Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2 . Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
We are a specialty finance
company. Our business is to purchase and service retail automobile contracts originated primarily by franchised automobile dealers and,
to a lesser extent, by select independent dealers in the United States in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger
vans. Through our automobile contract purchases, we provide indirect financing to the customers of dealers who have limited credit histories
or past credit problems, who we refer to as sub-prime customers. We serve as an alternative source of financing for dealers, facilitating
sales to customers who otherwise might not be able to obtain financing from traditional sources, such as commercial banks, credit unions
and the captive finance companies affiliated with major automobile manufacturers. In addition to purchasing installment purchase contracts
directly from dealers, we also originate vehicle purchase money loans by lending directly to consumers and have (i) acquired installment
purchase contracts in four merger and acquisition transactions, and (ii) purchased immaterial amounts of vehicle purchase money loans
from non-affiliated lenders. In this report, we refer to all of such contracts and loans as "automobile contracts."
We were incorporated and began
our operations in March 1991. From inception through March 31, 2022, we have originated a total of approximately $18.5 billion of automobile
contracts, primarily by purchasing retail installment sales contracts from dealers, and to a lesser degree, by originating loans secured
by automobiles directly with consumers. In addition, we acquired a total of approximately $822.3 million of automobile contracts in mergers
and acquisitions in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2011. Recent contract purchase volumes and managed portfolio levels are shown in the table below:
Contract Purchases
and Outstanding Managed Portfolio
$ in thousands
Period
Contracts Purchased in Period
Managed Portfolio at Period End
2016
1,088,785
2,308,070
2017
859,069
2,333,530
2018
902,416
2,380,847
2019
1,002,782
2,416,042
2020
742,584
2,174,972
2021
1,146,321
2,249,069
Three months ended March 31, 2022
409,961
2,381,588
In May 2021 we began purchasing
some contracts for immediate sale to a third-party to whom we refer applications that don’t meet our lending criteria. We service
all such contracts on behalf of the third-party. We earn fees for originating the receivable and also servicing fees on active accounts
in the third-party portfolio. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we originated $--20.6 million under this third-party program.
As of March 31, 2022, our managed portfolio includes $57.2 million of such third-party receivables.
Our principal executive offices
are in Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of our operational and administrative functions take place in Irvine, California. Credit and underwriting
functions are performed primarily in that California branch with certain of these functions also performed in our Florida and Nevada branches.
We service our automobile contracts from our California, Nevada, Virginia, Florida and Illinois branches.
The programs we offer to dealers
and consumers are intended to serve a wide range of sub-prime customers, primarily through franchised new car dealers. We originate automobile
contracts with the intention of financing them on a long-term basis through securitizations. Securitizations are transactions in which
we sell a specified pool of contracts to a special purpose subsidiary of ours, which in turn issues asset-backed securities to fund the
purchase of the pool of contracts from us.
Securitization and Warehouse Credit Facilities
Throughout the period for which
information is presented in this report, we have purchased automobile contracts with the intention of financing them on a long-term basis
through securitizations, and on an interim basis through warehouse credit facilities. All such financings have involved identification
of specific automobile contracts, sale of those automobile contracts (and associated rights) to one of our special-purpose subsidiaries,
and issuance of asset-backed securities to be purchased by institutional investors. Depending on the structure, these transactions may
be accounted for under generally accepted accounting principles as sales of the automobile contracts or as secured financings. All of
our active securitizations are structured as secured financings.
24
When structured to be treated as a secured financing
for accounting purposes, the subsidiary is consolidated with us. Accordingly, the sold automobile contracts and the related debt appear
as assets and liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheet. We then periodically (i) recognize interest and fee income
on the contracts, and (ii) recognize interest expense on the securities issued in the transaction. For automobile contracts acquired after
2017 we take account of estimated credit losses in our computation of a level yield used to determine recognition of interest on the contracts.
For contracts acquired before 2018, we adopted CECL on January 1, 2020 and we may, as circumstances warrant, record as expense provisions
for credit losses, as we did during the year ended December 31, 2020 because of the uncertainty related to the pandemic.
Since 1994 we have conducted
92 term securitizations of automobile contracts that we originated. As of March 31, 2022, 19 of those securitizations are active and all
are structured as secured financings. Since September 2010 we have utilized senior subordinated structures without any financial guarantees.
We have generally conducted our securitizations on a quarterly basis, near the end of each calendar quarter, resulting in four securitizations
per calendar year. However, in 2020, we closed only three term securitization transactions in that calendar year rather than four.
Our recent history of term securitizations
is summarized in the table below:
Recent Asset-Backed Term Securitizations
$ in thousands
Period
Number of Term Securitizations
Receivables
Pledged in Term Securitizations
2016
4
$ 1,214,997
2017
4
870,000
2018
4
883,452
2019
4
1,014,124
2020
3
741,867
2021
4
1,145,002
Three months ended March 31, 2022
1
330,000
Generally, prior to a securitization
transaction we fund our automobile contract purchases primarily with proceeds from warehouse credit facilities. We previously had short-term
funding capacity of $300 million, comprising three credit facilities. The first $100 million credit facility was established in May 2012.
This facility was most recently renewed in December 2020, extending the revolving period to December 2022, with an optional amortization
period through December 2023. In November 2015, we entered into another $100 million facility. This facility was renewed in November 2017
and again in December 2019, extending the revolving period to December 2021, followed by an amortization period to December 2023. In April
2015, we entered into a $100 million facility that was renewed in April 2017 and again in February 2019. We repaid the outstanding balance
for this facility at its maturity date in February 2021 and elected not to renew it. We currently have short-term funding capacity of
$200 million.
In a securitization and in
our warehouse credit facilities, we are required to make certain representations and warranties, which are generally similar to the representations
and warranties made by dealers in connection with our purchase of the automobile contracts. If we breach any of our representations or
warranties, we will be obligated to repurchase the automobile contract at a price equal to the principal balance plus accrued and unpaid
interest. We may then be entitled under the terms of our dealer agreement to require the selling dealer to repurchase the contract at
a price equal to our purchase price, less any principal payments made by the customer. Subject to any recourse against dealers, we will
bear the risk of loss on repossession and resale of vehicles under automobile contracts that we repurchase.
In a securitization, the related
special purpose subsidiary may be unable to release excess cash to us if the credit performance of the securitized automobile contracts
falls short of pre-determined standards. Such releases represent a material portion of the cash that we use to fund our operations. An
unexpected deterioration in the performance of securitized automobile contracts could therefore have a material adverse effect on both
our liquidity and results of operations.
Receivables we originate and
service for third-parties are not pledged to our warehouse facilities or included in our securitizations.
Financial Covenants
Certain of our securitization
transactions and our warehouse credit facilities contain various financial covenants requiring certain minimum financial ratios and results.
Such covenants include maintaining minimum levels of liquidity and net worth and not exceeding maximum leverage levels. In addition, certain
of our debt agreements other than our term securitizations contain cross-default provisions. Such cross-default provisions would allow
the respective creditors to declare a default if an event of default occurred with respect to other indebtedness of ours, but only if
such other event of default were to be accompanied by acceleration of such other indebtedness. As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance
with all such covenants.
25
Results
of Operations
Comparison of Operating Results for the
three months ended March 31, 2022 with the three months ended March 31, 2021
Revenues . During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, our revenues were $74.4 million, an increase of $11.3 million, or 17.8%, from the prior year revenue
of $63.1 million. The primary reason for the increase in revenues are the marks to the finance receivables measured at fair value and
the increase in the average outstanding balance of finance receivables measured at fair value. Revenues for the three months ended March
31, 2022 include a $2.4 million mark up to the recorded value of the finance receivables measured at fair value. This compares to a $4.4
million mark down in the prior year period. The marks are estimates based on our evaluation of the appropriate fair value and future earnings
rate of existing receivables compared to recently acquired receivables and increases or decreases in our estimates of future net losses.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we reduced our estimate for expected future losses in finance receivables measured at fair
value as we have observed that our previous estimates for increased losses due to the pandemic hand not materialized. The change in estimated
losses resulted in the $2.4 million mark up for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Interest income for the three
months ended March 31, 2022 increased $4.0 million, or 6.0%, to $70.1 million from $66.1 million in the prior year. The primary reason
for the increase in interest income is the 22.5% increase in the average balance of finance receivables measured at fair value over the
prior year period. The table below shows the average balances and interest yields of the two components of our loan portfolio for the
three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2022
2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Average
Interest
Average
Interest
Balance
Interest
Yield
Balance
Interest
Yield
Interest Earning Assets
Finance receivables
$ 206,197
$ 11,320
22.0%
$ 451,425
$ 22,105
19.6%
Finance receivables measured at fair value
2,067,286
58,740
11.4%
1,687,232
43,988
10.4%
Total
$ 2,273,483
$ 70,060
12.3%
$ 2,138,657
$ 66,093
12.4%
Other income was $1.9 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $1.4 million for the comparable period in 2021. This
32.7% increase was primarily driven by the origination and servicing fees we earned from third party receivables that began in May 2021.
These fees were $844,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Expenses . Our operating expenses
consist largely of interest expense, provision for credit losses, employee costs, sales and general and administrative expenses. Provision
for credit losses is affected by the balance and credit performance of our portfolio of finance receivables (other than our portfolio
of finance receivables measured at fair value, as to which expected credit losses have the effect of reducing the internal rate of return
or the recorded value applicable to such receivables). Interest expense is significantly affected by the volume of automobile contracts
we purchased during the trailing 12-month period and the use of our warehouse facilities and asset-backed securitizations to finance those
contracts. Employee costs and general and administrative expenses are incurred as applications and automobile contracts are received,
processed and serviced. Factors that affect margins and net income include changes in the automobile and automobile finance market environments,
and macroeconomic factors such as interest rates and changes in the unemployment level.
Employee costs include base
salaries, commissions and bonuses paid to employees, and certain expenses related to the accounting treatment of outstanding stock options
and are one of our most significant operating expenses. These costs (other than those relating to stock options) generally fluctuate with
the level of applications and automobile contracts purchased and serviced.
Other operating expenses consist
largely of facilities expenses, telephone and other communication services, credit services, computer services, sales and advertising
expenses, and depreciation and amortization.
Total operating expenses were
$45.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $55.2 million for the prior period, a decrease of $10.1 million,
or 18.4%. The decrease is primarily due to decreases in interest expense and provisions for credit losses.
26
Employee costs were $22.2 million
during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $20.2 million for the same quarter in the prior year. The table below summarizes
our employees by category as well as contract purchases and units in our managed portfolio as of, and for the three-month periods ended,
March 31, 2022 and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2022
2021
(Dollars in millions)
Contracts purchased (dollars)
$ 410.0
$ 205.5
Contracts purchased (units)
17,798
10,736
Managed portfolio outstanding (dollars)
$ 2,381.6
$ 2,119.1
Managed portfolio outstanding (units)
158,844
158,933
Number of Originations staff
178
160
Number of Sales staff
125
102
Number of Servicing staff
374
446
Number of other staff
81
75
Total number of employees
758
783
General and administrative expenses
include costs associated with purchasing and servicing our portfolio of finance receivables, including expenses for facilities, credit
services, and telecommunications. General and administrative expenses were $8.2 million, a decrease from $7.7 million in the previous
year and represented 18.3% of total operating expenses.
Interest expense for the three
months ended March 31, 2022 were $16.4 million and represented 36.4% of total operating expenses, compared to $20.9 million in the previous
year, when it was 38.0% of total operating expenses.
Interest on securitization trust
debt decreased by $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the prior period. The average balance of securitization
trust debt decreased to $1,808.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $1,876.8 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2021. In addition, the blended interest rates on new term securitizations have declined since 2020. The annualized average rate
on our securitization trust debt was 3.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to 3.9% in the prior year period. For each
quarterly securitization transaction, the blended cost of funds is ultimately the result of many factors including the market interest
rates for benchmark swaps of various maturities against which our bonds are priced and the margin over those benchmarks that investors
are willing to accept, which in turn, is influenced by investor demand for our bonds at the time of the securitization. These and other
factors have resulted in fluctuations in our securitization trust debt interest costs. The blended interest rates of our recent securitizations
are summarized in the table below:
Blended Cost of Funds on Recent Asset-Backed
Term Securitizations
Period
Blended Cost of Funds
January 2018
3.46%
April 2018
3.98%
July 2018
4.18%
October 2018
4.25%
January 2019
4.22%
April 2019
3.95%
July 2019
3.36%
October 2019
2.95%
January 2020
3.08%
June 2020
4.09%
September 2020
2.39%
January 2021
1.11%
April 2021
1.65%
July 2021
1.55%
October 2021
2.09%
January 2022
2.54%
27
Interest expense on warehouse
credit line debt increased by $156,000 to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $1.3 million in the prior
year period. The increase was due to the higher utilization of our credit lines during the quarter compared to last year. The average
balance of our warehouse debt was $66.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $50.3 million for the same period
in 2021.
Interest expense on subordinated
renewable notes was $620,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The average balance of the outstanding subordinated debt increased
19.6% to $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $22.2 million for the prior year. The average yield of subordinated
notes decreased to 9.3% compared to 11.0% in the prior period.
In May 2018 and June 2021, we
completed two residual interest financings of our residual interests from previously issued securitizations in the amounts of $40.0 million
and $50.0 million, respectively. Interest expense on these residual interest financings was $1.1 million for the three months ended March
31, 2022 compared to $566,000 in the prior year period.
The following table presents
the components of interest income and interest expense and a net interest yield analysis for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022
and 2021:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2022
2021
Annualized
Annualized
Average
Average
Average
Average
Balance (1)
Interest
Yield/Rate
Balance (1)
Interest
Yield/Rate
Interest Earning Assets
Finance receivables gross (2)
$ 206,197
$ 11,320
22.0%
$ 451,425
$ 22,105
19.6%
Finance receivables at fair value
2,067,286
58,740
11.4%
1,687,232
43,988
10.4%
2,273,483
70,060
12.3%
2,138,657
66,093
12.4%
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Warehouse lines of credit
$ 66,465
1,158
7.0%
$ 50,322
1,314
10.4%
Residual interest financing
51,978
1,094
8.4%
22,011
566
10.3%
Securitization trust debt
1,808,501
13,528
3.0%
1,876,807
18,453
3.9%
Subordinated renewable notes
26,526
620
9.3%
22,180
612
11.0%
$ 1,953,470
16,400
3.4%
$ 1,971,320
20,945
4.2%
Net interest income/spread
$ 53,660
$ 45,148
Net interest yield (3)
8.9%
8.2%
Ratio of average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities
116%
108%
_______________
(1) Average
balances are based on month end balances except for warehouse lines of credit, which are
based on daily balances
(2) Net
of deferred fees and direct costs
(3) Annualized
net interest income divided by average interest earning assets
28
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
Compared to March 31, 2021
Total
Change Due
Change Due
Change
to Volume
to Rate
(In thousands)
Interest Earning Assets
Finance receivables gross
$ (10,785 )
$ (12,022 )
$ 1,237
Finance receivables at fair value
14,752
9,584
5,168
3,967
(2,438 )
6,405
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Warehouse lines of credit
(156 )
409
(565 )
Residual interest financing
528
775
(247 )
Securitization trust debt
(4,925 )
(856 )
(4,069 )
Subordinated renewable notes
8
114
(106 )
(4,545 )
442
(4,987 )
Net interest income/spread
$ 8,512
$ (2,880 )
$ 11,392
The reduction in the annualized yield on our finance receivables for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared
to the prior year period is the result of the lower interest yield on the receivables measured at fair value. The interest yield on receivables
measured at fair value is reduced to take account of expected losses and is therefore less than the yield on other finance receivables.
The average balance of these receivables was $2,067.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $1,687.2 million in
the prior year period.
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.
The amendment introduces a new credit reserving model known as the Current Expected Credit Loss model, generally referred to as CECL.
Adoption of CECL required the establishment of an allowance for the remaining expected lifetime credit losses on the portion of the Company’s
receivable portfolio that was originated prior to January 2018. The Company recorded an addition to its allowance for finance credit
losses of $127.0 million upon its adoption of CECL in January 2020. In accordance with the rules for adopting CECL, the offset to the
addition to the allowance for finance credit losses was a tax affected reduction to retained earnings using the modified retrospective
method.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we
recorded a reduction to provision for credit losses on finance receivables in the amount of $9.4 million. The reserve decrease was primarily
due to a decrease in lifetime expected credit losses resulting from improved credit performance as our previous estimates for future losses
exceeded actual incurred losses. There were no additions or reductions to provision for credit losses for the three months ended March
31, 2021.
Our evaluation of the allowance for credit losses
indicated that the reserves against future losses are adequate as of March 31, 2022. Although we have not yet seen a deterioration in
the credit performance for these receivables as a result of the pandemic, we expect that the absence of any additional government stimulus
payments, the expiration of the eviction moratorium and a reversion to the mean for used car pricing could negatively affect credit performance
in the future.
The allowance applies only to
our finance receivables originated through December 2017, which we refer to as our legacy portfolio. Finance receivables that we
have originated since January 2018 are accounted for at fair value. Under the fair value method of accounting, we recognize interest income
net of expected credit losses. Thus, no provision for credit loss expense is recorded for finance receivables measured at fair value.
Sales expense consists primarily
of commission-based compensation paid to our employee sales representatives. Our sales representatives earn a salary plus commissions
based on volume of contract purchases and sales of ancillary products and services that we offer our dealers, such as training programs,
internet lead sales, and direct mail products. Sales expense increased by $1.4 million to $5.4 million during the three months ended March
31, 2022 and represented 12.0% of total operating expenses. We purchased $410.0 million of new contracts during the three months ended
March 31, 2022 compared to $205.5 million in the prior year period.
Occupancy expenses was $1.9
million for the three months ending March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Depreciation and amortization
expenses decreased to $417,000 compared to $428,000 in the previous year and represented 0.9% of total operating expenses.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we
recorded income tax expense of $8.2 million, representing a 28% effective tax rate. In the prior period, our income tax expense was $2.9
million, representing a 35% effective tax rate.
29
Credit Experience
Our financial results are dependent
on the performance of the automobile contracts in which we retain an ownership interest. Broad economic factors such as recession and
significant changes in unemployment levels influence the credit performance of our portfolio, as does the weighted average age of the
receivables at any given time. The tables below document the delinquency, repossession and net credit loss experience of all such automobile
contracts that we originated or own an interest in as of the respective dates shown.
Delinquency, Repossession and Extension Experience
(1)
Total Owned Portfolio
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Number of
Number of
Number of
Contracts
Amount
Contracts
Amount
Contracts
Amount
(Dollars in thousands)
Delinquency Experience
Gross servicing portfolio (1)
155,812
$ 2,324,354
158,933
$ 2,119,073
154,151
$ 2,209,430
Period of delinquency (2)
.
31-60 days
8,451
$ 114,865
7,108
$ 94,067
10,895
$ 146,904
61-90 days
3,384
44,966
2,496
31,797
3,939
51,069
91+ days
1,051
13,366
822
8,416
1,171
14,280
Total delinquencies (2)
12,886
173,197
10,426
134,280
16,005
212,253
Amount in repossession (3)
2,100
26,442
2,448
30,353
1,882
22,912
Total delinquencies and amount in repossession (2)
14,986
$ 199,639
12,874
$ 164,633
17,887
$ 235,165
Delinquencies as a percentage of gross servicing portfolio
8.3%
7.5%
6.6%
6.3%
10.4%
9.6%
Total delinquencies and amount in repossession as a percentage of
gross servicing portfolio
9.6%
8.6%
8.1%
7.8%
11.6%
10.6%
Extension Experience
Contracts with one extension, accruing
23,338
$ 329,236
28,384
$ 388,637
23,740
$ 328,128
Contracts with two or more extensions, accruing
43,894
475,413
54,882
640,154
46,541
513,183
67,232
804,649
83,266
1,028,791
70,281
841,311
Contracts with one extension, non-accrual (4)
591
7,632
130
1,510
597
7,736
Contracts with two or more extensions, non-accrual
(4)
1,326
14,155
488
5,328
1,414
15,128
1,917
21,787
618
6,838
2,011
22,864
Total contracts with extensions
69,149
$ 826,436
83,884
$ 1,035,629
72,292
$ 864,175
_______________________
(1) All amounts and percentages are based on
the amount remaining to be repaid on each automobile contract, including, for pre-computed automobile contracts, any unearned interest.
The information in the table represents the gross principal amount of all automobile contracts we have purchased, including automobile
contracts subsequently sold in securitization transactions that we continue to service. The table does not include certain contracts we
have serviced for third parties on which we earn servicing fees only and have no credit risk.
(2) We consider an automobile contract delinquent
when an obligor fails to make at least 90% of a contractually due payment by the following due date, which date may have been extended
within limits specified in the Servicing Agreements. The period of delinquency is based on the number of days payments are contractually
past due. Automobile contracts less than 31 days delinquent are not included. The delinquency aging categories shown in the tables reflect
the effect of extensions.
(3) Amount in repossession represents financed
vehicles that have been repossessed but not yet liquidated.
(4) Amount in repossession and accounts past
due more than 90 days are on non-accrual.
30
Net Charge-Off Experience
(1)
Total Owned Portfolio
Finance Receivables Portfolio
March 31,
March 31,
December 31,
2022
2021
2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Average servicing portfolio outstanding
$ 206,197
$ 451,425
$ 345,021
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average servicing portfolio (2)
0.8%
12.6%
7.7%
Fair Value Receivables Portfolio
March 31,
March 31,
December 31,
2022
2021
2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Average servicing portfolio outstanding
$ 2,067,286
$ 1,687,232
$ 1,802,590
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average servicing portfolio (2)
3.5%
4.6%
3.1%
Total Owned Portfolio
March 31,
March 31,
December 31,
2022
2021
2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Average servicing portfolio outstanding
$ 2,273,483
$ 2,138,657
$ 2,147,611
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average servicing portfolio (2)
3.3%
6.3%
4.7%
_________________________
(1) All amounts and percentages are based on
the principal amount scheduled to be paid on each automobile contract, net of unearned income on pre-computed automobile contracts.
(2) Net charge-offs include the remaining principal
balance, after the application of the net proceeds from the liquidation of the vehicle (excluding accrued and unpaid interest) and amounts
collected subsequent to the date of charge-off, including some recoveries which have been classified as other income in the accompanying
interim consolidated financial statements. March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 percentages represent three months ended March 31, 2022 and
March 31, 2021 annualized. December 31, 2021 represents 12 months ended December 31, 2021.
Extensions
In
certain circumstances we will grant obligors one-month payment extensions to assist them with temporary cash flow problems. In general,
we are bound by our securitization agreements to refrain from agreeing to more than two such extensions in any 12-month period and to
more than six over the life of the contract. The only modification of terms is to advance the obligor’s next due date by one month
and extend the maturity date of the receivable by one month. In some cases, a two-month extension may be granted. There are no other concessions
such as a reduction in interest rate, forgiveness of principal or of accrued interest. Accordingly, we consider such extensions to be
insignificant delays in payments rather than troubled debt restructurings. Because financial regulatory authorities have encouraged obligors
to expect payment deferrals as a response to the pandemic, we may seek amendments or waivers of our securitization agreements to relax
the limits on extensions; however, we have not sought such changes in terms as of the date of this report, and if we do seek such changes,
there can be no assurance that the other parties to our securitization agreements will agree to such amendments or waivers, nor as to
the effect on credit performance that may result if such amendments or waivers are agreed to.
31
The
basic question in deciding to grant an extension is whether or not we will (a) be delaying the inevitable repossession and liquidation
or (b) risk losing the vehicle as a result of not being able to locate the obligor and vehicle. In both of those situations, the loss
would likely be higher than if the vehicle had been repossessed without the extension. The benefits of granting an extension include minimizing
current losses and delinquencies, minimizing lifetime losses, getting the obligor’s account current (or close to it) and building
goodwill so that the obligor might prioritize us over other creditors on future payments. Our servicing staff are trained to identify
when a past due obligor is facing a temporary problem that may be resolved with an extension. In some cases, the extension will be granted
in conjunction with our receiving all or a portion of a past due payment from the obligor, thereby indicating an additional monetary and
psychological commitment to the contract on the obligor’s part.
The
credit assessment for granting an extension is initially made by our collector, who bases the recommendation on the collector’s
discussions with the obligor. In such assessments the collector will consider, among other things, the following factors: (1) the reason
the obligor has fallen behind in payment; (2) whether or not the reason for the delinquency is temporary, and if it is, have conditions
changed such that the obligor can begin making regular monthly payments again after the extension; (3) the obligor's past payment history,
including past extensions if applicable; (4) the obligor’s willingness to communicate and cooperate on resolving the delinquency;
and (5) a numeric score from our internal risk assessment system that indicating the likelihood that the extension will prove beneficial.
If the collector believes the obligor is a good candidate for an extension, an approval is obtained from a supervisor, who will review
the same factors stated above prior to offering the extension to the obligor. After receiving an extension, an account remains subject
to our normal policies and procedures for interest accrual, reporting delinquency and recognizing charge-offs.
We
believe that a prudent extension program is an integral component to mitigating losses in our portfolio of sub-prime automobile receivables.
The table below summarizes the status, as of March 31, 2022, for accounts that received extensions from 2008 through 2020:
Period of Extension
# Extensions Granted
Active or Paid Off at March 31, 2022
% Active or Paid Off at March 31, 2022
Charged Off > 6 Months After Extension
% Charged Off > 6 Months After Extension
Charged Off <= 6 Months After Extension
% Charged Off <= 6 Months After Extension
Avg Months to Charge Off Post Extension
2008
35,588
10,708
30.1%
20,061
56.4%
4,819
13.5%
19
2009
32,226
10,273
31.9%
16,170
50.2%
5,783
17.9%
17
2010
26,167
12,159
46.5%
12,009
45.9%
1,999
7.6%
19
2011
18,786
10,972
58.4%
6,882
36.6%
932
5.0%
19
2012
18,783
11,320
60.3%
6,667
35.5%
796
4.2%
18
2013
23,398
11,152
47.7%
11,270
48.2%
976
4.2%
23
2014
25,773
10,521
40.8%
14,426
56.0%
826
3.2%
25
2015
53,319
22,588
42.4%
29,649
55.6%
1,082
2.0%
26
2016
80,897
37,510
46.4%
41,454
51.2%
1,933
2.4%
25
2017
133,881
63,538
47.5%
63,417
47.4%
6,926
5.2%
21
2018
121,531
68,889
56.7%
46,635
38.4%
6,007
4.9%
18
2019
71,548
53,433
74.7%
16,173
22.6%
1,942
2.7%
15
2020
83,170
69,458
83.5%
11,613
14.0%
2,099
2.5%
11
______________________
Note: Table excludes extensions on portfolios
serviced for third parties
32
We
view these results as a confirmation of the effectiveness of our extension program. For example, of the accounts granted extensions in
2018, 56.7% were either paid in full or active and performing March 31, 2022. Each of these successful accounts represent continued payments
of interest and principal (including payment in full in many cases), where without the extension we likely would have incurred a substantial
loss and no interest revenue after the extension.
For the extension accounts that
ultimately charge off, we consider any that charged off more than six months after the extension to be at least partially successful.
For example, of the accounts granted extensions in 2012 that subsequently charged off, such charge offs occurred, on average, 18 months
after the extension, indicating that even in the cases of an ultimate loss, the obligor serviced the account with additional payments
of principal and interest.
Additional information
about our extensions is provided in the tables below:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022
2021
2021
Average number of extensions granted per month
4,061
3,918
3,535
Average number of outstanding accounts
154,729
157,076
160,448
Average monthly extensions as % of average outstandings
2.6%
2.5%
2.2%
______________________
Note: Table excludes portfolios originated
and owned by third parties
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Number of Contracts
Amount
Number of Contracts
Amount
Number of Contracts
Amount
(Dollars in thousands)
Contracts with one extension
23,929
$ 336,868
28,514
$ 390,146
24,337
$ 335,864
Contracts with two extensions
14,834
185,348
18,664
247,272
15,861
200,705
Contracts with three extensions
11,271
129,519
12,720
152,871
11,755
136,970
Contracts with four extensions
8,810
88,758
10,235
111,789
9,272
95,182
Contracts with five extensions
6,195
54,982
7,827
79,510
6,531
59,651
Contracts with six extensions
4,110
30,960
5,924
54,040
4,536
35,803
69,149
$ 826,435
83,884
$ 1,035,628
72,292
$ 864,175
Managed portfolio (excluding originated and owned by 3rd parties)
155,812
$ 2,324,354
158,933
$ 2,119,073
154,151
$ 2,209,430
______________________
Note: Table excludes portfolios originated
and owned by third parties
Since January of 2019, we have attempted to reduce
extensions by working with our servicing staff to be more selective in granting extensions including, where appropriate, to exhaust all
possibilities of payment by the customer before granting an extension.
33
Non-Accrual Receivables
It
is not uncommon for our obligors to fall behind in their payments. However, with the diligent efforts of our Servicing staff and systems
for managing our collection efforts, we regularly work with our customers to resolve delinquencies. Our staff are trained to employ a
counseling approach to assist our customers with their cash flow management skills and help them to prioritize their payment obligations
in order to avoid losing their vehicle to repossession. Through our experience, we have learned that once a customer becomes greater than
90 days past due, it is not likely that the delinquency will be resolved and will ultimately result in a charge-off. As a result, we do
not recognize any interest income for contracts that are greater than 90 days past due.
If
a contract exceeds the 90 days past due threshold at the end of one period, and then makes the necessary payments such that it becomes
less than or equal to 90 days delinquent at the end of a subsequent period, it would be restored to full accrual status for our financial
reporting purposes. At the time a contract is restored to full accrual in this manner, there can be no assurance that full repayment of
interest and principal will ultimately be made. However, we monitor each obligor’s payment performance and are aware of the severity
of his delinquency at any time. The fact that the delinquency has been reduced below the 90-day threshold is a positive indicator. Should
the contract again exceed the 90-day delinquency level at the end of any reporting period, it would again be reflected as a non-accrual
account.
Our
policy for placing a contract on non-accrual status is independent of our policy to grant an extension. In practice, it would be an uncommon
circumstance where an extension was granted and the account remained in a non-accrual status, since the goal of the extension is to bring
the contract current (or nearly current).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our
business requires substantial cash to support our purchases of automobile contracts and other operating activities. Our primary sources
of cash have been cash flows from the proceeds from term securitization transactions and other sales of automobile contracts, amounts
borrowed under various revolving credit facilities (also sometimes known as warehouse credit facilities), customer payments of principal
and interest on finance receivables, fees for origination of automobile contracts, and releases of cash from securitization transactions
and their related spread accounts. Our primary uses of cash have been the purchases of automobile contracts, repayment of amounts borrowed
under lines of credit, securitization transactions and otherwise, operating expenses such as employee, interest, occupancy expenses and
other general and administrative expenses, the establishment of spread accounts and initial overcollateralization, if any, the increase
of credit enhancement to required levels in securitization transactions, and income taxes. There can be no assurance that internally generated
cash will be sufficient to meet our cash demands. The sufficiency of internally generated cash will depend on the performance of securitized
pools (which determines the level of releases from those pools and their related spread accounts), the rate of expansion or contraction
in our managed portfolio, and the terms upon which we are able to acquire and borrow against automobile contracts.
Net cash provided by operating
activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 was $68.3 million, an increase of $2.9 million, compared to net cash provided
by operating activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 of $65.4 million. Net cash from operating activities is generally
provided by net income from operations adjusted for significant non-cash items such as our provision for credit losses and marks to finance
receivables measured at fair value.
Net cash used in investing activities
was $139.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Net cash provided by investing activities for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2021 was $23.9 million. Cash provided by investing activities primarily results from principal payments and other proceeds received
on finance receivables. Cash used in investing activities generally relates to purchases of automobile contracts. Purchases of finance
receivables excluding acquisition fees were $393.4 million and $205.5 million during the first three months of 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Net cash provided by financing
activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $80.9 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $64.8 million
in the prior year period. Cash provided by financing activities is primarily related to the issuance of securitization trust debt, reduced
by the amount of repayment of securitization trust debt and net proceeds or repayments on our warehouse lines of credit and other debt.
In the first three months of 2022, we issued $316.8 million in new securitization trust debt compared to $230.5 million in the same period
of 2021. We repaid $262.7 million in securitization trust debt in the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to repayments of securitization
trust debt of $242.5 million in the prior year period. In the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had net advances on warehouse lines
of credit of $42.2 million, compared to net repayments of $48.3 million in the prior year’s period.
34
We purchase automobile contracts
from dealers for a cash price approximately equal to their principal amount, adjusted for an acquisition fee which may either increase
or decrease the automobile contract purchase price. Those automobile contracts generate cash flow, however, over a period of years. We
have been dependent on warehouse credit facilities to purchase automobile contracts and our securitization transactions for long term
financing of our contracts. In addition, we have accessed other sources, such as residual financings and subordinated debt in order to
finance our continuing operations.
The acquisition of automobile
contracts for subsequent financing in securitization transactions, and the need to fund spread accounts and initial overcollateralization,
if any, and increase credit enhancement levels when those transactions take place, results in a continuing need for capital. The amount
of capital required is most heavily dependent on the rate of our automobile contract purchases, the required level of initial credit enhancement
in securitizations, and the extent to which the previously established trusts and their related spread accounts either release cash to
us or capture cash from collections on securitized automobile contracts. Of those, the factor most subject to our control is the rate
at which we purchase automobile contracts.
We are and may in the future
be limited in our ability to purchase automobile contracts due to limits on our capital. As of March 31, 2022, we had unrestricted cash
of $21.7 million and $53.0 million aggregate available borrowings under our two warehouse credit facilities (assuming the availability
of sufficient eligible collateral). As of March 31, 2022, we had approximately $93.9 million of such eligible collateral. Our plans to
manage our liquidity include maintaining our rate of automobile contract purchases at a level that matches our available capital, and,
as appropriate, minimizing our operating costs. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, we completed one securitizations aggregating
$316.8 million of notes sold.
Our liquidity will also be
affected by releases of cash from the trusts established with our securitizations. While the specific terms and mechanics of each spread
account vary among transactions, our securitization agreements generally provide that we will receive excess cash flows, if any, only
if the amount of credit enhancement has reached specified levels and the net losses related to the automobile contracts in the pool are
below certain predetermined levels. In the event delinquencies or net losses on the automobile contracts exceed such levels, the terms
of the securitization may require increased credit enhancement to be accumulated for the particular pool. There can be no assurance that
collections from the related trusts will continue to generate sufficient cash.
Our warehouse credit facilities
contain various financial covenants requiring certain minimum financial ratios and results. Such covenants include maintaining minimum
levels of liquidity and net worth and not exceeding maximum leverage levels. In addition, certain of our debt agreements other than our
term securitizations contain cross-default provisions. Such cross-default provisions would allow the respective creditors to declare a
default if an event of default occurred with respect to other indebtedness of ours, but only if such other event of default were to be
accompanied by acceleration of such other indebtedness. As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all such financial covenants.
We have and will continue to
have a substantial amount of indebtedness. At March 31, 2022, we had approximately $2,036.7 million of debt outstanding. Such debt consisted
primarily of $1,813.5 million of securitization trust debt and $147.0 million of debt from warehouse lines of credit. Our securitization
trust debt has increased by $53.5 million while our warehouse lines of credit debt has increased by $41.4 million since December 31, 2021
(each net of deferred financing costs). Since 2005, we have offered renewable subordinated notes to the public on a continuous basis,
and such notes have maturities that range from six months to 10 years. We had $26.8 million and $26.5 million in subordinated renewable
notes outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. On June 30, 2021, we completed a $50.0 million securitization
of residual interests from other previously issued securitizations. As of March 31, 2022, $50.0 million of this debt remains outstanding.
Although we believe we are
able to service and repay our debt, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so. If our plans for future operations do not generate
sufficient cash flows and earnings, our ability to make required payments on our debt would be impaired. If we fail to pay our indebtedness
when due, it could have a material adverse effect on us and may require us to issue additional debt or equity securities.
35
Forward
Looking Statements
This report on Form 10-Q includes certain “forward-looking
statements.” Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,”
“plans,” “estimates,” or words of like meaning. Our provision for credit losses is a forward-looking statement,
as it is dependent on our estimates as to future chargeoffs and recovery rates. Factors that could affect charge-offs and recovery rates
include changes in the general economic climate, which could affect the willingness or ability of obligors to pay pursuant to the terms
of automobile contracts, changes in laws respecting consumer finance, which could affect our ability to enforce rights under automobile
contracts, and changes in the market for used vehicles, which could affect the levels of recoveries upon sale of repossessed vehicles.
Our valuation of receivables measured at fair value is a forward-looking statement, as it is dependent, among other things, on our estimates
of cash to be received in the future with respect to such receivables. Each of the factors listed above as affecting charge-offs and recovery
rates could have a similar effect on cash to be received in the future with respect to receivables measured at fair value. Factors that
could affect our revenues in the current year include the levels of cash releases from existing pools of automobile contracts, which would
affect our ability to purchase automobile contracts, the terms on which we are able to finance such purchases, the willingness of dealers
to sell automobile contracts to us on the terms that we offer, and the terms on which and whether we are able to complete term securitizations
once automobile contracts are acquired. Factors that could affect our expenses in the current year include competitive conditions in the
market for qualified personnel and interest rates (which affect the rates that we pay on notes issued in our securitizations). The factors
identified in this and other reports as “Risk Factors” could affect our revenues, expenses, liquidity and financial condition,
and the timing and amount of cash received with respect to our automobile contracts
.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.