		58,822
Income tax (expense) benefit	(6,601		)	(1,345	)	(191	)	(8,137	)	(11,765	)	(1,968	)	—		(21,870	)
Net income (loss)	10,770			2,195		311		13,276		19,197		4,479		—		36,952
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		124		—		124
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	10,770		2,195		311		13,276		19,197		4,355		—		36,828

10

	Nine months ended September 30, 2013
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment Services		Total Fee- Based		Asset Generation and Management		Corporate Activity and Overhead		Eliminations		Total
Total interest income	$	29		—		—		29		472,622		6,708		(2,420	)	476,939
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		170,502		3,718		(2,420	)	171,800
Net interest income (loss)	29			—		—		29		302,120		2,990		—		305,139
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		15,000		—		—		15,000
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	29			—		—		29		287,120		2,990		—		290,139
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	180,261			—		—		180,261		—		—		—		180,261
Intersegment servicing revenue	42,375			—		—		42,375		—		—		(42,375	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			61,694		—		61,694		—		—		—		61,694
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		76,343		76,343		—		—		—		76,343
Other income	—			—		—		—		11,207		19,110		—		30,317
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		10,900		—		—		10,900
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		35,711		12,130		—		47,841
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(21,816	)	(1,413	)	—		(23,229	)
Total other income (expense)	222,636			61,694		76,343		360,673		36,002		29,827		(42,375	)	384,127
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	86,254			28,015		15,067		129,336		1,709		13,004		—		144,049
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		51,097		51,097		—		—		—		51,097
Depreciation and amortization	8,197			3,387		179		11,763		—		1,274		—		13,037
Other	56,173			6,387		4,450		67,010		23,375		18,808		—		109,193
Intersegment expenses, net	3,243			4,350		3,418		11,011		42,955		(11,591	)	(42,375	)	—
Total operating expenses	153,867			42,139		74,211		270,217		68,039		21,495		(42,375	)	317,376
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	68,798			19,555		2,132		90,485		255,083		11,322		—		356,890
Corporate overhead allocation	(4,332		)	(1,443	)	(1,443	)	(7,218	)	(3,095	)	10,313		—		—
Income (loss) before income taxes	64,466			18,112		689		83,267		251,988		21,635		—		356,890
Income tax (expense) benefit	(24,498		)	(6,882	)	(261	)	(31,641	)	(95,755	)	3,759		—		(123,637	)
Net income (loss)	39,968			11,230		428		51,626		156,233		25,394		—		233,253
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		1,101		—		1,101
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	39,968		11,230		428		51,626		156,233		24,293		—		232,152

11

	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment Services		Total Fee- Based		Asset Generation and Management		Corporate Activity and Overhead		Eliminations		Total
Total interest income	$	44		8		—		52		455,413		5,226		(2,827	)	457,864
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		199,675		6,327		(2,827	)	203,175
Net interest income (loss)	44			8		—		52		255,738		(1,101	)	—		254,689
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		18,000		—		—		18,000
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	44			8		—		52		237,738		(1,101	)	—		236,689
Other income (expense):
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	155,164			—		—		155,164		—		—		—		155,164
Intersegment servicing revenue	49,210			—		—		49,210		—		—		(49,210	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			56,675		—		56,675		—		—		—		56,675
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		92,035		92,035		—		—		—		92,035
Other income	—			—		—		—		14,415		18,038		—		32,453
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		1,130		—		—		1,130
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		(62,351	)	1,188		—		(61,163	)
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(5,431	)	(1,479	)	—		(6,910	)
Total other income (expense)	204,374			56,675		92,035		353,084		(52,237	)	17,747		(49,210	)	269,384
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	85,663			25,771		17,587		129,021		1,723		13,449		—		144,193
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		62,203		62,203		—		—		—		62,203
Depreciation and amortization	13,629			5,174		4,867		23,670		—		1,094		—		24,764
Other	52,980			7,557		5,483		66,020		10,203		16,937		—		93,160
Intersegment expenses, net	3,832			4,042		2,824		10,698		49,842		(11,330	)	(49,210	)	—
Total operating expenses	156,104			42,544		92,964		291,612		61,768		20,150		(49,210	)	324,320
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	48,314			14,139		(929	)	61,524		123,733		(3,504	)	—		181,753
Corporate overhead allocation	(4,115		)	(1,372	)	(1,372	)	(6,859	)	(3,701	)	10,560		—		—
Income (loss) before income taxes	44,199			12,767		(2,301	)	54,665		120,032		7,056		—		181,753
Income tax (expense) benefit	(16,796		)	(4,851	)	874		(20,773	)	(45,610	)	6,405		—		(59,978	)
Net income (loss)	27,403			7,916		(1,427	)	33,892		74,422		13,461		—		121,775
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		412		—		412
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	27,403		7,916		(1,427	)	33,892		74,422		13,049		—		121,363

12

Net Interest Income, Net of Settlements on Derivatives

The Company maintains an overall risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate volatility. Derivative settlements for each applicable period should be evaluated with the Company's net interest income.

The following table summarizes the components of “net interest income” and “derivative settlements, net” included in the attached consolidated statements of income.

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Variable student loan interest margin, net of settlements on derivatives	$	59,100		58,076		47,543		172,797		142,484
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives	37,810			36,056		34,736		109,582		109,812
Investment interest	1,562			1,483		1,140		4,662		3,290
Non-portfolio related derivative settlements	(256		)	(512	)	(732	)	(1,413	)	(1,480	)
Corporate debt interest expense (a)	18			(2,041	)	(2,472	)	(3,718	)	(6,327	)
Net interest income (net of settlements on derivatives)	$	98,234		93,062		80,215		281,910		247,779

(a) During the third quarter of 2013, the Company reversed $1.3 million of interest expense related to the resolution of certain tax positions.

13

Student Loan Servicing Volumes (dollars in millions)

Company owned	$23,139	$23,727	$22,650	$22,277	$21,926	$21,504	$21,237	$20,820	$20,629	$20,715
% of total	61.6%	38.6%	29.8%	27.1%	25.6%	23.2%	21.8%	18.5%	17.7%	15.3%
Number of servicing borrowers:
Government servicing:	441,913	2,804,502	3,036,534	3,096,026	3,137,583	3,588,412	3,892,929	4,261,637	4,396,341	5,145,901
FFELP servicing:	2,311,558	1,912,748	1,799,484	1,779,245	1,724,087	1,659,020	1,626,146	1,586,312	1,529,203	1,507,452
Private servicing:	152,200	155,947	164,554	163,135	161,763	175,070	173,948	170,224	173,588	178,935
Total:	2,905,671	4,873,197	5,000,572	5,038,406	5,023,433	5,422,502	5,693,023	6,018,173	6,099,132	6,832,288
Number of remote hosted borrowers:	684,996	545,456	9,566,296	8,645,463	7,909,300	7,505,693	6,912,204	5,001,695	3,218,896	1,986,866

14

Other Income

The following table summarizes the components of "other income" included in the attached consolidated statements of income.

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013		June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012	September 30, 2013	September 30, 2012
Borrower late fee income	$	2,927	3,233		3,586	9,665	10,665
Investment advisory fees	2,352		6,334		2,639	11,516	8,793
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments, net	1,096		(214	)	3,993	2,002	5,830
Other	2,238		2,935		2,481	7,134	7,165
Other income	$	8,613	12,288		12,699	30,317	32,453

Derivative Settlements

The following table summarizes the components of "derivative settlements, net" included in the attached consolidated statements of income.

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Settlements:
1:3 basis swaps	$	781		782		1,100		2,474		3,651
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(7,178		)	(8,534	)	(5,595	)	(24,017	)	(12,237	)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(256		)	(512	)	(733	)	(1,413	)	(1,479	)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	(35		)	(93	)	227		(273	)	3,390
Other	—			—		(50	)	—		(235	)
Total settlements - income (expense)	$	(6,688	)	(8,357	)	(5,051	)	(23,229	)	(6,910	)

Derivative Market Value and Foreign Currency Adjustments

"Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments" include (i) the unrealized gains and losses that are caused by changes in fair values of derivatives which do not qualify for "hedge treatment" under GAAP; and (ii) the foreign currency transaction gains or losses caused by the re-measurement of the Company's Euro-denominated bonds to U.S. dollars.

The following table summarizes the components of “derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments” included in the attached consolidated statements of income.

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Change in fair value of derivatives - income (expense)	$	30,014		63,236		(5,425	)	73,743		(67,349	)
Foreign currency transaction adjustment - income (expense)	(39,974		)	(14,691	)	(20,799	)	(25,902	)	6,186
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments - income (expense)	$	(9,960	)	48,545		(26,224	)	47,841		(61,163	)

15

Student Loans Receivable

The table below outlines the components of the Company’s student loan portfolio:

	As of				As of		As of
	September 30, 2013				December 31, 2012		September 30, 2012
	Held for investment			Held for sale	Held for investment		Held for investment
Federally insured loans
Stafford and other	$	6,884,348		—	7,261,114		6,652,639
Consolidation	17,908,229			—	17,708,732		15,962,969
Total	24,792,577			—	24,969,846		22,615,608
Non-federally insured loans	66,283			28,480	26,034		29,272
	24,858,860			28,480	24,995,880		22,644,880
Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs	(103,551		)	—	(113,357	)	(37,330	)
Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans	(42,406		)	—	(40,120	)	(35,614	)
Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans	(11,791		)	—	(11,782	)	(12,595	)
	$	24,701,112		28,480	24,830,621		22,559,341

Loan Activity

The following table sets forth the activity of loans:

	Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
	2013			2012		2013		2012
Beginning balance	$	24,718,368		23,582,595		24,995,880		24,359,625
Loan acquisitions	1,053,972			152,016		2,200,756		898,606
Repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other	(750,422		)	(466,355	)	(1,896,771	)	(1,345,883	)
Consolidation loans lost to external parties	(134,578		)	(590,148	)	(400,874	)	(1,172,316	)
Loans sold	—			(33,228	)	(11,651	)	(95,152	)
Ending balance	$	24,887,340		22,644,880		24,887,340		22,644,880

16

Student Loan Spread

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

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Variable student loan yield, gross	2.58		%	2.58	%	2.65	%	2.57	%	2.63	%
Consolidation rebate fees	(0.76		)	(0.77	)	(0.75	)	(0.77	)	(0.75	)
Discount accretion, net of premium and deferred origination costs amortization	0.02			0.03		—		0.03		(0.01	)
Variable student loan yield, net	1.84			1.84		1.90		1.83		1.87
Student loan cost of funds - interest expense	(0.89		)	(0.91	)	(1.08	)	(0.90	)	(1.10	)
Student loan cost of funds - derivative settlements	0.01			0.01		0.02		0.01		0.04
Variable student loan spread	0.96			0.94		0.84		0.94		0.81
Fixed rate floor income, net of settlements on derivatives	0.61			0.58		0.60		0.59		0.62
Core student loan spread	1.57		%	1.52	%	1.44	%	1.53	%	1.43	%
Average balance of student loans	$	24,491,516		24,798,537		23,028,904		24,690,493		23,670,300
Average balance of debt outstanding	24,470,096			24,832,555		23,467,899		24,707,389		23,883,140

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

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

17

Variable student loan spread increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 as a result of the tightening of the Asset/Liability Base Rate Spread as reflected in the previous table.

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

	Three months ended							Nine months ended
	September 30, 2013			June 30, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 30, 2013		September 30, 2012
Fixed rate floor income, gross	$	44,988		44,590		40,331		133,599		122,049
Derivative settlements (a)	(7,178		)	(8,534	)	(5,595	)	(24,017	)	(12,237	)
Fixed rate floor income, net	$	37,810		36,056		34,736		109,582		109,812
Fixed rate floor income contribution to spread, net	0.61		%	0.58	%	0.60	%	0.59	%	0.62	%

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

Fixed Rate Floor Income

The following table shows the Company’s student loan assets that are earning fixed rate floor income as of September 30, 2013:

	Borrower/	Estimated
Fixed	lender	variable
interest	weighted	conversion	Loan
rate range	average yield	rate (a)	Balance
< 3.0%	2.87%	0.23%	$	1,772,119
3.0 - 3.49%	3.20%	0.56%	2,135,186
3.5 - 3.99%	3.65%	1.01%	1,944,371
4.0 - 4.49%	4.20%	1.56%	1,464,833
4.5 - 4.99%	4.72%	2.08%	842,142
5.0 - 5.49%	5.24%	2.60%	570,042
5.5 - 5.99%	5.67%	3.03%	346,790
6.0 - 6.49%	6.18%	3.54%	401,362
6.5 - 6.99%	6.70%	4.06%	365,898
7.0 - 7.49%	7.16%	4.52%	150,648
7.5 - 7.99%	7.71%	5.07%	256,097
8.0 - 8.99%	8.17%	5.53%	603,732
> 9.0%	9.04%	6.40%	301,635
			$	11,154,855

(a) The estimated variable conversion rate is the estimated short-term interest rate at which loans would convert to a variable rate. As of September 30, 2013, the weighted average estimated variable conversion rate was 1.82% and the short-term interest rate was 19 basis points.

18

The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments as of September 30, 2013 used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income.

Maturity	Notional amount		Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
2014	$	1,750,000	0.71	%
2015	1,100,000		0.89
2016	750,000		0.85
2017	1,250,000		0.86
	$	4,850,000	0.81	%

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

Future Cash Flow from Portfolio

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

As of September 30, 2013, based on cash flow models developed to reflect management’s current estimate of, among other factors, prepayments, defaults, deferment, forbearance, and interest rates, the Company currently expects future undiscounted cash flows from its portfolio to be approximately $2.10 billion as detailed below.  The $2.10 billion includes approximately $495.2 million (as of September 30, 2013) of overcollateralization included in the asset-backed securitizations.  These excess net asset positions are reflected variously in the following balances in the consolidated balance sheet:  "student loans receivable," "restricted cash and investments," and "accrued interest receivable."

The forecasted cash flow presented below includes all loans funded in asset-backed securitizations as of September 30, 2013.  As of September 30, 2013, the Company had $23.5 billion of loans included in asset-backed securitizations, which represented 94.7 percent of its total FFELP student loan portfolio. The forecasted cash flow does not include cash flows that the Company expects to receive related to loans currently funded in its warehouse facilities or loans acquired subsequent to September 30, 2013.

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FFELP Asset-backed Securitization Cash Flow Forecast

$2.10 billion

(dollars in millions)

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

Prepayments:  The primary variable in establishing a life of loan estimate is the level and timing of prepayments. Prepayment rates equal the amount of loans that prepay annually as a percentage of the beginning of period balance, net of scheduled principal payments.  A number of factors can affect estimated prepayment rates, including the level of consolidation activity and default rates.  Should any of these factors change, management may revise its assumptions, which in turn would impact the projected future cash flow. The Company’s cash flow forecast above assumes prepayment rates that are generally consistent with those utilized in the Company’s recent asset-backed securitization transactions. If management used a prepayment rate assumption two times greater than what was used to forecast the cash flow, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $210 million to $270 million.

Interest rates:  The Company funds the majority of its student loans with three-month LIBOR indexed floating rate securities.  Meanwhile, the interest earned on the Company’s student loan assets is indexed primarily to a one-month LIBOR rate.  The different interest rate characteristics of the Company’s loan assets and liabilities funding these assets result in basis risk.  The Company’s cash flow forecast assumes three-month LIBOR will exceed one-month LIBOR by 12 basis points for the life of the portfolio, which approximates the historical relationship between these indices.  If the forecast is computed assuming a spread of 24 basis points between three-month and one-month LIBOR for the life of the portfolio, the cash flow forecast would be reduced by approximately $110 million to $150 million.

The Company uses the current forward interest rate yield curve to forecast cash flows.  A change in the forward interest rate curve would impact the future cash flows generated from the portfolio.  An increase in future interest rates will reduce the amount of fixed rate floor income the Company is currently receiving.  The Company attempts to mitigate the impact of a rise in short-term rates by hedging interest rate risks. As of September 30, 2013, the net fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives used to hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income was a net liability of $12.2 million.

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