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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2003

Commission File Number 001-31825


The First Marblehead Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  04-3295311
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

30 Little Harbor, Marblehead, Massachusetts
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

01945
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(781) 639-2000

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes    No    ý


        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes    No    ý

        As of November 5, 2003, the registrant had 61,684,010 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.




THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION

Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1— Financial Statements    

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003

 

1

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

 

2

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the three months ended September 30, 2003

 

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

 

4

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5

Item 2—

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

13

Item 3—

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

42

Item 4—

Controls and Procedures

 

42

Part II. Other Information

 

 

Item 2—

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

42

Item 4—

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

44

Item 5—

Other Information

 

44

Item 6—

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

44

SIGNATURES

 

45

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

46


Part I. Financial Information

Item 1—Financial Statements

THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

 
  September 30,
2003

  June 30,
2003

 
ASSETS
             
Cash and other short-term investments   $ 9,745,639   $ 16,756,653  
Securities purchased under resale agreements     1,203,484     1,570,365  
   
 
 
    Total cash and cash equivalents     10,949,123     18,327,018  
   
 
 

Service receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Structural advisory fees     10,507,417     10,785,583  
  Residuals     45,194,619     43,600,465  
  Processing fees from The Education Resources Institute (TERI)     1,896,489     2,519,435  
   
 
 
      57,598,525     56,905,483  
Other receivables     303,637     142,818  
   
 
 
Property and equipment     7,396,879     6,255,181  
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (2,235,140 )   (1,839,319 )
   
 
 
    Property and equipment, net     5,161,739     4,415,862  
Goodwill     3,176,497     3,176,497  
Intangible assets, net     3,514,990     3,608,538  
Prepaid and other assets     1,569,220     477,019  
   
 
 
    Total assets   $ 82,273,731   $ 87,053,235  
   
 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Liabilities:              
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 10,603,841   $ 13,558,897  
  Net deferred tax liability     13,893,167     14,395,985  
  Notes payable to TERI     6,510,195     6,674,020  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities     31,007,203     34,628,902  
   
 
 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Stockholders' equity:              
  Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding          
  Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 53,593,200 and 53,185,440 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003, respectively     133,983     132,964  
  Additional paid-in capital     15,556,605     13,638,243  
  Retained earnings     35,575,940     38,653,126  
   
 
 
    Total stockholders' equity     51,266,528     52,424,333  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 82,273,731   $ 87,053,235  
   
 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

1


THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 
  Three months ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Service revenue:              
  Structural advisory fees (See Note 3)   $ (278,166 ) $ 372,026  
  Residuals (See Note 3)     1,594,154     408,184  
  Administrative and other fees     313,212     352,356  
  Processing fees from TERI     7,839,711     5,219,719  
   
 
 
    Total service revenue     9,468,911     6,352,285  
   
 
 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Compensation and benefits     8,869,572     4,538,458  
  General and administrative expenses     6,341,653     3,989,622  
   
 
 
    Total operating expenses     15,211,225     8,528,080  
   
 
 
Loss from operations     (5,742,314 )   (2,175,795 )
   
 
 
Other (income) expense:              
  Interest expense     119,563     394,438  
  Interest income     (20,883 )   (21,234 )
  Other income         (400 )
   
 
 
    Total other expenses, net     98,680     372,804  
   
 
 
    Loss before income tax expense     (5,840,994 )   (2,548,599 )
Income tax benefit     (2,763,808 )   (952,675 )
   
 
 
  Net loss   $ (3,077,186 ) $ (1,595,924 )
   
 
 
  Net loss per share, basic   $ (0.06 ) $ (0.03 )
  Net loss per share, diluted     (0.06 )   (0.03 )
  Weighted average shares outstanding, basic     53,325,632     52,842,254  
  Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted     53,325,632     52,842,254  

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

2


THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(unaudited)

 
  Capital
stock

  Paid-in
capital

  Retained
earnings

  Total
stockholders'
equity

 
Balance at June 30, 2003     132,964     13,638,243     38,653,126     52,424,333  
   
 
 
 
 
  Options exercised     1,019     275,989         277,008  
  Non-cash compensation         1,642,373         1,642,373  
  Net loss             (3,077,186 )   (3,077,186 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2003   $ 133,983   $ 15,556,605   $ 35,575,940   $ 51,266,528  

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 
  Three months ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net loss   $ (3,077,186 ) $ (1,595,924 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:              
  Depreciation     395,821     253,121  
  Amortization     280,430     240,483  
  Non-cash compensation     1,642,373      
  Change in assets/liabilities:              
    Decrease (increase) in processing fees from TERI and other receivables     462,127     (114,883 )
    (Increase) decrease in structural advisory fees     278,166     (372,026 )
    Increase in residuals     (1,594,154 )   (408,184 )
    Increase in prepaid and other assets     (1,092,201 )   (37,306 )
    Increase in deferred tax liability     (502,818 )   (952,675 )
    (Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses     (2,955,056 )   1,112,317  
   
 
 
      Net cash used in operating activities     (6,162,498 )   (1,875,077 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:              
  Purchases of property and equipment     (1,141,698 )   (470,751 )
  Net cash paid for acquisition of TERI's loan processing operations     (186,882 )   (341,190 )
   
 
 
      Net cash flow used in investing activities     (1,328,580 )   (811,941 )
   
 
 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Repayment on notes payable to TERI     (163,825 )    
  Stock warrants and options exercised     277,008     1,615,481  
   
 
 
      Net cash provided by financing activities     113,183     1,615,481  
   
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (7,377,895 )   (1,071,537 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     18,327,018     7,316,333  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 10,949,123   $ 6,244,796  
   
 
 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest paid   $ 119,563   $ 394,438  
   
 
 
  Income taxes paid   $ 6,435,000   $ 89,250  
   
 
 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Structural advisory fees and residuals   $ 1,039,165   $ 780,210  
   
 
 
  Non-cash compensation   $ 1,642,373   $  
   
 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


THE FIRST MARBLEHEAD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)   Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of The First Marblehead Corporation (FMC, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report on Form 10-Q.

        Origination of student loans is generally subject to seasonal trends, with the volume of loan applications increasing with the approach of tuition payment dates. In general, the Company processes the greatest application volume during the summer months, as students and their families seek to borrow money in order to pay tuition costs for the fall semester or the entire school year. The Company also tends to process increased volume of loan applications during November and December, as students and their families seek to borrow money to pay tuition costs for the spring semester. This seasonality of loan originations impacts the amount of processing fees from TERI that the Company earns in a particular quarter.

        Consistent with the Company's past practice of conducting securitization transactions in our second and fourth fiscal quarters, the Company did not conduct a securitization transaction during the first quarter of either fiscal 2004 or fiscal 2003. Therefore, during these quarters the Company did not generate any up-front structural advisory fees, additional structural advisory fees or residual fee revenues from new securitization transactions.

        During the three months ended September 30, 2003, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering 14,375,000 shares of the Company's common stock, including:

5


        All of the 14,375,000 shares were sold on November 5, 2003 at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. Net proceeds of the initial public offering to the Company, after underwriting discounts but excluding offering expenses, were approximately $117.6 million. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds of the sale of the shares sold by the selling stockholders.

        In its role as guarantor in the private education lending market, The Education Resources Institute, Inc. (TERI) agrees to reimburse lenders for unpaid principal and interest on defaulted loans. TERI is the exclusive provider of borrower default guarantees for our clients' private student loans, with limited exceptions. As of September 30, 2003, TERI had a Baa3 counterparty rating from Moody's Investors Service, which is the lowest investment grade rating, and an insurer financial strength rating of A+ from Fitch Ratings. If these ratings are lowered, the Company's clients may not wish to enter into guarantee arrangements with TERI. In addition, the Company may receive lower structural advisory fees because the costs of obtaining financial guarantee insurance for the asset-backed securitizations that the Company structures could increase.

        There are currently six TERI-approved loan servicers. The Company currently utilizes three of these servicers. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) currently services substantially all loans for which the Company facilitates origination. This arrangement allows the Company to increase the volume of loans in its clients' loan programs without incurring the overhead investment in servicing operations. As with any external service provider, there are risks associated with inadequate or untimely services. In addition, if the Company's relationship with PHEAA terminates, the Company would either need to expand or develop a relationship with another TERI-approved loan servicer, which could be time-consuming and costly.

        In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, processing fees from TERI represented approximately 83% of total service revenue. The Company did not recognize more than 10% of total service revenue from any other customer.

        The preparation of the Company's financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors, and actual results may differ from these estimates under varying assumptions or conditions.

        The Company's significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in exhibit 99.1 to this quarterly report. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and judgments, particularly as they relate to accounting policies that the Company believes are most "critical"—that is, those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company's financial condition and results of operations. These require the Company's most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, often requiring the Company to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. These accounting policies involve the recognition and valuation of the Company's service revenue related to the securitizations that it structures for its clients, as well as the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets. The Company also considers its policy with respect to the determination of whether or not to consolidate the securitization trusts that it

6



facilitates to be a critical accounting policy. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates".

(2)   Stock Options

        The Company applies Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," which permits entities to recognize as expense over the vesting period the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant. For employee stock-based awards, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to apply the provisions of APB No. 25 and provide pro forma net earnings disclosures as if the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. The Company has elected to apply the provisions of APB No. 25 and provide the pro forma disclosures of SFAS No. 123.

        The Company accounts for non-employee stock-based awards in which goods or services are the consideration received for the equity instruments issued based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable.

        For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the stock options is amortized to expense over the vesting period of the options. The Company's consolidated pro forma net loss and net loss per share for the three month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, had the Company elected to recognize compensation expense for the granting of options under SFAS No. 123 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, are as follows:

 
  Three months ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net loss—as reported   $ (3,077,186 ) $ (1,595,924 )
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards, net of tax     (485,854 )   (459,931 )
   
 
 
Net loss—pro forma   $ (3,563,040 ) $ (2,055,855 )
   
 
 
Net loss per share—basic—as reported   $ (0.06 ) $ (0.03 )
Net loss per share—basic—pro forma     (0.06 )   (0.03 )
Net loss per share—diluted—as reported     (0.06 )   (0.03 )
Net loss per share—diluted—pro forma     (0.06 )   (0.03 )

(3)   Service Receivables

        Structural advisory fees and residuals receivables represent the present value of additional structural advisory fees and residuals expected to be collected over the life of the student loan, net of prepayment, default and recovery estimates. The fees are paid to the Company from the various separate securitization trusts (NCT trusts) established by The National Collegiate Trust and from The National Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust I (NCMSLT). Processing fees receivable from TERI represents amounts due from TERI for expenses incurred by First Marblehead Education Resources, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of FMC, on TERI's behalf.

        The Company did not conduct any securitization transactions in either of the three month periods ended September 30, 2003 or 2002. The Company does, on a quarterly basis, update its estimate of the present value of its structural advisory fees and residuals receivables, to reflect the passage of time, any change in discount rates used to estimate their present value, and any changes to the trust performance metrics that the Company considers in its present value estimates, such as default, recovery, prepayment and forward LIBOR rates.

7



        The Company made no changes in its assumptions regarding default rates, prepayment rates and recovery rates in the first quarters of either fiscal 2004 or 2003, nor did it make any change in the 12% discount rates that it uses to value residual income.

        The Company uses an implied forward one-month LIBOR curve to estimate trust cash flows. During the three month period ended September 30, 2003, the rates along the implied forward one-month LIBOR curve increased between 25 and 75 basis points. These increases in rates resulted in an increase in the average life of the underlying trust assets, thereby having an effect of increasing the fair market value of the structural advisory fees and residuals receivables during the period. The impact of changing LIBOR rates in the three month period ended September 30, 2002 did not have a material impact on the fair market value of these receivables during that period.

        The Company bases the discount rate that it uses to calculate the present value of its additional structural advisory fees on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate plus 200 basis points. From July 1 to September 30, 2003, this rate increased by 62 basis points from 5.33% to 5.95%. From July 1 to September 30, 2002, this rate decreased by 99 basis points from 6.86% to 5.87%. A decrease in the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate has the effect of increasing the fair market value of the Company's structural advisory fees receivable, while an increase in the rate has the opposite effect on the Company's estimate of their fair market value. In determining an appropriate discount rate for valuing residuals, the Company reviews the rates used by student loan securitizers, such as SLM Corporation, and rates used in the much broader commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, market. The Company believes that CMBS residuals are valued at 800 to 1200 basis points over comparable maturity U.S. Treasury Notes, with 15-year maturity asset pools valued toward the lower discount rate and 30-year maturity asset pools valued more toward the higher discount rate. The Company believes that the 12% discount rate it uses is appropriate given the maximum 24-year life of the trust assets and residuals.

        The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the structural advisory fees receivable for the three month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002:

 
  Three months ended
September 30,

 
  2003
  2002
Fair value at beginning of period   $ 10,785,583   $ 4,760,468
Additions from structuring new securitizations        
Fair market value adjustments     (278,166 )   372,026
   
 
Fair value at end of period   $ 10,507,417   $ 5,132,494
   
 

        The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the residuals receivables for the three month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively:

 
  Three months ended
September 30,

 
  2003
  2002
Fair value at beginning of period   $ 43,600,465   $ 13,573,360
Additions from structuring new securitizations        
Fair market value adjustments     1,594,154     408,184
   
 
Fair value at end of period   $ 45,194,619   $ 13,981,544
   
 

8


(4)   Related Party Transactions

        On March 4, 2002, the Company advanced an unsecured loan to a non-executive employee in the amount of $40,000 to be repaid over 5 years at 6% interest per year through payroll deductions, of which $33,868 and $35,444 was outstanding at September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003, respectively.

        At September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003, Milestone Capital Management (MCM), an institutional money management firm was managing approximately $9.3 million and $15.8 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents for the Company and charging its standard fees for its services. One of the Company's directors is a director of MCM. Members of the director's immediate family own approximately 40% of MCM's outstanding equity.

(5)   Borrowings from Related Parties

        The Company entered into a $975,000 revolving line of credit with a bank effective April 24, 2002 of which none was outstanding at September 30, 2003 or June 30, 2003. The line of credit matured on April 24, 2003 and was renewed through December 31, 2003 subject to the same terms and conditions, with interest payable at 1% above the highest published Wall Street Journal prime rate. The terms of the line of credit require that: the Company maintain accurate books and records; the assets be free of all liens, encumbrances and financing not approved by the lender; and when there is a balance outstanding under the line, no dividends or payments of principal and interest on any loans held by any guarantor, officer, director or stockholder may be made. A member of the board of directors of the Company is also a director and significant stockholder of a company that owns the bank. The Company believes that the line of credit is on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with third parties. The Company is in the process of transitioning its banking relationship to its new revolving line of credit provider, and does not expect to renew this credit facility.

        The Company utilized borrowings with conditional warrants totaling $5.5 million from stockholders and certain affiliates to fund the acquisition of TERI's loan processing operations. The notes payable were to mature on May 30, 2004, with interest payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 10% of the current principal balance. Additional interest was required to be paid at a rate of 15% of the outstanding balance as of June 1 of the previous year each May 30 until maturity. The terms of the borrowings required quarterly condensed financial statement reporting within 60 days of quarter-end, reporting of cash flow activities within 30 days of month-end, and audited financial statements within 180 days of year-end. The notes were paid in full on May 30, 2003. The notes would have entitled each stockholder to a portion of 22,072,000 of conditional warrants that provided the right to purchase up to a specified number of shares of FMC's common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share if the notes were at any time in default, including for non-payment of the additional interest. The value ascribed to the warrants, which expired prior to becoming exercisable, was not material.

        In connection with the acquisition of TERI's loan processing operations, the Company entered into a Note Payable Agreement with TERI on June 20, 2001, amounting to $3.9 million, $2.0 million of which relates to the acquisition of TERI's software and network assets and $1.9 million of which relates to the workforce-in-place. Principal and interest at an annual rate of 6% are payable in 120 monthly installments of $43,298 commencing on July 20, 2001 and ending on June 20, 2011. The note payable is secured by the software and network assets and workforce-in-place intangible assets. The outstanding balance of this note payable at September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003 amounted to $3.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

9


        The Company also entered into a second note payable, amounting to $4.0 million, with TERI on June 20, 2001 to fund the acquisition of TERI's loan database. Principal and interest at an annual rate of 6% are payable in 120 monthly installments of $44,408 commencing on July 20, 2001 and ending on June 20, 2011. The note payable is secured by the loan database. The outstanding balance of this note payable at September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003 amounted to $3.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

(6)   Revolving Line of Credit

        On August 28, 2003, the Company entered into an agreement with Fleet National Bank (Bank) to establish a revolving line of credit in the amount of $10 million, which includes a sub-limit for letters of credit. The proceeds are available for working capital and general corporate purposes. The revolving credit facility matures on August 28, 2005, with interest currently payable, at the Company's option, at the Bank's prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 2%. The revolving credit line contains financial covenants, including minimum trailing 12-month up-front structural advisory fees, minimum tangible net worth, maximum liabilities to net worth ratios and minimum cash flow to debt service ratios, as well as certain financial reporting covenants. This agreement restricts the Company's ability to pay cash dividends in the event it is in default. At September 30, 2003, the Company had $6.5 million outstanding under the revolving line of credit. The Bank has also issued on the Company's behalf three irrevocable letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $943,000 in lieu of security deposits for the lease and sublease of office space. Third party beneficiaries have not drawn upon this revolving credit facility. These letters of credit reduce the amount the Company may borrow under this revolving credit facility.

(7)   Stockholders' Equity

        In August 2003, the stockholders approved a 10-for-1 stock split which became effective on August 25, 2003. As such, all prior period share data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.

        An executive officer of the Company had an agreement with two principal stockholders of the Company relating to shares of common stock of the Company owned by these stockholders. Pursuant to this agreement, the executive officer earned non-cash compensation of $900,000 through June 30, 2003. The executive officer earned non-cash compensation of approximately $1.6 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2004. On September 30, 2003, the agreement was terminated in exchange for vested options issued by these two principal stockholders.

        In July 2003, the Board of Directors approved, and in August 2003 the stockholders approved, an increase in the total number of shares of common stock which the Company is authorized to issue from 14,280,440 to 25,000,000. In October 2003, the Board of Directors and stockholders approved an increase in the total number of shares of common stock which the Company is authorized to issue from 25,000,000 to 100,000,000.

        In September 2003, the Company adopted its 2003 Stock Incentive Plan and reserved 1,200,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2003 plan. As of September 30, 2003, no options had been issued under the 2003 plan.

10


        On September 2, 2003, the Board of Directors authorized management to proceed with an initial public offering. The costs associated with the initial public offering will be capitalized and will be deducted from the proceeds upon the sale and issuance of stock. At September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003, capitalized offering costs amounted to $888,275 and $72,298, respectively.

        After the offering, the Company may not declare or pay dividends on its stock if such declaration and payment would violate statutory or regulatory requirements.

(8)   Subsequent Events

        On October 9, 2003, the Board of Directors approved a 4:1 stock split to be effected as a stock dividend immediately prior to the effectiveness of the initial public offering. On October 29, 2003, the stockholders became entitled to payment of such stock dividend. All share data has been retroactively adjusted to reflect this stock split.

        In October 2003, the Company adopted its 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and authorized the issuance of up to a total of 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock to participating employees. Employees who own 5% or more of the Company's common stock are not eligible to participate under the purchase plan. Participation in the plan is voluntary.

(9)   New Accounting Pronouncements

        In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 establishes new standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both debt and equity. It requires that an issuer classify three classes of freestanding financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer as a liability or, in some cases, assets. This statement generally is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and for contracts in existence at the start of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of this standard, a portion of which has been indefinitely deferred, did not and is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, earnings per share or cash flows.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure." SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" to provide alternative methods of transition when companies elect to change from the intrinsic method to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, including stock options. In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirement of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. This statement is effective for fiscal years ended after December 15, 2002 and the disclosures to be provided in interim financial reports are required for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. We currently use the intrinsic method of accounting for stock options and have not yet determined if we will change to the fair value method of accounting for employee stock options.

        Beginning July 1, 2003, and for securitization trusts created after January 31, 2003, the Company applies FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51," in assessing consolidation. FIN No. 46 provides a new framework for identifying variable interest entities and determining when a company should include the assets,

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liabilities, non-controlling interests and results of activities of a variable interest entity in its consolidated financial statements. At September 30, 2003, the existing securitization trusts created after January 31, 2003 have either met the criteria to be a qualified special-purpose entity (QSPE), as defined in paragraph 35 of SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for the Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," or the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the securitization trusts, as defined by FIN No. 46. Accordingly, the Company did not consolidate these existing securitization trusts in these financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the securitization trusts created prior to January 31, 2003 to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary. If the Company determines that it is the primary beneficiary of any of these securitization trusts, the Company expects the parties to the trust documents to amend them in order for these securitization trusts to be considered QSPEs.

        In June 2003, the FASB issued an Exposure Draft, "Qualifying Special-Purpose Entities and Isolation of Transferred Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140." This proposal would, among other things, change the requirements that an entity must meet to be considered a QSPE. The Company is monitoring the status of this Exposure Draft to assess the impact to the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

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Item 2—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        You should read the following discussion together with our financial statements and accompanying notes included in this quarterly report. In addition to the historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements due to factors including, but not limited to, those set forth under "Factors That May Affect Future Results" below.

Overview

        We provide outsourcing services for private education lending in the United States. We provide services in connection with each of the five typical phases of the student loan lifecycle, offering our clients a single point of interface for:

We receive fees for the services we provide in connection with both processing our clients' private student loans and structuring and administering securitizations of those loans. Securitization refers to the technique of pooling loans and selling them to a special purpose, bankruptcy remote entity, typically a trust, which issues securities to investors backed by those loans.

        We do not take a direct ownership interest in the loans our clients generate, nor do we serve as a lender or guarantor with respect to any loan programs that we facilitate. We assist the lenders in our loan programs in selecting the underwriting criteria used in deciding whether a student loan will be made to an applicant. However, each lender has ultimate control over the selection of these criteria, and in providing our services we are obligated by contract to observe them. Although we oversee loan servicing as a component of our administrative duties, we do not act as a loan servicer.

        We currently focus on facilitating private student loans for undergraduate, graduate and professional education, although we believe we can enhance our service offerings for continuing education programs, primary and secondary schools, career training and study abroad programs. In fiscal 2003, we processed over 252,000 loan applications and facilitated more than $1.0 billion in loan disbursements for students at over 3,000 schools. We have provided structural, advisory and other services for 19 securitization transactions since our formation in 1991.

        We offer services in connection with loan programs targeted at two major marketing channels:

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        Our private label programs contributed $86.0 million, or 94.1%, of our total service revenue in fiscal 2003, while our GATE programs contributed $5.4 million, or 5.9%, of our total service revenue in fiscal 2003.

        In June 2001, we significantly enhanced our risk management and loan processing capabilities through a strategic relationship with The Education Resources Institute, Inc., or TERI, the nation's oldest and largest guarantor of private student loans. We acquired TERI's loan processing operations, including its historical database, but not its investment assets or guarantee liabilities. In connection with this acquisition, 161 members of TERI's staff became our employees. In addition, we entered into a master servicing agreement pursuant to which TERI engages us to provide loan origination and processing services with respect to the loans generated through the private label programs we facilitate, as well as other TERI-guaranteed loans. TERI reimburses us for the expenses we incur in providing these services. This agreement has a term through June 2006 and provides that either party may unilaterally exercise a right to renew the contract for an additional five-year term. Under the terms of a master loan guarantee agreement that we entered into with TERI, we also agreed to provide to TERI 25% of the residual interest in the securitizations of TERI-guaranteed loans that we facilitate in the future, and a right of first refusal to guarantee our private label clients' existing and future loan programs.

        The primary driver of our results of operations and financial condition is the volume of loans for which we provide outsourcing services from loan origination through securitization. The volume of loans for which we structured securitizations increased to approximately $560 million in fiscal 2003 from approximately $69 million in fiscal 2001. The total volume of loans for which we provided services grew to approximately $1.04 billion in fiscal 2003 from approximately $165 million in fiscal 2001.

        In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, we facilitated disbursement of approximately 70,000 loans in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $620 million. Approximately $477 million of this amount was available to us for securitization. In the comparable period of fiscal 2003, we facilitated disbursement of approximately 45,000 loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $382 million. Approximately $251 million of this amount was available to us for securitization.

        The dollar volume of the loans that we facilitated in the first fiscal quarter increased 63% as compared to the first quarter of 2003. The loans that we facilitated that are available to us for securitization increased 90% in the first quarter of 2004 as compared to the first quarter of 2003.

        Although we offer our clients a fully integrated suite of outsourcing services, we do not charge separate fees for many of these services. Moreover, although we receive fees for providing loan processing services to TERI in connection with TERI-guaranteed loans, these fees represent reimbursement of the direct expenses we incur. Accordingly, we do not earn a profit on these fees. Although we provide these various services without charging a separate fee, or at "cost" in the case of TERI-guaranteed loans, we generally enter into agreements with the private label lenders, and Bank of America, N.A. in the case of GATE programs, giving us the exclusive right to securitize the loans that they do not intend to hold, and we receive structural advisory fees and residuals for facilitating securitizations of these loans. Our level of profitability depends on these structural advisory fees and residuals. We discuss the manner in which we recognize