Nelnet Added to Russell 1000 Index

Jul 05, 2005

LINCOLN, Neb., July 5, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Nelnet (NYSE: NNI), a leading education finance company, has been named to the Russell 1000 Index, according to the final membership list released by the Russell Investment Group on July 1, 2005.

Annual reconstitution of Russell indexes captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000. The largest 1,000 companies in the ranking comprise the large-cap Russell 1000 while the remaining 2,000 companies become the small-cap Russell 2000.

"Nelnet is pleased to be a member of the large-cap Russell 1000 Index," said Steve Butterfield, Nelnet Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. "This is an important achievement for Nelnet and reflects our hard work and growth as a public company. Our addition to the Russell 1000 enhances our visibility with another group of investors."

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. Investment managers who oversee these funds purchase shares of member stocks according to that company's weighting in the particular index.

In 2004, Nelnet was added to the Russell 3000 and the small-cap Russell 2000.

Nelnet is one of the leading education finance companies in the United States and is focused on providing quality products and services to students and schools nationwide. Nelnet ranks among the nation's leaders in terms of total net student loan assets with $14.5 billion as of March 31, 2005. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nelnet originates, consolidates, securitizes, holds, and services student loans, principally loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program of the U.S. Department of Education.

(code #:nnig)

SOURCE Nelnet

Media, Sheila Odom , +1-402-458-2329, or Investors, Cheryl Watson, +1-317-469-2064,
both of Nelnet
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