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 have also (i) originated vehicle purchase money loans by lending directly to consumers, (ii) acquired installment
purchase contracts in four merger and acquisition transactions, and (iii) 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, 2024, we have originated a total of approximately $21.5 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
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
2022
1,854,385
3,001,308
2023
1,357,752
3,194,623
Three months ended March 31, 2024
346,305
3,243,390
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, 2024, we originated $16.1 million under this third-party program. As
of March 31, 2024, our managed portfolio includes $222.2 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, Nevada, and
Virginia 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.
27
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.
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 or reverse expense
provisions for credit losses.
Since 1994 we have conducted
100 term securitizations of automobile contracts that we originated. As of March 31, 2024, 18 of those securitizations are active and
all are structured as secured financings. We generally conduct our securitizations on a quarterly basis, near the beginning of each calendar
quarter, resulting in four securitizations per calendar year. However, we completed only three securitizations in 2020. In April 2020
we postponed our planned securitization due to the onset of the pandemic and the effective closure of the capital markets in which our
securitizations are executed. Subsequently we successfully completed securitizations in June and September 2020, and then on a regular
quarterly schedule from January 2021 through April 2024.
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
2018
4
883,452
2019
4
1,014,124
2020
3
741,867
2021
4
1,145,002
2022
4
1,537,383
2023
4
1,352,114
Three months ended March 31, 2024
1
300,614
Generally, prior to a securitization
transaction we fund our automobile contract purchases primarily with proceeds from warehouse credit facilities. We currently have short-term
funding capacity of $400 million over two credit facilities. The first credit facility was established in May 2012. This facility was
most recently renewed in July 2022, extending the revolving period to July 2024, with an optional amortization period through July 2025.
In addition, the capacity was doubled from $100 million to $200 million at the July 2022 renewal.
In November 2015, we entered
into another $100 million facility. This facility was most recently renewed in March 2024, extending the revolving period to March 2026,
followed by an amortization period to March 2028. In June 2022, we doubled the capacity for this facility from $100 million to $200 million.
28
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, 2024, we were in compliance
with all such covenants.
Results
of Operations
Comparison of Operating Results
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 with the three months ended March 31, 2023
Revenues . During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, our revenues were $91.7 million, an increase of $8.6 million, or 10.4%, from the prior year revenue
of $83.1 million. The primary reason for the increase in revenues is the increase in interest income resulting from the increase in the
average outstanding balance of finance receivables measured at fair value. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 include
a $5.0 million mark up to the recorded value of the finance receivables measured at fair value. 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. In the current period, our re-evaluation of the fair values of these receivables resulted
in a mark up for certain older receivables and a mark down to the fair values of newer receivables. The fair value mark up on the older
receivables exceeded the mark down to the newer receivables resulting in a net mark up of $5.0 million. Based on this evaluation, there
was no mark up or mark down to the fair value portfolio in the prior year period.
Interest income for the three
months ended March 31, 2024 increased $4.2 million, or 5.3%, to $84.3 million from $80.1 million in the prior year. The primary reason
for the increase in interest income is the 4.8% increase in the average balance of our loan portfolio over the prior year period. The
interest yield on our total loan portfolio increased from 11.2% in the prior year period to 11.3% in the current year period. The receivables
measured at fair value make up a larger portion of our total loan portfolio in the current year period. 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 table below shows the average balance and interest yield of our loan portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
(Dollars in thousands)
Average
Interest
Average
Interest
Balance
Interest
Yield
Balance
Interest
Yield
Interest Earning Assets
Loan Portfolio
$ 2,993,816
$ 84,288
11.3%
$ 2,856,598
$ 80,062
11.2%
29
Other income was $2.5 million for the three months ended March
31, 2024 compared to $3.0 million for the comparable period in 2023. This 19.2% decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in origination
and servicing fees we earned from third party receivables. These fees were $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 compared
to $2.7 million in the prior year period.
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
$85.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $64.7 million for the prior period, an increase of $20.5 million,
or 31.7%. The increase is primarily due to increases in interest expense and general and administrative expenses.
Employee costs were $24.4 million
during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $22.0 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, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
(Dollars in millions)
Contracts purchased (dollars)
$ 346.3
$ 415.2
Contracts purchased (units)
16,414
20,175
Managed portfolio outstanding (dollars)
$ 3,021.2
$ 2,881.8
Managed portfolio outstanding (units)
181,650
175,197
Number of Originations staff
191
184
Number of Sales staff
101
108
Number of Servicing staff
427
401
Number of other staff
183
86
Total number of employees
902
779
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 was $13.8 million, an increase of $2.4 million from $11.4 million
in the prior year period.
30
Interest expense for the three
months ended March 31, 2024 was $42.0 million and represented 49.3% of total operating expenses, compared to $32.8 million in the previous
year, when it was 50.7% of total operating expenses.
Interest on securitization
trust debt increased by $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior period. The average balance of securitization
trust debt increased to $2,388.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $2,283.3 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2023. The annualized average rate on our securitization trust debt was 6.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2024
compared to 4.6% in the prior year period. The blended interest rates on new term securitizations have been increasing since 2022. 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 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%
April 2022
4.83%
July 2022
6.02%
October 2022
8.48%
January 2023
6.48%
April 2023
7.17%
July 2023
7.13%
October 2023
7.89%
January 2024
6.51%
Interest expense on warehouse
credit line debt decreased by $528,000 to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $4.8 million in the prior
year period. The decrease was due to the lower utilization of our credit lines during the quarter compared to last year. The average balance
of our warehouse debt was $164.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $194.9 million for the same period in
2023. The annualized average rate on our credit line debt was 10.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to 9.9% in the
prior year period.
Interest expense on subordinated
renewable notes was $506,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The average balance of the outstanding subordinated debt decreased
by $3.3 million to $20.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $24.1 million for the prior year. The average yield
of subordinated notes increased to 9.7% compared to 8.4% in the prior period.
In June 2021, we completed a
residual interest financing of our residual interests from previously issued securitizations in the amount of $50.0 million. In March
2024, we completed a new residual interest financing of our residual interests from previously issued securitizations in the amount of
$50.0 million. Interest expense on the residual interest financing was $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared
to $1.1 for the same period in 2023.
31
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, 2024
and 2023:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
(Dollars in thousands)
Annualized
Annualized
Average
Average
Average
Average
Balance (1)
Interest
Yield/Rate
Balance (1)
Interest
Yield/Rate
Interest Earning Assets
Loan Portfolio
$ 2,993,816
$ 84,288
11.3%
$ 2,856,598
$ 80,062
11.2%
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Warehouse lines of credit
$ 164,883
$ 4,321
10.5%
$ 194,918
$ 4,848
9.9%
Residual interest financing
67,033
1,209
7.2%
50,000
1,050
8.4%
Securitization trust debt
2,388,146
35,932
6.0%
2,283,258
26,353
4.6%
Subordinated renewable notes
20,842
506
9.7%
24,119
508
8.4%
$ 2,640,904
41,968
6.4%
$ 2,552,295
32,759
5.1%
Net interest income/spread
$ 42,320
$ 47,303
Net interest yield (2)
4.9%
6.1%
Ratio of average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities
113%
112%
(1) Average balances are based on month end balances except for warehouse lines of credit, which are based on daily balances.
(2) Annualized net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Compared to March 31, 2023
Total
Change Due
Change Due
Change
to Volume
to Rate
(In thousands)
Interest Earning Assets
$
Loan Portfolio
$ 4,226
$ 3,478
$ 748
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Warehouse lines of credit
(527 )
(774 )
247
Residual interest financing
159
360
(201 )
Securitization trust debt
9,579
1,220
8,359
Subordinated renewable notes
(2 )
(70 )
68
9,209
736
8,473
Net interest income/spread
$ (4,983 )
$ 2,742
$ (7,725 )
32
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we recorded a reduction to provision for credit losses
on finance receivables in the amount of $1.6 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. This compares
to $9.0 million in reductions to provision for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Our evaluation of the allowance for credit losses
indicated that the reserves against future losses are adequate as of March 31, 2024.
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 expenses consist 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. Sales expense decreased
to $4.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $5.7 million in the same quarter in 2023. We purchased $346.3 million
of new contracts during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $415.2 million in the prior year period.
Occupancy expenses was $1.6
million for the three months ending March 31, 2024, which is up from the $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2023.
Depreciation and amortization
expenses decreased to $215,000 compared to $231,000 in the previous year.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we
recorded income tax expense of $2.0 million, representing a 30% effective tax rate. In the prior period, our income tax expense was $4.6
million, representing a 25% effective tax rate.
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.
33
Delinquency, Repossession and Extension Experience
(1)
Total Managed Portfolio (Excludes Third Party
Portfolio)
March 31, 2024
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
Number of
Number of
Number of
Contracts
Amount
Contracts
Amount
Contracts
Amount
(Dollars in thousands)
Delinquency Experience
Gross servicing portfolio (1)
181,650
$ 3,021,185
175,197
$ 2,881,844
179,198
$ 2,970,066
Period of delinquency (2)
31-60 days
10,992
172,425
10,057
151,743
13,337
210,200
61-90 days
5,443
85,338
4,306
62,557
6,717
104,144
91+ days
2,792
43,816
1,660
23,839
3,252
50,610
Total delinquencies (2)
19,227
301,579
16,023
238,139
23,306
364,954
Amount in repossession (3)
5,020
72,861
3,246
47,710
4,653
67,182
Total delinquencies and amount in repossession (2)
24,247
$ 374,440
19,269
$ 285,849
27,959
$ 432,136
Delinquencies as a percentage of gross servicing portfolio
10.6%
10.0%
9.1%
8.3%
13.0%
12.3%
Total delinquencies and amount in repossession as a percentage of gross servicing portfolio
13.3%
12.4%
11.0%
9.9%
15.6%
14.5%
Extension Experience
Contracts with one extension, accruing
33,481
$ 593,699
30,126
$ 530,950
33,920
$ 610,617
Contracts with two or more extensions, accruing
43,748
601,574
38,838
431,936
42,462
563,308
77,229
1,195,273
68,964
962,886
76,382
1,173,925
Contracts with one extension, non-accrual (4)
2,628
42,315
1,072
16,770
2,367
38,933
Contracts with two or more extensions, non-accrual (4)
2,022
28,015
1,167
12,641
2,081
27,497
4,650
70,330
2,239
29,411
4,448
66,430
Total contracts with extensions
81,879
$ 1,265,603
71,203
$ 992,297
80,830
$ 1,240,355
_________________________
(1)
All amounts and percentages are based on the amount remaining to be repaid on each automobile contract.
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.
34
Net Charge-Off Experience
(1)
Total Managed Portfolio
(Excludes Third Party Portfolio)
Finance Receivables Portfolio
March 31,
March 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2023
(Dollars in thousands)
Average servicing portfolio outstanding
$ 2,993,816
$ 2,856,598
$ 2,913,571
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average servicing portfolio (2)
7.8%
5.2%
6.5%
_________________________
(1)
All amounts and percentages are based on the principal amount scheduled to be paid on each automobile contract.
(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, 2024 and March 31, 2023 percentages
represent three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 annualized. December 31, 2022 represents 12 months ended December 31,
2023.
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.
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.
35
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, 2024, for accounts that received extensions from 2010 through 2023:
Period of Extension
# Extensions Granted
Active or Paid Off at March 31, 2024
% Active or Paid Off at March 31, 2024
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
2010
26,167
12,159
46.5%
12,006
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
11,138
47.6%
11,277
48.2%
979
4.2%
23
2014
25,773
10,460
40.6%
14,477
56.2%
833
3.2%
25
2015
53,319
22,153
41.5%
30,027
56.3%
1,139
2.1%
26
2016
80,897
35,856
44.3%
42,810
52.9%
2,231
2.8%
27
2017
133,847
58,289
43.5%
67,566
50.5%
7,992
6.0%
23
2018
121,531
61,646
50.7%
52,364
43.1%
7,521
6.2%
21
2019
71,548
46,719
65.3%
21,554
30.1%
3,275
4.6%
20
2020
83,170
59,151
71.1%
21,470
25.8%
2,549
3.1%
20
2021
47,010
35,369
75.2%
10,405
22.1%
1,236
2.6%
17
2022
56,142
43,918
78.2%
10,270
18.3%
1,954
3.5%
12
2023
83,113
76,279
91.8%
4,042
4.9%
2,792
3.4%
6
______________________
Note: Table excludes extensions on portfolios
serviced for third parties
We
view these results as a confirmation of the effectiveness of our extension program. For example, of the accounts granted extensions in
2019, 65.3% were either paid in full or active and performing as of March 31, 2024. 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.
36
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,
Three Months Ended March 31,
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2023
Average number of extensions granted per month
6,760
6,089
6,926
Average number of outstanding accounts
180,332
173,731
176,438
Average monthly extensions as % of average outstandings
3.7%
3.5%
3.9%
____________________
Note: Table excludes portfolios originated
and owned by third parties
March 31, 2024
March 31, 2023
December 31, 2023
Number of Contracts
Amount
Number of Contracts
Amount
Number of Contracts
Amount
(Dollars in thousands)
Contracts with one extension
36,109
$ 636,014
31,198
$ 547,720
36,287
$ 649,551
Contracts with two extensions
20,228
345,488
14,365
201,960
19,335
326,552
Contracts with three extensions
10,758
153,331
9,557
105,955
10,109
133,207
Contracts with four extensions
6,648
69,027
7,672
72,951
6,784
67,735
Contracts with five extensions
5,017
40,981
5,295
43,085
5,197
42,734
Contracts with six extensions
3,119
20,762
3,116
20,626
3,118
20,576
81,879
$ 1,265,603
71,203
$ 992,297
80,830
$ 1,240,355
Managed portfolio (excluding originated and owned by 3rd parties)
181,650
$ 3,021,185
175,197
$ 2,881,844
179,198
$ 2,970,066
___________________
Note: Table excludes portfolios originated
and owned by third parties
Since 2019, we have been able 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. However, as delinquency rates have risen, so has the average number of extensions
granted.
37
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, 2024 was $52.7 million, a decrease of $12.4 million, compared to net cash provided
by operating activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 of $65.1 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 $108.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $121.2 million in the prior year period. Net cash used in investing
activities generally relates to new purchases of automobile contracts net of principal payments and other proceeds received during the
period. Purchases of finance receivables excluding acquisition fees were $353.9 million and $353.9 million during the first three months
of 2024 and 2023, respectively.
38
Net cash provided by financing
activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $81.5 million compared to $62.3 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 2024, we issued
$280.9 million in new securitization trust debt compared to $324.8 million for the same period in 2023. We repaid $268.7 million in securitization
trust debt in the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to repayments of securitization trust debt of $258.2 million in the prior
year period. In the three months ended March 31, 2024, we had net repayments on warehouse lines of credit of $17.2 million, compared to
net proceeds from warehouse lines of credit of $7,000 in the prior year’s period.
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, 2024, we had unrestricted cash
of $13.2 million and $150.5 million aggregate available borrowings under our two warehouse credit facilities (assuming the availability
of sufficient eligible collateral). As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately $39.5 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, 2024, we completed one securitization aggregating
$280.9 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, 2024, we were in compliance with all such financial covenants.
39
We have and will continue to
have a substantial amount of indebtedness. At March 31, 2024, we had approximately $2,648.3 million of debt outstanding. Such debt consisted
primarily of $2,277.7 million of securitization trust debt and $249.5 million of debt from warehouse lines of credit. Our securitization
trust debt has increased by $12.2 million while our warehouse lines of credit debt has increased by $15.5 million since December 31, 2023
(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 $22.1 million and $17.2 million in subordinated renewable
notes outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. On June 30, 2021, we completed a $50.0 million securitization
of residual interests from other previously issued securitizations. On March 2024, we completed a new residual interest financing of our
residual interests from previously issued securitizations in the amount of $50.0 million. As of March 31, 2024, all $100.0 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.
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.